tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10037587729712899302024-03-18T22:10:11.949-04:00The Deadly Doll's House of Horror NonsenseOne woman's quest to share the beauty and learn valuable lessons in horror films, from the truly terrifying to the totally terrible (and of course, everything in between involving killer dolls)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-44791205094805180652024-03-18T05:00:00.004-04:002024-03-18T05:00:00.245-04:00And Then There Were Eleven<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj4SCWsS7gTonszV6YqJoKsi7Lr9AeY25uNSbszQJtno0Bvp7ysVX5btI9hiXGCXxh1PV3F3VOzaeXxKuRtiZ9aVjiVQ4wui4Jl37yjsEIkm_d6SJhG1dwCbLvne7k47ZceNs7JufPdBrj9NfrdKewuBl62Iw4lelMQzlJLCNWknZwdlu8_m_NPzADKw/s1444/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%205.48.05%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="808" data-original-width="1444" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj4SCWsS7gTonszV6YqJoKsi7Lr9AeY25uNSbszQJtno0Bvp7ysVX5btI9hiXGCXxh1PV3F3VOzaeXxKuRtiZ9aVjiVQ4wui4Jl37yjsEIkm_d6SJhG1dwCbLvne7k47ZceNs7JufPdBrj9NfrdKewuBl62Iw4lelMQzlJLCNWknZwdlu8_m_NPzADKw/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%205.48.05%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm the kind of easy mark when it comes to sales. Yellow sticker screaming price reduction that's still higher than the product to the left of it? SOLD. Similarly, when I get a free trial on ANYTHING, you can bet all my complimentary credits that I'll milk it for every last drop.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In case you were wondering, that's why yet again, we're here at the Criterion Channel as my 3-month membership ticks away. Zip up your parka and let's go! </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot: </b>A group of 11 teenagers are invited to a mysterious ski trip in the wintery mountains. With the exception of one pair of twins, none of the kids know one another, nor do they have any idea why they were selected or what EXACTLY they were selected for. The few parents we see are happy to dump their load off, even if the three instructors seem to be a little...off.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEr30b8o6PMfcD-kjZWgIKINaW8X_pLnumq0TjChGZzNsbWmISMXn0AqrK6cxZFeDCzC_4yLcer_W_mA9DQ5xUDOOjQa5GMlJZeXZPr12HpWiHJNEzFs8nkkmfmdEA6KGJ-1KdOL9_DL7pPMFkBukirnkMGkphGzZLUKLMAncnWoBKjWGNypujvEvZ1k/s1480/vlcsnap-2023-05-14-16h09m28s332.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1480" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEr30b8o6PMfcD-kjZWgIKINaW8X_pLnumq0TjChGZzNsbWmISMXn0AqrK6cxZFeDCzC_4yLcer_W_mA9DQ5xUDOOjQa5GMlJZeXZPr12HpWiHJNEzFs8nkkmfmdEA6KGJ-1KdOL9_DL7pPMFkBukirnkMGkphGzZLUKLMAncnWoBKjWGNypujvEvZ1k/s320/vlcsnap-2023-05-14-16h09m28s332.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There's Gita, the long-haired sole female unwilling to take any sass from the teenage boy contingent. Wild-eyed Dingo seems like the kind of guy who fails senior year eight times to maximize his time bullying nerds. And of course, "Daddy." </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jen8__IEaMEi-ec0eBrdIvS5Jcv5A8u90frksPQ5IIx-c-ggeRc8koc69Suz30Gwx-EBhjeJq4T6Nsd2oB4lxIQsg8g5XOizwGlLeNqcHSR-6GrQOU9cwEO6Ix2MUjTalWoRh0v4kubrRQQoZJkQbRHqqzfnxel9TKtS1GAAqEWwaupbgn3w24S8SLg/s750/WolfsHole_web3.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="750" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jen8__IEaMEi-ec0eBrdIvS5Jcv5A8u90frksPQ5IIx-c-ggeRc8koc69Suz30Gwx-EBhjeJq4T6Nsd2oB4lxIQsg8g5XOizwGlLeNqcHSR-6GrQOU9cwEO6Ix2MUjTalWoRh0v4kubrRQQoZJkQbRHqqzfnxel9TKtS1GAAqEWwaupbgn3w24S8SLg/s320/WolfsHole_web3.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Up the kids trek into an isolated cabin surrounded by nothing but snow. Food--well, the good food--runs out quickly, putting everyone on edge. Then there's Daddy's sudden declaration that while there are 11 teenagers in the cabin, his list only accounts for 10. One doesn't belong, and Daddy insists it's the kids' job to identify the interloper. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyhDg5PdCjEw4PNY3UDU3u10um_4x_SKlx2MUe1ICEtfKSdRQ1BNSB6UmuW8p0t9F1F6wreSyk6Fm7Aa-b9sGYrUcJt5YWC98U4BWyC2TWiPY5dSRlOu1cRePuUtWiTjqHu6E4GwFS8YMxYnjWKU-75uiYTeLqnFL-6CA4eJobtTo8axauEiqJx_8IRI/s800/wolfs-hole-2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyhDg5PdCjEw4PNY3UDU3u10um_4x_SKlx2MUe1ICEtfKSdRQ1BNSB6UmuW8p0t9F1F6wreSyk6Fm7Aa-b9sGYrUcJt5YWC98U4BWyC2TWiPY5dSRlOu1cRePuUtWiTjqHu6E4GwFS8YMxYnjWKU-75uiYTeLqnFL-6CA4eJobtTo8axauEiqJx_8IRI/s320/wolfs-hole-2.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't know nearly enough about the political and cultural climate of 1987's Czechoslovakia to fully understand what writer/director Věra Chytilová is exploring with <i>Wolf's Hole,</i> but that doesn't mean I didn't find it fascinating. I went into this based on the Criterion Channel's description that implied it to be a satire of American slashers. Those elements are there, though there's clearly a lot more at play. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The only real problem with <i>Wolf's Hole</i> is that it's an impossible movie to describe in a way to set any audience (particularly a genre one)'s expectations. Contrary to the marketing, this isn't really a horror film...but it's also not, well, any particular category. There's certainly satire and humor, maybe a little science fiction, and the bones of horror to put the audience in a very particular brain space. Don't go in expecting to be scared, but do expect entertainment...in a very odd way. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVbCE4HNQhKR7zxTlShKwN34fR28nRtdRiBlEVUJk9J3r90kNK7vmALlKQOc00Ggh7ToK68In9DxhDjW2pyzK8090cDU1mvuP-Z-6z2OyeKsckEeZgnmb0dQUgL4TU3AJGXn2kCxDOytAyBtHttMfNW8mg7KHWktjxSpAKi7VG-Xud2Zm7T36XQczYQY/s640/wolfs-hole.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVbCE4HNQhKR7zxTlShKwN34fR28nRtdRiBlEVUJk9J3r90kNK7vmALlKQOc00Ggh7ToK68In9DxhDjW2pyzK8090cDU1mvuP-Z-6z2OyeKsckEeZgnmb0dQUgL4TU3AJGXn2kCxDOytAyBtHttMfNW8mg7KHWktjxSpAKi7VG-Xud2Zm7T36XQczYQY/s320/wolfs-hole.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I won't spoil it, but <i>Wolf's Hole </i>has one of my favorite endings to a movie in recent memory. I was NOT expecting to walk away from this feeling the way I did</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was probably impossible to do with a group of 11 and such a brisk runtime, but it would have helped to have a little more differentiation between the kids (both physically and in terms of personality). I don't mind them all being kind of terrible, but I guess I would have preferred terrible in different ways</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqKDBFG9hsjvFRxeh2EBPkOPrusTOl6q-sPLa1V-rNwi7Wa7kUf69ux8YwLplvJK0Rct00Ev8Z8GTW-G8cZknwhNLZtzlJi3b84iWAAhdDfQ9A14qYKSK4sNWc9VfYHjQuddFIV2wK1dpNzU3RQi4FwWrV-EXm4TO9g4ovZlftlPnTxzLnVL_6a6alyI/s1200/4gfkq772EjbywbwmQWQACfYAhrl-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJqKDBFG9hsjvFRxeh2EBPkOPrusTOl6q-sPLa1V-rNwi7Wa7kUf69ux8YwLplvJK0Rct00Ev8Z8GTW-G8cZknwhNLZtzlJi3b84iWAAhdDfQ9A14qYKSK4sNWc9VfYHjQuddFIV2wK1dpNzU3RQi4FwWrV-EXm4TO9g4ovZlftlPnTxzLnVL_6a6alyI/s320/4gfkq772EjbywbwmQWQACfYAhrl-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The weakest link is always left out</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Put enough teenagers together and you're bound to have a food fight</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt_x9d-kOICPsKwggYQYd4sJdu9p9a89ysobOS3QGeQ6fRnj0hGjDxo5VoDkC8m2yTtfT1vMG83mEgOXm3u2spcG5p3AMspPj_FPBPPiT-zetIvjxpaZdy4yJLLNFj1n0V5ZEnu9-F-byjOle2XYgkLgkmUJX_6iIHfncbqimVp78Ipz4eo1OXj9PpzY/s1200/MV5BZjljMTkxNDUtYTI2ZC00ZGU4LWFiMjMtMjE3OWNmMWM2MWZlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDgzODE3NDk@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1200" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZt_x9d-kOICPsKwggYQYd4sJdu9p9a89ysobOS3QGeQ6fRnj0hGjDxo5VoDkC8m2yTtfT1vMG83mEgOXm3u2spcG5p3AMspPj_FPBPPiT-zetIvjxpaZdy4yJLLNFj1n0V5ZEnu9-F-byjOle2XYgkLgkmUJX_6iIHfncbqimVp78Ipz4eo1OXj9PpzY/s320/MV5BZjljMTkxNDUtYTI2ZC00ZGU4LWFiMjMtMjE3OWNmMWM2MWZlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDgzODE3NDk@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">SPOILER ALERT LESSON: the real trick to surviving a mysterious sure-to-kill-you trip? Never, and I mean NEVER, take that optimistic group photo before setting off. Our teens don't do it here and they're all better off for it</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's hard to say too much about <i>Wolf's Hole</i> without giving away some of its surprises. It's probably important to go in knowing you're not getting an '80s slasher or typical dead teenager movie, but at the same time, having those concepts in mind help enrich Wolf's Hole. It's not quite like anything else I've seen, which is always exciting. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-48749007370374643972024-03-11T05:30:00.001-04:002024-03-11T05:30:00.245-04:00Another Dose of Compliance<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QGvsyeDOadcob-OaFBN1h8TdvVldaVNQ30BLkDE0AkhsCfqyhvleYGnHrvEWShHuArmwmicvjBXvhokldOXLEIEybGS7ONWsr-MDBHisnK49LURTv-2d3pysRmWeJB18GoaS3T05xilpLPuN63KGVv1u1y99Hrtbf23OGF2WveXWPnrbfJNSSYGBQDk/s325/The_Passenger_(2023)_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1QGvsyeDOadcob-OaFBN1h8TdvVldaVNQ30BLkDE0AkhsCfqyhvleYGnHrvEWShHuArmwmicvjBXvhokldOXLEIEybGS7ONWsr-MDBHisnK49LURTv-2d3pysRmWeJB18GoaS3T05xilpLPuN63KGVv1u1y99Hrtbf23OGF2WveXWPnrbfJNSSYGBQDk/s320/The_Passenger_(2023)_poster.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In this (deadly doll's) house, we celebrate the work of Kyle Gallner. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKETvQDcsRGc7-ai5PJaVDukIb3h8P2T6SyCW_8eKt7Wxa7cuqrMlLjLN6Nlh41jTJPkt_S8L8ZAuD68KpKzuA6wTAkWsQEuCoR8agZh74TqTnqZFqSAsRyUFBJL2RPoosiPrIgMiewb69tpzaw8n27KFEz9zsXkNPQiRPhcpMl0LVh-ATZuvNj5V91nY/s1022/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%202.05.52%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="820" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKETvQDcsRGc7-ai5PJaVDukIb3h8P2T6SyCW_8eKt7Wxa7cuqrMlLjLN6Nlh41jTJPkt_S8L8ZAuD68KpKzuA6wTAkWsQEuCoR8agZh74TqTnqZFqSAsRyUFBJL2RPoosiPrIgMiewb69tpzaw8n27KFEz9zsXkNPQiRPhcpMl0LVh-ATZuvNj5V91nY/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%202.05.52%20PM.png" width="257" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pay your respects and hop in.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot: </b>At 21 years old, Randy Bradley hasn't done much with his life. He quietly toils away at a dour burger joint where nobody even knows his first name. His pride gets a minor boost with the tease of a managerial promotion, but the moment he uses it to stand up to a jerk of a coworker, it all tumbles down. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7yO0SnpA2poWFOeNvi1_IK5CZ3Ah-WGbobxWoB5gBKOp95J2npVmwOmqfzpRbl0v74RT7_QBjyUhrk0SxIeWht6qWLU7m4DRvoexPCJXgUrJY5Rgg8i_NJhMmWqJgu_zifxSnRrzyiLnhN5hyphenhyphenahwjeJs3kIwMB556HW4RvTJFedlVd93l6MkhZSus-k/s480/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7yO0SnpA2poWFOeNvi1_IK5CZ3Ah-WGbobxWoB5gBKOp95J2npVmwOmqfzpRbl0v74RT7_QBjyUhrk0SxIeWht6qWLU7m4DRvoexPCJXgUrJY5Rgg8i_NJhMmWqJgu_zifxSnRrzyiLnhN5hyphenhyphenahwjeJs3kIwMB556HW4RvTJFedlVd93l6MkhZSus-k/s320/poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Being humiliated is one thing. Randy is used to it. Benson is not. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxn9yw592a9vg_qAT6cSN6AQrJ8g6HGRrzvFUlojyqf1tM2kFXT73_S1xQkD5_bi8BFbudooD5Rg8npYssgW-lZdlLUbt1hsYB-e82kC4Ua1V4FNSaBorjIoh2CmUpWPNQs5Xu3wHPqWDfmfSnS-T4mXIM8JPyeehTdJ2TigQBwKkDkseUXH22ztAk-p8/s1200/passenger-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxn9yw592a9vg_qAT6cSN6AQrJ8g6HGRrzvFUlojyqf1tM2kFXT73_S1xQkD5_bi8BFbudooD5Rg8npYssgW-lZdlLUbt1hsYB-e82kC4Ua1V4FNSaBorjIoh2CmUpWPNQs5Xu3wHPqWDfmfSnS-T4mXIM8JPyeehTdJ2TigQBwKkDkseUXH22ztAk-p8/s320/passenger-1200-1200-675-675-crop-000000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Played by the always great Kyle Gallner, Benson is the kind of guy you don't notice. Older than the teenagers around him but seemingly even less ambitious, his presence barely registers until it explodes into a shooting spree, sparing only the terrified Randy Bradley.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuzdkaGW82KxM-UcYM_fiCKCYH4V2eLQ5SwFo26xMq4E6sew6AQOr-FPWDXjD0ffW9oIhK-iuW1gSZSuuQRip9r75nO2OPmLiHDKdSW4b2AOMSHvDYbdVMfLepfI6Q8khCURIfwBPHVCYHeVSwUbunWnP5vEq1PPTkx2vU9SrbR-Zq4QiZ3xnlYlHltQ/s315/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="315" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNuzdkaGW82KxM-UcYM_fiCKCYH4V2eLQ5SwFo26xMq4E6sew6AQOr-FPWDXjD0ffW9oIhK-iuW1gSZSuuQRip9r75nO2OPmLiHDKdSW4b2AOMSHvDYbdVMfLepfI6Q8khCURIfwBPHVCYHeVSwUbunWnP5vEq1PPTkx2vU9SrbR-Zq4QiZ3xnlYlHltQ/s1600/images-1.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Written by Jack Stanley and directed by Carter Smith, <i>The Passenger </i>is a fascinating film that toys with genre conventions in ways that constantly make the viewer wonder exactly what they're supposed to be feeling. Is Benson a mere homicidal sociopath or Randy's guardian angel? </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVxhbKI_r2EllOJnhzNOSKOGriQTTF-ym1HI1bRRBPJ559dEm9rAGCTC5tiYudKo3DcgoOceqVHEYCDlX_Obrw_F-fqCaUomk5WjiaopnfcV4217-1-ivcBqkXgRCh8RUkG07KMJplo5xEzi8Nupn8s2zH03j4UT01y7D5-3Ae3P3GnW6e-83bdjKE8s/s300/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVxhbKI_r2EllOJnhzNOSKOGriQTTF-ym1HI1bRRBPJ559dEm9rAGCTC5tiYudKo3DcgoOceqVHEYCDlX_Obrw_F-fqCaUomk5WjiaopnfcV4217-1-ivcBqkXgRCh8RUkG07KMJplo5xEzi8Nupn8s2zH03j4UT01y7D5-3Ae3P3GnW6e-83bdjKE8s/s1600/download.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's a more complicated question than you could possibly imagine. Randy, played beautifully by Johnny Berchtold, has his reasons for living in a whisper, but Benson is right in some regards: he does deserve to give himself more. But Randy is also a good enough person to see past Benson's Tyler Durden-y philosophizing for its own inconsistency.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Having recently rewatched <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2009/03/dont-feed-plants.html">The Ruins</a></i></b>, I can now enthusiastically throw myself on the Carter Smith train. <i>The Passenger</i> is a completely different film in terms of story and tone, but when you put them together, you can see so many of Smith's unique strengths as a genre director, particularly in how he's able to draw such real but deeply layered characters without much exposition or background. He seems to have a genuine human touch with his work, and that goes a long way when exploring something horrific.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwxzTLfR42o6rLZgb-10z56FL6q3uv_dGUFJ-dtyjEl84OWvgphz_lZiDWABTusDl274c-IFt73bpNbRD-L1asss5R7NCSz8I7IM2qxdhQ5b5c59M18kJRJ7G-m_uaOTQz5P_6C-uE7CCLWvYcxqV7ZN62N_KRTRorswq45fQDwcstPnRaXfLZXae4YI/s1196/MV5BZGU5OTMzNmEtOGIwNS00ZGE2LThiOTMtMjhlYTdkNjQ3NGNlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDU1NzE0MTc@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1196" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwxzTLfR42o6rLZgb-10z56FL6q3uv_dGUFJ-dtyjEl84OWvgphz_lZiDWABTusDl274c-IFt73bpNbRD-L1asss5R7NCSz8I7IM2qxdhQ5b5c59M18kJRJ7G-m_uaOTQz5P_6C-uE7CCLWvYcxqV7ZN62N_KRTRorswq45fQDwcstPnRaXfLZXae4YI/s320/MV5BZGU5OTMzNmEtOGIwNS00ZGE2LThiOTMtMjhlYTdkNjQ3NGNlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDU1NzE0MTc@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For such a lean film, there's quite a lot going on in terms of what's driving our characters, but with the setup<i> The Passenger</i> has, it's still fascinating that the primary story at the heart of the film is how Randy Bradley has spent the bulk of his life in the smallest way possible because of such an understandable guilt over having hurt someone. It's not the kind of emotion that would normally get this kind of treatment</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ntpzfZNfNtqAel0yxZtaNFKUeLwI0t-jT_oVKtHEjsa078-eYL1uXtaHAd6hmBgW-0cszYFA1UPtUrm537buvr-jEURrXHI9s5s1PCQyvuHPTfW_N3aqpTgjH_0YDaugqiwZgsCHogZMgpjPQLvP3OqnmC3iYeVJTCf_AvCXL65B-UIYlSlFyR2EK9Q/s1280/MV5BMjk0MzIxYTEtM2Q5ZC00ODQ0LThhOWUtMTM5ZWI1ZTk0N2UwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDU1NzE0MTc@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ntpzfZNfNtqAel0yxZtaNFKUeLwI0t-jT_oVKtHEjsa078-eYL1uXtaHAd6hmBgW-0cszYFA1UPtUrm537buvr-jEURrXHI9s5s1PCQyvuHPTfW_N3aqpTgjH_0YDaugqiwZgsCHogZMgpjPQLvP3OqnmC3iYeVJTCf_AvCXL65B-UIYlSlFyR2EK9Q/s320/MV5BMjk0MzIxYTEtM2Q5ZC00ODQ0LThhOWUtMTM5ZWI1ZTk0N2UwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDU1NzE0MTc@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't know that I have any real complaints about <i>The Passenger,</i> so why not use this space to ask a question that always makes me mad: why isn't Kyle Gallner a bigger star? </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdtT5X5j3aYYsbVIbAYEd4ra_ELj4sPyPubZRHipOPUGdUPNa172-AbL1ws0FK0Cu4Isk3vsd06N-wp7P5bQZNjmf7YJK7X-Rb_lhC0FAyo7zjy4NohrzbWKaDAgl8I2yk0jS8jsnQfVccXV7snjQN_UH4mopmbjyYBSMvZQRYV1HcGKhXQ_jPzmoPJE/s299/images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdtT5X5j3aYYsbVIbAYEd4ra_ELj4sPyPubZRHipOPUGdUPNa172-AbL1ws0FK0Cu4Isk3vsd06N-wp7P5bQZNjmf7YJK7X-Rb_lhC0FAyo7zjy4NohrzbWKaDAgl8I2yk0jS8jsnQfVccXV7snjQN_UH4mopmbjyYBSMvZQRYV1HcGKhXQ_jPzmoPJE/s1600/images-2.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It takes a lot of energy to hate a seven year old</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4DQvBzBZkmWWSijCrIODEpgUs97jNgbYKYbaSacOX-lbYccUgG3HWZDjM1XbJLxsBDDedrFcOm69dymFvF_ozBnORcm96RCDRUWjswpBeKgx6mzQZWQy8e6ijk2gYvlXNQjiQJ_mtghvzZY5KnDXfynintdTyyEuG0Y5dlT-DtPCeBDSQ6trAG5gHHY/s1926/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%202.03.20%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="1926" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4DQvBzBZkmWWSijCrIODEpgUs97jNgbYKYbaSacOX-lbYccUgG3HWZDjM1XbJLxsBDDedrFcOm69dymFvF_ozBnORcm96RCDRUWjswpBeKgx6mzQZWQy8e6ijk2gYvlXNQjiQJ_mtghvzZY5KnDXfynintdTyyEuG0Y5dlT-DtPCeBDSQ6trAG5gHHY/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%202.03.20%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fast food has far more character than a food court</span></div><div><br /></div></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Even the smallest public elementary school needs better security training for office staff</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzlmTSstCI7bZhmjruZog94CbQ_HuU2H83-pPvPE9WUkRKzp6lp0f0tz8qgT1TART2eVcXk3yyleUOQ7hMxHZdvFo0vrZgiRWtuwZxg-MTa4GrywroQcq-hui1CtbXNH7wKbxGApCkVDhtpoTimNa7oB03aIWn4ropCJLFlIPnZtEym7qLdKIRFifGC4/s550/The-Passenger_8.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="550" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzlmTSstCI7bZhmjruZog94CbQ_HuU2H83-pPvPE9WUkRKzp6lp0f0tz8qgT1TART2eVcXk3yyleUOQ7hMxHZdvFo0vrZgiRWtuwZxg-MTa4GrywroQcq-hui1CtbXNH7wKbxGApCkVDhtpoTimNa7oB03aIWn4ropCJLFlIPnZtEym7qLdKIRFifGC4/s320/The-Passenger_8.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>The Passenger</i> is not a fun watch, but it's a beautifully done challenge of a film that explores some very human issues. Don't go in lightly, but do go in.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-54228479263865323322024-03-04T06:00:00.001-05:002024-03-04T06:00:00.419-05:00Spa Day of the Dead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsRhCIX3k5lK0jEs9UWyQXvqBuSaqa8D0lGVyS8K90cf-KLZngsXsTwB-87O2BrKyYpLBQC84h7rUilgIif2ejNT397Mnlh99t5Ws_EkTPCY1zHZwqmZt9Pd-AvYnhQ2D5c3K4thDFCINGSDTdajEz-bBA8pj4SUB5J5NT81pV3Oq7wyp4xYuJ4Bm3fc/s1435/MV5BNmI5YjJlMGItZWRkMS00ZTBkLWI2ZWUtNjczMTg3YWU5N2I4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTYzNjgxNDA4._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsRhCIX3k5lK0jEs9UWyQXvqBuSaqa8D0lGVyS8K90cf-KLZngsXsTwB-87O2BrKyYpLBQC84h7rUilgIif2ejNT397Mnlh99t5Ws_EkTPCY1zHZwqmZt9Pd-AvYnhQ2D5c3K4thDFCINGSDTdajEz-bBA8pj4SUB5J5NT81pV3Oq7wyp4xYuJ4Bm3fc/s320/MV5BNmI5YjJlMGItZWRkMS00ZTBkLWI2ZWUtNjczMTg3YWU5N2I4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTYzNjgxNDA4._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Some people get goosebumps at the classic Universal logo that rolls out before the opening credits. Others cheer at Marvel's new collage. Me? I hear the calming oceans of Marvista and say, "oh yes, this will be something special."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LmUZE4LNi6IHlK_6oa5laTa1GJPfWlD68FgCMfRtOWrgB6avsp9JIacZimZWaHNwHekhZgCdBjhQNPvv2lY89f8a5JoSWE9QFNP49hEnHlIZb1be34rWEj22twU_9XsWt86hkTf5mZEllqriKLEFXshfjo1yWytZ-d8gzex4Wgmddd39xbGJniXxdlo/s2130/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.47.54%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1010" data-original-width="2130" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LmUZE4LNi6IHlK_6oa5laTa1GJPfWlD68FgCMfRtOWrgB6avsp9JIacZimZWaHNwHekhZgCdBjhQNPvv2lY89f8a5JoSWE9QFNP49hEnHlIZb1be34rWEj22twU_9XsWt86hkTf5mZEllqriKLEFXshfjo1yWytZ-d8gzex4Wgmddd39xbGJniXxdlo/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.47.54%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot: </b>An unnamed woman steps into the sauna at Serenity Gardens, fancy spa, expecting to sweat out her troubles. Instead, she sweats out...her LIFE.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVAO9cjiWbUiNsfs30S5KmOn0YocW_j-aJfwUncurHPpPGn-VbAySgtneEzOWkraRdJE-nw9-Z9RXU7Rn2SruwAf0hLfyMaLXlPFDmv6HQo9ZufQE_9KN-H9pdSwk5OcNAy-uVXrpQF2Cu41mS0ku2abruukm4t_y1cxVSdgTsDLqeT94Zv1GwMwD3fc/s2998/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.53.43%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2998" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVAO9cjiWbUiNsfs30S5KmOn0YocW_j-aJfwUncurHPpPGn-VbAySgtneEzOWkraRdJE-nw9-Z9RXU7Rn2SruwAf0hLfyMaLXlPFDmv6HQo9ZufQE_9KN-H9pdSwk5OcNAy-uVXrpQF2Cu41mS0ku2abruukm4t_y1cxVSdgTsDLqeT94Zv1GwMwD3fc/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.53.43%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One year later, we're led back to Serenity Gardens via Stella, a business consultant brought in by owner Ivy to help take things to the next level. The staff bristles at the interference of an MBA. Crystal healing specialist Jett worries her lack of clients will get her fired. Trainer Boxer is a creepy stalker-in-the-making. Yoga heartthrob Kilman follows his own rules, while his casual girlfriend Zoe is the office manager one wheatgrass shot away from pure insanity. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSobsUpuP8fE-ydqT3GXgzkyVcoElZ0NY7tCGsp74cmQGQqZEVE4jbr_IztORwc-FKi7C-xFTirgmQ5YcgaE54wx8Sw9ko5THEUFPcvuAyWp-xpqq7xcLJQpG8H_zCCWeA6zU5Hf4_Vh0xnFBxt7ejJvJQeHr1lW_WkceRJJ9FTecHQI6Jao25dJvXoio/s2712/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.41.54%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2712" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSobsUpuP8fE-ydqT3GXgzkyVcoElZ0NY7tCGsp74cmQGQqZEVE4jbr_IztORwc-FKi7C-xFTirgmQ5YcgaE54wx8Sw9ko5THEUFPcvuAyWp-xpqq7xcLJQpG8H_zCCWeA6zU5Hf4_Vh0xnFBxt7ejJvJQeHr1lW_WkceRJJ9FTecHQI6Jao25dJvXoio/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.41.54%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Unbalanced employees can certainly create an unhealthy work environment, but it ultimately comes down to management. Ivy is an incredibly toxic boss. She pits her team members against one another and punishes meeting misbehavior with forced planks. THIS WOMAN IS THE DEVIL. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXB5R42UKV54aJnjnlUSwaQ1Yjeu39_Ecjx2yxQyLukAEH6byhZ0SsxwzCKf8MqQGIk9anMrseIuM89mKVowPno1ZuEdvmk338EwK-FfuecQxVcXYg3rTcVO2BhhEeaMzbv-10cQwqjRhbf3DLB-QvXJ86K2rTtaqOKRwbcpsA8mRlcre8J1HgHFAq_A/s1200/Ivy_Watson_2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1200" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXB5R42UKV54aJnjnlUSwaQ1Yjeu39_Ecjx2yxQyLukAEH6byhZ0SsxwzCKf8MqQGIk9anMrseIuM89mKVowPno1ZuEdvmk338EwK-FfuecQxVcXYg3rTcVO2BhhEeaMzbv-10cQwqjRhbf3DLB-QvXJ86K2rTtaqOKRwbcpsA8mRlcre8J1HgHFAq_A/s320/Ivy_Watson_2.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Despite her business sense and education, Stella proves herself to be quite an idiot. Red flag after red flag waves in front of her face and yet she hangs on to her consulting gig, even after obsessive customers are stalking her house, drunken employees threatening her safety, and she becomes the prime suspect in a spa-set murder.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabozcr_syf-He0fJJIRNJKxctOsbDFNrtGLuupgW-6AHs6VaLd7yn4eQbx5bs5uik9peHB-8OkqlrnU4_gpWQ8ryg6SGkRlu69cfg-pHuLsMLSMGmq5QqYAcuhGyqmL_glGGq41SY-xGgIsk9Lnt89WKwBweecxPtpSsFOXcEtqF7ndxmIKJuiKSl9xI/s500/artworks-ocZuSgCMsXmIpLji-OUFqAg-t500x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabozcr_syf-He0fJJIRNJKxctOsbDFNrtGLuupgW-6AHs6VaLd7yn4eQbx5bs5uik9peHB-8OkqlrnU4_gpWQ8ryg6SGkRlu69cfg-pHuLsMLSMGmq5QqYAcuhGyqmL_glGGq41SY-xGgIsk9Lnt89WKwBweecxPtpSsFOXcEtqF7ndxmIKJuiKSl9xI/s320/artworks-ocZuSgCMsXmIpLji-OUFqAg-t500x500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Killer Co-Worker </i>is a tubi original, and that my friends, is a beautiful thing. Lifetime has long held a special place my heart as a reliable source of satisfying melodramatic cheese. tubi seems to have stolen its template, made a copy despite the machine being low on ink, then filled in the outline with whatever spilled wine product was near. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTktnRKIOLrJdo1ekEeT7W-tsQu_j50wN9l73rXdTVRTpYL2hz-QolNFOVUXahOWnc7FxlclaEAH6K8E_tosBVzwfz9PnGNnBu25c6ik2NDH-sLrUIpt6RvHjf1QASsBTQkS2BDjSbjzvrynd0QOPrZenaE9juvCWbc5y7GwQxYNZryDoHNlsJTHox50/s2950/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.43.16%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="2950" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTktnRKIOLrJdo1ekEeT7W-tsQu_j50wN9l73rXdTVRTpYL2hz-QolNFOVUXahOWnc7FxlclaEAH6K8E_tosBVzwfz9PnGNnBu25c6ik2NDH-sLrUIpt6RvHjf1QASsBTQkS2BDjSbjzvrynd0QOPrZenaE9juvCWbc5y7GwQxYNZryDoHNlsJTHox50/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.43.16%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is a zany, zany little thriller. Everyone is operating at an 11 save for our 'normal' lead, who instead operates as if 11 was her IQ score. Somehow it all balances out. Director V.T. Nayani gets all her actors on the same page of stupid and by golly, it works. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As an actor, it takes a fair amount of bravery to just GO FOR IT (particularly when the material doesn't necessarily support IT), and I have to call out Kendra Williams for taking Zoe to glorious heights of insanity</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCjadWM5XvLFl9im3NMtiyKZfBqln0o3Rm1ZkaQnFL6QWFtx4oPmSI_ChqstzO_mYnynGr98NhJrv_Lvcg7PhI7aeZ8Q5zOkwjN81TS1wHuZtzS1TQiVJ_HgC9eTnoYHHjXwFGypjrLBVAE3paeFkTKBO81UTvEoKmJnk-bhUMQhtBg_BVVtLWpf4S1Q/s2764/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.44.14%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1514" data-original-width="2764" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCjadWM5XvLFl9im3NMtiyKZfBqln0o3Rm1ZkaQnFL6QWFtx4oPmSI_ChqstzO_mYnynGr98NhJrv_Lvcg7PhI7aeZ8Q5zOkwjN81TS1wHuZtzS1TQiVJ_HgC9eTnoYHHjXwFGypjrLBVAE3paeFkTKBO81UTvEoKmJnk-bhUMQhtBg_BVVtLWpf4S1Q/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.44.14%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Obviously<i>, Killer Co-Worker </i>isn't working on <i>Titanic </i>(or possibly even <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2022/06/im-king-of-asylum.html">Titanic 666)</a></i></b> levels of budget, but to establish its main setting as a thriving business with a huge waiting list, it probably would have been more effective to show more than one client</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Laughter inhibits the power of crystals<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj6W8Whj9zicT77CBGIIMyaAK_fevb82XtGUlv-ncMsSxkZr9NAfl45aCtRzv0KYKZETytHo7l3V9CNTxPosiC7I7wrzIaJYFjgHNOuERZTpomx7S9jh-ioxku5OTq5QUIEw2R7N5hnr0V91TNF-QOagweygwKCC_ju1p9UlltYAtd09TTpBUTkl5ky0/s2714/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.42.37%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1610" data-original-width="2714" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNj6W8Whj9zicT77CBGIIMyaAK_fevb82XtGUlv-ncMsSxkZr9NAfl45aCtRzv0KYKZETytHo7l3V9CNTxPosiC7I7wrzIaJYFjgHNOuERZTpomx7S9jh-ioxku5OTq5QUIEw2R7N5hnr0V91TNF-QOagweygwKCC_ju1p9UlltYAtd09TTpBUTkl5ky0/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.42.37%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">MBAs speak fancy language, using terms like 'value adds'</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Never trust a woman in a blazer</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibaxY4bDhlJnycXZYy3RZ8WUlnm0vG50LivAmFKSqJAoipRFEwEn1MGEBBsRJzerZWr0BFKw75KN7S5ZuwWMAzCClHUjYE6t_HDd3EZcbHgYqYy7cstxyt_qvEEL8wuBAWdZ9fDe6MdFX2ArZINCTkiRf7u8WoarrJpZo8VGd64gJqGJdsRclTtIaUBU/s2656/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.54.57%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="2656" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibaxY4bDhlJnycXZYy3RZ8WUlnm0vG50LivAmFKSqJAoipRFEwEn1MGEBBsRJzerZWr0BFKw75KN7S5ZuwWMAzCClHUjYE6t_HDd3EZcbHgYqYy7cstxyt_qvEEL8wuBAWdZ9fDe6MdFX2ArZINCTkiRf7u8WoarrJpZo8VGd64gJqGJdsRclTtIaUBU/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-02-18%20at%201.54.57%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like I say anytime I review a Lifetime thriller, you know just by the words "Lifetime thriller" if it's going to work for you. <i>Killer Co-Worker</i> reads exactly the same way, and I had a blast. Keep 'em coming, tubi!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-49889958589229876742024-02-26T06:00:00.001-05:002024-02-26T06:00:00.261-05:00Alpha All the Way<p style="text-align: center;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwNSvE-f2M-DUqzdU4LtoBnZZ0Jm2Fmu8U0FSX638YW6tMyaQXVLNf_Hk64Gv11NPSZGUELVwjRIvUOaIZpLiIY1TO8NEtB50eJ9kjgkUDTjbluEAR2DRbBJ7lM99S3mZOQXOZckBYQWxIZz-_wzSootM_XU5KlaKJJnwnGima_FTTSYjWAT_Gxe88OI/s1104/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-25%20at%209.43.42%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1104" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwNSvE-f2M-DUqzdU4LtoBnZZ0Jm2Fmu8U0FSX638YW6tMyaQXVLNf_Hk64Gv11NPSZGUELVwjRIvUOaIZpLiIY1TO8NEtB50eJ9kjgkUDTjbluEAR2DRbBJ7lM99S3mZOQXOZckBYQWxIZz-_wzSootM_XU5KlaKJJnwnGima_FTTSYjWAT_Gxe88OI/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-25%20at%209.43.42%20PM.png" width="214" /></a></i></div><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i><p></p><p><i><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welcome to the Annual February Shortening! In honor of the shortest month on a blog written by a short woman, all posts are devoted to stories about vertically challenged villains. If you, reader of any height, have your own mini-horror to share, do so in the comments and I'll include you in a final post roundup as the calendar changes!</span></i></p><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":1ru"><div aria-controls=":1u4" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1u4" class="Am aiL Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":1rq" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 241px;" tabindex="1"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot: </b>A beautiful sloth is living her best life in her native Panama when a wormy human shoots her with a tranquilizer dart. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7FeJ8PGCbScaNv9njk5QJs-VuhcVuLzpNZOqyiHl043TQBIYz6jxDM-V-dUw9fPpaQR4V6rb5sKphhEgJYBmx_gLGRT7ZcU8Ebf6kV3mNa1-xUD6HnUgEBmoOEnVChUmXQL3fE6kwMIef2ZGbQmN2yamjj_7vHDcpU2FkEE1dqzh9ZJn3axnwhIUWd8/s1000/Slotherhouse.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7FeJ8PGCbScaNv9njk5QJs-VuhcVuLzpNZOqyiHl043TQBIYz6jxDM-V-dUw9fPpaQR4V6rb5sKphhEgJYBmx_gLGRT7ZcU8Ebf6kV3mNa1-xUD6HnUgEBmoOEnVChUmXQL3fE6kwMIef2ZGbQmN2yamjj_7vHDcpU2FkEE1dqzh9ZJn3axnwhIUWd8/s320/Slotherhouse.webp" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We do not deserve our spot at the top of the food chain. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Somewhere in "America(?)", Emily (not me) is gearing up her campaign to run for sorority house president. This riles reigning queen bee Brianna, though without a huge social media following, Emily's chances are slim. Enter a meet-cute with the aforementioned poacher, who offers her a great deal on a familiar adoptable sloth.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoi_TYwaT0pAEhR5_boOiPyddMR5H-SE3kBJGTTXBRXUerQaCkmNJCQHqQymba2ZUapbsq1flQFgfm1q-7qNPuPfF3q8tYoRiSspnrvvAWik_NOmyPkRw5Cg2pL2NYG26jITerua9NeUToJciLzxDMuFOwKW4bAGpZt1FzLQwYELSDRwsKVi2_CT11cks/s894/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-25%20at%2010.02.05%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="894" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoi_TYwaT0pAEhR5_boOiPyddMR5H-SE3kBJGTTXBRXUerQaCkmNJCQHqQymba2ZUapbsq1flQFgfm1q-7qNPuPfF3q8tYoRiSspnrvvAWik_NOmyPkRw5Cg2pL2NYG26jITerua9NeUToJciLzxDMuFOwKW4bAGpZt1FzLQwYELSDRwsKVi2_CT11cks/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-25%20at%2010.02.05%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Alpha, as she will soon be named, quickly charms her way through campus (after triumphantly mauling her captor to death). Emily is suddenly enjoying the popularity she always longed for, though best friend (and rare sorority sister with a conscience) Madison worries Emily's losing her soul in the process. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZiPTdnCv77bt4C6xDyRgkfBXKr16cMwEkBS-FKkArNBLO6c5zhZT41NSXIBeH5-qzyZ_VtDFZ8_hP0CnyHS9SzmBi2fz8iIr2C4_CVhzn7WsYDOIpfQkL4PLgRmXdQZ3fTfnn-hARi3cXktluhUbYuJMWo_GeNF0-_q60ZG_ZjhPx3moQzZnGAVDjIw/s1920/p-slotherhouse5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAZiPTdnCv77bt4C6xDyRgkfBXKr16cMwEkBS-FKkArNBLO6c5zhZT41NSXIBeH5-qzyZ_VtDFZ8_hP0CnyHS9SzmBi2fz8iIr2C4_CVhzn7WsYDOIpfQkL4PLgRmXdQZ3fTfnn-hARi3cXktluhUbYuJMWo_GeNF0-_q60ZG_ZjhPx3moQzZnGAVDjIw/s320/p-slotherhouse5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Though it all, nobody seems to notice that Alpha is on an efficient (and adorable) murder spree. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh3BKUzhmf4WDlPwGbkldJAOKzxJyZyzMIzRXT-CIB81EXLoZs2e9Wu5aYq8EIwwTU7ZlZYGxCwYvugBjV03eKXvVrurhuCYavCtrtpO0Wb88u4p0G8qIkQLXMrUPBoGmefQKBufdFQwqSsgUEsJnk1DE0kWBHLpOecw0WIHq7a-CtJQ_PnAvOGay-7Q/s900/ASP974385_SLOTHERHOUSE_95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="900" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuh3BKUzhmf4WDlPwGbkldJAOKzxJyZyzMIzRXT-CIB81EXLoZs2e9Wu5aYq8EIwwTU7ZlZYGxCwYvugBjV03eKXvVrurhuCYavCtrtpO0Wb88u4p0G8qIkQLXMrUPBoGmefQKBufdFQwqSsgUEsJnk1DE0kWBHLpOecw0WIHq7a-CtJQ_PnAvOGay-7Q/s320/ASP974385_SLOTHERHOUSE_95.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Directed by Matthew Goodhue, <i>Slotherhouse</i> is silly horror fun at its best. Granted, I'm a mark for cute puppetry, but there's something so confident about the film's tone that's impossible to resist. We even get a montage! CLEARLY this movie (with a fun script by Bradley Fowler and Cady Lanigan) knows exactly what it's doing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kzHawgq9eMn1DtXRhcZt3bWNt43vpBi5ekkRZmrTLhb9gemP1saQ9ReZVW8wJ4IKkfVVSjzS6QbwzyCxOZ-TINX_9ZolWXg7ZeuYfoCRTjdtq6QqGIruStSWqNV5X9wU3Zm-5Bsaim67JZRady4iG1iBCG3k3dAp_0y_11U_Q4WJ_zYiC6-GH1PyLlI/s1280/Slotherhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kzHawgq9eMn1DtXRhcZt3bWNt43vpBi5ekkRZmrTLhb9gemP1saQ9ReZVW8wJ4IKkfVVSjzS6QbwzyCxOZ-TINX_9ZolWXg7ZeuYfoCRTjdtq6QqGIruStSWqNV5X9wU3Zm-5Bsaim67JZRady4iG1iBCG3k3dAp_0y_11U_Q4WJ_zYiC6-GH1PyLlI/s320/Slotherhouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While the practical effects and wacky concept would probably be enough to make <i>Slotherhouse</i> work for a lot of genre audiences, there's an added bonus here: the film has an actual arc. Slashers (and yes: this is indeed one) specialize in centering their violence on pretty but usually vapid young people. Maybe there's a sweet final girl to root for or heroic jock who throws himself in front of the machete with her name on it, but for the most part, our characters aren't meant to learn much along the way to their early deaths. The screenwriters cited<i> Happy Death Day </i>as an inspiration, and while Slotherhouse doesn't quite reach those heights, it clearly understood why that film worked. Sure, it had a fun concept and sharp cast, but more importantly, it took its lead on a journey that changed the way she thought about the world. <i>Slotherhouse </i>might be more basic in its animal rights messaging, but how many slashers end with its survivors taking up a genuine cause?