Monthly Media Recap - September 2026

 Happy October Eve!

This month's Media Recap is going up a day early because tomorrow starts the post-a-day Countdown to Halloween! Every year, many bloggers and I Countdown the most wonderful time of the year with daily posts about all things Halloween, horror, spooky, kooky, you name it!

 

Not a lot of movies this month as I spent around 5 movies worth of time catching up on American Horror Story. Title links will take you to a trailer. 

Roll it!

 

Series

 

Spider-Noir (2026, Prime)
Why can't Sony deliver Spider-adjacent movies that are this good?! Cage is at his Cage-iest and that's exactly what the role needs. You can watch it even if you barely know anything about Spider-Man but fans will catch a lot more. Highly recommend watching the B&W version for maximum noir pulpiness. The camera angles and shot compositions are a love letter to classic Hollywood.

American Horror Story Season 10 (Hulu)
Usually my biggest issue with any season of AHS is that it falls off the path somewhere after the mid way point. Here, you get two mini seasons of 6 and 4 episodes. I think they both really shine due to their shorter runs time making their stories tighter. Who knew aliens were behind Marilyn Monroe's death?

 

Gatchaman Progress

Only 3 this month, but there's only 13 more to go! Currently up to 93.

 

Movies

 

Strange Darling (2023, Shudder)
At first I didn't like this one. It has 6 chapters and they're shown out of order. But as I stuck with it, I really began to enjoy the non-linear story telling and putting the pieces together of what was going on. They definitely made the right choice for how to spoon out the story and keep it interesting. Strongly recommend going in cold on this one and enjoy the ride. The trailer is well done in that it doesn't give anything away.

Rating: 7/10

 

Penny Lane is Dead (2025, Shudder)
A modern day Ozploitation revenge thriller that takes place in 1986. It's an odd blend of home invasion, great practical gore effects, and punk vibes. The bad guys have a wicked mean streak which makes it all the more satisfying when they get what's coming to them. Still debating if I like the ending or not.

Rating: 7/10

Enola Holmes 3 (2026, Netflix)
As much as I've enjoyed the series so far, I think this is the low point for me. The mystery didn't quite grab me and while Cavill is back (still needing a spinoff!) he spends a lot of the movie being the MacGuffin and not having as much to do. MBB is still a delight to watch even as her character continues to mature.

Rating: 6.5/10

Borderlands (2024, Apple TV)
How do you turn a beloved video game franchise into a movie that sucks the soul out of what makes the game so much fun? Easy, blend Temu Mad Max and wannabe Guardians of the Galaxy. If I didn't know anything about the game, this would be an ok sci-fi action flick that would get me to check out the game. The characters just felt kind of flat compared to their digital counterparts. Cate Blanchett is as good as you'd expect her to be. A lot of the supporting characters and stuff about the world, they nailed...just not the important stuff. And I don't care what you do, you can't make me believe Kevin Hart is any kind of action hero. 

Rating: 5/10

 

 

Backrooms (2026, HBO Max)

This was so good! The pervasive feeling of dread while navigating a liminal space that feels like it was filmed from a bad dream is fantastic. I can't say enough about how perfect the set design is. It just captures the wrongness of a familiar nightmare. Be sure to stick around after the credits.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

This Month

New: 5  Rewatch: 0

 

Year to Date

New: 61  Rewatch: 2

Monthly Media Recap - August 2026

 It's been a rough couple weeks for losing beloved entertainers: Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Peter Cullen all left us last week. If you don't know Cullen, you've at least heard him as Optimus Prime and dozens of other iconic cartoon characters.

 

 With the blog rolling into September, regular posts will go on hiatus while I prep for the annual Countdown to Halloween with a post every day in October. Every year I think I don't have it in me and struggle to find things to talk about but every year I pull it off.

 

Anyway, let's get this recap on the road!

 

 

Series

 

The Righteous Gemstones (HBO Max)

More like Riotous Gemstones! I've been binging the series over the summer and just wrapped it up. If Danny McBride knows how to do one thing, it's create people you wouldn't go near in real life but find some way to make you root for them.

 

Shrinking (Apple)

Another summer binge. This one took me by surprise. Not only is everyone great in it but this is probably Harrison Ford's best role (sorry Han and Indy!). It's good to see him get into something with real depth and also show that he can be funny! This show alone is worth getting AppleTV for.

 

Gatchaman Progress

Knocked out 5! Currently up to 89 

 

Movies

 

 

The Devil's Mouth (2026, Prime)
One final shark movie for the summer. It started off pretty good but once the shark gets going, it basically turns into a slasher. For some reason, the shark has it out for this tour group beyond just needing to eat, or maybe he's really hungry. I don't know a lot about shark eating habits. The ending goes a little too far into action movie territory antics where the rest was pretty grounded.

