5 Techno-Horror Movies

 

Ghouls and boo's are in the air and it's time to share some film's to watch for the season. In this article I'm going to focus on the underrated sub genre of horror, the techno-horror genre. Technology is embedded in our lives at this point, and it's always a little scary when a film focuses on technology going wrong in our lives. So here's 5 techno-horror films you may want to check out.

5. Ghost In The Machine 

                                         

This 1993 film is a blend of sci-fi and horror and deserves a lot more love than it get's. It didn't make a dent in theaters when it was released that year and found some success on cable TV but still not enough that it has become lost to time. The film follows a serial killer in a town called the "address book killer", who through some wild circumstances conscious is transferred into the electrical grid when he dies. He goes on a rampage continuing his killing via electronics, on the way to his primary victim Terry (Karen Allen) and her son Josh (Wil Horneff, better known as the leader of the opposing baseball team in The Sandlot). 

It has some interesting deaths in the film and should have a more popular cult status 30 plus years later. It is available on Youtube if you look hard enough. If you are able to find it and give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. 

4. Brainscan

This 1994 film starring Edward Furlong, still pretty popular from his role as John Connor in Terminator 2. As an isolated socially akward teenager who plays a video game, that turns his life upside down. The video game becomes reality and reality becomes video games. As actions in the game suddenly occur in real life.

Soon Furlong's character Michael is greeted by a character in the game The Trickster. Playing mind games, he encourages Michael to harm those around him. Sending him into a deep spiral as he tries to loosen the grip the game has on him.

BrainScan is available on Tubi.

3. Pulse

This 2006 film starring Kristen Bell and is an adaptation of a Japanese film released in 2001. It follow's Bell as a young college student who is investigating the suicide of her boyfriend. What soon follows is a strange web of the internet no one could foresee. A computer virus that connects the living world to a realm of the undead. And they are coming for the living through the internet.

Pulse is currently available on tubi and plutotv.

2. Feardotcom

                                                          

Another new millennium film highlighting the danger's of the world wide web. 2002's Feardotcom follows a New York City detective investigating a string of gruesome murders, which all appear to NOT involve foul play. Through some detective work, the culprit turns out to be a website featuring torture murders. When visitors to the site see the content, it actually drives them insane. The detectives have to race to find out who is behind this website.

This cult classic is available on tubi and Pluto.

1. Lawnmower Man

This 1992 film based on a Stephan King short story, follows a mentally disabled man who becomes the test subject for a new product through the use of virtual reality and medication. The product grants him enhanced intellect and eventually newfound powers including telepathy and telekinesis. Soon the subject begins to use his newfound powers to enact revenge on those that have wronged him. And drunk with power plans to merge with a mainframe system and "infect" systems around the world.

The film spawned a sequel which went deeper in the virtual reality aspect, and is considered a cult classic. It's also available on Tubi.

Read More

7 Best Halloween Movies Where Kids Saved The Day

 

An overlook film genre for spooky season are the family friendly movies, you know the one's when kid's save Halloween. During my routine Halloween movie viewings, I was watching Monster House and thought about other movies where kid's were the main protagonist who made Halloween safer for everyone else. With that, here are 6 of the best Halloween movies where kids saved the day.

7. Ernest Scared Stupid

Jim Varney's famous character Ernest P. Worrell was featured in television special and nine films, they barely had any plot and mainly used to highlight slapstick humor. My favorite Ernest movie is 1991's Ernest Scared Stupid, the film features a town overran by trolls released from a curse due to Ernest's negligence. When Ernest can't take on the trolls himself, he enlists the aid of neighborhood kids to help him in the battle.

6. Spirit Halloween

2022's Spirit Halloween: The Movie is an unfortunate victim of poor promotion by it's distributor. I remember hearing about the film, but absolutely do not remember one single commercial promoting the film. I also think audience members hearing the title weren't sure how to receive the film, but it is a underrated gem. It follows a group of friends who decide to intentionally get locked in a Spirit Halloween store overnight, and must battle haunted animatronics and merchandise in the store. Led by a corrupt real estate developer (Christopher Lloyd) who has been trapped in a curse for decades. 

5. The Curse Of Bridge Hollow

Another 2022 film, this time courtesy of Netflix The Curse Of Bridge Hollow starred Priah Ferguson of Stranger Things fame. Alongside Marlon Wayans and Kelly Rowland, with Rob Riggle , Nia Vardalos and other character actors rounding out the cast. The film follows Priah's character Sydney and her parents moving to the small town of Bridge Hollow which has an obsession with Halloween. Sydney basks in it, while her father Howard (Marlon Wayans) who is a scientist detests it. They soon must team up as a family to save the town when a old curse from Stingy Jack brings all the decorations to life.