</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I was perfectly satisfied with Slotherhouse's cheerful and positively pointed ending, only to then erupt in glee once I realized the closing credits song ("Last Selfie") was an original that summed up Alpha's journey. BONUS POINTS ABOUND</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifNk4gIhPbkfRXC1G3RiQN4ZDpvp_ODBO1xrNngrEHqNG-rDEd6ZafNz_Kvb-50DFh2rXDg9znF-Afa9rS27cMWVHzXqRpso3-7d6QcLA2S7h5NE_Q2a5XDWyGIs8zhOhYJZZja3U5RTFfMxB4wS_3NlLK_4Z-T6PNuITAOLGI5IQWQcIrQvrZFxinik/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifNk4gIhPbkfRXC1G3RiQN4ZDpvp_ODBO1xrNngrEHqNG-rDEd6ZafNz_Kvb-50DFh2rXDg9znF-Afa9rS27cMWVHzXqRpso3-7d6QcLA2S7h5NE_Q2a5XDWyGIs8zhOhYJZZja3U5RTFfMxB4wS_3NlLK_4Z-T6PNuITAOLGI5IQWQcIrQvrZFxinik/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Considering this is a movie about a nearly unkillable, Instagram-mastering, alcohol-loving sloth murdering an entire sorority house, I shouldn't let logistical details bog anything down BUT this being The Shortening, I can't stay silent: I have no doubt that Alpha would know how to drive a car and navigate maps, but how DARE you give me such a scene without explaining how her little sloth feet reached the pedals. THIS IS A VERTICALLY CHALLENGED LESSON WE ALL COULD USE</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J4dRk70FSKQme7pciT2cnHELwIEj5ZYGe5bQaz11c_ifabWAhl_ox6Q-kijYQZ7_tc74Ar-Rs3SXS6z_81tzlrrup6Ft6YeJJYZb1V7S_wigEVMFLS98_8CrJbeTrGWTa4vSGj_bayZEVLYCPD1O-TOmRMPnXp9OogFttJvXpiLa_9z9HU7lQHWZIK8/s1199/imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1199" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J4dRk70FSKQme7pciT2cnHELwIEj5ZYGe5bQaz11c_ifabWAhl_ox6Q-kijYQZ7_tc74Ar-Rs3SXS6z_81tzlrrup6Ft6YeJJYZb1V7S_wigEVMFLS98_8CrJbeTrGWTa4vSGj_bayZEVLYCPD1O-TOmRMPnXp9OogFttJvXpiLa_9z9HU7lQHWZIK8/s320/imengine.public.prod.cdr.navigacloud.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You only need three toes to master social media</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhbJ2Cgw8uHzqnSQ5wcJ04keUIAiGvHpImdXeJl3LJsxYsjfrSfSNP4mnBEJzG6vVU9-7Z20qRMIlrYYgMS7UcLPqcb_eJGGjZDKuV-kNihgjIJ-Ik3afSHPREh5GGtq0cfsSFaO8cRsBQf2e4O6WDKA5ZM6AcZZFlO8bwtpf72FVCecnf7fGoPt_V8s/s270/thumb_E1D2A4B3-C582-49CE-8B94-63D6941B367B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="270" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhbJ2Cgw8uHzqnSQ5wcJ04keUIAiGvHpImdXeJl3LJsxYsjfrSfSNP4mnBEJzG6vVU9-7Z20qRMIlrYYgMS7UcLPqcb_eJGGjZDKuV-kNihgjIJ-Ik3afSHPREh5GGtq0cfsSFaO8cRsBQf2e4O6WDKA5ZM6AcZZFlO8bwtpf72FVCecnf7fGoPt_V8s/s1600/thumb_E1D2A4B3-C582-49CE-8B94-63D6941B367B.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dirty martinis are for your grandmother</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When trying to pass a Serbian production off as American, it might be better to refrain from having your characters say such uncommon American terms as "she's talking American at you"</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMO2qzyQNDtLAe28y5TYlT_BxXmoP0QjMQ-228AAkFOj5byuR8pKrSfrOpKKBz1Ar_vLRY92jznlRDdBkQFLs0o10rRYdvNbH2P-WJYyJq15RRu8G1UsSnTIGwKgAGV-zeyZCCYtgrfi6gJTCKPnadijPCnTjPOdEXAzu2uvPkwb2HJYOiqP2svcnT5g/s1423/70646602007-slotherhouse-166.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1423" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMO2qzyQNDtLAe28y5TYlT_BxXmoP0QjMQ-228AAkFOj5byuR8pKrSfrOpKKBz1Ar_vLRY92jznlRDdBkQFLs0o10rRYdvNbH2P-WJYyJq15RRu8G1UsSnTIGwKgAGV-zeyZCCYtgrfi6gJTCKPnadijPCnTjPOdEXAzu2uvPkwb2HJYOiqP2svcnT5g/s320/70646602007-slotherhouse-166.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you can give into its immense charms, you will have a wonderfully dumb (in the best way) time with <i>Slotherhouse,</i> streaming now on Hulu. If you can't, I'm very sorry that your life is so dour. Perhaps you just need to visit Panama?</span></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-25380846245552304812024-02-19T06:00:00.001-05:002024-02-19T06:00:00.292-05:00Bigger Than Bat Boy<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1HtxVylzR-H55FQIeUy0mS1qfOvnNnoXOYpf9cG7wqSJoQDhuviFYWXJDtDLqRGOhX2yLiDPXfJZmWhTp6nuHIS2wqnBABF2zcWrmiBu4d4EjXvePyBJyE-E0Iczye9tYHALzAM9oEOmTha4V8WpxP1nD0oYq-YvWTs7S1QJfWAAf4v9BGhEEB6Xe5k/s792/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="550" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1HtxVylzR-H55FQIeUy0mS1qfOvnNnoXOYpf9cG7wqSJoQDhuviFYWXJDtDLqRGOhX2yLiDPXfJZmWhTp6nuHIS2wqnBABF2zcWrmiBu4d4EjXvePyBJyE-E0Iczye9tYHALzAM9oEOmTha4V8WpxP1nD0oYq-YvWTs7S1QJfWAAf4v9BGhEEB6Xe5k/s320/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-18.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":uf"><div aria-controls=":wp" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":wp" class="Am aiL Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":ub" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 241px;" tabindex="1"><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Welcome to the Annual February Shortening! In honor of the shortest month on a blog written by a short woman, all posts are devoted to stories about vertically challenged villains. If you, reader of any height, have your own mini-horror to share, do so in the comments and I'll include you in a final post roundup as the calendar changes!</span></i></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With over 15 years of writing this blog and many more living as a human being with particular tastes, it gets harder and harder to find killer doll movies that I haven't seen. We've reached a point where there has to be a little elasticity to the very DEFINITION of "killer doll", hence today's tale of terror featuring a villainous paperweight. </span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> A stuffy history professor is lecturing his bored (and excessively rude) class about the Aztecs. Annoyed at their dismissal of his slides, he summons some kind of magic from an image of a wooden idol of the demon <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Destacatyl to give his student a nosebleed. Nobody seems to care other than Francis, a wealthy man who's never introduced but clearly knows the power of this figurine, so much so that after the professor is impaled by supernatural happenings in his own classroom, Francis heads to Mexico to find the real piece.</span></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SXCXzRny5y0LgPbTOf4NJ_u92DgDTfUmvWZzf7Ol62YEyHdPipRkpc3xbe5CXP1WNU5qgL_sFSZraHONQrHMEa3n2DSuhV48fS1OlpildzOWTRQK701wiVQzPEiepplODT2QBDDh6nPiEKLZsxqFcGh8NVmid4atBQ0G_srqaIJjq_1xzTrSLeAEOI8/s550/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="550" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SXCXzRny5y0LgPbTOf4NJ_u92DgDTfUmvWZzf7Ol62YEyHdPipRkpc3xbe5CXP1WNU5qgL_sFSZraHONQrHMEa3n2DSuhV48fS1OlpildzOWTRQK701wiVQzPEiepplODT2QBDDh6nPiEKLZsxqFcGh8NVmid4atBQ0G_srqaIJjq_1xzTrSLeAEOI8/s320/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">It's there, but under protection. An old man guards it but assigns the actual safety of Destacatyl to a young, incorruptible boy. Both are, unfortunately, extremely susceptible to bullets, though Francis doesn't quite get what he was hoping for.</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkBM7K8zRN-vctC5IVygEcLJ2w3qH0dD9POifOCBe72fCY7VZFgVt1A5inNzFYAc38WP4p-aOQtNBThi7d98HA_OWQ6aiqCXKQ_0lIbpjRUeiFpd1zVMVo4z4ful7bRfLS8tfgLm3LPQKp1_rB3CJAk_OhObKsqm6w-UxPfHvKHfZ5nwUGqthGZSwhbw/s853/power10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkBM7K8zRN-vctC5IVygEcLJ2w3qH0dD9POifOCBe72fCY7VZFgVt1A5inNzFYAc38WP4p-aOQtNBThi7d98HA_OWQ6aiqCXKQ_0lIbpjRUeiFpd1zVMVo4z4ful7bRfLS8tfgLm3LPQKp1_rB3CJAk_OhObKsqm6w-UxPfHvKHfZ5nwUGqthGZSwhbw/s320/power10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;">Suddenly, we're whiplashed back to the States where a trio of high school students led by I-WANT-TO-BELIEVE Julie are having a casual seance. Teen Tommy now has Destacatyl, a never-explained souvenir from his parents' recent vacation. Some ouija board drama scares the kids away, but evil lingers: a security guard pays the price with his head.</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1n6gNujXkqgGLlqfquWBy270PougvHbZQfUjoZ_kVZPZUr4po4fBkM6J9M1_JVWmVYsGIrQsRSNrkUYS20VwlIQX870TbmN2rNel3KIO7RUXo7PIRqBM3BM6klVtm9fmBnH4dz1u8oVQNBz5SRCPr1WbZBl9wUhiRzUqrwRo5uvaid92-0AK53eLC9U/s853/power14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1n6gNujXkqgGLlqfquWBy270PougvHbZQfUjoZ_kVZPZUr4po4fBkM6J9M1_JVWmVYsGIrQsRSNrkUYS20VwlIQX870TbmN2rNel3KIO7RUXo7PIRqBM3BM6klVtm9fmBnH4dz1u8oVQNBz5SRCPr1WbZBl9wUhiRzUqrwRo5uvaid92-0AK53eLC9U/s320/power14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: small;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">Cut AGAIN to YET ANOTHER set of characters: Sandy, </span>a lead reporter for a <i>Weekly World News</i>-ish tabloid and her rather obnoxiously aimless pal Jerry. Sandy gets the byline for the story reporting the security guard's death, which leads Julie to beg her for a followup, which Jerry grabs with far too much enthusiasm.</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEXHPMMQVTnJlYAR6wxcdi8W-LbxZQV9bzLBXU1dmpX5y7c-0PmwaMOElQ9aX4_oWyjmn-J4jpKoxhMWW3nlmmuhcvc9rIE-nCCg6fmXtg-Ifpax2TP3QyZtoyWvzDXYWCL1eZWw51xfvSoP49yFi5H3RdB9bxoCIXdcXYpx2W7eT-0NrIUFOjWAXdLY/s550/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="550" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEXHPMMQVTnJlYAR6wxcdi8W-LbxZQV9bzLBXU1dmpX5y7c-0PmwaMOElQ9aX4_oWyjmn-J4jpKoxhMWW3nlmmuhcvc9rIE-nCCg6fmXtg-Ifpax2TP3QyZtoyWvzDXYWCL1eZWw51xfvSoP49yFi5H3RdB9bxoCIXdcXYpx2W7eT-0NrIUFOjWAXdLY/s320/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Got all that? <i>The Power,</i> as you might have guessed, doesn't quite seem to know how to tell its own story. Eventually, Jerry falls victim to Destacatyl's whims, shoving women down garbage disposals and mutating into a rubbery monster. It's up to Sandy and Julie to defeat Destacatyl and break his hold.</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko5WopPehvEJSmRRu6wK1gY6cJXjKkTDHEzO3ybRTesZvWbcE99KM9BQtijyFNr239SiFR8Q0WjprnLd5eGrti8rsKxkCfC6V0FYQDbfHZoN3xPhL4kXacias8CZwSCYMWGli9k-TlxbSMo4vJqN7L-8BtBnxbGb0woMcIxNiY-J_3Wl45FYaLpl_x1o/s1286/the-power-movie-still.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1286" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhko5WopPehvEJSmRRu6wK1gY6cJXjKkTDHEzO3ybRTesZvWbcE99KM9BQtijyFNr239SiFR8Q0WjprnLd5eGrti8rsKxkCfC6V0FYQDbfHZoN3xPhL4kXacias8CZwSCYMWGli9k-TlxbSMo4vJqN7L-8BtBnxbGb0woMcIxNiY-J_3Wl45FYaLpl_x1o/s320/the-power-movie-still.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Written and directed by the team of Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow (who went on to make the better known <i>The Kindred</i>), <i>The Power </i>feels like it's missing about five scenes...while also feeling a good half hour too long. There are plot points and characters that simply don't connect. You can forgive a lot of horror movies (particular ones with zanier concepts) a lot of that, but when we're five minutes in and already confused about how an ancient idol has switched hands five times only to land in a suburban high school, it's a bit distracting. </span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All that being said, I still had fun with <i>The Power,</i> mostly due to its own cheap early '80s charm. While it doesn't give us many surprises, it also feels refreshingly original (maybe because of its own narrative messiness). I don't quite know what to make of it, which is something I rarely get to say. </span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tkQOBMz6JluPE3D7ARGRsDCtke9GhixyInKj-rnLCJBvoWrMzg1OgkbNhPJiIpfXSkFUordYdp4DzJVWbohbybUuJ6hdsNxHUDc4UYhpZqPy29F1M1czK-3nGSev99xlEWMrkymYqLgnRqST03SqwWp7wBVptNGQXic2LF4iwPDnLmncP2N2k9dfBAo/s853/power2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tkQOBMz6JluPE3D7ARGRsDCtke9GhixyInKj-rnLCJBvoWrMzg1OgkbNhPJiIpfXSkFUordYdp4DzJVWbohbybUuJ6hdsNxHUDc4UYhpZqPy29F1M1czK-3nGSev99xlEWMrkymYqLgnRqST03SqwWp7wBVptNGQXic2LF4iwPDnLmncP2N2k9dfBAo/s320/power2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I found myself enjoying the score throughout <i>The Power,</i> only to discover why once I followed some IMDB trails: composer Christopher Young has had an incredibly prolific career, particularly in the horror genre. Credits include<i> Sinister, <b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/you-look-familiar.html">Copycat,</a></b> Flowers In the Attic, Wonder Boys, Tales From the Hood,</i> and the original theme for <i>Hellraiser</i> (which means the poor man has his name on several sequels)</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm comfortable enough with my level of intelligence to know that when a low budget '80s horror movie is this confusing, it's not my fault</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsGWwWELPb1g8IZfvi1om-vBTcQz__kmQprGgkxwp16WJ8DbUH48FuKyQNUpC0UYz3pcId486gu0-IM7q5u4ShLDad9VOcsNr-y_zBPldsqG2LKKsslptjLuAMf0KDYGc4m_Wk9PX1ckxi_VB9SLe5R4uJZuet-zMNKY7cq5NSHh7y5EVImvHQ7okQeI/s550/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="550" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsGWwWELPb1g8IZfvi1om-vBTcQz__kmQprGgkxwp16WJ8DbUH48FuKyQNUpC0UYz3pcId486gu0-IM7q5u4ShLDad9VOcsNr-y_zBPldsqG2LKKsslptjLuAMf0KDYGc4m_Wk9PX1ckxi_VB9SLe5R4uJZuet-zMNKY7cq5NSHh7y5EVImvHQ7okQeI/s320/The-Power-1984-movie-Stephen-Carpenter-Jeffrey-Obrow-12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When you have unlimited supernatural power, you can be anything you want (including a small town librarian)</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-djvk2BG7PMyFJ6QMFxe10D0AYACy6lb5Pqm0PH0CHJFWK45lsnK5rRKIGk_OYLNM8ujbwLwEGF7KkTppc6-kg8TNiAI9XMfNuVwzwNxQihc5drudMaTxWWcYnHVzU6l5QJFSh6apbZLFhhL7f64bmbLoO1nzRomeZzhZtJfJF9Ea2lhFKry_M6UTVdg/s960/ThePowerCap_00004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="960" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-djvk2BG7PMyFJ6QMFxe10D0AYACy6lb5Pqm0PH0CHJFWK45lsnK5rRKIGk_OYLNM8ujbwLwEGF7KkTppc6-kg8TNiAI9XMfNuVwzwNxQihc5drudMaTxWWcYnHVzU6l5QJFSh6apbZLFhhL7f64bmbLoO1nzRomeZzhZtJfJF9Ea2lhFKry_M6UTVdg/s320/ThePowerCap_00004.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The best descriptive word for "a lot" is "legions"</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thinking a cursed idol is a Mexican salt shaker is a common reaction among the ignorant</span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl_TiIB_zNd1CVquAh65ytV7Ir7fCMCXsxuDYjO141xbscO2GJlBhxFHR9l4bO8NuC2KB4XwUL4dBCW9PC0peNRfvoca6s-JKbcBT4f7ah7My0_tR6EHm_8Y9wpKhbF2UGgr_i58MsnUCuKk4-ruHfbdBq76_NCYvC9hWgYjSWutq6hO8r12uG3kPyPk/s853/power12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl_TiIB_zNd1CVquAh65ytV7Ir7fCMCXsxuDYjO141xbscO2GJlBhxFHR9l4bO8NuC2KB4XwUL4dBCW9PC0peNRfvoca6s-JKbcBT4f7ah7My0_tR6EHm_8Y9wpKhbF2UGgr_i58MsnUCuKk4-ruHfbdBq76_NCYvC9hWgYjSWutq6hO8r12uG3kPyPk/s320/power12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></p><p class="gmail-p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now streaming on Tubi,<i> The Power</i> is worth any horror completist's time. It doesn't do anything particularly new (or well), but it just feels a little different in its storytelling. Give it a go when you're craving some confusing plotting and practical effects. </span></p></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-18715912607981024742024-02-12T06:00:00.001-05:002024-02-12T06:00:00.201-05:00Not All Heroes Wear Collars<p><i style="font-family: helvetica;">Welcome to the Annual February Shortening! In honor of the shortest month on a blog written by a short woman, all posts are devoted to stories about vertically challenged villains. If you, reader of any height, have your own mini-horror to share, do so in the comments and I'll include you in a final post roundup as the calendar changes!</i></p><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zsbcjGI8yN_kOBtMEXDChFG-VBP2xVHqCzEMrfHbcdE14gl9h5k-d8FDZ-vOxy96NdjpXN1T012h7Sa3LCEMKkywh1oGpksQKiw37pjGQJ-NQVgZLZTIU_7dGfR2sLt4q1RJxNrpCNQUpfOkHwUni7J6n6FA__MVwlW_IwJH3pt4DbphjFFUcuDibkQ/s388/The_Cat_(1992_movie_poster).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="257" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zsbcjGI8yN_kOBtMEXDChFG-VBP2xVHqCzEMrfHbcdE14gl9h5k-d8FDZ-vOxy96NdjpXN1T012h7Sa3LCEMKkywh1oGpksQKiw37pjGQJ-NQVgZLZTIU_7dGfR2sLt4q1RJxNrpCNQUpfOkHwUni7J6n6FA__MVwlW_IwJH3pt4DbphjFFUcuDibkQ/s320/The_Cat_(1992_movie_poster).jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">and for the English speakers:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPNdNpirAVaOWxmDlSCXvbzsIh6oDUwSphSa8Rhlax9DY39dukvFzumlg4zdgoql_VaOQ7kZ-swCmqYglt_MwVGMzNwh7SmnA05QkZaQIODP5wO5HvfczCMGhQ7IEujqLUM8GPe-7ME-GK6Uj_jRUeey-DQd4Iw08kpPwRlkPXj0Xordd6JCQA9qXZbw/s4032/IMG_8951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPNdNpirAVaOWxmDlSCXvbzsIh6oDUwSphSa8Rhlax9DY39dukvFzumlg4zdgoql_VaOQ7kZ-swCmqYglt_MwVGMzNwh7SmnA05QkZaQIODP5wO5HvfczCMGhQ7IEujqLUM8GPe-7ME-GK6Uj_jRUeey-DQd4Iw08kpPwRlkPXj0Xordd6JCQA9qXZbw/s320/IMG_8951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> Li Tung is growing annoyed by his upstairs neighbors and their late night floor banging (noise-making, not the sexy kind). He knocks on their door to discover an old apologetic man, his attractive daughter, and an even more attractive black cat. The next day, the household has moved, but Li Tung can't quite shake the feeling that something was off. He sneaks into their empty apartment to discover a horrifying bloodstain.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2qFkpwpD6KVTZrbe3j8I4-REFiZveWswTcWZm03-GSSzNBQ9aRNwzKtd45cIEVAByJxZ7FEz-MPru0l3wX7SL7FQHZkFyX_gcIrRm0SO6CQFMxVKMyK6uNPUgFFf7ikHkLU6sm_EGNrnA12abQ83JcUNg1YXliQgHBci6cEhH9JhdPs0sxx1C4vOP1A/s4032/IMG_8966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2qFkpwpD6KVTZrbe3j8I4-REFiZveWswTcWZm03-GSSzNBQ9aRNwzKtd45cIEVAByJxZ7FEz-MPru0l3wX7SL7FQHZkFyX_gcIrRm0SO6CQFMxVKMyK6uNPUgFFf7ikHkLU6sm_EGNrnA12abQ83JcUNg1YXliQgHBci6cEhH9JhdPs0sxx1C4vOP1A/s320/IMG_8966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The cops aren't thrilled to waste their morning on what turns out to be cat remains. Li Tung joins police inspector Wang at the modern mansion of suave novelist
friend Wisely' to discuss the case further as the city experiences its own unusual crime: the mysterious museum theft of an artifact called "the octagon". </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By a cat.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TA8ejZQpP-HjzrrnoCduGoT4GPy7r5aW-HeULbOO9_Qihz67ch2JUdqq0cDYDgZQAFGRWb1L_Rjnpfo1XEC_QFQCN0yKY_CxpBIJcNtLxmC1IiC9ow_A96Qoa4FI00pCYx9Lb5bVPIz2fVkwnrL6QZ7yRkotnERfu4VOil1QNgBIkkq5Yvwsgrdja3s/s4032/IMG_8967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6TA8ejZQpP-HjzrrnoCduGoT4GPy7r5aW-HeULbOO9_Qihz67ch2JUdqq0cDYDgZQAFGRWb1L_Rjnpfo1XEC_QFQCN0yKY_CxpBIJcNtLxmC1IiC9ow_A96Qoa4FI00pCYx9Lb5bVPIz2fVkwnrL6QZ7yRkotnERfu4VOil1QNgBIkkq5Yvwsgrdja3s/s320/IMG_8967.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And mushroom blob monster.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F9KvSI2CoZXEoLNAFtpEd0avaVMmzKQl0b5oUwWYLxYgOU5F37VS3NodyWDe8F4OMfaWd1qratbsmzVvhLTekeks5AQP-Iko-30uoAin4UYhSypvLyzxgSYn-gxJxC26Dfk8sz0iQyWlfiR_5yhSw2HHLgW5NBeNsMPcROJoOr7NBRLx45SmMwSzncE/s4032/IMG_8964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9F9KvSI2CoZXEoLNAFtpEd0avaVMmzKQl0b5oUwWYLxYgOU5F37VS3NodyWDe8F4OMfaWd1qratbsmzVvhLTekeks5AQP-Iko-30uoAin4UYhSypvLyzxgSYn-gxJxC26Dfk8sz0iQyWlfiR_5yhSw2HHLgW5NBeNsMPcROJoOr7NBRLx45SmMwSzncE/s320/IMG_8964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No, they're not working together. See, the cat is actually an alien general in the body a kickass cat, and the mushroom blob monster is its sworn enemy with the power to possess the puny human bodies it touches.The adventurous Wisely is now fully entrenched in helping to save the world, though he, like so many mere mortals, initially suspects the cat of villainy. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes, I know: The Shortening is a month of vertically challenged villains, but The General is actually quite heroic. I THINK he saves the world? But it takes a LITTLE time to make that clear, and when we see him pitted against a lovable mastiff in an all-out brawl, we're not necessarily rooting for him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFZnODxEgsnOEPhApRIz7w2e3LpthzR3XeeFk-y9oi2gTsXONngb65qi3flOy5dYpFKL2nF0l1cpf9w1P0nwTPske4Ildexf_MCabZU_ZtiXbD_rvqSaLRSkGUPX1dW88GGs770o7ik_qjuVtHgF4zl54bK8eyjJCYpc7DJWDHBNS52Cima2SvMdlCtQ/s4032/IMG_8952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFZnODxEgsnOEPhApRIz7w2e3LpthzR3XeeFk-y9oi2gTsXONngb65qi3flOy5dYpFKL2nF0l1cpf9w1P0nwTPske4Ildexf_MCabZU_ZtiXbD_rvqSaLRSkGUPX1dW88GGs770o7ik_qjuVtHgF4zl54bK8eyjJCYpc7DJWDHBNS52Cima2SvMdlCtQ/s320/IMG_8952.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Until, of course, we see his incredible battle skills. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITDPcvy3koVsa7MHPvpWg0rNby1ZlDzizvr_eMz_cQOdXrLHn19bIwyVBdeFjjQlz1aokpKYypI7AVDi2k_9hp6WYuyhJX1MjYAA5neosKwF0HnE_cGpQMq6jkE54fAi40oW065StxWxJ8dEuXBtmKzgNHG-WkIjKrPS2KCZj3LAeteylzpfDsCzMzh0/s1986/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-12%20at%2010.23.10%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="1986" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITDPcvy3koVsa7MHPvpWg0rNby1ZlDzizvr_eMz_cQOdXrLHn19bIwyVBdeFjjQlz1aokpKYypI7AVDi2k_9hp6WYuyhJX1MjYAA5neosKwF0HnE_cGpQMq6jkE54fAi40oW065StxWxJ8dEuXBtmKzgNHG-WkIjKrPS2KCZj3LAeteylzpfDsCzMzh0/s320/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-12%20at%2010.23.10%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cinema is filled with memorable fight scenes. Rocky vs. Apollo Creed, Luke vs. Vader, The Bride vs. Vernita Green, Nada vs. Frank. I'm sure there are plenty of listicles with scientific rankings, but I tell you now, dear reader, that if said ranking does not include The General vs. Lau Pu, aka Alien Cat v. Good Dog In Junkyard, then said list should only be used as litter. It means NOTHING.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaDiMXq3grwcwhi6izs8lyuEGsQcabIblDJa5CsP2IBYW9z2dKfjA0GfA3V50zBSn7KTi7azwP9rIlodMsw64uCcLIjnTn_XRzVvxRcXHur6Kqd_ustHy_Y3Hp4TF22dhdwCDeeGq6yGpyOnV2EXUECdZOYpD-pMS_9pk7iPYTA-fZiVYN0TnSNi-yF8/s856/image-w856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="856" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaDiMXq3grwcwhi6izs8lyuEGsQcabIblDJa5CsP2IBYW9z2dKfjA0GfA3V50zBSn7KTi7azwP9rIlodMsw64uCcLIjnTn_XRzVvxRcXHur6Kqd_ustHy_Y3Hp4TF22dhdwCDeeGq6yGpyOnV2EXUECdZOYpD-pMS_9pk7iPYTA-fZiVYN0TnSNi-yF8/s320/image-w856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>The Cat </i>was made by Lam Ngai Kai, an extraterrestrial in the form of human director best known for the magnificently zany<i> Riki-Oh: The Story of Riki. The Cat</i> is on par. There are just as many explosions and bug-eyed dummies, plus the added thrills of an electrifying mushroom blob monster and, you know, THE CAT. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh-bJV-wjorENB4Irnc012y59rNwhHvKwS9rpITxZ4XcFZi4A7s1S7n_ThOAM5tPkBBnGzAU8_wiLxKqDcDZ3F9GTHoHpNhE2C7e3qpZkrWvitfpNNDbDPxAuNO6aBNQ1Ud8mpg9xofwmLr_I2dxG376LTQsSRXiCmuEoZhjLVecQS0w07daUNKY8v80/s644/dce1a01b80dd3f616d7670698ee854a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="644" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKh-bJV-wjorENB4Irnc012y59rNwhHvKwS9rpITxZ4XcFZi4A7s1S7n_ThOAM5tPkBBnGzAU8_wiLxKqDcDZ3F9GTHoHpNhE2C7e3qpZkrWvitfpNNDbDPxAuNO6aBNQ1Ud8mpg9xofwmLr_I2dxG376LTQsSRXiCmuEoZhjLVecQS0w07daUNKY8v80/s320/dce1a01b80dd3f616d7670698ee854a1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">They don't make 'em like this anymore.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most never make this ANYWHERE.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I can't possibly oversell the puppet cat vs. paper mache dog junkyard battle because it is EPIC and so much more than you can possibly imagine, so much more than you can ever deserve</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wGjSACUq-iLBLTlhBVQ0yQ30exFlCt9y5WJArKxSwPfaJRqLWpo8ULJf-WKMTFlEehj4nZEuvk7zMq61sHZteGpz-hiMHgoP18_jksnDf0t6p1G6XbY4z-G2PPc-hdwjh6PdN7Q0y8cpIQv3IfNhQHn1SzEiNWelwY4lcZqirBGFVQLCD9VvU9xIdOg/s4032/IMG_8963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wGjSACUq-iLBLTlhBVQ0yQ30exFlCt9y5WJArKxSwPfaJRqLWpo8ULJf-WKMTFlEehj4nZEuvk7zMq61sHZteGpz-hiMHgoP18_jksnDf0t6p1G6XbY4z-G2PPc-hdwjh6PdN7Q0y8cpIQv3IfNhQHn1SzEiNWelwY4lcZqirBGFVQLCD9VvU9xIdOg/s320/IMG_8963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Until someone promises me that no animals were harmed in the making of <i>The Cat,</i> I'll withhold SOME of my intense enthusiasm </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Vodka is the strongest wine in the world</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Always stock your home bar with top shelf alcohol, both for optimum cocktail service and most effective molotov cocktail service</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VdO0txUunz8mXeW9HkjqX8gShtBVxDywTwmLN3IkZSuuy_-bO7UD1mPX9C6O9Z-H-MQg17PRDZFwzWrnRfepZ7eexoqgXsvT1__ieDF7kn9N9TFU_C0r9bYjb1jdzlvg4LfYZ90BYiSkJ9AoGe4rWeOwhq-kLux593aCXKxO-RCihqYmqviJrL3ZH_0/s4032/IMG_8965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VdO0txUunz8mXeW9HkjqX8gShtBVxDywTwmLN3IkZSuuy_-bO7UD1mPX9C6O9Z-H-MQg17PRDZFwzWrnRfepZ7eexoqgXsvT1__ieDF7kn9N9TFU_C0r9bYjb1jdzlvg4LfYZ90BYiSkJ9AoGe4rWeOwhq-kLux593aCXKxO-RCihqYmqviJrL3ZH_0/s320/IMG_8965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cats are the social equivalent of blacksmiths</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>The Cat </i>is streaming on the Criterion Channel. Your life will be better after you experience it.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-79958994018539590822024-02-05T06:00:00.001-05:002024-02-05T06:00:00.367-05:00What's the Matter With Kids Today?<p><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Welcome to the Annual February Shortening! In honor of the shortest month on a blog written by a short woman, all posts are devoted to stories about vertically challenged villains. If you, reader of any height, have your own mini-horror to share, do so in the comments and I'll include you in a final post roundup as the calendar changes!</i><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpAa3DgLQBGNsPh6K8qCpHE6naLFVkg448p3VazBYV_AyUPwTF99sH_Sw1ZX72q2Pc5G4klsF8YOAbMtGpkXiebAR3WlZsIeIVrtrspdbvskYkCKS-v-MsA9wL_8M8XL1Me3rFOwfZddx9o3w0X06Cx73RQ6YMQBq_QBRqxvKf8LW8WuFC1FYXbRTT6k/s1920/80fb17822a030a340a99a9d26d7b6483dc54b7d85db58d59dfa367887be65499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpAa3DgLQBGNsPh6K8qCpHE6naLFVkg448p3VazBYV_AyUPwTF99sH_Sw1ZX72q2Pc5G4klsF8YOAbMtGpkXiebAR3WlZsIeIVrtrspdbvskYkCKS-v-MsA9wL_8M8XL1Me3rFOwfZddx9o3w0X06Cx73RQ6YMQBq_QBRqxvKf8LW8WuFC1FYXbRTT6k/s320/80fb17822a030a340a99a9d26d7b6483dc54b7d85db58d59dfa367887be65499.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Quick Plot</b>: It's a double date cabin vacation for two couples at very different points in their respective relationships. Thomas and Ellie are in a bit of a rut after a half-successful night experimenting with an open relationship (their weird little children Lucy and Spencer being weird little children aren't helping). Slightly more carefree Margaret and Ben continue to waffle on whether they want to be parents, particularly with some of Ben's mental health history.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULcHR7ntPCrwnId6PaBloc9wqoEp8ZKtYIO_PlP7Mv3C68xLMrS2AK5vddXbJPN6500rrvznq4Hb2FxtidceBsyYs1SnHBEItVtM4Fge_fj0Jt4GVjk3QIF-E35SttKmWZzC309OHJz1Dh9ZD4UtrY4ZojhSnO6CU-l9ld_b_HwosPyiswQfXww1HbFw/s1800/h800-thepit-sl-11-10-21-00710-edit-83ede9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULcHR7ntPCrwnId6PaBloc9wqoEp8ZKtYIO_PlP7Mv3C68xLMrS2AK5vddXbJPN6500rrvznq4Hb2FxtidceBsyYs1SnHBEItVtM4Fge_fj0Jt4GVjk3QIF-E35SttKmWZzC309OHJz1Dh9ZD4UtrY4ZojhSnO6CU-l9ld_b_HwosPyiswQfXww1HbFw/s320/h800-thepit-sl-11-10-21-00710-edit-83ede9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">These problems are nothing that a little nature hike couldn't fix, right? The group discovers a strangely alluring, incredibly deep cave that seems to have a particularly strong effect on Spencer. The next morning, the babysitting Ben awakens to discover the kids have gone missing. He tracks them back to their favorite new spot just in time to watch them both leap to their deaths. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu31MMQey9jChwkPWZy02xq4OnIc0gHx20ri3zIXh-0o2uuzdtcY9p4FQrfJm5zYWgxEagTenDBgda4oCRLBdEUVwHbxvsoymJcjJ1UA8bnOiNBGzBOXM5kIwiaaUwp1q_xCbXe48sduo0KZiORI8zg5wwkGn8rUF0aDUf5wKZYg4JBI_1fINdjWTw8Ts/s1092/screen-shot-2023-01-15-at-2-28-49-pm.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="1092" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu31MMQey9jChwkPWZy02xq4OnIc0gHx20ri3zIXh-0o2uuzdtcY9p4FQrfJm5zYWgxEagTenDBgda4oCRLBdEUVwHbxvsoymJcjJ1UA8bnOiNBGzBOXM5kIwiaaUwp1q_xCbXe48sduo0KZiORI8zg5wwkGn8rUF0aDUf5wKZYg4JBI_1fINdjWTw8Ts/s320/screen-shot-2023-01-15-at-2-28-49-pm.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Or not.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmAW_P50WlNgQfl88Gc_R-yZl1ZTaD2wIEhi-idNriFI2R9A49nGsPDPJEdz6NBIqZqHB0JhAxJIPeYX2ZI_N4PDEPTjOt14tGe3NqfOUGgjrEbIszK_iqWXyCtwXb2YE6BHDmuCvPLM-fnWJ0p62aio1f60b8UrnmBg7G3RFcjn4SFl0ZYjMvmQtDDU/s500/MV5BZGZiYjk0OWItODM2MC00MTBhLTg3NDktMmEyNDRmNjliZjNiXkEyXkFqcGdeQVRoaXJkUGFydHlJbmdlc3Rpb25Xb3JrZmxvdw@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigmAW_P50WlNgQfl88Gc_R-yZl1ZTaD2wIEhi-idNriFI2R9A49nGsPDPJEdz6NBIqZqHB0JhAxJIPeYX2ZI_N4PDEPTjOt14tGe3NqfOUGgjrEbIszK_iqWXyCtwXb2YE6BHDmuCvPLM-fnWJ0p62aio1f60b8UrnmBg7G3RFcjn4SFl0ZYjMvmQtDDU/s320/MV5BZGZiYjk0OWItODM2MC00MTBhLTg3NDktMmEyNDRmNjliZjNiXkEyXkFqcGdeQVRoaXJkUGFydHlJbmdlc3Rpb25Xb3JrZmxvdw@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Though Ben (and the audience) witness their odd suicide, Lucy and Spencer immediately appear back at their parents' cabin in a perfectly cheerful, none plummet-off-a-cliff mood. Ben is relieved, but his peace quickly curdles when realizes the kids aren't quite all right. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp-OQMaUdALiB_ByeSO87glwS209cC7areRJ7x23QtMFpyJK0uG0v0YtHV0GE9qowGPy8ebP83TAcDoW9GViNyFalEyb6e1p4xWALnp-fnpNmj65VdZH_CaRP8HqBO_mwXRpmMTwxLMmv_crMJ7dEhHGcm7FWbuPBzHbyn9GnKPjGujBa8MCiudgvEO0/s320/1575d6ac561639b7cd3afda6c89cb401-1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp-OQMaUdALiB_ByeSO87glwS209cC7areRJ7x23QtMFpyJK0uG0v0YtHV0GE9qowGPy8ebP83TAcDoW9GViNyFalEyb6e1p4xWALnp-fnpNmj65VdZH_CaRP8HqBO_mwXRpmMTwxLMmv_crMJ7dEhHGcm7FWbuPBzHbyn9GnKPjGujBa8MCiudgvEO0/s1600/1575d6ac561639b7cd3afda6c89cb401-1.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You might even say, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CHILDREN.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We get quite a few more plot twists in the script by T.J. Cimfel and David White, all handled with great energy by director Roxanne Benjamin. For the first 45 minutes or so, there's some deeply unsettling tension. Is Ben cracking under the effects of lithium, or are his friends' children pure evil? And ultimately, which makes a more interesting movie?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx899DsyBlAdtM5nQOCf7VVXx0sPe07PDYMJZNlUeEQp0-5YDWGrULGhTFC4puw7HAtjZGgRdKAz-rld9dNl4FCVkezLlchtHUBBB7Sh8UMBkrQcB2Xu7oFR4bbEo-zI0vOajW3W9OnR-ow43ToH0KjvQxXtBZbXt_b94ni2E6bb6gCPvMoHQnLT4dN4/s1500/THERES-SOMETHING-WRONG-WITH-THE-CHILDREN-121622-01-45df0f740a004145ba7770a3b5bb7991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUx899DsyBlAdtM5nQOCf7VVXx0sPe07PDYMJZNlUeEQp0-5YDWGrULGhTFC4puw7HAtjZGgRdKAz-rld9dNl4FCVkezLlchtHUBBB7Sh8UMBkrQcB2Xu7oFR4bbEo-zI0vOajW3W9OnR-ow43ToH0KjvQxXtBZbXt_b94ni2E6bb6gCPvMoHQnLT4dN4/s320/THERES-SOMETHING-WRONG-WITH-THE-CHILDREN-121622-01-45df0f740a004145ba7770a3b5bb7991.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">For me, <i>There's Something Wrong With the Children</i> chose the wrong path, though I don't mean to imply that it doesn't fully work. The stretch where Ben (Zach Gilford, who's spent enough time in horror to know how to convey disoriented terror) and by extension, we are full on edge wondering how far these little monsters will go is incredibly tense. Granted, I'm a mark for homicidal minors, but personal preference aside, it's great stuff. And what follows is...fine. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha0urs8iSe23Rv5t02UENw7ItPt3HFJSxFAYM2PTENlvHTuDZCRqpiB4qh1CBESpOc870qb850r8y8l96Ug6JEmNMh5bFR0Jby9c0Lr-FLJUAct8SaD6H4Lphr4CILQkRj0ijGxiufwqqzKH9MdjupFSxQ20smbjndEwBSM9VimXw3PddXKsmER7tbMU/s1420/children.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1420" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha0urs8iSe23Rv5t02UENw7ItPt3HFJSxFAYM2PTENlvHTuDZCRqpiB4qh1CBESpOc870qb850r8y8l96Ug6JEmNMh5bFR0Jby9c0Lr-FLJUAct8SaD6H4Lphr4CILQkRj0ijGxiufwqqzKH9MdjupFSxQ20smbjndEwBSM9VimXw3PddXKsmER7tbMU/s320/children.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I won't spoil the last act or ultimate reveal. Much like with her first feature <i><b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2020/08/a-walk-in-woods.html">Body at Brighton Rock</a></b></i>, Roxanne Benjamin nails a unique kind of tone that takes small human awkwardness into wickedly dark and funny territory. That feeling roars for <i>There's Something Wrong With the Children</i>'s first hour, but once the main game is revealed and the plot kicks into cat-and-mouse chase, the surprises just aren't there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I appreciate how much time and specificity is spent in defining both couples' current conditions, and perhaps more importantly, the four actors' skills at making their characters work as human beings even before they're running for their mortal lives</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWKEwdAQK9ViSC42ROZ_ATPIiQDa6imgvyIWnOpnUjExkJVoBUfH-_kwldFzvcQnT4NgiZ4Doeru7G3UgBOIz917Q4pLHX7h5xhAX8bbciWZTls2QXW5h9uAzIBJFEpv5_AlKA9xOi-Ni-ImHgNhp8myKFs40-wEyqdwi6vDmNhu-8W3jtskV22z_mxk/s300/ems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWKEwdAQK9ViSC42ROZ_ATPIiQDa6imgvyIWnOpnUjExkJVoBUfH-_kwldFzvcQnT4NgiZ4Doeru7G3UgBOIz917Q4pLHX7h5xhAX8bbciWZTls2QXW5h9uAzIBJFEpv5_AlKA9xOi-Ni-ImHgNhp8myKFs40-wEyqdwi6vDmNhu-8W3jtskV22z_mxk/s1600/ems.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The more you start to think about the nature of the actual villains and their specific decisions, the more some of <i>There's Something Wrong With the Children</i>'s details start to become very, very fuzzy</span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Powder puff is girl's football for girls that don't want to have it called football</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Generally speaking, it's better to get in a car than under it</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0phrJ1cWznjvwaFNy6DwO4d2EDreEBDLeClCNNhCbVUEAg0z3RKr9qKnTt-aVyQD2vIdLd17czg2AuMlAJcUy3sL4vzv7t7PRsoLU2ZR-g-byIYKv7ujPijhw0jHLWWUlpWA2XiebhmPK5SNowJXNTQVdypfn9lT99u310VvNxeYzTFPS1HNj4yoJtY/s1400/theressomethingwrongchildren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="1400" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0phrJ1cWznjvwaFNy6DwO4d2EDreEBDLeClCNNhCbVUEAg0z3RKr9qKnTt-aVyQD2vIdLd17czg2AuMlAJcUy3sL4vzv7t7PRsoLU2ZR-g-byIYKv7ujPijhw0jHLWWUlpWA2XiebhmPK5SNowJXNTQVdypfn9lT99u310VvNxeYzTFPS1HNj4yoJtY/s320/theressomethingwrongchildren.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When hanging around evil children, always drink out of sealed containers (actually, children are pretty gross even when not evil so apply this lesson to all manners of life)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78RJMvOqaxz3qCIXbmiwZGaQa5bL7yhryFPh8SKrtWZOw01Qnoadj43_vFkWhGTyrhVCIge1XI9w495Ifb4b24RnvSvY36z-DO2VEVwFMZ2A6osb-y6Oks9U4L2AvMOD4x5JaVRvvyoYBuRMXmqzypnKB4qHS1MgNaMtTqA6BE6b-BRb_oBm0eoVdB9w/s1920/x1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78RJMvOqaxz3qCIXbmiwZGaQa5bL7yhryFPh8SKrtWZOw01Qnoadj43_vFkWhGTyrhVCIge1XI9w495Ifb4b24RnvSvY36z-DO2VEVwFMZ2A6osb-y6Oks9U4L2AvMOD4x5JaVRvvyoYBuRMXmqzypnKB4qHS1MgNaMtTqA6BE6b-BRb_oBm0eoVdB9w/s320/x1080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At barely 90 minutes, <i>There's Something Wrong With the Children </i>feels like a brisk but swerving ride. For me, it was just one of those cases of a movie taking a turn in a different direction than my instincts, but that doesn't mean I'm the barometer on what kind of story we should have had here. It's enjoyable, but it also misses out on being great. Still worth a watch (currently streaming on Amazon Prime and MGM+, which allegedly is a real thing). </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-75775870175786521642024-01-29T06:00:00.001-05:002024-01-29T06:00:00.152-05:00Best of the Year! (well, my year)<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s an annual tradition in these parts to take the last week in January as the day I celebrate my favorite movies that I reviewed over that past year. It’s my late stab at doing a ‘best of’ list, and also, my own little way of remembering that it was this same week WAY back in 2009 that I decided to build my own doll’s house in literary cinematic form.