Jeff York

The Rarity of Rug-Pulls in the Modern Era of Entertainment

The Rarity of Rug-Pulls in the Modern Era of Entertainment

Pulling the rug out from under an audience is tricky work these days. We’ve all seen so many hours of entertainment, even the casual viewer has become well-versed in narrative structure, the tropes of Hollywood storytelling, and genre clichés. For a screenwriter, trying to write a screenplay that will surprise an often jaded audience becomes […]

 Jeff York

Rian Johnson Hilariously Riffs on Agatha Christie with “Knives Out”

Rian Johnson Hilariously Riffs on Agatha Christie with “Knives Out”

Agatha Christie’s estate in England has made a concerted effort over the past few years to revitalize the late, great author’s works, particularly in adaptations for the big and small screen. Kenneth Branagh and John Malkovich both rebooted Hercule Poirot in various vehicles, and the BBC produced two critically-acclaimed TV movies with And Then There […]