Monster Mania Day 10: Tales From The Crypt Quick Picks

Written by Stu Cooper

My favorite type of television is anthology based TV. It is actually a dying artform at the moment now that episodic story arc television is popular. But back when I was younger we had shows like The Twilight Zone, Tales from The Darkside, Are you Afraid of the Dark?, and of course the king of anthology shows...Tales From The Crypt! When I was young my family actually had HBO for most of the 90's and I was fortunate enough to see some of the episodes very early on, before they started airing on FOX. Of course I probably shouldn't have been watching it given the mature content (the sex, violence, etc). But that certainly didn't stop me. The host of the show is originally what attracted me to it. The Cryptkeeper is about as memorable as it gets with his cackling laugh and stupid jokes. He also often gets into a funny situation in each episode, or in some cases interacts with celebrities. The character ended up evolving into a symbol of horror in the 90's. It is hard for me to narrow down my favorite episodes because I'm sure there are ones I've forgotten, so I'm going to post a few of the ones I remember the most. The DVD's are pretty cheap so I would recommend picking up the whole series. I keep hoping and praying that HBO will revive the series one day. It's still a great format for a show and there is already a huge audience for it. The cartoon and comics are pretty great as well if you get the chance to check them out.

Monster Mania Day 9: Death Proof

Written by Stu Cooper

In 2007 the theatrical world was treated to a rare Grindhouse presentation. The two-part film extravaganza was created by Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, two cult film juggernauts. I'm a huge fan of both guys, so I was there opening weekend. “Grindhouse” was made up of “Planet Terror” and “Death Proof”. “Planet Terror” done by Rodriguez and “Death Proof” by Tarantino. There was also some grindhouse trailers in between each film that ended up actually being as entertaining as the films themselves. The point of the films was to imitate the Grindhouse film trend of the 70's with low budget, cheesy, brutal, and classic film making. I wanted to discuss my favorite of the two films, “Death Proof”. The film starred Kurt Russell, Rose McGowan, Rosario Dawson, Jordan Ladd, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead among many other female stars. The premise revolves around a creepy stuntman who frequents a bar, praying on unsuspecting women and ultimately planning their untimely demise. Unlike other horror films, his weapon is not a knife,chainsaw, or machete...it's his car.

Russell brings everything to the table in this one. He plays a man simply named Stuntman Mike. Stuntman Mike apparently has a lot of experience doing stunt driving on obscure TV shows, tho it's never proven at any point in the film if he is an actual stuntman or if this is just some persona he has made up for himself, but regardless it works. Russell comes off so charismatic, I found myself totally rooting for his character the entire time. At a few points he even channels John Wayne. He encounters tons of different women and this makes for some great scenes. There is some intense brutality mixed with “Vanishing Point” style chase scenes. It's like a slasher and a 70's car chase movie combined into one film. I can't say too much else without spoiling what makes this film so entertaining, but I will say that Stuntman Mike is one of my favorite villains of all-time because of how good the performance is.

Overall if you're looking for an adrenaline filled creepy unique film that will take you back to the exploitation days of the 70's, then look no further. I can't express enough how much bad-ass attitude Kurt Russell brings to the role. It's no shocker since Russell has films like The Thing, Escape From New York, Big Trouble in Little China, and Tango & Cash under his belt. The soundtrack is also top notch and the music ques during the chase scenes are spot on. The only complaint would be a long dialogue sequence that was included in the unrated version of the film, in which Stuntman Mike ease drops on an extremely long and pointless conversation between 3 of the female main characters. I know Tarantino likes his dialogue, but he was really testing my patience with that scene. Other than that, and the fact that the more charismatic female actresses are at the beginning of the film, the film is a home-run. By far the best of the two Grindhouse films.

Monster Mania Day 8: Would You Rather?

Written by Stu Cooper

Earlier this year I watched a horror film that really stuck with me. I was able to DVR it last week and re-watch it, and I liked it even more the second time. The film is called “Would You Rather” which is a play on the old childhood game where you are given two options, both of which are usually unpleasant, and you have to pick the lesser of two evils. The premise of the movie revolves around this, except in a more adult format. The film follows a young girl named Iris (Brittany Snow) as she desperately tries to save money for her ill younger brother. She is the only person left in her brother's life and is working her ass off trying to pay for all his medical expenses, but it's not enough. She then meets a man by the name of Shepard Lambrick (Jeffrey Combs) who is filthy rich and has invented his own dinner party game, which results in the winner getting whatever they want. Iris reluctantly accepts his invitation to the party. It's not until Iris sits down for dinner at the party, that she realizes she is part of a truly twisted game. As it turns out, the dinner party is actually a game of “Would You Rather” in which Iris and the other members of the party must choose between various torture exercises, and whether or not to inflict that torture on themselves...or someone else. I'm not a big fan of films like SAW with a lot of torture, but this film had a pretty clever story and TONS of great underrated actors, so I didn't find myself too overwhelmed with the violence that unfolds.

