The(o)nly Movie Blog

Featured

Slow Weekend Binge: 7 Mini Marathons to Make You Forget Monday’s Coming

In the famous children’s book, The Cow Buzzed, a host of farm animals pass a cold from one to another, with every transmission marked by the repetitive text, “cough cough, sniffle sniffle, ah-choo!” Throw in head pain and general achy-ness, and that’s the state I find myself in this lovely Friday morning. And how lovely is it really, as the remnants of a hurricane roll through my home and most of the Southeast?

Before I went full grumpy old man both here on the blog and in real life, I decided to pivot my attention to my favorite sick day pastime: watching movies. Soaking in a couple of my favorite flicks with a warm bowl of soup and a cold beverage is icy-hot to my soul. And admittedly, am I feeling a bit better already.

Maybe you’re sick, maybe you’re caught in this storm, or maybe you’ve baked in a slow weekend before the hustle and bustle of the holiday season begins. Regardless of your reason, you must be pretty bored to be reading this blogpost, so let me give you something better to do. In this post I have carefully curated 7 themed mini movie-marathons that will hopefully peak your interest and coerce you into watching something that you normally wouldn’t. If you’re like me, sometimes you need a prod to watch anything but one of your favorite sitcoms for the 30th time. So with only a little ado, let’s jump into my 7 Mini Movie-Marathons for the Slow Weekend.

The Rules

Only movies and mini series are eligible. No documentaries, and no full-on tv shows.
Every movie on the list must be available to watch on a major streaming provider. That includes Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max. Sorry, Apple TV+ and Paramount+ lovers.
No marathon can exceed 10 hours. I broke this rule once, by just a little bit. Whoops.

The Marathons

1. Heist, Heist, Baby

Watchlist: Ocean’s Eleven (on Netflix starting October 1st), Charade (Prime), Inception (HBO Max), and Ant-Man (Disney+)

Runtime: 8 hours and 14 minutes

Nothing will deftly break into your weekend and steal your free time like a good heist movie. The juxtaposition between the smooth, stylish trappings of the heist planning and the thrilling chaos of a plan-gone-wrong get me every time. Ocean’s Eleven set the standard for modern heists, Charade oozes with vintage charm, Inception reinvents the genre entirely, and Ant-Man brings the laughs a-plenty. Break into this list, and I’m sure you’ll find a gem, or 4, on the other side.

2. Hopeless Romantics

Watchlist: Casablanca (HBO Max), Titanic (Prime), Love and Monsters (Prime), and On the Waterfront (HBO Max)

Runtime: 8 hours and 33 minutes

This grouping isn’t just about romance, but about people who fell in love at exactly the wrong time. Casablanca takes place in the heat of wartime, Titanic finds young love on a sinking ship, Love and Monsters follows a journey to reconnect with an old flame in the middle of the apocalypse, and On the Waterfront’s romance is tested by the pull of duty from a tyrannical mob boss. If you believe in the power of love, then give this quartet of movies a binge.

3. Old School Comedies

Watchlist: The Princess Bride (Disney+), The Philadelphia Story (HBO Max), Young Frankenstein (HBO Max), and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Netflix)

Runtime: 6 hours and 46 minutes

I find that comedy typically fits more snugly into the shorter runtime of a tv show, which is why, when I find a comedic movie that holds my interest from beginning to end, I’m all the more impressed. If you’ve found recent comedies to be lacking, then maybe it’s time to kick it old school. Whether you like clever wordplay and character dynamics like in The Philadelphia Story, hilarious scene-by-scene composition like in The Princess Bride and Monty Python, or recurring gags like in Young Frankenstein, this mini-binge will get plenty of laughs, or at least strong nose exhales, out of you.

4. Sad Boy Sci-Fi

Watchlist: Blade Runner (HBO Max), Blade Runner 2049 (HBO Max), Moon (HBO Max), and Dune [2021] (HBO Max)

Runtime: 8 hours and 53 minutes

There’s a very specific sci-fi subgenre that places moody boys in a bad future and a bad society, and the sad, moody boy is moody and sad. And I love it. All jokes aside, there is something about how this particular kind of movie follows a blank-slate protagonist whose outlook and emotions are so strongly informed by the world around him. The way it can tackle subtle and hard-to-define feelings like melancholy and frustration is really powerful. But also, yeah, make fun of the moody boys.