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here we are, FIFTEEN YEARS later, and what can I say? The world has changed. I’ve gone from my 20s to my 40s, lived a few lifetimes, and have witnessed the birth of FOUR additional installments in the <i>Children of the Corn</i> franchise.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6b46NK37amB_TmjPzqT8z8QgOhK1jdfVg64EnGJwNVRaZchDhj1c31hN6Mu1HndbYSL6CMtgqpWbUpRhzeUS4t-Q4V-DKoMTJiOaksN7xfYUhU2Ina3gEnyJR3fZe4feHaxYolT9VQWyHFaRpkxT1vivK-pCfxrkdnlgOKIgy5wHXW__uTLOjOWSamw/s320/corn3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6b46NK37amB_TmjPzqT8z8QgOhK1jdfVg64EnGJwNVRaZchDhj1c31hN6Mu1HndbYSL6CMtgqpWbUpRhzeUS4t-Q4V-DKoMTJiOaksN7xfYUhU2Ina3gEnyJR3fZe4feHaxYolT9VQWyHFaRpkxT1vivK-pCfxrkdnlgOKIgy5wHXW__uTLOjOWSamw/s1600/corn3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And have still yet to find an actual good one.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In other words, don’t worry: this site remains what it is and has always been, a little nook on the internet to grab a weekly dose of my blathering on about the most rewarding genre.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">With that in mind, here are the best movies I reviewed here in 2023. And remember: I never said I had good taste.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>14. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/06/whistle-while-you-weaver.html">Snow White: A Tale of Terror</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW72W2zgebIP-2V1HGMSMKQCERkTEAGRnmq7TYizSlOxBDCi_a15jtgMKZWvnmhjWmmxVaci8YVPINxH4xze2uSEhCaAqpShsYwToAbAkCmgYPNlCq83vV4pcbLFi0m55hKNHryI3SXT_BtpcIWLH8CQLVw5_T14TTpbZns_ofMMBiaJaLyxRif_BS1I/s320/Snowwhiteterror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjW72W2zgebIP-2V1HGMSMKQCERkTEAGRnmq7TYizSlOxBDCi_a15jtgMKZWvnmhjWmmxVaci8YVPINxH4xze2uSEhCaAqpShsYwToAbAkCmgYPNlCq83vV4pcbLFi0m55hKNHryI3SXT_BtpcIWLH8CQLVw5_T14TTpbZns_ofMMBiaJaLyxRif_BS1I/s1600/Snowwhiteterror.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fantasy horror hit a draught in the ‘90s, with director Michael Cohn’s mid-budget <i>Snow White </i>dying a slow death on Showtime. While not a masterpiece, it’s a gorgeous-looking film and most importantly, features a true movie star performance from Sigourney Weaver. She clearly relished the chance to go big, but what makes her wicked stepmother such an anchor is how much pathos she brings to this character. The last few years have seen a minor renaissance in this kind of film, and all of them share this kind of layered, glamorous villainess who tends to grab more of the audience interest than the bland ingenue intended to be the story’s heart. <i>Snow White </i>is far from perfect or even the best telling of this kind of story, but there’s a lot here that is easy to relish.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>13. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/06/you-aint-nothin-but-hounded.html">Hounded</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcc6xiU-UBYXIbi_7tNkjpf-li6lXdCIu6SVPZdWDbbxCPN8muB9dL8W6gAlFJLS2NCYHkZnA6YB2KtnJK6JKqFh_znd2FXtjh-vlpapq8PPUMQ2dd78bGvGzl9Ys796JZrN7hVUfRe-fAzWypNyw9uYuP-KF-9lIpUzXc8tysEBHrKP5mu5UOZDKnOKQ/s320/MV5BOWVjZTQyZjUtYWZjMS00MDJkLTk2NDktNjU2ZjhjM2FkOWRkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjA0NTYzOQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcc6xiU-UBYXIbi_7tNkjpf-li6lXdCIu6SVPZdWDbbxCPN8muB9dL8W6gAlFJLS2NCYHkZnA6YB2KtnJK6JKqFh_znd2FXtjh-vlpapq8PPUMQ2dd78bGvGzl9Ys796JZrN7hVUfRe-fAzWypNyw9uYuP-KF-9lIpUzXc8tysEBHrKP5mu5UOZDKnOKQ/s1600/MV5BOWVjZTQyZjUtYWZjMS00MDJkLTk2NDktNjU2ZjhjM2FkOWRkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjA0NTYzOQ@@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We’ve seen plenty of variations on Hounded’s plot: poor but plucky young delinquents attempt to rob old money snobs only to discover they’ve punched their tickets as prey in The Most Dangerous Game. There’s nothing that revolutionary about <i>Hounded</i>, but director Tommy Boulding imbues his version with a surprising amount of heart. His characters are human beings who aren’t ready to face (or cause) death, even if it comes at the hands of the deliciously gravel-voiced head huntress Samantha Bond.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>12. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/05/not-to-be-confused-with-killer-cat-movie.html">The Strays</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwrQxJJicQilj_YwVM5fqyrDKHzDIrbfEFSGFg0FEQnyAjJ_MZmqitrhvpFXTpR7CypC65VxeJyV59U3mJaSgLcO31E1nHw061jqSzp1pX-6nCw-TuZKE1OGt2VKIi9p9AYOY5cWNbJEEmwD7yQqM0FJx8oUZQidY6L8QvcjmWKPGYuxF6Rb7Ue0sap8/s320/TheStraysPoster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="229" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixwrQxJJicQilj_YwVM5fqyrDKHzDIrbfEFSGFg0FEQnyAjJ_MZmqitrhvpFXTpR7CypC65VxeJyV59U3mJaSgLcO31E1nHw061jqSzp1pX-6nCw-TuZKE1OGt2VKIi9p9AYOY5cWNbJEEmwD7yQqM0FJx8oUZQidY6L8QvcjmWKPGYuxF6Rb7Ue0sap8/s1600/TheStraysPoster.png" width="229" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes a good movie becomes great in its last ten seconds. Making his filmmaking debut, writer/director Nathaniel Martello-White takes several big genre-bending twists as he follows Neve, an upper class stay-at-home mom and light-skinned black woman whose past comes back to reckon with the life she meticulously, immorally built for herself. It’s not a perfectly paced story, but it’s aided by some ferocious performances and, most importantly, one of the most wickedly satisfying film endings I’ve ever seen.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>11. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/04/once-bit.html">Bit</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrioswEx7WG4WqH8Ky3TXs475XzoL4au0z0Ha1MYNW_aD5gc1v2TREinCP0jN5WYz1yCrnQZa_X12kaR4YJEaZFEjN2lKNMeQE95jSezQhgCLc3R9mT1Ix003_zm8hkGhNlPNDCK9E-MwRnn-hcy-q0LAqbLpC4Ccflx8Pxx87RJ440FaOT1NqlRSp29I/s320/BIT-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="225" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrioswEx7WG4WqH8Ky3TXs475XzoL4au0z0Ha1MYNW_aD5gc1v2TREinCP0jN5WYz1yCrnQZa_X12kaR4YJEaZFEjN2lKNMeQE95jSezQhgCLc3R9mT1Ix003_zm8hkGhNlPNDCK9E-MwRnn-hcy-q0LAqbLpC4Ccflx8Pxx87RJ440FaOT1NqlRSp29I/s1600/BIT-Poster.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Low budget lesbian vampire stories aren’t the first thing I expect to add to a best-of list, but I knew immediately after watching <i>Bit</i> that it would find its spot here. Trans rights activist Nicole Maines stars as a recent high school graduate who falls into the wrong (or right?) undead crowd headed by the insanely cool Diana Hopper. Writer/director Brad Michael Elmore doesn’t change the genre landscape, but he finds a new angle into an old story and lets his incredibly charismatic actresses thrive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>10. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/12/but-i-just-got-here.html">You Should Have Left</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzOid_YSdbtdjWbzO0KHrM7PkGwaP2fQipmozrTKOLekCXIVJKtEpofX7mNNC4C8Y-4VF3138M7fVYixRazrudgiTRorkbJMOWu4WAZGM5GxloRXG3xp5lliUagXw_LvzotWzQvPMw67PT0Uz2PqRv1d198f37zALNydDUViR-BuVa8JkubPM0P_4LRo/s320/MV5BYTMxMTJhNWQtYzQwMC00MThhLTkzNjMtMDljMGE1MmE1NWM2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODkxMzcxOTY@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWzOid_YSdbtdjWbzO0KHrM7PkGwaP2fQipmozrTKOLekCXIVJKtEpofX7mNNC4C8Y-4VF3138M7fVYixRazrudgiTRorkbJMOWu4WAZGM5GxloRXG3xp5lliUagXw_LvzotWzQvPMw67PT0Uz2PqRv1d198f37zALNydDUViR-BuVa8JkubPM0P_4LRo/s1600/MV5BYTMxMTJhNWQtYzQwMC00MThhLTkzNjMtMDljMGE1MmE1NWM2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODkxMzcxOTY@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">David Koepp reunited with his <i>Stir of Echoes</i> star Kevin Bacon for this extremely satisfying twist on the haunted house format. Bacon stars as the much older husband of Amanda Seyfried’s movie star wife. When they take their daughter to a secluded Welsh farmhouse for some family bonding, things quickly unravel. Much like another title a few spots up this list, <i>You Should Have Left</i> is a pleasant reminder that sometimes, A-list talent still has a place in the horror genre.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>9. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-sea-no-one-can-hear-you-scream.html">Sea Fever</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SGPnBlYO7PUa-30iSmfWvVEUQcE0dQ-uFX6iGIpJ6dZd1kcT-yaxpqeNIGv75xSILx44jM5TunbvQpknmeGvT44DSddNPwc1f56EeQSd6DkidNGny_uGrnIHGTYCRS8E-PWtZHrH7OLIsDBD7sBE0lIyXiEOOFL8_0WfEKRafs6oMVadxFcRuTxox1k/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SGPnBlYO7PUa-30iSmfWvVEUQcE0dQ-uFX6iGIpJ6dZd1kcT-yaxpqeNIGv75xSILx44jM5TunbvQpknmeGvT44DSddNPwc1f56EeQSd6DkidNGny_uGrnIHGTYCRS8E-PWtZHrH7OLIsDBD7sBE0lIyXiEOOFL8_0WfEKRafs6oMVadxFcRuTxox1k/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Who can ever say no to Alien at sea? Neasa Hardiman’s sci-fi body horror follows an awkward grad student’s ill-fated ride on a fishing boat through extraterrestrial squid territory. It’s short, it’s gooey, and it’s so efficient in its storytelling that my only real problem was that I wanted more.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>8. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/02/coming-of-age-with-superpowers.html">The Innocents</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidstrIDXAPw-rPBORV9gPKATQTHneQT4ElcWVpYmSAafxxQ_DSLxHwI0eTsde2LSQf7PAyK9YPWkzRvQX3w2Ak5x7L1gwWPA1wtjCOJlygrGikO8umreQvZRbcmQJXQIoHh7JhR9bERE0ofsrxIk_orfOnM1Pm8cofDR_AUnkBBDppIMiFj-NUNMIK9U8/s320/maxresdefault-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidstrIDXAPw-rPBORV9gPKATQTHneQT4ElcWVpYmSAafxxQ_DSLxHwI0eTsde2LSQf7PAyK9YPWkzRvQX3w2Ak5x7L1gwWPA1wtjCOJlygrGikO8umreQvZRbcmQJXQIoHh7JhR9bERE0ofsrxIk_orfOnM1Pm8cofDR_AUnkBBDppIMiFj-NUNMIK9U8/s1600/maxresdefault-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It’s not secret that evil children are one of my all-time favorite types of horror movie villains, which also means I’ve also seen a LOT of evil children horror movies. You have to work hard to tap into something fresh. That’s what makes Eskil Vogt’s <i>The Innocents</i> such a special watch. Set under the shining Nordic sun, The Innocents follows a set of kids who seem to be randomly gifted extraordinary powers of the mind. The problem? They’re so young that they don’t necessarily understand their own moral grounding. It’s eerie, occasionally horrific, and always unsettling.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>7. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/02/he-sees-you-when-youre-babysitting.html">Better Watch Out</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisXBQaXpqzVxLXnkU00N9xCHvA2pyCujmhcG-QNzAthSEtcrOID7yGLej1Xra2X6pgFJBQSkNXb9VCyp4n1lFDkgHILh0qH6Hk62vvnfKDqPAUecqCOSAxYSk0F7_fsijqSTza6QMmeptFc7ruwkTxC6iAQuip1_s-CiCede_2Nu5IJB1rxWT_OlIgCE/s297/images-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="297" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisXBQaXpqzVxLXnkU00N9xCHvA2pyCujmhcG-QNzAthSEtcrOID7yGLej1Xra2X6pgFJBQSkNXb9VCyp4n1lFDkgHILh0qH6Hk62vvnfKDqPAUecqCOSAxYSk0F7_fsijqSTza6QMmeptFc7ruwkTxC6iAQuip1_s-CiCede_2Nu5IJB1rxWT_OlIgCE/s1600/images-9.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It was a good year for The Shortening! Writer/director Chris Peckover nails a clever tone with his Christmas-set home invasion that follows a plucky babysitter (the always reliable Olivia DeJonge) and her more-than-meets the eye charge (Levi Miller). The easy description is that this is the natural horror movie progression of <i>Home Alone, </i>but that sells Peckover’s work short. This is a filmmaker who has a lot to say and explore, and more importantly, has such a mastery of the genre that he manages to do so in funny AND shocking ways.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>6. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/10/angel-of-muzak.html">Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviYuITq1p6BGeHWp83z0x28g4pkhTWs3dN9wgivqeyA6NDtmCdVkl6_f37xvs_7DdLFiGFp2Yh3pCic1JtT1sZUeQyOyWmx2v_-lTouxs7zPhNAnNod_hZTZDyX-H2ncUJG4KNwt7urS3S9_3RgE2ayKF0eojJBKQd2bQkfqesr84mrPsHJwnGwt6JKc/s320/PhantomOfTheMall-EricsRevenge-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="205" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviYuITq1p6BGeHWp83z0x28g4pkhTWs3dN9wgivqeyA6NDtmCdVkl6_f37xvs_7DdLFiGFp2Yh3pCic1JtT1sZUeQyOyWmx2v_-lTouxs7zPhNAnNod_hZTZDyX-H2ncUJG4KNwt7urS3S9_3RgE2ayKF0eojJBKQd2bQkfqesr84mrPsHJwnGwt6JKc/s1600/PhantomOfTheMall-EricsRevenge-300.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There are ‘80s horror movies, and there are ‘80S HORROR MOVIES. <i>Phantom of the Mall</i> is set at a MALL. It has SKATEBOARDING deaths. SHOULDER PADS. MORGAN FAIRCHILD IN SHOULDER PADS. These things are great on their own, but toss in some early capitalist satire and even more sequins and you’re in for a truly delightful treat.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">5. <b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/08/murder-on-soviet-express.html">Citizen X</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGbZ8i5gH0zSVBTlp0GrLNfAb79Bbg4tUkr_N5uQ3NbJLHfeoTBHVpaCHr2MXjixElWSgOBtqh5h-6pRZjQo8IF9Ii-8Wr3-ZOkfYNmydQqOXtioEL4BKc1MCMkUsIZ46uwvZ_ISdBCoOXFiiWxNinazkAvd59d-VvLYKtAOKGIefH5VILpPCykhhhHM/s319/Citizen_X_(poster).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="220" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGbZ8i5gH0zSVBTlp0GrLNfAb79Bbg4tUkr_N5uQ3NbJLHfeoTBHVpaCHr2MXjixElWSgOBtqh5h-6pRZjQo8IF9Ii-8Wr3-ZOkfYNmydQqOXtioEL4BKc1MCMkUsIZ46uwvZ_ISdBCoOXFiiWxNinazkAvd59d-VvLYKtAOKGIefH5VILpPCykhhhHM/s1600/Citizen_X_(poster).jpg" width="220" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Unlike a lot of my fellow horror brethren, I find serial killers and particularly, movies based on REAL serial killers more nauseating than entertaining. <i>Citizen X,</i> an early HBO original movie, gets a bit of a pass for having enough distance between its true crime pedigree and the present to assuage my guilt at being so intrigued by a horrific crime involving real people. Because seriously: this movie is highly entertaining. Stephen Rea plays a Soviet forensic specialist leading an 8-year investigation into a child murderer. That’s hard, but doing so under the bureaucratic weight of the Soviet Union is nearly impossible. Thankfully, there’s Donald Sutherland as a higher up with a better understanding of how to play the game. Watching these actors play off each other is a thrill, especially when you factor in a good old-fashioned detective story told well.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>4. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/sissys-spiritual-sister.html">Influencer</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdJPsrC29RCa_hOkpymwdUsZQJ-q20pPCLNx3vdmmPfxNWLYWcrZcMfY5ppYnvuU3V6mmcKiaMSLlP58kx3SZMFrnrZ7UfyZO8nf2-11Y88SdnXPoPm-Xd_tTzSb2I8StqOK1-51GaaBjtF1KoPDYedgm8peVBeea_EQHpvCDs97KV8OeZVYWjR9Tfqg/s320/Influencer_Poster.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="216" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdJPsrC29RCa_hOkpymwdUsZQJ-q20pPCLNx3vdmmPfxNWLYWcrZcMfY5ppYnvuU3V6mmcKiaMSLlP58kx3SZMFrnrZ7UfyZO8nf2-11Y88SdnXPoPm-Xd_tTzSb2I8StqOK1-51GaaBjtF1KoPDYedgm8peVBeea_EQHpvCDs97KV8OeZVYWjR9Tfqg/s1600/Influencer_Poster.png" width="216" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p>Just as ghost hunting was the premier profession of 2010 horror characters, the job of influencer has become quite common on Shudder originals and when it’s done as well as Kurtis David Harder’s film, I have no problem with that. The incredibly charismatic Cassandra Naud stars as a world traveler with an unhealthy habit of befriending social media sensations and taking over their already fragile identities. There’s so much more going on here, and it’s genuinely thrilling with surprise after surprise. What a refreshing little movie.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>3. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/you-look-familiar.html">Copycat</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6UvtJ9hca1z6c_vFrgzzi9qlaLSChEzuKFE_oHMjRcGh5visYVeDyCut1PhhfSl3mxVFtO2ExOxFQkkaJ_Xv8IYsS0j7eERmikcmvxhca4hrADQo0Fz6bJThVFd5VCi0230OzpcXOKjG8YKpeOof5eicgbcZsKi2c1zpUgjxt5XIXt1xFvUZ7VQ87i0/s320/c73dddc73e12266a1b2df19fa97829296e943121b874442ca7abbc622fee4411._UR1920,1080_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6UvtJ9hca1z6c_vFrgzzi9qlaLSChEzuKFE_oHMjRcGh5visYVeDyCut1PhhfSl3mxVFtO2ExOxFQkkaJ_Xv8IYsS0j7eERmikcmvxhca4hrADQo0Fz6bJThVFd5VCi0230OzpcXOKjG8YKpeOof5eicgbcZsKi2c1zpUgjxt5XIXt1xFvUZ7VQ87i0/s1600/c73dddc73e12266a1b2df19fa97829296e943121b874442ca7abbc622fee4411._UR1920,1080_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sometimes you spend 20+ years assuming you’d seen a popular big budget studio film only to discover you were mixing it up with a dozen other movies. Thankfully, I finally sat down to watch 1995’s <i>Copycat </i>and was rewarded with something special: big movie stars giving it their all in a sharp thriller filled with everything you want on the big screen. <i>Copycat</i> is the kind of movie that doesn’t really get made anymore, though you can certainly see its legacy on streaming miniseries that often misunderstand the appeal of a good investigative mystery. Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver are at the top of their game as two incredibly capable, yet very different professional women who are the last thing standing between a psychopath and a whole lot of innocent victims. It’s a master class in how to do a popcorn flick right.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>2. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/03/now-sissy-that-kill.html">Sissy</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3KBm76VXJkYiiS_hAU6j0-VD6HSyeuXgPE8ij2bNhUsceshCjJzPcmUdzS43TdJZwRm3C3VkOe2dxHPfEAURNu2PaNsQyZaV2i3pp6OAh3eFdMBSAl6aPwZdzGBxZ3cANyFFO7_mvLiv6OrWEaOyEyFkuBpOIOP78eJ4vvqtdXuFYcaZT759AKP4qIY/s320/MV5BZmQ2OTA1MzctZmE3Zi00ODRlLWE2YzQtYjRkNTY4NWQxOGJjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjYwNjIyOTM@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="216" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq3KBm76VXJkYiiS_hAU6j0-VD6HSyeuXgPE8ij2bNhUsceshCjJzPcmUdzS43TdJZwRm3C3VkOe2dxHPfEAURNu2PaNsQyZaV2i3pp6OAh3eFdMBSAl6aPwZdzGBxZ3cANyFFO7_mvLiv6OrWEaOyEyFkuBpOIOP78eJ4vvqtdXuFYcaZT759AKP4qIY/s1600/MV5BZmQ2OTA1MzctZmE3Zi00ODRlLWE2YzQtYjRkNTY4NWQxOGJjXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjYwNjIyOTM@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Influencer culture is a hot topic in this year’s indie horror, and though I still flinch when someone sends me a TikTok, I’m all for it. With <i>Sissy,</i> the writer/director team of Kane Senes and Hannah Barlow craft an incredibly rich portrait of a successful but anxiety-filled social media star who can’t quite let go of the emotional scars of her past. Lead Aisha Dee is achingly good in the titular role, making it easy for the audience to actively root for her success even if it means the death of a few innocent bystanders. This was one of the most satisfying watches I’ve had in a long, long time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>1. <a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/08/it-takes-two-to-dual-duel.html">Dual</a></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR2KcmL8YQKuWWcLhUs82di1jaViJfA_h0C8qY7YrAcz2ipkE7SupoZmwabKEOtCLmX74tx6pBlPlfU5Lviu4AiM7MlkNK-i4ESCUrPJi-T3MYB9S8JNlQRlIXDBxrIU4N0ujCQjwTJWY8_MWEH0j1e54PYACumfpWOUiP0YS4kyswNY8ZDABlIA2XtM/s320/MV5BZWE4ZWMwOTYtZDkyYi00NWEwLTgyNWYtNWNkNjhlMjBmZTJmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQwMTY2Nzk@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="216" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR2KcmL8YQKuWWcLhUs82di1jaViJfA_h0C8qY7YrAcz2ipkE7SupoZmwabKEOtCLmX74tx6pBlPlfU5Lviu4AiM7MlkNK-i4ESCUrPJi-T3MYB9S8JNlQRlIXDBxrIU4N0ujCQjwTJWY8_MWEH0j1e54PYACumfpWOUiP0YS4kyswNY8ZDABlIA2XtM/s1600/MV5BZWE4ZWMwOTYtZDkyYi00NWEwLTgyNWYtNWNkNjhlMjBmZTJmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzQwMTY2Nzk@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Riley Stearns is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today with the lowest profile, and with an output as good as <i>Dual </i>and<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Faults</i>, I hope things stay that way. More black comedy than the futuristic sci-fi its plot synopsis sells, <i>Dual </i>follows an unlucky woman (played to deadpan perfection by Karen Gillan) misdiagnosed with a fatal disease in a future where you can commission your own double to take over your life when you die. When her illness proves to be minor, she’s now challenged by a clone who won’t leave in a society that has specific, bureaucratic systems in place to deal with such matters. It’s incredibly funny and exceedingly weird in ways that call <i>The Lobster </i>to mind, and I absolutely loved it.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-41331263698510099312024-01-22T05:30:00.005-05:002024-01-22T05:30:00.243-05:00The Lessons We Learned In 2023<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We're quickly approaching another anniversary here at the Doll's House, which means we continue our FIFTEENTH annual compilation of some of our favorite Lessons Learned this past year. Take out your notes and get studying! </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Sensory Details</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Evil doll activity smells quite a bit like very bad farts<span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> — </span><b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/02/an-annabelle-by-any-other-name.html">The Doll </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul3ReP439Tv9Cg7dsH9A-c7_EK2plhHD48xoar5h37MweHzYVe0JafXT6-OaKHWGxzMh6nFWWG2j1B12Huwyq3FtR41rUidNw4aa08tT09EYro3rOBhHU6QL9Okn2PwbEkRpwQX50NAkjvqULF3VBjX3n1M55SOWiDKXJulgXgmKjjLCBeD9bo-x0_GU/s320/the-doll-netflix-review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhul3ReP439Tv9Cg7dsH9A-c7_EK2plhHD48xoar5h37MweHzYVe0JafXT6-OaKHWGxzMh6nFWWG2j1B12Huwyq3FtR41rUidNw4aa08tT09EYro3rOBhHU6QL9Okn2PwbEkRpwQX50NAkjvqULF3VBjX3n1M55SOWiDKXJulgXgmKjjLCBeD9bo-x0_GU/s1600/the-doll-netflix-review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><b style="font-family: helvetica;">Skincare Is Self Care</b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If your lover mistakes a snake for your caressing hands, it's probably a note to moisturize more often — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/02/slither-me-timbers.html">Vipers</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Having a fresh face makes it easier to connect with your body -- </span><b style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/03/now-sissy-that-kill.html">Sissy<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></a></i></b></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Old men should always remember sunblock<span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/12/but-i-just-got-here.html">You Should Have Left</a></i></b></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf01Mm8rE5A5vVQmuiGWD4NY5OFkw-3ZvL7QHrVojgStb0cUBUl6doezFCmFQgDjq835Ef2i4k8VUHl7xrEE6sqb4CwDbgEAXYK0ZhTa9dmJafVtnQ7rYo4lU9tiqUnYe-J1h189jstN_yiW7xmyG6_ieNIF4FqVIF7IGJeiGfoBfrkbXKMff4Hb_Tyr8/s320/Sunglasses-Kevin-Bacon-in-You-Should-Have-Left-scaled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="320" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf01Mm8rE5A5vVQmuiGWD4NY5OFkw-3ZvL7QHrVojgStb0cUBUl6doezFCmFQgDjq835Ef2i4k8VUHl7xrEE6sqb4CwDbgEAXYK0ZhTa9dmJafVtnQ7rYo4lU9tiqUnYe-J1h189jstN_yiW7xmyG6_ieNIF4FqVIF7IGJeiGfoBfrkbXKMff4Hb_Tyr8/s1600/Sunglasses-Kevin-Bacon-in-You-Should-Have-Left-scaled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The Laws of Man & Morals</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Removing a body from a cemetery is both illegal AND sacrilegious </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/10/angel-of-muzak.html">Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVjXmRvhvYK-30fO4Lof1KxOHMnSJzL3kpBJTHmrstOhdlmNePUNNYFA6jVDQ5I8dZ0bk_n0Jw-1tAW3eac_cKpyRh3fK0Ec9RynehLjG_0YfPVEWs_MMVUxoQ0tBa9E2NOu2rJsbAalgZt3xGXesqRcsSpiebQTaW4elJPHNBnaSdShhlVFg1iCZDQQ/s305/images-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="305" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVjXmRvhvYK-30fO4Lof1KxOHMnSJzL3kpBJTHmrstOhdlmNePUNNYFA6jVDQ5I8dZ0bk_n0Jw-1tAW3eac_cKpyRh3fK0Ec9RynehLjG_0YfPVEWs_MMVUxoQ0tBa9E2NOu2rJsbAalgZt3xGXesqRcsSpiebQTaW4elJPHNBnaSdShhlVFg1iCZDQQ/s1600/images-2.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The Dos & Don’ts (actually, just don’ts) of Flirting</b></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;">Trust me: sisters do not ever want to have a threesome with you</span><span style="color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;">—</span><b style="color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-company-of-vampires.html "> House of Darkness </a></i></b></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fatherly and flirty is not the sexy combination you think it is</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— </span><b style="font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-brides-of-cpap-ula.html">Bad Things </a></i></b></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Pushing a fully clothed woman into a hot tub is only acceptable if rain is in the forecast — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/04/they-might-be-werewolves.html PIC">As the Village Sleeps</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74AzFcHHTxp3YwsK7wnw-IdHVYUYCKUoiq5Dv7q-3WtxjKDrUY1s_gZHeaZaIzpJ2zisMf28G4eB_SVmHTT56uPPYzaBwdJpsCoJoHcZrdv4Gkv9GXgSiJ5NGKUVO9GrImhkHHs0T2ByRdN6kvmFls__DrSe6qGZOGGDg-qDhCtyLv5EwsQ-jh0GaNdU/s320/IMG_7017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74AzFcHHTxp3YwsK7wnw-IdHVYUYCKUoiq5Dv7q-3WtxjKDrUY1s_gZHeaZaIzpJ2zisMf28G4eB_SVmHTT56uPPYzaBwdJpsCoJoHcZrdv4Gkv9GXgSiJ5NGKUVO9GrImhkHHs0T2ByRdN6kvmFls__DrSe6qGZOGGDg-qDhCtyLv5EwsQ-jh0GaNdU/s1600/IMG_7017.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The Art of Self Defense<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Guns are powerful, but have you ever tried just heating up a bottle of vegetable oil?<span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/09/cult-family-first.html">Jackals</a></i></b></span></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When trying to escape from a violent man, the best exit is to run straight into his chest<span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-hunt-said-with-australian-accent.html">The 7th Hunt </a></i></b></span></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Never underestimate a former Girl Scout —<b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/sissys-spiritual-sister.html"> Influencer</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6KSEggJXq-3T8PdOVnW2YKk4W4DOrRPBQfP6znUc3BvF_8CZoFKbyNaevKl8PRaLwQb1Wz5LqeRheWApcsEL2ksgMKQtcM9HdNuxXtGqxNrQtqwRtIAnOC5Btho80qadqxdYAdr2CZ33RGIJf0Ca5vgUEbTK4T8GZAcsD5Fbruz-zKFxkAyGjzHTdWs/s1377/1_FehPuYzwDdbfevljjEPjRQ.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1377" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6KSEggJXq-3T8PdOVnW2YKk4W4DOrRPBQfP6znUc3BvF_8CZoFKbyNaevKl8PRaLwQb1Wz5LqeRheWApcsEL2ksgMKQtcM9HdNuxXtGqxNrQtqwRtIAnOC5Btho80qadqxdYAdr2CZ33RGIJf0Ca5vgUEbTK4T8GZAcsD5Fbruz-zKFxkAyGjzHTdWs/s320/1_FehPuYzwDdbfevljjEPjRQ.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Introduction to Filmmaking</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Nothing helps to meet that runtime more effectively than a montage taken seriously</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/03/9-soon-to-be-dead.html">House of 9</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p9" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Nothing moves a plot faster than a need for insulin — <b><i>Deadly Games</i></b></span></p><p class="p3" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When in doubt, send in Max Von Sydow </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;">— </span><b style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/08/murder-on-soviet-express.html">Citizen X</a></i></b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></b></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There is an endless selection of mildly creepy cartoons available through the public domain<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/03/do-doo.html PIC">Skinamarink </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3IK19iTsyUWIgVEMZw5eAZ4RGgxz4_HrfN25o3lbPmIN6pRVNkBiCYRGzQD2MhMKdX2qpqHLh7ZuzdM0ckbCUUk-AU2y-zLR6JJo_SnWNKRf39dXEJY4N-d3bLY4M0ahUkuWEbuF9i7JQ2aR-glSOwoyHJUfNNDxfjoAxgVvbI1NeqEdOlFdcmun6RQ/s262/download-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="262" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3IK19iTsyUWIgVEMZw5eAZ4RGgxz4_HrfN25o3lbPmIN6pRVNkBiCYRGzQD2MhMKdX2qpqHLh7ZuzdM0ckbCUUk-AU2y-zLR6JJo_SnWNKRf39dXEJY4N-d3bLY4M0ahUkuWEbuF9i7JQ2aR-glSOwoyHJUfNNDxfjoAxgVvbI1NeqEdOlFdcmun6RQ/s1600/download-5.jpg" width="262" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>New Jobs for Old Materials</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cling wrap is a broken leg's best friend — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/03/i-know-what-you-covdid-last-summer.html">Sick</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Duct tape: don't babysit without it -- </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/02/he-sees-you-when-youre-babysitting.html">Better Watch Out </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnNE7yAl9OKRQg2r6wMoHZtA-SxMh7LNJ0oUUWcmf7mn3eDPfGkQTXeSy7wT6-5POXUuZkls9h3gXoPM4h_qk2YTGUtH4Id9lZoFApgEWncjdU_RxbUt1pwxHSB174dzSrubI052jyHSscLzmRn9obUKdbxYjT3IDavSPAh83rey-ygqQYqtITMYVzAI/s281/download-9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="281" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnNE7yAl9OKRQg2r6wMoHZtA-SxMh7LNJ0oUUWcmf7mn3eDPfGkQTXeSy7wT6-5POXUuZkls9h3gXoPM4h_qk2YTGUtH4Id9lZoFApgEWncjdU_RxbUt1pwxHSB174dzSrubI052jyHSscLzmRn9obUKdbxYjT3IDavSPAh83rey-ygqQYqtITMYVzAI/s1600/download-9.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Handy Tips for Home Owners</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;">Bears can't break through bulletproof windows </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/08/head-tilt-horror.html">The Girl In Cabin 13</a></i></b> </span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Dungeons do not officially count towards the square footage of a home on a standard real estate listing — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/04/its-barbaric.html">Barbarian</a></i></b></span></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v3w0V2_-z3huMmytMuDz0UrDiPzOb9g-2wabjR7AaCs8xgc_yAtRsrvBJrElSdgX32PxyS2iVXmHKRkQurRwyKOIA7hA-n84Wjf_sfijoU4M6EcrOgOKenBYQUtasPtSNVBKgZ9HOsS5_ACGQAb23sEQ4oWUq4sr2FEquvCIGKwBPEL_awf9tnyc2TQ/s320/barbarian-movie-detroit-house-1666794665920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="320" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8v3w0V2_-z3huMmytMuDz0UrDiPzOb9g-2wabjR7AaCs8xgc_yAtRsrvBJrElSdgX32PxyS2iVXmHKRkQurRwyKOIA7hA-n84Wjf_sfijoU4M6EcrOgOKenBYQUtasPtSNVBKgZ9HOsS5_ACGQAb23sEQ4oWUq4sr2FEquvCIGKwBPEL_awf9tnyc2TQ/s1600/barbarian-movie-detroit-house-1666794665920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>America: Land of Diversity</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Gasoline works differently in the midwest </span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/08/groot-who-walks-behind-rows.html">Children of the Corn 2023 </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Illinois teenagers have great memories when it comes to 3rd grade science lessons, but terrible instincts when it comes to understanding the very concept of time — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/10/road-under-construction.html">Munger Road </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">People in LA are far less patronizing than those in Oregon </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/04/once-bit.html">Bit</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When dining in Texas, avoid eating oysters in bulk </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/11/not-so-quick-after-all-are-you.html">Quicksand</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxvHmThsIEYT6sx9SRhXZRO4dLg8Ln_lxHW9MQil-dsF9ZNWiodDGwMxrkfp8nrWcy8zzrc4gajex75qf2xePc2CkhEr3E4a7TXFcDs79UTM0Lrck2P_-yGcqbgJI8lNmzd3UlhkwwzNaDUc-xMaIPESk3kkCM_VHNHhgJN-mlC648fASXcP_8MktyVE/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-19%20at%208.50.56%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="320" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNxvHmThsIEYT6sx9SRhXZRO4dLg8Ln_lxHW9MQil-dsF9ZNWiodDGwMxrkfp8nrWcy8zzrc4gajex75qf2xePc2CkhEr3E4a7TXFcDs79UTM0Lrck2P_-yGcqbgJI8lNmzd3UlhkwwzNaDUc-xMaIPESk3kkCM_VHNHhgJN-mlC648fASXcP_8MktyVE/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-19%20at%208.50.56%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Parenting for Dummies</b></span></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s6" style="color: #18191a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Selling weed is one way to pay child support</span> — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/09/eyeve-had-enough.html">#HoldYourBreath </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzp-wALbVsOn47ZdVbbjSjRBquxS6Tk1R_GUfJidieqavx7kIg2ngYrb2fc9dusJaRUNTe5DbHkp6mYnnC3Grspo07fp6oeSj72SBmX5wJLWptuhRdSGbnIzn2U5yIHMRUthDpUQKmOhAjd7CYHNDINcS2n3mfxPZyOkVpOAoJcl3tILH22XDIMyNOyro/s320/IMG_7865.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzp-wALbVsOn47ZdVbbjSjRBquxS6Tk1R_GUfJidieqavx7kIg2ngYrb2fc9dusJaRUNTe5DbHkp6mYnnC3Grspo07fp6oeSj72SBmX5wJLWptuhRdSGbnIzn2U5yIHMRUthDpUQKmOhAjd7CYHNDINcS2n3mfxPZyOkVpOAoJcl3tILH22XDIMyNOyro/s1600/IMG_7865.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Little Known Facts About Interior Design</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yes, the eyeball of any creepy painting is always watching you. Just accept it</span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/05/hell-is-dinner-theater.html">Kadaver</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8muH8dJOahAIyvaf-zx8vCt2xF9cJEnOPPvgdm6G859sziUkX1DGfDUSm9Fiv44K58n8syakMrCDlVWMPk0TZgiG2VbjV9o-VjErvGRwHG6nOnZFmThZBJ0ecIVlk1YkEFXoZHBqBKY6SQ3jRR5MbsEh6Pf313Ac_djJBcwpegJKChLmMhk7DjIZsKU/s320/j35brxu5aiy51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8muH8dJOahAIyvaf-zx8vCt2xF9cJEnOPPvgdm6G859sziUkX1DGfDUSm9Fiv44K58n8syakMrCDlVWMPk0TZgiG2VbjV9o-VjErvGRwHG6nOnZFmThZBJ0ecIVlk1YkEFXoZHBqBKY6SQ3jRR5MbsEh6Pf313Ac_djJBcwpegJKChLmMhk7DjIZsKU/s1600/j35brxu5aiy51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Med School: Year One</b></span></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;">Medication is great and all but have you ever just tried tickling to reduce panic attacks? — </span><b style="color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/just-spoonful-of-nocebo.html">Nocebo </a></i></b></p><p class="p10" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The ethics of sleep study doctor/patient relationships are, to say the least, muddy — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/12/in-your-dreams.html">Come True </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p10" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">C-sections are pretty intuitive operations for non-medical professionals, even in the middle of a forest during a blizzard — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/06/whistle-while-you-weaver.html">Snow White: A Tale of Terror</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWirYyUpSv8rav0mSbi4ad1BP5AxLD2kZI8Y2qJDHShSxBicvbQGyQ_EicLv4iao36hPRo-91Ssxq6EwHYRSqPeAoYYFODrcDj-sk50RTKTmClnDB6QZq3mS3DdAg-HJ-Z_TDbsEuI8T6gMaEr69lFpiqMAls0Wd2uiYGnkl47U5dGlUYUPXMH-rlR7I/s320/105carrycomp1-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="320" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWirYyUpSv8rav0mSbi4ad1BP5AxLD2kZI8Y2qJDHShSxBicvbQGyQ_EicLv4iao36hPRo-91Ssxq6EwHYRSqPeAoYYFODrcDj-sk50RTKTmClnDB6QZq3mS3DdAg-HJ-Z_TDbsEuI8T6gMaEr69lFpiqMAls0Wd2uiYGnkl47U5dGlUYUPXMH-rlR7I/s1600/105carrycomp1-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Fun & Games</b></span></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You don't have to be a dysfunctional family to be further divided by a game of Scrabble </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/05/not-to-be-confused-with-killer-cat-movie.html">The Strays</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p10" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p10" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMAaDnGYzmIwIq-BugmMOCzL0khKb5XshnkCAY76E30rmZ6_IzlgN8WkyGPkfwpI6jMh68K-tFo2_5KEvb0OFLjEBQlmuHhIUSRHWKccDu8PusJxdJtOvM5Ow8TIoZ363HlMBSGukI4OqT9e1lygKc_A347jPwcvYucTZshyphenhyphenDR5IoFbkDhz88K9gzKAc/s259/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMAaDnGYzmIwIq-BugmMOCzL0khKb5XshnkCAY76E30rmZ6_IzlgN8WkyGPkfwpI6jMh68K-tFo2_5KEvb0OFLjEBQlmuHhIUSRHWKccDu8PusJxdJtOvM5Ow8TIoZ363HlMBSGukI4OqT9e1lygKc_A347jPwcvYucTZshyphenhyphenDR5IoFbkDhz88K9gzKAc/s1600/download.