DougHolland

Being old, death gets my attention, so I read the obituaries. This is a collection of recent obits, mostly of people whose work touched my life, because I want to say thanks (or maybe give 'em a final fuck you).

There’ll be a roundup like this occasionally, until I’m on the list myself.

   
• Bobby Aguilar
in county jail     (archived link)

• John Amos
actor, Good Times     (archived link)

• John Ashton
actor, Beverly Hills Cop     (archived link)

• Edward Atkins
shot and killed     (archived link)

• Sandra Cunnigham
in county jail     (archived link)

• Bob Foster
cartoonist, Myron Moose

• Randall Glass
shot and killed     (archived link)

• Kris Kristofferson
singer, songwriter, actor     (archived link)

• Jamie Langille
forgotten person

• Martin Lee
rock'n'roller, Brotherhood of Man

• Ella Leffland
novelist, Rumors of Peace     (archived link)

• Man
forgotten person     (archived link)

• Dikembe Mutombo
basketballer, activist     (archived link)

• Lawrence Orso
drunk-driving cop     (archived link)

• Pete Rose
baseball's best     (archived link)

• Zacharia Spriggs
in county jail     (archived link)

• Paul Stanley
shot and killed     (archived link)

• Tyler Taffe
shot and killed     (archived link)

• Harmoney Timmer
in county jail     (archived link)

• Ozzie Virgil Sr
first Dominican major leaguer

• Robert Watts
film producer, Star Wars     (archived link)

• Woman in county jail     (archived link)

   
Previously dead

    (archived link)

Streaming free at Tubi

 
Homicidal is an unusual film, mesmerizing and ridiculous, and probably needs to be seen in the context of its time, and its director, William Castle.

Castle had his biggest success as the maker of low-budget horror movies that usually came with a gimmick to help sell tickets. Mr Sardonicus came with a "punishment poll," wherein the audience voted to determine whether the bad guy lived or died. For The Tingler, Castle had a few seats in every theater wired to deliver an electric shock, ensuring screams in the audience.

Homicidal is Castle's response to Psycho, and feels like a sequel, but it ain't bad. Similar set-up as Psycho, similar characters, but it goes in its own direction with a wild twist that seems obvious nowadays, but was doubtless shocking in '61.

There's also a 45-second "fright break," allowing patrons to leave the theater if they were too frightened to see the end of the film, and you could get your money back if you were willing to follow the yellow trail in the lobby and stand in the "Coward's Corner" instead of watching.

Castle made crazy movies, and I'm a fan. No "Coward's Corner" for me. I watched this to the end, and had a good time.

Verdict: YES.

Says the judge: "It is not for a legislator, a judge, or a commander from The Handmaid’s Tale to tell these women what to do with their bodies during this period when the fetus cannot survive outside the womb any more so than society could – or should – force them to serve as a human tissue bank or to give up a kidney for the benefit of another."

    (archived link)