Halloween Hangover Marathon 2019
As I'm starting this on 9th of November I must admit I was probably slightly too tired to begin this marathon right away, but I'm still eager to do it and, in fact, I want it to cover three specific themes/clusters:
-Halloween Leftovers: This one is rather simple: horror and Halloween-themed movies, episodes, webisodes etc. Plus maybe catching up with all the stuff piling from October. Not exactly everything goes, but many thing go, that's for sure.
-Noir November: For a longtime film noir fan I don't watch nearly enough of both classics and neo-noir these days and November seems like a perfect month to retaliate for that.
-Existential Crisis/Artistic Hardships movies: this aspect is kinda traditional for Halloween Hangover already, with earliest examples of mixing it in with great results being from 2016, I guess.
Apart from those I hold special interests for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, latter again shaping as a mini-Halloween for me since 2016.
2014-2017, 2018, Halloween Hangover 2018, 2019, Halloween Hangover 2019.
-Halloween Leftovers: This one is rather simple: horror and Halloween-themed movies, episodes, webisodes etc. Plus maybe catching up with all the stuff piling from October. Not exactly everything goes, but many thing go, that's for sure.
-Noir November: For a longtime film noir fan I don't watch nearly enough of both classics and neo-noir these days and November seems like a perfect month to retaliate for that.
-Existential Crisis/Artistic Hardships movies: this aspect is kinda traditional for Halloween Hangover already, with earliest examples of mixing it in with great results being from 2016, I guess.
Apart from those I hold special interests for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, latter again shaping as a mini-Halloween for me since 2016.
2014-2017, 2018, Halloween Hangover 2018, 2019, Halloween Hangover 2019.
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- CreatorMatt CaracappaStarsMatt CaracappaLeviathanKing Leopold IIAn audiovisual extension of a cult website has Matt Caracappa and his alter ego Madd Matt doing Halloween countdowns, reviews of assorted edible and non-edible objects of interest and other inspired trips of nostalgia and wholesomeness.[Note: Placeholder for a specific episode, yet to be added] 1 November: Halloween Night, I guess, but it was already November the 1st, technically, so it counts. Before going to sleep after 31st of October being a bit lackluster, I was reassured by Matt Caracappa's last-minute Halloween message.
- DirectorJesse WarnStarsMelissa BenoistMehcad BrooksChyler LeighKara is surprised to find CatCo has a new owner who has brought in a star reporter; new couples emerge and explore their budding relationships; J'onn J'onzz receives an unexpected visitor.1 November: sort-of-eligible, I guess. Has some dark overtones and themes.
- DirectorChris StuckmannStarsChris StuckmannChris Stuckmann reviews Terminator: Dark Fate (2019).4-5 November: Going to see the movie, as well, so was interested on what he has to say about it.
- DirectorMenhaj HudaStarsGrant GustinCandice PattonDanielle PanabakerCisco's faith in his ability to fill Barry's shoes as Team Leader is upended when he learns of a shocking murder; Killer Frost trusts no one except herself to hunt down the dangerous Ramsey Rosso.7-8 November: Sort-of murder mystery episode with surprising neo-noir and even psycho-noir elements.
- 2007–202310mTV-MA7.0 (12)TV EpisodeDirectorJames RolfeStarsJames RolfeJustin SilvermanWelcome to Monster Madness 2019!. Justin and James review a classic kid's Halloween film - until they realize it's way worse than they remember. Spaced Invaders is a 1990 American science fiction comedy directed by Patrick Read Johnson and starring Douglas Barr, Royal Dano and Ariana Richards. Dimwitted Martians drop into a little Illinois town on the day that the local radio station happens to rebroadcast Orson Welles 1938 "War Of The Worlds".9 November: Cool review from Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2007), especially with all the Zagnut trivia. Also planning to see the movie this year, which now will be a bit bittersweet, since it's a very Halloween movie, it seems and we're now past Halloween... On the other hand, why not, I can always schedule a rewatch with friends if the movie turns out to be something that I want to share (I doubt it in this case, though...).
