I was thinking about suggesting here some books, movies, stuff and art (present, past, random) you may find cool to discover as the year is birthed. Ready? Follow this thread...
SERENADE by James M Cain. This is lesser-known Cain but a really dark hardboiled story of passion, desire and murder. There is a scene in a colonial church that is unbelievably visual and twisted.
IL ARCANO INCANTATORE a film by Pupi Avati. The Barry Lyndon of horror movies. Hard to get but worth it! Some of it is in Youtube but incomplete. Full of esoteric lore that is well-researched and authentic. A neglected masterpiece.
The art of DAVID ROBERTS. Roberts toured Egypt in the early 1800's His images go beyond the exoticism of the Orientalists and evoke a mystery and a cosmic scale. 
YOU CAN'T WIN by Jack Black a deep dive into the underbelly of America, William Burroughs loved this book- a chronicle of Purgatory.
OTHER MEN'S WOMEN (1931) William Wellman. A powerful pre-code film that depicts a touching love triangle. Fluid, gorgeous camera work and an early Cagney appearance that you will savor.
The Decapitated Chicken and Other Stories by Horacio Quiroga. Quiroga is one of the very best storytellers and you will never forget his otherworldly images and gut punch endings. The Feather Pillow and the title story are perfect examples of this.
The Music of Wojciech Kilar. His best known soundtrack is DRACULA, but try any of his European scores and you will fall under this great artist's spell.
THROUGH THE WOODS by Emily Carroll. The stories Carroll creates have a deep, literary-grounded feel but they are entirely original. Her voice is unique and powerful and I, for one, am addicted to it.
Monster midway: An uninhibited look at the glittering world of the carny by William Lindsay Gresham. A companion piece of sorts, for Nightmare Alley. Unforgettable and vivid. A look into a hidebound society in the fringe of early twentieth century America.
THE RECKLESS MOMENT (1949) Max Ophüls, A tough but emotional, ambivalent thriller/melodrama staged by Ophüls with his trademark fluid camera and a wonderful performance by James Mason.
THE BIOLOGIC SHOW by Al Columbia. I don't know much about Mr Columbia (his output is not abundant and remains hard to find) but this only adds to the mystery of this odd creator- a mixture between Fleischer cartoons and David Lynch.
If these few ideas are pleasing, I will continue suggesting stuff! LMK Back to reading about the Napoleonic Wars.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
