Dread Media – Phenomena aka Creepers (1985)

Time to wrap up a Yellow Christmas with one more giallo film. This week on episode 435 of the Dread Media podcast, I take a look at Dario Argento’s Phenomena, better known in America as Creepers (1985). Jennifer Connelly and Donald Pleasance take a spin down Giallo Lane in this odd little flick. Check out the trailer on YouTube, then track down the original and unedited version.

Special thanks to Desmond over at Dread Media and all the listeners for a fantastic 2015. Things will be bigger and better in 2016, so keep listening…and tell them Monster Movie Kid sent you!

Countdown to Christmas – A Christmas Carol (1960)

Christmas 2015 is upon us and it’s time to wrap up the 4^th Annual Countdown to Christmas. Every year since 1989, I take an hour to sit down and listen to my favorite classic radio show adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. I’ve always loved the 1939 Campbell Playhouse version with Lionel Barrymore and Orson Welles. However, this past summer, I discovered a record from 1960 featuring an audio recording starring Sir Ralph Richardson that just may rival it for my time.

This version is really quite excellent and I’m surprised it flew under my yuletide radar for so many years. Narrator Paul Scofield is amazing and Sir Ralph Richardson turns in a masterful performance as Scrooge. Best of all, much of Dicken’s true vision of the story is retained here. With wonderful sound effects and background music, it draws you into the world of the past and allows us to imagine Ebenezer Scrooge as he was truly meant to be.

Radio station WFMT in Chicago has reportedly been playing this on Christmas for decades and this year is no exception. However, you can listen to it right now as the complete recording is currently on YouTube in eight parts. So, put another log on the fire and settle in for my favorite tale of the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Monster Movie Kid!

Countdown to Christmas – A Christmas Carol (1984)

There are several factors that go into adapting Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol that help elevate it cinematically. First is the proper casting of key roles such as Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit. Another would be location shooting in London or having sets that bring you into the moment and surroundings. For me, having a weak lead role or a sound stage that is too brightly lit can pull me out of the moment. That’s why MGMs 1938 version has always been one of my least favorite adaptations. So when I heard that General Patton was playing the role back in 1984, even then at a young age, I was skeptical whether or not he could pull it off.

Admittedly, the key reason at the time that I was interested in watching it had to do with my growing love for all things Doctor Who. When I heard that Mark Strickson, who played the Doctor’s companion Turlough, was playing a young Scrooge, I was intrigued. Needless to say, I was a little disappointed that his role was so small. My attention was drawn instead to George C. Scott’s portrayal of Scrooge himself. It is that performance that makes A Christmas Carol (1984) one of the best adaptations.

Scott brings a gruffness to any role he plays, so he seems perfect to play Scrooge and he does so rather well. He lacks the appropriate amount of love and passion prior to his conversion and redemption. While he still seems rough around the edges, I found the moment where Scrooge visits his nephew Fred and his wife at the end especially heartwarming. Scott wasn’t the easiest actor to work with and he had a certain measure of decorum to any role he played, so you won’t find him running about in his pajamas here but it does not detract from a wonderful performance. Scott displays a certain measure of sadness in eyes as Scrooge begins to see the folly of his ways that he seldom brought to any role. While Scott is not my favorite Scrooge, he far surpasses many others in my opinion, including Reginald Owen and Seymour Hicks.

Being filmed on location in London adds some authenticity that elevates the film above many other versions. There is a dirt and grittiness to the city without making it too dark and gloomy. While the sets seem a little more limited than other versions, they work quite well. I found the representations of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future quite fitting, especially the use of lightning and screeching sounds for the Future segment, something unique to this version. It was also interesting to see the character of Silas Scrooge, Ebenezer’s father, the first time we would see him on screen. The ghostly carriage was also a chilling addition. However, I did miss the reduced role of Mrs. Dilber and I didn’t particularly feel that Marley’s ghost was very outstanding, at least when compared to other versions.

