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Maybe you’ve heard of my now-defunct podcast, High Art Camp, that I made a while back with Parzz1val. In the podcast, we discussed the artistic merit of a film on a few different levels, including technical skill, total aesthetics, and cultural relevance. I usually took the low “campy” road, while Parz took the “high” artistic road, and we met somewhere in the middle. 

I think part of any movie’s charm or artistic merit also relies on the ability to seep into the collective consciousness. How many terrific and technically sound movies have just slipped away from our minds, just because it was not engaging enough with its audience? Sure, there are some that strike both such as Us, Hereditary and The Lighthouse, but it’s not always the case.

Same with the other side, of course, but when it comes to camp, there’s an endearing and engaging quality to it. It reaches out to the Every Man (or the marginalized) and envelopes us into the, albeit sometimes shitty, story and characters. Yes, these are often not the budget or vision of more technically sound movies, but to pass them off as having no artistic merit is an insult. An insult to the audience of these movies – which is HUMANITY, man.

Now listen to my revolutionary poetry to the backwards tune of Wonderwall– (<a href=”http://-(<a href=”http://Image by <a href=”https://pixabay.com/users/snapwiresnaps-692569/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=597179″>SnapwireSnaps</a> from lousy 15% fresh. Also, that being said, I adore this movie. 

Let’s discuss.

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The Plot (Spoiler-free):

As the Earth crosses the tail of a comet, machines start going crazy and have a maniacal thirst for human blood. They just can’t stop killing people! They love it. 

A working stiff, recently on parole, is just trying to cook some damn eggs while his boss is shorting him money. A hip chick is catching a ride from a gross Bible Salesman. Clones of Haley Joel Osment, just celebrating their new marriage, fight their way to get to a safe haven. And a small child is the lone survivor of the pop-can massacre of his little league team. 

All of these strange characters come together as more machines start taking over, being stalked and terrorized by the worst of them – The Green Goblin!

Apparently the Spider-Man truck was busy

How will they survive this folly of man? Will things ever get back to normal? And will Curtis ever get the chance to watch his newly-wedded wife take a leak?

All this and more in…MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE!!!

Thoughts (Spoilers):

Yes, yes, even our mothers and Great-Aunt Cathy know that Stephen King was quoted in Hollywood’s Stephen King as allegedly saying he was “coked out of (his) mind all through its production, and (he) really didn’t know what (he) was doing.” We know. We all know.

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That’s everyone’s go-to for this movie and why it exists, but let’s be real, King has always had a wild side and just usually doesn’t have the reins. But in this one, we got to see the full force of his (and the 80’s) hubris and grandeur. 

Honestly, this should be so much higher on the list of cult films because it has, I believe, literally everything in this film – smack-talking ATMs, gore, a gross romance, civil liberty disputes, a montage of filling up gas tanks, explosions, AC/DC, aliens (???), and some of the most amazingly quotable quotes:

Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Image by Bessi from Pixabay
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

(And 100% that’s what the photographers of Pixabay thought their pictures would be used for)

And of course, the classic:

But within this kaleidoscope of 80’s whimsy and wonder, there’s some legitimately good performances, most notably from Emilio Estevez (Golden Raspberry, aside) and Ellen McElduff. I thought Estevez played the role with focus and intent, acting like a man looking for amends in a shitty world that cared very little for him. And, well, Ellen McElduff was just a delight from start to finish, especially giving her all for the “We Made You!” scenes. 

Plus, in the end of the movie, they made it to freedom in a LGBTQ boat. And we’re all asking…was this actually a LGBTQ allegory?

Maaaaybeee!
Oh wait, the whole entire human race is telling me, “no”.

