Hospitable Tentacle

     This week- two films about tentacled fiends who might also be friends.

     When the moon is blown into a permeant crescent and the monster that claims credit is threatening to do the same to Earth in one year's time... unless the underachieving delinquent misfits of Middle School Class 3-E are able to assassinate it before then. In order to nurture their killer instinct, the multi-limbed monstrosity places itself as their teacher. Will the kids rise to the challenge or will they fail in their duty and doom the whole planet? The live action adaption of a wildly popular manga and anime, Assassination Classroom.
     A cheap Airbnb in Tokyo doesn't keep guests for very long. Every night the same horrific events play out to deadly results. Will anyone survive a night at this dump? Can the fleshy nightmare stalking its rooms be stopped? How has no one noticed like 50 people disappearing after booking this one room? The second feature from director Doug Roos and an impressive exercise practical effects, Bakemono.
     All that and Dave feels ultimate despair, Tyler tries to bring his Sheri Moon tattoos to life, and Kevin plots against the others for steadfastly refusing to record on his days off. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 344- Hospitable Tentacle

Cellular Purgatory

    This week- a data plan from hell and a manga brought to life.

     From the shockingly prolific Takashi Miike, a horror about early 2000s modernity. Yumi's friend gets a call from her own cell number, not a scammer. It leaves a message with a timestamp three days in the future, still not a scammer, and the sound of her friend's horrific death, still not a scammer. When the day and hour arrives, the unthinkable happens. Before long all around Yumi are targets of some malevolent force that can reach out through technology, not scammers. A film that might not have aged as well as they expected but it did kick off a successful series- One Missed Call.
     Two high school students are hit by a subway train... and wake up in a room full of strangers and a large mysterious black ball. Soon they will take their places in the only line of defense between Earth and alien invaders. Judged on their performances in battle, the two struggle to buy their freedom from the 100 point menu. Popcorn action at its finest and a great reminder of why Hollywood isn't going to stop their own manga adaptions anytime soon- Gantz.
     All that and Dave revisits some old friends, Tyler regrets nothing, and Kevin is taken away on the corpse cart. Join us, won't you?

  Episode 241- Cellular Purgatory

Riding the Starfish

      This week joyrides both across a country and the void of space.

     When Nanae comes back into Rei's life, it kicks off events that will change everything. Soon they are on the run with only each other and their complicated history as support. Based on the influential manga, Gunjō. Will they find some kind of peace with each other and their past? Will they be able to forge a new future? Will they Ride or Die?
     Japan's first science fiction film shot in color. A rogue planet is hurtling towards a blissfully unaware Earth while strange visions of  giant starfish begin terrifying fishermen. At the same time Dr. Matsuda has just made a huge breakthrough in his work on a new nuclear bomb and Professor Isobe takes in a woman his son found floating down stream. Will the waterlogged woman be able to deliver her urgent Warning from Space in time for humanity to survive?
     All that and Tyler has to adjust his list, Dave starts a new starfish cult, and Kevin spoils a party. Join us, won't you?

Episode 239- Riding the Starfish