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Jay and Mark are joined by Megan Hofmeyer to discuss the second chapter on the Deep Blue Sea 3 Blu-ray. In this episode, they discuss pitchers of water, movie doctors, and watching the Twilight movies in Italy. Enjoy!
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Quick Thoughts – Werewolves Within is a delight. If you are looking for a charming horror comedy that’s loaded with warmth, humor, and mystery. Also, based on its current Tomatometer scores, it’s the highest rated video game adaptation ever made..
Directed by Josh Ruben (check out his film Scare Me on Shudder), and written by Mishna Wolff, Werewolves Within focuses on a murder mystery in a small town named Beaverfield. Normally, murder mysteries are scary eough, however, throw in some werwolves and insane townsfolk, and you have a wild night full of murder, explosions and axe-throwing. The charm of Werewolves Within is how it blends optimism with cynicism to create a horror comedy that walks a legitimate tonal tightrope. In another director’s hands, the characters could’ve come across as caricatures, however, Ruben, and the fine cast he assembled manage to create charming weirdos.
The film focuses on several brutal murders in a tiny town that is on the border of a large national park that is being threatened by the potential installation of an oil pipeline. The local weirdos are split on the pipeline, as it will destroy the forest, but bring in a lot of money for the struggling locals. Several disturbances bring in park ranger Finn (Sam Richardson), an extremely kind man who says things like “jeez louise” and “goodness gracious,” Sam is staying at the Beaverfield lodge, and he meets Cecily (Milana Vayntrub) the town’s mail person. The two form a quick bond, and she gives him a tour around the town, and introduces him to the Beaverfield locals, who will all come together at the lodge when a massive storm hits, and the power in the town goes out. From there, chaos ensues as bloody attacks fuel paranoia and comedic violence which lead to some fun revelations.
Werewolves Within is a unique entry to the werewolf genre as it plays like an Agatha Christie novel, met a horror comedy that featured werewolves, and spawned a charming hybrid. Ruben grew up near where the movie was filmed, and you can tell he loved crafting it based on his childhood experiences, and love of Arachnophobia, Jaws, Hot Fuzz, and the Coen Brothers. It’s an interesting blend of horror and comedy, and the script by Wolff manages to juggle multiple plotlines, and give every actor moments to shine. You see a lot of Ruben’s film Scare Me in this film, as horror tropes are flipped on their heads, and characters aren’t what they seem at first glance. Also, the cinematography by Matt Wise is crisp and clean, and knows when to give characters room to breathe with wide shots, and when to lean into paranoia with close ups. The overall package is unique and fun, and it would be great to see it be appreciated by the horror community.
Final thoughts: Werewolves Within will put a smile on your face, as it brings something new to the werewolf genre and features memorable characters.
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The Movies, Films and Flix Podcast: Episode 371: Underworld, Bill Nighy, and Epic Headlocks
You can download or stream the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker (or wherever you listen to podcasts…..we’re almost everywhere).
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
Mark and David Cross (of the Award Wieners Movie Review Podcast) discuss the 2003 film Underworld. Directed by Len Wiseman, and starring Kate Beckinsale, Michael Sheen, Scott Speedman, and Bill Nighy, the movie focuses on a centuries old battle between surly werewolves and snotty vampires. In this episode, they talk about superhero landings, lounging vampires, and Billy Nighy putting a vampire/werewolf hybrid in a headlock. Enjoy!
If you are a fan of the podcast, make sure to send in some random listener questions (we love random questions). We thank you for listening, and hope you enjoy the episode!
You can download the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker.
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John’s Horror Corner: Two Evil Eyes (1990), a gnarly two-story horror anthology based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe.
MY CALL: With only two stories to tell and no connective tissue between them, if you want a great horror anthology this may not be it. However, if you are a fan of gory Italian stylings and Edgar Allan Poe’s The Black Cat then this is most definitely for you! MORE HORROR ANTHOLOGIES: Dead of Night (1945), Black Sabbath (1963), Tales from the Crypt (1972), The Vault of Horror (1973), The Uncanny (1977), Screams of a Winter Night (1979), Creepshow (1982), Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye (1985), Deadtime Stories (1986), Creepshow 2 (1987), From a Whisper to a Scream (1987; aka The Offspring), After Midnight (1989), Tales from the Crypt Season 1 (1989), Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990), Grimm Prairie Tales (1990), The Willies (1990), Necronomicon: Book of the Dead (1993), Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996), Campfire Tales (1997), Dark Tales of Japan (2004), 3 Extremes (2004), Creepshow 3 (2006), Trick ‘r Treat (2007), Chillerama (2011), Little Deaths (2011), V/H/S (2012), The Theater Bizarre (2012), The ABCs of Death (2013), V/H/S 2 (2013), All Hallows’ Eve (2013), The Profane Exhibit (2013), The ABCs of Death 2 (2014), V/H/S Viral (2014), Southbound (2015), Tales of Halloween (2015), A Christmas Horror Story (2015), The ABCs of Death 2.5 (2016), Holidays (2016), Terrified (2017; aka Aterrados, a pseudo-anthology), Oats Studios, Vol. 1 (2017), Ghost Stories (2017), XX (2017), All the Creatures Were Stirring (2018), The Field Guide to Evil (2018), Shudder’s series Creepshow (2019-2020), Scare Package (2019), The Mortuary Collection (2019) and Xenophobia (2019).
