Dom O’Brien
@thatdomobrien.bsky.social
Neurodivergent writer, Blu Ray/physical media contributor (88 Films/Unearthed Films), and author of ‘Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films’ (published by BearManor Media)
Safe to say my current reading pile is eclectic!
November 16, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Safe to say my current reading pile is eclectic!
Decided to take myself on a solo date to check out Predator: Badlands (back at a local indie cinema I used to frequent around seven years ago). Curious to see what Trachtenberg has done with this.
November 15, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Decided to take myself on a solo date to check out Predator: Badlands (back at a local indie cinema I used to frequent around seven years ago). Curious to see what Trachtenberg has done with this.
The Spanish edition of Budget Biomorphs looks like it’s shaping up nicely for an April 2026 release.
If anyone knows of any potential Japanese publishers I can reach out to, feel free to drop me a DM (as I’d love to get a version translated into Japanese).
If anyone knows of any potential Japanese publishers I can reach out to, feel free to drop me a DM (as I’d love to get a version translated into Japanese).
November 12, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The Spanish edition of Budget Biomorphs looks like it’s shaping up nicely for an April 2026 release.
If anyone knows of any potential Japanese publishers I can reach out to, feel free to drop me a DM (as I’d love to get a version translated into Japanese).
If anyone knows of any potential Japanese publishers I can reach out to, feel free to drop me a DM (as I’d love to get a version translated into Japanese).
I know Smokin’ Aces (2006) gets a lot of flack, but honestly I like its bizarre insanity (I’m a Carnahan fan). This moment (coupled with the Clint Mansell cue - Dead Reckoning) has been lodged in my subconscious for years. So much so, it helped inspire a recent short story because of the emotion
November 10, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I know Smokin’ Aces (2006) gets a lot of flack, but honestly I like its bizarre insanity (I’m a Carnahan fan). This moment (coupled with the Clint Mansell cue - Dead Reckoning) has been lodged in my subconscious for years. So much so, it helped inspire a recent short story because of the emotion
It’s a challenge to write truly unique horror fiction sometimes. But, if you can find an engaging angle for a familiar story, and then sprinkle in a few interesting or bizarre ideas between the horror tropes, you may just create something fun to read.
November 9, 2025 at 9:16 PM
It’s a challenge to write truly unique horror fiction sometimes. But, if you can find an engaging angle for a familiar story, and then sprinkle in a few interesting or bizarre ideas between the horror tropes, you may just create something fun to read.
There was a lot to like about Del Toro’s version of Frankenstein. Lavish set design and a beautiful performance by Elordi as the creature being the positives. But, I still prefer Branagh’s Frankenstein. A twisted fairytale with an amazing score and high emotions (possibly overly melodramatic).
November 9, 2025 at 10:59 AM
There was a lot to like about Del Toro’s version of Frankenstein. Lavish set design and a beautiful performance by Elordi as the creature being the positives. But, I still prefer Branagh’s Frankenstein. A twisted fairytale with an amazing score and high emotions (possibly overly melodramatic).
This will never not make me happy! Yes, Kamen Rider: Memory of Heroez is an okay-ish game, but the opening cinematic by Sakamoto is just👌🏻👌🏻
November 9, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This will never not make me happy! Yes, Kamen Rider: Memory of Heroez is an okay-ish game, but the opening cinematic by Sakamoto is just👌🏻👌🏻
Thank you. Although far from the best book in the world, I’m still immensely proud of it (it’s my first published book).
November 5, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Thank you. Although far from the best book in the world, I’m still immensely proud of it (it’s my first published book).
My book - Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films - will be celebrating its second anniversary on Nov 16th (how has it been two years 😱). If you see this post and weren’t aware of the book, could you share this with other like-minded Guyver film fans? It’ll really help out this indie author
November 5, 2025 at 2:05 PM
My book - Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films - will be celebrating its second anniversary on Nov 16th (how has it been two years 😱). If you see this post and weren’t aware of the book, could you share this with other like-minded Guyver film fans? It’ll really help out this indie author
If you’re interested, I wrote a pretty in-depth book called Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films. It’s pretty much the chronological history of how both films were made, with interviews from the cast and crew, plus loads of behind-the-scenes photos.
November 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
If you’re interested, I wrote a pretty in-depth book called Budget Biomorphs: The Making of The Guyver Films. It’s pretty much the chronological history of how both films were made, with interviews from the cast and crew, plus loads of behind-the-scenes photos.
It’s good to know I can fall back on The Last of Us Part I & II to help me through difficult times. Not sure why nihilistic games help, but they do.
October 2, 2025 at 6:44 PM
It’s good to know I can fall back on The Last of Us Part I & II to help me through difficult times. Not sure why nihilistic games help, but they do.
Revisited Terminator Genisys (2015) last night, and you know what? 10 years on my opinion hasn’t changed, I still really like this film (I think I’m the only person who does), even if it’s a bit ‘fan-fiction-y’ at times. Genuinely sad it never became a trilogy. Plus, the Lorne Balfe score is 👌🏻
September 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Revisited Terminator Genisys (2015) last night, and you know what? 10 years on my opinion hasn’t changed, I still really like this film (I think I’m the only person who does), even if it’s a bit ‘fan-fiction-y’ at times. Genuinely sad it never became a trilogy. Plus, the Lorne Balfe score is 👌🏻
The subversion of religious iconography and the frequent symbolic use of three in Training Day.
The thematic subtext is absolutely rife in this film. I now know why it’s such a joy to revisit!
The thematic subtext is absolutely rife in this film. I now know why it’s such a joy to revisit!
September 19, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The subversion of religious iconography and the frequent symbolic use of three in Training Day.
