Dark Discussions Podcast

Independent film can surprise you, especially horror films.  Maybe low budget, maybe by new talent, maybe never picked up by a distributor.  But that doesn’t mean they aren’t pretty fantastic films.  Peter Szewczyk, the director of the 2021 film BEHEMOTH, worked with George Lucas credited with working on visual effects on AVATAR (2009) and HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (2011), among other films.  Co-writing BEHEMOTH with Derrick Ligas, the movie surprised many horror fans.

Joshua Riverton (Josh Eisenberg) decides to become a whistleblower for a company that has not been friendly to the world.  Soon he finds out that doing so may lead to more than just government and corporation retribution.  With the loss of his family, and bringing his friends into his predicament, he may have unleashed horrible things that will not only destroy his life but also save his prior employer from any consequences.

BEHEMOTH stars Josh Eisenberg, Jennifer Churchich, Richard Wagner, Angela Nicholas, among others.  Released late in 2021 to video streaming services, the film was barely noticed by movie reviewers.  But with its intriguing poster, the film got notice from many horror fans.  Your co-hosts take a look at this year old movie and give their thoughts.

Director, actor, and screenwriter, Ti West, has been around for a bit working on horror and mumblecore films.  He’s appeared as an actor in YOU’RE NEXT (2011), he directed the found footage thriller THE SACRAMENT (2013), and did the sequel CABIN FEVER 2:  SPRING FEVER (2009).  In 2022, he’s had success where his two latest films including the slasher film X (2022) was picked up and distributed by A24.

In 1979, a group of adult movie filmmakers rent a building on a Texas farm.  Their plan is to film their latest movie for the booming pornographic industry.  Worried that their profession could upset the farmers, they don’t tell the owners of the property their real purpose of being there.  How would rural homeowners feel about a production that will include sex scenes performed on their property?  What will happen if the farmers find out?

The movie stars Brittany Snow, Jenna Ortega, Scott Mescudi, Martin Henderson, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, and Mia Goth plaing two roles. Ti West both wrote and directed the movie.  Released on March 18th, 2022 in the USA, on a one million dollar budget, the film grossed $14.8M USD.  The faux-grindhouse film received excellent reviews from both critics and audiences alike.  A prequel since has been released.  Dark Discussions takes a look at this throwback film and gives their thoughts.

Shane Black has many successes, especially with screenwriting.  Some of his best known are LETHAL WEAPON, THE MONSTER SQUAD, and PREDATOR (all 1987), as well as IRON MAN 3 (2013).  His sense of humor and his apt work on action scenes has given many of his scripts great praise.  But he has directed too including our latest choice to discuss on Cinema A La Carte, KISS KISS BANG BANG (2005).

From Bing:  “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a 2005 American neo-noir mystery black comedy action thriller film written and directed by Shane Black, and starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, and Corbin Bernsen. The script is partially based on the Brett Halliday novel Bodies Are Where You Find Them, and interprets the classic hardboiled literary genre in a tongue-in-cheek fashion. The film was produced by Joel Silver, with Susan Levin and Steve Richards as executive producers.”

With its eclectic cast and Shane Black’s fingers on the script and direction, the neo-noir received excellent reviews on Rottentomatoes.  Though a minor film in many involved in the movie, it helped jump each of their careers and has become a cult favorite.  Your co-hosts take a look at Mike’s choice to discuss.  We give our thoughts and talk about the satire about Hollywood that Black’s script focuses on.

Originally appearing in the horror anthology film ALL HALLOW’S EVE (2013), Art the Clown has since stormed into cult status as a potential horror icon.  For his first feature length film, TERRIFIER (2016), the movie surprised most people with its over the top gore and became a cult classic.  Now, he has returned in TERRIFIER 2, a Halloween release that had a budget of $250,000 USD and went on to earn $11.5M USD. 

Art the Clown proves he more than just a person dressed as a clown.  Returning from the dead, he begins his journey through the town where Sienna (Lauren LaVera) and Jonathan (Elliott Fullam), a sister and brother, begin to prepare for Halloween.  Soon Jonathan finds a link to his father, an artist who has now passed, with Art.  Sienna unaware of the connection. Meets up with her friends only to find out Art may be on the hunt for her.

The movie is directed and written by Damien Leone and Art the Clown is played once more by David Howard Thornton.  Though released unrated due to the excessive violence, the movie still appeared in many films and has allowed a third in the franchise to be green lit.  Your co-hosts take a look at this indy horror film and give their thoughts.

Back in 1988, the role playing game, CYBERPUNK, was created by Mike Pondsmith.  Since then the game has gone onto much success.  Just in December 2020, a video game called CYBERPUNK 2077 was based off the original game and has had tremendous success on video consoles.  Now a long anticipated television series, CYBERPUNK:  EDGERUNNERS (2022), created in the style of Japanese anime has arrived to Netflix.