- 2007–202315mTV-MA7.9 (20)TV EpisodeDirectorJames RolfeStarsKieran FallonJames RolfeWelcome to Monster Madness 2019!. Kieran and James review M, the Fritz Lang Classic. M is a 1931 German drama-thriller film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Peter Lorre. The film was written by Lang and his wife Thea von Harbou and was the director's first sound film. In this classic thriller, Hans Beckert (Peter Lorre), a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellent and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network.9 November: Speaking of plans to watch... I really need to get to M (1931) next year and I'm also interested in 1951 American remake.
- 2007–202311mTV-MA7.2 (11)TV EpisodeDirectorJames RolfeStarsJames RolfeJustin SilvermanWelcome to Monster Madness 2019. This is the pilot episode of Cage Match, which might lead to a Rental Review month of other Cage Matches. Justin and James let two Nicolas Cage movies duke it out, today it's Mandy VS. 8mm. Both over the top films where Cage is put to the test. In Mandy the enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon-biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, surreal rampage of vengeance. In 8mm a private investigator is hired to discover if a "snuff film" is authentic or not. Who will win?9 November: Interesting concept to compare these two movies. I only saw Mandy (2018) so far, so I can't compare myself: 8MM (1999) is another interesting movie to put on the list.
- 2007–202310mTV-MA7.4 (12)TV EpisodeDirectorJames RolfeStarsAntonio PilusoJames RolfeWelcome to Monster Madness 2019. Tony and James review Peter Jackson's Braindead aka Dead Alive from 1992. It's New Zealand splatstick zombie comedy film about a young man's mother being bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey. She gets sick and dies, at which time she comes back to life, killing and eating dogs, nurses, friends, and neighbors.9 November: More Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2007). Always nice to hear a bit more about that movie, even if there was nothing entirely new here for me.
- 2007–202315mTV-MA7.4 (12)TV EpisodeDirectorJames RolfeStarsAntonio PilusoJames RolfeWelcome to Monster Madness 2019. Tony and James review all five of the Phantasm movies. Phantasm is an American horror film series that consists of five films. It's about the Tall Man, a supernatural and malevolent undertaker who turns the dead into dwarf zombies to do his bidding and take over the world. The movies consist of: Phantasm (1979) Phantasm II (1988) Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998) Phantasm: Ravager (2016)9 November: Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2007).
- 2004– 24mTV-MA6.6 (106)TV EpisodeDirectorJames RolfeStarsJames RolfeXander ArnotSeamus BlackleyWhile stranded on a remote tropical island inhabited by strange creatures and a working Windows 98 PC, the Nerd looks at Trespasser, a forgotten, glitched Jurassic Park first-person game.9 November: The Angry Video Game Nerd (2004)
- DirectorJames RolfeStarsJames RolfeKieran FallonFrom his creepy dungeon beneath his game room, the Nerd reviews the flawed, unfair and super hard Nintendo game simply known as The Immortal.9 November: This year's Halloween special of The Angry Video Game Nerd (2004) is a very impressive mostly single take. An impeccable filmmaking effort and I also love how it hints that even documentary series of Cinemassacre's Monster Madness (2007) somehow takes place in the same universe. That's an interesting and rarely done meta-take.
- DirectorMarcos SiegaStarsRuby RoseRachel SkarstenMeagan TandyJacob Kane and the Crows up the stakes; Kate continues to look to Bruce Wayne's legacy for guidance as Luke Fox inadvertently gets pulled into Batwoman's vigilante heroics; Sophie and Kate are forced to team up.10 November: Batwoman (2019) is going strong, to be honest. Loved Darkman (1990)-like scenes from Alice with the finger-cutting. This series is rather perfect for both Halloween and Hangover marathons, as it dwells into some surprisingly dark and twisted themes.
