30SepOctober 12, 2020

SO SPOOKY WE MADE A NUMBER 2!!!

Well, it was inevitable wasn’t it. Last year’s 31 Days of Halloween went over big with you Lunatics and believe me, Oscar and myself were surprised. But our modesty doesn’t make us immune to the follies of the very genre we’re programming. To put it in the terms of the great Star Magic Jackson Jr… the studio has a hit on it’s hands and so, it’s time to drop a deuce.

IT’S THE GODDAMN SPOOKY SEASON SON! Sorry, I’m excited. It’s 2020, so I’m taking wins where I can. Anyway if you’re returning from last year, welcome back. Feel free to skip ahead to the next paragraph as you already know how this works or you can just be patient and read it again. It’s your call really, no judgements. NEWBIES! This is how it works. Once a year Oscar and myself meet in the woods, each with a list of 31 movies we feel should be on the program. We then sacrifice a goat to Marbas for wisdom as we whittle down the 62 movies to 31. After that we email back and forth shifting, moving, nudging and replacing till we reach the perfect order to spookify the season.

Now, last year we had audio and video commentary tracks BUT seeing as it’s 2020, we ended up getting a late start on all this so like a great horror sequel that’s lost its director, no matter how good this year is, it will just be missing something. Nonetheless we have a hell of a list for you if we do say so ourselves and we just did, I spoke for both of us I AM THE GOD MARBAS. So look out to the sky and steer clear of Gypsies on the outskirts of town ‘cause VictorMoranLive is programming the 31 days of Halloween!

The Changeling (1980)

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This year we’re starting off your 31 day voyage in an old Seattle mansion where a grieving music professor is staying after the death of his wife and daughter when an unexplainable presence in the attic begins to make itself known and pull him into a murder case. This is the perfect movie to begin with. It’s moody, suspenseful, the score is classic and it has THE GREAT George C. Scott in the lead role. GEORGE C. SCOTT for fucks sake, just trust me, turn down the lights and prepare to second guess the mansion life you’ve always desired.

Midsommar (2019)

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Day 2 takes us to a rural town in Sweden where a troubled couple has traveled for a world famous mid-summer festival. But don’t let the idyllic landscapes and quaint rustic customs fool you ’cause, you know… cult. Now I don’t know about the rest of you but as an atheist myself there are few things as terrifying as a weird creepy cult so mix that with the unsettling aesthetic of director Ari Aster and you got yourself a disturbing tale that works as both beautiful metaphor and BRUTAL horror. So steer clear of the punch and stretch up before the orgy because the festival has begun.

The Babadook (2014)

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Onward to the land down under for day 3 where a single mother deal’s with her son’s growing paranoia that a storybook character is going to kill them. Is he having an emotional breakdown or is he just seeing something that his mother isn’t ready to deal with. Director Jennifer Kent makes her feature debut with this atmospheric film full of creepy sounds, moody shots and a child performance that drops a line read that reaches Ricky from Sleepaway Camp levels. Keep the lights on ‘cause the Babadook lives in the shadows.

The Exorcist (1973)

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Day 4 keeps the child actor train rolling with one of the craziest of all time. Linda Blair plays Regan, a 12 year old girl that’s possessed by a demon or maybe even the devil itself. If you don’t want to see a little girl repeatedly shout, “Let Jesus fuck you” while masturbating with a crucifix, heads up… this movie may not be for you. Throw in Max Von Sydow and special effects make-up by the legendary Dick Smith to give it some class and you’re looking at a best picture nominee that ends in the greatest exorcism scene ever put on film.

Poltergeist (1982)

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On day 5 we move over to a new housing lot in the California suburbs where a home begins to be visited by, yeah you guessed it… poltergeists. But when the paranormal occurrences go from moving chairs to sucking their daughter into another dimension, the family brings out the figurative big guns (psychic Tangina as played by the irreplaceable Zelda Rubinstein) to save kidnapped Carol Anne and clean the house of spirits. Well… kinda. Believe it or not this movie is PG but I DO NOT recommend any child see this unless you want them to be afraid of literally EVERYTHING in your house or just flashing lights in general. Hide your kids, hide your wife because the poltergeists are here.

Pet Sematary (1989)

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We close our suburban nightmares on day 6 in Maine where a young family has just moved to a house in the countryside by a main road, but when the family cat gets run over by a speeding truck their new neighbor informs them that this is Stephen King’s Maine. Which means there’s an ancient native american burial ground that will bring anything placed in it’s soil back to life. This is classic 80’s Stephen King full of creepy characters and possibly traumatizing story twists that will make you never want to step foot in Maine and realize that sometimes dead IS better.

The Howling (1981)

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Day 7 and the full moon is rising over a mountain resort where a television anchor is taking some much needed “me” time. Unfortunately for her… werewolves. This Joe Dante directed creature feature is a hall of famer and it’s mainly due to Dee Wallace’s feverish lead performance and special effects supervisor, Rob Bottin’s jaw dropping ON CAMERA werewolf transformation sequence. Hypersexual, self aware and complete with a Dick Miller cameo for good measure, The Howling is a different kind of werewolf movie that will leave you genuinely feeling for this classic monster.

The Fly (1986)

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Well it’s day 8 and scientist Seth Brundle is on the cusp of mastering the revolutionary concept of teleportation but after sending himself through as the first human test subject something goes horribly wrong. Look, there are few films that can make you squirm as much as this David Cronenberg body horror tragedy. The effects hit you on a visceral level and will make you want to look away while remaining glued to the screen. If that’s not enough for you, the score is great, Gina Davis is pitch perfect in her performance and there’s a naked Jeff Goldblum in his prime. I mean, for as long as it lasts. So give in to the dreamlike atmosphere and get ready for a scare ‘cause now the dream is over and the insect is awake.

The Thing (1982)

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Day 9 takes you to the frozen tundra of Antarctica where a small group of scientists are about to have a close encounter of their own. The Thing is the rare quadruple masterpiece as it’s possibly the best work from director John Carpenter, special effect supervisor Rob Bottin, Cinematographer Dean Cundey and lead actor Kurt Russell. In fact EVERY performance in this movie is magnificent. The acting is nuanced, the music is subtle, the lighting & camera work is moody and the effects are WILDLY inventive. Every aspect of this movie is DRENCHED in a fear fueled paranoia designed to leave you AND the characters on screen wondering just who exactly IS the thing?

Event Horizon (1997)

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To outer space on day 10 aboard the Lewis and Clark with a rescue crew on route to the Event Horizon, a ship that has been lost in space for 7 years that has recently appeared in Jupiter’s orbit. Long story short, it’s a haunted spaceship movie and I can see you rolling your eyes, NO. This movie is genuinely terrifying and finds a perfect blend of science fiction and gothic horror. Not to mention it gets GRUESOME and has a great cast led by Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill. If you’ve already seen this, you know what’s up and if you’ve never seen it, you’re in for a ride.

The Blob (1988)

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Down to small town America for day 11 where what seems to be a small meteorite turns out to be an amorphous blob that slowly begins to consume everything in its path. You know, along with The Fly and The Thing this rounds off a nice little trinity of 80’s remakes of 50’s horror classics that are arguably better than the originals. Just like the other two, The Blob ups the ante with mind blowing practical special effects done by 23 year old Tony Gardner, and by having the good sense to change the story enough to make it feel like its own thing. Fun, action packed and FUCKING BRUTAL, The Blob takes a classic horror vibe and slaps on some modern horror aesthetics. Run for your lives, the blob is coming.

Alien (1979)

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Day 12 takes you back to space where a crew of space truckers receive an unknown transmission coming from nearby planet LV-426. While investigating, a mysterious lifeform attaches to a crew members face and when taken back to the ship it turns out that thing was fucking him and heads up, their baby is super agro ya’ll. The set design is brilliant, the alien creature is LITERALLY out of H.R. Giger’s nightmares and it stars Segorney Weaver as one of the easiest picks for the Baddest Bitch Mount Rushmore, Ellen Ripley. Yes it’s technically just a creature feature but director Ridley Scott really does elevate it to something just a little more terrifying.

