Search Results

Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 4: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 31, 2023 Share Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. We’re back, folks, with our fourth and final lesson in John Kramer’s philosophical nihilism. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey, and I hope it has at least made you think, along with challenging your perception of the Saw franchise. For today’s blue-collar philosophy lesson, we are going to look at radical nihilism and how John Kramer (Tobin Bell, of Finders Keepers ) fits that rubric. Let’s go ahead and jump in, shall we? Radical nihilism can be summed up as a “destructive” philosophy. What I mean by that is this: A radical nihilist usually has no loyalties, believes in nothing, and sees their purpose as to destroy. This is because they have a dissatisfaction that comes from their recognition that they live in a world where their ideal values will never exist. The “world as it is” is the greatest hindrance to the radical nihilist, so much so that they seek to negate and destroy its inherent moral, religious, and political values so their own can flourish. Now, let’s apply this paradigm to John Kramer in the Saw franchise. Can his ideal of “appreciating life” exist in the world as it is? Another pertinent question we need to raise concerns Jigsaw’s aim: Is it really to change others or to change the world by destroying others? Because, as a radical nihilist, the only way to bring change is through destroying what is. I am going to argue that John Kramer’s goal is not to incite true change in others, but to annihilate others, thus changing the world as is . A good example of this is Amanda (Shawnee Smith, of Anger Management ). She is proof positive that Jigsaw cannot change people’s value system. For those of you unfamiliar with the franchise, Amanda is Kramer’s first survivor. She becomes the case study and poster girl for Jigsaw that his therapy “works.” However, as the story unfolds throughout the Saw franchise, it becomes abundantly clear she is not “cured.” Amanda with Jigsaw, courtesy of Lionsgate Kramer then takes it upon himself to retest Amanda. The fact he has to do this proves his methods of rehabilitation are sorely inadequate. Amanda herself even agrees with this failure and says, “Nobody is reborn.” This all takes place in Saw III (2006) and, moments later, is followed up by Jeff’s willingness to kill Jigsaw. Speaking of Jeff (Angus Macfadyen, of Equilibrium ), let’s look at him for a moment, and then we’ll jump back to the scene mentioned above. In Saw III , Kramer asks Jeff to view Danica (Debra McCabe, of People of Earth ) and Timothy (Mpho Koaho, of Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency ) as people who made mistakes rather than people who contributed to the death of his son. Jeff ends up failing to obtain this outlook and failing to rescue them from their traps. But not to worry, Kramer, our scholar on humanity, has factored in Jeff’s failure for the overarching game. Danica herself exposes the test’s very premise when she says, “I made a mistake … I’m human.” Jeff, too, is only human, and he will make mistakes leading to the death of others, which he does. Jeff then becomes a synecdoche for everyone involved in the game , including Jigsaw and Amanda. But it goes deeper. Jeff serves a larger purpose. He isn’t Kramer’s test subject, all of humanity is. There was never any chance Jeff’s values or perspective would change. He, like Kramer and everyone else, is flawed by belonging to the world as it is. Let’s jump back to the scene in Saw III with Jeff, Kramer, and Amanda, where Jeff is wanting to kill Kramer. In coming face-to-face with the inadequacy of his own methods, and Jeff’s desire to kill him, Jigsaw asks Jeff, “You haven’t learned anything tonight, have you?” Like Amanda, Jeff is being retested. And, like Amanda, Jigsaw cannot change his values. The list goes on as we examine other movies in the Saw franchise. Art (Louis Ferreira, of Stargate Universe ) survives his mausoleum trap. Does he learn anything? Has he changed? Nope. In Saw IV (2007), he becomes the head of another game where he dies. In Saw II (2005), Eric (Donnie Wahlberg, of Blue Bloods ) fails his test but not all is lost. He proves his willingness to survive and live by escaping. This should be it for Eric, shouldn't it? But it’s not. He then becomes bait in the same trap that ends up killing Art. All in all, Amanda ends up being right when she states in Saw III , “Nobody changes.” But what about Kramer, the very one who has instituted this form of rehabilitation? A big NO on that as well. Those of you who have seen the movies, recall with me, if you will, John Kramer’s statement from Saw II where he says he is “unfixable.” And there we have it, folks, right in front of our faces. Kramer’s own words scream at us the radical nihilist’s confession of despair. No one is fixable, so the entire damn system needs to burn. Jigsaw is sick and tired of it all. He is tired of the current world-as-it-is value system. He is sick of people not appreciating their lives because of this system. But people can’t change, not even with his method; therefore, it must all be destroyed. Let’s go back to the original Saw (2004) for a moment. There’s a scene in there where Detective Tapp (Danny Glover, of Lethal Weapon ) says to Kramer he is “sick” but he’s not referring to his cancer. Kramer’s response is telling. He states he is “sick of those who don’t appreciate their life” and he is “sick of those who scoff at the suffering of others.” And then comes the ultimate culmination and confession of Jigsaw: He says he is “sick of it all.” To put that in nihilistic terms, he is sick of the world and the current state of existence. What about Kramer’s cancer? His physical illness? Does it play a part in this? Oh, absolutely. Jigsaw’s destructive nature displayed in his games is intricately tied to his terminal illness. Thus, the only true change Jigsaw institutes in any of his traps is devastation. The games he subjects people to are not capable of changing anyone’s values. Kramer’s aim is much more simplistic: to destroy the world as is. In closing, I want to examine one more phrase from Kramer that highlights his radical nihilism, and it is probably one of the most important phrases in the franchise. In Saw IV , Kramer states, “If the subject survives my method, he or she is instantly rehabilitated.” Yet, as we have seen above, this is far from the truth. As a radical nihilist, Jigsaw’s values remain intact despite evidence to the contrary, and despite the impossibility of those ideals ever becoming a reality in the world as is. This also answers the question as to why, even if people survive, Jigsaw just puts them in another game to die anyway. It is because destruction is the chief end—the obliteration of the world-as-it-is value system. There is much more to unpack when it comes to the philosophy of John Kramer—so much more, in fact, that even passive and radical nihilism fail to cover it. This means while Kramer fits these paradigms, there are also aspects of him that do not. Those points are beyond the scope of these articles. However, seeing much of Kramer through the lens of passive and radical nihilism does shed light on his madness and gives us a background to understand some of the seeming contradictions that are evident throughout the movies. Before I end, I want to sum up a few things. First, radical nihilism embraces the impossibility of change. Second, when we examine passive and radical nihilism, especially in John Kramer, we see the two are intertwined. Nihilists like Kramer rely on their view of the world as it is being the non-ideal of existence. This is the only way they can understand existence. There is a deep conflict between the world-as-it-is view and the world-as-it-ought-to-be view. Jigsaw’s world view is one where he gives into destruction in order to institute change. He has wholeheartedly given himself over to the belief that people are predictable. Thus, he allows them to be human, to keep their current value system and ultimately doom themselves. There is a deep irony existing inside John Kramer. With all of his destructive games, he still relies on the world existing as it is while also being the source of his own dissatisfaction in life. Because Kramer will never fulfill his goal of total destruction, as a nihilist, his own life will have no purpose either. credit: Lionsgate Entertainment And there you have it, my friends. I hope you’ve enjoyed this little discourse into the Saw franchise, and I plan on bringing you more thought-provoking pieces in the future. Until then, stay tuned for more fantastic upcoming B-movie reviews in my current series What the Hell Did I Just Watch . Catch y’all on the flip flop. Happy Halloween, my friends. Now go watch some Saw movies! Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Movies you just have to, oh my gosh, see. The Film Spot Mar 12, 2026 Film Review: Iron Lung Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. Read More Dec 11, 2023 Godzilla: Minus One: Film Review Godzilla: Minus One deftly balances social commentary with eye-popping monster action amid personal trauma, drama, and guilt. Read More Dec 8, 2023 Movies Streaming in December 2023 Newest movies to hit streaming platforms this month range from Killers of the Flower Moon to Rebel Moon – Part 1: A Child of Fire. Read More Nov 20, 2023 Blow Up My Life: Film Review Blow Up My Life is a cinematic unicorn in the thriller-comedy genre with undeniable humor and thrills with a capital T. Read More Oct 31, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 4: Film Analysis Cutting straight into the bone of the Saw franchise, John Kramer confesses his own despair and exposes himself as a radical nihilist. Read More Oct 25, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 3: Film Analysis Cutting deeper beneath the surface to explore how the "Saw" franchise's John Kramer (Jigsaw) fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism. Read More Oct 23, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 2: Film Analysis Cutting beneath the surface to explore the Saw franchise's inconsistencies in John Kramer’s convoluted morality, his supposed purpose, and the theme of pawn sacrifice. Read More Oct 19, 2023 The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 1: Film Analysis The philosophy of the Saw franchise and its iconic serial killer mastermind John Kramer cuts deep beneath the surface into the realm of Nietzschean nihilism. Read More Oct 16, 2023 Unwelcome: Film Review Unwelcome is Gremlins meets Straw Dogs and is rooted in tradition and mythology, infusing a creature feature with searing psychological horror. Read More Oct 4, 2023 New Movies Streaming in October October ushers in the streaming premieres of Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, Strays, and Haunted Mansion Read More Aug 16, 2023 Asteroid City: Film Review Asteroid City is a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones Read More Aug 9, 2023 Sisu: Film Review Sisu is an enjoyable homage to Rambo but with much more badassery Read More Aug 7, 2023 Barbie: Film Review Barbie sees success with its all-star cast and its underlying message for women everywhere Read More Jul 27, 2023 Chilly Scenes of Winter: The Cult Classic Returns from Obscurity Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection Read More Jul 25, 2023 Film Review: Oppenheimer Oppenheimer shines as Christopher Nolan’s best, most hypnotic film to date Read More Jul 12, 2023 Film Review: The Flood A moderately entertaining creature feature with storms, flood waters, and hangry alligators Read More Jun 27, 2023 Review: Old Friends, A Dogumentary One documentary every dog lover should see Read More May 24, 2023 Adam Driver Fights Off Dinosaurs in All His Action-Hero, Gun-Slinging, Life-Saving Glory A look at the recent sci-fi flick "65" Read More Apr 25, 2023 Evil Dead Rise is Balls-to-the-Wall Blood, Guts, and Terror Buckle up for the most horrific installment of the Evil Dead universe Read More Apr 21, 2023 Infinity Pool Unnervingly Taps into Fear of Humanity and Poses Serious Question Would you commit a crime if you knew you could get off scot-free? Read More

Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. < Back Film Review: Iron Lung Nick Cline Mar 12, 2026 Share Iron Lung is a unique watch that sucks you in. 2026 is looking to be a stellar year for horror fans. We are only three months in, and the realm of mainstream and indie horror is making a big name for itself. With that being said, the film Iron Lung has become a favorite so far this year. Iron Lung is a passion project from multifaceted YouTube personality Mark Fischbauch. He is better known by his YouTube handle, Markiplier . This was a film without any mainstream production company, distribution, or anything of the sort. It was self-funded, self-written, self-directed, and self-advised. It was a project fueled by passion, love for the work, and the artistic endeavor to push the story forward. Iron Lung 2026 The film is based on the 2022 game of the same name. The game explores a desolate moon where a prisoner, confined to a submarine, navigates a sea of blood as a “prison sentence”. The world and lore of the game came into pocket-sized fragments that would unearth the situation. The film takes the bare bones lore and elevates it into a 127-minute film. I describe Iron Lung as a Cosmic Horror project with a deep sense of dialogue, existential angst, and passion for the unfolding unknown. From start to finish, this is a film that brings the audience right into the situation. It starts with a recounting of the end of days. All life has been wiped out of existence by something called the silent rapture. The only things left are the remnants of mankind and the memories of times past. This bombshell of a monologue transitions to an opening shot of our main character, Simon . He is a prisoner locked away in a submarine that is being used to explore the sea of blood on an unknown moon. He is forced into a situation where he must explore the blood ocean in the hope of being set free from his prison sentence. This is the beginning of a continuous story, driven by a high-stakes series of events. Iron Lung Official Trailer As the film progresses, the intentions, ideals, horrors, and everything in between come to life. Over time, the stakes of the situation are felt in a slow but high-stakes chain of events. It starts off with Simon finding the bones of a giant alien-like creature, “something” bashing into his submarine, and the eventual dance of delusion and oxygen loss. The next stages of this review will be dancing the line between spoilers and non-spoilers. I want to offer a breakdown of the project's scope, ripping the magic out of its reveals before you even get to see it. I will try my best because this is a movie that deserves to be watched, not read. Iron Lung Final Trailer The story progresses till the point of “no return”. The conflict and climax merge into one center of action. It's an unusual way for a film to find its footing, but, overall, it is executed well. Simon finds himself in a pit of self-realization, existential angst, and anxiety of finding clarity and resolution in the situation. A creature stalks Simon as he slowly “loses” his mind. What is real? What is part of the radiated frenzy of reality? These are the two questions that haunt the narrative from the midpoint of the film until the rolling of the credits. This locking point in the film kickstarts some of the best visuals and creature design I've seen in a long time. It is baffling that this was a film made for only 3 million dollars, given its size and scope. I could go on and on about the direction this film takes, but that would reveal too much. This film deserves support and viewing. It is a passion project that would get any cosmic horror fan excited. The monsters, lore, existential dread, twists, twists of reality, visuals, sound design, and so much more make this a good watch for anyone who's a fan of cosmic horror, Markiplier , or story-driven horror. The only downside I could find is the slow-paced start, but that is something that usually comes with the film's style. Other than that, I had very few complaints as a viewer. It is a unique watch that sucks you into the world if you give it the chance. I couldn't recommend Iron Lung more. Do yourself a favor and give this a watch! Overall rating: 8.5/10 www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Reach out to mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Yum! < Back Dead & Breakfast: The Best Undead Movie You’ve Probably Never Seen Keeley Brooks Oct 4, 2022 Share Yum! I love undead/zombie movies. Everything about them—the blood, the gore, the creatures … the fear they bring. I always have, ever since I laid my eyeballs on 28 Days Later in 2004 and nearly had a heart attack in terror. I loved it! After visiting George Romero’s collection, followed by 2004’s Dawn of the Dead and Shaun of the Dead , I was obsessed. And just when I didn’t think my obsession could go any deeper, I stumbled across a nugget of zombie horror/comedy cheese that cemented my devotion to the art, despite the fact it’s also a musical. What? A musical? A horror musical? Hear me out. After stumbling across the DVD—it was 2004—and reading the tagline, “It’s like a bad horror film … only worse!”, I couldn’t resist buying and watching it, even though I’m not much a fan by way of musicals; they’re just not my thing. This musical, though, I’d watch every day of the week and twice on Sundays. It’s that funny. Dead & Breakfast is a 2004 zombie spoof about six friends on a road trip gone very, very wrong. Add in a creepy Texas town, a sinister bed & breakfast (with murder on the menu), and a charming little band between scenes singin’ some good ole’ country folk music to recap what just happened and set up what’s to come, and, well, you’ve got the toe-tapping entertaining makings for one hell of a bloody, funny movie. Oh yeah, there’s also that pesky army of the undead, who can only be stopped, it seems, by Texas chainsaw (“regular” chainsaws won’t work) or decapitation. The best things about it, in my opinion, are its exploitative use of copious amounts of blood and gore, its very well-placed humor, and (sigh) the fact that it’s a damn musical— the best damn musical I’ve ever seen! It’s so intentionally bad, it’s that good. I promise. Rue Morgue Magazine even hailed it as the best independent movie of the year, way back when. So, here’s what’s up: After a night that leaves both the inn’s owner, played by the late David Carradine, and its chef (Diedrich Bader) slashed to pieces, the group of friends finds themselves the main suspects by the local sheriff, who is played by bat-wielding Walking Dead villain, Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). And that’s just the beginning. Nearly all of the town’s quirky residents become possessed by an evil spirit unveiled from a modern-day Pandora’s Box. The undead soon surround the friends inside the inn, and the group realizes it’s up to them to save any innocents left in town and bring Lovelock to justice. Rather than attempting simple survival in a world of the undead, those not yet possessed set to their own methods of eradication, Texas style. The result is a hilarious gut-bursting, attention-demanding blood battle between the living and the undead, full of tear-jerkingly funny scenes cut with outstanding musical transitions. Even though at the time critics initially labeled it as the American response to the British Shaun of the Dead (you’ll see this in the trailer), the actual truth is that Dead & Breakfast was made a year prior to and released six months before SOTD . It was also made on a teeny tiny budget, which is extremely impressive and worthy of respect simply for its creatively superfluous use of blood, gore, and makeup, which is nothing short of drenching and delightful. Written and directed by Matthew Leutwyler ( The River Why ), these undead deliver an excruciatingly funny Americanized demeanor that’s less zombie-like and more like a possessed cult of maniacal savages thirsting for souls instead of blood. It is utterly ridiculous. It's also a MUST SEE for horror/effects/undead-zombie fans who are equipped with a sense of humor and strong stomach. eFilmCritic called it “the best gorefest since Cabin Fever .” Boom. In addition to the names listed above, Dead & Breakfast also stars Jeremy Sisto, Erik Palladino, Ever Carradine, Oz Perkins, Bianca Lawson, and Portia de Rossi. Watch the trailer HERE . www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Stephen King Movies Releasing in 2023 < Back More Adaptations from THE Horror Master Keeley Brooks Mar 3, 2023 Share Stephen King Movies Releasing in 2023 Even if you’re not a horror fan, you still love Stephen King. You know you do. The past few decades have seen numerous books and short stories from the famous author, and film and television adaptations are a-plenty. This year (and likely next year) is no exception with a handful of adaptations coming your way. Here’s what’s dropping in 2023 and what’s up next on the Stephen King entertainment agenda. Children of the Corn – I’ll never forget the first time I first saw the original Children of the Corn movie and was scarred for life. It was 1985, and I was eight years old. We kids definitely shouldn’t have been watching it, but we did the second our parents left the room. See, we were visiting relatives, who just so happened to live and work at the Angola State Prison. So, on those grounds late at night in the bedroom of a work trailer is where the creepy kids from the corn made their appearance in my life. The 1984 version sees a young couple trapped in a remote town with no adults because a gang of creepy-ass kids has killed them all. The remake hits theaters Friday, March 3, 2023 , and it will have an 18-day theatrical window before releasing on Shudder March 21 . The story reportedly does take some liberties. Here, we get to see a town fall as “He Who Walks” uses a little girl named Eden to satisfy the evil entity’s bloodlust and turn the town’s youngest residents into murderous little nightmares. No doubt it’ll be just as terrifying as the original. The Boogeyman - The first adaptation of King’s 1978 short story from the Night Shift collection is about a teenage girl and her little sister, who find themselves plagued by a sadistic presence in their house after their mother dies. They must get their grieving father to pay attention before it’s too late. In the original story, we follow a man grieving the deaths (murders) of his three kids. While their deaths were all different, they all took place in the children’s respective bedrooms, each having shouted, “The Boogeyman,” before they met their fates. The film hits theaters June 2, 2023 , then is supposed to hit Hulu soon after. Salem’s Lot - This gem has also been adapted to a movie and is expected to hit theaters April 21, 2023 , but it’s already been pushed back from Sept. 2022, so don’t hold all your breath just yet. Nonetheless, it’ll be anticipated when it does arrive, especially with director James Wan ( Saw franchise). It is rumored to remain faithful to the book, which if you’re unfamiliar is about a writer who returns to the town of Jerusalem’s Lot in Maine only to discover that the residents are all being turned into vampires. Stars Lewis Pullman ( Outer Range ), Spencer Treat Clark ( Glass, Unbreakble ), and Alfre Woodard ( See ). Pet Semetary – Though the 2019 version of Pet Sematary wasn’t well received with critics, a prequel movie was greenlit in 2021. It’s intended to continue digging into the mythology of the small town of Ludlow, the strange rituals, the Wendigo, the cemetery, and character Jud’s life. We’ve been seeing the dead re-animate for over a decade now with all the zombie and undead adaptations, but none of those are as scary as seeing Gage come back to life just to kill his mother and run around with a creepy giggle and his father's scalpel terrifying everybody to death. And the cat, Church—we can’t forget about him. After all, he is the reason Jud learns of the power of the pet cemetery. It’s planned to be released later this year to stream as a Paramount+ original movie. From A Buick 8 – Based on King’s novel published in 2002, this is the second story to feature a supernatural car, the first one being the unforgettable "Christine." The adaptation has been in development for years. Back in 2005, George A. Romero was announced as the director, then two years later he was replaced with Tobe Hopper ( Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise). By 2009, the project came to halt, then in 2019 was announced to be in development again. No details have been revealed since, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon – Published in 1999, the story follows a nine-year-old girl as she finds herself lost in the woods on what she thought would be another normal day hiking with her mom and brother. She fantasizes about her favorite baseball player, Tom Gordon, rescuing her. Originally, a film adaptation of "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon " was to be directed by George A. Romero, but plans fell through in 2005. The project was revived in 2019, and in late 2020, Lynne Ramsay ( You Were Never Really Here ) was announced as director. Let’s hope we get some updates soon! ALSO (you didn’t really think that was it, did you?), Deadline recently revealed in an exclusive that Warner Bros. has acquired King’s 2021 crime thriller bestseller “Billy Summers” to adapt into a feature film produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way. Bad Robot have also adapted other King works like Lisey’s Story (Apple TV Plus), Castle Rock (Hulu), and 11.22.63 , also on Hulu. It was originally intended to be a limited series, but the big screen won out instead. Writing the screenplay are Ed Zwick ( Blood Diamond ) and Marshall Herskovitz, who co-wrote The Last Samurai with Zwick, and it is rumored that Leo will play the title character, but that is yet to be confirmed. The plot synopsis reads: Billy Summers is a hitman who is looking to retire and takes on last highly lucrative job to feather his nest. The job requires him to embed himself in a quiet town, where he pretends to be an aspiring writer (he actually pours himself into the prose). He sets up in an office with a direct view of where hitman Joel Allen will be delivered to face trial for shooting two men during a poker game. Allen also has committed enough murders for some high-level mobsters to be scared the gunman will incriminate his former employers to lessen his sentence. Summers, a meticulous craftsman, become more and more cynical about the mobsters who’ve hired him, and his skepticism is well warranted as things go awry following the job’s completion. *On a side note, if you haven’t watched Castle Rock , I urge you to roll on over to Hulu and check it out. While the two-season series isn’t based on any specific one of King’s works, it does share themes, characters, and most notably its name with one of the central locations found throughout the legendary author’s career. Season 1 tells the story of Henry Deaver, a death row attorney who returns home to Maine for the first time in years when a mysterious inmate at the local prison, Shawshank, specifically requests Henry as his lawyer. Several narratives unravel from there, including a troubled individual with apparent telepathic abilities, the shocking death of one of Castle Rock’s most prominent characters, and some pretty disturbing developments for Henry as he uncovers more and more about his past—like the time he vanished as a child. Season 2 is a chilling must-see! Instead of continuing on with the same characters and original cast, the series pivots and centers its story on Annie Wilkes, the infamously psychotic, murderous nurse from King’s 1987 psychological thriller novel “Misery” and 1990 film adaptation of the same name. In Castle Rock , we are introduced to Annie Wilkes pre-Paul Sheldon days, so it’s sort of a modern-day prequel. Lizzie Caplan ( Masters of Sex ) delivers a sharp, tense, and breathless performance as Wilkes navigates her life and career, and so much is revealed along that way that when it ends, it’ll leave you wanting more and most likely compel you to turn around and watch Misery again. And , just in case you missed its release back in September, don't forget to check out the Stephen King documentary King on Screen, which examines cinematic adaptations of the iconic author's works. With King's stamp of approval, it gives audiences an intimate sit-down with different directors who've all adapted the writer's works for the screen, looking at the movies and shows that have brought his stories to life, both the hits and the flops. Among those sitting down for interviews are Mike Garris (ABC's The Stand ), Mike Flanagan ( Gerald's Game , Doctor Sleep ), Frank Darabont ( The Shawshank Redemption , The Green Mile ), and director and special effects makeup titan Greg Nicotero ( Creepshow , Misery ), to name a few. Alright, kiddos, that's all for now, but stay tuned for more adaptations from THE original horror master ... and no doubt his son, Joe Hill. You know we'll be keeping you updated. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Cutting beneath the surface to explore the Saw franchise's inconsistencies in John Kramer’s convoluted morality, his supposed purpose, and the theme of pawn sacrifice. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 2: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 23, 2023 Share Cutting beneath the surface to explore the Saw franchise's inconsistencies in John Kramer’s convoluted morality, his supposed purpose, and the theme of pawn sacrifice. Welcome back to part two of your blue-collar philosophy lesson led by your good Ole Uncle Zeke. In Part 1 of John Kramer and Saw ’s philosophy , I made the proposition that understanding John Kramer’s actions and statements from the Saw franchise only make sense when viewed through the philosophical lens of nihilism. In this post, I’m going to point out places in the Saw franchise where Kramer's morality seems to be confused , and then as we move forward, we are going to look at these things through both passive and radical nihilism (I will define these terms later in the series). But first, we need to investigate these instances and the criticism against Jigsaw in order to truly understand his ethical foundation in light of nihilism. To begin, much of the hate thrown at Jigsaw is understandable, given his poor word choices. What do I mean? Those of you who have watched the Saw movies will get where I’m coming from, but those of you who haven’t need to stick with me, because when you do go and watch the films, you can keep this in mind when exploring these places of convoluted morality. In the original Saw (2004), John Kramer/Jigsaw (Tobin Bell, of Let Us In ) tells Amanda (Shawnee Smith, of Kill Speed ) she needs a key to escape from the reverse bear trap wrapped around her face. He says the key is located in the stomach of her dead cellmate and assures her by stating, “Know that I am not lying.” Copyright Lionsgate Entertainment He says the key is located in the stomach of her dead cellmate and assures her by stating, “Know that I am not lying.” The only problem? Jigsaw was lying. Amanda’s cellmate is drugged, not dead. Now jump ahead to Saw III . Kramer says he is the only one who knows where Jeff’s abducted daughter is. Not true. Again, he lies; Hoffman also knows where she is. Granted, these could just be mistakes in the script but whatever they are, they make Kramer come across as completely incoherent, even more so when we move on to Saw IV (2007). In Saw IV , Jigsaw tells Rigg (Lyriq Bent, of She’s Gotta Have It ) to force Ivan (Marty Adams, of Hemlock Grove ) into a position and let him choose his own fate. The only catch? In 60 seconds, the choice will be made for him. If Kramer’s purpose is truly to teach Rigg that people must save themselves, this added caveat seems to nullify such ends . Moral critics of the Saw franchise have had a field day with the above-listed examples, saying they are proof positive John Kramer was a hypocrite. But the accusations don’t stop here. The critics further scrutinize his ethical demands by blasting Kramer for making his victims choose immoral actions. Let’s jump back to the original Saw movie. Kramer instructs Zep (Michael Emerson, of Lost ) to kill a mother and her child in order to save his own life. This makes Jigsaw come across as someone who loathes any type of altruism or self-sacrifice for others. To Kramer, it seems like self-sacrifice just gets in the way of people valuing their own lives. But it doesn’t stop there. Critics go after Kramer for his victim selection as well. Take Saw IV , for example. I’m trying to avoid spoilers when I can, so let’s just say Ivan and Brenda (Sarain Boylan, of Rookie Blue ) in this movie are both guilty of criminal acts. These acts, however, are vastly different and in no way deserving of equal punishment. But guess what? Jigsaw punishes them both in the same manner. This all takes place during Rigg’s game. And what was Rigg’s game? To teach him that he cannot save everyone, which means these victims were just pawns and meant to die. In fact, Rigg isn’t even given instructions on how to save Brenda at all! Then there is Adam (Leigh Whannell, of Insidious franchise) from Saw . Jigsaw never gives him a game of his own to play. He is just a pawn in Lawrence’s (Cary Elwes, of The Princess Bride ) game. This theme of “pawn sacrifice” carries on throughout the entire Saw series . Take Joyce (Gina Holden, of Alien vs. Predator: Requiem ) from Saw 3D (Saw VII) . She is completely innocent and is burned alive in order to punish her fiancé, Bobby (Sean Patrick Flanery, of The Boondock Saints ). Bobby even objects to Kramer by saying Joyce doesn’t deserve to be here. This random victim selection is a big problem in Saw 3D . We are never given any reasoning as to why Dina (Anne Lee Greene, of Femme Fatales ) or the racist gang are selected (other than they are racist). There is a great chance for Saw 3D to answer this question when Officer Mike asks himself, “Why them? Why now?” but these questions are never answered. There are more examples, but these are enough to show why critics say what they do about the Saw franchise, and about John Kramer’s convoluted morality and his supposed purpose. Indeed, these inconsistencies seem to really piss in the Cheerios of Kramer’s mission , which is to teach people how to value their lives . On the surface, his victim choice seems to be totally unjust and as random as natural selection in nature. This would indicate all of Kramer’s preaching on righteousness and justice are totally hypocritical. Mix this in with the fact many of the victims ARE NOT guilty of undervaluing their lives, and it is a glaring problem. Let’s go back to Rigg and Saw IV again. Rigg certainly seems to value life and seeks to preserve it. And what about the five victims in Saw V (2008)? I’ve watched it countless times and can’t find anywhere in the film where these people don’t value their lives. What is evident, however, is that they do not value the lives of other people. But the one victim in the entire franchise that doesn’t make a lick of sense according to Jigsaw’s mantra of appreciating life is Bobby in Saw 3D . He is not guilty of undervaluing his life or the lives of others—he simply lied about surviving a Jigsaw trap. Sure, it is a slap in the face to the real survivors, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t value his life. The critics come out in full force over these apparent inconsistencies, arguing there is a huge disconnect between Kramer’s desire to save people and to murder them. To the critics, John Kramer is a murderer rather than the saviour he claims to be. Credit: Getty Images Jigsaw then becomes nothing better than the erroneous view of God who plays “Duck, Duck, Damn” with his creations, choosing people at random to condemn to hell. In their eyes, Kramer selects people just to eliminate them. So, I close with this: Given this information, what is Kramer’s mission? What’s his end goal? Is it to rehabilitate people or to kill them? Are the two outcomes really any different? Is true change only possible through the destruction of one's own flesh? Such questions belong to the paradigm of nihilism, and it is these questions we will seek to answer in the next two articles, which will compare John Kramer to both passive nihilism and radical nihilism. Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Vesper < Back One of the Best Indie Sci-Fi Movies You Should Absolutely See Keeley Brooks Jan 11, 2023 Share Vesper From time to time, I like to write about movies I watch and spill about them to all of you. Recently, my Dummy (husband) and I sat down to watch the movie “Vesper,” one of the latest independent science fiction films to hit theaters, then Video On Demand. Starring Eddie Marsan ("Ray Donovan " ) and Richard Brake ("Peaky Blinders " ), along with a cast of mostly unheard-of British talent, this dystopian drama is fantastic on multiple levels. The acting, storytelling, computer-generated effects, score, and cinematography all work brilliantly together to pay homage to classic sci-fi films, and with its post-apocalyptic backdrop, it’s the perfect formula for a standout dystopian flick. Its plot centers around 13-year-old Vesper, played by extremely gifted child actor Raffiela Chapman, who is a young girl living alone with her bed-ridden father (Richard Brake) on the outskirts of the Citadel, which is, of course, the area built for the rich to live and thrive as the less fortunate are left to fend for themselves in a dying world of fear, violence, hunger, and no hope for a future. Vesper’s father is bed-ridden due to an injury he received fighting for the Citadel and as a result, is left on a ventilator, paralyzed, unable to do anything but move his eyes. Vesper, being the genius she is, built a drone and hooked it up to her father’s brain so he could communicate with her. Together they must learn to survive in desperate conditions—an undertaking made slightly easier by Vesper’s mad bio-hacking skills … and I do mean mad. She is solely responsible for keeping him alive and healing any wounds that might develop, and the more we watch, the more we discover how integral Vesper and her wits are to the story's developments. Additionally, we learn she also grows plants with some of the most breathtaking abilities you’ve ever seen on film. One day while out foraging in the woods, she comes across an injured woman and brings her home to heal her ... then we learn this woman is hiding a huge secret that may just save the entire world following the collapse of Earth’s ecosystem. I won’t reveal all the deets and spoil anything for you, but I will tell you if you’re looking for a great sci-fi film to get lost in, you’re gonna want to watch this one. The movie creates an astounding landscape with some crucially inventive special effects, and it doesn’t sidetrack itself by trying to explain every tiny little detail, thereby leaving some imagination up to the viewers. " Vesper " is beautifully written story by French writer Bruno Samper and Kristina Buozyte of Lithuania, both known for 2012’s "Vanishing Waves." The screenplay was written by Brian Clark, who is best known for, you guessed it, "Vesper." It’s currently streaming on AMC+ and is available for rent on Video On Demand. If there’s a rainy day in your future, take advantage and get lost in another world for a while. Its ending will leave you full of hope and sweetness, having rooted for Vesper the whole way through. You won’t be disappointed. You're welcome. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Oppenheimer shines as Christopher Nolan’s best, most hypnotic film to date < Back Film Review: Oppenheimer Shaun Corley Jul 25, 2023 Share Oppenheimer shines as Christopher Nolan’s best, most hypnotic film to date Christopher Nolan has returned to theaters with Oppenheimer , which may stand as his best film to date. Nolan occupies a rare niche in American cinema: He makes intelligent, layered movies that are given the same marketing treatment as Mission Impossible or MCU offerings. Very few other filmmakers can pull this off; Nolan’s only peer in this realm may be Jordan Peele. For Oppenheimer , Nolan pulls out all the stops, creating a long, dense, and ultimately hypnotic film. Christopher Nolan left a grand impression on movie-goers with his second film, 2000’s Memento . Starring Guy Pearce, the movie followed an amnesiac as he attempted to piece together various clues, such as cryptic tattoos, in a bid to discover his life before. Memento was smart and did not insult the viewer’s intelligence. These qualities would be present in Nolan’s next movie, a 2002 remake of Insomnia . A career high for the late Robin Williams, Insomnia ensured Nolan’s place in American film, a promise that came to fruition with the director’s Batman trilogy. While movies such as Memento put Nolan on critics’ radars, Batman Begins and its two sequels made the director a household name, affording him a status unlike any other. In 2020, he released Tenet , which opened to fair reviews and a low box office–although to be fair, the film was released during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time in his career, Nolan had polarized the critics and audiences. While Tenet may be ripe for rediscovery one day, it remains the one film that did not receive universal acclaim from critics. However, with Oppenheimer , Christopher Nolan comes roaring back, reasserting himself as one of the best directors working today. Oppenheimer is, at its core, a biopic. It tells the story of Doctor Robert J. Oppenheimer, a young physicist who is recruited to the Manhattan Project during World War 2. Cillian Murphy (L) as Robert Oppenheimer (R); Source: Associated Press At the beginning of the war, United States intelligence learned that Germany was conducting atomic experiments, with the goal of creating a weapon. In response, the U.S. created the Manhattan Project, with the intent of beating Germany to the punch. Oppenheimer was recruited to lead the Project, despite protests from the military. A key aspect of the Manhattan Project was its secrecy and compartmentalization; the facilities and scientists were scattered across the country, all working towards the same goal—even if they didn’t know what it was. Of course, America did develop the atomic bomb, dropping it on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. The film touches on Oppenheimer’s ambivalence towards the bomb, particularly after it is dropped. In one powerful scene, the Los Alamos scientists learn the bomb worked, and Japan has surrendered. Many of the scientists celebrate joyfully, but a few do not. As Oppenheimer leaves the party, he sees his fellow researchers crying or vomiting in horror of what they unleashed. Source: Associated Press The film’s final part focuses on this fallout. Before the war, Oppenheimer had talked to (but never formally joined) the United States Communist Party—a fact that Lewis Strauss tried to use against him when it came time to extend Oppenheimer’s security clearance. Some of his friends, such as Doctor Edward Teller, sold him out in the hearings, and the film touches on this as well. Oppenheimer features a jam-packed cast: Cillian Murphy ( Peaky Blinders ) as Robert Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt ( A Quiet Place ) as his wife Kitty, and Robert Downey Jr. ( Iron Man ) as Lewis Strauss, the former chair of the Atomic Energy Commission. Each of these actors gives great, Oscar-worthy performances. Murphy, a frequent collaborator of Nolan’s, hits a career high as the titular physicist, embodying both his hopes and his fears for atomic energy. Emily Blunt, as Kitty Oppenheimer, stands out as well. She is the woman of an intelligent man, and she is every bit as smart herself but must take a back seat to her husband. A pointed commentary on gender roles at the time, Kitty still nevertheless supports Oppenheimer through thick and thin. Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt as Robert and Kitty Oppenheimer; Source: Associated Press Finally, Downey shines as Lewis Strauss. Strauss pretended to be Oppenheimer’s friend, but it was revealed he was ultimately the one who torpedoed Oppenheimer’s security clearance. Downey perfectly embodies this political sleaziness, pretending to be Oppenheimer’s friend while simultaneously selling him out. Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss; Source: Associated Press The supporting cast is enormous and also features some stand-out performances. Florence Pugh ( Black Widow ) plays Jean Tatlock, an ardent Communist who had an affair with Oppenheimer. Jack Quaid ( The Boys ) plays the notorious Richard Fenyman and Benny Safdie ( Licorice Pizza ) plays Edward Teller, two other scientists who worked with Oppeheimer on the Manhattan Project. Others turning in great performances include Tom Conti ( Peripheral ) as Albert Einstein, Josh Hartnett ( Penny Dreadful ) as Ernest Lawrence, and Gary Oldman ( Slow Horses ) as Harry Truman. As mentioned earlier, Oppenheimer is a biopic . This is a genre that has proven popular with moviegoers as well as critics. However, these films tend to be overproduced and over-sentimentalized; some use the term “Oscar Bait” to describe them. These arguments are not without merit, as these films can sometimes gloss over certain aspects of the subject’s life. Nolan breaks the biopic mold with Oppenheimer. The film is not a simple retelling of events but instead uses a challenging narrative structure to tell Oppenheimer’s story. The film regularly jumps from era to era, offering viewers the chance to see Oppenheimer both at the Manhattan Project and years later at his security clearance hearing after the Project ended. However, it is a testament to Nolan’s skills as a director that the story flows smoothly, despite the structure. There is much to like about Oppenheimer, such as the performances and its structure. It would be a disservice not to discuss Ludwing Goransson ’s stirring score, which he recorded in just five days. Nolan built a name for himself working with composer Hans Zimmer; however, Zimmer did not work with the director on Oppehemier . Instead, Goransson, whose other scores include Black Panther and Fruitvale Station, among others, delivers a fantastic soundtrack--his score perfectly complements the film. Oppenheimer ’s three-hour runtime may be daunting to some viewers, but rest assured it is time well spent. Between Nolan’s superior direction, the stellar performances, and a killer score, Oppenheimer is hypnotic, drawing fans in and keeping them hooked. While the film may be difficult to get through for some, patient viewers will be rewarded with not only one of the best films of the year, but also, perhaps, Christopher Nolan’s best as well. Oppenheimer is currently in theaters across the U.S. Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, but they're far outnumbered by comic books and the smell of rich mahogany lingering in the air. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Asteroid City is a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones < Back Asteroid City: Film Review Shaun Corley Aug 16, 2023 Share Asteroid City is a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones Acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson returns in a grand fashion with his latest offering, Asteroid City . After the fair-to-middling Isle of Dogs (2018) and The French Dispatch (2021), Anderson has found his verve once again with Asteroid City . The film is his first foray into the realm of science-fiction and while it contains all of his trademark idiosyncrasies and quirks, it is also one of his most melancholic efforts. Asteroid City is, without a doubt, a fine addition to the Wes Anderson canon. Wes Anderson exploded onto the scene with 1996’s Bottle Rocket and followed it up two years later with Rushmore (1998) before achieving mainstream recognition with 2001’s superlative The Royal Tenenbaums . This film earned Anderson his first Oscar nomination and remains a favorite among fans. Three years later, Anderson delivered the divisive The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou . While a commercial success, the film received mixed reviews from critics. After 2007’s The Darjeeling Limited , Anderson stretched his creative muscles on 2009’s classic stop-motion feature The Fantastic Mister Fox . Later films of Anderson’s have included Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and the Oscar-nominated The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014). After Budapest , Anderson entered something of a creative lull. Isle of Dogs attempted to recreate the magic of Fantastic Mister Fox , and while an entertaining movie, it fell flat; the same can be said of 2020’s The French Dispatch , which saw Anderson stuck in a holding pattern. However, Asteroid City breaks this cycle and reasserts the formalist director as one of America’s greatest living filmmakers. Asteroid City can be best described as a “play within a movie.” The play, written by playwright Conrad Earp (Edward Norton) is about a group of children attending an astronomy convention in the town of Asteroid City. 3000 years prior, a giant asteroid hit the area, leaving behind a small fragment. Set in an alternate 1955, the convention is rocked when an alien steals the meteor fragment, leading to a government cover-up, which fails when the same youths who came for the astronomy convention help expose what is going on in Asteroid City. Meanwhile, interspersed throughout are stories of the play’s actors and crew and how their lives outside of the play start bleeding into it. If this sounds like an incredibly dark premise for a Wes Anderson movie, it is. However, Anderson employs his trademark style to soften the edges of the narrative. The kids attending the astronomy convention are typical, precocious Anderson youths, who in some ways are hipper to the world around them than their parents. They do not rely on a major news outlet such as The New York Times to get the story out, instead going with one of the kids’ school newspapers. Likewise, while the military is doing something morally questionable, they are depicted as buffoonish and, in the case of General Gibson (Jeffrey Wright), purely unhinged, spouting off seemingly random babble during a speech. Asteroid City does not just mine its drama from politics and conspiracy theories—there is a very real human element present in the story. Perhaps no one character better embodies this than photographer Augie Steenbeck, played by Anderson regular Jason Schwartzman . Schwartzman has been in many of Anderson’s movies, and here the director gets what might be one of Schwartzman’s best performances. Augie has been a distant father to his children, and when their mother dies, he finds himself suddenly saddled with four kids and no real clue as to what he is doing. Augie bonds with actress Midge Campbell, played by Scarlett Johansson , but this relationship brings no real solace. Augie is truly alone, and Schwartzman perfectly captures his melancholic nature. Schwartzman & Johansson as Augie & Midge Schwartzman is joined by a host of stars from Anderson’s seemingly growing stable of actors. Wes Anderson’s movies are always huge ensemble pieces, and Asteroid City is no different. Anderson regulars Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Wright, and Adrien Brody are joined by several newcomers to Anderson’s world, including Maya Hawke, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Steve Carrell, Stephen Park, and Scarlett Johansson. Johansson in particular stands out as the aforementioned Midge Campbell; as Midge, Johansson channels Marilyn Monroe, right down to her voice and mannerisms. Science fiction is new ground for Anderson, and here he manages to employ tropes of the genre to tell a great story. The movie is steeped in the UFO lore of the 1950s, and Anderson successfully recreates this era, giving viewers an idealized version of 1955, with jet packs and disintegrator rays. Asteroid City downplays the Cold War paranoia that gripped the United States at the time, opting instead to focus more on the political than the personal. Now, 27 years into his career, Wes Anderson has firmly established himself as an American filmmaking institution. He has a distinct style unlike any other director working in America, and in Asteroid City he uses his trademark style to tell a fun science fiction story with dark and melancholic overtones. Asteroid City is currently available to stream exclusively on Peacock and to rent or buy on Video On Demand and Apple Movies. Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, but they're far outnumbered by comic books and the smell of rich mahogany lingering in the air. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Ritual Killer < Back Cole Hauser and Morgan Freeman Team Up to Take Down Evil Keeley Brooks Mar 9, 2023 Share The Ritual Killer Buckle up, film fans, and fret no longer, Cole Hauser fans. Just because Yellowstone isn’t giving us our weekly Rip fix at the moment does not mean you can’t get it elsewhere. (wink) Today’s your lucky day because Hauser has a new movie dropping in select theaters and On Demand this week, and he’s still not taking any bullshit as he stares down the face of evil in a mystical crime action-thriller called The Ritual Killer . The official trailer (below) released in February 2023 by Screen Media, and as you can see, it has a very ominous True Detective kind of vibe. Hauser is a detective on the brink of retirement and a father grieving the death of his daughter. He’s on the hunt for a serial killer who has already claimed the lives of two innocent girls, and with no leads to go on, he approaches anthropology professor and African Studies expert in ancient cultures and their rituals Professor Mackles, played by the legendary Morgan Freeman. Together they work to find this mysterious murderer practicing the ancient magic of Muti by using ancient rituals to kill people and thereby gain power. But he isn’t just killing people in the United States; he’s also claiming victims across Europe, which makes him an international criminal—an extremely agile, swift, and calculated one at that. The film explores the dark and sinister world of said serial killer, as well as the secrets of the anthropology professor. In addition to its star leads, the flick also features Peter Stormare ( Fargo ), former NFL player Vernon Davis ( Chariot ), Franco-American actress Murielle Hilaire, Brian Kurlander ( Dopesick ), and Luke Stratte-McClure ( Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse ). Directed by George Gallo, who scripted Bad Boys and The Whole Ten Yards , the story dances the line between reality and madness, sanity and insanity, as Detective Boyd is forced to step inside the mind of the killer to outsmart him and take him down. ScreenRant acquired an exclusive clip from The Ritual Killer , which I have lovingly included here for all of you. In it, we see Det. Boyd chatting with his partner Det. Maria Kersch (Hilaire), who has her own questions for him about a recent arrest gone wrong. However, before she can probe too deeply into how Boyd handled himself in that situation, the pair get called out to a horrific crime scene. As Boyd views the cut-up body of a young teenage girl, it’s clear he’ll stop at nothing to take down the monster who committed such a gruesome, evil act. But he won’t be able to do it alone, and that’s where Morgan Freeman comes in. And because I'm just awesome and love doing this stuff, I found another clip to share with you, which features some action as Detective Boyd is out hunting, then chasing the killer (Vernon Davis), who is pretty damn quick with a knife in a fight as he takes out a few cops before escaping Boyd’s grasp. For the deets on Freeman’s character and the down-low on all his secrets, you’ll have to watch the movie. The Ritual Killer hits theaters and Video On Demand on March 10, 2023. *Side note: Also releasing in theaters the same day is the highly anticipated sixth installment of Scream , which I absolutely love. Even the crappy installments. I'm just a Ghostface fan, I suppose, but not in the murderous way. Critics are already calling it the best installment in the series with heart-pounding thrills and horrific Ghostface shenanigans. I know I can’t wait. Enjoy your weekend, my friends. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

One documentary every dog lover should see < Back Review: Old Friends, A Dogumentary Shaun Corley Jun 27, 2023 Share One documentary every dog lover should see About a decade ago, in a moment of foolhardiness, I agreed to foster a senior dog with an eye towards adoption. Within days I realized I was in over my head, but I stuck it out. However, as the days turned into weeks, I came to the understanding I was not going to be able to keep her long term. I needed options. And that is when a friend told me to check out Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary in Mount Juliet, Tennessee. I did as they suggested, and I was kind of blown away by what I saw. It was a sanctuary. For senior dogs. I had never heard of such a thing before. I also noticed right away their social media game was on point, with not only regular updates but also cute little insights into the dogs themselves. Eventually, the senior dog I was fostering went back to her original human, and she lived out the rest of her life in comfort and peace. I was relieved at the outcome of the situation—and it created a permanent place in my heart for Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary. Now, this wonderful organization is at the heart of acclaimed documentary filmmaker Gorman Bechard’s new film Old Friends, A Dogumentary . The film is the follow-up to Bechard’s 2020 effort Seniors, a dogumentary . Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary is the brainchild of Zina and Michael Goodin, who still oversee the Sanctuary to this day. After volunteering with various Golden Retriever rescues, the Goodins realized there was a desperate need for a place for senior dogs to land and spend their golden years. More often than not, senior dogs are overlooked in shelters and rescues in favor of younger dogs. As a result, many are euthanized when they still have so much love to give, and Old Friends is working to correct that. Old Friends has been in existence since 2010, and they received non-profit status two years later. As the organization has grown in size and scope, they have continually needed to upgrade their facilities, culminating in the opening of GrandPaw’s Gardens. To celebrate this milestone, Old Friends held a parade in Mount Juliet. Staff members and community volunteers came together to transport nearly 70 senior dogs a mile down the road, from their old facility to GrandPaw’s Gardens. It was a huge step forward for Old Friends, which has grown from a two-person operation into an internet sensation. Gorman Bechard’s excellent documentary recounts these events, using the parade to GrandPaw’s Gardens as a framing story. Bechard not only interviews Michael and Zina, but also many of the staff, veterinarians, and technicians. Talking with the Goodins and those who have worked under them, a viewer can see the passion all parties have for senior dog rescue. Michael and Zina Goodin, photo from The Tennessean Of course, Bechard also focuses on the dogs, too. Old Friends has a massive digital footprint, regularly sharing updates on Facebook , Instagram , and other social media platforms. Most of these updates are pictures of the senior dogs enjoying their new lives at the Sanctuary. But beyond just pictures, the social media team inserts cute and cool captions with the photos that allow you to get to know the dogs. Perhaps the best-known dog at the Sanctuary was Leo. Found in an alleyway behind a beauty salon in Nashville, Leo would become the face of Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary; when he passed, the Sanctuary received flowers from all over the world. Leo, photo from OFSDS Facebook Bechard also, at the documentary’s end, gives tributes to the dogs who passed during production. It’s a very sweet gesture. The documentary also discusses Old Friends’ social media team, a group central to the Sanctuary and their mission. The cute pictures of the dogs have helped increase awareness of the Sanctuary, which in turn leads to more donations which go to help their mission. The documentary reveals that a large part of their donations come from folks donating through social media, particularly birthday fundraisers. I did this once myself. Long-time Old Friends’ fans will love this documentary. Bechard takes viewers to the Sanctuary itself, showing the wonderful people who have dedicated their lives to helping senior dogs enjoy a better quality of life. Seeing them interact with the dogs is a joy to behold. Those new to the world of Old Friends are in for a treat as well. Old Friends, A Dogumentary is currently streaming on Tubi. (And a little birdie told us you can also find it on YouTube!) Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books but they're far outnumbered by comic books and the smell of rich mahogany lingering in the air. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

New Movies Releasing in Theaters This Month < Back Theater Tripping in November Keeley Brooks Nov 2, 2022 Share New Movies Releasing in Theaters This Month Well, you don’t need my big mouth to tell you that new movies are releasing in theaters this month, but you might need it in case you aren’t sure what all’s coming or in case you don't feel like searching. Allow me to enlighten you, my sweet little movie-loving readers. Armageddon Time – Starring Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins, and Jeremy Strong (HBO’s Succession ), this Focus Features’ coming-of-age story takes place in New York City in the 80s. It’s about a 12-year-old Jewish boy whose rebellious streak gets both him and a Black public-school classmate into serious trouble. Directed by Ad Astra’s James Gray. In theaters Nov. 4 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Perhaps the biggest-title release this month, or the most anticipated, is the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever . One of the biggest films of all time, the Black Panther franchise underwent a restructuring after the 2020 passing of its beloved star, Chadwich Boseman. The plot sees Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. Directed by BP director Ryan Coogler. In theaters Nov. 11 She Said – Another heavy hitter, this Universal Pictures drama tells the true story of the two New York Times journalists, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, whose 2017 investigative reporting brought down the perverted Hollywood producing mogul Harvey Weinstein. Stars Carey Mulligan ( Promising Young Woman ) and Zoe Kazan ( Clickbait , Ruby Sparks ). In theaters Nov. 18 The Menu – Who doesn’t love a good psychological thriller, especially with Anya Taylor-Joy ( Split , Peaky Blinders )? This one sees her as a select guest at an uber-exclusive restaurant run by a sadistic chef, played by the infamously creepy-when-he-wants-to-be Ralph Fiennes ( Red Dragon , The King’s Man ), who has more than just a meal planned for his customers. Directed by Mark Mylod ( Succession ). In theaters Nov. 18 Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery – If you loved 2019’s Knives Out , chances are you’ll also love its follow-up. By far the “widest theatrical release in Netflix history” (as reported by Box Office Pro), this mystery-comedy sequel sees Daniel Craig return to the role of Detective Benoit Blanc. Tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Det. Blanc is put on the case. Also stars Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Ethan Hawke, Dave Bautista, Serena Williams, Leslie Odom Jr., and Angela Lansbury, among others. In theaters November 23 FOR ONE WEEK ONLY; Airs on Netflix Dec. 23 Strange World – Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest feature is a trippy little fantasy about a family who gets more than they bargained for while exploring a strange world. Featuring the voices of Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid. Directed by Don Hall ( Big Hero 6 , Moana ). In theaters Nov. 23 Devotion – A historical action drama starring Glen Powell (“Hangman” from Top Gun: Maverick ) and Jonathan Majors (HBO’s Lovecraft Country ) as a pair of fighter pilots—one black, one white—during the Korean War. If you saw TG:M, chances are you loved Hangman, so I wouldn’t balk at seeing this one! In theaters Nov. 23 The Fabelmans – A semi-autobiographical tale of a boy and aspiring filmmaker growing up in 1950s suburbia. Directed and co-written by Spielberg, this is his first feature film writing credit since 2001’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence . Features Michelle Williams as the mother, Paul Dano as the father, Seth Rogen, and newcomers Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord and Gabrielle LaBelle ( The Predator ). In theaters Nov. 23 Bones and All – Starring Taylor Russell ( Waves ) and, one of my absolute favorite actors to watch, Timothée Chalamet, this film follows two young lovers in 1980s America … who are both cannibals. Directed by Luca Guadiagnino ( Call Me By Your Name ), this genre-defying title is based on the novel by Camille DeAngelis and co-stars Mark Rylance ( The Outfit , The BFG ). In theaters Nov. 23 www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

