John Hansen

The Nineties

Klosterman smartly, engagingly dissects ‘The Nineties’ 

Book review: Chuck Klosterman lived through the last good decade of humanity, and now he entertainingly breaks down its disaffected glory.

Dead Zone novel

Life is at best bittersweet in King’s ‘Dead Zone’ (1979) 

Stephen King flashback (Book review): Johnny Smith’s tragic lost love hangs like a cloud over the novel even as it probes big moral questions.

Fantastic Beasts Secrets of Dumbledore

‘Fantastic Beasts: Secrets of Dumbledore’ imperfectly magical

Movie review: This third “Beasts” film is again overpacked with characters and plot nuances, but it’s easy to watch in a spellbinding way.

Golden Ball and Other Stories

Christie probes personalities in ‘Golden Ball’ (1971) 

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): “The Golden Ball and Other Stories” is not your typical Christie collection, as she explores people rather than murders.

Top Gun

Top 10 observations about ‘Top Gun’ (1986) 

Movie commentary: With “Top Gun: Maverick” hitting theaters, here’s my look back at one of the core event movies of the Eighties.

Marrowbone

Taylor-Joy, Goth feature in slow-burn ‘Marrowbone’ (2018) 

Frightening Friday (Movie review): Sergio G. Sanchez’s sepia-toned midcentury piece mixes family life and housebound scares.

Under Dog and Other Stories

Christie hones craft in ‘Under Dog and Other Stories’ (1951) 

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): We go back to the early days of Poirot and Hastings as Agatha Christie irons out her order and method.

X movie

Ti West’s ‘X’ blends sex, violence in tasty package 

Movie review: West puts puerile but smart thrills atop a slasher foundation – even if “X” will ultimately be remembered for Mia Goth in those overalls.

The Night House

‘Night House’ (2021) is magnetic psychological horror 

Frightening Friday (Movie review): With Rebecca Hall on board for the upcoming “Resurrection,” here’s a look at one of last year’s best fright flicks.

Firestarter 2022

New ‘Firestarter’ digs compelling tale from ashes of ’84 dud 

Movie review: The third time is the charm among adaptations of King’s novel about a superpowered kid that heretofore resisted a good version.