The Mist (2007)

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Back down to Stephen King’s Maine for day 13 as a thick mist covers a small town. Trapped in the local supermarket with someone rushing inside claiming that there is something in the mist, a father keeps his son safe from the monsters outside when he realizes there are bigger monsters INSIDE. This Frank Darabont directed adaptation of King’s novella is like a love letter to classic twilight zone episodes, in fact he even made a black and white version. Every performance in this movie is so on point I can’t even name them all and the ending will punch you in the fucking gut. Keep your eye on the lady with the bible and your revolver fully loaded ‘cause the mist is rolling in.

The Brood (1979)

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Day 14 takes us to Toronto for another Cronenberg horror classic about a man who suspects his institutionalized wife’s doctor is doing more harm than good as a series of murders take place. Imaginative and unsettling, The Brood will have you wondering what the hell is going on until it tells you and when it does, your brain would explode if you weren’t so busy being disturbed by the primal horror caused by it’s uniquely designed practical effects. You will not be able to unsee what you’re about to see. Sorry not sorry. It’s the fucking brood.

Friday The 13th (1980)

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Day 15 puts you halfway through programming which we think is the perfect time to go to Camp Crystal Lake. Sure it’s an old abandoned summer camp with a history of you know, DEATHS but we’ve got booze and drugs and we’re ALL down to fuck, I mean all but Alice but you get the point. WE’RE GOING TO CAMP! Look, if you know Jason but you’ve never seen this movie there are some surprises in store for you. If that’s not enough reason you have INCREDIBLE gore effects by The King Of Splatter himself, Tom Savini and you get to see Kevin Bacon slowly take an arrow through HIS NECK. Keep your head on swivel ‘cause it’s friday the 13th.

Last House On The Left (1972)

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We make our way to the city for day 16 where two teenage girls are kidnapped and brutalized by a gang of escaped psychopaths who by chance end up seeking refuge in the house of the worried parents of one of the victims. But when a gifted necklace tips off the parents of their dastardly crime the two take the law into their own hands. This is horror master Wes Craven’s debut movie that he wrote, directed and edited himself. It’s low budget film grain and cinema verite shooting style creates a feeling SO REAL that you will find yourself having to do as the movie’s advertising suggests and repeat to yourself it’s only a movie… only a movie… only a movie.

The Lost Boys (1987)

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Day 17 takes us to the beautiful seaside California town of Santa Carla, where the only problem is all the goddamn vampires. Camp director and undisputed hall of fame stick man Joel Schumacher brings his stylistic color palette and overt sexuality to this teen vampire movie that doesn’t forget it’s supposed to be scary. The soundtrack, the fashion, the casting of the Coreys, Kiefer Sutherland, Alex Winter and Jami Gertz are all SUCH 80’s decisions and they all FUCKING WORK. So call up the frog brothers and fill your bath tubs with holy water ‘cause the vampires are coming and they’re sexy as FUCK.

The People Under The Stairs (1991)

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Down the road we go for day 18 to Los Angeles where a 13 year old boy named Fool is informed that his family, including his dying mother, are being evicted. Family friend Leroy, played by a young Ving Rahmes suggests stealing the money from the evil landlords evicting them but when Fool breaks in he realizes that they’re more evil than they knew they were. Tell me how many horror movies there are where the lead character is an intelligent 13yr old black kid. I’m waiting and you’re not thinking of any. Back again for round two is director Wes Craven with a horror hidden in plain sight story that’s kind of like Goonies with bite. Look, you may not want to know but you’re gonna find out what mommy and daddy have been doing to the people under the stairs.

Audition (1999)

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Day 19 takes us to Japan for director Takashi Miike’s tale of a widower who is screening women in special auditions to find one he deems perfect, but after finding a woman that meets all his requirements she turns out to be more than he bargained for. There is not much that I can say about this movie, ESPECIALLY if you’ve never seen it but I WILL say that you will be talking about the end of this movie for YEARS to come and it will make you second guess every date for the rest of your life.

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

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Over to Europe for day 20 for the first sequel that surpasses the original. Director James Whale and star Borris Karloff return in this continuation where the monster is on the hunt for a wife. This golden age horror classic is no rehash, adding memorable new characters like Doctor Pretorius and The Bride herself. Beautifully shot in black and white with an epic score and optical effects that will leave you wondering how they did ANY of it back in 1935, this sequel finds a way to make you feel for the monster while keeping him a viable threat.

Candyman (1992)

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Day 21 takes us to Chicago where a grad student played by Virgina Madsen is researching the urban legend of the Candyman, the ghost of a brutally murdered slave said to seek revenge against those who say his name 5 times in the mirror. Now I know there’s a remake coming and I’ll give it a chance but I don’t know if anyone can do better than Tony Todd in the titular role. His stature is intimidating, his voice… CREEPY AS FUCK and though his backstory makes him sympathetic, his bloody hook for a hand makes him fucking terrifying. Run when you hear bees and keep away from the mirrors ‘cause that’s how the Candyman gets you.

Eraserhead (1977)

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Now we’ve been steeping in the horrors of relationships but on day 22 (a.k.a. The double deuce) we are organically pivoting to the horrors of parenthood. I’ll start from the beginning. See Henry and his girlfriend have a baby, well, the hospital still isn’t sure it IS a baby but it’s definitely SOMETHING and it cries like a motherfucker. Written and directed by David Lynch this movie is full of trippy black and white visuals and batshit crazy performances that will have you laughing one second and terrified the next. With the constant humm of the dreamlike industrial landscape and his wife gone, will Henry step up and care for his ‘not sure if it’s a baby’ or is his only shot at happiness the sweet embrace of death? I mean, I do hear that in heaven everything is fine.

The Omen (1976)

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Day 23 takes us to Rome where an American ambassador played by Gregory Peck ends up the guardian of the antichrist. At 5 years old little Damien is straight up creepy and fucked up shit begins to happen but after a weird nanny suicide and being visited by a priest that demands he kill his son, Gregory Peck’s stoic ass starts thinking it may actually be possible that THIS kid is the devil. Full of legitimately creepy sequences and a score that’s doing it’s fair share of the lifting, The Omen is full of the spooky vibes you’re looking for.

The Others (2001)

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Wrapping up our parental horror section on day 24, off the British coast for an old school haunted house story… or is it? Written, directed and scored by Alejandro Amenábar The Others manages to bring life to an old standard in the horror genre. With a grounding lead performance from Nicole Kidman at its center, a strong supporting cast around her and an overall creepy atmosphere helped out by a big spooky mansion, this movie grabs on to your curiosity and never lets it go. So keep the light from coming in and be mindful of the staff because I’ve got a feeling that there’s ghosts in this house.

The Evil Dead (1981)

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So it’s day 25 which is the perfect time to go into the woods with Sam Rammi’s low budget cult classic about a group of teens that accidentally unleash an ancient evil after playing an excerpt from the book of the dead. Relatable AF, I know. Filmed over 12 weeks in the middle of nowhere this cabin in the woods story is SO intense that the director was taken to court in the United Kingdom over it. Low on story but high on creative gore, camera work and tricks, Evil Dead was even praised by Stephen King at the time; he called it the most ferociously original film of the year. If for no other reason you should watch this movie for Bruce Campbell as Ash who not only co-produced this movie but performed his own stunts in this truly horrifying film that will have you second guessing a vacation in nature for years to come.