A moderately entertaining creature feature with storms, flood waters, and hangry alligators < Back Film Review: The Flood Keeley Brooks Jul 12, 2023 Share A moderately entertaining creature feature with storms, flood waters, and hangry alligators Recently, I had the chance to screen the upcoming horror thriller flick The Flood . Written by Chad Law ( Section 8 ) and Josh Ridgway ( Howlers ), the film is directed by former die section heavy metal vocalist Brandon Slagle ( The Black Dahlia Haunting ). The gist is this: In a small town in Southwest Louisiana, the local sheriff must lead some prisoners through a daring jail break during a massive hurricane in rising flood waters infested with a horde of hungry alligators. While The Flood presents us with an interesting scenario and is moderately entertaining, it's just another creature feature installment that falls short on delivering a solid horror movie full of gore, thrills, and chills. Starring Nicky Whelan ( Maneater ) and Casper Van Dien ( The Most Dangerous Game ), The Flood follows a federal transport van carrying five prisoners and their guards. With increasing winds and rising flood waters, they find themselves in need of a safe place to ride out the storm. In the tiny fictional town of Lutree, it seems the local jail is the only option. As the prisoners take shelter in the holding cells, the sheriff and a few deputies secure the building and discover not only are flood waters pouring in at the sublevel, but they’re also alive with hungry alligators. As water continues infiltrating the building and rising, gators make their way to the main floor, trapping everyone they don’t eat first in the holding cell room. As a result, the sheriff, the prisoners, and a few guards must make their “ daring jail break ” to survive. from Saban Films Oh, and somewhere in there tucked amongst all of that is some weird, flirty relationship between the sheriff and a certain prisoner, which doesn’t really function as anything other than an underdeveloped subplot of awkwardness. With Hurricane Gustavo bearing down on the city, conditions worsen as survivors struggle to make their way through the ceiling to the roof so they can escape the hungry horde. I don’t know about you, but I hardly consider four alligators to be a horde. A handful, maybe, but definitely not a horde. While the plot is decent, the film falls short in providing us with a solidly fleshed out storyline full of interesting dialogue and subplots—even subtext. And it definitely lacks in thrilling us with any real tension and horror, especially like what we saw with Alexandre Aja’s 2019 hit Crawl . The acting was okay, but it could’ve been better, and the effects are pretty low budget. The characters aren’t very memorable either, short of a smart-mouthed prisoner with an attempted Cajun accent and the town sheriff, who is a woman (Nicky Whelan). I have no problem with her being a woman—I love this, in fact. I just don’t particularly care for the way she is portrayed. Let’s be realistic, here: This movie is set in Southwest Louisiana. As someone who was born, raised, and lived most of her life in South Louisiana until recently, I can say with certainty that while hurricanes, flood waters, and alligators are a reality down there, sheriffs being hot babes with big knockers, constantly perfect dewy makeup, and hair always wet enough to look like a Sports Illustrated model on location are not. I’m sorry, guys, but I’ve never seen it. That’s not to say a beautiful, big-boobed babe can’t be a town sheriff; she absolutely can, and more power to her for that. But there isn’t much about this town sheriff that’s realistic or authoritatively official. from Saban Films I’m not downplaying Nicky Whelan at all--she wasn’t half bad. She makes a solid effort that would’ve best been met with a better supporting cast and a better fleshed-out narrative. Also, more effort could’ve been put into executing this story beyond just making sure she looked sexy in every scene. The scenario could’ve used more hangry gators, more urgency and chaos where the hurricane and jail break were concerned, more fear and desperation from the characters fighting to escape hangry beasts, and more action and gore in the gators’ sneak attacks—some of which were really good. I imagine had the filmmakers received a bigger budget, we’d have seen a different film. This felt rushed and centered more on a hot babe leading a group of men to safety instead of on escaping death in a raging hurricane with flood waters full of angry alligators. The Flood should have taken a bigger cue from Crawl on how to successfully create a horror thriller that depicts a destructively intensifying storm with flood waters full of bloodthirsty threats. In not doing so, they missed an opportunity to create a measurable creature feature to add to the queue. The storm here didn’t really seem that intense at all beyond the flood waters, and the four gators they held looked more like the alligator blow-up rafts found at Wal-Mart than actual hangry creatures. Despite all its weaknesses, there were a few moments that got my blood flowing that will get yours going, too. The beginning of the movie isn’t half bad and does a good job of setting the tone, and there’s a pretty good scene that involves narrowly escaping the jaws of a pissed-off gator, but overall, the movie ended predictably and quite abruptly, and it was rather anticlimactic with no real message, other than if you're down in Louisiana when a hurricane hits, be cautious of any flood waters. Then again, that's kind of Saban Films' thing: B-horror movies that fall short on hitting the mark but are still somewhat entertaining if you're bored. This watch is probably best left as a rainy-day rental or stream. For a more in-depth review of The Flood , click here . The Flood hits theaters everywhere in the U.S., on Apple TV, and on Video On Demand Friday, July 14. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Highly Anticipated Sequels Coming Soon (and Sooner) < Back Oh Fudge: The Soft Glow of Electric Sex + Tornadoes Keeley Brooks Oct 20, 2022 Share Highly Anticipated Sequels Coming Soon (and Sooner) I’ve always loved movies … ever since, I don’t know, Goonies and Star Wars , Mad Max and Conan the Barbarian ... The Neverending Story , Return to Oz ... they all had my attention. My obsession didn’t really kick in, though, until the early 2000s when a friend introduced me to a slew of titles in his collection, then Lord of the Rings burst through the door. Ever since, my need to own every title I love grows stronger and stronger with each new year, and there are just too many favorites to narrow down. I can say that one of my earliest favorite movies was just about everyone’s favorite at some point—the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story . As far back as I can remember, I have watched this movie every time it comes on TV. And now, in these glorious digital days, I can let it roll nonstop with no interruptions whenever I want. Now, on the off-chance you know nothing of this movie, allow me : it’s a holiday classic from the early ‘80s about a kid in the ‘40s who spends most of his time dodging a town bully and dreaming of ways to manifest his ultimate Christmas gift, a Red Ryder air rifle bb gun, which everyone just laughs about then says, “You’ll shoot your eye out [with that thing]!” We also get to experience the first time said nine-year-old kid drops the F-bomb in front of his cranky, super conservative father - the one from whom he heard it in the first place. Then, we get to see the aftermath unfold and it is so relatable. On all fronts, throughout the whole movie. No one will ever think of bunnies or weird gifts from strange aunts or even Santa Claus the same way again. You can imagine my excitement, then, when I first learned of HBOMax’s plans for A Christmas Story sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas . For real. After all these years. The trailer dropped earlier this week and featured the first footage of Peter Billingsley in his return to his iconic role as Ralphie Parker. Check it out here: The film follows Ralphie as an adult in the 1970s, who returns home to Indiana to his house on Cleveland Street with his own kids to deliver to them a magical Christmas like the one he had growing up. He reconnects with friends, and it is confirmed that Zack Ward—the actor who played town bully Scut Farkus—is reprising his role as well. Thing is, he’s now a police officer. Also returning is Ian Petrella, who played Ralphie’s younger brother Randy. While home, Ralphie also reconciles the passing of his Old Man and sows the seeds for the origins of the beloved holiday classic. A Christmas Story Christmas drops on HBOMax on November 17 , and I’m sure the lamps emanating the soft glow of electric sex in the window and triple dog dares amongst kids will be plentiful. And hysterical. And just in time to kick off your 2022 holiday season. Another one of my favorites from the 20th century I literally just learned is getting a sequel—and which my husband constantly laughs at me for loving—is the 1996 epic disaster blockbuster Twister , starring Helen Hunt, the late Bill Paxton, the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jami Gertz, Cary Elwes … need I keep going? Plus, it’s about tornadoes! What I love about movies is their ability to (or not to) convince me that what’s happening is real. How real does everything look, from sets to blood to special effects, even accents? How far can one take it? Can a movie make me forget it’s just a movie ? I love it all! This tornado blockbuster allowed me to experience, in some way, what it might be like to live through a tornado—not that I have ANY interest whatsoever in finding out in real life, but Nature just fascinates me. A few days ago, entertainment news outlet headlines began surfacing with confirmation a Twister sequel is, in fact, in the works. According to Deadline Hollywood, Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment are meeting with directors hoping for a spring start on the big-scale sequel, which is to be called Twisters . The Dish reports that Steven Spielberg himself flipped for the script, which was written by The Revenant scribe Mark L. Smith, noting, “his enthusiasm provided the impetus for the fast-tracked film.” While a director hasn’t yet been nailed down, it is reported that those also under the helm of consideration include Oscar-winning Free Solo directors Jimmy Chin & Elizabeth Chai Vaserhelyi; Dan Trachtenberg, whom you’ll know from the recently terrific Predator reinvention AND the Hulu movie Prey and, before that, 10 Cloverfield Lane ; and Travis Knight, the Laika chief whose recent animated films were Missing Link and Kubo and the Two Strings . The hope is to bring Helen Hunt back and have the drama focusing on her daughter, whom she had with the character played by the late Bill Paxton and who has caught the storm-chasing bug her parents had. That’s all the deets we know for now but be sure to stay tuned! You know I consume all kinds of content and will you keep as posted as I possibly can! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection < Back Chilly Scenes of Winter: The Cult Classic Returns from Obscurity Shaun Corley Jul 27, 2023 Share Finally getting the treatment it deserves in a gorgeous new edition from Criterion Collection Chilly Scenes of Winter , directed by Joan Micklin Silver , is a romantic comedy—of sorts. On the surface, it has all the trappings of a rom-com: Man meets woman and quickly falls in love with her; the woman does not return the affections, leading the man to try and win her over. This plot has been done to death in movies, but Chilly Scenes of Winter elevates itself above the crowd by subverting tropes every step of the way. Hard to come by, the film has been released in a gorgeous new edition from the esteemed Criterion Collection. Chilly Scenes of Winter , based on the Ann Beattie novel of the same name, focuses on love, marriage, and 1970’s lifestyles. The film had a somewhat checkered production history. As recounted on one of the disc’s splendid special features, producers and actors Mark Metcalf ( National Lampoon’s Animal House ), Amy Robinson ( Julie & Julia ), and Griffin Dunne ( This Is Us ) purchased the film rights to the novel. Micklin, who had read the novel and heard the trio had procured the film rights, asked to direct, and they said yes. Released initially through United Artists in 1979 under the less-than-creative title Head Over Heels , the film was a commercial flop. Part of this can be attributed to United Artist’s indifference to the film, as well as meddling from studio executives. United Artists also were not sure how to market the film, running an ad campaign that portrayed it as a zany romance story—and it is anything but. However, in 1982, United Artists—through their new United Artists Classics line—decided to give Chilly Scenes of Winter another try. The film’s original producers, as well as Micklin, were given the chance to make the movie they wanted but were unable to in 1979, and all they had to do was cut the original ending. This new version of the movie was much more successful with critics and has become a cult film. Boutique label Twilight Time released a Blu-ray edition in 2017, which is now out of print; the film has never streamed on any major services either. Thankfully, the Criterion Collection has come to the rescue, saving Chilly Scenes of Winter from obscurity by giving it the loving treatment it deserves. On the back of the package, Criterion calls Chilly Scenes of Winter an “anti-romantic comedy,” and that is an apt description. Charles (John Heard, of Big and Home Alone ), is a civil servant living in Salt Lake City. He meets Laura (Mary Beth Hurt, of Lady in the Water ) while at work and becomes smitten with her, as she is temporarily separated from her husband. Over the next few weeks, Charles and Laura develop a relationship that comes to an end when Laura decides to return to her husband Ox, played by producer Mark Metcalf. Charles cannot accept the relationship is over, or that it was even much to start with, and becomes obsessed with her to a point modern audiences may find a little uneasy to accept. It is a testament to Heard’s acting that viewers can still find a shred of sympathy for Charles, even when he is clearly in the wrong. Part of Chilly Scenes of Winter ’s appeal is that practically everyone has been in a situation where they were in love with someone who did not reciprocate. Charles is in love with Laura; Laura, on the other hand, is still uncertain about her place in the world after leaving her husband. Laura is confused, as is Charles—he cannot see their relationship is doomed from the start. Mary Beth Hurt plays Laura perfectly and viewers can see, even in their most loving and passionate moments, a spark of uncertainty about her, as if she is not 100 percent into this relationship. The film’s original ending skewed this ambiguity, opting for something more palatable to mainstream audiences. When Chilly Scenes of Winter was re-released in 1982, the original ending was cut, giving the film a still somehow more satisfying conclusion. Criterion has included the original ending as part of its supplementary features, allowing viewers to make up their own minds on which one is better. Other supplements on the disc include new interviews with Chilly Scenes of Winter ’s production team, as well as a 2005 interview with Mecklin. The two features complement each other well and are a joy to watch, as the creative teams behind the movie share their tragedies and triumphs working on it. The film was clearly a labor of love on the part of everyone in front and behind the camera, and it shows both in the finished product and the disc’s supplemental features. Forty-four years after its first release, Chilly Scenes of Winter continues to resonate with audiences. Its themes are universal, and they continually topple tropes of the romantic comedy genre. Its DNA can be found in movies such as High Fidelity, Her , and many other subversive romantic comedies. Long hard to find, the Criterion Collection has brought it back into print in an amazing new edition, which you can find here . Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, but they're far outnumbered by comic books and the smell of rich mahogany lingering in the air. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

New Titles in Theaters and On Demand < Back New Movies Out This Week Keeley Brooks Oct 21, 2022 Share New Titles in Theaters and On Demand Here's your weekly list of what's new in theaters and for rent! Watch away, my friends. And remember to eat your popcorn with your mouth closed. Nobody likes a smacker. Enjoy! In Theaters: Black Adam – Dwayne Johnson stars as Teth Adam, who was bestowed the almighty powers of the gods in ancient Kahndaq. After using these powers for vengeance, Adam was imprisoned and became Black Adam. Nearly 5,000 years have passed, and Black Adam has gone from man to myth to legend. Now free, his unique form of justice birthed by rage is challenged by modern-day heroes who form the Justice Society: Hawkman, Dr. Fate, Atom Smasher, and Cyclone. Ticket to Paradise – Julia Roberts and George Clooney are a divorced couple who teams up and travels to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago. American Murderer – Starring Ryan Phillippe and Tom Pelphrey (Outer Range), this film is based on the true story of Jason Derek Brown, a charismatic con man turned party king who bankrolls his luxurious lifestyle through a series of scams. When his funds run low and his past catches up with him, he plots his most elaborate scheme yet and, in the process, becomes the FBI’s most unlikely—and elusive—top ten fugitive. Also available to rent. The Banshees of Inisherin – Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson lead this film about the relationship between two buddies. On a remote island off the coast of Ireland, Padraic is devastated when his buddy Colm suddenly puts an end to their lifelong friendship. With help from his sister and a troubled young islander, Padraic sets out to repair the damaged relationship by any means necessary. However, as Colm’s resolve only strengthens, he soon delivers an ultimatum that leads to shocking consequences. Also available to rent. Slayers – Vampire slayer Elliot Jones made it his life’s mission to take revenge on the bloodsuckers who killed his teenage daughter. After years of tracking them, he’s finally reached their secret and hidden base. To get to them, though, he’ll need help from a motley crew of social media superstars who’ve been invited to party at a compound that’s also a lair for ancient vampires. Starring Abigail Breslin, Malin Ackerman, and Thomas Jane Wendell & Wild – A stop-motion horror comedy directed by Henry Selick ( Coraline , James and the Giant Peach ) and from a screenplay co-written with Jordan Peele ( Us , Nope ). Two devious demon brothers have to face their arch-enemy with the help of nun Sister Helly, who is notorious for expelling demons. However, the brothers are not only plagued by her but also by her altar boys. New Titles On Demand: Bros https://youtu.be/BQIeBB9XMe8 Bitcon https://youtu.be/HwbIhXrJhIw Beyond the Neon https://youtu.be/p9S-QtP9PkE Hockeyland https://youtu.be/HC15J7GxPuo The Loneliest Boy in the World https://youtu.be/zBhGbSrixtE Kingslayer https://youtu.be/z5PxQVi9SfA Where Are You? https://youtu.be/_urNSZdg42w Detective Knight: Rogue https://youtu.be/0vJXSQoysXE Dangerous Game: The Legacy Murders https://youtu.be/6303iTtM-mk www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Go to the Theater or Stay Home and Stream? < Back The Great Entertainment Debate C.G. Smith Nov 2, 2022 Share Go to the Theater or Stay Home and Stream? I’ve been a fan of going to the movies since I was a young child. I have vivid memories of going to see films like Disney’s The Jungle Book , Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back , Return of the Jedi , and The Dark Crystal as a boy. The feelings of taking a giant bucket of buttery popcorn into that once sacred space and finding a good seat were magical. When the lights went down and the big theater speakers began booming, my eyes would light up, ready to be taken away to whatever fantastical universe this movie would bring. It was glorious. Not only was it entertaining but also it was a way to share something special and new with my family, and it gave us so much to discuss after the lights came back up and we made our way home. Today we have the option to stream most movies at home, and a lot of us are doing just that. With our massive televisions that remind me of the big screen walls from the novel "Fahrenheit 451 " and our fancy soundbars and multi-speaker sound systems, we can enjoy the films we want to in the comfort of our own homes. The popcorn might not be as good, but it doesn’t cost a few weeks’ worth of allowance either. When studios began releasing movies for streaming at home, often on the same schedule as those in the theaters, I wondered why anyone would still go out to see a movie when they could just stay home in their pajamas, curl up with their loved ones or pets, and for the price of their monthly subscription enjoy the same product that others were braving the elements (and COVID and other movie goers) to see. Surely the theater experience was transitioning into being a thing of the past, right? Box office receipts were already declining and then took a massive hit when the Covid-19 pandemic swept across the world in early 2020. Even though movie theaters in 2022 have seen business come back to nearly double the 2021 numbers, people are still often choosing streaming at home over the traditional movie theater experience. Why? Is it the ever-rising costs to go out and see a movie? It damn near costs you $30 just to get in the door, let alone what you spend on food and drink. Or, is it due to the ease of pushing a button at home and starting (or pausing) the film from your couch? Is it the fact that you won’t have a pile of human garbage tapping the back of your seat with their foot? I asked friends and strangers this very question to try and understand where fans of movies are at these days. Here are a few responses. “ I like to go to the movies. It’s the whole going-out experience I enjoy—the smell of the popcorn, the big theater sound, the sense of being a part of something,” said one woman I spoke to. “ I will always prefer going to a movie theater over staying at home .” The answers to this query are diverse and seem to depend on the availability and quality of the theaters around those answering, as well as the film itself. For instance, here in New Orleans, most theaters serve alcohol along with the standard sodas, popcorn, and candies. I remember my first movie theater experience here when my wife and I went to see the special screenings of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight . Upon walking into the big AMC Elmwood theater lobby, I look to my left and see a fully stocked bar! I was truly in the city where I belonged. Another time when we went downtown to see The Rise of Skywalker , we were able to order a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine. Other cities are, of course, not New Orleans and don’t have full bar setups or charcuterie boards … not that these amenities make one theater necessarily superior or not to the average audience member, but it does play a factor into the going-out experience as a whole. At least for some people. “ I like streaming because I can watch programming on my own schedule,” says entertainment podcaster Scott Waltner. “ I’m more willing to take a risk on a film or series than I would going to the theater. Blockbuster franchises will continue to drive people to the theater, but streaming services allow studios the chance to tell different stories and I really like having those options .” Many people I have spoken to say it really depends on the movie. They prefer to go experience a big blockbuster MCU action movie in a fancy theater while the newest Wes Anderson film might work better at home. Some people say they just prefer the overall ambience and feel of an actual movie theater, while others say they would rather stay in and watch in the comfort of their home. Some are just hooked on the entire experience of going to see a movie in a big theater, but overall many people I have spoken with say if the movie is grand in scale, they are more apt to go to a theater to see it rather than trust their home system to present it faithfully, but that for most movies, they prefer to stay home and stream it. I suppose the big question now is, is the experience of going out to an actual movie theater worth it to you, the viewer, more so than the comfort of staying home for that particular movie? These are questions we must answer ourselves, and ones that the Hollywood film industry have surely been pondering. Our screens will keep getting larger and might someday actually be like those described in "Fahrenheit 451," but the desire to get out of our homes and experience something in a communal setting will continue to drive most of us off the couch and out of the house for the foreseeable future. Whichever you prefer, I nonetheless hope your movie-watching experiences are just as magical as mine are. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Ever wonder what happens when a bear does blow? < Back Elizabeth Banks Successfully Delivers Bear on Cocaine Keeley Brooks Apr 17, 2023 Share Ever wonder what happens when a bear does blow? If you haven’t seen Cocaine Bear since its theatrical release in February, you’re in luck, because the drug-fueled horror flick inspired by a true story recently hit Video On Demand and, this past Friday, Peacock. If you've been wondering if it’s worth a watch, it 100% is. Here’s why. The dark, R-rated horror-comedy is loosely based on the true story of a 175-pound three-or four-year-old male black bear living in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia in 1985, who stumbled across three duffel bags full of Colombian cocaine and dives right in, consuming almost 77 pounds of the drug, then died within 45 minutes from cerebral hemorrhaging, respiratory failure, hyperthermia, renal failure, heart failure, and stroke, according to Bearwise . In the movie, the bear goes on a coke-fueled rampage and kills eight people. Like an addict in society, this addict in the wild will stop at nothing to get his next fix, regardless of what it entails. credit: Universal Pictures In real life, it all started with drug smuggler (and former narcotics detective) Andrew Thornton II, played in the film by Matthew Rhys ( The Americans) . In the 80s, Thornton was part of a huge, illegal drug ring operating out of Lexington, Kentucky. On Sept. 9, 1985, Thornton and a bodyguard flew a Cessna plane into Colombia and picked up 400 kilograms (roughly 880 pounds) of cocaine to smuggle back into the U.S. They returned to the U.S. on Sept. 11 and all was going well, until they got spooked after hearing on the radio the FBI was following them. With haste, Thornton began dumping duffel bags of blow out of the plane as they neared the state line between Georgia and Tennessee, then he and his bodyguard prepared to parachute safely to the ground near Knoxville and get away. The bodyguard landed safely and reportedly walked into a grocery store to call a cab so he could meet an accomplice nearby, then head north to Kentucky. Thornton did not. The movie shows us he was likely coked up on Colombian blow, put the plane on autopilot, strapped about 80 pounds of cocaine to his body, then prepared to jump … right to his death. Officials speculated the extra weight was too much for the parachute to deploy and carry the load safely to the ground. Thornton’s body was recovered in the driveway of a home in Knoxville, and the plane subsequently crashed in the mountains of North Carolina. Directed by actress and filmmaker Elizabeth Banks ( Pitch Perfect 2 , Zack and Miri Make a Porno ), the film is very successful as an action-comedy with a perfect touch of horror. Banks makes some creative decisions in fleshing out the storyline and introducing subplots with characters each affected by the bear’s drug-induced rage. Matching her Americans counterpart is Keri Russell, who plays a mother desperately searching for her kids in the Chattahoochee Forest after she learns they skipped school for the day to go hiking. She heads right to the ranger’s station and meets tough-as-nails park ranger Liz, played by the classically talented Margo Martindale ( Justified ), and her goofball trusty sidekick, wildlife protection representative Peter, played by the very funny Jesse Tyler Ferguson of Modern Family fame. Once they find her son terrified and up in a tree, they then come face to face with the drugged-up bear, who attacks Liz. Still alive, she is hell-bent on taking down the beast destroying her park. She and Peter's paired personalities intertwine organically to encompass the intelligent, devilishly sarcastic and humorous, I-don’t-give-a-shit energy that is Elizabeth Banks, and together they provide some much-needed levity at opportune moments racing with action, adrenaline, and fear. credit: Universal Pictures Enhancing those moments are Banks’s smart selections of 80’s music that accompany different scenes, which remind us that while the situation at hand is gruesomely horrific and anxiety inducing, it’s also completely ridiculous and warrants laughing at the absurdity of it all. Banks has a way of injecting her humorous style into the situation right from the film’s opening. We see the bear menacing and growling after having just mauled a hiker before being playfully distracted by a cute little butterfly. There are other moments as well, like when Matthew Rhys, who plays smuggler Andrew Thornton, goes to jump out of the plane but carelessly smacks his head on the lip of the door opening and knocks himself out cold, which prevents him from deploying his parachute in time, suggesting that his carelessness is what got him killed, not the extra 80 pounds of weight he was carrying. Consequently, he slams into the earth’s surface and kicks off a mystery that spread between Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky. There’s even a great little moment where the bear sneaks up behind three guys also looking for the duffel bags. They freeze instantly and drop to the ground in stillness, then as the bear moves closer to them, he passes out right on top of one of them. credit: Universal Pictures And I'm here to tell you that shit is funny. Thinking about it still makes me giggle. So, how is the bear revived? With cocaine, of course! As soon as a brick of coke falls from the back pocket of the guy in the white shirt and lands on the ground near the bear, powder disperses into the air and awakens the beast, who is quickly back on his thirsty mission to quite literally, well, feed the bear . There’s even a fantastic action scene surrounding an attempted rescue at the park ranger’s station. While Liz escapes the first bear attack, she isn’t so lucky with the second, which happens at inside her station. When she walks in, she finds some local troublemakers, who are actually in there stealing from her, but she thinks they’re hiding from the bear. As she gets her gun, the bear shows up and attacks again, this time kicking off a wild shooting spree from Liz, who hits everything but the bear, including one of the troublemakers. It’s very reminiscent of a summer camp slasher scene with blood flying everywhere and splattering on the walls of the cabin and mauled bodies. Dead bodies. And here Banks makes creative use of the camera in how scenes are cut which also drives that campy feel. When the paramedics arrive for what they think is to help with a possible concussion, they’re met with a blood bath, remnants of human bodies, and a very wounded but barely alive Liz. While one paramedic, Beth, gets Liz to the ambulance, the bear pins the other paramedic down under a door--its bloodied teeth and mouth dripping with saliva and guts as it growls in paramedic Tom’s face. Tom manages to smack the bear with his medical bag, which doesn’t phase the beast because, well, it’s a damn coked-out bear. BUT, the last time the bear was hit with a duffel bag, it was filled with blow, so the bear becomes distracted by the potential to find more cocaine and follows the bag, which gives Tom a chance to escape. Outside, Beth has Liz strapped to a gurney, ambulance in idle, waiting for Tom. He comes running out, screaming for Beth to drive, and she does as he runs behind and jumps in at the last minute. But they’re still not safe. Coke Bear is right on their trail. Adding some levity, Depeche Mode’s hit “Just Can’t Get Enough” starts playing, and the chase is on. Beth franticly drives, Tom screams at her to go faster, and Liz screams at Tom to, “close the f**king door, you dumbass!"--a line Margo Martindale completely improvised, according to Decider . You just have to love Martindale in anything she does; she brings such force and attitude. Unfortunately, though, before Tom can close the doors, the bear takes a giant leap and lands in the back of the ambulance, destroying everyone inside. Ranger Liz—still strapped to a gurney—comes barreling out of the back, and the second the gurney hits the pavement, it flips over and Liz lands face down to experience the mother of all road rash scenarios. She does not survive. In an interview with Vulture , Banks says she had a specific inspiration for Martindale’s on-screen death: “You know how when you’re seven years old on your bike and you scrape your knee on the pavement? Everybody can relate to that feeling. So, I [wanted] one of these kills to be relatably horrifying." And it is. It’ll make you squirm and squint and bare your teeth while sucking in all the air from whatever room you're in. As for the bear, Banks knew it would only work if the audience believed the bear was real. She tells Variety , “It had to feel like a NatGeo documentary about a bear that did cocaine. It couldn’t be something silly. It couldn’t seem animated in any way.” And she is right. There are moments where you actually think the bear is real. He is very well and successfully designed by Peter Jackson's Weta FX. Banks, without a doubt, successfully establishes her own filmmaking voice with Cocaine Bear and its healthy balance of horror, action, and comedy (with a touch of drama), and it boasts the perfect amount of gore without exploiting it in all the violence, severed body parts, blood, and internal organs. Banks says she did some particularly graphic research of looking at actual animal attacks on humans. From Variety Magazine, “… it’s f**king gnarly as shit … I love gore. I grew up on ‘Evil Dead’. The gore is part of the fun of the ride. … I wanted to break down some of the mythology around what kinds of movies women are interested in making. For some bizarre reason, there are still executives in Hollywood who are like, ‘I don’t know if women can do technical stuff.’ There are literally people who are like, ‘Women don’t like math.’ It just persists.” In case you're interested, you can see the actual cocaine bear up close and personal. Its carcass was taxidermied and spent time on display in Georgia before winding up in the hands of outlaw country music star Waylan Jennings then onto the Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington. credit: Matt Stone, Courier Journal My recommendation? For a bloody horrifically funny good time, watch this movie. It’s well worth your time, if you’ve got a sense of humor. Check out the trailer and see. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches. Even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Unwelcome is Gremlins meets Straw Dogs and is rooted in tradition and mythology, infusing a creature feature with searing psychological horror. < Back Unwelcome: Film Review Shaun Corley Oct 16, 2023 Share Unwelcome is Gremlins meets Straw Dogs and is rooted in tradition and mythology, infusing a creature feature with searing psychological horror. The 2022 film Unwelcome mixes the real-world horrors of home invasions with a creature feature, and while the result can be a little uneven, it is still a satisfying watch. Directed by Jon Wright , who brought audiences Robot Overlords (2014) and Grabbers (2012), Unwelcome sets itself apart from other such movies by embracing 80’s style practical effects over CGI. Drawing on Irish folklore, Unwelcome was pitched by Wright as “ Gremlins meets Straw Dogs .” Unwelcome stars Hannah John-Kamen ( Ant-Man and the Wasp ) and Douglas Booth ( Great Expectations ) as Maya and Jamie, a young couple who are the victims of a brutal home invasion the night they learn Maya is pregnant. While Maya is unharmed in the invasion, Jamie is severely beaten. The trauma of the incident leads them to relocate to Ireland, where Jamie has just inherited his aunt’s old estate. Maya and Jamie are embraced by the locals—for the most part. The estate is in desperate need of repair, and the couple hire a family known as the Whelans to fix it up. credit: IMDb Colm Meaney as "Daddy" Whelan with Jamie & Maya (credit: IMDb) On their first night in the house, they are advised by local neighbor Maeve (Niamh Cusack, of The Tower ) to leave out a blood offering each night, to appease the “Redcaps.” Maya and Jamie dismiss Niamh’s warnings. The next day, the Whelan family arrives at the estate. “Daddy” Whelan (played to the hilt by Colm Meaney, of Hell on Wheels ) bullies his three grown children, played by Jamie-Lee O’Donnell ( Screw ), Kristian Nairn (Hodor, of Game of Thrones ) and Chris Walley ( The Last Voyage of Demeter ). The children, in turn, terrorize Maya and Jamie, starting by stealing small stuff from their house. Later, one of the children, Eoin (Nairn), tries to assault Maya, drawing the wrath of the Redcaps, who drag him away. Matters spiral out of control from there. Looking for his missing son, Daddy Whelan and his surviving brood ramp up their war against Maya and Jamie, ultimately culminating in another violent home invasion. All the while, the two must contend with the Redcaps and a legacy of evil that threatens to engulf them. The two stories collide in a brutal and unforgettable climax, ending on a truly horrifying note. Unwelcome has a good deal going for it. Like all good folk horror, Unwelcome is rooted in tradition and mythology, in this case from the British Isles. The film’s Redcaps are actual creatures from Scottish and English lore. Closely resembling leprechauns, Redcaps are said to kill those who enter their territory, staining their hats red with the blood of their victims. Also called the far darring , these creatures are evil and malevolent. The Redcaps are brought to glorious life using largely practical effects, which adds a layer of realism to their appearance. The Redcaps’ menacing look was designed by Paul Catling with prosthetics created by Shaune Harrison . The lack of CGI in Unwelcome is a breath of fresh air in today’s industry. credit: IMDb Yet Unwelcome is not merely another creature feature. Instead, Wright infuses the movie with searing psychological horror . Maya and Jamie have been through hell together, surviving a violent home invasion with their lives. Wright effectively explores the trauma the incident left on them: Jamie becomes increasingly violent and more protective of Maya, to the point of reading books on self-defense techniques. Maya, by and far, seems to have healed and moved on from the trauma, but Jamie cannot let it go. It is a bleak and stark reminder that recovering from trauma takes time, if it happens at all. Wright described the film as a “home invasion thriller,” invoking the classic Sam Peckinpah film Straw Dogs (1971). Indeed, there are a number of similarities. Maya and Jamie, much like David and Amy in Straw Dogs , have relocated to the countryside, running up against provincial thinking and customs and mores that are wildly different. And just like Straw Dogs , this mistrust and tension builds to an explosive final conflict, one in which there are no real victors. One of Straw Dogs ’ themes of violence causing us to lose our humanity is taken to its extreme here in a bloody and unsettling ending. These elements could make Unwelcome a truly great movie, but the execution is a little uneven. However, the performances, particularly from Colm Meaney, more than make up for any deficiencies in the script. Likewise, Douglas Booth does an excellent job of chronicling Jamie’s descent into madness, one spurred not only by painful memories from London but also by the supernatural events going on around him. A fine addition to the folk horror canon, Unwelcome manages to rise above any flaws to become an entertaining movie. Unwelcome is currently streaming on AMC+, Prime Video, and DirecTV and is available to rent or purchase on Shudder, Google Play, Vudu, AppleTV, and Roku Channel. Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, which are far outnumbered by comics and the smell of rich mahogany. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com The Many Musical Chapters of Leif Meche Click to read more Film Review: Iron Lung Click to read more Keeping the Vinyl Spinning: Dana Labat and the Heart of Capital City Records Click to read more ART WITH HEART OFF THE CHARTS WAY BACK WHEN Video premieres Check this out! All Categories Play Video Play Video 02:12 Goodbye Academy - DM Me 4 My PayPal (Official Video) Listen to DM Me 4 My PayPal here or wherever you listen to music! Thanks so much for supporting us. Filming / Editing: Goodbye Academy: @GoodbyeAcademy Original Mixing/Mastering: Nick Maggio: https://www.instagram.com/nizzletonmaggizzle/ Subscribe for Alt/Emo music from your boys!! 🎸 Bandcamp: https://goodbyeacademy.bandcamp.com/ 🖥️ Website: https://goodbyeacademy.com/ 👚 Merch: https://goodbye-academy-merch-store.square.site/s/shop 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodbyeacademy/ 🦅 Twitter: https://x.com/GoodbyeAcademy 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodbyeacademy Play Video Play Video 03:51 Goodbye Academy - Drywall (Official Video) Listen to Drywall here or wherever you listen to music! Thanks so much for supporting us. Filming / Editing: Goodbye Academy: @GoodbyeAcademy Original Mixing/Mastering: Nick Maggio: https://www.instagram.com/nizzletonmaggizzle/ Subscribe for Alt/Emo music from your boys!! 🎸 Bandcamp: https://goodbyeacademy.bandcamp.com/ 🖥️ Website: https://goodbyeacademy.com/ 👚 Merch: https://goodbye-academy-merch-store.square.site/s/shop 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodbyeacademy/ 🦅 Twitter: https://x.com/GoodbyeAcademy 📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@goodbyeacademy ___ __ _ Lyrics: I can see the claw marks left by Hairy, flying rodents eating out the Drywall And you say that they are cute so I Guess that they can stay, but they are wearing out their welcome No matter how you cut it we are running Round in circles and you don't seem to see the problem There's a little perfume bottle dyed black Just the color With a little hint of sweat drops And I, I, I feel left behind And I, I, I, really shouldn't mind And I, I, I feel left behind And I really shouldn't mind Guess I could think it a hundred times But it comes out, comes out and it's not what I had thought of But we are artists, we interpret I was losing creativity and I just think you caught on Blue and orange are supposed to be Complimentary, but to me mixed they look like mud Remember that time you explained to me what Bisexual Lighting was? And why it's important To the film industry To put those colored lights on the screen But listen you me I wouldn't see I couldn't tell you a Goddamn thing about Why, why, why do I feel left behind? And I, I, I really shouldn't mind I, I, Why do I feel left behind? You don't mind You don't mind Why don't you mind? Why don't you mind? Most of the time I can't interpret you Most of the time it's not just me and you Most of the time you got me feeling blue Most of my time looking at the Drywall Play Video Play Video 02:54 Fishbone - "Them Bones" by Alice In Chains | MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Fishbone performs "Them Bones" by Alice In Chains at MoPOP's Founders Award fundraiser. The Museum of Pop Culture's one-night-only annual benefit event streamed for FREE on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 with an unforgettable performance from Seattle's own Alice In Chains, plus an acclaimed lineup of tribute artists who put their own spin on some of the band's most iconic songs. The Founders Award event serves as the nonprofit museum’s principal annual fundraiser for youth development programs, access initiatives, community engagement, and world-class exhibitions. Donate to MoPOP: https://mopop.org/donate or text 'MoPOP' to 41444 This year’s celebration featured performances by award recipients Alice In Chains, as well as tribute performances from Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction), Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), Dallas Green (City and Colour), Fishbone, Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), KORN, Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Mad Season), Ann Wilson, Duff McKagan (Guns n’ Roses), Mastodon, Metallica, Dave Navarro, Krist Novoselic (Nirvana, Giants in the Trees), Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), Nancy Wilson, and the debut musical performance of Lily Cornell Silver (daughter of Chris Cornell and Susan Silver), among many others. The event also featured appearances from members of Pearl Jam, Sammy Hagar, Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave), Les Claypool, Robert Downey Jr., and many more. The event also included appearances by artists from MoPOP’s 21-and-under music showcase and competition Sound Off!, including Katyrose Jordan, The Human Missile Crisis, David’s Van, and Talaya. View the full event on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7zTIF6CM1tI Learn More About MoPOP Founders Award: https://mopop.org/foundersaward #MoPOP #FoundersAward #AliceInChains The official YouTube of the Museum of Pop Culture {formerly EMP Museum}, a museum focusing on music, film, science fiction, gaming, and more located in Seattle, WA below the Space Needle. Our exhibits currently include Body of Work: Tattoo Culture, Minecraft: The Exhibition, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Horror, Indie Games, Jimi Hendrix, and more! Subscribe to MoPOP's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MuseumofPopCulture Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoPOPSeattle/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MoPOP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mopopseattle/ Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/mopopseattle Blog: https://mopop.org/MoPOPDontStop Play Video Play Video 04:35 FISHBONE LAST CALL IN AMERICA Featuring George Clinton Last Call In America is the 2nd release from the new album Stockholm Syndrome coming out on June 27, 2025 The return of Fishbone hitting you with topical and critical observations of the world while having you move to it. Featuring George Clinton, Last Call in America sadly tells the story that has been relevant for decades and sadly hasn't changed. Inspired by Don Letts and The Clash's "This is Radio Clash", edited by Anuj Chaudary for Frequency Illusions, the video takes current and past news footage showing how things should have gotten better, but stayed the same and we went backward vs moving forward and intertwined with live performances of Fishbone from this past 2024 Red Hot Holiday Tour showing a strong and reinvigorated line up of players out to make a mark, tell a story and get and keep you on your feet. Pre-Order your vinyl or cd or bundle at www.fishbone.net See Fishbone on tour all summer on the Less Than Jake Summer Circus 2025. Play Video Play Video 04:58 Fishbone - Suckered by Sabotage Official visual accompaniment for Suckered by Sabotage from Fishbone’s 2025 album Stockholm Syndrome. Life is about challenges and overcoming them. With all the curve balls thrown at you, the worst of them all are the ones you throw at yourself. Self Sabotage is the worst, because it’s self inflicted… but with the right group of people in your corner to support you, we can get past it. It takes a Familyhood. Play Video Play Video 03:02 COST OF HEAVEN OFFICIAL VIDEO music & merch: https://linktr.ee/Krisruss twitter: https://x.com/KrisrussMusic spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2xvcZ8d6NxTT7nCZNTT1Fx?si=U3uQgMG2TA2IOmPNIuJVQA produced: nick maggio mixed/mastered: lowland records COST OF HEAVEN LYRICS: Take it as you will Take it cuz you won't How can you provide any answers When you're the cause of the problem Do you feel empty? Would it even help? What if we kill the drive That seems to destroy everything? So what's the COST OF HEAVEN? Is it watching people as they try to harm themselves Give them GRACE Give them Virtue Can you show me a way out when Were not doing so well I don't They say the price is steep The gates are painted gold Selling faith like a drug Attached with a ransom note Can we pave the way? Will we ever know? Hiding behind "honesty" And ignoring the echo's So what's the COST OF HEAVEN? Is it watching people as they try to harm themselves Give them GRACE Give them Virtue Can you show me a way out when Were not doing so well And I don't Want to feel a thing And I can't Feel empathy So what's the COST OF HEAVEN? Is it watching people as they try to harm themselves Give them GRACE Give them Virtue Can you show me a way out when Were not doing so well So what's the cost? What's the cost? What's the cost? What's the cost? I don't Want to feel a thing drums: hickman plaisance guitar & vocals: Kris Russ Bass: Jose Gregorio Stand in: Joshua fassbender Drummer for VEDAS and Closur Play Video Play Video 03:52 Deep Sleep Atlantic - From My Side (Official Music Video). Concept by Danika Andrade and Travis Marc. Director of Photography - Danika Andrade. Edited by Danika Andrade. Purchase 'From My Side' - https://deepsleepatlantic.bandcamp.com/track/from-my-side Huge thank you to the following personal for their appearances in this music video (in order of their first performing appearance), they are - Brandy Payne, Scott Burris, Monique du Plooy, Ed Estalote, Lacey Troutman, Casey Last, Alex Harris MacDonald, Kristie Hendricks, Kouda Brown, Janson Lohmeyer, Chris Vincent, Stephen Brashear. Support 'Deep Sleep Atlantic' here - Facebook: / deepsleepatlantic Instagram: / deepsleepatlantic Soundcloud: / deepsleepatlantic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0sTn0f... TikTok: http://tiktok.com/deepsleepatlantic Twitter: / deepsleepatlc Website: https://deepsleepatlantic.com YouTube: / deepsleepatlantic Play Video Play Video 03:12 LA Phantoms TightGrip OfficialVideo 1 PunK RocK from Lafayette, La. Filmed and Edited by Corey Harrington.

