Abigail - The scoop and digest

Set in the same universe as Ready or Not, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett loosely remake and/or reimagine Dracula's Daughter (1936).

Melissa Barrera - Joey

Dan Stevens - Frank

Alisha Weir - Abigail

Will Catlett - Don

Kathryn Newton - Sammy 

Kevin Durand - Peter

Angus Cloud - Dean

Giancarlo Esposito - Lambert

Matthew Goode - Abigail's father

Summary

A group of criminals kidnap 12-year-old ballerina Abigail and take her to an isolated mansion, where their mysterious leader Lambert is waiting.

To collect the $50m ransom from Abigail's father (feared crime boss Kristof Lazar), all they have to do is babysit her for 24 hours.

Sounds simple... right?

Well it would be, but Abigail is no ordinary girl.

The Rat Pack

After the initial set up of Reservoir Dogs, the final hour is an absolute blast.

While comparisons to M3GAN are inevitable, Alisha Weir is a revelation.

Gore fest is packed with dark humour and group calmly discussing ways to kill vampires smacks of From Dusk Till Dawn.

And there's more.

Frank and Sammy are transformed into vampires by Lambert and Abigail respectively.

Judging by voice and mannerisms, the former thinks he's Deacon Frost (Blade) and the latter looks remarkably similar to one of Lady Demitrescu's daughters from Resident Evil Village.

Shit doesn't play out how you'd think, as Abby teams up with Joey to stake Frank, leaving door open for a sequel.

However, one thing annoyed me.

When Joey kills Frank, she reverts back to human form.  Fine, because he was the vampire that turned her.

But when Frank kills Lambert, rulebook is ripped up.

Goddammit man.

In loving memory

Angus Cloud

Late Night with the Devil - The scoop and digest

I missed out on the big screen, but Colin and Cameron Cairnes' supernatural horror has just dropped on Shudder.

David Dastmaichian - Jack Delroy

Laura Gordon - Dr. June Ross-Mitchell

Ian Bliss - Carmichael Haig

Fayssal Bazzi - Christou

Ingrid Torelli - Lilly D'Abo

Michael Ironside - The Narrator

Summary

On April 4 1971, popular radio personality Jack Delroy launches talk show Night Owls to compete with The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

In September 1976, Jack's world is turned upside down when his wife Madeleine, a non-smoker, is diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and dies the following month.

Although he keeps soldiering on, viewing figures plummet, so a desperate Jack plans a occultist-themed special on October 31 1977 to turn his fortunes around.

Parapsychologist Dr. June Ross-Mitchell brings out Lilly, with 13-year-old girl claiming a demon dubbed 'Mr. Wriggles' is inside her.

Hail Abraxas

It's said that specific episodes of The Don Lane Show featuring Uri Geller and Doris Stokes inspired bulk of running time, but I saw an alternative version of  BBC1 mockumentary Ghostwatch, broadcast on Halloween 1992.

Anyway, this was compelling viewing.

Apart from Dastmaichian's excellent performance, what's most impressive is how authentic shit looks, like it was shot in 1977, not 2023.

Lilly killing Gus by twisting his head backwards is an obvious nod to The Exorcist and satanic cult leader's owl mask could be paying homage to Michael Soavi's Stage Fright (1987), aka Aquarius and Bloody Bird.

To explain twist ending.

In order to become a successful TV host, Jack literally made a deal with the devil.

He's visited by Madeleine's tortured spirit, who begs him to put her out of her misery.  Using ritualistic dagger, he duly obliges, but then scene suddenly jumps to the now empty studio, revealing he actually stabbed Lilly to death.

We hear police sirens gradually getting louder.

Civil War - The scoop and digest

Alex Garland writes and directs A24's most expensive effort yet.

Kirsten Dunst - Lee

Wagner Moura - Joel

Cailee Spaeny - Jessie

Stephen McKinley Henderson - Sammy

Nick Offerman - US President

Summary

In the near future, a civil war has broken out between the US government and numerous secessionist movements.

Despite the obvious danger, seasoned military photojournalist Lee and co travel from New York to Washington D.C. to interview the President before rebel factions descend upon the White House.

Journey is not without bloody confrontation.

857 mile road trip

Powerful and shocking, harrowing portrait of a crumbling nation doesn't disappoint.

Kirsten Dunst puts in a terrific shift and Rob Hardy's cinematography is gorgeous.

Bodies swinging from a highway overpass, wrecked vehicles (notably a helicopter), overgrown parking lots and boarded up shops are just some of the bleak sights on display across dystopian landscape.

After the militia execute civvies and loyalist soldiers, bodies are dumped into a mass grave.

It's pretty strong stuff.

Sporadic action occurs throughout and impressively unloads during the final 20 minutes, including a tense White House firefight.

Men divided opinion and inspired fierce debate.

I'd suggest this will do the same.

