Beasts Clawing at Straws

The 2020 South Korean film Beasts Clawing at Straws is the best film I have seen this year. It’s a crime movie about a bag filled with money and the people who want it. The complex plot and big group of characters is handled very skillfully. You don’t find out where the money came from until the movie has been playing for over an hour.

I watched the beginning again since it starts with someone carrying the bag. I didn’t think they had showed who it was but you return to it later. One thing I picked up is that there is a TV on in the background playing news stories. I though it was just background noise but the second time I realized that the new included incidents you see later in the film.

I’ve seen reviews comparing this to Coen brothers films and that’s a good comparison. All of the characters are flawed.

I have it on Blu-ray disc which unfortunately doesn’t have any supplements other than a trailer.

John Huston

John Huston was a great director and screenwriter. He even gave some fine acting performances in films like Chinatown. In This Our Life is underrated and belongs up there with The Maltese Falcon and Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

trailers for some of his films

Robert Siodmak was born on August 8th

Robert Siodmak directed many fine films. I haven’t seen The Suspect but just got it on Blu-ray. Criss Cross is one of the best film noirs. Like many others, it’s about someone who can’t escape their past and who is reluctantly drawn back into it. In this way, it’s similar to my favorite film noir, Out of the Past. Other great Siodmak films are The Killers, Cry of the City and The File on Thelma Jordon. Cobra Woman is bizarre fun. All films I mentioned are an Blu-ray.

Rear Window – September 1, 1954

Rear Window was released on September 1, 1954. It’s my second favorite Alfred Hitchcock film (after Notorious). Its got drama, humor, and a great cast.

Many years ago, I ordered Rear Window on VHS. I broke my foot before it arrived. I was wearing a cast on my leg when I watched James Stewart wearing a cast on his leg in Rear Window.

Nathanael West’s A Cool Million would make a great Tim Burton animated film

A Cool Million is a 1934 novel by Nathanael West. It has modern parallels since the depression is similar to the hardships many face today. The main character, Lemuel Pitkin, loses limbs during the novel. It would look like a horror movie if it was live action instead of the satire it is. West skillfully skewers eternal optimism.

It would make a great Tim Burton animated movie. It would be gruesome but the gore would not be the point and would not obscure the humor.

Mothra is 60 today

House of Wax and two similar films

There are several films based on the premise of a mad genius using a wax museum as a tool to murder people.

House of Wax is a 1953 horror film that is a remake of 1933’s Mystery of the Wax Museum. House of Wax was released in 3-D and is now available on 3-D Blu-ray disc. Mystery of the Wax Museum was filmed in two-color Technicolor. An outstanding Blu-ray of the restored film was released in 2020.

Wax Mask is a 1997 Italian horror film that is also set in a wax museum. It’s worth seeing but a lot gorier than the earlier films. It’s also on Blu-ray.

I haven’t seen 1973’s Terror in the Wax Museum.

Splatterfest at the Colonial Theatre

The Colonial Theatre (home of Blobfest) is holding Splatterfest on August 21st. The Colonial Theatre always does a great job.

The five films are: listed below.

I have seen them all on Blu-ray discs

Killer Crocodile

Nightmare Castle

Killer Nun

Dr. Butcher M.D.

Burial Ground

Arrow Video has done a great job on the Blu-ray