Dear kinder-kritters, I'm going to be going on a trip to visit family and my computer is not invited so the lights are going to be off in Kindertrauma Kastle for a spell. Normally I'd hire a sitter but since sitters attract home invasions and unwanted telephone solicitation, I have decided against it. I won't be gone long and I plan to return with an extra spring in my step. Please help yourself to anything you find in the fridge and do wait a half hour after eating to swim in the moat!
While I'm gone let's say we play a game of "I Recommend" in the comments section of this post! If you've recently seen a movie you enjoyed please tell your fellow Kindertrauma pals all about it. You can simply leave the title with zero explanation or expand upon your thoughts to your hearts content. Add as many as you like! If you can provide how you viewed your recommended title (via Netflix, Hulu, telepathy, osmosis, through the crack in a car trunk at the Drive-In etc.) that couldn't hurt either (I'll even start first). Have fun. Be safe. Don't open the door for anyone!
My recommendation is THE DEVIL’S CANDY (2015) which is currently on Netflix. It’s from the same director as THE LOVED ONES (2009) and it really got under my skin. It’s starts out in super familiar territory with a young family moving into a dream house outside their means and the father slowly succumbing to the joint’s satanic past. It is almost like a super dark unrelated AMITYVILLE sequel (which I’m so into). The father is a struggling artist and it’s kind of fun watching the innocuous butterfly painting he’s working on turn into a screaming hellscape. As typical as this all sounds, when the shit hits the fan it becomes surprisingly suspenseful. The overall tone is refreshingly dark and somehow the evil feels uncomfortably real and convincing. The cast is really good too, especially the parents (ETHAN EMBRY and SHIRI APPLEBY).
Also THE LOVE WITCH, which was recommended to me by Tomb. This movie is so visually gorgeous all the way through. It’s shot in 35mm to resemble a Technicolor film of the late sixties or early seventies and every detail from the editing to the dialogue is pretty spot-on. Definitely check it out if you get a chance, your eyeballs will thank you. I was able to find it at my local beloved library.
Also one final shout out to WINCHESTER, the movie my brother wrote the screenplay for. I’m not going to lie; it’s not a great movie. It’s a little stuffy and lethargic but if you like period ghost movies, the production design is worthwhile. I actually ended up being more impressed with the lead JASON CLARKE than I was with HELEN MIRREN. Anyway, I think the critics were way too harsh with this one and of course I blame the directors changing the script for all that’s wrong with it! Lol.
OK. Have a great week you guys-see ya soon! Post your recommendations!!!!!
I recommend Yor, the Hunter from the Future because the 35th Anniversary Blu-ray is sitting in front of me. This movie brings me back to my childhood when sword and sorcery movies were all the rage and a lot of fun. I can't really think of a modern movie in this genre that I really liked, besides maybe Warcraft?
Have a great getaway, Unk! I'll feed the basement CHUDs while you are away.
I can not recommend "The Shape of Water" enough. It really is one of the most beautiful movies I have seen in over a decade or more. Gorgeous, and touching.
"Fleabag" on Amazon Prime is an incredibly funny, poignant, and oddly beautiful short series that is definitely worth a look.
As far as movies that can be found streaming now that are classics, and definite Walter Paisley Movie House staples:
HULU
Hercules in New York- Arnold and Pretzi are the best odd couple since Hepburn and Tracy.
American Ninja, and Ninja III: The Domination- Cannon Films, the beautiful brainchild of Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus, brought us many wonderful things in the 80s, but none so wonderful as these two ninja themed movies.
NETFLIX
Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell- Who is Mad Ron? Why does he have all of these exploitation film trailers? I don't know, but he's a ventriloquist, and that's more frightening that any of the trailers he is showing.
Housebound- A fun little haunted(?) house flick from New Zealand. Fun, spooky, and kiwi. What's not to like?
Train to Busan- A Korean zombie movie with as much heart and tension as another Korean horror favorite, The Host.
The Similars (Los Parecidos)- Part Art House, part Thriller, this Mexican period piece is No Exit without all of the cheery optimism.
AMAZON PRIME
Full Moon Pictures has it's own streaming channel on Prime. That means not only the entire Puppet Master series, but also Tourist Trap, Castle Freak, and Faster Pussycat Kill, Kill!
Honky Holocaust- A trashy, tasteless, and groovy good time. The Manson Family comes out of hiding, this time lead by Chuck's daughter. Just as awful as it sounds.
The Hooker Cult Murders- Karen Black, and Christopher Plummer. That's really all I need to say, right?
Thanks, Unk!
Cousin WIL, we did a screening of Yor last month at a Walter Paisley Movie House event! It was a hit! I had not seen it since I was in high school, so it was like watching it for the first time.
Mom and Dad with Selma Blair and Nicholas Cage. It's pretty outrageous and Cage goes full on Cage. Also a great cameo from Lance Henriksen. (Amazon)
Little Evil is by the same director who did Tucker and Dale vs. Evil and is a funny (and surprisingly sweet) horror film that everyone should check out. (Netflix)
The Funhouse Massacre. This movie is so much fun. It's a lot funnier and better done that I anticipated. Brief cameo from the always wonderful Robert England as well. (Bought a copy, but it might be available streaming, I'm not sure).
Oh, and the Channel Zero television show. (Available for a fair price on Amazon).
