THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND (2020)—Something lurks off the coast of Block Island, an ominous force that begins killing wildlife. It silently influences the behavior of fisherman, Tom Lynch. After offering sacrifices to the mysterious entity, he unknowingly puts his family in grave danger.

The Block Island Sound (2020) is not for everyone. It’s a slow-burn horror film, light on the viscera, and heavy on atmosphere, mood, and dread. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of that approach, including the directors, cast, and screenplay. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys sets sail into the unknown depths of cosmic horror.

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THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BONZAI ACROSS THE 8TH DIMENSION (1984) follows the multi-talented Buckaroo Banzai, a rock musician, neurosurgeon, and physicist, as he battles the evil Red Lectroids from Planet 10. Buckaroo invents a device that allows him to travel through solid matter, inadvertently discovering a plot by the Lectroids to conquer Earth. With his team, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, Buckaroo must stop the Lectroids and their human collaborators, the Black Lectroids.

Perplexed? Us too. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) stands out as a peculiar anomaly in 1980s sci-fi cinema. Join us as we delve into the reasons behind the film’s shortcomings, despite boasting an exceptionally talented cast. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys journeys into the enigmatic 8th dimension, where the narrative is disjointed, the indulgence is palpable, and the confusion reigns supreme.

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DEMONS (1985)—A new theatre is opening, and people are hand-selected to attend a horror film. When a young woman tries on a mask from a display in the theater lobby, it cuts her face, causing her to transform into a demon. She then bites others and they turn into demons. Slowly, the entire theatre is mayhem, and only a few will survive.

Welcome to the world of Lamberto Bava, son of the great Italian director Mario Bava. Demons (1985) is an odd mishmash of gore, heavy metal, bad dubbing, jump scares, and occasional logic. Join us, as we discuss the myriad reasons this film doesn’t work but is still a fun ride, warranting multiple viewings and garnering the title “party film.” Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys, attends a movie premiere, where murderous monsters stalk the aisles, and soon THE WORLD!

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THE THING (1982) In Antarctica, a U.S. research team is thrust into a horrible situation when a helicopter targets a sled dog. Adopted by the scientists, the dog, a shape-shifting alien, transforms, savagely attacking humans and canines, revealing its ability to mimic victims. Helicopter pilot Macready (Kurt Russell), and the camp doctor (Richard Dysart) spearhead a desperate, gory fight for survival as the creature systematically picks off the team. Trust crumbles, alliances fracture, and the unforgiving Antarctic terrain becomes a grisly battlefield for their struggle against an adversary that morphs into the very faces they once knew.

Welcome to our 200th episode and a redux of our first movie topic way back when—The Thing (1982). Join us as we discuss the perfect storm that came together to make this once panned but now critically lauded film. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys travels to the South Pole, reuniting with a group of old friends who may have changed just a bit.

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BURNT OFFERINGS (1976)—Ben (Oliver Reed) and Marian Rolf (Karen Black) can’t believe how cheap the rent is at their giant Victorian summer home. However, they soon sense that there’s something peculiar about the place. Marian is strangely obsessed with keeping house. Ben finds himself prone to unusual bursts of anger. Vivacious aunt Elizabeth (Bette Davis) suddenly becomes withdrawn and dies. Could the house be responsible?

Burnt Offerings (1976) is a flawed if not memorable movie (and novel) mainly due to its influence as a pillar in haunted house mythology. Join us as we journey nostalgically, discussing the pros and cons of the film including its director, TV horror giant Dan Curtis, its stellar cast (Oliver Reed, Karen Black, Bette Davis, and Burgess Meredith), and its influence (particularly on Stephen King). Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys lucks into a magnificent summer house rental, where inhabitants are sustenance for its rejuvenation. 

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FAHRENHEIT 451 (1966)—In a future dystopian society, books have been banned. Enforced by the fire department—whose role it is to burn them—the result is an emotionless and egalitarian society. Guy Montag, senior fireman, is much respected by his superiors and is in line for a promotion. He doesn’t question what he does or why he does it until he meets Clarisse. As his doubts grow, he begins to steal some of the books he is meant to burn.

1984 (1984)—Based on George Orwell’s classic novel, Winston Smith (John Hurt) is a government employee whose job involves the rewriting of history in a manner that casts his fictional country’s leaders in a charitable light. His trysts with Julia (Suzanna Hamilton) provide his only measure of enjoyment, but lawmakers frown on the relationship—and in this closely monitored society, there is no escape from Big Brother.

Welcome back to the dreary future worlds of dystopia. In this double feature, we discuss two of dystopian literature’s all-time classics, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and 1984 by George Orwell. Join us as we discuss these adaptions and whether they achieve the daunting task of translating to the silver screen. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys travels into the not-so-distant future, where society is repressed and individualism shunned. 

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When a mysterious, white, and gooey but delicious substance begins oozing from the Earth’s surface, it makes a great new dessert product. But this new dessert has a sinister origin: it’s an entity that takes over its victims’ minds while making them crave more of it.

Welcome to our 2nd listener/viewer request episode AND our first venture into the guerilla filmmaking world of prolific writer/director Larry Cohen. Thanks to Andrew Marler for recommending this classic 1980s schlock! Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of the film, including its director, cast, and themes. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys fights greedy corporate misers poisoning the minds of people with a delicious and ominous dessert product. 

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From his home in Ilium, N.Y., optometrist Billy Pilgrim (Michael Sacks) narrates how he came to be “unstuck in time.” Kidnapped by aliens and living in comfort with his assigned mate, B-movie starlet Montana Wildhack (Valerie Perrine), Billy experiences the events of his life in random order, flitting between his past as an American prisoner of war in World War II, to his humdrum middle-class life in the present-day, to his future as a zoo curiosity on the planet Tralfamadore.
 

Welcome to our first visit to the weird, wacky, and wonderful world of beloved humanist author Kurt Vonnegut. Although Slaughterhouse-Five (1972) is not a perfect movie, it still manages to capture the novel’s essence, which is a challenging task considering the difficulty of successfully adapting Vonnegut novels. Join us as we discuss the strengths and weaknesses, including its screenplay, cast, and the marvelous direction of George Roy Hill. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys becomes unstuck in time, traveling through the eyes of Billy Pilgrim and a lifetime of lunacy and love. 

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Ships are sinking. Neighboring islands are being attacked. What if underwater hydrogen bomb testing has awakened a fire-breathing monster from its centuries-long sleep? Enter Godzilla. Tokyo’s only hope is an ominous weapon called the Oxygen Destroyer. But will the talented young scientist who developed it allow such a dangerous weapon to be revealed to the world?

Six seasons in and we’ve finally reached the BIG GUY. Godzilla’s cultural influence is as mammoth as the monster itself, spanning eight decades and over thirty-five sequels, reboots, and re-imaginings. Join us as we discuss the reasons behind the movie’s genesis and why its concept seems forever enduring. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys goes… Wait. What’s that thunderous sound? Head for the hills! Godzilla has risen!

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In the 1930s, a psychotic drifter who’s after a mystery woman who covered his whole body in illustrations that foresee the future shows three of them (The Veldt, The Long Rain, and The Last Night of the World) to an enchanted traveler.

This is our first venture into the world of Ray Bradbury and our first science fiction anthology. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of this film, including the screenplay, location, and the terrific cast (playing multiple roles!). Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys meets a mysterious hobo on the road… a tattooed stranger eager to share with us his secrets and perhaps divulge a few of our own.   

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