Rating: 5/10

Monthly Media Recap - July 2026

 Some people say July 5th is the start of spooky season but I prefer August 1st. 

91 days until Halloween!

Links will take you to a trailer.

 

In writing the post, I realized there's an unintentional Riverdale reunion among three of the movies. Do you know which ones or am I the only grown ass adult that watched Riverdale? 

 

 

Series

 

Elle: From the World of Legally Blonde (Prime)

First, what's with that title? Are they planning a Legally Blonde Cinematic Universe? That aside, this was a lot of fun. If you like watching Elle Woods do her thing, you'll get it in spades...pink spades. You can tell the actress playing young Elle studied her character and mannerisms. The supporting cast is pretty great too. 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Only 3 this month. Currently up to 85

 

 

Movies

 

 

Lee Cronin's The Mummy (2026, HBO Max)

I'm still holding a low key grudge against this. It is an absolutely terrible movie if you're wanting a lot of Mummy. However, it's a pretty solid Evil Dead movie, which I guess should be expected since the director's previous movie was Evil Dead Rise. My bad for not watching the trailer, I guess. I call this one Evil Dead Rise 2: Egyptian Boogaloo. Definitely have to give it credit for "going there" in some scenes and the gore.

 

Rating: 6/10

 

The Long Walk (2025, HBO Max)

How do you make an interesting movie when 99% of it is teens walking? Excellent writing and great actors. This really sucked me in. I feel like I got to know these guys and when it's time for some of them to leave, it hits you. With what the movie gives you (not a lot), the premise doesn't make much sense but it's more about the journey.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

*Enola Holmes (2020, Netflix)

Pre-game rewatch to gear up for the newest installment. Didn't remember a lot of it so I had a good time all over again. It's good to see MBB playing someone other then Eleven, especially a character that's more light hearted.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

 

Forbidden Fruits (2026, Shudder)

Tosses The Craft, Heathers, and Mean Girls into an upscale clothing store in a mall. Overall, I liked it but there are some parts where the pacing was a bit slow. It's definitely got "a vibe" that you can't help but feel throughout. Unfortunately, I'm on a different wavelength but I predict it's going to find cult status with people that feel the vibe.

 

Rating: 6/10

 

Obsession (2025, Peacock)

Well deserving of all the praise (and money!) it's gotten. I only knew Inde Navarrette from TV's Superman and Lois but she hits this out of the park and into a whole other ball field! She deserves an Oscar nod for this performance. Creepy and sometimes shocking, this is the perfect case of being careful what you wish for.

 

Rating: 9/10 

 

 

Spooktacular! (2023, Prime, Shudder, Tubi)

A documentary about the first Halloween horror theme park: Spookyworld! It's not often you get to see a doc about something in your state...at least one that doesn't involve an investigation. Even if you've never heard of it, if you're a lover of Halloween, there's plenty to enjoy in seeing how this local legend came to be. 

 

Mortal Kombat II (2026, HBO Max)

I had such high hopes for this after seeing the trailers. What happened? For the amount of fighting and kool moves it has, it's kind of boring. There's little to no oomph in the fights no matter how kool they look. But I will say, they don't hold back on the fatalities when they come along. It's got a 2020s budget with a 1990s script. They should have made Johnny the main focus and let Karl Urban do his thing..although it's weird hearing him do an American accent.

 

Rating: 6/10 

 

 

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026, Hulu)

Scream queens Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton teaming up? Yes, please! This picks up right at the end of the first one and continues the cult craziness with more of the comedy and violence that made that one so much fun. Plus now you've got Elijah Wood and Sarah Michelle Gellar in the mix!

 

Rating: 8/10

 

Masters of the Universe (2026, Prime)

At best, I've been a casual MotU fan. I watched the cartoon and only ever had a Skeletor figure because he looked cool. That said, I feel like this movie had a target and shot with 100% accuracy. This is the Flash Gordon for the 2020s, except they knew what they were making. It's an incredibly fun action movie that serves up plenty of knowing winks to its fan base. Oh, and if you're worried about Jared Leto being in it, don't. You won't even notice him because you never see his face.

 

Rating: 7/10  

 

This Month

New: 8  Rewatch: 1

 

Year to Date

New: 48  Rewatch: 2

Monthly Media Recap - June 2026

Have yourself a happy, and safe, holiday!

Title links will take you to a trailer.

On with the show...

