9 Years Blogging

Hey, look at this!

I didn't forget my Blog-iversary this year.

Thank you to the handful of you that keep on visiting and posting comments.

Here's some stats for the blog's lifetime.

In a stunning upset, the Andy Gibb Poster has fallen to the second most visited page. In the top spot is a League of Extraordinary Bloggers post about Spacemen. Wow, I can't believe that was 7 years ago!

And here are the top searches that have lead people to this very site. There's a lesson here, kids. If you want site hits, post about Andy Gibb!

Book Report - The Art of Tron (1982)

Many, many, many years ago, I joined the website PaperbackSwap.com. As you might guess from the name, it's a site where you can swap books with other people. You can even wish list things so that you're notified as soon as someone posts something you're after. While searching for anything Tron related, I found an entry for The Art of Tron, something I wasn't even aware existed. On my wish list it went and years passed.

A few weeks ago I got an email letting me know a book I had wish listed was available.

It was The Art of Tron!

I clicked buttons faster than I ever had in my life and it finally arrived yesterday.

Now, the general rule at PaperbackSwap is that you post books in a condition that you would be fine receiving them in. This book is definitely showing its age on the front and back covers but I am just happy to have it! Copies on Ebay have recently sold between $46-$80 depending on condition. I paid about $4 to cover the cost of shipping and a 'book credit' from a previous trade where I sent someone a book they wanted. If I could scan the book without destroying it, I'd love to share it with other fans.

Anyway, let's get digitized into the world of Tron!

Monthly Media Recap - June 2020

Welcome to the June recap, brought to you by Shudder! I mean, they're not sponsoring me or anything but I did jump on a 30 day trial to finally check it out. I'll definitely be continuing to subscribe once that runs out. It's a million times better than trying to sort through a lot of the horror garbage on Prime.

If you've seen anything interested in the past month, let me know in the comments.

Streaming

October Faction (Netflix) - Only about halfway through the first season but really liking it so far! It's kind of like Supernatural (monster hunters) meets Men in Black (secret agency).

Vagrant Queen (SyFy) - Waited until it was over to watch all 10 episodes. It was a lot of fun with a surprising amount of splatter. I loved the main characters pretty much right from the start. Not only all this, but episode 8 is a wonderful homage to the movie Clue! Really hope it gets picked up for at least one more season. Haven't read the comic it's based on but that may change.

Creepshow (AMC/Shudder) - The eps are usually at least okay with some excellent ones and only a couple of meh ones. It really feels like an 80s throwback, mainly due to the effects, which isn't a bad thing. I am not a fan of the live action Creep though, something just isn't right about him.

Movies

Satanic Panic (2019, Shudder)
This movie was so much fun! I love when they manage to get the mix of horror and humor just right. And it's got a killer soundtrack by Boston-based Wolfmen of Mars (seriously, check them out!) I was surprised to see the screenplay is by Grady Hendrix who is an author I've been accidentally enjoying. (I've been buying his books based on the premise and finding out after the fact, "Hey! It's that guy again.")

Rating: 8/10

Tammy and the T-Rex (1994, Shudder)
On the other hand, you have this oddly entertaining, crazy thing. It's not good. It's not even 'so bad it's good' but somehow you can't stop watching to see what weirdness is next. Probably better enjoyed with friends and some adult beverages.

Rating: 5/10

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (2019, Shudder or Prime)
I wanted to catch this at Salem Horror Fest last year but missed it. So glad I finally got to see it. It's an amazing documentary that I would recommend to any fan of horror movies. It's awesome to see so many black horror actors from different franchises together.

*Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, Netflix)
Still my second favorite Indy flick but man there are some goofy gags in here. Are they more valid than "nuke the fridge" because of the writing or Sean Connery?

Rating: 8/10

Scare Package (2019, Shudder)
I think people will be split on this horror comedy anthology. It has a very specific, peculiar sense of humor that you'll either be immediately on board with or will turn it off in the first 20-30 minutes. The trailer should give you an idea which one you might be. I really enjoyed it for the most part. It was a little meta and played with horror tropes in a fun way.

Rating: 6.5/10

Summer of '84 (Shudder)
I'm not saying it wasn't good or I didn't like it (I did!) but the trailer had me expecting something a little more. It never really got tense until the end and it was a bit slow going. I didn't mind the slowness but I would have enjoyed it more if they either got deeper into the characters or there was a slow burn leading up to the climax. Excellent synth soundtrack.

Rating: 7/10

I had planned to delve back into "Finish the Franchise" where I watch all the movies in a horror series that I haven't seen. However, I didn't plan ahead and verify they were all streaming somewhere! So maybe part 3 will be next month if I can track it down. Although, after the second one, I don't know that I want to.

*Candyman (1992, Netflix)
I remember really digging this when I saw it in theaters. It's still good but I definitely saw it a little differently this time after watching Horror Noire and with current events. Even though he's not on screen that much, Tony Todd just owns it.

Rating: 7/10

Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995, Pluto TV)
If Candyman was handled right, he could have ascended to a seat in Horror Olympus with the other icons we know so well. Unfortunately, the sequel trades in good characters, social commentary, and story for a higher body count and gore. Also, this has got to be the lamest way anyone gets their name ever.

Rating: 4/10

Month

New: 6  Rewatch: 2

Year to Date

New: 33  Rewatch: 2