"Lurker" is a tightly wound, effortlessly entertaining movie — despite not quite sticking its landing. It's a fantastic, effective thriller, and that's about all I'm going to say...because it's one you'll want to discover fresh and spoiler-free. #MovieSky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/09/lurk...

My #shortstory “Skyward” has been named Story of the Week at 50 Word Stories! If you want to read it … it won’t take long! fiftywordstories.com/2025/08/24/s...

"Weapons" is a dark, moody, tense, paranoid thriller. It's presented as a horror movie, but it also resembles conspiracy thrillers of the 1970s. It's *intensely* well made, and a puzzle. One that, on first viewing, doesn't offer enough solutions. #moviesky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/08/weap...

"Sketch" is a good family film that's slow out of the gate but builds to a compelling, affecting message about grief and loss. I enjoyed it, though was frustrated and even a little troubled to discover a fundraising message at its end. #moviesky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/08/sket...

I went to my first AMC "Screen Unseen" screening this week. The film: "East of Wall." On one hand, it's probably not a movie I'd seek out on my own, so I was glad to have my boundaries tested. On the other, I wish it had been ... better. #moviesky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/08/east...

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's an IP-forward entertainment franchise extension with strong consumer product potential and streaming revenue value! I didn't love "Superman," though David Corenswet is spot-on for the role. #MovieReview thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/07/ever...

"Sorry, Baby" is a slow, odd, quirky little film ... and in its final moments, it becomes almost unbearably profound and meaningful to anyone trying to make sense of a senseless world. It takes patience — and rewards it. #MovieSky #MovieReview thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/07/sorr...

The web has the power to push us into echo chambers, and disrupt our shared sense of reality. Listen to LONG SHADOW: BREAKING THE INTERNET to learn how social media's profit model has turned the internet into what it is. longshadowpodcast.com/podcasts/bre...

This place doesn't feel happy, does it? Does ANYplace on the internet feel good? If your answer is "no," you may wonder how we got here. The new season of Long Shadow from @longlead.com and @vermontgmg.bsky.social, out today, will captivate and stun you. longshadowpodcast.com/podcasts/bre...

With tough acts to follow from excellent previous seasons, this might be the best Long Shadow season yet. Episode 1 was great. Looking forward to each one that follows! @vermontgmg.bsky.social

"The Life of Chuck" is a curious film—sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Its sentimentality doesn't quite feel earned. It's worth seeing if you have a high tolerance for really, REALLY sweet things. Like, so sweet you want to brush your teeth after. thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-...

Here's my effort to understand why "Sinners" has worked such a spell on me, and why I think it's not just the best movie of the year, but maybe the best of the decade. It's a movie that has truly stunned me every time I've seen it. #MovieSky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/06/sinn...

There's a new season coming very soon of one of the most incredible podcasts I've ever listened to—and @longlead.com and @vermontgmg.bsky.social have absolutely outdone themselves this time around. It's genuinely unmissable. Have a listen to the trailer! www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KRr...

The best argument @amctheatres.bsky.social can find is, apparently, “People don’t hate this enough for us not to do it.” But AMC clearly hates its audience. www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...

There is almost no chance you have heard of this movie. That needs to change. This is a true gem and I'm going to actually GUARANTEE you'll like it I can't believe for a second I'll pay out a single dime. Give it a chance. It's truly special. #MovieSky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/06/bob-...

From my blog. I don't even remember having seen this film 10 years ago ... but now I want to watch it again. thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2015/09/catc...

I forgot to write this review of "The Amateur" after I saw it, and then I sort of forgot that I had seen "The Amateur." That's what kind of movie it is. #MovieSky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-...

Just saw “Sinners” again, this time in IMAX 70mm. Two thoughts: * The “end credits” sequence is a sort of cheat. It’s SO integral to the movie and everything the movie is saying about life and love and good and evil and music that it’s horrifying to imagine some people might leave. Also …

There’s a reason preventable diseases are prevented. I guess we’re going to #FAFO.

Would love to see you there.

We continue our limited series Two for One this weekend with director John Carpenter. Join him and Ben Mankiewicz on Saturday night beginning at 8pm ET with FRANKENSTEIN ('31) followed by THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN ('57).

Looking back, 30 hours online each month was more than sufficient.

NYT: Biden Accepts $400 Million 747 Jumbo Jet from Saudis AP: Obama Accepts $300 Million Mansion from China Reuters: Clinton Accepts $250 Million Yacht from Russia ABC News: Bush Accepts $300 Million Ranch from Afghans Washington Post: Reagan Accepts $150 Million Personal Loan from Soviets #WhatIf?

