A Feast at Midnight

Director - Justin Hardy (Strictly Supernatural, Secret History)

Starring - John Hurley, Freddie Findlay (Rasputin, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries), and Sebastian Armesto (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Comedy/Drama

Tagline - "A 500 year old school.  A prehistoric form master.  ...and a 10-year old chef"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A couple weeks ago I received The Eurocrpyt of Christopher Lee Volume 3 from my friends over at Severin Films.  At the time I thought that I had only seen one of the films in the set which actually turned out to be two films when I realized one was using an alternate title.

  Anyway, the one film that I had previously seen in this set was the 1994 family friendly kid's movie A Feast at Midnight.  This was previously released by Severin as part of their Severin Kids line where I bought a copy for my collection.  I liked the film but only watched it the one time before placing it on my shelf to collect dust.  I'm glad it was included in this set which gave me another reason to revisit it

**Spoiler Alert**     The film follows a young boy who is sent to a boarding school where he is immediately ostracized and mocked.  He is unable to make friends until he decides to turn his love of cooking into a late night meeting for his classmates.  He slowly starts building friendships with his class and the school nurse while sneaking around from the dean, an angry teacher, and a cook who refuses to let students in his kitchen. **Spoiler Alert**

     There is a lot to unpack with this movie but I honestly love it.  The artwork infuriates me but I get why it looks like that and the title is dumb but, once again, it fits the film.  I know many genre fans are going to be disappointed in it but I absolutely loved it.  

The acting in this one is great.  Christopher Lee once again gives us a larger than life character that I really enjoyed watching.  He really got into the role and made it his own.  The main cast consists of young boys with very little, if any, experience.  Yet, they were able to do a fantastic job together.  They made the film as fun as it was and it's a damn shame that many of them did not continue their careers in acting.  

The story for this one is not what I was expecting the first time I saw it.  The artwork and title makes you think that Christopher Lee is a monster snatching up students at night.  However, the artwork is referencing his nickname that the students call him behind his back while the title is obviously referencing the young boy's love of cooking for his classmates at night.  It's a family friendly story that I found to be very entertaining and still holds up after the second viewing.  

Finally, don't expect a film with a lot of effects and fun deaths.  This is a no budget kids film so we don't have any effects to enjoy.  Overall, A Feast at Midnight is not going to be the kind of film that many genre fans are going to love but I found myself having a lot of fun with it.  It's an amazing performance from Lee with the rest of the cast delivering unforgettable performances.  I highly recommend this one even if you don't have children.  

     

The Curse of Bridge Hollow

Director - Jeff Wadlow (Cry_Wolf, Are You Afraid of the Dark?)

Starring - Marlon Wayans (Scary Movie, Senseless), Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things, Hamster and Gretel), and John Michael Higgins (Vampire's Kiss, Blade: Trinity)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Comedy/Horror

Tagline - "Halloween comes to life"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     I watch horror movies year-round so when October rolls around I try to focus on films that are at least centered around Halloween. I don’t care the genre because I’m looking for something to put me in the holiday spirit rather than something spooky. I’m a sucker for children’s Halloween flicks so when I heard that Netflix was releasing the film The Curse of Bridge Hollow starring Marlon Wayans and Stranger Thing’s Priah Ferguson I knew I had to see it. It wasn’t horror, but I damn sure included it on my October horror binge. 

      The film follows the Gordon family who moves to a sleepy small town from the city. As everyone is decorating for Halloween, Howard (Wayans) stays away from the holiday and bases everything on science. That begins to change when his daughter accidentally unleashes the spirit of Stingy Jack when she finds a carved turnip in their attack. Now they must stop him before he possesses the town’s Halloween decorations. 

      The Curse of Bridge Hollow is not going to be for everyone. However, my kids fucking loved it and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a good time with it. It’s a Halloween themed children’s movie that made up for it’s lack of story with some laughs and enjoyable characters. The acting in this one is a lot of fun. The film is meant for children so we get a lot of characters with big personalities that carry the scene. Wayans and Ferguson work very well together and they really did a fantastic job as a father daughter pair. Ferguson slowly became one of the more popular cast members on Stranger Things with her character gaining more and more screen time each season. It’s obvious why because she steals every scene she is in which is something to note since she shares a lot of them with Wayans. It was also cool to see Rob Riggle and John Michael Higgins in the film. Higgins had a very unexpected performance as a character I was not expecting to see him take on. I had a lot of fun with the cast in this one. The story for this one was hit or miss. The story is oddly similar to Spirit Halloween: The Movie with an evil spirit possessing Halloween decorations. However, it does separate itself from there with the introduction of traditional Halloween decorations like carved turnips, spiritualism from the 1920s and 30s, and the legend of Stingy Jack. The story does have some glaring gaps in it but it is still fun for a Halloween flick while you set the mood for the season. Finally, the film has no blood but it does have some impressive visual effects mixed with some rushed visual effects. The two do contrast at times but a good bit of the film looks great. Overall, The Curse of Bridge Hollow is one that many of you will overlook but if you dig movies like Ernest Scared Stupid, Double Double Toil and Trouble, and binging Halloween episodes of 90s television shows then you will like this one. Check it out.

