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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Ep. 06-11: Westworld (1973)

Westworld is a futuristic theme park where paying guests can pretend to be gunslingers in an artificial Wild West populated by androids. After paying a sizable entrance fee, Blane (James Brolin) and Martin (Richard Benjamin) are determined to unwind by hitting the saloons, and brothels, and shooting their guns. But when the system goes haywire and Blane is killed in a duel with a robotic gunslinger (Yul Brynner), Martin’s escapist fantasy suddenly takes on a grim reality.

Westworld (1973) may not be scary by today’s standards, but to a young, impressionable child of 1973–take it from me–Yul Brynner was absolutely terrifying. Join us for some rip-roaring nostalgic fun as we dive into our second Michael Crichton offering of the year, discussing the recurring motif in his work as well as its seminal influence today. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys travels to yet another amusement park, one where things also run amuck on a smaller but no less dangerous scale.

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Ep. 06-10: The Exorcist (1973) REDUX

One of the most profitable horror movies of all time, this story of an exorcism, is based on actual events. Young Regan (Linda Blair) is acting odd — swearing, levitating, speaking in tongues… Her mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks medical help, to no avail. A local priest (Jason Miller) thinks the devil may possess the girl. He requests to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow) to help with the demanding job.

Déjà vu? Yes, we have covered this movie before. Way back in our first season (pre-YouTube video channel), we did cover this landmark in American horror movies. Now, with the recent franchise reboot and the fiftieth anniversary, we thought we’d make it the first of four (video) reduxes we’re hosting this season. Join us as we discuss the history of the film… from novel to celluloid, casting, and keys. What is it about this frightening tale of a little girl in Georgetown that resonates with us still? Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys opens that closed door at the end of the frigid hallway, seeking to encounter an ancient evil yet again. Welcome back to… The Exorcist.

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Ep. 06-09: The Stepford Wives (1975)

Joanna Eberhart (Katharine Ross) moves to the quiet town of Stepford with her husband (Peter Masterson) and children. The town seems perfect — maybe a little too perfect. There’s something not quite right with the suburb’s women: they’re vapid, unfathomably devoted to housework and completely subservient to their husbands. Joanna teams up with another recent transplant, Bobby (Paula Prentiss), to investigate the mystery of Stepford’s wives and makes a horrific discovery.

Today we return to the world of Ira Levin (Rosemary’s Baby) to a little sci-fi classic from the mid-1970s. The Stepford Wives (1975) is an ambitious, if not a very well-executed film. Join us as we discuss the pros and cons of the film, including the director, screenplay, and costumes. Listen, as Johnny Has the Keys travels to the quaint village of Stepford, where behind the gorgeous facade we discover sinister machinations lurking!
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