5. Family-Friendly Hidden Gems

Watchlist: Muppet Treasure Island (Disney+), Paddington (Netflix), Christopher Robin (Disney+), The Mitchells vs. the Machines (Netflix), and Ernest & Celestine (Hulu)

Runtime: 8 hours and 7 minutes

Movies intended for the young family audience usually bring in the crowds, both to the movie theaters and the small screen, but still, many awesome and wholesome flicks fall through the cracks. Some are really funny, like Muppet Treasure Island, some are more heartfelt, like Christopher Robin and Ernest & Celestine, and some are a bit of both, like Paddington and The Mitchells vs. the Machines. And, in my opinion, they all deserve their due and would make for an excellent weekend binge.

6. Historical (???) Epics

Watchlist: Gladiator (Prime), Life of Pi (HBO Max), Les Miserables (Netflix), and The King (Netflix)

Runtime: 9 hours and 40 minutes

I went with 3 question marks, but I could’ve just as easily put quotation marks around “History” or invoked the ever-popular “based on real events.” However you frame it, these movies are bunched together because they all take fragments of real-life events and then allow creative liberties to craft a new and beautiful (and mostly fictional) narrative. Faithfulness to real events varies, with The King attempting to be somewhat faithful, all the way to Life of Pi, which is purely fictitious save some references to real historical events occurring in the story’s background. What are undeniably true are the grandiose of these movies and the impact of the stories they tell. In my opinion, this might be the most binge-worthy of the bunch.

7. Anime Primer

Watchlist: Erased [Mini Series] (Netflix or Hulu), Spirited Away (HBO Max), Weathering With You (HBO Max), and Belle (HBO Max)

Runtime: 10 hours and 22 minutes

Well, you made it all the way to the end, which leads me to assume that I’ve built up some good will along the way. So allow me to cash it all in immediately by once again trying to convince you to give some anime a shot. As I’ve litigated on the blog before, I’m not a big anime guy, but I’ve found some good stuff along the way, and I think this list contains stories that are not only good, but also accessible to just about everyone. Erased is a thrilling race to find a killer, Spirited Away perfects the dreamlike wonder of Alice in Wonderland, Belle examines modern society with a touching story and incredible music, and Weathering With You blends the optimism of youth with the fears of looming, real-world problems. I’m not saying you should start buying Japanese-scripted tees at Hot Topic or start calling your S.O. your “waifu.” Just give some of these movies and/or shows a shot. I think you’ll be surprised at how much you like them.

PS: Each of these 3 movies is directed by one of the best animation directors of modern time (and I’d say all time), so if you watch one of these movies and like it, I’d strongly encourage you to seek out the rest of the director’s work. All 3 of these guys have amazing catalogues of films that are still growing!

If you have a relaxing weekend right now or have one coming up, I hope this list gave you some viewing inspiration. And if not, *insert “At Least You Tried” cake here*, and thanks for reading to the end!

My Hero Academia: Breathing New Life Into the Superhero Genre

As we soldier on through the pandemic from our homes and scroll through the familiar streaming apps, we notice a dearth of new movies and tv. Some of us long for an inspiring superhero program that will brighten these secluded winter days. Long no more, citizens, because hope has arrived! Look, there, on your screen! Is it a Marvel? Is it a DC? No, it’s… anime???

No, you’re not getting punked. If you have trepidations about watching any animated series, let alone an anime, I completely understand. Anime is weird, right? But don’t write me or this show off just yet. I will address your concerns more fully later on, but for now, I humbly ask you to approach this blog post with an open mind and a willingness to let me quell your apprehensions. Because regardless of what country you’re from or what you’ve been through, we all want to believe that one person can truly make a difference, and we yearn for a world where we come together and nobly fight against evil, and these themes beat fiercely and proudly within the heart of My Hero Academia.

What Is My Hero Academia About?

In a not-so-distant future, a child is born with a superhuman ability later referred to as a “quirk.” No one knows exactly why this phenomenon began, but soon newborns across the world were each manifesting their own quirk. My Hero Academia begins generations later, when roughly 80% of the population possesses a quirk, and nearly all children have one. Soon after these extraordinary abilities presented themselves, people began to use their power to commit all manner of heinous crimes and deeds, and brave men and women took on the roles of heroes in order to stop these evildoers. With the support of the government, the profession of superheroes emerged, and they became the most popular members of society, nothing short of celebrities.

