Immediate Response: Halloween Kills (2021)

 I use Peacock to watching WWE and Savage Dragon, so I might as well watch this Film at my Computer like a weirdo...

The Good

* The Film is strong on style and atmosphere.

* The Shape is as menacing as ever, killing people without a word- while still showing little touches of character.

* The Film brings in lots of people from the original Film- some as the real Actors, some Recast and one with some post-production trickery.

* The Score is nice.

* The Plot takes some nice turns and takes some big risks.  That said...

The Bad

* The Ending- no SPOILERS- sure is rubbing people the wrong way.  I can see it, even if I'm not too bothered by it.

* The tone sure is bleak.  Yes, even for a Slasher Film.

* Michael McDonald has some bad luck in Films.  He ran afoul of killer Dinosaurs twice (Carnosaur 2 & 3), the Leprechaun (Leprechaun 2) and now Michael Meyers.

The Film sure is divisive.  If you're a fan of the Series, give it a look and see for yourself.

New Streaming: Creepshow- 'Model Kid!'

 Since I have a Trial of Shudder, I might as well get back to this Show.

Let's see the first half of how Season 2 began...

The battle between a fish man and Mummy is...

Not real.

Oh, you tease.

A kid obsessed with Horror Movies and Model Kits is trying to live a normal life in 1972.

When his life changes due to family trauma, will he be able to adjust to a new pair of people raising him?

...or will he turn his obsession into a tool for good?  Well, good for him...not so much for the other guy.

To find out, stream the Episode now.

A strong opener, all things considered.  Creepshow Stories should have a few things.  It needs some sort of creature.  Big check.  It needs a Protagonist(s) that you can and should root for.  Check.  It needs someone who you should want to be punished.  Yep, got that too.  The basic gimmick here- kid really into Horror Film Model Kits uses it to get revenge is a solid one.  I do have to ask- did this need to be in 1972?  Maybe the Company that made the Kits wasn't a thing later.  Maybe the idea that people buy Model Kits is a '1970s thing?'  Regardless, the Period Piece aspect adds nothing.  It also subtracts nothing, to be fair.  The creature work is obviously the big draw here.  It's great- no question.  I don't really have any complaints here, so, I guess, look for more of these soon...

Next time, the other half of the Episode that got so much hype upon its original release.  Is it that good? See you then...

Tubi Thursday: Robowar (1988)

 As a celebration for my weekly streaming, let's look at an infamous rip-off Film.  Will adding Reb Brown make anything better?

A group of men are sent out to clear an Island of hostiles.  At least, that's what they are told.

Their actual mission- take out a robotic killer.

If you need it done, you might as well bring in BAM aka Bad-Ass Motherf#@kers.

Speaking of BAM, who else could pull off this belly-top but Reb Brown?

Nobody- that's who!

The sort-of titular Robot has been taking out Soldiers during the credits.

Of course, most of them is just overexposed shots of explosions from Strike Commando (also with Reb Brown).

Sadly, this guy is more like the original Predator and not the final product.

Our Soldiers don't know what they are in for, but they will still kick lots of ass.

And yes, Reb will scream while firing a gun.  
It's in the Contract.

Can they stop this Robot killing, well, machine?

Will they follow Predator beat for beat?

I mean, obviously...but you should still see how this '80s Cult Classic plays out.

It's...kind of very dumb.

A dumb Film that sometimes tries to be more.  Robowar is a knock-off of Predator.  Let's be honest and direct now.  If you didn't have one, you wouldn't have the other.  Does that immediately make this Film bad?  No, but it certainly sets the bar nice and low for it.  Rip-offs like this can only be so good.  That said, you can have some fun with this one.  When it isn't padded with long Scenes of walking through the Jungle, you can laugh at the absurdity here.  The Leads are in a group called the Bad-Ass Motherf#@kers.  They love to do the 'yell and fire machine guns' bit. 

They rip-off Predator, but don't quite get why it works.  When Billy stays behind to fight the Predator and dies off-screen, it's dramatic.  When his Italian equivalent does the same, we see the Robot walk up with his gun and just shoot him.  I mean, yeah, why would you stand there with your knife when you see him walk up with his gun, moron?!?  Many of these guys go out like morons, like the last few victims who walk right up the creation (see above) and just get killed.  Silly people.  