Remote

Director - Ted Nicolaou (Bad Channels, Dragonworld)

Starring - Chris Carrara (In Living Color, Pucked), Jessica Bowman (Joy Ride, Baywatch), and John Diehl (National Lampoon's Vacation, D.C. Cab)

Release Date - 1993

Genre - Comedy/Crime

Tagline - "A comedy for the whole family"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     As I continue my Full Moon and Moonbeam marathon I end up with a film that I had only seen one time when I was growing up.  I wasn't like many of the kids my age.  I never cared for the Christmas hit Home Alone.  I don't know if I ever liked it but the holiday season crammed it and the sequel down our throats really turned me off to the film.  However, over the years, especially in the 90s, there was several Home Alone rip offs that popped up here and there.  Most found their way to the children's section in your local video store.  One such film was Moonbeam's Remote from acclaimed director Ted Nicolaou.  I remember watching this one with a cousin when I was a kid. It was fun but not one that really stuck out with me.  When Full Moon announced that the film was hitting blu I used this as an excuse to revisit it.  I reached out to MVD and they were kind enough to hook me up with a copy.

     The film follows Randy (Carrara) who is often left alone with his remote contraptions while his parents are away with work.  He often takes his toys to a new development on the edge of town to play with them in the homes that have not been sold.  However, one day his innocent trip takes an unexpected turn when three goons who recently robbed a bank decide to crash one of the unoccupied homes.  Now, he's stuck in the attack and the only way out is to use his remote controlled toys.

     Remote is probably my least favorite of the Moonbeam films that I've seen but it's bad.  In fact, it has some fun moments but it's resemblance to Home Alone is unmistakable.  The entire time you are watching the film you find yourself comparing it to the Christmas classic.  It's not original but it is fun and a time machine back to the mid-90s with the high end electronics the film's story is centered around.  The acting in this one is a lot of fun.  It's not the best in the world but for a film featuring nearly inexperienced children it finds a way to entertain.  There are plenty of awkward scenes and dry dialogue but the story carries us through when the cast cannot.  The story for this one is a clone of Home Alone with the Christmas season replaced with a summer setting and Moonbeam/Full Moon went above and beyond to showcase the best RC vehicles they could find to incorporate into the film.  When you combine both of these elements you get a decent film for a first time watch.  However, it's not a film you can revisit as often as the other films.  It's predictable and not that cleverly written but it's still fun for the occasional light-hearted watch.  Finally, Remote doesn't really have any effects.  It's a lot of shots of RC cars, planes, and helicopters but no blood.  Overall, Remote is a solid release from Full Moon but it's not something you will binge over and over.  I liked it but it's nothing like some other Moonbeam releases.  

Dragonworld

Director - Ted Nicolaou (Subspecies, TerrorVisions)

Starring - Courtland Mead (The Little Rascals, The Shining), Janet Henfrey (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Doctor Who), and Alastair Mackenzie (Psychos, Snuff-Movie)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Fantasy/Adventure

Tagline - "Out of the mist and into your heart"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Moonbeam Entertainment, with Empire and Full Moon alike, were a big part of my childhood.  I remember renting movies like Puppet Master, Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Prehysteria! a lot when I was younger.  I have a lot of fond memories watching these movies with my grandmother while my dad was out of town a lot.  I remember the first time I watched Dragonworld.  It was one of the few Moonbeam films that I didn't rent and actually watched on cable.  I believe it was on the original run of the Sci-Fi Channel before the rebranding.  I remember seeing the Moonbeam logo and immediately giving it my full attention.  It was a fun one but rather predictable even for my younger self.  I picked the DVD up several years ago but never revisited it until now.  When Full Moon announced the release of the blu I couldn't pass up the opportunity to let some nostalgia rush over me.  I reached out to my friends over at MVD and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.

     The film follows the young John McGowan (Mead) who is sent to Scotland to live with his grandfather after his parents perish in an automobile accident.  His grandfather is stuck in his old ways and raises John on them.  However, John has no normal Scottish childhood when he makes a wish on a magic tree and is granted a baby dragon as a companion.  The two grow up together and become the best of friends but when a documentary filmmaker doing a film on haunted castles uncovers the dragon he suggests that John lease him to a wealthy investor to help cover back taxes on the castle.  Soon, the wealthy man takes full control of the dragon after John signs a shady contract for him to risk his life to save his best friend.

     Dragonworld is a corny children's film with some cheesy effects and cliched characters but it's a film I would pick over the bigger budgeted movies from it's time like Air Bud and Little Giants.  It's not as fun to me as the original Prehysteria! but it's still up there with some of my favorite films from my childhood.  The acting in this one is great.  In fact, it's probably one of the better acted Moonbeam film I've seen.  You have a small role from Uh Huh in the live action Little Rascals film from the same era before we are given several memorable performances from some seriously gifted cast.  I like the cliched and campy back stories and characters that the cast gives us.  The story for this one is painfully predictable but still just as enjoyable.  The movie is straight forward and the viewer knows exactly what is going to happen before it happens.  Even as a kid I knew how the film was going to play out.  With that being said, the journey is so much fun.  I've seen this film a dozen times easily and I still find myself glued to the screen.  It does drag it's feet a few times during the middle aspect of the film but it's nothing that takes away from the experience.  Finally, the film has some extremely horrible visual effects and some fun and campy practical effects.  The visuals are pure shit but I loved the look of the dragon and the puppetry.  Overall, Dragonworld is another favorite of mine from my childhood and I love seeing it get the blu release it deserves.  I highly recommend picking this one up.

Prehysteria! 2

Director - Albert Band (I Bury the Living, Ghoulies II)

Starring - Kevin Connors (Harry and the Hendersons, Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead), Jennifer Harte, and Dean Schofield (Project: Metalbeast, Cotton Candy)

Release Date - 1994

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "The oldest party animals are back"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I had several go to films when I was a kid.  An estranged uncle gave me Jason Goes to Hell and Conan the Destroyer on tape.  I played the fuck out of them for years until I got my hands on the Prehysteria! trilogy along with Adventures in Dinosaur City.  I fucking loved these films and watched the absolute fuck out of them until they were given away while I was in college.  Several years ago I wanted to revisit these films and found them on DVD from Germany.  Since then Full Moon has been working on their Moonbeam catalog.  They released the first Prehysteria! film on blu sometime ago and just recently put the sequel out on blu.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy over.  I couldn't wait to revisit this one and once I decided to have a Full Moon marathon I knew this would be one of the first films I watched.

