Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon: Christmas Special

Director - Addison Binek (Psycho Ape!, Tromasterpiece Theatre: The Battle of Love's Return)

Starring - Addison Binek

Release Date - 2011 - 2026

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Tagline - "14 episodes of holiday cheer"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a sucker for themed collections and shows that riff movies.  I didn't have a local horror host to watch growing up but I was fortunate enough to find episodes of Elvira's Movie Macabre when I was in high school.  What I had as a kid was Mystery Science Theater 3000 which I know wasn't the same as a horror host but I loved how both were people "watching" a movie and pointing out the unintentionally funny things they found.  While horror hosts seem to be more popular, I love finding shows or web-series that riff on movies.  Many years ago I befriended YouTuber Addison Binek who hosts a long running series called Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon.  I've reviewed several collections of his episodes since then and was lucky enough to get two more sets from him for review.  The first set I dug into was his Christmas Special collection.  Like always, I want to thank Addison for sending this one over. 

     In this collection we follow Addison as he watches several Christmas films ranging from cult classics to truly abysmal films.

     Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon: Christmas Special is not something I was expecting to review in March but it was still a lot of fun.  This is the kind of collection that you would toss on while you wrap presents or decorate the tree especially if you are in the mood for something you can turn your brain off for a bit and just watch.  It's a lot of fun and I know it will not be for everyone but I dig it for what it is.  The acting in this one is exactly what you get.  It's a one man show that plays out in a similar fashion to a comedy skit or the segments from Elvira's Movie Macabre.  Addison is just being Addison while delivering a lot of puns and mocking the films in question.  The themes for each episodes is reflective of the movie he is riffing.  Some of these films are must see films for genre fans while others are damn near impossible to watch.  Each episode fully embodies the themes of the films he is riffing which only adds to the Christmas theme.  Finally, this is a no budget production that has crude editing and camerawork.  With that being said, it knows exactly what it is and doesn't try to be anything but that.  It makes fun of movies for their shortcomings while showing their obvious shortcomings.  Overall, Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon: Christmas Special is another solid collection of episodes from this long running and underrated YouTube series.  It's not for everyone, and while I have no idea who the target audience of this show is, I still enjoy it.  I recommend it but I know it won't be for everyone.  

Shark Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon Vol. 2

Director - Addison Binek (Tromasterpiece Theatre, Psycho Ape!)

Starring - Addison Binek

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Here is the end of my Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon marathon.  A few weeks ago director and actor Addison Binek sent over three collections of his web series Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon.  The first was The Cannibals and Zombies Collection.  This was a lot of fun for me because I had seen almost all of the films that he riffed.  The other two collections were shark movies.  I'm not much on shark flicks but I was still open to checking them out.  The first volume was a decent watch and I paced myself before spinning the second volume.  I didn't want to binge on these because this is a show that I can't watch for hours on end.  However, I put a day in between my viewing of Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.  I want to thank Addison for sending this one over.

     This collection, once again, follows Addison as he watches and pokes fun at some seriously crappy shark films.  

     I wish I was as passionate about something as Addison is about horrible movies.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely fucking love watching cheesy, campy, and poor quality films but Addison has made it is life goal to watch, riff, and make these types of films.  Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon is a fun watch if you are in the mood for it and his films are some of my favorites in my collection.  Shark Movies Vol. 2 was a solid enough watch but I once again feel like I'm missing out on some of the jokes because I had not seen the films he is riffing.  The acting in this one is decent enough.  Addison delivers his jokes, has fun in front of the camera, and really gets into his episode.  He goes all in and does a fantastic job.  You can really see where his heart is in each episode.  The writing for this one is just like the others.  His sense of humor finds its mark and I always have a few laughs when he riffs a film.  However, like I said earlier, I think these jokes would have been a little more enjoyable if I was a little more familiar with the films.  Finally, the editing is rather crude and looks like it's done on the fly but it's still enjoyable.  It doesn't take away from the overall show and you still get the point.  Overall, Shark Movies Vol. 2 is another fun watch.  If you are into riffing horrible films then this is one I would recommend if you've never seen it before.  

Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon Presents The Cannibals and Zombies Collection

Director - Addison Binek (Psycho Ape!, Tromasterpiece Theatre: Poultrygeist)

Starring - Addison Binek

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Several years ago I was introduced to actor, director, and web-series host Addison Binek when I was attending Cinema Wasteland.  It was around this time that he was working on his first Tromasterpiece Theatre film.  I was very interested in the film considering it was supported by Lloyd Kaufman and about Kaufman's first film The Battle of Love's Return.  I also learned of his long running web series Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon.  This YouTube series is centered around Addison as he riffs, or mocks, various horror and sci-fi films.  I've collected multiple releases of his collections and enjoy checking them out from time to time.  A few weeks ago Addison sent over a few of his collections to review.  I decided to start my marathon with his Cannibals and Zombies Collection.  Thanks Addison for sending this one over!

     In this collection we follow Addison as he watches some seriously heinous and barely watchable films like Zombie: The Beginning and Cannibal Terror.

     Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine.  I don't watch it that often but when I do I find myself laughing at the riff's Addison has written and the no budget charm of his show.  Honestly, it's not something I can binge or watch repeatedly.  It's fun in small doses and something that I think other cult cinema fans would enjoy but I need time between each viewing to recharge my batteries.  The Cannibals and Zombies Collection is probably my favorite release of his so far because I've suffered through most of these films myself.  A lot of the things he said really does sum up what I thought about them during my initial viewing.  The acting in this one is decent.  Addison is himself in front of the camera while he picks apart movies that shouldn't have been released.  They are painfully bad and his observations, critiques, and humorous antidotes of the films are funny for the most part.  He is extremely comfortable in front of the screen and his delivery works for most of the time.  The writing in this is pretty funny.  A lot of the jokes are reminiscent of MST3K but there is a few instances where the joke just doesn't find its mark.  I can see fans of Angry Video Game Nerd, Riff Tracks, and Cinema Snob enjoy what Addison brings to the table here.  Finally, the editing is not the best.  It's a cheap YouTube webseries that focuses on the laughs and not the polish.  Overall, The Cannibals and Zombies Collection is probably my favorite release of Movies to Watch on a Rainy Day.  The movies he riffs are some of the worst genre films in history which gives him a lot of material to work with.  I highly recommend checking this out if it sounds like something you are interested in.  I enjoyed it.  

Squatch'd

Starring - Shawn Burkett (A Shameless Revenge, Bludgeon), Brittany Blanton (Don't Fuck in the Woods, 13 Slays Till X-Mas), and Travis Wilson (Campground: The Requel, Season's Greetings 2)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime back Shawn Burkett of Concept Media announced that he would be working on a new bigfoot centered horror film titled Stranded.  I respect the hell out of Burkett and Concept Media so I was all for this release.  Sadly, things got out of hand and the pandemic prevented him from making the film.  However, not one to waste time, Burkett and company set out to make a web-series around the fury cryptid.  Then turned into Squatch'd which was released exclusively on the Concept Media YouTube page before receiving a blu release.  I snagged the blu release but I never got around to watching the series on YT.  I knew I was going to be watching two documentaries on bigfoot from Small Town Monsters soon and set out to finally watch this before I did.  

     The series follows the mischievous sasquatch as he encounters various people entering his woods either camping, searching for the elusive beast, or trying to find a solitary spot to piss.   

     I went into this one not knowing anything about the series but it's not often that Concept Media disappoints.  The series, or lack there of, is extremely short lived but funny.  I seriously enjoyed but the fact that there was five or six episodes and barely ran five minutes was a huge disappointment.  It was such a missed opportunity for Concept Media and fans of cryptids and horror comedies.  The acting in this one is great.  One segment features the director himself in a rare on screen appearance where he delivers a pretty fun performance.  We also see some other Concept Media regulars like Travis Wilson, Brittany Blanton, and Rob Collins.  The series is very well acted and the characters are really enjoyable.  They bring out the comedy very well and their scenes work.  The story for this one is pretty straight forward for a webs-series.  Most of the episodes are barely a minute but have some fun laughs. I like the gimmick and the writing but my only issue is that it's way too short.  It's almost like it was made for Tik Tok instead of YouTube and physical releases.  Finally, the film isn't a bloody one.  I liked the look of bigfoot but if you are looking for blood and gore you will be disappointed.  Overall, Squatch'd was fun but not what I was expecting at all.  It has a lot of promise and could have been something extremely memorable but the short episodes does make it difficult to gain any traction.  I liked it but if you are like me and expecting something more than a five minute watch then you will be very disappointed.     

