I Dig Crazy Flicks with @CatBusRuss
Episode 278 - Musical Warm Up: The Clash, The Ramones, Dewey Cox, Val Kilmer, and Meat Loaf
CatBusRuss has a fun episode lined up next week in regards to a feature that has a musical status that is debatable. It has plenty of musical numbers, but its themes may overshadow the brilliant use of song and dance. To get you warmed up for that discussion with Luna Gray from iHorror.com, our host went back in the archives for more movies that do not scream musical, but song is a critical part of them.
Next weeks conversation (Visit Russ's Letterboxd if you want a clue.) will be about a classic horror feature while the films he will be reviewing this week lean more comedic. To try and smooth the transition out, CatBus decided to watch Meat Loaf's return to big screen musicals in "Stage Fright" (2014). It is an admirable effort, but not worthy to share its title with the Michele Soavi classic.
To Russ's credit, the next feature he reviews was produced by exploitation maestro, Roger Corman, and perhaps shadow directed by horror legend Joe Dante. "Rock 'n' Roll High School" only serves as a horror feature for mice. Otherwise, it is a fun way to introduce your friends to The Ramones.
Our host likes the work of Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Marky Ramone, but he personally prefers the punk rock of Great Britain. So how could he resist watching a movie celebrating Joe Strummer? "London Town" is a heart-warming tale of an English boy learning to love everything punk (except the Sex Pistols, but nobody is perfect) through the guidance of the face of The Clash portrayed by Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
Sticking with the punk theme, Russ revisits "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story". John C. Reilly's comedic tribute to one of America's first music punks, Johnny Cash, features an all star cast and the most absurdist take on the life of the Man in Black. It is R-Rated content that is reminiscent of "The Kentucky Fried Movie".
KFM may have been directed by John Landis, but it was written by Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker. They would go on to write and direct "Airplane!", but there best narrative maybe the Val Kilmer vs. Communist musical comedy, "Top Secret!" Was all the surfer rock needed? Our host may be conflicted.
If you want to avoid conflict when it comes to snacking, try a flavor from Doich! Snacking Dough. It is cookie dough with more protein, less sugar, and none of the eight major allergens. Our host is not a cookie fan, but this stuff taste great and leaves you feeling full quickly. Follow the link below to save 20% on your order and give Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake, or WTFudge Brownie dough a try.
Episode 279 - The Great "Wicker Man" (1973) with Luna Gray from iHorror.com
Stating that Robin Hardy's original "The Wicker Man" from 1973 is the great version of this tale suggests that the 2006 remake may be good. Thankfully Luna Gray from iHorror.com makes sure that CatBusRuss knows that this feature is a case of being the one and only film deserving of this title. But with how singular this foundational work of folk horror is, society's car crash mentality may have left our podcast host open to chatting about Nicolas Cage's take on the subject matter.
Being from states bordering the Bible Belt and never being too far from Amish communities, Russ may have found the thought of folk horror to be too scary to handle. If it was not for Jess McCord needing a guest for an A24 panel, he may have still been free of this genre, with the exception of the time he and the devout Ally Higgins watched "The Witch". Now our host really wants to see his ex-girlfriend (and current best friend outside Eva: The Queen Kitty) squirm.
CatBus may be weary of conservative Christians, but his experiences folk horror thus far makes him yearn for the fun pagan gods. With the incomparable Christopher Lee as the face of the Summer Isle's religion, how can anyone resist. Fortunately, the sound mind of Luna Gray keeps our host from accepting any religion.
But as for the narrative, does it want you to pick sides between a Catholic cop and a fertility-obsessed community? The Pagans do have the better hymns. And with the music, Luna presents the most important question when it comes to "The Wicker Man": Is it a musical?
One thing for certain, this film is a winner. And if you are looking for a winning snack option, try a flavor from Doich! Snacking Dough. It is cookie dough with more protein, less sugar, and none of the eight major allergens. Our host is not a cookie fan, but this stuff taste great and leaves you feeling full quickly. Follow the link below to save 20% on your order and give Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake, or WTFudge Brownie dough a try.
Luna Gray Horror Critic | iHorrorCult, indie, folk, queer, streaming & physical media horror
iHorror: https://ihorror.com/author/luna/
Substack: https://lunagrayhorror.substack.com
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