     The film follows Brendan (Connors) who is wealthy but lacks friendship.  That is until one day he befriends a young girl in a rail yard and the two find a group of miniature dinosaurs.   He takes them to his mansion and soon finds a friendship in them and the young girl that money could not put a price on.

     Prehysteria! 2 is nowhere near as enjoyable as the first film but it's still a solid watch.  It's a copy and paste story with some changes that makes it just different enough to be a sequel and not a hard retelling.  Honestly, I like the set up of the film but it could have offered us just a little something different than a rehashing of the first film.  The acting in this one is pretty fucking decent.  I really liked the characters we were given and how they seemed to be written more a children's film than the first film.  The cast has some experience but there was a few scenes that still feel awkward to watch even now.  What really stands out to me is Kevin Connors who many of you may remember as the kid in Phantasm III.  The story for this one is similar to the first film but with some noticeable differences.  I liked the rich kid angle mixed with the dad who is too busy for him.  Toss in a tramp for a friend and some mini dinos and you have Prehysteria! 2.  With that being said, it's pretty much a copy and paste story from the first with kids trying to hide dinos.  It's fun and I can marathon it with the first and third film but it is a little repetitive.  Finally, the film doesn't try to do as many visual effects as the first.  We have the same animatronics as the first film and that's the extent of it.  Overall, Prehysteria! 2 is one of the many films that made me the movie fan I am today.  I owe this film so much but I'm not blind to it's short comings.  It's fun and I highly recommend checking out the blu from Full Moon.  

The Batman: The Complete Series

Creator - Bill Finger (Batwoman, Titans)

Starring - Rino Romano (The Batman vs. Dracula, Spider-Man), Alastair Duncan (Wizards, Stillwater), and Evan Sabara (Dinosaur, Malcolm in the Middle)

Release Date - 2004

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

    When I was in middle and high school I was an avid Nickelodeon fan.  Even up until adulthood I found myself still watching Nick.  I grew up during their Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Aaahh! Real Monsters, and All That years but during my teenage years I was still watching shows like Danny Phantom, The Fairly Odd Parents, and Avatar: The Last Air Bender.  It's because I was so dedicated to Nick that I often missed out on the DC and Marvel shows because they aired on other networks.  I didn't get to watch shows about Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and so on during those years which is something I've come to regret.  Not too long ago I received The Batman: The Complete Series on blu to review.  This show originally aired when I was in high school in 2004 and ended in 2008.  I knew of it but never took the time to check it out.  Sadly, after watching it now I have to admit I feel like a fucking fool for sleeping on it.  It was a lot of fun.  

     The series begins one year after Bruce Wayne (Romano) takes to the night to fight crime as Batman.  Bruce learns to work as billionaire philanthropist during the day and crime fighter at night while stopping villains like Scarface, Joker, Firefly, and Mr. Freeze. 

     The Batman was a lot more entertaining than I thought it was going to be.  The episodes don't overstay their welcome and the characters they give us are awesome new renditions of the classic characters we've grown to love.  It's a lot of fun and only gets better with each episode.  The voice acting in this one is one of the only aspects of the show that I didn't care for.  Honestly, this isn't my first outing with Romano as Bruce Wayne but he just doesn't feel right in this show.  I know it's meant to depict a younger Wayne in his infancy as Batman but his voice just doesn't feel right to me.  He's not bad but his voice just doesn't fit as the caped crusader.  With that being said, I was a fan of the rest of the voice acting and the cameos the show saw.  We get some great work from legends like Clancy Brown, Udo Kear, Mitch Pileggi, and Adam West just to name a few.  Such a fantastic ensemble.  The story for this show doesn't really deviate too far from the source material.  Most of the characters do get a more modern adaptation that I think works especially if you have lived through all the films and newer shows that try to capture them like they are in the comics.  Seeing the newer looks does give the viewer something different to enjoy.  With that being said, each episode is a lot of fun and even the later seasons are still very much enjoyable.  This animated series doesn't lose any steam.  Finally, it took me a few episodes to warm up to the animation but once I did I actually found myself enjoying it.  It is exactly as you would expect from an animated series in the early 2000s.  It has amazing colors and the detail on the characters are great.  Overall, The Batman is a fantastic series that I feel a lot of fans slept on it when it originally aired.  I had a lot of fun with it and if my son ever takes a moment to slow down and actually watch television I will show him this one.  I highly recommend it.  

Wrath of Daimajin

Director - Kazuo Mori (Rampaging Dog, Violent Hawk)

Starring - Hideki Ninomiya (Daimajin, The Space Giants), Shinji Hori, and Masahide Iizuka (Human Torpedos)

Release Date - 1966

Genre - Fantasy/Horror

Tagline - "A wave of evil has been unleashed"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Daimajin and Return of Daimajin are rather unique kaiju films when you compare them to the more popular or mainstraim kaiju films that were coming out of Japan during the 60s and 70s.  The third film in the trilogy, Wrath of Daimajin, is the oddest of the three.  Though it is set up like the previous two films in regards to being a period piece with fantasy aspects and drama before the last leg of the film unleashes the kaiju fun, it's put together like a children's film.  I never really noticed that during my original viewings but where I'm older now I can see and appreciate that more now.  It's a lot of fun and one that children can get behind.  It might be considered the weakest of the three by many fans but I like it.  I could appreciate it a little more if I hadn't watched the other two films previously.  

