ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 25, 2012 After the exhilarating horror high of The Cabin in the Woods, fans of scary movies should brace themselves for a major letdown with The Raven. It’s a woefully misdirected take on the Edgar Allan Poe legend that’s bound to have crazy old Eddie rolling in his grave. John Cusack is … Continue reading Horror review: The Raven
Tag: 2012
Horror review: The Cabin in the Woods
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 11, 2012 By Steve Newton The Cabin in the Woods is crammed with so many twists and turns that the mere thought of reviewing it and ruining the fun for others is scary in and of itself. But I don’t feel bad about revealing at least one huge surprise: it’s the best … Continue reading Horror review: The Cabin in the Woods
Horror review: The Moth Diaries
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 4, 2012 If you thought the Twilight films were hard to sit through, wait until you get a load of this toothless attempt to cash in on today’s hormone-fuelled vampire craze. Based on a young-adult novel by Rachel Klein, The Moth Diaries focuses on the mysterious Ernessa (Lily Cole), a moon-faced teen with outta-control … Continue reading Horror review: The Moth Diaries
Horror review: Gone
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 27, 2012 You’d think that after starring roles in such failed scary movies as Red Riding Hood and Jennifer’s Body—not to mention Mamma Mia!—that Amanda Seyfried’s handlers would steer her away from genre fare. But no, here she is again, freaking viewers out with her oversized eyeballs in the psychological serial-killer flick Gone. Seyfried stars … Continue reading Horror review: Gone
Horror review: Donovan’s Echo
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 22, 2012 Donovan's Echo is a quaint little psychological mystery-thriller, digitally shot in Fort Langley and environs, about an elderly man seeking redemption for a tragedy-laced past. The indie flick's heart is in the right place but, unfortunately, its arteries are seriously clogged up with syrupy sappiness. Danny Glover plays Donovan … Continue reading Horror review: Donovan’s Echo
Found-footage sci-fi thriller Chronicle has blockbuster written all over it
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 3, 2012 By Steve Newton Man, it would be nice to be in the shoes of Chronicle director Josh Trank and screenwriter Michael Landis right now. The two 26-year-olds have the movie world by the balls because their new “found-footage” sci-fi thriller has blockbuster written all over it. The film wastes no time … Continue reading Found-footage sci-fi thriller Chronicle has blockbuster written all over it
Horror review: The Woman in Black
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, FEB. 1, 2012 By Steve Newton One of the first movies to freak me out as a kid was The Haunting, a 1963 fright flick about a group of paranormal investigators studying an ominous mansion. Robert Wise’s black-and-white ghost story is a masterful study in less-is-more horror, where the fear comes mostly … Continue reading Horror review: The Woman in Black
Horror review: Underworld–Awakening
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 22, 2012 It’s been 10 years since British hottie Kate Beckinsale suited up in a skin-tight black-leather jumpsuit to portray Underworld’s Selene, a "death dealer" vampire bent on viciously obliterating any Lycans (werewolves) she can find--unless she falls in love with them first. The actress turns 40 next year, but judging … Continue reading Horror review: Underworld–Awakening
Horror review: The Devil Inside
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, JAN. 6, 2012 Those exorcism flicks can be real hit ’n’ miss affairs. Back in 2010, The Last Exorcism took a documentary-style approach to demon-banishing and acquitted itself quite well, whereas the soul of last year’s priests-versus-Beelzebub epic, The Rite, couldn’t even be saved by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Now comes another feature … Continue reading Horror review: The Devil Inside
Rush is in, Deep Purple’s out: the Rock Hall’s worth is still in doubt
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, DEC. 12, 2012 By Steve Newton If you're a Rush freak who's been holding a grudge against the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for not inducting your heroes, you've probably already heard that the Cleveland-based institution broke down yesterday and finally—after 14 years of eligibility—let the Canuck prog-rock legends in. … Continue reading Rush is in, Deep Purple’s out: the Rock Hall’s worth is still in doubt
The Darkness lights up Vancouver with a guitar-rock show for the ages
photo by Rebecca Blissett ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 25, 2012 By Steve Newton I've seen a lot of great rock concerts at the Commodore over the years, but the one that's always stood out for me as "best ever" was Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers back in '78, just after the release of the You're Gonna … Continue reading The Darkness lights up Vancouver with a guitar-rock show for the ages
Van Halen’s Vancouver show reveals its glory days are fading fast
photo by rebecca blissett ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 8, 2012 Some rock bands from the '70s can still bring the dynamite in both hands. The last time I saw Aerosmith—at Rogers Arena in 2010—they overcame rumours of a pending breakup by delivering a flawless, electrifying set. And two years before that, AC/DC roared through … Continue reading Van Halen’s Vancouver show reveals its glory days are fading fast
George Thorogood cracks funnies before rocking out in Coquitlam
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, MAY 20, 2012 George Thorogood is a born entertainer. Even before he hits the stage to blast out his patented array of boogiefied blues classics he'll try to get a reaction from folks anyway he can. That's what happened backstage before his gig at Coquitlam's Red Robinson Show Theatre last night … Continue reading George Thorogood cracks funnies before rocking out in Coquitlam