Thursday, September 14, 2017

#ScaryMovieMonth Double Features!

by Adam Riske and Patrick Bromley
Patrick and I built 20 double features (w/ trailers) for October! Watch’em all. Now!

Double Feature 1:
Adam: #1: Silent Hill
Patrick: #2: Dead & Buried
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Children of the Corn, Village of the Damned (Carpenter), The Wicker Man
Patrick: Theme: This Town Seems Fucked Up!

Patrick: I haven’t seen Silent Hill and didn’t want to go the obvious “video game movie” route because then we end up watching a Resident Evil (sorry, Heather). My vague sense of what the movie is about gives me the chance to program one of my favorite early ‘80s gems, which I’m hoping is different enough from Silent Hill that it won’t feel like watching the same movie twice. That was important to me when picking the second feature.

Adam: This is a great double feature. I like Silent Hill but I’m afraid to revisit it and discover I was wrong, so I let it live in my memory. Dead & Buried is also very strong. Good start, yo!

Double Feature 2
Patrick: #1: City of the Living Dead (aka Gates of Hell)
Adam: #2: The Evil Dead
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Suspiria, Basket Case, Munchies
Adam: Theme: Horror Trilogy Kickoffs

Patrick: This is a killer double bill. I had no idea there were three goddamn Munchies movies.

Adam: I didn’t want to go too obvious and make the double feature Fulci or Italian Horror exclusively, but I wanted to keep the “back from the dead” theme and luckily read that City of the Living Dead/Gates of Hell was the first part of a horror trilogy, which I didn’t know before now. This is a double bill I appreciate more than one I would be eager to attend personally. But that’s because I’m stupid. I’ll be across the street at the Spring of 1995 Disney Double Bill of A Goofy Movie and Man of the House; the real one, not that Tommy Lee Jones bullshit.

Double Feature 3:
Adam: #1: Silver Bullet
Patrick: #2: Carnival of Souls
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: 976-Evil, Phase IV, Maximum Overdrive, The Deadly Spawn, Zombie Death House
Patrick: Theme: One and Done Horror Directors

Patrick: I suspect Stephen King is going to be well-represented in this experiment, so I jumped at the opportunity to program one of your favorite horror movies. I think it would probably work better as a first feature, but I’m curious to see how it plays in this context.

Adam: This double feature feels very Grindhouse-y to me. Silver Bullet is the fun one and Carnival of Souls is the slower paced movie that (for me at least, because I love it like you love Silver Bullet) leaves the more lingering effect. I dig it!

Double Feature 4:
Patrick: #1: Nail Gun Massacre
Adam: #2: Night Fright
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Texas Chain Saw Massacre, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, Death Proof
Adam: Theme: Terror in Texas

Patrick: I’m excited about this one because I’ve never seen Night Fright. I hope it’s as fucking bananas as Nail Gun Massacre, because that would be a fun night of movies.

Adam: This one was difficult because I haven’t heard of Nail Gun Massacre before now. I was tempted to add TCM or Death Proof as the second feature, but Nail Gun Massacre is such a B-picture I felt like I needed to pair it with another of its brethren so I chose Night Fright.
Double Feature 5:
Adam: #1: House on Haunted Hill (1999)
Patrick: #2: The Hills Have Eyes (2006)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: House on Haunted Hill (1959), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), The Hills Run Red, The Last House on the Left (2009)
Patrick: Theme: Underrated Remakes/Horror Movies with ‘Hill’ or ‘House’ in the Title

Patrick: Not one of my most inspired choices. I just like both of these remakes and so it made sense as a theme to follow your pick with Hills Have Eyes. I do like that one of them is really fun and one of them is a brutal downer. The circle of life!

Adam: They set Ted Levine on fire. You can’t set Ted Levine on fire! Remember the roller coaster at the beginning of House on Haunted Hill? That ride would have 70 hour lines. You have to go into an elevator that fits three people, do a giant drop, then go on the ride? Who has the time?

Double Feature 6:
Patrick: #1: From a Whisper to a Scream
Adam: #2: The Monster Club
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: “Vincent,” “Thriller,” House of the Long Shadows, Dead Heat
Adam: Theme: 1980s Vincent Price

Patrick: Once again, you are so much more creative than I am. What a cool idea for a double feature.

Adam: I need to see The Monster Club! I can’t find it anywhere. It seemed fitting to pair up two ‘80s Vincent Price anthologies together. I also can’t wait to watch “Vincent” again. It’s the most perfect thing ever. I’m going to watch “Vincent” tonight. It’s settled.