    The film follows a small village where the men have been taken by an evil warlord and his army to perform hard labor.  When one of them is able to escape and return to the village it inspires several children to make the trek across the dangerous mountain to find their loved ones.  However, the mountain and soldiers put the children's lives in peril forcing one of them to pray to the god of the mountain unleashing the Daimajin on them all.

     Wrath of Daimajin once again delivers a similar story to the other films but it's focus on children does make it feel a little different than the other two.  It's fun but nothing that makes it truly stand out from the other two films.  The acting in this one is probably my favorite of the three films.  The young cast is great.  Their experience is limited but they are great.  They are comfortable in front of the camera and do an amazing job at bringing their little but big characters to life.  The supporting cast is exactly what you would expect after watching the other films but it all comes together to work.  The story for this one is basically the same premise as the other two films but with some minor changes.  The film still follows a village in turmoil while an evil general/warlord forces reign upon them.  However, instead of the film following the villagers, it follows children who try to save the day before Daimajin unleashes his wrath.  Nothing too drastic but just enough to stand out from the other two.  Finally, the film is not bloody but if you stick with it you will have the same kaiju fun as the other two films using similar effects.  Overall, Wrath of Daimajin is just as fun as the other films.  I would not recommend watching them all together but they are all equally as enjoyable.  

Sally and Jess

Director - John Wintergate (Boardinghouse)

Starring - John Wintergate, Kodey Wintergate, and Shanti Wintergate (CSI: NY)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Drama

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I grew up during the golden age of VHS.  I lived in my local video store snagging releases from any genre.  I wasn't bit by the horror bug yet so I was always renting comedies, dramas, action, and children's films.  This was the 90s so there was an abundance of straight to video kid's flicks to choose from.  Growing up on these types of films has creates a soft spot for children's flicks from the late 80s and early 90s.  I know my horror readers will bitch and moan but if it wasn't for films like Prehysteria, Adventures in Dinosaur City, Homeward Bound, and The Big Green then I wouldn't be the movie buff that I am now.  When I noticed that the AGFA release of Boardinghouse included another John Wintergate film from 1989 that was intended to be a children's film.  After watching Boardinghouse I was quick to hit play on Sally and Jess.

     The film follows siblings Sally and Jess, who find themselves in the care of the state after their mom passes away and their father perishes in a plane crash rushing to get home to be with them after his wife passes.  They are unable to house them in the same home and are resort to splitting them up which infuriates the two.  They promptly run away into the woods and a long search for the pair commences.  

    Sally and Jess is far from perfect but what it lacks in polish it more than makes up for in heart.  It's a generic family adventure film that pulls you in with the characters.  As a father watching the film I found it to be a very emotional experience that I think others will feel the same way as I do with it.  The acting in this one is about what you would expect from a film where the cast has little to no experience.  The characters, especially the main ones, are very relatable which is why you find yourself pulled into the story.  The cast really tries to deliver the best possible performances they can but the two leads have inexperience and age working against them.  They are by no means bad but there is plenty of room for improvement.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward as a family friendly adventure.  A siblings pair is pushing through the wilderness while the social worker and police is on their tails.  It's simple and it works.  Finally, don't expect blood or a body count because you won't find it here.  Well, a small body count maybe but it's not a bloody flick.  The film's focus is on the children so no bloodshed or trippy effects that you previously experienced in Boardinghouse.  Overall, Sally and Jess was a pleasant surprise.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope many of you are open to it as well.  I want to thank AGFA for including this one in the release.  

The Addams Family 2

Director(s) - Greg Tiernan (The Addams Family, Sausage Party), Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2, Monsters vs. Aliens), and Laura Brousseau

Starring - Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, Annihilation), Charlize Theron (Mad Max: Fury Road, Monster), and Chloe Grace Moretz (Let Me In, Dark Shadows)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "Unhappy to see you again"

Format - Streaming (Amazon Prime)

Rating (out of 5):

     Being born in the mid-80s and raised in the 90s has granted me a unique opportunity to not only enjoy the greatest decade in history, the 80s, but I was also able to grow up during 90s which brought about it's own unique flair.  The 90s would be the rebirth of the iconic Addams Family.  I had watched the original live action series when I was little with my grandmother and the Hanna-Barbera animated series as well but the 90s would see three feature length films, an animated show, and a another live action show.  The Addams Family property was hot during the 90s and two of the three films are annually played during October for Halloween fans.  A few years back The Addams name was once again reborn and this time as an animated movie.  Though I wasn't much of a fan of this new outing for the family I would be lying if I didn't admit that I enjoyed watching it with my kids.  They finally had their own Addams Family movie to watch.  When a sequel was announced earlier this year I was equally as excited to watch it with them.  However, this outing was far more enjoyable than the first film.   

     The film follows the Addams family with Gomez (Isaac) and Morticia (Theron) as they find themselves feeling distanced from their daughter Wednesday (Moretz).  Gomez plans a family vacation traveling across the U.S. but a rich scientist suspects that Wednesday is actually his daughter that was switched at birth.  Wednesday, who already feels like the black sheep of the family, suspects he is right and runs away from her family in hopes of finding somewhere to belong only to discover that she was deceived from the very beginning with Gomez and Morticia actually being her parents.  