- DirectorDermott DownsStarsRuby RoseRachel SkarstenMeagan TandyAs the city waits impatiently for another visit from who they think is Batman, Alice continues to taunt Kate with a secret but also sets her sights on Jacob and Catherine. Kate is visited by Tommy Elliot, a childhood friend of her cousin who has finally realized his lifelong dream of being wealthier than Bruce Wayne and throws a party so all of Gotham can celebrate his success. Mary gets an unexpected new bestie when Sophie is assigned to protect her. Luke and Kate work together to uncover who may have taken a valuable weapon from Batman's arsenal. And as Batwoman faces a new enemy, Kate realizes she must either walk away from her new role or fully embrace the mantle as Gotham's new hope.10 November: Batwoman (2019), this one has a nice introduction for Tommy "Hush" Elliot. Curious what they will use him for there. Not my favorite Batman villain, but has potential.
- DirectorHolly DaleStarsRuby RoseRachel SkarstenMeagan TandyA new villain with an eye for all things that sparkle drops in on the city. Kate attempts to find a balance between her personal life and her new role as Gotham's guardian. Catherine has an uncomfortable encounter with Alice who always seems to be one step ahead of the Kane family. Batwoman pays fangirl Mary a visit to ask for a favor. Meanwhile, Jacob and Sophie try to piece together who was after their prisoner. Luke continues to finetune Batwoman's arsenal of weapons as the pair track their unwelcome visitor and discover she has more sinister plans than snatching shiny objects.10 November: It's a bit ironic that Batwoman (2019) is rather dark as is, but episode closer to Halloween was actually one of the tamer ones. Another great villain from the comics, Magpie, adapted as way less psychotic than usual, probably because half the villains on the show are in that area already.
- DirectorCarl SeatonStarsRuby RoseRachel SkarstenMeagan TandyAlice takes Kate down the sad, winding road of her life in the days after the accident; Mary has an argument with Catherine that sends her looking for Kate at Wayne Tower, but she comes unwelcome company for Luke.10 November: Now this episode could have served as a Halloween special (It aired on November the 3rd, instead) because holy crap was it dark! One of the subplots is an interesting homage to Eyes Without a Face (1960), a horror classic I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen yet, but planning to the next year.
- DirectorMasamitsu HidakaStarsRikako AikawaMadeleine BlausteinAmanda GoodmanAsh starts his Pokémon journey off to a rough start when he receives his first Pokémon, the reluctant Pikachu.10-11 November: I don't know why I'm watching Pokémon (1997) from the beginning now (it was explainable with Halloween specials last month), but that's the beauty of it. I guess it fits into "artistic hardships" part, vaguely.
- DirectorMasamitsu HidakaStarsRikako AikawaMadeleine BlausteinAmanda GoodmanAsh and Pikachu make it to Viridian City. As Pikachu rests in the Pokemon Center, after being attacked by Spearow, the Center gets attacked by Pokemon thieves calling themselves, Team Rocket.11 November: Pokémon (1997)
- DirectorDavid McWhirterStarsMelissa BenoistMehcad BrooksChyler LeighSupergirl, Alex and Brainiac thwart an alien attack while William investigates Kara; J'onn J'onzz and Kelly use Obsidian tech to solve a problem.11 November: Continuing to catching up with Supergirl (2015) and it actually fits, but wait for it: I'll explain in the next entry.
- DirectorEric Dean SeatonStarsMelissa BenoistMehcad BrooksChyler LeighKara tries to mend her relationship with Lena; J'onn J'onzz takes a deep dive into his memories; Kelly tries to help an old friend.11 November: So, this season on Supergirl (2015) practically everyone has an existential crisis of some sort which became super apparent (no pun intended) in this episode, I'd say. It also gives everyone in a sizable main cast something to act, which is a plus, as well.
