Monthly Media Recap - September 2025

 Hey, hey! The Monthly Media Recap is dropping a day early because tomorrow starts the annual, month-long Countdown to Halloween!

 

Linked titles will take you to a trailer. There's a lot to get to, so let's go!

 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Episodes watched this month: 3 

Currently up to: 62

 

Streaming

I didn't watch these all series in September, I just happened to finish watching them in September.

 

Dexter: Resurrection (Paramount)

I thought the end of New Blood was fine and wasn't expecting more but they came back swinging with a vengeance. An absolutely stacked cast and a secret club of serial killers made this a heck of a ride!

 

Alien Earth (Hulu)

My favorite live action Alien thing since Aliens. As much as I liked this, I feel like they crammed too much into it and didn't follow through on some of it. Maybe in season two? Some complained there wasn't enough xenomorph but I really liked seeing the other weird lifeforms and the trans-humanism themes.

 

Blockbuster (Netflix)

Despite not hearing anything good when it dropped, I'd been meaning to get around to this. I will watch Randall Park in anything, full stop. This wasn't nearly as bad as people seemed to think. It's not great but it's a perfectly decent sit-com.  

 

Wednesday (S2, Netflix)

Still loving the show for the most part. While the writers definitely "get" Wednesday, I feel like they're missing the mark on most of the rest of the family, especially Gomez. I'm also not a fan of Thing's subplot this season. The reveal was silly and I don't know why they did it other than the need to have everything tie into everything else.

 

Movies

 

Campfire Tales (1997, Tubi)

A horror anthology that gathers up some urban legends you probably haven't thought about since you were a kid. It's kind of like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark for an older audience. Despite the R rating, it feels a little tame but does an okay job of telling its stories. Having seen it now, I can say this is one of the worst trailers I've ever seen as far as how well it represents the movie.

 

Rating: 6/10

Monthly Media Recap - August 2025

 Two months until Halloween! That means the blog will be going into hibernation mode for the next month so I can prepare a post for every day in October. 

 

Linked titles will take you to a trailer and let's get on with the show...

 

 

Shows

 

Twisted Metal (S2, Peacock)

I LOVE this show! It's been filling the hole in my heart left by SyFy's 2017 Blood Drive. Season 2 ended on a bit of a cliffhanger setting up a Season 3. If this doesn't happen I will NOT be happy! I know this is already based on a video game, but can we get a new video game based on the show?

 

Gatchaman Progress

Episodes watched this month: 8 Currently up to: 59

 

Movies

 

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

I guess you could call me a casual, enthusiastic fan of FF comics. I keep up with them because I like the character dynamics and the sci-fi elements. This movie delivered for me on both fronts and definitely had a human aspect to it that made it more than just another superhero movie. I love the art direction and that we're just dropped into it with enough backstory to skip the usual "origin story" tropes. My biggest complaint is that Ben got the short straw in the character development department.

 

Rating: 8/10 

 

 

Clown in a Cornfield (2025, Shudder & VOD)

Yes, it's a silly title but the movie itself has a little humor to it. This has actually been a book since 2020. I frequently see Amazon recommend it to me and just never got around to it. The movie doesn't do anything really new for the slasher genre but it doesn't have to because it's a near perfect specimen with some fun (sometimes funny) kills.

 

Rating: 7/10

Monthly Media Recap - March 2025

 This year, we are the April Fool's...and the January, February, March...

 

Anyway, on to the stuff I watched last month. I won't be using any Amazon affiliate links for the foreseeable future.

 

Series

 

Dexter: New Blood (Paramount+)

We got Paramount to check out the new Dexter prequel series because we loved the original. Despite that, we never watched the sequel series and decided to knock it out before the prequel. I heard a lot of not good things about this season but really enjoyed it. I suspect people didn't like the way it ended but I think it was well done.

Movies 

 

Becky (2020, Paramount+)

Imagine Home Alone but Kevin is a teenage girl that could give Rambo a run for his money and instead of the Wet Bandits, you've got a gang of neo-Nazis lead by Kevin James. Did I mention the horror movie-level violence? The plot behind why everything is happening could be better but I was having so much fun watching Becky murdelize people, I didn't really care.