Our story follows the journey of Izuku Midoriya, a young teen about to enter high school who wants nothing more than to enroll in the greatest hero academy in Japan, UA High, and become a great hero who saves people with a smile on his face, like his idol All Might. There’s just one teensy problem: Izuku is one of the few children his age who wasn’t born with a quirk. Embodying the bravery and selflessness of a true hero, Izuku blocks out the words of ridicule and doubt that he hears from others and within himself, and he applies to the school of his dreams. Does Izuku get into UA? How could he possibly become a hero without a quirk? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

Why Should I Watch It?

Many modern superhero movies and tv shows aim to give us a glimpse into a “realistic” world of superheroes, and most of these programs shine a cynical light on our society and the concept of heroes themselves. Though My Hero Academia fleshes out a somewhat plausible superhuman society, it never loses the hope and optimism that we associate with the genre, instead choosing to wear these qualities on its sleeves, and it’s all the better for it.

That’s not to say that My Hero Academia is an overly optimistic, fluffy, surface level superhero series. In fact, the show takes common hero archetypes (seen in heroes such as Superman, The Hulk, Robin, and others) and takes them in new and thought-provoking directions, giving us a cast full of fresh and fleshed-out characters. The series also puts a decided emphasis on hope for the future, presenting a symbiotic relationship between the old and new heroes that reflects the challenges that we face in our world today, as well as the ways that we can work together to overcome them. At times My Hero Academia points to a bleak future, yes, but it also shows an overwhelming confidence in the next generation’s ability to meet these challenges, and I find this attitude to be both inspiring and much-needed.

Equally daunting to the state of their world is the path to greatness for Izuku and our protagonists. One of my favorite qualities of the series is that, even though most of our heroes boast astonishing superhuman abilities, they must work incredibly hard to master their quirks (or lack thereof) and become powerful heroes. All too often the grand power of a hero is incidental, and that couldn’t be further from the reality presented in My Hero Academia. Just like in real life, dreams don’t become reality overnight. You can have all of the natural ability in the world, but you must dedicate yourself to an arduous process if you are to achieve true greatness.

Lastly, let’s pivot away from the big ideas of My Hero Academia and briefly explore the nuts and bolts that make up a show: the characters, the plot, the music, and the aesthetic/atmosphere. I love the premise of My Hero Academia, but a show’s set up can only take it so far. The main reason I keep coming back to this series is the likeable, fun, and relatable characters. The show boasts a huge cast, but it takes the time to give each character endearing personality and engaging motivations.

The plot manages to be propulsive without relying on end-of-episode cliffhangers, which makes each storyline feel earned. The story also does a good job of balancing heavy circumstances and themes with fun and humor. Rarely does it feel too silly or too dower, packing just the right punch of action, drama, and heart.

Quick note: though the show is colorful and fun, it is not intended for young audiences. In my opinion, it’s suitable for high school age and up.

The show’s music is truly some of the best to ever grace the silver screen, constantly reinforcing the on-screen emotions without overwhelming them. The creativity and effectiveness of the music leave an impact long after you turn off the tv, to the point where I created my own Spotify playlist of my favorite tracks. I had never done that with a tv show before. The music is that good.

Finally, the aesthetic of the show is decidedly Japanese without alienating a foreign audience. The sheer creativity in the world-building and the way quirks are used is worth your time alone, and they manage to craft several eye-popping and memorable scenes throughout the series. All of these elements come together to make up a show that is one of the best that the superhero genre has ever seen.

I Don’t Like Anime, So Why Should My Hero Academia Be Any Different?

I think the most helpful way to kick off this topic is to give you a brief history of my experience with anime.

I wasn’t exposed to much anime as a wee lad, but at the age of 3 or 4 I fell in love with Pokemon. I collected the cards, played the video games, watched the tv show, all of that good stuff. Pikachu and the gang were undoubtably one of the formative pieces of entertainment in my childhood. Looking back, I realize how cheesy the show was and how comically problematic the entire concept of capturing and dueling animals is, but I’ll always look back on Pokemon with fondness, and I still admire the creativity of the world. Other than that, I didn’t have any notable exposure to Japanese animation.

Cut to 2014, where I’m a junior in college and I’m taking a film study course, just for fun. This class helped me see movies in a new way, and I began to explore all of the corners of film history. One of my starting points was the IMDb top 250, a list of the 250 greatest films ever made, as voted on by IMDb users. This list contained several Japanese animated movies, so I gave them a go. Though they were very hit-or-miss, I really liked a number of them, and they served as an easy entry point for international film in general, since animation can more believably be dubbed over with English dialogue than a live action movie can.