The biggest drawback for me was the horrible miscasting of Bob Cratchit. David Warner (Time After Time) is a wonderful actor but his performance seemed too upper society for me. I wasn’t convinced of Cratchit’s lowly status or his meek persona around Scrooge. Nor did I get a very good feeling of his love for his family. Again, nothing against Warner as an actor, I just feel he was entirely wrong for the role. I was also bothered by Tiny Tim as Anthony Walters almost looked too sickly in appearance. It was perhaps authentic on one hand but a little too much for me.

Despite, these few flaws, this 1984 film version is well worth enjoying during the Christmas season. Made-for-television for the United States, it was screened theatrically in the UK, indicative of its superior quality. After years of limited availability, it is now easily found on Blu-ray. While it is not my favorite version, it ranks towards the top and is something I go back to every few years. If you haven’t given it a chance, take the time to do so this Christmas.

Countdown to Christmas – The Christmas Martian (1971)

Every Christmas season, I try to discover some new hidden gem that was best left forgotten in the back of the holiday closet with the unused bows, broken ornaments and strands of annoying tinsel. Several years ago, I discovered one such flick and decided to revisit it this year for Monster Movie Kid. Behold this year’s treasure known as Le Martien de Noel aka The Christmas Martian (1971).

Okay, treasure is a word that should never be used with this hour-long journey. The Christmas Martian is a French Canadian movie clearly designed for children. Some sources credit it as being the first independently made feature-length Canadian children’s film. That said, how many other such films have been made? Probably more than most of us know or remember. The plot is simple enough as we have a Martian (Marcel Sabourin) visiting a small town in Quebec. His saucer, which looks straight out of Plan 9 From Outer Space, is need of some repairs and he is also exploring Earth as his people believed the planet to be deserted. As he travels throughout town, innocently spreading panic amongst the townsfolk of little green invaders from Mars, he becomes friends with Cathy and Frank.

The Martian sports one of the most unique visions of our intergalactic neighbors I’ve ever seen. He is wearing some type of scuba diving suit with a multi-colored vest and an odd fishnet. Most of the movie deals with silly sequences in the snow and random conversations between the Martian and the children. Once he gets the saucer moving again, he takes them for a ride and, courtesy of some various stock footage, we see various places around Earth, such as the North Pole and the Sierra Desert. The children see his innocence but once the townspeople discover the rumors of invaders are real, they decide to seek out the alien and kill it, as most smallminded humans usually seem to do.

This little film might have been better if it would have about half the running time. It reminded me of some of those foreign films that always popped up on the CBS Children’s Film Festival on Saturday mornings with Kukla, Fran and Ollie. It suffers from a nonsensical script written by Roch Carrier and the haphazard directorial style of Bernard Gosselin. However, since neither of them was an experienced filmmaker and they reportedly ran out of money before finishing it, the end result is a bit of an odd mess.

The cast is mostly actors who never made another film again. The one exception being the Martian himself, Marcel Sabourin, who is a well accomplished actor. His American credits include The Sum of All Fears (2002) and The Hitman (1991). He is also well-known for several Quebec children’s TV shows.

The Christmas Martian won’t surpass other Christmas oddities like Santa Claus (1959) or The Magic Christmas Tree (1964) on the so-bad-it’s-good scale but the cheap special effects are fun to laugh at. Just brace yourself for one of the most horrendous end title theme songs you’ll ever hear. If you’re looking for something different to watch this year and have an hour to kill, you can watch the film on YouTube. It’s better than your aunt’s fruitcake…but not by much.

Dread Media – Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971)

All things giallo are being celebrated over at the Dread Media podcast in December and on this week’s episode 434, I am taking a look at the cult classic Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971). Either buy the DVD or watch it on YouTube before listening to why this movie has become one of my favorite first-time viewings of the year.

