STRANGER THINGS 2 - The Duffer Bros (2017)

Welcome to another Saturday Night Special in The Dungeon!

 Every once in a while, I have to check in and see what's happening in the modern world, and I think tonight's feature, for the most part, is a worthwhile effort!

"Strange Things" is an original Netflix feature, and it was successful enough, that they had to come up with a season two, and I'm glad they did, because I thought the first season was okay, but with the second season, they really kick it into gear! To me, it's a hybrid mix of "The Goonies," and "Twin Peaks" with some "Alien" thrown in for good measure!

 I had never heard of the Duffer brother twins, Ross and Matt until I saw this show, because they're young guys who have only been doing this for a handful of years, but it appears they really know what they're doing, and I say, good for them! The brothers only other major production was a TV show called "Wayward Pines" in 2015, so now I guess I need to go check that out too! So, here's a little info on some of the cast. There will be some obvious characters missing, but that's just how it works sometimes!

 Millie Bobby Brown is 11, aka Jane! This young lady is so talented, it should be a lot of fun to see where her career leads her! In 2019, you'll see Millie in "Godzilla: King Of Monsters!" After that, I'm assuming she'll be running for President! I read somewhere that the Duffer brothers really thought this was going to only be a one series show, so after killing 11 off at the end of the first season, they had to really scramble to find a way to bring her back when they were told that the show was going to continue for another season!

 David Harbour does a fine job as Sheriff Jim Hopper! David's been pretty busy over the last 15 years, and was Dexter Tolliver in "Suicide Squad," and will be the new "Hellboy" some time next year!

 

 My favourite character in the show is Winona Ryder as Joyce Beyers! She is amazing! Here's some fun stuff about Winona. Her birth name is Winona Laura Horowitz, but when asked what what name she wanted for credits on a movie called "Lucas," she chose Winona Ryder because her Dad's Mitch Ryder album was playing on the stereo! Winona grew up in a commune in Northern California that didn't have electricity, her Godfather was Timothy Leary, and she's really a blonde!

Still missing Will and Mike, but here's a good ensemble shot of a major portion of the cast that includes left to right, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, and Charlie Heaton!!!!!!

 An adorable couple!!

 Then there's Sean Astin as Bob, the big dumb smart guy!! I don't think it's a coincidence that Sean was Mikey in "The Goonies!"

 The comic book character 80's punks were an interesting change of pace!

 This creepy ass trio of scientists is led by Paul Reiser on the left! Paul started his career as a stand-up comedian!

 This combination of roots, and slimy snake worms bugs the crap out of me! On the disgusting scale, they get a 10+!

Finally, Dinner is served!!

I like "Stranger Things 2" but there's one thing that bugs me, and you know I ain't no freakin' prude, but I do think they have the young kids cussing too much, even if it is just "shit" and I guess I should be happy they're not throwing around the F bomb! It cheapens an otherwise good show, and kids these days sure don't need to be encouraged to lessen their language skills!

HORROR MOVIES KAROFF & LUGOSI APPEARED TOGETHER

Here are the seven horror movies that Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi appeared together, always good stuff to be sure!

The first movie our guys appeared together was Edgar Allan Poe's THE BLACK CAT in 1934. Travelling across Eastern Europe, Peter and Joan Allison meet Dr Werdegast (Lugosi) on the train. When the bus taking them to their destination crashes, the Allisons go with Werdegast and stay with him at the foreboding castle of famed architect, Hjalmar Poelzig (Karloff). However, the Allisons find themselves in danger when it becomes apparent that Werdegast and Poelzig have a deadly history with each other. Directed by Edgar G. Ulmer.

A year later, the guys are back in THE RAVEN, another story from Poe. This time a wealthy judge coaxes the brilliant but eccentric neurological surgeon Dr. Vollin (Lugosi), who also has an obsessive penchant for Edgar Allen Poe, out of retirement to save the life of his daughter, a dancer crippled and brain damaged in an auto wreck. Vollin restores her completely, but also envisions her as his "Lenore," and cooks up a scheme to kidnap the woman, then, torture and kill her fiance' and father in his Poe-inspired dungeon. And, to do his dirty work, Vollin recruits a wanted criminal (Karloff), and turns him into a monster to guarantee his subservience!

In 1936, they star again in THE INVISIBLE RAY. In this story, a scientist, Janos Rukh (Karloff), convinces a group of scientists and supporters to mount an expedition to the African continent to locate and study an ancient meteorite of great significance. He exposes himself to the highly toxic radiation of the meteorite, and while an antidote devised by Dr. Benet (Lugosi) saves him from death by radiation poisoning, his touch causes instant death to others. Back in London, the benefits of the meteorite's controlled radiation offer Dr. Benet an opportunity to restore eyesight to the blind! The antidote's toxicity excites Prof. Rukh into paranoid rages as he seeks revenge against the members of his expedition, who he accuses of stealing his discovery for their own glory!