Flash forward to the beginning of the pandemic. With my affinity for Japanese animated movies cemented, I took advantage of the extra time at home and delved right into the world of anime tv series, assuming that if I liked the one, I was bound to enjoy the other. Much to my surprise, these anime shows were not for me. I was careful to choose series that were intended for older audiences, aka not kids’ shows. Even then, I found myself deeply disappointed in what I found. One show was too over-the-top, the next too melodramatic, the next too creepy, and so on. I was about to give up on my quest to find the anime for me, when I came across My Hero Academia on Hulu. The premise, the world-building, the plucky and flawed protagonist, it all spoke to me right away. I was whisked away to this superhero society that both delighted the Marvel fan in me and challenged my preconceived notions of what it means to be a hero. I finished all 88 episodes in less than 2 months, and it quickly became one of my favorite streaming finds of 2020.

I divulge ALL of that history to say that I’m not a big anime fan myself. Though I do have some experience with the tropes and the art style, I gave a number of series a fair shake, and they just weren’t for me. We each have our unique likes and sensibilities, but having traversed a sizable chunk of the world of anime, I can say with confidence that you should give My Hero Academia a shot, whether you like anime or not.

That isn’t to say that My Hero Academia is void of typical anime tropes. Characters express over-the-top emotions, there’s a fixation on arbitrary power levels and “powering up,” and other common anime elements fill the series. Even as an unabashed lover of the show, these tropes can distract and even mildly annoy me at times, but the great elements of My Hero Academia are so great that I find it easy to look past these mild gripes. It’s rare to find the perfect show, and My Hero Academia isn’t without its flaws, whether they be the result of anime style or not. But sometimes imperfections can almost endear us to a show, much like a friend’s peculiar habits can annoy us at first, but as we get to know them, we end up embracing these flaws because they’re a part of who they are.

I can’t sit here and tell you that My Hero Academia isn’t anime and doesn’t include many of the stylings and tropes associated with the genre, but let me urge you to, despite your reservations, give this series a shot. Especially if you’re a superhero fan, this is a show that you won’t want to miss.

So, You’re Still Not Sold.

If this long, long post didn’t compel you to fire up your tv right now and turn on My Hero Academia, let me issue a brief and simple challenge. The first 3 episodes of the show serve as the set up for the entire series, and each episode is only roughly 22 minutes each. If you’re a fan of the superhero genre, and you have Hulu, I challenge you to give me a little over an hour of your time and give the first 3 episodes of this show a shot. If you don’t like it, no harm no foul, you haven’t lost any money and very little time. But if you do like it, there are 85 more episodes waiting for you to discover, plus 2 movies, and season 5 of the show premieres on March 27th.

Sorry, Marvel. My condolences, DC. The best superhero show running is none other than My Hero Academia.

The first 4 seasons of My Hero Academia are streaming now on Hulu (season 5 to premiere on March 27th).

What did you think of the blog post? What’s your favorite superhero show of all time? Let me know in the comments below!

Scaredy Kino: a Halloween Watchlist for the Horror Movie Objector- Part 7

Whether you squirm at the thought of a scary movie, are sick of the clichés of the horror genre, or are just looking for something to watch that’ll put you in the Halloween spirit, you’ve come to the right place! Each day from now through Halloween day, I’ll post about a movie or TV show that is emblematic of the season, free of slashing, spurting, or exorcising. The only requirements are thus: it must be available on a major streaming service (Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, or Disney Plus), and it mustn’t be a well-known blockbuster. Sorry, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

Entry 7- The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)

