MAN OF THE YEAR: Debt and Redemption in SKIP TRACER A new video essay by @stephenbroomer.bsky.social on Zale Dalen's 1977 cult classic, starring David Petersen in one of the most indelible performances in Canadian film history. See it now at spectacularoptical.com

Tomorrow! The new episode of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social's NORTHERN LIGHT video essay series (on Canadian classics, hits and misfits) goes live on spectacularoptical.com, this time covering what may be my all-time favourite Canadian feature film: Zale Dalen's SKIP TRACER (1977).

Less than a week til the German premiere of THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM at @finalgirlsberlin.bsky.social !! Playing as part of the "Nightmares" short film program - Get tix here: www.finalgirlsberlin.com/2026/shorts8

Now live on spectacularoptical.com - The newest episode of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social's NORTHERN LIGHT video essay series on Canadian classics, hits and misfits, this time focused on Mike Kanentakeron Mitchell's YOU ARE ON INDIAN LAND (1969). spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

In Cornwall last fall for a *soon-to-be-announced* Spectacular Optical project, we stopped by the hotel from Nicolas Roeg's 1990 adaptation of THE WITCHES

Just Announced! THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM will have its German Premiere at @finalgirlsberlin.bsky.social on March 7th - details on their website here: www.finalgirlsberlin.com/2026/shorts8

Now live on spectacularoptical.com - the latest instalment of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's video essay series on Canadian classics, hits and misfits, NORTHERN LIGHT - this time focused on Martin Duckworth and Pat Crawley’s ACCIDENT (1973).

Next month on @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's video essay series NORTHERN LIGHT: FALLING FROM THE SKY: ACCIDENT (1973) AS TESTIMONAL DOCUMENTARY - see it February 1 at spectacularoptical.com

New episode of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's NORTHERN LIGHT went live on Spectacular Optical today! This month the spotlight is on Leonard Yakir's 1972 Winnipeg documentary MAINSTREET SOLDIER: spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

Next on @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's Northern Light: WAR AT HOME: MAINSTREET SOLDIER AS ANTI-EPIC: "Broomer situates Leonard Yakir’s celebrated short film in the context of CanLit’s disillusioned anti-heroes, and the tensions of performance in cinema verité." Jan 1 @ spectacularoptical.com

Since 'tis the season for all things ghostly, here's Ben Petrie who played The Porter in THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM talking about the ghost stories that have most affected him. The film is playing tomorrow (Dec 23) in Seattle at The Beacon Cinema w/ SCHALCKEN THE PAINTER! vimeo.com/1148734613/7...

Slipcase editions of our Robert Downey Sr. book TRUTH & SOUL have shipped! Thanks to Taylor at scream&writhe distro for getting them out the door so quick as soon as they arrived from the printer ! There are a limited number still available at spectacularoptical.com

So now that a few of you have had a chance to watch my film THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM, here's me blabbing about a few of the films that were influences on it! (and don't worry there are no actual spoilers in this video) vimeo.com/1146798514/f...

Just over a week til the inaugural Winter's Wake - a celebration of the seasonal ghost story on Pender Island, BC, Canada - featuring the gulf islands premiere of THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM. Few tickets remain: share.google/BGJvVgsrTHQl...

UPDATED SCREENINGS! More screenings for THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM added: Dec 6th at @triskelartscentre.bsky.social w BLACK CHRISTMAS, Dec 23 at the Beacon in Seattle w A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS, and Dec 30 at Stray Cat Film Center in KCMO w/ Sean Hogan's "To Fire You Come at Last"

THE TRAGEDY OF THE VIKING The new video essay in @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's monthly series NORTHERN LIGHT focused on Canadian classics, hits and misfits. Now live at spectacularoptical.com

MJ's @themeatispeople.bsky.social says, "THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM is the sort of film that is haunting in the truest sense, its chill settling deep in the bones." Check out @kierlajanisse.bsky.social first narrative outing streaming on @shudder.com #theoccupantoftheroom #nowstreaming #shudder

NEW episode of @stephenbroomer.bsky.social 's video essay series NORTHERN LIGHT is up! This one exploring the tragic tale of George Melford and Lewis Varick Frissell’s The Viking (1931) spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

Our Holiday gift guide! spectacularoptical.com/articles/ess...

