Is there a better title for a horror movie like this? Not outright terrifying, just an all around crowd pleaser that just leaps off the screen. Fright Night. It has that special zing when you say it.Continue reading “A DOUBLE-BILLING OF ’80S POP HORROR: WELCOME TO FRIGHT NIGHT”
Author Archives: Diego Crespo
Freelancer with never as much free time as I'd like. It all works out.
BLOOD, HEDONISM, AND HUMANITY IN NEAR DARK
“The night, it’s deafening.”
One of the first images in Near Dark is young Adrian Pasdar as Caleb, slapping a mosquito as it draws blood from his arm. A nuisance, not something to be thought of twice. Caleb is relaxing against the moody Midwestern sky without a care in the world. The only thing drawing his attention is friends, alcohol and a gorgeous girl wandering the streets seemngly without a care herself. The night beckons him.Continue reading “BLOOD, HEDONISM, AND HUMANITY IN NEAR DARK”
NOSFERATU: INTO THE LAND OF THIEVES AND SPECTRES
“Does this word not sound to you like the midnight cry of the Deathbird. Take care in saying it, lest life’s images fade into shadows and ghostly dreams rise from your heart and nourish themselves on your blood. Long have I contemplated the origin and recession of the Great Death in my hometown of Wisborg. Here is its story. There lived in Wisborg Hutter and his young wife Ellen.”
Continue reading “NOSFERATU: INTO THE LAND OF THIEVES AND SPECTRES”
Was Henry Cavill’s #MustacheGate Worth It?
Two-Strip-Technicolor Practice Photos
I recently went back and discovered some older photos I had been meaning to edit. I thought I’d add a fun twist to make them feel even “older” before uploading them online. Taken around Los Angeles and Burbank.
Here are some practice edits of digital photos I’ve taken with an added two-strip-technicolor edit in photoshop.Continue reading “Two-Strip-Technicolor Practice Photos”
ALIENS: THIS TIME IT’S WAR
Originally posted at AudiencesEverywhere for the 30th Anniversary of “Aliens”
It’s always difficult finding words to describe a movie like Aliens. James Cameron’s bonafide classic sequel evokes admiration from the hearts of multiple genre stylings. Whether you’re an action junkie, horror fiend, or science-fiction fanatic, Aliens has something worth offering.
Along with being one of the few sequels capable of standing up to the original, many would argue it even surpasses Ridley Scott’s seminal monster movie. The discussion of which film is superior certainly leads to interesting debate, but Aliens maintains its status as a classic for reasons beyond that. It goes to show sequels can do something drastically different than their predecessors and still work as a thematic whole. Much like the first film, the pop culture zeitgeist is redefined by the world building presented in Cameron’s sequel.
June 2018
Since this is my personal blog, I think I’ll just start curating some photos I take monthly on my own free time. Here are some belated pics from June of this year.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – Higher Highs, Same Previous Lows
For all their flaws, these Jurassic World movies keep pitching us ideas that could lead the franchise into some fascinating territory. Nature vs. nurture and capitalist interests is the whole reason behind the Indominus Rex in Jurassic World. Fallen Kingdom wants us to look at a broader relationship to the species. They are living, breathing creatures that exist on our planet. As such, the question remains: does humanity have an obligation to save the creatures from a re-extinction event or is this nature’s way of course correcting?
It’s a fascinating question. One the movie even addresses in a handful of moments. Unfortunately, Fallen Kingdom is made up of many other moments. Most of which are about as dumb, mean-spirited and aggressive as its immediate predecessor. The first issue right off the bat is the lack of interest in the actual discussion. There are images of news footage, a courtroom scene with deity Jeff Goldblum declaring perhaps the nature is once again attempting to course correct itself. Before you know it, Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Williams is meeting up with a secret partner of John Hammond’s (because these sequels seem intent on smothering that man’s legacy) and we’re on a race against time against a volcanic eruption to save as many dinosaurs as possible.Continue reading “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – Higher Highs, Same Previous Lows”
Why I’m Glad Treyarch is Ditching Story Mode in “Call of Duty”
News came out recently that Black Ops 4 is ditching a single-player campaign to focus entirely on multiplayer and cooperative zombie modes. The head honchos have said campaign was never part of the plan. Others are saying the creators couldn’t have a story put together for the release date, so it was scrapped. Regardless of reasons, I’m torn on this.Continue reading “Why I’m Glad Treyarch is Ditching Story Mode in “Call of Duty””
Transformers: The Last Knight & Farewell to Bayhem
Mesmerizing. Like staring directly into a void and seeing a mad scientist use art as a weapon of mass destruction just because they could. An affront to nature. An affront to mankind. An affront to God herself. Continue reading “Transformers: The Last Knight & Farewell to Bayhem”
My Work 