Halloween Boutique Psychotronic Reviews Dark Discussions Podcast

The podcast decides to try to do something different with our latest episode. Genre movies, books, video games, disc reviews, interviews, anime, art house film - that's been our regular format. But with 2023 just wrapping up, and almost all of 2024 still to come, we decided to take a look at various films between the two years and recap and deconstruct what we know.
2023 was a pretty mediocre year when it came to genre films. Horror and superhero films were mostly forgettable with the occasional gem that hit it out of the ballpark. We go into depths of some well known films like EVIL DEAD RISE, and some lesser known gems like VENUS and MASTER GARDENER. But we also look back at televisions series like LAST OF US and ONE PIECE too.
Then we take a look at some films and television shows coming in 2024. Will the new ALIEN: ROMULUS take the franchise in a new direction? After Ryan Gosling's performance in BARBIE and Emily Blunt nominated for an Oscar for her role in OPPENHEIMER, will their new film THE FALL GUY that's coming be a major hit? Also discussed is how some of the 2024 movies that may not make the Dark Discussions Podcast may actually be picked up on Halloween Boutique Psychotronic Reviews as episodes. Take a listen and enjoy.

Cyberpunk?  It’s one of the most unique science fiction subgenres.  Even though it hasn’t become as popular as space opera or hard science fiction, it has its hardcore fans that have made it remain in the public eye.  Japan, alone, it has actually become one of the most popular science fiction story arcs.  The movie DREDD (2012), like many American cyberpunk films, was not a box office success, but it has gained an amazing cult following since.
In a dystopian future, the government has put in place judges to keep order in place.  When a slum tower block becomes the haven of kingpin Madeline Madrigal (Lena Headey), Judge Dredd (Karl Urban) is sent along with rookie Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) to investigate three murders.  After the capture of one of Madeline’s lieutenants that could implicate her in the murders, she shuts down the building and Judge Dredd is now fighting for his life.
DREDD was directed by Pete Travis from a script by A-lister Alex Garland who’s known for the novel, THE BEACH, as well as director of EX MACHINA (2015) and ANNIHILATION (2018) as well as the screenwriter for 28 DAYS LATER (2002).  The movie was originally released in 3D and shockingly failed at the box office.  Receiving great reviews, and paying tribute to the graphic novel that it is based on, your co-hosts take a look at the movie and are joined by special guest actor Dan Lench to discuss the film.

DC movies have received varying degrees of success as each is released and turns into a box office smash or a disappointment.   When James Gunn took over as the head of the latest re-boot of the universe of the comicbooks to film, his first project was THE SUICIDE SQUAD (2021), a standalone sequel to the original from 2016. 
Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) once more puts together a super villain squad of anti-heroes to infiltrate the Latin American country of Corto Maltese after a coup overthrew the neutral government that now has turned the island nation hostile.  The squad is kept in the dark but takes the job as they will get suspended prison terms if the mission is a success.  Unfortunately for them, Waller may be as dangerous to their survival as Corto Maltese’s junta.
The movie is another success for James Gunn and gives him a big jump with Warner Brother’s Pictures and their upcoming universe.  The film didn’t gross as much as it was hoped as it was released during the middle of the COVID pandemic, but it has generated great reviews and much success after its initial theatrical run.  Your co-hosts take a look at this movie and give their thoughts.

On episode 585 of the podcast, we reviewed and discussed the new horror film FOLLOW HER (2023). All of us felt the film was a hidden gem and definitely a movie everyone should watch. With its twists and turns, a second watch is as good a first as things that were missed are not clearly seen. For this episode we were lucky to get actress/screenwriter Dani Barker and director Sylvia Caminer to join us and discuss their fantastic movie.
From IMDB: “An aspiring actress responds to a mysterious classified ad and find herself trapped in her new boss’s twisted revenge fantasy.”
Though the IMDB blurb is slight on information, the movie is so much more as it focuses on social media influencers, one’s internal conscious, as well as family relationships and how those create online content may actually create nothing at all. Your co-hosts ask our guests a lot of great questions and learn more about the film and filmmaking in general.

We may be a week late as life happens, but we are back.  For our fourth lesbian arthouse film during Pride Month of June, Halloween Boutique Psychotronic Reviews takes a look at the drama ANATOMY OF A LOVE SEEN (2014).  A movie where a film takes place within a film.
Zoe (Sharon Hinnendael) and Mal (Jill Evyn) are two popular actresses who star in a new film together.  Playing lesbian lovers, the two actually fall in love while filming their sex scene.  Unfortunately their relationship ends horribly.  When the two are called back once more to film the TV edit of the movie, they are forced to face each other after no contact for months.
The film was written, directed, and co-stars prolific director Marina Rice Bader.  Also included in the cast is Constance Brenneman as Anne, the producer of the film within the film. Your co-hosts take a look at the film and give their thoughts.

For our third lesbian arthouse film during Pride Month of June, Halloween Boutique Psychotronic Reviews searches for the obscure and foreign.  NUDE AREA (2014), a film from the Netherlands, is a curious piece of art as it has no dialogue at all.  None.  And yet as a moving picture, it captures a very poignant idea that the director/screenwriter wanted.
Naomi (Sammy Boonstra) one day sees a Fama (Imaan Hammam) on the train.  She anamoured by the girl.  Shy, Naomi is unable to approach her.  Instead she follows her discovering where she lives and what gym and spa she attends.  Soon she interjects herself into Fama’s life, and the two young women learn more about each other.
NUDE AREA was written and directed by Urszula Antoniak.  The film paints a picture of the two leads, while the lack of dialogue intentionally makes the viewer wonder if it much of the film is simply Naomi’s fantasy.  Barely noticed by critics, the film’s nudity and its LGBTQ topic may have attracted both midnight movie and arthouse fans alike.  Your co-hosts take a look at the film and give their thoughts.