Vanity project or not, Paul Spence loves being Murdoch, and Deaner ’89 is a look back at his heavy metal roots while being in-character!
Eagle Vision, PSA Productions
and Mongrel Media
VOD Release Date: Dec 6
Deaner ’89 is not part of the Fubar continuity and fans of the latter shouldn’t be disappointed. Maybe that’s how Dean Murdoch (played by Paul Spence, who wrote this film) simply remembers it! After guzzling so many beers and head banging for so long, my theory for keeping this work apart from the rest is because it’s all imagined in this guy’s head while in a coma.
And technically, without that cameo by Terry Cahill (Dave Lawrence) to connect with that world, this film truly exists in its own universe. It also interestingly tackles a much more difficult subject–cultural misappropriation. Despite the theme being only lightly explored, the father’s revelation, humorously played by Will Sasso, makes a significant point. Also, without Stephen McHattie, a beloved icon of Canadian cinema, no such film can be complete!
When some vampires want something from humans, offering a Swap won’t come easy. Or can human conviction win when locked up in a pleasure palace?
Rad (James Eastwood) is a person with high morals. When he and his beautiful girlfriend get invited to a château located away from the City of Angels, little does he know the next two days may well be out of Rocky Horror! That’s because Janet, er Kayla’s bestie (Jessica Lelia Greene) asked this couple over for an evening they’ll never forget. Glory (Erin Anne Gray) says it’s okay; she was never pure even when the two met and he knew. And their night is debauchery as its most Greco-Roman. I was curious because vampires are involved!
But even in Anne Rice’s world, what’s presented suggests these creatures of the night have to find willing participants. This film by Dallas King feels like a work in progress, as not everything is fleshed out. The only one good constant is where the unwilling hero struggles with whether he should accept a deal with the devil, and that’s to trade partners and become of their kind. There’s no FX to enhance the terror and I hoped for some moments of some classic vampirism and got none.
And we have an episode guide too! Disclaimer: Creepy Bits is best experienced in the dark, with headphones. If only they were quadraphonic….
Hollywood Suite Broadcast Premiere Nov 19 at 9pm ET.
After Halloween, not everyone was preparing for The Day of the Dead. Some folks may have tuned in to view David J. Fernandes‘ Creepy Bits that debuted early in the month on VOD. But now, it’s more accessible on specific specialty networks! There’s no news yet for worldwide release, but in the meantime, for Canadians, they have early access.
It’s a wonderful series for those who want simple frights in a bite-size format. This Canadian series offers a contemporary take on some classic tropes, and will leave viewers in awe.
After the debut “Baby Face,” episode from season one, what makes this program special is that sets up the tension quite fast for the bogeyman style surprise! These shorts live up to its name for effectively creating that sense of unease, even as the last frames play out. Sometimes, the finale is not for the better, but is far, far worse, and leaves the aftermath for each viewer’s imagination to figure out.
While one star can continue to charm in Harold and the Purple Crayon, is that enough to carry a film?
Available on VOD Spoiler Alert
Zachary Levi may well be typecast, because the character he plays in Harold and the Purple Crayon is no different from Billy in Shazam. There’s a youthful exuberance that this actor loves to amp up, but I’d like to see him expand his range.
When I realised Alfred Molina is also involved in this film, I had to give this film a chance, and found myself enjoying this movie more because of his voice than Levi. He’s like that grandfather I want to spend my time with, but when his presence suddenly disappears, I’m like Harold and have to wonder why. After a few hours alone, he’s comes up with the idea to draw a portal to the real world with his magical crayon, where (like in Disney’s Enchanted) what he discovers is pure culture shock!
Everyone calls him a wacko, and even amusingly a Smurf. The only two people who are sympathetic are Mel (Benjamin Bottani) and Terry (Zooey Deschanel) to this child-like individual who needs to find “The Old Man,” the name he gave to the narrator.
When horror, music and comedy get meshed into Eldritch USA, the result is downright hilarious. It’s almost like The Reanimator; and it’s a must watch for the Halloween season!
Not everyone knows that the Rocky Horror Picture Show has a sequel, and although Shock Treatment never saw the same level of success as its predecessor, the updated music left an impression on me. I didn’t think I’d get that love for that until now, while watching Eldritch USA. This work written and directed by Ryan Smith (along with Tyler Foreman) in his debut feature film is just as satirical and well conducted.
Although there’s no song praising those who truly run Denton, that’s because what’s going on in this other city is much worse! Here, it’s more about mysterious cults who know how to raise the dead. When brothers Geoff (Graham Weldin) and Rich Brewer (Andy Phinney) constantly bicker and feud, I thought there might be a Cain and Abel moment.
The latter doesn’t like living under the other’s shadow, and although giving him the axe is accidental, the young man also realises he can’t live without the other; just what he does to bring him back to life is needed, but it seems life goes back to normal… or so it seems. What truly makes this musical work is that it genuinely touches on all those bottled up feelings.
When Lovecraft’s works inspired the screenplay, that’s enough to get my attention. And when the movie, Tucker and Dale, may have contributed to the backdrop elements, the fallout is just as crazy. Although there wasn’t a cult involved in that film, what happens here concerns just how badly people, fearing the worst behave, and the coven here seems much more inept than those teens thinking those bumpkins can’t do diddly-squat.
Even after successive watches, the melodies offered will stick, and over time, I sincerely hope Eldritch USA will transform into a full-on stage musical in the coming years.
One of the reasons why Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds is taking its time to arrive on home media is that it should celebrate the season too, and Autumn feels just right.
Sirocco and the Kingdom of Winds is one of those wonderful and whimsical films I’ll gladly see time and time again, and it’s now available on demand! One reason is that it’s wildly colourful. When two kids get dropped off for a weekend with their babysitter, who is a well established writer of children’s fiction, little do they know that her words have power. One day, an illustration comes to life, and this mysterious rabbit (technically he isn’t one) says there’s trouble in the magical realm, it’s up to Juliette and her sister to venture into the Kingdom of the Winds instead of visiting Oz to do what’s right.
In a move considered very Studio Ghibli, they transform into anthropomorphic cats and do what they can to find the mysterious Sirocco, and save another woman as well. But when this person Selma has a connection to this strange magician, things aren’t as what they seem. To note, the real world connection is important, and that’s a detail I won’t spoil.
A more detailed review about this movie can be read here. I’m glad to view this movie again since this animation is one of two features acquired by GKIDS to be featured either theatrically or play at film festivals this year. I wanted to see this work again since it had a lot of magical moments to adore, and hoped to find it again. As for the eventual home video release, I don’t expect to find bonus features to be included and that’s okay.
The other work I’m anxious to see Ghost Cat Anzu, and I hope this feature will “haunt” cinemas this Autumn or be delivered to digital!
Eagle Vision, PSA Productions
Rad (
Hollywood Suite Broadcast Premiere Nov 19 at 9pm ET. 
Available on VOD
Available to purchase on Amazon USA
GKIDS