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Predictions for a Better Tomorrow</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The future may be a dark place where doctors misdiagnose patients without any consequence, but at least we can take comfort in knowing that not only are there multiple variations of nachos, there's also a lot of haunted house-set porn </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/08/it-takes-two-to-dual-duel.html">Dual </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A viral apocalypse is no reason to let your hair lose its bounce </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/10/maybe-biologist-ate-your-baby.html">Patient Zero</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBMa7C9eGLlQa3DWKjuTgWATryjWevFctV7_6nJ0XPiV_jJPpZVUPhaFvO7XuDVetCLZW5QFGShax5J7XJ_EuhPWuSwQYu8dQu4OfZc3hPzBT7SycWPTX4ifPnnDj3OAeSbUJD1MfIZzX8OKZm6KX1AyNdPTyTOm6jxQHCsVZkG5DQOpvA5UMpKZ9tpM/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-02%20at%2011.14.22%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="320" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBMa7C9eGLlQa3DWKjuTgWATryjWevFctV7_6nJ0XPiV_jJPpZVUPhaFvO7XuDVetCLZW5QFGShax5J7XJ_EuhPWuSwQYu8dQu4OfZc3hPzBT7SycWPTX4ifPnnDj3OAeSbUJD1MfIZzX8OKZm6KX1AyNdPTyTOm6jxQHCsVZkG5DQOpvA5UMpKZ9tpM/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-02%20at%2011.14.22%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>In & Around the Education System</b></span></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;">The higher the school spirit, the better the bake sale — </span><b style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/dawsons-clockwork-orange.html">Disturbing Behavior</a></i></b></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When your career takes a downturn, your alma mater may downgrade your status from "Harvard alum" to "former Harvard graduate" </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/05/down-shaft.html">Down</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You can do a lot of bad things at a frat party, but spilling beer on angora is an unforgivable offense — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/11/my-sorority-sister-is-alien.html">Decoys </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Grad students aren't supposed to be good-looking — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/12/fool-me-once.html">Decoys 2: The Second Seduction </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;">No frat party is complete without a fresh vegetable spread — </span><b style="color: #434434; font-family: helvetica;"><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/i-know-who-called-me.html">One Missed Call</a></i></b><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic395W99XZWA3H0KJslVKrXPVjkRYWaIjCKonHMovU9DNhrCl4SumVWRHn_X21Nl0MwTydOGTfvB5fHDAowWNmbNNHQgryNG6I5pl1rYQuxox8XUfN4QQTyQuKevZl6vQ3-q9bILypV35eSIyz4eYJANqGJPa6yF3AUwnC2RvhDjm5f1KVPw8PjDdk0qg/s320/IMG_7631%20copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic395W99XZWA3H0KJslVKrXPVjkRYWaIjCKonHMovU9DNhrCl4SumVWRHn_X21Nl0MwTydOGTfvB5fHDAowWNmbNNHQgryNG6I5pl1rYQuxox8XUfN4QQTyQuKevZl6vQ3-q9bILypV35eSIyz4eYJANqGJPa6yF3AUwnC2RvhDjm5f1KVPw8PjDdk0qg/s1600/IMG_7631%20copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>People, People Who Need People</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Nothing is less pleasant than an obsessive coder — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-amaize-ing-race.html">Escape the Field</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4-EyRCYIqNf8HTnxUK3ScJgF8_PBf5rO_LLzYYMbX0cA9C2MbSDEvJ75jsnSz74hmKkUxHob-VmgSYUxMdp2XR7kAX6-_n8k08mK6pecCaT9H1qoAfTjXZxhdbJx8qh5nnMay8px4axl2B0dMob-QXIoxjTxtt3RXYRTVsGuwFjsjs5MXbY-5T-zWtk/s282/images-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4-EyRCYIqNf8HTnxUK3ScJgF8_PBf5rO_LLzYYMbX0cA9C2MbSDEvJ75jsnSz74hmKkUxHob-VmgSYUxMdp2XR7kAX6-_n8k08mK6pecCaT9H1qoAfTjXZxhdbJx8qh5nnMay8px4axl2B0dMob-QXIoxjTxtt3RXYRTVsGuwFjsjs5MXbY-5T-zWtk/s1600/images-1.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Fashion Forever</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When planning a robbery, always wear comfortable athletic clothes (you know, in case the tables are turned and you're left playing the most dangerous game) </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/06/you-aint-nothin-but-hounded.html">Hounded</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p12" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p class="p13" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s8" style="background-color: white;">Bullet-proof vests don't fit well under Miracle Bras</span><span class="s9" style="background-color: white; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/07/you-look-familiar.html">Copycat</a></i></b></span></span></p><p class="p14" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s11" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wearing a sweatshirt is a sign of weakness — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/10/maybe-biologist-ate-your-baby.html">Resurrection</a></i></b></span></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6oCI-9YFC8-3ImSSZaysbVYjIbDgafXSIIMvgESIvSFq5wWDrKSj5ESX_n5cr0cHgyzrPk8gbzjunX_0sdOc2CXG4Cnp-kn2NsOIdiJ-pcKlaqMJWYgXY3AlpJ0t28p4jQ8baahPVM4Re92kVLtPWDRaa0Rl3g1AFgMPdu1-zu_IAXN2SBCYOXMjRuo/s320/k5bkd7ad63x91.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6oCI-9YFC8-3ImSSZaysbVYjIbDgafXSIIMvgESIvSFq5wWDrKSj5ESX_n5cr0cHgyzrPk8gbzjunX_0sdOc2CXG4Cnp-kn2NsOIdiJ-pcKlaqMJWYgXY3AlpJ0t28p4jQ8baahPVM4Re92kVLtPWDRaa0Rl3g1AFgMPdu1-zu_IAXN2SBCYOXMjRuo/s1600/k5bkd7ad63x91.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>School for the Obvious</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Details matter in every act of creation, whether you're writing a song or sewing a creepy doll — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/06/im-your-number-one-swimfan.html ">The Follower</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Crazy idea, I know, but hear me out: if you discover a gooey glowing substance eating away at many layers of metal, perhaps the best course of action is not to touch it — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-sea-no-one-can-hear-you-scream.html">Sea Fever</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p2" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8S-i_x7PkwM9WRGwhZUzEGWpT5XQPoGKLmy5IYTw8_bqtbGe0yEBv5YPI1ecOCgEnWywqrDNnuoDcNYYV9SdmSCwwri7TltfA4BXIkG9VprGGQmVrJoAptu_vRmz7YmSEupmYYeIHJk-fSclRo3CxLKmhEpF6NsjGcxXaz8U6ivg0a11zuSolj2Y6Zxc/s320/sea-fever-trailer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="320" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8S-i_x7PkwM9WRGwhZUzEGWpT5XQPoGKLmy5IYTw8_bqtbGe0yEBv5YPI1ecOCgEnWywqrDNnuoDcNYYV9SdmSCwwri7TltfA4BXIkG9VprGGQmVrJoAptu_vRmz7YmSEupmYYeIHJk-fSclRo3CxLKmhEpF6NsjGcxXaz8U6ivg0a11zuSolj2Y6Zxc/s1600/sea-fever-trailer.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Science!</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The dirtier your research facilities, the more revolutionary the research </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/05/please-give-this-movie-vasectomy.html">Breeder</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcn8rQV4tpsep2zdnrFW7yXri_Vu3Iq51I5DQwtshVTQurqi9lAAh-vh_bWujp7iY-Zrmnp4QZ4t4w5Cpx_QaI7QMX9A2BDd7kJojS1dd8ACP9VTrCnj6P1g06yOu1jBH9qKafaJVZ9uFP3BIp2c2tAKpu1sE3Va4BhcnLaNhvQT9ExTmY7rrWEx0aq8/s320/download-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="320" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcn8rQV4tpsep2zdnrFW7yXri_Vu3Iq51I5DQwtshVTQurqi9lAAh-vh_bWujp7iY-Zrmnp4QZ4t4w5Cpx_QaI7QMX9A2BDd7kJojS1dd8ACP9VTrCnj6P1g06yOu1jBH9qKafaJVZ9uFP3BIp2c2tAKpu1sE3Va4BhcnLaNhvQT9ExTmY7rrWEx0aq8/s1600/download-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="p8" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>The Opposite of Science!</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The bigger the curse, the better the flowers — <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/06/offseasonal-depression.html">Offseason</a></i></b> </span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjIFyAHNLhfa852pEmaVS-fKtYBfYmTlui7sMEKI0W7hrQrj1TwsUudsvl1BAVWG4_ogcogoSBaTDmN9BmvgUde0npatKCMZxUY2groIMa3EeXPBVqgKqRWnQZRntz2YA45s-oceOMLZqD9eMSZtDWFHCwQmsnW29BgLFkInCMI9P8SAdmF7lh7W_dHs/s320/images.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="132" data-original-width="320" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjIFyAHNLhfa852pEmaVS-fKtYBfYmTlui7sMEKI0W7hrQrj1TwsUudsvl1BAVWG4_ogcogoSBaTDmN9BmvgUde0npatKCMZxUY2groIMa3EeXPBVqgKqRWnQZRntz2YA45s-oceOMLZqD9eMSZtDWFHCwQmsnW29BgLFkInCMI9P8SAdmF7lh7W_dHs/s1600/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="p6" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Food & Beverage Adjacent</b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Poisonous berries don't taste much worse than power bars </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/05/bird-brained.html">The Aviary</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p13" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A good detective never wastes a half-eaten banana </span><span style="font-family: helvetica;">—<i> <b>Death Count</b></i></span></p><p class="p16" style="color: #1a1a1a; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p17" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first taste of moonshine is never good, but keep going and the chest hair will grow —<i><b> In the Year 2889</b></i></span></p><p class="p18" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p17" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Don't knock eating placenta until, well, you're starving and have nothing to eat but placenta</span></p><p class="p17" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <i>Centigrade</i></span></p><p class="p5" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There are few ways to die that are sadder than doing so in the middle of boiling frozen hot dogs</span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">— <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/02/coming-of-age-with-superpowers.html">The Innocents</a></i></b></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="p4" style="background-color: white; color: #434434; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUG3KjIGzq_9MzVMDs83ukQPA6KYrOBK-h9EY9BceRhDgO6ikCgk-4ll0-g7nosipQsCvd8v3mLEgS8s62Oocz4jIM5vwW9IxgyPvgMzc3L5-7PDJKckVZGPkMQwa-TQNBu_f-Ur86BWBon6Ab4dRzpNLNuOv_SsYaJcJ9OaSuUfswRgMOXl7F7VDVIA/s1200/how-to-cook-frozen-hot-dogs-in-a-pan-1698242649.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQUG3KjIGzq_9MzVMDs83ukQPA6KYrOBK-h9EY9BceRhDgO6ikCgk-4ll0-g7nosipQsCvd8v3mLEgS8s62Oocz4jIM5vwW9IxgyPvgMzc3L5-7PDJKckVZGPkMQwa-TQNBu_f-Ur86BWBon6Ab4dRzpNLNuOv_SsYaJcJ9OaSuUfswRgMOXl7F7VDVIA/s320/how-to-cook-frozen-hot-dogs-in-a-pan-1698242649.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span class="s1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b><br /></b></span></span><p></p><p class="p19" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p7" style="background-color: white; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Tahoma; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 16px;"><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-32522856823621349682024-01-15T06:00:00.001-05:002024-01-15T06:00:00.362-05:00Temperature: The Movie<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegkgDNcgNijetvEKSawf1U11eTTSFeW0_C2Ea2UUQmEsyVYW2ggpxZLvxA5P7_kqr6aaCIav1G8kCy4drJqGOyuj5cCpQ7QCdiT-ocSEVni2zOEveRZLcYmsq8SPeyfM-WZCwGIqlz-1iq6oKyc_Wh7QpbgPr6mvsRx7mfBD1LGWUx5b4dcyPYVCvYKI/s299/download-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegkgDNcgNijetvEKSawf1U11eTTSFeW0_C2Ea2UUQmEsyVYW2ggpxZLvxA5P7_kqr6aaCIav1G8kCy4drJqGOyuj5cCpQ7QCdiT-ocSEVni2zOEveRZLcYmsq8SPeyfM-WZCwGIqlz-1iq6oKyc_Wh7QpbgPr6mvsRx7mfBD1LGWUx5b4dcyPYVCvYKI/s1600/download-2.jpg" width="299" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":1bz"><div aria-controls=":1e9" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1e9" class="Am aiL Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":1bv" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 281px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I know I've said this before, but there are no rules that say I can't simply say it again: "inspired by true events" is a dumb way to introduce anything.<br /><br />EVERYTHING is "inspired by true events". Writers are human beings. Everything they make up comes from some sort of inspiration of something that happened at some point in the world. All it ever means is, "we have a story that will feel more impressive if you think it sort of happened to people who aren't the characters in our actual movie."<br /><br />Anyway, today's feature,<i> Centigrade</i> (no, the title doesn't make particular sense either) exists because our screenwriter read a story and said, "I guess the bare bones of this could be my movie."<br /><br />So here we are.<br /><br /><b>Quick Plot:</b> At eight months pregnant, writer Naomi is traveling Norway in winter with her husband Matt for a book signing. A bad case of freezing rain makes them decide to pull over, only for the couple to fall asleep and awaken to a dying cell phone, dead car, and heavy coat of ice and snow coating their presence.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdEA5z2Ly3faVaSswzfQwjWUMwDumM_3PmEAInKgCPVo2KkaMKLymWjI4fMjwDb79kNqyP03nU9I0QqxQHo0_dYBQjItSGi9UyoSV34wX-nRHhSJxe_yOTJfflqASbNN7DnpIaggA7EIwIfgUzRMmK6YTaDptRB-xdZ2xXrJrAPG354eW0UOA75ML3O4/s348/download-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="348" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdEA5z2Ly3faVaSswzfQwjWUMwDumM_3PmEAInKgCPVo2KkaMKLymWjI4fMjwDb79kNqyP03nU9I0QqxQHo0_dYBQjItSGi9UyoSV34wX-nRHhSJxe_yOTJfflqASbNN7DnpIaggA7EIwIfgUzRMmK6YTaDptRB-xdZ2xXrJrAPG354eW0UOA75ML3O4/s320/download-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Naturally, spirits fall quickly. One herring sandwich and a box of chocolates can only go so far, particularly when Naomi's panic attack sends her into early labor. As you'd expect with pretty much any <b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/11/not-so-quick-after-all-are-you.html">story like this</a></b>, tensions escalate as the temperature drops. Bickering turns to confrontation which then cools to two very stupid people having a very hard time figuring out how to exit a car.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpIqoqO10okASHtwC80yrg0fLZhE1xrES3KgKQkt0d6nx66GKG4dzn9SQq0d-MJK-8xsa0Orn1emtbH5p4NMQVEmTiFBCK3ZoC4ODJhPNB24mHueNcYWvZw1XaQG0RpYK3K_rFl8G64IqSxF4L0S4JfogEO49QUCVKoYt6hyphenhyphenRR2zIQDHBy2Jz_1zed7U/s275/download-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpIqoqO10okASHtwC80yrg0fLZhE1xrES3KgKQkt0d6nx66GKG4dzn9SQq0d-MJK-8xsa0Orn1emtbH5p4NMQVEmTiFBCK3ZoC4ODJhPNB24mHueNcYWvZw1XaQG0RpYK3K_rFl8G64IqSxF4L0S4JfogEO49QUCVKoYt6hyphenhyphenRR2zIQDHBy2Jz_1zed7U/s1600/download-3.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Movies are fantasy, movies are escape, movies don't have to follow rules of logic...if they're any good. <i>Centigrade</i> is not, which means virtually every decision (or lack thereof) made by writer/director Brendan Walsh and co-writer Daley Nixon's script encourages the audience to scream in frustration. Worse, much like <i>Quicksand</i>, we lose any real sense of claustrophobia because for whatever reason, Walsh won't keep his camera in the damn car.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrow6iY6jaxAZMe-1sugSal8rdI6QDeWRqdJMCu79oudou3wJaZezzv708h7uSgcMmxa4fg_qTzsNastdQHOgx6PGURpl9_xGZ9ohAHGqjkE29MhVLFwpqSGs5pvu3d8NtFW48p-Op4d2nPAJE1ZrETfFL2ry6XDV2Ul1OWWQJRB-0YTfFhIEiFX4FBs/s707/1_egKIzM3290hz486pMIFcCQ.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="553" data-original-width="707" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrow6iY6jaxAZMe-1sugSal8rdI6QDeWRqdJMCu79oudou3wJaZezzv708h7uSgcMmxa4fg_qTzsNastdQHOgx6PGURpl9_xGZ9ohAHGqjkE29MhVLFwpqSGs5pvu3d8NtFW48p-Op4d2nPAJE1ZrETfFL2ry6XDV2Ul1OWWQJRB-0YTfFhIEiFX4FBs/s320/1_egKIzM3290hz486pMIFcCQ.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I say that in anger, but I also would have sold my fictional firstborn to a gold-spinning goblin to end the ETERNITY of Naomi's newborn crying...and crying...and crying...<br /><br />Even my cat was ready to bust that sunroof open.</span></div><div aria-controls=":1e9" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1e9" class="Am aiL Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":1bv" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 281px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQz7p0l2jkJ-iuIsToHWdt3Qd4Z_NsHwv3yhnwlzQjVBDArk6KiONGB6R1obZnh4Zrq5Gg1zIHRvzua8Gck4laUe2V1r1hXM3nWIp4Dn9jOdC2j5fLDXEwD4Bc6zapKW96FXCEs3EyBiaeNCTKx1hsBxSwPsn739gDmQ3zGZcwDR7n8cpgmdYmJqRId4/s4032/IMG_8728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQz7p0l2jkJ-iuIsToHWdt3Qd4Z_NsHwv3yhnwlzQjVBDArk6KiONGB6R1obZnh4Zrq5Gg1zIHRvzua8Gck4laUe2V1r1hXM3nWIp4Dn9jOdC2j5fLDXEwD4Bc6zapKW96FXCEs3EyBiaeNCTKx1hsBxSwPsn739gDmQ3zGZcwDR7n8cpgmdYmJqRId4/s320/IMG_8728.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>WHICH DIDN'T LOOK THAT HARD TO DO.<br /><br />Deep breath: I hated this movie, and based on IMDB, I'm not alone. The actors do what they can, but this is one of those decent setups with both bland and dumb execution, all made worse by the fact that clearly, the filmmaking team has the ability to make an actual movie. The characters are idiots with nothing redeeming save for an eventual cute baby. The eventual cute baby CRIES LOUDLY ONSCREEN FOR FIVE MINUTES. But hey, there is a high point!<br /><br /><b>High Points</b><br />I love a good cello, and the instrumental score of Centigrade has a lot of it. So that's something!<br /><br /><b>Low Points</b><br />Let's be clear: <i>Centigrade</i> is not a true story (remember, INSPIRED BY). So why does the ending include title card summaries of where our characters are now? Sure, characters in a movie aren't real, but there's something that feels even less real about making us think they are<br /><br /><b>Lessons Learned</b><br />In a pinch, wadded towels make suitable wee-wee pads<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AEU6h7HrozeW7Kp6-i3E57vmIQh0Mv7xdIveKgUcpU0x7TPAGzmwqtYCr1Qnmsbfb4acGKtgeiZkhyphenhyphenxKgbOdI1h4VcWNttKgJdqzU3ocucRWjD8yqkmdmgdbF_wkcTRtIZp7BP7dwG-S0xud04uAbOBLD8Pg7_9MY82FFwcqz9D_1o2zRH9GtAyBYnc/s348/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="348" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1AEU6h7HrozeW7Kp6-i3E57vmIQh0Mv7xdIveKgUcpU0x7TPAGzmwqtYCr1Qnmsbfb4acGKtgeiZkhyphenhyphenxKgbOdI1h4VcWNttKgJdqzU3ocucRWjD8yqkmdmgdbF_wkcTRtIZp7BP7dwG-S0xud04uAbOBLD8Pg7_9MY82FFwcqz9D_1o2zRH9GtAyBYnc/s320/download.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Don't knock eating placenta until, well, you're starving and have nothing to eat but placenta<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWRbHjWtvuswhTXCCuZ2c8zMBzLWATjliocQR1MDIlgXWJwl_0oVcE9Y_efpyPNv0Cz0hsXCUfW6t5ReUzHUZdE_hu2aKDKFS6KKw7riD7dSas2fmoiZ5gIEg0it9dNysyrzM-sDskWuUAWotgPMm28c0Xf8EnIw5aGJX3yfA3BSXnkR8JuV46vgN9qo/s1024/xinfoinf4nekb0liq4ca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnWRbHjWtvuswhTXCCuZ2c8zMBzLWATjliocQR1MDIlgXWJwl_0oVcE9Y_efpyPNv0Cz0hsXCUfW6t5ReUzHUZdE_hu2aKDKFS6KKw7riD7dSas2fmoiZ5gIEg0it9dNysyrzM-sDskWuUAWotgPMm28c0Xf8EnIw5aGJX3yfA3BSXnkR8JuV46vgN9qo/s320/xinfoinf4nekb0liq4ca.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>You would think this goes without saying, but apparently, some people don't know that it is generally not recommended to fly across the world when 8 months pregnant for a Norwegian book tour that takes place at the height of winter<br /><br /><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b><br />I watched <i>Centigrade </i>on Hulu because it was leaving that service. I don't know where it landed, and I'm not going to take the time to look. Instead, I'll simply pull over, take a nap, eat some herring, let my cell phone battery drain, and just wait things out until I'm starving to death and need a plan. Yes, that about sums things up here.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-84298328048609519892024-01-08T06:00:00.001-05:002024-01-08T06:00:00.142-05:00We've Got a Long Way to Go<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bcWpgEPu0M6Ly8MT5Tvnql4nORy9-h4ic4qFmfUCmTXo57NQVfQ0nI8QPOmLR0tR1OqzYp6k0Gc6GFFpifNkfgR6yFCtKcyIETODm2QyhQ34cIaJk34tPvnTWB6Gb2zbvDbLujtULejkqZrjvyAyeBNcoKet6VrfbPhWNLjKMxxut0TVY1iOZDEjHf4/s500/MV5BNDk4ODQ3ODA1N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDUzNDkwMzE@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bcWpgEPu0M6Ly8MT5Tvnql4nORy9-h4ic4qFmfUCmTXo57NQVfQ0nI8QPOmLR0tR1OqzYp6k0Gc6GFFpifNkfgR6yFCtKcyIETODm2QyhQ34cIaJk34tPvnTWB6Gb2zbvDbLujtULejkqZrjvyAyeBNcoKet6VrfbPhWNLjKMxxut0TVY1iOZDEjHf4/s320/MV5BNDk4ODQ3ODA1N15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDUzNDkwMzE@._V1_.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'll never pass over a nuclear apocalypse story, even if it carries a whopping 2.8 out of 10 rating on IMDB...or maybe ESPECIALLY if it carries a 2.8 out of 10. This is me we're talking about.</span></p><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":s1"><div aria-controls=":104" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":104" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":rx" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 266px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> Nuclear bombs have dropped throughout the world, with an immediate death count over 3 billion. Retired military captain John Ramsay has figured out how to survive the incoming radiation with a safe home and enough supplies for three people: himself, daughter Joanna, and son-in-law-that-wasn't-to-be Larry. Instead, he begrudgingly opens his doors to five strangers: solid Steve and his radiation-covered brother Granger, jerky Las Vegas stud Mickey and his danger galpal Jada, and older alcoholic Tim.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiNXPYmJVCYQwnDw9rldy3EAZV2XkaMeuNy1Rpu2Dt1vnwAFktUA6TdO49bi-xXbiP2KTVYkDtRUHGfrwh-b5J4a8XtUKOI5Vk8Cz2gyNV22kHVP-dJwQE3A2v3t9F0xc_ZJ3TlKzxet3E6ZptSADx3JmdiPDHq6_9GSOzlR-MGimDihusKLkCxCbzSo/s640/In-the-Year-2889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="640" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiNXPYmJVCYQwnDw9rldy3EAZV2XkaMeuNy1Rpu2Dt1vnwAFktUA6TdO49bi-xXbiP2KTVYkDtRUHGfrwh-b5J4a8XtUKOI5Vk8Cz2gyNV22kHVP-dJwQE3A2v3t9F0xc_ZJ3TlKzxet3E6ZptSADx3JmdiPDHq6_9GSOzlR-MGimDihusKLkCxCbzSo/s320/In-the-Year-2889.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />John is the kind of guy who spent ten years preparing his house for this exact kind of disaster AND making a scaled diorama of it to show off to eventual guests. He and Joanna quickly take a shine to the stable and smart Steve, but Granger turns everyone off. He not only survives but thrives with his radiation sickness, though side effects include a taste for raw meat.</span></div><div aria-controls=":104" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":104" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":rx" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 266px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5hrXaUcOSugezztu0TqeY43M9mRh9Ip5w7PO3JxLLVYYBjLWVzx60zCMPxmq6n_JLxI7Ba4Yti2ehrIlo-QlhZ-n8SygCNf_VMpg-hyXXNdwsBjA0551ol1cP_vVijYSJa9Ehjd12UHqwm4gZVSR6ZR8QAtgKrwMM1grqwRGSphkEUlU897C3NL5cOI/s300/images-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5hrXaUcOSugezztu0TqeY43M9mRh9Ip5w7PO3JxLLVYYBjLWVzx60zCMPxmq6n_JLxI7Ba4Yti2ehrIlo-QlhZ-n8SygCNf_VMpg-hyXXNdwsBjA0551ol1cP_vVijYSJa9Ehjd12UHqwm4gZVSR6ZR8QAtgKrwMM1grqwRGSphkEUlU897C3NL5cOI/s1600/images-9.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Other rumblings begin: Mickey gets hot for Joanna, which riles Jada, who relaxes with Tim's moonshine, which offends the straight-laced John, and so on. It's not <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2012/05/is-that-sausage-in-your-pocket-or-are.html">The Divide</a></i></b> levels of conflict, but it stirs enough to put the whole group in danger.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoRr-x6ukjDS_KVR4MBNHRS4IcAlrsAXt-xCNpkReEHKse9BYFGP1CFIEaGQ53prhb0PX2lqsPXw3ELUterAxdrVkZXPSs6LBDnWFTLquFbu6CRRL9OjKXmSfW9vuqW4lJMmsyBgQGwEWXvltzebTFbaOa0N0C2z6Rr8c8GH69aop5hJL_XIIQ4B0sUs/s477/MV5BMTZhYTk4MTItYzgyMy00NDM1LWIwMGQtYjM2NTU2NzA0Y2IzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDIyODA5Nw@@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="477" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoRr-x6ukjDS_KVR4MBNHRS4IcAlrsAXt-xCNpkReEHKse9BYFGP1CFIEaGQ53prhb0PX2lqsPXw3ELUterAxdrVkZXPSs6LBDnWFTLquFbu6CRRL9OjKXmSfW9vuqW4lJMmsyBgQGwEWXvltzebTFbaOa0N0C2z6Rr8c8GH69aop5hJL_XIIQ4B0sUs/s320/MV5BMTZhYTk4MTItYzgyMy00NDM1LWIwMGQtYjM2NTU2NzA0Y2IzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDIyODA5Nw@@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>At barely 80 minutes, <i>In the Year 2889 </i>is rather abrupt, both in its ending and general flow. Oddly enough, it's far more defined on some of its characterization. John makes for the kind of believably conservative military veteran who would immediately assign the young man he's never met the second in command role over his own intelligent daughter because, you know, the patriarchy. Joanna has a conscience, Mickey is a slimy villain whose motivations are clear and gross, and Jada lends some spark while being terribly judged by those around her.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp5uGXT8iliA_5_STcVWrbS_CUtkVWQTjqFo7cMQg7650Q3K6QkCiS6y70D0ktjmUNIQ-XAN2Ln018vEkcQ9faOqJ6HfTMClT1pxt0uUJYwlcPBHIqI7LeEMUr_dpb1cBZ2ejpXn7J2jsdtjs3eo64enpsbj4r0t6HsOqVR0zU4xdLCBwQ8RCvKYd7_A/s259/images-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrp5uGXT8iliA_5_STcVWrbS_CUtkVWQTjqFo7cMQg7650Q3K6QkCiS6y70D0ktjmUNIQ-XAN2Ln018vEkcQ9faOqJ6HfTMClT1pxt0uUJYwlcPBHIqI7LeEMUr_dpb1cBZ2ejpXn7J2jsdtjs3eo64enpsbj4r0t6HsOqVR0zU4xdLCBwQ8RCvKYd7_A/s1600/images-7.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>That's not really to say this is good stuff. I<i>n the Year 2889</i> was a made-for-television movie and unofficial (though near verbatim) remake of Roger Corman's <i>Day the World Ended. </i>Directed by Larry Buchanan, it's incredibly stiff and visually lazy. Our end-of-the-world landscape is simply the green woods outside John's secluded house, while the mutated villains (take that with a wildly thick grain of salt considering the attitudes of our heroes) wear makeup that amounts to a few stray pieces of gunk glued to their faces. There's just not much here.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfhTgciOgiVnJxjAl88kY68hHv-VTIujaLg0cQl0R_y4j7iAeeDkcTE2QgE52qtk2JeZIC5RxJlspg70bWSOl2nqryttONN1YS0dxde2qnivedgZBDtEun46rv5zZL_LkTm4SCc1zcx4wP6uLu1oCFjtOe4lH0cpwiRyAfntzW5U3xhL_9YTqxJoeWtk/s254/download-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="254" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfhTgciOgiVnJxjAl88kY68hHv-VTIujaLg0cQl0R_y4j7iAeeDkcTE2QgE52qtk2JeZIC5RxJlspg70bWSOl2nqryttONN1YS0dxde2qnivedgZBDtEun46rv5zZL_LkTm4SCc1zcx4wP6uLu1oCFjtOe4lH0cpwiRyAfntzW5U3xhL_9YTqxJoeWtk/s1600/download-3.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>High Points</b><br />This is one of those films that feels so lacking in ambition that it's hard to summon much enthusiasm for any real aspect of it, so I guess I'll pause to think about how much more fun this all would have been if lumpy drunk Tim and sassy dancing Jada were the last two people on the planet</span></div><div aria-controls=":104" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":104" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":rx" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 266px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NhVyLDJD_FowasfJy-CEXEjdaBuIQAaYHYv9RQ713U3WhJ-rsVMGzJdd5sQzKkWB23VtYI6YTMyx9QWIJ_u3eiSj3Lf8uhL9m9eLmeuopB12z4dNg65i_XdAXp8hzoa3W4kNQnhX47XdWxY_vj51SV-84CUuPk_kr_twSnnDaOBdr5A8iHvFdJeZctk/s478/apoc5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="478" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NhVyLDJD_FowasfJy-CEXEjdaBuIQAaYHYv9RQ713U3WhJ-rsVMGzJdd5sQzKkWB23VtYI6YTMyx9QWIJ_u3eiSj3Lf8uhL9m9eLmeuopB12z4dNg65i_XdAXp8hzoa3W4kNQnhX47XdWxY_vj51SV-84CUuPk_kr_twSnnDaOBdr5A8iHvFdJeZctk/s320/apoc5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Low Points</b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't need every nuclear disaster story to end like <i>Threads,</i> but by golly, the sunny nice day sudden resolution defies not only how radiation works, but how any kind of storytelling stakes should go<br /><br /><b>Lessons Learned</b><br />Cowards only fight on their own terms and conditions</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIcj8OSniGk21oYp8ACQqT9JEXKJsI-x3mhyphenhyphen5v03fjiP5i_oVnGdzR_MwAdce72x-2VRdb7D4SEz_2jVJhvNEZYE04XbjQU7_QYYKcyh_JLhZUT8KnntVgixaNzvS5r-AJ0Bt0LT4RlVDZaA24_E54Q99ttiquqIRbwyfEQf2OeclZW_ALSmjmYQG6Mo/s1043/MV5BZWNlZjE4ZDctMDFhYS00OTRhLTljNjYtZDQwOWYyZmFlZjM3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTA5NzI2MQ@@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1043" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIcj8OSniGk21oYp8ACQqT9JEXKJsI-x3mhyphenhyphen5v03fjiP5i_oVnGdzR_MwAdce72x-2VRdb7D4SEz_2jVJhvNEZYE04XbjQU7_QYYKcyh_JLhZUT8KnntVgixaNzvS5r-AJ0Bt0LT4RlVDZaA24_E54Q99ttiquqIRbwyfEQf2OeclZW_ALSmjmYQG6Mo/s320/MV5BZWNlZjE4ZDctMDFhYS00OTRhLTljNjYtZDQwOWYyZmFlZjM3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTA5NzI2MQ@@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first taste of moonshine is never good, but keep going and the chest hair will grow</span><br style="font-family: helvetica;" /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Radiation poisoning will hinder your balance, though more at fault is likely the rubber mask that comes with radiation poisoning</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwxH2trsXilP2RcWtMaex0EMfvZRu16KMNiXHgieHDi6Bc4aU85JkzJ4dG_1q43Ks77MMzFUUdZdvKU8WHW-ks5xf6TZe8qXaeR92AsWhNrGb2diQRVzH43ds2ir7URx8HXbmSK8kBcrAfPTFmyAw3YWPEtdv-e-EU64AZyZkwZU1BaM7xYptCkKzjkw/s282/images-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="179" data-original-width="282" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwxH2trsXilP2RcWtMaex0EMfvZRu16KMNiXHgieHDi6Bc4aU85JkzJ4dG_1q43Ks77MMzFUUdZdvKU8WHW-ks5xf6TZe8qXaeR92AsWhNrGb2diQRVzH43ds2ir7URx8HXbmSK8kBcrAfPTFmyAw3YWPEtdv-e-EU64AZyZkwZU1BaM7xYptCkKzjkw/s1600/images-5.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't think anyone will really get much out of <i>In the Year 2889</i>. The story has been told in far more interesting ways and with much more vibrant style in countless iterations. Still, if you're a completist like me, it's a quick watch on Amazon Prime. </span></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-45857309303912035112024-01-01T06:00:00.001-05:002024-01-01T06:00:00.137-05:00Hell Hath No Fury Like a Theater Kid Spurned<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOwUJGEWibFvzhyphenhyphenQhlV-_EqpASHT8DqA6S-Imz5aBAw092Vgksob_SBmQvR8tgNfXxN7Cy7adnt9NNRxBI9v1_3HYE3_zzbfaI_-nW6sYCjZM_zn9mxAaRxGwJgrmYRtcvcrdosKnENjoESbU4wmbaxp0xD0JHimiAV6CtYUor3pPkNhORAR0IbiJf88/s263/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="191" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOwUJGEWibFvzhyphenhyphenQhlV-_EqpASHT8DqA6S-Imz5aBAw092Vgksob_SBmQvR8tgNfXxN7Cy7adnt9NNRxBI9v1_3HYE3_zzbfaI_-nW6sYCjZM_zn9mxAaRxGwJgrmYRtcvcrdosKnENjoESbU4wmbaxp0xD0JHimiAV6CtYUor3pPkNhORAR0IbiJf88/s1600/download-1.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><i>Saw</i> ripoffs have a very, very special place in my heart. They're <b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/clarissa-explains-why-it-sucks.html">mostly terrible </a></b>but sometimes, if you're lucky, they're terrible in such <b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/01/jigjaws.html">bizarre ways</a></b> that you can't help but be entertained.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> Eight adults awaken in ugly jumpsuits and an uglier dungeon furnished with a toolbox of weapons and a camera to watch their moves. Yes, it's the same setup as at least ten low budget horror movies a year post-<i>Saw</i>, but this one has one of the more hilarious twists I've ever seen (and folks, I've seen a LOT of these kinds of movies).</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8yhGCLnV06W1pNS_lCnu7ZLdELqWm2OWB8iXomj29NLj05FD0I9wDGtwZV3lizfkhW8zpMi2qUbWbJ4cx5CztruUhwF9kUiCB2Y_UKjW-n7rR875B9oWsTPj-wOMzh8GOOgIRueWyKWX_OmAx4yMip8lF9PO-MSzS1crl97cL8AmhhIGaXnhW-41iHU/s500/Death-Count-4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="500" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8yhGCLnV06W1pNS_lCnu7ZLdELqWm2OWB8iXomj29NLj05FD0I9wDGtwZV3lizfkhW8zpMi2qUbWbJ4cx5CztruUhwF9kUiCB2Y_UKjW-n7rR875B9oWsTPj-wOMzh8GOOgIRueWyKWX_OmAx4yMip8lF9PO-MSzS1crl97cL8AmhhIGaXnhW-41iHU/s320/Death-Count-4.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">See normally, "eight adults" is actually "eight strangers" but in this case, they're coworkers. From the janitor to the superintendent, it's a full roster of high school employees who were all complicit in the suicide of a former teacher. Their crime?</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Hold onto your diploma for my favorite SPOILER ALERT of all time: they defunded the theater department.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMyJlnZQ23F-xY8DlINstUBtjqWqKU5OABLhL8jv6EA_DCQCaMt0BPCqTzW5jvYfnqB1auZDt-H2u1CI6i6nMQIAPEFSbwjD5ngRyA9d3ITt1dwLN3R8OXFNbI_1BERb3pJIEZyt56GWL6hUINqTHHnBGAJvlYIZH6M4u1FB5p8Id1NxETpa9koHsS-U/s400/unnamed%20(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMyJlnZQ23F-xY8DlINstUBtjqWqKU5OABLhL8jv6EA_DCQCaMt0BPCqTzW5jvYfnqB1auZDt-H2u1CI6i6nMQIAPEFSbwjD5ngRyA9d3ITt1dwLN3R8OXFNbI_1BERb3pJIEZyt56GWL6hUINqTHHnBGAJvlYIZH6M4u1FB5p8Id1NxETpa9koHsS-U/s320/unnamed%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">No, seriously.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">See, the late teacher in question lost her reason to live after she lost the chance to direct an adaptation of<i> And Then There Were None</i> (which according to this film's exposition, was a "short story turned into a play written by Agatha Christie"). This led her bitter mother to hire assassin The Warden played by a fully masked Costas Mandylor (as if this production couldn't afford his cheekbones) to kidnap a batch of the people she held responsible to broadcast their torture across The Internet.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId9UP5rhZ9S3i-KV98lb6rdIAoJm8E262uNEcQfjMzLap2ab7soUKAQlf0wV5CuMFSZMf5XiRtTLzgBCCClnXfa_VjaWTKE9zqiCQ4o0Kt78UwFEAmJIlX36tAIPuQE2EjvK_u4w2X_JXMhE7Ve8Nend2fsaCwnlssxh488NnsQuVenWeEosOgSw1dRk/s312/download-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="312" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId9UP5rhZ9S3i-KV98lb6rdIAoJm8E262uNEcQfjMzLap2ab7soUKAQlf0wV5CuMFSZMf5XiRtTLzgBCCClnXfa_VjaWTKE9zqiCQ4o0Kt78UwFEAmJIlX36tAIPuQE2EjvK_u4w2X_JXMhE7Ve8Nend2fsaCwnlssxh488NnsQuVenWeEosOgSw1dRk/s1600/download-2.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Yes, there's an INTERNET component to this movie, which brings in my other favorite element of <i>Death Count:</i> THE COPS.