When high school student David and his mother, in the wrong place at the wrong time, are hurt during an assassination attempt, David is left without parental care.  While on the subway he meets Lucy, a netrunner and petty thief, who brings him into the world of crime.  Soon he joins her crew and the group of cyberpunks and mercenaries try some high risk robberies that may be more dangerous than they thought.

Cyberpunk, the subgenre, has been one of the most popular science fiction genres to ever exist.  It was popularized by the stories of such authors as Philip K. Dick and William Gibson.  CYBERPUNK:  EDGERUNNERS (2022) brings the world created by Mike Pondsmith and the follow-up video game to life.  Your co-hosts binge watched the Netflix series so they could give you their thoughts on the show.

Sometimes the best films are those that are lower profile, cost minimal money, and appear out of nowhere.  The new Lionsgate film FALL (2022) is the latest movie that shows quality filmmaking against a smaller budget yet looking like it was a mainstream big budget release. 

When Becky (Grace Currey) and her husband Dan (Mason Gooding) are joined by their good friend Shiloh (Virginia Gardner) to do rock climbing on the side of a mountain, a tragedy occurs leaving Becky mentally destroyed.  A year later, Shiloh gets Becky to climb one of the largest structures in the world, the decommissioned 2,000 foot B67 TV tower.  Will Becky face her fears or will more tragedy occur?

The movie is directed by Scott Mann and co-written with Jonathan Frank.  With its small budget of $3M USD, the film’s box office was close to $19M USD.  The small cast, besides its stars, also includes Jeffrey Dean Morgan.  Released on August 12, 2022 at theaters, the movie received fabulous reviews by most critics and audiences alike.  Dark Discussions takes a look at this “little” film and gives their thoughts.

Like many folks, after a few misses, he leveled out and was able to work on some other films including BLUE STEEL (1990) and a film he directed as well, BAD MOON (1996).  BAD MOON was noticeable because of the subgenre of being a werewolf film.  It also starred Mariel Hemingway giving it some star power at the time.

When a horrible animal attack in Nepal kills photo-journalist Ted Harrison’s (Michael Pare) girlfriend, he returns to the states living in a RV in the middle of nowhere.  His sister Janet (Mariel Hemmingway) convinces him to move his RV to her driveway so he won’t be alone.  Soon horrible animal attacks occur in the vicinity leading to a horrible discovery that may lead to a deep dark secret.

BAD MOON received mixed reviews in its initial release but soon became a midnight film of note.  In a subgenre of horror film that is grossly overlooked, werewolf movies, the film has gained a cult following.  BAD MOON is a patreon pick from one of the podcast’s many listeners.  Your co-hosts give their thoughts on this interesting movie.

Though the Taiwanese film, THE SADNESS, arrived at theaters in Taiwan in 2021, the movie reached North American audiences on May 12, 2022 through the streaming service Shudder.  Oddly the film was written and directed by a native Canadian, Rob Jabbaz, the movie is in the nation’s native Cantonese language and subtitled or dubbed for all other nations.

Jim and Kat are a young couple living in the big city of Taipei during the epidemic virus Alvin that has been sweeping the nation.  Similar to COVID-19, people are told to be careful and stay in place whenever possible.  However, a variant of the virus causes people to go insane and begin murderous rampages throughout the city.  Jim and Kat try their best to find each other during day one of what seems to be an apocalypse.

THE SADNESS (2022) is in the frame of the “hate virus” version of the zombie film.  Receiving excellent reviews, the movie is also noted for its intense violence and depravity.  Not unfamiliar with Taiwanese zombie movies (ZOMBIE 108 (2012) and ZOMBIE FIGHT CLUB (2014)), the sex-and-violence genre has flourished in Taiwan.  Dark Discussions takes a look at this kinetic film.

The early October 2022 horror film, SMILE, appeared with little star power.  Though Sosie Bacon, the daughter of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, stars in the movie, besides her famous parents, the movie had no recognizable names or stars.  However, with a strong marketing pitch and released by Paramount Pictures, the movie became a huge success at the box office as well as critics and fans alike.

Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon), a survivor of an abusive mother, puts her entire life into her work to cope with her own personal demons.  When a frightening encounter with a new disturbed patient occurs, she goes on a journey to understand what happened.  But soon real demons begin to threaten her.  Is she going insane or is has some demonic presence begun to follow her.

Though receiving strong word of mouth, the movie has been compared to IT FOLLOWS (2014), RINGU (1998), THE RING (2002), and TRUTH OR DARE (2018), the movie has enough original to let it have its own vibe.  Disturbing and also focusing on suicide, the movie has become a sensation during Halloween earning over $200 million USD on a budget under $17 Million USD.  Your co-hosts take a look at this very interesting film.

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