Riffs and Reviews

Caveman is a comedy film from 1981 that stars Ringo Starr as Atouk, a shy caveman who is in love with Lana, but is prevented from being with her due to the rule of Tonda. The film follows Atouk as he goes on a small excursion, meets new friends, and learns caveman wisdom, all while trying to win Lana's affections and avoid being eaten by dinosaurs. The film is known for its physical comedy and use of a caveman-language vocabulary. Despite being well-received by some audiences, the film was not a critical success. Caveman also stars John Matuszak as Tonda, Barbara Bach as Lana, Avery Schreiber as Ock, Dennis Quaid as Lar, Jack Gilford as Gog, and Shelley Long as Tala. The film is set in 1,000,000 B.C. and follows Atouk as he is kicked out of his tribe for his affection for Lana and his inability to forage for food. After being banished, Atouk meets Lar, who is injured and unable to walk, and the two form a friendship. Together, they rescue Gog and Tala from a tar pit and defeat a di...

The Wraith is a 1986 American science fiction action film starring Charlie Sheen as the titular character. Directed by Mike Marvin and written by John Shirley, the movie follows a supernatural being who is out to exact revenge on a gang of Arizona drag racers for the death of his girlfriend. The Wraith was released in November 1986 and was met with mixed reviews, but has since been recognized as an influential cult classic. At its core, The Wraith is an intriguingly unique take on the revenge genre. Through careful direction and clever writing, it creates a dark atmosphere that is both suspenseful and thrilling. Director Mike Marvin crafts some truly striking shots throughout the film’s runtime which help to amplify its spooky tone. He also utilizes a number of outdoor locations to create an even more surreal effect for certain scenes. Furthermore, Marvin successfully employs subtle visual cues - such as lighting and camera angles - to further heighten tension and drama in some sequenc...