October 30, 2015

Episode 40 - MICHAEL JACKSON'S THRILLER and MICHAEL JACKSON'S GHOSTS


Just in time for Mischief Night, it's a bonus double feature episode starring the celebrity who best embodies the season's brew of impish glee and creeping anxiety: Michael Jackson.

The King of Pop's iconic Thriller set a new standard for the music video, taking a serious approach to its scary subject matter with a noted horror director (John Landis) and a legendary makeup artist (Rick Baker).  Years later, Jackson tried to capture that magic again with the lavish, bombastic Ghosts, this time invoking the personal boogeymen who criticized his eccentric lifestyle.

Do we think MJ's Halloween offerings are tricks or treats?  Find out in our 2015 Halloween Special!


Michael Jackson's Thriller (1983)
Directed by John Landis
Written by John Landis and Michael Jackson
Starring Michael Jackson, Ola Ray, and Vincent Price

Michael Jackson's Ghosts (1996)
Directed by Stan Winston
Screenplay by Stan Winston and Mick Garris
Concept by Michael Jackson and Stephen King
Starring Michael Jackson

October 23, 2015

Episode 39 - CASPER


Bill Pullman and Christina Ricci ain't 'fraid of no ghosts in this underrated adaptation that takes some of the most anodyne characters in comics history and drops them into a zany, pop-culture quoting haunted house farce.

Showcasing cutting-edge (for the time) CGI characters, Casper takes advantage of movie technology to bring the dead to cartoonish life while sneaking in some wry gallows humor and a surprisingly mature message about grief and letting go of loved ones.  So please, remember us this way: waxing poetic about yet another '90s film featuring Devon Sawa.


Casper (1995)
Directed by Brad Silberling
Produced by Colin Watson, Jeff Franklin, and Steve Waterman
Written by Sherri Stoner and Deanna Oliver
Based on the Casper the Friendly Ghost by Seymour Reit and Joe Oriolo
Starring Bill Pullman, Christina Ricci, Cathy Moriarty, Eric Idle, Malachi Pearson, Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, Brad Garrett, and Devon Sawa