 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Finally getting back on track, knocked out 5. Currently up to 82

 

Series 

 

Deli Boys (S2, Hulu)

So glad this came back but not thrilled with the season only being 6 episodes. Maybe there's more coming? Anyway, the addition of Fred Armesin this go round as a shady casino owner is extra icing on this already delicious show. 

 

Regular Show: The Lost Tapes (HBO Max)

Like seeing a couple of old friends and jumping right back into things. Is it just more episodes of Regular Show? Yes! And that's the best praise I can give it.

 

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen (Netflix)

This horror thriller mini series is a slow burn that keeps you guessing if something bad is really going to happen (spoiler alert: it's in the title) or if it's in the main characters head. The burn pays off in the climax with one of the most horrifying scenes I've seen.

 

Young Sherlock (Amazon)

Guy Ritchie returns to Holmes with his signature style for an extremely entertaining and fun ride. If I could have binged the whole thing in a day, I probably would have. Sherlock is great but Moriarty oozes scoundrel charm when he's on screen. It's got plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. 

 

Movies 

 

Supergirl (2026)

Don't listen to the whiny fanboys. If you're thinking about seeing this, do it! It's definitely not Superman. It's a bit grungier, for lack of a better word. Kara is not the shining beacon that her cousin is. This is about her figuring out the kind of person she wants to be. Milly Alcock is the best thing about this movie and I hope we get more of her. If you have a problem with Krypto, I can only assume you've never owned a dog or just hate animals.

 

Rating: 7/10 

 

 

 

You Might Be the Killer (2018, Tubi)

Take The Mask from the movie of the same name but replace Loki with Jason Voorhees and you get this quirky, comedic summer camp slasher. It doesn't tackle meta quite on the level of Scream but I have to hand it to them for doing something original. Definitely a must for slasher fans.

 

Rating: 6/10

 

In Search of Darkness 1995-1999 (Shudder)

While the first half wasn't as interesting because I didn't know a lot of the movies, I really started getting into horror in the late 90s so there was a lot more here that was familiar to me. It was also fun to see the evolution of the teen slasher post Scream.

 

 

Scream 7 (2026, Paramount)

As much as the original Scream redefined horror, the series has become the very thing those characters were making fun of. It's not terrible but it doesn't feel like it was necessary other than to introduce Sydney's daughter to possibly carry the final girl torch. There are a couple of good kills and I like that the trailer doesn't show the biggest plot point (which ends up being a bit of a let down that they didn't go further with it). I don't get how/why this series keeps going with different people being Ghostface but I'll keep turning up to see what weird hoops they'll jump through to make it happen.

 

Rating: 5/10

 

 

They Will Kill You (2026, Netflix)

I put the trailer here but I'm begging you, don't watch it if you plan to see the movie. This insane melding of Tarantino and Sam Raimi should be experienced blind for maximum fun! This movie is crazy and unpredictable. The cinematography choices are chef's kiss and the fight scenes are as wild as a Saturday afternoon Hong Kong flick!

 

Rating: 8/10

 

Disclosure Day (2026)

I don't know, I didn't love it like a lot of people do. I can't put my finger on it but something about the whole viewing just felt a little off for me, like I was watching a three episode season finale arc condensed into a movie. I will say, the female anchor at the end of the movie deserves an award for her performance.

 

Rating: 6/10 

 

This Month

New: 6  Rewatch: 0

 

Year to Date

New: 40  Rewatch: 1

TeeTurtle Labyrinth Reversible Plushie

 Somewhat recently, I started seeing ads online for these and thought they were cute. I happened to find them in a local store over the weekend and couldn't pass picking one up. Plus, Labyrinth is seriously under represented in the merch department.

 

 

What you get is exactly what it says on the box: a 3" mystery reversible plushie. There are six in all including the door knockers, Ludo, a Firey, goblins, the worm ('ello!), and Jareth.

 

 

Of course, I'd be happy with whichever one I got, but I just happened to grab Jareth! His alternate form is the snow owl. You could have this on display and it would just be a cute plush owl to the casual person that isn't obsessed with Labyrinth. Turn it inside out and...

 you've got the Goblin King himself! The hair is kind of fun, if not a little weird. He's got the pendant from the movie and they even gave him two different colored eyes.

 

 The extra special icing on the cake was seeing the Labyrinth graphics inside of the box. One of the corners is marked "glue tab" so I think they intend you to be able to easily pull it apart to use as a display.

 

In addition to the other five mystery plushies, TeeTurtle also has larger ones: 4" Didymus/Ambrosius, 6" Jareth/Sarah in ballroom attire, and an 8" Ludo. They also have a whole line of mystery plushies including Sesame Street, TMNT, D&D, and Dark Crystal.

