Ep. 05-28: Drag Me to Hell (2009)

Christine Brown (Alison Lohman) has a loving boyfriend (Justin Long) and a great job at a Los Angeles bank. But her heavenly life becomes hellish when, in an effort to impress her boss, she denies an old woman’s request for an extension on her home loan. In retaliation, the crone places a curse on Christine, threatening her soul with eternal damnation. Christine seeks a psychic’s help to break the curse, but the price to save her soul may be more than she can pay.

Sam Raimi, it’s been way too long! Four seasons ago we discussed a little movie called The Evil Dead (1981) and why we have such a connection with it. Today we’re back in horror territory (as Sam was at the time) with 2009’s Drag Me to Hell. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of Sam’s return to horror, including the cast, screenplay, and special effects. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys has a very short time to remove a curse before demons come and drag us to hell!

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Ep. 05-27: Galaxy of Terror (1981)

When the spaceship Remus crash-lands on planet Morganthus, the Planet Master of Xerces sends the spacecraft Quest to rescue them… but it crash-lands, too! Baelon (Zalman King) leads the away team, comprising himself, his rival Cabren (Edward Albert), psi-sensitive Alluma (Erin Moran), medic Dameia (Taaffe O’Connell), martial arts fighter Quuhod (Sid Haig), and jittery rookie Cos (Jack Blessing). Finding only brutally murdered bodies aboard the Remus, Quest personnel get brutally slaughtered, one by one, themselves. With their ship still damaged, the team investigates a lifeless alien pyramid, not realizing it is using their own personal fears to kill them.

We’re back in the wonderfully exploitative world of infamous producer/director Roger Corman. Galaxy of Terror (1981) is the perfect storm of a movie so bad it’s a work of art. Join us as we discuss the delicious flaws of this cheesy sci-fi classic, its magnificent cast and crew (including Robert Englund and James Cameron!), and its place in the canon of schlock cinema. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys journeys not only to a somewhat familiar alien planet but also to a lost era of filmmaking where careers were made and rules were often broken.

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Ep. 05-26: The Devil’s Backbone (2001)

After losing his father, 10-year-old Carlos arrives at the Santa Lucia School, which shelters orphans of the Republican militia and politicians, and is taken in by the steely headmistress, Carmen, and the kindly professor, Casares. Soon after his arrival, Carlos has a run-in with the violent caretaker, Jacinto. Gradually, Carlos uncovers the secrets of the school, including the youthful ghost that wanders the grounds.

We’re back in the gorgeous world of Guillermo Del Toro and our first foreign language feature. The Devil’s Backbone (2001), though relatively unknown to US audiences, is an exciting early glimpse into the mind of the visual storytelling auteur. Join us as we discuss the film’s origins, its Mexican-Spanish connection, and the universal impact of such a small, unique story. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys journeys back to the Spanish Civil War where ghosts seek answers to the savageness of humanity.