The Ricochet Reviewer: Books, Movies, and Comics

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2026 by Algernon Blackwood The novella first appeared in this collection. A hunting trip in the Canadian backcountry goes wrong when something in the woods notices the men and starts to close in. They are well beyond any road or settlement, and author Algernon Blackwood never lets us forget how far they’ve gone, that they’re swallowed by country that barely seems mapped—miles of trees, waterlogged ground, lonely lakes. Algernon Blackwood  That landscape isn’t just a backdrop; it’s the real subject of the story. The forest comes across as immense and utterly unmoved by human presence, an environment that will keep existing long after these men—and their little campfire—are gone, so the fear becomes less about a creature in the shadows and more about being absorbed into that huge, uncaring space. The “monster” feels like an expression of the place itself, a way for the woods to reach out and claim someone. The characters are drawn more as clear POVs than deep...

HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2026 Writer: Mike Friedrich Artist: Paul Gulacy Inker: J. Abel First, let’s get reintroduced to Michael Morbius and his terrible curse. I like the idea that Morbius is capable of “softening” his attack so that it is not necessarily fatal, but that he must also get away quickly so his overwhelming hunger does not compel him to finish his victim off. A couple of holy men, Reverend Daemond and Rabbi Krause, who is also a scientist, stumble upon Morbius as he rests, and his reaction to them is not typical for him. They attempt to help him with discouraging results. Calling on Satan appears to get results where science fails. Now that Daemond has control of the Living Vampire, it appears that Rabbi Krause has no further use. Reduced to a state of servitude, Morbius is sent to assassinate a rival. A good fast-paced tale, a bit too padded with flashbacks despite its short length. Paul Gulacy really does an exceptional job of portraying Morbius's feral, desperate hunger. ...

Director: Christopher Guest Writers: Michael Varhol & Christopher Guest & Michael McKean, story by Michael Varhol & Christopher Guest Stars: Kevin Bacon, Emily Longstreth, J.T. Walsh, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Michael McKean, Kim Miyori Following "Spinal Tap" but before striking comedic gold with his own successful series of mockumentaries, Christopher Guest directed and co-wrote this awful lampoon of the Hollywood scene, in which an award-winning film student (Kevin Bacon) dips a toe in the deep waters of the big studio lagoon and nearly loses his soul.  Bacon's character is hopelessly naïve to the point of appearing stupid.  Are we really supposed to believe that anyone with even a nodding acquaintance with the film world would expect a major studio to back a black-and-white relationship drama about three people in a snowed-in cabin with no music by a first-time director?  Furthermore, Bacon's character becomes so craven so fast and shows so little evidence ...

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2026 by Jonathan L. Howard A sardonic novel that balances gallows humor, irony, and sarcasm with a grim heart.  The premise—Cabal, a necromancer and scientist, must win back his soul from the Devil by claiming a hundred replacement souls for him—sets the tone perfectly.  "Soul Catcher" (German) Satan is good enough to grant him ownership of a damned carnival to aid him in achieving his goal.  "Johannes Cabal, the Necromancer" (Russian) Each stop of the carnival plays like a self-contained morality tale, but together they form a coherent and rich arc.  "Johannes Cabal, the Necromancer" (French) The dialogue is razor-sharp, full of wit and bite.  Another strength of the book is Cabal’s relationship with his brother Horst, a courteous vampire whose decency gives the book emotional weight. Their bond softens the novel’s caustic tone just enough to make its darkness resonate.  Author Jonathan L. Howard sustains a comic voice without flat...

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2026 Director: Timothy Hines Writer: based on the novel by H.G. Wells Stars: Jack Clay, Jim Cissell, Susan Goforth, Floyd Reichman, Anthony Piana, James Lathrop, John Kaufmann, Darlene Sellers, Jamie Lynn Sease This docudrama purports to tell the true story of the War of the Worlds through a combination of re-enactments, “authentic” footage, and interviews with the last survivor of the event (Floyd Reichman).  Clearly made on a budget, this film is nevertheless a clever and faithful take on H.G. Wells’s oft-adapted material.  The tripods look great, and the aliens are more frightening and horrific than in any other film version I have seen.  This material was reportedly repurposed from an unendurable three-hour version that was a more conventional adaptation. That makes director Timothy Hines’s film a prime example of making lemonade out of lemons, and it deserves a wider audience.

  HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2026 Writer/Director: Dario Argento Stars: Leigh McCloskey, Irene Miracle, Eleonora Giorgi, Daria Nicolodi, Sacha Pitoeff, Alida Valli, Veronica Lazar, Gabriele Lavia, Feodor Chaliapin, Jr. Various characters converge on an old hotel in New York, which may be the abode of one of a trio of witches who exert tremendous influence over the world.  I’m trying to give Dario Argento a chance, but I’m finding that his aesthetic is just not for me.  Even his masterpiece, “Suspiria,” struck me as an overwrought, confused, dull exercise in storytelling (albeit with a good climax), but “Inferno” is no “Suspiria.”  I’ve read what his admirers say about his brilliant palette of colors, and yes, it is very pretty to look at.  They also applaud his sense of dream logic, which just strikes me as a lack of logic.  His characters always seem to be wandering through labyrinthine buildings and crawling through glass.  I am also struck by his affini...