Ep. 03-24: Nosferatu (1922 & 1979)

The mysterious Count Orlok (Dracula) summons Thomas Hutter (Jonathan Harker) to his remote Transylvanian castle in the mountains. The odd Count seeks to buy a house near Hutter and his wife, Ellen (Nina), in Bremen. When Orlok reveals his vampire nature, Hutter struggles to escape the castle, knowing that Ellen is in grave danger. Meanwhile, Orlok’s servant, Knock (Renfield), prepares for his master to arrive at his new home.

Episode 03-24 Nosferatu

Nosferatu (1922) is an immensely influential silent horror film, much more so than its lackluster remake, Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979). Join us as we discuss the copyright controversy between the original and the Bram Stoker estate, and the similarities and differences of both German films—the former containing iconic imagery that still resonates and influences today, and the latter which further proves that remakes are most often unnecessary… even with silent films! Listen as Johnny Has the Keys journeys to the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania in search of the very first vampire film.

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Ep. 03-23: Battle Royale (2000)

Forty-two 9th graders are shipped to a deserted island with an explosive collar fitted around their necks. They are given a map, food, and various tools and weapons. If they break a rule, the collar blows their head off. The mission is for them to kill each other off until only one is left standing. The final survivor will be allowed to leave the island.

Episode 03-23 Battle Royale

Battle Royale (2000) is the somewhat dystopian Japanese predecessor of The Hunger Games (2012). Controversy has plagued both films—the former for ultra-violent subject matter; the latter for the author, Suzanne Collins, allegedly plagiarizing the Japanese film for her popular books (2008)… which led to the successful American film series. Join us as we discuss how this film has not aged well, is laughably bad, and makes little sense. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys is marooned on an island with a bad director and a bunch of murderous children, not caring who dies next.

***NOTE: Please forgive Tim’s ignorance if he alludes to The Hunger Games being by Stephenie Meyer (who wrote the Twilight series). Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games series, and he is constantly confusing the two… probably because he couldn’t care less about either of them.***

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Ep. 03-22: Dr. Sleep (2019)

Struggling with alcoholism, Dan Torrance remains haunted by sinister events he experienced at the Overlook Hotel as a child. While recovering and sober, he soon finds himself caught up in another nefarious plot when he meets Abra, a teen who shares his extrasensory gift of the shine. Together, they form an unlikely alliance to battle the True Knot, a vampiric cult whose members feed on those with the “shine” to sustain their immortality.

Episode 03-22 Dr. Sleep

Welcome to our third Stephen King film and a direct sequel to last year’s coverage of The Shining (1980). Doctor Sleep is a beautifully shot horror film that lives up to all of its source material—namely the King novel, and the Kubrick movie. Join us as we discuss the controversial development of this project with director Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, … Bly Manor), Stephen King, and Stanley Kubrick’s estate. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys returns to the evil spirits that dwell in the Overlook Hotel and discover how they serve a purpose in the adult Dan Torrence’s quest to save a child.

***Note: We’ve been having some Zoom connection problems and, occasionally, briefly, you may hear a glitch or our audio (Tim’s usually) does not sync with the video. Never fear, we catch most of the audio and (with video) the error seems to correct itself shortly. We are working on solutions to this problem.***

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Ep. 03-21: Silent Running (1972)

Following the end of all botanical life on Earth, ecologist Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern), oversees a greenhouse on a space station, preserving various plants species for future generations. Assisted by three robots, Lowell rebels when ordered to destroy the greenhouse in favor of carrying cargo, a decision that puts him at odds with the remaining (human) crew. How far will Lowell go to keep his invaluable greenery alive?

Episode 321 Silent Running

Though somewhat dated, Silent Running is a noble effort and warrants placement in the canon of classic science fiction cinema. Its geological message remains relevant—especially with today’s concerns of climate change—and Bruce Dern’s performance harkens back nostalgically to other great peers of the time. Join us as we discuss the film’s development and its ties to the George Lucas and the Star Wars franchise. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys orbits Saturn, observing the endangered vestige of Earth’s fauna and questioning how far we should go to save it.