Freaky Weekend

Not really. It was pretty calm for the most part.

David and I did get a wild hair and went to the movies on Saturday afternoon. The local theater has reopened and with Freaky debuting on Friday, we just couldn’t resist. I was a bit nervous about going but it ended up that we were the only two people in the theater. We did wear our masks the whole time just because that’s what you’re supposed to do in 2020. The movie was fun and watching a body-swapping serial killer movie was a nice distraction from the horrors of the world.
Freaky

I did buck health officials’ advice and went and hung out with TomJones on Saturday night at her new house. We ate tasty apps from Boojum and drank G&T’s and Boojum beer. We also watched Parasite (which she had not seen). Most awesome.

And now, Monday is done. If this week goes like today, it’s going to be another long one. Pass the anti-depressants, please.

Freaky Weekend

Movie Update


If arty sci-fi/thriller/horror films are up your alley, you should immediately check out Possessor, the new film from Brandon Cronenberg. It’s seriously the coolest movie I have seen this year. And, I gotta give props to Christopher Abbott for absolutely knocking it out of the park in the role of Colin Tate.

I am a bit bummed that the theatrical and not the “uncut” version is what’s streaming on VOD. Go figure. That will be remedied when the Possessor: Uncut 4K UHD release arrives in my mailbox next month. Physical media for the win!

Movie Update

Weekend Update

Well … that was another lazy weekend. Thanks, pandemic!

At least now we have a new President-elect! Hopefully, he will be able to make some headway on getting COVID-19 better under control. I am somewhat hopeful for what 2021 might hold now. If we can get past Trump’s last two months in office, that is. What a total waste of a human being. Ugh.

I did make it to the local B&N on Saturday morning to grab some goodies from the Criterion 50% Off Sale. Yay, consumerism! Though it was a little weird to be only one of two shoppers in the whole store.
Criterion Sale!

Saturday night, I went and fire pitted (socially distanced, of course) with Short Legs, Kiki, and Tom. This has become a weekly event (weather permitting) and a bright spot of sanity … especially since we see friends in person so rarely these days. I am really going to miss this once winter fully hits and it’s way too cold to sit outside even with a fire.

Sunday afternoon, I took a glorious two-hour nap. Yes!

AND … a big hat tip to Bowser for alerting us to the neighbor walking towards the front door on Saturday afternoon. David and I were not naked in the living room or engaged in any form of sexual activity at the time. In all the years I have been in this house, I am surprised that I haven’t been caught having sex in the living room. There have been a couple of close calls though when friends have unexpectedly dropped by. Ha, ha.

Weekend Update

MonsterFest 2020 Wrap-up

MonsterFest 2020 is in the history books now.

Thursday, the weather was dodgy as Hurricane Zeta (by then tropical storm strength) blew into the mountains. We left in the wind and rain but soon drove out of it. One the way down the Saluda grade, we managed to miss a jack-knifed semi. Fun times. The ride down into South Carolina was pretty smooth until we ran into rain showers that dogged us all the way into Florida. Fun.

As planned, we just hung out at Dr. Phibes and Co.’s house the whole time with very minimal trips out. Damn, pandemic. It would have been nice to have a day out sightseeing. Maybe next time. I did get up at the ass crack of dawn on Sunday and went out to the beach to watch the sunrise. It’s become something I look forward to doing when I am down there. This year, the waves were really aggressive, so it was no surprise there was a rip current warning in place.

Fernandina Sunrise 11/1
Fernandina Sunrise 11/1
Fernandina Sunrise 11/1

Monday, we had a (thankfully) uneventful drive back to the mountains. It’s always good to be home, but always sad to say goodbye to the good friends I only get to see once a year.

There was too much food eaten. There was too much alcohol consumed. There were not enough movies watched. Ha, ha.

And now, the MonsterFest 2020 Movie List:
Friday the 13th (1980)
Dracula (1992)
Superstition
The Evil
Kolchak: The Night Stalker (Chopper)
Phenomena
The Children
The Invisible Man (1933)
The Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Jack Frost (1997)
Haunt
Spookies
The Voices
Cujo
Christine
Body Double
Grave of the Vampire
Hocus Pocus

As always, a big “THANKS!” to Dr. Phibes and Co. for hosting.

MonsterFest 2020 Wrap-up

The Time is Nigh

You know what the end of October means … MonsterFest 2020 with Dr. Phibes and Co.!!!

