Joseph Mallozzi's Weblog

Raw (2016) A young woman, studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFlXVX2af_Y&t=5s Thoughts: Mixes eroticism with cannibalism in its examination of female identity and social pressures. Provocative on multiple levels but tonally flat. The latter cements its unique artistic ascetic but at the cost of muting the viewer's emotional connection…

The Midnight Meat Train (2008) A photographer's obsessive pursuit of dark subject matter leads him into the path of a serial killer who stalks late night commuters, ultimately butchering them in the most gruesome ways. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtUiRfMy_uI&t=5s Thoughts: Some inspired direction here but the carnage is so over-the-top that it strays into silly territory. A solid…

Every Thursday I accompany Akemi to her pottery class in the Junction.  And, every Thursday, while she dabbles in clay, I enjoy a neighborhood stroll followed by a solo lunch followed by a matcha latte at a local cafe with free internet.  For our first six visits, I frequented the same fantastic delicatessen - When…

Jennifer's Body (2009) A newly-possessed high-school cheerleader turns into a succubus who specializes in killing her male classmates. Can her best friend put an end to the horror? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUjZHFNMlOM Thoughts: There’s a glibness to the humor and an interminable delight in its own cleverness that makes this movie tonally off-putting. Still, is it entertaining? Yes.…

Yesterday, Akemi, Ivon, and neighbor Kevin and I checked out Le Genie French Bakery (382 Yonge Street) where we enjoyed - The pain au chocolat, the chocolate-hazelnut flower tart, and the pistachio Paris-Brest.  Akemi was all over that pain au chocolat with all of its airy crispness and rich butteriness.  We split the chocolate flower…

Choose one to lose! For me, it's shrimp all the way.  Love me some scallops (possibly my favorites).  And I do love a good lobster roll.   Crab is great, especially stone crab - so long as it's served with the shell already cracked.  A bit labor intensive, sure.  But shrimp?  Maybe breaded and roasted…

Ghost Stories (2017) Skeptical professor Phillip Goodman embarks on a trip to the terrifying after being given a file with details of three unexplained cases of apparitions. Thoughts: The fact that these stories are first-hand experiences told in flashback defuses much of the stakes - until the final “twist”, which proves to be the big…

The plan was to be in Montreal for my sister's birthday weekend, but mom coming down with covid has forced me to switch things up.  Looks like it'll be a birthday call instead and a rescheduled visit next weekend. So rather than traveling, I spent the better part of yesterday and today rewriting that feature…

Cam (2018) When her account is stolen by a look-alike, a cam girl sets out to unmask the mysterious woman and get her identity back. Thoughts: A surprisingly smart psychological thriller that explores our disturbingly vulnerable online lives. 4/5 Daniel Isn't Real (2019) A troubled college freshman, Luke, suffers a violent family trauma. He then…

Man vs fly... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX94eOd65HU Akemi's pal, Woody... https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Am6MeYnfYgM PSA's of yore.  They don't make 'em like they used to! Another classic MADD PSA. In the extended cut, Best Friend waves up at window and shouts: "I borrowed $20 from your wallet for condoms! I left your change on the night stand!" https://twitter.com/BaronDestructo/status/1552698289543417858 Today's Yes/No... https://twitter.com/BaronDestructo/status/1552633366238871553…