Mix Tape!

Adding to our trend of monsters from space, here is a "mix tape" I made featuring songs from soundtracks of space alien movies. Enjoy!
-Tim

Critters

We're so excited for the Theaters of MOA's screening of Critters 2, we had to re-watch the original! This movie is good fun from start to finish and it contains one of our all-time-favorite insult slinging dads. Seriously, his casual threat to his kid has inspired us to hurl some impressive insults around our circle of friends.

The plot unfolds something like this: One eventing the Brown family notices a strange light in the sky fall into their back yard. Unfortunately for them, it's Krites, a pack of furry aliens hell bent on eating everything in their path. Luckily, shapeshifting intergalactic bounty hunters are on the case, though they seem to be better at smashing up the town than actually hunting Krites. No matter, with the Browns taking out more Krites than our bounty hunters can shake a stick at, someone is likely to save the day!

Things to watch for: The biggest overreaction to the possibility of missing a bus ever uttered by a father to his son. Special effects by the Chiodo Brothers. The same house and yard used in Invaders From Mars. Zoolander's good friend Billy Zane! The flimsiest excuse to have a song written for, and several times preformed in, a movie.

What we learned: When in doubt, throw modified firecrackers at it.

What the filmmakers might have been thinking: I've never seen a horror movie where the heroes swoop in and destroy as much as the bad guys...

“Hey that's” moments with: Dee Wallace (The Howling, ET), Scott Grimes (ER, Party of Five) and M. Emmet Walsh (Blade Runner, Fletch, The Jerk and 206 other things).

Yep, that's: Billy Zane.

Specs (our copy):

Format: VHS

Previews: none

Tag line: none

Choice line from the synopsis: “It's an alien adventure, full of action and just crawling with CRITTERS!”

VHS release company: RCA

Running time: 86min

VHS release: 1986

Original release: 1986

Our rating: Better with a group.

Power of the Night

     

There was a trend in 80s horror movies thats origin sort of eludes us; producers commissioning uncomfortably specific pop songs written with the intention of being preformed in the film they're too specific about. Reasons this might have been a trend could involve the birth and raging success of MTV around the same time. It could also have to do with deals between movie and record execs. But whatever the reasons, big name producers jumped all over the idea like a dogs over scraps of meat. 

What we do know is that trend left us with some AMAZING 80's music gems, including Power of the Night featured in Critters.

Written and preformed by Terrence Mann (though he isn't credited on the original soundtrack) the song was entirely removed from later reissues (possibly because they weren't crediting the right musician). Lucky for us, we live in the age of the internet, where you couldn't obliterate anything this amazing if you tried! Please enjoy (as we have been all week) Power of the Night: 

Three Brothers from the Bronx.

Some practical effects fans know the Chiodo Bros. by name, but even if you don't know who they are, you've likely seen their work. From Sabrina the Teenage Witch to Team America World Police they have been using their unique collection of talents to create cult icons. Some of my favorite monsters from the 80s were created by these guys [LIST MONSTERS], but my personal favorites would have to be Critters and Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Critters was their first feature film gig, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space is their only directorial venture. Both Critters and Killer Klowns stand out in an era that was saturated with monsters, creatures, and aliens, their work is colorful, whimsical, and fun while still remaining menacing. There's a cartoon aesthetic to their designs (something that likely comes from their animation background) that makes their creatures jump off the screen.

Where Critters keeps the over all tone on the menacing side, Killer Klowns from Outer Space gives you the creeps while letting you laugh about it. They took an over-the-top premise of killer clowns and added the amazing element of making them also be space aliens who just happen to look like clowns. It's the perfect balance of wild premise, stellar effects, and good production: if you've not seen it, you're missing out on an unparallelled comedy horror movie. 

The brothers have continued working on other people's film projects and although their contributions to things like Elf and Pee Wee's Big Adventure are fantastic, I would love to see them work on something they have more control again! We also hope their contributions to the movie and television world continue well into the future, because if there's one thing we love, it's practical effects and puppetry!

Carrie, and Hellraiser in Space

There are some fun things at Trylon Microcinema this week. I enjoy their divergences from serious cinematic programing, not because serious cinema isn't completely wonderful, but Trylon offers the underexposed cream of every genre; even horror. Trylon screenings also fill with people who genuinely love film, so don't miss a chance to watch these classics on the big screen surrounded by people who share your love for under-appreciated flicks!

Carrie ends a fantastic Sissy Spacek retrospective. Carrie is one of my all time favorite horror movies with great subject matter, great performances, cinematography saturated in glorious color, and loads of gratifying kills.

HellraiserIV: Bloodline closes Trash Film Debauchery's run of “in space” movies. As well as taking place in space, Hellraiser IV features Adam Scott as the toymaker! (Always take the opportunity to catch a TFD show, Theresa's bad movie taste is impeccable!)

Carrie @ Trylon Microcinema, February 25th/7 & 9pm/$8

Hellraiser IV: Bloodline @ Trylon Microcinema, February 26th/7pm/$5

My Bloody Valentine 3D and Colette's Super Secret B-day Movie!

Horror for the Holidays' Valentine's Day offering is going to be epic. Not only is it V-Day, it's also my B-Day! Don't miss the Super Secret movie I have picked to follow My Bloody Valentine 3D.

The 1980s My Bloody Valentine didn't launch anyone's careers or break new ground in the horror genre; it's just a solid, campy, enjoyable horror movie that also happens to be pretty dated. But this is where the best remakes come from! My Bloody Valentine 3D is enjoyably campy, updated, and fun. Jenson Ackels and Jamie King give genuine performances through pretty painful dialogue while surrounded by some pretty terrific play-to-the-3D kill scenes.

The Super Secret B-day Movie will assuredly melt your mind. We'd never seen a movie quite like this one, and we see many strange things... but, if you're kicking yourself for missing the last Super Secret Movie, be sure to catch this one!

MyBloody Valentine 3D, MOA Theaters @ 7pm, February 13^th, $5

(Super Secret B-day Movie immediately follows FREE to My Bloody Valentine 3D ticket holders!)

Trailer Trash 3, People 0

If you haven’t seen a Trailer Trash showing yet, you have another opportunity! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, allow me to gush. Trailer Trash is a 35mm labor of mutual love between Chris Grap and Tim Holly. That is to say they mutually love film… And they love films of all caliber: good, bad, under appreciated, or the straight unbearable! They also love to amass collections of “dead” but tactile technologies (see also records and VHS). But you know what they mutually love most? Sharing painfully bad films with friends. 

Trailer Trash is particularly special this time ‘round; everyone who buys a ticket is welcome to stay and watch a super secret movie after the main event! I can tell you almost nothing of what the flick will be, but I can say: you have not seen a movie the likes of this on a big screen anywhere else in town. Or possibly the country… Maybe the planet…

Come and see the best things on 35mm. Truly, it will be the greatest night ever!