Dark Discussions Podcast

Sometimes some of the most frightful and dreadful stories happen in real life.  We've seen it with such things as the riots in cities, the war in Ukraine, and the Jeffrey Epstein crimes.  The latest film, THE SCARY OF SIXTY-FIRST (2022), takes the former and builds a tale around a horrific crime that shocked not only a city but the world. 

Noelle (Madeline Quinn) and Addie (Betsey Brown) find a new apartment in Manhattan that would be convenient for both their work and social life.   When a mysterious woman (Dasha Nekrasova) appears, she tells Noelle how her new residence was a sex dungeon for some of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.  While the woman and Noelle research the property, Addie begins to behave oddly until finally the three young women must face a possibly dark presence besides the apartments dark history.

The movie stars two of the film makers.  Dasha Nekrasova directs the movie while co-writing it with Madeline Quinn.  Released on VOD through Shudder, the film originally played at festivals where it won some awards.  The Dark Discussions co-hosts take a look at this independent film and give their thoughts.

Welcome to Cortana’s Communiques – A weekly discussion of the Paramount+ television series HALO based on the video game series and the universe created by XBox. Starring Pablo Schreiber and Natascha McElhone.

Series synopsis:

Aliens threaten human existence in an epic 26th-century showdown. TV series based on the video game ‘Halo’.

Welcome to Cortana’s Communiques – A weekly discussion of the Paramount+ television series HALO based on the video game series and the universe created by XBox.  Starring Pablo Schreiber and Natascha McElhone.

Series synopsis:

Aliens threaten human existence in an epic 26th-century showdown. TV series based on the video game ‘Halo’.

The 2021 Canadian science fiction horror film, COME TRUE, went much unnoticed during its initial release.  With its very generic title, the movie didn’t necessarily bring much attention to streamers.  With a premise about dreams, the story focuses on their meaning and the philosophy around it. 

Sara (Julia Sarah Stone) is a high school senior who runs away from home.  Needing income she applies for a sleep study in which she wear’s an EKG and an odd device on her head.  When she starts having vivid nightmares and a seizure, she begins to worry that the scientists are looking for something much more abnormal than a normal night’s sleep.

COME TRUE is directed and written by newcomer Anthony Scott Burns.  The cast stars mostly unknowns including Julia Sarah Stone, Landon Liboiron, Carlee Ryski, and Christopher Heatherington.  Having been well received by critics, guest co-host, actor Dan Lench, chose the film for what turns out to be a very interesting discussion of a polarizing film.

Welcome to Cortana’s Communiques – A weekly discussion of the Paramount+ television series HALO based on the video game series and the universe created by XBox.  Starring Pablo Schreiber and Natascha McElhone.

Series synopsis:

Aliens threaten human existence in an epic 26th-century showdown. TV series based on the video game ‘Halo’.

Survival films aren’t necessarily the most popular genre but many of them are highly remembered.  Whether it was such cinema as THE GRAY (2011), THE REVENANT (2015), or CAST AWAY (2000), many are considered classic cinema and highly regarded.  In 1997, the movie THE EDGE, written by David Mamet and directed by Lee Tamahori, oddly slipped through the cracks when first released.

Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) goes with his supermodel wife Mickey (Elle Macpherson) for a photoshoot in the remote areas of Alaska.  When photographer Bob Green (Alec Baldwin) wants better photos, they head off on a small plane to a local guide.  Unfortunately their plane crashes leaving Charles, Bob, and Bob’s assistant Stephen (Harold Perrineau) stranded.  Soon, a Kodiak bear is on their trail and the three must fight for survival.

Besides Anthonly Hopkins and Alec Baldwin in the leading roles, the film’s cast includes Elle Macpherson, L.Q. Jones, Harold Perrineau and Bart the Bear.  The film, chosen by co-host Eric, was almost a topic for the Dark Discussions Podcast before being chosen for discussion here on the Cinema A La Carte podcast.  Take a listen and hear what your co-hosts feel about a highly underappreciated movie.

March of 2022, film fans lost a legend in William Hurt.  His passing came as a surprise at the age of 72 since he kept his illness with cancer to himself.  He starred in many important films during his career including winning awards for his performances.  The movie, BODY HEAT (1981), made many stars.  Not only was it Kathleen Turner’s first major role, but it made William Hurt a leading man.  It also was the directorial debut of Lawrence Kasdan.

Ned Racine (William Hurt), a two bit lawyer, happens upon the beautiful Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner) one night and immediately falls for her.  There’s one catch unfortunately.  She’s married.  But that doesn’t deter Ned.  Soon their relationship turns more passionate than he ever thought.  Not discouraged by the situation, Ned along with Matty come up with a plan that could lead them to their own marital bliss.  Yet there is a catch.

The film received fantastic reviews where iconic reviewer Roger Ebert listed it as one of the best films in movie history.  The movie launched the careers of both Kathleen Turner and William Hurt and made Lawrence Kasdan one of the most successful directors the following decades.  Dark Discussions pays tribute to one of films great actors and take a look at one of William Hurt’s best films.

Welcome to Cortana's Communiques – A weekly discussion of the Paramount+ television series HALO based on the video game series and the universe created by XBox.  Starring Pablo Schreiber and Natascha McElhone.

Series synopsis:

Aliens threaten human existence in an epic 26th-century showdown. TV series based on the video game 'Halo'.

Vampire films have changed throughout the years.  From the dapper debutante to the gothic monster to the dreamy love interest to the feral beast, the “monster” has had many turns in books and movies.  In the 2021 German film, BLOOD RED SKY, the movie turns vampires into feral beasts but with a twist that the condition is a disease.

When Nadja (Peri Baumeister) and her son Elias (Carl Anton Koch) head out on an overnight flight from Germany to New York to see a specialist that can cure Nadja of a mysterious condition, the jet plane they are traveling on is hijacked by a group of ruthless men who have a secret agenda that none of the travelers know about.  When something goes wrong, and one of the hijackers acts unhinged, Nadja must do something she hoped to never do to save her son from danger.

The film was debuted in July of 2021 on Netflix.  Starring a cast of mostly foreign actors, the movie played well on the network and found a strong following.  Joined by the actor Dan Lench, who suggested the film for review, the Dark Discussions podcast gives their thoughts on the movie.

Frank Herbert’s original 1965 story, DUNE, was an astounding success.  It has become one of America’s great novels, and is beloved by science fiction fans.  More part of the space opera subset of stories, the book has been turned into two adaptations including a TV mini-series and a movie by David Lynch.  Now, director Denis Villeneuve’s first part in a two film series was released in October 2021 to both HBO Max and theaters. 

Rather than discuss the intricacies of the story, the movie stars an all-star cast of performers.  Timothee Chalamet plays the lead role of Paul Atreides who may or may not be a promised messianic hero.  Also in the cast is Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, among many others.

DUNE: PART ONE (2021) received glowing reviews from critics.  With its success both on streaming and at theaters, Warner Brothers immediately green lit the second part in the two movie series.  If success follows the second film, one wonders if a new franchise in the Dune universe will expand to others stories in the books that Frank Herbert wrote.  Dark Discussions takes a look at this new film and gives their thoughts.