Sunday, November 10, 2024

Shudder Day: Arcadian (2024)

Nic Cage and Shudder are a match made in Heaven.  

Let's see what his most recent Film is like...

It's the end of the World as we know it!

Naturally, Nic Cage survived.
15ish years later, he's raising his two Sons as they live out in a Farm.

They live a humble life and are sure to be locked into the House by sundown.
They try to make the most of the situation, living comfortably as a family.

However, the one Brother is constantly leaving to go to 'The Rose Farm.'
Considering that someone or something is trying to claw their way into the house every night, should you be distracted that much.

Is it safe for you or anyone else?
Of course, he's a young man, so he's got one thing on his mind.

And no, it's not roses.
Who will live?
Who will die?

Will the reveal of the Monsters be worth all of the build-up?

To find out, stream it now.
A Film that is interesting contrast of many things at once.

The Film looks peaceful, with its lovely farmlands and hills in Ireland.
The Film gets very chaotic when the Monsters make their (erratic) moves!

The Film is all about Family and staying together.
The Family is torn about by one's desire to hang out with a girl somewhere else.

The Monsters- no SPOILERS- are freaky things.
The Monsters don't really get explained and you *really* want to know how they got like this.

The Film is sold on Nic Cage vs. Monsters.
Nic Cage is a key part of the Film, but the Plot gives the main focus to the young Leads.

Arcadian is a fun and interesting low-budget Horror Film.  There are certainly lots more 'Family surviving against weird monsters' after A Quiet Place (not that the Film introduced the concept).

This is a good one of those, even giving us a Relax at the Waterfall Scene to boot!

A Film with a tight focus, a small Cast and some crazy Monsters.  They are definitely worth the build-up, so give this one a chance.

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Tubi Thursday: Horror Hospital (1973)

 Let's escape the horrors of the Present by seeing some Horrors of the Past.

Oh look- they're all in one Hospital!

A wannabe Rock Star and a Lady looking to visit her Aunt both end up at a 'Health Hospital.'

They meet on the train and pretty much fall for each other immediately.

This is the last Film of Actress Phoebe (billed as Vanessa) Shaw, so she does nudity.  Thanks for asking.
They see some things that they don't like.

Of course, now the place is locked down by the Head Doctor (Michael Gough) and patrolled by a bunch of faceless bikers.

They really were all the rage in the '60s!
The Doctor has been experimenting on people for a while.

Oddly, we don't get his big monologue until *way* late in the Film.  It even comes with flashbacks, which makes it feel even later in the Film than it is.
He has the two in his power, so why not tell them your whole plan?

The guy- Jason- does make an escape, leading to a chase and a prolonged fight just there to introduce the bubbly marsh into the Plot for later.
Speaking of later, the Aunt decides to say 'See you later' to Gough after another young man (Abraham) shows up and she's convinced that things aren't going well.

They did just kill the guy who got people to show up too.

Well, her exit is less than amicable when a strange guy who appears to be covered in goop chokes her to death!
Can Jason, Abraham and the Dwarf (coming this Fall to ABC) make an escape?

Nah, it won't be that easy.

Instead, there's a big old climax and, shock of all shocks, they burn the place down!  How unique!

To see how strange this gets, stream it now.
A fun flick, even if it is pretty damn silly.  To be fair, that is part of its charm- intentional or otherwise.

I'm honestly not clear if this was *meant* to be an absurdist Comedy inside of a Horror Film at most points.
There is one bit where they prolong an action like how Family Guy used to do which makes me think that it is a Comedy. Other parts include torture and bloody deaths, so dunno.

The Plot is a weird mix of ideas, cliches and new things tossed into one freaky salad of a Film.  
For example, there's a late reveal with Gough that is right out of House of Wax.  
Other bits like controlling humans with machine parts is a unique (for the time) riff on old Zombie Films.

The Film is far from perfect, of course.  It introduces Abraham very late into the Film and his whole Arc (gotta rescue my girl) ends abruptly with no great resolution.

Horror Hospital has a few things going for it, like a few gimmicks, a fun Cast, a good location and a bizarre Plot.  It has encapsulated how so many of us feel after Tuesday night...

For a fun bit of '70s silliness, check it out.  The fashions alone date this- not even getting into the technological aspects.

Is It Bad?: The Wolverine (2013)

 2009's X-Men Origins- Wolverine was received in such a bad way that future Origins Films got cancelled.

2017's Logan got critical praise and was a massive hit.

So, what about 2013's The Wolverine

Pro: This Intro- with Logan surviving the blast at Nagasaki- is a creative one.

With a character like Logan who is nigh immortal and ageless, why not?

Con: Making a Plot Point about the US dropping a nuclear bomb on a real place that killed lots of people is kind of tasteless.

It's a fine line.
Pro: Logan lives in the Woods now, having left the X-Men in the wake of X-Men: The Last Stand.

Con: No other X-Men *really* appear in this one.  Darn.
Pro: Jean Grey is back from the 3rd X-Men Film, appearing to Logan in his dreams.