Would you commit a crime if you knew you could get off scot-free? < Back Infinity Pool Unnervingly Taps into Fear of Humanity and Poses Serious Question Shaun Corley Apr 21, 2023 Share Would you commit a crime if you knew you could get off scot-free? Traveling abroad can be an exhilarating, mind-opening experience–but it can come with a dark side, and Canada’s Brandon Cronenberg mines this vein to brilliant effect in Infinity Pool, his third feature film. The follow-up to 2020’s excellent Possessor , Infinity Pool takes the viewer on a hellish journey into a world where justice is as seemingly cruel as those who commit the crimes. The film benefits from the presences of Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth, with the former, in particular, turning in a stellar performance. Brandon Cronenberg burst onto the scene with 2012’s Antiviral . The film, about people paying to infect themselves with infections culled from celebrities, was greeted with generally good reviews. Antiviral showed promise, but it would be another eight years before Cronenberg made good on it with Possessor . An unnerving film about a consciousness-transferring assassin, Possessor earned its director accolades from both fans and critics--and left them all wanting more. Now, nearly three years since Possessor debuted at Sundance, Cronenberg delivers the follow-up: Infinity Pool . The movie opens with James Foster (Skarsgård) on vacation with his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman) in the fictional country of Li Tolqa. Foster, a writer, is struggling not only to write his next book but also to save his marriage. He has a chance encounter with an actual fan named Gabi (Goth), who invites him and Em to spend a day at the beach with her and her husband Alban (Jalil Gaspert). Foster and Em take Gabi and her husband up on their offer. The two couples head to the beach the next day, where Gabi cheats on her husband with Foster. After a day of awkward revelry at the beach, the couples head back to their resort. On the way, a drunken Foster hits a pedestrian crossing the road, killing him. James wants to call the authorities, but Gabi insists that law enforcement in Li Tolqa is merciless and will not treat them well, as tourists are never to leave the resort. Sure enough, the next morning, James is arrested. Gabi was right: Li Tolqa’s criminal justice system is harsh and the court rules that James must be executed at the hands of his victim's firstborn son. It is here that Infinity Pool takes its turn into the truly unsettling. James learns that justice in Li Tolqa is not only harsh but also downright bizarre. For a hefty fee, a person condemned to death can be cloned, and the duplicate then becomes a stand-in for the accused. James agrees, and he and Em are forced to watch his clone killed right in front of them. credit: IMDb credit: IMDb From there, Infinity Pool descends into a nightmarish groove. Watching his duplicate die stirs something within James, and he decides to stay in Li Tolqa–much to the chagrin of his already distant wife. Gabi and Alban introduce James to a group of other Westerners who have all been accused of murdering people and, like James, found a thrill in watching their clones die. These Western tourists take James in, and he finds himself caught up in their (criminal) activities. Gabi, Alban, and the rest commit crimes knowingly, with the understanding that the only “punishment” is their clones being killed–and since they all get a sick thrill out of it, it is an ideal situation for them. Infinity Pool asks a question: If you could commit crimes for what amounts to a slap on the wrist, would you? For the wealthy Western tourists of Li Tolqa, the answer is a resounding yes. Gabi, Alban, and the rest murder local people as well as harass the resort staff; it is the stereotype of the “Ugly American” carried out to its brutal extreme, and it is this that gives Infinity Pool its narrative heft. credit: IMDb It is very much a critique of Western exceptionalism: James and his “friends” are, thanks to their wealth and privilege, able to take advantage of loopholes in Li Tolqa’s legal justice system and continue their indulgent lifestyles. Infinity Pool calls out a world where the justice system favors the rich and famous. And while it may be tempting to paint Li Tolqa’s courts as fascist and militaristic, the viewer must ask if it is in response to the very Westerners who regularly come to their country and harass the locals. No history for Li Tolqa is given (nor is their cloning process explained) but there are hints of colonialism throughout. In their attempt to modernize and bring equity to their country, Li Tolqa has merely perpetuated a cycle of their oppressors, one that disenfranchises the poor and the working class. It is not hard to see parallels with our own modern Western society in Li Tolqa. Every so often, the media will pick up a story about a Western tourist who runs afoul of local authorities and then finds themselves in serious legal trouble. Such a scenario taps into a deep fear of humanity, and Infinity Pool plugnes right into this, injecting it with a serious dose of relevant social commentary. Infinity Pool is currently available to rent on Video On Demand. Questions or comments? Send an email to the_keeleybrooks@mixedaltmag.com or the_nicolebrice@mixedaltmag.com . Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. He’s a big, important Screen Rant writer with many leather-bound books (and comic books) and, yes, his apartment smells of rich mahogany. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Blow Up My Life is a cinematic unicorn in the thriller-comedy genre with undeniable humor and thrills with a capital T. < Back Blow Up My Life: Film Review Keeley Brooks Nov 20, 2023 Share Blow Up My Life is a cinematic unicorn in the thriller-comedy genre with undeniable humor and thrills with a capital T. I enjoy watching corporate conspiracies play out on screen, especially when they involve Big Pharma. Recent adaptations have kept the tone heavily dramatic and serious for obvious reasons. There’s no room for thrills or comedy—why would there be? And if there was room, what would that look like? Would it even be successful? In short, yes. Blow Up My Life is 2023’s cinematic thriller-comedy unicorn , featuring healthily balanced moments of humor laced with non-stop thrills … and I mean Thrills. Blow Up My Life is a dark comedy about a disillusioned man wrestling with his morality on doing the wrong thing to do the right thing. When disgraced pharmaceutical employee Jason Trumble (Jason Selvig, one half of the viral comedy duo The Good Liars) uncovers a bombshell of company corruption , he sets out in a rush to expose their wrongs and save millions of lives before they can dispose of him. As he goes on the run, he enlists the help of his computer-wiz cousin Charlie (Kara Young, of I’m a Virgo ) and his journalist ex-girlfriend Priya (Reema Sampat, of Orange is the New Black ). However, the man at the heart of the scandal has other plans. Jason Trumble is an up-and-coming hotshot software designer at Furenza Pharmaceuticals. His claim to ego: the Doxie app, which is designed to help curb addition by controlling the dispensed dosage of opioid recovery drug Doxie. After posting an embarrassing, drug-fueled rant online one night, Furenza fires Jason and he subsequently loses everything, resorting to living in his “Burning Man van.” To make ends meet, Jason turns to running his own computer and software repair business. When a serendipitous house call brings him face to face with his former boss, Gary (Davram Stiefler, the other half of The Good Liars)—who’s quite an arrogant jerk—Jason illegally copies Gary’s computer data. While sifting through the information, Jason uncovers damning evidence that the Doxie app is glitching, dispensing increased doses instead of decreased doses to people, causing them to become addicted, with the risk of overdose and death. The whistleblower stuff is that Furenza knows and is choosing to keep quiet because revenue is through the roof and the glitch has become their key money-making tool. Corporate greedmesiters. When Jason confronts Gary about it, some wild, unexpected action happens that shocks viewers and redirects Jason’s focus to one thing: taking down Furenza … or as Charlie puts it, “F**k them before they f**k you.” I was very pleasantly surprised with this film. From its screenplay to the acting to its balance in tone and technique, Blow Up My Life had my attention from its opening scene, which hooks viewers in with its graveyard setting, its 1940’s gumshoe-detective-style narration, and its lead actor. The narration is something I loved about this movie. Jason narrates his story into a tape recorder the whole time he’s on the run from Furenza. And this is where first-time, feature-length filmmakers Abigail Horton and Ryan Dickie go to work in tying in the levity not through the comedy itself but in the way it’s executed. It’s just genius , especially around this subject matter. It works really, really well and makes this viewing experience fun. Jason Selvig as Jason Trumble (Source: IMDb) Jason, sweet and naïve in his lack of awareness, delivers his story in such an engaging, unironic, deadpan way that he adds just the right touch of comedy without being overtly “in your face” and without cheesy dialogue. He’s very sincere and realistic—so much, in fact, that it’s easy for us to forget we’re following a character and not a real person in real life just trying to do the right thing. Selvig does a superb job at bringing an authentic level of humanity to Jason that viewers can’t help but feel sympathy for him. Kara Young also weaves in the levity with her character, Charlotte August (aka Charlie). Most of the time we see her, she’s on a computer screen hashing out Jason’s next movie with him regarding the conspiracy. It is she who calls out his naivete and helps clear a path to exposure and escape for him. She stands as the voice of reason when Jason wants to give up, kicking his ass back into action with her exciting “damn the man” speeches. Kara Young as Charlie August (Source: IMDb) The chemistry between Young and Selvig is palpable and delightful—they effortlessly feed of one another’s creative energy. But just because Blow Up My Life features levity does not mean it’s a light-hearted movie; quite the contrary. The thrills here involve life and death, non-stop close calls, and incriminating accidents. Surprisingly, though, the tragedy in this story comes not in overdoses but in wondering if Jason and Charlie will succeed and knowing what will happen if they fail. Another thing I loved about this movie is the soundtrack—music by P. Rose. The music paired with this story gave me an 80’s Teen Wolf vibe in the way the music helped to drive any action and mischief that’s happening on screen. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Could there have been a better soundtrack? No. Overall, Blow Up My Life is a nice change of pace from stories like Dopesick, and it has all the elements making up a must-see film: an excellent plot; effortless acting; a great soundtrack; nicely done editing; carefully explored cinematography; thrills, action, and comedy; a relevant message; an awesome screenplay; and an ending that leaves you breathless. You really can’t go wrong in this selection, which is riveting from start to finish and sure to be a classic. Blow Up My Life releases on digital platforms on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with a voracious appetite for entertainment consumption and an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Attachment < Back Shudder’s New Queer Horror Thriller Will Have You Rethinking Your Relationship Anxieties Shaun Corley Apr 3, 2023 Share Attachment New relationships can be a great thing. The feeling that, once again, somebody loves you and takes joy in your company is a rush unlike few others. Yet with all the giddiness and excitement can come anxieties as well–namely, meeting your partner’s family. It can be a nerve-shredding experience even on the best of days. You’re on your best behavior and putting your best foot forward ... you need to be on point, right? Mess it up and your new relationship could be in for a rough ride or a quick end. In Attachment, Danish director Gabriel Bier Gislason's first feature, protangonist Maja doesn’t do anything wrong in meeting her new girlfriend’s family, but she is still confronted by these anxieties, and in Gislason’s hands, they blossom into full-blown terrors. Attachment is a new queer romantic horror-thriller brought to you by Shudder. The film received a ton praise from critics at the 2022 London and Los Angeles Film Festivals, not because it’s a refreshing take on romance and horror but because it explores myths and tales of Yiddish folklore by using cast interaction and the story itself as “the creepy factor,” instead of the typical jump-scare efforts we are used to, hence the slow unnerving burn. The film’s opening moments introduce us to Maja (played by Jospehine Park), a young woman and former child actress, who coasts on old glories that amount to reading stories to bored children at the library. One day, Maja, who lives in Denmark, bumps into Leah (Ellie Kendrick), a young Jewish woman from London studying abroad. They go out for tea and find themselves back at Maja’s apartment. Their affair quickly blossoms and for a while, all is golden. Their idyllic existence comes to an end, though, when Leah has a seizure, during which she accidentally breaks her leg. Leah’s studies in Denmark are also winding down, which would spell the end for her and Maja, but Maja decides to accompany Leah back to London. From there, it’s all downhill. Maja moves into Leah’s second-floor flat above Leah’s mother, Chana (Sofie Grabol), who lives on the first floor and does not approve of Maja at all. It becomes quickly apparent that Chana is highly overprotective of Leah, as she repeatedly called her daughter while she was living with Maja and continues to hover over her now that Leah is back in London. It also becomes apparent there is more going on than Maja ever thought. Chana and Leah hail from an Orthodox Jewish community, and Maja struggles to find her footing. Noticing that Chana and Leah’s flats are adorned with symbols from Jewish culture, Maja, in good faith, decides to learn more. Venturing out into the community, she visits a Jewish bookstore, where she meets the store’s owner Lev (David Dencik). Lev and Maja become friends, and she is astounded to learn Lev is Maja’s cousin. When Chana learns that Lev and Maja have become friends, she forbids Lev from speaking to her—an action that clues Maja in that something sinister is going on. Sure enough, Maja’s suspicions are confirmed when she learns that since Leah was a child, she has been besieged by a dybbuk , an evil spirit in Jewish lore. Chana’s overprotective nature stems from her desire to save her daughter from its influence. At its core, Attachment is a demonic possession thriller, but where most films in this genre are rooted in Catholic doctrine, this one grounds itself firmly in the Jewish tradition, giving viewers something new and unexpected. Gislason does not stop with dybbuks; he also invokes the Golem as well as Kabbalah. These topics may seem out of place in our modern culture, but Gislason, who is Jewish himself, never once adopts a condescending attitude towards them. Instead, in his hands, the dybbuk is a terrifying entity—one that wants nothing more than to destroy Leah and all that she loves. But, as stated earlier, Attachment draws its power by mining the anxieties that come with a new relationship. Maja is clearly out of her element in Leah’s ultra-Orthodox community, and Chana can barely hide her disgust. Part of this resentment is because Chana sees herself in Maja. She reveals she was not originally a part of this community either; she married into it. After converting, Chana’s husband left her. Now alone in a world that was never hers, Chana has had to make the best of it. Meeting a new partner’s family can be nerve-wracking, and Gislason knows this. He ferociously runs with this and successfully turns common anxieties into supernatural horror. Attachment is a slow burn of a thriller with subtle scares. Gislason does not opt for conventions. There are no jump scares, nor is Leah’s possessed form too demonic looking. Here, the emphasis is on atmosphere—Gislason is out to unnerve the viewer and he does this by keeping matters low key. The classics of the possession genre, such as The Exorcist , are often brutal and visceral, but Attachment keeps it subtle and, in the process, creates a genuinely unsettling movie. credit: Movie Reviews 101 With its slow-burn plot and complete absence of gore or jump scares, Attachment may not be for everyone, but Gislason has nevertheless crafted a solid entry into the possession film subgenre. Attachment takes its time getting where it’s going, but patient viewers will be rewarded with an atmospheric, unsettling horror film tapping into common new relationship anxieties that won’t subside anytime soon. Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. He’s a big, important ScreenRant writer who has many leather-bound books (and comic books) and whose apartment smells of rich mahogany. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Non-Holiday Comedy Recommendations to Keep You Laughing During the Break < Back Giggle 'Til Your Heart's Content Keeley Brooks Nov 16, 2022 Share Non-Holiday Comedy Recommendations to Keep You Laughing During the Break The holidays doth approacheth, my friends, and while to some they signal a reason for the season and hold an attachment to gratitude and religion, to others—the children of the world … (i.e., me)—they signal time off from work and/or school and sometimes adulting. They also signal movies. Lots and lots of movies. New and old, which is awesome, but sometimes favorite holiday movies are played deep into the ground on TV, or there's such an influx of holiday content playing continuously that it starts getting monotonous. And for many of us out there, this time of year brings on Seasonal Affective Disorder, and to those of you, I extend my heart in compassion and genuine effort to entertain you, even if it is just temporarily. Whatever your case, being the giant movie nerd I am, I thought I’d share some of my favorite non-holiday comedies with you (in no particular order) in hopes maybe you haven’t seen one and get the chance to appreciate it. Even if you’ve seen them all, give ‘em another viewing and giggle yourself silly. Release those feel-good chemicals! As Good As It Gets (1997) – This one is in my top three favorites of all time. I relate so much to Jack Nicholson’s character, and the story as it unfolds is just sweet and beautiful to see. Nicholson plays Jack Udall, a very successful, rich romance novelist. He’s also a misanthrope (one who dislikes humankind and avoids society) and asshole with a pretty severe level of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Udall says what he thinks when he thinks it, and he’s quick to say what he feels, even if it’s offensive. He doesn't care. And 95% of the time, everything out of his mouth is offensive ... and hysterical. This story is about the unlikely friendship that forms between him, a single mother and waitress (Helen Hunt), and a gay artist (Greg Kinnear). Also stars Skeet Ulrich, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Harold Ramis. Groundhog Day (1993) – Who doesn’t love Bill Murray? He emotes the exact way I feel about things a lot of the time, and that makes me giggle. In this flick, he plays a hilarious narcissistic, self-centered weatherman who finds himself trapped in a time loop on Groundhog Day, and he has to live the day and it’s events over and over and over until he sees a way to work it to his advantage and the experience ends up changing who he is. When you’re feeling salty and sarcastic, pop this movie in and sit back with some popcorn. And a blanket because it’ll make you feel cold even if you’re warm. Also stars Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliot, Stephen Tobolowski, and Harold Ramis. What About Bob? (1991) – I couldn’t talk about Bill Murray without mentioning this little gem of his, which I adore. Murray plays Bob Wiley, an annoyingly loveable obsessive-compulsive neurotic. He’s also a hypochondriac who drives his psychotherapist completely batshit after tracking him and his family down on vacation. This one is nothing short of hysterical. It’s a must-see. Also stars Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty, and Kathryn Erbe. Bad Words (2013) – Ah, a Jason Bateman film starring Jason Bateman. This movie is absolutely HILARIOUS for anybody watching, but definitely if you have kids (and don’t get offended easily), you have to watch this movie. Bateman plays a 40-year-old misanthropic a-hole who finds a loophole and enters a regional spelling bee. He cracks me up with his dry sense of humor, and here he’s hurling insults at every turn, mostly to the kids. Kathryn Hahn appears as a journalist covering the story, and she and Bateman’s character form a friendship with hilarious benefits. Bateman’s character also proves he has a heart as he befriends a young speller feeling pressure from his parents to win. No lie, I watch this probably once a month. Maybe two. The Change-Up (2011) – I also can’t mention Jason Bateman without doing the same for a few of his flicks. This one is so funny that it’ll have your face hurting from laughing so much. Let me go ahead and say if you’re wound a little too tightly or are easily offended, go ahead and pass on watching this movie. Bateman and Ryan Reynolds are best friends who find themselves in a Freaky Friday-type situation after they take a leak in a fountain boasting a Roman statue in the park. Bateman’s character is a hot shot lawyer who is married with three kids—two of them being two-year-old twins and the other in elementary school. Reynolds’s character is a weed-smoking, part-time actor in the prime of his sexual life. What ensues is absolutely hilarious and you’ll be wiping the tears from your eyes and having to catch your breath. A definite MUST SEE. Also stars Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, and Alan Arkin. Horrible Bosses (2011) – Can you tell I’m a Jason Bateman fan? This gut-busting flick also stars Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, Julie Bowen, Megan Duchess of Sussex, and (sigh) Kevin Spacey, who plays the perfect horrible boss. Bateman, Day, and Sudeikis are best friends who love their job but hate their bosses and would love nothing more than the grind ‘em into the ground. So, they hatch a hysterical plan with the help of Jamie Foxx. This one is in my top three favorite comedies. I guarantee you will love it. Who hasn’t had a horrible boss they hated before? Larry Crowne (2011) – This little romantic comedy kind of flew under the radar in the wake of summer releases, but it stars Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston, Cedric the Entertainer, Wilmer Valderrama, Rami Malek, Rita Wilson, Taraji P. Henderson, and Gugu Mbatha Raw. Tom Hanks is Larry Crowne, a middle-aged divorced man, who finds himself on the unemployment line after a wave of corporate downsizing. Drowning in debt and unable to find work, he enrolls in community college, where he becomes part of a community of misfits who are trying to carve out a better future. A definite heartwarming comedy. The Big Lebowski (1998) – I LOVE THIS MOVIE. One of my all-time favorites, and Jeff Bridges’ character is actually based off a real-life character by the name of Jeff Dowd (aka The Dude). Here, Jeff Bridges is The Dude, a loveable, easy-going, weed-smoking bum who loves bowling. Weed and bowling. And his rug. And his car. That’s his life—until he’s mistaken for The Big Lebowski, millionaire Jeffrey Lebowski, and he finds himself getting roughed up while watching his precious rug get peed on. In search of recompense, The Dude tracks down The Big Lebowski, who offers him the job of being the bagman and delivering the ransom for his kidnapped wife. He’s aided and hindered by his pals Walter Sobchack (John Goodman), a Vietnam vet who owns an ammo shop, and Donny, master of stupidity. Also stars John Turturro, Julianne Moore, Sam Elliot, the late, great, and very missed Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Tara Reid. As was the case with most Coen brothers’ movies, the dialogue is what drives the story. And this one’s full of some pretty excellent dialogue you’ll be quoting for the rest of your life. Dumb & Dumber (1994) - Again, call me a giant child; I don’t care. I agree. I happen to love Jim Carrey (and his Ace Ventura movies) and think he brings a hefty level of comedy to everything he does just by being himself, and that is awesome. Here he and Jeff Daniels (also very funny) are best friends who are complete idiots. They set out on a cross-country road trip to Aspen, CO, to return a briefcase full of money to its rightful owner, Mary Swanson (played by Lauren Holly). What ensues builds mishap upon hilarious mishap throughout their entire journey. Liar, Liar (1997) – This is my absolute favorite Jim Carrey movie, along with the Ace Ventura movies. Carrey is Fletcher Reed, a divorced, smooth-talkin’ pathological liar, who is also a conniving ace attorney. When his kid makes a birthday wish that for just one day his dad couldn’t tell a lie and it comes true, Fletcher’s world is turned upside down and inside out on one of the most important days in a huge case that, if he wins, could earn him the title of partner. Five stars all the way. Also stars Maura Tierney, Cary Elwes, Swoosie Kurtz, Cheri Oteri, and Jennifer Tilly. Uncle Buck (1989) – A John Hughes (director) treasure. All of his movies are, really, but this one in particular is because of the late great John Candy. When his brother and sister-in-law have to leave town suddenly to care for her ailing father, and after trying everyone on their list of people to look after their kids and having no luck, they’re left with no choice but to call in the lazy, unreliable, carefree Uncle Buck (Candy). His youngest niece (Gaby Hoffman) and nephew (Macaulay Culkin) take to him instantly, but his oldest niece does not; she’s a straight-up bitch to him … an angst-filled teen who gives him hell. Seeing these two bat her angst back and forth makes me giggle. And it’s relatable. I mean, don’t lie: who out there hasn’t been a complete and total bitch to someone at some point in your life? Also stars Laurie Metcalf and Anna Chlumsky. Bridesmaids (2011) – The more I watch this movie, the funnier it gets. This one is so relatable because we’ve all either worried about or at some point felt like we were losing a best friend to marriage, until we learned differently. Here, a hilarious competition between between the bride’s (Maya Rudolph) best friend & maid of honor (Kristen Wiig) and a bridesmaid & close friend (Rose Byrne) over who is the bride’s best friend ensues and threatens to upend the maid of honor’s life and relationship with the bride. This one’s a total treat and also stars Melissa McCarthy, Rebel Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jillian Bell, Chris O’Dowd, and Ben Falcone. The Hangover Part II (2011) – You didn’t think I was going to talk about Bridesmaids without mentioning The Hangover , did you? While the original Hangover is hilarious in its own right, I find the sequel funnier. We had the chance to meet the guys and let the first experience with Alan sink in; now that we know the characters, everything they get into is that much funnier. If you haven’t seen the movies, they focus on three best friends who allow the oddball brother of the bride in the first flick to tag along on the bachelor party, who then drugs the other guys for a fun night in Vegas. Now part of their “wolf pack,” the sequel finds Alan (Zack Galifinakis) and the guys (Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper) in Bangkok, Thailand, minus the groom from the first movie, played by Justin Bartha). This time they’re celebrating Helms’s character’s impending nuptials with his bride’s brother. Again, Alan drugs everybody and they have a wild night of partyingin Bangkok, followed by no recollection of it the morning after. In both movies, they lose someone: the groom in the first and the bride’s brother in the second. Watch the second one and you’ll see why it’s a favorite. Also stars a very funny coked-out Ken Jeong, Paul Giamatti, Mike Tyson, Jamie Chung, and Jeffrey Tambor. Blazing Saddles (1974) – If you’re gonna scream at me about your sensitivity, I can’t hear you. I don’t care what PC society says, this movie is damn hilarious. IT’S SATIRE, people, and that means it’s poking fun, specifically in this movie, at American culture, racism, religion, and politicians. Lighten up a bit on all fronts and enjoy some of the most quotable dialogue ever. Stars Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, Mel Brooks, Slim Pickens, and a whole slew of other funny actors. Dinner for Schmucks (2010) – This one kind of flew under the radar. It wasn’t a big hit, but that doesn’t mean it’s not big fun. Paul Rudd is a rising executive who works for a boss who hosts a monthly event in which the guests find and bring the biggest idiot, and whoever wins gets a career boost. After declining the invitation to attend, he changes his mind after meeting Barry (Steve Carrell), who builds dioramas using stuffed mice. The boss’s scheme backfires when Barry’s blundering good intentions send Tim's life into a downward style, threatening a major business deal and possibly destroying his relationship. Absolutely hysterical. You’ll definitely be wiping some laughter tears away with this one. Tucker and Dale vs. Evil (2010) – Again, I love horror comedies … Dead & Breakfast , Shaun of the Dead , Tucker & Dale vs. Evil . This one is Shaun of the Dead meets Texas Chainsaw Massacre and is a gory comedy about two affable rednecks, Dale (Alan Tudyk) and Tucker (Tyler Labine), who are also best friends trying to enjoy a quiet vacation at their new cabin in the woods. Things take a bloody turn when some ignorant college kids mistake them for a pair of murderous hillbilly psychos. I’d watch Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine eat breakfast. I’ll watch anything they’re in. If you’re a fan of these actors or of horror comedies, this one’s a must-see gem you'll keep in your collection. O' Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) – Another Coen Brothers gem. They truly outdid themselves with this one, which is a wonderful little saga of three escaped convicts in the 1930s Deep South who are seeking a buried treasure. Their hunt is based on Homer’s The Odyssey and stars heavy-hitting comedic geniuses George Clooney, Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro, John Goodman, and Holly Hunter. Shaun of the Dead (2004) – I love horror comedies. This British film by director Edgar Wright follows the hilariously bloody adventures of underachiever Shaun (Simon Pegg) and his best mate Ed (Nick Frost) as a zombie apocalypse breaks out. HYS. TER. IC. AL. The Money Pit (1986) – Tom Hanks is one funny man. He’s a fantastic actor who portrays such relatable characters, they can’t help but imprint upon your soul. This is one of my favorites of his. Walter (Hanks) and Anna (Shelley Long) struggle to keep their relationship together as their newly purchased-for-a-steal mansion starts falling to pieces around them. The two have no choice but to watch in hilarious horror as everything disappears into The Money Pit. Hanks and Long have a fabulous chemistry together and their arguing and reactions to what is happening are nothing short of gut-busting. Funny Farm (1988) – I’ve always been a Chevy Chase fan … as far back as I can remember. Here he is former sportswriter and wanna-be novelist Andy Farmer, who moves to a small farm in Vermont with his wife Elizabeth (Madolyn Smith), who secretly aspires to be an author, to work on his novel. They quickly realize the locals are not as welcoming as they’d like, and the farm is more distracting than they thought. You’ll be laughing your butt off while feeling a bit of holiday spirit well up inside. Orange County - Absolutely a movie that gets funnier every time you watch it. Colin Hanks is a smart high-school student with a dream of being a writer and his heart set on going to Stanford, until his guidance counselor (Lily Tomlin) accidentally sends the wrong transcripts with his college application. Hanks is horrified and he spends the rest of the film trying to prove he's actually a good student with a terrific grade-point average worthy of going to Stanford. Some of the funniest actors on the planet star, including Catherine O'Hara ( Schitt's Creek, Beetlejuice ), Jack Black ( School of Rock, Tenacious D ), Harold Ramis, Chevy Chase, John Lithgow, Mike White, Nat Faxon ( The Conners ), and Leslie Mann ( 40-Year-Old Virgin ). www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Movie Recommendations of a Man of Extra-Large Talent < Back Peter Dinklage Keeley Brooks Nov 22, 2022 Share Movie Recommendations of a Man of Extra-Large Talent I’m not ashamed to say that most of my nights and weekends are spent watching movies and streaming series. And sometimes, because I’m a grown up, I play video games. From new titles and old titles to titles I come across by chance and those that come recommended, I love diving in deep to get lost. And what most of society labels as being “lazy” and “unmotivated” is something, for me, that is quite the opposite. In my world, things like this are exciting, enthralling, rewarding, and challenging because I thoroughly enjoy digging into and dissecting the cinematic arts. Why is that lazy or unmotivated? Consider all the aspects that go into one story: theme, characters, setting, plot, metaphors, foreshadowing, twists and turns, cinematography, special effects, costume designs, voice-overs, edits, music, actors, etc. All of these are what ignite my intellect. There’s nothing I love more (other than my lil family o’ dummies) than getting lost in a story and finding meaning in something I’m watching, and I love observing from different points of view: how real does what I’m watching seem? Is it truly believable, and why or why not? Does a story and its parts have what it takes not just to hold my attention but also to be so believable that I have to remind myself it’s just a movie? And, I won’t lie, I’m a bit of a snob in the sense that I do look for things missed in post-production and for continuity between cut frames in the same scene. I also love analyzing the work of art as a whole and discovering its effect on me. That , to me, is exciting, and I’d much rather spend my time doing that and being with my people rather than being out in the madness of the world. By no means am I a recluse; I just am who I am, and I won’t apologize for it. I also can’t hear those who call this content lover as “lazy” and “unmotivated” for engaging in what she loves, and that’s super-good news for those of you out there who are looking for recommendations on what to watch. That’s what I’m here for ... just ask my family and friends. I also enjoy following different actors through their careers. One I have loved and followed since 2005 is Peter Dinklage, whom you might best know as Tyrion Lannister from HBO’s Game of Thrones . He’s just awesome, with eyes full of meaning and emotion that speak to the hearts of viewers everywhere. He’s an intensely humble and marvelous actor to watch, and he brings such a captivating emotional depth and range to every title he’s in and character he plays that you just can’t help but love him, feel what his characters feel, and want to follow his career. I was first introduced to him in 2005 when a friend who shared my affinity for film introduced me to The Station Agent , which is an independent psychological comedy-drama by Tom McCarthy ( The Visitor , Win Win , Spotlight ) starring Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, and Michelle Williams. It’s a sweet and quirky but also deeply heartfelt movie about an improbable group of lonely people in a small town who find their paths continuously crossing and are forced to befriend one another. It stars Peter Dinklage, Bobby Cannavale, Patricia Clarkson, and Michelle Williams and follows the life of train aficionado and downcast little person Finbar McBride (Dinklage), whose life takes an unexpected turn when his boss dies and leaves him a railroad depot in small-town New Jersey. Fin moves in to the depot and keeps to himself and his love and respect for trains, until his space is comically invaded by a very talkative and carefree food truck vendor, played by Bobby Cannavale. Then, an unhappy, reclusive artist/wife (Patricia Clarkson) shows up, and the trio’s unlikely interactions deepen as some eccentric conversations, relationships, and outcomes ensue. Dinklage’s performance will melt your heart, and the culmination of this movie will leave you with chills, forcing you to appreciate the good friends you have in your life and let them know you love them. I highly, highly, highly recommend this movie. One of his more recent works I recently saw is a 2018 independent flick called I Think We’re Alone Now , starring Dinklage, Elle Fanning, and Paul Giamatti, and directed by Reed Morano, who has directed and executive produced the pilot and some episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale and the movies Frozen River (2008) and Lemonade (2016). This movie is about two survivors who learn to co-exist and live together after a worldwide pandemic wipes out Earth’s population. Dinklage is on his own and has been for some time, going house to house in his city, clearing them of the dead and burying bodies, as well as “cleaning” houses for items he needs and can use to survive. One day, out of nowhere, a vehicle crashes into a nearby pole and inside he finds a girl (Elle Fanning) inside, bleeding and passed out with a head wound. Thinking he was the only survivor left in the world, he's hesitant of her but ultimately decides to help her and bandages her up. They then very cautiously begin to learn about one another, slowly building trust and a little openness into their individual worlds … right up until Paul Giamatti shows up and brings a twist that really amps things up, and Dinklage finds himself on a quest across the country alone to rescue the very person he helped then shunned after learning of her secret. It’s not your typical post-apocalyptic film but it's a very good flick with some fantastic acting, a great storyline, and some very well-done directing and camera work. I Think We’re Alone Now is a slow-burn of intensity building up to a shocking revelation that’ll leave you thinking about post-apocalyptic depictions, scenarios, and expectations in an entirely new light, while revealing the beauty of trusting, letting go, and opening up your world to other people. I just as highly recommend this movie, too. Dinklage has a slew of good movies, including the Will Ferrell Christmas hit Elf . You can check out his full repertoire on IMDB.com . Enjoy, my fellow movie lovers! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Cutting deeper beneath the surface to explore how the "Saw" franchise's John Kramer (Jigsaw) fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 3: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 25, 2023 Share Cutting deeper beneath the surface to explore how the "Saw" franchise's John Kramer (Jigsaw) fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism. Welcome back, boys and girls, to your blue-collar philosophy lesson with Zeke. I hope you’ve been enjoying this philosophical series of Saw franchise articles so far, and I also hope you’ve had some time to start watching the Saw franchise again so you can see firsthand what I am discussing in this series. In the next two articles, we are going to get into the nitty gritty of my theory. But before we do, I’d like you to know I’m not the only one who has come to this conclusion about John Kramer operating under a Nietzschean nihilist philosophy. There are others, such as Steve Jones, who goes into much more detail than I do in his book “ To See the Saw Films ”. Unlike Jones though, I am breaking this down to a more understandable level so even if you don’t have a background in philosophy, you can follow what I am saying. Without further ado, let’s jump headfirst into how John Kramer fits into the paradigm of passive nihilism . Basically, Nietzsche understands a passive nihilist to be someone who is angered by the world's attitude towards “fundamental values,” which include but are not limited to their own apathy towards existence. Or, to put it into John Kramer’s terms, they are people who “don’t appreciate their life.” In the Saw films, Kramer is angry over his belief that the majority of people do not appreciate their own existence. To him, the ability to appreciate life is what gives life meaning and purpose. Therefore, if a person takes life for granted, they are considered by Kramer to be goalless. This means his games, traps, etc., are all a ploy (therapy maybe?) to help them realize survival is the only goal in life. Thus, enduring and surviving the game becomes their purpose for existence. credit: Lionsgate Entertainment Do you see how brilliant this is in the mind of Jigsaw? To him, making people play his games forces them into having endurance and survival as their present goal. It makes having purpose a present reality to them. In this way, John Kramer can solve his nihilistic crisis of living in a world where people have no purpose by forcing them into a situation where they have a purpose. The apathy Jigsaw sees in his test subjects is evident throughout the franchise's overarching narrative. Let’s start with Saw (2004) and everyone’s favorite character, Dr. Lawrence (Cary Elwes, of The Princess Bride ). If you recall from the film, his wife, Allison (Monica Potter, of Parenthood ), complains that he makes a façade of being happy, but he is really miserable on the inside. In other words, Dr. Lawrence is dead on the inside and is just going through the motions of life with no passion or purpose. As Lawrence’s game unfolds, we can place it beside Amanda (Shawnee Smith, of Anger Management ) and Paul’s (Mike Butters, of The Wonderland Murders ) and see the comparison. Amanda seeks to escape from reality through her drug addiction, and Paul sought to escape life through his suicide attempt. Therefore, to Kramer, Dr. Lawrence's passivity to life is no better than Amanda and Paul’s escapism. But what about Adam ( Saw creator Leigh Whannel)? Did any of you out there ever catch the stark contrast between him and Kramer when it comes to cancer? No? Well, let me point it out to you: When Adam is chained up, he is having a nicotine craving—so much so, he considers smoking a cigarette that may or may not be poisoned. He says he wants “that sweet cancer. I don’t care. I really don’t.” Do you see it yet? The irony is how passive (in the Nietzschean sense) he is about getting the very disease from which Kramer is dying. Such an attitude and statement from Adam further illuminates why Jigsaw chose him. To further illustrate the passivity of Kramer’s victims, let’s jump ahead to Saw III (2006) and talk about Rigg (Lyriq Bent, of Long Slow Exhale ) and Jeff (Angus Macfadyen, of Outlander ). As a police officer, Rigg has this unwavering compulsion to save everyone. His ongoing frustration in Saw III , however, is that he can’t save everyone. Jeff’s obsession is different. He’s pissed off and angry (maybe rightfully so?) over what he deems as inadequate punishment for the man who killed his son. Though Rigg and Jeff’s compulsions/obsessions are vastly different, their view of the world is the same: Things are flawed and no matter what, they cannot change these conditions. They are chosen to play their games because this type of attitude does not sit well with Jigsaw. According to Kramer, people do have choices and advantages, they just choose not to appropriate them. Kramer views Rigg and Jeff as pathetic, like the rest of humanity, because they view themselves as unable to change the world around them. The victims in the Saw franchise are what we call in biblical scholarly circles a synecdoche. A synecdoche is basically a symbol or example of something that is used to represent the whole. For example, the seven churches in the apostle John’s “Book of Revelation” are not only historical churches but are also meant to represent the worldwide church of all time as a whole. This is what we have taking place in Saw . Kramer’s victim selection is meant to represent the entire populace of humanity. From a passive nihilist perspective, disgust over this type of attitude is pretty normal. In Kramer’s view (and passive nihilism) the loss of truth, value, and meaning no longer create a crisis for humanity and they now just accept it as ordinary life. This is unacceptable for the passive nihilist, and as one, Kramer uses his traps to remedy this apathetic attitude . He wants to jolt his victims out of their apathy over life by placing them in a situation (his traps) where they will have to find value, meaning, and purpose. There is more I could go on about, like whether Jigsaw’s methods truly match his mantra, as well as the flaws in them along with the flaws in nihilism, but that is beyond the scope of these articles. The above is suffice to prove my point that John Kramer shows evidence of being a passive nihilist. Yet there is also another side to Kramer’s nihilism that rears its head in the Saw movies: radical nihilism. And it is this radical nihilism that we will investigate in our next and final post of the series. Until then, read some Neitchsze and watch some Saw movies! Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

