We celebrate the world of haunted attractions with a retro review of “Scream Park” and a look at the new documentary “Spooktacular!”
Scream Park
As always, we begin the show with some horror headlines.
Akela Cooper has become a low-key regular on our humble little podcast. We raved about M3gan earlier this year and covered Hell Fest previously. We talk about her latest project, which covers one of horror’s most popular tropes.
Earlier this year, we were shocked to hear that Glen Danzig would be making an appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. He recently showed up at Fantastic Fest and made waves at a screening of V/H/S/85.
Then, it’s on to our featured presentation and new movie spotlight.
Nothing says Halloween like a good old-fashioned haunted amusement park. (Not an amusement park that is literally haunted, but one that is horror-themed, though the former is also really cool.) Scream Park from 2013 is a goofy idea that has promise for a fun horror movie. A scary park is having financial woes, so the owner decides to stage a series of murders to drum up interest.
It may not be the best way to get people to pay for your rides, but it works for an indie horror movie. And it was clearly made with love as it has horror vibes from the 1970s and 80s.
But there are a lot of issues. From bad pacing to its poor treatment of its female characters – including a kill that is funny and gross for all the wrong reasons — the film will constantly frustrate audiences.
For our second film, we talk about a new documentary about a famous spooky attraction.
Spooktacular!
Spooktacular! will also bother those who watch but in a different way.
Again, it is a great idea; the documentary looks at the rise, fall, and lasting impact of Spooky World, the first haunted amusement park. There is lots of great archival footage, and the whole thing is filled with a sense of nostalgia.
But it also comes with a lot of filler. Constant clips of Vincent Price movies and incomplete tangents take away from the overall feeling. There is a lot to like here, but was it enough?
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.
Episode 272: Bruceploitation Month: ‘Wildcat’ (2024)/’Bruce Lee vs. Superman’ (1975)
A few weeks back we discussed unfilmable books. One that is often brought up is Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. Reportedly, another adaptation is in the works. There is a reason that the many attempts to adapt it have fallen apart, however.
As the name implies, Southern Gothic is a subgenre that is heavily influenced by elements of the American south. Anne Rice and A Streetcar Named Desire are two of the most well known examples. This week we look at one author’s struggle to complete her novel.
Flannery O’Connor wrote a number of stories that used elements of her upbringing. Starring Maya Hawke and directed by her father Ethan, Wildcat examines how her life and works connected. Maya’s performance is fantastic and includes some real standout moments. That being said, there were some surprising missteps.
Since the birth of the internet people have asked serious questions. Who would win in a fight between Goku and the Hulk? Could Lancelot best Luke Skywalker in a duel? A/S/L? One of the things young internet denizens argued about was who would win in a one-on-one battle between Bruce Lee and Superman.
As it turns out, a 1975 movie dared to give this match to audiences. It is certainly a risk. Both are incredibly popular, meaning it was going to be impossible to not anger some viewers. Plus, how could any film possibly live up to what would certainly be sky high expectations? Worse yet, what if it is a bait and switch?
Bruce Lee vs Superman (or Bruce Lee Against the Supermen or Superdragon vs Superman) is far from a perfect movie – or even a good one – but it presents the fight it advertises. There is more than just the slugfest between the two iconic heroes, however. Green Hornet, Kato, and possibly the wildest rickshaw scene in the history of cinema all get involved. It may not be the best Bruceploitation movie, but it is hard to believe there is anything zanier.
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
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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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