Creepshow

So Creepshow is a mixed bag. I love the Romero original and the sequel is underrated, hell the third is even worth a watch. While not every show deserves TV treatment, anthology shows lend themselves to TV, and Shudder is a perfect station for it

Countdown

Countdown seems like a film that would be straight to video but some how lucked out at got a theatrical run. In reality though this is a dumb flick, a dumb flick yet a fun flick. I know plenty of horror snobs that will write this off, but c'mon alot of the films we're fond of are films many wouldn't be now a days. Had this film come out in the 80s or 90s folks would love it but alas it is a topical film and one that is definitely of today. Strip it of an app and add in a VHS tape....there you go! Underneath the dumb ideas is actually a film that does have something to say, and i'm glad a horror film has a message about our current climate. I'd gladly watch this again, cause when i say i don't mean bad, i just mean it is a dumb & fun horror film, exactly what i wanted.

The Lighthouse

Robert Eggers' follow up to The Witch. The Lighthouse, is a step up from his previous film. Both got jizzed over but the Witch i was so underwhelmed by. The Lighthouse on the other hand....well it is self polarizing. It is beautiful to look at, gorgeous black & white, stunning shots, a masterclass in cinematography. It also has two great performances by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe that carry us through this slow burn, but a surreal slow burn. You keep waiting for shit to happen and it never does, but it is okay cause it adds to the story of isolation and losing grip with reality. This probably has the most jack off scenes this year and easily the most about jacking it to mermaids. Eggers is obviously inspired by David Lynch, Ingmar Bergman, & Stanley Kubrick and it truly shows here. Beware, this film can be a bit long in tooth with its runtime and is a bit pretentious but it is atmospheric as fuck and feels like the purest form of cinema.

Zombieland Double Tap

Zombieland Double Tap arrives atleast 4 years too late, but unlike Sin City this one is a welcome entree. I expected to hate this flick but all the humor, gore, heart, cameos, and Metallica from the first is back in this chapter. Scientifically there are lot of flaws with how shit would age or work but fuck it. Some shit looks a little too clean, but that is nit picking. The entire cast is having a blast and all the character dynamics truly make this film, and the new additions are totally welcome . The gore & humor are secondary to the characters growth & separation. I'm all for a third film, i just don't want to wait 10 more years.

Jay & Silent Bob Reboot

When i was a kid i'd see pics on Jay & Silent Bob action figures in Toy Fare and Wizard and was curious as to who they were, when Dogma came out I finally saw Clerks. Clerks is my favorite film of all time, in fact all the Askewniverse films are on my top 50. So how does Jay & Silent Bob Reboot hold up? I was hesitant going in, after Clerks 2 his films began to lose their touch, still enjoyable but not on the Askew level, hell some weren't even good, one was down right awful(Cop Out). Regardless i was excited, their was an electricity in the air, this felt like an event, and for me this was a bigger cinematic event than Endgame, this was like Star Wars. The crowd was buzzing, strangers formed conversations about how we discovered Smith, then the film began. Fuck yes! This was hilarious, great sight gags, crude humor, some witty banter, and a recycled storyline that almost become bullet proof with some meta moments. Is it a perfect film? Fuck no, no Smith film is. It did however exceed my expectations and it was a Askewniverse marks fan service dream with various call backs to the previous six films, this was a film that had the audience celebrating while watching. Bring on Clerks 3!

Uncanny Annie

I have never watched Into the Dark, but upon watching Littler Monsters i saw a clip for Uncanny Annie, the 2019 Halloween Hulu/Blumhouse production for their anthology film series. It starts off pretty good but it lost me half way. I wish it had done more with the Halloween setting and i wish for a Horror Jumanji that it embraced it a bit more. It is a great concept but mediocre execution. Not sure if i'll watch any others besides ones directed by film makers i'm a fan of.

Little Monsters

If you're looking for a film to stream since that is what all the cool kids do these days and your subscription of choice is Hulu then look no further than Little Monsters. This is a hilarious and bloody zombie film featuring fun performances from Lupita Nyong'o, Josh Gad, and Alexander England plus children you actually don't want to strangle(becoming a bit more common in cinema).This is the best zombie comedy of the year. At times i was reminded of Shaun of the Dead(only missing that Edgar Wright touch).

The Addams Family

Growing up i loved the Addams Family, them along with the Munsters were favorites of mine. I loved the movies too, then when a stop motion animated film from Tim Burton was announced it was a match made in heaven, or hell rather.....but alas we didn't get that film, we got this. The animation isn't bad, the voice acting isn't bad but the plot is by the numbers CGI animated fare, and the jokes fall flat I'll admit i chuckled here & there, especially Thing's online activity. It is worth checking out but it could have been something more.  It is basic cinema masquerading as a celebration of weirdness.