 

Rating: 6/10

Doctor Strange Playing Cards by Fantasma

 Prepare your mind, dear reader, as we venture into the world of magic with Fantasma's Doctor Strange playing cards. But this is no mere deck of cards. Oh no! This deck will allow you to conjure your own feats of magic!

 

It's also not just a deck of cards.

 

 In addition to the deck, you also get a "Book of Secrets", a couple trick assisting cards, and a metal "card guard" to protect your deck. Here's a better pic of the guard (It's black and I'm terrible at lighting). The guard has a trick assist feature where is you know the suit of a chosen card, you can press a finger into the suit icon to "blister" the icon into your finger for a surprise reveal.

 

What makes this deck extra magical is that it's a tapered, or stripper, deck. This makes it super easy to find a card someone takes from it. It's clumsy to explain but here's a good video showing it in action. Even I was able to work it with minimal practice.

 

 In the top row, we have the card back and the Ace of Spades featuring Doc's Eye of Agamotto amulet. The bottom row has a 5 of Hearts with the same image on both sides, a regular Joker with Doc's long time nemesis Baron Mordo, and a trick Joker with the Queen of Diamonds printed on it.

 

 Even the deck box has a couple of trick assists built into it! If you force someone to choose the 7 of Diamonds, you can reveal it by showing them the "barcode".  The number under the barcode ends in 1089 and there's instructions for a little math magic to force someone to come up with that number.

 

 

On top of being a trick deck, this is one of the best Doctor Strange decks I've come across. Every single card has a different image on it. Going through the deck, you'll spot cameos of Clea, Wong, the Hulk, and even the Grim Reaper. How's that for a deep cut? The Queens in the deck all feature the Scarlet Witch. As someone that vibes more with the magic side of Marvel, it's a nice touch.

 Fantasma also makes a Spider-Man and Black Panther deck like this. Even if you're not into card magic, these decks are a great collectible for fans of the character. 

 

Here you'll find out why they call him the Amazing Spider-Man!

Monthly Media Recap - February 2025

 

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (2025, Disney+)

I like it! A lot! I like the animation style, the action, the character choices, the new twists, and that theme song slaps! Do the kids say slaps still? The one thing I didn't like about it initially, is how Peter got his powers. It seemed stupid. But they actually explained in a way that made sense by the end of the season.

 

SNL50 (2025, Peacock)

Beyond Saturday Night, the 4 part docu-series, was very good. I don't know that we needed a whole episode on the Cowbell sketch but the look inside what goes into making the show every week is mind boggling.

Ladies & Gentlemen, 50 Years of SNL Music is also great. Some good behind the scenes stories and whoever edited that opening montage deserves an award!

Movies

I don't know why but for some reason I got it into my head to watch all the Ghoulies movies when looking for stuff to watch. That'll teach me to listen to my brain! 

 

 

*Ghoulies (1985, Tubi)

Technically a re-watch but I haven't seen it since it came out. Prior to watching it, I remembered three things: the Ghoulies (duh), green eyes, and that I saw it with a boy/girl mixed group of high school friends. This was originally going to be directed by Charles Band with Stan Winston doing the creatures and I can only dream what that movie would have been like. Even grading this on an 80s horror curve, it's only kind of okay. It oddly feels like something that could have been made in the 50s.

Rating: 4/10

Marvel Legends Hallows' Eve Figure

 I picked up Hallows' Eve a few months ago but managed to put off opening her until now. It only seemed fitting to talk about her in October.

Although her regular human identity has been around since '95, Hallows' Eve only made her debut in 2022. Like a lot of comic characters, there's a lot of back story but the quick version is that she is the girlfriend of Parker-clone Ben Reilly and was given her powers by Madelyn Pryor in Limbo. She has an awesome power and it's why I love this character so much even if she's a bit on the shady side: she can create Halloween masks that give her the abilities of the character.