Film Mistakes - Slide 3

Miscellany

Joy Ride (2001)
Date format is British (12Dec99), but should be Dec1299 (American).

The Longest Yard (2005)
"Underneath it all, its just you and Crewes"
I see a grammatical goof, or maybe it's just me.

Enemy (2013)
German philosopher Fichte is misspelled as Fitche.

Frenzy (1972)
Co-incidental is not hyphenated.

Jason Bourne
In 2016 (when film is set), 20 October fell on a Thursday, not Tuesday.

The Amusement Park
Bizzare should be bizarre.

Street Smart
For boasting the worlds best coffee, this is a place I'd avoid.
But if it sold the world's best, then I'd be in there like a shot.

Star Crystal
Evolution of human race part 5 15,000 BC to 500 AD
1. South America
2. North America
Jumping to:
7. Artic
8. Antartic
Arctic and Antarctic would be better.

Stan Helsing
Frankenstein isn't the Doctor, so character should be Frankenstein's Monster.

Ripper Lake
Rehabilitation and recommended are misspelled as rehibilation and recomended respectively.

Return to Sleepaway Camp
Leisure activities include Canoeing, Archery, Vollyball etc.
Awww, and I was really looking forward to playing Volleyball too.

Selfish bastards.

Also, what the fuck does Bonding Games involve?

Dracula A.D. 1972
Proffessor Van Helsing?
Seriously?

Darkman
Facial reconstruction will take 571 hours and 57 minutes (or just under 24 days).
Why that random number, I don't know.
Anyway, since when is anything completed at 99.999 %?

Odd.

Boogeyman 3
Boogeyman killer claims eight victims at Hillridge clinic!
Headline isn't the weird thing.
Yesterday was commit a brutal crime!
At Hilarige hospital ware killed 10 patients include the hospital personal!

Article is one the greatest examples of Engrish in cinema history, and they couldn't even match building or kill count.

Blood: The Last Vampire (2000)
Filing system begins A-B, B-C, C-D etc.
But after H-I, it should be I-J, J-K, but chooses J-K, L-M etc, so consistency is given the middle finger.

Better Watch Out aka Christmas Evil
Jolly Dream wishes its employees a Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year
Remember ~ if its not a Jolly Dream is not worth having!

It's there again.

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon
Burtal should obviously be brutal.

Multiples

Backtrack

Australian date format is the same as British, so 12 7 87 (12 July 87) is fine.

But.

July 12th 1987 is written the American way.

(Rolls eyes).

The Postcard Killings

Address on envelope includes the postcode 78605 for Brussels.
Belgian postcodes only have 4 digits, not 5.

Preview of first link misspells newly and accommodation as Newley and accomodation respectively.
Not stopping there, second link also has accomodation.

The second paragraph begins:
In the early 1990's, New York City was in the grips of a record breaking crime wave brought on by the crack epidemic.
Same sentence repeats at the start of third paragraph.

The Laughing Mask

(Deep breath).

"The Laughing Mask Killer" is suspected in the slain of the sucessful "shadows of death book series.
So what, he murdered some literary works?
Prolific writer Jake Johnson, best known for the award winning book murder series "Shadows of Death" (ha ha) was seen at his residence in Orlando, FL after the police found the mutilated body of his wife Jaycee Johnson.  According to police reports, Jaycee's body was severely mangled and have been tortured for hours.
Jesus, who wrote this shit?
Spinning on:
Police was given an annonymous tip last week leading office Kate O'malley to the scene, an abandoned warehouse out of Longwood, FL where Jaycee's remains were found.
In an alternative reality, police were given an anonymous tip last week leading Officer Kate O'Malley to the scene, etc.

And it ain't over yet.

It's a Sin to Tell  Lie"
by Ruth Etting

It's a Sin to Tell a Lie (without the double spacing).

"The House is Hauhted by the Echoes of your last Goodbye
by Denny Dennis

The House is Haunted by the Echoes of your Last Goodbye

by Denny Dennis and Roy Fox & his Band

"I dont want to set the wolrd on Fire"
by
"The Ink Spots"

I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire

One begs to differ.

Websites

Death of a Vlogger
Graham Hughes, the vlogger in question, came under intense scrutiny earlier this year when it was revealled he, with the help of (unknown).

Monster Hunter
Odd Toed Hoofed Mamals - Animal Kingdoms
Three Split Front Hoof - BioAnimalz Hoof Disection
A cloven hoof is a common occurance in nature where there is a back split to (incomplete).

On the Brain
Liabilies of persons has been secured.

Suburban Gothic
How Do I Commit My Son Or Daughter? - Mental Health Advice
Reasons to use a voluntary psychiatric hospitalization. Voluntary admissions to a hospital are governed by statute. And adul
How To Get A Child Committed To A Mental Health Facility
Reasons to use a voluntary psychiatric hospitalization. Voluntary admissions to a hospital are governed by statute. And adul (incomplete).