- DirectorManny CotoStarsLarry DrakeHolly Marie CombsCliff De YoungA madman who believes he's a doctor comes to the town where his crazy father was killed, and soon begins murdering people and becoming infatuated with a teenage girl who has a heart condition.31 October-12 November: Yes, this one is actually in both main Halloween marathon and this one, because I started to watch it on Halloween, but only picked up in November and rather late into it. And it really has nothing to do with the movie itself, which is excellent as slasher and horror comedy with medical horror and humor on fullest display and in great use. Of course, the movie wouldn't have worked that well without the lead - late, great Larry Drake, who delivers a superb performance. Hidden gem I was circling for years and will definitely revisit a lot, a very enjoyable little movie.
- A plethora of villains and horror characters help family to make Christmas unforgettable.12 November: This awesome Christmas commercial, which I discovered thanks to Purple Stuff Podcast after years upon years of seeing gifs and pictures, cheered me up immensely and gave me the idea of additional, smaller marathon in December.
- DirectorWilliam FriedkinStarsJenny SeagroveDwier BrownCarey LowellA young couple with a newborn baby don't realize that the nanny they hired is a magical nymph who sacrifices infants to an evil tree.13 November: While it's not a groundbreaking masterpiece people wanted it to be from William Friedkin after seventeen years of allegedly (Cruising (1980)?..) not directing horror... It's still a very good movie and even more so considering that production and writing were both a bit of a mess. Every aspect of the movie looks very competent, photography and editing are especially very distinctive and cool with one foot in the 80's and one in the 90's. Actors are great most of the time, as well, especially Jenny Seagrove. It was also nice to see character actors Miguel Ferrer and Xander Berkeley (whom I used to confuse a bit in my childhood, btw) in small parts. Loved how first and last shots of the movie rhyme.
- StarsCecil Trachenburg13 November: That episode of Good Bad Flicks (2010) was actually how I became aware of the movie and decided to put it on the "to watch" list. I saw it a year a go, so I decided to re-fresh after seeing the movie and it was probably even more enjoyable.
- 2010–TV EpisodeStarsCecil Trachenburg13 November: Speaking of Good Bad Flicks (2010) I needed to catch up on recent episodes and this one was a terrific and inspiring story about a no budget directorial debut I always love to hear and see. Very much fits into "artistic hardships" part of my marathon and I'll probably even try and cram the movie itself there a bit later.
- StarsCecil Trachenburg13 November: Good Bad Flicks (2010)
- DirectorScott PetersStarsRuby RoseRachel SkarstenMeagan TandyA disturbing death has Gotham reeling and the city reaches out for their new vigilante hero. Luke confides in Kate, while Sophie asks Jacob for a special assignment. Alice continues her nefarious plot against the Kanes, with Catherine being a conduit to part of her plan. Batwoman pays another visit to Mary.13-14 November: Curiously, this episode of Batwoman (2019) seems to be inspired by another episode based on comic book which I now plan to see during Halloween Hangover, although initially planned for Halloween Marathon. It also has usual pleasant dark themes of this series, if murder mystery is a bit on a weak side. Joker's real (?) name was casually dropped as Jack Napier: I like that it's not only me who can't stop celebrating the 30th anniversary of Batman (1989).
- DirectorDavid McWhirterStarsMelissa BenoistMehcad BrooksChyler LeighKara's investigation into William Dey's "criminal" activities results in the shocking revelation he is not who she thinks. Meanwhile, the conflict between Malefic and J'onn J'onzz reaches a boiling point.14 November: Speaking about weak side, this episode of Supergirl (2015) and the direct follow-up seemed a bit underwritten. Main cast does their best, but their acting was not enough to sell some of the moments and overall these episodes dragged a bit.
- DirectorAlysse Leite-RogersStarsMelissa BenoistChyler LeighKatie McGrathOn the eve of the worldwide launch of Andrea Rojas's VR contact lenses, Kara and William team up on an investigation that exposes a terrorist plot. Kelly and Alex celebrate an anniversary, but Alex's safety is in jeopardy.14 November: Supergirl (2015), see previous entry. At least some of themes which are relevant for this November are there and Rip Roar was kinda enjoyable, although he comes across as a funny exploitation mixbag of RoboCop and Dr. Octopus visually. Oh, and a reference to Batman (1989) is always welcome, too. A very odd one.