      The first animated Addams Family film just didn't work for me but I've already have so many different Addams Family films and television shows to enjoy.  This new film was for a whole new generation and my children absolutely loved it.  However, this follow up film was a lot more enjoyable and delivered that Addams Family macabre charm.  The voice acting in this one is just as good as the first film.  Oscar Isaac and Charlize Theron is fantastic as Gomez and Morticia.  Their voice fit the characters perfectly and make these iconic characters their own.  The same can be said for everyone else in the film.  I really enjoyed the casting they took on here.  It's not the same as versions I grew up with but it works for the film.  The story for this pits the family in a cross country adventure with their same morbid twists along a new menace that works.  I found myself actually enjoying this story and the characters more this go around.  With that being said, some of the scenes are a little dull and the humor doesn't really work on adults but the younger audience obviously enjoyed it.  Finally, the animation looks great.  It's a new spin on classic characters that still give them their iconic appearance but for modern fans.  Overall, The Addams Family 2 was a lot more fun than the first film but it still has plenty of room for improvement.  I liked it but I would still rather watch the 90s animated series.  

ParaNorman

Director(s) - Chris Butler (Missing Link) and Sam Fell (Flushed Away, The Tale of Despereaux)

Starring - Kodi Smith-McPhee (Let Me In, X-Men: Apocalypse), Anna Kendrick (The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Fear Itself), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad, Kick-Ass)

Release Date -2012

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "It's all fun and games until someone raises the dead"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The year I started writing my reviews, 2012 to be exact, I went to the theater to watch ParaNorman with my wife after work.  I worked for a different wireless carrier at the time and they were a miserable company to work for.  I was constantly depressed so I started writing reviews as a way to pass time and to get out of my head.  That was when I started my blog with the intent of reviewing ParaNorman and the other films I was watching at the time.  However, I soon changed my mind and decided to focus on older films that more people may have forgotten.  I absolutely loved ParaNorman but I figured there was enough sites, blogs, and YouTube channels covering it without wasting my time on the review.  Now, here I set almost a decade later writing a review for ParaNorman because Shout Factory asked me to cover some of their new Laika Studio releases.  Thanks Shout for once again supporting Horror Society and myself!

     The film follows Norman (Smith-McPhee) who is an abnormal kid.  He can see the dead which has made him the odd one out in his family and school often making him the center of the school bully's aggressions.  His strange existence gets even stranger when his estranged uncle tries to warn him about impending doom.  Norman doesn't believe him and soon he discovers that his uncle has died.  This sparks the beginning of a wild night for Norman and a few select others when the undead start rising from their grave with a connection to a suspect witch that was executed several centuries earlier.  Now he must stop the witches curse before innocent people in town are murdered by the living dead.

     I absolutely loved ParaNorman when it was released and I would say it's my favorite film to date to come out of Laika Studios.  It's such a fun horror-centered film that the entire family can enjoy.  Hell, I've actually watched this one three times this year already prior to getting in this release for review.  The voice acting in this one is probably my favorite of any animated film.  We get the legendary John Goodman as a deranged hermit who communicated with the dead, we have McLovin himself as a braindead bully, Theodon from Lord of the Rings is a fucking zombie, and so many more that deserve to be mentioned but I'm a lazy fuck.  The characters, much like Coraline, are bigger than the screen they are on and stick with everyone watching it.  The story for this one is a lot of fun and one I try to watch at least once during October.  I love anything that has do to with colonial America and when you toss in witches, which I feel are often underutilized, and zombies mixed with another lonely child seeking acceptance from his family and peers.  It's a great story for kids but also works for many of us looking for something a little light-hearted to watch during the Halloween season.  Finally, the stop-motion animation is even more impressive than Coraline.  I absolutely love the unique look of the characters, as well ass, how amazing the ghosts and zombies look.  It's impressive and this film is my aesthetic.  Overall, ParaNorman is a must for someone seeking a family friendly film and horror fans alike.  The blu from Shout is the way you need to see this film so grab it while you can.  I highly recommend it.  

The Herculoids

Creator - Alex Toth (Space Ghost, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast)

Starring - Mike Road (Godzilla, The Fantastic Four), Ted Eccles (Bad Ronald, The Banana Splits Adventure Hour), and Virginia Gregg (Psycho III, The Fockford Files)

Release Date - 1967

Genre - Action/Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Being born in the 80s gave me the ability to grow up through some of the most iconic television shows in history. However, previous decades had their own iconic shows as well along with some nearly forgotten series.  In 1967 Hanna-Barbera released the sci-fi fantasy series The Herculoids and would have episodes rerun for two years before finally cancelling.  I'm a huge fan of Hanna-Barbera but this is one series I had never really seen before.  When Warner Bros. announced the entire series was getting released on blu as part of their Archive Collection.  I quickly reached out and they were kind enough to send over a review copy for me to check out.  

     The series follows a barbaric king, his wife, his son, and their group of creatures who protect their planet from invading forces and various other threats.

     I was really excited to check out The Herculoids.  I had watched Thundarr not too long ago and was really excited to check out another sci-fi fantasy series in the same line.  The Herculoids was a great series that may have been the inspiration for shows like Thundarr and Masters of the Universe.  It was a lot of fun but the sudden ending to the show really left me feeling empty and wanting more.  The voice acting in this one is fun but far from the best I had seen.  The shows I grew up on seemed to have characters that really stand out.  You find yourself thinking about the things they said days after watching episodes.  However, The Herculoids doesn't really stand out.  Their voices resemble other characters from the Hanna-Barbera catalogue of the time.  Also, the characters lacked the memorable personalities that make them stand out.  The story for this one is very similar to other sci-fi fantasy shows.  I really enjoyed it and how the series really did take leaps and risks with it.  The creatures and scenarios we find The Herculoids in is what really sold me on the show.  I don't see myself revisiting the series anytime soon but I wouldn't mind newer episodes to dig into.  Finally, the animation is exactly what you would expect from a late 60s Hanna-Barbara's cartoon.  Honestly, I enjoyed the art style but it might not be something that stands out to some viewers.  Overall, The Herculoids is a fun short lived series that brings the sci-fi fantasy elements to the viewer.  It may not be memorable but it's not bad.  I really enjoyed it and the blu looks great.  It does lack supplemental material but it's worth the price.  

