Arachnophiliac
@arachnophiliac.bsky.social
RT-Approved Film Critic / Co-Founder and Managing Editor of The Take-Up / Former Bylines: The Lens, Riverfront Times, St. Louis Magazine, Alive Magazine, The Common Reader, The Curator, Temporary Art Review
Pinned
cemeteries grow larger the number of defenders is smaller
yet the defense continues it will continue to the end
and if the City falls but a single man escapes
he will carry the City within himself on the roads of exile
he will be the City
yet the defense continues it will continue to the end
and if the City falls but a single man escapes
he will carry the City within himself on the roads of exile
he will be the City
Happy ZOOTOPIA 2 release. Flashback to my too-long essay on how the original film is about the social benefits of urban cosmopolitanism and the horrors of the environmental lead epidemic. (Seriously.) Bonus dragging of That One Guy from Birth Movies Death.
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2016/4/...
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2016/4/...
A City Upon a Hill: Zootopia — Gateway Cinephile
[Note: This post contains major spoilers. It expands upon my original review of Zootopia , which appeared at St. Louis Magazine on March 3, 2016.] A simple fact needs to be cleared up straightaway...
www.gatewaycinephile.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Happy ZOOTOPIA 2 release. Flashback to my too-long essay on how the original film is about the social benefits of urban cosmopolitanism and the horrors of the environmental lead epidemic. (Seriously.) Bonus dragging of That One Guy from Birth Movies Death.
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2016/4/...
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2016/4/...
Good slasher fundamentals, enlivened by style and a little more thematic depth than expected. When we get that first haunting crane shot of the carnival at about the 20 min mark, I was locked tf in. Hooper rarely misses.
Stalked through a carnival ghost train by something unspeakable. Terrifying stuff from Tobe Hooper its light on blood but heavy on style and scares. 1981.
#horrorcommunity #horrorfamily #film #horrormovie #horrorfilm #horrorfan #classichorror #horroraddict #filmsky #horrorsky #mutantfam #horrorfam
#horrorcommunity #horrorfamily #film #horrormovie #horrorfilm #horrorfan #classichorror #horroraddict #filmsky #horrorsky #mutantfam #horrorfam
November 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Good slasher fundamentals, enlivened by style and a little more thematic depth than expected. When we get that first haunting crane shot of the carnival at about the 20 min mark, I was locked tf in. Hooper rarely misses.
New at The Take-Up: Now that we've all had a chance to chew on ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER for a couple months, Ethan Tarantella goes on long PTA's latest, looking at its adaptational choices, revolutionary politics, and critical reception. (Spoiler-heavy piece!)
thetake-up.com/one-battle-a...
thetake-up.com/one-battle-a...
One Battle After Another - The Take-Up
[Note: This review contains spoilers for Vineland and One Battle After Another.] At the conclusion of Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland, the characters are celebrating the defeat of DEA agent Brock Vond...
thetake-up.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
New at The Take-Up: Now that we've all had a chance to chew on ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER for a couple months, Ethan Tarantella goes on long PTA's latest, looking at its adaptational choices, revolutionary politics, and critical reception. (Spoiler-heavy piece!)
thetake-up.com/one-battle-a...
thetake-up.com/one-battle-a...
There are people out there utterly despise THE SHAPE OF WATER and I can't wrap my mind around that.
November 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
There are people out there utterly despise THE SHAPE OF WATER and I can't wrap my mind around that.
The consensus seems to be that SEANCE OF BLAKE MANOR is "easy", or even a bit too hand-holdy, so I feel like a proper moron for repeatedly stumbling into fail states and then utterly bungling my first play through at the end.
I amend my statement. BLAKE MANOR is destroying me. I am an idiot blundering in the darkness and I’m going to get all of these people killed.
SEANCE OF BLAKE MANOR delivers the COLONEL’S BEQUEST high I’ve been chasing for 35 years. Very much in this old gamer’s lane.