Brain Roll Juice:

I really loved Pat Hingle’s secondary villain character. He was a shitty businessman exploiting those who were most vulnerable, and enjoying the thrill of subjugating those he felt were under him. Pat Hingle played it to a T, being the cigar-chomping, dumb-line-spouting son-of-a-bitch that we’ve all probably had a brush with at least one point in our lives. That one guy that made us work harder or longer than we were supposed to just because he could. I’m not naming names…

**Cough**

And it’s a valid concern for people who were or are incarcerated. Finding decent work is difficult, whether it was in the 80’s or now. In fact, as of 2018, “formerly incarcerated people are unemployed at a rate of over 27% — higher than the total U.S. unemployment rate during any historical period, including the Great Depression.” 

With such shitty prospects, that’s often why people turn back to crime…and subsequently get sent back to jail. And while those number are going down and things are getting better, it still remains part of a systemic issue

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I mean, Emilio Estevez’s character had a job, was working, and still faced discrimination and was exploited for work. Jobs for people who had prior convictions is often segregated, and is often shittier work in comparison to their peers. And society seems okay with that, while “up-right citizens” pat themselves on the backs for finding these “down-and-out ex-prisoners” a scrap of bread for the long winter.

I don’t get it. You work three minimum-wage jobs, how come you’re not rich yet?
Image by Anastasia Gepp from Pixabay

And…of course, race plays into it. Because of course it does. And while some studies have shown that the disparity is dropping, it’s dropping slowly for Black men. 

At least Handy made it out alive in this movie. (GIANT, ETERNAL SHRUG)

Bottom-Line:

This is a hoot and a half with a rockin’ soundtrack and fun, typical King cast of characters. Is it art?…Sure. Let’s say, “Sure”. 4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

If you want to check the book/movie/show out, feel free to click on below via Amazon. Remember, if you buy, we do get $

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When not ravaging through the wilds of Detroit with Jellybeans the Cat, J.M. Brannyk (a.k.a. Boxhuman) reviews mostly supernatural and slasher films from the 70's-90's and is dubiously HauntedMTL's Voice of Reason. Aside from writing, Brannyk dips into the podcasts, and is the composer of many of HauntedMTL's podcast themes.

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Movies n TV

Review: Pater Noster and the Mission of Light (2024)

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Disclaimer: This film was given as a screener for the review use of HauntedMTL. You can find more information about PATER NOSTER AND THE MISSION OF LIGHT HERE or buy it on Amazon HERE.

A few years ago, I was talking with a friend and we got on the subject of meditation. I was just getting into it and was looking for some insight. 

She’s a smart and well-rounded person, so when she recommended a meditation retreat, I was curious. She described a scenic, rural meditation center within Michigan that hosted weekend-long retreats. Especially silence retreats, where no one speaks at all and meditates for most of the day.

Being a podcast co-host/egoist who loves the sound of their own voice, I was fascinated by the challenge. Perhaps, I, too, could be one of those people who could go without talking for a weekend and become a smart and well-rounded person like her. Perhaps, I, too, could find enlightenment and all that shit.

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So, I poked around the website of the retreat and I found something interesting…Music. There on the website were songs created by the meditation teachers. You could even buy their CDs.

“But Brannyk,” you must be thinking, “What does weird meditation music have to do with PATER NOSTER AND THE MISSION OF LIGHT?”

Well, everything.

THE PLOT OF PATER NOSTER AND THE MISSION OF LIGHT

Max (Adara Starr) is a happy-go-lucky and go-with-the flow hipster who works at Hear Kitty Records with boss Sam (Morgan Shaley Renew) and co-worker Gretchen (Shelby Lois Guinn). As she says, “I go where the music takes me.” This proves especially true as a regular comes in with one of the rarest records from Pater Noster and the Mission of Light. 

Created by a commune in the 1970’s, this illusive group created multiple albums, most which were lost to time when the group mysteriously disappeared. Now their records are worth thousands, including the very last album they created, said to be cursed. With only four copies made, those who got their hands on the final album supposedly went insane or died. 