The Clovehitch Killer
The Clovehitch Files - Barbara Donnelly
Barabara Donnelly details and chronicles the hunt for the Clovehitch Killer over a preiod where she...
USATODAY.com - Gruseome details released

Continuity and more

The epic home straight.

Evil Dead

Following Olivia's vicious attack, Eric removes the needle left in his cheek.

Close up shows it's just below his eye.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Post-credits scene shows a van displaying N.Y.P.D. 587, which becomes NYPD.

Hands of Steel

negative characteristics, none

Later.

Paco Queruak has efficiency characteristics, none

I can top that.

R.O.T.O.R.

Film confirms acronym stands for:
ROBOTIC OFFICER TACTICAL OPERATION RESEARCH

Guess what?

ROBOTIC OFFICER TACTICAL OPERATIONS RESERVE

UNBELIEVABLE!

Trainspotting
Having stolen the skag deal worth £16,000, Renton leaves Spud a solitary bundle of cash (worth £2000) in his locker.

T2 Trainspotting

Spud (and others) state amount was £4000.

Did filmmakers not think to check?

Guess not.

Lookalikes briefly play two versions of main characters in flashback sequences.

End credits confirm they're aged 9 and 20.

Although released in 2017, film repeatedly mentions events take place 20 years after original, so 2016.

Problems begin almost immediately, as Renton tells Simon (as he's now known) he's 46, meaning he was 26 in original.

Rents states Tommy died aged 23, with Simon apparently oblivious to the fact.

What the FUCK was screenwriter John Hodge on?

Ouija
Events are said to have happened in the early 1950s.

Ouija: Origin of Evil

2016 prequel is explicitly set in 1967.

Also, a newscaster speaks about "US astronauts in 1970".

Lethal Weapon 2

Poor old Rog discovers a bomb has been planted under his toilet.

When Riggs and co arrive, the Bomb Squad spray explosive with liquid nitrogen, giving him a good second or two before detonation.

Note he's wearing a bomb blanket.

Because it disappears and reappears in between shots.

Natural Born Killers

I don't know if this was done on purpose, but whatever.

Fol ow

Follow

Fol ow

Best of all.

F  low

Your druggist is your friend.

Hannibal (2001)

In 1992, Hannibal Lecter is serving consecutive life sentences.

And.

Another page states 1990.

During the infamous Paul Krendler brain eating scene, a clock shows 9.50pm.

Shortly after, we literally go back in time to 8.45pm.

Rocky III

Rocky is wearing yellow gloves.

As he celebrates victory.

They've changed to black.

Rocky IV

Drago's wife was an Olympic Swim Champion.

Not Swimming?

That's like saying I was the World Bowl Champion.

More wizardry, courtesy of Apollo's gloves.

On.

Off.

And on again.

Rocky V

Rocky returns victorious from Russia, without shades.

Reunited with Rocky Jr.

Yeah...

Creed

Donnie searches for Apollo's rematch with Rocky on YouTube.
Video's title is Superfight 2.

However.

Match was dubbed Superfight II.

During Conlan fight, Donnie is inspired by his pops in action.

Cheesy... right?

More importantly, footage is from the original 1976 film, so him having such a memory is IMPOSSIBLE.

For countless other reasons why franchises reek of bullshit, click away guys.

https://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2019/09/making-sense-of-rocky-saga.html

https://nukesandknives.blogspot.com/2021/03/making-sense-of-creed.html

Creed III

As third film didn't exist when I wrote the above...

Story kicks off in 2002 with a 15-year-old Donnie (meaning he was born in 1987).

Retconned age is still wrong, as year should be 1986.

15 years later, Donnie avenges points defeat to Conlan, and is said to be his final fight.

Amazing really, considering this part is set before Creed II (2018).

Finally, I have such sights to show you.

Hellbound: Hellraiser II

At some point before Frank did, Captain Elliott Spencer solved the box and was transformed into Pinhead.

For the record, Clive Barker's hate for nickname is legendary... even in hell.

Golden nails change to silver.

Some may argue it's the light, but I'm not convinced.

No doubt about this though.

55 Ludovico Place (aka the Cotton House) isn't quite as we remember it.

Why?

Hellraiser

Because it burned down, as photo of a young Frank clearly illustrates.

Original may be a classic, but climax and ending made little sense.

Also, what happened to 'Butterball'?

Kirsty used the box to send everybody back to hell, but salad-dodging Cenobite is crushed by falling debris and presumably left to roast.

Yet, he magically returns for sequel.

Whatever.

Julia takes revenge on Frank for betraying her.

Nothing personal babe.

Callback is satisfying, but goof is not.

Blood suddenly appears on her chin.

A couple more.

Hellraiser: Bloodline
Air conditionioning didn't exist, until now.

Hellraiser: Judgment
Its sean.

(Sigh).

Until next time.

Maybe?