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje052HVCdK33tgoYniWJ6sHShyphenhyphenVqYPao8QhV5DBTXv8ByJlV1ziPoJvD-T8OEG-ECFpBFT2p2Ala5IFJEUdKfJbnC5_RJtKLjprY0x88_Jomdl7c1JbRBF_swcROj1z0hhI2f-m1BmBWFlZQUiyrhiUiSvZobes370br5nqqT20wTo3R4Ye2-1Pcu6ujY/s1920/9baf0a13c5c55995061e03e508adb3bcced916022bb3121b22f073610e1d7e62.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje052HVCdK33tgoYniWJ6sHShyphenhyphenVqYPao8QhV5DBTXv8ByJlV1ziPoJvD-T8OEG-ECFpBFT2p2Ala5IFJEUdKfJbnC5_RJtKLjprY0x88_Jomdl7c1JbRBF_swcROj1z0hhI2f-m1BmBWFlZQUiyrhiUiSvZobes370br5nqqT20wTo3R4Ye2-1Pcu6ujY/s320/9baf0a13c5c55995061e03e508adb3bcced916022bb3121b22f073610e1d7e62.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Michael Madsen "stars" as the veteran detective who misses the old days (you know, before kids did things like TEXTING). After having far too great a time making jokes about the possible mutilation and death of 8 (fairly) innocent people, he and his partner are able to locate the game, thanks in no small part to that AWFUL thing called "the internet".</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br style="color: #222222;" /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">In their defense, there's little to WANT to save about these people. Aside from our lead Rachel (probably the only passable performance by Sarah French), these characters are not just stupid, but inconsistently stupid. The Warden issues clear instructions with clear, proven consequences (<i>Battle Royale </i>head explosion devices, mustard gas poisoning, and so on). Every round, one player vehemently refuses to participate and dies horribly while the others scream at them to just follow the rules. The next round, one of the former screamers...vehemently refuses to participate and dies horribly.</span><br style="color: #222222;" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9TjH9y_umq1twjguPbe1jLxqVDSBrKS5iPRjCAy0lsc6taZq4FgED9y9nvGDC7tFGkC3onKVa6w3w0D9EoErOhAdKkHAxmqpQB-8xjfx_bM8eJ3GrmDvqjOGWi7KNYFPfO6b6DxMB-b1SjpROQ_jgMMsjewjyG0OMprtO1v2Nm-St-su3jVaMFslv6o/s1080/MV5BMzgwMDFjNTktOWFjYS00NmI3LTljNjgtYmY3YTQwMmU2NTZiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE2ODU3NjA@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9TjH9y_umq1twjguPbe1jLxqVDSBrKS5iPRjCAy0lsc6taZq4FgED9y9nvGDC7tFGkC3onKVa6w3w0D9EoErOhAdKkHAxmqpQB-8xjfx_bM8eJ3GrmDvqjOGWi7KNYFPfO6b6DxMB-b1SjpROQ_jgMMsjewjyG0OMprtO1v2Nm-St-su3jVaMFslv6o/s320/MV5BMzgwMDFjNTktOWFjYS00NmI3LTljNjgtYmY3YTQwMmU2NTZiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTE2ODU3NjA@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">At just 82 minutes (the last two of which switch gears to an even more hilarious commentary by strangers who watched the events of the movie on the INTERNET) <i>Death Count</i> wastes little time. It probably couldn't, as it seems fairly clear that actors filmed most of their scenes over the course of a day or two (more likely, a day...probably, a morning). </span></span><div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfb03k-sBAqOo9Vh7-KWwm202U2prNrsplYeJQXpSVGUCVGWZPD-bdN75k535R1XSp0AL98EvBSYYFWyxE8dmQoPSkFxmBz_g1j9bKKv5rkVDaKXDz-DFQis2Tn9BCN2yPqQIr_I22auCawUDFfngm34-7BcquZ9CtaFRTeF_el0tcGzp-GEQMQRriho/s300/images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfb03k-sBAqOo9Vh7-KWwm202U2prNrsplYeJQXpSVGUCVGWZPD-bdN75k535R1XSp0AL98EvBSYYFWyxE8dmQoPSkFxmBz_g1j9bKKv5rkVDaKXDz-DFQis2Tn9BCN2yPqQIr_I22auCawUDFfngm34-7BcquZ9CtaFRTeF_el0tcGzp-GEQMQRriho/s1600/images-2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #222222;">This is my kind of mess.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #222222;">High Points<br /></b><span style="color: #222222;">Nothing here looks pretty, but credit must be given to the effects team who do some genuinely gnarly work when it comes to the horrific death devices</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8JA6qr2qMDQwTti-UGwXYNmgHp6WwEEqFzyjnZXe9SLFjViA7nJzACOH2Y5fQufpuyBEetCEj-TR2Esx82GL0Te_VporvdaX5hVOAEgKGyD1u_Nk0VAAJdfqzVNQOKMu_hqg1sJ3Gv7kIErfwfFXave6ziSVuhhf7ZBKW4uNNg4sC7gdsNVcyOwgLMM/s312/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="312" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8JA6qr2qMDQwTti-UGwXYNmgHp6WwEEqFzyjnZXe9SLFjViA7nJzACOH2Y5fQufpuyBEetCEj-TR2Esx82GL0Te_VporvdaX5hVOAEgKGyD1u_Nk0VAAJdfqzVNQOKMu_hqg1sJ3Gv7kIErfwfFXave6ziSVuhhf7ZBKW4uNNg4sC7gdsNVcyOwgLMM/s1600/images-1.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><b style="color: #222222;">Low Points</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The "lots of stressed kidnappees screaming wildly" element is standard for these kinds of movies, but that doesn't mean it's ever enjoyable</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU_bRfAFczzOiA8hr6eTdokLdEEDnsxtSqjsiq9H9BTAoSrrqRJad2JGoP-YGX1FDtkC-EylD1LxUDLle2j5_FpdD_lPWkItdz8ZhPOeAyrBc46qbnrRBoc7iJ-r1KkSIssvbImu8aJdy_e8FCDeuQCSSvqJGkCVpMNoCsH5gDGbdlIUpC0OKfvJuO5s/s960/MV5BNzU3NjkyMjAtY2IyNi00ODIzLWI3YjYtNDYzMWQ5YmI0NmU1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjA0MDYzNDg@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU_bRfAFczzOiA8hr6eTdokLdEEDnsxtSqjsiq9H9BTAoSrrqRJad2JGoP-YGX1FDtkC-EylD1LxUDLle2j5_FpdD_lPWkItdz8ZhPOeAyrBc46qbnrRBoc7iJ-r1KkSIssvbImu8aJdy_e8FCDeuQCSSvqJGkCVpMNoCsH5gDGbdlIUpC0OKfvJuO5s/s320/MV5BNzU3NjkyMjAtY2IyNi00ODIzLWI3YjYtNDYzMWQ5YmI0NmU1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjA0MDYzNDg@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><b>Kooky Credits<br /></b>I always enjoy the "special thanks" section of a movie like this and by golly, Death Count did not disappoint because this film has FOUR categorizations of gratitude in an order that makes me even more confused. In descending order, we get:<br />1) WISH TO THANK<br />2) VERY SPECIAL THANKS<br />3) SPECIAL THANKS<br />4) THANKS<br /><br />Shockingly, "the filmmakers of <i>Saw</i>" are never mentioned, which is strange because the movie itself name-checks that franchise at least four times.<br /><b><br />Lessons Learned</b><br />Qualifications for being the superintendent do not include knowing how fire works</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />A good detective never wastes a half-eaten banana</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajE4y-3x9-lDoUpFqklgl82jgEEeYihadKl8AkdvAfpTZgaz56wM4qLyh-Goj-ewFsG4ipVq1jxiZ7N1HSPxaEy6KYEoyh2fWNYSnu3uFICToyCmEDAZuhuI4JvyWWXTVTyd_uNFlxXH7nMHpOIwCaNmRNegyiWH937_yyuAFQyAIfmZP_3ik77GjYHQ/s305/images-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="305" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajE4y-3x9-lDoUpFqklgl82jgEEeYihadKl8AkdvAfpTZgaz56wM4qLyh-Goj-ewFsG4ipVq1jxiZ7N1HSPxaEy6KYEoyh2fWNYSnu3uFICToyCmEDAZuhuI4JvyWWXTVTyd_uNFlxXH7nMHpOIwCaNmRNegyiWH937_yyuAFQyAIfmZP_3ik77GjYHQ/s1600/images-3.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #222222; font-family: helvetica;">Friendship should be earned, not retweeted<br /><br /><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b><br />If I wasn't clear, let me be so here: this is a terrible movie. You will hate everyone on camera, chuckle at their ineptitude, then roar at the extreme way they're punished. Sadly we don't have any <i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/01/jigjaws.html">Saw sharks</a></i>, but Michael Madsen gets to cash his check and writers Rolfe Kanefsky and Michael Merino teach an intense lesson about what happens when you defund the arts. Required viewing for school boards everywhere.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-31564469481381100092023-12-25T05:30:00.001-05:002023-12-25T05:30:00.135-05:00Keep the Deadly Games, You Filthy Animal<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTAhW1LZHkB4jOApecE4xQCo66nFOA2GZ38AEDT8Y7vJ4it4kP-t3d_Pw2rQUbspSmqUaUYiFyC5mVx5nemF7-d1Iu3FjNCu2tZO7UVx_xrHLC4d_krpxTTn1SBCrXrxGhJZwuwUWwJ7iq04XVGcw5kmIWYLRybEYd7PIFUNfO3tVK-ySU413eVp4tp4/s1620/DeadlyGames2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTAhW1LZHkB4jOApecE4xQCo66nFOA2GZ38AEDT8Y7vJ4it4kP-t3d_Pw2rQUbspSmqUaUYiFyC5mVx5nemF7-d1Iu3FjNCu2tZO7UVx_xrHLC4d_krpxTTn1SBCrXrxGhJZwuwUWwJ7iq04XVGcw5kmIWYLRybEYd7PIFUNfO3tVK-ySU413eVp4tp4/s320/DeadlyGames2.png" width="237" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Over the last decade or so, there have been more than enough articles and video essays on how <i>Home Alone</i> can be interpreted as an extreme horror movie. Whether you see it as a John Jigsaw Kramer origin story or nightmare about adults abandoning children, it has some pretty notable darkness lurking just under the crowd-pleasing exterior. There's a reason it inspired the excellent and twisted pure horror flick <i><b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2023/02/he-sees-you-when-youre-babysitting.html">Better Watch Out</a></b></i> some twenty years after its blockbuster debut.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixQlLlPMGps4hXw7mcTrFQeA6ug7kn3DipfWo4H_w_XvT_DVgjtUhh_xA0MgrZztViWIBQMAfBQoEaGbGS8i_5XmPeXosiCYZAf98HtF_d7-Zx7oM4utc6o8VcBEFXGLFVFiqemlxy4Y3Y0W8f4iP6FGp75nMCXdP76w0eIKD9zldRxt5W5JkQHzUQ6U/s700/dqzpvogvoaafjmn.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="700" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixQlLlPMGps4hXw7mcTrFQeA6ug7kn3DipfWo4H_w_XvT_DVgjtUhh_xA0MgrZztViWIBQMAfBQoEaGbGS8i_5XmPeXosiCYZAf98HtF_d7-Zx7oM4utc6o8VcBEFXGLFVFiqemlxy4Y3Y0W8f4iP6FGp75nMCXdP76w0eIKD9zldRxt5W5JkQHzUQ6U/s320/dqzpvogvoaafjmn.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And yet, just one year before Macaulay Culkin became a household name and millions of kids broke limbs trying to sled down their own stairway, there was an even darker Christmas story about an intrepid little boy enlisting his own gaming skills to protect his mini-mansion from an invader. Long known in the genre film community, Rene Manzor's <i>Deadly Games </i>was one of those hard-to-find legends that now finally has a streaming home on Shudder. In honor of the season, let's roll the getting ready montage and have at it.<br /><br /><b>Quick Plot:</b> Thomas Fremont lives a charmed life with his wealthy business owner mother, ailing grandfather, and loyal dog (don't get attached). A computer genius who still believes in Santa Claus, Thomas fires up his Minitel to summon the big guy, only to actually engage in dialogue with a psychotic vagrant. Later that day, that same nameless man gets a quick job as a mall Santa, only to be fired for lashing out at a child in front of Tommy's mom.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil12iGdHPbBeevjQGpv4EQalMV6TV6B63Pk17n6Qcv0H4p3z35Lm3C0ma87o2srDrtvTxFIQWZQgho9wR6qcDgk_IdC0CeN40CKAVohFdFCRxARjQm8DT2e36gI6I8emR__6ZRxTywjqxUm7XWff00n2wuakqOg0WanGBz-avaWEPrOLLuRad6eTl-Bj8/s1920/deadlygames5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil12iGdHPbBeevjQGpv4EQalMV6TV6B63Pk17n6Qcv0H4p3z35Lm3C0ma87o2srDrtvTxFIQWZQgho9wR6qcDgk_IdC0CeN40CKAVohFdFCRxARjQm8DT2e36gI6I8emR__6ZRxTywjqxUm7XWff00n2wuakqOg0WanGBz-avaWEPrOLLuRad6eTl-Bj8/s320/deadlygames5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Bad Santa doesn't take this lightly. When he overhears the Fremonts' address, he makes his way there with blood on his mind. Once Thomas figures out that the white bearded man outside isn't there to give him gifts, he springs into full booby trap-setting action.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV1G_cmIOf_o0_GNqnf9oh6G0t14riMlHJ9YjD5Bu97IFUtcAgFf-AxuFv1qKEUvELEdVHUqS0gHCVgEp9s0mkMaLThq6A4zGmo4DolUEkQXx5sdK2w4cC9O69Q3E4ZJNKCcB2RJVIp4CFwq0jim1up4Bpqk7zYr4YbmDG788E7hRHPoJTo0h20RTWGI/s1200/Dial-Code-Santa-Claus.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLV1G_cmIOf_o0_GNqnf9oh6G0t14riMlHJ9YjD5Bu97IFUtcAgFf-AxuFv1qKEUvELEdVHUqS0gHCVgEp9s0mkMaLThq6A4zGmo4DolUEkQXx5sdK2w4cC9O69Q3E4ZJNKCcB2RJVIp4CFwq0jim1up4Bpqk7zYr4YbmDG788E7hRHPoJTo0h20RTWGI/s320/Dial-Code-Santa-Claus.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">That's all you really need to know about <i>Deadly Games</i>, aka <i>Dial Code Santa Claus</i>. Manzor nails a very tricky level of horror that puts our child hero in full harm's way but also gives him plenty to fist pump about. Thomas may be a bit of a spoiled prodigy, but he's also, at the end of the day (in this case, Christmas Eve), just a child. Manzor makes the danger real but never quite mean, which keeps the tone in balance and the energy just right.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEtNPf_di6IVoIkbYf_hEk2MBqJytzcWSh6FvdF4Z1f3loL8iJIIO7OSuPZ5pDpl4q4iOgEJYZGKk6R1kMu__ALzZDcnR6uDPImPXmRfo4lZZta4wYUl0ILwmweGrXWnexJ4HBRDs3UMTJy3LxUSyWh-aVyCtXB3FkUBLdKWVf-sSEOQNZvT7LDCYseo/s750/dialcode5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEtNPf_di6IVoIkbYf_hEk2MBqJytzcWSh6FvdF4Z1f3loL8iJIIO7OSuPZ5pDpl4q4iOgEJYZGKk6R1kMu__ALzZDcnR6uDPImPXmRfo4lZZta4wYUl0ILwmweGrXWnexJ4HBRDs3UMTJy3LxUSyWh-aVyCtXB3FkUBLdKWVf-sSEOQNZvT7LDCYseo/s320/dialcode5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't know that I'll put <i>Deadly Games </i>on the same seasonal rotation as my beloved <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2009/12/ho-ho-homicidal-breakdown.html">Christmas Evil </a></i></b>or any <i>Silent Night, Deadly Nigh</i>t (though this is a far superior film to anything in that franchise) but I can fully understand this being a holiday tradition for a lot of genre fans. It's a weird little combination of sweet and naughty, as Christmas should be.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>High Points</b><br />As Thomas, Alain Lalanne is so perfect at channeling the full gamut of emotions in a kid his age. Bratty, cute, playful, smart, and most importantly, just a little boy who needs his mother</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uWi_5fHDnCC8oac1gie4SCcTvt9bGXd0GQerrHrxVI9BH9XYmgIyZXVAgJdwQOLJFlgmtYbzqu4QUrCUjk19KO_QUG5JwGeKOLqah9REWdmzw711I2z4z3gQBGzl6xWO_UcZfj45ioHDdJlflNxpHI7TCwYaMn1B1PQ2vG0c_0y8vi8g3qI1H5m3MR4/s306/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="306" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uWi_5fHDnCC8oac1gie4SCcTvt9bGXd0GQerrHrxVI9BH9XYmgIyZXVAgJdwQOLJFlgmtYbzqu4QUrCUjk19KO_QUG5JwGeKOLqah9REWdmzw711I2z4z3gQBGzl6xWO_UcZfj45ioHDdJlflNxpHI7TCwYaMn1B1PQ2vG0c_0y8vi8g3qI1H5m3MR4/s1600/images.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="sewmp8q64cjhl41"></span><span class="sewmp8q64cjhl41"></span><b>Low Points</b><br />It's needed to spur Thomas into action, but by golly, I could have done without the beaten to death dog<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSMw_SgQ4Vh_PV1LQDnZlacRxtnWN2YAzb0LLgwJPKjbvvNetAMBH_SRXRFuCTnhi0uSRm5XOKmIg7fJxXS46fNMymUX3xWs-NcvfwUiL77GE-zMECwqFfUM55zkO8ZfRBU9ir9jaIvFe-PMuw_t3aGpHdV8cvYN3egU49haTkQNjMJi3pPHPk6HtEo0/s730/ff-deadly-games3.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="730" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipSMw_SgQ4Vh_PV1LQDnZlacRxtnWN2YAzb0LLgwJPKjbvvNetAMBH_SRXRFuCTnhi0uSRm5XOKmIg7fJxXS46fNMymUX3xWs-NcvfwUiL77GE-zMECwqFfUM55zkO8ZfRBU9ir9jaIvFe-PMuw_t3aGpHdV8cvYN3egU49haTkQNjMJi3pPHPk6HtEo0/s320/ff-deadly-games3.webp" width="320" /></a></div><b><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Lessons Learned</b><br />Once you start doubting Santa Claus, the history of man is next<br /><br />Nothing moves a plot faster than a need for insulin<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HH7y52_FloTIoRgLdJ8dg5V7Pqm88fpGppl-5RNG1pR0SlrC5luefPqvpczwNY1reDf9dmQJ42_nWMjeUlx1VGdBB8MeBfbY1UK3ssq7Q6GrN8oMH6wixXG9VmIQ8mkZ5DklLcTYL0tLxPiBVkrYGYO8UUwnxDS0MJ10XYIB9gDWyWKDkL04FZGC49o/s1920/deadly4.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HH7y52_FloTIoRgLdJ8dg5V7Pqm88fpGppl-5RNG1pR0SlrC5luefPqvpczwNY1reDf9dmQJ42_nWMjeUlx1VGdBB8MeBfbY1UK3ssq7Q6GrN8oMH6wixXG9VmIQ8mkZ5DklLcTYL0tLxPiBVkrYGYO8UUwnxDS0MJ10XYIB9gDWyWKDkL04FZGC49o/s320/deadly4.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Life-sized knight statues are the original panic rooms <br /><br /><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had a good seasonable time with <i>Deadly Games,</i> and will likely add it to the loose list of Christmas-set films that I cycle through every few years. Any genre fan (or Home Alone enthusiast) has no reason not to give it a go. Papa Noel orders it. </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-34290510598347491932023-12-18T06:00:00.001-05:002023-12-18T06:00:00.136-05:00But I Just Got Here<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G_3lg3YIDI2OHEdosYzMdeJLhyhz2CzMtUQn8QjC-w-xiw01m7bot0OWH2YDYTik2Cv3Xo0ypbLr5oxhOY6EzvPvsNmTFTbgOSFq3oLcM_dt5psD3aNGe9N33HR7WmX_q9jzFpD5jZNJYyr3P-V0aN4Uyj1RKykXGgKK15diYqRPfRsmNchz70pxNh8/s1571/MV5BYTMxMTJhNWQtYzQwMC00MThhLTkzNjMtMDljMGE1MmE1NWM2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODkxMzcxOTY@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G_3lg3YIDI2OHEdosYzMdeJLhyhz2CzMtUQn8QjC-w-xiw01m7bot0OWH2YDYTik2Cv3Xo0ypbLr5oxhOY6EzvPvsNmTFTbgOSFq3oLcM_dt5psD3aNGe9N33HR7WmX_q9jzFpD5jZNJYyr3P-V0aN4Uyj1RKykXGgKK15diYqRPfRsmNchz70pxNh8/s320/MV5BYTMxMTJhNWQtYzQwMC00MThhLTkzNjMtMDljMGE1MmE1NWM2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODkxMzcxOTY@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm not sure when this changed, but at some point over the last 20 years, big studios stopped making grown-up but mainstream horror. I'm talking your <i>What Lies Beneath</i>s and <i>Sixth Sense</i>s, the movies that spark obnoxious arguments about the 100 years war between the definitions of horror and thriller. Sometimes good, often bland, these are the kind of mid-budget movies with movie stars' faces blown up on their poster. Typically, it's the only opportunity to do wild things like pair up Robert Dinero with Dakota Fanning's imaginary friend, or <b><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2015/03/bless-this-mess.html">chase Kim Basinger as she watches Christina Ricci's head fall off in the NYC subway.</a></b></span></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZH67XuSzzl1i8wX3sxKYdp7GMJG7KpOxdMYJAHZxewVfr5VOYApXWDMTBQtVtEBQdw6-zbEMQKLWtRPLaR9Tm39ski_kwEK0lqJJgzSwyao341qFVEPesexs6tcsfbXN38u54-65QZ6MdDvu5bakCfhZMSU2zLviWIbe_IQg4gQyf12BiGfWMjR3kRM/s400/Bless%20the%20Child%209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="400" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZH67XuSzzl1i8wX3sxKYdp7GMJG7KpOxdMYJAHZxewVfr5VOYApXWDMTBQtVtEBQdw6-zbEMQKLWtRPLaR9Tm39ski_kwEK0lqJJgzSwyao341qFVEPesexs6tcsfbXN38u54-65QZ6MdDvu5bakCfhZMSU2zLviWIbe_IQg4gQyf12BiGfWMjR3kRM/s320/Bless%20the%20Child%209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i>Stir of Echoes</i> (a good movie that infamously flopped due to its release proximity to the much more audience-friendly aforementioned <i>Sixth Sense</i>) was this kind of film, so it makes perfect sense that its director David Koepp would return with similar fare.<br /><br /><b>Quick Plot:</b> Theo Conroy is a retired financial whiz married to the significantly younger actress Susannah and feeling every day of their age gap, though they make it work for 6-year-old daughter Ella. Between self-help tapes and humbling set visits, Theo also works through some demons from his past: his first wife's death was enough of a mystery that it put him on trial for murder, and that plus some extra years can complicate a sex life or two.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiJ6b0XY0K3msd3PxAdhYZxr2hMlb-h1vGaM_XP_cnvvB8ZOWuCwcVVaIFIwv84sOd94GTOoVn7t2PBKBVEKacPC8OOhkiSBJxtnTKhEPo21pr1ZLXAbB2jtdfrZGHRkv0N9CKr60z6YZnPQjBXt6utYXWrgvQMBloU9a7yUGKmJCYklRgzqPBPAa_ng/s1000/6d4cb49f-0b67-48a1-bd84-ba5460f38735-You_Should_Have_Left.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiJ6b0XY0K3msd3PxAdhYZxr2hMlb-h1vGaM_XP_cnvvB8ZOWuCwcVVaIFIwv84sOd94GTOoVn7t2PBKBVEKacPC8OOhkiSBJxtnTKhEPo21pr1ZLXAbB2jtdfrZGHRkv0N9CKr60z6YZnPQjBXt6utYXWrgvQMBloU9a7yUGKmJCYklRgzqPBPAa_ng/s320/6d4cb49f-0b67-48a1-bd84-ba5460f38735-You_Should_Have_Left.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Their past behind them, the Conroys head to Wales for a quiet getaway before Susannah leaves for her next film shoot. Both parents experience disturbing nightmares (well, horrific dead children for Theo, forgetting her lines onstage for Susannah) and do the smart <i>Insidious</i>-learned lesson of getting the hell out.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQEGK8zLnQzGK2msTVlcjrXn9yCIlfzhEEcz9FfYAvUYETTo8SJ28eyZ8fwAo9oghyphenhyphenFk2SDEyI-YGP_3bYlR_kQaUh6-Twp3LA616v_okxluFL_hEWpVHROm0QwZkoCH6OMAt4vGulMj96Ea3FCf_P0PYwXg7WF_h8GgSWlfz9RBEQsNR7_TafT5NVUE/s1900/bb0e5709e4898993d23f18245fc6cd7ad8-you-should-have-left.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1900" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQEGK8zLnQzGK2msTVlcjrXn9yCIlfzhEEcz9FfYAvUYETTo8SJ28eyZ8fwAo9oghyphenhyphenFk2SDEyI-YGP_3bYlR_kQaUh6-Twp3LA616v_okxluFL_hEWpVHROm0QwZkoCH6OMAt4vGulMj96Ea3FCf_P0PYwXg7WF_h8GgSWlfz9RBEQsNR7_TafT5NVUE/s320/bb0e5709e4898993d23f18245fc6cd7ad8-you-should-have-left.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Well, they try. An ill-timed text message sends Susannah on her way and Theo and Ella left to brave one last night in the strange rental. Once they discover the interior is somehow bigger than the exterior, doors start closing and the terror unfolds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9pdTs3GuC7bJTgtlETwdfINksdFVLXZNTiPQ1E95zpz0cH1oDqJHCDaMZz8pxkp7hXK4ZHtfhaKPq2Hw5pbc0E3FNcapctHlVWgkDp39bwEQWwQ5VaEqVoqa_Nk5bQQu0VXSd4AtdEadyiCaU1-1lv86LO2T-ScXssue90-D1-iyK-PwFDDUMLoK4og/s640/leavenow3-640x407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="640" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9pdTs3GuC7bJTgtlETwdfINksdFVLXZNTiPQ1E95zpz0cH1oDqJHCDaMZz8pxkp7hXK4ZHtfhaKPq2Hw5pbc0E3FNcapctHlVWgkDp39bwEQWwQ5VaEqVoqa_Nk5bQQu0VXSd4AtdEadyiCaU1-1lv86LO2T-ScXssue90-D1-iyK-PwFDDUMLoK4og/s320/leavenow3-640x407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Based on a novel by Daniel Kehlmann, David Koepp's <i>You Should Have Left </i>feels very tonally connected to his last horror outing with Kevin Bacon, <i>Stir of Echoes</i>. It has the feel of, how do I say it, a 'real' movie (if you're a horror fan, I THINK you know what I mean?) but at its heart, it's a good old fashioned ghost story that belongs on the same shelf as, say, <b><i><a href="https://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2010/11/reader-recommendation-changeling.html">The Changeling.</a></i></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8NUU9rsdEopDkjMlqMubj-qbFhOMnjL5U34XnD6giygBye9q2tnuksiRl5E15IWIl32l1ObqdT2lfp7kAJyoTYkP2MJMItcukXarLnCvlIkAC9uEoQm7t9H3E8fw8r__yEb9BWtUmCcGTJ6ZHCatZYviVQhdqRGQq01YBeNfEfBlHrPRes34k5whJHU/s307/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="307" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8NUU9rsdEopDkjMlqMubj-qbFhOMnjL5U34XnD6giygBye9q2tnuksiRl5E15IWIl32l1ObqdT2lfp7kAJyoTYkP2MJMItcukXarLnCvlIkAC9uEoQm7t9H3E8fw8r__yEb9BWtUmCcGTJ6ZHCatZYviVQhdqRGQq01YBeNfEfBlHrPRes34k5whJHU/s1600/images.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>No, I'm not saying <i>You Should Have Left i</i>s on that level, but it has its moments. Like <i>Stir of Echoes</i>, it finds a new angle into familiar genre territory and understands the importance of grounding it in believable, likable people. I was never quite as scared as I wanted to be, but I was also never bored. This is a solid, if unremarkable little ghost story that plays with just enough surprises to make you wish for just a few more.</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ418jXwOHTUmoPRmNzIGAvIkAVmeGUDMT0x1AlDO-QLNIjGM_D8UOCKEXiAKGvajw7AJC2v0ulMQqFTgnspAvaz0_zSiMd7tmiPYr3QE722UGygs9SiuRgjUu6rC1FaY6UYEst_tZhsL-G_nFrCJJAAX6rNHgpBLgOwp5nRgSHZQub3xxSJ_E2DlWJ8/s1024/You-Should-Have-Left-1024x587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1024" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQ418jXwOHTUmoPRmNzIGAvIkAVmeGUDMT0x1AlDO-QLNIjGM_D8UOCKEXiAKGvajw7AJC2v0ulMQqFTgnspAvaz0_zSiMd7tmiPYr3QE722UGygs9SiuRgjUu6rC1FaY6UYEst_tZhsL-G_nFrCJJAAX6rNHgpBLgOwp5nRgSHZQub3xxSJ_E2DlWJ8/s320/You-Should-Have-Left-1024x587.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><b>High Points</b><br />Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried are movie stars for good reason. They're, you know, VERY GOOD at being compelling. We as the audience enter into this setup with our defences up: mainstream cast, wild Hollywood age gap, PG-13 rating. It's not a natural sell, but by golly, they (and strong child actor Avery Tiiu Essex) make it work<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE-KLOMQOrbHlXm29uykrw0dHvf-3i2nZtdTB5BXib3T_wCeWcMUdCVfgyyLcMeCpGyQ3OO2HJty6Na1DutO9zRqOjCM-i3BhMTMqvCUuaJUecX1iVnepKaM3X6uASXyNGvFLcC-09qabY3_EdoeuDYDSQJyfBJfWsKrg3P4pFm6ax6_JYn8P7shyphenhyphenoVA/s1809/you-should-have-left.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="957" data-original-width="1809" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUE-KLOMQOrbHlXm29uykrw0dHvf-3i2nZtdTB5BXib3T_wCeWcMUdCVfgyyLcMeCpGyQ3OO2HJty6Na1DutO9zRqOjCM-i3BhMTMqvCUuaJUecX1iVnepKaM3X6uASXyNGvFLcC-09qabY3_EdoeuDYDSQJyfBJfWsKrg3P4pFm6ax6_JYn8P7shyphenhyphenoVA/s320/you-should-have-left.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Low Points</b><br />While I love the fundamental nature of <i>You Should Have Left'</i>s menace, a fifth act reveal by Theo feels a bit of a letdown and perhaps most where the more mainstream-yness comes in<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdewXPn6jcaxDU2tBTXVGOzDWiQKGHNQQ-qHlOParjS4QPQ24pmFWnSqjeV_PY-FG8w42alBPCE_PTewbJoqI0_4AAPL-vkJT4-isDV8njgiDgmC0X8sTKn6GPb4iCNeuPt8ZXhTFfBOPuXdikofhFAF2x8UmzG94D2ATqu-0eRzRQ5PZau68jAsLlTE/s1000/you-should-have-left-1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdewXPn6jcaxDU2tBTXVGOzDWiQKGHNQQ-qHlOParjS4QPQ24pmFWnSqjeV_PY-FG8w42alBPCE_PTewbJoqI0_4AAPL-vkJT4-isDV8njgiDgmC0X8sTKn6GPb4iCNeuPt8ZXhTFfBOPuXdikofhFAF2x8UmzG94D2ATqu-0eRzRQ5PZau68jAsLlTE/s320/you-should-have-left-1.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Lessons Learned</b><br />Wales does not have sufficient olive bars</span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Old men should always remember sunblock</span></div><div><br style="font-family: helvetica;" /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDWUHe7i3HQxVggmcDRvIAauxuVqdE-vML9olTt73_CBkUNQ8MU1lJ0jZzZvNThX6FW4YT2wr2h3cat14eaSLHDsc3iDSJjuzPlnO80T7SECUsWtHoWJH7YnofKy8bHr2SKCS6EWmeZI1FfamhQ3Y27sSi3LRqROUk3HvzDN0npgfQax1Rx4OE0MYgQw/s1800/Sunglasses-Kevin-Bacon-in-You-Should-Have-Left-scaled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1800" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDWUHe7i3HQxVggmcDRvIAauxuVqdE-vML9olTt73_CBkUNQ8MU1lJ0jZzZvNThX6FW4YT2wr2h3cat14eaSLHDsc3iDSJjuzPlnO80T7SECUsWtHoWJH7YnofKy8bHr2SKCS6EWmeZI1FfamhQ3Y27sSi3LRqROUk3HvzDN0npgfQax1Rx4OE0MYgQw/s320/Sunglasses-Kevin-Bacon-in-You-Should-Have-Left-scaled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">To better prepare a west coast child for cold weather, make sure she spends some time in Chicago<br /><br /><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b><br />Based on its online reputation, I was pleasantly surprised with <i>You Should Have Left.</i> Granted, I'm a mark for any story that calls to mind Mark Z. Danielewski's <i>House<span class="sewk6dz8ti96x1h"></span><span class="sewk6dz8ti96x1h"></span> of Leaves</i> and have nursed a lifelong crush on Kevin Bacon ever since he pole vaulted over some Tremors, but I still think this film will please more genre fans than not. Find it on Peacock. </span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-84380650600314735742023-12-11T06:00:00.001-05:002023-12-11T06:00:00.199-05:00Fool Me Once...<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2Co_6ahZRdQFE0FeZV-IGjf9eYEl2pGJnX2xymI2Q2gj2Ju9osSp4lgzhB5Tcy0eVroUh_68PhZCgBPzuQo_bWLXGNgX667Z_yyCxX5b3q2tX74w3-_iljdSe7q8MU6Dh4Lmqz7-nPbjJqaOQKD3Zz-FHLIzC90MGf3oZkvKjLPn_bSYW_kRi912KtM/s350/51MoeUomKNL._AC_UF350,350_QL50_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg2Co_6ahZRdQFE0FeZV-IGjf9eYEl2pGJnX2xymI2Q2gj2Ju9osSp4lgzhB5Tcy0eVroUh_68PhZCgBPzuQo_bWLXGNgX667Z_yyCxX5b3q2tX74w3-_iljdSe7q8MU6Dh4Lmqz7-nPbjJqaOQKD3Zz-FHLIzC90MGf3oZkvKjLPn_bSYW_kRi912KtM/s320/51MoeUomKNL._AC_UF350,350_QL50_.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p></p><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":s2"><div aria-controls=":10l" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":10l" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":ry" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 240px;" tabindex="1"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As you might remember, a few weeks back, I discovered an oddball Canadian sci-fi horror comedy (maybe) about aliens masquerading as sorority sisters with a plan to seduce college boys for breeding purposes. It was weird. Naturally, the fact that it had a sequel that was ONLY available by Netflix disk in the last gasps of Netflix disk air meant I had to have it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3zCwoBQzR5IITMIUdrgJWmXcBHMO6K8F7KQDYELzcfD2iHImANEn05oM0YfdLWXJ5_RJh7XiM_c_kbdFa9ckYUqcHoGd6m-uEdKH3LRlmE2B-V3UMi6ieeOJC4Bj5wZi-tL_7aB8DhhQDcnXCRgtJ-vHl2iKkTU4nm57b2kXiH1LwVzuvr9c14-tqyQ/s4032/IMG_8166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY3zCwoBQzR5IITMIUdrgJWmXcBHMO6K8F7KQDYELzcfD2iHImANEn05oM0YfdLWXJ5_RJh7XiM_c_kbdFa9ckYUqcHoGd6m-uEdKH3LRlmE2B-V3UMi6ieeOJC4Bj5wZi-tL_7aB8DhhQDcnXCRgtJ-vHl2iKkTU4nm57b2kXiH1LwVzuvr9c14-tqyQ/s320/IMG_8166.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Here we go.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> A few years after the wild events of <i>Decoys,</i> Luke has survived his alien romp to become an extremely anxious TA at a new university. He's assisting evolutionary professor Buckton, played with gravelly perfection by 2023's it boy Tobin Bell. Luke is also wisely in therapy with psychiatrist Dr. Geisner, played by Dina Meyer and thus giving the world the <i>Saw II/III</i> reunion it's been craving.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfN-jhS5LLGofrkxXyHJsnWXg68UIYDgx2pGUrYXz6SadROYB0Qb9mJGRSSFBg0UyUPWczSHB6lzdWwaHs2PrZH3UKej8DgTFOwIJMjcnjqK1yBVPuSGveek47Q7v9Or-oL_kE7rDd80D2fF6xSq-0vdAQFXe8paf-2MAdgi6zXtajUDK1klLqMmnI8Q/s640/decoys-2-alien-seduction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="640" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfN-jhS5LLGofrkxXyHJsnWXg68UIYDgx2pGUrYXz6SadROYB0Qb9mJGRSSFBg0UyUPWczSHB6lzdWwaHs2PrZH3UKej8DgTFOwIJMjcnjqK1yBVPuSGveek47Q7v9Or-oL_kE7rDd80D2fF6xSq-0vdAQFXe8paf-2MAdgi6zXtajUDK1klLqMmnI8Q/s320/decoys-2-alien-seduction.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Elsewhere, undergraduate frat boys are being terrible, as is the norm. One group decides to do the very 2007-ish activity of a sex contest to see who can bed the most women, and yes, video evidence is required to count. Nevermind that it's a sex crime (or will be in the near future). Most will thankfully die horrible alien tentacle death.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfFRFmsn9KUJs48eZhYLnnxnij9805S8p7Zn23RSR90CzVC64sBXp_yrH0nV7W6OcvQdhmCMuiEeOJWyWA9vWUNQvRERWQuobtoh537sAvSeo8fwnhjQuoh2KCk_RG5c-saa1PoiBBvovFSP_K3B12FoRsxtf_uIdhUkTjCUjFV_umLxpowc-pC69RuQ/s500/Decoys-2-Pic-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="500" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfFRFmsn9KUJs48eZhYLnnxnij9805S8p7Zn23RSR90CzVC64sBXp_yrH0nV7W6OcvQdhmCMuiEeOJWyWA9vWUNQvRERWQuobtoh537sAvSeo8fwnhjQuoh2KCk_RG5c-saa1PoiBBvovFSP_K3B12FoRsxtf_uIdhUkTjCUjFV_umLxpowc-pC69RuQ/s320/Decoys-2-Pic-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All sport offensively terrible haircuts.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFRRj_oWl1z2PAkHCcl4jNPhc07WTg08jyf2JiWVJ90kbjeuvBfdimH-N5GjrO1x4RwqEJiy9i23Vzwpetca8B1ouV-CQIV3n2147o4OWbaM1Uuu8Wp3l1L912et01gqBGZfEXP1wwjw6MKaCZoHxADKZ1MkaHl4vQe8J9R3R2_PPBsxs0d-Dxc3_R_Q/s4032/IMG_8169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFRRj_oWl1z2PAkHCcl4jNPhc07WTg08jyf2JiWVJ90kbjeuvBfdimH-N5GjrO1x4RwqEJiy9i23Vzwpetca8B1ouV-CQIV3n2147o4OWbaM1Uuu8Wp3l1L912et01gqBGZfEXP1wwjw6MKaCZoHxADKZ1MkaHl4vQe8J9R3R2_PPBsxs0d-Dxc3_R_Q/s320/IMG_8169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Look, I know 2007 was 16 years ago, but did men REALLY do this to their heads? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEFsZOfWcdyUavwrVe2xypWNPMN8TwkbKnU51Akpcuxv4FlamhXLKHfwcWo54cVodwCvKYTV4UrI0vLMhnH_jMMfW0UEjJQou9qRVMfWDwHNU0AO2JrJ98VKsryS0dFRGPxV93o7vMk7EZVlTVriCTOwG-9gHHNJcqPHctTKUiemjbhboUHXwZGckKOI/s4032/IMG_8171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEFsZOfWcdyUavwrVe2xypWNPMN8TwkbKnU51Akpcuxv4FlamhXLKHfwcWo54cVodwCvKYTV4UrI0vLMhnH_jMMfW0UEjJQou9qRVMfWDwHNU0AO2JrJ98VKsryS0dFRGPxV93o7vMk7EZVlTVriCTOwG-9gHHNJcqPHctTKUiemjbhboUHXwZGckKOI/s320/IMG_8171.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anyway, the first film's sole surviving decoy Constance (Kim Poirier) is back, now in the role of a doctor with enough sway to convince those who matter that Luke has a few screws loose in his pretty less awful haircut head. It works because Luke acts like a lunatic. Meanwhile, Constance sets her protegees on the male populace, armed now with a handy ability to scan their brains in order to nail the exact sexual fantasy that will keep them ripe for impregnation activities.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-BZVXlZTjie1lTdZNZTEubuKRS57fGwqHiAAKnPYUzR4RM4v6UeJwYFxYJdAwoT37DIWnUyZ9_4AwPPxO6xXGMTQ5XFtD5HpfSbj4Cpc2rvC7JEaQK5m6xUaC4bqYrpRZY2WS1uJeZ8MSTgu6m_KcT3xBogZ9MkW02DGgSWzVQ3uJNb3ViKVI8zr6hQ/s853/MV5BOWUzNjI0MDAtMjhlMS00ZDZkLWI2ZWUtNzgwZThhYzIyZjQ3L2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzM4MjM0Nzg@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-BZVXlZTjie1lTdZNZTEubuKRS57fGwqHiAAKnPYUzR4RM4v6UeJwYFxYJdAwoT37DIWnUyZ9_4AwPPxO6xXGMTQ5XFtD5HpfSbj4Cpc2rvC7JEaQK5m6xUaC4bqYrpRZY2WS1uJeZ8MSTgu6m_KcT3xBogZ9MkW02DGgSWzVQ3uJNb3ViKVI8zr6hQ/s320/MV5BOWUzNjI0MDAtMjhlMS00ZDZkLWI2ZWUtNzgwZThhYzIyZjQ3L2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMzM4MjM0Nzg@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Thankfully, young Sam and Stephanie smarten up to the alien invasion and are able to rally the troops with some quick molotov cocktails and flamethrower sprays. We get a bit more action than in the first <i>Decoys,</i> which keeps things moving for a satisfying finale.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNoLYZcdAr_0_DNyyit1X6ve-HwccbfqBViQYlmzRmLuQMlOSmPTALxBsLDqGv2FibsV4kMTM26-tPpKY2QlMe85Fe0-gO_Ppkx_-_oIE8PcznIVaarHIbPURijQFJ1hv0Zu6_E1DsAQL9UOMJJJqA5xYWS7-j6tK2FUhbHOz32-Qpciuk9e8oG-5n9A/s656/decoys237bk9.554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="656" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvNoLYZcdAr_0_DNyyit1X6ve-HwccbfqBViQYlmzRmLuQMlOSmPTALxBsLDqGv2FibsV4kMTM26-tPpKY2QlMe85Fe0-gO_Ppkx_-_oIE8PcznIVaarHIbPURijQFJ1hv0Zu6_E1DsAQL9UOMJJJqA5xYWS7-j6tK2FUhbHOz32-Qpciuk9e8oG-5n9A/s320/decoys237bk9.554.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Decoys 2 </i>is directed by Jeffery Scott Lando, who I last experienced via the extremely strange <b><i><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2011/10/nilbog-is-gil-bellows-spelled-backwards.html">Goblin</a></i></b>. This is definitely a better film, though much like the first <i>Decoys</i>, it still left me confused as to exactly what I was supposed to be getting out of it. It's too silly to be sexy or scary, but there still aren't enough winks that confirm the filmmakers fully embrace the joke. So credit for feeling like a true sequel, and a mild shrug for being entertaining enough.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIRJ0nCeqyNlC0wdcHSas8GFWRR-7mwQtXqzzywAGJGez36qM14a4Qib0jwMqdcetUYQj1EeKCoaZyCtN6shhLkBQzsGfI5ar1sL8I5jBDZYZrAZja-YxzPDqZzK_2GBmy6Bo8nCSvrPCOw8_UYnfXI2-kFs7RXVNfmJSYOkyqlu5uMKUyyPiczPLch0/s656/decoys231ip4.8231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="656" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFIRJ0nCeqyNlC0wdcHSas8GFWRR-7mwQtXqzzywAGJGez36qM14a4Qib0jwMqdcetUYQj1EeKCoaZyCtN6shhLkBQzsGfI5ar1sL8I5jBDZYZrAZja-YxzPDqZzK_2GBmy6Bo8nCSvrPCOw8_UYnfXI2-kFs7RXVNfmJSYOkyqlu5uMKUyyPiczPLch0/s320/decoys231ip4.8231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like the first film, I do believe <i>Decoys 2 </i>understands that there is inherent comedy in the overactive libidos of young men, and here and there, there are sparks of smart jabs</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There are plenty of things that don't fully work in <i>Decoys 2: Alien Seduction</i>, but I'll be petty and harp on the most glaring: what is WITH the wigwork on these women? Are the actresses actually extraterrestrials with weirdly shaped heads that can't manage a simple dye job? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HSnXscnoqBgtM6Tw894cI1orXcFH1Dj0kGDixvRIzK0hImqOagHM8m2Y927T5IXsveGXG1p-uopQtJHbWa8kOKk2SoIpY6nKUjFKCogFpoC_tgnv9L6LK3BiHZBkDcIRolEE1-oXjxK_4cXKzj9btsbnx3r8y6zKxmxIo24ADPkNg0riYAdRVTQKtcQ/s266/Screenshot_316.