In a Blink

     This week we cap off September with four sweetly brief movies holding runtimes under 80 minutes.

     England, 1941, German planes fill the night skies and the Angel of Portobello is giving accurate warnings to the public, keeping casualties to a minimum. Broadcasting secretly, the Hanbury sisters have built an incredible machine that can and will change history as we are aware of it. A feature debut of impressive technical mastery, LOLA.
     Philip Winthrop travels to his fiancée's childhood home, a crumbling old structure on blighted land, to bring her back to Boston.  He doesn't expect the opposition her brother brings to his plans, begging him to allow them to silently fall apart with the house. The wall cracks increase with both men's desperation to achieve their desired outcomes. The first of Roger Corman's Poe Cycle for American International Pictures, House of Usher.
     When Khoma Brutus and his friends are lost on their way home to their seminary, they take refuge in the home of a witch for the night. Events will soon conspire for Khoma to stand a three night vigil for the soul daughter of a rich merchant and witchy revenge. A Soviet era classic based on the story by Nikolai Gogol, Viy.
    A vacationing American couple go scuba diving, only to find themselves left behind by their tour boat. Stranded, miles from anywhere without any supplies and a circle of sharks tightening around them, the couple tries to endure. Inspired by actual events that had a lasting impact on the scuba tourism industry and left a mystery that will never be solved, Open Water. 
    All that and we prepare for the delights of October. Join us, won't we? 
   Episode 328- In a Blink

Mass Rockogenic Illness

     This week a pair of films about finding acceptance and artistic expression in Ohio.

     Introverted and shy 11-year old Toni decides to stop boxing and try out for a local dance team that practices in the same building. Soon afterwards, a mysterious illness begins sweeping through the girls. As the violent seizure epidemic continues, Toni tries to find acceptance. A devastatingly powerful directorial debut with an amazing performance at its center, The Fits.
     Single mother Patti and her brother Joe, who works in a factory by day, struggle to make ends meet and play in a band at night with dreams of being something bigger. After Joe is laid off, the pair attempt to take their band on tour. While it appears to be successful, they all find themselves still struggling with finances, leading to a split between the siblings. Another Paul Schrader film about people who keep themselves prisoners of the past but in a different setting than most of his work, Light of Day.
     Join us, won't we?
   Episode 327- Mass Rockogenic Illness

A Fistful of Pamphlets

     This week- a pair of films about love and how it can go bad, especially under extreme circumstances.

     When 90s Emo Kid Jamie's father passes away, she is shipped off to live with her aunt and uncle, a pair of devout Jehovah's Witnesses, living in a devout religious enclave. When Jamie catches the eye of the religious leader's daughter, Marike, a tender romance begins. Stolen glances and awkward casual intimacy can only last for so long under strictly intolerant conditions. The feature debut from Sarah Watts and Mark Slutsky, You Can Live Forever.
     When rebellious teen, Tobe, learns gas station attendant, Harlan, has never seen the ocean, she decides to take him to the beach. Harlan and Tobe's relationship soon comes into conflict with her violent outburst prone father and Harlan's less than firm grasp on the reality of situations. A cowboy tale set in more modern suburbia, debuting in the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard, David Jacobson's Down in the Valley.
     All that and Dave accidentally slips some spoilery hints (this is your fair warning), Craig does us all a solid, Tyler shops for new trash cans with better gripability, and Kevin returns with a velour allergy from a restful week in a Leeds sex dungeon. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 326- A Fistful of Pamphlets

Coyote Enfeeblement

     This week a pair of horror thrillers that have somehow skipped many people's radar. 

     When Nina, Hesty, and Pono decide to go camping on a lake for the weekend, they never expected to meet a pair of hunky divers. When Caroko hired Johan and Tommy to dive for a missing treasure, totally expecting they would be picked off one by one if they didn't work fast enough. An Indonesian thriller that takes a hard left in its last act to become a semi-remake of an 80s slasher classic- Srigala (aka Wolf).

     In the summer of 1979, the father of Adam and Fenton Meiks is visited by an angel. The angel commands him to destroy demons disguised as normal people. In 2001, Fenton Meiks enters the FBI's Dallas field office and tells his story to the agent in charge of the recent God's Hand serial killings. The only feature directed by Bill Paxton, Frailty.
     All that and Craig gets classy, Dave is completely incapable of properly pronouncing anything, and Tyler unveils his most evil scheme yet. Join us, won't we?
    Episode 325- Coyote Enfeeblement

Greeting Knoll

     This week- a piercer gone too far and ten attempts to summit an incline. 

     The 3rd Battalion, 187th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division receive five fresh replacements. They are placed under battle-weary Frantz, who has only a brief amount of time to get them ready for a major operation in the A Shau Valley. The battalion faces unexpected resistance while trying to take Hill 937. Over the course of ten days, Hill 937 would become a pivotal battle that lead to a massive shift in the US strategy, including, the first withdrawals, and leave the battle know as Hamburger Hill.
     Helverton, Colorado is a nice mountain town where a shockingly large percentage of the population is into Urban Primitivism. This doesn't even register to the police or normies until one takes things too far. Hunting mid90s chatrooms under the screenname Captain Howdy, a predator is capturing and torturing young teens. When Howdy takes the daughter of a local detective, no one suspects the events that will unfold and the lasting scars left on the town. A film read the coming trends a bit too early for audiences, Strangeland.
     All that and Dave learns how to use AOL, Craig considers investing in a slip on catheter company, Tyler loves like a loving lover loves, and Kevin dreams of distant pastures and gasoline. Join us, won't we?
    Episode 324- Greeting Knoll