- DirectorNadia ParfanFor many years, Ivan Vasyliovych has been the trade union leader at Ivano-Frankivsk TeploKomunEnergo, a municipal heating company in western Ukraine. His magnum opus is the trade union choir for mechanics, repairmen, dispatchers, book-keepers and other employees. Ivan Vasyliovych is very proud of their creative achievements but is also keen to point out that "the heating comes first - and only then do we sing!". The rehearsal schedule must be organized around the "heating season". As the collective are trying to fix the old pipelines, customers are bombarding the hot-line service. Is it possible to warm up their cold radiators with the power of Ukrainian folk song?14 November: One of the fewer theatrical screenings of this documentary in the city was there so I decided to go and liked the movie a lot. Definitely fits into "creative hardships" territory. Vastly enjoyable and thoughtful piece of hard work, which is often the case for documentary filmmaking, but this one is special, I'd say. It was a special screening with director Nadia Parfan and she was great, as well.
- DirectorMasamitsu HidakaStarsRikako AikawaMadeleine BlausteinMegumi HayashibaraThe gang arrive in a place called Dark City to find that two rival gyms have been terrorizing the place with their feud.14 November: This episode of Pokémon (1997) I was circling for ages because it is based on a lovely Yojimbo/Red Harvest template and I collect variations of that plot which is a genre on its own in my humble opinion. Where it fits within the marathon? Um... Since original Dashiell Hammett served as one of the proto-noir classics, I'd say it's "Noir November" territory.
- DirectorKristin WindellStarsStephen AmellDavid RamseyRick GonzalezWhen a mysterious new Deathstroke appears in Star City, Oliver and Team Arrow insist on taking down this villain themselves. Meanwhile reeling from the loss of one of their own, the future Team Arrow figures out a new way to try and stop JJ.15 November: Last season of Arrow (2012) continues to be very much enjoyable and press all the right buttons. Oh, and this series is always a bit noir-ish.
- DirectorShannon KohliStarsMelissa BenoistChyler LeighKatie McGrathWhile a new villain is under arrest at the DEO, Supergirl uses him to try and understand who is responsible for the recent attacks. Meanwhile, Andrea and Lena think back on their tumultuous past.15 November: Well, writers definitely tried to do the thing they unexpectedly and successfully did twice last season: first in Man of Steel (2018) and then in The House of L (2019), both of which are some of the best episodes not just in this series, but whole CW Arrowverse. Let's just say, third time was not the charm, although actors did their best (again) and all of them had at least some moments to shine. Continuity is strong, as well: CW at times is very impressive at making flashbacks to previous seasons seamlessly.
- DirectorJoseph MangineStarsClyde HayesLeilani SarelleDonna LockeA group of teenagers in San Francisco discover a nest of homicidal monsters living in a tower of the Golden Gate Bridge, but when they try to tell authorities, no one believes them.16 November: It's a very weird movie: plagued by production problems including, pretty much, being unfinished and months-long production halts it ended up being a very interesting and charming, but also totally offbeat and bizarre oddity. It feels like having an odd dream about an 80's movie rather than actual 80's movie, which is a bit of an achievement in itself.
- 16 November: And yes, it was again hard to resist rewatching the episode of Good Bad Flicks (2010) which brought me to this movie in the first place.
- StarsCecil Trachenburg16 November: A tiny bit more Good Bad Flicks (2010) before going to sleep.
- DirectorLeonid GaidaiStarsLeonid KuravlyovLarisa UdovichenkoTatyana KravchenkoSpartak Molodtsov is a man who can not pass through. Because of this he always gets into trouble.20 November: Sort-of Soviet superhero movie with strong existential crisis overtone being there from the terrific opening song to end title card. Lesser-known movie by one of my all-time favorite directors Leonid Gaidai. A shame, it deserves to be seen and discussed more and some of the themes are still very much modern.