Monthly Media Recap - May 2025

 I will be talking a little about The Mandalorian and Grogu, but no spoilers, I promise!

 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Slacking this month and didn't watch any. Currently up to 77

 

Streaming 

 

The Boys S5 (Prime)

Great social commentary wearing a cape. It may be the final season but they're still going strong with the over the top gore and gross out moments. They did an amazing job and managed to give a satisfying wrap up. Not sure if we need a prequel spin-off series but I trust Eric Kripke and more importantly, Jensen Ackles will be back so I'll be tuning in.

 

Maul: Shadow Lord (2026, Disney+)

I don't know if anyone thought it was a good idea when Maul showed up alive in the Clone Wars series but they've proved that it was more than just a cheap gimmick. Of course, if you're not up on your Maul history, you won't get as much from this series but it's still really, really good!

 

Movies

 

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2026)

This is essentially and 80s action hero movie with loads of effects, puppets, and stop motion and I'm here for it. The great things is, they made this so anyone can go see it but they also put in a ton of stuff that will have long time fans doing the Leo pointing meme without it feeling like fan service. The best compliment I can give it is that it's the kind of movie that will get a kid to love Star Wars.

 

Rating: 8/10 

 

 

Night Patrol (Shudder, 2025)

Justin Long continues to make his mark as a Scream King in this bad cops vs street gangs flick with a vampire twist. The action and effects are great. The final act goes a little wonky and doesn't seem sure which direction it wants to go but it's still a good time.

 

Rating: 6/10

 

 

Thrash ((2026, Netflix)

The decent effects put this a notch above the average SyFy Original. The characters are all fairly one dimensional and I was never really rooting for any of them. They knew this storm was coming and didn't leave so that's on them! The ending has a couple of eye roll inducing bits that are more action movie camp than the rest of the movie which just made me sour on it even more.

 

Rating:  4/10, if you want to see this kind of thing done well, watch Crawl instead

 

In Search of Darkness 1990-1994 (2024, Shudder)

Continuing on into the 90s, this 6 hour documentary takes a look at some of the iconic horror movies of the time. I LOVED the 80s version of this but this one was a little bit of a slog for me. Not because it was lesser in quality but because I wasn't as familiar with a lot of the movies covered. Still, it was fun and gave me a few things to throw on my watch list. 

 

 

Send Help (2026, Hulu)

Sam Raimi injects his dark humor into this mashup of Castaway and Misery. Rachel McAdams may never be a convincing mousy/frumpy type but she's really great when she goes psycho! I had a lot of fun with this one because it keeps ramping up the crazy as it goes.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

SlashFM (Tubi or free on YouTube)

I was braced for the worst when starting this horror anthology. The opening story is terrible, but thankfully only a little over 5 minutes and is the worst of the bunch. The second segment (I Love You So Much, It's Killing Them) is by far the high point. The rest after that are decent, and short, enough to stay entertaining.

 

Rating: 6/10

 

Anaconda (2025, Netflix)

Not linking the trailer because it gives away some of the best gags in the movie! It probably could have been a little better story-wise but Rudd and Black help make up for it. There's a couple of genuine laugh out loud moments and at the end of the day, it's a perfectly fine movie to turn off your brain and have some popcorn.

 

Rating: 6.5/10

 

This Month

New: 7  Rewatch: 0

 

Year to Date

New: 34  Rewatch: 1

Monthly Media Recap - April 2026

 Not much to say at the top here, so let's jump right in!

 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Only watched 2, most of the time I would have been watching this went to the new Darth Maul mini-series. Now up to: 77

 

Streaming

 

Malcolm in the Middle (2026, Hulu)

Bringing back a beloved show seems to be the "it" thing to do recently. Surprisingly, the ones I've watched have been good and do a great job of picking up the story decades later. If you're a Malcolm fan, this 4 episode mini-series is absolutely worth the watch.

 

Movies

 

 

The Mortuary Assistant (2026, Shudder)

I didn't watch the trailer so I had no idea this was based on a video game until I was reading up on it after watching. All I can say is, I hope the movie is more enjoyable to people that have played the game. It does start off pretty good but then takes a turn into "been there, done that" horror tropes. 

 

Rating: 4/10

 

Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025, Peacock)

Speaking of video game movies that I sat through...Again, hopefully game fans got more out of this than I did. The Marionette is a great design and gives the creepiest moments in the movie but we don't see it all that much. Between the plot, the good and bad animatronics, and it being two years since I saw the first one, I was a little confused as to what was going on. But at least we get Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich in a movie again...even if they don't have scenes together?