Dylan, you know who owns the screening rights? I was considering doing a show of Yor at my theater.
Never mind, Dylan I found it a few seconds later.
If by some chance you've never seen The Fly, watch it now and expect to be disturbed by it for days. It's the gold standard.
(If anybody mentions the sequel to you, erase your memory of the conversation immediately.)
Loved The Pact & The Invitation (both on Netflix I believe). Recently caught the first episode of a new BBC series called Requiem, very promising Gothic thriller.
If you like William Castle and the Cuban Missile Crisis you need to watch ((( Matinee 1993 ))). I'd post the trailer but it shows way too much. As a matter of fact I've revealed too much already. lol If you don't know who William Castle is (hard to believe on this site) watch this short YT video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVhw6FC4T54
Doesn't appear to be free to stream on Netflix etc. (sad)
Trailer shows too much.
Both the gays at our house loved The Rift, a really really creepy icelandic, gay, Dont Look Now. Speaking of red-coated dwarves, loved the first episode of Channel Zero: Butchers Block this week, too.
I have been feeling extra fuzzy and out of it lately. When that tends to happen, i put on 1980's "Fiend." A classic Don Dohler flick, this thing zonks me right out! I have made it through a few times though! It's all just so dreamy to me. There are many trash films that put me in this hazy dreamy state. Like another 1980's flick The Children. Twisted Nightmare, Oasis of the Zombies and Fatal Pulse all get me there. Don't go Near the Park and Devil Master work too. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the particular quality of the copies i have, but man, do i love lo-fi washed out picture. Now i'm just rambling..
I recommend giving Curse of the Crimson Alter (aka The Crimson Cult… and about a dozen more regional titles) another spin. Look, I know. You didn't like it the last time you tried. I get it. But you're objectively wrong with your weightless little opinion. CotCA is simply the super-evolved height of late '60s psychedelic horror. How can any film featuring Barabara Steele, Christopher Less, Michael Gough, and Boris F'king Karloff not win you over simply by existing? Well, what if it was also an authorized (albeit loose) adaptation of H. P. Lovecraft's Dreams in the Witchhouse? I mean, c'monnnnnnn, man.
The Kino Lorber Blu-Ray (as The Crimson Cult) looks awesome. Well, kinda. Mostly.
So get witching.
I recommend Before I Wake, the creepy gifted kid Netflix film from Mike Flanagan. It is pretty damn creepy and compelling (like most Flanagan films) but not completely up to par due to it being a little older (stuck in turnaround in 2015) but still has some crazy imagery. The main creature here is some kind of hybrid of actor/puppet/cgi but looks totally real. Plus, Tom Jane is just always solid in whatever he does.
Hey! Thanks for all of these great recommendations! I’d like to add another! RITUAL (2017) on Netflix is truly special! Loved it and watched it twice! Do check it out!
Cousin WIL, Yay on that YOR! I have to get that Blu-ray too! Also love me some DEATHSTALKER (especially part 2) and THE SWORD AND THE SORCERER!
DDD, I enjoyed SHAPE OF WATER too (except that cat eating scene)! I have not heard of FLEABAG, I’ll keep my eyes peeled! I dug HOUSEBOUND as well and NIGHT TRAIN TO BUSAN is incredible! That movie brought tears to my eyes! I’ll back you up on all of those FULL MOON movies- TOURIST TRAP is a favorite and I’ve got a soft spot for CASTLE FREAK! I’m a fan of HOOKER CULT MURDERS but my VHS copy calls it THE PYX! HOUSEBOUND! Great picks! Yes on HOUSEBOUND too!
Kathryngrace, I just missed MOM AND DAD! CousinWIL was just showing it at his South street movie house! The trailer looks hilarious! I liked LITTLE EVIL too. I didn’t realize it was from the director of TUCKER AND DALE- that makes sense! Oooooh, FUNHOUSE MASSACRE sounds right up my alley! Thanks for the heads up!
Michael Edits, Ah, THE FLY is perfect! So heartbreaking!
Pipt, THE PACT rules! That one really creeped me out! My brother was just singing THE INVITATION’s praises to me as well- must check that out asap!
Chainman, MATINEE!!!! Yes!!! Such a fine film. Joe Dante forever.
LouiseCyphre, I got to see THE RIFT at the Philly unnamed film festival! Truly haunting! I didn’t understand the ending but the mood of that film was incredible and great performances!
ZappedAgain, I’ve not seen FIEND! I must track it down. I’m so with you on the fuzzy lo-fi front! I agree, sometimes I just get in the mood to watch something grainy and vague like a pirate transmission! I love my VHS copy of CREATURE for that! I’ll always love THE CHILDREN! I’ll have to catch up with a few of the others you mentioned. I think TWISTED NIGHTMARE is on Youtube! Thanks!
Visitedbyvoices, You are singing my song! And anything with BARBARA STEELE in it is my cup of tea! Have not watched COTCA in a while! Must revisit soon!
Adamsherlock, SOLD! I will check out BEFORE I WAIT soon. Really enjoyed GERALD’S GAME and Thomas Jane was so great in 1922. Netflix has been amazing lately!!!
Thanks a lot to all of you! You’ve all got great taste and now I have some homework to do! Again, make sure you check out RITUAL! I loved it!