Author Archives: curtisrunstedler

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: Leaving Neverland

Posted on March 4, 2019 by curtisrunstedler

I believe the boys/men in this documentary, and bravo to HBO for having the courage to air it in its entirety despite the backlash from MJ “superfans” and the Jackson estate. I love Michael Jackson’s music; Thriller was one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged child sexual abuse, HBO, Michael Jackson, Neverland Ranch | Comments Off

Red Dead Redemption 2: The Most Beautiful Tragedy

Posted on February 3, 2019 by curtisrunstedler

Red Dead Redemption 2 is possibly the greatest video game of all time and certainly my absolute favourite. Red Dead Redemption was my absolute favourite for a long time, boasting gorgeous graphics, wide, open-world gameplay, and a super compelling narrative, yet Red Dead 2 exceeds the … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Games, Reviews | Tagged Old West, outlaws, Pinkertons, redemption, revisionist, revolver, Western | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: Hereditary

Posted on June 18, 2018 by curtisrunstedler

This year’s Hereditary has been hailed as the scariest movie in recent years, but I don’t feel that it does this film justice. It is terrifying on a psychological level, but the traditional jump scares and scare tactics are minimal. Instead, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged Ari Aster, creepy child, death, grief, PTSD, supernatural | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: Elvis Presley: The Searcher

Posted on May 8, 2018 by curtisrunstedler

HBO’s new documentary Elvis Presley: The Searcher peels back the mythological layers of the rock icon/god to examine him as a man who was hard working, open minded, quite likeable, and who loved music. I love Elvis Presley, especially his Sun Sessions … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged Elvis; HBO; documentary; rock and roll; biography | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: Pyewacket

Posted on April 1, 2018 by curtisrunstedler

Pyewacket is a great little Canadian indie horror gem about a teenage girl whose father has recently died and as a consequence of arguing with her overprotective mother, decides to summon a demon with even more disastrous consequences. Canadian Nicole Muñoz … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged demon, Laurie Holden, mother-daughter, Nicole Muñoz, occult, supernatural | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: Annihilation

Posted on March 12, 2018 by curtisrunstedler

Alex Garland (Ex Machina) makes a fantastic return as director/writer with Annihilation, which is based on Jeff VanderMeer’s novel. It’s about five female scientists who enter a seemingly alien, jungle-like quarantine zone searching for the lost expedition. Only one of its … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged Alex Garland, alien, Natalie Portman, sci fi | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: Ma vie de Courgette (My Life as a Zucchini)

Posted on February 1, 2018 by curtisrunstedler

Ma vie de Courgette (a courgette is a zucchini for North American folks) is a delightful and heartwarming little stop motion film, and probably my favourite animated film since Finding Nemo. Courgette is the main character, a sensitive and intelligent little boy … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged animated, child abuse, children, French, orphanage, stop motion | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Week: Year Zero: The Silent Death of Cambodia

Posted on January 13, 2018 by curtisrunstedler

David Munro’s 1979 ITV documentary Year Zero: The Silent Death of Cambodia (written by John Pilger) captures the horrors and atrocities of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime (1975-79) firsthand from the front line. While it is a hard watch, it is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged 1970s, Cambodia, documentary, genocide, Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: I, Tonya

Posted on December 27, 2017 by curtisrunstedler

Craig Gillespie’s mockumentary biopic (and first directed film) I, Tonya tells the story of Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie), an Olympic figure skater from an abused and unloved background who is the first to successfully complete the triple axel, before being accused … Continue reading →

Posted in Features, Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged figure skating, Margot Robbie, mockumentary, Tonya Harding | Comments Off

Runstedler’s DVD Pick of the Month: Mysterious Skin

Posted on September 19, 2017 by curtisrunstedler

Based on Scott Heim’s acclaimed novel of the same name, Greg Arraki’s 2004 film Mysterious Skin is a tough and disturbing watch, but also an incredible cinematic experience. It tells of two boys Neil (a young Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and Brian (Brady Corbet) … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Reviews, Runstedler's DVD Pick of the Month | Tagged alien abductions, child abuse, coming of age, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, pedophilia, sexual abuse | Comments Off