 

Rating: 4/10

 

Moving on to things I actually liked this month... 

 

 

Hive (2026, Tubi)

This one took me by surprise. I thought it was going to be one kind of movie and then it turns into this weird concept that's kind of silly but also unsettling. It's definitely not something I've seen in a horror movie before. The kid actors, especially the main little girl, are all fantastic and creepy when they need to be.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

 

Deathstalker (2025, Shudder)

After seeing Manborg and Psycho Goreman, I will watch anything that Steven Kostanski has a hand in. He makes B-movies with the full awareness of what he's doing and winks at the audience while doing it. This is so much fun! It's over the top with plenty of practical effects. As soon as the killer fantasy metal soundtrack kicks in, you know you're in for a wild ride! It's less Conan and bit more He-Man (complete with bumbling mini-magician) which gives it a different feel than the 80s sword and sorcery films it's paying tribute to.

 

Rating: 7.5/10 

 

 

Red Sonja (2025, Tubi)

This fantasy flick is a bit of a mixed bag. It does a good job of making up for it's low budget with decent effects but it does occasionally get slowed down by some clunky dialog scenes. I will say, they do a good job of her origin story and evolving her into the badass warrior she should be by the end. For a movie, it's okay. If this was a TV pilot, I'd be tuning in every week. 

 

Rating: 6/10 

 

This Month

New: 5  Rewatch: 0

 

Year to Date

New: 27  Rewatch: 1

Tron in 3-2-1 Contact Magazine (1982)

Did you sing the show theme when you read the post title? Then you remember the PBS science show 3-2-1 Contact. It's kind of funny how you can trace my growth as a human through the PBS shows I watched growing up. Contact was an instant favorite as they explored science principles in fun ways and also introduced The Bloodhound Gang, a group of teen detectives that solved crimes using science.

 

 

I could probably go on about the show but, as the title says, I'm talking about the accompanying magazine. I recently discovered there's about 90 issues uploaded to the Internet Archive. Being a fan of the show, I did get the occasional magazine and it's crazy how many covers I recognize. Me being me, I keyed in on the cover of the October 1982 issue which mashes up two of my favorite things: computers and Halloween. I was thrilled to see this "Special Computer Issue" has a story about Tron. 

 

  

 

Tron had just come out in July, which was probably bad news for any kid just finding out about the movie in October! The article spends time with Larry Elin, one of the computer graphic artists that worked on the movie. He worked at MAGI (Mathematical Applications Group, Inc) one of the first 3D computer animation companies.

 

Not only was he an animator, but also the VP in charge of hiring some of the other folks that worked on the movie. He worked on the iconic vehicle sequences in the movie including the Lightcycles, Tanks, and Recognizers. 

 

MAGI was located in NY and this page mentions how Disney execs in CA wanted to see how the effects scenes were progressing every day. They had a "computer link" to share the scenes coast to coast. I'm curious what that involved in the early 80s!

 

 The last page of the article shows someone programming a Grid Tank into the computer. Another article in this issue features a young girl named Cori Grimm that makes computer graphics for some educational games. If you want to browse the full magazine, you can find it here.

 

I'll leave you off with the theme here but there's also plenty of full episodes up on YouTube if you want to dive down a nostalgia rabbit hole.

 

 

Monthly Media Recap - March 2026

 For an April 1st post, there's not a lot of stinkers this month!

As usual, linked titles will take you to a trailer. 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Only watched 2. Now up to: 75

 

Streaming Series

 

Wonder Man (Disney+)

The MCU TV series can really shine when they take a chance and do something different. This isn't a "superhero" show. It's a show about a guy making his way through life that happens to have super powers. I love how they made "Wonder Man" an 80s sci-fi movie icon and that they brought back Trevor. who has no trouble stealing the scenes he's in. Looking forward to season 2!

 

Ted (S2, Peacock)

Simultaneously more crass than last season (hilariously so) but also balanced with an equal amount of heart. MacFarlane has said this is the last season due to the cost of the show which is really too bad because it's just so damn funny.

 

Movies

 

Project Hail Mary (2025, IMAX)

I've only really seen Gosling in Barbie and the Fall Guy and he does a phenomenal job here. His co-star is no slouch either and will likely be one for the record books. There was a lot more comedy that I was expecting which is kind of ironic as Lord and Miller were booted off Solo: A Star Wars Story for trying to make it more comedic. If you're on the fence about seeing this in a theater, do it! The little kid in me that used to stare at the moon through a telescope and wonder what was out there is glad he did.

