The Butler Did It

     This week- four films starring a tartan typhoon called Gerry.

     After being locked away in a vault for 120 years, a heist unleashes a vampiric nightmare on New Orleans just in time for Mardi Gras (as if a movie would acknowledge the city for the other 11 months of the year). Mary, a young record store employee with questionable mental health, finds herself in the bloodsucker's sights. Will she escape the eternal night of Dracula 2000 (aka Dracula 2001 aka Wes Craven Presents Dracula 2000)?
     In ancient Egypt, the gods lived among mortals. After a thousand years, Osiris decides it is time to step down and hand his crown to his son, Horus. This decision doesn't sit well with his brother, Set. So Set takes the opportunity to seize power and remake the world to his liking. Can Horus and a tiny human thief stop the god of deserts and storms before he destroys all Gods of Egypt?
     During a home invasion Clyde Shelton is forced to watch his wife and daughter be raped and murdered. When Nick Rice, star of the DA's office, decides to make a deal with the perpetrator, despite there being the most ridiculous mountain of evidence possible, rather than try the easiest career making case of all time. A decade later, the two men find themselves on a collusion course as one tries to bring down the system and the other tries desperately to bring him down. Can Nick and the system he venerates triumph over this Law Abiding Citizen?
     The sudden death and funeral for the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is really part of a massive plan to kill the leaders of every G7 nation. After the initial attack only the President of the United States is left alive and wondering the terrorist infested streets of a completely disconnected English capital with just his super secret service agent, Mike Banning. With enemies hunting them on every block and kilometers between them and rescue, how long can they survive now that London Has Fallen?
     All that and Kevin gets his new horror on, Dave objects, Craig considers new liquid receptacles, and Tyler has his eye on some new skate trucks. Join us, won't you?

    Episode 358- The Butler Did It

Low Stakes Horror

     This week- a classic gothic horror from England and a, uh, different type of classic for a very dedicated type of audience.
     In 1885, self proclaimed librarian Jonathan Harker arrives take charge of some books at a lonely castle. Mr. Harker didn't tell anyone that his real job is vampire hunter and the noble whose books he used as cover is named Dracula. Things don't work out as planned and soon Dr. Van Helsing goes to find Harker while Dracula goes to find Harker's friends in England. Hammer's first entry in it's take on Bram Stoker's fangy fiend, Dracula (aka Horror of Dracula).
     In 1995, a shlub whose barely holding on to his job taking family portraits finds himself being called to be a hero. When he and five others are trapped inside a building by a mischievous spirit from the distant past. Will our shutterbug step up or will the sun rise on the building only inhabited by the dead? The middle entry in Donald G Jackson's puppet trilogy starring Joe Estevez and Conrad Brooks, Baby Ghost.
     All that and... three of us fall into unrelenting cinematic despair while Craig cackles from his hidden fortress's throne room. Join us, won't you?

    Episode 357- Low Stakes Horror

Rented by the Hour

     This week- a pair of films adapted from the stage.

     1931, Berlin, while finishing his doctorate a British academic, Brian Roberts, takes residence in a boarding house. Finding his room is too small to teach English lessons, which he must to survive, Brian strikes up a friendship with his neighbor, Sally Bowles, a performer at the Kit Kat Klub. Soon Brian finds himself caught up in her bohemian lifestyle. One of the first films to be rated X with fiendishly catchy songs, strong performances, plenty of thought-provoking subtly under the bawdy exterior, and possibly Bob Fosse's most enduring and still relevant work- Cabaret.
     Liz is a street prostitute who is weary of her life and desperate to escape her pimp. As she wonders the late night streets of LA, Liz directly tells the audience of her history, from her youth to the current moment, and why she keeps going. Based on a monologue play, one of the first to be given a NC-17 rating in the US, anchored by a strong lead performance and strong visuals. Ken Russell's satirical drama tries to bring pathos and humanity to the world's oldest profession, Whore.
     All that and Dave finds his memory slipping, Craig discovers pain in the ring, Kevin gets classy again, and Tyler plots to ensure there are no flawless victories. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 356- Rented by the Hour

Neeps & Tatties

     This week- a pair of films that ask "when is justice served and what is permissible when it isn't?"

