Charles Johnston
charlesjohnston.bsky.social
Charles Johnston
@charlesjohnston.bsky.social
Emmy Award winning screenwriter. "Detentionaire" co-creator. Writer for Spectrum Culture. charlesjohnston.ca
It's worth it just to see the part where "Seether" by Veruca Salt kicks in. My review of Teenage Wasteland for @spectrumculture.bsky.social.
Teenage Wasteland - Spectrum Culture
This look back at a group of teens who uncover an elaborate conspiracy while working on a school project in the ‘90s is heavy on nostalgia but light on catharsis.
spectrumculture.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:21 PM
See what I mean?
I'm a sit down comedian RS
December 1, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Not only is Ron Sexsmith a sublime musician, he's also one of my favourite comedians.
Just returned from the hotel breakfast room
I always feel much better post Raisin Bran RS
December 1, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
The great Tom Stoppard died today. He was a genius. I played Simon Gascoigne in The Real Inspector Hound, in two different productions, many years ago. Easily, the most fun I’ve ever had on stage. Still remember whole chunks of it because it’s so beautifully written. What a titan. #TomStoppard
November 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
Reposted by Charles Johnston
FYI: BUGONIA is coming to digital and physical media just in time to traumatize your family over the holidays. Find out when you can buy it here.
BUGONIA Sets Digital & Physical Media Release Dates
BUGONIA is coming to digital and physical media just in time to traumatize your family over the holidays. Find out when you can buy it here.
dlvr.it
November 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
"The craft on display alone is enough to bring a tear to your eye,” writes @christylemire.bsky.social about Chloé Zhao’s transcendent HAMNET.
Hamnet movie review & film summary (2025) | Roger Ebert
The craft on display alone is enough to bring a tear to your eye.
www.rogerebert.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
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Let me tell you the real story behind the episode of Xavier Riddle that just got nominated for an Emmy… 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum just keeps on giving. SO COOL it's been nominated for a Children's and Family Emmy Award. Also, Outstanding Sound Mixing and Sound Editing! #childrensemmys
November 19, 2025 at 8:38 PM
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Love this RS
November 18, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I knew the director Michael Dowse in Calgary back in the day, and visited the set for a feature he produced that once finished he decided to completely scrap. His Fubar films are brilliant and he's the real deal. I reviewed his latest movie, Trap House, for @spectrumculture.bsky.social.
Trap House - Spectrum Culture
This unique spin on action thrillers that focuses on the teenaged children of DEA agents has a spirited energy and hits home as an unexpected drama.
spectrumculture.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
In 2022, a runner-up from Canadian Idol was sentenced to 5 years for sexual assault causing bodily harm. This Wednesday, November 19th, at 9:00pm on CBC TV and CBC Gem, “Breaking Idol” shows how one survivor took on a flawed legal system and secured this historic conviction.
November 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
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Check this out, gang. I was on Tom Henry’s podcast!

youtube.com/watch?v=rxyX...
The Tom Henry Show Episode 23 with Nick Flanagan & Celeb Gossip
YouTube video by The Tom Henry Show
youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
Let’s hope the sun shines some
Light also on how dangerous reality TV is for someone as sick and badly raised as Jacob Hoggard. Fingers crossed it’s not the fallen star 📐. ❤️
In 2022, a runner-up from Canadian Idol was sentenced to 5 years for sexual assault causing bodily harm. This Wednesday, November 19th, at 9:00pm on CBC TV and CBC Gem, “Breaking Idol” shows how one survivor took on a flawed legal system and secured this historic conviction.
November 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
In 2022, a runner-up from Canadian Idol was sentenced to 5 years for sexual assault causing bodily harm. This Wednesday, November 19th, at 9:00pm on CBC TV and CBC Gem, “Breaking Idol” shows how one survivor took on a flawed legal system and secured this historic conviction.
November 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
I've now heard from 3 authors targeted on X by a scammer impersonating Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold impersonator refers author to "Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary", also an impersonation. Goal: to sell editing svcs. Scam is impersonating multiple authors & agents writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware
You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’...
writerbeware.blog
November 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I've been approached twice from these scammers twice in the last month. "Book clubs" wanting to "feature" one of my books and of course there's a "feature fee" attached. Apparently if it's an email from a gmail account that's just one of many red flags.
Folks, a famous author isn't ever going to contact you out of the blue to offer you literary services. It's always a scam. Also, speaking as an at least semifamous author, you wouldn't want any services we did offer, we're just barely handling our own shit, much less anyone else's.
I've now heard from 3 authors targeted on X by a scammer impersonating Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold impersonator refers author to "Eleanor Wood at Spectrum Literary", also an impersonation. Goal: to sell editing svcs. Scam is impersonating multiple authors & agents writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
November 16, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
NEW DUST BUNNY POSTER!!! Also @alamodrafthouse.bsky.social is having early screenings of the film with a livestream Q&A with Mads Mikkelsen & @bryanfuller.bsky.social on November 17th! Get tix here drafthouse.com/nyc/event/fa...
November 13, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
Art on the street.
November 13, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
"Stripped of morality and riddled with confounding studio choices, Teen Witch is a film best enjoyed with a group of friends — preferably inebriated — and discussed at length afterward."

I wrote about Teen Witch on @spectrumculture.bsky.social
spectrumculture.com/2025/11/12/f...
From the Vaults of Streaming Hell: Teen Witch - Spectrum Culture
Teen Witch is a film best enjoyed with a group of friends — preferably inebriated — and discussed at length afterward.
spectrumculture.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:02 PM
"IT'S ALIVE!!!" (Thankfully, never uttered in this rendition.) My review of Frankenstein for @spectrumculture.bsky.social.
Frankenstein - Spectrum Culture
This faithful adaptation of Frankenstein aches with affection for the source material, but it can sometimes feel like being trapped inside a cabinet of curiosities.
spectrumculture.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:24 PM
A gorgeous, experimental film about an artist's typical day, where the most mundane parts can be profoundly precious. My review of Peter Hujar's Day for @spectrumculture.bsky.social.
Peter Hujar’s Day - Spectrum Culture
Sweet, beautifully shot and extraordinarily well acted, this experimental film explores the minute details that make up a typical day, as well as the intimacy in sharing them.
spectrumculture.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
For @spectrumculture.bsky.social I wrote about A BETTER TOMORROW, whose balletic violence Hollywood has long ago absorbed spectrumculture.com/2025/11/10/r...
Revisit: A Better Tomorrow - Spectrum Culture
While Hollywood caught up long ago with Woo’s bloody ballet, American filmmakers never reached his high emotional pitch, his world one of more than just physical violence but an emotional intensity th...
spectrumculture.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Hallow Road is getting mixed reviews because it can be interpreted so many different ways. I think it is essentially a ghost story and it really got under my skin. spectrumculture.com/2025/11/03/h...
Hallow Road - Spectrum Culture
An eerie film with a ghostly atmosphere that can be interpreted many different ways, where every possible scenario is a nightmare.
spectrumculture.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Reposted by Charles Johnston
Our weekly Kurosawa series continues. Up next: THRONE OF BLOOD!
Oeuvre: Kurosawa: Throne of Blood - Spectrum Culture
Throne of Blood still feels strikingly contemporary, not just for the sheer intensity of its performances, but for the canny way that Kurosawa translates his character’s deteriorating psychological st...
spectrumculture.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:41 PM