ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 9, 2001 When the Straight’s movie editor asked me if I wanted to review the new Nicole Kidman horror movie at a midnight screening—with free popcorn, drinks, and ice cream—I jumped at the chance. The alluring combo of late-night shocks and gratis goodies totally blinded me to the … Continue reading Horror review: The Others
Horror review: The Forsaken
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 3, 2001 A couple of months back, dedicated horror fans were slapped in the face with a mindless made-in-Vancouver slasher flick called Valentine. After suffering through that inept exercise in blood and boobs, I figured it would be a while before a fright flick so painful to sit … Continue reading Horror review: The Forsaken
Horror review: Dracula 2000
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, DEC. 28, 2000 Wes Craven’s name is synonymous with horror films and—judging by the way it’s shamelessly being used to promote Dracula 2000—carries a lot of weight with the moviegoing public. As a director, Craven certainly has a few bloodstained feathers in his cap, but for every commendable Scream … Continue reading Horror review: Dracula 2000
Joe Satriani’s upcoming box set is one mighty batch o’ Satch
photo by the Newt By Steve Newton The Joe Satriani show at the Vogue last year was one of my fave gigs of 2013, no surprise since Satch has been consistently blowing me away ever since I first heard Surfing With the Alien back in the eighties. Similarly minded guitar freaks who don't already own all of Satriani's albums--or … Continue reading Joe Satriani’s upcoming box set is one mighty batch o’ Satch
Ear of Newt’s Top 30 Rock Albums of 1976
The spirit of '76 will never falter because that's the year Thin Lizzy put out two LPs instead of just one.
“Music is getting too heavy,” said Hendrix a week before his death
Here's a cool animated video that was posted on YouTube yesterday by PBS Digital Studios. It features a snippet of Jimi Hendrix's final interview, conducted by music journalist and press agent Keith Altham exactly one week before the guitar legend's drug-related death on Sept. 18, 1970. I like the part at the beginning where, after … Continue reading “Music is getting too heavy,” said Hendrix a week before his death
Horror review: The Watcher
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 14, 2000 Poor Keanu Reeves. Even though he’s starred in such blockbuster action flicks as Speed and The Matrix, he’s never been able to live down the role he was born to play: that of empty-headed California dude Bill in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. Dogstar, the rock … Continue reading Horror review: The Watcher
Bless the Child is something to avoid at all costs
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 17, 2000 By Steve Newton As soon as I got home after seeing Bless the Child, I happened to check my mail and found a schedule for the Vancouver Film School’s part-time fall classes. The cover of the glossy pamphlet caught my eye because it read, in big green letters, If … Continue reading Bless the Child is something to avoid at all costs
Horror review: Hollow Man
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 10, 2000 Last month’s issue of Fangoria, America’s top horror magazine, features a story on Hollow Man with a front-cover image of a grimacing human head with all the skin removed, Hellraiser-style, so that you can see all the veins and underlying tissues. As far as makeup effects … Continue reading Horror review: Hollow Man
Horror review: What Lies Beneath
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 27, 2000 By Steve Newton Director-producer Robert Zemeckis has reached the highest highs and plumbed the lowest lows during his career in Hollywood. As a director, he’s hit the mark with the critically acclaimed Contact and Oscar-winning Forrest Gump, yet his producer credits include such lowly horror fare as House on … Continue reading Horror review: What Lies Beneath
Horror review: Pitch Black
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, FEB. 4, 2000 At one point in writer-director David Twohy’s gory sci-fi/horror flick Pitch Black, futuristic lawman Johns (Cole Hauser) states: “My life is a steaming, meaningless pile of shit.” Now, I probably wouldn’t even have remembered that prime example of Twohy’s screenwriting prowess if it hadn’t been so … Continue reading Horror review: Pitch Black
Hackneyed script and hokey special-effects make House on Haunted Hill another sorry remake
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 4, 1999 By Steve Newton As if this year’s bogus remake of The Haunting wasn’t discouraging enough for horror fans, now Hollywood has unleashed another sorry remake of a haunted-house flick, this time seeking inspiration from the silly but fun Vincent Price vehicle House on Haunted Hill. The new version has … Continue reading Hackneyed script and hokey special-effects make House on Haunted Hill another sorry remake
Mike Bloomfield’s fearless fretwork shines on new box set
By Steve Newton When you're talking about amazing guitarists who've passed away before achieving the widespread acclaim they deserve, Mike Bloomfield's right up there. But a four-disc boxed set released today on Sony's Legacy Recordings imprint should help get the word out on the mindblowing blues player. Here's the promotional bumph: Produced and curated by Al Kooper (who … Continue reading Mike Bloomfield’s fearless fretwork shines on new box set