November 25, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The consensus seems to be that SEANCE OF BLAKE MANOR is "easy", or even a bit too hand-holdy, so I feel like a proper moron for repeatedly stumbling into fail states and then utterly bungling my first play through at the end.
I saved Latin. What did you ever do, Charlie Brown?
If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule, Charlie Brown?
Second prize is a set of steak knives, Charlie Brown
November 24, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I saved Latin. What did you ever do, Charlie Brown?
I amend my statement. BLAKE MANOR is destroying me. I am an idiot blundering in the darkness and I’m going to get all of these people killed.
SEANCE OF BLAKE MANOR delivers the COLONEL’S BEQUEST high I’ve been chasing for 35 years. Very much in this old gamer’s lane.
November 24, 2025 at 1:06 PM
I amend my statement. BLAKE MANOR is destroying me. I am an idiot blundering in the darkness and I’m going to get all of these people killed.
SEANCE OF BLAKE MANOR delivers the COLONEL’S BEQUEST high I’ve been chasing for 35 years. Very much in this old gamer’s lane.
November 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM
SEANCE OF BLAKE MANOR delivers the COLONEL’S BEQUEST high I’ve been chasing for 35 years. Very much in this old gamer’s lane.
The moment where the vampire lord kills Mark's parents by conking their heads together like the Three Stooges lives rent free in my head.
The 🇺🇸 American two-part vampire miniseries "SALEM'S LOT" based on the 1975 horror novel by Stephen King, directed by Tobe Hooper, starring David Soul, James Mason, Lance Kerwin, Bonnie Bedelia, Lew Ayres, Reggie Nalder & Geoffrey Lewis premiered #OnThisDay in 1979 on the CBS Network
📺 Warner Bros.
📺 Warner Bros.
November 17, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The moment where the vampire lord kills Mark's parents by conking their heads together like the Three Stooges lives rent free in my head.
Filling in some Godzilla blind spots and, man, is DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968) ever great. A reminder that movies can be low-budget nonsense and still be made with craft, vision, and a sense of fun.
November 17, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Filling in some Godzilla blind spots and, man, is DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968) ever great. A reminder that movies can be low-budget nonsense and still be made with craft, vision, and a sense of fun.
Terrible as a DRACULA adaptation. Masterpiece as cinema.
On this day, 33 years ago, Bram Stoker’s Dracula was released in cinemas.
Starring #GaryOldman, #WinonaRyder, #KeanuReeves and #AnthonyHopkins it was an Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed success and one of the most revered #vampire movies ever.
Starring #GaryOldman, #WinonaRyder, #KeanuReeves and #AnthonyHopkins it was an Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed success and one of the most revered #vampire movies ever.
November 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Terrible as a DRACULA adaptation. Masterpiece as cinema.
This week on The Take-Up podcast, Drew Wendt of "Do You Like Apples?" joins Josh and I to discuss Mike Nichols' 1967 box-office and cultural smash, THE GRADUATE. Does it rise above its reputation as a "voice of a generation" and wellspring of pop parodies?
open.spotify.com/episode/6W4I...
open.spotify.com/episode/6W4I...
The Graduate (with Drew Wendt)
open.spotify.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This week on The Take-Up podcast, Drew Wendt of "Do You Like Apples?" joins Josh and I to discuss Mike Nichols' 1967 box-office and cultural smash, THE GRADUATE. Does it rise above its reputation as a "voice of a generation" and wellspring of pop parodies?
open.spotify.com/episode/6W4I...
open.spotify.com/episode/6W4I...
Sad to say I didn't much care for Edgar Wright's faithful re-adaptation of Stephen King's THE RUNNING MAN. As an action picture, it's decent. As a work of social/political satire, it feels just as hollow as its 1987 predecessor. My review at The Take-Up:
thetake-up.com/the-running-...
thetake-up.com/the-running-...