Wishmaster (1997)

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From the woods to a loading dock, on day 26 a drunk crane operator starts a chain of events that lead to the release of an ancient evil djinn who must answer three wishes to the one who woke him in order to release an unholy gang of his kind upon the Earth. Now I don’t know what it is about this movie but the sound design always got me. Like how in quiet scenes they always raised the level of the sound of the paper burning with each drag of a cigarette. Little things like. Not to mention Andrew Divoff REALLY brings something special to the djinn even when under layers of prosthetics and makeup. It’s a fun little horror movie that’s flown under the radar for years. Give it a chance, just be careful what you wish for.

Zombie (1979)

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Day 27 leads us to a tropical island for Italian director Lucio Fulci’s bat shit zombie movie complete with bright red blood, over the top gore and a zombie fighting a shark. No yeah, you read that last sentence correctly. A zombie fights a fucking shark. Bless the Italians. The kills are interesting, the acting’s all turned to 11 and the audio is horribly dubbed. What’s not to love? If you consider yourself a REAL zombie fan and you HAVEN’T seen this movie then trust me, you aren’t a real zombie fan. So get your fix of Italian horror lunacy with Lucio Fulci ‘cause the dead are rising and they’re going to eat you.

Prince of Darkness (1987)

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We make our way back to Los Angeles for day 28 where a priest, played by horror icon Donald Pleasence, finds a creepy church basement unexplainably filled with candelabras and housing a primordial ooze. John Carpenter brings his trademark sense of dread and synthetic score to this end of days story that’s loaded with regulars like Victor Wong, Dennis Dunn and Peter Jason. The practical special/makeup effects are great, OH and Alice Cooper plays a possessed homeless guy, FUCK thats right, theres a BUNCH of possesions. Look, there’s a lot going on in this movie but believe me, it scary as shit and the ending is perfect. Kiss your ass goodbye ‘cause the prince of darkness is here.

Scanners (1981)

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Day 29 finds us in a dystopian Canadian future where an outbreak of telepaths or “scanners” is becoming a growing threat. Among them is Cameron Vale, a homeless man with incredible abilities, who is about to be kidnapped by the government and sent to take out a rogue psychic operative on a killing spree. With a synth score and masterful special makeup effects by Dick Smith, Scanners is the kind of horror that has you on edge from subtle beginning to spectacular mind fucking end. Toss in a career making Michael Ironside performance that would have him typecasted for decades and a head explosion that would make a nun spit and you got yourself a stew going. It’s simple, it’s suspenseful, it’s Cronenberg. What more do you need?

Deep Red (1975)

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Back to Italy for day 30 where a jazz pianist falls into a mystery after witnessing the horryfic murder of a psychic. This Dario Argento directed Giallo film is where he got his bearings with violence. The camera moves are jarring, the lighting is meticulous, the edit is like a dream and the kills are MUAH, pizza chef. Sprinkle in a score by Goblin filled with a funky bassline and your typical italian dubbing situation and you have yourself a delightfully brutal horror movie that has DEFINITELY earned its reputation in the community. I keep telling you, the Italians crazy.

Halloween (1978)

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Well, we’ve reached the final day of your spooky 31 day voyage. Did you think we WEREN’T gonna have John Carpenter’s Halloween for a second year in a row? THE NAME IS IN THE TITLE, ok look, I don’t feel like I really NEED to tell you why you should watch this but fine. SCENARIO. You’re sitting at home on Halloween night and wanna put on the perfect movie to get you feeling spooky, you put on Halloween. Why? Because all the reasons. Ok? ALL the reasons because it’s 40 plus years later and they’ve spent it making sequels and reboots and remakes and re-reboots and with the exception of Season of The Witch they’ve just been making the same movie over and over again, desperately trying to reach the peak that this one hit. It’s simple, it’s understated and no matter what bells and whistles they put on the films that followed, it’ll never be as good as that first night that Micheal Myers came home.

So there it is. We dropped the deuce. The 31 days of Halloween Number 2. So what did you think? Was this a successful sequel? Was it as good as the first or better? Did you like the original better? Be sure to let us know on all the main company social media accounts @VictorMoranLive and feel free to send us your thoughts as you watch along with us every day. To subscribe to this RSS feed, click the pumpkin below. We look forward to hearing from you and if I know my horror franchises this year broke the seal for a string of sequels that nobody asked for. See you next year everybody.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

programmed by Oscar Benitez and Victor Moran

wirtten by Victor Moran

edited by Jackie Lopez

04SepSeptember 4, 2020

#TheEndOfTheMovieBlog …I dream of Muppets (part 3)

written by VictorMoran

And so Rickles’ head sat for months on the butt of my drill, whenever I wasn’t using it of course. Proudly displayed overlooking my desk. Forced to watch me slave over the very work that left him a glorified trophy with his unmade body in a box underneath my desk. I have an immense guilt over it, you can tell but in my defense, I had deadlines to meet and the body required foam that I did not have. Eventually, around July of 2019, after seeing those big eyes stare at me day in and day out, work died down a bit and I got around to getting a roll of one inch thick project foam. Rickles specifically used the word prominent when describing his belly and so I figured a full inch would give it the structure required.

So I rolled out the project foam and marked out the height I felt Rickles’ belly should be and gave myself some extra material length wise because I wasn’t actually sure just how round it should be. I cut out the rectangular shape and began making it into a tube to figure how much the belly was going to stick out and after finding the right amount I cut off the excess and glued the two ends together. Now, I used crazy glue and I’m aware there are better glues to use like silicon sprays and any upholstery glue really but I had crazy glue and it did the trick SO take from that what you will. After the glue dried I measured out four even points of both ends of the tube, marked them and cut out two inch deep triangular chunks from the marked areas. The idea being that once done you can glue the open triangles to themselves causing the tube to become rounded on the ends, giving the effect of a belly. Easy right?

Easy my ass. This took two days and three attempts to get it right. These are pictures of the first crack at it. See that weird, some would say suggestive bulge on the end? See how one end is clearly tapered more than the other? It was a fucking horror show and the second attempt wasn’t any better. Honestly I couldn’t even look Rickles in the face and due to my massive fuck up there was really nowhere else to look at him.

Where I went wrong was the triangular cut. Let’s be real here, I’m still a rookie when it comes to puppet design and building so I have no shame in saying I eyeballed the triangles on the first two attempts. THERE, I said it. I was feeling myself after the achievement of the head and got bit in the ass. DON’T EYEBALL YOUR CUTS. See at the end of the day you’re attempting to make a shape here so like it or not, you gotta use a little math and I know for a lot of us creative types that’s the word of death but trust me when you’re two attempts of materials in the hole you start cuddling up to math quick.

After two days of structure attempts and a third day furrifying the belly, yeah furrifying fight me, I was in desperate need of a break from puppet work. Sure, it wasn’t much but it was a step closer and Rickles was so happy that it would surely be enough to keep him calm for a bit as I shortly would be hard at work with the year’s new holiday programming and the upcoming 2020 lineup. All new work with all new deadlines that would have to be met. Lucky for Rickles the whole world was about to come to a screeching halt within the next 8 months.

It’s May 16th 2020 and the COVID19 quarantine is in full effect. Jocote Jams and The Soundtrack are on the home stretch of their first seasons, This Will Not Be Helpful is being recorded through zoom and my son is wondering why I’m acting like it’s not my birthday tomorrow. The stress of everything happening in the world is getting to me and my son is smart enough to realize it. He snaps me out by asking, “Where’s Rickles?” He had been getting dusty and so I put him in the box with his belly and rest of his unassembled body. Where’s Rickles… that’s all it took.

Within minutes I had pulled out Rickles and his parts. I used the circumference of the belly to gauge how much fur I’d need for the width of the torso and my forearm for the height. I then used liquid stitch glue to attach the bottom completely around the belly and the top to the jawline of Rickles’ head before pinning the spine together in a cone shape all the way down to the belly. I figured that the cone would give an illusion of a neck and shoulders without having to come up with an intricate interior structure and cuts.