Imagine that one of your friends convinces you to traverse the terrors of a haunted house. The very thought of the commercialized horrors waiting for you make your knees buckle, but you trust this friend unreservedly, so you pay the fee and slowly enter the doors of the diabolical mansion. Smoke pours through the entry way, the door slams behind you, and a crazed zombie suddenly appears. Knuckles whitened and teeth clenched, you brace for the worst. But then the zombie pulls up a barstool and starts telling jokes about being undead. This isn’t a haunted house…. This is a parody haunted house! You breathe a deep sigh of relief and enjoy the spooky journey immensely, not only because it’s legitimately funny, but because there’s a deep sense of catharsis that comes from laughing at something that mere minutes ago you deeply feared. These feelings of fun and relief are why I love parody horror, and one of my favorite examples of this genre (a tame example though it may be) has to be The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken follows Luther Heggs, ambitious reporter for The Courier Express, but more importantly, renowned goof within the small town of Rachel, Kansas. When the chief editor of The Courier Express asks for a volunteer to spend the night at the cursed Simmons Mansion on the 20th anniversary of its famous murder-suicide, Luther jumps at the opportunity. Luther spends a terror-filled night at the mansion, rife with all sorts of real horrors. However, these revelations are complicated by Luther’s boy-who-cried-wolf reputation, as he reported several outlandish stories in the past that all turned out to be comically false. Luther must take matters into his own hands and overcome his reputation in order to prove to his fellow townsfolk that his disturbing observations from that night in the mansion are all too real.

First and foremost, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is a comedy, led by famed funny man Don Knotts, so this movie at no point tries to scare its audience. However, the classic haunted house elements are all there, from the creepy (and watered down) imagery, to the mystery surrounding the house, to the terrorized victims who dared to enter the mansion’s halls. The mystery element of the story is sufficiently engaging, and the campy humor is consistently great, with even a few genuine laugh-out-loud moments. You can feel that everyone in front of and behind the camera know exactly what kind of movie they’re making, and the charisma and silliness shine through effortlessly. If you’re looking for a halloween-centric comedy that’s more spooks and laughs than scares, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is the flick for you.

The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is streaming now for free on Peacock.

So that’s the list! What did you think? Let me know in the comments below, and if you missed part of the list, check out each entry in the menu tab above. Happy Halloween, everybody!

Scaredy Kino: a Halloween Watchlist for the Horror Movie Objector- Part 6

Entry 6- Prisoners (2013)

Some of the entries on this list thus far have been spooky or unsettling, while others made the cut with a story of enthralling mystery. Prisoners fits the Halloween bill, but it doesn’t create the same fun energy that most of its fellow list representatives do. In fact, if I had to describe it in one word, it would be dread. However, Prisoners is perhaps the most engaging and thought-provoking member in this watchlist, and if you have the stomach to delve into it, I think you will find that it provides an entirely different kind of satisfaction, one that some viewers might find superior to that of the other watchlist entries.

Prisoners opens on the Dover family sharing Thanksgiving with the Birch family. Keller Dover and Franklin Birch have enjoyed a long friendship, and their 4 children get along as well. After dinner the children go outside to play, and each man’s daughter, Keller’s Anna and Franklin’s Joy, go missing. Local Detective Loki jumps on the case, and a mystery, maybe even a conspiracy, unravels as he dives deeper and deeper into the case. The families are grief-stricken, and Keller is practically unhinged, eventually conducting an investigation of his own, where he uncovers horrible truths while staying frustratingly distant from his goal of finding Anna. Up is down, down is up, and truth is hard to come by in this riveting thriller.

If you browse through Netflix, or most streaming services for that matter, crime procedurals are a dime a dozen. They are just as impactful any time of year, and when you finish one, two more are sure to take its place on your suggestion list. What makes Prisoners a great crime-centric thriller is not just the quest to find the missing daughters, but the disturbing truths that are revealed and the puzzles that must be solved to reach the ultimate goal. To say any more would be to spoil the plot of Prisoners, and that’s the last thing that I wish to do, but trust me when I say that as the story moves, so will the hairs along your neck.

Prisoners is streaming now on Hulu.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe and/or keep up with each daily entry on this watchlist, running from now through Halloween day!

Scaredy Kino: a Halloween Watchlist for the Horror Movie Objector- Part 5

Entry 5- Agatha Christie’s Marple (2004-2013)

Rain engulfs the night sky and wind howls through the air, only to be upstaged by a flash of lightning, illuminating the silhouette of a figure standing just outside of an old British mansion. A lamp crashes to the floor. A woman lets out a final shriek for help. Then nothing. Nothing until the body is discovered the next morning. Such a heinous crime calls for the best detective that can be found. Who should be called? A tall, strapping PI who’s on the rise? Maybe a renowned detective with a crime-busting resume stretching decades long? No, in Agatha Christie’s Marple, the task of solving the unsolvable murder belongs to a sweet, unassuming old woman.

