Sketching the parameters of Baggott’s palimpsestic narrative is tricky. Briefly put, the backstory of the novel involves a hyperbolic escalation of conservative cultural rhetoric that seeks a return to “traditional” values: restrained, upper-class politeness and hardline gender roles. The maniacal masterminds behind this so-called “Return of Civility” followed a violent effort at social engineering with a wave of nuclear attacks, referred to in the novel as the Detonations.
Science Fiction and Fantasy
Book Review: Pure by Julianna Baggott
by Marla Wick
March 26th, 2012
Blu-Ray Review – Battle Royale: The Complete Collection
by Dan Fields
March 26th, 2012
Quentin Tarantino proclaims ”My favorite movie of the last 20 years! I wish I had made this movie.” That is as perfect an endorsement as a film distributor could hope to have, especially when selling a film like Battle Royale to a hungry cult audience.
Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
by Mark Fitzgerald
January 2nd, 2012
Magic is all around us, if only we’d pay attention more—if only we’d dream. Maybe then we’d sense its dark secret is really light, a bonfire of belief beyond understanding, but real. The kind of magic—or is it love?—that slays dragons and rescues princesses and lives happily ever after in the imagination of children.
The Weekly Listicle: Celebrating Monstrous Matchups
by Dan Fields
November 20th, 2011
“Vampires versus werewolves” is only one of the time-tested feuds that film and television have offered for our amusement. This week, Brett Harrison Davinger and I (Dan Fields) take a look at some other monstrous matchups, scary skirmishes, and curious critter clashes.
The Weekly Listicle: Some Movies Are About Things
by Dan Fields
October 14th, 2011
At last, the long-rumored prequel/remake of John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece The Thing infects theaters across the country. And I mean that in a good way, because I still hope it will be entertaining, despite persistent pangs of common sense. The trailer, at least, sold it as a pretty faithful re-shooting of the original, though no [...]
The Weekly Listicle: Method In Our Movie Madness
by Dan Fields
October 7th, 2011
The practice of blessing mass entertainment with the bard’s prose confers a kind of loftiness upon it, or at least that must be the idea. A quick glance indicates that Shakespeare has provided titles for an alarming number of Star Trek episodes, just for starters. This week, lend your ears to Brett Harrison Davinger and me (Dan Fields) as we look at some of our favorite films to borrow a title from the works of Shakespeare.
True Blood Recap: Season 4 Bites Deep (But Doesn’t Suck)
by Dan Fields
September 12th, 2011
For those who have not been scared off by now, I think we could all use a stiff drink before tuning in next summer for Season 5. Which I know I will. Season 4 had a few too many stops, starts, and jerky turns, but True Blood seized its bloodthirsty mojo back at the finish line.
A Watchful Eye On… Marvel’s Animated Avengers
by Dan Fields
July 28th, 2011
Marvel’s animation division, together with cartoon grand masters Film Roman, is on a roll with The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Currently broadcast by Disney XD for primetime audiences, this relatively new superhero cartoon may amaze you with its depth and maturity.
Trailer Watch: Martin Scorsese’s Hugo
by Dan Fields
July 15th, 2011
Martin Scorsese, Hollywood titan, enjoys a special reputation for directing violent, foul-mouthed crime flicks. Admittedly, he does this very well, but the notoriety of movies like Taxi Driver, Casino, and most recently The Departed tends to eclipse the true diversity and scope of his body of work. Even when his choice of material seems misguided, [...]
Best And Worst Movies Of 2011, Part 1
by Dan Fields
July 14th, 2011
We the critics of the Fourth Wall – Julia Rhodes, Brett Davinger, and myself – devote this week to the discussion of our favorite (and least favorite) films released in 2011 so far. After careful consideration, each of us has selected a “Top 3″ and “Bottom 3″ for the year’s first half. Read along and see how our love and hate stack up against your own.
Bloody Sexy Things: Adapting Clive Barker
by Dan Fields
June 28th, 2011
Clive Barker has lent his eyes and hands to virtually every medium, from page to the screen to the stage to the canvas to the console. However, film fans know him particularly as a horror master. There is so much undermined material for gifted fantasy filmmakers that perhaps we could dispense with further Candyman sequels and retire the Hellraiser juggernaut with contented hearts, and enjoy a Clive Barker renaissance clad in all new colors.
Day Late, Dollar Short, Solid Gold: “Dear Twilight…”
by Dan Fields
June 8th, 2011
Somewhere in the Twilight cutting room, did the thought never stir that they could drag untold ranks of non-Twilight initiates into the theaters merely by cutting fan reactions into the regular trailers? I was working as a movie usher when New Moon came out, and I had grown people stepping out of ticket lines with money outstretched, offering outrageous sums of cash to buy my promotional New Moon t-shirt off my back. And believe me, it was not an excuse to peek at my trout belly. This is for real, people! Star Wars and Harry Potter premieres have nothing on this.
I Am NOT An Animal! (But I Play One In The Movies)
by Dan Fields
May 27th, 2011
Putting animal antics into movies is a perennially popular way to cobble up a goofball family comedy on short notice. This is a distinctly separate practice than merely animating creatures from scratch, which has produced its own wonderful results in the past. Nowadays, however, the line between the two is blurring at an alarming rate, so much so that it scarcely seems worth the trouble of getting real animals to be in live-action movies at all. The increasing intrusion of computer generated animal behavior is really beginning to mar the magic.
What Is Best In Life? Not Conan 3D, Barring A Miracle
by Dan Fields
May 3rd, 2011
Borne on the crest of the wind, I hear already the lamentation of women. Women whose dates have dragged them, possibly by the hair, to the late summer picture show. By now many of you know that Lionsgate will soon release a new film entitled Conan The Barbarian. Most of you will recall a cult classic by the same name from 1982, which was the breakout role of a certain Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Weekly Listicle: Keeping It Simple With A ROBO-POCALYPSE!
by Dan Fields
March 24th, 2011
This week, the big opener of note is the outrageous fantasy action epic Sucker Punch, which promises to blow its target audience away and bewilder the rest of the world. The only undeniable thing we can say now is that Zack Snyder is not planning on going anywhere. He seems pretty comfortable right where he’s [...]

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- The Killing Recap: Sayonara, Hiawatha (Season 2, Episode 9): Jen notes: If they pull the plug, can we campaign to get Holder his own show?
- House Recap: ‘Everybody Dies’ (Season 8, Episode 22 – Series Finale): Debs notes: Brilliant and insightful summary. Def agree with the Edelstein theory (that Stacy’s scene was written for...
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