The Running Man - The Take-Up
Stephen King’s 1982 novel The Running Man is one of the author’s more uncharacteristic works. This dystopian science-fiction tale – set, as it happens, in a capitalist hellhole version of the United S...
thetake-up.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Sad to say I didn't much care for Edgar Wright's faithful re-adaptation of Stephen King's THE RUNNING MAN. As an action picture, it's decent. As a work of social/political satire, it feels just as hollow as its 1987 predecessor. My review at The Take-Up:
thetake-up.com/the-running-...
thetake-up.com/the-running-...
Naturally @realgdt.bsky.social made his version of Frakenstein a thing of tumor-florid opulence and ravishing tragedy. Naturally, his Victor is unconscionably vile. Naturally, his Creature is piteously beautiful. Naturally, it's all about fathers and their (unforgivable?) failures. Great stuff.
November 8, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Naturally @realgdt.bsky.social made his version of Frakenstein a thing of tumor-florid opulence and ravishing tragedy. Naturally, his Victor is unconscionably vile. Naturally, his Creature is piteously beautiful. Naturally, it's all about fathers and their (unforgivable?) failures. Great stuff.
Discussing another newish release this week on The Take-Up pod: Josh and I dive into one of his 2025 favs, Alain Guiraudie's languid provincial thriller/comedy, MISERICORDIA. Bonus talk on Netflix crime doc THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR and Joseph Losey's THE SERVANT (1963).
open.spotify.com/episode/5Ind...
open.spotify.com/episode/5Ind...
Misericordia
open.spotify.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Discussing another newish release this week on The Take-Up pod: Josh and I dive into one of his 2025 favs, Alain Guiraudie's languid provincial thriller/comedy, MISERICORDIA. Bonus talk on Netflix crime doc THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR and Joseph Losey's THE SERVANT (1963).
open.spotify.com/episode/5Ind...
open.spotify.com/episode/5Ind...
It's me, the cishet filmbro who adores Alain Guiraudie's very gay 2013 psychological / erotic thriller, STRANGER BY THE LAKE. (This may be relevant for this week's podcast ep.)
November 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
It's me, the cishet filmbro who adores Alain Guiraudie's very gay 2013 psychological / erotic thriller, STRANGER BY THE LAKE. (This may be relevant for this week's podcast ep.)
You Lanthimos-heads want more BUGONIA? You got it. On The Take-Up pod this week, Josh and I attempt to ferret out the secret Andromedans in our midst. Plus bonus talk re: IVANHOE (1952), Liz Taylor, and the latest work from friend-of-the-pod Katie Carter.
open.spotify.com/episode/5Fhu...
open.spotify.com/episode/5Fhu...
Bugonia
open.spotify.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
You Lanthimos-heads want more BUGONIA? You got it. On The Take-Up pod this week, Josh and I attempt to ferret out the secret Andromedans in our midst. Plus bonus talk re: IVANHOE (1952), Liz Taylor, and the latest work from friend-of-the-pod Katie Carter.
open.spotify.com/episode/5Fhu...
open.spotify.com/episode/5Fhu...
When I talk about "vibes horror" where the sensation of a vivid, waking nightmare is privileged about trivial matters like plot coherence, what I mean is SUSPIRIA (1977).
October 26, 2025 at 2:43 AM
When I talk about "vibes horror" where the sensation of a vivid, waking nightmare is privileged about trivial matters like plot coherence, what I mean is SUSPIRIA (1977).
Boys only want one thing and it's the lost Director's Cut of David Nutter's 1998 teen sci-fi horror film DISTURBING BEHAVIOR starring James Mardsen and Katie Holmes.
October 24, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Boys only want one thing and it's the lost Director's Cut of David Nutter's 1998 teen sci-fi horror film DISTURBING BEHAVIOR starring James Mardsen and Katie Holmes.
For The Take-Up, I review BUGONIA. Good stuff from Yorgos Lanthimos, as usual. Close competition with WEAPONS for best ending of 2025.