Marple takes form as an episodic tv show, with each episode telling the entire story of 1 mysterious murder that Miss Marple attempts to solve. This kind senior citizen may come off as an innocuous member of an investigation, but her eye is more keen than it may seem, and every trite question she asks is packed with deduction. As Marple observes a new cast of suspects trying to navigate post-World War II life, she learns of lies told, secrets kept, and corruption buried deep beneath the surface. Each case comes with its own series of enthralling twists and turns, always building towards a sensational reveal.

Marple sets itself apart from other crime mystery tv shows and enters the hall of great Halloween watches based on both its unsettling atmosphere and its knack for building tension. Many police procedurals and detective programs involve murder mystery, but the way in which Marple slowly builds towards the murder and then brings in a frail old woman to clean up the mess invites a sense of palpable fear and stakes that other shows simply don’t have. The killer-on-the-loose premise of every episode is typically accompanied by a claustrophobic setting, providing a race against the clock element as well as the feeling that anyone could be the killer’s next victim at any point in time. These components create the thrills that we associate with scary movies without displaying any true horror on screen, making Marple a great Halloween watch, regardless of your feelings toward the horror genre.

Agatha Christie’s Marple is streaming now on Hulu.

Some of my favorite episodes include: 4:50 from Paddington (S1E3), At Bertram’s Hotel (S3E1), A Pocketful of Rye (S4E1), Muder Is Easy (S4E2), and The Blue Geranium (S5E3).

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe and/or keep up with each daily entry on this watchlist, running from now through Halloween day!

Scaredy Kino: a Halloween Watchlist for the Horror Movie Objector- Part 4

Entry 4- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993)

I can see the readers’ eyes slowly rolling to the back of their heads, just at the movie title. “You really managed to work a superhero movie onto this list? Typical.” To that I would say don’t judge a book by its cover, because Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is anything but typical. Sure, it includes all of the lurking, grappling, and punching that we associate with the Batman character, but it also serves as an excellent, spooky mystery, thanks to both the foreboding villain and Batman’s internal struggle.

Mask of the Phantasm expertly weaves together a story of 2 minds: one part mystifying caper, one part Batman origin story. When a fog-covered phantom begins to prey upon Gotham’s elite, Batman bursts into action and begins to unravel the mystery of this nefarious killer. Along the way we see flashbacks of Bruce’s past and his path to become the caped crusader. These sequences play a role in the overarching plot, but most of their importance lie in their ability to inform the audience of Bruce’s pain and cause us to empathize with his inner turmoil. Chills, thrills, and reveals abound in arguably the most underrated Batman flick of all time.

Many a Batman movie has some level of mystery involved in its story, but it’s the villain of Mask fo the Phantasm that sets it apart as a great choice to watch around Halloween. The Phantom creeps about at night, stalking its prey; disappearing one moment, and then reappearing in front of its victim the next. Though not all that scary, The Phantom’s grim reaper-esque methods lend a definite creepy element to the film. On the flip side, we see Batman battle internal anxiety and even derangement, causing us to wonder if his crime fighting exploits are the only thing keeping his mind together, or if it’s the Batman persona itself that is driving him to the brink of madness. Whether you’re sick of the same old superhero fodder, or you cant get enough of the stuff, I strongly suggest that you set aside your preconceived notions and give the delightfully eerie Mask of the Phantasm a shot.

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is streaming now on Netflix.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe and/or keep up with each daily entry on this watchlist, running from now through Halloween day!

Scaredy Kino: a Halloween Watchlist for the Horror Movie Objector- Part 3

Entry 3- The Gift (2015)

There is no place in our lives that is more associated with comfort, security, and safety than our own homes, That’s why the horror genre has so often tried to strip away that sense of safety, often using the perilous house as the foundation of many scary movie premises, one of the most popular being the home invasion flick. Though The Gift shares many hallmarks of this setup, it also plays with our expectations and deftly subverts them, creating a thriller that delivers much more than tension and scares.

When Simon Callum and his wife Robyn move to their dream home in a quiet suburb of Los Angeles, they think that they have finally found the lives that they always wanted to lead. One day while out shopping, the couple run into Gordo, a high school acquaintance of Simon. Gordo awkwardly invites himself over for dinner and then slowly forces his way into the couple’s lives. The premise is simple enough, but it’s the twists and turns that follow that make this movie a one-of-a-kind viewing experience. The mystery that unfolds is shocking and engaging, yes, but it’s the connections that these alarming events have to commonplace occurrences in our society that causes the story to hit home and make the viewer think.