Double Feature 7:
Adam: #1: Shocker
Patrick: #2: Strangeland
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Trick or Treat (1986), Black Roses, Brainscan, “Shocker” music video (Dudes of Wrath), The Devil’s Candy
Patrick: Theme: Heavy Metal Horror

Patrick: I have only seen Strangeland once and I know people who swear it’s really underrated, so this is a good opportunity to revisit it. The fact that Kevin Gage plays a normal human being is a big strike against it. These two have the bonus theme of being non-starters for what seems like potential franchises.

Adam: I remember the newspaper ad for Strangeland scaring me out of seeing it. I would be stocking shelves at Office Depot and just thinking about that poor girl and how I was powerless to that kind of evil. P.S. Kevin Gage is the scariest person in the history of people. I am definitely going to watch this double feature in October. I’ve never seen Shocker, either. It’s the last remaining first-time watch in my Wes Craven Universal three-pack.

Double Feature 8:
Patrick: #1: Kuroneko (1968)
Adam: #2: A Tale of Two Sisters
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Ju-On: The Grudge, Ringu, Audition
Adam: Theme: Angry Women of Asia

Patrick: This is one of my favorite double features on this list because the movies are so different from one another but both so good.

Adam: I need to see so much Asian horror. Case in point: both of these movies. And Kwaidan. And Onibaba. And Chinese Ghost Story. I could go on and on. They’re usually too intense for me. Like Dumplings. I can’t handle Dumplings. I just can’t! I’ll be across the street at the Disney Channel Original Movie Double Feature of Under Wraps and Phantom of the Megaplex.
Double Feature 9:
Adam: #1: Near Dark
Patrick: #2: Lifeforce
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Cronos (1993), Martin (1977), Bloodstone: Subspecies II, Vampire’s Kiss
Patrick: Theme: Not Your Typical Vampire Movie

Patrick: Again, not my most inspired theme, but I did at least want to choose a vampire movie that feels totally different from Near Dark. Plus it gave me a chance to program a Tobe Hooper movie, which I tried to do a lot without overdoing it to the point that you would find it obnoxious. (#NoFunhouse)

Adam: This is a great double feature especially since they are two movies I’ve seen but am not overly familiar with. Also, program all the Tobe you want. I see you.

Double Feature 10:
Patrick: #1: The Lords of Salem
Adam: #2: The Fog
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Hush, The Green Inferno, From Beyond
Adam: Theme: Husbands & Wives

Patrick: The theme you came up is so clever that I don’t have words. Also, what a lineup. The trailers alone have me excited, and I don’t even like The Green Inferno.

Adam: I didn’t know if Knock Knock was horror enough, otherwise I would have subbed that trailer in for The Green Inferno. Did you know couples get in for half off for this double feature? I’m not married, so I’ll be across the street a singles bar and by singles I mean the bar where the only album in their jukebox is the soundtrack to Singles. It’s next to Crowbar, the bar where all the TVs are playing The Crow. I might stop by there too and drink a Crorona.

Double Feature 11:
Adam: #1:  Saw
Patrick: #2: The Invitation
Patrick:  Trailers/Shorts: Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Devil, Would You Rather, The Tenant (1976)
Patrick: Theme: Single Room Horror

Patrick: Neither movie is technically just confined to one room, but I bent the rules enough to make it work. I like this one because they’re both from the 2000s but represent very different approaches to low-budget horror. And they both have final “twists” that maybe aren’t that great!

Adam: I like Saw twist. I don’t like Invitation twist.
Double Feature 12:
Patrick: #1: Curtains
Adam: #2: Black Christmas (1974)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Cube, The Pit, The Brood, Tusk, Scott Drebit “I Still Believe” live performance
Adam: Theme: Get Oot! You’re Aboot to Die!

Patrick: OMG it’s hard to pick a favorite double bill because this one is SO GOOD too. Love both of these movies and I’m excited that Scott is going to perform live. I can almost smell the chest oil now.

Adam: I’m glad you like it. I had to clean out my Drebit Card to book him. Do you understand the joke? Where are you going?

Double Feature 13:
Adam: #1:  Night of the Demons (‘88)
Patrick: #2: Trick or Treats (1982)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Lady in White, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, Satan’s Little Helper, Fun Size
Patrick: Theme: Halloween Horror

Patrick: Satan’s Little Helper trailer. Don’t say I never do anything for you.

Adam: That movie has a trailer? #Blessed

Double Feature 14:
Patrick: #1: Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Adam: #2: The Devil’s Rejects
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Honeymoon, Midnight Meat Train, “Something to Tide You Over” from Creepshow
Adam: Theme: Gotta Whole Lotta Leslies!

Patrick: You pick better themes than I do.

