John Hansen

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.

At Bertram's Hotel

Miss Marple takes a vacation ‘At Bertram’s Hotel’ (1965)

Sleuthing Sunday (Book review): Marple is oddly disengaged in this crime story, but the slow-starting novel eventually kicks into high gear.

Firestarter Rekindled

‘Firestarter: Rekindled’ (2002) an interesting experiment 

Stephen King flashback (TV review): Not as bad as one would assume, “Firestarter: Rekindled” follows Charlie McGee and her troubles into her 20s.