More so than any other entry on this watchlist, The Gift has many elements in common with horror movies. At times the film even attempts to scare its audience, using routine horror movie setups. The difference lies in the way the movie builds tension and moves the plot. The purpose of The Gift is not to crescendo to an eye-covering, popcorn-tossing conclusion. It instead challenges the viewer to accept reveal(s) that might hit close to home (pun intended), and in some ways, that’s scarier than any demon or monster. It should also be noted that this isn’t a white-knuckle, wall-to-wall tension thriller. This slow burn doesn’t try the patience of its audience, but forgoes cheap thrills to create situations and atmosphere that feel all too real. Just as is the case with many real-life presents, enjoy the 2-sided coin that is The Gift.

The Gift is streaming now on Netflix.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe and/or keep up with each daily entry on this watchlist, running from now through Halloween day!

Scaredy Kino: a Halloween Watchlist for the Horror Movie Objector- Part 2

Entry 2: Over the Garden Wall (2014)

Ominous fables of dark, stormy nights and monstrous encounters affect us most viscerally when we’re children. Over the Garden Wall not only reminds us of the fear we felt at those spooky childhood fairy tales, but it also pokes fun at them in a refreshingly clever way.

Over the Garden Wall finds paranoid and practical Wirt and his happy-go-lucky younger brother Greg lost in an enchanted forest, looking for their way home. The series uses this simple setup to great effect, taking fairy tale conventions such as scared children, terrifying monsters, and nefarious adults, and turns them on their heads, causing us all to have a good laugh at the expense of something that is typically nightmar-ish. Although it is primarily a comedy, the narrative takes dark turns that lead to a spooky overarching plot, keeping the audience guessing as to whether the creepy imagery is something to be feared or laughed at.

I love to turn on a good comedy any time of year, and Over the Garden Wall is definitely that, but the show’s homage to the ghoulish cartoon style of the 1930s and 40s (think Cuphead, Pinocchio, Felix the Cat, etc.) transport the viewer to the world of Halloweens gone by. This spooky season is also prime time for a mystery, and though most episodes of the series are serialized, we slowly discover a through line that ties each “chapter” into one satisfying story. Through the tale’s twists and turns, its great characters consistently shine through, with the young, overconfident Greg sure to be a crowd favorite. Perhaps best of all, the short series is comprised of just 10 episodes, each no more than 12 minutes long, making for a very doable 2-hour binge. So grab a comfy blanket, fire up the tv, and get ready to laugh, jump out of your skin, and then laugh some more.

Over the Garden Wall is streaming now on Hulu.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe and/or keep up with each daily entry on this watchlist, running from now through Halloween day!

Scaredy Kino: a Halloween Watchlist for the Horror Movie Objector- Part 1

Whether you squirm at the thought of a scary movie, are sick of the clichés of the horror genre, or are simply looking for something to watch that’ll put you in the Halloween spirit, you’ve come to the right place! Each day from now through Halloween, I’ll post about a movie or TV show that is emblematic of the season, free of slashing, spurting, or exorcising. The only requirements are thus: it must be available on a major streaming service (Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, or Disney Plus), and it mustn’t be a well-known blockbuster. Sorry, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. With that out of the way, let’s jump into the list!

Entry 1: Nightcrawler (2014)

Truth can be stranger, and at times, scarier, than fiction, and although Nightcrawler was born from the minds of screenwriters, its unsettlingly plausible plot leaves the audience pondering the line between what they see on the screen and the what waits for them outside their door.

Nightcrawler delves into the mind of Lou Bloom, an unemployed yet ambitious 30-something who makes a modest living as a petty thief in Los Angeles. One night Lou comes across a car wreck on the side of the road, and he meets an ambulance-chasing video production company who sells their footage to local news stations. This encounter inspires Lou to start his own crime journalism production company, and as he gains greater knowledge and experience within the industry, he pushes moral boundaries to a point of shocking reprehensibility that will send chills up your spine.

Many films follow mentally unstable men who are either pushed to the brink by abuse or finally lash out after a long period of neglect. Last year’s billion-dollar grosser Joker falls firmly into this category. Nightcrawler, however, is not a story of oppression. It instead focuses on how a corrupt system glorifies a man who is morally bankrupt, dangerously manipulative, and mentally unwell. It shines a light on our greed-driven society and gives us an extreme yet entirely believable example of how a “results at all costs” attitude towards business can destroy even the most basic level of morality. Our antihero Lou shatters the fragile foundation of decency and becomes nothing less than a terrifying agent of chaos. Nightcrawler doesn’t have jump scares, ghoulish fiends, or shrill musical cues, but its premise and main character comprise a perfect creepy combo for horror lovers and haters alike.

