Halloween Hangover Marathon 2020
While October Halloween Marathon was far from fruitless and enjoyable, it kinda lacked in some aspects due to how busy I was. So, traditional Halloween Hangover is there to compensate for that.
Specific themes/clusters hopefully covered include:
-Halloween Leftovers: rather self-explanatory, I've only touched a surface of what I really wanted to see for like last three Halloween Marathons.
-Noir November: (or Noirvember as some people call it) film noir and neo-noir, but at least a few movies specifically of the former since I haven't seen nearly enough and it's a slight shame for a genre fan.
-Existential Crisis/Artistic Hardships movies: this aspect is kinda traditional for my Halloween Hangover, with earliest examples of mixing it in with great results being from 2016.
-Black Friday and Thanksgiving.
-Obscure Superhero TV series and pilots.
-Comic book style movies and TV shows. Not necessarily crossing over with the superhero part: I'm looking for distinctive comic book visuals.
-Gas Station Autumns. (Edit: interestingly not much, hope November is better in that aspect)
-Invisible Man-ia. Yes, I'm watching a lot movies with invisible people, word "Invisible" in title and so on. (Edit: same with this one)
-Universal Monsters. That's a lingering motif, it's just an awesome loosely connected series.
Counted: 54
-2 feature films,
-11 webisodes,
-26 TV episodes,
-15 short films (including 9 music videos and 2 commercials).
Earlier installments: 2014-2017, 2018, Halloween Hangover 2018, 2019, Halloween Hangover 2019, 2020.
Specific themes/clusters hopefully covered include:
-Halloween Leftovers: rather self-explanatory, I've only touched a surface of what I really wanted to see for like last three Halloween Marathons.
-Noir November: (or Noirvember as some people call it) film noir and neo-noir, but at least a few movies specifically of the former since I haven't seen nearly enough and it's a slight shame for a genre fan.
-Existential Crisis/Artistic Hardships movies: this aspect is kinda traditional for my Halloween Hangover, with earliest examples of mixing it in with great results being from 2016.
-Black Friday and Thanksgiving.
-Obscure Superhero TV series and pilots.
-Comic book style movies and TV shows. Not necessarily crossing over with the superhero part: I'm looking for distinctive comic book visuals.
-Gas Station Autumns. (Edit: interestingly not much, hope November is better in that aspect)
-Invisible Man-ia. Yes, I'm watching a lot movies with invisible people, word "Invisible" in title and so on. (Edit: same with this one)
-Universal Monsters. That's a lingering motif, it's just an awesome loosely connected series.
Counted: 54
-2 feature films,
-11 webisodes,
-26 TV episodes,
-15 short films (including 9 music videos and 2 commercials).
Earlier installments: 2014-2017, 2018, Halloween Hangover 2018, 2019, Halloween Hangover 2019, 2020.
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- StarsJeff Luppino-EspositoPrime Video has you covered this Halloween with three movies to stream whether you want the terror of a groundbreaking zombie film, an adventure to discover alien life, or a whodunit that will keep you guessing till the very end.1 November: I find it really ironic that I start Halloween Hangover with the episode of the same IMDb web-series from the same writer, but a much more appropriate one for a Halloween starter than what I had at the start of actual Halloween marathon. Nice recommendations, btw.
- DirectorNadia Lee CohenCharlie DenisStarsThe GardenFletcher ShearsWyatt ShearsOn the set of fictional sensationalist "The Vada Vada Show", a popular host reveals his true, devilish colors.1 November: Excellent music video and song that is with me for roughly a year now. Introduced me to The Garden, which is now one of my most favorite bands ever and also made me listen more to Mac DeMarco who quickly rose to favorite, as well. Very on point for Halloween, post-Halloween, 2020 and everything going on in our lives, especially rampant increase of imposter syndrome in youth (me included, for now).
- DirectorJames RolfeStarsJames RolfeJames reviews Breaking Bad.4 November: As I've finally became interested in Breaking Bad (2008) it's always a great idea to consult a few film critics I do share subjective values and opinions with. James Rolfe happens to be both that and an exceptional filmmaker.