     Shady businessman Daniel Emerson has his partners, and lifelong lackeys. give him an alibi during his trial for raping pianist Gaily Morton which result in his acquittal. Horrified and overwhelmed by the verdict, Gaily takes her own life. Before long each of the false witnesses have fateful encounters with gorgeous women that end in murder and a former courtroom artist tries to figure out just who is behind this revenge of Steel and Lace.
     In the late 1970s, a notoriously vicious loan shark enforcer with a history of roughing up debtor's families, Nickie Dryden, is arrested by Detective Keltie. Twenty years later, Nickie is out of prison, has published a successful memoir, is happily married to a journalist, and has become the Scottish art world's most popular sculptor. The night of Nickie's newest exhibit, Detective Keltie steps forward to remind the audience just who Nickie was and what he has done. Soon the two men find themselves in an escalating conflict where one wants to believe he has changed and the other wants to ensure the sins are never settled from his time as The Debt Collector.
     All that and Dave denies his short term memory issues, Tyler makes the hard choice, Craig keeps someone locked out, and Kevin might be snoring oh so lightly in the background. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 355- Neeps & Tatties

Donner Party

     This week we talk about four films from a master of mayhem who spent two decades setting the bar across multiple genres.

     When his biological child dies immediately after birth, diplomat Robert Thorne is persuaded to secretly adopt a child whose mother died giving birth. Keeping the switch a secret from all, even his wife, the Thornes spends five idyllic years together. When Robert is promoted and sent to England, strange event begin to pile up which eventually lead to one terrifying conclusion... A horror classic with a powerhouse cast, The Omen.
     The lone survivor of catastrophic end of Krypton is sent hurtling through the stars to a still developing backwater world filled with potential.  Taken in by a farming couple in Kansas, the survivor discovers incredible powers as he grows up. Tasked with guiding the planet to their best destiny by his biological parents, raised with empathy and strong morals to guide by his adopted parents, the refugee introduces himself to the world. The film that made the world believe a man could fly, Superman.
     Martin Riggs has dropped his crazy act to embrace just being a cruel piece of shit. Roger Murtaugh has been too old for this shit so long that he has made his daughter scared to be open about her life. When they stumble on a human trafficking ring, smuggling people from China to LA, they once again find their lives in about average for them danger. The final entry in a beloved action franchise, Lethal Weapon 4.
     An archeological expedition in France find the glasses of its missing leader in an underground room that hasn't been opened in over six hundred years. Three of the young researchers and the head archeologist's brain damaged son soon find themselves being hurtled through time in a desperate rescue mission. Based on the novel by genre master Michael Crichton that was either cut too heavily or not heavily enough, depending on who you ask, Timeline.
     All that and Dave raises a large monkey, Tyler tries bouncing in the Keys, Kevin remembers his tragic MMA past, and Craig has intestinal issues. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 354- Donner Party

Lurid Courtship

     This week- a pair of films with unexpectedly exciting visits to boring people's vacation homes.

     When Mia first sees Frida it is love at first sight. Tragically, that won't be an easy revelation as both of them are in long term monogamous relationships and their parents are engaged to each other. When they are the first to arrive at a family weekend, long silent stares give way to indiscretion. Can these women return to their daily lives or have they ignited the flames of undying cyberstalking passion in their hearts? What pain and joy can come With Every Heartbeat (aka Kiss Me, original title Kyss mig).
     Mickey King writes trashy thrillers, often under equally pervy pseudonyms. When a rich anonymous fan offers him a lot of money to ghostwrite an autobiography, Mickey finds himself neck deep in trouble. With a new corpse around every corner and an assassin with a penchant for costumes on his heels, can Mickey discover the truth or will his life end like one of his novels? Mike Hodges second feature film, Pulp.
     All that and Kevin leads a group of plucky squirrels in tense war against a vicious gang of girl guides. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 353- Lurid Courtship

(Acid) Bath & Beyond

     This week- English people get up to some not nice things.

     A jogger collapses and wakes up an amputee. An Eastern European totalitarian murders his way up the ranks. Finally, the worst cop in London teams with the angriest young pathologist to stop a brutal killer targeting young women. An absurd exercise in science fiction with support from three of horror's favorite sons, Scream and Scream Again.
     Miriam and her husband take a long trip to visit her sister, Greta, and brother-in-law, Dylan. Sometime in the future, Miriam and Greta's relationship is strained to near breaking while they set up for Dylan's family reunion. Sometime between these scenes, a brutal act of betrayal and an equally brutal act of vengeance. In the end, Miriam makes ice cream. Writer-directors Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli's vicious rape-revenge film anchored by powerful lead performances, Violation. 
     All that and Dave objects, Craig makes recommendations, and Tyler is blissfully unaware of his impending doom at the cute paws of a squirrel army. Join us, won't you?
    Episode 352- (Acid) Bath & Beyond