So, later this week, we’ll be traveling to the wilds of North Florida to holed up at Dr. Phibes and Co. compound for food, drinks, fellowship … and, most importantly, HORROR MOVIES! How many movies will my tired old ass nap through? Only time will tell. Ha, ha. Plans have been afoot for a while to make things as safe as possible. So, hopefully, we will be able to gather and have fun … because fun has been in very, very, very short supply for a while.

The Time is Nigh

Meanwhile … CRASH!

Who would have thought that after years of no high definition release of David Cronenberg‘s Crash, we will have three releases (Germany, UK, and the US) by the end of the year! And, of course, all three have different special features.

Crash - Turbine Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray Mediabook
Crash Mediabook from Turbine Media (New 4K Restoration!)

Bonus Materials:
40-page Booklet – HD-Trailer – US-NC-17-Trailer – New interviews in HD (ca. 140 Min.): Talk with Viggo Mortensen & David Cronenberg (ca. 52 Min.), Peter Suschitzky (DoP – ca. 20 Min.), Jeremy Thomas (Producer – ca. 17 Min.), Howard Shore (Composer – ca. 23. Min.), Deirdre Bowen (Casting Director – ca. 27 Min.) – Archive: Theatrical Release Interviews with Cast & Crew (ca. 22 Min.) – Behind the Scenes (ca. 11. Min.) – David Cronenberg’s Short Films: The Nest (ca. 9 Min.), Camera (ca. 6 Min.), At the Suicide of the Last Jew in the World in the Last Cinema in the World (ca. 4 Min.)

Crash - Arrow Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray
Crash 4K UHD Limited Edition from Arrow Video

  • Brand new 4K restoration of the uncut NC-17 version from the original 35mm camera negative, supervised by writer-director David Cronenberg and director of photography Peter Suschitzky
  • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
  • 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo DTS-HD Master Audio
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Brand new audio commentary with film scholar Adrian Martin
  • Cronenberg Challenge – new interview with the director of photography Peter Suschitzky
  • Mechanical Animals – new interview with executive producer Jeremy Thomas
  • The Shore Thing – new interview with composer Howard Shore
  • License to Drive – new interview with casting director Deirdre Bowen
  • Archival “Behind the Scenes” featurette
  • Archival interviews with David Cronenberg, J.G. Ballard, and actors James Spader, Holly Hunter, Deborah Kara Unger, and Elias Koteas
  • Cronenberg: Concrete Cowboy – brand new video essay by Caelum Vatnsdal on Cronenberg’s use of Toronto as a filming location
  • Original Trailers
  • Fully illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Vanessa Morgan and Araceli Molina, alongside a reprinted excerpt from Cronenberg on Cronenberg
  • Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork
  • Limited edition packaging with a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx

Crash - Criterion Collection Blu-Ray
Crash Blu-ray from the Criteron Collection

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

  • New 4K digital restoration supervised by cinematographer Peter Suschitzky, and 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray, both approved by director David Cronenberg
  • Audio commentary from 1997 featuring Cronenberg
  • Press conference from the 1996 Cannes Film Festival featuring Cronenberg; Suschitzky; author J. G. Ballard; producers Robert Lantos and Jeremy Thomas; and actors Rosanna Arquette, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, James Spader, and Deborah Kara Unger
  • Q&A from 1996 with Cronenberg and Ballard at the National Film Theatre in London
  • Behind-the-scenes footage and press interviews from 1996
  • Trailers
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: An essay by film critic Jessica Kiang

And guess which consumerist sucker is going to own all three?

Meanwhile … CRASH!

Gotta Get Back in the Groove …

Bah! It seems I am posting more infrequently now. Is it my mood? Probably. Is it also that nothing super exciting is going on since we are still not really able to go about as freely and hang out with friends like the old days. Yep. And, it’s sad to think that the “old days” of normal life were just six months ago. It feels like 60 years ago.

Events of the past few weeks:
– Have gotten totally obsessed with collecting all the official recordings of Sunset Boulevard.
– Finally got a copy of Cocteau Twins’ Four Calendar Cafe on vinyl.
– Been crushing hard on the new Róisín Murphy album, Róisín Machine.
– Helped Michelle (no longer a refugee) set up various items for her new house here.
– Ate too much pizza.
– Binge watched The Haunting of Bly Manor and didn’t really like it.
– Got shat on by a pigeon.
– Turned 49.

