Butterfly Kisses (2018)

After a few day hiatus to get the house in order for my mother's visit and to enjoy my birthday, I finally have some time to sit back and relax.  During this days,  I did spend some time watching a few shows and movies. One that I found interesting was the found footage mockumentary Butterfly Kisses.

Plot: filmmaker discovers a box of videotapes depicting a disturbing student film project about an urban legend known as Peeping Tom. As he sets out to prove the footage is real, he becomes obsessed, along with the film crew following him.

Found Footage movies can always be a mixed bag and for a while I stayed away from them because it felt so repetitive. However, I seem to be on a hit streak, vacate this makes 2 in a row that I have thoroughly enjoyed.  This one has an interesting premise and is both somewhat comedic and mysterious. I really liked the way the footage was InfoPath into a rather layered storyline.  The performances were solid,  everything went together,  and there was a touch of atmosphere.  Sure,  there were a few bumpy moments in it, but those didn't really hurt what turned into an intriguing character study. If you like found footage,  check this one out. Oh, one last thing,  didn't Peeping Tom somewhat similar to the Hat Man?

White Noise (2022)

I took a break from my tablet yesterday as I suffered through one of my low energy days that comes with my recovery,  especially as they reduce my steroid impact.  Of course during this time,  I try to watch some stuff.  My first selection yesterday was not horror or Sci-Fi, it was the comedic drama White Noise (2022)

Plot: A contemporary American family's attempts to deal with the mundane conflicts of everyday life while grappling with the universal mysteries of love, death, and the possibility of happiness in an uncertain world.

First off, I selected this for a few reasons not related to the movie in general, especially in light of the strange coincidences that place between today realities and the movie.  In fact,  those similarities (since I really don't believe in coincidence) intrigue me more than the movie itself. The fact that the movie centered in a fictional town in Ohio, was filmed in East Palestine, and that town suffered the effects from a major airborne toxic cloud makes it eerie; almost in a way that one could cry predictive programming with the recent events of train derailment in the same Ohio town. Having a creative writing degree, I know that takes place. However, since this was based on a book written many years ago,  it would almost be impossible for the timelines to actually sync up. But, who knows.  The movie itself is far from perfect and seems to jump all over the place with some bumpy transitions throughout in the story. There are some good performances (especially Adam Driver), but this seem to get lost in the over abundance of dialog.  In the end,  this is an interesting comedy, that seems to be rooted in our modern reality.  It won't be for everyone, but it is a nice break from the craziness of the past few days. 

Horror Express (1972)

Before I got distracted last night by the news of the unknown aircraft that was shot down of the coast of Alaska, I did find some time to watch a classic horror flick.  My selection for the afternoon/evening was 1972s Horror Express.

Plot: While on the Trans-Siberian Express, an anthropologist and his rival must contain the threat posed by the former's cargo: a prehistoric ape which is the host for a parasitic life-for.

This movie has to be one of the best films of 1972. Starring horror icons Peter Cushing and Christpher Lee, what more can you ask for? This one comes complete with an intriguing storyline,  an array of classic scares, and enough claustrophic atmosphere to keep you entertained throughout. In many ways, this movie is really more than a horror flick touching on a wide variety of topics throughout.  Unfortunately,  as good as the storyline is,  it does have some holes (a lot) and there are a bunch of head-scratching moments,  but those are easy to overlook. In them end,  this is a must see for horror fans.  Yes,  there are some things that may feel dated, but that doesn't matter. Sit back and enjoy!

StageFright (1987)

It has been a slow few days with only a handful of sales coming through the store.  Skills It does make it easy to get the packages out,  it leads to trots to the post office that rings the flow of my day.  I really haven't made the progress in the shop that I had hooked for this week.  When it finally time to relax,  I decided to kick back with another classic 80s horror flick,  1987s giallo StageFright.

Plot: A group of stage actors lock themselves in the theater for a rehearsal of their upcoming musical production, unaware that an escaped psychopath has sneaked into the theater with them.

I love the giallo subgenre of horror. Since of my favorite films fall under that category and this is one that I hadn't seen.  Of course,  this is one reason I have Shudder because they offer many films that I haven't experienced along with a wide variety of newer horror.  Also known as Aquarius, this movie has to be regarded as one of the best slasher films or the era. Going away from the traditional slasher tropes of the day,  this one succeeds with outstanding and vivid cinematography that mixed with the uneven soundtrack works to create something dark and atmospheric. Yes,  some of the movie seems dated today, if you remember the 80s as well n as I do,  you should find it as refreshing as I did.  Directed by Argento apprentice Michele Soavi, you can see the influence with the combination of colors, thrills, and murders held tight within an interesting script.  This one is definitely a must watch for fans of classic Italian horror and the giallo subgenre. Check it out!

