Filmmaker Ansel (The Great Nick D/Todd Tarantula) Faraj's Reel'd In: Impressions of Film is an astonishing, 478-page curation of cinema reflections, where the author takes an unconventional approach to assessing the movies that impacted his life and profession.
A substantial portion of the book is culled from Faraj's "Asylum of the Psychotronic" column, featured in the journal, We Belong Dead. The segments include ruminations on Dan Curtis' Dark Shadows, Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger's Black Narcissus, Dario Argento's Inferno, Roger Corman's The Trip, Curtis Harrington's Night Tide, William Castle's The Night Walker, Daniel Haller's The Dunwich Horror, Kasi Lemmons' Eve's Bayou, Jack Smight's Frankenstein: The True Story ... and Faraj's own acclaimed production, Loon Lake. These examples are complemented by edifying essays on Universal Monsters, Bela Lugosi's Ygor, Tod Browning's movies, haunted bedrooms, film-noir classics, MGM's Midnite Movies, kaiju wonders and young-adult, monster novellas.
On one level, Faraj's reminiscing is reminiscent of the amicable approach found in Michael Weldon's The Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film, but on another level, Faraj's sojourns perform as diary excerpts. This gives the combined parts a deeper, contemplative structure, one that's personal and sincere compared to the standard reviewing design, where fact-laden synopses rule the roost, but are often devoid of passion.
Reel'd In is a volume that one will relish and revisit, not only for its down-to-earth insights, but because it's rather like spending time with a dear, perceptive friend, whose perspectives spring from a fountain of infinite wisdom.
If you love movies (and wish to know more about them), Reel'd In: Impressions of Film is required reading and demands a permanent place in your library.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HD9VK7P8?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
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