Halloween Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon

Director - Addison Binek (Psycho Ape!, Tromasterpiece Theatre)

Starring - Addison Binek

Genre - Horror/Comedy

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Not long ago I spent almost four hours watching episodes of Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon that was sent my way from star and director Addison Binek to review.  I didn't know how to even begin to review this MST3K inspired show so I decided to approach it like I would a movie or television show.  The first DVD I to a stab at was his Movies to Watch on Thanksgiving Afternoon which was surprisingly fun.  Once I was done with those episodes I decided to immediately jump into Halloween Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon.  I want to thank Addison for sending these over.  I had a lot of fun with them.

     The DVD follows Addison as his riffs Halloween and other horror themed movies with his own brand of prop comedy and jokes.

     Halloween Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon is a fun collection of holiday themed episodes that are extremely fun to watch.  Addison is a funny individual and his brand of humor is what I look for in indie productions.  I can watch his movies all day and never get tired of them.  However, Binging four or five hours of Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon is a bit of an overkill.  I had fun but it was a bit much.  His show is fun but I can't binge it like I do other series. The acting in this one is a one man show.  Binek is so charismatic in front of the camera and he's very natural with it.  He delivers his jokes, props, and continues to do his thing.  He's very passionate about this show and it really shows.  With that being said, watching this show for as long as I did you find yourself looking for a little more to the show that this.  Maybe that is where the inspiration for Tromasterpiece Theatre came in to play.  Fans like his sense of humor but needed something else from the show.  The story for this one is more of a comedy improve sketch and tribute to MST3K.  The theme of each episode is focused on the movie being watched.  It works for the episode but for those looking for an overlapping theme or story obviously missed the point of the show.  Finally, no blood or guts in this one.  The movie clips shown on the show may feature them but Binek himself does not contribute to this.  Overall, Halloween Movies to Watch on a Rainy Afternoon is a fun watch during the Halloween season.  Of course it would be more fun to watch the films he is riffing but if you want something different then I highly recommend checking these out.  

Divorced Dad

 



Director(s) - Conor Sweeney (Chowboys: An American Folktale), Adam Brooks (The Editor), Matthew Kennedy (Father's Day), and Steven Kostanski (Leprechaun Returns)
Starring - Matthew Kennedy, Gilles Degagne, and Adam Brooks
Release Date - 2018
Genre - Comedy
Tagline - "He's hopeless but you're not, maybe!"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection)

Rating (out of 5):

     I follow a lot of filmmakers and production companies.  Way back in 2013 I ordered Father's Day on blu from Amazon.  I needed the blu for my Troma collection so but I had never heard of the film so it was a blind buy.  I probably would have never ordered this film if Troma was not attached to it but I'm fucking glad I did.  From that moment forward I was an Astron-6 fan.  I had to have more so I ordered their short collection from Troma along with Man-Borg.  When The Editor and The Void was released I had to have those as well.  They have yet to let me down.  Last year Astron-6 started working on a series on their YouTube channel called Divorced Dad.  It looked fun like a low-fi version of Tim and Eric.  Sadly, YouTube took them down when they aired an Isis skit.  This forced their hand so they turned to Kino Lorber to release the episodes on blu.  I went ahead and grabbed a copy while I could and I'm glad I did. 
     The film follows a divorced man, Divorced Dad (Kennedy), who starts a public access show with Gilles (Degagne) as his co-host.  Each episodes follows them as they explore different topics such as carpentry, fitness, homosexuality, and Bingo.