Villains

From the opening scene, Villains grabbed me. This is an insanely entertaining film, it has wit, dark humor, blood and a fantastic cast. Bill Skarsgard is terrific as is Maika Monroe, their chemistry is amazing and you legit feel this outlaw couple is indeed in love. Jeffery Donovan is menacing but the real mvp might be Kyra Sedgwick, she is creepy as fuck and disturbing at times. The film has a super fast pace and even with the various attempts to escape the film doesn't feel contrived. Imagine some Cohen Brothers characters in a Ti West film by way of Gregg Araki.

El Camino

So El Camino had me stoked from the announcement but i thought to myself, "will this just be a case of fan service?". Well yes & no. While watching it you feel as if it is a missing episode of Breaking Bad, we get flashbacks to Jesse's time in captivity mixed in with what he did right after the finale. While all of that is great it didn't really feel epic, it didn't feel needed, it just felt like well crafted fan service. By no means is this a negative review, it just shows the brilliance that Breaking Bad had, which was the slow burn. Cause this is a slow burn, there is tension but not the anxiety filled tension we had on the series that is until the Wild West scene, while watching that you begin to appreciate the first 90 minutes a hell of a lot more because this is fucking Breaking Bad! Then what do we get after that? The diner scene! It all comes flooding back like a clown in Derry as to why this is the best show on television. We follow Jesse on his path to peace & redemption and we see the trials & tribulations he endured, part character study part anti revenge film this is Vince Gilligan not making a cash in, but him giving us dessert. This is the film/show that i wanted Better Call Saul to be. Also rest in pace Robert Forster, such a timely death but what a film to go out on. If you were just a person that watched Breaking Bad to see what the fuss was about then you might not dig it, but if you loved the series then be the one that knocks and enjoy it. Yeah, bitch!

Gemini Man

I don't want to say Gemini Man is Ang Lee's worst picture,  I don't to say it is Will Smith's worst movie,  and I don't want to say it is the worst film of the year but.... It isn't the worst film of the year... Will Smith's worst? Up for debate. As for Ang Lee, well it is probably his worst.  I'm not a huge fan of his but makes alot of great films. This is not one of them. Choppy fights,  contrived plot and some terrible acting.  The premise is great,  but Ang should stay away from genre film. 

In the Tall Grass

Stephen King adaptations are a mixed bag, some are great some are awful, then there is that fine line of just okay films. In The Tall Grass has a great concept and it starts off in an interesting way, the middle act though boggs it down. To me this either would have worked better being either 30 minutes longer, or being 30 minutes shorter.

Joker

So as many of you know, Joker is my favorite villain. The amount of Joker merchandise i own is almost like a shrine. In 2008 i dressed up as Heath Ledger's Joker quite a few times. His various origins in the comics and story arcs are a main part of my comic book/trade paper back library. I love the Caesar Romero overly hysterical portrayal, i love the Jack Nicholson mobster version,  Heath Ledger's is just the best thing ever, and now we have Joaquin Phoenix. Maybe only topped by Brad Pitt's Cliff Booth this is possibly the best performance of the year. When this was announced i was not too pumped, i mean we just had Jared Letto, why do another? But Phoenix helped sell me, and i loved the choice of Too Phillips being the director, his last film War Dogs is underrated as fuck and felt very Martin Scorsese esque, which fit in perfectly with this King Of Comedy/Taxi Driver inspired Joker. As an origin story it is great, the slope and downward spiral of his sanity is perfect. The plot itself tackles many issues, mental health,and the 1% being the major focal points, and the commentary on said issues is timely and well executed. The acting.....yowie wowie, Phoenix as i said is excellent, he steals the show, but everyone is in top form too. It is a great film, i loved the film, but it is not a fun film, there are some tough scenes to watch. This is not overly graphic or fucked up, i mean it is but there are far worst depictions out, but as far as a comic book film, it truly is. The disturbing parts are more in the mental capacities and his relationships, it is scary at times, not in a jump scare sense but in a real world uncomfortable way. You watch him become the Joker and you see his mind unravel, or do we? That is the one of the brilliant aspects in the film, delusion. This along with IT Chapter 2 makes for a great 28 days of clowns.

Match of September

1. Roderick Strong vs Velveteen Dream: North American Title: NXT TV

2. Matt Riddle vs Killian Dain: Number one contenders street fight: NXT TV

3. Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan vs Drew Gulak & Tony Nese: 205 Live

4. Humberto Carillo vs Angel Garza: 205 Live

5. Baron Corbin vs Chad Gable: KOTR Finals: Raw

6. The Dynasty vs the Hart Foundation: Tag Titles: 2 out of 3 falla: Fusion

7. Mance Warner vs Jimmy Havoc: Bunkhouse Brawl: Fusion

8. Candace Lerae vs Io Shirai vs Bianca BelAir vs Mia Yim: NXT TV

9. Kushida & Breezango vs Imperium: NXT TV

10.Lio Rush vs Oney Lorcan: NXT TV