New Blood-Soaked Holiday Releases < Back Merry Christmas: The Shitter's Full Keeley Brooks Nov 29, 2022 Share New Blood-Soaked Holiday Releases If you’re like me, you’ve already started watching your favorite holiday movies. In fact, as I’m writing this article, I’m giggling at Chevy Chase while watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation . It’s been a top favorite of mine ever since I first laid my eyeballs upon it in all of its hilarious glory. But this article isn’t about that movie. It’s about some other new holiday movies releasing this month … holiday horror flicks. And in terms of movies, and to quote Cousin Eddie, "the shitter's [indeed] full" ... of blood, with all the new horror titles releasing in December. First up is Curse of Jack Frost , which dropped on VOD Nov. 1. Frost is a bit of a demon in this British holiday cinematic offering, and he will stop at nothing this Christmas to exact his vengeance on those left in the bloodline. He terrorizes a family and must learn their family’s dark secrets that link to why they’re cursed. Check out the trailer below: Next is Violent Night , which hits theaters this Friday, Dec. 2. I’d love to be able to tell all you streamers out there, who now prefer to stay home for movies (like me), that this one is also streaming somewhere on the same day, but no such luck. At least not yet. It will, of course, be available to rent at some point, but that date hasn't been announced. My advice is if you wanna see it now, it’s back to packed theaters full of smacking, slurping, coughing, snotting, sneezing people. The film has been anxiously awaited by many since its trailer dropped about a month or so ago and is from Director Tommy Wirkola ( Dead Snow movies, Hansel & Gretel ). Starring David Harbour ( Stranger Things ), John Leguizamo ( John Wick) , Edi Patterson ( The Righteous Gemstones ), and Beverly D’Angelo (by the way, my decision to watch Christmas Vacation as I wrote about Violent Night because Beverly D’Angelo is in both was completely unplanned and I’d forgotten she was even in Violent Night until this very moment. I love when that happens.), It’s a horror-action dark comedy that’s a twisted take on the milk-and-cookies-and-presents Santa Claus we all know. When an elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, they get way more than they expected after taking everyone inside hostage. Also, Santa is there to do his thing … and he straight whips everybody mercenaries' ass in what looks like some pretty badass fight scenes. This Santa is no saint, and he’s about to expose why. Take a peek: I gotta say, this movie looks like one hell of a good time, no matter where you watch it. I’m all in! Then there’s Christmas Bloody Christmas ! This little independent number features a Christmas Eve where fiery record store owner Tori Tooms just wants to get drunk and party, until the robotic Santa Claus at a nearby toy store goes haywire and makes her night more than a little complicated. Santa embarks on a rampant killing spree through the neon-drenched snowscape, ultimately forcing Tori into a blood-splattered battle for survival. The film is set to release on Shudder on Dec. 9. Watch the trailer here: And lastly, The Mean One --and I gotta say it looks pretty awesome. I love fx makeups, and this one is incredible. A slasher comedy directed by Steven LaMorte ( Bury Me Twice ), this Grinch teases a dark side. A very dark side. Unlike the other adaptations of the Doctor Seuss classic, this one is an unauthorized parody of the story, mean they didn’t acquire the rights. Due to the lack of permissions, the creators had to be extra cautious to avoid using any language or names taken directly from the book. It’s clear that this Grinch will be a very far cry from any previous versions … it’s a spoof. The setting is a sleepy mountain town, where a girl named Cindy has her parents murdered and her Christmas stolen by a blood-thirsty green figure in a red Santa suit—The Mean One. When this ravenous, Christmas-hating creature begins to terrorize the town and threatens to ruin the holiday, Cindy finds purpose in trapping and killing the monster. The Mean One drops next Friday, Dec. 9 AND, streaming friends, you’re in luck with this one. As a gift to all horror fans this holiday season, this flick drops everywhere on Dec. 15. Watch the trailer below: *BONUS WATCH: I happened to stumble across this one by chance, and no way I’d miss telling you guys about it. Another independent horror-comedy slasher, this one puts a psychological spin on the classic story of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and, of course, the reindeer. Here are the deets on Christmas Slasher : as the holiday season rolls in, a murderous zombie reindeer wreaks havoc on the small town of Vixen, Minnesota. Local townsfolk are viciously attacked and killed, and even the hunters become the hunted. Then the film shifts forward ten years after the murders and centers around Alita Claus, when she and a group of her best friends from college decide to spend Christmas break in a cabin deep in the woods (and we all know what happens in cabins “deep in the woods”). The zombie reindeer is still on the loose, along with now-psychotic-monsters murderous couple Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Here’s the trailer, but an actual release date is yet to be announced and is projected for some time in December. Keep an eye on your favorite platforms. There are, of course, many other holiday horror titles streaming this month, so visit your favorite places and see what’s in store. And always check your VOD titles, especially if you're an AppleTV user. They have some great categories and recent discoveries with little gems everywhere. Be sure to stock up on candy and popcorn before you get to watchin’! And if horror isn’t your thing, be sure to check out my list of non-holiday comedy recommendations , definitely guaranteed to have your face hurting from laughing so much. Enjoy, my friends. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Barbie sees success with its all-star cast and its underlying message for women everywhere < Back Barbie: Film Review C.G. Smith Aug 7, 2023 Share Barbie sees success with its all-star cast and its underlying message for women everywhere Rating: 3.5 out of 5 duck lips of approval My wife and I don’t usually go out to see movies anymore, but she had been hearing about the Barbie movie from co-workers for a few days, so we bought tickets and went to the Broad Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana, to see it. The Saturday matinee was nearly full of adults of all ages, and a few families with young girls. The trailers rolled, and I finished my hot dog as a few latecomers filed into the last seats near the front of the theater. The movie began with a nod to 2001: A Space Odyssey for the intro sequence, and it was a grin-worthy moment for me. I was quickly pulled into the Kool-Aid as an oversized Margot Robbie ( Suicide Squad ), dressed as the original Barbie, towered above little girls playing with their ordinary dolls. Director Greta Gerwig ( Lady Bird ) showed right away that she was going to have fun with the film as little girls destroyed their baby dolls in homage to this new doll, Barbie. There were enjoyably wonderful supporting performances, and it was amusing to see some amazing actors having a good time with the roles they landed. Will Ferrell ( Old School ) as the Mattel CEO was silly, his presence perhaps a statement on how even a complete man-child can rise to the top of a company in a patriarchy, and Rhea Perlman ( Cheers ) as Barbie creator Ruth Handler was a high point for me. Michael Cera ( Superbad ) gave the discontinued Allan doll some life and a bit of comedic relief as the bony best friend of Barbie’s buff male counterparts, and Kate McKinnon ( Office Christmas Party ) was fabulous as Weird Barbie. Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie The plot centers on Barbie suddenly facing an existential crisis because of how someone in the real world is imagining her. We learn Weird Barbie is weird because she’s been played with too “hard,” and now Stereotypical Barbie’s perfect existence is suddenly threatened by flat feet, celluloid, and thoughts of impending death. Weird Barbie tells Stereotypical Barbie that to fix the situation, she must travel to the real world and find the person who is causing these changes in her. In the process, a stowaway Ken is introduced to the patriarchy, which he quickly adopts, albeit a bit clumsily, as he has always felt like he had no purpose without Barbie. I felt the whole Real World vs Barbie Land plot was an unexpected but overused way to tell the story. It was never really fleshed out as to how these two places could co-exist but nonetheless gave a way to merge the make-believe world with the reality of today. My favorite scene was when America Ferrera ( Superstore ) goes off about how impossible it is to be a woman in society in a monologue on the double standards of being a woman. This unlocks the answer the Barbies have been searching for to regain control of Barbie Land from the Kens, who have taken it over. Ryan Gosling ( La La Land ) does a great job as Ken, and the film doesn't make it a foregone conclusion that he and Barbie belong together, but rather that they should learn to know and love themselves without the confines of any pre-conceived gender roles or biases. Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken I will say that my wife, who was the catalyst for this outing, was not as impressed with the movie as I was. I find that often when something is talked about, and then built up in our minds, it's very hard to actually shine once it is experienced. Stephen King's The Stand (2020), for instance, has and probably never will live up to the movie I have created in my head. Overall, I felt Barbie was a fun, interesting movie and, although skewed towards adults, was not vulgar or too grown up for maturing children. Barbie seems to have a good time with the franchise while also projecting the power of finding and being yourself for Barbies and Kens alike. I doubt you'll not enjoy your time with this one if you go in with an open mind. Barbie also stars Issa Rae ( Insecure ), Kingsley Ben-Adir ( Secret Invasion ), John Cena ( Peacemaker ), and Simu Liu ( Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) . www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