- DirectorJames RolfeStarsJames RolfeIn honor of "The Dark Knight", which was just released in theaters, James Rolfe reviews every Batman film released up to that point.4 November: It's very interesting to see a 12-year-old reviews now: of course it's hard to agree with some of the points and many of them seem very dated, but it's still interesting to return to that time for a moment.
- DirectorStephen HopkinsStarsKiefer SutherlandLeslie HopeSarah ClarkeJack Bauer is called to his office because there's a threat on the life of a US Senator who's running for President; Jack also discovers that his daughter has skipped out her bedroom window.4 November: Stone-cold classic of American television, I can see why it is where it did from the pilot alone, because I would've assumed at least late 2000's about that show, not early ones. And yes, I find enough superhero elements in it to be interested from that angle. Also terrific split screen use very much reminds me of a comic book. And Mr. Clean reference is funny in that regard, as well: this mascot is kind of a superhero.
- 1990–200024mNot Rated7.2 (1.2K)TV EpisodeDirectorRon OliverStarsJason TremblaySean VertigoBrian DooleyTwo brothers, while lost in the woods, come across a mysterious cab driver and a very unusual man named Dr. Vink who won't let any of his victims go unless they solve a riddle.4 November: All that time I was blissfully unaware I already saw a pilot of Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990) which was a gateway to horror for me growing up, in many aspects (although mixed with some legit horror movies, as well). I always kind of assumed it was a later season episode, but it turned out that either series was shown in circles on Ukrainian television (re-runs go like that sometimes so it could be), or completely out of order (which kinda works since the series is anthology but I still consider that being not that fair to audience). The episode itself is one of the most memorable ones. It's odd they've spent two whole years between the pilot and the full season, but hey, who am I to judge considering my own web-series took a pause of three years between those? Sometimes serialized content is hard.
- DirectorDoug WalkerStarsDoug WalkerRob WalkerRobin PoageRob and Doug re-watch the considered average X-Men film released in 2016.6 November: Kind of out of the blue, from my recommended. I mostly agree with Doug and Rob's observations, there are fewer moments in this movie which truly excite me if Quicksilver's scene alone totally justified its existence.
- DirectorDoug WalkerRob WalkerStarsDoug WalkerRob Walker6 November: Decided to watch some more. In this particular case I'm way too affected with this movie to agree with most of their remarks, but some are on point.
- DirectorJon FavreauStarsPedro PascalJohn LeguizamoAmy SedarisThe Mandalorian is drawn to the Outer Rim in search of others of his kind.7 November: Season 2 of The Mandalorian (2019) starts off strong! A lot of western elements in this episode, even more than usual.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPedro PascalAmy SedarisMisty RosasThe Mandalorian must ferry a passenger with precious cargo on a risky journey.7 November: Continuation is also strong. I really like the vibe of fugitive knight this series oozes at this point: kind of like The Fugitive (1963), or Kung-fu (1979) or The Pretender (1996)... Mando is not in the stellar situation himself, but he keeps helping people because "this is the way".
- DirectorChris ManleyStarsDiane GuerreroApril BowlbyJoivan WadeThe Doom Patrol must confront their childhood imaginary friends before they face The Candlemaker. Meanwhile Dorothy must make a fateful choice.7 November: A season finale that was never planned to be such, so it predictably ends on a cliffhanger or two, but it's a miracle we still had an almost full season in this hectic year.
- DirectorGibson HazardLil Nas XStarsLil Nas XOn December 24, 2220 Santa Nas X (Lil Nas X) prepares for his Christmas routine of gift giving.13 October: Can't blame people for jumping on Christmas wagon early this year. It's 2020, most of us will have our reasons to have some sort of bad associations with it. As for the music video, well, I like it. Lil Nas X is one of those artists putting extra effort and identity into each of his music videos and it shows. Sometimes shines.
