Wednesday, October 12, 2022

SCARE-A-THON 2022: WEEK 1!

Hello, everyone!

Wow, what a great start this has been already. The flicks have been flickering, the funds are raising, spirits are high, and temperatures are low. As you may have noticed, there has not been a lot of action here on the blog because ALL the action has been taking place over on the new H101 with Dr. AC YouTube channel, which has been rocking and rolling. I'll provide poster art and links below for the first week's Views.

In the first week, we raised over $2,500 for the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Fund, with new pledges coming in every day. Thanks to everyone who has lent their support thus far, whether it be in terms of making a donation or sharing a link or just lending an enthusiastic virtual backslap. It all helps so much, I assure you, so keep it coming!

Here's the donation link:

https://www.plumfund.com/charity-fundraising/october-scare-a-thon-2022

And here are the flicks!

1. 
Antlers (2020) d. Scott Cooper (USA) (99 min)

Jon Kitley of Kitley’s Krypt sits down with AC to discuss ANTLERS, the woefully overlooked creature feature from director Scott Cooper (Crazy Heart, Hostiles, Black Mass) starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons!

The Vigil (2019) d. Keith Thomas (USA) (89 min)

Filmmaker Gert Verbeeck drops in all the way from Brussels, Belgium, to discuss writer/director Keith Thomas' outstanding supernatural effort, THE VIGIL, which uses this specific Orthodox Jewish tradition to provide a new spin on a very old tale. Along with excellent production values and atmosphere, Dave Davis' outstanding lead performance anchors the film, lending the jolts and scares an emotional heft.

THE VIGIL (2019) MOVIE REVIEW  





3. 
Saint Maud (2019) d. Rose Glass (UK) (84 min)

Actress Michelle Courvais (Dead Weight, The Landlord) wanders down the hall of Chez AC to chat about Rose Glass' astonishing debut feature, SAINT MAUD. Anchored by Morfydd Clark and Jennifer Ehle's fantastic performances, we journey into the dark heart of religious fanaticism in this chilling examination of loneliness, isolation, and the desperate search for human connection.

SAINT MAUD (2019) MOVIE REVIEW  






4. 
Malignant (2021) d. James Wan (USA) (111 min)

Author Ben Beard (The South Never Plays Itself, The Bad Class) joins AC on a journey of co-joined disappointment as they mull over James Wan's underbaked tribute to the VHS renegades of old, MALIGNANT! Less a home run than a swing for the fences that goes foul, we celebrate the occasional bright spots whilst mourning the dearth of true inspiration from a director who has already birthed three successful horror franchises and may just have too much money and resources for this particular project's vision.

MALIGNANT (2021) MOVIE REVIEW  





5. 
Candyman (2021) d. Nia DaCosta (USA) (91 min)

Author and fellow Chicagoan Grant Kuchan (the transmogrification of isobel: a satire, Awesomesauce: the Musical) joins AC to weigh in on the continuation of the Candyman legacy first begun in 1992 and admirably extended here by writer/director Nia DaCosta under the helpful guiding arm of co-writer/producer Jordan Peele. It's a love letter to both its source material as well as the Windy City, and while we have our minor quibbles, this iteration's merits as both a fright flick and social commentary are absolutely worth celebrating.

CANDYMAN (2021) MOVIE REVIEW  






6. 
V/H/S/94 (2021) d. Various (USA) (103 min)

Rondo Award-nominated writer and podcaster Aaron AuBuchon (Discover the Horror) joins AC to discuss the latest installment in the hit "found footage" series, V/H/S/94. As with most anthologies, there are highs and lows to be measured, as well as this installment's standing with regard to its predecessors, which once again features a roster of rising talent giving it their best within the prescribed parameters.

V/H/S/94 (2021) MOVIE REVIEW  






7. 
Spiral (2021) d. Darren Lynn Bousman (USA) (93 min)

Podcast maven and all-around good sport Ian Simmons of Kicking the Seat returns to the SAWniverse with AC to discuss SPIRAL, aka "the one with Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson." Join us as we ponder the wild and mystical workings of Hollywood, where a film that nobody was asking for can get greenlit, serving neither its target audience ("Aw, are they making my favorite horror franchise a comedy???") nor its star's fans ("I was really hoping to see Chris Rock in a horror movie," said no one ever). Still, there are dubious merits to be enjoyed... if you're willing to look past all that. Watch or don't. Make your Choice....

SPIRAL (2021) MOVIE REVIEW  






8. 
My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To (2020) d. Jonathan Cuartas (USA) (90 min)

Cati Glidewell aka The Blonde In Front saves a seat for AC as they share their effusive and polysyllabic thoughts about Jonathan Cuartas' stellar debut feature from 2020, MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO. If you thought your family was dysfunctional, you haven't seen anything until you've spent 90 minutes in the company of Dwight, Jessie, and Thomas, who take the concept of "blood keeps us together" to the extreme.

MY HEART CAN'T BEAT UNLESS YOU TELL IT TO (2020) MOVIE REVIEW  



More to come - stay tuned!!!

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