October ushers in the streaming premieres of Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, Strays, and Haunted Mansion < Back New Movies Streaming in October Keeley Brooks Oct 4, 2023 Share October ushers in the streaming premieres of Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, Strays, and Haunted Mansion As I said in my New Titles Streaming in October article, October is one of my favorite times of year for many reasons, but mostly because it brings Halloween, a crisp slowing-down season, and the streaming of classic horror movies, such as Halloween , Friday the 13th , and A Nightmare on Elm Street . Even Scream --the original, though. While there is plenty to look forward to this month, October also brings with it a host of new movies streaming on some of your favorite platforms. The $20 million Netflix acquisition Fair Play arrives to steam up screens, and Paramount+ is presenting the exclusive release of Pet Sematary: Bloodlines , the prequel to the classic Stephen King story “Pet Sematary” ... oh, and speaking of pets, Strays also drops on Peacock. I don't know about you, but I'm always down to hang out with cursing dogs. Check out our full list below for the new movies streaming in October! Appendage (Now Streaming on Hulu) Huluween has begun, and it comes out swingin’ with this all-new disturbingly bloody horror feature, Appendage . The feature film follows a young aspiring fashion designer’s rise to the top then sticks with her once things at the top go horribly wrong. When Hannah (Hadley Robinson, of Little Women ) becomes obsessed with the opportunity to become a renowned fashion designer’s assistant, she begins to notice strange growths and abscesses on her body. Since the condition is baffling the doctors she sees, Hannah turns to a support group with the same mysterious condition, but this only opens the door to an entirely new set of problems. The Burial (Oct. 13 on Prime Video) Inspired by true events, when a handshake deal goes sour, funeral home owner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones, of Men in Black ) enlists charismatic attorney Willie E. Gary (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, of Ray ) to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice in this inspirational, triumphant story. The Caine Mutiny Court Martial (Oct. 6 on Paramount+ and Showtime) This flick centers on a naval court-martial (Jason Clarke, of Zero Dark Thirty ) who reluctantly agrees to defend a first officer of the Navy (Jake Lacy, of Carol ) after he took control of a ship from its domineering captain (Kiefer Sutherland, of 24 ) during a violent sea storm. The ensuing trial forces the court-martial to question whether the events aboard the ship are true or not. Fair Play (Oct. 6 on Netflix) This directorial debut from Chloe Domont ( Ballers ) rocked the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it earned critical acclaim and sold to Netflix in a massive $20 million deal. Starring Bridgerton breakout Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich ( Cocaine Bear ), the two play co-workers at a hedge fund who are in a secret relationship. Their bond is tested when her career takes off. This looks to be one smart finance drama doubling as a romantic thriller taking a probing look at sexual passion (and politics) in the post-#MeToo age. Five Nights at Freddy’s (Oct. 27 exclusively on Peacock) Based on the video game franchise of the same name, Josh Hutcherson ( The Hunger Games ) stars as a troubled security guard working his first shift at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. During his first night on the job, he realizes his shift at Freddy’s won’t be a walk in the park when supernatural things (a la Willy's Wonderland , minus Nicolas Cage) start happening that drag him into the heart of an unspeakable nightmare. Haunted Mansion (Oct. 4 on Disney+) While’s the Haunted Mansion reboot didn’t break the box office this summer, it is slated to find new life with its debut this month on Disney+ just in time for Halloween. Rosario Dawson ( Ahsoka ) is a single mother who moves into a haunted house and recruits a tour guide, a psychic, a priest, and a historian to exorcise it of all the ghosts still living there. The ensemble class includes LaKeith Stanfield ( The Changeling ), Tiffany Haddish ( The Afterparty ), Owen Wilson ( Loki ), Danny DeVito ( It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia ), Dan Levy ( Schitt’s Creek ), Jamie Lee Curtis ( Halloween franchise), and Jared Leto ( Morbius ). My teenaged nieces saw it and gave it a thumbs up: “It was pretty funny,” they said. So there you have it, straight from the word of today's youth. The Mill (Oct. 9 on Hulu) Starring Lil Rel Howery ( Get Out ), The Mill is a sci-fi thriller about a businessman who wakes up beside an ancient grist mill situated in the center of an open-air prison cell with no idea of how he got there. Forced to work as a beast of burden to stay alive, he must find a way to escape before the birth of his child. Will he survive? Old Dads (Oct. 20 on Netflix) When a middle-aged father and his two best friends sell their company to a millennial, they soon find themselves out of step and behind the times as they struggle to navigate a changing world of culture, career, and fatherhood. This Netflix comedy stars Bill Burr ( Breaking Bad ), Bokeem Woodbine ( Queen & Slim ), Bobby Cannavale ( The Watcher ), and Rachel Harris ( Bad Words ). Old Dads is also written and directed by actor/comedian Bill Burr. Totally Killer (Oct. 6 on Netflix) The second feature from Nahnatchka Khan ( Always Be My Maybe ), Totally Killer kind of sounds like a cross between a classic slasher flick and Back to the Future , minus Michael J. Fox and that sweet 80’s soundtrack. Kiernan Shipka ( The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ) stars as Jamie, a woman on a trip back to 1987 to prevent the murders of her mother (Julie Bowen, of Modern Family ) and her friends, who fell victim to a masked killer. Also stars Randall Park ( Fresh Off the Boat ) and Lochlyn Munro ( Riverdale ). Pain Hustlers (Oct. 27 on Netflix) After directing seven Harry Potter -related movies, Director David Yates turns his attention to the real world, taking cinematic revenge on the rare fentanyl-dispensing pharma company punished for breaking all the rules. Emily Blunt ( A Quiet Place ) stars as Liza Drake, a struggling mother who lands a job at a pharmaceutical start-up to make money for her sick daughter. However, Liza has no idea the company is a failing, fully-fledged illegal business, and she swiftly finds herself stuck in the middle of a racketeering scheme. Andy Garcia ( The Godfather ), Catherine O’Hara ( Schitt’s Creek ), Jay Duplass ( Somebody Somewhere ), Brian d’Arcy James ( Spotlight ), and Chloe Coleman ( My Spy ) co-star. Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (Oct. 6 on Paramount+) In a tis-the-season offering, Paramount+ is treating Stephen King fans to the exclusive release of Pet Sematary: Bloodlines , a prequel to King’s original story, “Pet Sematary.” In 1969, a young Jud Crandall has dreams of leaving his hometown of Ludlow, Maine, behind but soon discovers sinister secrets buried within and is forced to contront a dark family history that will forever keep him connected to Ludlow. Banding together with his childhood friends, Jud must fight an anciet evil that has gripped Ludlow since its founding, and once unearthed unearthed has the power to destroy everything in its path. Strays (Oct. 6 on Peacock) Even though this blast of a comedy has been available to rent/purchase since September, it's finally hit a streaming platform for those of you who've been waiting for it to do so. When Reggie (Will Ferrell, of Old School ) gets abandoned by his dirtbag owner, Doug (Will Forte, of The Last on Earth ), the naive but lovable pup falls in with a gang of strays that include a foul-mouthed, street-wise Boston Terrier named Bug (Jamie Foxx, of Django Unchained ), an Australian Shepherd named Maggie (Isla Fisher, of Borat ), and a therapy Great Dane named Hunter (Randall Park, of Young Rock ). Together they embark on an epic adventure to get Reggie home so he can make Doug pay for what he's done. The solution: Reggie plans to bite his d*ck off. Can't say I blame him. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with a voracious appetite for entertainment consumption and an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

A look at the recent sci-fi flick "65" < Back Adam Driver Fights Off Dinosaurs in All His Action-Hero, Gun-Slinging, Life-Saving Glory Keeley Brooks May 24, 2023 Share A look at the recent sci-fi flick "65" I’m a fan of most movie genres and will pretty much watch anything— most anything, even when everyone else says, “Hey, that sucks.” I don’t care. I want to see for myself. That was the case with Adam Driver’s latest film, 65 . It has mixed reviews from critics and audiences and has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 35% with an audience review score of, oddly enough, 65%. I happened to like it, and here’s why. 65 is a science fiction action thriller written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods--both of whom wrote for A Quiet Place and A Quiet Place II --starring Adam Driver (I shouldn’t have to do this, but I will: Star Wars: The Force Awakens ) and young actor Ariana Greenblatt ( Love and Monsters ). Driver is a space pilot living on the planet Somaris with his wife and sick child. Needing money to treat her illness, he decides to undertake a two-year expedition transporting human colonists to a new world when disaster strikes and a mass of asteroids pummels his ship down to an unknown planet, which is revealed to be Earth—65 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period. You know what that means? Dinosaurs. Giant, flesh-eating dinosaurs. Upon the crash, Driver, known as Mills, realizes his ship is damaged beyond repair, and he is the only survivor. He thinks about committing suicide but ultimately decides against it after he discovers one lone little survivor from the human colonist transport, a young girl named Koa. Because of their language barrier (and a broken translator), the two struggle to communicate. With Driver at the helm, their struggle is most endearing. Mills later discovers that a functioning escape shuttle from his ship has landed on top of a mountain, so he is hell-bent on getting there. Koa, however, scared and lost without her family, does not want to leave. In an effort to spare her pain and heartache, Mills lies to her and indicates her family is on top of the mountain waiting for her; in reality, they died in the crash. As the two set out towards the mountain amidst the treacherous landscape, they discover they are not alone as they endure one harrowing situation after another to reach their destination. Will they make it? That’s the question guiding this story. credit: Sony Pictures The planet is home to huge, dangerous, very aggressive dinosaurs, and when the dinosaurs become aware of Mills and Koa’s presence, the hunt is on. As Mills works to protect them from harm, he and Koa begin to form a sweet little bond that carries them through their journey. Here's a quick rundown. Mills and Koa are attacked by a large quadrupedal theropod ; later, a rockfall separates them and Mills is attacked by an Oviraptor while Koa is attacked by a raptor -like creature, which she traps in a fallen tree longs and uses bombs Mills gave her to kill the beast. credit: Sony Pictures Mills kills the Oviraptor on his ass and escapes its cave, but then he falls into quicksand while frantically searching for Koa, who shows up at the last minute to save him. And lastly, as they continue their trek up the mountain, Mills notices a massive asteroid (whose debris crashed the ship they were on) heading right for Earth and realizes they have less than 12 hours before it hits and triggers a catastrophic extinction event. credit: Sony Pictures I won’t tell you what happens next, because you need to watch it for yourselves, but I will tell you that their dinosaur-fighting days are not over, as the duo face two Tyrannosaurus rex AND the same quadrupedal theropod from earlier. Oh, and you’re gonna want to stay tuned after the credits roll, because there’s a little treat there. credit: Sony Pictures While, yes, the story might have some plot holes and whatnot, overall, it really is a good movie to tune into on a rainy day if you have nothing to do. Just watch it for what it is and appreciate the art behind it. If you come out saying this movie is bad, it’s because you sat down to watch it with expectations and pre-conceived notions equivalent to a different, perhaps larger-scale sci-fi movie. On some level, 65 is devoid of all the action that accompanies multiple character arcs in a big budget flick, but that doesn’t matter. There’s enough going on here in this story to keep you entertained and drawn in. The effects, largely dependent on old school cinematic techniques like camera and editing or sound and visual effects—even dramatic performance and questions of what’s really happening behind the dialogue—were fantastic, in my opinion. Beck and Woods do a solid job of bringing in fear of the unknown and of being hunted by using certain sound effects combined with the art of suggestion to drive moments of danger and curiosity. The terrain is breathtakingly terrifying to witness, as Earth is rife with clumps of tornadoes and acid-spewing geysers, as well as tons of chill-inducing prehistoric creatures. While you might be expecting those big-budget effects like you saw in Jurassic Park , you must detach from those expectations to watch this movie. It relies heavily on what you don’t see to drive the suspense of what is happening and to heighten our fear of what could be, and that is where this film (and story) shines. It also navigates very well the relationship between Mills and Koa as people, as friends, as provider and dependent, as adult and child, and as two human beings who experienced something deeply traumatic together and forged a bond from survival. So, overall, do I recommend 65 as a weekend watch? You’re damn right I do! It’s curious, it’s exciting, it has its heartwarming moments, and we get a decent resolution. The acting is also pretty good, and the end left me wanting to know more about Mills and Koa and what happens next. You will not feel like you’ve just wasted 93 minutes of your time, I promise … unless you’re a film snob, then you might feel differently. But don’t be a snob! Art is meant to be experienced. 65 is currently available on Video on Demand, Prime Video, and Roku and will eventually be streaming on Netflix, but as of yet, there is no stream date available. It’s worth the rental fee, though. Enjoy the third age of being stranded in the Mesozoic Era! Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches. Even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Godzilla: Minus One deftly balances social commentary with eye-popping monster action amid personal trauma, drama, and guilt. < Back Godzilla: Minus One: Film Review Shaun Corley Dec 11, 2023 Share Godzilla: Minus One deftly balances social commentary with eye-popping monster action amid personal trauma, drama, and guilt. With a dense mythology, many argue the Godzilla franchise has drifted away from its original intent. While entertaining, the new Godzilla movies lack the social commentary that made the 1954 original so iconic. Fans looking for a Godzilla film that deftly balances social commentary with eye-popping monster action need look no further than this year’s Godzilla: Minus One . Directed by Takashi Yamazaki ( Parasyte: Part I and II ), Godzilla: Minus One is a back-to-basics approach to Godzilla , taking its cues from the original 1954 Godzilla film, perhaps more than any other Godzilla film to date. Godzilla: Minus One features not only one of the best-looking Godzillas ever, but it also remembers that people are just as essential to these movies as the monsters are. Godzilla: Minus One also dispenses any notions of heroism on Godzilla’s part, instead showing him as a primordial force, one that never relents and can never be killed. Photo: Toho Studios The original Godzilla film is a stone-cold classic, a potent allegory for the devastating effects of atomic radiation on both Japan and the rest of the world. Released in Japan in 1954, Godzilla introduced the movie-going public to the behemoth, and to the concept of “kaiju” as a whole. Godzilla made his way to Western audiences two years later when an Americanized version starring Raymond Burr ( Rear Window ) was released: Godzilla, King of the Monsters! However, during the transition, studios emptied Godzilla of his anti-atomic bomb context. While King of the Monsters! is a perfectly fun monster film, it lacks the punch and the heft of the Japanese original. Since 1954, there have been a few different Godzilla franchises, both in Japan and America. Each of these took different approaches: For example, in Godzilla’s Shōwa-era depiction (Japanese political era from 1926-89), he was a champion of humanity; the Heisei era (Japanese political era from 1989-2019) restored his reputation as a destructive force. Then there is also the Millenium era , which identifies films in the Godzilla series released from 1999-2004, as well as two different American reboots—the most recent being 2024’s Godzilla X Kong . That is also to note nothing of the various spin-offs, such as the Mothra films, Rodan , and others. Godzilla: Minus One is set shortly after the end of World War II and sees Japan largely in ruins. Koichi (Ryunosuke Kamiki, of The Great Yokai War ) is a kamikaze pilot who abandons his post in the war’s final days. Landing on Odo Island, Koichi bears witness to Godzilla’s first attack on humanity. During the ruckus, Koichi has a golden opportunity to end Godzilla’s reign before it starts. However, he freezes up, and Godzilla destroys the base, killing everyone except Koichi and another man named Sosaku (Munetaka Aoki, of Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Part I - The Final ). Riddled with survivor’s guilt, Koichi desperately tries to put what he saw behind him. Fate has other plans, though, as Godzilla returns even bigger and more powerful than the first time. Now Koichi must overcome his trauma to help save Japan. As both the American and Japanese Godzilla films began moving away from the social and cultural commentaries, Godzilla became one of the good guys, often rising up to turn back other monsters, such as King Ghidorah. Photo: Legendary Pictures This was particularly true during the Shōwa era of Japan. While the Heisei era returned Godzilla to his destructive ways, the most recent American films have, once again, made him a hero. Godzilla: Minus One dispenses any notions of heroism on his part, instead showing him as a primordial force, one that never relents and can never be killed. With this return to villainy for Godzilla comes the social commentary for which the first movie was known. The 1954 version famously dealt with the fallout of the first atomic bomb tests; two such bombs were dropped, both on Japan. This incident scarred the Japanese psyche, and Godzilla was the result. The 1954 Godzilla was also released as the Cold War was ramping up, and the dangers of atomic radiation were on everyone’s mind. Godzilla tapped into these fears and doubts. Godzilla’s atomic aspects are baked into the character and are indeed present in Godzilla: Minus One . These issues, however, take a back seat to explorations of trauma and guilt . Koichi very much has PTSD, which holds him back both in his career and his life. He meets Noriko (Minami Hamabe, of Let Me Eat Your Pancreas ), a young woman living in the ruins of postwar Japan. Koichi cares very much for her, but his past will not let him love. Kiochi and Noriko (Photo: Toho Studios) Likewise, Koichi’s relationship with Sosaku, the other survivor of Odo Island, is also frayed: Sosaku is angry at Koichi for not opening fire on Godzilla when he had the chance. A key plot point of Godzilla: Minus One is Koichi’s attempts to get Sosaku to join the anti-Godzilla team. Sosaku and Koichi reconcile just in time for the final battle against Godzilla. In giant monster movies such as Godzilla: Minus One , it can be tricky balancing the monster action with personal drama; sometimes one gets little attention. However, Godzilla: Minus One blends the two well. Godzilla looks as good as he ever has—a remarkable feat given the film’s relatively low budget. The special effects, particularly when Godzilla activates his “atomic breath”, are first-rate. The human drama also sustains Minus One . Koichi’s anti-Godzilla team is perfectly cast, and the viewer is left with the impression they are a genuine family, one brought together not by blood but by shared traumas. 2024 marks 70 years of Godzilla. In that time, he has been many things to many people: hero, villain, and protector. While this has made for some fun movies, it ignores the original subtext that made the first Godzilla film so good: the social commentary. However, Godzilla: Minus One brings the monster back to form, using him to discuss themes of guilt, family, and trauma . Godzilla: Minus One is currently in theaters. Catch it on the big screen while you can! Shaun Corley is an East Coast pop culture enthusiast who loves to write about everything entertainment. A big, important Screen Rant writer, Shaun has many leather-bound books, which are far outnumbered by comics and the smell of rich mahogany. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Sisu is an enjoyable homage to Rambo but with much more badassery < Back Sisu: Film Review Keeley Brooks Aug 9, 2023 Share Sisu is an enjoyable homage to Rambo but with much more badassery Rating: 5 out of 5 dead Nazis This past weekend while looking for a good movie to watch, I came across Sisu , a 2022 historical action thriller written and directed by Jalmari Helander ( Wing Man ). The film is an enjoyable homage to Rambo but with much more badassery and even sweeter fight scenes. And after engaging in an hour-and-a-half of action, blood, guts, and sheer badassery, I’m of the opinion that more movies would benefit from having more scenes where Nazis are mercilessly mowed down. Did I mention Sisu contains Nazis? No? My bad. Allow me. In a mostly wordless movie full of fist beating, excessive gunfire, and a plethora of exploding landmines, Sisu is set in 1944 during the last days of World War II on a scorched-earth retreat through Lapland, a snowy, northern region of Scandinavia. It follows Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila, of Rare Exports ), a grizzled gold prospector and former military commander whose family was slaughtered during the war. In their absence, he’s lived a solitary life roaming Finland’s countryside with his horse and loyal dog, embodying the movie’s title. Nearly untranslatable, the word sisu best translates, according to Helander , as, “a white-knuckled form of courage and unimaginable determination that manifests when all hope is lost” … the unrelenting will to survive. Aatami isn’t immortal, though; “he just refuses to die.” While out panning for gold one day, Aatami finds a tiny nugget that entices him to start digging holes, excavating the land as gunfire and exploding shells encroach upon his antiquated site. When he finally strikes the motherload, he falls back, crying tears of ecstasy. He gathers up as much gold as he can take with him, then packs up his horse to head home. On the way—his fortune of nuggets tucked away in his horse’s saddlebags—he comes across a band of sullen Nazis led by a brutal SS officer, who are also hauling their own find: a cadre of young Finnish women. Aatami never says a word as the Nazis find and take his gold, then threaten him, which turns out to be a big mistake. The fight to retrieve his loot inspires our hero with a supernatural kind of determination that’s as caked on him as the blood and mud lodged in the lines of his face. He fights across roads populated by landmines; he survives when the horse he’s riding triggers a landmine and explodes; he survives a hanging; he even slices men’s throats underwater and uses their air bubbles to stay underwater and breathe, thereby avoiding capture. Carnage drips from every corner of the frame in Sisu , which Director Jalmari Helander says is inspired by his favorite action movie of all time, Rambo . “I was so blown away by the scene,” he tells GQ Magazine , where Rambo takes a sewing kit out from the bottom of his knife and begins stitching up his lacerated arm on the edge of a cliff. “I wanted to make an homage to that but in a more badass way.” Sisu is a visceral gut-punch that’s every bit as entertaining as John Wick , Rambo , Nobody , Mad Max: Fury Road , and The Raid but very much features its own level of badassery in Aatami’s ferocity, mental and physical toughness, creative fight sequences, and undying will to survive. He is one tough SOB, enacting some pretty sweet kill maneuvers and digging out his own bullets with a dirty knife, then setting fire to his own wounds to close them … without passing out. He survives extreme hunger, thirst, a beating with a metal hook, knife gashes, and a plane crash. He also survives and kills more than 30 Nazis, and how he does so will have you on the edge of your seat watching with excitement. Throughout their cat-and-mouse game across the barren land, Aatami unleashes the worst of hell with a super creative imagination for gory retribution, as well as for slicing, dicing, decapitating, and blowing Nazis to smithereens—his underlying set of beliefs breathing fire out of life. With copious amounts of blood throughout its scenes, Sisu ’s effects department deserves some mad props for their outstanding efforts, as does the editing department. For example, in the scene where Aatami and his horse unknowingly trigger a landmine, the horse explodes, taking most of the brunt of the explosion. This scene is done extremely well. It’s the first big “Whoah!” moment of the movie. The horse explodes into chunks and bits, and every bit of it looks so very real. Don’t worry, though; no actual horses were harmed in the shooting of this movie. There’s also a great scene where a tank rolls over a dead Nazi; those effects are stellar. Sisu also has some great messages buried within its plot. The sisu legend is about refusing to give up, no matter what, even when the odds are against you and when Death is reaching out to grab you with its decrepit, old fingerbones. There’s also a message of female empowerment in the gang of captured Finnish women. Once Aatami takes out the Nazis driving the truck with the women in it, he greets the women wearing a shoulder full of automatic and bolt-action weapons. What was once a group of Nazi captures becomes a gang of ruthless, Nazi-killing, gunfighting badasses—a refreshing addition to the male-centric movie. Sisu is a mega-hit all the way around: great story with an encapsulating legend full of no-frills, high-octane action; smooth and well performed execution; well-choreographed kills and fight scenes; gorgeous cinematography; outstanding special effects; quality acting full of raw, brutal emotion; gnarly sound effects accompanying actions like crunching bones and poking a sharp needle through skin; and a perfectly accompanying soundtrack to heighten what’s happening on screen. Aatami is, essentially, a symbol for Finland’s masculinity: quiet, humble, and strong. “If I put it shortly,” Helander says, “the [main] message of the film is: ‘Don’t f**k with the Fins.’” Don’t mess with people in Finland ... noted! Sisu is currently available to rent on Video On Demand, Apple TV, Prime Video, and Roku. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Buckle up for the most horrific installment of the Evil Dead universe < Back Evil Dead Rise is Balls-to-the-Wall Blood, Guts, and Terror Ezekiel Kincaid Apr 25, 2023 Share Buckle up for the most horrific installment of the Evil Dead universe With the new Evil Dead installment, we didn’t get just another movie added to the franchise, we got a terrifying, new reimagining of the story. Much like the 2013 remake (which I liked), there is no Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams. There’s also no sarcasm or comedy, so don’t go into this movie expecting Army of Darkness or Ash vs Evil Dead . This was an hour and forty minutes of balls-to-the-wall blood, guts, and terror. From the opening scene to the credits, Evil Dead Rise doesn’t let you rise up for air. It is, by far, the creepiest, scariest, and most horrific installment into the Evil Dead universe. And I freaking loved it. That’s saying a lot, because I am a die-hard Bruce Campbell/Ash Williams fan. Those of you who have kept up with my writing can attest to that. After all, it was my love for Evil Dead and Ash Williams that inspired my epic horror comedy, “The Adventures of Johnny Walker Ranger: Demon Slayer”, which you can get on sale here at Godless. So, even though Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi produced Evil Dead Rise , I was still wondering in the back of my mind—like I did with the 2013 remake—if it would live up to the hype. Written and directed by award-winning writer/director Lee Cronin ( The Hole in the Ground ), Evil Dead Rise is produced by both Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi and stars Lily Sullivan ( MENTAL) , Alyssa Sutherland ( Vikings ) , Morgan Davies ( The Girlfriend Experience ), Gabrielle Echols ( Reminiscence ), and child actress Nell Fisher. The twisted tale follows two estranged sisters whose reunion is cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable. courtesy of Warner Bros. images Unlike the 2013 remake, this new chapter deviates from the usual story line and focuses on a family in an old run-down apartment building in Los Angeles. Alyssa Sutherland plays single mom Ellie, who is possessed by a Deadite early on in the film after her sister, Beth (Lily Sullivan), comes to town for a visit and an earthquake unearths the Necronomicon, or book of the dead. From there, it funnels its evil straight to Ellie, who, as a result, psychologically and physically tortures her own children. Another change is in the recordings that are played. In Evil Dead Rise , we have recordings of a priest on some old records recounting his experiences with the Kandarian Demons (rather than a scholar regurgitating his findings), which releases the chaos. But don’t worry, Ash Williams fans, there are two Bruce cameos in the film, along with a nod to the chainsaw and boomstick. I caught the first cameo (hint: pay attention in the scene when Danny plays the records), but the second cameo I had to look up (and you will, too, because there is no way to tell from the movie itself; you’ll have to Google it). All in all, Evil Dead Rise , while giving homage to its roots, is successful as its own film. With that said, where does it fall within the franchise? The brilliance of this movie lies in the fact that it could function as any of the following: a continuation of the original trilogy, a sequel to Evil Dead (2013), a standalone, or a reboot. It all depends on how you look at the film. There was one scene in the movie that really hit home, tying them all together in my mind. I mentioned the scene where Danny is listening to the old records already, and I’m mentioning it again here. This is a pivotal scene because it masterfully links all the previous films to this one. When Danny plays one of the records next to the Necronomicon, it mentions that the book before him is just one of three volumes of the Necronomicon. courtesy of Warner Bros. images Hello, Army of Darkness fans! This ringing any bells? No? Then allow me three words: klaatu verata nikto—the three words Ash was supposed to say over the “right” Necronomicon. How many Necronomicons were in that scene? Yep, three. In Evil Dead Rise , this seems to indicate that ALL THREE books were real, and that Ash had to pick the right one for HIS particular circumstances (i.e., the one that had already been opened and read). Therefore, what we have is one version of the book in the original Evil Dead trilogy and Ash vs Evil Dead series, the second book in the 2013 remake, and the third book found under the Los Angeles apartment in Evil Dead Rise . courtesy of Warner Bros. images Do you need to see any of the previous films to understand this one? No, which is why it works well as a stand-alone film. However, if you haven’t seen any of the previous installments, you need to remedy that situation ASAP. I would also add that, for me, having seen the previous entries countless times, it did enhance my viewing of the film. With all that was great about the film, it did have one major flaw that the others avoided, and that is character development. The film starts out so fast and furious, we don’t get time to know the characters. This results in us not giving very many f**ks about what happens to them. This doesn’t happen in the original trilogy and series because, duh, Ash Williams. The 2013 remake, with all its blood and gore, still managed to get fans invested with what happens to the characters. This isn’t to say things aren’t revealed along the way to help get you to care about the characters because they are. Even so, it still lacks any real “hook” to create buckets of empathy for the characters. Those buckets of empathy are replaced with buckets of blood and guts (some of the most blood I’ve ever seen in a movie, and that’s saying a lot!) and one of the best woodchipper scenes in cinematic history. The crunching and popping sounds in the movie alone are worth seeing it on the big screen and in Dolby audio! Even with the lack of character development, I still give this movie five out of five chainsaws. The sheer terror, creepiness, blood, gore, and how they connected this to the rest of the movies helps make up for the character development flaws in my mind. Evil Dead Rise is, by far, the scariest entry to date in the Evil Dead franchise. Horror fans, get to the theater and see this one NOW! If you wait until the video release, you’ll regret it. Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to write and talk about it, whether it be in his own novels or in movie/series reviews. His experience as both a pastor and a paranormal investigator bring everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