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When Max is miraculously able to get her hands on all copies – all except that last elusive album – she and her friends (including the lovely Sanethia Dresch and the hilarious Joshua R. Outzen) will go to all lengths to find that missing record. Soon they’re tangled in a web of mysticism, music and murder. Will they be able to find out the secrets of the mysterious Pater Noster (Mike Amason) and the Mission of Light in time or will this adventure be their swansong?

Sam and her friends follow a high member of the Pater Noster
(Still from Pater Noster and the Mission of Light)

THOUGHTS ON PATER NOSTER AND THE MISSION OF LIGHT

Pater Noster is a strange little gem of a film by writer/director/producer/cinematographer/editor, Christopher Bickel. It’s a love letter to music, records and the weirdos who love underground music. It’s also a strange love letter to the cults who made music in that weird and wonderful time of the 1960’s and 1970’s. 

Much like Mandy, there’s a surrealist atmosphere of the cult. Unlike Mandy, the film is gritty and filthy. You rub it between your fingers and there’s sweat and dead skin. It’s manic, raw energy. It’s a bad trip you can’t come down from. A nightmare which you cannot wake. It smells like vomit and fungus-ridden bowling shoes. It’s the worst hangover you’ve ever had.

Sam is tripping out with visions
(Still from Pater Noster and the Mission of Light or my typical Tuesday night)

And I mean all this in the best of ways. 

The cinematography is an homage to indie films of the 70’s, looking like it was made on super 8 film and sold at an estate sale after being forgotten for years. The effects and makeup are beautifully practical, veering from subtle to ball-to-the-walls, literally puking up your guts. The shit that the crew was able to get away with in terms of action and effects is incredibly inspiring. It easily feels like this is a bigger budget film.

The acting is fantastic for the most part. Joshua R. Outzen as Jay Sin is so funny and honest with his performance. Sanethia Dresch is endearing as Sam’s friend/roommate, and film enthusiast. Morgan Shaley Renew as Sam’s boss is very charming as being like a mother hen for the group. Mike Amason as the eponymous Pater Noster is perfect casting, being able to make the switch from kindly old man to fearsome cult leader .

(Still of Pater Noster aka the worst Santa at Xmas)

However, I had a hard time getting a read on Max (Adara Starr). She’s just always so happy and go-with-the-flow. Perhaps a bit naive. And maybe that’s the point. She “goes where the music takes her” and there’s little else that motivates her.

The story is clean-cut and follows a simple, but concise narrative. That’s not a bad thing, either. In fact, I prefer the simplicity. It has a clear progression and rising tension. There’s very little to detract from the story or distract the viewer. It’s smartly edited and the pacing is perfect, never meandering off and never throwing everything at you all at once. 

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The ending is gruesome, chaotic and incredibly satisfying. The finale is beautifully and grotesquely shot. There’s a special balance of avoiding showing too much or not enough, especially with gore and body horror. There’s an art to cutting action just right to make sure the audience is aware of what’s happening, but adding to the tension of the scene. Thankfully, Bickel nailed it with PATER NOSTER AND THE MISSION OF LIGHT. 

(Still from Pater Noster and the Mission of Light)

BRAINROLL JUICE:

I have a longer Brainroll Juice for this one (RIP SEO readability), so I’ve set it into two parts – History of Music and Religion and the Cults in the US during the 1960’s-1970’s. Of course, these are just super brief overviews of each and I’m no expert. But I thought it would help with some of the context of my review and also PATER NOSTER AND THE MISSION OF LIGHT.

History of Music and Religion

Religion and spirituality have been intertwined with music since perhaps the dawn of time. 

The great goddess Kubile/Cybele was a huge proponent of using music and dance for healing, mental health and spirituality. Dionysus often had raves that lead to prophesies, healings and sexy times.

Meanwhile, the Assyrians used music as a war cry under Ishtar, looking for victory to the beat of cymbals, drums and war-pipes. The Egyptian goddess Isis is said to have created the sistrum (which looks like a wicked torture device). And worshipers of the child-sacrifice-friendly god, Baal-Moloch had priests singing hymns of praise during rituals and sacrifices. 