The boys are back in SON OF FRANKENSTEIN from 1939. Wolf von Frankenstein returns to the Baronial manor from the United States with his wife Elsa and son Peter. He's not welcomed by the locals, who are still terrified of his father's work and the monster he created. The local Burgomaster gives him a sealed briefcase left by his father and inside, Wolf finds his father's scientific notes. At the manor house he meets his father's assistant Igor (Bela) who has a surprise for him, the monster his father created is still alive, although, in some sort of a coma. Wolf's initial attempts to re-animate the creature seem to fail but when Peter says he saw a giant in the woods, it appears he's met success! When people are mysteriously killed in the village, there is little doubt that the monster is responsible!

In 1940, Boris and Bela return in BLACK FRIDAY, hey, that's today! When his friend, Prof. George Kingsley, is at deaths door, brain surgeon Dr. Sovac (Karloff) saves his life by means of an illegal operation that transplants part of injured gangster Red Cannon's brain, who was in a gun fight with another gangster, Eric Marnay (Lugosi). Unfortunately, the operation has a disastrous Jeckll and Hyde side effect! Sovac soon learns of the duel personality and of half a million dollars the gangster has hidden away. He attempts to find the money, an attempt that brings Kingsley closer to madness as he alternates between a meek professor of English and a brutal gangster out for murderous revenge! This is the movie that Bela was hypnotized in order to achieve a realistic portrayal of his horror!

Also in 1940, Peter Lorre joins in on the fun in YOU'LL FIND OUT, a musical horror comedy with band leader Kay Kyser. In this one, Kay and his orchestra are hired to entertain at the birthday party of a young heiress at a creepy old mansion, where they uncover a plot against her life. So, who's the villain?.. The sinister judge? The phony medium? The skeptical psychologist?.. Well, you'll freakin' find out!!

Our last film is THE BODY SNATCHER from 1945. In Edinburgh in 1831, Dr. MacFarlane runs a medical school where Donald Fettes is a student. Fettes is interested in helping a young girl who has lost the use of her legs, and, is certain that MacFarlane's surgical skills could be put to great use. But, Dr. MacFarlane has a dirty little secret, he has hired his cabby, John Gray (Boris) and his assistant Joseph (Bela) to supply him with dead bodies for anatomical research. Gray constantly harasses MacFarlane and clearly has a hold over him, dating back to a famous trial where Gray refused to identify the man for whom he was robbing graves.

We'll have more for you tomorrow, check in if you can... Later, dudeskis!

JERKY TURKEY - Tex Avery (1945)

 Although it doesn't mean much to the rest of the world besides the United States, tomorrow is America's official turkey day!  In 1945, comic mastermind Tex Avery made a cartoon about the Thanksgiving holiday having no clue that some 40 or 50 years in the future, there would actually be a commercially produced food product called Turkey Jerky! A visionary no doubt, Tex just got it backwards!!

 "Jerky Turkey" isn't much more than a string of sight gags!

When this cartoon was released in early 1945, World War Two was almost over!

If you don't understand the reference points, then it's not so funny!

 Charlie Manson finally died this week! How many homeless shelters do you suppose we could have built with the money wasted on that rat bastard for the last 48 years? I think it's time to come up with a "No Thanks! Giving" holiday!

 72 freakin' years later, and nothing in politics has changed!

How pathetically sad!

Immigrants waiting in a line, imagine that!

Architecture sight gags!

The story line is merely a chase between a pilgrim, and the turkey he needs for his Thanksgiving dinner!

 There's always got to be a running gag! Right up to the climax, this one didn't really work for me!

 This hollow log shot is so simplistically cool! It would make a great painting!

Here's a shout out to all the innocent victims in the world, but unfortunately for the turkey, this was not the end of the story!

SOME COOL SIXTIES JAPANESE MOVIE SPACE MONSTERS

Today we take a look at some sixties Japanese movie space monsters, strange sights to be sure... Obviously, the majority of the things are super-sized and cause super-sized mayhem wherever they roam!!

We lead off with THE GREEN SLIME, the creatures are fairly impressive, the movie is super cheap if you watch closely. I remember helping Robert Horton when I worked at a frame shop in LA around 1995, he was the very nicest person you'd ever meet, great guy!

I think 'clunky' is a good way to describe THE X FROM OUTER SPACE! Those antennae are cool, but hey, you can't beat that freakin' horn on its forehead!!.. Beep, beep, I'm a Jeep!

There's plenty of insane, whacked out action going on in GAMERA vs. GAOS. Gaos is one of my very favorite monsters, a crazy looking giant space bat will surely peak my interest.

Man, DOGORA, THE SPACE MONSTER is a wild 'n' weird flick! It's so unique, leave it to the guys in Japan to come up with this stuff, and, better watch out for those infernal falling boulders!!

Another insane movie is YOG, MONSTER FROM SPACE! I mean, you know, like, WTF!.. An octopus from the void is an interesting idea, but, this story may have been fueled by saké!!

INVASION OF THE NEPTUNE MEN is one of my all time favorite movies to watch, the MST3K version that is! The Neptune dude that can't find his record is just freakin' hilarious!!

Giant space birds come looking for their baby in GAPPA, THE TRIPHIBIAN MONSTER. The parents cause a lot of damage as they look for their kid before heading back into space.

Love GOKE, BODY SNATCHER FROM HELL! This one has slimy space blobs that creep into your brain and take the body over! So, a nice pile of space monsters to peruse, we're back in a few with more wild 'n' weird Dungeon cargo for you!