B-MOVIE OF THE MONTH - DEAD END (2003)

Made for less than a million dollars, the slightly obscure Dead End is a chilling little indie you don't want to miss. It might just be the best Christmas horror movie no one ever heard of and every dollar is up there on the screen. It's quirky, weird, funny, bizarre, and scary all at once. Black comedy for sure but much more, this would make a nice double feature with The Perfect Host, another movie we're big on around here. So, grab some eggnog and a snack or two and check out the inimitable Ray Wise with legendary Lin Shaye as they take their family down a wrong turn, what's up with this road? Why doesn't it end? After all, they're just trying to make it to Christmas Eve dessert at Frank's mother's house. Tubi, Plex, Freevee, enjoy! 2.75 stars/2.75

Thursday, April 21, 2022

DISNEY SIXTY YEARS AGO - HAYLEY MILLS, MAURICE CHEVALIER AND GEORGE SANDERS ARE "IN SEARCH OF THE CASTAWAYS" (1962)

 

Some excellent matte work, a lively cast and fun Jules Verne story fuel this classic Disney adventure tale. A brother and sister have lost their father on the seas but thanks to a note in a bottle believe he's still alive and was kidnapped. They enlist the help of a Englishman and a Frenchman and said adventure ensues. Overshadowed by Disney's previous Verne story 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, I always felt this one deserved a little more credit and recognition than it's got through the decades. Four decent tunes from the Sherman Brothers enhance the film nicely without turning it into an all-out musical. You can read much more about it at the link below and the film is available on all the major services. Good one for Saturday mornings.  3.0 stars/5

In Search of the Castaways - 1962

Walt Disney had much success with the two action/adventure/fantasy films he had previously made, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Swiss Family Robinson. It is not surprising that the source material for his third would also stem from the mind of Jules Vern, who wrote 20,000 Leagus.

No comments:

Post a Comment