Based on stories by Edgar Allan Poe, this gnarly little two-story “anthology” presented by legendary horror directors has two unlinked stories that play out like a mini double feature. So if you were hoping for one story leading into another or some manner of rich, storytelling interstitial tissue to link the fates of the two stories’ characters, you’ll find none of that here. There is no wraparound story. This is simply two well-made half-feature length films…
The Facts in the Case of Mr. Valdemar
This has all the makings of a daytime soap opera. Barbeau plays the much younger wife of an ailing wealthy man whose will is brought into question by those who suspect she only ever married for his money. Meanwhile, her adulterous lover (and concierge doctor to her husband) finds he can no longer trust her either. Things get interesting when Mr. Valdemar dies before they can squander his wealth. He dies, but he continues to call to her from the dead, and this slowly drives Jessica mad.
No shock that he’d be handling the zombie-ish installment of this double feature, director George A. Romero (Monkey Shines, Dawn of the Dead, Knightriders, Creepshow) delivers something that feels very much like an episode from Tales from the Crypt (1989-1996). It’s perfectly enjoyable, but not something I’d ever feel the desire to revisit; a nice single serving anthology segment.
The Black Cat
Poe’s tale of The Black Cat has been told on film several times and already twice by Italian filmmakers: The Black Cat (1981; Gatto nero), The Black Cat (1989) and Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990). For this third Italian iteration, director Dario Argento (Inferno, Phenomena, Suspiria, Mother of Tears) takes a considerably meaner and more edgy approach.
At the crime scene of a woman sliced in half like something out of a Saw movie, we meet a photographer (Harvey Keitel) who is called to cover the most macabre murders. He is one day visited by a stray black cat that his girlfriend brings into their home. As his girlfriend becomes increasing fond of the animal, he increasingly loathes it. Making him ever more jealous, he enjoys antagonizing the cat and he makes photographic art of its death. When he tries to kill the animal, his girlfriend intervenes and he kills her and plasters her into the wall.
The finale here is a sight I’ve recalled clearly in my mind since I first saw it 30 years ago: a litter of hairless, monstrous kittens eating the rotting cadaver of a woman, with portions of her face and midsection altogether missing from their feeding. Despite not being the greatest film, this VERY gory scene packed some serious impact.
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With so many interesting anthologies out there, this would be recommended more for its inclusion of two major masters of horror and, very specifically, a great telling of The Black Cat which I consider only to be bested by Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990). So if you were on the fence, there’s your reason to watch this.
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The Movies, Films and Flix Podcast – Episode 370 – Brightburn, Lawnmowers, and Evil Children
You can download or stream the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker (or wherever you listen to podcasts…..we’re almost everywhere).
If you get a chance please make sure to review, rate and share. You are awesome!
Mark and Lisa (@LisaPas220 on Twitter) discuss the 2019 film Brightburn. Directed by David Yarovesky, and starring Elizabeth Banks, David Denman, and Jackson A. Dunn, the film focuses on what happens when a space baby becomes a maniac preteen. In this episode, they discuss supervillains, blood explosions, and James Gunn produced movies. Enjoy!
If you are a fan of the podcast, make sure to send in some random listener questions (we love random questions). We thank you for listening, and hope you enjoy the episode!
You can download the pod on Apple Podcasts, Tune In, Podbean, or Spreaker.
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The Sparks Brothers: An Excellent and Entertaining Documentary From Director Edgar Wright
Quick thoughts – A – The Sparks Brothers is my favorite film/doc of 2021 so far. The 135-minute running time flies by, and it would be great to see Edgar Wright tackle more music documentaries.