Brutal meme but it has pater noster saying brutal
(Exhibit B of why Brannyk takes so long to write reviews)

In India, the role of music was relegated to temples, using drums, conches and flutes as instruments to honor the gods. Music was integral in worship and tapping into the realm of the divine. Guy L. Beck explains in Sacred Sound: Experiencing Music in World Religion, “As Brahman pervaded the entire universe, including the human soul at its core, the notion of sacred sound as manifested through chant and music provided a veritable thread binding the human realm to the divine.”

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, taught through shabads. These were devotional hymns and mantras of the religion, of which many still survive to this day. 

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And of course, from my boy Rumi, there are the Mawlawīyah, the whirling dervishes, who dance in a religious mystic fervor to prayers and music. 

Not to be beat, in the Abrahamic religions’ history, God and music are nearly inseparable. Joshua’s trumpets brought down the walls of Jericho; King David’s wrote and performed numerous psalms; Miriam (Moses’ sister) led a victory song and dance party to celebrate their freedom from the pharaoh.

Obviously, this is a very, very brief overview, but it shows the cultural significance of music of spirituality. Music is an incredibly human and old form of expression, dating back around 40,000 years ago. Songs carry power, our history, spirituality, good omens, and warnings. It’s part of our culture and social learning. We weld our songs reverently, dangerously, softly and loudly. 

It’s amazing to think that music today holds just as much joy, expression and spirituality as it did when we as humans didn’t have a written language yet. 

Cults in the US during the 1960’s-1970’s

Well, here’s the other half of Bickel’s love letter. 

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During the rise of religions/cults of the 1960’s and 1970’s, particularly within the United States, music was also critical in their teachings and appeal. Through civil unrest, the rise of drug culture, search for personal identity and the global access to new religions of the East, the American youth sought answers to larger questions. They sought community. Conviction. A place to belong.

From the Beatles getting hippie-dippy with Hare Krishna, to the Helter Skelter of Charles Manson, music and cults also intertwined within this chaotic period.

Cults frequently used music as a means to communicate, to prophesize, to heal and to convert. It’s easy to feel like you belong when you know all the words of the songs and the steps to the dance. You feel like you’re in the “in-group”. Like you, yourself, are part of something larger.

Pater Noster high leader showing their hippie bus
(Still from Pater Noster – a cool group bus! Score!)

On the Children of God’s website, it states that, “the Children of God became famous as their original music gained popularity when their bands landed recording contracts and big-stage performances, particularly in France and Brazil. From radical rock-style songs denouncing the hypocrisy of the establishment of the day, to heart-touching folk ballads about God′s love, original music became a prominent feature of the movement′s outreach and culture.” They even have a playlist.

The Unification Church (aka the Moonies) have a YouTube channel full of songs, including karaoke versions (worst karaoke party ever). 

Bickel created a film that encapsulates the fervor of music and the (sometimes) dangerous allure of spirituality/cults. The quest to find answers and our meaning in the universe. The love of music and its hold on the human soul. The aching desire to be connected with others, with the self, with some kind of higher plane or answer to our questions. 

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Sam goes where the music takes her; her religion is music. Her worship is through the collection of these records, regardless of the danger associated with it. Not only does she go willingly into the den of Pater Noster, but follows without any suspicion or hesitation.