Reb and the Writer (coming this fall to ABC) try to randomly milk some drama here as we awkwardly-learn who the Robot is partly-made of.  It's...too little too late.  If you like Predator, check this out.  

If you like dumb Action Films, check this out.  If you can't stand a blatant rip-off, look elsewhere like these guys did...

A pretty infamous rip-off that manages to be just silly enough to work.  It's dumb as rocks, so just bear that in mind.

New Streaming: What If...Killmonger Saved Tony Stark (Episode 6)

 After a big-time fan request, here's an idea that came from who-knows-where.  Let's ask the question yet again...

At a key point in the MCU Timeline, Tony Stark is under attack in (not technically) Afghanistan.

In the proper Timeline, he's captured and becomes Iron Man.

In this one, he gets a savior...

Killmonger saves Tony- hey, that's the Title!- and makes things go in a very different direction...

For starters, he reveals Stane's plan and upends the rest of the Iron Man Screenplay.

What's he going to do next- replace the original Actor who played Rhodes?

Oh...right.

Killmonger- as you might guess- is not really altruistic.

What's his big plan?

To find out, stream the Episode now.

A good, if complex Episode.  The whole timeline here is a bit odd.  Yes, we know that Killmonger in the MCU was a Soldier before the events of that Film.  In this divergence, however, he had all of his skills and tech years before he put his plan into action in Black Panther.  It's not impossible, I suppose.  So much of this hinges upon you remembering the very first MCU Film, so you might want to bone up.  Seeing how far things can go and how different Characters interact here is neat.  It would have been nice to get RDJ for this, but I'm sure it would have cost like $30 million.  Regardless, Jordan really nails his anti-hero well here.  It feels like he really wanted another crack at the character, something that seems unlikely to happen.  Of course, it's not *impossible* since, you know, Comic Books.  I will say that the Plot gets *close* to stretching credibility with just how much he's got things planned out and how he uses so many people.  It's still good, but he's almost a Marty Stu here.  Even so, it's nice to see people make new friends...

Next time, another fun Episode as Thor takes the focus.  Can he grow up eventually?  See you then...

'90s Class?: Stay Tuned (1992)

 A Film about TV obsession- that's not a problem anymore!  This is Stay Tuned, a 1992 Horror-Comedy about, well, that thing I just said.  The Plot involves some people getting sucked into their TV due to some evil magic.  I'll get into the why, but, sufficed to say, it's weird.  We have John Ritter and Pam Dawber as the unlucky Couple, so that's some notable TV Credits right there.  I think it's probably a coincidence that they were Cast though, so no points there.  We also have Eugene Levy, which is good, and Jeffrey Jones, which is...awkward.  On the plus side, the Casting isn't reversed, so we're not 'cheering' for Jones throughout this.  The Film really leans into the Topical Humor, so I'm curious how much of it still works.  Alot of is so broadly-silly that it probably has no issue.  That said, a Thirtysomething Parody isn't exactly fresh-feeling in 2021, now is it?  Is this a Film that still holds up after almost 30 years?  Is it a Film that's mostly a time capsule for TV/Film jokes?  To find out, read on...

A random Family- the Neighbors- get a new TV from a shady man- Jones, playing to type.

We eventually get a tease of their dark fate, with a payoff to be seen later.

They move to our Heroes' House next, which raises all sorts of questions about how nobody seems to notice.  Do they pick like 3 Houses and then switch Cities or something?

Regardless, we need the Character Backstory to explain how things play out in, well, TV Land...

John is unhappy with his success and retreats to TV.  He also randomly owns a pair of fencing swords!

Pam is successful, but unhappy with how distant he is.

The kids are, well, kids.  The Son plays with electronics, while the Daughter...has friends.

The Villain is Jones, of course, who works for the Devil.

The new plan to collect Souls is to 1) get them to take a new TV deal  2) trap them in the programming  3) kill them while in said programming.

As a concession to the folks in Heaven (who otherwise aren't mentioned or seen), they only have 24 hours.  That's...fair?

The duo end up in a bunch of TV/Film Parodies along the way.

We also get random 'Commercials' which include the aforementioned Thirtysomething Parody (which is Thirtysomething For Life, which has sensitive Men in Prison picking out paint colors for their Cell) and one lazy one called 'Northern Overexposure.' 
That one literally just explains the Plot of Northern Exposure, only the joke is that he died from the cold.

Ha.