4. Spaced Invaders

This 1990 film follows a quintet of Martians receiving a signal from a Halloween broadcast of War Of Worlds and mistake it for a real occurrence. They head to Earth to join in the "fun" but finding no invasion, try to find out what is going on. They are confused for kid's dressed in Halloween costumes and befriend a young girl named Kathy (Ariana Richards, Jurassic Park fame) and Brian. Soon they realize Earth is truly under distress by another alien race the Martians have been in battle with, the Emperor Drones from Arcturans. It's campy, it's 90's, and it's a fun ride. 

3. The Monster Squad

                                   

Clearly inspired by other 80's film's like The Goonies, Gremlins, and E.T.. This 1987 cult classic opened the door for later films where kid's save the day. It follow's a group of horror film loving kid's dubbed The Monster Squad, who must battle Universal Classic Monsters when Dracula awakes and set's out to take over the world (classic trope). The kid's must not let that happen before midnight when Dracula will pretty much be invincible. 

2. Goosebumps

2015's Goosebumps was based on the R.L. Stine children's books of the 90's. Character's from various Goosebumps books led by Slappy the dummy come to life and take over a small town with no intent of ever returning to the world their books. Jack Black stars as a fictional version of R.L. Stine who must work with his daughter and some neighborhood kid's to save the day. 

1. Halloweentown

This 1998 Disney Channel Original Movie is a childhood classic. It follows a group of siblings who learn their come from a lineage of witches and warlocks, and travel to a place where Halloween exists year round. And it's inhabitants are all variations of creatures associated with spooky season, skeletons, ghosts, trolls etc. They must save the town from a mysterious demon who is intent on destroying it and the other side, the "mortal" world. 

Read More

Ten Random Funny Halloween episodes

 Just like spooky season brings great films, it also brings forth some great episodes of sitcoms. So I spent some time digging through various crates and crafted a list of ten funny Halloween episodes. Let's begin!

Everybody Hates Chris-Everybody Hates Halloween

This season 1 episode has all the hallmarks of a classic Halloween sitcom you can relate to. Rochelle ever the overprotective exaggeration mother lets the kids know they can't eat the candy without her inspecting it. Julius needs to make the candy stretch, and Chris feels he is too old for Halloween. That is until he get's invited to a party, and askes Rochelle to make him a costume. In this episode all the characters are true themselves through the spirit of Halloween.

Everybody Hates Chris is available on Peacock, Paramount +, Disney + and Hulu, and Tubi.

Modern Family-Halloween

This season 2 episode of Modern Family, is a delightful episode. It shows how OCD Claire is about Halloween. Her house is top notch decorated for Halloween and she has the entire family involved in her holiday shenanigans. All she wants is a perfect Halloween and to scare trick or treaters while her family deals with work issues, and in the case of Gloria accent issues. 

Modern Family is available on Peacock and Hulu. TBS and USA wear reruns out of this show.

Bernie Mac Show-Night Of Terror

This season 5 episode goes by two titles Night Of Terror and 13 going on 9. It's not a  Halloween themed episode per say, but fits into spooky season. The episode involves Jordan just turning 13 wanting to stay up late and watch a Horror movie. When he goes against the grain and does, his nerves get the best of him and he must become a "man" as the forces are coming to get him. Meanwhile Wanda has her own bad luck at a church auction when she has a wardrobe malfunction.

Bernie Mac Show is available on Hulu and Disney + and Tubi.

Freaks And Geeks-Tricks And Treats

The third episode of the cult classic Freaks And Geeks is funny and has a lot of messages about growing up and life. This was the episode that drew me into the show and I backtracked and followed it from there until it's cancellation. Anyway it's Halloween night, and the freaks in the story decide they are gonna to cause mischief and chaos smashing pumpkins and mailboxes. Meanwhile the Geeks all deal with some kind of insecurities and uneasiness about growing up, as they have different opinions on costumes, Halloween, and is it "cool" to trick or treat anymore.

Freaks and Geeks is available on Hulu and Disney +, and Paramount +.

Black-ish-The Purge

This season 3 episode brilliantly spoofs Halloween and the film franchise The Purge, and all the wackiness that comes with spooky season. The neighborhood decides to have mischief night on Halloween. Ruby's all in while Rainbow is not. Diane and Jack decide to venture out and Rainbow has to save the night.