The cast is where this film truly shines. Not only do you have horror and sci-fi master Jeffrey Combs in a main role, but you have the beautiful Brittany Snow, Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys (this really excited me since that is one of my favorite shows), Enver Gjokaj (From Joss Whedon's Dollhouse), Eddie Steeples (Crabman from My Name is Earl), and to top it off Sasha Grey (From...porn). The cast is a whose who of random interesting people, so it makes for a great dinner party. The film is truly morbid but it does have a purpose and does have something that everyone can identify with. What would you do to fulfill your dreams? What would you do to save the lives of those you love? You get to watch as these people figure that out for themselves, in the most brutal way possible. I definitely recommend this film, but it's not for those with a weak stomach. It's available on Amazon, DVD, and I caught it showing on Cinemax so you may be able to DVR it. Don't miss this one!

Monster Mania Day 7: Horror Remix

Written by Stu Cooper

Ever since moving to Texas 3 years ago, I have had a love affair with the Alamo Drafthouse theaters. I have seen so many amazing classic films there, and had a lot of fun times. They always go the extra mile to bring a unique experience to the table, and it's always fun. It makes you forget about the 12 dollar cheeseburger you have on your bill. One showing I recently attended was for a program called "Horror Remix" which is basically a 90-120 minute mash-up of various horror films and bits of pop culture. Apparently each installment has a common theme, but this past showing was the first time I had ever seen one. It was set up like a TV variety show hosted by two puppets. The puppets would intro the film and clips while making jokes. The jokes were hit or miss but the content was unquestionably hilarious and top notch. They showed an abridged version of "Don't Go to Sleep" a 1982 made for tv horror film. It was absolutely dreadful but hilarious, so a great choice in my book. Then the second half of the show was various absurd clips from different films. I actually was hoping to track down a list of the films used so I could sit and watch them in all their glory. But they are obscure films to say the least. One part featured was a short film starring a staple in cheesy film...Emilio Estevez! The short was called "The Bishop of Battle" and was about an arcade gamer with a serious psychotic addiction to a really goofy game. He vows to get to the final level and risks everything to do it. Literally everything. It's a great watch, I'll be sure to put it below.

Did I mention the show was free to attend? It was a great way to spend a night and I found myself laughing hysterically for the majority of the event. I can't wait to catch another installment and I hope it's soon. The clips they found were very random, almost like Tim and Eric mixed with 80's MTV, but they were things I've never seen before. I found myself shocked and in awe at some of the moments in the show. That's a great feeling to have, especially when watching horror films. If you have a chance to see a Horror Remix show, do it!

Find them on:

Horror Remix Facebook

Horror Remix Official Site

Youtube Gem: The Real Ghostbusters Halloween

Written by Stu Cooper

I was surfing through Youtube watching old Halloween specials and I stumbled upon some full episodes of "The Real Ghostbusters". This was one of my favorite cartoons growing up. It's quite a bit different than the films but made for a great cartoon. The only thing missing is some HiC Ecto Cooler! So sit back and enjoy some classic Halloween Ghostbusting action!

Monster Mania Day 6: The Roseanne Halloween Special

Written by Stu Cooper

One of my favorite traditions is channel surfing in October, looking for the newest Halloween Specials. Growing up I remember the cartoon ones like Garfield and The Real Ghostbusters, and I also remember the sitcoms doing Halloween episodes. I actually wanted to do an article on the Power Rangers Halloween special but I had issues tracking down the video on youtube. So I thought about other specials that stood out in my memory and one show came to mind...ROSEANNE. One of the greatest sitcoms in history. I grew up a product of the 80's and 90's and as a result I was fortunate enough to see a golden era in Sitcoms...Roseanne, Home Improvement, Full House, Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, all the cheesy classics. ROSEANNE however stood out because the main character was not a perfect parent, was rude, arrogant, foul mouthed, and middle class. It was a character that a lot of people resonated with. Not only was the Roseanne character hilarious but her husband Dan Connor (played by John Goodman) was one of the most lovable characters in Television at the time. Dan and Roseanne had a hilarious that consisted of busting each other's balls and making light of the other's life. This made for some great television. The Halloween Episodes were no exception. ROSEANNE often went out of it's way to make a memorable Halloween episode. Usually the characters would be in costume, playing pranks on each other, or engaging in some serious Halloween spirit. Watching these specials was sure to put you in the mood for Halloween. I really enjoyed going back and looking at all of these.