- DirectorDaniel HallerStarsDavid HasselhoffEdward MulharePhyllis DavisA detective, believed to have been killed, is given a new face and identity and is armed with an artificially intelligent super car.8 November: I can see why the series was an instant hit: I mostly saw latter franchise installments which were engaging, but not as stellar. Still holds up incredibly well. It was nice to see a small allusion to comics in the "original man of steel" remark. What I notice is that a lot of original superhero TV series of the time (70's to 90's; fewer series at the time were actually based on comics) actually acknowledge the comic book roots in subtle ways. I'm partial as to whether I'd love to binge the show, but the flow of the pilot is amazing, so I might as well!
- DirectorDaniel HallerStarsDavid HasselhoffEdward MulharePhyllis DavisMichael Knight seeks justice and revenge as he goes after the clever industrial saboteurs who murdered his partner.8 November: Part 2 of the two-part pilot.
- DirectorAlasdair MartinStarsAlasdair MartinBudAlasdair Martin sings an improvised ode to a mostly indifferent cat.9 November: Hands down the best music video of 2020 so far for sheer antidepressant value. I'm not sure how to stop rewatching this and I will spread the word as far as I'll be able to. I love how with each viewing you notice something new in the shot, despite video is one continuous shot from one angle. I needed something like that a lot in 2020.
- DirectorAnna PatarakinaStarsHaruka AbeNeil Amin-SmithGrace ChattoOfficial music video for "Rather Be" by Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne.9 November: Another music video with a cat, oddly, also working as an antidepressant for me, by the way. Although this one has everything from paranoiac surreal horror to neo-noir vibes, to be honest. Odd for a feel-good song that is like the sound of the 2010's for me, among with a few other songs.
- DirectorJason KoenigStarsLil Nas XSanta ClausMichael J. FoxLil Nas X, an outlaw in Wild West, stumbles upon a familiar drunkard and gets a warning from a mysterious stranger.12-13 November: I love this little prologue perhaps more than the video itself because of the surprise cameo, of course.
- DirectorJeffrey AbelsonStarsAlice CooperNina FranciosaC.J. GrahamComedic music video for Alice Cooper's theme song for the horror film Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) featuring clips from the movie. In the video, a couple goes to a midnight showing of "Jason Lives" where both Cooper and Jason appear to menace them.13 November: It was Friday the 13th, so I was entitled to see something on or from the eponymous iconic franchise. I was kinda tired to choose anything in particular, so I decided on re-watching an easily iconic music video. For bonus points I've found a VHS recording I've never seen before with glorious MTV2 Halloween bumpers.
- DirectorDave MaggotMovie MassacreStarsDave MaggotMovie MassacreDave Maggot and Movie Massacre tackle Friday the 13th.14 November: A random review webisode of the same name as the movie it reviews, but hey, I liked it.
- DirectorOleksandr StoganovStarsVkhid u Zminnomu VzuttiOleksandr StoganovRoman VerkulichMusic video by cult Ukrainian hip-hop band in which they rap about a typical day with visuals telling the same story in lo-fi aesthetic.14 November: Rewatched this music video out of the blue. Always loved its lo-fi aesthetic.
- A roll of paper towel and the roll of toilet paper have a clash over their ways of life.15 November: Discovered this oddity of a commercial by accident. Released near the end of October, it's just funny and well-made.
- DirectorRod HolcombStarsEdward WoodwardSteven WilliamsRobert LansingDisillusioned by his years as a spy, Robert McCall resigns from his job, determined to help people in need. His first two clients are a telecommunications employee who stumbles onto an extortion ring, and a woman threatened by a stalker.15 November: Lovely, very tense street level superhero pilot, that at times feels like a rightful punch in the guts. The fact that McCall is able to make it to three destinations seems like a bit of a stretch, but his abilities clearly include multi-tasking and time management, so that's not much of a problem. Still holds up incredibly well and I'm very interested in binging, as well as comparing with remake movies and upcoming remake series.
- 15-16 November: Since I bought Rise of the Triad: Dark War (1994) this month, I decided to watch LGR's review of it to know what mood I should be to play it. Lovely early 2010's review.