Full Court Haunt

     This week- two films about dudes justifying their actions as being pushed to extremes by manipulative outside forces.

     Odin James, an African-American basketball prodigy, has earned a leadership position on a highly competitive  private school's predominately white and upper-middle class team and the interest of many college recruiters. When Odin shares his team MVP award with Michael, Hugo, the coach's jealous son, devises a plot to take them both down so he can step into the team's spotlight. An updated take on Shakespeare and the second directorial feature from playwright and character actor Time Blake Nelson- O.
     Charles Dexter Ward has inherited the grand mansion overlooking the small town of Arkham, Massachusetts. Little does he suspect that is the same place where the town burned his forebearer, the necromancer Joseph Curwen, 110 years earlier. The sixth film in Roger Corman's Poe cycle and the first film adaption of a H.P. Lovecraft story- The Haunted Palace. 
     All that and Kevin and Dave make the most of their time, ignoring the mysterious disappearances around them. Join us, won't you?

   Episode 471- Full Court Haunt

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

Bacon, Bananas, Scrabble- A Talented Animals Tribute

    We bring March to a close with a salute to that most overlooked and mockingly abused of subgenres- the talented animal! Please note: RotP uses a VERY broad definition of both "talent" and "animals".

     When the dumbest man to ever slip his way into the space program flies into a wormhole, he ends up on a planet run by apekind. Quickly captured and sold to a human loving, aggressively so, chimp, the pair soon start a revolt against the establishment. Can the man barely able to tie his own shoes be able to out wit a whole Planet of the Apes?

     After a season dominating in professional hockey, Jack the chimpanzee is framed for biting a rival player. Unable to deal with this slander, Jack runs away to live with an orphan in an empty pool. Together they learn to laugh at love again... and do some wicked sick kickflips. Once a player, now he's MVP 2: Most Vertical Primate!

     You would be safe in assuming that after securing his place out of the oven, Babe would have a restful existence. Tragically, disaster strikes the Hoggett farm. Soon the bank is calling and the only way out is a well paid sheep herding demonstration. Unable to arrive at their destination, Esme and Babe face the cruel and uncaring city. Will they be able to stay on top long enough to return home? Will they be able to save the farm? Or will they adapt and never look back? What cruel fate awaits Babe: Pig in the City?

     When a research facility explodes, the only survivors are a super smart golden retriever and the vicious murdering mutant OXCOM, intent on eating the dog's eyes for a nice between meal snack. Fortunately, the dog meets a boy almost as painfully useless as the astronaut from Apes! Together they learn there's nothing a heavily plot armored boy and his dog can do. Even where there are Watchers about.
     All that and Kevin does his homework, Dave's memory gets fuzzy, and Tyler rolls in something. Join us, won't you?

Episode 198- Bacon, Bananas, Scrabble: A Tribute to Talented Animals