 

A few examples are a ghost which lets her become intangible and invisble, a witch that lets her cast spells, and she's even made a Spider-Man mask that gave her Spidey's powers and web slinging. She can also create something "normal" like a police officer to disguise herself. The ultimate Trick or Treater!

Let's get a closer look at her after the break.

Monthly Media Recap - July 2024

Another month and lots more trailers for you to check out. 

And don't worry, no Deadpool spoilers here!

 

 

Series

 

That 90s Show (S2, Netflix)

I figured when this started it was going to be another "legacy sequel" cash grab but the show has continued to grow on me out of the gate. The cast has great chemistry and it's kind of a throwback to the days when sitcoms were king.

 

The Boys (S4, Amazon Prime)

What. A. Finale! The show continues to impress and there's always a couple scenes every season where you can't believe they did that. As hard as they go on the gore and violence, there's actually some nice family dynamics too. Can't wait to see how it wraps up next season.

Movies

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

I can't remember the last time I laughed so much at the movies. Actually, I don't know if I've ever laughed this much. It almost felt like Airplane! where the jokes are just coming a mile a minute. Coming in right behind (excuse me?) the jokes is a lot of gratuitous violence. Even though the jokes and violence are entertaining enough, there's no denying Reynolds and Jackman are having a great time. If you're a long time Marvel fan and get to see this spoiler free, you're in for some real treats! I don't usually recommend 3D but it's worth it here. And if you can't keep up reading the credits, be sure to check the cast list on IMDB for cameos you may have missed.

Rating: 9/10, I could have walked out after the opening credit sequence and I would have got my money's worth of entertainment

 

#ChadGetsTheAxe (2022, Shudder)

Deadstream might have come after, but it did the whole live-stream horror a lot better. Maybe I'm just not hip enough (too old) to appreciate a gang of influencers going to an abandoned murder house but I found it kind of boring. I just was not clicking with these characters and got tired of seeing their faces up in the camera.The story, as it was, is solid and I think with different actors I might have enjoyed it more.

Rating: 5/10

Monthly Media Recap - June 2024

It was a banner month for movies: I went to the theater TWICE! I honestly don't remember the last time I went out to a movie more than once a month. Probably summer 2019? While I can enjoy the communal experience, too many people think they're on their couch and have zero theater etiquette.

Links below are Amazon Affiliated and I can earn from them based on qualifying purchases.

Movies

Stopmotion (2023, Shudder)

Started the month of with an absolute banger of a horror flick! I seem to always enjoy these type of movies where the main character is going through something personal and them having to deal with some crazy horror on top of it. Very imaginative and extra points for making stop motion creepy AF.

Rating: 8/10

 

The Crow: Salvation (2000, Pluto TV & Tubi)

Sorry, Eric Mabius, you might be perfect for Hallmark movies but no amount of slow-motion walking or makeup are going to make you badass back from the grave. Despite how despicable they made the bad guys to make you want them to get what’s coming, this Crow feels more like a slasher villain than an anti-hero.  

Rating: 3/10

 

 

The Crow: Wicked Prayer (2005, Pluto TV)

This actually made me go back and re-evaluate my feelings on the last movie. This is so far from even being just okay, but it least it’s bad in a way you can make fun of it. The plot was a little confusing and most of the acting is flat out laughable in parts. And at this point, I’ve had enough of resurrected guys doing revenge murder. Initially, DMX was in talks for this sequel and I definitely would be more interested in seeing something a little different from the franchise. 

 

Rating: 2/10

And speaking of train wrecks on film...

Marvel Legends - Clea

 The long time love, now wife, of Dr. Strange has finally been immortalized in plastic in the Marvel Legends line! Apparently she's a hot commodity if eBay prices are anything to go by. I got lucky and ordered her from Amazon UK for just $5 over retail with free shipping.

If you've been around long enough, you'll know Dr Strange is my absolute, all time favorite Marvel character...well, maybe my favorite hero. On any given day Doctors Strange and Doom could be holding the top spot.

I've been a fan of Strange for I don't know how long so finally getting Clea is such a treat. You can read more of me reminiscing about my history with Strange here. Clea has been around almost as long as Strange himself and she's the niece of one of his oldest, most notorious foes: the Dread Dormammu!