 

Rating: 9/10 

 

 

The Last Video Store (2023, Shudder)

The Videonomicon, a strange video tape, traps two people in a video store and forces them to face off against movie characters. I often rip on low budget horror but then there's ones like this that have something special that I thoroughly enjoy. Just about everything hits for me: the synth score, the meta movie tropes, and the knockoff fictional stereotypes of famous movie characters. Horror kids that grew up renting everything and anything in the 80s, this one's for you!

 

Rating: 8/10

 

The Running Man (2025, Paramount+) 

Solid action movie with a social commentary that's a little too close to home these days. It's one of those movies where some things don't make sense if you stop and think about it, but it's also not that kind of movie and before long there's another action set piece to keep things moving.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021, Prime)

Speaking of movies that don't make sense... I mentioned with the first one of these how crazy it was that Someone constructed these elaborate escape rooms which must cost into the billions and that's even more true here. Not only that but it feels like things happen because that's the way they have to in order for the plot to progress. Even just the way the main characters are forced together must have taken an improbable amount of planning. Still, kind of a fun watch for the traps.

 

Rating: 6/10 

 

 

Alligator (1980, Prime)

This is one of those movies that was always at my periphery of horror. It was always on the rental shelf, frequently saw it popup on TV but for some reason never watched despite it being one of my favorite sub genres: giant animal on the loose. It may be a B movie Jaws knockoff but they pull it off! I was surprisingly entertained for the whole thing

 

Rating: 7/10, not really but it was a fun watch

 

 

Alligator 2: The Mutation (1991, Prime and YouTube)

As much fun as the first one was, this direct-to-video bomb needs an MST3k treatment to get to the same level of fun. It's a poor retread of the original and everything about it is worse. The plot, the acting, the effects, you name it. At one point, the alligator is making its way through a fair and it's clear they're just shooting the snout from the side while it's on a dolly, rolling it through the crowd.

 

Rating: 3/10, flush it

 

Ready or Not (2019, Prime/Hulu)

Have you ever watched a movie that you've never seen but parts of it felt familiar? That was my experience here, very odd. Anyway, it's a pretty wild ride and if it's possible seven years later, best to go in blind. The plot becomes apparent to the audience almost immediately but the build up to the main character being let in on it and the roller coaster that follows is wonderful and the dark humor woven in is chef's kiss.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

 

Relaxer (2018, Shudder)

I feel secure promising you, you've never seen and will never see, another movie like this in your life. The basic plot is about a guy trying to get to the Pac-Man kill screen on New Year's Eve 1999. The whole movie takes place in his living room with the occasional visit from oddball characters. And there's some extra weird layered on top of all this. It's something you have to see for yourself because I sure as hell can't explain it! While I kind of get what they were doing and the performance of the main character was fantastic, it's just a little too out there for me...and I love Rubber!

 

Rating: 4/10 

 

This Month

New: 8   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 22   Rewatch: 0

Monthly Media Recap - February 2026

 The country (world?) may be going to hell in a hand basket but I'm still here to bring the Monthly Media Recap! As usual, linked titles will take you to a trailer.

 

 

Gatchaman Progress

Only squeezed in 3 this month. Currently up to 72.

  

Streaming

 

His & Hers (2026, Netflix)

Two estranged spouses — one a detective, the other a news reporter — vie to solve a murder in which each believes the other is a prime suspect. Excellent murder mystery! And you can't go wrong with Jon Bernthal and Tessa Thompson as the leads, great performances.

 

The Muppet Show (2026, Disney+)

If this doesn't get a series order, people should be rioting! Not only did the reproduce the original Muppet theater but they also captured the essence of the original show. I think more than ever, the world needs the Muppet Show!

 

Movies

 

Uncanny Annie (2019, Hulu)

Part of Hulu's holiday horror series Into the Dark. This one has a bunch of teens playing a haunted board game on Halloween night. There's some drama among the friend group but I didn't really care. I didn't like any of them and was pretty much waiting for the body count to rise. The kills aren't anything memorable but they're okay. 

 

Rating: 5/10

 

 

The Jester 2 (2025, Shudder)

I'm torn on this series so far. On one hand, they have some creative kills inspired by magic tricks. On the other, they keep doing something to make me not like it as much as I want. In this one, they redesigned the Jester's look (probably to get away from Art the Clown) and it just looks like a mask on a mask. At least the plot in this one is more straightforward and it falls an oddly specific sub-genre that I enjoy: kids getting roped into working with the evil.

 

Rating: 5/10

 

 

10/31, Part IV (2024, Tubi or watch it on YouTube)

Another entry in the Halloween horror anthology series. I went back to see what I thought of the rest and found I've only seen the first! Of the four stories, the first, Ejectdead, is my favorite. Imagine The Ring but instead of Samara, you get a Jason like slasher. There's one other tale that's memorable even if the way they carried it out didn't make a lot of sense. Overall, not bad for an indie anthology.

