Preview: “Fernando Ayala’s The Bitter Stems (1956)” by Jeremy Carr

At Film International, Jeremy Carr reviews Fernando Ayala’s The Bitter Stems (Los tallos amargos, 1956) from Flicker Alley: The imagery is not only its most strikingly noirish attribute, but it’s among the more dazzling of any film, of any genre.

“Get Back Again” by M.T. Williams

FLASH FICTION: “There was always some bottom feeder trying to take what I built….”

“LA Christmas Present” by Tony Dawson

PROSE POEM: “Now Rambo’s at home on paid leave….”

“Walking the Fine Line: Leonardo Padura and ‘Havana Noir’” By William Blick

NONFICTION: “Padura has had to walk a fine line in his writing as he faces restrictive elements from the Cuban government, while being realistic about the state of his society….”

“Flashbacks and ‘Second Sight’: The Ravine” by Ken Hall

FILM REVIEW: “The combination of noir, suspense, and spiritual and fantastic elements prevents the film from being an ordinary inspirational piece.”

Help NoirCon Return in 2022

Through our GoFundMe campaign, we seek to raise $5000 to cover costs for a virtual platform for our 2022 conference. Any funds raised beyond that will go towards future NoirCon events. Donations of any size will guarantee access to the 2022 NoirCon (limited to the first 400 contributors).

“Hard Case Crime, April 2022: It’s Westlake!” by Matthew Sorrento

NONFICTION: “As the renown imprint presents the last unpublished novel by the author, it delivers one of his most unique and rewarding….”

“Resurrection” by Barbara Buckley Ristine

FLASH FICTION: “There had been a time when she was too squeamish to touch a spider, when she would cry at the sight of a dead bird, but not now….”

“Dead at the Center: Enigmatic Noir Femmes and Psychopaths” by Ken Hall

NONFICTION: “Such characters differ in their affect from another class of noir figures, those who seem ‘dead at the center,’ displaying little or no genuine emotion as they proceed through the narrative. Perhaps these characters might be classified popularly as ‘psychopaths,’ although the definition of the term according to psychological theory and practice is complex….”