Introduction: A Curious Artifact of Late ’80s Cinema The Girl in a Swing is the kind of movie that tiptoes around greatness while occasionally tripping on its own ambition. Released in 1988 and based on the novel by Richard Adams (best known for Watership Down), this strange blend of erotic romance and ghostly suspense exists … Read More “The Girl in a Swing (1988): An Uneven Haunting of Passion, Guilt, and the Supernatural” »
Old Money, New Secrets There’s something seductive about the old-money enclaves of the East Coast—the pristine sailboats, the clapboard mansions, the carefully curated smiles hiding centuries of rot. Masquerade (1988), directed by Bob Swaim and starring Rob Lowe, Meg Tilly, and Kim Cattrall, takes that genteel world and scrapes away the varnish to reveal the … Read More “Masquerade (1988): A Slick, Underrated Thriller That Shimmers with Romance and Deception” »
In Agnes of God, director Norman Jewison attempts a cinematic version of John Pielmeier’s intense stage play about innocence, guilt, and faith. Jane Fonda plays Dr. Martha Livingston, a skeptical psychiatrist; Anne Bancroft takes on the role of Mother Miriam Ruth, the convent’s hardline superior; and Meg Tilly takes center stage as Sister Agnes—an innocent … Read More “Agnes of God (1985) – A Heavy-handed Convent Chamber Play That Suffocates Its Promise” »
One of the most overlooked gems in 1980s science‑fiction horror, Impulse dials down the gore and feverish panic for a more considered, creep-driven nightmare. Its premise—a small-town quake unleashes a hidden toxin that strips away inhibitions—allows it to explore human nature at both its raw and fragile extremes. And casting Meg Tilly as the heart … Read More “Impulse (1984) – A Slow-Burn Nightmare Anchored by Meg Tilly’s Grace” »
Psycho II, directed by Richard Franklin and starring Anthony Perkins reprising his iconic role as Norman Bates, often receives mixed reactions. But beneath its shadow of Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece lies a surprisingly effective psychological thriller—one that leans on paranoia, generational trauma, and redemption. At its heart stands Meg Tilly, whose luminous performance adds a fresh … Read More “Psycho II (1983) – A Surprising Sequel Anchored by Meg Tilly’s Radiant Performance” »
When One Dark Night premiered in 1982, it arrived as a modest teenage shocker—PG-rated, clever, and atmospheric, whispering more than it screamed. It also introduced audiences to Meg Tilly, whose debut performance sparkles with vulnerability, charm, and unexpected depth. While not a canonical horror classic, the film’s elegant production design, eerie mausoleum setting, and measured … Read More “One Dark Night (1982) – Meg Tilly’s Mesmerizing Maiden Voyage Into Gothic Horror” »
Dead Tides – High Seas, Low Tide At first glance, Dead Tides had everything in place for a late‑’90s straight‑to‑video action thriller: Roddy “Rowdy” Piper, charismatic and tough; Tawny Kitaen, alluring and enigmatic; a yacht riddled with secrets; drug‑running plots; and a sun‑bleached tropical setting. Sadly, the result is a tepid blend of half‑baked action, … Read More “Dead Tides (1996) – Two Stars on a Leaky Ship” »
In the late-night VHS era of erotic thrillers and half-serious dramas, Playback attempted to be something more than your typical Cinemax after-dark feature. It flirted with noir, wore a business suit over its lusty core, and pitched itself as something that could actually be about ambition and betrayal in the corporate world. But let’s be … Read More “Playback (1996) – Corporate Seduction, Clandestine Voyeurism, and Two Redeeming Beauties” »
Kevin Tenney’s Witchboard, in its sunny mid‑80s horror-fare glow, promised supernatural chills and Ouija‑based dread. Producer-backed for atmospheric scares over gore, it hits glimpses of eerie promise but often collapses under thin dialogue, uneven pacing, and pedestrian performances. Despite these flaws, there’s enough charm—especially from Tawny Kitaen—and that standout line from the dirtbag answering the … Read More “Witchboard (1986) – Ouija Board Missteps, Tapioca Atmosphere, and Tawny Kitaen’s Spark” »
Few ’80s comedies so unabashedly embrace their silliness—or so fiercely insist on having a good time—as Bachelor Party. Directed by Neal Israel and written by Israel and Pat Proft, this gleefully outrageous romp stars Tom Hanks as Rick Gassko, a lovable school‑bus driver on the cusp of marriage to the radiant Debbie Thompson, played by … Read More “Bachelor Party (1984) – Pure ’80s Raunch, Charm, and Tawny Kitaen” »