Pater Noster and the Mission of Light is enticing, with its cheery psychedelic songs, wrapped up in mysticism and mystery. And Bickel showcases this incredibly human desire for something more, for cosmic connection through harmony (literal and metaphorical), and its consequences.

girls with flowers, offering them to the viewer. there's a sinister look to their smiles and eyes.
(Still from Pater Noster and the Mission of Light)

BOTTOMLINE:

It’s Ghost World meets Mandy but dropped on the bloody floor of a mosh pit. 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5)

PS – Herb Alpert’s Whipped Cream is a FINE album

References:

Treitler, Leo. “History and Music.” New Literary History, vol. 21, no. 2, 1990, pp. 299–319. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/469254. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Martens, Frederick H. “The Influence of Music in World History.” The Musical Quarterly, vol. 11, no. 2, 1925, pp. 196–218. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/738578. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

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Hansen, Greg (2008) “Sacred Sound: Experiencing Music in World Religions. by Guy L. Beck, editor,” BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 47: Iss. 1, Article 16. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol47/iss1/16

McLeod, William Hewat and Nangia, Tamanna. “Guru Nanak”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Jan. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Guru-Nanak. Accessed 5 January 2025.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Mawlawīyah”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May. 2012, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mawlawiyah. Accessed 5 January 2025.

Killin, A. (2018). The origins of music: Evidence, theory, and prospects. Music & Science, 1. https://doi.org/10.1177/2059204317751971

Paglia, Camille. “Cults and Cosmic Consciousness: Religious Vision in the American 1960s.” Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics, vol. 10, no. 3, 2003, pp. 57–111. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20163901. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

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Goosebumps, The Vanishing Comes in Hot With Don’t Go In The Basement

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Goosebumps is back with season two, The Vanishing. All eight episodes dropped yesterday, January 10th.

Today, we’re talking about episode one, Stay Out of The Basement Part 1. This episode gets its title from the second of the original Goosebumps series. How much else does it get from this source material? Let’s find out.

The story

Our story begins in 1994, with a group of teens planning to spend the night in an abandoned building called Gravesend. And we are surely made aware that it is indeed Ye Olde 1994 with Beastie Boys blaring and references to X Files. Thank you, show writers, for making me feel as old as possible as quickly as possible.

For reference, the flashbacks from season one took place in 1993. I don’t know if these two stories exist in the same universe, but it stands to reason they do. So it couldn’t hurt to keep track of a timeline.

The teens’ plans are ruined when one of them, a boy named Matty, is infected with some horrific thing that seems to melt him before the very eyes of his friends.

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We then cut to 2024, where our story really begins. Two kids, Cece and Devin Brewer, are coming to spend the summer with their dad, Anthony. Anthony is Matty’s younger brother. He is now an adult and excited to have his twins spending the summer with him. He only has one rule for them.

Don’t go in the basement.

As it turns out, nothing in the basement will hurt the kids. Until Devin and Cece end up in Gravesend, and accidentally bring home the exact entity that killed their uncle thirty years ago.

What worked

The first thing that stood out to me was the connections that Cece and Devin have to this town, while still being outsiders.

David Schwimmer, Sam McCarthy and Jayden Bartels in Goosebumps The Vanishing.

Their dad, Anthony, lives there full-time. And while the twins seem to spend some time there, they really haven’t in years. This puts them in a liminal position of being both newcomers and having ties to the place. They know some people, but not most of their peers. But everyone knows their family, because of the tragic death of their uncle. This is a good way to have some flexible characters. They are both from there and not from there. It works.

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I also liked that this first episode has clear ties to the book it’s named for, while not being bound to it. In Don’t Go In The Basement, the kids have to save their father, Mr. Brewer, from the terrifying plant clone trying to take over his life. (Sorry for the spoiler. But the book did come out over thirty years ago.)

While this storyline is going to inspire at least some of our storyline, it’s clear that we’re going to go far above and beyond that. I appreciate that we’re keeping the integrity of the source material, while not being shackled to it.

Finally, I like that Anthony seems like a good dad. He’s worried about his kids. He’s excited to spend time with them. He’s quick to not involve them in fights with his ex, their mom. When he asks them not to go in the basement, he then takes them down to show them that he’s not hiding anything, it’s just not a safe place for them. All good dad points. Even better, we see that Devin goes to his dad when he’s scared. We get the feeling that Anthony would have listened to him if he hadn’t been fending off a homicidal vine at the time.