 

Rating: 4/10

 

The Wrecking Crew (2026, Prime)

This feels like it could be in the Fast & Furious-verse: it's loud, dumb, about family, has lots of action and for some reason I really enjoyed it. Bautista and Momoa play off each other really well, milking the "at odds buddy cop" trope for all it's worth. My two biggest issues were some sequences with painfully obvious blue screen and the unbelievable civilian collateral casualties they cause with no mention.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

Predator: Badlands (2025, Disney+/Hulu)

Some people won't like this because a Predator is the main character and it removes some of the mystery around them. Me? I've been waiting for this movie since the original AvP comics came out. Having a young Predator protagonist allows you to see there's more to them as a species. Elle Fanning is great and has a lot of lifting to do as she's the only "human" in most of the movie. Between this, Prey, and Killer of Killers, we've been blessed with some of the best Predator content since the original.

 

Rating: 8/10

 

 

Mrs Dex found the Six Million Dollar Man on Peacock and we're doing a series watch. I can't really call it a rewatch because there's no way I caught a lot of these when they aired. Being Gen X kids, we both have nostalgia for the show so it's interesting to go back and watch it now, especially with the gratuitous use of stock footage. Prior to the show proper, there were three made for TV movies to get Col. Austin off the ground.

  

The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

I've read this is a good adaptation of the original novel Cyborg by Martin Caidin. I haven't read the book but I'm not sure how anyone saw this and said "Yes, we need more!" Steve has mental trauma from his accident and replacement parts which is understandable and is a great theme for a book. But here he's very dour and the show just isn't that much fun. The fan-made season one trailer above gives a little peek at how serious the pilot can be.

 

Rating: 3/10 

 

Wine, Women, and War (1973) &The Solid Gold Kidnapping (1973)

I'm lumping these together as there's not a lot to differentiate them. They basically turned Austin into James Bond with bionics. He's got a sense of humor and even drops a couple double entendre! They're dated, as anything from the 70s will be, but they're a lot more fun to watch than the pilot. They haven't got around to using the iconic sound effects yet so it's a little weird seeing him in action without them.

 

Rating: 4/10 & 5/10

 

This Month

New: 8   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 14   Rewatch: 0

Monthly Media Recap - January 2026

 Before I jump into anything, I want to take a minute and dedicate this post to Will West. If you read this blog, you probably know who he is and that he had a stroke last week. I don't know him personally but he's one of the bloggers that inspires me. He's got such a great voice online and has a lot to say. I know a lot of us in the blog-o-sphere are pulling for him and hope he recovers soon. There's a GoFundMe out there to help out his wife and two girls and they're getting close to their $40k goal. More than anything, I think he's going to be pissed at having to break his weekly blogging streak.

  

 

Gatchaman Progress

Not only did I forget to log this last month, but I've only watched 5 eps since November.

Current ep: 70 

 

Streaming

 

Stranger Things (S1-5, Netflix)

Usually, when a show comes back after a break, I'll find a 30 minute YouTube recap video but I know how much I loved this show and with it being the final season, I re-watched the first four seasons and am so glad I did! Not only did it make the overall story more cohesive but I got to meet the gang again and be reminded of their interpersonal dynamics. I feel like I need a whole post just to talk about the series but I'm lazy. The first couple eps of season 5 didn't quite click but once it did, I was all in. They managed to stick the landing for me. It was satisfying and emotional. I'm going to miss the Hawkins gang so I'll be diving into some of the books this year.

 

History of the World Part II (Hulu) 

At it's best, it was okay. It probably would have been better as a movie instead of a comedy sketch type show. Does not fill me with hope for Spaceballs 2.

 

Movies 

 

M3GAN 2.0 (2025, Prime)

I see why a lot of people didn't like this. I enjoyed the first one but this is is more like a whole new operating system than an upgrade. It's got a more campy tone, is more violent than I remember the first one being and also somehow feels like a superhero movie? If I saw this by itself, I'd probably like the 90s direct to video feel but as a sequel, it doesn't quite deliver what you liked about the original.

 

Rating: 5/10 

 

 

Igniting the Spark - The Story of Magic: The Gathering (2025, Prime)

I was there at GenCon 1993 when MtG debuted and like everyone else, was instantly hooked. At least for a few years and then I got out. Anyway, this doc starts of with the founding of Wizards of the Coast and then how MtG came to be. If you've ever been into the game, I highly recommend checking this out. If you've never played but are a gamer at heart, I still think its interesting to see how a whole new genre of game was developed.