Once the liquid stitch glue dried I cut off all the excess fur from the cone to make the next step easier. See, I figured I was gonna have to stitch this thing together from the inside and all that extra fabric was gonna be a bitch to deal with half blind inside of Rickles. Inch by inch, I would apply liquid stitch to both ends of the cone before stapling them together with an actual stapler internally. That way the staples would act as a clamp to assist the glue till it dried and it actually fucking worked. I know, I was kind of shocked myself.

After all the pieces were combined I went to the box to grab the foam noodles I had been holding onto all this time for the arms. It had been almost a year and a half since I found them while rummaging through my closet, inspired by Jim Henson. What a different world it had become in that time. As I cut the arms to the desired length I thought about Jim’s funeral. About those who worked with him spent their moment of grieving performing with puppets on their arms because they knew that nothing would have made him happier than knowing that in the darkest of moments, creativity brought them out of it.

And it was with that in mind that I decided that creativity would win the day and went on to furrify, yeah I said it again, the arms. Now getting the fur around the arms was harder than you’d think. The faux fur was too stiff to turn inside out once glued so that was out of the question. I was gonna have to glue them together and staple them from the outside.

Luckily the fur does a lot to hide the seams which I figured would also come in handy when in the seams connecting them to the torso. I thought 5 or 6 inches below from where the neck starts would be a good spot to help create the illusion of shoulders. While cutting the holes where I would insert, glue and staple the arms I found myself being less precious about hiding the seems.

In fact the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of Rickles being a self aware puppet. A puppet that shows off his imperfections and openly talks about how he’s made of trash from a closet and held together with staples and glue.

A puppet that proudly wears his snark on his sleeve while maintaining a gleam in his eyes. A puppet with a quickest of wits and even fouler mouth.

A puppet with the knowledge to question, the heart to overwhelm and the patience… to understand he’s gonna have to wait a longer for his hands.

…to be continued.

written by Victor Moran

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26FebNovember 10, 2020

#TheEndOfTheMovieBlog …I dream of Muppets (part 2)

written by VictorMoran

Once the head was complete I couldn’t help but play with it (don’t worry it’s not THAT kind of blog) and so there I was, a grown man in the dark playing with a puppet head. Needless to say it wasn’t long before I was talking to it. Look, I’m fully aware as to how crazy what I’m saying is but I can explain it VERY simply. Remember when you were a kid and you would randomly find an old worn out puppet in a toy bin in after school care, or your grans closet or those shitty ones they’d have at doctor’s offices? Remember how you’d put the puppet on your hand and suddenly YOUR brain just designated a voice for it? You didn’t think about it, you didn’t question it, it just came. So long story endless, in conversation Rickles and myself agreed on one thing for sure and that’s that he was furry.

Now, as I passed through rows upon rows of rolled up fabric, heading towards the faux fur area, I must admit that days of online browsing had made me close minded. I knew the color, length and courceness I felt Rickles required. I thought a non flashy purple with the vibrance of maroon was NECESSARY. The length needed to be medium but leaning toward short and matty like Oscar the Grouch and ALL THIS was in MY MIND chiseled in stone. So imagine my surprise when I ended up leaving the store with a roll of bright royal blue long strand faux fur. I don’t know what it was. I just saw it and it SCREAMED Rickles at me and you know what the best part is? They actually had a roll of faux fur almost identical to the specifications I went in looking for.

It was a gut reaction but if there’s anything I’d learned from all my research was that Jim Henson was really big on letting things happen. Sure, he went in with a plan but he never let it become a box and it’s with that spirit in mind that I justified going on instinct. OH, I also got a couple of rectangular felt fabric sheets for the mouth. Black for the inside of the mouth and pink for the tongue. I know, I’m basic as fuck when it comes to puppet mouths and I’m ok with that aspect of myself. Bet THAT’S a sentence you didn’t think you’d be reading today. But seriously, it was actually something that mattered. I’m not sure if it’s Animal or Sesame Street but the influence was oddly specific.

So I cut the felt fabric into the appropriate shapes for the mouth and tongue and put them into place with some crazy glue. Now for the faux fur. I watched a BUNCH of videos on how best to make a pattern for a puppet head and clearly none of them sunk in properly because this was an ordeal. Which is why I’m glad I don’t have a lot of pictures of it cuz I wouldn’t show them to you if I did. There was SO MUCH glue involved and the blue hairs were EVERYWHERE by the end of it. The great thing I found about the faux fur was that it’s very nature actually did an amazing job of hiding my mistakes and any noticeably ratty looking bits kind of added to the character of this puppet made from scraps.

Overall I was happy with the way Rickles’ fur lined up. The color was inviting in the way that a muppet from Sesame Street’s is but was long enough to give that Muppet Show monster vibe and as if it wasn’t perfect enough, the length also made it easy to style in a variety of ways. Everything came out so good that it made it abundantly clear that the eyes were shit. I know you were thinking it, it’s ok. I totally agree. Originally I really liked the natural color of the racket ball for the eyes but that was back when I thought the fur would be short and purple. Also something about the positioning of the pupils was bugging me but first the obvious color problem had to be taken care of.

As I sat there painting the eyes that I’d just ripped off Rickles that had been so hard to place and glue down just a few days prior I got to thinking about the early days of Jim and Jane Henson’s television careers when Sam & Friends was taking off and how they were reusing, repurposing, redressing and redesigning muppets for national tv appearances and local coffee ads. How Jim kept that spirit going when him and Frank Oz had THEIR run of projects. That idea that you cannot be precious about a thing while you are making it.

The reality is that nobody is perfect and no art exists without discovery. There are LAYERS of beautiful paintings beneath the paintings we think are beautiful paintings. But Jim Henson knew this. Something isn’t working in the scene? Rip the thing to shreds if it means it ends with the solution. You gotta rip the eyes off the puppet that took you an hour to figure out how to stay in place? Just means you already know the right way so the second time shouldn’t take so long. That’s apparently just how Jim was. Anyway, while the paint dried I cut out some penny sized felt pupils and researched the positioning.

Ok, this is actually the coolest thing. So there’s this thing called The Henson Triangle that people that have worked for the company say is the most important aspect of making the puppet feel alive. Essentially the position of the eyes in relation to the nose and mouth gives the puppet a central focal point that works perfectly on camera.

Basically you have to make your puppet a little cross eyed. I know it sounds ridiculous but it’s true. Not too much of course but just enough that if you got up really close to it’s like it in that picture, you’d notice it’s crosseyed but take a step back and and if you did it right suddenly the magic of The Henson triangle can’t help but do ALL the work for you.

After what had turned into a long night of bringing Rickles’ head to life I went to bed quite pleased with my progress… but Rickles had a body in mind.

…to be continued.

written by Victor Moran

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08JanNovember 10, 2020

#TheEndOfTheMovieBlog …I dream of Muppets (part 1)

written by VictorMoran

It’s 1951 in Hyattsville, Maryland. A 15 years old Jim Henson stands over a pile of found supplies for a project, of which he just added a ping pong ball and an old lime green jacket from his mother’s closet. It’s 1985 in Jamaica Plain, Boston. My grandmother sits me down in front of the TV, puts a VHS tape into the VCR and presses play. It’s the 18th of September in 1976. After years of shaking the “children’s programming” label the entertainment industry kept trying to put on him, Jim finally got to make the adult variety show of his dreams and by the end of the night, it will have aired on primetime television.

It’s the 14th of August in 2018. After 2 years of doing the site with Garry every week and finishing up Monday to Monday, I’m posting episode 3-b of This WIll Not Be Helpful. It’s been 6 years since I made The Nature of Things and doing the podcast has stirred up the desire for a big project. It would have to be something that nobody but me would want. Something so niche it would be pointless to make. Something insane. Something that showed it’s love of the very craft it took to make on its sleeve and above all it would have to be FUN.