The Sparks Brothers is an extremely fun documentary about Ron and Russell Mael, two brothers who over the last 50 years have been “successful, underrated, hugely influential, and criminally overlooked all at the same time.” Directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Baby Driver), a man who absolutely loves music, and infuses his films with eclectic mixes of pop, punk, funk and every other genre, the documentary will make many people fans of Sparks (AKA the favorite band of your favorite band). The Sparks Brothers features recognizable talking heads like Jack Antinoff, Jane Wiedlin, Beck, Neil Gaiman and Flea, talking about the history of Ron and Russell’s band Sparks, who formed in 1967 under the name Urban Renewal Project, and moved on to become Halfnelson (1968), and eventually Sparks.
Ron and Russell are wildly charming, and they make for perfect interviewees because they seem to be up for everything. There are skits, jokes, and interestingly framed moments by cinematographer Jake Polonsky (Senna, Blackmirror) that required good humor from Ron and Russull. The two brothers are likable, talented and wholly unique, which is part of the reason why Sparks never become a worldwide phenomena. Their sensibilities are slightly off-center (but still brilliant), as they embrace humor, unique looks, and experimentation with their music. The two haven’t stopped creating since 1967, and since they’ve never had any wild memoirs, or drug meltdowns covered by the media, they’ve stayed under the radar of mainstream audiences, and instead, built a loyal following around the world who love the 25 studio albums they’ve released.
The documentary does an excellent job of showcasing their massive discography (and wonderful album covers), and tracing their journeys around the world where they’ve found success in places like Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada, and Los Angeles. While watching, it’s slightly annoying that they’ve gone under the radar for so long, but it’s also amazing that they keep creating, and are beloved in the industry. Some of the interviewees actually break down in tears while talking about Ron and Russell, because they seem like such nice people who worked incredibly hard, and are nice to their bandmates and fans (which seems rare in the industry). It would be really cool to see this documentary build their reputation, and help them finally get a #1 album in the United States and abroad.
Final thoughts: Watch The Sparks Brothers. You will love it.
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Quick Thoughts: Luca is a delight. If you are looking for a breezy and fun story involving sea monsters, you will love it. The only thing I worry about is Pixar fans complaining that Luca is a kids film, and not Wall-E or Ratatouille.
Directed by Enrico Casarosa (the story/storyboard artist on Coco, Up, and Ratatouille), and written by Jesse Andrew and Mike Jones, Luca is an adorable film about two sea monsters making friends with the locals of a town on the Italian Riviera. The movie has a neat Studio Ghibli meets Pixar vibe, as it features two young sea creatures who turn into humans when they leave the water, and have to keep their identities secret as the local townsfolk are super afraid of the fabled sea monsters.
The film starts with young Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay) watching after his flock of fish, and dealing with his overbearing mom Daniella (Maya Rudolph), who is justifiably afraid of the murderous humans. Luca lives a comfortable and monotonous life in the water that is essentially one big routine of shepherding his fish, and staying out of sight of fishing boats. His life changes when he meets Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer), a rogue sea monster who lives on land, and scavenges human knick knacks for his collection. The two form a close friendship, and run away to the local town after Luca’s parents threaten him with a summer in the deep, where he’ll sit in darkness with his translucent uncle Ugo (Sacha Baron Cohen), and listen to him talk for hours (and eat dead whale bits).
When they reach the town they meet Giulia (Emma Berman), and her father Massimo (Marco Barrricelli), and are drawn into the local athletic event that takes place once a year and features swimming, eating and cycling (an Italian Iron Man-ish event). If they win, they’ll win enough money to buy a Vespa, which will allow them to drive around the world, and be on their own away from lame adults. What follows is a whole lot of cuteness involving pasta, training montages, and new friendships.
Luca features refreshingly low stakes, and the 95-minute running time flies by. You’ll fall in love with the Italian town, cheeky characters and the delicious looking pasta that is consumed throughout. Casarosa was influenced by Italian films La Dolce Vita, 8 1/2, La Strada, and Nights of Cabiria (all directed by Federico Fellini), and you can see their influence throughout as Luca features coming-of-age stories, people leaving hometowns, and multiple daydreams that feature Vespa journeys. An added bonus is that the Italian town is wonderfully realized, and you feel like you know its geography, and would actually want to visit the place to see the beautiful vistas. The overall relaxed vibe is a welcome change of pace for Pixar, and it will be interesting to see how audiences respond to the niceness of it all.
Final Thoughts: Luca is such a nice film. Watch it, enjoy it, don’t complain that it isn’t Wall-E.
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Deep Blue Sea – The Podcast – Episode 49: Shark Gangs, Mangrove Alcoves, and Deep Blue Sea 3
You can listen to Deep Blue Sea – The Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Tunein, Podcast Addict, Amazon, Google Podcasts, and everywhere else you listen to podcasts. Also, make sure to like our Facebook page!
Please make sure to rate, review, share, and subscribe!
