Friday, August 6, 2021

Even More Early Halloween: Camp Horror, Monster PopUp & BeetleHouse LA

Mystic Museum: Camp Horror
Open everyday 12-7
3200 W Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank

Now, this isn't a pop-up and won't cost you extra, the Mystic Museum just has a horror movie camp vibe for the Summer.

Perfect for early Halloween or Summer Camp Horror movie night shopping. Oh, who doesn't want a store decking itself out in the theme of a slasher lurking in the woods or someone reading from an unspeakable evil book that summons the undead?






 

SugarMynt Gallery
August 7th: 3pm - 8pm
August 8th: 3pm - 7pm
810 MERIDIAN AVENUE
SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030
Price for attendees $10/person 
 
Two-day event featuring an interactive Classic Monster art installation exhibit “Monster Peepshow” by Chris Thomes inside the main gallery. While simultaneously, 12 vendors selling monstrous merch in our backyard. Show up anytime between 3pm - 8pm
 
Thursday – Saturday 5:00pm to 2:00am & Sunday 5:00pm to 12:00am
 1714 N Las Palmas Ave Los Angeles, CA 90028
 
Come one, come all, to the Tim Burton unofficial theme bar/restaurant. The look of the place will remind you of Burton's best work and the food/dinks also looks like a fun nod to the director. 









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Halloween 2021: Heads Up On Horror

Unless we get some more changes with Covid going on next weekend we have

Midsummer Scream presents AWAKEN THE SPIRITS!
August 14 & 15, 2021
Pasadena Convention Center
Pasadena, CA

$27.50

Heads up, only Sunday isn't sold out!

"Featuring over 200 spooky vendors, live entertainment, and a presentation stage where fans will learn what’s in store for Halloween 2021 from the likes of LA Haunted Hayride, Delusion, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Winchester Mystery House, and others.
Additional presentations, guests, and surprises to be announced!Guests are required to follow all required 
*Covid-safety related guidelines provided by the State of California and City of Pasadena.
Currently ALL guests are required to wear masks indoors at the Pasadena Convention Center regardless of vaccination status."
 
Knott’s Scary Farm
Select Dates Sept. 16 - Oct. 31 
Tickets on Sale August 16
 
Knott's is back too, but they're waiting on ticket sales for another week.

"Knott’s Scary Farm is the largest and most haunting Halloween event in Southern California, with unimaginable scares and innovative thrills that can’t be found anywhere else. The fully transformed theme park features uniquely haunted mazes and attractions, sinister shows, and more than 1,000 horrifying creatures lurking in the fog and hiding in every corner of the park." 

Oct 23-24
Globe Theatre Los Angeles
740 South Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90014 
 $15 – $45
 
*This is another early reminders as things are selling out months in advance.
 
"Prepare to be dazzled by wonders unimagined! Shop three curated floors of medical history ephemera, anatomical curiosities, natural history items, osteological specimens, taxidermy, home decor, jewelry, one-of-a-kind art, and much more."
 
Oct 8-10 
The Marriott Burbank Convention Center & Hotel
2500 North Hollywood Way
Burbank, CA 91505 
$25 – $65
 
"Son of Monsterpalooza is a fan friendly event that finishes off the year and ushers in the Halloween season with eye popping exhibits, creators and innovators, products, art and collectibles – You never know who you will bump into on the show floor!"
 
*Stupid, dumb fun.
 
Day of the Dead premieres this October on SYFY. DAY OF THE DEAD follows a group of strangers trying to survive the first 24 hours of an undead invasion. This ode to George A. Romero’s famous flesh-eaters reminds us that sometimes all it takes to bring people together is a horde of hungry zombies trying to rip them apart.
 

 Mountain Dew VooDew 2021 will be out in stores on August 30th, 2021.
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Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Weekly What To Do: Crazy4Cult Crunchyroll


 

Crunchyroll Expo 2021
August 5-7 
Free, Must Register
Online 

An online version of the Crunchyroll anime convention.
 