Speaking of bits that date the Film, we get a surprisingly-long Wayne's World Parody.

They barely disguise it at all, which says something about how they feel about the audience.

That was...odd.

On the flip-side, there's an extended bit involving Animation that was mostly-inspired by Warner Bros, but also quite a bit by Who Framed Roger Rabbit? too.

It's fun, vibrant and really makes use of the 'anything goes' format.

Since I'm all about that shameless Cross-Promotion, I should also mention that there's a Professional Wrestling bit.

The lady is, as far as I can tell, not a famous Pro-Wrestler, but the guy is The One Man Gang.  

We haven't had him on Let's Go To The Ring, yet, have we?

The climax involves a bit of silliness and alot of 'here are all of the bits we didn't use yet.'

Pam is freed, thanks to help from the Son in the real World.  

Jones pursues John directly, leading to bits like the Star Trek: TNG Parody below.

Weirdly, she ends up BACK in things to be rescued by Ritter, after he manages to escape the ultimate peril: A Salt & Pepa Music Video?!?

For a Film rife with creativity, this bit is...kind of disappointing.  Oh well.

A fun and frivolous Film that tries to act like it has a big message.  To be fair, it's not like they do a bad job of it.  That said, the whole 'don't watch too much TV' thing is diluted a bit when you consider that the only reason they survive is due to his knowledge gained from, wait for it, watching too much TV.  He needs to be good at Fencing randomly for the climax.  Would he be fencing in his Living Room if he wasn't watching Errol Flynn Movies?  Granted- he might not agree to the new TV if he didn't also watch too much TV.  The message in a Film that's otherwise this silly should be easier to digest, I guess is my point.  With that in mind, there's still alot of fun to be had here.  For every groan-worthy joke/parody, there's one or two that deliver.  Like I said, the worst complaint I can give is that they seem to have picked the worst way to end the Film.  Was the Star Trek Parody, for instance, a worse way to do it?  The Salt & Pepa thing, while fun, seems like a letdown.  The humor balance is all over the place, from the really good bits to some randomly-dark humor.  One of them shows two old men on a couch.  One of them suddenly says that he's gone blind, while the other can't feel his right side.  As they fall over, you get the title- Different Strokes.  So...yeah, it's hit or miss.  Any final thoughts, Mr. Ritter?

Next up, I delve into the DVD pile for some Halloween-time fare.  What horrors will I unleash (upon myself)?  Stay tuned...

Immediate Response: No Time To Die (2021)

 It's been less than 24 hours, so let's keep this one fresh in my head...

The Good

* Strong action set-pieces deliver in a big way, as you'd hope for in a Bond Film.

* Solid, realistic Acting makes you feel for the Characters throughout their dangers.

* Bond himself has alot of personal stuff to go through, really fleshing out a guy who can easily be 'fun quipping, gun-shoot guy.'

* This definitely feels like the climax to a big-time Series of Films.

* The Plot builds upon all of the Craig Films, benefitting those that saw them all.

The Bad

* That said, if you don't remember key stuff- like who Madeline's Dad was or who Vesper was-, you might be a bit lost in regards to a key Plot Points.

* The tone is often very somber, so it's not quite the 'rollicking good time' that some people think of from James Bond Films (even if the Craig Films have been more serious).

* The balance of 'the new people need to shine' vs. 'It's still Bond's Film' is a bit uneven, although I don't pretend that it's an easy thing to manage.

* Making the reveal of Q being Gay so minor (to make it easy for China, Russia and the UAE to cut out) is kind of a shame.  Again- I get the reason.

A big, bombastic Film that also manages to be quiet and somber when the Scene calls for it.  It's a fitting finale for this Bond, but the Tone won't be everyone's 'cup of tea.'

Quick Review: Love and Monsters (2020)

 A Film about an Apocalypse that had to find a way to be released during a Pandemic- weird.  Was it good though?

In the near future, an attempt to stop an Asteroid from hitting the Earth will be successful...but the nuclear fallout will transform animals into Monsters.

Whoops.

Our Hero is, well, not heroic and does basic function for his group in their Bunker.

When it seems like his former-love (separated from him during the chaotic escape 7 years prior) is in danger, he'll risk a multi-day trip across the surface.

Is he remotely-qualified for it though?

He'll get some help along the way, thankfully, and learn some new skills that he'll need to survive.