 

Jurassic World Rebirth (2025, Peacock)

How many freakin islands are there?! Despite the very video game plot (they need to get DNA from a water dino, an air dino, and a land dino), this was a pretty solid monster movie. There's no legacy characters to bog it down and I like the assembled by circumstance adventuring group. It may not really do anything new (other than introduce contractually obligated new dinos) but it's a fun ride that stands on its own.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

 

Killing Mary Sue (2025, Prime)

An action comedy that doesn't quite deliver on either premise. I'm guessing they spent most of the budget on the cast because it sure wasn't on the gunfire effects. This movie wants to be cooler than it really is and that's too bad because it could be fun if handled the right way. I'd recommend Becky and The Wrath of Becky instead of this.

 

Rating: 4/10

 

Black Phone 2 (2025, Peacock)

File this under unexpected sequels I didn't know I needed! But didn't The Grabber die in the first one? Yes, yes he did. Horror fans will not doubt draw comparisons to Freddy here but it all works for me. The psychic dream sequences have a fantastic otherworldly creepiness to them (as they should!) and I really liked how they tied it together with the first one.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

 

Marshmallow (2025, Shudder)

This is one of those where you should go in as blind as possible as it keeps you guessing. The kid actors are pretty good and the counselors play their slasher movie stereotypes well. This should be a good gateway horror flick for young teens that want to dip a toe in the pool...or summer camp lake.

 

Rating: 7/10

 

This Month

New: 6   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 6   Rewatch: 0

Monthly Media Recap - December 2025

 Well, here we are at the end of another year. This was probably my lightest month for movies since I started keeping track. I was up for watching some so bad it's good holiday horror and ended up with a lot of coal in my stocking.I have no one to blame but myself as I rarely watch trailers to see what I'm in for.

 

  

Series

 

IT: Welcome to Derry (HBO Max)

I'm a King fan but only know IT from its film incarnations. The series started out a little shaky but quickly gained its footing. The kid actors are all great and their performances make each one endearing. Pennywise may not be in every episode (which is good!) but when he does show up, things are bound to get horrific and/or bloody.

 

The Creep Tapes (S2, Shudder)

On one hand, sometimes less is better. Seeing this much of "Peachfuzz" takes a little away from the films. On the other hand, watching Mark Duplass perform this role in all its unhinged craziness is a delight.

 

Movies 

 

 

Twas the Night (2023, Tubi)

I honestly couldn't tell you what this is about other than it's a holiday themed anthology. There's a wraparound story to supposedly tie everything together but like most of the rest of the movie, it fails to do what they want it to. I feel like the folks that made this had an idea in their heads that just didn't make it to the screen. For some reason, people in Purgatory are judged by Krampus?

 

Rating: 2/10 

 

 

I Trapped the Devil (2019)

It's a slow burn that could have used a little more fuel for the fire. There's a lot of atmosphere in the way it's shot and the actors are very good but I feel like it would be better as a 30 or 60 minute episode of the Twilight Zone or something similar.

 

Rating: 4/10

 

 

Krampus vs Vikings aka Pagan Warrior (2019, Tubi and YouTube) 

Hey, we have a Krampus costume and access to a castle, let's make a movie around that! Low budget, bland actors, laughable stage combat, and typos in the text opening aside, the biggest crime committed here is that Krampus is summoned by witches to help a Saxon get revenge on Viking invaders. That's not how Krampus works! There was at least one scene where the horns on his head were noticeably askew. 

 

Rating: 3/10

 

I remembered the Blumhouse "Into the Dark" Hulu series of holiday horror movies so decided to try my luck in that neck of the woods...

 

 

New Year, New You (2018, Hulu) 

I'm sure there's an audience for the type of movie this is, but I'm not it. I found it hard to get invested in most of the cast. It doesn't get off the ground for me until the second half and then it's a lot of chasing around in a dark house where I was never quite sure of the layout which made it difficult to keep track of what was happening where.

 

Rating: 4/10 

  

 

A Nasty Piece of Work (2019, Hulu)

At least I ended the year with a winner! This thing has more twists than a multi-story parking garage ramp, you know the corkscrew ones? Julian Sands (channeling his best David Warner) and Molly Hagan are wonderful as a rich couple with an epic love/hate relationship. How far would you go to get that promotion?

 

Rating: 8/10 

 

Letterboxd tells me I logged 93 movies this year but my on going total only shows 92. I wonder what I forgot to post about?

 

 

This Month

New: 5   Rewatch: 0

Year to Date

New: 82   Rewatch: 10