 
 
Downtown San Pedro
Free

The popular First Thursday ArtWalk will return at 6pm on Thursday, August 5th, in the historic core of downtown San Pedro. The redesigned First Thursday will feature guided ArtWalk tours, open galleries, outdoor dining, and live music on the corner of Sixth and Mesa.

and Pre-Recorded Q&A with Director Pascual Sisto
Thurs, Aug 5, 2021 6:00 PM 
Free RSVP, Online
 
In this enigmatic and unsettling meditation on adolescent angst, 13-year-old John (Charlie Shotwell) discovers an unfinished bunker while exploring the neighboring woods—a deep hole in the ground. Seemingly without provocation, he drugs his affluent parents (Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Ehle) and older sister (Taissa Farmiga), holding them captive within the bunker. As they anxiously wait for John to free them from the hole, the boy returns home, where he can finally enjoy and explore a newfound independence.
 

Friday, Aug 6, Noon
G1988

THIS FRIDAY we open the 15th annual group show, CRAZY4CULT. Our signature show, and the topic of 2 popular art books, returns to G1988 with an amazing line-up of artists creating pieces inspired by popular cult films (which, as a reminder, is any film with a cult following). We're so proud of this year's installment and the work will be released online, and displayed in-gallery, starting THIS FRIDAY at Noon PT. Mark your calendars now! You will not want to miss this quintessential Los Angeles art show...
Starts Friday Aug 6
Select Theaters
 
*We've been looking forward to this meta horror film about seeing horror in a theater.
 
The audience attending the last showing of a horror film in a small downtown cinema are terrorized by a murderer who begins to pick them off, one by one. The only person to notice that something strange is going on is the projectionist’s daughter.

various dates in August & September 2021Time: 7:30pm
The Bourbon Room (Hollywood)
 18+ (Must be 21+ with valid ID to purchase alcohol)
 
 -Immerse yourself in Quentin Tarantino's Cinematic Universe with a live musical performance
 -Featuring scenes & songs from Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Django Unchained, Reservoir Dogs, Inglourious Basterds, Jackie Brown, The Hateful Eight, and Death Proof
-Experience both Broadway talent and blockbuster films in one incredible night!
 
 
Gardena Pet Adoption
Saturday, August 7th: 10am-2pm
Skechers 19000 S Vermont Ave. Gardena, CA 90248
 
To support Los Angeles Animal Services’ mission to promote and protect the health, safety, and welfare of animals and the people who love them, BOBS from Skechers and Petco Love are hosting an adoption event to help the animal welfare organization’s shelter pets find loving homes. Cats, dogs, and guinea pigs from Los Angeles Animal Services will be available for adoption at the Gardena store on August 7th.
 
 ANNETTE
Writers/Composers Ron Mael
& Russell Mael (of Sparks)
Sunday, August 8
4:10pm show w/Q&A
 
In this musical journey of passion, love and fame, a comedian falls in love with a renowned opera singer and together they have a daughter with a surprising gift.



Re-Opening Revelry
Now- September 12, select Friday evenings and weekends
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater
4949 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042
$20.00 per ticket

A new hour-long celebration of Bob Baker Marionettes’ favorite things. From birthday cake and picnics, to holidays and seasons, this show is bursting with a myriad of puppets. The show runs select Friday evenings and weekends through September 12. As the first live, in-person show in the theater since March 2019, Re-Opening Revelry fills the space with sixteen months-worth of jubilation. The Theater is so packed with festivities, that guests will see the joy spilling out onto the sidewalk.


Planning it out real early

 
 
Tommy Wiseau In Person
+ THE ROOM = FUN!
Friday, September 24
8:00pm w/Intro, Midnight w/Intro
Saturday, September 25
8:00pm w/Intro, Midnight w/Intro
 at The Landmark Westwood





 

Schedule: Quetzal (August 5), Run River North (August 12), The Delirians (August 19), Extra Ancestral (August 26). 
All concerts begin at 8:00 pm.
FREE | Advance reservations required
Parking: $20 upon arrival | $10 with advance purchase | $5 for Members with advance purchase
Street parking strictly prohibited
Skirball Cultural Center
2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
 
Together with friends and family, celebrate the resilience of Los Angeles and experience the joy of live music again! That’s right, Sunset Concerts are back for a twenty-fourth season. Sing and dance to a world-class lineup of local musicians whose work amplifies the Skirball’s values to pursue justice, build community, show kindness, and honor memory.

