Science Fiction

‘Eruption’ is a disaster, but not in the intended way

Michael Crichton died in 2008 and his new novel, “Eruption,” is somehow out in 2024. Be suspicious; be very suspicious. Of course, no one is

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Body-horror film ‘The Substance’ has plenty of it

Both a throwback to old-school practical-effects monster horror and a present-day breakthrough for writer-director Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance” goes deep into the issues (and tissues)

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‘Teacup’ extends the ubiquity of Puzzle Box shows

There have been so many Puzzle Box (as in “Where the hell are we?” and “What the heck is going on?”) shows since “Lost” (2004-10)

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‘Alien: Romulus’ is saga’s best follow-up since ‘Aliens’

Legacy sequels have become such an ingrained aspect of Hollywood that we’re inured to them, and cynically assume they’ll at best have a few moments

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‘Jurassic Park’-style concepts don’t face ‘Extinction’ yet

Douglas Preston has ended some of his novels in crazy fashion, and he starts “Extinction” (April, hardcover) in crazy fashion on page one. People are

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In ‘Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man’ (1951), vaudeville pair confronts the unseen

“Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man” (1951) is first and foremost a boxing movie. Admittedly, it’s also slapstick. It’s a detective show. And –

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‘Shining Girls’ (2022): Make it make sense

Imagine Christopher Lloyd’s chalkboard-charted time-travel from “Back to the Future” cleanly plotted out on a sheet of paper. Now imagine that paper folded in half,

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‘A.I. Rising’ (2018) a surprisingly splendid sexbot story

Some sexbot films avoid discomfort with camp and a few laughs. Others confront the discomfort head-on and reveal the wrongfulness of sex toys – especially

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‘Space Cadet’ launches an underachiever into … space!

Prime Video’s “Space Cadet” is like “Legally Blonde” with law students replaced with astronauts-in-training. It also recalls “Private Benjamin.” Or perhaps it’s a comedic “Top

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‘A Princess of Mars’ (1912) crumples under weight of what came later

The farther back in time I go with a throwback review, the more awkward it becomes as I must acknowledge a work’s place in history

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