It's fright time! < Back Fresh Blood on the Horizon: October Horror Releases Keeley Brooks Oct 4, 2022 Share It's fright time! Halloween season is my absolute favorite time of the whole entire year. I actually consider it a holiday because, well, that’s the kind of thing I like to do in my world. And, in addition to the leaves changing color and the weather cooling down, even if just a tiny bit (I’m lookin’ at you, Deep South), it’s also the time for two of my other favorite things on the planet: candy and movies. Because I’m a giant grown-up. Yes, yes, I love the decorations and the trick-or-treaters, the dressing up and (sometimes) the parties, but it’s also the time of year when the days get shorter and the nights get longer, signaling, at least to me, it’s time to start switching from a fight-or-flight mode to more of a rest-and-digest mode. And lucky for your little eyeballs, that means consuming a whole bunch of entertaining content to gush about to you. The month of October is the perfect time to grab some snacks and veg out with your peeps in front of your favorite classic scary movies for thrills and laughs, or in front of newly released scary movies for, you know, thrills and screams. And nightmares. I’m just kidding. Here’s a list of some new, noteworthy horror flicks releasing this month, streaming and in theaters. Among the Living – From Dread comes a story about a brother and sister stranded in the aftermath of a deadly outbreak. Brother fights to protect sister while searching for refuge from an infected population with, yep—you guessed it: an uncontrollable thirst for blood. Looks like a bloody good time to me! Currently available in theaters and streaming Terrifier 2 – Cult horror icon Art the Clown is back with a vengeance after being resurrected by a sinister entity. He returns to the timid town of Miles County where he targets a teen and her younger brother on Halloween night. In theaters October 6 Deadstream – Shudder fans, unite! This feature directorial debut from husband-wife filmmakers Vanessa & Joseph Winter follows a disgraced internet personality attempting to win back his followers by livestreaming one night alone in a haunted house. This gonzo horror-comedy is full of bodily fluids, gore, and ghostly creatures, a la Sam Raimi. Streaming on Shudder October 6 Significant Other – Starring Jake Lacy ( White Lotus ) and Maika Monroe ( It Follows) , this trailer offers the creep on a Blair Witch standing-in-the-corner level. The story follows a young couple on a backpacking trip through the Pacific Northwest, whose trip quickly goes south when they discover they are not alone. Streaming on Paramount+ October 7 Hellraiser – Produced by Clive Barker and directed by The Night House’s David Bruckner, this reboot has already received raving reviews for being both gory and elegant, poetic and “super violent.” Staring Jamie Clayton ( Sense8 ) as the new Hell Priestess, Pinhead, leader of the Cenobites, Adam Faison, and Goran Visnjic ( ER , Timeless ). Streaming on Hulu October 7 Werewolf by Night – When the leader of a monster-hunter guild passes, leaving the throne open for a new leader, his widow assembles a group of the most ruthless monster slayers for a ceremonious hunt to determine their new leader. Enter Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal), a reluctant hunter harboring a few shocking secrets, and what ensues is nothing short of a 100% Rotten Tomato score. Streaming on Disney+ October 7 Halloween Ends – Alas, the final installment of the Halloween reboot trilogy is finally here. Set four years after Halloween Kills , which released in 2021, Michael has disappeared, and Laurie is living with her granddaughter and writing her memoir; then, all hell breaks loose, but not by whom you’d think. In theaters and streaming on Peacock October 14 V/H/S/99 – Brad Miska and Bloody Disgusting’s franchise that horrified audiences and physically made them sick when the first installment dropped in 2012 is back and invites you to get ready to party like its 1999. This one assembles directors Johannes Roberts, Maggie Levin, Flying Lotus, Tyler MacIntyre, and Vanessa & Joseph Winter for five new horror tales that each highlight a hellish vision of the year 1999. Streaming on Shudder October 20 Matriarch – Shit gets super weird in this folk horror tale starring Jemima Rooper (TV’s Flowers in the Attic ) and Kate Dickie ( The Green Knight , Peaky Blinders ). After an overdose, Rooper’s character moves home and in with her estranged mother (Dickie) and soon discovers everyone around her is protecting an unspeakably dark secret involving not only her mother but also Rooper’s terrifying destiny as well. Streaming on Hulu October 21 Resurrection – Who doesn’t love Rebecca Hall ( The Night House ), especially in a creepy psychological drama? Margaret (Hall) leads an orderly, successful life perfectly balancing the demands of her career and solo parenthood. Everything is under control, right up until her careful balance is upended by the return of an unwelcome past shadow (played by Tim Roth), who carries the horrors of Margaret’s past with him. Streaming on Shudder October 28 Currently Available Honorable Mentions: Interview With the Vampire – Anne Rice’s beloved vampire story is back and in tv series format with some reimagining. Simply put, it is spectacular, and seeing Game of Thrones’ Greyworm in vampire form is absolutely beautiful. Currently streaming on AMC+ Dahmer – Evan Peters brilliantly plays convicted serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer with unnerving finesse in this TV horror series that tries to figure out how Dahmer was able to evade detection for more than a decade after murdering 17 teenaged boys and young men. Yes, it’s gross, and indeed, it’s heavy, but it’s absolutely worth the watch just to see Peters in action. Currently streaming on Netflix Raven’s Hollow – Oh, Edgar! This gorgeously photographed, artistic Gothic period horror film follows West Point cadet Edgar Allen Poe (eek!), and four other cadets, on a training exercise in upstate New York when they come upon and are drawn by a gruesome discovery into a forgotten community reminiscent of Sleepy Hollow. Currently streaming on Shudder and AMC+ Barbarian – I’ll admit, if Justin Long ( Jeepers Creepers ) is in it, there’s a hot chance I’m watching it. I don’t care what this guy is doing; I’m always laughing. When a young woman discovers the Airbnb she booked is occupied by a stranger, she decides to stay the night anyway, then discovers there so much more to fear than just an unexpected house guest. Currently in theaters and streaming on HBOMax and Disney+ Creepy Mention Coming Soon: Wednesday – Netflix’s anxiously awaited update to The Addams Family focuses on the fam’s daughter as an older, updated version of the character. What excites me most about this series is its director. It will be the first-ever TV show directed by one of my personal favorite horror masters, Tim Burton. Mark your calendars. Stars Jenny Ortega in the lead and includes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christina Ricci, and Luiz Guzman, to name a few. Streaming on Netflix November 23 Keep Your Eyes Peeled: The Last of Us – Holy shit. What a heavy hitter. Who doesn’t love a heart-pounding zombie apocalypse? This HBO series adaptation of the video game franchise stars Pedro Pascal ( The Mandalorian ) as an apocalypse survivor out for redemption in a world riddled with mutated humans into zombies called “clickers.” Also stars Bella Ramsey ( Game of Thrones ), Nick Offerman ( The Resort ), and Melanie Lynsky ( Yellowjackets ). Releases in 2023 … stay tuned! www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The philosophy of the Saw franchise and its iconic serial killer mastermind John Kramer cuts deep beneath the surface into the realm of Nietzschean nihilism. < Back The Philosophy of John Kramer and the Saw Franchise, Part 1: Film Analysis Ezekiel Kincaid Oct 19, 2023 Share The philosophy of the Saw franchise and its iconic serial killer mastermind John Kramer cuts deep beneath the surface into the realm of Nietzschean nihilism. In 2004, Director James Wan introduced us to a new kind of horror icon with the release of Saw : John Kramer, aka Jigsaw. In case you haven’t seen Saw , here’s what you should know: It’s one of the best and highest-grossing horror franchises of all time, having become a pop culture phenom that expanded into various other films, video games, comic books, theme park attractions, music, and tons of merch … and there’s even a Saw television series rumored to be in development at Lionsgate Television . The Saw series revolves around serial killer mastermind John “Jigsaw” Kramer and his apprentices, who are actually victims he traps in life-threatening scenarios that he refers to as tests or games. It’s up to the victim to decide what their scenario will be. What makes Jigsaw different from other horror icons like Freddy, Michael, Jason, and Pinhead is that John doesn’t kill for the thrill. in fact, he claims he’s never killed anyone at all. He simply gives people a choice. “Live or die. Make your choice,” is uttered more than once from him through the Saw franchise. As the storyline progresses, we find out more about what makes Jigsaw tick and why he does what he does in capturing people and putting them in traps. Immediately, Saw ’s storyline taps into our empathy, and in a weird, way we understand where he is coming from. Franchise creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell humanize Jigsaw and make us sympathetic to his plight, and they do so well with tapping into our psyche, that while watching the movies, we actually cheer for John Kramer at times. Saw features excellent storytelling, great tension, and creates so many moral gray areas , you can’t help but walk away from these movies thinking deeply about ethics, philosophy, and morality . This is because John Kramer thinks he has found the way to rehabilitate people and that is by placing them in traps that, if they survive, will help them walk away with a new appreciation for life. So, this topic will be a four-part series, but with this first part , I’m going to do something vastly different from the other film reviews to which you guys have become so accustomed. You’re used to seeing the snarky, sarcastic Zeke who enjoys making you laugh by subjecting myself to some terrible B movies. But behind the smart-mouthed persona, I have a deep intellectual and philosophical bent consisting of three degrees in theology, and with those degrees came lots of courses in philosophy. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that I would take a special interest in the Saw franchise. Besides The Evil Dead , Phantasm, and The Conjuring universe, the Saw movies are by far my favorites in the horror genre. Cracking the Philosophical Code of Saw and John Kramer I’m so taken by the Saw movies that I have spent years watching and rewatching them, meticulously taking notes and trying to figure out where John Kramer falls on the philosophical spectrum. After years of research and comparing Jigsaw to numerous philosophical thoughts, I believe I have cracked the code. Now, I don’t know if Wan and Whannell ever had this in mind when they thought up Kramer’s character, so I cannot speak to their intent. All I have to go with is how John Kramer is portrayed in the movies. That being said, I believe that John Kramer’s philosophy fits squarely within the realm of Nietzsche's nihilism. Let’s unpack this theory and compare Kramer to Nietzsche, shall we? Over the years, I have read numerous articles arguing how the Saw franchise is ethically convoluted. On the surface it can seem this way, and I will be the first to admit it. However, instead of just making a broad, sweeping statement, I believe once we take a deeper look, it all begins to make sense, especially once we look at it through the eyes of Nietzschean nihilism, which can be subdivided into two categories: passive nihilism and radical nihilism. The complexity surrounding John Kramer exists because, ironically, he falls into both categories. This would explain why, on a cursory viewing, the Saw franchise’s ethics seem to be disjointed. Indeed, what comes out of Jigsaw’s mouth at times is hypocritical, but when seen in this new light, they are not confused. Before we jump neck-deep into the world of philosophy, I want to assure my readers of something. I know not everyone has a philosophy background, and I know as soon as someone mentions the word “philosophy” it can be intimidating. Though I have all these theological degrees, I assure you I’m just a blue-collar redneck at heart. I promise to make this understandable and not use lofty jargon, and for the times I have to, I will define the words. Feel better? Good! Let’s continue. First, let’s define nihilism : It basically summarizes a family of thought that says life is meaningless . It rejects all religious and moral principles, including the fundamental aspects of human existence. It is skeptical of all human knowledge, morals, and religious ideologies. Nietzsche , the father of modern nihilistic thought, took this category and divided it into two parts: passive and radical. In talking about nihilism in his book " The Will to Power" (1967), Nietzsche defines a nihilist as someone “who judges of the world as it is that it ought not be and of the world as it ought to be that it does not exist.” To put it in blue-collar terms, all he is saying is that because purpose and meaning in life is unknowable, the nihilist cannot accept the world as it is. Understanding nihilism is extremely important if we are going to make sense of Jigsaw's morality, since it is his morality that drives the Saw franchise. In fact, when we view his morality through this lens, it shows us how coherent Jigsaw’s moral mission is in his own mind and to those of us watching the franchise unfold. I have read other critics who call John Kramer a monster and comment how the film does damage to viewers because it promotes a mindset that is against modern ethics. Sure, I can see how and why the critics would say this, but their criticism doesn’t hold up once we firmly place Kramer in the camp of nihilism. As I will unpack in this series, Kramer’s moral quest is not to save other people and leave behind some immortal legacy ; rather, what Jigsaw wants to do is more destructive. His aim is to destroy the world as is by changing the world around him. This, my friends, is nihilism. Viewing Jigsaw through nihilist eyes shows us that following the loss of his unborn son and a failed suicide attempt, he seeks to destroy himself. How so? Go back and watch the Saw franchise. Have you ever noticed that Jigsaw’s victims MIRROR his own obsessive traits? This is what I am going to break down for you moving forward. We’ll look at passive and radical nihilism, their differences, their similarities, and how Jigsaw fits within both these paradigms. My goal is not to categorize John Kramer but to give us a lens to view the movies through to make sense of his morals and mission. So, for the next few articles, sit back, get your Saw movies queued up, and let good ole Uncle Zeke take you on a magic philosophical carpet ride. Stay tuned as we cut deeper beneath the surface in Part 2 of The Philosophy of John Kramer. Ezekiel Kincaid lives for horror and loves to watch it, write about, and talk about it, whether that be in his own horror novels or in reviews. His experience as a pastor and paranormal investigator brings everything he writes to life. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Newest movies to hit streaming platforms this month range from Killers of the Flower Moon to Rebel Moon – Part 1: A Child of Fire. < Back Movies Streaming in December 2023 Keeley Brooks Dec 8, 2023 Share Newest movies to hit streaming platforms this month range from Killers of the Flower Moon to Rebel Moon – Part 1: A Child of Fire. Along with a slew of holiday-centric movies, December sees a hefty amount of new and theatrical titles hitting some of your favorite streaming platforms, too. From the release of Killers of the Flower Moon and Barbie to newly released and long-anticipated titles like Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon -- Part 1: A Child of Fire and disaster flick Leave the World Behind , there’s plenty to choose from this month that’s sure to keep you entertained. Check out our list of select titles! Leave the World Behind (Dec. 8 on Netflix) Who doesn’t love a good disaster movie?! I know I do. Leave the World Behind is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Rumaan Alam and marks the first fictional movie from Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company. The film stars Julia Roberts ( The Mexican ) and Ethan Hawke ( The Black Phone ) as a couple vacationing in Long Island when a world-threatening disaster takes place. Mahershala Ali ( Green Book ) plays the owner of the home the couple is renting, and when he shows up seeking refuge with his daughter, the two families are forced to trust each other as the world collapses. Leave the World Behind is rumored to be one intriguing use-your-imagination thriller. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (now available on Disney+) I’ll start by saying this movie is ridiculously long, so if you plan to watch it—especially with any kiddos, be prepared. Harrison Ford is back as the titular character for his final outing and fifth (unnecessary) installment of the long-running adventure franchise that is Indiana Jones . As Jones searches for a mystical artifact that has the power to turn back time, he teams up with his goddaughter to track down the device. May December (now available on Netflix) Starring Natalie Portman ( Black Swan ) and Julianne Moore ( The Big Lebowski ), May December is loosely based on the real-life relationship between former middle school teacher Mary Kay Letourneau and her student Vili Fualaau. The film follows a married couple who, 20 years after their notorious tabloid romance, buckle under the pressure when a Hollywood actress (Portman) meets them to do research for a film about their past. Killers of the Flower Moon (now available on Apple TV+) Based on journalist David Grann’s 2017 bestseller of the same name, Killers of the Flower Moon recounts the true story of how a white businessman and self-proclaimed “true friend” of the Osage nation orchestrated the brutal murders of numerous members of the tribe in early 1920’s Oklahoma. Real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal when Mollie Burkhart, an Osage Nation member, tries to save her community from this spree of murders fueled by oil and greed. Killers of the Flower Moon is reported to be Leonardo DiCaprio’s best performance of his entire career. Candy Cane Lane (now available on Prime Video) He’s no Clark Griswold, but Eddie Murphy ( The Nutty Professor ) is a father determined to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest. When he unintentionally strikes a deal with an elf (Jillian Bell, of 22 Jump Street ) to improve his odds of winning, chaos ensues as the elf casts a spell that brings to life the 12 Days of Christmas. Candy Cane Lane also stars Chris Redd ( Kenan ) and Nick Offerman ( Parks and Recreation ). Mr. Monk’s Last Case: A Monk Movie (Dec. 8 on Peacock) Tony Shalhoub reprises his Emmy-winning role in the long-awaited Monk movie. Set in a post-COVID world, the flick follows Shalhoub’s consulting detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a wide range of phobias as he takes on a very personal case involving his beloved stepdaughter Molly, a journalist preparing for her wedding. Several original series stars are set to reprise their roles alongside Shalhoub, so Monk fans, your party returns. The Family Plan (Dec. 15 on Apple TV+) Mark Wahlberg ( Entourage ) is back in an action-comedy role, this time as a former elite government assassin living incognito as a suburban dad. Starring opposite Michelle Monaghan ( Gone Baby Gone ), the family-friendly flick follows Dan Morgan (Wahlberg) as he packs up his wife, teenaged son and daughter, and 10-month-old baby and flees from past enemies who’ve tracked him down. This unsuspecting family takes an unforgettable cross-country road trip to Vegas, baby. The Retirement Plan (Dec. 15 on Hulu) Nicolas Cage ( An Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent ) stars as a retired government assassin with a violent set of skills who must protect his estranged daughter and grandchild after they get tangled up with some very bad men—one of whom is Ron Perlman ( Hellboy ). I’ve seen this flick, and it’s a cute movie. You’ll melt over the relationship Cage’s on-screen granddaughter strikes with Perlman’s character. For more details, read this full review of The Retirement Plan . Finestkind (Dec. 15 on Paramount+) Finestkind is a crime-thriller drama that tells the story of two half-brothers raised in different worlds, who are reunited as adults over one fateful summer. Set against the backdrop of commercial fishing, desperate circumstances force the brothers to become involved with the Boston crime syndicate, which ends up becoming their biggest threat, especially when a woman’s betrayal is woven in there. The film reveals itself to be a story about fathers who can’t always be the best examples for their sons, and about the fact that a safe return home isn’t always guaranteed. Finestkind stars Tommy Lee Jones ( The Burial ), Ben Foster ( Hell or High Water ), Jenna Ortega ( Wednesday ), and Jake Gyllenhaal ( Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant ) and features big boats, drug running, crime, and drama. Gran Tourismo (Dec. 15 on Netflix) Gran Tourismo is about a team of unlikely underdogs who risk it all to take on the most elite sport in the world: racecar driving. Based on the racing simulation video game series of the same name, it tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a teenage Gran Tourismo player who became a professional racecar driver. Stars David Harbour ( Violent Night ), Orlando Bloom ( Lord of the Rings trilogy), Djimon Hounsou ( Black Adam ), Archie Madekwe ( See ), Takehiro Hira ( Monarch: Legacy of Monsters ), and Darren Barnet ( Never Have I Ever ). Barbie (Dec. 15 on Max) If you’ve been waiting to see Barbie and Ken in all their live-action glory, your wait is over. The hit musical will soon be available to stream for free … with a Max membership, of course. Maestro (Dec. 20 on Netflix) Bradley Cooper ( A Star is Born ) is American composer Leonard Bernstein in this biographical drama that focuses on his relationship with Costa Rican actress-turned-wife Felicia Montealegre. Cooper, who also directs the film, spent a reported six years learning how to conduct an orchestra. It’s a lot harder and more involved than it looks. Beau Is Afraid (Dec. 21 on Paramount+) It’s a big year for Joaquin Phoenix ( Joker ), and if you’ve been waiting for Beau Is Afraid to hit a streaming platform, you’re in luck. Phoenix stars as an anxiety-ridden loner who sets out on a bizarre odyssey home to see his mother. While the Ari Aster ( Hereditary ) flick may confuse those with huge expectations, know that the film is supposed to be a polarizing movie, so view it with an open mind and just be there for the experience … and Phoenix’s performance, which—let’s be honest—is the only real reason any of us see movies with him in the lead role. Or is that just me? Rebel Moon – Part 1: A Child of Fire (Dec. 22 on Netflix) Finally, famed director Zack Snyder’s long-awaited franchise arrives this month. Hitting Netflix right before Christmas, this mega-budget sci-fi action flick is inspired by the works of Akira Kurosawa , the Star Wars films, and Heavy Metal magazines and will no doubt feature Snyder’s well-known slow-motion effects. When a colony on the edge of the galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius, they dispatch a young woman with a mysterious past to seek out warriors from neighboring planets to help them take a stand. The franchise boasts big names like Charlie Hunnam ( Sons of Anarchy ), Michiel Huisman ( The Haunting of Hill House ), Djimon Hounsou ( Black Adam ), Sofia Boutella ( Kingsman: The Secret Service ), and Ray Fisher ( Zack Snyder’s Justice League ). Rebel Moon – Part 2 will release on Netflix in April 2024. Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with a voracious appetite for entertainment consumption and an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches, even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