Monthly Media Recap - February 2024

 Welcome to the February Monthly Media Recap, now with an extra day!

 

As always, links below will take you to Amazon where you can purchase the movie (or whatever you want) and I may earn a few pennies from qualifying purchases.

Series

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Disney+)

I really enjoyed this. I had no idea this series has a Potter-like fandom. The series has that 80s "kids go on an adventure" vibe to it which kind of made me feel like a kid watching it. And speaking of kids, the young actors were all great. Also definitely recommend the Making Of doc which will just make you like the kids more. I may just pick up the books while waiting for the next season.

Movies

 

Werewolves Within (2021, Shudder)

It definitely has humor to it but I was expecting a little more given the cast. It's a pretty good Whodunit...or Whodawerewolf. My biggest "gripe" is that if you make a rated R werewolf movie, it should be for gore and not the number of f-bombs in the script. Considering it's based on a video game, I'm surprised they didn't try for a PG-13.

Rating: 6/10

 

The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones - Marvel Comics

Indiana Jones month is rolling to a close like a giant boulder chasing you out of a temple with the Marvel Comics series that gave us more Indy action between the first two movies and just a little beyond.

The series was published between 1982 and 1985 and lasted for 34 issues. The fact that it lasted as long as it did before Temple of Doom came out I think is a testament to just how much people love Indy! Each story usually lasted 2 issues and there was an ongoing continuity where allies and enemies would return.

In order to talk a bit about the series, I went back over the past month and read them all. I wasn't sure I was going to make it in time for this post because halfway through the month I realized the new MCU show was coming out and I wanted to read that source material before the show. I'm still reading Secret Invasion but I got all the way through Indy, just for you guys!

Monthly Media Recap - May 2023

No witty remarks, just geting into it!

Streaming Series

Cobrai Kai S5 (Netflix) 

Or as Mrs Dex has started calling it, Karate Soap Opera...and she's not wrong. I really enjoyed it when it started out but it's just getting a bit silly with all the drama now. How has no one called the police? Hopefully the series will go out on a high note.

Slasher S2 (Netflix)

The story this season revolves around an incident that happened at a summer camp five years prior. The way it unfolds between modern day and flashbacks is really well done and keeps you guessing. The kills are on par with some some of the best movies and they don't shy away from showing the violence.

Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+)

I'm an easy mark for anything involving 50s/60s culture but even I was thinking "Do we really need a Grease prequel series?" The answer is yes, yes we do! There's a couple of fun callbacks to the movie as well as the requisite teen high school drama and musical numbers. My minor complaint is that some of the songs sound like modern pop which feels odd in the time period. Not that the songs aren't good, just kicks me out of the setting a little.

Star Wars Visions S2 (Disney+)

I really got into this run of episodes. There were some I didn't like as much as others but there was always something good about each one. This is a great concept and I hope they keep doing new things like this to expand and freshen up the Star Wars brand. 

 

Doctor Strange Portal - LEGO 30652

 I hit the toy aisle at Target about once a week, sometimes there's new stock but it's not what I'm looking for. Shockingly, my local Target got in zero Guardians Legends figures, like there isn't even a hint that they got anything. But, I did have a little squee moment when I spotted this on an endcap.

Dr. Strange is one of my all time favorite comic characters and while I do have the set from his first movie, I couldn't pass up this little set to have another LEGO Strange that I can keep on my desk.

Monthly Media Recap - February 2023

Not a lot of trailers this month as I watched a lot more recent, mainstream stuff. As usual, links in this post are affiliated with Amazon.

Streaming

In Search of Darkness, Vol. 3 (2023, Shudder)

Another glorious 5 hours spent discussing 80s horror flicks. With this being the third installment, there were a lot more movies I wasn't familiar with. It's also got some nice mini-segments featuring horror stars talking about their careers.

School House Rock 50th Anniversary Sing-A-Long (2023, Disney+)

This was mostly pretty good. A couple of the song arrangements were so different from the originals that they lost the catchy bit which makes them easy to remember. Kermit & Fozzy drop in to Unpack their Adjectives and I am 100%  behind a Schoolhouse Rock/Muppets crossover! 

