Author: A J. Black

Author of books: Myth-Building in Modern Media / Star Trek, History and Us | Writer of words on film/TV/culture | Rotten Tomatoes approved critic: Twitter: @ajblackwriter | Podcast chief: @wmadethis | Occasionally go outside.
Film, Reviews

Physical Media Recommendations | THE BORDERLANDS (2013) & THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1929)

A J. Black

As many of you reading will know, I’m a big physical media movie collector these days. And despite cries that streaming will see the end of the disc-based movie space, it feels a resurgence is building and at the vanguard are boutique blu-ray labels producing staggeringly good content for under-appreciated, long lost or even some of the most popular pictures out there.

I’m going to recommend two recent releases today from several labels which are enormously worth your time, and which the labels were kind enough to send over my way.

Continue reading “Physical Media Recommendations | THE BORDERLANDS (2013) & THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1929)” →
Film, Reviews

GREEN ROOM (2015) & POSSESSOR (2020) | Blu-Ray Review

A J. Black

Second Sight continue bringing home some tremendous releases on Blu-Ray and 4k, and recently have unleashed on the same day two modern titans of cinematic darkness.

Green Room, from director Jeremy Saulnier and released in 2015, is a survivalist thriller at heart – a horror movie which accentuates the fear and threat of violence above the blood and gore, though Saulnier delivers more than enough of that in some of the most vicious, nasty explosions of brutality committed to film in a while, some of which almost come out of nowhere. With a superb ensemble cast led by Patrick Stewart playing to a tense, sparse and taut script, this is a cold, tough, yet involving and oddly darkly comedic piece of pulp survivalism.

Possessor, meanwhile, released in 2020 from director Brandon Cronenberg, is a really simple take on possession and indeed assassination, brewed up into an examination of folie a deux through the prism of intense, dramatic and weird horror. Andrea Riseborough & Christopher Abbott are mesmerising in the central key performances, carrying Cronenberg’s disturbing, trippy and downright nightmarish script fuelled by all kinds of dark, memorable imagery. It’s really imaginative. Really bleak. Really good.

Continue reading “GREEN ROOM (2015) & POSSESSOR (2020) | Blu-Ray Review” →
Books

THE DREAMS WE HAD AS CHILDREN: CHILDREN’S ITV AND ME (Ben Baker) | Book Review + Author Interview

A J. Black

Oddly enough, I don’t remember watching a vast amount of children’s TV as a child, though I have indelible memories of various shows that fit within such a remit on teatime BBC1 or CITV. As a boy, I was obsessed with American TV imports such as the Star Trek series or The X-Files etc… and they form my chief memories of growing up TV watching.

That being said, kids TV imprinted on me during growing up primarily in the 1990s as it did millions of others in the days of limited satellite TV, four terrestrial channels and before the internet went mainstream. The Dreams We Had as Children: Children’s ITV and Me will tug at the nostalgic memories of anyone who grew up in the 80s, 90s or indeed 00s, formative decades where this sub-genre of TV took flight.

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Film, Reviews

HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM / DEVIL GIRL FROM MARS | Blu-Ray Review

A J. Black

Fair play to StudioCanal for digging out fairly arcane British cinematic treasures and giving them the once over, as demonstrated with Horrors of the Black Museum and Devil Girl from Mars, which they were kind enough to send me a copy of.

They don’t come as a pair, rather separate releases, but I’m badging them together as they’re arriving on the same day from the same distributor. Both are B-pictures you might not have previously heard of, dating back to the 1950, but both as demonstrated by their special features have a place within the post-war cinematic fabric of Britain and growing trends of the age.

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Book Interviews, Book Reviews, Books

UNDER THE STAIRS (Alan J. Hill) | Book Review + Author Interview

A J. Black

As you might have noticed if you read my website on a regular basis, I don’t tend to review fiction very often. I probably read a mixture of non-fiction and fiction with a fairly even split (though it’s sometimes weighted to the former, I’ll admit), so Under the Stairs wasn’t alien to me, but it was a change in pace and tone.

Put simply, Alan J. Hill’s semi-autobiographical tome is not the kind of novel I would traditionally read. I’m either in the market for books about popular culture, history, or fiction reads in the horror or science-fiction or pulp thriller realm. Under the Stairs is a sweeping, century-spanning tale of family, romance, tragedy and social history all in one package. Elements of it appealed to my tastes as a reader, other parts less so.

