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Sam Borowski's MANIAC is a gripping drama with a gritty look like a 1970s film (kudos to cinematographer Bill Schweikert for that, too). Fans of TAXI DRIVER will definitely see some similarities, as will those fans of FALLING DOWN and any other solid movie or TV series that shows a man at his breaking point with society. An outstanding performance turned in by Bill Sorvino, who commandeers the screen. Even though this is a short film and not a full-length feature, it still delivers the emotional punch of a major movie. In fact, one of the positives of it being a short film is that it cuts to the chase. This movie isn't padded with filler or unnecessary subplots and meaningless characters. Everyone contributes to its success.

NIGHT CLUB is a unique film in that it blends both humor (from one-liners to slapstick) and drama (including some very poignant moments) and does so very well. It was great also to see such a mix of young 20-something actors holding their own on the screen with legendary veterans such as Ernest Borgnine and Mickey Rooney. Some of the scenes are laugh-out-loud funny; others are gripping and almost push you to tears. The film is very well-paced and doesn't have any lulls. NIGHT CLUB tugs on the heart strings. It's very unexpected and very welcome ... especially in an age of movie-going where most films are either sequels, remakes or follow the same dumb story lines. Bravo!

Being a devoted monster movie fan, I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to see this well-made documentary. "Creature Feature" is packed with more information on the Creature from the Black Lagoon that you could ever want, and delivers it all in a fun, fast-paced and entertaining style. It's vivid visually and really comes to life thanks to the booming narration of actor Keith David (The Thing, They Live, There's Something About Mary, etc.).

What really sets this documentary apart is the rare footage and pictures of the Creature, including his debut appearance to the public on the Abbott & Costello Colgate Comedy Hour. Not only that, but it has probing interviews with cast members, screenwriter Arthur Ross, Creature fan and perennial Oscar-nominated actor Benicio Del Toro, and everyday fans shown at monster and sci-fi conventions.

For me, the greatest part of the doc was when the camera followed Julie Adams and Ben Chapman (the actor under the suit in the original) on a boat as they traveled down the Tallahassee in Florida where the film was shot 50 years ago ... and the place still looks the same! The two actors hadn't been there since the filming, and it really is a great, emotional sequence.

"Creature Feature" is well worth investing your time (and money) into -- whether if you're a hard-core fan of the classic horror movies or just an overall fan of the cinema.