by Adam Riske and Patrick Bromley
Double Feature 1:
Adam: #1: Christmas Evil (1980)
Patrick: #2: Santa Claws (1996)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2, “Treevenge,” All Through the House, Terrifier 3
Patrick: Theme: Trash Christmas
Patrick: I would never actually call Christmas Evil “trash” because it’s actually good, but it is sleazy and weird and has the best last shot of any movie ever. Santa Claws, on the other hand, is actual trash in that it sucks but also is trashy, full of nudity and poorly done violence courtesy of John Russo and Bill Hinzman of Night of the Living Dead fame. I’m programming it because I thought it would be fun to do a night of Christmas horror that’s not the obvious choices and because I’m hoping Debbie Rochon will show up. I’ve had a crush on that siren since the ‘90s.
Adam: I need you, Mike, and Adam Thas for this one. You’re my Pizza Hut “trash” crew. Christmas Evil is so damn good, and I trust you with Santa Claws, which I vaguely know of, I think, I could be wrong (checks…I was thinking of a different movie). The fact it’s from Bill Hinzman gets my hopes up because I once saw his movie FleshEater at the Music Box of Horrors and it’s really entertaining in a trashy way. I’ll hold a seat for Debbie Rochon for when she shows up.
Double Feature 2:
Patrick: #1: At Close Range (1986)
Adam: #2: Vision Quest (1985)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Desperately Seeking Susan, Who’s That Girl, A League of Their Own, “Live to Tell,” “Gambler” and “Crazy for You” music videos
Adam: Theme: Madonna Has a Great Song on the Soundtrack
Adam: At Close Range is great and I’d love to rewatch it soon as a tribute to the late director James Foley. I’m happy you programmed it. I went with Vision Quest for the second feature because I love that movie, and I wanted something dramatic but more upbeat to chase At Close Range which is capital SAD. “Live to Tell” and “Crazy for You” are two of my favorite Madonna songs, so having a night where we feature her music in films with trailers and music videos would be fun.
Patrick: I’m sad about James Foley. Until he started making 50 Shades movies, he was a very dependable filmmaker with a lot of movies I really like. At Close Range is one of his very best. I love the Madonna theme because both of these songs are great. “Live to Tell” might be my favorite Madonna, but I’m not sure if that’s because I like the movie it’s from so much or if it’s just that good of a song. “Crazy for You” is a close second. “I’ll Remember” might be third, proof that I only like Madonna songs from movies. But not “Die Another Day.” Never “Die Another Day.”
Double Feature 3:
Patrick: #2: A Dirty Shame (2004)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: “Wicked Game” video, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, That Thing You Do!, Chris Isaak Show “Pilot”
Patrick: Theme: Starring Chris Isaak
Patrick: I’ve always liked Chris Isaak as a singer but he’s kind of a good actor, too. I think he started out getting bit parts in Jonathan Demme movies because they were friends but eventually worked his way up to supporting roles and even leads in stuff like Little Buddha, which remains one of my unseen Keanu movies. It seems a little like homework, so I slotted John Waters’ A Dirty Shame after it because it seems like the Chris Isaak movie that’s furthest away in terms of tone and content. I’m hoping Debbie Rochon shows up to this, too, not because she’s in either of the movies (she isn’t) but because I want there to always be an open seat for her at the Cinemarink.
Adam: She will. Don’t worry. Little Buddha brings in all the celebrities. It’s like a Knicks game. Chris Isaak is always good in movies. He’s like your Harry Connick, Jr. (for me)! They’re both naturals. I feel like Little Buddha is still playing at One Schaumburg Place. I don’t know why. I just remember very vividly that it played there. Watch, I’ll check and it was Rolling Meadows. I’m way behind on seeing John Waters movies so I’m glad I can check one off the list here.
Double Feature 4:
Patrick: #1: Any Given Sunday (1999)
Adam: #2: Wall Street (1987)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Platoon, Talk Radio, Born on the Fourth of July, Nixon, World Trade Center
Adam: Theme: Stone & McGinley
Adam: Even when I was in grade school, I liked John C. McGinley for some reason. Maybe because he’s like if Fozzie Bear were in an Oliver Stone movie. He just seemed like a goofy dude on screen most of the time. I still like him a lot now and it’s a good excuse to watch some Oliver Stone movies I love because Oliver Stone no longer gives me an excuse to watch Oliver Stone movies. Any Given Sunday and Wall Street are two of his most purely entertaining so this should sell out the Cinemarink I think. Rhyming is fun.
Patrick: As a former Scrubs guy, I’m a big John C. McGinley fan, too. He has an energy unlike any other actor. I get why Oliver Stone used him so much. Speaking of which, Oliver Stone had such a run in the ‘80s and ‘90s that it’s a shame he sucks so hard now. This would be an incredible night at the movies.
Double Feature 5:
Patrick: #2: The Departed (2006)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: Shall We Dance? (2004), Infernal Affairs (2002)
Patrick: Theme: Remake Swap
Patrick: I had a tough time here so I went with an easy theme. I’ve never seen the Japanese Shall We Dance? and I’ve never seen Infernal Affairs so at least I can see the trailer for the latter before The Departed, a movie for which I’m always in the mood. Martin Scorsese is kind of good.