My mind started racing, so I decided I would make a list. 10 things that NEEDED to be in this new dream project of mine for me to ACTUALLY go through with making it. I figured 10 is fair. 20 makes it too easy for me to bail out of and 5 is so few that you might as well not make a list at all. So I grab this clipboard I bought at Goodwill a couple weeks prior, mainly cuz it felt official, clipped a paper to that bad boy and clicked my pen to the ready. Number 1…

Yeah, you guessed right, the first thing on the list was Muppets. Now, before you “Um, actually” me, I’m aware that a Muppet is only a Muppet because of Jim so let’s act like civilized human beings cuz you know what I mean when I say Muppet. It’s not the puppet, it’s the feeling. It’s the creativity, the passion and the anarchy and it was the first thing on my list. By days end I’ve made quick work of the other 9 and start researching my number 1.

In two days time I’ve rewatched every Documentary, special and BTS video I’ve ever seen about him. I took virtual tours of exhibits, rewatched Muppet Guys Talking & Jim’s short film Timepiece and listened to countless interviews by those who knew the man and those of us inspired by him. I must say that if you’re ever looking for an inspirational youtube rabbithole to fall into, just type Jim Henson into the search bar and believe me, you’re gonna get it.

By the end of the weekend I had rummaged through research and the three videos I found most helpful to get me fully ready were Jim Henson on Making Muppets and 2 videos from Tested where Adam Savage visited Rick Lyon’s Shop and toured the permanent Henson Exhibition in the Museum of the Moving Image. It’s insane how far Jim got when you think of where he came from and it was with that spirit that I moved my attention to the closet.

If Jim could make Kermit out of a ping pong ball and his mom’s old coat, then surely I could do SOMETHING with all this crap in my closet. I found a couple of crazy long foam packing noodles that could work for arms. LOADS of cardboard, a large malleable but durable foam separator, wire hangers for the arms, through my excited eyes there was LOTS to work with.

After the smoke cleared and cooler heads prevailed it turned out that I didn’t have as much as I thought I had and what I DID have needed things I DIDN’T have to make what I DID have into a puppet. For example I had ALL this cardboard, which was great, but I only REALLY needed a little bit. That malleable foam was perfect but after cutting and shaping it, it wasn’t nearly enough. I think I had like a quarter of a small bottle of crazy glue but I did have a bunch of tape and a racketball.

Well, needless to say, this isn’t a story about how with an optimistic outlook and the magic of Muppets I overcame all adversity with a stack full of not enough materials and somehow still made an all time iconic puppet…

…but it IS a story about how I managed to make a puppet head.

Yeah, that’s right. I made a goddamn puppet head because technically it’s not illegal and nobody was trying to stop me. SUCK ON THAT SOCIETY! Look, I wholeheartedly regret not taking any pictures of the process it took to make this cuz as I’m sure you can tell, it was A PROCESS. Somewhere in between whatever I picked up from all the videos I watched and whatever kinda felt right.

So yeah, sorry if you were hoping for some story about how I didn’t do the thing but learned some greater lesson or whatever but that’s lame. My story’s way better. ANYWAY, I spent the night in awe of it. I know I made it but I just couldn’t believe I actually did and before you ask, yes it DOES have a name.

It’s Rickles McNickels. I know because he told me so.

…to be continued.

written by Victor Moran

New to #TheEndOfTheMovieBlog?

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30NovNovember 10, 2020

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM, IT’S CHRISTMAS LUNATICS!!!

Well, it’s that time of year again where a whimsical atheist shows all you tattooed, gum-chewing, heathens hopped up on caffeine, THC & nicotine the true meaning of Christmas by programming your holiday season because well, technically there’s no law that says you have to actually believe in any of this crap to celebrate.

So for all the new lunatics, I’ll explain how this is gonna work. If you’ve been here for the last two years, I hear the groans but we wanna make the newcomers feel welcomed. So feel free to skip ahead cuz dad has to talk to the kids. As for you newbies, it’s pretty straight forward. What follows is a list of 25 Christmas gems in the perfect order to make your yule log CAKE.

Now for the returning lunatics, welcome to year three! You may see some returning titles but there’s plenty of new to keep you on your toes. Also new this year is the feature of commentaries. Under 4 of these movies you will see links that say AUDIO COMMENTARY and VIDEO COMMENTARY. The audio commentary tracks are free for all and the videos are a Premium Member Exclusive BUT in the spirit of the season we’re gonna let you have the first one free. So go plug in your tree and screw in that gingerbread cookies cart cuz VictorMoranLive is programming your 25 Days of Christmas.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (1970)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

We start the 25 days by putting one foot in front of the other with this classic Rankin/Bass stop motion origin of Kris Kringle. Raised by elves, ginger as shit and dumb as a brick, Kris must get the children their toys but first he must make his way passed the magic of the Winter Warlock and the strict laws enforced by Burgermeister Meisterburger. It’s troublesome in spots and the songs are questionable but nothing says Christmas like stop motion movements and obviously perverted songs. So get ready to sing along because Santa Claus is coming to town.

Rise of The Guardians (2012)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 2 brings, returning for its second year in a row, the Jack Frost origin story that no one asked for but had no idea we deserved. Seriously, this movie is insane and no matter how many times I say Alec Baldwin plays a Russian Santa with a workshop full of toy making yetis no one believes me. Also Hugh Jackman plays an Australian Easter Bunny with teleportation abilities I think? It’s crazy on a WHOLE nother level but the lore is fascinating, the action is epic as shit and the animation is stunning. Just trust me, you need to watch this movie and I just gave you the perfect excuse to.

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

Welcome to day 3 where a perfectly ernest Christmas movie gets sidelined by the walking disaster and incarnate of chaos himself shows up. Ernest P. Worrell, a manchild that may or may not own a schoolgirl outfit has been tasked to save christmas from… well, himself if I’m being honest. The budget is clearly low, the script is shit and the effects are rough but damn it if Jim Varney and a continuous amount of odd choices doesn’t make this enjoyable. I sat down with my friend Natalie Alfonso and we did a commentary for it. The Audio Commentary is free AND as an early Christmas present we’re gonna give you the Video Commentary too. Sure it’s a Premium Exclusive but it’s a time for giving and you need an excuse to watch this. So take a massive hit to be as high as we were to watch Ernest both ruin and save Christmas simultaneously.

Home Alone 2: Lost In New York (1992)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

On to day 4 and I thought we’d give Home Alone a rest for a year and bring back the sequel set in the big apple. So what can I tell you that you don’t already know? Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Tim Curry and Catherine O’hara in what will be her first of two appearances in the program this year. NOT ONLY is the cast great but the movie is the perfect example of how dumb we were as children. NO WAY a kid can do what he does in this movie and get away with it but we give in to the disbelief because it’s kid logic, it’s Christmas and who among us DIDN’T think that eating a pizza in a limo HAD to be what rich people were doing as a child.

Aggretsuko: We Wish You A Metal Christmas (2018)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

It’s day 5 and we’re gonna bring it down to a more grounded kind of Christmas. Interoffice romance, shitty bosses, loneliness and a crippling dependency on instagram likes to value self worth. Oh, also it’s Christmas Eve and it’s a red panda AND she sings death metal. No joke, this is possibly the most realistic story about the holiday season on this list and it’s a Netflix anime. The animation is both adorable and badass, the characters are three dimensional and it’s angsty longing feels genuine. So get your selfie game on point and be careful if you’re prone to seizures cuz Aggretsuko is wishing you the metalest of Christmases.

Office Christmas Party (2016)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 6 also takes place in the office workplace setting on Christmas Eve at an office party designed to land a prospective client that can save the company and hijinx insues. The story is unrealistic, the comedy is almost all physical and aside from Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston every actor is so over the top that the whole thing kind of feels like a cartoon BUT I must say that there is something oddly satisfying about watching a large party of people high off cocaine, distributed by a fan, just WRECK an office building from the inside, you know? So get your anarchy boner raging with this simple story about two dimensional characters fucking shit up.

Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 7 is here and so is John McClane… AGAIN. The second Christmas entry in the franchise takes place in an airport and pits McClane against a NEW group of terrorists. They double down on the action, the one liners, the convoluted plot and definitely on the kill count. I couldn’t tell you how many people Bruce Willis kills in this thing. So let everyone else spend their days arguing if Die Hard is a Christmas movie cuz we’re moving on to the best case of sequalitist with that magical holiday flare.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

Day 8 is here to help you with that murderous Christmas season feeling by seeing what happens to Billy after his parents are killed by a criminal dressed as Santa. I promise that this is not going to go how you think it is. The gore is a blast, the nudity is expected and it’s become one of my new favorite Christmas Horror movies. I got together with Oscar, who had never seen this classic, and recorded a commentary for it. The Audio Commentary is open for all but the Video Commentary is only available to premium members so you can actually hear and watch Oscar experience it for the first time. For now beware the mother superior and stay out of Ira’s Toys cuz Santa is making a list and he’s killing all the naughty kids twice.

GO! (1999)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 9 and I bet most of you have never seen this outing by director Doug Liman and those who have completely forgot that YES, it is in fact a Christmas movie with performances from the likes of such baby faced actors as Katie Holmes, Timothy Olyphant, Melissa McCarthy and Taye Diggs spouting the classic line, “If you were any less black you’d be clear”. Yeah… for real. So spend the night remembering how the late 90’s did the holidays with this time jumping tale of tantric sex, drugs and violence with an aesthetic inspired by raves, a soundtrack modeled after Fatboy Slim and narrative structure doing its best to attempt Tarantino because it’s time to GO.

Bad Santa (2003)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Moving on to day 10 where a pair of criminals sneak their way into a department store Santa gig to rob the place on Christmas Eve. It’s foul mouthed, raunchy and is a great excuse to be able to see Bernie Mack’s wonderful face again. And if all that isnt enough there’s a sex scene between Billy Bob Thorton and Lauren Graham where she continously shouts, “Fuck me Santa”. Yeah, for real that happens. So put the kid to bed and get a buzz going cuz it’s always so nice when Santa is bad.

Santa Claus Vs. The Devil (1959)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

Alright, it’s day 11 and I think you’re ready to get your mind BLOWN by one of THE MOST bat shit crazy things I’ve ever watched in my entire life. See, Santa lives in a magical castle in space where he has a sweatshop of children making toys and singing songs in the most stereotypical garb they could wear. Then the magical computer with human lips tells him about the Devil but its not the Devil Devil but a lower Devil and then Merlin gets involved, IT’S FUCKING CRAZY! I sat down with Yesenia & Frank of MyXXfly and watched this for the first time and what followed is the most confused commentary of all time. The Audio Commentary is open for all but the Video Commentary is only available to premium members. You don’t want to miss this commentary, if only for the joy of seeing us sink further into confusion as it goes. So get as high as you can and prepare to be amazed because Santa Claus is about to go toe to toe with the Devil.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 12 takes us to the magical world of Tim Burton where a lonely artificial boy with scissors for hands is taken in by a suburban family. Is this the most Tim Burton movie that Tim Burton ever Tim Burtoned? Possibly, but the visuals are gorgeous and it’s filled with the likes of Wynona Ryder, Dianne West, Alan Arkin, Anthony Michelle Hall and Johnny Depp before everyone got sick of him. It’s heartfelt and slightly tragic, which makes it the perfect Christmas movie. So get your hedges ready to be trimmed cuz Edward is gonna take a scissor to that son of bitch.

South Park – S03E15 – Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics (1999)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 13 has us going on down to South Park to have ourselves a festive time in their third holiday special where Mr. Hankey sits by the fireside and introduces musical segments from, Cartmen, The Devil and even a duet medley from Jesus & Santa. It’s the perfect way to get that old school holiday special while still satisfying your need for dick and fart jokes. What else can I say about South Park other than it’s South Park and nobody does Christmas like Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Surviving Christmas (2004)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Well, it’s day 14 which means I get to say, who remembers when Ben Afleck played a lonely rich sociopath that pays James Gandolfini to rent out his family to relive his childhood Christmases? No, yeah, this totally happened. Rounding off the cast of this ridiculous premise is your standard son that won’t stop masturbating to online porn, Katherine O’Hara in her second appearance in our program this year and sprinkle in some Christina Applegate for love interest purposes. Look, I know this sounds dumb and broad and yes it is but Afleck’s commitment is enough to get quite a few chuckles. Totally worth the watch.

Santa Claus The Movie (1985)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

It’s day 15 and for the 3rd year in a row this CLASSIC is on the list because god dammit, it has it all. Duddley Moore, John Lithgow, immortality granting elves, reindeer high on PCP, Mrs. Claus titties in a corset, a street rat and the thirsty rich girl watching him from her window. I had Linda come in to do a commentary and we had a BLAST. The Audio Commentary is free for all but the Video Commentary is a premium member exclusive. So what are you waiting for? Burgess Meredith with a six foot stach to give you permission? So get ready for enough Santa lore to overflow your brain cuz Santa Claus is here in movie form.

Jingle All The Way (1996)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 16 hits every parent in the feels with this hate letter to Christmas shopping starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a mildmannored father on the last minute search for his son’s ONLY Christmas wish… a Turbo-Man action figure. It also has one of the most random castings with Rita Wilson as his wife, Jake Lloyd as his son, Sinbad as the wacky mailman and Phil Hartman KILLING it as the neighbor desperatly trying to fuck Arnold’s wife. So make sure all the gifts are under the tree because Jingle All The Way is every parent’s waking nightmare but damn if it ain’t funny.

Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 17 keeps the chaos going with Anna when a zombie apocalypse creeps in overnight during the christmas season. Look, I actually just saw this movie recently and I can’t even tell you if I think it’s good or not but I CAN say that this is something you need to watch. Seriously, I don’t know if it’s the gore or the story or maybe it’s the music. Oh, did I forget to mention it’s a musical cuz it totally is. That’s right, a zombie apocalypse Christmas musical. Yeah… that’s a thing apparently. So learn the steps and don’t get to pitchy cuz Anna is gonna walk us through the apocalypse with a song.

Community – S02E11 – Abed’s Uncontrollable Christmas (2010)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

On day 18 we search for the true meaning of Christmas at Greendale Community College when Abed points out that everything is in stop motion animation. With the dean threatening expulsion the study group and Professor Duncan must help Abed back from his land of make believe. There are few shows that get the “Christmas Special” right but this one finds a way to crack you up while simultaneously hitting you in the feels. It’s a personal favorite of mine and the reason I loved Dan Harmond before Rick and Morty. Give it a watch. You won’t regret it.

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

It’s day 19 which means you’re at the perfect place to watch Santa get kidnapped by Martians. Yeah, you read that right. Santa has been kidnapped by Martians. No matter how much I type it, it always seems fake but it’s real and it’s been on the program now for 2 years in a row. It’s just that good! Don’t you wanna see Santa subdue a robot or see how great the polar bear costume looked in 1964? OF COURSE YOU DO. So mind your way to the forest and call out for Chochum The Ancient One because this gem isn’t just out of this world, it’s out of its mind.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Alright, you’re 20 days in and you’re wondering just what is this all about? Sure, the stockings are stuffed and your tree is up but what the hell is it all about?!? Enter Charlie Brown, the only person thinking the exact same thing. Shunned by his peers and overshadowed by his dog, Charlie Brown must get out of his funk and find the meaning of Christmas before the holiday is over. Maybe it’s cuz it’s that Charles Schulz Peanuts style or maybe it’s just the sound of the characters but everytime I hear that opening theme it just feels like Christmas. Make yours feel the same and watch it now.