Red Rose (2022, Netflix)

Me on Friday: Hey, let's check out this BBC 8 episode teen horror looking thing. Me on Monday: Wow! That was not what I was expecting. I love all the young actors in this, they feel like a real group of friends and I was pleasantly surprised to see Isis Hainsworth from last year's Metal Lords on Netflix.

The Legend of Vox Machina (S1, Amazon Prime)

A cartoon based on a successful D&D podcast/campaign. While I will probably never listen to the podcast (it's been going for years) I was really surprised by the animated adaptation and greatly enjoyed it! It definitely has the feel of playing D&D. It may be animated but it ain't for young kids!

 

The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2023, Disney+)

Obviously worth watching if you've seen the movie but man, who thought a making of documentary could get you teary eyed? There were a few spots in the movie where it looked like it was shot on a stage but seeing just how much they shot on stage where I didn't think that was is amazing.

Haul-iday Highlights 2022

 Back from the holiday break with the annual showing off of holiday loot!

 

We'll kick it off with the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special Funko Pops.

First up we have Groot and Peter Quill. Groot is looking better here than he did in the actual Special itself, I am not a fan of that costume. Quill's got a Santa hat (which you can't see much of here) and a wrapped gift. I'm glad they did these so I can bring them out every year to give a Guardians tweak to the holiday decorations.

Drax has his "little man" lawn ornament and I just love it! Also loving Mantis' festive headband. What I'm not loving? The fact that you can only get Holiday Rocket in an Amazon exclusive 5-pack. Booooo!

Monthly Media Recap - November 2022

 If you have any last minute holiday shopping to do, please use the affiliate links below or in the sidebar. If you use the Entertainment Earth link, you get 10% off in stock items and free shipping on orders over $39. No code needed!

Streaming

Andor (Disney+)

Star Wars or not, this is just great television! If your Star Wars needs to have Jedi, aliens, and lots of action, this may not be for you. But if you enjoy good writing and personal stories it's absolutely worth your time. It may seem slow at the start, but I promise you it all pays off. Cannot wait for the next season!

 

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (Netflix)

Overall a pretty solid anthology of eight horror stories. I've seen Lovecraft fans not happy with the two adaptations here but I haven't read those stories in quite some time and thought they were decent.

Unsolved Mysteries (S3, Netflix)

Even though they spaced out the new episodes, I still went through them quickly. I don't think I knew I had a thing for true crime until this series started up. They're not all crime, a couple are unexplained phenomenon and the UFO episode is pretty wild!

 

Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022, Disney+)

This was a good way to revisit the Guardians again while waiting for the next movie. They do get into  "wacky antics" but it's all good holiday fun. My one problem with it is what the flark happened to Groot?! He looks like he came from a third rate theme park.

Monthly Media Recap - September 2022

The Countdown to Halloween starts tomorrow, so the monthly recap goes up a day early. As usual, links below are Amazon affiliated and will drop some pennies in my coffers for your order. The holiday season is coming up fast, go buy stuff!

Be sure to swing by tomorrow for details on the annual Halloween contest!

Movies

Out There Halloween Megatape (2022)

The sequel to the WNUF Halloween Special! I ordered this as soon as it went up but never got around to watching it. Luckily, creator Chris LaMartina is taking it on the road and I got so see it with an audience. I don't want to give anything away about it but I will say it's a blast from the 90s past! Highly recommend seeing it in a theater (or at least with a group) if you have the chance.

Rating: 9/10

Hellarious (2019, Amazon Prime)

With a title like this, I completely expected this to be another bottom of the barrel Amazon horror offering. Maybe it was my low expectations but I was very pleasantly surprised! There's no wraparound with this anthology, just seven, some funnier than other, horror shorts. Quite a bit of it felt like a weird Goosebumps for adults by way of Troma. I don't think it'll make anyone's "best of" list but I had a good time with it.