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="250" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HSnXscnoqBgtM6Tw894cI1orXcFH1Dj0kGDixvRIzK0hImqOagHM8m2Y927T5IXsveGXG1p-uopQtJHbWa8kOKk2SoIpY6nKUjFKCogFpoC_tgnv9L6LK3BiHZBkDcIRolEE1-oXjxK_4cXKzj9btsbnx3r8y6zKxmxIo24ADPkNg0riYAdRVTQKtcQ/s1600/Screenshot_316.webp" width="250" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ska was big in the mid-Canadian aughts</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTysLdc8ML9vI9NT1B2TiQpoieAIY1gHN-9xUMP34A9361aJ5LETlz9sJz6ZLzOF52N0Yaf8M2K7WTP2HCBPArqOzdsi_kvru-G9J8kIQupe_xnrv78YAp-jgPbEAGnsli3NrZ1P8XjrmtXOjBbD-U3k-Mhv1ka3jaFERPCKCZDl8HCDmQuBLQljgeU3o/s367/download-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="367" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTysLdc8ML9vI9NT1B2TiQpoieAIY1gHN-9xUMP34A9361aJ5LETlz9sJz6ZLzOF52N0Yaf8M2K7WTP2HCBPArqOzdsi_kvru-G9J8kIQupe_xnrv78YAp-jgPbEAGnsli3NrZ1P8XjrmtXOjBbD-U3k-Mhv1ka3jaFERPCKCZDl8HCDmQuBLQljgeU3o/s320/download-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Flip phones had a much better cold tolerance than today's Apple products</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Grad students aren't supposed to be good-looking</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pdZwJsg8DlRoGTdh2GSmb0O4gXJ_-XrmzWQxKQt145qRe06LfodXTN6Qvg79M1ivhYNrJ8GDmNQbRo-slhRiJ5q1fbs0fk0UFHCvbRuqlSzEmhJ_OMwcgP6LvQ3J1VZDHLfnwLuPCW6En9BO3PkTXpv4bSQSyGFo6QamO6HyQxDgy-hFlQpQ5lQS2qU/s400/6903-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pdZwJsg8DlRoGTdh2GSmb0O4gXJ_-XrmzWQxKQt145qRe06LfodXTN6Qvg79M1ivhYNrJ8GDmNQbRo-slhRiJ5q1fbs0fk0UFHCvbRuqlSzEmhJ_OMwcgP6LvQ3J1VZDHLfnwLuPCW6En9BO3PkTXpv4bSQSyGFo6QamO6HyQxDgy-hFlQpQ5lQS2qU/s320/6903-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Do I regret using one of my last Netflix disk slots for <i>Decoys 2: Alien Seduction?</i> Of course not. Do I recommend you put any effort into finding this movie? Probably not. If you adored the first film (which is more accessible on Peacock) then sure, this is for you. For all others, there's a whole wide world of movies out there. Don't kill yourself finding this one. </span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-59685233630157731232023-12-04T06:00:00.001-05:002023-12-04T06:00:00.149-05:00In Your Dreams<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMovcyYG1ZPknfX4HcHSaWgCmUVKv-5bc-GHovxpI6ueqkhmBo3aHjP2FrK9uWgRSaaiQPz3-9lhq9VuWdsiBqyd4Av6NCQlQ-vRDIw3wBd6kUbhPyXC5-v9XvRwVRbq-lJF8vpE6p1ZG1E1NxUb3lqWF26xPFv22fF-vfWmc6_Qn0bqQ8zHRYS6z15Y/s275/download-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixMovcyYG1ZPknfX4HcHSaWgCmUVKv-5bc-GHovxpI6ueqkhmBo3aHjP2FrK9uWgRSaaiQPz3-9lhq9VuWdsiBqyd4Av6NCQlQ-vRDIw3wBd6kUbhPyXC5-v9XvRwVRbq-lJF8vpE6p1ZG1E1NxUb3lqWF26xPFv22fF-vfWmc6_Qn0bqQ8zHRYS6z15Y/s1600/download-8.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Last year, I participated in an overnight sleep study to identify some of my nighttime issues. It. Was. Weird.</span></p><div class="Ar Au Ao" id=":1x6"><div aria-controls=":1zo" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1zo" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":1x2" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 280px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Let me set the stage:<br /><br />It's 10PM. You show up to a hospital that makes the setting of Halloween II look like a bustling ER circa NBC's Must See TV era. There's a handwritten piece of paper taped to a door reading "Sleep Study Patients This Way." You accept the fact that you're actually following a sign to your imminent death, but as long as your insurance is paying, it seems worth a try.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNJ1AF8oFkkkHi-tgQyKemfXZOKDqeFRJ5IpTi5CJ8myclXVC0bHKJ8CHC5ZDDG5U0qWJQ6vroklMBKQfKjRDuCy-D9YeX0IDOEIdaktMNVaNljRL_KvJzppcvJpnGkFJuQdVJhDSr_XGMfPNsgFPhpELVIMuRAFWA9n4S3oCdcx58CiWDiTVD85agyI/s600/ht81-hospital6b.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="600" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNJ1AF8oFkkkHi-tgQyKemfXZOKDqeFRJ5IpTi5CJ8myclXVC0bHKJ8CHC5ZDDG5U0qWJQ6vroklMBKQfKjRDuCy-D9YeX0IDOEIdaktMNVaNljRL_KvJzppcvJpnGkFJuQdVJhDSr_XGMfPNsgFPhpELVIMuRAFWA9n4S3oCdcx58CiWDiTVD85agyI/s320/ht81-hospital6b.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>A single employee (seemingly the only one IN this facility) guides you down a wing and opens a door, revealing a miniature Holiday Inn just SITTING across a lab. The nice, hopefully non-homicidal nurse then proceeds to connect 36 wires to various parts of your body, pausing at wire 20 to confirm that you don't need to use the restroom. You then roll into bed carefully, as half of your entire being and a whole chunk of your glue-filled head is now tethered on the left side to a box that looks only slightly more professional than the Lite Brite machine from your childhood.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCEDk7SW02QDhyphenhyphena-sXyuzt0SdiLzo5TECPaYHGU8EwphIKipVihlmoq_Z_wbne3Sy08yd9MeNw-iCZMlNuuPa37vOjl8YBQ225dlqZ4ZL4CtVGTpvZPsLxh9-BTgLmHQeuIYs7hf6TZPFIl-Smk7DFN3XH3wMBC0UTEC7B6U-EhvuD9x72UHERVcE57E/s271/download-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="186" data-original-width="271" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCEDk7SW02QDhyphenhyphena-sXyuzt0SdiLzo5TECPaYHGU8EwphIKipVihlmoq_Z_wbne3Sy08yd9MeNw-iCZMlNuuPa37vOjl8YBQ225dlqZ4ZL4CtVGTpvZPsLxh9-BTgLmHQeuIYs7hf6TZPFIl-Smk7DFN3XH3wMBC0UTEC7B6U-EhvuD9x72UHERVcE57E/s1600/download-10.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The nurse leaves, cheerfully announcing that she'll just be a few rooms away "watching."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwwmwzakjcrdyS8MffDcC7I6wAND21ujSLEcqtZd2rm6SdJ82-afR0OTLUwZHX_yZedRRibVcOkTUjbJo7jQHiA-iqZKEQLQrTwt3Om02UNbB-SW269QRPtV3YJG6x7lkJWrRYoaIyDHEVw4cOluUGGXM0xJujezw3BZ3ShkWooOS2AFmEBNvs4r5SLE/s365/Nurse_Ratched.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="365" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwwmwzakjcrdyS8MffDcC7I6wAND21ujSLEcqtZd2rm6SdJ82-afR0OTLUwZHX_yZedRRibVcOkTUjbJo7jQHiA-iqZKEQLQrTwt3Om02UNbB-SW269QRPtV3YJG6x7lkJWrRYoaIyDHEVw4cOluUGGXM0xJujezw3BZ3ShkWooOS2AFmEBNvs4r5SLE/s320/Nurse_Ratched.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>GREAT.<br /><br />As the lights go off, the nurse's voice walks you through some eyeball exercises in complete darkness. You now know what eyeball exercises feel like.You're then left to fall asleep which is of course VERY EASY considering your situation and the fact that your body is literally wired.<br /><br />At 5AM, the same voice gently tells you to get your ass out of bed. The nurse returns to help remove the 107 wires (because they have definitely multiplied overnight), glue still deeply embedded in your head. You shuffle out of the hospital knowing you look like someone who not only has trouble falling asleep, but who has probably also battled an army of angry robot cats when trying. It's quite a sight for the rest of the people at the bagel shop, but you're hungry and sure no one here knows you. You take comfort in knowing you have probably terrified a child or two, just as those dreadful 14 seconds of action in the Superman III climax destroyed your own youth.</span></div><div aria-controls=":1zo" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1zo" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":1x2" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 280px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXbDVCxxbbP2rmWAubd7jcqFfQ4eYSEf6HrdtsPBWziizbk2WAgj3tjMSSRQSRu_A6hPvgSSaWD6nuiaBfqdETl7rS7GMmqimWnih-0E3rFaQe9oCVU5Ps7KYza6MvWbyKIZlTRlhaYxjcn4cjNppNnmb0FhHcbpk0mViLlMyMDarlmuaoBRiQjhzsG0/s876/293054497_10166654368730357_5575916176324524778_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="876" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXbDVCxxbbP2rmWAubd7jcqFfQ4eYSEf6HrdtsPBWziizbk2WAgj3tjMSSRQSRu_A6hPvgSSaWD6nuiaBfqdETl7rS7GMmqimWnih-0E3rFaQe9oCVU5Ps7KYza6MvWbyKIZlTRlhaYxjcn4cjNppNnmb0FhHcbpk0mViLlMyMDarlmuaoBRiQjhzsG0/s320/293054497_10166654368730357_5575916176324524778_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Two weeks later, you are issued a mostly insurance-funded CPAP machine. Life actually gets a lot better.<br /><br />Anyway, what are we here to do? Talk about horror movies of course! Wasn't that obvious?<br /><br /><b>Quick Plot: </b>Sarah is a student suffering from some kind of sleep disorder. She spends most of her nights grabbing a few z's on a park slide before sneaking back home to grab a hot shower right after her estranged mother leaves the house. When she spots an ad for a local sleep study, Sarah jumps at the chance to earn some cash and a more comfortable bed that isn't made of urine-soaked aluminum.</span></div><div aria-controls=":1zo" aria-label="Message Body" aria-multiline="true" aria-owns=":1zo" class="Am Al editable LW-avf tS-tW tS-tY" g_editable="true" hidefocus="true" id=":1x2" role="textbox" spellcheck="false" style="direction: ltr; min-height: 280px;" tabindex="1"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0TX199p3nQrQxn-2Z99q32pTFV7Zdg-jGs7ApQPTQI38PrBH5YpoRgqdGh4bYZvOrOIrnuhm0ABt6RJcGPg_6Bv02_za0Z1EcMRbUBFsRrUceDmp8CGZ8y6FsFSGz0cabqhlPC9AebHYQ_AYj-GAlRDfVBnATJLByn17NH8Fe-7ARaCINNpU0IT0r4I/s347/images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="347" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0TX199p3nQrQxn-2Z99q32pTFV7Zdg-jGs7ApQPTQI38PrBH5YpoRgqdGh4bYZvOrOIrnuhm0ABt6RJcGPg_6Bv02_za0Z1EcMRbUBFsRrUceDmp8CGZ8y6FsFSGz0cabqhlPC9AebHYQ_AYj-GAlRDfVBnATJLByn17NH8Fe-7ARaCINNpU0IT0r4I/s320/images-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The first night goes well, but Sarah is (rightfully) unsettled when she discovers one of the scientists, Riff, is following her outside (AND recommending Philip K. Dick novels, no less). She suffers a severe panic attack during a morning debriefing where Anita, the sleep study supervisor, shows her a picture of a man that appears regularly in her mysterious dreams.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHffUw4otsPpXJsM_LD0MK0MXAdNQCrPy2zsoUbtd2nzkUCOfsSDbgDHW1qFyGdhUIQG1OLX48wVAk0N4q013x3FVBzNoCWO6y3VEr3QOuyu2kfgGWsF299KOAZ2gWMILyOIY4bo_zwh70b2yAdAgDC8SrDSkb8q1L9T6S-uRP7vY9v9xil9RC9nAM1rE/s314/download-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="314" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHffUw4otsPpXJsM_LD0MK0MXAdNQCrPy2zsoUbtd2nzkUCOfsSDbgDHW1qFyGdhUIQG1OLX48wVAk0N4q013x3FVBzNoCWO6y3VEr3QOuyu2kfgGWsF299KOAZ2gWMILyOIY4bo_zwh70b2yAdAgDC8SrDSkb8q1L9T6S-uRP7vY9v9xil9RC9nAM1rE/s1600/download-5.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Sarah demands an explanation from Riff, who reluctantly reveals his team's goal: to capture the images we experience only in dreams.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2y7aXv6edN3xnTSj6aKsaDlGsHwugVTAGVm1Qmcr5N-uGB2-5Pbz3ZqDew2GEYMWrFDLlWROFAqJ_O0Cw3HyXFk-g31O99Filc0arLcR2TXq4kOjmneHXecG8CMgmI9tvDFHIFn8RnULmBup7pynSinMJCROg6-vcOVci3wzwA_ybtiYkcnhRjL9T7s/s347/download-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="347" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2y7aXv6edN3xnTSj6aKsaDlGsHwugVTAGVm1Qmcr5N-uGB2-5Pbz3ZqDew2GEYMWrFDLlWROFAqJ_O0Cw3HyXFk-g31O99Filc0arLcR2TXq4kOjmneHXecG8CMgmI9tvDFHIFn8RnULmBup7pynSinMJCROg6-vcOVci3wzwA_ybtiYkcnhRjL9T7s/s320/download-9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I realize how old I sound when I say this (note: this coming from the same 40something who just admitted her CPAP prescription), but I think <i>Come True</i> is what the kids today call a "vibe". Cowriter/director Anthony Scott Burns is vague on the details of his and Daniel Weissenberger's script. We don't know much about Sarah or the source of her troubles, but actress Julia Sarah Stone is compelling enough that we easily follow her journey and wish her the best. We're along for the ride even when we have no idea where it's heading.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWpFdlM9IeKrXhcGHgghGHVkH6Kz1yHfK-ji-a7rrKZaVxBrRM4jmm-HOVGldDaS1RTH4eW-FNWMwyH-IwLSr7Ma3v3JzzjF_-nqw7TVNZh6KR5xwDazOTuWAVNubYrDzcx4e1LoLfZW1fFa3bBhGcoSQFNntV9v9I38nbUCrhOX_D_D0GB6l0yCG8tU/s620/AP21069520614441.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="620" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWpFdlM9IeKrXhcGHgghGHVkH6Kz1yHfK-ji-a7rrKZaVxBrRM4jmm-HOVGldDaS1RTH4eW-FNWMwyH-IwLSr7Ma3v3JzzjF_-nqw7TVNZh6KR5xwDazOTuWAVNubYrDzcx4e1LoLfZW1fFa3bBhGcoSQFNntV9v9I38nbUCrhOX_D_D0GB6l0yCG8tU/s320/AP21069520614441.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><i>Come True</i> has an incredibly distinctive tone. The electronic score does heavy lifting in situating the mood, while blue-hued lighting seems to tint every scene to keep us at a distance. It's all clearly very deliberate on Burns' end, and it does, in SOME way, help us sort through things with the film's twist reveal. More importantly, it's pretty cool.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOHwn7X8ox3-ZHL0PU2IxHRTPSirmtMhuURJBaB1SAVZHPoBOuTGhn7FADOyAwusOLlMiBdVE08VLbCrw_cLjgtbaxui4L30uGXPNvue7UjE-xSQQ2Vq_Enyp1J4nfzhl_s5nERLZgn7oCsr8gxF_nA-VQbgB-S2iUPpXx5rkI1yKNDaL-P3coI8gLAo/s900/fellowkids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="900" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtOHwn7X8ox3-ZHL0PU2IxHRTPSirmtMhuURJBaB1SAVZHPoBOuTGhn7FADOyAwusOLlMiBdVE08VLbCrw_cLjgtbaxui4L30uGXPNvue7UjE-xSQQ2Vq_Enyp1J4nfzhl_s5nERLZgn7oCsr8gxF_nA-VQbgB-S2iUPpXx5rkI1yKNDaL-P3coI8gLAo/s320/fellowkids.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>(again: 41-year-old CPAP user speaking)<br /><br />That being said, it's also easy to feel frustrated by<i> Come True</i>. Much like <i>Bad Things</i> (ANOTHER CPAP-Y REFERENCE!), this is a film that is deliberate in being opaque. Maybe there's a rosetta stone that someone on their fifth viewing might unlock to reassemble the details for a clear narrative, but to me, it seems clear that <i>Come True</i> doesn't expect that of its audience. It wants to take you on a dream, accepting that the very nature of such a trip means it doesn't have to make sense. If that's the kind of thing that bothers you, stay away.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzj7vrLCx_Db7ljv4-IDiutrGxc13kRUP_uHwMC1k8Bc8smBMh-3Tb22fi4a2yf3VnvyN7WrDxIZlfrHzoQ6ILsXNcNgHE06nZlrW_9gfkq9N8vIxQok_2tOXqNJrg-5frbCEQ5AwZRKIhkQQA6mIzpKm3WoqKkk7dC6BnKf2rhmntLX2vy5oXp7YsFo/s347/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="145" data-original-width="347" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTzj7vrLCx_Db7ljv4-IDiutrGxc13kRUP_uHwMC1k8Bc8smBMh-3Tb22fi4a2yf3VnvyN7WrDxIZlfrHzoQ6ILsXNcNgHE06nZlrW_9gfkq9N8vIxQok_2tOXqNJrg-5frbCEQ5AwZRKIhkQQA6mIzpKm3WoqKkk7dC6BnKf2rhmntLX2vy5oXp7YsFo/s320/images-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>High Points</b></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Aforementioned performance by Stone, who has to keep us caring even when we have no idea what to care about</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUYGsosNmE69pS4BSHhDkfrnIOloUk0V6ZoixXy39F3WPdniEjzIiLH-qjk7G1SRY_6YA_44d-UhSOfg4Pp0T8ddfmg0ZeRzI_yJMr0T269PkW4eDu8TbxZGLXjNe4NskUbAeBXp1q3hNfTfO7-bjB2cyA79wD0s8XLdN6lOxuAebXefZyquUg-gR3iw/s1200/b8f9083b7dddb7b407fbe0561f25621f66-come-true.1x.rsocial.w1200.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibUYGsosNmE69pS4BSHhDkfrnIOloUk0V6ZoixXy39F3WPdniEjzIiLH-qjk7G1SRY_6YA_44d-UhSOfg4Pp0T8ddfmg0ZeRzI_yJMr0T269PkW4eDu8TbxZGLXjNe4NskUbAeBXp1q3hNfTfO7-bjB2cyA79wD0s8XLdN6lOxuAebXefZyquUg-gR3iw/s320/b8f9083b7dddb7b407fbe0561f25621f66-come-true.1x.rsocial.w1200.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The more I think about <i>Come True</i>'s final beat, the more frustrated I become<br /><br /><b>Lessons Learned</b><br />Insomniacs are not vulnerable to magical nerd charms<br /><br />The ethics of sleep study doctor/patient relationships are, to say the least, muddy<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxdriH68FEQaHSofiAiZQ5XGodZqhysRRiWnTVE77RT_vzKrUk17I4nX5w5Ydu_n9Y1eCOeM6QLPqwrL56Hled1qWaZ9_FU3486S5F3_PWlO2HQbiblDRn9C2R3Fpxt7G5jbHbbcnoJD_X1yOm7SsahyphenhyphenQGJQ9yBKxFOsx19flGsRqVrH2RLRMKDJNikw/s840/ComeTrue3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="840" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxdriH68FEQaHSofiAiZQ5XGodZqhysRRiWnTVE77RT_vzKrUk17I4nX5w5Ydu_n9Y1eCOeM6QLPqwrL56Hled1qWaZ9_FU3486S5F3_PWlO2HQbiblDRn9C2R3Fpxt7G5jbHbbcnoJD_X1yOm7SsahyphenhyphenQGJQ9yBKxFOsx19flGsRqVrH2RLRMKDJNikw/s320/ComeTrue3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>There's an untapped market in the shoe industry for sleepwalking footware<br /><br /><b>Rent/Bury/Buy<br /></b>I wasn't completely satisfied by <i>Come True,</i> and I can see it leaving a lot of its audience in a far more annoyed state than me. But as long as you go in expecting more mood than narrative, you'll likely walk away with some appreciation for the overall effect.</span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-39858017341807811202023-11-27T06:00:00.001-05:002023-11-27T06:00:00.152-05:00I Got a Bad Case of the Zoomies<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vxsjTZEWWlPtS8e89WzHPK7qKlRAr6wPPpqUtICl91_iZd0WVtjOtMN5oUEg-U5IONiSreIuDrmkUybYHVgma6T_UZbTHmyN-7EryuxBQUUxpNmmqCX_5UfmADwbqGishlINFO5BK5_SXn5q1YfuTP_zMEZ5n2xbGDsnpLd1ISF6ZuLad4wvBUQZ_pM/s1000/71k3Qyclt9L._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vxsjTZEWWlPtS8e89WzHPK7qKlRAr6wPPpqUtICl91_iZd0WVtjOtMN5oUEg-U5IONiSreIuDrmkUybYHVgma6T_UZbTHmyN-7EryuxBQUUxpNmmqCX_5UfmADwbqGishlINFO5BK5_SXn5q1YfuTP_zMEZ5n2xbGDsnpLd1ISF6ZuLad4wvBUQZ_pM/s320/71k3Qyclt9L._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" width="233" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Not surprisingly, the first film to debut during the COVID-19 lockdown specifically addressing the issue was a horror movie. Historically, the genre has always been first in any cinematic race of social commentary, and today's technology makes it even easier for a style that thrives on low budget to succeed. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Host didn't do much for me, mostly because I thought the same story had been told better in the <b><i><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2020/03/so-youve-decided-to-play-with-bitcoin.html">Unfriended</a></i></b> series. Also, its success meant we'd get more of this style. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eek.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> A batch of late twentysomething pals meet up for their regular Zoom parties, this time to celebrate the birthday of the awful Evan. Almost all seven of our main characters are pretty terrible, but Evan, as we will soon see, is both toxic AND stupid. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lnhKwiACNEyThlBlAP4QSryPn-3nnbKxUlWuhpgZbJe5bsSin1SL0jDPjYIEcO6XU77ShKa4CSNNls1JcZ07S4wcFqxGB-1rdVp76fhcurXuvn_urt3-NlghTwqbYHvlQ0hrazxARDj4Gxxc6yqhaDQJT_dmGoOtsH0JwqDe7XS5iFiQtnmf_W9Ld7E/s1440/safer-at-home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1440" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lnhKwiACNEyThlBlAP4QSryPn-3nnbKxUlWuhpgZbJe5bsSin1SL0jDPjYIEcO6XU77ShKa4CSNNls1JcZ07S4wcFqxGB-1rdVp76fhcurXuvn_urt3-NlghTwqbYHvlQ0hrazxARDj4Gxxc6yqhaDQJT_dmGoOtsH0JwqDe7XS5iFiQtnmf_W9Ld7E/s320/safer-at-home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The somewhat less awful Ollie has surprised his pals with a dose of molly carefully delivered by no-contact FedEx. Here's where we learn that indeed, they're all the worst.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's 2023 (in this case, a fictional 2022 where COVID has mutated to even deadlier strains the country is under strict police state law) but as far as I know, we stopped pushing drugs on people with the '90s D.A.R.E. program. One of the gang (patent lawyer Ben, a newer member of the jerk club) doesn't like to do drugs. WHICH IS FINE. So what do his boyfriend and the five other pals do? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F4812l0iofMVw-LRFUakLSTKU9hXVpwqM9OWELFAbRQBtI0DPgEKCR4tR4y0cK1Y_23_j78PsjU3RLuh45YaOZoPCApHB5SV5p0bnqtz5TfDbP2RB17nywtIA47UcvHZB0lg92pjTZvbjhw6rrGZ_44kauH4-MTw7jQrkVL0gS2m34N9or8VME6E-Ps/s799/rr+pp+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="799" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3F4812l0iofMVw-LRFUakLSTKU9hXVpwqM9OWELFAbRQBtI0DPgEKCR4tR4y0cK1Y_23_j78PsjU3RLuh45YaOZoPCApHB5SV5p0bnqtz5TfDbP2RB17nywtIA47UcvHZB0lg92pjTZvbjhw6rrGZ_44kauH4-MTw7jQrkVL0gS2m34N9or8VME6E-Ps/s320/rr+pp+1.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm supposed to LIKE these people? Please understand, I have nothing against drugs. I have a LOT against people who FORCE their friends into taking them when they clearly explain that they're uncomfortable doing so. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pq0L4JSFBuLKLFZsfqTGOxAq8qq0yAckMFZuuOSN3H_LPe9bEQWdCWL-Lp7k6JWmKvbkAE2_0AW_72ZkjYKuqvmakyJBj6xaRkpqP2oFUSJn7L1DdeSF6M0kdhKh_7iMkDNImnsYKbLU6mRyf3a1LnZomzFVM9aFrzcV1fEU6tSWudoWq5GYkK6GjYc/s550/Safer-at-Home-2021-movie-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="286" data-original-width="550" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pq0L4JSFBuLKLFZsfqTGOxAq8qq0yAckMFZuuOSN3H_LPe9bEQWdCWL-Lp7k6JWmKvbkAE2_0AW_72ZkjYKuqvmakyJBj6xaRkpqP2oFUSJn7L1DdeSF6M0kdhKh_7iMkDNImnsYKbLU6mRyf3a1LnZomzFVM9aFrzcV1fEU6tSWudoWq5GYkK6GjYc/s320/Safer-at-Home-2021-movie-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Because I don't hate these characters enough, they proceed to play Never Have I Ever (again, FINE) but pause for Ollie and his girlfriend to go have sex (HOW OLD ARE THESE PEOPLE?) and for Evan to flip out when his girlfriend Jen reveals a sexual escapade from high school that he didn't know about. This was apparently 15 years ago, 10 years before she knew him, but he is AGHAST at the fact that she once slept with two different guys in one day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_Nqw1tu5TI7XJ0GNXMxAOuJWmbgKS5PsdKUE2-Z7Ab2H9l4oiOC7c0TR3RZqq0-kkILgbL9o1HVLg5U05s2_b0BJ6V8OTwwxTIpESKyepw7DWn4T-OZZ2xy3FJWmIhX4YGpsM3ON0YYjZimo96cBuFj-upUPmouM3qlAbqeO5KfTiaqv6wNBuTGRtUs/s720/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_Nqw1tu5TI7XJ0GNXMxAOuJWmbgKS5PsdKUE2-Z7Ab2H9l4oiOC7c0TR3RZqq0-kkILgbL9o1HVLg5U05s2_b0BJ6V8OTwwxTIpESKyepw7DWn4T-OZZ2xy3FJWmIhX4YGpsM3ON0YYjZimo96cBuFj-upUPmouM3qlAbqeO5KfTiaqv6wNBuTGRtUs/s320/poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Run, Jen. Run.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Too late. They argue, Evan flails his arms out in such a way that Jen flies back and smashes her head on a hard desk. Everybody on Zoom happened to be looking away at the time (either having sex or arguing because THESE PEOPLE ARE AWFUL) so no one quite knows what happened, but since Jen isn't breathing, the natural response is for Evan to get the hell out of there.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1I0Xp3npr5VoaYmibnbM7mni6lUYm4_cmyzwCCMlIGx_6UanOUQXxRYdjAp3Xc1asQ3ih42u1ngnzPCXNmq0OvCQ3iaorVxh8X4Ij7s4OCmXJ8OLk3W6mMVGksaDD_4CWaCs_3dGfYMMZUQptbAb6V8p4UB6jPPIv1kklOBqSzzDhLjKqv3O55-bmmU/s700/REVIEW-Safer-at-Home-2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1I0Xp3npr5VoaYmibnbM7mni6lUYm4_cmyzwCCMlIGx_6UanOUQXxRYdjAp3Xc1asQ3ih42u1ngnzPCXNmq0OvCQ3iaorVxh8X4Ij7s4OCmXJ8OLk3W6mMVGksaDD_4CWaCs_3dGfYMMZUQptbAb6V8p4UB6jPPIv1kklOBqSzzDhLjKqv3O55-bmmU/s320/REVIEW-Safer-at-Home-2.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I feel like there are other options here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Granted, before you, like every sane human being, scream "CALL AN AMBULANCE", I will remind you that this is a slightly more dystopian present than the one we're in now. It's muddy, but I'll accept <i>Safer At Home</i>'s reality that hospitals are overwhelmed and anything non-COVID-related might not be acknowledged. Plus, did I mention these idiots are all high on molly?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvEsPwiJseZVB9PKV_BeREtWbNQX86w4v9YjUieETWC7WbvFObJO0D1BHx6ikpIN0dZIcLrOXYTkSDT8A3tQnE4c7affL4A9WAJ7Rjy42Nx5lteDpHe8e9OCdGzT1IDoLiwloOBLA3IgaxRvjVHnv6dWxpJjpx9SamSfWlUt37V0RHpiQuPf1FNTdznY/s500/MV5BZGY5Y2MwOGMtYTE2NC00Mzc0LWIyZjAtZjU0MTQ1N2Q0MGVlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDc2NTEzMw@@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="465" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvEsPwiJseZVB9PKV_BeREtWbNQX86w4v9YjUieETWC7WbvFObJO0D1BHx6ikpIN0dZIcLrOXYTkSDT8A3tQnE4c7affL4A9WAJ7Rjy42Nx5lteDpHe8e9OCdGzT1IDoLiwloOBLA3IgaxRvjVHnv6dWxpJjpx9SamSfWlUt37V0RHpiQuPf1FNTdznY/s320/MV5BZGY5Y2MwOGMtYTE2NC00Mzc0LWIyZjAtZjU0MTQ1N2Q0MGVlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDc2NTEzMw@@._V1_.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So, Evan runs, perfectly stable selfie stick guiding us the whole way. Ollie heads out to help, and everyone else worriedly watches from their couches. There's a twist ending that most functioning adults on or off molly will guess, particularly if you've seen director Will Wenick's <b><i><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2021/03/pretty-little-vloggers.html">Follow Me. </a></i></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like most of the internet, I hated this movie. Zoom-based thrillers only work if your cast can pull it off, and this one...doesn't. They're hampered by dialogue that rotates between bland and painful, and a narrative that hurts the brain of any thinking adult. The ending would be offensive if it wasn't, well, so stupid. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp7_Csol6R9WODHmAAyQavOu2CEN7NPGw79IeeaeMGkHSu98jgg8jJhKkJJ37mDugDktRZsIAdLNK1njKGdmEDS9miDmv5KzlcNox4YkCiwlgEX3dprermNMbmHROAGbWBRcMBIt9_QwBNcQJv2Wth0CxOCaIui_L4oN_4suqzzBVky-I-vVwX0wznpk/s550/Safer-at-Home-2021-movie-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="550" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtp7_Csol6R9WODHmAAyQavOu2CEN7NPGw79IeeaeMGkHSu98jgg8jJhKkJJ37mDugDktRZsIAdLNK1njKGdmEDS9miDmv5KzlcNox4YkCiwlgEX3dprermNMbmHROAGbWBRcMBIt9_QwBNcQJv2Wth0CxOCaIui_L4oN_4suqzzBVky-I-vVwX0wznpk/s320/Safer-at-Home-2021-movie-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I guess that's my way of being nice to this movie?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hey, as with <i>Host,</i> I respect the idea of using video calls to craft a narrative, and <i>Safer At Home</i> at least has some fresh ideas in centering on a manhunt in a darker timeline (if only, you know, it worked)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNZz9qfxzkS40XPZGZevEXBHP2gkhUgEHjaWexzGzXU4dHvqWS6W9pCiK4LeqkVhYA5pIapK5mt0ChkCyKhk86APyuiub2blS-fwAZGxT6wgHOiyB9xOp3PUODuwJzDfDjYz5MmLs8PeQbUGwza0v-Oko9epmPEg_dTyCh98fOlvpdCzVxM1YoUr6pSU/s445/022320210949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="252" data-original-width="445" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNZz9qfxzkS40XPZGZevEXBHP2gkhUgEHjaWexzGzXU4dHvqWS6W9pCiK4LeqkVhYA5pIapK5mt0ChkCyKhk86APyuiub2blS-fwAZGxT6wgHOiyB9xOp3PUODuwJzDfDjYz5MmLs8PeQbUGwza0v-Oko9epmPEg_dTyCh98fOlvpdCzVxM1YoUr6pSU/s320/022320210949.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As if this film needed another reason to make you groan, it's bookended by real news footage of Donald Trump giving press conferences about the pandemic he mishandled. Nobody needs that. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Safer At Home </i>succeeds in one very specific arena: it teaches anyone who lasts its 85 minute runtime that drugs will indeed impair your brain activity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiABJIIQKsGCCwfuhlsEWBdnx7lTk2BEtyTWnKGcLdVScraPd5S_sFlz0knPzsM4XEgtDa3L4Y6e7MVpTX7JlgVnVFltJQ7mS5yF345AWa83Svu2kc0xg4wxW3DBe54R1bQWW1eIgTGtEuLCX_3ZOXQl89ICU1YkA9-_7tFt6cdMzbxpBQBpHHhTm-rJ0/s311/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="162" data-original-width="311" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiABJIIQKsGCCwfuhlsEWBdnx7lTk2BEtyTWnKGcLdVScraPd5S_sFlz0knPzsM4XEgtDa3L4Y6e7MVpTX7JlgVnVFltJQ7mS5yF345AWa83Svu2kc0xg4wxW3DBe54R1bQWW1eIgTGtEuLCX_3ZOXQl89ICU1YkA9-_7tFt6cdMzbxpBQBpHHhTm-rJ0/s1600/download.png" width="311" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I can't think of anyone I know that I would have their life improved by watching <i>Safer At Home.</i> I'll leave it at that. </span></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-11348903222496923652023-11-20T06:00:00.001-05:002023-11-20T06:00:00.137-05:00I Guess You Have to Start Somewhere<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgCEucAO7Salx3DwakL-7DxRRp8h9CoUWOGYusvViDFzoJChC-P4KmQ-CagXBWBS1Skmk96PvJrkpLKb3ouPtzSMKdg3rThLagwmt9XIuASZ9JRPQ7fNipXEI4rH73VV5bb548Zn37xDXjFDytwpmwz5dU70k7vmq6xFD1qVtcGDUa3F14Zv5HP0T5gY/s1500/MV5BMjQ0Njc1OTczMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDM0MzY5NTM@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="970" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgCEucAO7Salx3DwakL-7DxRRp8h9CoUWOGYusvViDFzoJChC-P4KmQ-CagXBWBS1Skmk96PvJrkpLKb3ouPtzSMKdg3rThLagwmt9XIuASZ9JRPQ7fNipXEI4rH73VV5bb548Zn37xDXjFDytwpmwz5dU70k7vmq6xFD1qVtcGDUa3F14Zv5HP0T5gY/s320/MV5BMjQ0Njc1OTczMl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDM0MzY5NTM@._V1_.jpg" width="207" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;">Some perfectly fine actors just can't seem to find roles in good movies. As Margaery Tyrell, Natalie Dormer took a minor character in one of television's largest casts and turned her into someone worthy of her own show. And yet, post-<i>Game of Thrones</i>, the poor woman seems to only star in <b><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2019/04/lights-out.html">terrible movie </a></b>after <b><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2022/07/sister-sister.html">terrible movie.</a></b></span></span><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #222222;">Coincidentally, here's today's Peacock find.</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #222222;">Quick Plot: </b><span style="color: #222222;">Basically, </span><i style="color: #222222;">28 Days Later</i><span style="color: #222222;"> has happened, and now we're about two years in (104 Weeks?). Not quite angry monkeys, but canine rabies is the cause here. Much like those angry monkeys, these bites transform the infected into highly fit rage monsters.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3J72jITNh-i4tVZrZyhSFL1xUqYI6d14nWllrVF7Dsck7YT-TP_hUBLI6pwPrcdcWvIHWPk4Kp2R8DanKyFOaLd0sACKoK2iFdKWYd7CDTGWgBPUixjOsL7uH0lvjq90FeWwU0Ft-fdW-SchDzkmc90yUL0t9RoUN-7KhIqMSSSTixLYJIcOkIoqqPc/s1600/2625393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3J72jITNh-i4tVZrZyhSFL1xUqYI6d14nWllrVF7Dsck7YT-TP_hUBLI6pwPrcdcWvIHWPk4Kp2R8DanKyFOaLd0sACKoK2iFdKWYd7CDTGWgBPUixjOsL7uH0lvjq90FeWwU0Ft-fdW-SchDzkmc90yUL0t9RoUN-7KhIqMSSSTixLYJIcOkIoqqPc/s320/2625393.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="color: #222222;">Somewhere underground, obnoxious military soldiers and a handful of not-too-bright scientists are working hard to understand the virus (and believably communicate in American accents). The real hope lies in Morgan (Matt Smith), a low level officer who seems to have immunity to the pandemic. Not only did he not turn after being bitten, but he can also understand and communicate with the sick. Dr. Gina Rose (Dormer) and Scooter (John Bradley, who played the similarly silly named Samwell Tarly on <i>Game of Thrones</i>) are hopeful that by capturing and interrogating some infected, Morgan can help them solve the cause (and therefore cure) via the titular Patient Zero.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5LS5E_sDfI3yVDtDs_oFGBgmlSPXRBKFTYSkiDozuEgg3qJoKqSME6ssfhbq8C-6szFyKwCuXIBJo6I8V6MwqZani6-bGS7tnKvRuR-cnOzQ3Je07Fljv1-2uNbnxoLF1kXYKP_CYKNwG0onXh6ZxuG56gaVVVQF_7Hns3rgwtqyd9K6XUarLj1nyxc/s1011/Patient-Zero-Matt-Smith.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="1011" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5LS5E_sDfI3yVDtDs_oFGBgmlSPXRBKFTYSkiDozuEgg3qJoKqSME6ssfhbq8C-6szFyKwCuXIBJo6I8V6MwqZani6-bGS7tnKvRuR-cnOzQ3Je07Fljv1-2uNbnxoLF1kXYKP_CYKNwG0onXh6ZxuG56gaVVVQF_7Hns3rgwtqyd9K6XUarLj1nyxc/s320/Patient-Zero-Matt-Smith.webp" width="320" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><span style="color: #222222;">Could that be The Professor, a cocky rage zombie played by, hold your martini, Stanley Tucci?</span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs5DFY3G762Jqz7gVix-nk-gb4_ZBYwWwt70S9YgYrE6hzv3NX40G1giIxhDolsibWbB0qVaM8lyz6bhG4j6dP_tEkSRsCEmgS9Kq9Izw8LhJ8s3jK9nyph-rtOE9MdXJ15N4YjzvwMIQk0klPW4u6xEzi85kqtnzGU52gSf1_NjcCkj8YItLck8StcA/s450/patient-zero-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="312" data-original-width="450" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs5DFY3G762Jqz7gVix-nk-gb4_ZBYwWwt70S9YgYrE6hzv3NX40G1giIxhDolsibWbB0qVaM8lyz6bhG4j6dP_tEkSRsCEmgS9Kq9Izw8LhJ8s3jK9nyph-rtOE9MdXJ15N4YjzvwMIQk0klPW4u6xEzi85kqtnzGU52gSf1_NjcCkj8YItLck8StcA/s320/patient-zero-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">All of this probably sounds fine, especially to a horror fan. <i>Patient Zero</i> isn't terribly unlike a slicker <i>Day of the Dead:</i> single spirited female staving off chauvinism, alpha male army jerks, kind but useless supporting men, zombie-ish creature that talks and likes music, you get the drift. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfPeIsphxP0y6R85CdWlp5adp-dS6yNGyJrvnCTYWr2hqnsHWCIg_YC3avhnSEZRPGGWbU7gKgooxbZouskCfxLUL6KDbuGOWmxI5qDPGxX6Vhyphenhypheno15z5HwSTQ55dK8xLbVwOfojEg7C102PqztwT9eYYY1Nca7Agv2Vl_ofjqxTjWeWNBZAQDPSZXnxY/s1920/216d1af2793be924b50df9b047b8712817f6bfbd5d3207972f604bbf38432fb3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfPeIsphxP0y6R85CdWlp5adp-dS6yNGyJrvnCTYWr2hqnsHWCIg_YC3avhnSEZRPGGWbU7gKgooxbZouskCfxLUL6KDbuGOWmxI5qDPGxX6Vhyphenhypheno15z5HwSTQ55dK8xLbVwOfojEg7C102PqztwT9eYYY1Nca7Agv2Vl_ofjqxTjWeWNBZAQDPSZXnxY/s320/216d1af2793be924b50df9b047b8712817f6bfbd5d3207972f604bbf38432fb3.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">What's missing? Well, a few things. The actors -- predominantly British -- all seem to be straining awfully hard to play Americans, begging the question "why not let them be British?" Matt Smith is obviously a charismatic and accomplished performer, but he's woefully miscast as the tough guy everyman with what might be an east coast accent? Our scientists seem like idiots, our survivors lack personality, leaving us all thinking the best case scenario for this reality is to let Stanley Tucci take over.</span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L03fPNyqaBQI7WyMkt7S3KsBY87AXiKURq7LB49VXdJVqcNTXg8uxabFm_NEPXtdL0PGQMRx8iRWb-P7GVV7q8OPDgPoomahcciUodGKq2ycvhekTdmvf2Yp27cvjW13cC9RIROGIjcyjzIfvuUGpxqf-9Wwiw9jWuHXO9v9Wft4zHkLFAhTRNraUwc/s1600/2639456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L03fPNyqaBQI7WyMkt7S3KsBY87AXiKURq7LB49VXdJVqcNTXg8uxabFm_NEPXtdL0PGQMRx8iRWb-P7GVV7q8OPDgPoomahcciUodGKq2ycvhekTdmvf2Yp27cvjW13cC9RIROGIjcyjzIfvuUGpxqf-9Wwiw9jWuHXO9v9Wft4zHkLFAhTRNraUwc/s320/2639456.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Without spoiling anything, <i>Patient Zero</i> ends on a weirdly open-ended note, as if this was all a setup for a new franchise the public was itching to see. "We must continue to fight!" our heroes stiffly narrate, as if this film has shown a single reason why humanity is worth saving. </span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b style="color: #222222;">High Points</b><br /><span style="color: #222222;">When we finally do get to the inevitable (not-but-totally) zombie invasion of the complex, director Stefan Ruzowitzky kicks into some quite good action horror</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOJk4u31P5Uwnpiehy0rKZjB1qVaiiXYyTT7oxnzRHDFr6dDDRN48o29_fGqAoo95SkJXozI72et8ZTzxeK2jWEApZgxiUatUhq0gbCdf0varLeAvJFBFHRfXWQO9ew-XupRBDIpaAgtd3sr_1-wap9WMVTt5JwpjoAwL8nbOseVWlbmSwNMhcpavves/s728/17749_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="728" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgOJk4u31P5Uwnpiehy0rKZjB1qVaiiXYyTT7oxnzRHDFr6dDDRN48o29_fGqAoo95SkJXozI72et8ZTzxeK2jWEApZgxiUatUhq0gbCdf0varLeAvJFBFHRfXWQO9ew-XupRBDIpaAgtd3sr_1-wap9WMVTt5JwpjoAwL8nbOseVWlbmSwNMhcpavves/s320/17749_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b style="color: #222222;">Low Points</b><br /><span style="color: #222222;">Of course, seeing that highlight makes you realize how much this film missed its calling in not focusing on those kinds of sequences, rather than the far less compelling, far more labored human conversations</span><br /><br /><b style="color: #222222;">Lessons Learned</b><br /><span style="color: #222222;">A viral apocalypse is no reason to let your hair lose its bounce</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTBmUzCZKjGjsA3Ycr1sZBi0A1VpU1Yxc-Zzo4Z5hYrJQ3YRJbSbe7UW4HzvpKQ-RUKcf1R1Rtcn6-SWkxi-lCQO6DAlF3secootNQ4G49WG_a6jMWLKWaO2HOndLTbrtgqAsIqXZ-Tq34zi_8N9Fbn399v5VCA5fKQ95bWdvLo3z9Uop7uD15wEdAXk/s796/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-02%20at%2011.14.22%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="796" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTBmUzCZKjGjsA3Ycr1sZBi0A1VpU1Yxc-Zzo4Z5hYrJQ3YRJbSbe7UW4HzvpKQ-RUKcf1R1Rtcn6-SWkxi-lCQO6DAlF3secootNQ4G49WG_a6jMWLKWaO2HOndLTbrtgqAsIqXZ-Tq34zi_8N9Fbn399v5VCA5fKQ95bWdvLo3z9Uop7uD15wEdAXk/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-10-02%20at%2011.14.22%20AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="color: #222222;">A lesser known side effect of canine rabies is that it increases your level of enjoyment of gossiping</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktfj_5duH3NtSu3AEKm1OOwsvaegv8ISzAMUrLGLRspW6n2SheqmuxEBTx5rbQ0c2VEhYg2Hz66FWbBDqFt65Q6djMHsMPxQifzA8-m-BWOleaVXfL3GvbIA6FB1hXr2pYU3CBSrqAIOsOgdo4vDgPm6Z42ykNPB30J28nbXRGE0_MnXACB-4NWPb3zY/s913/patient-zero-vod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="913" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktfj_5duH3NtSu3AEKm1OOwsvaegv8ISzAMUrLGLRspW6n2SheqmuxEBTx5rbQ0c2VEhYg2Hz66FWbBDqFt65Q6djMHsMPxQifzA8-m-BWOleaVXfL3GvbIA6FB1hXr2pYU3CBSrqAIOsOgdo4vDgPm6Z42ykNPB30J28nbXRGE0_MnXACB-4NWPb3zY/s320/patient-zero-vod.