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, February 16, 2023

MAXWELL CAULFIELD & CHARLIE SHEEN ARE COLD-BLOODED MURDERERS IN PENELOPE SPHEERIS' "THE BOYS NEXT DOOR" (1985)

 

Maxwell Caulfield & Charlie Sheen as "The Boys Next Door." They're not exactly here to borrow a cup of sugar. 

Some kids who graduate from high school go right on to college. Others take jobs until they can figure out what they want to do. Then there's Roy and Bo, our two protagonists, for whom life after high school represents one big crime and murder spree. Where do they decide to carry out these fun activities? Los Angeles, of course! 

Penelope Spheeris should be considered a legend for her "Decline Of Western Civilization" series alone. Her five feature films of the 80's (I'm including Summer Camp Nightmare which she wrote but didn't direct) are a mixed bag though and working with actors wasn't necessarily her forte. Suburbia is probably the most mentioned but I don't revere it as much as others, this one is my top pick. One thing that is great about all these films is that she loved to shoot in Hollywood. And her music supervision is always outstanding in all her films. 

Caulfield and Sheen make a surprisingly good pair for this violent story, Caulfield is an absolute monster. You can tell these guys were having a good ole time starring in this, there's a few other familiar faces you'll see, notably a very young Chris McDonald as a cop. As young as he looks this was already film number seven on the road to his now over a hundred film appearances. 

The Boys Next Door currently streams on Tubi.  2.75 stars/2.75



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