What didn’t work

I only have one complaint about this first episode. In the very beginning, we see the death of Matty. But, it’s really fast.

Not that I wanted to see a teenager suffer, but we see his face go dark and melt so fast, you’ll blink if you miss it.

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For one thing, that lets the viewer off too easy. This is our first dark moment. It should be a little slower. We should focus on the fear and anguish for a few more moments. Especially since this death is going to be the cornerstone of our story for the season.

While I am disappointed that this means we were in fact left on that terrible cliffhanger from season one, I’m happy with how this season is starting. The characters are interesting, the story is dark, and I’m excited to see how it plays out.

4 out of 5 stars (4 / 5)

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Bloody Axe Wound: A Slasher Flick with Daddy Issues and a Side of Feminism

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Alright, you sick puppies, gather ’round for a tale of family bonding, teenage angst, and good old-fashioned murder. “Bloody Axe Wound” is here to tickle your funny bone and possibly remove a few other bones while it’s at it.

Woman with bikini covered in blood from Bloody Axe Wound

The Gist: Serial Killing as a Family Business

Picture this: a video store that’s actually a front for some seriously messed up snuff films. The twist? The owner’s a serial killer who’s been slicing and dicing teens faster than you can say “late fees.” But wait, there’s more! His daughter, Abby Blake Cut (yeah, that’s her name, deal with it), wants in on the family business. Talk about bring-your-daughter-to-work day gone horribly wrong!

“Bloody Axe Wound” is like “90210” decided to do a crossover with “Halloween” – Jim Phoenix, HauntedMTL

Daddy’s Little Monster

So, Daddy Dearest isn’t too keen on his baby girl following in his bloody footsteps. I mean, come on, it’s 2024 – girls can be anything they want, even psychopathic murderers! But our guy’s stuck in the past, probably still thinks women belong in the kitchen (chopping vegetables, not people).

Jennifer’s Body [Blu-ray]
  • Factory sealed DVD
  • Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons (Actors)
  • Karyn Kusama (Director) – Diablo Cody (Writer) – Mason Novick (Producer)

Last update on 2025-01-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

A Feminist Slasher? You Bet Your Ass!

Abby’s not just fighting for her right to party (and by party, I mean brutally murder people). She’s breaking down barriers in the male-dominated field of serial killing. Move over, Jason and Freddy – there’s a new blade in town (no, not Mahershala Ali…only one real Blade…), and she’s got a point to prove (several points, actually, all of them sharp).

Horror Tropes Galore

This flick’s got more tropes than a teenager’s got hormones:

  • Awkward sexual exploration? Check.
  • That one friend who’s way too old to be hanging with high schoolers? You betcha.
  • A cursed town where everyone’s oblivious to the killer in their midst? Oh, honey, it’s all here.

It’s like “90210” decided to do a crossover with “Halloween,” and somehow it works!

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Ginger Snaps (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]
  • Factory sealed DVD
  • Kristopher Lemche, Emily Perkins, Katharine Isabelle (Actors)
  • John Fawcett (Director) – Steven Hoban (Producer)

Last update on 2025-01-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The Verdict: 4.5 out of 5 Bloody Thumbs Up

Look, I’m not saying “Bloody Axe Wound” is gonna win any Oscars (unless they finally add that “Best Dismemberment” category I’ve been lobbying for). But hot damn, it’s a fun ride. It’s got laughs, it’s got gore, it’s got a weirdly heartwarming father-daughter story if you squint hard enough. This one is a rewatchable movie and probably a cult classic for many of us.

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So, grab your popcorn, leave your sensitivity at the door, and get ready for a movie that’ll make you laugh, cringe, and possibly reconsider your family dynamics. Just remember: the family that slays together, stays together!

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

P.S. Don’t bring the kids. Unless you want them to have a very awkward conversation with their school counselor.

P.P.S. Sorry, once again, for killing your name in our podcast…

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