Con: It is kind of a cheat, no? 
Plus, it requires you to remember *that* X-Men Film.


Pro: He's recruited for a new Plot involving a trap to Japan to meet the guy he saved.

He's dying and wants to offer Logan 'a warrior's death.'  He's pretty mopey, so he considers it.

Con: The bickering Family is a bit cliche.

Pro: Hiroyuki Sanada is the corrupt Dad.  He's great.
Pro: The death of the old man leads to a massive Funeral.    
It is attacked by the Yakuza, leading a fun fight.

It culminates in a fight on top of a Bullet Train.  Great stuff.
Pro: Rila Fukushima is great as Yukio.  She can see people's deaths and warns Wolverine that she can see his.

His powers are failing- due to Plot reasons- and now the stakes are raised.
Pro: It all builds to a series of great battles, from Ninjas to the big boss.
Ninjas are always a Pro.

Con: The final battle with Silver Samurai is...something.

It looks great, but it raises so many questions.  I won't talk about it too much in-depth, but...yeah.

What Is Good?

The Film feels like a unique adventure, taking the Character out of his usual location and Supporting Cast.  It is risky to take that all away for an X-Men adjacent Film.

The new Cast is great, from Fukushima to Sanada to Tao Okamoto as 'Mariko.'  The Plot works him in nicely.

Jackman really delivers as well.


What Was Bad?

The finale with the giant Silver Samurai- all of the stuff going on with him and how he exists to set up the bone claws for the next Film.

It is presented as part of the Plot, but feels way too sci-fi with the rest of the Film.
The same with how much they lean into Viper by the end.

So...

Is It Bad?

No

The Plot takes a weird U-turn in the 3rd Act.  It definitely defines the Film- for better or for worse.

The rest of the Film makes the most of Jackman and company, playing with the Fish Out of the Water element, enjoyable action and a complex Story.
It has stripped all of the X-Men elements out- for better or worse.

At least Jean Grey came back...for no other appearances (see above).

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Streaming Standard: Agatha All Along (Episodes 3-9)

 Clearly, I planned to break this up more.
Then you know, we had 2 Hurricanes hit my Home State, so...I was busy.

Let's wrap up our look at Disney's newest Streaming hit...

All of the Coven is united.

They are on The Witches Road.
What follows are Trials for each Witch, which gives the Producers an excuse to get fun outfits for everyone and new Sets.

Of course, the Trials aren't easy and the group will learn many things along the way- even what they don't want to know!
Each Witch has their own backstories and motivations.
They each want something different- will this put them at odds?

On top of that, they won't all make it out alive!
We eventually learn all about the Teen- which I won't SPOIL for anyone not in the know.

He gets his own Backstory Episode, which is tradition for any Prestige TV Show.
Can the Coven complete the Trials?
Who will make it?

If they do, will they get what they want?

To find out, stream it now.
An MCU Show that really delivers both in quality, but variety.

A common complaint I've seen is that 'MCU Shows are just long Movies cut into pieces.'
I don't really agree, but I can see why some people say it about Shows like, for instance, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

This one has a strong, episodic format though.  Each Episode builds nicely upon the last, using the breaks well.  They aren't arbitrary.

If we're going to call every Streaming Show just 'a long Movie,' then many others need to have this 'complaint' lodged against them.

Everyone shines here, from Zasheer's attitude to Lupone's grace to Hahn delicious evilness that slowly changes.

I was worried that the 2-Part Finale wouldn't work, but it sold me.  I don't talk about it here, of course, because major SPOILER potential.

Agatha All Along is a strong MCU Show that fans of Witchcraft and unique TV need to see.  Plus, it still has time for a dumb joke...
A really strong Show that builds and builds throughout its run.  The Show sets many interesting things in motion for the MCU to take advantage of.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Streaming Standard: Batman- Caped Crusader (2024)

Warner Bros' folly is another Streaming Company's gain.

Bruce Timm is back to make another Batman Cartoon.  This is on Prime because, as noted, WB apparently passed on it.

How are they losing money again?

Regardless, let's see how this new take on Batman turned out...

It is the 1940s and Bruce Wayne is a big time industrialist.

Gotham City, meanwhile, is still as corrupt as ever.
That's why he spends his nights fighting crime as Batman.

This one is based mostly on the early version of the Caped Crusader, minus his purple gloves (which were mostly like a coloring error).
The City is also beginning to fill up with criminals that aren't Mobsters or Gun Runners.

That's why he needs the help of Alfred, who doesn't seem to miss any meals in this version.
(which is how he looked before he was written as skinny to match the TV Actor).
Keeping the law is Commissioner Gordon and his Daughter Barbara.

Harvey Dent is the DA and wants to be Mayor, but he's more corrupt than he lets on.
Batman must rise to the occasion to stop the more outlandish villains that show up.

For instance, a version of Golden Age Clayface, Firebug and new versions of Harley Quinn and The Penguin.
On top of that, some new (to Batman) villains are entering the fray.