When is their spin-off Film now, asks everyone watching this Film?

Along with a dog- named Boy in what might be a reference or a coincidence-, he must escape the titular Monsters, which include giant Frogs, Slugs and other big uglies.

Will he make it successfully to her Bunker? 

 Will he find out more about himself along the way?

When is Apple going to release these adorable Robots?

Can he become the Survivor that he's always wanted to be...or will he just get eaten?

To find out, stream the Film.  It's on Hulu, but probably like 6 other ways exist to watch it too.

An enjoyable Film with surprising depth.  The Film could easily be one kind of Film.  It could just be a riff on a Road Trip (just with giant Monsters).  Instead, it gives you a broken character and lets you see him get fixed along the way.  There are many, less nuanced ways to do this.  He could be good from the get-go, but saddled with someone less experienced, for instance.  In this one, however, he's the inexperienced one and gets helped by some side Characters.  Again- there needs to be some sort of spin-off with the pair.  The premise of the Film- radiation made small creatures into Monsters- is obviously nothing new.  That said, they really go all out with the premise.  I'm reminded of a '50s B-Movie that promised lots of that...but was just alright.  This gives you big, gross critters.  The Monster Set Pieces are quite good here.  As I said, there's more to the Story and the Characters.  Even when things seem like they're going to the logical conclusion, it's not the simple.  Love and Monsters was a nice surprise for me.  It's just big-Budget enough to deliver on the F/X, but it still kept an otherwise low-budget charm.  On a related note, there's a very similar-sounding Film, so try not to mix the two up...

If the Trailer and concept intrigued, definitely give it a watch.  If you're interested in a Creature Feature full of heart, also check it out.

Rip-Off Cover Art: Zombies Have Fallen (2017)

 Do we need more Zombies Films?

Apparently 'yes,' at least if you ask everyone that makes Films.

As such, here is a 2017 Film about Zombies...

Are you getting Deja Vu?

I know I am.

Is there a Film that came out in 2016 that *might* have inspired this one?

To be fair, the Flag is the first thing you think of when you think of London (if you don't live in London or the UK).

That said, it's the same layout, Title Font Color and overall look.

Funny bonus: the Zombies Film was shot in Scotland!

Tubi Thursday: Parents (1989)

 Since both of my Parents' Birthdays this Week, let's do a special Film.  It's about someone's...

In 1950s Ametica, a young family- the Laemle Clan- move to a new home.

All looks great.

So why do they look so ominous when they are cooking all of this meat?

Their Son is full of ideas and high on imagination.

Is he imagining all of the weird things in his life though?
If even 1% of it is real, that's a big thing!

Can he make sense of his dreams?  Is he a reliable Narrator?

Will this at least be less depressing than the *last* 'Kid in '50s America thinks that X is an X' Film I watched?

Things continue to get weirder as the Son learns about what his Dad does for a living.

He's working to create dangerous chemicals (like Agent Orange) and is studying the effect it has on 'the kidneys.'

Is that what he's sautéing in the pan?

It all comes to a head one night in this Dark Comedy...which I won't SPOIL.

As the Title suggests, it's on Tubi.  See it if you need to know.

A weird, dark little Film.  The first thing to note is that the Film was made by Bob Balaban, who I don't think of as a Director.  I think of him as 'that deadpan guy from that Movie.'  You have one in your head, don't you?  So it is interesting to see him leaning into what is more of a weird, dark Film than a quirky one.  At times, it seems like it might go for silly.  Most of the time, however, underlying tension just keeps building and building.  The thing here is the balance.  Can the Film balance the weird, the mundane, the dark and the light?  Not quite.  Like another Film I talked about recently, I could see someone taking another crack at this concept.  Yes, I do know about Mom and Dad (with Nic Cage) and it's not quite the same.  That one is more like The Screwfly Solution (from Masters of Horror) than this Film.  Without SPOILing the Ending at all, they basically had to commit to an ending and I'm not sure that they picked the right one.  That's subjective, admittedly.  Parents isn't quite what you expect it to be, nor does it ultimately end up like you're maybe hoping it will be.  Speaking of hoping, I'd hoped to find more Films with the Actor playing the Son...but he only did this one.  This Credit sure is...unnecessary in hindsight then, no?

An odd little Film that tries to balance the idea of the mystery and the reality.  In the end, it doesn't *quite* stick the landing though.