This timeline mostly sucks, but I'm glad to live in a world where Lanthimos and Stone collided and matched each other's freak.
thetake-up.com/bugonia/
This timeline mostly sucks, but I'm glad to live in a world where Lanthimos and Stone collided and matched each other's freak.
thetake-up.com/bugonia/
Bugonia - The Take-Up
Teddy (Jesse Plemons) has a plan. He has done his research. He has procured all the necessary supplies, including padlocks, steel cables, and bulk quantities of antihistamine cream. He has carefully p...
thetake-up.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
For The Take-Up, I review BUGONIA. Good stuff from Yorgos Lanthimos, as usual. Close competition with WEAPONS for best ending of 2025.
This timeline mostly sucks, but I'm glad to live in a world where Lanthimos and Stone collided and matched each other's freak.
thetake-up.com/bugonia/
This timeline mostly sucks, but I'm glad to live in a world where Lanthimos and Stone collided and matched each other's freak.
thetake-up.com/bugonia/
At The Take-Up, guest contributor (and friend of the site) Cliff Froehlich praises Julia Loktev's urgent, epic documentary, MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART 1 - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW, which will be screening at the Webster University Film Series this weekend.
thetake-up.com/my-undesirab...
thetake-up.com/my-undesirab...
My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 – Last Air in Moscow - The Take-Up
A group portrait of seven independent Russian journalists, My Undesirable Friends: Part 1 - Last Air in Moscow – which screens at Webster University from Oct. 24-26 – saddens, inspires, and enrages in...
thetake-up.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
At The Take-Up, guest contributor (and friend of the site) Cliff Froehlich praises Julia Loktev's urgent, epic documentary, MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART 1 - LAST AIR IN MOSCOW, which will be screening at the Webster University Film Series this weekend.
thetake-up.com/my-undesirab...
thetake-up.com/my-undesirab...
This week on the The Take-Up Podcast, Josh and I welcome critic Alex McPherson to talk his "Permanent Cinema" selection, Edgar Wright's HOT FUZZ (2007). We get into the nitty-gritty of parody, homage, violence, genre, and the beauty of Dudes Rock Cinema.
open.spotify.com/episode/3r9K...
open.spotify.com/episode/3r9K...
Hot Fuzz (with Alex McPherson)
open.spotify.com
October 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
This week on the The Take-Up Podcast, Josh and I welcome critic Alex McPherson to talk his "Permanent Cinema" selection, Edgar Wright's HOT FUZZ (2007). We get into the nitty-gritty of parody, homage, violence, genre, and the beauty of Dudes Rock Cinema.
open.spotify.com/episode/3r9K...
open.spotify.com/episode/3r9K...
You want more ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER content? You got it! On the Take-Up pod this week, Josh and I get *very* animated (if a bit scattered) while enthusing about Paul Thomas Anderson's new feature. I also slide some praise for GHOST OF YOTEI in there.
open.spotify.com/episode/56IB...
open.spotify.com/episode/56IB...
One Battle After Another
open.spotify.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:27 PM
You want more ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER content? You got it! On the Take-Up pod this week, Josh and I get *very* animated (if a bit scattered) while enthusing about Paul Thomas Anderson's new feature. I also slide some praise for GHOST OF YOTEI in there.
open.spotify.com/episode/56IB...
open.spotify.com/episode/56IB...
LRT: I spent waaay too much time in early 2014 thinking about the jaundiced psychological, societal, and political horror of Denis Villeneuve's masterful doppleganger nightmare, ENEMY.
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2014/4/...
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2014/4/...
Enemy — Gateway Cinephile
2013 // Canada / Spain // Denis Villeneuve // March 29, 2014 // Digital Theatrical Projection (St. Louis Cinema Chase Park Plaza) [Note: This post contains moderate spoilers.] A nauseating yellow pa...
www.gatewaycinephile.com
October 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
LRT: I spent waaay too much time in early 2014 thinking about the jaundiced psychological, societal, and political horror of Denis Villeneuve's masterful doppleganger nightmare, ENEMY.
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2014/4/...
www.gatewaycinephile.com/blog/2014/4/...
Villeneuve's masterpiece. I said it.
October 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Villeneuve's masterpiece. I said it.