Countdown to Christmas – Krampus (2015)

Mixing a horror film with comedy is not an easy task. Throw in a little holiday joy and your chances at success are slim. However, this season we’ve been dealt just that with Krampus (2015), a bold attempt at bringing the legend to life in a whimsical way with just a dash of Bing Crosby. Surprisingly, the results are quite good.

Before I discuss the new movie, I think a brief history lesson of just who Krampus is may be in order. Now, its true origins are debated but it is believed to date as far back as pre-Christian paganism, most likely with its roots in Germany. Krampus is a horned and hooved beast with a long tongue that punishes misbehaving children. He carries chains, sometimes with bells, that some believe to represent the binding of the Devil. Essentially, the total opposite of good ol’ Saint Nick. At one point, Krampus was a forbidden subject in many parts of Europe. However, at the turn of the century, Krampus resurfaced and is, perhaps, more popular now than ever before.

Krampus (2015) is the most publicized of films based on the legend released in the last several years. No less than five other films have been released with at least another two planned for next year. However, this flick from Universal is the biggest yet with a notable cast and a budget to back it up. Rather than go with a full-fledged horror movie, director and writer Michael Dougherty (Trick ‘r Treat, X-Men: Apocalypse) opted to throw in a little humor. This proved to be the smart move as straight horror films tend not to do very well during the holidays.

The cast has some recognizable actors, such as Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation) and Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense) who star as Tom and Sarah Engel, a couple who have drifted apart. Their children are Max, who still believes in Santa Claus, and Beth, who is more interested in spending time with her boyfriend. Of course, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without a bunch of unwanted visiting relatives. You have the lecherous and overbearing Howard (David Koechner, Anchorman) and his brood, along with the politically incorrect Aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell, Two and a Half Men). A typical dysfunctional lot that push young Max over the edge, resulting in him tearing up a letter to Santa. Unfortunately, that act unleashes Krampus and opens the gates for hell on Earth.

In quiet observance of the holiday mess is Grandma Omi (Krista Sadler). She has witnessed the terrors of Krampus before and knows what is coming. The backstory between Krampus and Omi is told through an interesting animated sequence that is a highlight of the film. She tries to protect the family but they have sealed their own fates. When an epic winter storm traps the family at home, what follows is a series of murders from killer gingerbread men, an evil clown headed jack-in-the-box and a crazed teddy bear. And, of course, elves. Just don’t expect Hermey to show up and sing songs about becoming a dentist.

I found Krampus to be very entertaining. It was scary without the gore, which some will argue is needed but I felt it was fine without it here. There is plenty of humor to lighten the mood as the family is picked off one-by-one in a warped cat and mouse playful way. And Krampus is particularly evil looking. He is described as Saint Nicholas’ shadow, only coming into full display during the final confrontation with young Max. His face is never revealed, hidden by a particularly disturbing Santa Claus mask.

The ending is up for interpretation. Was it all a dream? Were they all saved after learning their lesson? Or are they all trapped for eternity in a snow globe under the watchful eye of Krampus? It’s up for you to decide. If you want something a little different this holiday season, watch the trailer for Krampus then head out to the theater. I enjoyed it and I think you will too.

Countdown to Christmas – Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

The Christmas season is full of regrettable television specials. Most are viewed once and never heard from again. But none are as notorious as the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special. Aired only once on CBS in November 1978, this little nugget of Star Wars lore is the one thing George Lucas prefers to be buried and forgotten.

If you’ve never had a chance to see it, count yourself lucky. That said, it is also required viewing for any Star Wars fan. It is set in the time between Episode IV A New Hope and Episode V The Empire Strikes Back. But, it really doesn’t make any reference to events in either movie. It reunites the key characters of Luke (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), not to mention C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker). Oh sure, Darth Vader is there too but in recycled footage from Star Wars (1977). The rest are all new characters that, thankfully, were all one and done appearances.