Jay and Mark are joined by Nick Rehak (@TheRehak on Twitter) to discuss the first chapter on the Deep Blue Sea 3 Blu-ray. In this episode, they discuss mangrove alcoves, shark gangs, and the Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza. Enjoy!
Please make sure to rate, review and subscribe to the DBS podcast, and follow Nick on Twitter (he’s hilarious)!
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Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It: A Solid Documentary That Highlights the Trailblazing Career of Rita Moreno
Quick Thoughts: – A- – Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It is an excellent documentary that highlights the trailblazing career of Rita Moreno. Watch for the history, and stay for Moreno’s candid interviews.
Directed, produced, and edited by Mariem Pérez Riera, Rita Moreno is a candid, enlightening and educational documentary that breaks down the 71-year career of EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner Rita Moreno. The documentary features Lin-Manuel Miranda, Eva Longoria, Morgan Freeman, Justina Machado, and Moreno herself, discussing the ups-and-downs of her career, and enlightening us on how hard it was for her to make a name for herself in 1950s Hollywood. Moreno’s career started in 1950, when she was 19, and she worked on movies and television shows like Singin’ in the Rain, The King and I, The Yellow Tomahawk, and Zorro, where she mostly played some form of “native” character who was fodder for the “hero” of the film. During this time, Moreno was raped by her manager, harassed by studio heads, and she found herself in a toxic relationship with Marlon Brando that led to a suicide attempt.
Moreno is refreshingly candid during her interviews, and hearing her talk about the rough road she endured in her career is really important. She shines a light on the sexist and racist nature of Hollywood, and somehow manages to imbue everything with sarcasm and humor. Her presence, and candid nature elevate the documentary beyond a “Rita Moreno is amazing” experience, and she makes it something worth watching for the history and knowledge. It’s wild to know that after she won her Oscar for West Side Story, she didn’t receive any job offers of substance (they still wanted her to be the “native” girl). What’s really neat is she found her own way and fought for a wildly successful career that has made her an icon. Also, her role as an activist has been a source of inspiration, and it’s cool watching her find her voice and become a role model to many young actors and actresses, who looked up to her for her talents and bravery.
An added bonus is that the documentary is only 90 minutes, and it somehow manages to pack in a lot of history, humor and heart. It never comes close to wearing out its welcome, and you almost wish you could get more of Moreno’s insights and history, because she’s so cool.
Final thoughts: Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It is refreshingly candid and worth a watch. You will learn a lot.
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Quick Thoughts: In the Heights is an absolute blast. It puts a smile on your face, and is proof that stage musicals can be successfully translated to the big screen.
Directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D), In The Heights kicks off the summer season with a bang. Adapted from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical stage play, and book written by Quiara Alegría Hudes, the film focuses on a group of Washington Heights (the uppermost borough of Manhattan) residents, as they move up in the world, find love, and deal with the gentrification of their neighborhood. In the Heights mostly focuses on Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos), the owner of a bodega, who pines after Vanessa Morales (Melissa Barrera), who works at the local salon owned by Daniella (Daphne Rubin-Vega). Usnavi lives with his “abuela” Claudia (Olga Merediz – so good), and they look after Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV), Usnavi’s cousin who also works at the bodega. There are many other characters played by Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Stephanie Beatriz, Jimmy Smits, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Dasha Polanco, who get moments to shine as they sing, dance and look totally comfortable performing.
Chu’s experience directing romances (Crazy Rich Asians), dancing films (Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D), and music videos for Justin Bieber are on full display in this film. The dancing scenes are epic, as they feature 500+ dancers moving in unison in wide shots that are normally reserved for action films. There are Gene Kelly-esque dances scenes, and musical numbers that showcase inspired camerawork by cinematographer Alice Brooks (Jem and the Holograms), who uses windows, walls, and tunnels to maximum effect. All of the musical numbers feel alive and exciting, and it must’ve been a lot of work to corral all of the extras, dancers, and crew for the large dance numbers (the production assistants must’ve been working overtime to lock off the New York City streets). Dance choreographer Christopher Scott (Step Up 2: The Streets, Step Up 3D), had his work cut out for him, as the film is stuffed with unique musical numbers that feature staggering amounts of choreography, and they all have to tell a different story. Kudos to Scott for pulling off dance numbers that translate really well to the screen, and making them unique, so they stand apart from each other, and don’t feel like a big blob of dance scenes. Also, the costume design by Mitchell Travers (Hustlers, Eighth Grade, Late Night) is top-notch, as there are a plethora of memorable costumes that should prove to be iconic in years to come.
Final thoughts: In the Heights is one of my favorite films of 2021 (so far), and I hope it finds a large audience.
Movies, Films & Flix 