Rating: 7/10

 

Monthly Media Recap - July 2022

I know July has 31 days but did it seem a bit on the long side for anyone else? Anyway, we're kicking it into August which is pretty much the start of spooky season! Just the other day I spotted Reese's Pumpkins at the supermarket and I know folks on social media have been spotting stuff at places like Home Goods and Michael's. Let's goooo!

Streaming Series 

Stranger Things (S4, Netflix)

Of course I watched the first part when it was released but wanted to wait until it was all wrapped up before talking about it. Easily my favorite season so far! I can't believe how much the show is growing with the kids. They went from Monster Squad to full on Nightmare on Elm Street and I am loving it! I am going to be in agony waiting for the final season and I just know the Duffers are going to slay it!

Ms. Marvel (2022, Disney+)

Iman Vellani is Kamala Khan. She absolutely embodies the character and I couldn't be happier at her portrayal. I can't wait to see her meet Capt. Marvel and nerd out! It's unfortunate the new Marvel shows are only getting 6 episodes, she definitely could have used more breathing room. The power change worked great but time will tell how that big thing at the end turns out.

Resident Evil (2022, Netflix)

This is getting terrible reviews but I thought it was at least okay. My Resident Evil knowledge comes from the first three movies and that's it. I didn't suffer through it except towards the end of the final episode where it started feeling a little SyFy original. I guess the best thing I can say is that I'll tune in if it comes back.

Ghosts (S1-3, HBO Max)

You may have watched the recent CBS show (if not, you should be!) but did you know if was based on a UK show? The first three seasons are streaming and I think I'm actually enjoying it more than the US version. Being a UK show, the seasons are around 6 episodes. Even if you haven't seen the US version, give this a shot!

The Most Hated Man on the Internet (2022, Netflix)

Human. Garbage. I don't think I remember hearing about this 10 years ago (or I forgot). If you're such a scumbag that Anonymous comes after you, you probably deserve what you get.

Funko Soda - Doctor Strange & Gomez Addams

Up until this weekend, I had only owned a single Funko Soda...figure? Piece? Not sure what you'd actually call these. It says collectible on the can but that doesn't sound fun. Anyway! I decided to pick up Strange this past weekend and just couldn't let him leave the store alone.

One of the reasons I don't have many Soda figures is that they're not as ubiquitous as the Pops. You can find Pops almost anywhere and I've only ever found the Soda in one store, Newbury Comics. This is a New England chain of stores that started out selling comics (surprise!) and music. Now they carry all sorts of pop culture stuff. Think Hot Topic without the goth.

Monthly Media Recap - May 2022

I don't know about where you live, but around here, Memorial Day weekend is the start of neighborhood "we can shoot off fireworks when we feel like it" season for the next two months. 

 

Being the unofficial start of summer movie season, are you planning on going to the theater or are you content to stream the summer at home? Let me know in the comments if you've seen anything good lately, I'm always up for recommendations!

Streaming

 

Spider-Woman (1979, Disney+)

I thought it would be fun to go back and check this out since I haven't seen it in 40+ years. Not only can the himbo Jessica works with not figure out she's Spider-Woman (no matter where in the world they are, she shows up) but when he's not trying to get a dinner date with her, he's putting her down for being a woman (it's too dangerous, you're not strong enough, etc). It's supposed to be a joke between Jessica and the viewer but yikes! They're also very loosey-goosey with her powers. She has a spider sense that gives her visions, she can shoot webs, and sometimes has spider telepathy. If you have a fondness for 70s/80s cartoons, this should hit the spot for you. 

 

Love, Death, & Robots (S3, Netflix)

I blew through this over a weekend. This animated anthology is definitely not for the kiddos. There's a nice variation in the settings of the shorts, some are very violent but all are a lot of fun! If you're a scifi/horror fan this series is definitely worth your time.

 

Movies

The Spine of Night (2021, Shudder)

This is the perfect love child of classic Bakshi rotoscope animation and Heavy Metal. The story follows a plant that grants wicked magical power and it's impact over generations. Add to the fantasy setting nudity and brutal violence and you're in for a treat. You'd swear this came right out of the 80s at you!

Rating: 8/10