Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 026: What Has Been Hiding in My Attic

Posted on May 18, 2020 by producer

Don’t whiz on the Sacred Ancestral Tree! Good advice. Anybody who has been listening to Jay of the Dead’s podcasts for awhile knows that there is often content that was recorded months (or even years!) previously before it ever sees the light of day. But that content does eventually get released!

In Episode 026 of Considering Horror Cinema, your late-night Horror host Jason Pyles (aka “Jay of the Dead”) is finally revealing the podcast recordings that have been hiding in his attic! All the reviews in this episode were recorded in 2019. This episode has the longest review ever committed to the film 976-Evil (1989), as Jay of the Dead discusses it with Greg “The Gray Man” Bensch. (It’s about an hour long.) Then Jay does a 75-minute deep-dive discussion of Midsommar (2019) with the oracle Jody Horror Guy (of the Reel Blood Podcast Network) and his unclouded intuition. Jay also gripes a little about the term “Folk Horror” and goes on a lot about the scariest disease ever, Munchausen syndrome by proxy. Jay also brings you solocast reviews of BrightBurn (2019) and The Intruder (2019) and The Perfection (2019) and Friend Request (2017) and The Hunted (2014) and Basement Jack (2009).

If you’re a huge Horror fan, you can view all of Jay’s HORROR ONLY episodes at Considering HORROR Cinema.com. Jay of the Dead also hosts a WEEKLY HORROR PODCAST with BillChete and Lady Phantom at Horror Movie Weekly.com. Thanks for listening to Considering the Cinema Podcast and Considering Horror Cinema, The Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Movie Podcasting… Don’t forget: You can email Jay at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment in the show notes for this episode. Continue reading →

The 92nd Academy Award Nominees

Posted on January 13, 2020 by producer

Early this morning the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominees for the 92nd Academy Awards. The ceremony will be broadcast on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, on ABC.

Best Picture
1917
Ford v Ferrari
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Little Women
Marriage Story
Parasite
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
The Irishman Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Movie Review: Aladdin (2019)

Posted on May 28, 2019 by producer

By Jason Pyles

Just a quick, random note about this side-by-side artwork comparison: I was going to comment on this on Twitter, but I honestly didn’t have the energy. (Besides, Adam Frazier @AdamFrazier on Twitter, ended up doing it for me.) What can be said, really? Studios continually try to ride the wave of other successful films by emulating and imitating their poster art — down to every little detail, even color scheme — trying everything they can to strike gold again. It’s really a non-story, but I must admit that I noticed it instantly when I first saw this “Aladdin” poster art.

By way of preface, my family revisited the original, animated “Aladdin” from (1992) — on VHS, no less — just two days before seeing the new live-action version. And I should also mention up front that I have been a Will Smith fan since about 1988, even before his TV show, because I bought his cassette tape of “He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper.” I’ve been supporting Will Smith (as much as possible) ever since, though “After Earth” even pushed my limits.

Having said all of the above, following in the footsteps of Robin Williams to reprise this genie role is a thankless and futile endeavor. Will Smith does a fine job as the genie, don’t get me wrong, but nobody’s going to give him much credit, regardless of how good his performance is. The world would never let anyone top Robin Williams’ genie performance, especially now that he’s gone and under such tragic circumstances. It would be like remaking “Citizen Kane.” It’s a fool’s errand. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Perfection (2019)

Posted on May 27, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

There’s a wild little Horror flick that released on Netflix on May 24, 2019. I got up early and watched it that same morning before going to work. It was getting a lot of buzz, and I agree with what everyone says: Watch it before someone spoils it for you.

Rest assured, I will not spoil “The Perfection” for you, so you can feel completely at ease to finish reading this review, spoiler-free.

“The Perfection” stars Allison Williams (the girlfriend in “Get Out”) as Charlotte, a cellist who took a several-year sabbatical away from her blossoming career, in order to help care for her terminally ill mother. As the film opens, we are at the end of her mother’s life, so Charlotte is ready to return to her elite music conservatory, where another fantastic cellist, Elizabeth (Logan Browning), has stepped into Charlotte’s shoes. At this point in the film, only a few minutes in, we can tell two things: Charlotte obviously feels despondent about the detour her life has taken, and it seems that Elizabeth has taken her rightful place and perhaps all her opportunities.