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="color: #222222;">The longer the lockdown, the messier the American accent</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Patient Zero </i>isn't a total wash, but it's an incredibly bumpy ride without a huge reward. Infected zombie completists have certainly seen worse. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-72070870069784913372023-11-13T06:00:00.001-05:002023-11-13T06:00:00.158-05:00Not So Quick After All, Are You?<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVotTsA2hOSuqIF8DXGjPkYj6V86gQcAeuV5YrCgPXYYzX7opDMfdV8qimbqvSF6qcjgPbPy4L-pMVM8IAxJROjKOby5MMTt9Ce_W8BPAVN6aXM6ZnXRXuxKFNc-O60TDT8XN7W30OHhHTU0Ft3L3FwRwhUHUJppZZPmjjQcU3vr0fqLPasg5buJltzA/s1280/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-19%20at%208.40.19%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="880" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVotTsA2hOSuqIF8DXGjPkYj6V86gQcAeuV5YrCgPXYYzX7opDMfdV8qimbqvSF6qcjgPbPy4L-pMVM8IAxJROjKOby5MMTt9Ce_W8BPAVN6aXM6ZnXRXuxKFNc-O60TDT8XN7W30OHhHTU0Ft3L3FwRwhUHUJppZZPmjjQcU3vr0fqLPasg5buJltzA/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-19%20at%208.40.19%20PM.png" width="220" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We all know the meme, and yes, it's true: of all the things movies taught us to fear, quicksand is second only to spiders in terms of its silliness. Still, just as those eight legs sticking out of bulbous abdomens inevitably chill us, the idea of drowning slowly in gooey wet earth remains an easy way to make us squirm. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIohpkxQm3dQ737XQGL34NpprqSHL1Hx2QVMgmMAGn0pbcHMNnw9c-QllSYAydZ6tN8IqrqQmu-b5ft5djiH8tjbEfuYPrwfPiA67bpFs4MYwFoA9gZjEOLgldm8A3YXICAJ5H3meH3Ei197QVU_fovteuwd8voi05vii91bEqDEVIv1aDkAB8Au4ifVQ/s320/mqdefault-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIohpkxQm3dQ737XQGL34NpprqSHL1Hx2QVMgmMAGn0pbcHMNnw9c-QllSYAydZ6tN8IqrqQmu-b5ft5djiH8tjbEfuYPrwfPiA67bpFs4MYwFoA9gZjEOLgldm8A3YXICAJ5H3meH3Ei197QVU_fovteuwd8voi05vii91bEqDEVIv1aDkAB8Au4ifVQ/s1600/mqdefault-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> Sophia and Josh are a soon-to-be-divorced couple scheduled to give presentations at a medical conference in Bogota, Sophia's former home. They're miserable but trying to survive the week with some touch of civility so Sophia can restart her career, which she put on hold in order to focus on raising their two young children. Tired of missing out on the good stuff, Sophia insists on taking a hike. Josh joins, as does a snake-hunting pickpocket. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A scuffle ensues, and to avoid the thief's gun, the couple run straight into Las Arenas, the spot on the map locals warn against. Sophia quickly tumbles into a vat of titular quicksand. Demonstrating some extremely poor decision-making under pressure, Josh leaps in to join her.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB9IZ0__d-GG5rGKQBiwEtSF8TSaROExRp_xzc56TiFpAqpDJFpB46odwwTnHERnwvHIB4jlSiCrm5_nNlcochy1DwHJBAzqHtQt0VyybNyBIpMIMfYevSAqMzMdLGwi-ANFx81bvNzAhfkzBvlKfQ0GRtbdIxRurhHBbynDdaSPunipaJNHSSEHQjSo/s300/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihB9IZ0__d-GG5rGKQBiwEtSF8TSaROExRp_xzc56TiFpAqpDJFpB46odwwTnHERnwvHIB4jlSiCrm5_nNlcochy1DwHJBAzqHtQt0VyybNyBIpMIMfYevSAqMzMdLGwi-ANFx81bvNzAhfkzBvlKfQ0GRtbdIxRurhHBbynDdaSPunipaJNHSSEHQjSo/s1600/images.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The generation raised on <i>Beastmaster </i>and <i>The Neverending Story</i> has obviously logged some extremely long hours in order to develop a better understanding of what to do to avoid what always sounded like the absolute worst possible way to die. Sophie and Josh are doctors with just enough knowledge to not immediately drown. They also have enough medical knowledge to identify the body that floats to the surface of their small pool as a death by starvation fate, meaning no one is likely coming to save them.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eXageSuoiLZHsKuqMgo_t8i4EgmCyHn-HhEhcidEjS3vtj6IgM4pGXf57PeH73rbEeOdW1ElHpAIvWn87BnrqGXQnpUrvG4IYBi5LzCytH6KS0widsZapyvRZZAsdj35dDw5mYRhUKYg-OJrpgQevP9sUebx8xdQNtw2xAI4sbs5tm7nikiX0eq9E68/s1200/Quicksand2023EndingExplainedCover-jpg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="1200" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7eXageSuoiLZHsKuqMgo_t8i4EgmCyHn-HhEhcidEjS3vtj6IgM4pGXf57PeH73rbEeOdW1ElHpAIvWn87BnrqGXQnpUrvG4IYBi5LzCytH6KS0widsZapyvRZZAsdj35dDw5mYRhUKYg-OJrpgQevP9sUebx8xdQNtw2xAI4sbs5tm7nikiX0eq9E68/s320/Quicksand2023EndingExplainedCover-jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Written by <i>Fringe</i> and <i>Westworld</i> alum Matt Pitts and directed by Andres Beltran, <i>Quicksand</i> is a great idea with good execution. The film wastes little time setting its high stakes, but it also never feels as confined as it could. Part of that is the side non-quicksand action, but even the tightness between Josh and Sophia should have more tension. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe the issue is that the most dreadful aspect of mythical '80s movie quicksand -- the agonizing drowning in sludgy cruel nature -- is pretty quickly taken off the table. Instead, the danger comes from unimpressive CGI ants, slightly more impressive snakes, and the threat of eventual starvation. Way less sexy, if you ask me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvp9eGY1nloiJn3tebDR9lpQaH1GmB0BKMsBIaYKSPkTdEibb-uPUdACbh5NwVeNNHZs6lPImsgK5eWj0FQt9PZvu5tuKUdhSARb2NbQrYZUDhnazlIvPvo2ScvjiRNAg3YGoEKd5G5TGH1nuPkNj6hQUv0A6mEnvrnvsjfF52B2RPscHJlYWmquHaXU/s1200/beastmasterbvf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyvp9eGY1nloiJn3tebDR9lpQaH1GmB0BKMsBIaYKSPkTdEibb-uPUdACbh5NwVeNNHZs6lPImsgK5eWj0FQt9PZvu5tuKUdhSARb2NbQrYZUDhnazlIvPvo2ScvjiRNAg3YGoEKd5G5TGH1nuPkNj6hQUv0A6mEnvrnvsjfF52B2RPscHJlYWmquHaXU/s320/beastmasterbvf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A near two-person show like this requires strong characters and performances, and while it takes a little time to warm up to the guarded Sophie and a little too loose Josh, over the 90 minute running time, Carolina Gaitan and Allan Hawco do great work in slowly breaking down their walls to give us a fully layered view of their life together</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGST4pAGz_XC3v_DR24kUxcMXEQ9f75quPdcQbYT8y67wNqXeWKAQea41XBEtEhNFIqeKZl_28NoFy_OT3CEhJHcFQR5H4lhoOD_0UKSiFQ-d4YXm4i2vqmKmb_nJsm5r1JhtikOA_1LrL7wm0hAEHb8C2GC476JbgjDs4ahO2qFIp8pCMz16doQ69-rM/s1705/quicksand-horror.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1705" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGST4pAGz_XC3v_DR24kUxcMXEQ9f75quPdcQbYT8y67wNqXeWKAQea41XBEtEhNFIqeKZl_28NoFy_OT3CEhJHcFQR5H4lhoOD_0UKSiFQ-d4YXm4i2vqmKmb_nJsm5r1JhtikOA_1LrL7wm0hAEHb8C2GC476JbgjDs4ahO2qFIp8pCMz16doQ69-rM/s320/quicksand-horror.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The away-from-the-quicksand action is necessary for this variation of the script and in truth, is handled better than it could have been, but at the same time, shifting from imminent death by exotic wildlife to miscommunication in a fancy hotel takes so much away from the tension of Sophia and Josh's plight</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Always read the guidebook in full</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGpOdtqyw6-uYkDnRH88IRuu3fsFuCRK61W-i7eme2xzRgSSlfx4yJl5WRTfwHnQn6f2EgdHDeeN2m0153C6a2bRRiGr2fmKxtGz4ZKbdRfKXlABbrvx_711YyvW5SEYtdxPwLtpCOmFimXFaD0pH2_94aXiAUsGgHQJtB2MVXSojKhrJg3by3yTOqds/s420/h280_51818648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="420" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGpOdtqyw6-uYkDnRH88IRuu3fsFuCRK61W-i7eme2xzRgSSlfx4yJl5WRTfwHnQn6f2EgdHDeeN2m0153C6a2bRRiGr2fmKxtGz4ZKbdRfKXlABbrvx_711YyvW5SEYtdxPwLtpCOmFimXFaD0pH2_94aXiAUsGgHQJtB2MVXSojKhrJg3by3yTOqds/s320/h280_51818648.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ants hate nothing more than sweaty pants vodka</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When dining in Texas, avoid eating oysters in bulk</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm_cbRih17otQLejprKKdxF1-5zSASw5zcqMpF_DzXymzwmYF7_4GmRMlOg0-vfSRc1WMZh1VwsVzP2NhxbmNfa27flXUofBGNjdQME-LM7y2HdtlWGg-LjFxMfF0ate4Nk03XRaAMuDKlafOuZ4jArcBj9SzKY9HoVeiBpVa6Pjw1BhmiavNzEg2JSI/s712/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-19%20at%208.50.56%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="712" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm_cbRih17otQLejprKKdxF1-5zSASw5zcqMpF_DzXymzwmYF7_4GmRMlOg0-vfSRc1WMZh1VwsVzP2NhxbmNfa27flXUofBGNjdQME-LM7y2HdtlWGg-LjFxMfF0ate4Nk03XRaAMuDKlafOuZ4jArcBj9SzKY9HoVeiBpVa6Pjw1BhmiavNzEg2JSI/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-19%20at%208.50.56%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The internet told me to go into <i>Quicksand</i> with low expectations and as a result, I had a much better time than I expected. That being said, it's been a few days since I watched Quicksand and in that time, I've found myself thinking a lot about all the little things it could have done more effectively. If you're itching for some natural element/rainforest-themed horror, this should lend some satisfaction. Just don't expect too much.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-81069710135889752842023-11-06T06:00:00.001-05:002023-11-06T06:00:00.149-05:00My Sorority Sister Is An Alien<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQPBHTq9ppGwMVGIOTKIgX952kPj2Js5QPQvN7Vo1mjLuPzmd9Rf7qP1N6GtU3k0u9tb6VNAkSurbQWs9VrQaIB6VPXRJjagCCQvfTG8bLxVm9wBncgfqSgG4XJq5VezJeC5fxX-2iqVyj3H34zTFfshlRSdo3PBB_jVmvbp-XWPcGhp66SnVhQUB6pM/s1444/MV5BMTQwMDcwMTM2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMjIzODk2._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1444" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQPBHTq9ppGwMVGIOTKIgX952kPj2Js5QPQvN7Vo1mjLuPzmd9Rf7qP1N6GtU3k0u9tb6VNAkSurbQWs9VrQaIB6VPXRJjagCCQvfTG8bLxVm9wBncgfqSgG4XJq5VezJeC5fxX-2iqVyj3H34zTFfshlRSdo3PBB_jVmvbp-XWPcGhp66SnVhQUB6pM/s320/MV5BMTQwMDcwMTM2Nl5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwMjIzODk2._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's rare to discover a movie made in Canada that fully acknowledges it was, you know, made in Canada. Maybe it's my own history with Hallmark (I once paused once during <i>Once Upon a Holiday</i> at exactly the right moment to catch a screenshot of characters wandering by The First Bank of Ontario despite the film being set in New York) but it's shocking in the best of ways when a film rampant in aboots embraces its own politeness and ice hockey obsession.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot</b>: It's Halloween, and a teen jock enters a home to discover a pair of frozen frat bros watching static. Put a pin in that because now, it's winter at St. John's College and virginal freshmen Luke and Roger are very, very horny. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyycAVKxCPKBhOAbb63dvinuuIlrW013zhHxXQ-mv6qYywFvjGJUOn5_Esix9XiUfZLuTMM02cTd1cg-7dP4L7OnEKyB5jhDbiDb18t47basaF1YfOQw6QxpzccqgYy8GHz4-ifIfhNFUEPNpPtBBQPDd4Szau3MWUg04EOovy-GuZD4Zn2kRgGtKG80/s1920/MV5BZjJkYjcwZjAtMDRlZi00ZGE5LThkYmYtMzljYjFkYjk1NWM4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDQ0MTYzMDA@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyycAVKxCPKBhOAbb63dvinuuIlrW013zhHxXQ-mv6qYywFvjGJUOn5_Esix9XiUfZLuTMM02cTd1cg-7dP4L7OnEKyB5jhDbiDb18t47basaF1YfOQw6QxpzccqgYy8GHz4-ifIfhNFUEPNpPtBBQPDd4Szau3MWUg04EOovy-GuZD4Zn2kRgGtKG80/s320/MV5BZjJkYjcwZjAtMDRlZi00ZGE5LThkYmYtMzljYjFkYjk1NWM4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDQ0MTYzMDA@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Luke meets the dorm neighbors of his dreams in the laundry room. Lilly and Constance are a pair of pre-med sorority blondes eager to flirt with the Elijah Wood-by-way-of-Jonah-Hill Roger and CW-pretty Luke. It seems too good to be true because obviously, it is! Playing peeping tom like the typical college nerd of cinema history does, Luke discovers there's more to those beautiful bodies than pilates classes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxTKloa1Cpa81OVJoD6mYjqY2s2i5At8D4B0Bp-2-y4YUKKe5t-5g5BaHgxF3-uVuyq0tIw0nQ2HhLdybF5lkNTKNmYvVMjabPGD8BRJKQKGQJCFfXNNHyozh-CzrBJSrpO7RAGqqg3qL9IH_nVdTe68Wy5QsHkYbO0170KvVXAdQMEhEExTQLIqe4Sk/s1200/1200x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxTKloa1Cpa81OVJoD6mYjqY2s2i5At8D4B0Bp-2-y4YUKKe5t-5g5BaHgxF3-uVuyq0tIw0nQ2HhLdybF5lkNTKNmYvVMjabPGD8BRJKQKGQJCFfXNNHyozh-CzrBJSrpO7RAGqqg3qL9IH_nVdTe68Wy5QsHkYbO0170KvVXAdQMEhEExTQLIqe4Sk/s320/1200x675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tentacles! We've got CGI-spewing tentacles because as you probably figured out by now, Constance and Lily are aliens on a Canadian mission to find food and breeding opportunities. Not surprisingly, Luke has a hard time getting anyone to believe him, even after a few male students sporting bucket hats and pooka shell necklaces turn up dead in mysterious ways. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o8itYH6h6qyctCX-BQcLY-9x1R_LbI7dc6cppvuuIebmrsMh77oRzLvQs1uGx5zrMY6UtHsZvD8gV7eqde9UkYjwlmzY2DEhRiQ6DzpcBL-Iyiarv1JiJopG-BNBfdsPBuAgHF_IR-iVR54iWpAkaNNKj7rh5WabSRWEqjdyjej16moba6x985Kp-NY/s780/Decoys-film-images-900fafa2-222e-449c-9da8-7cab6cfddd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="780" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3o8itYH6h6qyctCX-BQcLY-9x1R_LbI7dc6cppvuuIebmrsMh77oRzLvQs1uGx5zrMY6UtHsZvD8gV7eqde9UkYjwlmzY2DEhRiQ6DzpcBL-Iyiarv1JiJopG-BNBfdsPBuAgHF_IR-iVR54iWpAkaNNKj7rh5WabSRWEqjdyjej16moba6x985Kp-NY/s320/Decoys-film-images-900fafa2-222e-449c-9da8-7cab6cfddd2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">He has two lady allies: ex-girlfriend and detective Nicole Eggert (give me that movie) and misfit classmate Alex, whose misfit status seems to stem from the simple detail that she has dark hair. As Roger grows closer to Constance, Luke knows their time is running out. What's a boy to do?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI4rlIEfmayeSOVvayBHl0n8KfobUDO3xXu_paJsBqDRat8pcDxDd8CEwtvNIlVGxpnjWaVAmH-BMhwoX6rqAhEXfn238gbQZKg8EKcdX8vKsu0N5dFuqsTPOmhf2-Cjue7OEUWl_Kp_9D0XWH8mRZomlnflOljLH0tB5mn9E2JhOcertCsX-nKdn3k0/s401/decoys-movie-film-sci-fi-horror-2004-review-reviews-corey-sevier-meghan-ory.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="401" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpI4rlIEfmayeSOVvayBHl0n8KfobUDO3xXu_paJsBqDRat8pcDxDd8CEwtvNIlVGxpnjWaVAmH-BMhwoX6rqAhEXfn238gbQZKg8EKcdX8vKsu0N5dFuqsTPOmhf2-Cjue7OEUWl_Kp_9D0XWH8mRZomlnflOljLH0tB5mn9E2JhOcertCsX-nKdn3k0/s320/decoys-movie-film-sci-fi-horror-2004-review-reviews-corey-sevier-meghan-ory.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Decoys</i> is a strange little film, one that plays like a junior version of <i>Species</i> but with (thankfully) a knowing wink. It took me just about up to the big talent show -- one that involved baton twirling, flame throwing, ventriloquism, and flight attendant safety lessons -- to confirm that director/co-writer Matthew Hastings expected his audience to chuckle more than scream. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIYjcTVXqtRGThkbjX8GH9W-QxsK4suZ3M8WTGa5i8lrCrzSlD7h_BMnwUYqHzDv3gT3LK2tHDJvNYauzPxQkYR-OAZhZe3VrP7CRb9IInXOTcMBCD3JLfTpfYKCtSUmADzpUaO7vNxwZ9Z65kJD1ReO1Xh_eSFI9ml7-5QeIaFgJV9-bdOSlcGUda0o/s854/1157115621_033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="854" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIYjcTVXqtRGThkbjX8GH9W-QxsK4suZ3M8WTGa5i8lrCrzSlD7h_BMnwUYqHzDv3gT3LK2tHDJvNYauzPxQkYR-OAZhZe3VrP7CRb9IInXOTcMBCD3JLfTpfYKCtSUmADzpUaO7vNxwZ9Z65kJD1ReO1Xh_eSFI9ml7-5QeIaFgJV9-bdOSlcGUda0o/s320/1157115621_033.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">How much of that is fully intentional and how much came about when the 2004 computer effects kicked is probably up for debate. I'm guessing the target audience was more the age of the college characters than 40something horror bloggers, so while I can't really speak to how well the actual film works for its goals, I'll say that somewhere in its 90 minute running time, I stopped rolling my eyes and found myself rooting for it. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHCM7tI8zVNRSql_erddA06nzRuNok-hSnXzvAn9yKfOXcvg2h4miUAyW6rF8P6QALdMo5-R2u_FuzKEQtpqpZFxwSMMyJSPPeDGOEtpLnJCNRc3F9BD62v5-ri-3bB5Ab9Cg4lkYFq1vZ0-J1QxoJ8rhyNBFgaa-_aperlqzHW1XPbhGQl9n9-dMv4c/s498/h280_38624948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="498" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGHCM7tI8zVNRSql_erddA06nzRuNok-hSnXzvAn9yKfOXcvg2h4miUAyW6rF8P6QALdMo5-R2u_FuzKEQtpqpZFxwSMMyJSPPeDGOEtpLnJCNRc3F9BD62v5-ri-3bB5Ab9Cg4lkYFq1vZ0-J1QxoJ8rhyNBFgaa-_aperlqzHW1XPbhGQl9n9-dMv4c/s320/h280_38624948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Oddly enough, it's the absurdity of the "cold Canadian college beauty pageant" setup that somehow packs the most successful laughs</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">On the other hand, icky frat pledges talking in rejected <i>Animal House</i> jokes as a language is pretty painful</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Yanni fandom is the clearest indicator of alien origin</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lnaRbeXazDB98TlPeXngjvkd6HXM29zo16DttW4FDD-697NwnBbpJciGALNRT-eSWYAO3K3Z1s9l0gylptW6X0mmdW42MbFWqJ6FVxnihA6xC1vTtmXCT7cuXMtNBbNJbsRUDMG6LAI6om-q_5h38WFrMSlo1brxdD_BRrl6I1Z4Ey2fRFfJyYIHrTU/s686/hq720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="686" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lnaRbeXazDB98TlPeXngjvkd6HXM29zo16DttW4FDD-697NwnBbpJciGALNRT-eSWYAO3K3Z1s9l0gylptW6X0mmdW42MbFWqJ6FVxnihA6xC1vTtmXCT7cuXMtNBbNJbsRUDMG6LAI6om-q_5h38WFrMSlo1brxdD_BRrl6I1Z4Ey2fRFfJyYIHrTU/s320/hq720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">You can do a lot of bad things at a frat party, but spilling beer on angora is an unforgivable offense </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In Canada, a "red dress" (deliberately in quotation marks) is actually blue<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlGUKusMbVII0e4i9Ov_uj_Y02K8Cm07FBBVDfZaMAJBZpoJxcBaMEg9WAAe9higyrm0GaiFovYEIR3XkdBaGx3PJNXfNdnDJ0J4G6RinZfR7dk-9FMMzvEtmHIW3Ya6tz2Z5u6MbdPQJupLUogFkPCClbdYd9yAQGCurF7kRwBeJ21_667-2vgQlM4c/s640/decoys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="640" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlGUKusMbVII0e4i9Ov_uj_Y02K8Cm07FBBVDfZaMAJBZpoJxcBaMEg9WAAe9higyrm0GaiFovYEIR3XkdBaGx3PJNXfNdnDJ0J4G6RinZfR7dk-9FMMzvEtmHIW3Ya6tz2Z5u6MbdPQJupLUogFkPCClbdYd9yAQGCurF7kRwBeJ21_667-2vgQlM4c/s320/decoys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When you find yourself in the mood for a mild Canadian sci-fi alien thriller with a sense of humor, I don't know how many more choices you'll have than <i>Decoys </i>(well, maybe its sequel <i>Decoys 2: Alien Seduction</i>). It's streaming on Peacock in all its 2004 glory. </span></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-59404023731033164692023-10-30T05:00:00.001-04:002023-10-30T05:00:00.155-04:00Road Under Construction<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe9OrIXRM6vDxb7OfTeS453y-GEA3LoG74GIbtiRVyJ6RLNc2Vjss3fAjcCoRkkRVwkRLvlAJsrWq-OpawUR7-naFUDzoaG32Rpz_zAvfWqBlbszwEwQCrL2eLke3boa3l8cipm4M3BbBw6yOV5Hdy_6wxQT9L20ySoNqhoSjC0CSe_SlNA7GJcOutv0/s667/ebc456a26b0047ec72e6774c8482ef5a4347be56e3ff79cb7302d323114ad14b._UY500_UX667_RI_TTW_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="667" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGe9OrIXRM6vDxb7OfTeS453y-GEA3LoG74GIbtiRVyJ6RLNc2Vjss3fAjcCoRkkRVwkRLvlAJsrWq-OpawUR7-naFUDzoaG32Rpz_zAvfWqBlbszwEwQCrL2eLke3boa3l8cipm4M3BbBw6yOV5Hdy_6wxQT9L20ySoNqhoSjC0CSe_SlNA7GJcOutv0/s320/ebc456a26b0047ec72e6774c8482ef5a4347be56e3ff79cb7302d323114ad14b._UY500_UX667_RI_TTW_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As someone who devoured the<i> Game of Thrones</i> novels only to sadly come to accept the fact that George R.R. Martin was now bored of writing them and had no actual plans to finish his story on the page, I know the heartbreak of an incomplete tale. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is important information for today's film. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot: </b>St. Charles is a quiet little town, one so small that it only employs two men on its police department despite having a history of serial killings and a major scarecrow festival coming up (don't get too excited...about anything, really).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7izCCj67O52VmzicH48PmdJ8SMpwpOPAAuDT31m1tymlNeiGTtuWEDDpIoCpqIJ2FTPFAyUSkzLeJUEIUhAGfUeebeh6dU86C3clEH1TqQYj7DMzFYkWvGH1utvo8meZJIY8rg7HuGc78Gb9o9NScXv8umvQGxZPLmOyOY3x7EnLZSg79vabWDUEeY1I/s640/munger%20road%20scene%202%20by%20oceans%20movie%20reviews.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="640" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7izCCj67O52VmzicH48PmdJ8SMpwpOPAAuDT31m1tymlNeiGTtuWEDDpIoCpqIJ2FTPFAyUSkzLeJUEIUhAGfUeebeh6dU86C3clEH1TqQYj7DMzFYkWvGH1utvo8meZJIY8rg7HuGc78Gb9o9NScXv8umvQGxZPLmOyOY3x7EnLZSg79vabWDUEeY1I/s320/munger%20road%20scene%202%20by%20oceans%20movie%20reviews.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">High schooler (sure) Joe is moody, probably because she's been keeping a positive pregnancy test in her purse. Side note: a positive pregnancy test is something you pee on. Generally, it seems like poor hygiene to store it loosely next to your chapstick and wallet.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Anyhoo, Joe reluctantly agrees to boyfriend Corey's experimental double date with pals Rachael and Joe. The girls would be happy for something low key, but the boys have more ambitious plans: driving to the titular Munger Road in the hopes that they can capture ghost activity on camera. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP9D0wx99VSHyE5WQj9I6EQiTdvSX-kRsGZoi_n9Pwut-tAZ58tjnvobBG8lXabTiwIR3rlxN6OTBTkz88i-cABxHimnDlRqMRHi1-kA2kTLFjKVtBz6PAEmXT6_0BCVb8Duaf6VznbLWa1Rw73UyP-73SW9J9sobClzEOX-r1Oy4WwU04NqpYxW9wU4/s1200/NSMNXVE7CXZZXH67UKTOK6JMCY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLP9D0wx99VSHyE5WQj9I6EQiTdvSX-kRsGZoi_n9Pwut-tAZ58tjnvobBG8lXabTiwIR3rlxN6OTBTkz88i-cABxHimnDlRqMRHi1-kA2kTLFjKVtBz6PAEmXT6_0BCVb8Duaf6VznbLWa1Rw73UyP-73SW9J9sobClzEOX-r1Oy4WwU04NqpYxW9wU4/s320/NSMNXVE7CXZZXH67UKTOK6JMCY.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Meanwhile, Chief Kirkhoven and his loyal Deputy Hendricks are busy on the trail of escaped child murderer Father Shea Gunther. Through the slowest, least efficient investigation possible, they stumble on underground tunnels and bones, but no homicidal former priest. Could it be because he's busy messing with the teenagers' car up on Munger Road?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ_4gSKp-8LZi1SgaRGWHMv6GKAFLtFc7gVeJfoGvBCMwWflSz3QOzhUrQTOOsjxrWlfM1U6NXwGcY4KqW3tX59M8PEyNXtkCDgJW_UL448wztmpiwQ6lsNI2qnEokEEYbtFpaAMjs8ZbS3Y0jr4S-jaf6M6NGIDl7sd1PZmGfwdtpmI7uVZJJMyGNSM/s1920/7d0de28f-a2ed-498a-962f-6f0cf31893c6.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkJ_4gSKp-8LZi1SgaRGWHMv6GKAFLtFc7gVeJfoGvBCMwWflSz3QOzhUrQTOOsjxrWlfM1U6NXwGcY4KqW3tX59M8PEyNXtkCDgJW_UL448wztmpiwQ6lsNI2qnEokEEYbtFpaAMjs8ZbS3Y0jr4S-jaf6M6NGIDl7sd1PZmGfwdtpmI7uVZJJMyGNSM/s320/7d0de28f-a2ed-498a-962f-6f0cf31893c6.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Maybe? Here's the wild thing about this movie, thus far the sole release from writer/director Nicholas Smith: IT'S INCOMPLETE.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">At the risk of spoiling something that I don't know if it's fair to actually call a film, Munger Road ends with a literal "TO BE CONTINUED." We don't know who's really dead, who really killed them, or, perhaps more importantly, WHO'S GONNA WIN THE SCARECROW FESTIVAL.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpPHq-b5xokaJN0vRD4Bzi9SxjKNmLQBhqphn7IiTqKqekbOCugnws8g-z-LXSDIL46YJTtcZ5eCTdvRaiL5S7CwcSQPbXgMSBGtSv6-hYCxteBF4wEJQtql8UhIiRXwUS7z7W2EcmsdMV33qYJTiQPoyHlbLbhruOSPscrCcDYIx0Klo8zhhjOcHrOU/s640/sddefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpPHq-b5xokaJN0vRD4Bzi9SxjKNmLQBhqphn7IiTqKqekbOCugnws8g-z-LXSDIL46YJTtcZ5eCTdvRaiL5S7CwcSQPbXgMSBGtSv6-hYCxteBF4wEJQtql8UhIiRXwUS7z7W2EcmsdMV33qYJTiQPoyHlbLbhruOSPscrCcDYIx0Klo8zhhjOcHrOU/s320/sddefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Also, what IS a scarecrow festival?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sigh. I never enjoy beating on a low budget film, especially when it's clear the project was done with heart. Smith creates some good atmosphere within certain sequences, including a great transition in camera perspective during one of the movie's found footage shots. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe68M_S5pJu87QWq-SUZCO8sLrCgC42p-iwnaLT8mijj6-c_HJf0Q6DbPMVxBT061Gs9p5DcUG0EeV4kEQZt4eVZzZH3bSAls34RnwlZjqwRHUOmc7VLsJEZnn00HoTUsZ2PomgdYwa6iItrT_8XJFWUKOvahLRzs32tg8GAag3e_Be1fBU2BPoRu4zEI/s853/mungerroad3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe68M_S5pJu87QWq-SUZCO8sLrCgC42p-iwnaLT8mijj6-c_HJf0Q6DbPMVxBT061Gs9p5DcUG0EeV4kEQZt4eVZzZH3bSAls34RnwlZjqwRHUOmc7VLsJEZnn00HoTUsZ2PomgdYwa6iItrT_8XJFWUKOvahLRzs32tg8GAag3e_Be1fBU2BPoRu4zEI/s320/mungerroad3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But to what end? <i>Munger Road 2 </i>apparently never found the funding it needed, so 12 years in and we're left with an unfinished 90 minute story that offers absolutely no satisfaction.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And worse, no scarecrows.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Watching Bruce Davison twirl a shotgun around like a second string member of a middle school color guard troop gave me an epiphone: I wish he would star in more bad movies. I mean this as an incredibly sincere compliment. He has such an immediately comforting AND comfortable presence onscreen in virtually any material, making it easy for an audience to be invested. More bad movies could benefit from him on the cast list</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAi4wJw6-zzMhq83LrhMXEJf-2SujDvVwyiRUK-f3nApaMeTfotIlyz4WOCYzCm-EhAkyoJYKfRdyO1I4tV4kqfvU4iiwlp2f-GtlwlmiBV2pEpOuauc8__-1ORPYy9Hxw4U_0K7LhQqyQeKezAWcXoGNErxqjO7HQlFUnExDmZBXGQZi9w9PkMkIebs/s613/EB20110928REVIEWS110929986AR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="613" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQAi4wJw6-zzMhq83LrhMXEJf-2SujDvVwyiRUK-f3nApaMeTfotIlyz4WOCYzCm-EhAkyoJYKfRdyO1I4tV4kqfvU4iiwlp2f-GtlwlmiBV2pEpOuauc8__-1ORPYy9Hxw4U_0K7LhQqyQeKezAWcXoGNErxqjO7HQlFUnExDmZBXGQZi9w9PkMkIebs/s320/EB20110928REVIEWS110929986AR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">TO BE CONTINUED</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Illinois teenagers have great memories when it comes to 3rd grade science lessons, but terrible instincts when it comes to understanding the very concept of time</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Never enter a church with a shotgun</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There may indeed be a difference between telling someone she's acting like a bitch and actually calling her a bitch, but dudes, trust me: she doesn't want to hear it, and you're wrong for having said it in the first place</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5n1-HsrOKdfJlvw_6loyvE2QDq0p0Jh5O1UviM8HNrvHHQpllR-FPP9AQb6ylH-DEGN_WCeB9iDkv2k2ShN1jLq_xOziNkT__PCdOJ3q8pU2lBnHhq-3qJd_uWNMwRV23-N3PdX2AjJa5c6wLm_Jp8OGHxMT1hgJdB-_mkWoQQlueXOWp_iYxcAXs6k/s1920/e486305d2f0a88491f9fece4a52b336f9dea1500bca0159f4ec13ef2d47afa5a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5n1-HsrOKdfJlvw_6loyvE2QDq0p0Jh5O1UviM8HNrvHHQpllR-FPP9AQb6ylH-DEGN_WCeB9iDkv2k2ShN1jLq_xOziNkT__PCdOJ3q8pU2lBnHhq-3qJd_uWNMwRV23-N3PdX2AjJa5c6wLm_Jp8OGHxMT1hgJdB-_mkWoQQlueXOWp_iYxcAXs6k/s320/e486305d2f0a88491f9fece4a52b336f9dea1500bca0159f4ec13ef2d47afa5a.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Someone needs to warn viewers that they're not watching Munger Road: they're watching <i>Munger Road: Part 1 (2 Pending Production, Proceed At Your Own Risk)</i>. Fine, that title is probably a little mouthy, but at least it's honest! So yes, obviously, I do not recommend this movie unless you have some masochist satisfaction from not being satisfied. You do you. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-65368471047329434292023-10-23T06:00:00.001-04:002023-10-23T06:00:00.146-04:00The Hunt (said with Australian accent)<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZHJjcWKDz9qHvH2orUfFzQXoaTfVkATdlEpYIR94tGOT52NmLnR9G3sAXBzeh1Th4hyHzqb8qhspTg6ZZ-eV26yP0rt3YVCFEF6S_lsyBFhyIw4m8955nUZj64KkmKitFOjC-ESsn3rTlQlVWiLIMtX8amuxb3XHQ7ZOR6QHVaIMcIrqXSUJ72c5aac/s720/p8589898_p_v7_aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZHJjcWKDz9qHvH2orUfFzQXoaTfVkATdlEpYIR94tGOT52NmLnR9G3sAXBzeh1Th4hyHzqb8qhspTg6ZZ-eV26yP0rt3YVCFEF6S_lsyBFhyIw4m8955nUZj64KkmKitFOjC-ESsn3rTlQlVWiLIMtX8amuxb3XHQ7ZOR6QHVaIMcIrqXSUJ72c5aac/s320/p8589898_p_v7_aa.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>I suppose it has something to do with being the only 5-year-old at the movie theater watching <i>The Running Man</i>, but the hunting humans subgenre of action horror has just always packed a lot of appeal. Even the worse ones--and golly, Amazon Prime has some very low-priced duds--offer a little more automatic intrigue over a basic slasher or <i>Saw</i> trap-themed gorefest.</span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Onward today with the unimaginatively titled <i><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2021/04/all-hunts-matter.html"><b>The Hunt! </b></a></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRXq7fjZw8NIN0u3H4bAuqa7kp1mhncA8vApA4ITFgXcNFPmf0Dm_MjJWlj1PlU0UGEH6j04gmsCpjOHHdnJkKN0dZqSaf9BTaf5DuTFVyWjSVZCv9MJ9t9UHfq6KMQY9C5PDG-uXpEcZjXFmHN8lM3tFFeL08ycwQueis-3kLogfTslrVpc5XDcvjFQ/s1600/hunt-7-5e42fb846405d-1_FEATURE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1600" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRXq7fjZw8NIN0u3H4bAuqa7kp1mhncA8vApA4ITFgXcNFPmf0Dm_MjJWlj1PlU0UGEH6j04gmsCpjOHHdnJkKN0dZqSaf9BTaf5DuTFVyWjSVZCv9MJ9t9UHfq6KMQY9C5PDG-uXpEcZjXFmHN8lM3tFFeL08ycwQueis-3kLogfTslrVpc5XDcvjFQ/s320/hunt-7-5e42fb846405d-1_FEATURE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">No, not that one.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wait: did this 2009 movie get retitled on Amazon Prime with the same title as a marginally successful mainstream film in order to scoop a few viewers who might watch the entire thing without realizing their mistake? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Genius.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> On the last Friday of every month, a group of loosely connected wealthy frenemies take part in the titular hunt, wherein they kidnap a batch of strangers and, well, kill them. The "hunt" part seems a bit like false advertising, as once the subjects are (easily) captured, the killers mostly just tie them up and torture them in their various styles until they're done.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ73n4Gdpr3vpOFHtDVJhc5tpKHxaIu9cF0AsEr12S45DJAytjoLN-D73Muo_Vud3Gr82tBiu_1yOnnEPbDQD1P3y9l1MITgxT1Xwx4c4bpMJ0KMtVanihzDioY5RRz9lAHSFNzOlKR1KKCV4W36N8AA2WQaMxL6tDFiRkkBn-9EBcm2pJctQCwAnuOOg/s720/the-7th-hunt-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="720" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ73n4Gdpr3vpOFHtDVJhc5tpKHxaIu9cF0AsEr12S45DJAytjoLN-D73Muo_Vud3Gr82tBiu_1yOnnEPbDQD1P3y9l1MITgxT1Xwx4c4bpMJ0KMtVanihzDioY5RRz9lAHSFNzOlKR1KKCV4W36N8AA2WQaMxL6tDFiRkkBn-9EBcm2pJctQCwAnuOOg/s320/the-7th-hunt-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The twist at this particular iteration of the game is that the soon-to-be-victims are loosely connected as classmates of "The Inquisitor", a former huntee who survived her game and now gets to play with the rest. On the menu are a sleazeball named Ricky, rich snob Sarah, deaf runner Ariel, her goth sister Callie, and Callie's computer expert buddy Chris.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENYqmiW63hhJexae3JtrnY5HRHwb5TP2-VL0Jqm-a886e26lgIWem1r5SIkhoeuXZt9qdmcuOhu0NNsElrwPk2hDgfgFXmc7_Oy3STzJo-MKcvepWntYevP5O3alWMFLyD0i3ax_5k-kfveWCcypkQJzgQoSRbKyHPuaiAoWkW1olXQ1TJ8m08V-f4AE/s720/the-7th-hunt-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="720" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENYqmiW63hhJexae3JtrnY5HRHwb5TP2-VL0Jqm-a886e26lgIWem1r5SIkhoeuXZt9qdmcuOhu0NNsElrwPk2hDgfgFXmc7_Oy3STzJo-MKcvepWntYevP5O3alWMFLyD0i3ax_5k-kfveWCcypkQJzgQoSRbKyHPuaiAoWkW1olXQ1TJ8m08V-f4AE/s320/the-7th-hunt-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The killers aren't that much more interesting. There's the big bad: a boring rich man. His daughter is a marginally more watchable martial arts expert. There's also a mysterious "sniper", cruel hacker, and sadistic ex-military guy trying to channel his inner Mick Taylor. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7Yo-POg1nV-0FsVordEpy4v1r0qsUmnUiCzVyxAF89RfsEx9uTLTZErIgDk2OkAAThZO6xKNEdTMKc2ruxjmzRkCqypMTsD7fpUZ0p7OsTb5ZDH6qymDZ_13aQqdJF8xsi6z1wk0HyLMGC6swTzGrKNOKRD7aX__RBq0s96NZfbS20ZMuemu6dFthnU/s566/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-03%20at%205.07.50%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="566" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7Yo-POg1nV-0FsVordEpy4v1r0qsUmnUiCzVyxAF89RfsEx9uTLTZErIgDk2OkAAThZO6xKNEdTMKc2ruxjmzRkCqypMTsD7fpUZ0p7OsTb5ZDH6qymDZ_13aQqdJF8xsi6z1wk0HyLMGC6swTzGrKNOKRD7aX__RBq0s96NZfbS20ZMuemu6dFthnU/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-03%20at%205.07.50%20PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Surprised? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Written and directed by Jon Cohen, <i>The Hunt </i>(or <i>The 7th Hunt, </i>depending on where you see it) isn't terrible. It's just kind of nothing. You can't expect more from a low budget horror that came out of the grimy ashes of the post-<i>Saw</i> era wildfires. It would just have been nice to have found something. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgK5ma-3oipTF4yvo2WyM1V5n0w3okbTeVWErt1rTh0GITVOJS2Lqk4sl3NnVNjUkRoBlSNsZbo_RbAAA9bm8jxfO5-rLVUZWakLeQitijyuJsNlNwa0acB-ht9IYZydHd8KX8tBai91r6wIM_titrm76ms27zk8XpVEzhwt_JAQYrtQkeL9-XYAe4Fo/s300/p8589898_i_h10_ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgK5ma-3oipTF4yvo2WyM1V5n0w3okbTeVWErt1rTh0GITVOJS2Lqk4sl3NnVNjUkRoBlSNsZbo_RbAAA9bm8jxfO5-rLVUZWakLeQitijyuJsNlNwa0acB-ht9IYZydHd8KX8tBai91r6wIM_titrm76ms27zk8XpVEzhwt_JAQYrtQkeL9-XYAe4Fo/s1600/p8589898_i_h10_ab.