Adam: I’m a huge fan of the Japanese Shall We Dance? so getting it on the Cinemarink screen makes me happy. It’s the type of movie I’d want to share with people since it’s such a crowd pleaser. So is The Departed, which is super commercial and easy to like. Honestly, I think this night would really go over well despite the movies being so different. Nice work, bud.
Double Feature 6:
Patrick: #1: Videodrome (1983)
Adam: #2: Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Network, Switching Channels, UHF
Adam: Theme: Television Stations
Adam: I went in a few different directions with the theme for this one but landed on TV stations because it’s a subgenre I enjoy unlike something like plane movies or hostage movies. I really need to rewatch Switching Channels. I remember loving that on cable as a kid. I didn’t book it second because it makes more sense to put two horror films together. Is Videodrome one of your favorite Cronenbergs? I need to revisit it but right now it’s in the second tier for me behind The Fly (1986), A History of Violence, and The Dead Zone.
Patrick: I would never make the case that Videodrome is Cronenberg’s best movie (that’s probably The Fly), but it might be my favorite. Pairing it with Dawn of the Dead means we’re doubling two of the best horror movies ever made, so this night is bulletproof.
Double Feature 7:
Patrick: #2: Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: The Shawshank Redemption, Hearts in Atlantis, The Running Man (1986)
Patrick: Theme: Non-Horror Stephen King
Patrick: Stephen King remains my favorite author – he has been for my whole life – and I love the movies based on his work, even the bad ones. Sometimes especially the bad ones. It will be cool to devote a night to his non-horror offerings. Stand By Me is basically a perfect movie and Dolores Claiborne is super underrated, so hopefully we can make some fans of the second when they come in to see the first.
Adam: This will be a great warm-up for The Life of Chuck, which is one of my most anticipated movies of the summer. I love all Stephen King film adaptations, but especially have a soft spot for his non-horror. This is a really good pairing. They both have a leisurely pace that will go well together.
Double Feature 8:
Patrick: #1: Christmas in July (1940)
Adam: #2: Remember the Night (1940)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: All I Want for Christmas, Scrooged, White Christmas
Adam: Theme: There’s No Place Like Paramount Pictures for the Holidays
Adam: I’m going to do this double feature for real later in the year because I’m always looking for Christmas movies that I haven’t seen to watch on Christmas Eve. Are you a fan of Christmas in July or Remember the Night? I like that we’re doing Christmas in July (which is a thing some people/businesses/theaters do) but in June. That’s how the Cinemarink rolls.
Patrick: I already forgot we did a Christmas horror double when I programmed Christmas in July because I’m the worst, so hopefully we’re not overdoing the holiday fare this month. I like Christmas in July because I like most Preston Sturges, but I’ve never actually seen Remember the Night despite always wanting to. I really like the stars so I’m pretty sure I’ll dig it. Glad I’ll finally have an excuse to watch it.
Double Feature 9:
Patrick: #2: The Black Gestapo (1975)
Patrick: Trailers/Shorts: There’s Something About Mary, The Dungeonmaster, Tales from the Crypt “Korman’s Kalamity”
Patrick: Theme: Featuring the Cast of Night Court
Patrick: Sometimes it’s hard to pair another movie with a masterpiece and you just push all your chips in on Night Court. I was originally going to program The Dungeonmaster second but then I thought better of it because The Black Gestapo (co-starring Charles Robinson, Mac from Night Court) has good ‘70s exploitation vibes just like TCM. It’s a surprisingly good movie. Plus I worked in some Crypt for my boy!
Adam: Thank you for the Crypt episode. Always a pleasure seeing one on the big screen at the Cinemarink. This is a fun theme. I used to love Night Court, especially Markie Post and the theme song. I like that you leaned into the grindhouse/exploitation vibes for this double feature.
Double Feature 10:
Patrick: #1: Tenet (2020)
Adam: #2: Birds of Prey (2020)
Adam: Trailers/Shorts: Bad Boys for Life, Sonic the Hedgehog, Dolittle, The Invisible Man, The Call of the Wild, Onward, The Croods: The New Age
Adam: Theme: Over $50M at the Domestic Box Office in 2020
Adam: I know the theme is super depressing and highlighting a time capsule no one wants to go back to BUT when I saw you booked Tenet (a movie I will always associate with seeing on the side of a brick building) my mind immediately went to Birds of Prey, and I know these are two movies you like a lot. Therefore, this night is dedicated with my good friend Patrick Bromley in mind. Of all the trailers, which movie is your favorite? I think mine’s Onward (which is underrated imho).
Patrick: Thanks for the Birds of Prey! This double is definitely for me. Thank you! Maybe it will help us reclaim 2020. As for the trailers? Oof. I haven’t seen a few of those and don’t love some of the ones I have seen (BBfL), so I guess I’ll say Invisible Man? It’s so tied to the pandemic in my mind, though, that I’ve never been able to revisit it. Same with Onward. What a weird time.
I realize I ended this column on a bummer, so let’s watch some Crypt and forget our troubles!
I almost bought Christmas Evil for the Vinegar Syndrome half-off sale last week, and then didn’t because I started panicking again about college tuition over the next decade of my life. But now I feel like I made the wrong choice because Harry Stadling has become one of my favorite Christmas movie characters of all time.
ReplyDeleteI watched Remember the Night for the first time this past Xmas. It’s a lot of fun. And as it’s a pseudo-Double Indemnity prequel, it is definitely worth your time. And now Christmas in July is on my radar. So thank you Friday Night Double Features.