Josie and the Pussy Cats in Outer Space

Starring - Sherry Alberoni (Sisters of Death, Super Friends), Jerry Dexter (DuckTales, Sealab 2020), and Jackie Joseph (Small Soldiers, Gremlins)

Release Date - 1972

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Warner Archive has been releasing some pretty solid releases over the last few years and it seems like they are only going to get better.  A couple weeks ago I received the press release for their newest batch of releases coming up and one title really caught my eye.  It's not a horror title but I was still extremely curious about it.  I was born in the mid-80s and grew up in the 90s.  I was part of the Orange Years at Nickelodeon and Goosebumps was my introduction to the genre.  However, I was still a heavy VHS collector.  I had accrued several older shows on tapes that I had picked up in random places.  One of these tapes was episodes of the original Josie and the Pussy Cats.  So when I saw the blu release of Josie and the Pussy Cats in Outer Space I had to check it out.  I want to thank Warner for sending this one over.  

      The series follows Josie and the gang who find themselves accidentally tossed in a space ship and sent out to space.  Each episode follows the crew as they find themselves on a different planet battling a different cosmic foe.

     I remember watching the few tapes of Josie and the Pussy Cats when I was in elementary school and liking it but I never had a chance to see in Outer Space.  Hell, I didn't know it was a thing until I received the press release for it.  It was a fun short lived series that takes the same Scooby-Doo like antics of Josie and the Pussy Cats and puts a sci-fi spin on it.  I enjoyed it but it's not a show I would recommend binging.  The voice acting in this one works for the show but fans of the original show and Scooby-Doo will recognize these voices fairly quickly.  With that being said, I absolutely loved the off world voice acting of the new characters that were introduced.  The stories for these episodes mostly follow the same formula.  We follow the crew as they land, or crash land in some instances, on a planet where they encounter an alien race in some sort of turmoil.  It's really fun for a few episodes but after three or four you find yourself waiting to watch something else.  It makes sense this series only lasted one season.  Finally, the animation is exactly what you would expect from an early 70s Hanna Barbara production.  It's fun for a children's show but as an adult you can appreciate it for what it is.  Overall, Josie and the Pussy Cats in Outer Space is a fun spin off of a popular Hanna Barbara property that is fun for a first time watch but I wouldn't recommend binging the entire series.  It's very repetitive.  The blu release from this one looks great but the lack of supplimental material is a big disappointing.  

     

Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren and Stimpy Story

Director(s) - Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood

Starring - Bob Camp (Tiny Toon Adventures, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes), John Kricfalusi (The Simpsons, The Smurfs), and Jim Ballantine (The Little Mermaid, 100% Wolf)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     If you grew up through the late 80s and early 90s then you lived through some of the most controversial animated shows in history.  The Simpson, Beavis and Butthead, South Park, Family Guy and Ren and Stimpy.  Ren and Stimpy stood out among the others because it was on Nickelodeon and was aimed to children while the others were meant for adult audiences and typically came on late at night.  Ren and Stimpy was not only controversial on the screen but behind the screen as well.  I was a huge Ren and Stimpy fan but now I struggle with separating the art from the artist.  A few weeks ago I saw that Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren and Stimpy Story received a blu release.  I was already picking up The Orange Years so I went ahead and added this to the cart to have a double feature.  

     The documentary follows the company the creation of the animation studio Spumco, which was co-founded by artist John Kricfalusi, who would respond to an ad looking for animation properties to air on Nickelodeon.  We then follow them through their rise to stardom before egos clashed resulting in John K's firing from Nickelodeon.  

     A few years ago a video was floating around, from Buzzfeed I believe, discussing Ren and Stimpy creator John K's sexual abuse and grooming of underage women.  He admitted to it and gave a half-hearted apology but the whole situation really tainted the legacy of Ren and Stimpy.  I want to separate the art from the artist so to speak especially where there is other amazing artists attached to the show.  What John K did was inexcusable but the show was such a huge part of my childhood and this documentary does a phenomenal job at giving fans a look inside of what happened to one of the most icons yet short lived shows to ever exist.  The interviews in this one are exactly how I love to see a documentary done.  We have people from all sides of the subject and not everything is sugar coated.  We have people, including John K and one of his victims, who go in depth on the beginnings of Spumco, the creation of Ren and Stimpy and how Nickelodeon acquired them, the success, and then the ego of John K taking over forcing Nickelodeon to fire him.  I love seeing the fans talk about the shore while others are discussing the destructive nature of John K.  The interviews are very thorough and you really do get a great glimpse of what it was like.  The topics discussed in this one move in a chronological order and it works for the subject.  I wish the portion about John K and his victims was included during the time it was happening instead of at the end but I'm glad it was included regardless.  Finally, the editing and transitions in this one is great.  The transitions are smooth and we get a lot of fun animation and old pictures scattered throughout to really add to the stories being told.  Overall, Happy Happy Joy Joy is for fans of early 90s Nickelodeon or fans of Ren and Stimpy in general.  I hate that John K did that to those women and justice was never served but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that this show was a huge part of my childhood.  John K being a piece of shit aside, I highly recommend checking out this doc.  It was well worth the time.  

The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story

Director(s) - Scott Barber (This is GWAR, American Clown) and Adam Sweeney 

Starring - Jason Alisharan (Are You Afraid of the Dark?, The Halfback of Notre Dame), Drake Bell (Superhero Movie, Drake and Josh), and Michael Bower (Salute Your Shorts, Dude!, Where's Your Car?)

