Not long ago, The Black Saint enthusiastically recommended Bryan Bertino’s latest horror film, THE MONSTER. Catching the Grue-crew’s attention, Santo’s sanction became HNR’s schedule. And the world is better for it. The movie, featuring Zoe Kazan and Ella Ballentine in the lead roles, deserves a theatrical release denied it as the film is available on DirectTV and on VOD with a quick release to DVD and Blu-ray. While the film is economic in scope, it is grand in its characterizations and emotional impact. And it also just happens to have a terrific monster. Recommended.
The weekend box office was dominated by the return of the Harry Potter universe to cinemas with FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, bringing in a cool $75M in the States alone. Add in the world box and, whew, amazing. Author J.K. Rowlingtakes the writing reins handling the screenplay for the first time with terrific – but familiar – results. David Yates lends his considerable directorial skill to the thrills once again. The large cast, lead by Eddie Redmayne, is fantastic, but it may be two supporting characters that steal the film – along with all the beasts!
Dave guides the Horror News of the Week with news of Kong: Skull Island, Channel Zero Season 2 and The Last of Us. The team behind Horror Pack provides their support and a chance to take a complimentary Horror Pack home. And Doc is set to visit the Walker Stalker Charlotte convention December 17 & 18, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Co-hosts Doc Rotten, Santos (The Black Saint) Ellin Jr., Dave Dreher and Thomas Mariani are back again this week to give you the best in horror as they recap, review and obliterate all that is horror this week! Oh, and don’t forget – Stump the Saint! (Brought to you by Gruesome Magazine)
Horror News Radio
Episode 190 — The Monster (2016) — Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
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Feature Review: The Monster (2016)
At the core of The Monster from director Bryan Bertino is the dysfunctional relationship between the lead characters. Zoe Kazan stars as Kathy, a mother who struggles with addiction and motherhood, facing loosing the only she loves in life, whether she wants to admit it or not. Ella Ballentine stars as Kathy’s daughter Lizzy who finds herself trapped in a world she cannot escape, alternating between loving and hating the woman she often calls “mom”. On a long trip to return Lizzy to her father, Kathy resigns to the fact she may never see her daughter again. Then, an animal darts in front of their car on a lonely stretch of road. Stranded and alone, Kathy and Lizzy must depend on each other to survive the night. The Monster is a must-see horror film of 2016, one that Santos promises will be at the top of his year-end list of favorites.
What Have You Been Watching: The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
For Harry Potter fans, hearing of another excursion into the world of wizards and magic is a thrilling proposition. Add that the return is personally guided by J.K. Rowling as she writes the script herself and the film is directed by David Yates who helmed the last 4 Harry Potter films, the promise is near giddy. But, for those, who are outside that – rather large – bubble, does the film hold any intrigue or attraction? The successful box office suggests a healthy “yes”. Eddie Redmayne stars a Newt Scamander, a wizard traveling to the US from Great Britain with a suit case full of fantastic beasts. He quickly runs into troubles, many of his own making. He turns to an unlikely trio of Americans to assist in re-capturing the creatures mistakenly set loose on 1920s New York City. Katherine Waterston stars opposite as Porpentina Goldstein while Dan Folger and Alison Sudol steal the film as Jacob, a muggle called no-mag here, and Tina’s sister Queenie. Thomas and Doc marvel at much of the film but expose many of the film’s flaws and failings. And, they dive into spoilers as well. Good times!
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE
- [00:00:38] Introduction of the Grue-crew
- [00:03:40] Announcements
- [00:03:48] Walker Stalker Charlotte
- [00:05:05] Horror News of the Week
- [00:05:22] The trailer for Kong: Skull Island exceeded expectations
- [00:11:18] SyFy’s Channel Zero teases season two focusing on No End House
- [00:14:42] M. Night Shyamalan reveals his Tales from the Crypt series will stick close to the comics
- [00:17:44] Sam Raimi sadly announces that The Last of Us adaptation is in development hell
- [00:22:05] Will Doctor Tongue be the final tribute for The Walking Dead season 7
- [00:26:37] Support HNR on Patreon
- [00:28:13] Horror Pack
- [00:29:42] Feature Review: The Monster
- [01:01:39] What Have You Been Watching: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- [01:40:24] Stump the Saint
- [01:45:56]: Listener Feedback/Happy Thanksgiving
NEXT WEEK ON HNR
SiREN and Night of Something Strange
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Doc a lifelong fan of horror films, sci-fi flicks and monster movies first discovering Universal Monsters and Planet of the Apes as a young child in the 1970's searching out every issue of Famous Monster of Filmland (and, later, Fangoria). Favorite films include Jaws, The Car, The Birds, The Tingler, Vampire Circus and The Exorcist. Still a huge fan of horror films from the 70s, Doc continues consuming horror films to this day for the site, for the podcasts and for the fun of it all.