I don’t normally comment about stuff like this, but: good golly it’s hot.

The Pope wears clothing that in most nations would be considered clothing for a women, and he selects a name and identity that is different than the one he was born with. Clearly, non-binary appearances and chosen identities are NOT the actual concerns of the far right.

staffers are still cleaning up the Kristi Noem mess after she got gutted/filleted by @chrismurphyct.bsky.social this is A MOMENT. #MustWatch 🧢 @trumpfile.org

Disney’s going to build a new theme park in Abu Dhabi, but Tomorrowland at Disneyland has cobwebs, Spaceship Earth at Epcot takes you through a storeroom on descent, and half of the former Disney-MGM Studios are just empty buildings. #Priorities

I love Duolingo. I love its AI features. But using AI instead of people for jobs? No. That’s where I draw the line. Sorry, Duolingo. I won’t renew. techcrunch.com/2025/05/04/i...

On January 20, Donald Trump stood before a Supreme Court justice and swore to God — even though he refused to touch that Bible (hmmm …) — to uphold the Constitution. Now he says, “I don’t know” when asked if he needs to abide by it? Still no impeachment. So help him God.

New story alert! I've posted a new piece of short fiction, and would be delighted if you took a look. www.jswrites.com/mywriting/pr...

My husband and I were assaulted by a homeless person in LA today — he threw some unknown liquid at us and we called 911. Twenty-five minutes later, no police and the guy is gone and we are still covered in some unknown liquid. I don’t blame #LAPD but I do blame Mayor Karen Bass.

Happy anniversary to Disney’s near-forgotten almost-masterpiece, released this day in 1983.

“Sinners” is every bit as good as you’ve heard. Watching it is exciting, because it’s clear you’re watching a film that will become a classic. I‘m eager to see it again. #MovieSky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/04/sinn...

New story posted at jswrites.com, if you'd like to take a look!

A shower head company ran an A/B test to see whether consumers will pay the additional price for a product that's made in the USA. Spoiler alert: No.

Just for one moment imagine this was Biden on the left. This one photo would ruin a presidency.

Let’s play a game. Imagine what Fox News and the like would be saying if Joe Biden had been caught sleeping at the Pope’s funeral. Sleeping. Can you even BEGIN to conceive of the outrage?!

My husband’s father died in 1993. Today, as we were going through stuff for a garage sale, we found a box he doesn’t remember seeing. He opened it and found his father’s work service pins. But here’s the clincher: LOOK AT THE DATE. We found these on 4/26/25. How can that be a mere coincidence?!

Having a garage sale tomorrow and discovered this inside one of the games we’re selling. Circa 1997.

Interested in reading some writing? I promise, it's not boring. Unless you are easily bored. In which case, I guess it might be. But I hope not. I don't think so. You tell me. Anyway, I started this little webpage to share some of my work. jswrites.com

They're arresting judges. That is the country we have become -- in large part, and with immense irony, due to a group of judges.

He makes it sound so wonderfully simple.

And if a gay, Unitarian, agnostic, atheist, satanist or pagan parent wants to pull their child out of lessons that teach heteronormative values, will they be able? I don’t get why an argument along those lines isn’t being made? www.vox.com/scotus/40992...

Backyard, then (2018) and now.

This is just wild.

So “exhaustive,” they’ll plan the studies, conduct them, analyze them, and peer review them in 17 weeks. Can’t get more exhaustive than that! Especially when you go in with a pre-determined hypothesis! apnews.com/article/robe...

Storm King Comics, the acclaimed horror comic publisher, brings legendary John Carpenter @thehorrormaster.bsky.social to Midsummer Scream!* The director of iconic films like Halloween, The Thing, and Escape From New York, will appear 8/16 only with @stormkingcomics.bsky.social

Seems to me there is an untapped, potentially massive market for designer, sunglasses, like Joe Biden’s Ray-Ban aviators, with basic readers built in. As the market ages, I hope companies will do stuff like this.

@longlead.com is proud to announce LONG SHADOW: IN GUNS WE TRUST has received a nomination for a Peabody Award by unanimous vote from its Board of Jurors. This is a huge honor for us and our collaborators @thetrace.org, Campside Media, and @prx.org.

There are probably holes big enough to drive a Mack truck through, but I didn't care — "Drop" is about as eminently, unapologetically enjoyable as movie thrillers come. Pure entertainment. ***½ of ***** #MovieSky thereinthedark.blogspot.com/2025/04/drop...