The Underrated 80s Horror Movie You've Probably Forgotten About < Back Dead Pit Ezekiel Kincaid Dec 8, 2022 Share The Underrated 80s Horror Movie You've Probably Forgotten About The year is 1990. Ten-year-old me is browsing the horror section one Friday night at Dixie Video, knowing good and well my parents aren't going to allow me to rent what I really want to watch. While perusing said shelves, I come across a video that makes me feel like Ralphie in A Christmas Story the first time he held his Red Rider BB gun. Dead Pit . On the cover, a zombie resembling Frankenstein crawls out of a pit, surrounded by a bunch of hands reaching out of the same hole. Behind him stalks more of the living dead. As you can see above, the color scheme is black and neon green. What made this case even more fascinating was that when you’d press the zombie, his eyes lit up! I was sold. Ten-year-old me had to see this movie! Ten-year-old me asked my parents. Ten-year-old me was told "no" because it was R rated. I had to wait a few years, but I finally got around to watching Dead Pit . As an adolescent, I remember liking the movie, but as time went on, the movie drifted into obscurity in my mind. Until a few years ago, when I was browsing Amazon Prime to find an 80s horror movie to pass the time. Lo and behold, what appeared! The memories surrounding this movie came flooding back. I was lost in nostalgia, wondering how in the world I could have forgotten about a movie like this. One euphoric memory after another tingled my soul. When the sensation ended, I went to my pantry, grabbed a jar of peanut butter, and commenced watching. And boy, was I glad I did! What's the movie about? Released in 1989, like most 80's horror, the plot is kind of silly. The psychotic Dr. Ramzi was walled up alive in a nuthouse. He had been caught performing experiments that involved one-part formaldehyde and one-part lobotomies. When he was done extracting the brains from his victims, he tossed the bodies into the pit. As his captors bricked him in and sealed him up, the crazy doctor swears he will get revenge on them. Jump ahead twenty years. Enter Jane Doe. She's admitted to the asylum for a bad case of amnesia. It just so happens that Jane Doe has some serious psychic powers. So powerful is she, that she awakens Dr. Ramzi from his sleep. Once awakened, Ramzi and Doe seem to share a psychic bond. Ramzi uses this bond to draw power from her to raise all his victims from the pit. Ramzi then sends out his zombie horde for revenge. This movie has some creative kills and descent 80s gore. There's also all the cheese that we've come to adore about 80s horror. My favorite (terribly cheesy) scene has to do with holy water and a water tower. Also, the zombies are somewhat intelligent, and they move fast. Overall, I enjoyed digging up this forgotten jewel of my childhood. If you're a fan of 80s horror, this is a must-see for you. Check it out now on Amazon while you still can! I’m an avid VHS collector and I’ve since been able to acquire a copy of Dead Pit (see pic below). The tape still works like a charm and the cover is in okay shape. The only down side is that the zombie eyes don’t light up. I’ve been trying to track down a copy with working LEDs, but I’ve had no luck. So, if any readers out there know where I can get a copy, hit me up! Until next time, keep it creepy, you bunch of freaks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Select Stoner Movies in Honor of 420 < Back Chillin’ Out, Maxin’, Relaxin’, All Cool: Celebrating Cannabis Culture with Cinema Keeley Brooks Apr 20, 2023 Share Select Stoner Movies in Honor of 420 ‘Tis a beautiful day in the neighborhood, my friends. It’s sunny out, the week’s almost over, and—oh yeah!—it’s 420! Holla! That means it’s the perfect time to chill out at home, be cool, and indulge in one or several of some of the best stoner movies ever made. While there are multiple versions about the theories and origins of 420 being the California penal code or police radio code for marijuana, they’re actually not true. According to the History Channel , it all began with a group of students in California in the 1970s and centered around a treasure hunt in 1971 involving five high school kids who created a ritual for getting high. The Waldos, as the group was called, learned of a Coast Guard member who had planted a cannabis plant and could no longer tend to the crop. So, provided with a treasure map—perhaps by the plant’s owner, but we don’t know for sure—the group met at the Louis Pasteur statue outside their high school once a week to conduct a search for the plant. Their meeting time? 4:20 p.m. Apparently these kids were athletes, so they had to meet after practice. Then, allegedly, the Waldos would pile into a car, burn some leaf, and scour the Point Reyes Forest for the illustrious plant. One of the original members of the Waldos, Steve Capper , told the Huffington Post , “We would remind each other in the hallways we were supposed to meet up at 4:20. It originally started out 4:20-Louis, and we eventually dropped the Louis.” While the Waldos never did score their free bud, they instead stumbled upon something much bigger and longer lasting by coining the term 420, which has allowed teens across the globe to rap with their friends about smoking pot without their parents or teachers knowing what they mean. As far as how the term spread internationally, that seems to have everything to do with the Grateful Dead. Capper told Huffington Post that members of the Waldos had open access and many connections to the band, because one of the Waldos’ father managed the Dead’s real estate, and another Waldos member had a brother who was good friends with Dead bassist Phil Lesh. Capper explains, “There was a place called Winterland, and we’d always be backstage running around or on stage and, of course, we’re using those phrases. When somebody passes a joint or something, ‘Hey, 420.’ So, it started spreading through that community.” However it originated and spread across the world, we are grateful (no pun intended). And in honor of that gratitude, today (and perhaps through the whole weekend) we celebrate 420, and in my world, well, that's none of your business. Here are some of my favorites stoner movies worth revisiting or checking out. The Big Lebowski (1998) – This Coen Bros. cult classic is certainly my favorite stoner flick, and it should be at least in your top three. Jeff Bridges stars as The Dude, a grown man in Los Angeles named Jeff Lebowski who desires nothing more out of life than taking it easy, smoking his Js, and bowling. When his identity is confused with that of local millionaire Jeffrey Lebowski, aka The Big Lebowski, The Dude’s world begins to unravel, and he’s pulled into a web of comedic intrigue and shenanigans that only the Coen Bros. could weave. The shenanigans kick off right from the get-go with The Dude being roughed up in his own home, having his head shoved in the toilet, then having to watch his precious rug get peed on. The nerve! Now, The Dude’s on a mission to get his rug replaced. After a bowling game with his sidekicks, Vietnam war vet Walter Sobchak (John Goodman, The Conners ) and the sweet, empathetic Donny Kerabatsos (Steve Buscemi, Fargo ), The Dude tracks down The Big Lebowski and soon finds himself as “the bag man” responsible for handing off a ransom in hopes of kidnappers returning The Big Lebowski’s porn-star wife, Bunny (Tara Reid, American Pie ). The Dude is very easy-going and being embroiled in this situation upsets his chi. It’s in that juxtaposition that the film is hysterical on multiple levels. Plus, it stars John Turturro ( Severance ) as Dude’s bowling rival, Jesus, and Julianne Moore ( Boogie Nights ) as Maude Lebowski, The Dude’s lady friend and a feminist avant-garde visual artist, as well as the protagonist daughter of The Big Lebowski. I could write all day about this movie and its characters, plot, and subplots, but I’ll just let you watch it for yourself and soak up all those Coen Bros. nuggets of dialogue. You’re welcome. Dazed and Confused (1993) – Some of the most famous Matthew McConaughey movie quotes on the planet originate here, and this one is a must-see, especially since it’s McConaughey’s first role. “Say, man. You got a joint?” he asks a young high school kid on the way to an end-of-school party. When the kid says no, McConaughey’s character smiles and with such coolness says back, “It’d be a whole lot cooler if you did.” It’ll make you both melt and laugh. Littered with quotable dialogue, this film by director Richard Linklater ( Everybody Wants Some ) features an ensemble cast of authentic American high school archetypes and exploits them during an afternoon on the last school day of the year in May 1976 that’s spent hazing younger students, searching for good times, avoiding any authority at all costs, and dreaming of the future. You’ll see Parker Posey ( Lost in Space ), Ben Affleck ( Gone Girl ), Milla Jovovich ( Resident Evil movies), Adam Goldberg ( The Equalizer tv show), Joey Lauren Adams ( Big Daddy ), and Cole Hauser ( Yellowstone ), to name a few. Friday (1995) – This stoner comedy film franchise was created by Ice Cube and DJ Pooh, and when it hit theaters, it HIT! Taking place in South Central Los Angeles, the series follows the exploits of perpetually unemployed Craig Davidson (Ice Cube), who—along with his friends and relatives—is thrust into various issues that happen to occur on a random Friday. There’s so much about this movie that is worthy, but I must mention it doesn’t just feature but stars a very young and absolutely hysterical Chris Tucker ( Rush Hour series), who plays a character named Smokey. “I know ya don’t smoke weed, I know this,” he tells Craig (Ice Cube). “But I’m gonna get you high today cause it’s Friday, you ain’t got no job, and you ain’t got shit to do.” That line sums up the entirety of the movie, which plays out with two friends hangin’ out all day on a Friday, making jokes, and observing the ongoings in their neighborhood whilst adding in their commentary. Tucker did not appear in either sequel, which perhaps is why they weren’t as well received as Friday was, but nonetheless: This one is also a must see and is another one of my top three favorites. As Smokey says, “Weed is from the earth. God put this here for me and you. Take advantage, man, take advantage.” I hope wherever you are today, even though it’s Thursday, you can “take advantage” in honor of Smokey. Also stars Tommy Lister Jr. ( Jackie Brown ), Nia Long ( Big Momma’s House ), Regina King ( Jerry Maguire ), and Bernie Mac, among many other recognizable faces. Pineapple Express (2008) – Written by Seth Rogen ( Knocked Up, Superbad ) and Judd Apatow ( Old School ), this comedy is about a lazy stoner and process server (Rogen) who winds up being the sole witness to a murder by an evil drug lord (Gary Cole, Office Space ) and a corrupt cop (Rosie Perez, White Men Can’t Jump ). Now marked for death, the stoner does what probably any stoner would do: He runs right to his dealer (James Franco, 127 Hours ) to hide and ends up dragging him and his supplier (Danny McBride, The Righteous Gemstones ) on a hilarious weed-fueled adventure. What ensues next will have your face hurting from laughing so hard. Also stars Craig Robinson ( Hot Tub Time Machine ), Ed Begley Jr. ( Young Sheldon ), Joe Lo Truglio ( Brooklyn Nine-Nine ), and Amber Heard ( Aquaman ). Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) – Man, what a classic. When Korean-American office worker Harold (John Cho, The Grudge ) puts off his work responsibilities and decides to smoke up instead with his Indian-American homie Kumar (Kal Penn, Smile ), together they create one of the absolute best product placements in movie history after they start craving those yummy little burgers from White Castle. On the way there, of course, shenanigans unfold and they run into Neil Patrick Harris ( How I Met Your Mother ), who plays a womanizing version of himself that is so outrageous, you’ll have to back the scene up and rewatch it again. Harold and Kumar also find themselves riding a cheetah through the woods and we get a montage featuring a life-sized anthropomorphic bag of weed. Now tell me, what would you do? Mmm hmm, that’s what I thought! The film is quite the entertaining ride, yes, but it also magnifies the issues of racial prejudice existing even to this day in our country. Super Troopers (2001) – Over-enthusiastic but under-stimulated Vermont State Troopers raise pure hell on the highway, keeping motorists anxiously watching their rear-view mirrors. They’re avid pranksters with a knack for f**king everything up and are always looking for action. One way they do that is by engaging in an ongoing feud with local cops over whose junk, er, manhood is the biggest. When they are faced with the government wanting to shut them down, the “Super Troopers” find themselves precariously and hilariously speeding towards calamity as they try to out-do the local police department by solving a crime and avoiding extinction. Stars Jay Chandrasekhar ( Beerfest ), Kevin Heffernan ( Tacoma FD ), Steve Lemme ( Club Dread ), Paul Soter ( Tacoma FD ), and Erik Stolhanske ( Beerfest ), Brian Cox ( Succession ), and the famous comic Jim Gaffigan. Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke (1978) – Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong are, without a doubt, the grandfathers of weed comedies. The two starred together for the first time in this flick, which sees them accidentally transport a van made of marijuana from Mexico to the United States, with narcotics officers hot on their trail. Cheech and Chong go together like movies and popcorn, so it’s no surprise their easy-going camaraderie drives the movie as viewers are led on a hazy trip from one location to another, avoiding repercussions from their actions. You don’t have to be a fan of stoner comedies to enjoy this one, but it is important to note that this flick pretty much paved the way for others in the genre. It’s a classic and a must see, as well as a worthy addition to your queue. Grandma’s Boy (2006) – I have to say, I wasn’t a fan of this movie when it came out, but upon a second and third go at it, I changed my mind. The plot centers on video-game tester Alex (Allen Covert, The Wedding Singer ) and the work and life circumstances that lead him to the point of having to move in with his grandma, played by Doris Roberts ( Everybody Loves Raymond ), and her friends, played by popular tv actress Shirley Jones and Shirley Knight ( Paul Blart, Mall Cop ). From there, the movie just becomes a laugh-out-loud series of embarrassing yet hysterical moments. Also stars Peter Dante ( The Waterboy ), Kevin Nealon ( Weeds, The Wedding Singer ), Nick Swardson ( Reno 911!: Miami ), and Linda Cardellini ( Avengers: Age of Ultron ). Other stoner flicks to check out: Your Highness (enjoy the "glorious herbs" scene!) Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back Half Baked How High This is the End American Ultra Smiley Face Road Trip Keeley Brooks is a big ole movies, television, and streaming nerd with an uncontrollable urge to write about everything she watches. Even if it sucks. www.mixedaltmag.com Music | Mixed Alternative Magazine Southern-based indie music/arts/entertainment magazine with a 90s flair. www.mixedaltmag.com Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com . Previous Next Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link

Our favorite former intern's spot to write about whatever he wants. Nick's Corner Jul 28, 2025 Music Reviews by Nick: What Have I Won by Spiller What Have I Won harnesses a raw energy that only a punk band can achieve when they are unapologetically themselves. Read More Jul 23, 2025 Barking at the Muse: How Ozzy Osbourne Inspired My Musical Journey Ozzy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of those he influenced and inspired. Read More Jul 17, 2025 Music Reviews by Nick: Live on Long Island by Bad Mary Live on Long Island is electrifying from start to finish, immersing you in Bad Mary’s vibrant live sound. Read More Jul 4, 2025 Music Reviews by Nick: Playing with Fire by Caustic Waves The combination of riffs, vocals, lyrics, and rhythm creates a storm of energy that resonates throughout. Read More Jun 14, 2025 Finding the Middle Ground: Striking Balance in Louisiana’s Evolving Music Scene Change operates as a cyclical force of nature, and it’s time for another cycle. Read More May 31, 2025 Bayou Harmony: The Rise of Louisiana’s Collaborative Alternative Music Scene Creation, Passion, and Collaboration are forming a New Era in Louisiana Music Read More Apr 21, 2025 Nick's Corner: Double Knockout Single Review 'The Rain' captures a vibe of understanding, new beginnings, and solace. Read More Apr 2, 2025 The Revival of Alternative Rock in Louisiana: A New Wave of Sound in the Bayou State Alternative music has a unique blend of passion and rage. Read More Jan 7, 2025 Nick's Corner: January 2025 Recs Alternative music will have a huge impact on 2025. Read More Nov 26, 2024 Nick’s Corner: From the Swamps to Concert Halls, the Legacy of Acid Bath Acid Bath are Louisiana cult icons of sludge and southern metal. Read More Nov 22, 2024 Nick’s Corner: Playlist Picks for November 2024 Tunes to expand your sonic palette. Read More Oct 4, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for October Some Spooky Season Picks Read More Aug 23, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for August 23rd Old favorites mixed with the new. Read More Jul 22, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for July 22nd Playlist picks to awaken the senses. Read More Jun 24, 2024 Glitter Litter Awakens Listeners with a Bold New Sonic Journey ‘Shocks to Sleeping Beauties’ is a daring mix of electric energy and lyrical depth. Read More Jun 7, 2024 Nick's Corner: Playlist Picks for June 7th New music sure to get your pulse going! Read More

Musicians on the local scene currently that you need to hear and know about. On the Scene Mar 1, 2026 The Many Musical Chapters of Leif Meche Leif Meche is no stranger to the stage. Read More Feb 26, 2026 Keeping the Vinyl Spinning: Dana Labat and the Heart of Capital City Records Capital City Records has a vibe all its own. Read More Feb 11, 2026 Reunited and Loud: Black Market Halos Mark 13 Years with a Comeback Show A special night of Louisiana metal on March 7, 2026. Read More Dec 3, 2025 Subliminal Landmines: Detonating Their Return to Louisiana’s Punk Scene Subliminal Landmines are back with a new, harder-edged sound. Read More Jun 13, 2025 Who On Earth: Bringing the Thunder Back to Modern Hard Rock Who On Earth is blending a classic rock vibe with modern twists and turns. Read More Jun 2, 2025 Biff Swenson: An Architect of Asbury Park’s Indie Scene Biff Swenson is helping to foster a community of independent creatives. Read More May 7, 2025 Inner Anguish Brings Raw Power and Southern Grit to Louisiana’s Metal Scene With heavy riffs and unfiltered emotion, Inner Anguish is carving out a distinct voice in the regional metal underground. Read More Apr 21, 2025 HolleeStar Shines Bright: Louisiana’s Alternative Scene Gets a New Sound HolleeStar's music is an organic fusion of sounds. Read More Feb 19, 2025 Don’t Lose Your Head: The Unstoppable Return of Daemon Grimm Daemon Grimm is drawing their influence from more than just metal. Read More Oct 1, 2024 CBGB Spirit Revived: A Night of Punk Rock Nostalgia at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts in Hammond Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! 50 Years Of CBGB! Read More Sep 18, 2024 Hammond’s Hottest Musicians Unite for a Showstopping Night, Powered by Feel Alive Media The Green Room brings together local musicians for a night of fun and music. Read More Aug 8, 2024 On the Scene: Harmonic Stew at Chelsea's Live June 6th, 2024 The Harmonic Stew showcase is a vibrant celebration of emerging talent. Read More Mar 13, 2024 SÖŪP: A Rich Tapestry of Musical Expression SÖŪP’s music is a harmonious blend of diverse musical influences, serving as a bridge between the past and the present. Read More Mar 2, 2024 The Dynamic Sound of the New Jersey Band Spyne Spyne!’s music is raw unfiltered rock with a nod to the classics. Read More Jan 18, 2024 Steve Mignano: A Man with a Lust for Movement and Change How Steve Mignano found his way to music, New Orleans, and soundscape success with musical projects Drab and Garguts. Read More Jan 17, 2024 Moon Tree: Reflecting the Sounds of the Cosmos Moon Tree is a down-to-earth musical odyssey intertwining jazz, blues, country, and rock to create art built of timeless stories. Read More Dec 6, 2023 Perry A: Just Two Guys Making Music Indie-rock duo Perry A releases two singles from upcoming EP “OK Wait” boasting a dark sound and heavy political inspiration. Read More Nov 30, 2023 Shane Webb: A Drumming Odyssey Rock drummer Shane Webb continues his vibrant course of success, maintaining an emblazoned passion for his art. Read More Nov 27, 2023 Rothstein Beatz: Worth the Gamble Rothstein Beatz is one of the hottest producers on Clubhouse whose beats are dominating the music industry. Read More Nov 14, 2023 Neon Rayon: Redefining Electronic Rock Neon Rayon’s music is full of infectious grooves, electrifying synths, and heavy danceable beats. Read More Nov 9, 2023 Unveiling Small Town SINdrome: The Band, The Name, and The Music STS infuses their music with a down-to-earth sensibility, blending the raw power of classic punk rock with intricate pop melodies and compelling lyrics. Read More Sep 14, 2023 Hollow Heroes: Rising Against the Trends Towards a Cohesive Sound Hollow Heroes music is a melodic masterpiece Read More Jun 7, 2023 Rickey Mitchell: Composer of Hauntingly Beautiful Soundtracks His ethereal music makes for one magical, introspective ride Read More May 24, 2023 Justin Holder: North Alabama's Self-Proclaimed Drummer Ho One studio drummer who's tearin' it up Read More May 16, 2023 Electric Age: Reinventing Sludge Rock with No Rules Drawing inspiration from Southern roots Read More May 2, 2023 FIREKID: Living and Making Music on Their Own Terms Life on Merry Hill Read More May 1, 2023 Of The Roses: Austin's Moody & Mysterious Indie Art Rock/Pop Band Ripe with fuzz, psychedelia, and haunting rhythms Read More Apr 28, 2023 Vinnie La Bella An intimate conversation Read More Apr 18, 2023 Easy, Breezy Sounds: The Music of Tommy Thibodaux Mellow & Smooth Read More Mar 21, 2023 When Metal and Rock Collide: 4 Mag Nitrous A Soundtrack for Navigating Hell Read More

Indie authors and writers you should check out NOW! The Book Nook Mar 12, 2025 Book Review: Playboys, Celebrities, and Me by Dianne Dorman It’s intriguing, it’s glamorous, and it’s full of nostalgia. Read More Mar 8, 2025 The Book Nook: We'll Try and Get That on For You Joe Burns has an innate ability to make you laugh out loud in this non-stop ride of hilarity. Read More Oct 25, 2024 Book Review: Brothers by Alex Van Halen Brothers is a Compelling Story about Rock Royalty Read More Mar 25, 2024 Everything’s Poetic: David Donihue The Enigma of Depression Through a Rose-colored Lens Read More Dec 13, 2023 Blood Machines: Book Review “Blood Machines is a highly creative vampire novel that subverts tropes and cliches, using the creatures to explore the concept of a surveillance state. Read More Nov 14, 2023 Lowdown Road: Book Review Scott Von Doviak's newest book Lowdown Road mixes hick cinema, blaxploitation, and 70's cinematic archetypes into one hell of a crime-thrilling story. Read More Sep 20, 2023 Sidetracks Music Hall by Bud Gambrell: Book Review Bud Gambrell has compiled a journey through music in “Sidetracks Music Hall”—a memoir rich with local history Read More Jan 9, 2023 Tyler Harrison An Undercover Talent on the Rise Read More Dec 5, 2022 Ezekiel Kincaid The Pastor of Horror Read More

Looking for something to do? Look no further! southern happenings Aug 13, 2024 Southern Happenings: Rad Fest 2024 Louisiana's Radfest is back for its third installment in September. Read More Jun 7, 2024 Southern Happenings: Meet The Gosh Darn Dangs The Gosh Darn Dangs bring the Hammond community together with their soulful tunes. Read More Apr 24, 2024 Southern Happenings: Kriss Russ, JAYD3D!, and Coma Nights at the Howlin Wolf New Orleans, LA April 20, 2024 Read More Mar 29, 2024 Eclipse Fest: A Convergence of Creativity Eclipse Fest will take place on June 15, 2024, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Read More Jan 30, 2024 Eric Johanson: A Distinctive Blues Musician with an Intoxicating Sound NOLA blues musician Eric Johanson takes his distinctive, intoxicating sound on the road, kicking off his “Don’t Hold Back” tour in North Alabama. Read More Jan 25, 2024 Chill Fest 2024 Music and Arts Festival Chill Fest 2024 unquestionably lives up to its name and is an incredible opportunity to hear local music and support the community’s young musicians. Read More Oct 27, 2023 Originally Huntsville: Monthly Music Event Originally Huntsville celebrates live music by showcasing local North Alabama talent in a monthly music concert series with a benevolent cause. Read More Oct 24, 2023 Throttle Fest 2023: Southern Happenings Huntsville’s Throttle Fest 2023 is a small version of a music festival, but it’s more like a family reunion with live music. Read More Jul 11, 2023 RAD Fest: A Lafayette Festival for Those Who Rock Get ready to rock around Downtown Lafayette on August 19, 2023 Read More May 18, 2023 Festival of Litha Returns to Downtown Florence in June Coming together to celebrate the summer solstice Read More May 8, 2023 Asheville Keeps it Weird with the Return of ABSFest Leave your inhibitions at the door Read More Feb 25, 2023 Punk Music Festival to Benefit Local Non-Profits that Work with At-Risk Youth and Children of Child Abuse/Neglect P.A.C.A. Read More

Your one stop for all the happenings in comedy! Comedic Relief Jan 28, 2025 Don’t Freak Out! It’s Just Jeff Vance, Everybody! How a local Louisiana comedian found his craft in laughter to help overcome anxiety. Read More Jun 8, 2023 Comedian Junior Cook: Uncensored, Unapologetic, and Gay, Gay, Gay A southern comic who isn't afraid to flaunt his pride on and off stage Read More Feb 15, 2023 Messing Up Quests and Putting Things to the Test Who is Fish? Read More Dec 12, 2022 Holmes Holmes They Deserve ALL the Damn Attention Read More

Stuff you should be streaming on your nearest streaming service. Stream This Dec 6, 2023 December 2023: What to Stream New titles streaming in December boast Reacher Season 2, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Marvel’s What If … ? Read More Oct 3, 2023 New Titles Streaming in October October brings long-awaited titles Loki (Season 2) and The Fall of the House of Usher plus a Milli Vanilli documentary. Read More Sep 11, 2023 Streaming in September Here are some of the hottest titles streaming on your favorite platforms this month! Read More Aug 29, 2023 Historical Fiction and Fantasy Series to Binge During this content drought, get lost in these epic historical fiction and fantasy series! Read More Aug 1, 2023 Hottest Titles Streaming August 2023 New and returning content to keep you busy and out of the heat Read More Jul 4, 2023 What's On Netflix: July 2023 A list of Netflix original content to watch, stream, and binge in July Read More Jun 15, 2023 Cherry & The Crowded Room: Tom Holland in Two Roles You Must See Holland ditches his superhero cape for dark, gritty psychological dramas Read More Jun 12, 2023 The Righteous Gemstones Returns for Season 3 The absurdist megachurch comedy is back with more shenanigans Read More Jun 2, 2023 Select New Titles Streaming in June Let's get this party started Read More Apr 27, 2023 New Arrivals on Your Favorite Platforms What's streaming in May Read More Apr 26, 2023 Belles, Balls, and British Accents: Bridgerton Spinoff Arrives in May Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Read More Apr 18, 2023 Hills, Hollers, and Hoodlums: Raylan Givens Returns in Justified Sequel City Primeval: High noon approaches Read More Mar 16, 2023 The Last Kingdom Finally Gets a Sequel Seven Kings Must Die Read More Mar 3, 2023 A Whole New Crop of Shows What's Hot and Streaming in March Read More Feb 17, 2023 Funny, Filthy, and Full of Superpowers Extraordinary Read More Feb 2, 2023 Binge with Your Box o' Chocolates New Titles Streaming in February Read More Jan 6, 2023 January Streams New Titles Dropping This Month Read More Nov 23, 2022 Holiday Binge Select Series to Check Out with Your Time Off Read More Nov 4, 2022 So Much to Watch, So Little Time Everything Streaming in November Read More Oct 27, 2022 What to Watch This Weekend (10.28.22) New Arrivals on Netflix, Hulu, Prime, AppleTV, and HBOMax Read More

We review your creations and keep it real. reviews on the real Jan 21, 2026 Reviews on the Real: Frankenstein Mind by Shades of Wisteria Frankenstein Mind is a song that gets under your skin. Read More Dec 22, 2025 Reviews on the Real: BetweenLoveandHate BetweenLoveandHate is an amalgamation of styles and textures. Read More Dec 21, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Let the Moonshine by Chris Pryor featuring Amber Lynn If you want a good song to get the mood going at your next party, ‘Let the Moonshine’ is it! Read More Dec 15, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Everfelt’s Stirring to Wake Stirring to Wake is a seamless journey using frequency to open the mind. Read More Nov 1, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Megahera This four-piece powerhouse is taking nostalgia to new heights in the thrash metal scene. Read More Oct 31, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Echoes by Caustic Waves Echoes captures the energy of its influences while firmly standing in the present. Read More Oct 14, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Cinder’s Vows to Boscobel EP Vows to Boscobel is a masterclass in atmosphere, emotion, and intent. Read More Sep 25, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Stockholm Syndrome by Fishbone Stockholm Syndrome is a mental exercise that challenges you to think critically. Read More Sep 15, 2025 Reviews on the Real: 3AM 666 by Antania From start to finish, 3AM 666 offers a dynamic experience best described as a horror movie rock opera. Read More Sep 13, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Who Told You by XIII Minutes Reimagined If you’re looking for a catchy sing-along chorus, this song delivers. Read More Sep 13, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Tides by What Will Be Tides moves like moonlight across an endless sea, with melodies rising and falling gently. Read More Sep 10, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Speak for a Minute by Hawthorne Oachs Hawthorne Oachs isn't merely singing; she is opening a door to something greater, and the world is ready to follow her through it. Read More Sep 9, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Escape Your Fate by Caustic Waves Escape Your Fate blends alt-rock energy with undeniable conviction. Read More Aug 28, 2025 Reviews on the Real: The Wrestlers The Wrestlers are a three-piece thrash metal powerhouse with nostalgic sounds. Read More Aug 20, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Vudu Sister The latest from Vudu Sister leaves a memory as vivid as a whispered confession. Read More Aug 1, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Trailer Park by Mayrunner Trailer Park is a song that resonates in all the right ways. Read More Aug 1, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Compromised by Caustic Waves Compromised is empowering and full of expressive lyrics. Read More Jul 25, 2025 Revisiting the Roots: The Fremonts Release Remastered Classics The Fremonts blend elements of folk, country, blues, and rock in a way that feels both familiar and enduring. Read More Jul 23, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Exploring Trust Devoured by pMad Trust Devoured offers a bold, cathartic journey that demands attention and rewards you with depth and intensity. Read More Jul 18, 2025 Reviews on the Real: Breathing by Cinder Cinder’s new song blurs the lines between shoegaze, industrial, and grunge. Read More

All of the information you need on the bands playing Eclipse Fest and RAD Fest in Louisiana. Rad Fest and Eclipse fest Jan 16, 2026 Eclipse Fest 3 Returns to Lafayette: A May 2026 Gathering at Feed N Seed Eclipse Fest is a celebration of community and music, inspired by hope and bold optimism. Read More Dec 3, 2024 Eclipse Fest: A Pillar of the Louisiana Alternative Scene Eclipse Fest is coming May 10, 2025 Read More Aug 23, 2023 Disjunct: Technically Gifted Musicians Who Push Boundaries Disjunct is redefining the sound of music for a new generation Read More Aug 23, 2023 Zizzi: A Rock ‘N Roll Force to Be Reckoned With Zizzi’s music is an innovative approach to storytelling with a nod to the classic rock masters before them Read More Aug 18, 2023 Ventruss: An Orchestration of Dedication, Creativity, and Passion Ventruss creates a sound that defies categorization Read More Aug 15, 2023 Life Øn Mars: Unleashing Musical Brilliance Life Øn Mars is a beacon of creativity and musicianship Read More Aug 14, 2023 Mayrunner: Thrashing Guitars for a Solid Rock Offering Mayrunner’s music is a melting pot of styles and genres Read More Aug 8, 2023 Stella Vir: A Modern Ambient Rock Abyss Stella Vir are progressive-infused sounds full of spatial concepts Read More Jul 31, 2023 Endure the Affliction: Music to Empower Mind, Body, and Soul Lafayette’s progressive metal and metalcore band delivers heavy sounds with spicy lyrics Read More Jul 9, 2023 VOID: Lafayette’s Answer to the Modern Thrash Metal Scene Pure energy, speed, and catchy lyrics Read More

A focus on musicians and artists from the Alabama area. Off the Charts Apr 30, 2025 Off the Charts: Brett Carlisle Brett Carlisle is an award-winning songwriter paving his way with family, faith, and a new record. Read More Apr 18, 2025 The Alabama Heathens: Southern Grit Meets Raw Rock Energy The Alabama Heathens are off the charts! Read More Apr 11, 2025 Off the Charts: Local Rock ‘n Roll Takes Over Mars Music Hall Presenting Rocket City Night of Rock ‘n Roll by Mike Slaten Productions Read More Apr 7, 2025 Unveiling The BIG Reveal: Alabama’s Rising Alternative Rock Band The BIG Reveal are Off the Charts Read More Mar 25, 2025 Off the Charts: Otis Walker Musical Gumbo Master Continues with Spring Forward Tour and a New Album Read More Oct 21, 2024 Off The Charts: How Today’s Youth Are Reviving Rock Music Huntsville’s International Musical Youth Movement Invades the Camp Read More Sep 10, 2024 Off the Charts: Keyton Keyton's music is delivering emotional songwriting with energetic delivery as he prepares to embark on a mini tour. Read More Aug 1, 2024 Off The Charts: Alabama Smoke Show Alabama Smoke Show proves that the future of music in Huntsville is bright! Read More Jul 11, 2024 Off the Charts: Brandon Elder Strumming Through Struggles to Stardom Read More May 22, 2024 Off the Charts: Jimmy Speed Jimmy Speed's music is a unique blend of fast, hard, and heavy rock. Read More May 13, 2024 Off the Charts: Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series The Jim Parker Songwriter Series is a monthly event at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Read More May 1, 2024 Off The Charts: Grits & Greens Grits & Greens are on a mission to spread their signature sound in support of their new album. Read More Mar 17, 2023 Off the Charts Coming Soon! Read More

All the stuff you need to watch NOW! Bingeworthy Oct 10, 2023 Star Trek Lower Decks: Bingeworthy Lower Decks is arguably the best show of Star Trek’s modern era and is a love letter to the franchise that reminds fans not to take it too seriously. Read More Sep 25, 2023 Sons of Anarchy: Bingeworthy Sons of Anarchy is one hell of a binge-worthy ride depicting an outlaw motorcycle club as an analogy for human transformation. Read More

Got wrestling? indie wrestling news

Do you remember the good ole days? We sure do, too. Way Back When Jul 31, 2025 A Birthday Tribute to Joey Fox: Forever in Our Hearts A Life That Still Shines Bright Read More Apr 7, 2025 April Playlist Picks: Way Back When New year, new music! Read More Mar 3, 2025 Way Back When: March Playlist Picks 2025 It's all green to me! Read More Feb 4, 2025 Way Back When: The Love Month Playlist Picks No love songs this month! Read More Jan 6, 2025 Way Back When: January Picks Got Nostalgia? Read More Dec 1, 2024 Way Back When: Holiday Tunage Picks for December 2024 Read More Nov 2, 2024 Way Back When: Nostalgia Picks for Your Playlist November Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for November 2024 Read More Oct 1, 2024 Way Back When: Nostalgia Picks for your Playlist October Top 5 Nostalgia Picks for October 2024 Read More Apr 25, 2024 Britney Spears: A Stifled Talent It's time for her to be heard! Read More Mar 18, 2024 Auto-Tune: The Great Debate on Perfection’s Place in Music While Auto-Tune may have a permanent place in the industry, it is the authentic voices that endure and stand the test of time. Read More Nov 10, 2022 Metal: The Killer of Trends Truly a Time to Let Your Soul Fly Free Read More Oct 3, 2022 No Doubt About It: Gwen Stefani Is A Legend NOT Just a Girl Read More