Upcoming screenings for THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM, beginning tomorrow with its premiere on @shudder.com as part of annual series THE HAUNTED SEASON (in all their territories!) Scan through the list to see if it is coming to a theatre near you!

Stephen Broomer's NORTHERN LIGHT video essay series continues next month with "The Tragedy of The Viking" - his examination of George Melford and Lewis Varick Frissell’s The Viking (1931), dropping Monday December 1st at spectacularoptical.com

CHICAGO! Here's a chance to see my short film THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM on the big screen, in support of the gorgeous, snowy sequel THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE. What an inspired pairing! Sunday Dec 7th at 6:45pm at the historic @musicboxtheatre.bsky.social

Trailer and premiere date revealed for Kier-La Janisse’s Shudder chiller “THE HAUNTED SEASON: THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM” https://ow.ly/3vzw50XvRhn

THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM at Saskatoon Fantastic Film Festival ! Screening Nov 26th at 7pm before the feature film MARAMA. You can also catch our co-star Ben Petrie elsewhere in the festival in DEAD LOVER which is also playing! Tix at www.skfilmfest.com

Catch @kierlajanisse.bsky.social’s THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM along with THEATRE OF HORRORS on 12/1 at LF3 / @amcinematheque.bsky.social. Come early for thr @severinfilms.bsky.social Pop-up shop before the screening. 🎟️: tinyurl.com/mj69u5ep

Toronto's @bloodinthesnow.ca - a festival exclusively focused on Canadian genre work - has begun! It runs Nov 17-22. See my picks for this year's festival here: spectacularoptical.com/articles/blo...

‪I'm gradually moving articles and interviews over from the old website, and here's a piece I wrote in 2013 about one of my favourite films, Gene Kearney's stark, eerie adaptation of Conrad Aiken's "Silent Snow, Secret Snow." spectacularoptical.com/articles/gen...

Pleased to announce I've partnered with Kraken Underground to put on the first WINTER'S WAKE - a celebration of the seasonal ghost story - Dec 21 on Pender Island, BC, Canada - tix available now at winterswake.ca All attendees get a collectible event poster by @seenstudio.bsky.social

NEW on Spectacular Optical: NORTHERN LIGHT - a monthly video essay series on the classics, hits and misfits of Canadian cinema hosted by @blackzerodisc.bsky.social 's Stephen Broomer. First episode "The Invasion Will Be Televised" now online at spectacularoptical.com/video-essays...

TONIGHT! A YEAR IN A FIELD screens at Winnipeg's Dave Barber Cinematheque at 5:15pm as part of the Gimme Some Truth Documentary Festival. See the trailer below: youtu.be/37-oipXz2WE?...

A YEAR IN A FIELD plays at Winnipeg's Gimme Some Truth documentary festival Sunday at 5:15pm. Thanks to @freepking.bsky.social for including it in his article today! www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-lif...

YULETIDE TERROR paperback back in stock - but only 80 copies remain, get them before they're gone! There are 24 chapters plus a compendium with over 200 capsule reviews, all heavily illustrated in 488 pages! Make sure to go to the NEW website at spectacularoptical.com

Spectacular Optical and @severinfilms.bsky.social original production THE OCCUPANT OF THE ROOM screens at @imaginefff.bsky.social on Nov 2 + 5 spectacularoptical.com/events/the-o...

TRUTH & SOUL: A ROBERT DOWNEY SR. READER now available. 23 essays, 332 pages, full colour! spectacularoptical.com/product/trut...

A quiet announcement... spectacularoptical.com/events/a-yea...