Bea Arthur (yes, the Golden Girl herself) is featured in the Cantina reunion scene, probably one of the better sequences despite her singing. Art Carney is Saun Dann, a trader and, admittedly, he doesn’t do too bad. Then, we have Harvey Korman. Harvey always makes me laugh but his sequences here are just so out-of-place in the Star Wars universe that they are painful. At least he comes off a little better than Chewbacca’s family, Malla, Itchy and Lumpy. They were never mentioned before or ever again.

The special is a train wreck of epic proportions. From Carrie Fisher’s drugged out appearance and painful musical number to Mark Hamill wearing eye shadow (reportedly to help cover up his recovery from a car accident, of which there are a million theories), the characters do their best with what is given to them. Harrison Ford is fairly good, although he looks bored and uninspired. Did I mention the musical numbers? Yes, we also have songs from Diahann Carroll and Jefferson Starship. And that is all that needs to be said about that.

The only good part of this special is the animated sequence with Boba Fett. Boba Fett had not yet appeared on screen as his footage was cut from the original print of Star Wars. This was his debut and the short story is actually entertaining. Other than the nostalgic fun of watching old commercials, which are intact in some bootleg prints, this is the sole saving grace of the Star Wars Holiday Special.

George Lucas would love if this special just disappeared. In fact, it did after its’ original airing. However, by the 1990s, VHS copies began to surface and they haven’t gone away since. Currently, the special is available on YouTube minus the animated sequence and commercials. However, you can see Boba Fett and the commercials separately, if you so desire. This is mandatory viewing this holiday season, especially since there is another little Star Wars film hitting the theaters. I wonder if Itchy is going to make a special cameo appearance?

Countdown to Christmas – A Christmas Carol (2015)

I love a good ghost story. I also love the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a glass of egg nog and a roaring fire in the fireplace. Combine all of those elements and you have a perfect Christmas Eve. Now, over the years, we’ve seen countless versions of Scrooge, some better than others. Many are faithful adaptations while some have chosen to take a different path. It is down this side street in the town called Dickens that brings us to A Christmas Carol (2015).

I’ve been following Anthony D.P. Mann for years now. I was first introduced to his passion for films through the Horror Etc. podcast. From there, I’ve enjoyed his journey into filmmaking with such efforts as Sherlock Holmes and the Shadow Watchers (2011) and Terror of Dracula (2012). Despite his micro budget, he brings a passion to his films that is clearly evident and separates him from many who are simply cashing the checks and paying the bills. Now, his lifelong association with Scrooge has been brought to life in a very bold way.

Rather than simply do another version of the tale we all know so well, Mann made the daring decision to not only change key elements of the story but to make it a musical. Oh sure, musical versions of Scrooge are nothing new but an independent effort? That decision alone separates this version from the rest of the pack. The results are mixed but there is no denying that Mann’s passion is present in every scene.

Mann’s directorial style is one of the best aspects of this 60-minute movie. He is growing as a director and I hope his next film allows him a bigger budget as I would love to see what he could do with a grander canvas in which to create. While I’ll admit that the trailer had me quite worried on how he would change the story, I was pleasantly surprised with how well the changes worked. Having most of the story take place in the office was obviously a necessity of a small budget but it works well enough. While I’m still not quite sold on the younger version of Scrooge, nor with the obvious wig upon Mann’s head, I found that I became more accustomed to the jarring images as the story unfolded.

There are limitations you must get through to truly enjoy the story. As with all low budget films, the acting is hit and miss with some actors being much better than others. Adding in musical numbers was a risk that generally pays off. Again, the real singers stand out while a few are a bit painful to get through. The sound editing was uneven with some scenes clearly needing an auditory fix. Yet, the musical numbers were thankfully done quite well. But what about that CGI snow? Perhaps it was needed but it stood out in several scenes. Again, the downside of a low budget but it shows an honest effort from the filmmaker and that helped me to accept it.