The Hat Man: Documented Cases of Pure Evil (2019)

I have recently been in a research documentary mood.  I guess it comes with the territory of being limited by what I am allowed to do during my recovery.  While I have been slowly reorganizing my shop,  not being able to lift over 10 pounds frustrates me,  causing me to lose motivation.  One subject that has always interested me is the Hat Man, something that came back into focus when NFL Superstar Aaron Rodgers talked about his encounters with this mysterious entity.  So I dove back in with the documentary, The Hat Man: Documented Cases of Pure Evil.

Plot: Eyewitnesses share their stories of how they encountered an evil entity known as, The Hat Man.

I found this an interesting documentary that followed the tradition path with reenactments, interviews,  and documents pertaining to this mysterious character.  Of course, this one will be a like many others in this realm that engraved a specific theory and build upon it,  never fully dissecting into other theories that exist. Personally,  I like seeing things from every angle with serious discussions being brought forward.  Yes,  there the alternate theories were mentioned,  but never really explored to their fullest potential.  It is definitely trying to convince the audience of a potential theory instead of opening the doors of perception to create conversations. There are also some flaws with the technical aspects,  especially the audio quality throughout. The volume levels constantly needed adjustment creating some slight frustrations. In the end,  I did find  this interesting and informative although there was really no new infirmary given.   Yes, it won't be for everyone (exorcism skeptics). But, if you are a believer or are extension interested, you should enjoy it. 

The Ringmaster's Cryptid Museum - Chessie

Sea Serpent

(Photo Credit: Olaus Magnus’s book History of the Northern People)

One of the things I have been working on at the Ringmaster's Realm is a line of cryptid figures that will become the heart of our crptid museum set. While this has been a slow undertaking because of equipment issues, my research into what will become series one, is ongoing. The first creature I have settled on is Chessie.

For centuries, tales of incredible sea monsters have been woven into cultures from around the world by brave and seasoned mariners. The strange tales have been passed down for generations, backed up by words captured in deck logs and depictions described verbally around many feasts at the dinner table. While some, like the Loch Ness Monster, have found their way into the fabric of pop culture, others survive in obscurity awaiting the day they receive their just due. One such creature is Chessie, the Chesapeake Bays' Sea Monster.

With sightings dating back to 1846, the first widely accepted reported sighting was recorded by a military helicopter sighted during military exercises over the Bush River in 1936. These reports described a large unknown reptilian creature taking refuge in the depths of the river. Yes, that report lacks description, but the fact that this report was made by soldiers on an official exercise add credence and believability to the validity. 

In 1943, a better description was made by a couple of fishermen near Baltimore. Described as black and large, roughly 12 foot long, with a football sized head akin to a horses head, stories of Chessie began to permeate through towns and cities along the Bay. 

Leading up to the current day, sightings of this mysterious serpent have been recorded by people of all walks of life with the similarities between them creating a vivid picture of Chessie. Complete with black skin, the football sized head, and a lack of fins, the existence of this Sea Monster has started to gain acceptability to many that call this region home. But, what is it?

Some experts believe that it is just a manatee the made its way North from the coasts of Florida, others disagree. The fact that the manatee lacks the snake-like movements described in many sightings, seem to put that theory to bed. Others believe that Chessie could be a Basilosaurus, that somehow survived extinction thousands of years ago. In many ways, Chessie does share many characterics with this ancient creature making it an interesting possibilty. Plus, the discovery of the Coelacanth, an ancient dinosaur era fish, does give this theory some legs. But, until one is discovered intact, we will never know for sure. 

Whether a manatee or ancient sea serpent, the legend of Chessie will continue to grow. Here is to hoping a definitive explanation can be made. Until then, keep you eyes and minds open and if you are near the Bay, scan the murky depths for proof that Chessie exists.

Horror in the High Desert (2021)

Monday's are usually a day that I try to get caught up on stuff from the weekend,  especially with shipping items from weekend sales and planning out listings for the week.  Yesterday was much of the same, except for the traffic early in the day.  When I finally settled down,  I decided to check out 2021s Horror in the High Desert. 

Plot: Friends and loved ones gather to recall the events leading to an experienced outdoor enthusiast's disappearance in northern Nevada.

I will admit,  when I saw this one I thought it was a documentary and didn't realize that it was a found footage/mockumentary. In fact,  it felt that way until the last segment of the movie.  Based on a true story,  the scripting and performances were extremities believable and did really well.  Sure the first hour was slow,  but the ending sequence definitely picked up the pace. Overall, this movie was a great example of low budget indie filmmaking complete with a believable atmosphere, an intriguing story, and great character development.  If you like found footage/mockumentary style movies, check this one out.

Skinamarink (2022)

It's already been a long day today, as my usual Monday trip for bloodwork was filled with miserable traffic. It took almost an hour and a half to reach the clinic, something that usually takes 40 minutes. Oh well, after a short nap, I figured it was time to not down a few things about last night's movie,  2022s Skinamarink.