Release Date - 2018

Genre - Documentary

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a product of my childhood like many people my age.  I was born in the mid-80s but grew up in the 90s.  While most of the people my age were fans of Disney I found myself spending most of my time watching tapes or anything on Nickelodeon.  I was a bit of an outcast among my friends because I wasn't excited for movies like Aladdin, Pocahontas, The Lion King, and so on.  I was more focused on Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Ren and Stimpy, CatDog, and so on.  This was my favorite channel by far and when I reached adulthood I discovered I was not the only one.  While most of my childhood friends were Disney fans I've met several in the horror community that were fans of this golden age of television.  A few months ago I was digging around Amazon when I came across The Orange Years.  This looked like a documentary made specifically for me so I quickly snagged the blu.  When I found an opening in my schedule I decided I would finally dig into it.

     The documentary takes the viewers from before Nickelodeon where we learn that it was a result of a cable experiment in Ohio before it became a children's television program.  From there they grew into cutting edge children's programing that sometimes pushed the envelope of what was acceptable on television to creating their own brand of television aimed to children.  Their growth eventually became their downfall as they no longer had goals to strive for.

     I started collecting movies, or tapes as they were at that time, when I was in elementary school.  I started with Goosebumps releases and soon moved on to everything that caught my eye.  This would include as many Nickelodeon tapes as I could find.  Orange was a big part of my childhood and at one point I had so many orange tapes in my collection.  Most were like a greatest hits compilations of different shows.  Some were Rugrats, Doug, Aaahh Real Monsters, and so on.  I loved this time of my life and Nickelodeon was such a huge part of it.  This documentary was really a walk down memory lane and one I thoroughly enjoyed.  The interviews in this one is extremely diverse ranging from fans, to company executives and creators, to child stars and other cast members.  A lot of thought and research went into who would be interviewed and it was nice to see how some of the faces I grew up with has aged over the last 20 some odd years.  I've noticed that a lot of the indie documentaries that I review usually have people on one side or the other of a topic.  However, it's nice to see people from different aspects of the company, along with fans, as they talk about the rise or the orange years.  The topics discussed go in chronological order from before Nickelodeon, what a nickelodeon is, and how the channel became the giant that it was in the 90s.  A lot of behind the scenes and personal stories were shared which adds a whole new level of depth to my childhood.  Finally, the editing and flow of this documentary is extremely smooth.  This is a top notch production.  The transitions, editing, and interviews are all shot perfectly.  This is one of the best looking docs I've seen in awhile and I absolutely loved it.  Overall, The Orange Years may not be for everyone but for this millenial it's a fantastic film.  I loved the history and a reminder of all the great shows that I've forgot about over the years.  I highly recommend this one.  It was a lot of fun.  

The Point

Director - Fred Wolf (Strawberry Shortcake, The Wuzzles)

Starring - Ringo Starr (Alice in Wonderland, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), Paul Frees (The Return of the King, Wonder Woman), and Mike Lookinland (The Brady Bunch, The Towering Inferno)

Release Date - 1971

Genre - Adventure

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Over the years I've talked about my childhood in my reviews.  I like to connect with the movies before I review them that way the reader can get some sort of connection with me and why I felt the way I did with the film I'm reviewing.  As a child I grew up in front of the television.  Cartoons, movies, documentaries, it didn't matter.  I watched anything and everything as a kid.  I remember being very little when I watch The Point for the first time.  It was a fun little animated flick but as I got older I didn't remember a lot about it.  Hell, I forgot about the film until MVD announced their release of the film on blu as part of their Rewind Collection.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send a copy my way.  Thanks guys!

     The film follows Oblio (Lookinland) who was born with a round head in the village of people with pointy heads.  He's often picked on and bullied and eventually forced out of the village for being different.  On his adventures through the pointless forest he discovers many different types of people, as well as, his sense of worth.

     The Point isn't the pinnacle of animation and it's not the most original story but it's fun for what it is.  It's a children's story written by a man tripping on acid.  That's pretty fucking wild if you ask me.  It's even better when you consider that the film has three different versions with different narrators.  The video release of the film has Ringo Starr while the cable cut of the film has Alan Thicke narrating.  When I watched this for the first time I was watching the Alan Thicke version.  Regardless, it's not the most amazing animated film but it's still a fun watch.  The voice acting in this one is fun.  The voices match up pretty well for the characters but having the same voice actor portraying different characters without changing their voice was a little confusing and lazy.  Several of the cast members voiced multiple characters but they never tries to change their voice.  A lot of different animated films and shows recycled voice actors for different characters but they used their voices to create different characters.  The Point doesn't do that.  We get the same voice for different characters.  The story for this one is a solid enough children's adventure tale following a kid that's different as he learns his place in life.  It may have been inspired by an acid trip but it still speaks to children.  It's perfect for kids that are bullied, born different, coming to terms with their sexual identities, and so forth.  It's very relevant but it's not the most original even for 1971.  There has been countless other shows and movies aimed for children with similar stories.  Finally, the animation for this one is unique but not something that sticks with you.  I like the animation style used for the film but a lot of the younger generations would not appreciate it as much as us older generations do.  Overall, The Point is a fun watch especially if you've never seen it before.  The blu from MVD looks great and I love that they took the time to put this release together.  Their work as preserving underrated and obscure films is top notch.  Be sure to add this one to your collection.  

A Meowy Christmas Vacation

Director - Steve Rudzinski (CarousHELL, Red Christmas)

Starring - Steve Rudzinski, Amie Wrenn (A Meowy Halloween, The Survivors), and Ben Dietels (Slaughter Drive, Everyone Must Die!)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Comedy

Tagline - "Part of the journey is the end!"