One of the great positives is the addition of Colin Baker (Doctor Who). He elevates the film in his role as Charles Dickens, narrator of our story. I personally would have avoided the clichéd “vintage” black and white film look at the beginning of his segments. It wasn’t convincing and I was thankful when the images went to color. His humor was perfect and mugging for the camera as only Baker could do makes for some jovial moments in what can sometimes be a very dark tale. In fact, Mann incorporates humor several times throughout the film and does so quite well.

While A Christmas Carol won’t replace my all-time favorite versions and may not join the list of annual viewings, I thoroughly applaud Mann and must say again that I was pleasantly surprised and I did enjoy the film. Mann shows his passion through his writing and directorial talents. I hope that with his next film, he receives a bigger budget in which to create and that he remains behind the camera to allow his talent as a director to continue to grow as that is where I see his true calling. I personally don’t think the trailer does the film justice, so I recommend you track this one down on Amazon and judge for yourself this holiday season.

Countdown to Christmas – A Christmas Carol (1969)

Every Christmas season, I watch or listen to no less than four different versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Since 1999, I annually enjoy the Patrick Stewart version and since 1989, Christmas Eve is not complete without some cookies, egg nog and Alastair Sims’ Scrooge (1951), a film I first watched when I was about five years old. I also have enjoyed Lionel Barrymore’s 1939 radio broadcast every year since I first listened to it back in 1989. Finally, I make an effort to discover at least one new version every year. So, I’ve started things off this year with the 1969 animated version of this classic tale.

There have been numerous animated adaptations of Ebenezer Scrooge over the years. From Mr. Magoo to Rankin-Bass to Walt Disney. However, the crème de la crème for me is always the 1971 Oscar-winning short film from Richard Williams. I remember first watching this in the early 70s and was thrilled when I rediscovered it about a decade ago. But, it wasn’t the only animated version being shown on television in the early 70s. Last year, I discovered there was a 45-minute version made in 1969 and, luckily, it is currently on YouTube.

This was made by Zoran Janjic (Valley of the Dinosaurs) for Air Programs in Australia. It was first broadcast on CBS Television on December 13, 1970, as part of the Famous Classic Tales series. It’s entirely possible I would have seen this as a young child but I honestly have no memory of it. I found myself immediately comparing it to the 1971 version, which is unfair considering the animation, while adequate, is nowhere near to the same level. But it is twice as long, allowing more of the story to be told.

Ron Haddrick is the voice of Scrooge and does well. He seems to be less compassionate during the ghostly visitations, which makes his transition at the end seem a little more abrupt than usual. There is also a running gag with Scrooge trying to sneeze but being too tight to give it up. He finally does so in the final scene. I’ll admit, I found this a little odd but it was probably added for the younger audience.

The opening sequence has Scrooge passing by the grave of his partner Jacob Marley and we see a flashback to a conversation between the grave digger and Scrooge, something I don’t recall seeing in any other version. There is an odd musical number from Scrooge’s nephew Fred, which made me think it was going to be a musical throughout. However, this is never done again, making the song’s placement stand out and left me wondering why it is the only song featured. Unfortunately, very little seems to be available online about this version but I suspect there may be more to the production’s backstory.

Marley’s Ghost is a highlight as it is a truly horrific drawing. It is the most grotesque depiction of Marley outside of the Disney version, which is more scary than graphic. On the other end of the extreme, the ending is one of the most disappointing moments of this version. It ends with Scrooge going to the home of Bob Cratchit rather than being the surprise benefactor. We don’t get to see the encounter between Cratchit and Scrooge in the office, nor do we see a true connection between Tiny Tim and Scrooge. This is similar to the 1938 MGM adaptation, another one of my least favorite versions.

Despite the unsatisfactory ending, the 1969 animated version is worth 45 minutes of your time. It won’t become an annual viewing for me but I will revisit it in future years. So, put another clump of coal on the fire and prepare the bowl of steaming bishop, this should be fun for families as well as fans of Charles Dickens and the Christmas season. It is currently unavailable on DVD but, as indicated earlier, you can easily find it on YouTube.