Gremlins (1984)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Well, it’s day 21. Which means it’s time for THE GREATEST CHRISTMAS MOVIE OF ALL TIME. Look, I said it year one, I said it last year and I’m gonna say it again now. It is not Christmas until I see a Gremlin get liquefied in A BLENDER, ok? It’s not christmas till I see one of these fuckers explode in a microwave, overrun a bar and attempt to run over the Futtermans in a snow plow. Get it? It’s not Christmas till I hear Phoebe Cates tell me how her dad died and a theater of Gremlins sing along to Snow White. Why are you even still here?! GO WATCH GREMLINS!

Scrooged (1988)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 22 takes us back to the 80’s in this adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with Bill Murray as Frank Cross, a sleazy TV executive who is visited by three spirits in the hopes of saving his soul before the end of Christmas Eve. Directed by Richard Donner and full to the brim with great performances, it is hard for me to find a legit reason to take this movie off the program every year. It really is one of the quintessential christmas movies and on top of all of that, it’s funny as shit. So look out for the ghosts of past, present and future because it’s time for you to get scrooged.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

For day 23 we take a look at the stress of the holidays. Clark Griswold is doing his best to have the happiest christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny fucking Kaye but everything surrounding him seems to be dead set against that happening. His neighbors are dicks, his inlaws are judgy and his cousin Eddie… well cousin Eddie is Randy Quaid. ‘Nuff said. Look, everyone knows this movie and it’s for a reason. It’s funny and really captures the feeling of what it’s actually like when you’re trying to make the holidays great. So spike the eggnog and grease your sleds cuz it’s time for Christmas vacation.

The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

It’s Christmas Eve and you know what that means! You’ve been struggling to get through the season and now it’s time for your reward. Chewbacca, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamil, Harrison Ford and as always the entire Chewbacca family speaking Shyriiwook for WAY too long with no subtitles. Hey, I don’t know what it is about this thing that makes it just the perfect thing to watch on Christmas Eve but it just IS. Maybe it’s the Jefferson Starship performance that looks like they’re holding glowing dicks or Dianne Carroll’s VR porn but it’s the best thing to watch with a group of friends HIGH AS SHIT. Especially if their Star Wars fans but ESPECIALLY if they’ve never seen it before. So keep Art Carney away from Malla and don’t make eye contact with Lumpy because we’re making our way to Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day.

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All (2008)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Well, it’s finally over. Meals have been had, presents exchanged and there’s nothing left to do but sit back and give yourself the greatest gift of all. A murderous bear tries to kill Stephen, Willie Nelson brings weed to baby Jesus, random awkward mistletoe moments and John Legend sings a love song to nutmeg that I promise you won’t be able to stop singing for weeks. Not to mention Elvis Costello, Feist, John Stewart, Toby Keith and George Wendt. So get ready to tap your toes and watch Santa Claus murder a bear because it’s time to have a Colbert Christmas.

Well there you have it. 25 days of Christmas programming. So what did you think? Did you like this year’s schedule? Is it better than last year? Any suggestions for NEXT year? Be sure to let us know on all the main company social media accounts @VictorMoranLive and feel free to send us your thoughts as you watch along with us every day. To subscribe to this RSS feed, click the ornament below. Look forward to hearing from you about all these movies & specials and hope you enjoy the audio and video commentaries as much as we did.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

06NovNovember 10, 2020

It’s the 2019 Fall Preview!

Welcome to the VictorMoranLive fall preview Lunatics!

Yes, the air is getting crisper, the temperature is dropping and we are gonna spend the next month giving you Lunatics some sneak peaks and early previews of some of the programming we have coming to you in 2020.

Flagships, Garry In Real Life and This Will Not Be Helpful are of course returning to get you through your Mondays and Fridays as always to make sure your week begins with the world’s favorite webcomic and ends with its most useless podcast.

All New episodes of There’s a Riot Goin’ On and write ups from The End Of The Movie Blog well be coming back and though still infrequent, they will be nice surprises to randomly pop up over your weekend from time to time whenever I get a chance to either sit at my keyboard or across from someone interesting.

Get your melodic fix with our music curation podcasts, Jocote Jams and The Soundtrack. Hosts DJ Jocote and Victor Moran will be mixing up an hour of music you should know about once a month for all Premium Members from January to June.

Sit down with host, Oscar Benitez and guests as they watch and discuss movies in our 6 episode film curation series, The Movie Cavalcade and it’s companion audio commentary tracks. This premium member exclusive is sure to remind you why you fell in love with movies in the first place and just so you casual Lunatics don’t feel too left out… we’re making the commentary tracks available to all.

As you can see, we’ve been up to a bit of work on the site so we figured we’d let you take a peek in at VictorMoranLive in a Monday to Monday special that covers the whole year of 2019. All that Monday to Monday insanity you love in one extra large episode.

As for the “more” there’s our Halloween & Christmas programming and new contributors we’re working with for write ups and other projects. Those will be announced later in the new year but for now you can look forward to teases and early looks every wednesday this month in our fall preview of the VictorMoranLive 2020 season.

Stay tuned.

29SepNovember 10, 2020

IT’S SPOOKY SEASON EVERYBODY!!!

So last year, in the midst of our annual 25 days of Christmas, VictorMoranLive’s own Oscar Benitez (also known as the cock & balls) suggested that we should be programming Halloween too and seeing as we’re both cinephiles and horror fans it only made sense that we do so together.

Now the way we did this was fairly simple. Oscar and myself each showed up with a list of 31 movies that we felt should be programed. We then sat in a room and yelled at each other until the now list of 62 was whittled down to 31. After that, over several meetings and emails, we began to shift, move and replace until we reached what we felt was the perfect order to watch them in throughout the month of October for you to have the spookiest of Halloweens.

After all that we decided, “Hey, we should do some commentary tracks”. Well one thing led to another and we ended up doing 7. So under 7 of these movies you will see two links, one that says AUDIO COMMENTARY and another that says VIDEO COMMENTARY. The audio commentary tracks are free for all Lunatics and the videos are a Premium Member Exclusive BUT we’re gonna let you sample 1 of them for free cuz that’s how drugs work. So get your jack o’lantern lit and your puke buckets at the ready cuz VictorMoranLive is programing ALL 31 days of Halloween.

Nosferatu (1922)

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We start your 31 day journey with the FIRST vampire film ever made and possibly the oldest movie on this list but what a way to start. Directed by F.W. Murnau and almost lost to copyright issues from Bram Stoker’s widow, this silent film is actually responsible for creating the myth of the vampire being killed by sunlight. Filled to the brim with Gothic imagery and using every camera trick of the day this movie will leave you creeped out by the creature that is Count Orlok and make you lose any idea that the vampire is a sexy monster.

Fire in the Sky (1993)

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Well, it’s day 2 and me and Oscar thought, fuck it lets puch these motherfuckers in the face. Sorry I guess but this is the scariest alien abduction movie you will ever see. Hell, some years back I found out that the story this is based on turned out to be a hoax and I STILL can’t watch this thing without getting freaked the fuck out. It is essentially every fear of what you think an alien abduction COULD be and it’s gonna leave you jumping at the sound of every random hum and beep your home makes as you try to go to sleep tonight. Good luck.

Oculus (2013)

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It’s day 3 and I know the title of this movie is Oculus but I refer to this movie by it’s proper name… The Big Spooky Mirror. And I call it The Big Spooky Mirror because it’s about a Big Spooky Mirror. Now that may sound silly but let’s face it, most horror movie premises do. So needless to say, I was late to the Big Spooky Mirror party but when a friend suggested I check it out I was delightfully surprised to find out it’s actually pretty awesome and has one of those great endings that you can only pull off in horror.