Meanwhile Dre and Charlie decide to play a Halloween appropriate prank on Jr. After Jr. Embarrasses Dre on the court and it goes viral.

Black-ish is available on Hulu and Disney +.

Malcolm In The Middle-Halloween

This season 7 episode of Malcolm In The Middle has the family on edge. During a guided death tour around town, Malcolm, Reese, and Dewey get startled when their house is one of the tour stops. With the story being a grisly murder occurred there years ago. When they share the news with Hal, he can't handle it and borderline has a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile Lois has a day with a shoplifter at work and her coworkers could care less. While Dewey and Reese have a run-in with a elderly neighbor. 

Malcolm In The Middle is available on Hulu and Disney +.

Boy Meets World-Then There Was Shawn

While this episode technically did not air during spooky season, it 100 % is a Halloween episode. Inspired by the slasher genre that gained popularity in the late 90's, this season 5 episode is one of the sitcoms best.

After the group is stuck in detention and Mr. Feeney leaves the room, things start going awry. One by one folks are picked up and nothings adding up. It's a really fun and entertaining episode.

Boy Meets World is available on Disney +.

Abbott Elementary-Candy Zombies

This season 2 episode of Abbott is kind of like a caper crime episode. A bag of candy is stolen by a student at Abbott and dispersed to other students (even babies). Soon all the kids are on a sugar high, and the staff must stop them from overrunning the school like zombies, find the culprit and a loose baby. Meanwhile Janine starts rethinking her personal life and work/life balances after being invited to a Halloween party by a old friend. 

Abbot Elementary is available on Hulu, Disney +, and Max.

Family Matters-Stevil

At this point in Season 8 of Family Matters, the show had reached jump the shark levels. Regardless of how iffy that season was, this episode is a bonafide Halloween classic. Stevil was a ventriloquist doll Steve Urkel acquired, one night as Steve fell asleep and left the bedroom window open. A lightening bolt struck the doll and bought him to life. Stevil wastes no time making Urkel think he is crazy and terrorizing the rest of the Winslow family. 

Family Matters is available on Max, Disney + and Hulu.

Martin-The Night He Came Home

One of the funniest Halloween episodes ever, now I'm a bit bias because of how much I love the sitcom Martin but it is top tier. This season 1 episode features the gang congregating on Halloween night to enjoy the night. They decide to perform a seance to call on Old Man Ackerman, Martin ever the cynic doesn't believe in it. He's in a rough Halloween night.  

Martin is available on BET +, Netflix, and Peacock.

Read More

Remake Theater: My Boyfriends Back

 Earlier this year Lisa Frakenstein debuted in theaters. I enjoyed the movie and its campy 80s quirks,  although it did not do well during it's release,  moviegoers who saw it during that time enjoyed it, now that it has been streaming for a few months. More people have learned what a gem it is, I truly believe it is on the path to becoming a cult classic. Watching it reminded of a quirky comedy from the 90's My Boyfriends Back. If you've read previous blogs of mine, you're aware I am a advocate of Hollywood remaking films that had potential but just weren't successful for whatever reason, and starting over. My Boyfriends Back fit's perfectly into that category.

My Boyfriends Back is a 1993 film starring Andrew Lowrey (Andy the goofy friend of Buffy's boyfriend in Buffy The Vampire Slayer film) and Traci Lind. Then unknown actors Matthew Mcconaughey (almost unrecognizable), Matthew Fox, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman appear in the film as well. Lowrey's character Johnny has a crush on Lind's character Missy, the prettiest girl in the school. He concocts a plan to save Missy from a fake robbery win her heart and her hand as her prom date, but what a ill-conceived plan that is. Andrew dies, but returns from the grave to win her heart. Causing mass hysteria in their small town, and learn what young love is all about.

The film is a horror comedy covering a young zombie. There's no real gore in the film and most of the film is played for laughs. I mean at it's core it is a film about teenage love so that is understandable. It also plays into the lore of zombies, which has gained a huge interest from the pop culture world after the success of The Walking Dead series. A remake would not survive in today's theater landscape, but it is a prime streaming candidate.

Light-hearted fare, young teenage love, a guy doing crazy things to win his crushes affection, zombies. It has all the making's to be entertaining material for a new generation with some slight updates to fit the 21st century. The original was distributed by Touchstone Pictures, which is a Disney subsidiary, so Disney could make it a Hulu original film or sell the rights for a remake. Peacock could use material like this for original content. 