The thematic subtext is absolutely rife in this film. I now know why it’s such a joy to revisit!
The thematic subtext is absolutely rife in this film. I now know why it’s such a joy to revisit!
For some reason I can’t share the brief flick through video I did of Budget Biomorphs. Instead, here are a few cropped previews from the book looking at the miniatures work on The Guyver (1991) and early design concepts of the Guyver Zoanoid (given to me by Steve Wang) from Guyver: Dark Hero (1994).
September 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
For some reason I can’t share the brief flick through video I did of Budget Biomorphs. Instead, here are a few cropped previews from the book looking at the miniatures work on The Guyver (1991) and early design concepts of the Guyver Zoanoid (given to me by Steve Wang) from Guyver: Dark Hero (1994).
The late Scott Spiegel - king of the creative low budget POV shot!
September 5, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The late Scott Spiegel - king of the creative low budget POV shot!
While are so many great performances in Die Hard with a Vengeance, the late Graham Greene’s Joe Lambert is the real MVP of the film. A sarcastic and wary NYPD Detective with a heart of gold! Die Hard with a Vengeance will be my go-to rewatch this week!
September 2, 2025 at 7:16 AM
While are so many great performances in Die Hard with a Vengeance, the late Graham Greene’s Joe Lambert is the real MVP of the film. A sarcastic and wary NYPD Detective with a heart of gold! Die Hard with a Vengeance will be my go-to rewatch this week!
To move forward, it’s sometimes important to look back/reflect on past work (something I’ve done a lot of recently). This is my physical body of work so far and I’m determined to increase this stack in the future with more books, working with other labels, and collaborating with other writers.
August 30, 2025 at 8:48 AM
To move forward, it’s sometimes important to look back/reflect on past work (something I’ve done a lot of recently). This is my physical body of work so far and I’m determined to increase this stack in the future with more books, working with other labels, and collaborating with other writers.
Thought I’d missed out on getting the Via Vision LE release of The Lords of Salem (I’m a sucker for a lenticular hard case), thankfully I managed to find a brand new copy (and it was affordable). Looking forward to listening to the commentaries on this release.
August 28, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Thought I’d missed out on getting the Via Vision LE release of The Lords of Salem (I’m a sucker for a lenticular hard case), thankfully I managed to find a brand new copy (and it was affordable). Looking forward to listening to the commentaries on this release.
Seeing a few people post about the difficulty of finding Strange Days on Blu or physical. While neither are ideal choices, there are UK and German Blu-rays which you can order from Amazon to your country. Not sure if that’s of use to anyone, but the options are there.
August 26, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Seeing a few people post about the difficulty of finding Strange Days on Blu or physical. While neither are ideal choices, there are UK and German Blu-rays which you can order from Amazon to your country. Not sure if that’s of use to anyone, but the options are there.
It’s taken me a few years, but I finally found an affordable release (take a bow Playasia) for this (semi-okay) game. Some might say it was a waste of time, but I cannot tell you how happy I am right now 😄
August 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
It’s taken me a few years, but I finally found an affordable release (take a bow Playasia) for this (semi-okay) game. Some might say it was a waste of time, but I cannot tell you how happy I am right now 😄
Coincidentally, I also spotted another connection to G:DH. Sab Shimono (Lord Norinaga) would star in 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994) which included (on their stunt team) stunt man/occasional Alpha Stunts collaborator Al Goto. I believe Goto and Sakamoto’s connection goes as far back as Mission for Justice
August 22, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Coincidentally, I also spotted another connection to G:DH. Sab Shimono (Lord Norinaga) would star in 3 Ninjas Kick Back (1994) which included (on their stunt team) stunt man/occasional Alpha Stunts collaborator Al Goto. I believe Goto and Sakamoto’s connection goes as far back as Mission for Justice
I love how my brain randomly remembers facts or interesting connections. For instance, with the upcoming release of Arrow’s TMNT boxset, I remembered that in TMNT III (1993) there is a Guyver and Guyver: Dark Hero crossover (Vivian Wu with Koichi Sakamoto). Wonderful stuff! Thank you, brain!
August 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I love how my brain randomly remembers facts or interesting connections. For instance, with the upcoming release of Arrow’s TMNT boxset, I remembered that in TMNT III (1993) there is a Guyver and Guyver: Dark Hero crossover (Vivian Wu with Koichi Sakamoto). Wonderful stuff! Thank you, brain!
Found out today that my mum likes the original Death Wish (1974). And while I wasn’t expecting to have a conversation like this today (particularly when her favourite films are Hocus Pocus and Steel Magnolias), I am very glad we randomly spoke about Bronson and ‘70s thrillers briefly.
August 21, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Found out today that my mum likes the original Death Wish (1974). And while I wasn’t expecting to have a conversation like this today (particularly when her favourite films are Hocus Pocus and Steel Magnolias), I am very glad we randomly spoke about Bronson and ‘70s thrillers briefly.
One day this film will get a decent Blu-ray release and there will be much rejoicing 🙌🏻
August 21, 2025 at 10:50 AM
One day this film will get a decent Blu-ray release and there will be much rejoicing 🙌🏻
I don’t think I’ve ordered something so fast in my life (the recent TMNT boxset aside). The fact I now re-own RE2 and RE3 original (my favourite entry) on my PS5, alongside RE1 and Dino Crisis, has genuinely made my week!
August 21, 2025 at 9:49 AM
I don’t think I’ve ordered something so fast in my life (the recent TMNT boxset aside). The fact I now re-own RE2 and RE3 original (my favourite entry) on my PS5, alongside RE1 and Dino Crisis, has genuinely made my week!