Plot: Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.

Ok,  please tell me I am crazy,  because I did not get anything from this movie.  After hearing all the buzz and seeing the articles about its vital status,  I really expected something different.  For me,  I did like the grainy look and thought the story was appealing, but this one was just way too slow.  And,  that is saying something because,  I actually like slow dark movies,  but I found this one just hard to pay attention to. There were some good moments,  but those failed to capture my attention for an extended period.  In the end,  I applaud what was accomplished on such a micro budget, unfortunately,  it was not for me and it's a movie that was just hard to watch. 

Fade to Black (1980)

Having just returned from a local indie comic show, I decided that I needed some downtime and wanted to revisit something from my youth. Growing up in the 70s and 80s, there was a lot of classic horror and this one was a favorite, 1980s Fade to Black.

Plot: A shy, lonely film buff embarks on a killing spree against those who browbeat and betray him, all the while stalking his idol, a Marilyn Monroe lookalike.

Horror movies from the 80s are a mixed bag, but some stand tall. This is one that I love to revisit from time to time as it is quite memorable. Shot with a dark gritty style, this movie does a great job at creating an air of madness and demonstrates what can be accomplished with an interesting storyline. While it is somewhat predictable, there are many moments that are memorable and help create a feeling of despair. You can tell that this did have a lower budget, as the performances are uneven, there are some extremely disjointed moments, and the characters are somewhat unlikable, but those monents seem to add character to the film. While there are some flaws within the storyline that cause it to fall short of its potential, this movie is a fun and mindless trip back in time. It probably isn't for everyone, but fans of the 80s should enjoy it.

Destination Inner Space (1966)

I was pretty excited last night as I stood one of the Ringmaster's Originals, the line of prints I created to salvage old comic book art from randomly destroyed vintage comics.  To me, preserving this art is important and something that isn't that hard to accomplish. While debating with myself about what piece should be next,  I kicked back with a classic creature feature from the 1960s, Destination Inner Space. 

Plot: A group of scientists working in a deep-sea research station discovers a strange craft of extraterrestrial origin.

Let me start by saying that if you don't enjoy classic B-grade creature feature schlock, this one isn't for you.  If you do,  then you should get a kick out of this one.  Yes,  it has low-grade effects,  probably a lower budget,  and some (I'm sure) unintentional laughs,  but those things add to the campy feel of the entire film.   And, of course, that is all before I get to the overstuffed Sci-Fi bass that stands as one of the more unique aliens from that era of film.  In the end,  if you want to suspend belief and drift into a bygone era of fun mindless creature features, this one is definitely for you.  This has all the campy elements and much more.  

The Deep House (2021)

Before binging the entire season of The Watcher last night, I did take some time to catch a movie. For me, this recovery from surgery does limit what I do because I seem to run out of energy rather quickly. Unfortunately, this means a lot of downtime and thus, a lot of movies and television. My selection for yesterday was 2021s The Deep House.

Plot: While diving in a remote French lake, two YouTubers who specialize in underwater exploration videos discover a house submerged in deep waters. Their dive turns into a nightmare when they discover the house was the scene of atrocious crimes.

This was a movie the I definitely liked the premise and atmosphere. The dark almost claustrophobic feel was definitely appealing. Unfortunately, while that was impressive, the movie lost something with the uneven storyline that seemed to drift between multiple ideas of what was transpiring with the characters. Couple that with the choppy dialog and things never built to the level that could have been achieved with a better backbone. In the end, this was an interesting film that does boast originality, unfortunately, it never reaches its potential. Good for a one-time watch.

Alison's Birthday (1981)

If it wasn't bad enough that the last few days have been gray and dreary, today the temperature decided to plummet. What fun! It made my early trip to Walmart even more miserable. Honestly, it has made me again want to do nothing. Oh well, I guess it's time to catch up with one of yesterday's movies, 1981s Alison's Birthday.

Plot: On her 16th birthday, Alison Findlay and two of her friends make contact with a spirit, who warns Alison of impending doom on her 19th birthday.

I love movies about cults and rituals, and this one definitely falls under that genre. That was actually somewhat of a surprise after reading the advertised description. Shot in the early 80s during the famed round of Satanic Panic, this one fits in.the visual quality is not the best with a grainy appearance, but that does, probably unintentionally because of the age, assist with the atmosphere. The storyline is interesting, although a touch predictable, and the performances work really well. This also has some nice characterization elements that had shape the story. While this is more of a suspense movie instead of pure horror, it does work, especially the ending, which has to be one of the better endings I have seen in a while. Yes, the pacing was uneven and there were a lot of cliché moments, but this still a good watch and reminder from a time of Satanic paranoia. If you like that type of thing, check it out.