p. 06-15: Gerald’s Game (2017)

After an attempt to reignite the passion in their marriage goes awry, Jessie (Carla Gugino) is left handcuffed to a bed in a secluded house with her husband, Gerald (Bruce Greenwood), dead. Not only must she break free, but she must avoid being killed by a wild dog and who knows what else. Then she begins hallucinating something far more menacing shares the room with her at night. But is she hallucinating?

Welcome to the second entry in our holiday Stephen King (21st century) extravaganza. Gerald’s Game (2017) is directed by one of our favorite modern directors, Mike Flanagan. Join us as we discuss the difficulty in translating this (mostly internal) novel to a vastly entertaining film, including its superb direction, talented cast, and nail-biting scares. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys attempts to reconcile the past with the present, only to discover that our former demons may have been replaced with new, all-too-real ones.

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Ep. 06-14: The Mist (2007)

After a powerful storm damages their Maine home, David Drayton (Thomas Jane) and his young son head into town to gather food and supplies. Soon, a thick fog rolls in and engulfs the town, trapping the Draytons and others in the grocery store. Terror mounts as deadly creatures reveal themselves outside, but that’s nothing compared to the monsters within, where a zealot (Marcia Gay Harden) calls for a sacrifice.

Happy Holidays! This year we’re hosting a triple threat of Stephen King once again, only this time we’re going more modern and covering three from the 21st century. We begin with The Mist (2007). Based on the classic novella from 1980, Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption & The Green Mile), no stranger to the master-of-horror, delivers a power punch to the gut on many levels with this one. Join us as we discuss the terrific cast, special effects, and jaw-dropping ending (his own). Listen as Johnny Has the Keys battles Lovecraftian monsters from another dimension only to discover that, as is often, the worst monsters are us.

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Ep. 06-13: Mars Attacks! (1996)

A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world’s major cities and all of humanity awaits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have “come in peace.” U.S. President James Dale (Jack Nicholson) receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler (Pierce Brosnan) that the Martians’ mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.

Welcome to part 2 of a mini-Tim Burton marathon and to our very first Listener/Viewer Request Episode (thanks Tim Funk)! It is apparent that Tim Burton was inspired by many things as a child… from fairy tales to gothic horror and even Batman, but who would have ever considered Mars Attacks collectible trading cards of the 1960s to be the basis for a big-budget sci-fi extravaganza? Join us as we discuss this zany, incredibly talent-stuffed feature film that ventures beyond hilarity and into the absolute absurd. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys and the rest of the world observe Martians under the pretense of peace invade our planet and annihilate everything that crosses their path.

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Ep. 06-12: Sleepy Hollow (1999)

In 1799, young constable Ichabod Crane (Johnny Depp) is sent from New York City to a small town called Sleepy Hollow to investigate a series of murders. There, Crane discovers that three of the killings were of the most notable men in town. The town council says that the murders are the work of the legendary headless horseman, the ghost of a Hessian soldier who was beheaded in battle. With help from a young sidekick and the beautiful Katrina Van Tassel (Christina Ricci), Crane’s investigation leads him to answers bordering both logic and the supernatural.

Happy Halloween! We couldn’t think of a better film to celebrate the haunted holiday than Tim Burton’s masterful Sleepy Hollow (1999). Join us as we discuss this work steeped in history and influence, from the original Washington Irving short story, through Burton’s love of gothic horror and Hammer film studios. Listen, as Johnny Has Keys gallops furiously through the dark and foggy woods, seeking to escape a headless demon in pursuit!

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