Vegas Zombies

Steve Niles' Remains (2011)
Dir - Colin Theys

Yes, I know this is a made-for-Chiller TV horror flick and I shouldn't expect much – but I did. I've never read Niles' comic this is based on but I know he is a good/interesting scribe and have enjoyed other things he's done in the past. Guess I shouldn't have just expected this to be good.

The whole film is pretty by-the-numbers as far as a living dead scenario goes but it does have one good thing going for it. Well, maybe two, since it does feature Miko Hughes in one of the co-starring roles. He's the kid from Kindergarten Cop who said "boys have a penis, girls have a vagina", if you don't remember. He also was Heather's kid in Wes Craven's New Nightmare and the young, very creepy, Gage in Pet Sematary. The other good AWESOME thing is out of all the cars in the parking garage they try to break out, through a garage door, with a freaking Smart Car! HA!

Honestly, it's been less than a month since I've seen this and I practically forgot about it. Don't bother.

Big Brother is Watching You

Nineteen Eighty-Four (1954)
Dir - Rudolph Cartier

I had never heard of this version but a friend bought a bootleg of it at a recent comic convention so we gave it a go. Originally made-for-TV by the BBC for their program BBC Sunday-Night Theatre this is a fantastic telling of Orwell's classic tale. Cushing is fantastic and it proves that TV movies can be awesome.

Don't Waste Another Minute on Your Cryin'...

Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers (2004)
Dir - Joanna Kerns

Just four years after the reunion movie someone thought it would be a great idea to do another. It probably wasn't. This did have more of a sitcom feel to it in parts but the weird thing is what they chose to keep or ignore from the series or previous film. There's no mention of Maggie's run for congress, but Carol is married to the guy she met through the campaign. The biggest head-scratcher is Jason and Maggie are retired and finally moving out of the house they've lived in for 30+ years. Yes, the same house they sold at the end of the series. It also looks nothing like the sitcom home.

I don't know why I'm arguing with myself over a second made-for-TV Growing Pains movie but I am. They've already done two, wonder when we'll end the trilogy.

Show Me That Smile Again...

The Growing Pains Movie (2000)
Dir - Alan Metter

I recently acquired the complete series and re-watched so it's only natural that I then check out the made-for-TV movie to see where the Seaver family is 8 years after the series ended. Maggie loses her job that they moved to DC for but soon decides to head back to Long Island and run for congress. The kids are all grown-up leaving Mike and Carol free to become complete assholes. It's actually shocking at how annoying and rude they are through the majority of the film. There's nothing great about this or on a higher level than the series but fans will find it mildly amusing. Alan Thicke does make a pretty awesome Leonardo DiCaprio inside joke.

The Downside of Studying Abroad

Amanda Knox: Murder on Trial in Italy (2011)
Dir - Robert Dornhelm
Lifetime Original Movie

Yeah, so sometimes I'll watch a Lifetime Original Movie. Wanna make something of it? I like Hayden (well, I like to look at her) and the story seemed interesting. I didn't know much about the Knox issue but glad I watched this film. This is about what you would expect from the source - not horrible, not fantastic. Wish I would have let the DVR record the documentary on the case afterwards but I didn't. I never learn.

Creatures from the Fireplace

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973)
Dir - John Newland
Horror Movie Night


This made-for-TV gem has an effectively creepy atmosphere helped along by a great sound design and score. The creature design is very cool, I just wish there was more of them... I wish there was more of the whole film! We'll see how the remake stacks up next weekend.