Month: October 2018

The political comedy ‘The Oath’ purposely pledges uncomfortable laughs

Jeff Mitchell

“The Oath” – Election Day 2018 is right around corner, and with political tensions at arguably an all-time high, friendships are strained or broken, and families members are not speaking to one another. For Chris (Ike Barinholtz) and his family, they ARE speaking to each other, but that is a horrendous problem. A comedian by trade, Barinholtz takes aim at the current sludge of political discourse by writing and directing a picture built in an alternative, modern universe where the presidential administration asks voting-age Americans to sign “The Patriot’s Oath”, to…

31 Scary Movies: ‘The Thing’

Jeff Mitchell

“The Thing” (1982) – In the ferociously cold, barren landscape of Antarctica, a small group of men run the United States National Science Institute Station 4, and although they currently live in isolation from the outside world, life seems pleasant. They play ping-pong and computer chess, watch VHS tapes of “Let’s Make a Deal” and listen to music. Actually, what work is really getting accomplished? Alas, when a Norwegian helicopter pilot – who desperately tries to shoot and kill a lone dog – enters their camp, tranquility changes to immediate…

31 Scary Movies: ‘An American Werewolf in London’

Jeff Mitchell

“American Werewolf in London” (1981) – David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne), two 20-something best buddies, just started their 3-month backpacking trip of Europe.  While telling knock-knock jokes and arguing over the attributes of Jack’s unrequited love (Debbie Klein), they wander through some desolate stretches of countryside in Northern England and stop at the tiny community of East Proctor.  It’s here where they, most unfortunately, run into a murderous wolf-like thing, and without much warning. Perhaps, East Proctor needs more safety signs, like “Children at Play”, “Sharp Turns Ahead” and “Wolf-like…