Truth is more horrific than fiction in this week’s true crime spotlight featuring “The Man in the White Van” and “Last Stop Larrimah”.
We begin, as always, by delving into the latest horror headlines.
To call Piper Laurie an underrated genre icon would not be entirely correct. She was an award-winning actress who grabbed the spotlight in pretty much everything she was in. It is not until looking at her entire career that her contributions can be truly appreciated.
We also revisit the idea of a Halloween television show and talk about the future of the V/H/S franchise.
Then, it’s on to our featured film reviews.
True crime stories have real-life horror naturally built into them. The Man in the White Van decides to lean into horror tropes and gives an almost slasher feel.
It is a good idea in theory, but the execution makes for one of the worst things we have seen this year. From confusing editing to an ending that fails to work on any level, we go over everything it did wrong while trying to find something good about it.
At the other end of the spectrum is Last Stop Larrimah.
For obvious reasons, there are not a lot of lighthearted true crime documentaries.
This HBO documentary looks at the mysterious disappearance of a man living in the Australian outback. He lives in a small town of eleven people, and everyone is a suspect.
The film is able to mix humorous moments into its dark story without ever taking away from the gravity of the case. It is a bit of fresh storytelling that injects life into the genre. The already interesting case is made even more engaging thanks to the way in which everything unfolds.
It is easily one of the best things we have seen this year.
ABOUT THIS PODCAST:
Every week AIPT Movie Editor Nathaniel Muir and his cinema partner in crime Blake Heath discuss indie and genre movies you have have never heard of, the ones you cannot hear enough about, and the ones you never want to hear about again.
Blade Runner is one of the most revered science fiction films of all time. It has spawned video games, books, a sequel, and an upcoming Prime series. People LOVE the movie. We talk about a major casting decision for the show and how the original movie is overrated.
The Strangers is one of the best home invasion movies of all time. Surprisingly, it did not lead to a larger franchise. As a matter of fact, there will be more installments this year than there have been in the previous decade and a half. That includes a potential four and half hour long cut of all three movies that will be coming out this year. Some horror is all about making audiences feel uncomfortable, but that may be a little too much.
Haunted house movies is one of the most popular sub-genres in horror and will will never go away. People love to hear stories about homes with violent pasts. This sub-genre has gone beyond just scaring people as more comedy horror movies may be about haunted houses than any other subject.
For Sale has a lot going for it. Its use of effects proves there is more that the practical vs CGI argument does not always matter. Essentially, it does more with less. It also has two great leads that have tremendous chemistry. There is an overall charm to the entire film.
Regrettably, it does not manage to close the deal. There are some genuinely funny moments and some really creepy ones, but the whole thing never settles on a tone. For Sale also never recovers from a major decision leading into the third act. Things grind to a halt leading to an ending that is more confusing than anything else.
As we head into the home stretch of Bruceploitation Month, we finally get to Dragon Lee. A few shows back, Blake talked about how much he was looking forward to covering the actor. Kung Fu Fever is a revelation and a disappointment. Dragon Lee is even more awesome than either of us could have imagined, but the print is of very poor quality.
Blake also presents a theory that is as zany as any of the films we have covered. It may be too far out there for some listeners to accept, but after watching Kung Fu Fever, some listeners may not think it is so ridiculous. One thing everyone will agree on; this is one of the most tasteless Bruceploitation movies ever made.
Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.
Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com
Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror.
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