And that is absolutely all I can reveal about the plot of “The Perfection.” The reason I can’t tell you more is “The Perfection” is full of surprises, twists and turns. It is the type of film that redefines itself as it unfolds, thereby redefining our expectations and conclusions about what it is or what it will become. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: Brightburn (2019)

Posted on May 27, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

“It may sound absurd, but don’t be naive
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed, but won’t you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
And it’s not easy to be me

Up, up and away, away from me
Well, it’s all right, you can all sleep sound tonight
I’m not crazy
Or anything.”
— Superman (It’s Not Easy) by Five for Fighting

I’ve thought about it many times before. Everyone has. What would we do if Superman went on a rampage — and I don’t mean flicking peanuts at whiskey bottles? We’d all be screwed. Sure, Superman’s one weakness is Kryptonite, but who has that lying around? And even if you had some, how would you ever “use it on him”? I mean, Lex Luther is an evil super-genius, and even he’s had trouble applying the ill effects of the glowing green crystals to the Man of Steel.

“Brightburn” has a great premise for a Horror movie. And since we’re in the midst of a tidal wave of superhero movies, I suppose a movie like “Brightburn” was inevitable. In fact, the cinema has been shifting this direction for some time now with all its anti-heroes, super villains and straight-up monsters: “The Punisher,” “Hellboy,” “Watchmen,” “Deadpool,” “Split” and “Glass,” “Suicide Squad,” “Venom,” “Brightburn,” coming soon “Dark Phoenix,” and in October, “Joker.”

Now with movies like “Split,” “Venom,” “Brightburn,” and “Joker,” we have two phenomena that we really haven’t seen very much previously: An evil super villain’s stand-alone origin story, and a comfortable slide down into the darkness of the Horror genre. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Intruder (2019)

Posted on May 26, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

I know, I know. So much for principles. I caved and saw “The Intruder” (2019), that crazy Dennis Quaid film which I was publicly boycotting seeing in the theater because its marketing department carelessly revealed story beats from all three acts in the trailer. I won’t start ranting about that again, but I knew that trailer depicted the entire film in microcosm, and after seeing it, I was right. Sure enough, the trailer depicts all three acts, so there are very few surprises.

Many if not most modern-day narrative films are divided up into three acts. For “The Intruder,” the act breaks are so distinctive that the film changes genres with each act: The first act is a Drama. The second act becomes a Thriller. And the third act descends into Horror. Really, it’s a very natural progression because “Drama Is Conflict.” And if you escalate and intensify that conflict until it devolves into violence and death, then the tone changes and it becomes Horror. Therefore, my genre classification for “The Intruder” is Drama / Thriller / Horror, in descending order.

Here’s the Premise: Scott and Annie want to move out of the city and find a nice home where they can start a family. Dennis Quaid plays Charlie, a seller who just wants to make sure his beloved home is purchased by a good family. So, the couple buys Charlie’s house, but the only problem is, Charlie doesn’t seem to want to let it go. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Movie Review: Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

Posted on May 12, 2019 by producer

By Jason Pyles

I can accept that “Pokémon Detective Pikachu” was not made for me. I’m older than most Pokémon hunters or whatever you call people who do such things. Therefore, I’ll confess right up front that I know nothing about this universe.

In fact, when I first heard of this film, I was very dismissive and even annoyed. But then my buddy Ryan told me to watch the trailer because I would be surprised by how “not terrible” it looks. To my shock, he was right! And the fact that Ryan Reynolds (“Deadpool”) was voicing Pikachu was another feather in this film’s cap, so to speak.

Even so, I probably would not have seen this movie. But I’m a dad, so I took my two kids and had a great time. Sure, there’s something to be said for seeing a movie when you’re in a great mood and already having a great day after some Chinese food, Wendy’s, movie shopping, and of course, Dairy Queen.

Sometimes when I read a Roger Ebert review where he seemed grouchy and incredibly dismissive, I just assume that he saw the film when he was tired or hungry or already having a terrible day. (This might not be true at all. But because I believe this, I am very mindful and careful about allowing my mood to affect my opinion of a movie.) Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Horror Movie Review: The Head Hunter (2019)

Posted on May 9, 2019 by producer

By Jay of the Dead

I am always impressed when filmmakers return back to the basic, fundamental roots of what makes the art of motion pictures so potent. For instance, the well-meaning duo of Danish directors Lars von Trier (“Antichrist,” “The House That Jack Built”) and Thomas Vinterberg created the stringent “Dogme 95 Manifesto” in 1995.