Throughout the night, savor delicious food and drinks in the Skirball’s stunning Taper Courtyard.

 
Largo, known for comedy shows, is back open and selling out shows. Grab some tickets before everything sells out. Many new shows from some of LA's top comedians just went up for August. We see Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes and Sarah Silverman to name a few.
 
 
Summer


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Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Fantasia Film Fest 2021 Review: Wonderful Paradise

Was looking forward to this one too. Yeah, it just couldn't live up to its trailer in Masashi Yamamoto's Wonderful Paradise. The film's basic premise is that on the last day of the Sasaya family home still belonging to them, the family's daughter, Akane, posts on social media they're having a party. And what follows is a bunch of different surreal developments of strange party guests. What we don't stick to is the family learning or changing from these guests, no real change comes to any of them.
 
From the trailer, I was anticipating a fun, strange film with the promises of ghosts, sexy time and some blood and yes, all of those things are in the film, but at such a strange pace and not building off each other. It's just waiting on what strange thing will happen in the next scene. Oh, look a kaiju is in it now. Look a man in a dress. Oh, what's up with that cat.

Though a festival forms in a backyard and a lot of fun strange moments come about like a boy turning into a stick or a double ice pick wedding ceremony covered in blood, none of it seems earned. We get a Bollywood dance number, but because...the director thought it would look cool in that part of the movie?

We get drama smooshed in about the Sasaya family and why it has so many problems and other guests
problems, but really nothing comes of it. We follow a dirty old monk who appears to be homeless for most of the film with nothing to really show for it.

I've seen many Japanese films with large casts like this, but all of them have an ending to go to or a point. And were a lot weirder or sillier.  There nothing really here for this one to stick out.
 
It has a few laughs in the start, because of it's randomness, but that randomness gets annoying by the end.
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Monday, August 2, 2021

Halloween 2021:70's SHOCKERS: A 16mm Horror Movie Marathon

 Yeah, we know it's early, but things are selling out for October. Ughh, we're gonna have to do a Halloween list before the end of this month, because haunts start this September. And this horror film festival is half-way sold out.
 
Sat, Oct 16, 2021, 2:00 PM
Dynasty Typewriter at The Hayworth
2511 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
$30
18+

A shocking spree of sensational Seventies horror — screened from lovingly rescued 16mm prints.

We forever love the genre’s vibe from that time for its backwoods grit, Gothic grandeur and just plain bugnuttery. This era’s indie visions and exploitation hybrids have never stopped delivering on their grimy promise. Don’t miss these six far-out features ruled by folk curses, desert disasters, ancestral torments, orphaned teens, demented hillbillies and telekinetic murderers!

The Secret Sixteen mission: to project horror/cult rarities from the portable, wonderous 16mm format. Hints are dropped, but titles aren’t revealed until they unspool onscreen.

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The Day Dumbo Died, Say Good-bye To The Hollywood & Highland Elephants

 

The elephants that adorn the Hollywood and Highland Center are coming down as the new owners of the shopping center think they're in some way too linked to the racism of director D.W. Griffith who did the super racist film, Birth of A Nation in 1915. Though, the elephants didn't appear in that film and were in another film of Griffiths, Intolerance, the new owners decided to take them down. In Intolerance, the film depicts intolerance in 4 different stories and the point of the film is to actually teach tolerance. Sadly, none of the stories are about slavery in the US. And with getting rid of the elephants the new owners are putting a cool $100 million into a new makeover to get rid of the eye-catching Mesopotamian look.

Maybe it's to grab headlines, as it did here, because I don't remember anyone looking up and saying, "Look at those racist elephants!" Though the owners of Hollywood and Highland have stated they're doing it because of racism, no organization has come out about the elephants being seen as racist or even applauding them in getting rid of them.
 