I stopped trimming my beard quite a few months ago. So, now it’s the longest it has ever been … and it’s so unruly. I really need a professional trim/shaping but I am too paranoid to go to a barber and sit there unmasked while doing their work. I have been thinking about trimming it back down to a reasonable length but just haven’t worked up the nerve.

Here’s a Then (July) and Now (October) …
Beardy Super Beardy

I *might* also have been on a jockstrap kick for the past few days. They are just so damn wonderful. So, now I am toying with the idea of making the jockstrap my daily underwear of choice. In aid of this, I might have purchased a cheap-ish 3-pack (in grey and black because those are the best colors). It would be nice to be able to afford a full complement of PUMP, Diesel, or Cellblock 13 (of which I want all the colors!) jocks. I guess I will see how this works out. Ha, ha.

Papi Jockstraps 3-Pack

And what would be an update without talking about an expensive movie purchase? I am super excited that Haunt (a great little horror movie from last year) is FINALLY getting a Blu-ray release from Ronin Flix. And, of course, I ordered the stupidly expensive Collector’s Edition. Just look at all the cool features and swag!

Haunt Collector's Edition

Includes the Original CD Soundtrack by tomandandy, four 16” x 20” movie poster reproductions, a 16” x 20” reproduction of the haunt map, six enamel pins featuring costume masks featured in the film, four 2” x 3 ½” replica VHS box-style magnets, and over 5 hours of special features.

DISC 1 – Haunt (2019) Feature Presentation
– NEW To Escape the Haunt: The Making of HAUNT featurette including interviews with writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, actors Katie Stevens, Will Brittain, Andrew Lewis Caldwell, Lauryn Alisa McClain, Schuyler Helford, Justin Marxen, Chaney Morrow, Special Makeup Effects artist Chris Bridges and co-composer Andy Milburn (tomandandy)
– NEW Audio Commentary with actors Justin Marxen (Clown), Chaney Morrow (Ghost), and Damian Maffei (Devil)
– Audio Commentary with writers/directors Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
– Behind the Haunt
– The Sound of Haunt
– Deleted Scenes with an introduction by Scott and Bryan
– Popcorn Frights Q & A with Scott, Bryan, and some of the cast
– Egyptian Theatre Premiere Q & A with Scott and Bryan, moderated by Eli Roth
– Short Film: The Sleepover – Scott and Bryan’s first film
– Director’s Diary
– Theatrical Trailer

DISC 2: Haunt (2019) Soundtrack

GIMMIE!!! GIMMIE!!! GIMMIE!!!

Gotta Get Back in the Groove …

Things ‘n Stuff

The arrival of The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection 4K Blu-ray has been the best thing that has happened in the past few weeks. Seriously. Psycho and Vertigo look insanely beautiful in 4K (Rear Window and The Birds aren’t too bad either).
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection 4K Blu-ray

And to balance out all that cinematic awesomeness, I grabbed a copy of the Rob Zombie Trilogy. Trash-tastic! (Plus, you can’t beat three movies for $13.)
Rob Zombie Trilogy

One of the other things I have done recently has been to separate my regular Twitter from my porn Twitter. Now my regular followers won’t see when I like or comment on some really hot porn tweet. Ha, ha.

Meanwhile, I am obsessing over remixes of Madonna’s Erotica.

Things ‘n Stuff

Even More Wants!!

I lost my second job at the end of April … yet all I can think about is all the cool shit I want to purchase. I need to start pimping myself out! Any takers out there?

Pet Shop Boys It Couldn't Happen Here Limited Edition It Couldn’t Happen Here (Limited Dual Format Edition) from the BFI

The first feature-length film starring the Pet Shop Boys alongside Joss Ackland, Gareth Hunt and Barbara Windsor finds Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe on an extraordinary adventure from the coast to London, encountering a curious array of eccentric characters along the way. Pop surrealism meets classic road movie, the film is peppered with hits from the duo’s first two studio albums, including ‘West End Girls’, ‘It’s a Sin’ and ‘Always On My Mind’.

  • Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
  • Limited Edition 48-page Digi-book includes a new interview with Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys and previously unseen excerpts from his personal on-set production diary, as well as an introduction to the film by director Jack Bond and writing on the film by Anthony Nield, Jason Wood, Omer Ali, John Ramchandani, William Fowler and Vic Pratt
  • Comprehensive feature commentary by Jack Bond, James Dillon and Simon Archer (2020)
  • West End Boy: Jack Bond (2020, 27 mins): the director discusses his eclectic career as a filmmaker and his enterprising approach to the making of It Couldn’t Happen Here 
  • It Can Happen Here: Arlene Phillips (2020, 26 mins): the renowned choreographer reflects upon a life in dance – and the trials and tribulations of working on It Couldn’t Happen Here
  • Always on My Mind (1987, 5 mins): the full-length promotional video for the Pet Shop Boys’ acclaimed ‘Christmas Number One’ hit, featuring Joss Ackland and footage from It Couldn’t Happen Here
  • Actually: an unfilmed early version of the script for the film, included here in its entirety for the first time anywhere
  • As it Happened: Image galleries including the complete final version of the script, the director’s shot lists, Pet Shop Boys reference lyric sheets and promotional materials for It Couldn’t Happen Here
  • Original theatrical trailer (digitally reconstructed for this release)

Second Sight Dawn of the Dead 4K UHD Limited EditionDawn of the Dead Limited Edition 4K UHD from Second Sight Films

With the U.S. in the grip of a zombie apocalypse, four desperate survivors find refuge in a shopping mall. But the flesh-eating hordes, still possessed by an instinctive desire to consume, are drawn to the same destination. What follows is a nail-biting fight for survival. George A Romero’s ‘Dawn of the Dead’ remains one of the greatest horror films ever made, often imitated but never equaled, and is now presented in a brand new restoration.

UHD DISC 1: THE THEATRICAL CUT

  • New 4K scan and restoration of the Original Camera Negative by Second Sight at Final Frame New York and London supervised and approved by DoP Michael Gornick
  • Presented in HDR10+
  • Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono – New restoration of the original OCN Optical / DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
  • Commentary by George A Romero, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest
  • NEW commentary by Travis Crawford
  • New optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

UHD DISC 2 – THE EXTENDED (‘CANNES’) CUT

  • Produced using 4k scan of the Theatrical Cut Original Camera Negative and 4K scan of the Extended Cut Colour Reversal Internegative
  • DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
  • Presented in HDR10+
  • Commentary by Richard P Rubinstein
  • New optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

UHD DISC 3 – THE ARGENTO CUT

  • 4K scan of the Interpositive by Michele De Angelis at Backlight Digital, Rome
  • Audio: DT-HD Master Audio Mono 1.0 / Surround 5.1 / Stereo 2.0
  • Commentary by Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, David Emge
  • New optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired

BLU-RAY DISC 4: SPECIAL FEATURES

  • NEW Zombies and Bikers: with John Amplas, Roy Frumkes, Tom Savini, Christine Forrest, Tom Dubensky, Tony Buba, Taso Stavrakis and a whole host of zombies and bikers! (59 mins)
  • NEW Memories of Monroeville: a tour of the mall with Michael Gornick, Tom Savini, Tom Dubensky and Taso Stavrakis (34 mins)
  • NEW Raising the Dead: The Production Logistics: with Michael Gornick, Christine Forrest, John Amplas, Tom Dubensky (23 mins)
  • NEW The FX of Dawn with Tom Savini (13 mins)
  • NEW Dummies! Dummies!: An interview with Richard France (12 mins)
  • NEW The Lost Romero Dawn Interview: previously unreleased archive interview (20 mins)
  • Super 8 Mall Footage by zombie extra Ralph Langer with option of archive commentary by Robert Langer and new commentary by Ralph Langer (13 mins)
  • Document of the Dead: The Original Cut with optional commentary by Roy Frumkes (66 mins)
  • Document of the Dead: The Definitive Cut (100 mins)
  • The Dead Will Walk 2014 Documentary (80 mins)
  • Trailers, TV and Radio Spots (TBC)

Limited Edition Contents

AUDIO CD DISC 1

  • The Goblin Soundtrack – 17 tracks including Alternate and Bonus Tracks

AUDIO CD DISC 2

  • The Complete De Wolfe Library Cues Part 1

AUDIO CD DISC 3

  • The Complete De Wolfe Library Cues Part 2
  • Rigid box with lid featuring the original iconic artwork
  • 2 inner digipaks
  • 150 page hardback book featuring 16 new essays, archive article, archive George A Romero interview and rare Behind-The-Scenes stills
  • Dawn of the Dead: The novelization book by George A Romero and Susanna Sparrow with exclusive artwork
Even More Wants!!

