Category Archives: Horror

Monsters and Matinees: Move over Westerns and Make Way for Texas-sized B-Movie Horrors

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

Monsters and Matinees: Move over Westerns… Cowboys and horses and Texas. That’s been a winning hand for moviegoers and the film industry since 1910 when the state’s first film studio was opened in San Antonio by Gaston Méliès, brother of … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: Revisiting the shades of fear in ‘The Leopard Man’

Posted on August 12, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

Revisiting the shades of fear in ‘The Leopard Man’ We’ve all been there. There’s a noise behind us. A rustling of bushes. Or a movement in a dark street corner. Is someone there? We casually walk a little faster while … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: A Killer Gaze: Richard Burton and his ‘Medusa Touch’

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

A Killer Gaze: Richard Burton and his ‘Medusa Touch’ A severely beaten man who has survived a heinous assault is unconscious in a London hospital. His head and face are wrapped in bandages with only his eyes (a key thing) … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: The Classic Connection of Warner Bros., Big Bugs and Hammer Horror

Posted on June 10, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

The Classic Connection of Warner Bros., Big Bugs and Hammer Horror Gangster films, innovative musicals, hard-boiled detective movies and female-centered dramas. Porky Pig, Donald Duck, Bugs Bunny and Batman, too. That’s quite a distinct and diverse group of genres and … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: When Worlds Collide, Moviegoers Love to Watch

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

When Worlds Collide, Moviegoers Love to Watch It’s 1910 and the world is in a panic. Halley’s Comet is on its way, and people are terrified. They buy gas masks to save themselves from poisonous fumes and take anti-comet pills … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: A trio of films bring to life Richard Matheson’s ‘I Am Legend’

Posted on April 8, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

A trio of films bring to life Richard Matheson’s ‘I Am Legend’ The idea of the last man or woman on earth spurs my imagination. How will it happen? When will it happen? Why will it happen? “Germs. Bacteria. Viruses. … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: Celebrating Ricou Browning

Posted on March 11, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

Celebrating Ricou Browning “The Gill-Man is coming!” That was me, giddy as a teen, just three years ago when it was announced that Ricou Browning would be appearing in my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. The idea of being in the … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: Like big-bug films? Try these she-bug B-movies

Posted on February 11, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

Classic horror fans are forever grateful to the 1950s, a decade that birthed one of the greatest of all film genres: the big-bug movie. Multitudes of giant ants, spiders, grasshoppers, shrews and scorpions all treated moviegoers to oversized terrors. Toward … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: A century later, Chaney’s ‘Hunchback’ still amazes

Posted on January 14, 2023 by Toni Ruberto

A century later, Chaney’s ‘Hunchback’ still amazes If you were a moviegoer 100 years ago in 1923, you would have been treated to laughs courtesy of comedy greats Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. You might have held your breath as … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Matinees: Beyond Lugosi – 9 Classic Film Actors who Played Dracula

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Toni Ruberto

9 Classic Film Actors who Played Dracula Say the name Dracula and who do you see? Most likely Bela Lugosi. The Hungarian actor remains the face of Bram Stoker’s iconic character even for some who have never seen him play … Continue reading →

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