It's really kind of just stupid and bad marketing to use fighting racism as part of their makeover. The owners should just be selling the fact that they're changing up the look of Hollywood and Highland which many just know as a over-priced tourist trap and not a local hang out.

We wonder if any black people at Hollywood and Highland Center are even involved with the elephants coming down or it's just a couple of white people doing this all.

It's much more fascinating to learn about the films of D.W. Griffith and their history in Hollywood and how the affected cinema then just saying, "We got rid of those elephants finally."  There's so much more to unpack. 
 
This is one of the dumbest things I've had to write about in some time when it comes to LA, just a makeover for a shopping area that wanted more press. If DJM and Gaw Capital Partners, who know own it, want to fight racism, they should give their money to organizations that fight it.

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Fantasia Film Fest 2021 Reviews: Alien on Stage & Strawberry Mansion

As we've already written, Fantasia Film 2021 has quite the collection this year. Here's some of the films we've seen so far.
 
Alien on Stage

It's such a different world in England from what I know, even after watching quite a lot of contemporary  British television. Did you know they have Christmas plays that have nothing to do with Christmas?  No, me neither. And if you did, well aren't you special. But, for the rest of us; called pantomimes, they just do a fun play for charity. And we follow a group of bus drivers, of all people, as they try and pull of a stage play of Alien. And it's just a silly romp of seeing them trying to get their play ready for England's version of Broadway. Not the biggest theater there, but way more than an amateur adaptation of Alien might get.

What an easy-going experience of a documentary. No big problems with the actors or in-fighting or drug problems, though these bus drivers do smoke quite a bit. But really, it's a just a charming adventure to see an amateur group pull of a genuinely funny adaption of Alien and for charity. The biggest problem might be just remembering their lines.

Also, just a pleasure to see the handwork that went into make the props and sets, but you can tell that the people making it just enjoyed doing it.

I mean, I can't think of a documentary I've seen with such little drama. And that's not bad, it's kind of refreshing.

Before you ask. You have to wait to the end to see the key scenes of Alien, but they're all in there and hilarious to watch.

Strawberry Mansion

Oh, boy did I want to love this movie. The trailer made it look like so much fun. I watched Videodrome right after it with a friend to see a far better version of it made almost 40 years ago. Great concept with middling results has us in a world where dreams are taxed. It's a world where 1950's style doesn't seem to have stopped. Your dreams are recorded in you sleep. Now they record them on mini SD cards, but before that, you're dreams are taped on VHS. And it's quite a fun start. Then, you really don't connect with the characters and it ends like a forgettable dream.
 
Enter taxman James Preble (Kentucker Audley) who has to tax a woman who hasn't been paying her dream taxes possibly all her life. Bella played by both Penny Fuller (old) and Grace Glowicki (young) takes James through her dreams to a realization that seemed pretty obvious that something isn't right with people's dreams now-a-days.

So many problems arise from this film that make it mostly kind of a slog and not even as so-bad-it's good film. The actors either by script or by their own ability aren't memorable. The film doesn't want to lean into being either too serious or too silly. And there doesn't seem to be a payoff to a realization of bad dealings in dreams.
 
I'm not gonna give credit past the start for the dream sequences, because some just fizzle out, while other just had me bored and wanted them to end. And it has nothing to do with cost. Either something is entertaining or it isn't and the previous film Alien on Stage did far less than this film when it came to art direction.

There's great ideas in the film like dream advertising being popped into your head as a friend. And then, what if that malfunctions, like an Adblocker tries to get rid of something on your screen, but can't right away. That just gets muddled into some sort of dream logic scenario that is neither clever or makes me care more about the film.

And the one bit of commercialism for a horrible KFC knock-off was a delightful concept at the start, but there's no payoff.

Even the title is a poor choice as strawberries and a small "mini-mansion" are in the film, but don't really reflect much to the actual story. I wanted to enjoy this film, but go to far into it and your dreaming of Videodrome, which is a much better watch than this.
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