Movie Madness

Thanks to all the “stay at home” induced free time that I now have, I am finally making my way through the backlog of movies that I have purchased but have not watched. First up was the five Hammer film sets from Indicator in the UK. The sets have a pretty diverse range of films from Hammer … gothic horror, crime thrillers, adventure, and war movies. Out of the 20 movies, there was only one that I really disliked (Visa to Canton) with the rest all being solid. The ones that I consider to be favorites are listed in bold.

Hammer Box Sets from Indicator

Hammer Volume One: Fear Warning!
1. Maniac (1963)
2. The Gorgon (1964)
3. The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb (1964)
4. Fanatic (1965)

Hammer Volume Two: Criminal Intent
1. The Snorkel (1958)
2. Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960)
3. The Full Treatment (1960)
4. Cash on Demand (1961)

Hammer Volume  Three: Blood & Terror
1. The Camp on Blood Island (1958)
2. Yesterday’s Enemy (1959)
3. The Strangler’s of Bombay (1959)
4. The Terror of the Tongs (1961)

Hammer Volume Four: Faces of Fear
1. The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958)
2. The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)
3. Taste of Fear (1961)
4. The Damned (1962)

Hammer Volume Five: Death & Deceit
1. Visa to Canton (1960)
2. The Pirates of Blood River (1962)
3. The Scarlett Blade (1963)
4. The Brigand of Kandahar (1965)

Movie Madness

Day … Whatever

Well. The days have quickly become a routine.

Wake up.
Cardio.
Shower.
Work.
Stress eat.
Watch a movie.
Stress drink.
Sleep.
[Repeat]

Last Friday was another Zoom session with friends. I am not sure that I will get used to this kind of socializing. But, it’s better than nothing right now.
The Real Housewives of Waynesville

Speaking of movies … I have been working my way through the initial run of Amityville related films. I have never liked the original movie. So much potential that gets totally squandered. Amityville II: The Possession was actually pretty damn decent (all things considered). Amityville 3-D was kinda lame … but in 3-D (whoo!). Amityville 4: The Evil  Escapes was made-for-TV-tastic (Patty Duke and Jean Wyatt!). Amityville: It’s About Time was just bad. Two more (A New Generation and Dollhouse) and I can get off this kick. And yes, I know it’s silly of me to think any of these movies are going to be any good. Ha, ha.
Amityville Movie Madness

Meanwhile … here’s Bowser being precious as fuck.
Bowser!

Day … Whatever

Upcoming

Come and See

To say that I am stupid excited about Criterion‘s upcoming release of Elem Klimovs Come and See would be a huge understatement.

This legendary film from Soviet director Elem Klimov is a senses-shattering plunge into the dehumanizing horrors of war. As Nazi forces encroach on his small village in Belorussia, teenage Flyora (Alexei Kravchenko, in a searing depiction of anguish) eagerly joins the Soviet resistance. Rather than the adventure and glory he envisioned, what he finds is a waking nightmare of unimaginable carnage and cruelty—rendered with a feverish, otherworldly intensity by Klimov’s subjective camera work and expressionistic sound design. Nearly blocked from being made by Soviet censors, who took seven years to approve its script, Come and See is perhaps the most visceral, impossible-to-forget antiwar film ever made.

Special Features

  • New 2K digital restoration by Mosfilm, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • New interview with cinematographer Roger Deakins
  • New interview with director Elem Klimov’s brother and frequent collaborator German Klimov
  • Flaming Memory, a three-film documentary series from 1975–77 by filmmaker Viktor Dashuk featuring firsthand accounts of survivors of the genocide in Belorussia during World War II
  • Interview from 2001 with Elem Klimov
  • Interviews from 2001 with actor Alexei Kravchenko and production designer Viktor Petrov
  • How “Come and See” Was Filmed, a 1985 short film about the making of the film featuring interviews with Elem Klimov, Kravchenko, and writer Ales Adamovich
  • Theatrical rerelease trailer
  • New English subtitle translation
  • PLUS: Essays by critic Mark Le Fanu and poet Valzhyna Mort

Upcoming