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As you expect in this kind of story, one of the targets is a rich blond snob, but surprisingly, she ends up making for the most sympathetic victim. If only we had more of her</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq4ViuqRBK9VphiU25l6cYMkqJfeWshP5UW-jtWD4Jm7x9BKIiTKXJftQ5jM60PYNQU0-KWDBJogX9wHYRVOQd-ZWHk_Kd5lMS85hSz8Vb8tnC1fruAtLLdC0gA_jwVEdFTrt9rUrDGvPtolB7Tv5INFKapJNp6x2gyhss3rsGlqf8249QlSVXsdjNl0/s1280/MV5BNjEwY2NlYWYtM2RkNS00YTE1LWJiOTQtZjZjNTNhYTJlMTFlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDIwNTUxMg@@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVq4ViuqRBK9VphiU25l6cYMkqJfeWshP5UW-jtWD4Jm7x9BKIiTKXJftQ5jM60PYNQU0-KWDBJogX9wHYRVOQd-ZWHk_Kd5lMS85hSz8Vb8tnC1fruAtLLdC0gA_jwVEdFTrt9rUrDGvPtolB7Tv5INFKapJNp6x2gyhss3rsGlqf8249QlSVXsdjNl0/s320/MV5BNjEwY2NlYWYtM2RkNS00YTE1LWJiOTQtZjZjNTNhYTJlMTFlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMDIwNTUxMg@@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Most of the running time</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">When trying to escape from a violent man, the best exit is to run straight into his chest</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Finger count doesn't correlate with ball size</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTfqDQgEdbagEuuHtzogqRQoWYrcT7ebopXA3MvNpMLHNNvrpnG4X-kemyby5Qi1VYz6j3fLzffiqIb5RBrCKQA9oi38RQ9K2cf0_AIfENefPqtohnSfUnjOsTtzL1uLb-uOjsHc2SUXEjUDugpHjYctCHSOwU7argjfUHCy8I8bzVmDui4_1XVeAZkA/s619/007135_619x464_677816_020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="619" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxTfqDQgEdbagEuuHtzogqRQoWYrcT7ebopXA3MvNpMLHNNvrpnG4X-kemyby5Qi1VYz6j3fLzffiqIb5RBrCKQA9oi38RQ9K2cf0_AIfENefPqtohnSfUnjOsTtzL1uLb-uOjsHc2SUXEjUDugpHjYctCHSOwU7argjfUHCy8I8bzVmDui4_1XVeAZkA/s320/007135_619x464_677816_020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Lunacy pays well</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Eh, <i>The Hunt</i> is far from the worst thing to come out of that ugly 2009 era of torture-y horror, but boy, remember how rough that era was? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOymrD2ZRFrj0Ne0cgzSOu_Z2C3il_d5k3KpLYF0ixemST-3DW8rg63vc5WXe4I9lZTOyOgAeFU9ynlCaXX-XjexJB8ANuHRBrdGWptIkGsGp8crLI3ZoiyhHlQbGsKL9RShKLwFI8thZKYyr2A_Wp9IpzAHfNcQJT5g1HniOSuiZXhReUKZkEWUbNRO4/s320/mqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOymrD2ZRFrj0Ne0cgzSOu_Z2C3il_d5k3KpLYF0ixemST-3DW8rg63vc5WXe4I9lZTOyOgAeFU9ynlCaXX-XjexJB8ANuHRBrdGWptIkGsGp8crLI3ZoiyhHlQbGsKL9RShKLwFI8thZKYyr2A_Wp9IpzAHfNcQJT5g1HniOSuiZXhReUKZkEWUbNRO4/s1600/mqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-73346993186420043622023-10-16T06:00:00.001-04:002023-10-16T06:00:00.150-04:00Angel of Muzak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjYsgl5LfOiO6yUxXFFMrcsgjwMiVRS-h3cGxwTw2FcxbSXKDfIRxl1AzIqnCavxSJNqmTiRiE3rjmmIGXjFzsGLKld4Fkqw_BeWCHD2mkdoz95ia1KD0cwd8Hy6PHdmNgA4AxFq17KQ8baYoYDMgGQ8Ds-kEMr4H8AjYiqkpleE3fwQYcNQoeEWg_Mg/s343/PhantomOfTheMall-EricsRevenge-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjYsgl5LfOiO6yUxXFFMrcsgjwMiVRS-h3cGxwTw2FcxbSXKDfIRxl1AzIqnCavxSJNqmTiRiE3rjmmIGXjFzsGLKld4Fkqw_BeWCHD2mkdoz95ia1KD0cwd8Hy6PHdmNgA4AxFq17KQ8baYoYDMgGQ8Ds-kEMr4H8AjYiqkpleE3fwQYcNQoeEWg_Mg/s320/PhantomOfTheMall-EricsRevenge-300.jpg" width="205" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222;"><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've spent most of my adult life assuming I'd seen<i> Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge</i>, mostly because it was so often summoned in conversations as "you know, that '80s mall horror movie with the escalator death." The number of conversations I've had where I just continued talking about <i><b><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/escalator-kisses.html">The Kiss </a></b></i>(the OTHER '80s mall horror movie with an escalator death), never realizing there were TWO '80s mall horror movies with escalator deaths, well, in hindsight, there were a lot of miscommunication.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvboBF4JdZy6UsUfFE_OBVXJDe5ScuNm-yHLmftBt7kOk1dCxGCfscQyVaEN54fJ96uniRSHKB_bQVBtnItUbWfxsA1WR86_CdjiGXff7wfZMpC_Jri0eao93wmytCBCm2QDqg-7KaTpo9hGYM985lkgkW46n_Yl8LhfPsR1_ea1HsSvrjIYwWUkIcWY/s500/Erics-Revenge-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBvboBF4JdZy6UsUfFE_OBVXJDe5ScuNm-yHLmftBt7kOk1dCxGCfscQyVaEN54fJ96uniRSHKB_bQVBtnItUbWfxsA1WR86_CdjiGXff7wfZMpC_Jri0eao93wmytCBCm2QDqg-7KaTpo9hGYM985lkgkW46n_Yl8LhfPsR1_ea1HsSvrjIYwWUkIcWY/s320/Erics-Revenge-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot:</b> The town of Midwood's long nightmare of shopping in the rain has come to an end. There's a new mall opening!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIR06IKhamehbL5AitQZPlBQfDvs8wQP-sU4ltu41cDCr1NeCaPuzmfqnXZJKgSxCDDxfFcvYu8SSmCMB3qwAucVBZwkknhd4VUx5CVYa8Hdkc3cbcrr_LRymbbSg0upx5u_PrrYvZPyOBwIVnptqITDHyJiiKwvv_hof-fxbokhY2ZV-e9dWgXwIfqTM/s1920/phantommall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIR06IKhamehbL5AitQZPlBQfDvs8wQP-sU4ltu41cDCr1NeCaPuzmfqnXZJKgSxCDDxfFcvYu8SSmCMB3qwAucVBZwkknhd4VUx5CVYa8Hdkc3cbcrr_LRymbbSg0upx5u_PrrYvZPyOBwIVnptqITDHyJiiKwvv_hof-fxbokhY2ZV-e9dWgXwIfqTM/s320/phantommall2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The teens scoop up part-time jobs, while mayor Morgan Fairchild struts around with a multi-tiered perm and even bigger shoulder pads to match her confidence in capitalism. There's new fashion on sale and arcades to roam. Pauly Shore serves frozen yogurt with sides of gross props because in the '80s, it was a requirement for any goofy dark-haired sidekick to love horror prop humor. Things are going so well that nobody REALLY notices how some of the mall's more immorally minded employees are turning up dead in wild ways.<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC_MTN_dVC0iKAE7g3b7nVF0SanfHHL-9cyQ3BpW0DiswIS-R89WXiCnRLLtWXSV0UcrXmhdcpsPaa_3nCT7QDX03CR-yiytkc3yJUI-Qi0kl1UbbkynzXTNpm7m-1lVwK3OXSBgEidMvg6hjUbPyByp2j1WbO0cplJVEw4b_hS7VkB5ahE-owjWBx-s/s728/24510_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="728" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC_MTN_dVC0iKAE7g3b7nVF0SanfHHL-9cyQ3BpW0DiswIS-R89WXiCnRLLtWXSV0UcrXmhdcpsPaa_3nCT7QDX03CR-yiytkc3yJUI-Qi0kl1UbbkynzXTNpm7m-1lVwK3OXSBgEidMvg6hjUbPyByp2j1WbO0cplJVEw4b_hS7VkB5ahE-owjWBx-s/s320/24510_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Mall restaurant Melody and local newspaper photographer Peter are the exception. Melody is already on edge, having recently lost her beloved boyfriend Eric to a mysterious fire. Eric was a fine young man who happened to live on property needed for the mall's construction. Surely there was no connection!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4UVvTKBcxt_TzrBNWdWi3WnQUeQaaTf5Mn0O3Y3FxZ1b1wZ3Vw-9HeBrfljxSTUhnoVvQcEyh6Cs2ED11CnZCUf_j16Xed6SQDYQINJ2YXOg39MKRiutk_kEhNLokbEfDvWwTToy1F0KtR0jViVA3uRnZHSbvI9d9kr47dhBKR4RYp0tTrvsZE3Hd58/s646/Phantom%20of%20the%20mall%20erics%20revenge%201989%20movie%20pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="646" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-4UVvTKBcxt_TzrBNWdWi3WnQUeQaaTf5Mn0O3Y3FxZ1b1wZ3Vw-9HeBrfljxSTUhnoVvQcEyh6Cs2ED11CnZCUf_j16Xed6SQDYQINJ2YXOg39MKRiutk_kEhNLokbEfDvWwTToy1F0KtR0jViVA3uRnZHSbvI9d9kr47dhBKR4RYp0tTrvsZE3Hd58/s320/Phantom%20of%20the%20mall%20erics%20revenge%201989%20movie%20pic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A cobra-in-the-bathroom bite, skateboard accident, and of course, impalement by miniature scaled model of mall later, and we have one very satisfied Emily. I don't know much about its origins (the screenplay is credited to <i>Friday the 13th: The Series </i>alumni Scott Schnied and Tony Michelman, Frederick R. Ulrich, and eventual <i>Evil/The Good Wife</i> showrunner Robert King), but director Richard Friedman seems to be having a LOT of fun. There are even hints of a pre-<i>Josie & the Pussycats</i> subliminal capitalist messaging. All this in the same mall set used for <i>Chopping Mall</i>? You can't get me to Shudder fast enough. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDC-qJfyBVoAuiEKZiC1B3ahqNq00S50c4wLSRApTK3_AJLbsijdufFY5rXKZ0-eZFvxt9Fqc11U7jJufNUjHVojtrJFwI49CeB5Bq_6nYZqPWP5Zvubb74-ltAH559cvNeNdjTGmJRA5a31gLwVxd-W1NE7xk3H2DWCe7NHNBOaB6uKcwTRIqXt51as/s450/Phantom-of-the-mall-erics-revenge-1989-movie-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="450" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSDC-qJfyBVoAuiEKZiC1B3ahqNq00S50c4wLSRApTK3_AJLbsijdufFY5rXKZ0-eZFvxt9Fqc11U7jJufNUjHVojtrJFwI49CeB5Bq_6nYZqPWP5Zvubb74-ltAH559cvNeNdjTGmJRA5a31gLwVxd-W1NE7xk3H2DWCe7NHNBOaB6uKcwTRIqXt51as/s320/Phantom-of-the-mall-erics-revenge-1989-movie-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't know that I've ever been so enthused by a CAR CHASE in an '80s horror film, but when you toss pedestrians in the way in an indoor mall parking garage, I am IN</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The ingenue is rarely the most layered character in any story (particularly one with "Phantom" in the title) and while Kari Whitman is appealingly sweet as Melody, the film never gives her enough time or complexity. Her declaration of being in love with Peter comes out of nowhere, which is a shame when there certainly was an opportunity to explore what it means to move on from modified widowdom</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkfxpMoB0UI4OWhhbIhZk7ehm1hquBoiJPybccz8p9q3_k3v_UpdrmkawWtIgv8tfD7Gjed_NreemZeVPeGwUF9VHkWMYHFC2S5NGfk7pGwFq-eZtnWAUylWo-nKe18FovoNrKInFJLLDIvcnj4zJuqpQ-JYnUHCYBwQS1-AVTPT7NDGI_R2blGNR4tE/s1920/MV5BMTQyMDgxOGMtYjlkNC00NWYwLWJhMTgtZWI0MTBkODE2Y2NkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI4MTk2NzMz._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1920" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkfxpMoB0UI4OWhhbIhZk7ehm1hquBoiJPybccz8p9q3_k3v_UpdrmkawWtIgv8tfD7Gjed_NreemZeVPeGwUF9VHkWMYHFC2S5NGfk7pGwFq-eZtnWAUylWo-nKe18FovoNrKInFJLLDIvcnj4zJuqpQ-JYnUHCYBwQS1-AVTPT7NDGI_R2blGNR4tE/s320/MV5BMTQyMDgxOGMtYjlkNC00NWYwLWJhMTgtZWI0MTBkODE2Y2NkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTI4MTk2NzMz._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A reporter's instincts can get out of hand quickly</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUv6W8xedWHl6DRGReVxZwzW79T8Ol6jEBecTGsHIiMg0EuqXXWtjdyuu-8zN_yoamxjXeup5ixZNvqJMIf16KJA57huk4pfXhKd7bI22wynzVDVF2PdOvCQ8Ze_UG_OIRNRdjS-JcYa8jGVnga-vvwUxnGEnvTlCZhqsJg0TcrujOat6dPcDu1ICB04/s266/images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="189" data-original-width="266" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRUv6W8xedWHl6DRGReVxZwzW79T8Ol6jEBecTGsHIiMg0EuqXXWtjdyuu-8zN_yoamxjXeup5ixZNvqJMIf16KJA57huk4pfXhKd7bI22wynzVDVF2PdOvCQ8Ze_UG_OIRNRdjS-JcYa8jGVnga-vvwUxnGEnvTlCZhqsJg0TcrujOat6dPcDu1ICB04/s1600/images-2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Removing a body from a cemetery is both illegal AND sacrilegious</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0lQ0knu1_BDbBZvCVyDP-MsxbET42fo0G0-ZVazfVcCA1s65H2meLrCLL1LrNLnueMFy2v0LeMd_PHKxPOY0Gw9o2wVnkiRljyAzGQMWEFu2o_GG5DvrmfzjMLiPp4pSo1QDCqLKiRDor5G-T0KNKW0D40jd2RG-RogPRin4OvuMm9Pp2dJFW1X1S48/s305/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="305" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0lQ0knu1_BDbBZvCVyDP-MsxbET42fo0G0-ZVazfVcCA1s65H2meLrCLL1LrNLnueMFy2v0LeMd_PHKxPOY0Gw9o2wVnkiRljyAzGQMWEFu2o_GG5DvrmfzjMLiPp4pSo1QDCqLKiRDor5G-T0KNKW0D40jd2RG-RogPRin4OvuMm9Pp2dJFW1X1S48/s1600/images.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Major stockholder means major profit</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvS2sd_9QV_OCwUKXpWlU1k1iH0zOYhNbmYD8YoG8FBWX-RowDLBDcoOBIUeEHgX9JdjI139ctgDDLqozsU-GKBnAnT-AxTxXE417GDmTtS8p_Faz_oK8X7HxJ0yTvkEvdcZraPBb5LxsoUL81B04gV_DJdNOQH2Ri-4dO1TGdh_NcjLlU4nGsXnw_E/s949/MV5BMDI1NTIwNzctNzNiNC00ZWRjLTliZDgtMTdmYjEzMmFlM2VmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="949" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_hvS2sd_9QV_OCwUKXpWlU1k1iH0zOYhNbmYD8YoG8FBWX-RowDLBDcoOBIUeEHgX9JdjI139ctgDDLqozsU-GKBnAnT-AxTxXE417GDmTtS8p_Faz_oK8X7HxJ0yTvkEvdcZraPBb5LxsoUL81B04gV_DJdNOQH2Ri-4dO1TGdh_NcjLlU4nGsXnw_E/s320/MV5BMDI1NTIwNzctNzNiNC00ZWRjLTliZDgtMTdmYjEzMmFlM2VmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Golly did I have fun with this one! It's got everything you want in an '80s mall-set horror film, including Morgan Fairchild in a cobalt blue sequined V-neck evening gown. Have at it!</span></div><div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRp4oxk8x7vFaiDcD40PzfM_NQhNn-txKNOeDsYaZlbfTCbnA-Fu2JS88zVUyl84v-rS9zLPZIwIcrWBeRavKK-tJnhXqXVMECf-Cmddj1pAo4vw_mVNKG7XaILB1_pvXDMc0PzDNnU-A2MSrn2D_8nh5aC4ayujB297rBseOPfV6O8cDcv0-l1x7smE/s1280/tumblr_owbbzsWIHR1shzkwno3_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoRp4oxk8x7vFaiDcD40PzfM_NQhNn-txKNOeDsYaZlbfTCbnA-Fu2JS88zVUyl84v-rS9zLPZIwIcrWBeRavKK-tJnhXqXVMECf-Cmddj1pAo4vw_mVNKG7XaILB1_pvXDMc0PzDNnU-A2MSrn2D_8nh5aC4ayujB297rBseOPfV6O8cDcv0-l1x7smE/s320/tumblr_owbbzsWIHR1shzkwno3_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-61324969765449136322023-10-09T06:00:00.001-04:002023-10-09T06:00:00.140-04:00The Brides of CPAP-Ula<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ780YSxOJjzE8z9ZcOcmR-V_BmzxUJw9GcT3m_D60ZZXoc5v463jGqfVf7Hr_1gwcdPr-NzQam95nwlzS7lHGZkTSJGXsj0bXPYsBhyQHuJQyoYNHUEYtzKfqIe0q-ecBfg_tzHADz_jZuPylxCKczODswPhfoOJsudXjZkURCROcYuZ7A1AdjdnW8Cw/s1162/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-03%20at%204.15.09%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="760" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ780YSxOJjzE8z9ZcOcmR-V_BmzxUJw9GcT3m_D60ZZXoc5v463jGqfVf7Hr_1gwcdPr-NzQam95nwlzS7lHGZkTSJGXsj0bXPYsBhyQHuJQyoYNHUEYtzKfqIe0q-ecBfg_tzHADz_jZuPylxCKczODswPhfoOJsudXjZkURCROcYuZ7A1AdjdnW8Cw/s320/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-03%20at%204.15.09%20PM.png" width="209" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hotels are such a natural setting for horror that it's kind of shocking we don't get more. Maybe it's the intimidation factor of <i>The Shining</i>, a ghost that hangs over virtually any hospitality-themed genre flick. One solution? Lean into it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot: </b>Ruthie (<i>GLOW</i>'s Gayle Rankin) has inherited an independent hotel somewhere in upstate New York from her grandmother, who deliberately skipped over Ruthie's mysterious and by accounts, incredibly irresponsible mother. Ruthie would be happy to sell the property and move on but her girlfriend Cal convinces her to at least consider the esteemed role of hotel proprietorship. Deep in emotional debt to the loyal Cal, Ruthie agrees to take a second look.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwL0lwR_vPBKI-qPqcXor3ppBbflfN6_A0chg-4npp4SFIERceHARwiwXB-UV_ojQwqDClS3RzVUl2dRXApbHdBlRF3_Z_4yoLE2sYKOuceR-LsQppWBJ7httbBjidNW-Hl29nvaq-WtsbLTs-qSbnicTd95T0bjUx4Z1JlcY9szNsGy1_729r9c_2EhU/s1200/bad-things-feature.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwL0lwR_vPBKI-qPqcXor3ppBbflfN6_A0chg-4npp4SFIERceHARwiwXB-UV_ojQwqDClS3RzVUl2dRXApbHdBlRF3_Z_4yoLE2sYKOuceR-LsQppWBJ7httbBjidNW-Hl29nvaq-WtsbLTs-qSbnicTd95T0bjUx4Z1JlcY9szNsGy1_729r9c_2EhU/s320/bad-things-feature.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The weather is cold and the Ubers limited, but Ruthie and Cal bring along Maddie (inconveniently Cal's ex) who in turn brings Fran (even MORE inconveniently the woman Ruthie recently cheated with) to spend a weekend surveying the possibilities while also utilizing two commercial kitchens and an indoor swimming pool.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTTzNcnWCgyKT3471WP6UB3VtfunQb_NkbOik6_iNMygalzGlGIEDTcnB0yqb93_ZVSdSUmCXBkKP812YecCYivP1VajXjnlqRs60yWEuYaQwBYJOmF1ropRShWC-aOkrd_0Fu9FUWBqpmrzwdj1jWbX9RbVLlnIxPTbXDqrqjNJWUUNoo5PkbIdnPnc/s980/gayle-rankin-and-annabelle-dexter-jones-in-stewart-thorndikes-bad-things.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="980" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTTzNcnWCgyKT3471WP6UB3VtfunQb_NkbOik6_iNMygalzGlGIEDTcnB0yqb93_ZVSdSUmCXBkKP812YecCYivP1VajXjnlqRs60yWEuYaQwBYJOmF1ropRShWC-aOkrd_0Fu9FUWBqpmrzwdj1jWbX9RbVLlnIxPTbXDqrqjNJWUUNoo5PkbIdnPnc/s320/gayle-rankin-and-annabelle-dexter-jones-in-stewart-thorndikes-bad-things.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Tangled former lovers aside, it really does sound like the perfect holiday.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Naturally, things go very, very wrong. <br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EzrEUbUs1gHSyzwbAl7kWRljcQ-WbGCECBhKx3N7-xqv-hiwP6Bv5fGbH8zdzutxcqey5ArZtiGu2wQa3mReCBkKPGtObN9LXAUSRBrewzAs7Z7UDIbVVDstGMU0UYf5wgD5c68w1OYmblA3_irVuvCrEZQBDVeJYYVw9T_Lq68Fgu2p_UwZ43SR1nE/s320/724312_m1690893310.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="320" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5EzrEUbUs1gHSyzwbAl7kWRljcQ-WbGCECBhKx3N7-xqv-hiwP6Bv5fGbH8zdzutxcqey5ArZtiGu2wQa3mReCBkKPGtObN9LXAUSRBrewzAs7Z7UDIbVVDstGMU0UYf5wgD5c68w1OYmblA3_irVuvCrEZQBDVeJYYVw9T_Lq68Fgu2p_UwZ43SR1nE/s1600/724312_m1690893310.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Are the ghosts of the reasonable amount of people who died in Comely Suites haunting the quartet? Is Fran a witch? Ruthie a chainsaw-wielding maniac? Molly Ringwald's TED-Talking hospitality guru pulling the strings?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0ZEjhURO_Q4gJQTvryziPWl9jii0B1f2VvAEL3pjamuFlAHfnYJaLhV3NXidSfoN3bml0MiyoVbgdAYsQdeDPB1_oet9eTz5Hu8cp3LFGfvkLsfyj3n7jmdHnpGlkHdpm8tRAJ9gbiq3d7zGSKiSM-XYD5eLwtDONtQB2miH_wsDnXiUoPW2Kn1br3s/s1200/molly-ringwald.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0ZEjhURO_Q4gJQTvryziPWl9jii0B1f2VvAEL3pjamuFlAHfnYJaLhV3NXidSfoN3bml0MiyoVbgdAYsQdeDPB1_oet9eTz5Hu8cp3LFGfvkLsfyj3n7jmdHnpGlkHdpm8tRAJ9gbiq3d7zGSKiSM-XYD5eLwtDONtQB2miH_wsDnXiUoPW2Kn1br3s/s320/molly-ringwald.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Many questions are asked in writer/director Stewart Thorndike's<i> Bad Things,</i> and pretty much all of them go defiantly unanswered. This is a film that seems fully aware that it's not going to satisfy most viewers with its aggressively ambiguous finale. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A bad ending doesn't necessarily ruin a film. I'll recommend <b><i><a href="http://deadlydollshouse.blogspot.com/2012/01/somewhere-over-rainbow-you-might-go.html">Yellowbrickroad</a></i></b> until my dying breath knowing full well it leaves everyone (me included) scratching their heads in the final seconds. But in the case of <i>Bad Things,</i> the confusion is so wild that it's pretty impossible to find any kind of satisfaction. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6EWKrrViubAjCk33tAWD2nbzwsHHYFOLM016mxHcfVerVskgEWath-B6wP5Zq_OodwjhdtnhNPfX46PrUlr6TUEaIP48slNWeKqzZ3gZ5edlauy3ua96AfQxcosTk18MbPjUFE9D6g8753kaqPLoA81A5bQRlnEboazAj5wgmeKf3FUuTP-w2eABCiQ/s1755/BAD-THINGS-Still-5-1755x900.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1755" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6EWKrrViubAjCk33tAWD2nbzwsHHYFOLM016mxHcfVerVskgEWath-B6wP5Zq_OodwjhdtnhNPfX46PrUlr6TUEaIP48slNWeKqzZ3gZ5edlauy3ua96AfQxcosTk18MbPjUFE9D6g8753kaqPLoA81A5bQRlnEboazAj5wgmeKf3FUuTP-w2eABCiQ/s320/BAD-THINGS-Still-5-1755x900.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I don't think that's an accident on Thorndike's part. I just don't understand the choice. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It may have been the large empty unit surrounded by still snow, but I found myself thinking a lot about Oz Perkins' <i>The Blackcoat's Daughter</i>. It's another film that does tremendous things with a sort of cold (literally AND figuratively) atmosphere but never seems to find the human throughline to connect the audience to the material. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3HS4p3wKNOqsFp7myF6girUqJbLB4kzwSlwabsCTs1Sd9xZQVf5TJk39HSZ8lN_tMhOR8AWpGBQoKvqaeG71Jk__TYICXpBgxG5WB_JVTPJqf1M9WZQwFJX6MKw3xGJCBq30P-a3VM3930DC3If_HXh_xNuAzuwbem7-V5G8D68C1oyuDm9zQqhyMl0/s640/BadThings_FS_10.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL3HS4p3wKNOqsFp7myF6girUqJbLB4kzwSlwabsCTs1Sd9xZQVf5TJk39HSZ8lN_tMhOR8AWpGBQoKvqaeG71Jk__TYICXpBgxG5WB_JVTPJqf1M9WZQwFJX6MKw3xGJCBq30P-a3VM3930DC3If_HXh_xNuAzuwbem7-V5G8D68C1oyuDm9zQqhyMl0/s320/BadThings_FS_10.webp" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Bad Things</i> is a frustrating film, perhaps all the more so because I'm pretty sure it's SUPPOSED to be. Normally that would make me mad (and it doesn't NOT make me mad) but there's enough strangeness in the details of <i>Bad Things </i>that I wasn't, well, IRATE. I know that's a terribly unclear summation, but in some ways, it's probably the best I can do. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZTMWC405c-jkqbDvES_WWzQuYiNJRN2C0gs-8A6DqBBSV8-LvC86cpdd4P1vGSuV7hcZmVSUwsol90y06TATthzyPEYHEFMkLmbOQxWAmMBr4HMT1VHXH-twJEEeB1FrmwAlw6rUF-uv2YUe1jMMTaA20U9_UX9bnIoctpulplZLtoFIFcrHoiMtiss/s283/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="283" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZTMWC405c-jkqbDvES_WWzQuYiNJRN2C0gs-8A6DqBBSV8-LvC86cpdd4P1vGSuV7hcZmVSUwsol90y06TATthzyPEYHEFMkLmbOQxWAmMBr4HMT1VHXH-twJEEeB1FrmwAlw6rUF-uv2YUe1jMMTaA20U9_UX9bnIoctpulplZLtoFIFcrHoiMtiss/s1600/images-1.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So many hotel-based horror films seem to rely on the natural creepiness of Victorian style turrets or easy colonial ghosts, but there's a whole different sense of unease here in Comely Suites. The walls are muted pink, the paintings generic, bedcovers stiff...there's a lot of eeriness to mine in the utter blandness of this kind of space, and Thorndike and her production team make the most of it</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4YWBae6Cgry7txKTjZHLFp7NKoaVv6I-YbIN_puPQukDX8Lf5uq34aDqZ8MPTKfew_f23uJ1bWhyERa_Cyjm1NiTECzqlQZfp--XtD4Smj8ybjsmUGFsJzcNslL0ZaWhQNgGoIgTYoJToRQVNfwzIO-zWkvHni7VUWwOlmp_7O6y98qZ6oa_mnoCva8/s1800/BAD-THINGS-Still-7.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4YWBae6Cgry7txKTjZHLFp7NKoaVv6I-YbIN_puPQukDX8Lf5uq34aDqZ8MPTKfew_f23uJ1bWhyERa_Cyjm1NiTECzqlQZfp--XtD4Smj8ybjsmUGFsJzcNslL0ZaWhQNgGoIgTYoJToRQVNfwzIO-zWkvHni7VUWwOlmp_7O6y98qZ6oa_mnoCva8/s320/BAD-THINGS-Still-7.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Seriously: what actually happened in these 90 minutes?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky90yHdb1ftcVs-SekPjk5trBUF6vcLY589CnmEdA31tgTduWGU_gSxtEIpBUGe3VqHrr15fHb-RChzNXgcCnckW-hC7iml1WU2V-5H9ZWonMyZBrnxAmeEeUQeiJCPpUI_3x6HnFw665R0C-gis-oH3jwlTEbJQ-LopC7vaW7es7oTkfoTl_Fp-sHuc/s313/724310_m1690892765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="313" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjky90yHdb1ftcVs-SekPjk5trBUF6vcLY589CnmEdA31tgTduWGU_gSxtEIpBUGe3VqHrr15fHb-RChzNXgcCnckW-hC7iml1WU2V-5H9ZWonMyZBrnxAmeEeUQeiJCPpUI_3x6HnFw665R0C-gis-oH3jwlTEbJQ-LopC7vaW7es7oTkfoTl_Fp-sHuc/s1600/724310_m1690892765.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span><div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Fatherly and flirty is not the sexy combination you think it is<br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq_BfP169fA5zAVWlgXSUA_GTun7wO0_BaLsu0nQdarJ20AHaIyIBHtqeVCAfmg0BpBj8U6et1PLfjlJbGv4M1t_NUsCSomdNpyUNaayykgD1CkJ0aQUXcIUgIZStgAn4uu3wz8FUjz7s8-PaRB7LV3DetYuLUH54zra1-3qcw1FJjVZRB_IjQUbNiuE/s275/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbq_BfP169fA5zAVWlgXSUA_GTun7wO0_BaLsu0nQdarJ20AHaIyIBHtqeVCAfmg0BpBj8U6et1PLfjlJbGv4M1t_NUsCSomdNpyUNaayykgD1CkJ0aQUXcIUgIZStgAn4uu3wz8FUjz7s8-PaRB7LV3DetYuLUH54zra1-3qcw1FJjVZRB_IjQUbNiuE/s1600/download.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">More often than not, it doesn't pay to stay friends with your ex</span></p><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaw2fS6HyPtBcNvY2ZnVdghSQW_AWDYx1YnNcKP3npekzhHOrb1dDb611xVCQqapeh-ZJRjOch5kb-JLPjT2R2eduxhaX_33DQGHEm1dxICldiUusN0jtke4qlIV13zjkis-VE21_Sy1kbbMSryJBd9fZljdYr4TGJQPCdABq3ftAo0vDGBLWpUETEb8/s600/full_BAD_THINGS-01-Clean-16x9-1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaw2fS6HyPtBcNvY2ZnVdghSQW_AWDYx1YnNcKP3npekzhHOrb1dDb611xVCQqapeh-ZJRjOch5kb-JLPjT2R2eduxhaX_33DQGHEm1dxICldiUusN0jtke4qlIV13zjkis-VE21_Sy1kbbMSryJBd9fZljdYr4TGJQPCdABq3ftAo0vDGBLWpUETEb8/s320/full_BAD_THINGS-01-Clean-16x9-1.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hospitality is an experience, not a space</span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwDZMbOHJQXbcwM9p1hLXepbjNmnAXRN1r7UY9nE8_iOBhbPIxY7uA7HGLIpntmJtS-9KdympaErkxZS-07ykmMk1tFAXyvHENOG_rp55rU-PlVO3oU-qlULkNfnCzvfVKfvzaUiQdL-2ndhoXH9oUH8xBowXeFVN3ggE78nvTSMyrRk9-oUcxcb4_b4/s1999/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1692023584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1999" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwDZMbOHJQXbcwM9p1hLXepbjNmnAXRN1r7UY9nE8_iOBhbPIxY7uA7HGLIpntmJtS-9KdympaErkxZS-07ykmMk1tFAXyvHENOG_rp55rU-PlVO3oU-qlULkNfnCzvfVKfvzaUiQdL-2ndhoXH9oUH8xBowXeFVN3ggE78nvTSMyrRk9-oUcxcb4_b4/s320/images-1.fill.size_2000x1124.v1692023584.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></p><p style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Overall, I can't say I liked <i>Bad Things,</i> but I continue to find it intriguing. There's definitely something THERE, though ultimately, the movie seems content to not give it to us. I can't particularly recommend it, but I'd be more than happy to hear someone who got more from the film speak for it. As you might guess, it's streaming on Shudder.</span></p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1003758772971289930.post-9728893072960908692023-10-02T06:00:00.001-04:002023-10-02T06:00:00.138-04:00Maybe the Biologist Ate Your Baby<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXv6CuTZZXyPPH9ofQa2U8uLa50CrE6rWLJViLi0FahZ5xKpSNM0DyZ4dQb6VV8Vfp3gCIQs3RQds-Tl0vu5Kb_Tt36wQe3qsIylt-ffyExAolZRFpWFCtUJBB59rdNvYWhpam5-9NSx5fWYm4AwLgwTQvP0vZ9nNHRb9HveO5g9Lu2SmKShRs-Y6-9s/s326/Resurrection_(2022_film).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXv6CuTZZXyPPH9ofQa2U8uLa50CrE6rWLJViLi0FahZ5xKpSNM0DyZ4dQb6VV8Vfp3gCIQs3RQds-Tl0vu5Kb_Tt36wQe3qsIylt-ffyExAolZRFpWFCtUJBB59rdNvYWhpam5-9NSx5fWYm4AwLgwTQvP0vZ9nNHRb9HveO5g9Lu2SmKShRs-Y6-9s/s320/Resurrection_(2022_film).jpg" width="216" /></a></span></div><p></p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Like anyone with a modicum of taste, I will watch anything that stars (or is directed by) Rebecca Hall. She may very well be the best actor of her generation, and thankfully for us, horror continues to be the best place to find rich roles for women. So onward into some dark territory we go!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Quick Plot: </b>Margaret seems to be the model of early middle age success. She's a single mother by choice to a college-bound teen daughter while acing her managerial role in a pharmaceutical research company. She runs hard, dresses well, and has full control over her sexual relationship with a married coworker. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_p4h7WQScVe_w3MzKYa6_JIYEA4ysqac02BoAfDvbayK_cr2i7f1a8opWbhMRG_Ngz-gAABqL-BMMxjavZKOCT8jXYWNbfti074nAQE3nR5PrFcGVO2aVKC_65hE4cdMMnZ38p-o3kZxYi6zkWTpb1CNaqvIoxOdF0TH1OSs4oJ2Bumsp0LxPHrDlGw/s466/h280_51580051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="466" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_p4h7WQScVe_w3MzKYa6_JIYEA4ysqac02BoAfDvbayK_cr2i7f1a8opWbhMRG_Ngz-gAABqL-BMMxjavZKOCT8jXYWNbfti074nAQE3nR5PrFcGVO2aVKC_65hE4cdMMnZ38p-o3kZxYi6zkWTpb1CNaqvIoxOdF0TH1OSs4oJ2Bumsp0LxPHrDlGw/s320/h280_51580051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">But like many characters Rebecca Hall plays, she's also hanging on by a thread.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlFs3yXa8D2nIK8EgjeOPzTC7pUIRUcIxb6KmP3IMBeb5tqO1pBG-RUjsZsbhnOoThdz2mydOdv5KvvGFCpExXYymJ8wnOULDN-u9attJg_B9Q4Xsz9Ua7sx_YG28r9zCPmy7tOx1wiElY4gjRViVl-0qZns090HFbSQANnpjj70cB1DnzyLXPOPf9FY/s1796/MV5BNTEyOTk4YzYtYmE1MC00ZmUwLTliODgtMTZkNzU5OWE0NDA0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="1796" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixlFs3yXa8D2nIK8EgjeOPzTC7pUIRUcIxb6KmP3IMBeb5tqO1pBG-RUjsZsbhnOoThdz2mydOdv5KvvGFCpExXYymJ8wnOULDN-u9attJg_B9Q4Xsz9Ua7sx_YG28r9zCPmy7tOx1wiElY4gjRViVl-0qZns090HFbSQANnpjj70cB1DnzyLXPOPf9FY/s320/MV5BNTEyOTk4YzYtYmE1MC00ZmUwLTliODgtMTZkNzU5OWE0NDA0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's severed when a blast from her past returns: David, the older biologist who wooed her as an impressionable 18-year-old, shows up for a medical conference and instantly throws her back into the nightmare she barely escaped a lifetime ago. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO7NjdBuscuXCeeFBAYZ-qS-lw3yw1KShMoIzYpXZZvMPToh7IzXebaln2BefywXSFq2V4mXkN2jE1Bj-HGtORtfFoHWqtweBueR5d-o1N4llKO_PR_nGukliNDBrtRg5vqrHRt9RplsTq9k6CR1NV2jwIUgiSiemZbV9aOaV5qxI4zRTtVLwiDmhlBA/s1024/resurrection4-1024x614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="1024" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibO7NjdBuscuXCeeFBAYZ-qS-lw3yw1KShMoIzYpXZZvMPToh7IzXebaln2BefywXSFq2V4mXkN2jE1Bj-HGtORtfFoHWqtweBueR5d-o1N4llKO_PR_nGukliNDBrtRg5vqrHRt9RplsTq9k6CR1NV2jwIUgiSiemZbV9aOaV5qxI4zRTtVLwiDmhlBA/s320/resurrection4-1024x614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>Resurrection</i> is one of those movies that is better watched without knowing too much of its story, and to actually describe where the film goes in its second act is meaningless without the otherworldly talents of Rebecca Hall laying it out in a jaw-dropping one-shot 8-minute monologue. It's dark, it's upsetting, and unfortunately for me, it's also a bit unsatisfying.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj195iaaZEwI_KRr0Jguj4r8ZSLfasRgwxLKlM80jfsrKSGbK75c400jUIFUcM2gUP2gBbccwFF2vPcRTobN0Reoy8pxBVq6xw1nfwa51wiZ2P9_YF4SfKJX499StFx1OwosmSxUHvg8z8PgO8hcqmtprt8GsnMTsQ6B3loB7Z6p3Kyumcjneq1GvKSkkw/s466/h280_51580071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="466" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj195iaaZEwI_KRr0Jguj4r8ZSLfasRgwxLKlM80jfsrKSGbK75c400jUIFUcM2gUP2gBbccwFF2vPcRTobN0Reoy8pxBVq6xw1nfwa51wiZ2P9_YF4SfKJX499StFx1OwosmSxUHvg8z8PgO8hcqmtprt8GsnMTsQ6B3loB7Z6p3Kyumcjneq1GvKSkkw/s320/h280_51580071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Before I go into details that involve spoilers, I should say that I don't necessarily NOT recommend <i>Resurrection. </i>It's haunting and unusual in its storytelling, and most importantly, boasts an incredible performance from one of the best actors working today. Also, I'm selfish in wanting to hear more discussion on whether it hit or missed the mark for others, so please, if you DO dive into it (streaming now on Shudder), share your thoughts in the comments. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">So, spoilers ahead.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">My primary issue with <i>Resurrection</i> is one that comes up with a lot of women-not-being-believed stories: based on how I interpreted this one, it seems to be saying this one shouldn't. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfLk3nBAJCJG964y3tT7R8GoZdBp11M_169QYqW6if9vwH8EPwWM8sBodidP-m1SKIR9xN-iqaLV7xVgFuG18I2kBl0MnQLNSBkw3BN8qitwUJGB1XmXBJW4QzehohSpAdqqK7EggqttKh4fQGvXPcQ7xTg4tEP52Aw4Ss8mq9FNKyc7PMZVBKZ0WbCo/s1024/6705831_577245c900f476307b0d98cd961df47c_t.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="1024" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfLk3nBAJCJG964y3tT7R8GoZdBp11M_169QYqW6if9vwH8EPwWM8sBodidP-m1SKIR9xN-iqaLV7xVgFuG18I2kBl0MnQLNSBkw3BN8qitwUJGB1XmXBJW4QzehohSpAdqqK7EggqttKh4fQGvXPcQ7xTg4tEP52Aw4Ss8mq9FNKyc7PMZVBKZ0WbCo/s320/6705831_577245c900f476307b0d98cd961df47c_t.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The film is coy with David's existence, which in itself is a bit maddening. We see no one but Margaret interact with him directly, lending plenty of support to the theory that he's not really in this space at this time, though writer/director Andrew Semans throws a bit of a cheat card with one direct reference to his presence at Margaret's office. Sometimes that kind of ambiguity feels right and even necessary, but in the case of <i>Resurrection,</i> it's just confusing. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4FWNhgtO-_20ztS7Z0aWhbHp_d8YtSDUiLdyxJGiEqzRYCBAkWY6URoUuUupWs5PYlol5Az2GNty7rKT2cx85epPJ02RvPBdGloWnCpLY6AAHfsRvj4a1evw4I0beFCzpdEWheWsm4JGOI0ES9dd2xBBjuRgttP1a44lBGunreSUjDTharbYJyPi4y4/s1200/0d250c1e8f6d47362d26d4b30467445462-ressurection.2x.rsocial.w600.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4FWNhgtO-_20ztS7Z0aWhbHp_d8YtSDUiLdyxJGiEqzRYCBAkWY6URoUuUupWs5PYlol5Az2GNty7rKT2cx85epPJ02RvPBdGloWnCpLY6AAHfsRvj4a1evw4I0beFCzpdEWheWsm4JGOI0ES9dd2xBBjuRgttP1a44lBGunreSUjDTharbYJyPi4y4/s320/0d250c1e8f6d47362d26d4b30467445462-ressurection.2x.rsocial.w600.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">By the time we get to the film's final, violent act, the viewer has to make a choice in their interpretation. Either this is a supernatural tale and Margaret rescues her 22-year-old infant son from her ex's belly, or, certainly more likely, Margaret has had a mental crack spurred on by her daughter's upcoming transition to college, pulling her deep into the well of trauma created long ago by David's abuse and (possible) infanticide. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I've been turning over <i>Resurrection</i> in my head for about a week now, and I do think that with that time, my initial annoyance has softened into more curiosity. Semans is exploring deep and rich territory with the best muse one could ask for. This is a film designed to challenge you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>High Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Rebecca Hall, obviously and forever</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDvv8LM9uhAf4n02IyKtXJRsunqEScRy8lzdBn745ouCS9xf1J_Emb4sb2Am5n0Jo3lUsSp7L1aWVSIsv6xqZVQ3lKHCeorxFbIoRtLOed8QwYFW9g4wmpqQW15LeLrZp-ia_0dOtNjrq24riXHDZifOlGxXWF1HC-nCfRKQNm3bxhZQL1aqdeV9g-pw/s1920/x1080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDvv8LM9uhAf4n02IyKtXJRsunqEScRy8lzdBn745ouCS9xf1J_Emb4sb2Am5n0Jo3lUsSp7L1aWVSIsv6xqZVQ3lKHCeorxFbIoRtLOed8QwYFW9g4wmpqQW15LeLrZp-ia_0dOtNjrq24riXHDZifOlGxXWF1HC-nCfRKQNm3bxhZQL1aqdeV9g-pw/s320/x1080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Low Points</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Aforementioned takeaway message</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicst_1N0Bq78mdTynQp1CfP8ig9vj1OWJSO6NeAOY8RzS2jcjTxAo1Mg6Qh90JxoP6gBqfs2XwrChqSbT3jAoPDhN3-gGt8WNcHvxo3EIQel2rxjbfo-fkN1eJrDifeXfBcSPzEdG48vcE3kK2NhagiBS0K4FLPd6gBxVpdTt0HEmeeADQ0GSU9tcS-A/s388/9c9ad782-6817-438c-8694-229e02df3a84-RESURRECTION_-_USA_Today_Exclusive.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicst_1N0Bq78mdTynQp1CfP8ig9vj1OWJSO6NeAOY8RzS2jcjTxAo1Mg6Qh90JxoP6gBqfs2XwrChqSbT3jAoPDhN3-gGt8WNcHvxo3EIQel2rxjbfo-fkN1eJrDifeXfBcSPzEdG48vcE3kK2NhagiBS0K4FLPd6gBxVpdTt0HEmeeADQ0GSU9tcS-A/s320/9c9ad782-6817-438c-8694-229e02df3a84-RESURRECTION_-_USA_Today_Exclusive.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Lessons Learned</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Wearing a sweatshirt is a sign of weakness</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOUv4__lCYhocqBPA9rKzLW5AVqoR6GixY8-A0UQ1l795bWJSqIfrzt8UC819rezY8FA8-IINx0A6vVTltcIpa2561dy01FohAHLBxkIYowYDeFpaTxMtkswIInrqlBg94eSvYoQMO9QigxhsSjAuNFi0QXm5VcGlR3tbyTG3K5uC-7NP3nShz99X5bQ/s1920/k5bkd7ad63x91.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOUv4__lCYhocqBPA9rKzLW5AVqoR6GixY8-A0UQ1l795bWJSqIfrzt8UC819rezY8FA8-IINx0A6vVTltcIpa2561dy01FohAHLBxkIYowYDeFpaTxMtkswIInrqlBg94eSvYoQMO9QigxhsSjAuNFi0QXm5VcGlR3tbyTG3K5uC-7NP3nShz99X5bQ/s320/k5bkd7ad63x91.png" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Internships, even in the biotech industry, will destroy you</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sperm donors are easy to come by if you have the confidence of a Rebecca Hall</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbEkPlra9AS8vkAdIDrXL8AtOL31PleLheva6yIGOGm-3Qs0qo4Ob1jpI65Y8hLue5k0hEW1cnSIMNug7UcHNbG42K8734nJ-kM3EynmEcaM17PCWuuAwAWnEmfeCclTCg3revOmGuhqZ-hiRWENR1JO0AudPt19DiamK_wgqqrHCVCwP3BfKu3KrnPQ/s800/Resurrection-2022-Margaret-Black-Blazer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrbEkPlra9AS8vkAdIDrXL8AtOL31PleLheva6yIGOGm-3Qs0qo4Ob1jpI65Y8hLue5k0hEW1cnSIMNug7UcHNbG42K8734nJ-kM3EynmEcaM17PCWuuAwAWnEmfeCclTCg3revOmGuhqZ-hiRWENR1JO0AudPt19DiamK_wgqqrHCVCwP3BfKu3KrnPQ/s320/Resurrection-2022-Margaret-Black-Blazer.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Rent/Bury/Buy</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">As I said earlier, I wouldn't discourage anyone (in the right mood) from watching <i>Resurrection.</i> It's sharply made and riveting through its entire 100 minutes. It's rare to catch yourself holding your breath during a movie, but <i>Resurrection</i> demands it. I just wish it didn't leave me feeling so muddled. My initial annoyance has definitely passed though, so maybe on a future viewing, I'll discover something completely new. That in itself is exciting for a film. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2