Nightcrawler is streaming now on Netflix.

If you liked this post, be sure to subscribe and/or keep up with each daily entry on this watchlist, running from now through Halloween day!

100(ish) Movies That Everyone Should See: The Complete List

Here’s the entire list of recommendations, sans my ramblings. If you want to check out my review for a given movie, simply click the “read more” link.

1. 12 Angry Men (1957)

2. Aladdin (1992)

3. Arrival (2016)

4. Avatar (2009)

5. Back to the Future (1985)

6. Batman Begins (2005)

7. The Birds (1963)

8. Brigsby Bear (2017)

9. Casablanca (1942)

10. Franchise Spotlight: The Marvel Cinematic Universe- Phase 1

Watch Order: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, and The Avengers

11. Cast Away (2000)

12. Citizen Kane (1941)

13. The Dark Knight (2008)

PC: community.cbr.com; poster Baggie_Saiyan

14. Dunkirk (2017)

15. Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

PC: Warner Bros. Pictures [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

16. Elf (2003)

17. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

18. The Farewell (2019)

19. Finding Nemo (2003)

20. Franchise Spotlight: The Star Wars Original Trilogy

Watch Order: Star Wars: A New Hope, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

21. Finding Neverland (2004)

22. First Man (2018)

23. Forrest Gump (1994)

24. Galaxy Quest (1999)

25. Gone with the Wind (1939)

26. Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

27. Groundhog Day (1993)

28. Holes (2003)

29. The Hunt for Red October (1990)

30. Franchise Spotlight: The Marvel Cinematic Universe- Phase 2

Watch Order: Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Ant-Man

31. Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

32. Inception (2010)

33. Interstellar (2014)

34. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

35. Jaws (1975)

36. Jurassic Park (1993)

37. Knives Out (2019)

38. Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

39. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

40. Franchise Spotlight: Harry Potter

Watch Order: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

41. Leave No Trace (2018)

42. The Lego Movie (2014)

43. Les Miserables (2012)

44. The Little Mermaid (1989)

45. The Lion King (1994)

46. M (1931)

47. Mary Poppins (1964)

48. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)

49. Millennium Actress (2001)

50. Franchise Spotlight: The Marvel Cinematic Universe- Phase 3

Watch Order: Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man & The Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and Spider-Man: Far From Home

51. Minority Report (2002)

52. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

53. Mulan (1998)

54. The Muppets (2011)

55. National Treasure (2004)

56. North by Northwest (1959)

57. On the Waterfront (1954)

58. Paddington (2014)

59. Pinocchio (1940)

60. Franchise Spotlight: Planet of the Apes Prequel Trilogy

Watch Order: Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War for the Planet of the Apes

61. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

62. Pitch Perfect (2012)

63. The Prestige (2006)

64. The Princess Bride (1987)

65. A Quiet Place (2018)

66. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

67. Remember the Titans (2000)

68. Rocky (1976)

69. The Sandlot (1993)

70. Franchise Spotlight: How to Train Your Dragon

Watch Order: How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and How to Train Your Dragon 3: The Hidden World

71. Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

72. Searching (2018)

73. Shrek (2001)

74. A Silent Voice (2016)

75. Sing Street (2016)

76. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

77. The Sixth Sense (1999)

78. Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs (1937)

79. Some Like It Hot (1959)

80. Franchise Spotlight: Mission: Impossible

Watch Order: Mission: Impossible, Mission: Impossible 3, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation, and Mission: Impossible Fallout

81. The Sound of Music (1965)

82. Spider-Man (2002)

83. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

84. Spirited Away (2001)

85. The Sting (1973)

86. Sunset Boulevard (1950)

87. Taken (2008)

88. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

89. Toy Story (1995)

90. Franchise Spotlight: The Hunger Games

Watch Order: The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

91. Toy Story 2 (1999)

92. True Grit (1969)

93. The Truman Show (1998)

94. Unbreakable (2000)

95. Vertigo (1958)

96. Wait Until Dark (1967)

97. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

98. The Wizard of Oz (1939)

99. Wonder Woman (2017)

100. Franchise Spotlight: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Watch Order: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

That’s the list! Did I leave off any of your favorites? Let me know in the comments below!