- DirectorTakeshi KitanoStarsTakeshi KitanoToshiyuki NishidaTatsuo NadakaFive years after surviving the all-out war between the Sanno and Hanabishi crime families, former yakuza boss Otomo now works in South Korea for Mr. Chang, a renowned fixer whose influence extends into Japan. A relatively minor incident causes tensions to rise between Chang Enterprises and the faraway powerful Hanabishi. The growing conflict gets out of hand and ignites a ferocious power struggle among the top echelons of the Hanabishi. When eventually Chang's life is endangered, devoted yakuza Otomo returns to Japan to settle things once and for all.21 November: Terrific, a bit ridiculous Japanese neo-noir (might as well be separated into its own genre) by Takeshi Kitano. He's also one of my all-time favorite directors, but I must admit that I should definitely see more of his movies and it's a happy accident that this one turned out on TV while I was traveling to another city in pursue of PhD.
- DirectorRobert MandelStarsBryan BrownBrian DennehyDiane VenoraA movie special effects man is hired to fake a real-life mob killing for a witness protection plan, but finds his own life in danger.21-22 November: A welcome rewatch of one of my all-time favorite movies in general, albeit one I haven't revisited in a long time. Still holds up exceptionally well. A terrific, very meta neo-noir.
- DirectorRichard FranklinStarsBryan BrownBrian DennehyRachel TicotinA special effects man helps his girlfriend's ex, a cop, with a sting operation, where the ex gets killed. Something's off and he investigates with help from an ex-cop PI friend.22 November: A good movie, as well, just not as good as the first one.
- DirectorRichard BerryStarsJean RenoKad MeradJean-Pierre DarroussinA retired mobster goes on a revenge spree after being left for dead with 22 bullets in his body by his former childhood friend.23 November: This one is for Noir November, as well. Hardly heard anything good about it, so it pleasantly surprised me being rather enjoyable. Interestingly, I saw it mere week or so after main character's prototype, gangster Jacky Imbert died.
- DirectorAgnieszka HollandStarsKhandi AlexanderRob BrownKim DickensA New Orleans neighborhood celebrates its first second-line "parade" since Katrina, reuniting many of its musicians and residents, though many more have yet to return.23 November: An interesting fit for "existential crisis" part, I guess.
- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsRon PerlmanDoug JonesSelma BlairA demon raised from infancy after being conjured by and rescued from the Nazis, grows up to become a defender against the forces of darkness.23 November: A rewatch. Movie holds up rather well.
- DirectorDavid Robert MitchellStarsMaika MonroeKeir GilchristOlivia LuccardiA young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force after a sexual encounter.23 November: Should see it later, in-depth. A great modern horror movie.
- DirectorJerry ZuckerStarsBreckin MeyerAmy SmartWhoopi GoldbergA Las Vegas casino magnate determined to find a new avenue for wagering sets up a race for money.23 November: A comedy, but it has shades of existential crisis in it. Haven't seen it in a while.
- DirectorAlexei PopogrebskyStarsGrigoriy DobryginSergey PuskepalisIgor ChernevichOne place. One day. Two men. The place is a polar research station on an island in the Arctic Ocean, inhabited now only by Sergei and Pavel. One day when Sergei is out angling, Pavel picks up a radio message that he daren't communicate.23 November: Interesting drama/thriller, definitely fits the existential crisis part of the marathon.
- DirectorPhil RomanStarsLorenzo MusicThom HugeGregg BergerWhen Garfield and Odie are out trick-or-treating, they end up at a haunted house.28-29 November: Halloween special on Thanksgiving, but only because I especially wanted to watch this one before the next one. I actually watched it before and after interrupting it in the middle for some reason. A great little Halloween special if you ask me.
