Brian Saur makes his triumphant return to the podcast as we explore two characters who will do pretty much anything to get what they want. First, Robert Englund attempts to depart from the Freddy Krueger persona in 1989’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Then, Jake Gyllenhaal turns in the performance of his career with 2014’s NIGHTCRAWLER. Also, we introduce a new regular segment with our “Picks of the Week.”
The Flicks:
The Phantom Of The Opera (1989)
Director: Dwight H. Little
Written By: Gaston Leroux, Gerry O’Hara, Duke Sandefur
Starring: Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, Alex Hyde-White, Bill Nighy
“Scary! Atmospheric! Well-paced! Delivers the goods…” – L.A. Daily News
Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Galaxy of Terror, Freddy vs. Jason) assumes the classic role of The Phantom in this shocking, nerve-jangling retelling of Gaston Leroux’s timeless tale of music, madness and murder!
An aspiring opera singer finds herself transported back to Victorian-era London – and into the arms of a reclusive, disfigured maestro determined to make her a star. The silver-throated Christine (Jill Schoelen, The Stepfather) enjoys success through the arrangements of her new lover (Englund)… until she realizes that he has been committing unspeakably grisly murders in her honor and won’t stop until he’s completed his masterpiece… in blood!
Also starring Bill Nighy (I Frankenstein, Shaun of the Dead, Underworld), Alex Hyde-White (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Terence Harvey (From Hell) and Molly Shannon (SNL, Superstar), directed by Dwight H. Little (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Marked for Death, Rapid Fire) and featuring make-up effects by Kevin Yagher (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge, Face/Off), this “darker spin on…The Phantom of the Opera is the one to watch” (HorrorCultFilms.co.uk)! [Scream Factory]
Nightcrawler (2014)
Director: Dan Gilroy
Written By: Dan Gilroy
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton
NIGHTCRAWLER is a pulse-pounding thriller set in the nocturnal underbelly of contemporary Los Angeles. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as Lou Bloom, a driven young man desperate for work who discovers the high-speed world of L.A. crime journalism. Finding a group of freelance camera crews who film crashes, fires, murder and other mayhem, Lou muscles into the cut-throat, dangerous realm of nightcrawling — where each police siren wail equals a possible windfall and victims are converted into dollars and cents. Aided by Rene Russo as Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news, Lou thrives. In the breakneck, ceaseless search for footage, he becomes the star of his own story. [Open Road]