Adam: As part of the experience, I’m passing out roses to all the women during the Honeymoon trailer and throwing buckets of water in the men’s face during “Something to Tide You Over.” I’m trying to be William Castle.

Double Feature 15:
Adam: #1: 1408
Patrick: #2: Eaten Alive
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: The Shining, Motel Hell, “Werewolf Concerto” (Tales from the Crypt), The Innkeepers, Mountaintop Motel Massacre
Patrick: Theme: You Can Check In, But...

Patrick: Ok, yes, I did squeeze in another Tobe movie. But I had already used my “bottle episode” theme and wanted to watch something crazy after the heartbreak I remember experiencing in 1408.

Adam: Hotels are scary.
Double Feature 16:
Patrick: #1: Deathdream (1974)
Adam: #2:  Jacob’s Ladder
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: R-Point, House
Adam: Theme: Good Mourning Vietnam

Patrick: This will be tough to get through but very rewarding.

Adam: That’s why there’s only two trailers and everyone gets a free small popcorn.

Double Feature 17:
Adam: #1:  The Old Dark House
Patrick: #2: Deranged (1974)
Patrick:  Trailers/Shorts: Necromania, The Ghoul (1933), Edison’s Frankenstein (1910), Incubus (1966)
Patrick: Theme: Horror Movies Once Thought Lost

Patrick: I have never seen Deranged so I’m taking a chance here, but I know the main character is a serial killer played by Roberts Blossom. I can only assume it’s a Shovel Slayer prequel? We learn how the salt turns the bodies into mummies.

Adam: Omg, I’m laughing so hard at that Home Alone cut.

Double Feature 18:
Patrick: #1: Eyes Without a Face
Adam: #2: Phantom of the Paradise
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: May, Friday the 13th IV: The Final Chapter, Black Sabbath, Pieces, The Exorcist
Adam: Theme: Music Box Massacre 4 Greatest Hits

Patrick: This was a really fun Massacre even if we were sitting on the wrong side and it was too crowded and the bathrooms flooded. Ok, well at least the movies were really good.

Adam: I really liked that Massacre. I don’t want to let go.

Double Feature 19:
Adam: #1:  Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Patrick: #2: The Sentinel
Patrick:  Trailers/Shorts: The Void, Baskin, The Beyond, “Portal to Hell!” (2015 short), Tales from the Hood
Patrick Theme: Welcome to Hell

Patrick: I love The Sentinel. I have no other justification.

Adam: That movie is how I learned I was being way too demure on my sick days.
Double Feature 20:
Patrick: #1: The Mangler
Adam: #2:  Graveyard Shift
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: The Lawnmower Man, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, “The Raft” short from Creepshow II
Adam: Theme: Based on a Stephen King short story

Patrick: If we were going to marathon all of these double features, I would insist this one be last so we could be at our most delirious. And, yes, more Tobe. I can’t help it. I miss him so much.

Adam: I will be doing this one too in October. I’ve been waiting to see The Mangler since its opening weekend when it opened against Hideaway. I couldn’t decide and saw neither.

Which double features from this list will you check out in October?

If you watch one, leave a comment and let us know how it went :-)

6 comments:

  1. Bless you guys for posting this so early. I couldn't be more excited about SMM 2017. Factoid: The Deadly Spawn had a not-perfect semi-sequel, Metamorphosis: The Alien Factor, which is also the only feature from it's director.

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  2. He'll yeah I'm gonna roll with some of these

    I fancy 11 and 14 first

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  3. Apropos of nothing ... How do you feel about Thir13en Ghosts (2001)? I remember liking it when I saw it, but then everyone else hated it.

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    1. It's one of the best looking horror movies I can remember. It lost my interest as it went along because it felt very generic to the Dark Castle style. All of those movies felt the same to me.

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    2. There are some intriguing combinations the two of you put together. The double feature of KURENEKO and A TALE OF TWO SISTERS really jumped out at me. Those are two wonderful films that would play well. The older I get, the more I appreciate the storytelling of horror films from Asia. They are also tend to be films made adult viewers, DUMPLINGS being a good example, which can be hard to find in the American horror market.

      That is a nice list of Asian horror films to watch, Adam. I wish I could have another first viewing of KWAIDAN. That is such a beautiful film.

      DERANGED is one of those low-budget 1970s productions that excels because of its limited resources. There a genuine small-town vibe throughout the film that adds greatly to the film's atmosphere. Roberts Blossom is excellently creepy in a role based on Ed Gein. The part where he goes after a women while wearing his skin suit freaks me out just thinking about it. You would like it, Patrick.

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    3. I only recently realized I've owned the movie for years as part of a double feature with Motel Hell. I'll definitely watch it next month.

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