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Books, Film, Football, TV

Coming in 2024: Film, TV & Books and Football (yes, Football!) to get excited about

A J. Black

Welcome to 2024 everyone!

I keep thinking that we should be in the space age whenever another year of the 2020s ticks over, when in reality we’re sliding closer to pre-world war tension decades with an added dose of climate hell thrown in. Cheery stuff, eh? Well, much as I love some political discourse, you’re not here for that, so let’s talk more frivolous matters.

The world might be going to hell in a handcart again this year generally but there is plenty of that lovely escapism to look forward to, and I thought I’d give a little breakdown about some of the bits and pieces in film and TV I’m looking forward to, plus a few additional things in the cultural space, as a primer for what 2024 might bring.

Strap yourselves in and let’s do this year, shall we?

Continue reading “Coming in 2024: Film, TV & Books and Football (yes, Football!) to get excited about” →
A. J. Black

That Was the Year That Was: Reflections on 2023 and plans for 2024

A J. Black

There we have it. Another year bites the dust. 2023 has rocketed by and I thought I’d close off the year with some thoughts on the last 12 months, and some reflections on my own work and journey.

Firstly, if you’re reading this, thanks. My website is fairly deep cut so I can only assume you’re interested in me and my work if you’re engaging in this post, and I do appreciate it. Trying to get people’s eyes on the written word right now is hard, with no easy recipe. I’m not one for ‘SEO’ and all that stuff to engage the algorithm. I’m old fashioned and subscribe to the ‘if you write it, they will come’ method. So thanks for coming.

Especially as the use of this website has been fairly sporadic this year, and weighted more on the last few months. There are several reasons. Chiefly, book writing, which I’ll come to a bit later, also writing for other sites (again, I’ll get to that). But also because I’ve only recently begun to figure out what I want this website to do, which I feel is evident in some of the material over the last couple of months, which if you’ve been here before you might note is a shade different.

Continue reading “That Was the Year That Was: Reflections on 2023 and plans for 2024” →
TV

2023 in TV: My Top 10

A J. Black

Hello folks!

Two years ago, I did a bit of a round up of my favourite films and TV shows for 2021. Last year, it didn’t happen but this year I’m back for a few roundups about movies, TV, and books and podcasts that I’ve engaged with over the course of 2023 – all being the main forms of entertainment I spend my time with.

My last top 10 is of TV shows, of which once again I’ve watched an inordinate amount. Some old, a lot new. Should top out at around 900 episodes of TV watched across the year, slightly under from last, and likely way more than next year will bring with a baby in the house! Anyhow, these are my choices, again based on what I’ve watched, with some honourable and dishonourable mentions at the end.

Turn on the box and let’s delve in…

Continue reading “2023 in TV: My Top 10” →
Books

2023 in BOOKS: My Top 10

A J. Black

Hey everyone!

Two years ago, I did a bit of a round up of my favourite films and TV shows for 2021. Last year, it didn’t happen but this year I’m back for a few roundups about movies, TV, and books and podcasts that I’ve engaged with over the course of 2023 – all being the main forms of entertainment I spend my time with.

Next up we have books. Now not all of these are new releases this year, rather books I’ve read for the first time and enjoyed. I wish I could keep up with all the new releases out there but that’s just impossible. I’ve read close to 50 books this year, possibly a personal record, but this is a choice list of those I’ve enjoyed the most.

Let’s open the page…

Continue reading “2023 in BOOKS: My Top 10” →
Podcasts, Uncategorized

2023 in PODCASTS: My Top 10

A J. Black

Hi folks!

Two years ago, I did a bit of a round up of my favourite films and TV shows for 2021. Last year, it didn’t happen but this year I’m back for a few roundups about movies, TV, and books and podcasts that I’ve engaged with over the course of 2023 – all being the main forms of entertainment I spend my time with.

Continuing on with the podcasts I’ve been listening to. Please bear in mind that this serves as a personal ranking, not one of critical quality. I am also omitting podcasts that I have produced or developed myself, just to avoid accusations of navel gazing. I might flag some of those up in a more personal list, we’ll see.

On we go, then…

Continue reading “2023 in PODCASTS: My Top 10” →