Monster Mania Day 5: The Creature from The Black Lagoon 3-D

Written by Stu Cooper

Today I had the fortune of seeing one of my favorite Universal monster movies on the big screen! Not only that but I got to view the film in it's original 3-D glory. I actually didn't know until today that the film was originally shot in 3-D. I first saw the film on VHS as a kid, and have sense gotten it on DVD but have never had the opportunity to watch it in 3-D. The film "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" was released in 1957 and directed by Jack Arnold who had also directed a couple other monster movies, namely "Tarantula" and "It Came From Outer Space". The film was the first to ever shoot 3-D underwater, and to my knowledge one of the first films to shoot full fighting action sequences underwater. The "Gillman" character was played by Ben Chapman, and the underwater "Gillman" was played by Richou Browning. Browning actually had to hold his breath for up to 4 minutes during the underwater sequences because the suit did not have a place for an air-tank. This is truly remarkable considering the scenes and the depths that he was swimming down to. The designer of the Creature was a young woman by the name of Millicent Patrick. She unfortunately was blackballed in Hollywood soon after this film because make-up artist Bud Westmore wanted all the credit. An unfortunate case of sexism in Hollywood.

The plot of the film revolves around a couple of scientists and a marine life expert who go on an expedition to recover fossilized remains in the Amazon. At the beginning of the film one of the scientists finds a fossilized hand that has webbed fingers. It looks like a half-fish, half-human hybrid hand. This causes some questions to arise, and the expedition begins. The main focus of the film is on a young couple; Richard Carlson (David) and the absolutely stunning Julie Adams (Kay). I can't even find a word to describe how naturally beautiful Julie Adams is. Every time she was on screen I felt totally enamored with her. David and Kay team up with several others and a real goofy boat captain named Lucas (played by Nestor Paiva). Lucas is merely a background character but I found myself constantly laughing at his goofy faces and odd sense of humor. Even as members of the crew are getting killed he is still grinning away, puffing on his cigar and acting totally excited about every scene. It was an unintentional highlight of the film. About 25 minutes into the film we see the first glimpses of Gillman, starting with slow creepy shots of his hand grasping land, and eventually full body shots of him slowly stalking the crew. The rest of the film plays out like a basic slasher movie with Gillman slowly stalking and killing each crew member of "The Rita".

Kay (Julie Adams) soon becomes the focus of Gillman's interest and the creature makes several slow attempts at grabbing Kay, but is usually met with an onslaught of attention by David and his co-worker Mark. After the initial strangling kill scenes we are treated to some really cool underwater shots. The underwater camera work in the film is pretty entertaining some 60 years later and for the time i'm sure it was mind boggling. There are some cool 3-D sequences where the bubbles from the water come out of the screen, a long with seaweed, and of course Gillman swims up to the camera a few times, giving you that creepy feeling where you imagine him reaching out and grabbing you. I really have to give it to the cinematographers on this film and Richou Browning for making the underwater parts so entertaining and fun to watch. Of course the underwater fight scene towards the end left a lot to be desired since they basically rolled around in circles and then separated. Not exactly a battle of epic proportions. After several failed attempts to capture the creature, the creature finally nabs Kay and takes her away to his love cave. The host of the event at the Alamo (where I saw the film) mentioned the parallels the film had with King Kong, and I started to really see that towards the end. I actually thought Gillman was going to drown Kay to death because he drags her all the way to the bottom of the Lagoon before entering a cave. If she was a smoker she might have been shit out of luck, but she survives and is eventually rescued by her love David. We are then treated to a final confrontation between Mark, David, and The Gillman creature. Mark is a bit blood thirsty and is obsessed with killing the Gillman. This ultimately leads to his downfall, but David gets in a few shots with the harpoon gun, and Gillman retreats. Living to fight another day. One of my only objections with the film is the extremely abrupt ending. A friend of mine at the showing pointed out that Universal never seemed to know how to end horror films. It would always be some last minute thing to stop the monster, and then the credits hit. This was obviously a way to leave the films open to sequels, which is exactly what happened in this case. "The Creature from The Black Lagoon" would spawn two sequels, which I have yet to see, but I'm thinking I will include them in one of my remaining 31 Days of Monster Mania, so stayed tuned for that!

Overall the film was just as cool as I remembered. You can't go wrong with a Universal monster movie. The 3-D was a beautiful effect and really worked well with the black and white. The Creature design was also incredibly unique and cool looking. The gills looked very realistic and the eyes are absolutely eerie. The creature also flexes it's mouth constantly like a fish, adding a little bit of extra creep factor. I also found myself falling in love with Julie Adams as the film progressed, tho I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that she changed outfits in almost every scene, as well as hair styles. She also had that classic petrified horror scream that she blurted out every time she saw the creature, reminding you that you're watching a 50's horror film. Overall the film is a real enjoyable monster movie and will surely satisfy your Halloween viewing needs. It has it's slow moments and quite a few cheesy moments, but that is all part of it's everlasting charm. The effects are just as impressive in 2013 as they were in 1957 and the story is just as fun. I will always remember the Universal Monsters, and this film reminded me of why that is.