ORCHESTRATOR OF STORMS (2022) Movie Review

Orchestrator of Storms: The Fantastique World of Jean Rollin (2022) d. Dima Ballin/Kat Ellinger (USA) (112 min)

In the press release, we are presented with the following, “Has there been a genre artist more fundamentally misunderstood and inappropriately discussed than Jean Rollin? He remains one of genre cinema’s most singular poets, a theatrical fantasist, interpreter of dreams, orchestrator of storms. His recurring use of twin or paired protagonists and surrealistic interpretations of vampirism, with tones that were often in the midnight space between gothic literature and fairy tale, his sense of humour and intellectual musings, his sumptuous visual ideas, coming together to make inspired works of genre art that ran against nearly all traditions of the times they were made in.”

Fool's Views (1/1 – 1/31)

I know, right? Who the holy heck is this?

Yup, giving this another go, after two years of lax and laze. The intention is that it’s going to be a bit more freewheeling and fun, with less self-imposed pressure to deliver the game-winning pass every time. Instead, we’re going to run this ball down the field yard by ever-loving yard and that’s about it for the sports metaphors.

We started off the year with a smattering of old and new in many regards, with the current prestige pics mixing with the 1970s schlock, amply supplemented with a nosh of noir. In other words, it’s business as usual around the Doc’s office, and we hope you enjoy the buffet.

As always, feel free to leave your two cents worth – we’ll make sure you get some change back.

Enjoy!

Civilian 2022 Wrap-Up and Year-End Stats!

And we’re back!

Having addressed the horror genre in the previous entry (hey, this is HORROR 101 after all), it’s now time to give the Civilian flicks a moment in the sun.

This year, however, was bound to be different. As an experiment in time management, I implemented a policy that (for the most part), I would only watch movies in the company of another human being or if I was planning to discuss said film for a scheduled event (podcast, lecture, etc.) As a result, the random flights of fancy (chasing down an actor or director’s C.V. or various other infinite rabbit hole themes) which had made up my viewing patterns for the past 40 years were almost entirely absent. The results were equal parts frustrating, fascinating, and liberating.

Dr. AC's 2022 Horror Wrap-Up Extravaganza!

Hello, my horror-loving homebodies!

It’s been a curious year, where I once again was less-than-vigilant about setting down thoughts on every flickering image that passed my eyebrain. However, despite its complications, 2022 proved to be a shift back toward “the good old days” where I actually started venturing out of the house to enjoy horror-themed events amidst the faithful.