- DirectorPhil RomanGerard BaldwinBob NeslerStarsLorenzo MusicThom HugeGregg BergerJon falls for Garfield's veterinarian--who puts Garfield on a diet--and invites her to Thanksgiving dinner.28 November: Loved this Thanksgiving special. In a true Garfield fashion contains some moments of existential crisis, a bit of "what?.." and a few lovely moments adapted surprisingly straight from the original strip. Grandma's recipes are cool, as well. Got to try some of those in my lifetime, especially since, as Matt Caracappa proves, they're not as impossible as it seems.
- DirectorJohn GrissmerStarsLouise LasserMark SoperJulie GordonA boy kills a man and accuses his twin brother of the murder, and the innocent brother ends up institutionalized, while his psychotic twin goes free. 10 years later, the innocent twin escapes, which triggers his brother into killing again.29 November: Found a Thanksgiving-themed slasher for Thanksgiving and... It was an interesting entry. Not exactly a good movie and drags a bit, but full of small weird details and well-executed moments, so rather watchable. I have a feeling that could have been a better movie with pretty much the same script and troubled production somewhat hurt it. Was surprised to see Ted Raimi in a really small and funny role. His first big one, actually, as the movie was filmed back in 1983. By the time movie was released in 1987 this probably became a cameo already as he was a character actor at that point. Special make-up artist Ed French also has a well-acted cameo. One of the fewer slashers in which some of the people suggest and attempt reasonable things to do in the scenario, only to be thwarted by actually being in a slasher movie. Although I'm totally at peace with this trope as people really do stupid things when they panic.
- StarsJames A. JanisseThe kills in the movie Blood Rage (1987) are broken down and analyzed.29 November: Just a bit of a supplement for the movie.
- DirectorArthur LubinStarsBoris KarloffBela LugosiStanley RidgesDr. Sovac transplants the brain of a gangster into his professor friend's body to save his life, but there is a side effect that causes a dangerous split personality.29 November: So, I've actually picked an interesting namesake movie for Black Friday. As far as Universal Monsters movies go this one is far from being great and is full of wasted potential in both script and acting with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi shifting roles in pre-production so many times that it impacted the script and both ended up being rather underused. Both wanted the role Stanley Ridges ended up portraying and I'm glad because he is a way lesser-known character actor and he totally shines as two different characters in one body. Some scenes are great and Lugosi had way more screentime I initially assumed, so I was mostly pleased.
- DirectorWilliam NighStarsPatric KnowlesLionel AtwillAnne GwynneA mysterious vigilante known as "Dr. Rx" strikes again. Assigned to the case is private detective Jerry Church but the crimes are baffling and involve strangulation and a possible attempt to implant a gorilla's brain into a human body.30 November: A strange case it is. Wow, what an incoherent mess of a movie. I was questioning whether there even was script when they shot that and I was right on the suspicion because they charged into filming with an unfinished screenplay. It freaking shows. At least actors had a fun time. Like in the case of of King of the Zombies (1941) Mantan Moreland just seems to be glad having a sizable role so he chews so much scenery that Lionel Atwill in a heavily marketed role just seems tame. Moreland's acting almost makes up for how racist his character was treated. As for Doctor Rx himself, the grand serial killer villain... Well, his climactic masked torture scene is very much nuts and almost makes up for the incoherence.
- DirectorPál FejösStarsConrad VeidtMary PhilbinLeslie FentonA middle-aged magician is in love with his beautiful young assistant, who is in love with his young protege', who turns out to be a bum and a thief.30 November: A pleasant little surprise, I'm glad I decided to watch it unplanned. One of the earlier, silent Universal Monsters, from a brief period when Conrad Veidt replaced Lon Chaney as their main horror star. He's great as Erik the Great (no pun/tautology intended), a magician and hypnotist who is a very tragic, psychological villain. Supporting cast is rather good, as well, but Veidt just delivers a knockout performance that is a big pleasure to watch. Cinematography and editing are rather enjoyable and the whole short, nervous pacing really makes the movie fly like a bird, in a good way.