Don’t worry. I won’t launch into a whole big thing, but for those who don’t know: In essence, Dogme 95 dictated that the cinema should be created by using the classic components of story, theme, performance, etc., while eschewing any reliance on the “vulgarity” of special effects or any other modern filmmaking technology. In short, the point was to “get back to the basics,” the bare bones heart of filmmaking, where the director remains free to be an artist without being henpecked by studio interference.

And that odd little preface brings me to a notable 2019 Horror film called “The Head Hunter,” formerly known as “The Head.” (Side note: “The Head Hunter” is an excellent title because its meanings are multi-faceted.) In fact, this film is not just notable for 2019; I would argue that it is also notable for the 2010s decade. “The Head Hunter” was released on April 5, 2019, and it just hit Redbox on May 7. Continue reading →

Considering the Cinema Movie Review: Long Shot (2019)

Posted on May 4, 2019 by producer

By Jason Pyles

All movie reviews are inevitably burdened (and occasionally blessed) with subjectivity. There is no such thing as a purely “objective” review, nor should there be.

So, I will confess up front that, while I fancy myself as a person who has a good sense of humor, I typically don’t appreciate films that are Comedies. I simply don’t find them very funny. And perhaps part of the issue is that I prefer films that are dark, violent, crime-infested and troubling.

This same weekend, “The Intruder” (2019), was released in theaters, starring Dennis Quaid, Meagan Good and Michael Ealy. That film appears to be a Horror film, or at the very least, a Thriller, but I “boycotted” supporting that film in the theater due to its egregiously, three-act-revealing trailer.

Therefore, I opted to see “Long Shot” Saturday night, a Comedy starring Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. “Long Shot” was directed by Jonathan Levin, who also directed “Snatched” (the Amy Schumer / Goldie Hawn trainwreck). As ominous as that seems, I still had hope because Jonathan Levin wrote “Warm Bodies” and “The Wackness.” But most of all, I had faith in Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen. Continue reading →

Considering Horror Cinema Ep. 005: The Monster Problem, $5 Bargain Bin Gas Station Horror Movies, and Weekend Horror VHS Rentals From the Local Video Store

Posted on April 19, 2019 by producer

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Are you a Horror fan? Me too! I used to host three different Horror movie podcasts, so I love to explore this powerful genre and its many sub-genres. Therefore, some of my Considering the Cinema episodes are going to be dedicated to focusing solely on Considering Horror Cinema! So, Episode 005 is a long-form show, and it is entirely dedicated to exploring the Horror genre. And while I am expecting Horror fans to enjoy this episode, I am also hopeful that people who are typically non-Horror fans will also give it a listen. Above all, my underlying passion is always the cinema and film criticism. If you feel the same way, I still think you’ll enjoy your time Considering Horror Cinema with me. This is a solo podcast for people who don’t typically like solocasts…

In Episode 005, your host Jason Pyles (aka Horror moniker “Jay of the Dead”) will discuss “The Monster Problem,” video rental store nostalgia and looking for Horror movie gems in the $5 bargain bins at truck stops and gas stations. And to help me reminisce about video store nostalgia, the Gillman Joel Robertson of Horror Movie Podcast, Retro Movie Geek and Universal Monsters Cast appears as a guest contributor! I will also bring you Feature Reviews of I Trapped the Devil (2019), Jordan Peele’s Us (2019), Sole Survivor (1984) on VHS, and for some reason, Camp Death III in 2D (2019). You will also get to hear two of my three specialty segments, Jay of the Dead’s Beastly Freaks, when I’ll review Night Wolf (2012), and Jay of the Dead’s Perishable Predicament, when I review a Survival Horror film called Thirst (2010).

You are welcome to call my new voicemail number at (801) 215-9704 or email me at ConsideringTheCinema@gmail.com or post a comment. Be sure to join me for my upcoming Episode 006, when I bring you a recap of the 2019 movies I’ve seen from January through April! Join me! Continue reading →