It's been 31 years since the original debuted and it had a lot more potential than it was given credit for. Time for someone to sort through the crates, find this hidden gem and start crafting a remake.

Read More

10 Of My Must Watch Spooky Season Movies

 

It's spooky season! Besides the decorations, carved pumpkins, and lot's and lot's of candy. Spooky season always brings us to catching up on horror favorites or checking out a new horror movie. For this blog I decided to share my ten Halloween movies I must find the time to watch, every year.

10. Vampire In Brooklyn

I love a good vampire movie, and despite what critics and haters may say Vampire In Brooklyn is a very good vampire movie. Argue with your mother if you feel otherwise, but it serves it's purpose. It may not be Eddie Murphy's best work, but it was a perfect blend of comedy and horror. The make up for Eddie's character Max was top notch, and the story touched upon and left a goldmine of an idea on the table. Black Caribbean Vampires and Max trying to preserve his race, perfect fodder for a legacy sequel. 

9. Beetlejuice

Not sure if it's Michael Keaton's performance, or the rendition of Harry Belafonte's Jump In The Line, Shake Senora that make the movie infectious. Either way it just is, it has comedy, world building with how the undead operate and is surprisingly timeless. The film has spawned a cartoon, broadway musical, and just released last month a sequel. Which highlights the movie is a classic and must be watched every year.

8. Monster House

I was twenty years old when Monster House released, I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now. I really think if I was a kid when it released, you couldn't tell me it's not the greatest movie ever. It has the tropes of the old creepy neighbor, neighborhood rumors, and that house. Oh man something is up with that house, and the legends behind it are believable. It's a great movie for kid's with just enough scares but nothing gruesome, and adult's will enjoy it too. Hench why I watch it every year.

7. Zombieland

I'll admit I've never gotten into zombies, even when The Walking Dead was probably the most popular show on earth I didn't watch it. Zombieland however is one good funny ass movie, starring Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin. The movie is part road trip, part survival movie as the quartet hit the road in hopes of reaching a city free of zombies. It's hilarious and the few action scenes don't disappoint. When it's on, I take a break from whatever I'm doing and watch it.

6. Final Destination

The original Final Destination released in 2000 was legitimately the last movie, for a good 10 plus years that had me on the edge of my seat and scared (The Conjuring released in 2013 took that spot).  The story and as a result the murders in the movie were very unique and a bit believable. The sequels are hit or miss in my opinion, but 20 plus years later I watch this every year like it's my first time seeing it.

5. Fright Night

1985's Fright Night is an unapologetic 80's movie, a true product of it's time. It's campy as well, and has some undertones that leave you not sure if the filmmakers intended to have it that way or not. Outside of that it's a damn good vampire movie, about a horror film obsessed young man who suspects things are not quite right with his new neighbor.

4. People Under The Stairs

Wes Craven's 1991 film The People Under The Stairs is his best work outside of the original Nightmare on Elm Street and hell that is debatable in my opinion. The film stars Brandon Adams as a young boy through some mishaps, finds himself trapped inside the house of some psychotic occupants. He set's out to escape and save those trapped in the house done wrong. I didn't realize until I got older the movie has a strong socio-political message about racism, the effects of certain economic policies on lower-income citizens, and gentrification among others. It's really a dope movie with a dope message. 

3. Killer Klowns From Outer Space 

Sure it's campy, the plot quite absurd and the production low budget, but damnit the film works. Alien clowns come to earth and wreck havoc on a small town. What could embrace the spooky and wildness of spooky season than that? The movie actually has some very creative death scenes due to the nature of the  villains. It's campy, it's B-movie grade, and it works. 

2. Ghostbusters I and II

This maybe considered cheating, cause it's two films but oh well. The original Ghostbusters film and it's sequel I can watch year round all the time. However during spooky season both are getting multiple views from me like I've never seen them before. Besides the films themselves, you can't miss the theme song during this time of year. It has a stranglehold on pop culture 40 years later for a reason.

1. The Lost Boys 

Let's be honest some vampire movies may have better plots or special effects, or gore. It's just one problem, none of those films are The Lost Boys. To me  The Lost Boys is the epitome of  a cool ass film, let alone a Vampire film. Keifer Sutherland as head vampire David oozes a charming but vicious demeanor. The rock and rap medley of the late 80's is in force here, and the beach front town provides a different aesthetic from other vampire movies of the time. I can quote the film like it's second nature, and the third act at the house is still one of the better horror film third acts.

Read More