     I knew Divorced Dad was not going to be like the other Astron-6 releases.  The web-series episodic format was compiled together into one 50 minute film.  I found more than my fair share of laughs but the film was nowhere near as fun as their other releases.  The acting in this one is hilarious.  Matthew Kennedy really gets into his role and delivers some pretty funny moments.  Gilles Degagne is funny as well as the camera shy co-host with big aspirations.  They both work well together to make the show funny.  The story for this one works for one off episodes but when compiled together it does become a bit boring.  You still find the laughs but between the giggles you find a show that struggles to feel complete.  Some of the episodes are inconsistent and fail to gain traction.  I understand that they want to make the show feel like an authentic cable access show but the episodes just never lead to anything.  Finally, the film does have some blood and a few practical effect gags.  We get a funny scene with a screwdriver and another scene where Divorced Dad uncontrollably vomits.  Both are funny with decent practical effects but not as fun as some of the other Astron-6 films.  Overall, Divorced Dad is a fun watch for Astron-6 fans or fans of late night Adult Swim.  It has more funny moments than I can count but it just doesn't go the distance as their other releases.  You can check it out now on blu from Kino Lorber

 



Lower Spirits: Episode Three (The Day Off)

Director - Brandon Guiles
Starring - Brandon Guiles, Bruce Falcon, and Mark Ginter
Release Date - 2017
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - Streaming

Rating (out of 5):

     As I work my way through the Wishmaster series I decided to take a few breaks through the four film set to check out the web-series Lower Spirits that is written, produced, directed, and starring Brandon Guiles.  The first episode was very enjoyable but was flawed and showed its shoestring budget.  I moved on to the second episode involving bigfoot and enjoyed it as well but it wasn't on the same level as the first film.  After my review of that episode I spoke some with Brandon and he informed me that episode three and four saw a major change in the show as some of the cast and crew walked away from the project and a good portion of the episodes were ad-libbed.  I was curious to see how that played out so I went to YouTube and hit play on episode three.

     This episode follows Brandon and his new sidekick the local priest as they visit the show's new producer in his new home.  When they arrive they quickly learn that the home is the house from episode one where the little girl was possessed.  They try to convince him of the horrors performed under that roof before something bad happens to him as well.

    

     Before you watch this show it is imperative that you understand that this is a no budget show that has all the problems of a no budget indie production.  People lie and leave production, they over book themselves and have to drop out, disagreements, and so on so it is common to see web-series where the cast frequently changes due to no legal obligation.  Sadly, even with this in mind, this episode just didn't do it for me.  With the problems and restriction aside the episode still didn't feel like a genuine episode.  The acting in this one is more of the same.  Brandon Guiles and Bruce Falcon have great chemistry and that shows with each passing episode.  They become more and more comfortable around each other and the show progresses which is great to see.  The supporting cast is more of the same.  They still have plenty of room to grow but they are becoming more and more natural with each episode.  The story for this episode is lacking.  It honestly feels like a filler episode that could have been edited together with another episode.  The story itself does not feel like enough meat is on the bone to be a stand alone episode.  Finally, this is not a bloody one for you wanting gore.  The show clearly does not have the budget for effects and this episode did not really call for them.  If the show was able to pull together and get some minor blood and gore it would save it tremendously but, huge but, a budget is clearly an obstacle.  Overall, Lower Spirits: Episode Three (Day Off) is the weakest in the series so far.  This episode has very little story and could have been attached to another episode as filler.  I was not a fan of this episode.  

Lower Spirits: Episode Two (Bigfoot)

Director - Brandon Guiles
Starring - Brandon Guiles, Bruce Falcon, and Mark Ginter
Release Date - 2016
Genre - Comedy/Horror
Format - Streaming

Rating (out of 5):

      I recently went through a few fun films that were sleazy before I made my way through Vestron's Lair of the White Worm.  All were entertaining for different reasons and were mostly different styles of film.  I had the Vestron blu release of The Gate next up for review but decided to focus my time and energy into reviewing the web-series Lower Spirits which was written and directed by Brandon Guiles.  Most of you may remember my review from sometime ago where I took a look at episode one of the show.  I promised Brandon sometime ago that I would make my way through the show but just never found time until now with this look at episode two.  I would also like to apologize to Brandon for taking so long to get this review up.  Sorry about that!

