The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (April 27th, 2025)

This series will highlight my weekly journey through previously released films, whether they are rewatches for me or new discoveries. Here are my picks:     

The Cat and the Canary (1927)

Where did all the classic haunted house tropes begin? We have been so used to them since childhood…at least those who watched some classic Scooby-Doo as kids. You can see many early examples of these classic scares and elements with The Cat and the Canary. Paul Leni delivers an eerie and haunting atmosphere with some good old fashioned German Expressionist visuals. There are fun moments with clawed hands creeping into frames and trying to grab at the unsuspecting characters he is creeping on. The cast is game with a classic “scream queen” type in Laura La Plante and a fun personality like Creighton Hale bringing some solid laughs as well. This is almost 100 years old but still looks great and has plenty of fun elements to enjoy today as well.

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Where did the famous image of fleshing eating zombies originate? Go back to 1968 with George A. Romero’s all-time classic horror flick, Night of the Living Dead. The slow moving and unrelenting ghouls get plenty of opportunities to make a lasting impression in Romero classic film that lays the groundwork for so many beloved films to come after this. But it is not just the tension of these terrifying and grotesque creatures that lays down the scares. There are plenty of tense moments that come from the conflict and paranoia brewing between the trapped human characters as well. Romero injects some poignant themes about race relations amongst other things that just gives this even more depth. This is a low budget flick, but it has truly impressive cinematic elements in it to get lost in. Eerie and unnerving from the start, this is a thrill rider that just doesn’t let up.

The Swan (2023)

How far will bullies go? Roald Dahl’s tale of The Swan is a brutal exploration of trauma and the resilience it takes to overcome adversity. Rupert Friend carries this whole short film with his quirky character work and voices. He sells every bit of this tale (with Ralph Fiennes’ Dahl adding weight and thematic resonance at the end). There is a brutality and visceral nature of The Swan. There are some terrifying moments with some unnerving elements from a train to bloody swan wings on a child. There is an impressive technical prowess to Anderson’s film with the mix of humor and bleakness. But this is also a story about the power of perseverance and with plenty of storytelling flair. Friend and crew craft an engrossing and creative vision of Dahl’s story in a nice 17-minute package.

Mary, Queen of Scots (1971)

Who doesn’t like a good old fashioned period drama? Mary, Queen of Scots is an Oscar-nominated film from the early 70s which offers up a quality experience which was overshadowed by the evolving cinematic efforts of the time. Vanessa Redgrave leads an impressive ensemble with her evolving performance from naïve to empowered. Glenda Jackson gives a fantastic performance as Queen Elizabeth as well. Patrick McGoohan, Timothy Dalton, Nigel Davenport, and Ian Holm filled out this talented cast. There are plenty of familiar biopic and period piece beats but there is a fire in this story too. There are some intense and shocking sequences mixed in the political drama. The period trappings are impressive (and earned this film plenty of attention) and the John Barry score is a killer addition that adds plenty of emotion and fire to the film. This is a well-made and engaging cinematic experience for sure.