Format - Streaming (Online Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've been with Horror Society almost ten years now.  I've found myself meeting some amazing filmmakers, actors, producers, and so on due to my involvement with HS.  I'm grateful for the opportunities writing for the site has given me but I will always be grateful for the friendships that it's given me.  When I first started writing for HS I befriended indie filmmaker Steve Rudzinski while he was crowdfunding for his sci-fi action film Super Task Force One.  I shared the news of his new project and over the years I've watched and reviewed most of his films.  I like Rudzinski and his approach to movies because he is not a one trick pony.  He makes movies he would want to see and doesn't just turn out cheap horror flick after horror flick.  He's made sci-fi action flicks, horror, and family friendly animal movies.  Back at the beginning of the pandemic he released two films which were installments in his Meowy series.  I watched one and decided to save the other, A Meowy Christmas Vacation, for December becauase...Christmas.  With Christmas just a few weeks away it's the perfect time to check it out.  Thanks Steve for sending this one over!

     The film follows idiot cop Wally (Rudzinski) who is sent to the year 2050 where the world is overrun by aliens.  Wally joins forces with some rebels where they plan on sending him back to his original time line in hopes of stopping the alien invasion from happening.  

     I watch some pretty raunchy and filthy movies throughout a normal week for me.  I get in a lot of extreme horror, splatter flicks, and even some vintage sexploitation flicks.  I love the trashy side of cinema.  However, It's also nice to watch something that my kids can watch with me.  I really like how adaptable Rudzinski is as a filmmaker.  He can deliver some serious horror fun and immediately switch gears to give fans something like his Meowy movies.  I enjoy this series but A Meowy Christmas Vacation is the weakest of the series.  It's not a bad movie so don't think that because I enjoyed it.  It's just the bottom of the Meowy movies for me.  The acting in this one is consistent with the previous films.  Rudzinski is passionate about these films and created some fun and memorable characters for these films.  The cast really gets into their roles and it makes the story flow so much better.  There is a few scenes where the cast is a little awkward but it's fun.  Honestly, the characters and the over the top performances reminded me a lot of the kids movies I would rent as a kid on VHS.  I really appreciate what he's doing with this series.  The story for this one is a sequel of sorts to his sci-fi super sentei film Super Task Force One while tying it into his Meowy universe.  That is a rather bold move on his part but it works.  It gives fans of his something more to notice while expanding the Meowy universe.  Which, is the reason, that I didn't like it as much.  It's a fun sequel but it's not as simple and straight forward as the previous films.  It's a Meowy movie at heart but doesn't really feel like one.  Finally, this is not a bloody horror flick like the movies I typically review.  It's a kid friendly adventure flick that has some cheesy visual effects and some make-up effects but that's the extent of it.  Overall, A Meowy Christmas Vacation is a fun film for your family this holiday season.  It's not my favorite Rudzinski film but it's still well worth your time.  You can check it out now on Amazon Prime!

Little Monsters

Director - Richard Greenberg (The Process, Tales from the Crypt)

Starring - Fred Savage (The Wizard, Deadpool 2), Howie Mandel (Bobby's World, Gremlins), Daniel Stern (Home Alone, City Slickers)

Release Date - 1989

Genre - Comedy/Adventure

Tagline - "Some friends can be REAL MONSTERS. And some monsters can be REAL FRIENDS."

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I was born in the mid-80s and raised in the 90s.  My youth revolved around the video store and Sega Genesis when I was younger.  I was often renting movies and games for the weekend and rarely ventured outside during these two days off from school.  Over those few years I watched so many amazing movies that stuck with me.  One of those movies was the 1989 children's comedy Little Monsters.  I rented this one so many times as a kid and eventually bought the DVD around the Halloween season one year.  It has been a few years since I saw the movie but when Vestron announced the release of the film on blu I knew I would use this as an opportunity to check it out again.  Thank you Vestron for sending this one over for review.

     The film follows Brian (Savage) who traded room with his little brother Eric (Ben Savage) because he believes a monster is living under his bed.  He sets out to prove a point but soon realizes that Eric was right and there is a monster under the bed.  On the second night he makes a trap and traps the monster, Maurice (Mandel), from returning under the bed.  Impressed by Brian's ingenuity, he takes him to the underworld where the monsters live.  The two becomes friends but soon another danger reveals itself before Brian.

     I remembered loving Little Monsters when I was younger but when I tossed this one in I found myself becoming extremely bored with it.  It's still an entertaining film but it just didn't age well with me.  I still had fun revisiting it but I don't see myself tossing it in again anytime soon.  The acting in this one is great.  Both Savage brothers are amazing in their roles.  Fred can be hit or miss with me in his films but I always enjoyed his performance here.  However, the real star is Howie Mandel.  The character of Maurice is highly entertaining and I'm still amazed after all these years that Mandel is the man behind the makeup.  He does such a fantastic job and I often forget that was him.  The story for this one is absolutely amazing and I'm shocked it didn't spawn an animated series like so many other movies of the time.  With that being said, as an adult, the film does become rather boring at times.  The underworld with stairs to other rooms with different monsters just really enthralls me.  It's such an amazing story.  Sadly, the dialogue between the youths in the film does make the movie feel a little boring.  Finally, this is not a bloody flick.  However, the make-up effects are fantastic and somewhat iconic by this point.  Everyone knows what Maurice and several other monsters look like.  Overall, Little Monsters is a huge part of the childhoods of many of us but does the film really hold up?  I say yes but only to an extent and the blu from Vestron look great.  The transfer looks great but it's not something that I was super impressed with.  I've seen other much older films with better transfers.  Millennials will really appreciate this release more than others.