Ep. 05-34: Paranormal Activity (2007) & REC (2007)

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (2007)—After moving into a suburban home, Katie (Katie Featherston) and Micah (Micah Sloat) become increasingly disturbed by what appears to be a supernatural presence. Hoping to capture evidence of it on film, they set up video cameras in the house but are not prepared for the terrifying events that follow.

 

REC (2007)—Late-night television reporter Ángela Vidal is covering a story on the local firehouse. Through the lens of her cameraman, Pablo, they follow a team of firefighters who get a call from an apartment building nearby about a trapped woman. When they arrive, they find a woman who is obviously distressed. What follows is a night that none of them will ever forget.

Welcome to our last double-feature of the season, a double dose of classic found footage films. Neither of these films is perfect, but we feel the lesser popular one far exceeds its counterpart. Join us, as we discuss the pros and cons of both films, including the budget, screenplay (or lack thereof), pacing, cast, and scares! Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys plays voyeur to both a haunted house AND a zombie-infected apartment building. 

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Ep. 05-33: Rollerball (1975)

It is the year 2018, and we live in a dystopia where corporations have replaced countries. A violent futuristic game known as Rollerball is a popular recreational sport, with teams representing various areas around the world. One player, Jonathan E., fights for his personal freedom and threatens corporate control.
We return to the land of dystopia with acclaimed director Norman Jewison’s take on corporate greed and violence in contact sports. Rollerball (1975) addresses many lofty concepts and, even when not successful, it sure is fun to watch. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of the film, including its cast, director, and screenplay. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys goes back to the future, 2018, an all too familiar world where individuals are insignificant in the corporate scheme of things. 

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Ep. 05-32: Black Sabbath (1963)

Boris Karloff hosts (and stars in) this trio of atmospheric horror tales. In The Telephone, a woman is terrorized in her apartment by phone calls from a man in her past. In The Wurdalak, a Russian count in the early stumbles upon a family in the countryside trying to destroy a vicious line of vampires. And finally, in A Drop of Water, a nurse makes a fateful decision while preparing the corpse of one of her patients – an elderly medium who died during a seance.
Welcome to our third and final anthology film of the season, another classic: Black Sabbath (1963). Finally, we’re back in the world of Italian cinema–well, a joint venture with AIP (American International Pictures)–and highly cinematic director, Mario Bava. Join us as we discuss the attributes that often separate and sometimes lift this film above the average genre piece, including the lighting, the cinematography, the cast, and weird edits. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys settles in by the fire, just in time for Uncle Boris to tell us a story, or two, or three…  

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Ep. 05-31 The Wandering Earth (2019)

The sun is dying out. People all around the world build giant planet thrusters to move Earth out of its orbit and sail Earth to a new star system. Yet the 2500-year journey comes with unexpected dangers, and in order to save humanity, a group of young people in this age of a wandering Earth fight hard for the survival of humankind.

Time for our second foreign-language pick of the season. The Wandering Earth (2019) is unique because not only is it from China, but it is also enormously popular. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons behind the action-packed film, including the cast, the rapid-paced narrative, and the mind-blowing CGI effects. Listen as Johnny Has the Keys attempts to protect Earth rather than abandon her, sailing her away to another solar system for future generations. 

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