Author: Jeff Mitchell

31 Scary Movies that are 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon: ‘The Lair of the White Worm’

Jeff Mitchell

“The Lair of the White Worm” (1988) – Director/writer Ken Russell perfectly casts Amanda Donohoe as Lady Sylvia Marsh – an elegant, seductive vampire – in his B-horror film – adapted from Bram Stoker’s novel with the same title – a story with high concepts, low-budget practical effects, and bizarre hallucinations and dream sequences. Set in England’s West Midlands, an archeologist (Peter Capaldi) discovers – what resembles to be – a dinosaur skull, but his finding is only 1,000 years old.  How can that be?  Meanwhile, the aforementioned Lady seduces…

‘Raymond & Ray’: This modest, everyday tale is memorable for the wrong reason

Jeff Mitchell

“Raymond & Ray” (2022) – “A dysfunctional family is any family with more than one person in it.” – Mary Karr, poet Ms. Karr is correct.  Every family – including mine – has its share of dysfunction.  It’s just a matter of degree.  Not even the British Royals can escape the reach of imperfect human nature.  In “Raymond & Ray”, director/writer Rodrigo Garcia explores a specific event of an ordinary clan in Middle America, but this particular domestic unit lugs – like a weight of 10,000 tons – more than…

Maybe don’t pack your bags. ‘Ticket to Paradise’ is a forgettable trip.

Jeff Mitchell

“Ticket to Paradise” (2022) – “We’ve waited so long.  We’ve waited so long.  I got two tickets to paradise.  Won’t you pack your bags, we’ll leave tonight.” – “Two Tickets to Paradise” (1978) by Eddie Money George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Movie audiences haven’t “waited so long” for a Clooney-Roberts collaboration.  These two megastars have connected on the big screen for years, dating back to 2001. For starters, “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001), “Ocean’s Twelve” (2004), and “Money Monster” (2016), and Julia starred in a provocative supporting role in “Confessions of a…