My 2025 Year in Movies

I watched quite a lot of movies in 2025. Sixty-nine (nice!) to be exact. That's a lot. I also joined Letterboxd to keep track of what I have watched. I recommend Letterboxd. It is not really a social site, but it is a great place to review the movies you watch.

In 2025, the most popular movie I watched was Sinners, by far. It was probably my favorite movie of the year. I talked about Sinners on my youtube page as well as on my tiktok. I also wrote a review of Sinners on American Blues Scene. 

But 2025 was more than Hollywood blockbusters about vampires and the Blues. It was also the year I dove into the Joel Wynkoop filmography. After discovering Joel in Clownado in the end of 2024, I watched six Joel Wynkoop movies in 2025.

• The Craiglon Incident I
• The Craiglon Incident II
• The Craiglon Incident III
• Indiscretions
• Strip Club Slasher
• Dirty Cop, No Donut 

According to Letterboxd, my favorite types of movies are: 

 

I don't disagree. Here is the entire list of movies I watched in 2025.

• Hologram Man (1995) ★★
• Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) ★★★★
• FX's A Christmas Carol (2019) ★★★★
• He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985) ★★★
• Escape from Angola (1976) ★
• Assault of the Killer Bimbos (1988) ★★★
• Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003) ★
• The NeverEnding Story (1984) ★★★★★
• Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964) ★★★★
• The Dark Crystal (1982) ★★★★★
• Poster for Rock Star (2001) ★★★★
• Nuremberg (2025) ★★★★★
• From Justin to Kelly (2003) ★
• Shaft (1971) ★★★★★
• Fart: A Documentary (2016) ★★★
• A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) ★★★
• Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street (2019)  ★★★★
• Devil's Partner (1961) ★★★
• Santa Jaws (2018) ★★★★★
• Dante's Hell Animated (2013) ★★★
• Mahakaal (1994) ★★★★
• Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) ★★★★
• Strip Club Slasher (2010) ★★
• HIM (2025) ★★★
• Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (1990) ★★
• Grunt! The Wrestling Movie (1985) ★★★★★
• Laserblast (1978) ★★
• Electrocuting an Elephant (1903) ★
• Waitress! (1982) ★★
• Monster (2008) ★★
• The Devil's Advocate (1997) ★★★★★
• Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) ★★★★
• Suburban Commando (1991)  ★★
• Gone (2002) ★
• Satyr Monks (1994) ★★★
• 5-25-77 (2008) ★★★★★
• Shaolin Iron Finger (1977) ★★★
• The Craiglon Incident III: Annihilation (2022) ★★
• The Craiglon Incident II: Aftermath (2021) ★★★
• The Craiglon Incident (2021) ★★★
• The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974) ★★★★
• Indiscretions (2009) ★★
• Cloak & Dagger (1984) ★★★
• Werewolves on Wheels (1971) ★★★
• Warlock: The Armageddon (1993) ★★★
• Fanboys (2009) ★★★★
• The Beast Comes At Midnight (2023) ★★★★
• Warlock (1989) ★★★★
• Sinners (2025) ★★★★★
• Nothing But a Man (1964) ★★★★★
• Desperate Cargo (1941) ★★★
• Robo Vampire (1988) ★★★★★
• Just a Bit Outside: The Story of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers (2024) ★★★★
• Blackenstein (1973) ★★★
• Disorderlies (1987) ★★★★
• Dirty Cop No Donut (1999) ★★★★
• I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) ★★★★
• Eephus (2024) ★★★
• Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990) ★★★★
• Studio 666 (2022) ★★★★
• Bloody Murder 2: Closing Camp (2003) ★★★
• Deathgasm (2015) ★★★★★
• Ernest in the Army (1998) ★★
• Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984) ★★★★
• Paganini Horror (1989) ★★★
• The Devil's Nightmare (1971) ★★★★
• Zombie Strippers! (2008) ★★★
• Freak City (1999) ★★★★
• Wizards (1977) ★★★★

Book Review: Beyond the Crossroads - The Devil in the Blues Tradition by Adam Gussow

 

With the release of the blockbuster movie Sinners, Beyond the Crossroads is a must read for anyone who wants to know the story beyond the story. Gussow thoroughly dissects the use of the term Devil in blues music from the earliest days before Robert Johnson, through Johnson's career, through the movie Crossroads, and into the 2000-era explosion of blues tourism in Clarksdale, MS. The book is split into several essays exploring the aspects of the devil and his association in the blues. Even though I thought I knew a lot about the subject, I learned a lot. Gussow is very, very thorough.

That said, Gussow writes like an academic. It almost too thorough. Beyond the Crossroads is not a quick read. The comparative theories and analysis create drag in the narrative. This is a book for the hardcore fans and academics, not for the casual blues fans. Even though the casual blues fans are the ones who probably need to read it.

Artificially Intelligencing the cover of Curveball at the Crossroads

 

The AI craze has taken over. Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. Even places where intelligence has never been. AI is lurking in the dark, about to steal your job, your life, and your lady. It knows all, sees all, and will be all up in your face like a can of mace.

I'm not one for AI'ing, but my good friend the Snowman of the Afro-Squad is. He is covertly trying to reprogram the algorithms one byte at a time. How many bytes does it take to get to the center of the algorithm? The world may never know.

While plugging away deep in the brain of our omnipotent algorithmic overlords, Snowman fed the program the cover my novel Curveball at the Crossroads. AI is trying to get on my good side, because this is a sweet alternative cover. I dig it. I'll never put it anywhere near my novel, but it is fun to look at. I like the increased fire around home plate. And those crossroads are mighty spooky.

Support real artists and real writers, folks. AI art is a fad. 

Not so Serious Movie Review: From Justin to Kelly

 

My latest not so serious cinematic misadventure: From Justin to Kelly (2003)

I have been putting this movie off for years. The time wasn't right.

But there is never a good time for this movie. Ever. According to the internet, forcing someone to watch this is punishable in 47 countries. Any viewing is considered cruel and unusual punishment in Rwanda, Singapore, and Turkmenistan.

This movie makes the Star Wars Christmas Special look like Casablanca.

Grade: 1 sunburnt generic bikini song of 5