Onomatopoeia's wordless evil and Gentlemen Ghost's far more verbose villainy must be stopped.

To find out how Batman does, watch the Show now.
A really good Show that bridges the gap between nostalgia and being a new property.

It is a tricky thing, as the Show is based loosely on the Golden Age Comics, but also updating key aspects for a modern audience.
It gives us new content, while also reminding us nicely of the classic Animated Series.

The Show gives us another great iteration of Batman, which is great to see in the ensuing years since we lost Kevin Conroy.

The Stories are fun and the serialized nature works well.  You can watch individual Episodes on their own AND be rewarded with a through-line of a Story that connects all 10 Episodes.

The variety of Villains is nice, as we get some classic one likes Penguin (below), new riffs on ones like Harley Quinn and classic DC Villains like Gentleman Ghost facing off with Batman for the first time since The Brave and the Bold.

All in all, the Show is really damn good.  As a kid raised on the Animated Series, I'm both the target demo AND the hardest group to please.

It is good and I can't think of any reason to be mad at...oh, right.

I would have gotten to this sooner, but I wanted to ease my withdrawal by putting off the last 2 Episodes.  Now is the great time to watch it!

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Holiday Flix: Trick or Treat (1986)

 Better than Circus Peanuts, that's for damn sure!

This is 1986's Trick or Treat.  Of course, my copy is a foreign one (it was digital) and is titled Ragman.
No biggie.

The Plot involves a scorned Teen, a dead Rocker and the power of an evil spirit to control electricity.  That sure is a popular Plot, from House III to Shocker to this (which came first).  Hell, they're still doing it as of 2019's Star Wars- The Rise of Skywalker!

Can the Lead from Attack of the Killer Tomatoes IV save the day?
Is he metal enough for Riki Rachtman?

To find out, put down the candy and read on...

Eddie (aka Ragman- although I have no idea why) is big into Metal.

He's also bullied by some 22-year-old Students and pushed naked into the Gym.
Will he turn out to be The Rock too?!?
He practically worships a Singer named Sammi Curr, who fronts a fictional Metal Band.

The one problem- Sammi is dead!
He meets with his DJ Friend (Gene Simmons in a Cameo) and they share in their grief.

He gives Eddie a Demo Copy of Sammi's last Single, which he will play on Halloween Night.

Bye, Gene- we never see you again!
Eddie falls for one girl (who looks like Milana Vayntrub) and is invited to a Pool Party- the School one, to be exact.

He's bullied again and that's the last draw!
He plays the record backwards and gets 'advice' from Sammi.  It is super vague at first, but he's 100% into it.

His friend doesn't believe him.
He nearly decides not to save the bully, but does sneak a tape of Sammi's to the guy's girlfriend.

It makes great energy surround her and put her in the hospital...somehow.

This is NOT the kind of Film where you ask questions.
Ozzy Osbourne has a random Cameo as an Angry Preacher on TV.
Neat.

Of course, that means that many DVDs give him and Gene Simmons top-billing.
Playing the record more and using its power finally allows Sammi to break on through to the other side.

He now has full-on electric powers and is pretty much a walking Ex Machina.

In a strange moment, he reaches through the TV (below) and presses Ozzy against the edge of the TV, which...kills him...maybe...I guess.
Eddie tasks his friend with destroying the tape.

He plays it instead and is made to play it at the Halloween Party.

This summons Sammi again, who plays well...but then starts killing people with his ghost lightning powers (including the Director in his Cameo).
He turns on Eddie- although Eddie was clearly not on his side anymore anyhow- and tries to kill him at his House.

Through luck, throwing a light box at Sammi makes him trip and it reveals his weakness- water.

He's temporarily trapped with his hand in the toilet, something that Freddy Krueger would not stand for!
They have another face-off with him, but make it to the Station.

Simmons is not there (he's dead- I guess) and they can't stop the tape playing with Sammi there.

Eddie baits him and crashes his car into the river, destroying Sammi and somehow NOT injuring him in the slightest!

The End.
A fun Film, even if it barely makes a lick of sense.

Do you expect real logic in a Film like this?  A Rock Singer comes back from the dead as an Electric Ghost.
Shakespeare never wrote anything like that- he didn't even know what the hell electricity is!

The selling point here is Eddie.  He's supposed to be relatable.  He's either you (a metalhead), your son you don't understand or your friend.
For his part, our Lead does a good job.  The Actress who plays Leslie does as well.

Is Sammi a good replacement/substitute for a Freddy Krueger or a Jason Voorhees?  No, but he tries.  The late Actor/Dancer Tony Fields really shines here.

He's definitely better than the guy in Slumber Party Massacre II (although that Guitar/Drill is nice).

All in all, this is a Film that can certainly be a staple of an '80s Horror Fan's Library- as long as you know that Simmons and Osbourne are barely in this.

In case you didn't know that this was the '80s, here's a guy dressed as Rambo and Eddie's Mom as Madonna.
Happy Halloween.  As for me, I enjoy getting lots of Candy for half price- diabetes be damned!