TV Review: “Crystal Lake” Series Premiere

Posted on by Eric

“Crystal Lake” – “Camp Crystal” – Season One, Ep. 1 (Peacock)

I sit down to write this review mere minutes after completing episode one of Peacock’s long-awaited, even longer-gestating, almost mythically delayed Crystal Lake, when I am full to bursting with observations and general things to talk about. Anyone who has visited Darkadaptedeye often enough to poke around a bit can tell I have a serious affinity for the Friday the 13th series. Given the presence of two full-length ranking lists, six minute-by-minute walkthroughs, and mentions in another three horrorthon recaps, suffice to say that la familia Voorhees is kind of a thing around these parts. After interminable years denied an official cinematic Friday due to the galling protracted custody battle waged by biological father Victor Miller and absentee stepdad Sean S. Cunningham, I am frankly white hot for my chance to finally return to camp as the diametric opposite of an innocent bystander. Continue reading “TV Review: “Crystal Lake” Series Premiere” →

The 31 DAEs of Halloween 2025: Deep-Dive Dispatch #3

Posted on by Eric

Okay, okay, okay. When traditional Christmas fare starts encroaching on even my preferred viewing schedule, I suppose it’s time to finally, grudgingly let October go. It was another fun ride, but your light reading recap CONCLUDES below… Continue reading “The 31 DAEs of Halloween 2025: Deep-Dive Dispatch #3” →

The 31 DAEs of Halloween 2025: Deep-Dive Dispatch #2

Posted on by Eric

October is NOT over until I say it is, people. Your light reading recap continues below… Continue reading “The 31 DAEs of Halloween 2025: Deep-Dive Dispatch #2” →

The 31 DAEs of Halloween 2025: Deep-Dive Dispatch #1

Posted on by Eric

After at least seven years of blog proprietorship and attendant stonewalling, my 31 DAEs of Halloween marathon finally launched in 2022. Affectionately if inadequately recapped a few posts south of here, it proved such a rousing personal success story that it almost immediately became a budding annual concern, one for which I find myself literally waiting with bated breath for the remainder of each year. October was already my favorite month bar none – the convergence of football, weather, and horror movies is located at the very apex of my happy place – and what better way to celebrate it than with gluttonous self-indulgence, a guided tour of the many and varied delights the horror genre has to offer? Continue reading “The 31 DAEs of Halloween 2025: Deep-Dive Dispatch #1” →

Ozzy Osbourne: An Appreciation

Posted on by Eric
Photo by Ross Halfin

Ozzy Osbourne was the beating heart of heavy metal. Period, full stop. Every single person who plays or listens to this music frankly owes him – unpayable debt, unshakeable gratitude, undying affection. He was 76 years old, and timeless. No performer anywhere ever loved his fans more, or connected with them more deeply, or they with him. It must be a measure of that metric the degree to which the cavalcade of heartfelt thanks, condolences, and remembrances, from friends and fans alike, that, since word first spread of his passing Tuesday, has issued forth from all corners of the internet and only slightly greater news ecosphere like a raging river overtaking a beaver dam, has consistently moved me, at times damned near wrecked me, and, in the end, almost literally forced my notoriously reticent hand to add something to the conversation. Continue reading “Ozzy Osbourne: An Appreciation” →

Steelers Thoughts #21 (7/6/25): Some Assembly Required

Posted on by Eric

Few, if any, organizations in the National Football League are as synonymous with the notion of “tradition” as the Pittsburgh Steelers. This, in recent years, is to me as much a media creation as anything actually proffered by the team itself, but old habits die hard. The salient points – three coaches in 55 years, four Super Bowl victories in six years in the 1970s, another should’ve been three in five years in the 2000s (merely two in practice), 21 consecutive non-losing seasons and counting, five consecutive playoff losses and counting – have been dusted off and recited so often they’ve since been reduced to lazy shorthand, and though the think pieces still practically write themselves, there’s much more to be distilled and dissected than is immediately evident. Continue reading “Steelers Thoughts #21 (7/6/25): Some Assembly Required” →

Post No. 250: The Collector’s Edition Addition Addiction

Posted on by Eric

Some people collect stamps, some baseball cards. Some people collect porcelain figurines, some shot glasses. My mother used to collect horses and elephants, albeit ceramic ones at 1/50th actual scale and thus more practical to set grazing. This guy I knew in college once cheekily proclaimed that he collected parking tickets, that is until I assume his unconventional hobby became cost prohibitive. I don’t remember him being around much Sophomore year. Everybody has a lane to maintain. Everybody, if they’re lucky, eventually locates their niche and sets up housekeeping. My abiding passion of possession is for movies. I think it’s only slightly irrational as compulsions go, but consider the source. Continue reading “Post No. 250: The Collector’s Edition Addition Addiction” →