Countdown to Christmas – A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

The season is upon us and it’s time for the 4^th Annual Countdown to Christmas. Every year, I mix in some holiday horrors with a tale or two of that clutching, covetous old sinner Scrooge. We’re going to start things off this year with a new horror tale that may very well become a new tradition.

Putting together a horror anthology film is often viewed as an easy way to tell several short stories. Inevitably, one of the entries will be the weakest of the lot and the framework around which the stories are presented can be hit and miss. Add in the overall theme of a holiday like Christmas and you would think the movie would be a big gamble. However, gambling sometimes pays off and A Christmas Horror Story (2015) is one such example of a cinematic jackpot.

Most anthology films keep the stories separate while the more creative ones bring the characters together in some fashion. A Christmas Horror Story does that one better by having all the stories take place simultaneously in the same general area with each story loosely connected to the others. We watch all four yuletide adventures, switching back and forth between the tales.

The thread weaving them together is none other than Star Trek legend William Shatner. He plays radio personality DJ Dan, our host of sorts on Christmas Eve and he does so surprisingly well. The town is Bailey Downs, which also happens to be the setting for the Ginger Snaps films and a location in the Orphan Black series thanks to the filmmakers being involved with both. Other than a brief interaction with a clearly unsettled weatherman and talking to an unseen producer, Shatner’s segments are done solo, sitting in a DJ booth with some egg nog and a bottle of booze.

The first story has three teenagers breaking into a school, which just happened to be a former convent, to film the site of a grisly murder one year earlier. They receive the keys to the school from a friend who is leaving town with her family. Before going in, the three watch a video where we see a policeman investigating what appears to be a ritualistic murder. It left him greatly disturbed and apparently he left the police force shortly thereafter. What follows is a rather generic ghost tale involving a backstory about a pregnant nun and the chain of events that followed. While it would not have been very original on its own, it works well as part of an anthology. It’s done quite well but it is the weakest of the four stories.

The second story follows the tale of the police officer, his wife and his son. They are out in search of the perfect Christmas tree. After trespassing to find it, they briefly lose their son in the woods. Upon finding him, he is acting strangely and as they leave the woods, we catch a glimpse of an odd man. We soon discover that the boy is now a changeling after the man calls the wife to warn her and tells her that if she wants her real son back, she needs to get the changeling back to the woods. It’s a very creepy story that is well executed and further connected by having the former police officer listening to DJ Dan on the radio.

The third story follows the girl leaving town with her family, which we later discover to be related to DJ Dan. The father wants to visit his aunt in hopes of getting money. Driving out to the middle of nowhere doesn’t go well after their bratty son breaks a statue of Krampus. Yes, this mess of a family becomes the victims of the hunt as the legendary Krampus picks them off one-by-one in the snow covered countryside. Some fun visuals and a well-done Krampus make for a fun story that help us get past the rather poorly written family.

The fourth story offers up a bit of twist. We follow the tale of old Saint Nick at the North Pole just as the elves turn into zombies on Christmas Eve. It’s a fun holiday take on the living dead storyline with some crazy visuals as Santa takes down the rampaging elves. Could it be that Krampus is behind all of this?

While the DVD cover capitalizes on the current Krampus mania, the movie is considered by most as the best of the direct-to-home video lot. The cinematography is well-done and the cast is more than adequate. The concept of all the stories playing out at the same time was different and it really worked. And I was also pleasantly surprised by William Shatner who, at the age of 84, has clearly hidden his Dorian Gray portrait somewhere in a closet on his ranch.

Check out the trailer on YouTube and hunt this one down for your collection. On an irritating and very ridiculous note, the powers-that-be at Wal-Mart felt the need to create a unique DVD slipcover and renamed the movie A Holiday Horror Story. Fear not, the inside cover and the movie itself is properly titled. A Christmas Horror Story is a really fun film and one I feel has a very good chance of being ranked up there with some of the other festive horror flicks of the season. I really enjoyed it and can see this becoming a new annual tradition.