     This episode follows Brandon as he partners with the priest from the first episode to search the local woods for bigfoot.  On their hunt they cross paths with a park ranger, Brandon's dad, and a local man full of conspiracy theories involving Russia, Sasquatch, and the Lochness Monster.  As they get deeper into the woods things start to unravel when they find themselves lost and cross several structures believed to be shelters built by bigfoot but does he really exist?

     I always feel the need to confess my love of cryptozoology and explain myself when I review anything bigfoot related.  I love cryptozoology and it is something I have been interested in for years now.  Hell, almost two decades.  However, I don't believe it in.  I simply don't.  I find the stories, folklore, and legends very interesting but I do not believe in it.  With that being said, I love most things centered around this wooly cryptid so when I sat down to check out episode two and saw it was bigfoot centered I was very excited.    The acting for this one is not the best but is decent for a no budget indie production.  Brandon Guiles and Bruce Falcon is comfortable on camera and work well enough together that their dialogue comes across as genuine but the majority of the cast is unnatural and awkward at times to watch.  Most needed a lot more experience and a little more rehearsal time. The story for this one is simple but does a good job at holding the viewer's attention.  Two idiots in the woods looking for bigfoot is a solid basis for any story.  Hell, I'd watch it if it was a feature length film!  Sadly, the story doesn't really find it's footing and starts to stumble by the half way mark.   The story really needed something else to help carry it the rest of the way.  Finally, those of you looking for blood and gore will not find any here.  This series is very story driven and appears to be running on a shoestring budget (like most of the films I review).  The shows does skip on the blood and gore but fans of Troma type films should get what they are going for.  Overall, Lower Spirits: Episode Two (Bigfoot) is a fun and unexpected follow up to the first episode but does lack the energy and imagination the first episode gave us.  It still deserves a watch so check it out!

The Ghouligans

Director - Sean King (The Ghouligans! Super Show)
Starring - Sean King, Pete Bune (The Ghouligans! The Mini-Series), and Michael Koscik (Lost Suburbia)
Release Date - 2010
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometimes I get in a mood where I don't want a flick full of blood and guts.  You can only go so far with blood and guts before you lose the viewer.  You need substance to keep them watching and that is why I sometimes want to check out some horror comedies or horror films aimed towards children.  A few months ago I checked out The Ghouligans the Mini-Series.  The show was fantastic and was the perfect demonstration of how monsters with personalities could be just as entertaining as watching a masked slasher cut down horny teens.  The only problem I had with the mini-series was that it ended.  I reached back out to the people behind the show and they was kind enough to send me a copy of the shorts they had put together a few years ago.  If the shorts were half as fun as what I had just watched then it was well worth my time.

     The shorts do not follow a linear story but feature the mis-adventures of the four Ghouligans.  The shorts put them in everyday situations like working on their car, trying to sell a car, trick or treating, playing sports and so forth.  The shorts typically end with a monstrous twist to remind the viewers that they are creatures of the night and not your next door neighbors.

     

     Before I popped the DVD in my Xbox One to check out I had in my mind that these shorts would be just as amazing as the mini-series.  Sadly, they were not but that does not make them bad because they are far from it.  The episodes are fun but they are a crude workprint for what would become the well polished characters we do get in the mini-series.  The acting in this one is on the same level as you would expect.  The characters are fun and over-the-top.  Each cast member is working on finding their character's personality and with each episode we see that character grow.  The story for these are nothing new or original but they are fun and entertaining as hell.  Each short reminds me of a modern day Munsters episode with the Ghouligans doing everyday activities only to have them screw up in hilarious ways.  Finally, the film does have a few on screen kills that are very lackluster and poor in effects.  However, as I stated earlier, this is not the kind of stuff you watch if you want blood and guts.  Instead, the focus of these shorts is to make the viewer laugh and it does just that.  The creatures don't have their signature look just yet.  With each episode they slowly make their way to their now classic look.  Overall, These Ghouligans episodes are raw and crude when compared to their new material but they are still fun non-the-less.  Check them out because you will enjoy yourself.