An American Werewolf in London (1981)

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Well, it’s day 4. We’ve had vampires, aliens and haunted mirrors so it only makes sense that we hit you with some werewolves next and there is no better werewolf movie than American Werewolf in London. It’s funny, it’s scary and displays the first ever ON SCREEN werewolf transformation that holds up to this day. They created a whole new category just to give Rick Baker an Academy Award for the thing and that was back in 82 when it actually meant something. So keep your doors locked and your fingers crossed cuz there’s a full moon rising and an American Werewolf in your neck of the woods.

Drag Me to Hell (2009)

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Yes, we’re reaching day 5 of your spooky season and it’s not a proper spooky season without the curse of an elderly Hungarian gypsy, am I right? Enter Drag Me To Hell, a nonstop supernatural horror flick with enough dark humor sprinkled between the scary bits to keep you from turning the damn thing off. Returning director Sam Raimi back to his filmmaking roots, Drag Me To Hell delivers a knockout punch to start and a widowmaker to the end. What are you waiting for? Get your popcorn going cuz this is the type of horror movie that will leave you feeling evil for having laughed.

Hellraiser (1987)

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Day 6 leads us to the Clive Barker classic that even made Stephen King say damn. Equal parts pain and pleasure Hellraiser left all of us as children thinking that MAYBE the BDSM lifestyle was for us until the inevitable body horror came in. It’s gory, it’s sexual and sure, most of the sequels suck but this one is a perfect blend of erotica and violence, so good that it will be stuck in the deepest bits of your repressed brain for the rest of your life. So steer clear of ancient Rubik’s Cubes and get the lotion ready cuz Pinhead and the Cenobites are gonna leave you with the weirdest boner you’ve ever had.

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

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Day 7 and it’s time for that something’s not right feeling. That eerie sense that there’s a macabre plot focused on you and everyone around you is in on it. Mia Farrow brilliantly plays the titular Rosemary whose baby may or may not be in the utmost danger. What else can I say about this movie other than the fact that I’ve seen it dozens of times and it’s never not creepy. Honestly, I know what’s coming and I know every twist but my skin just crawls through out. So light some candles and get ready to celebrate the birth of a prince cuz Rosemary’s due date is today.

The Wailing (2016)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

Well, you’re 8 days deep and you find yourself in a South Korean village that’s overrun with a strange sickness and though the police department is spinning its wheels the villagers are pointing fingers at the mysterious Japanese man that moved to town the same time it all started. Look, I’d never seen this movie till it got on this list so you can actually hear me watch it for the first time in our audio commentary and premium members can watch it on video but the point is that this movie builds up slowly but the payoff is worth every minute of it’s running time. So prepare to be left wondering what the hell is going on cuz The Wailing is about to exorcise the shit out of your Halloween season.

The VVitch (2015)

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Day 9 brings you a New England folktale of a banished family who leave the village and decide to build a farm just outside a dark forest but something supernatural is plaguing the family and lord knows who will survive. Real talk this is a SLOW burn but it soaks you in atmosphere and you will find yourself in a trance trying to figure out just who or what maybe under a dark spell. It’s bleak, it’s moody, the kids are fucking KILLING it in their performances and if that wasnt enough to get you to press play, the score is haunting and theres goat named Black Phillip. So light a lantern for hope and keep your baby in sight cuz the VVitch might just come take it.

The Conjuring (2013)

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Ok, you’re 10 days in and me and Oscar thought this would be a good time to have Ed and Lorraine take us to 1971 for a good old fashioned haunted house. Yeah there’s been like 17 more in the franchise after this with varying levels of success but THIS ONE is the best. Creepy sounds, demons lurking in the shadows, The Conjuring is not one to disappoint when you’re talking about that classic horror. So get the blanket ready to pull over your face and if you hear a clap run cuz Ed and Loraine are gonna exorcise us some spirits.

Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

Day 11 and it’s time for a trip down to Elm Street… for The Gay Nightmare. See Jesse just moved into town and though Lisa has a thing for Jesse, it’s clear that Jesse has a thing for Grady. Unfortunately Freddy is in Jesse’s head and he’s making it harder than it already is and it was plenty hard to begin with. Will Jesse make it out alive with his sweet dance moves and Grady or will he spend the rest of his days deep in the closet of dreamland with Lisa. Guys, we fucking LOVE this movie, in fact we love this movie SO MUCH that we aren’t just gonna give you the Audio Commentary for free, we’re gonna give you the Video Commentary too. Yes it’s a Premium Exclusive but we feel like the LGBTQ community isn’t giving it enough love so we’re gonna let you have it in the hopes that it will entice you to give this movie the chance it deserves. So throw on your assless chaps and get ready to ship Jady cuz you’ve dreamed your way into The Gay Nightmare.

Day of the Dead (1985)

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It’s the 12th day of spooky and Romero gave to me, an apocalypse and a cute zombie. Yes it’s the third and some say the darkest chapter of George A. Romero’s Dead Trilogy. Most of humanity is almost completely wiped out and a small group of survivors in an underground military facility are at each other’s throats. It’s grim, unapologetic and even famed special effects supervisor Tom Savini says the gore work in the movie is his masterpiece. Complete with a calipso score and a man shouting, “CHOKE ON ‘EM” as a gang of zombies eat his innards, Day of The Dead is a classic that has taken years to gain its status. So prepare to find yourself falling in love with a zombie named Bub cuz the dawn of the apocalypse is over and now it’s time for the day.

The Beyond (1981)

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Day 13 and we’re taking you down to Louisiana to a hotel inherited by a young woman who is about to find out that the ground in which the structure was built on the entrance to FUCKING HELL. Oscar showed me this one a couple years back and it is something special. Armed with inventive gory deaths, haunting visuals and a killer soundtrack that will get your toe tapping while you watch the kills. Believe me this is not one you want to miss this Halloween season. So avoid the girl with the milky eyes and get to running when you hear the baseline cuz The Beyond is about to take you there.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

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For day 14 we answer the questions, what would happen if Francis Ford Coppola and Bram Stoker fucked? The answer is this and don’t give me that Keanu Reeves can’t do an english accent to save his life bullshit, this is CAMP. It’s closer to a Hammer than it is to Lugosi and boy does it does it deliver. Bright red blood, sexy lady vamps and a werewolf fucking a woman in a hedge maze. You didn’t read that wrong, I said a werewolf fucking a woman in a hedge maze. Not to mention Gary Oldman as Dracula and Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing. What else do I need to say to convince you? Wynona Ryder is in it? So protect your neck and get ready to be seduced by the power of the vampire cuz the count is making his way to town.

Suspiria (1977)

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Welcome to day 15 where the colors are vibrant and the murders are brutal but that could be ANY Dario Argento movie. A young American woman travels to Germany to join the most famous dance academy in Europe and it’s not long before strange goings on start to become the norm. With a haunting score by Goblin and Argento’s visuals this is the only movie where you will see a woman being stabbed directly in her exposed beating heart. No joke, that shit actually happens in this movie and if that doesn’t get you to watch it nothing will. So turn down the lights and bask in the glow of the cinematic kaleidoscope that is Suspiria.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

Well, you’ve made it to day 16 which means it’s time for a little trip… to Twin Peaks. Prom queen Laura Palmer isn’t what she appears to be. In fact, she’s a massive shit show fueled by cocaine that apparently spends her free time hooking. Is something wrong at home or are there supernatural forces afoot in the suburban town of Twin Peaks? Fire Walk With Me is David Lynch’s prequel to his hit TV show and follows Sheryl Lee in an AMAZING performance of Laura Palmer’s last week of life. It’s tone is hypnotic, it’s narrative is surreal and it’s story is horrifying. You know, like a David Lynch movie and you can watch it along with us on the Audio Commentary track free. Premium Members of course have the video to watch along with if they choose. Seriously, this movie will fuck you up on a molecular level so heed the words of the Log Lady and DON’T follow Laura to the Pink Room cuz you are in for a terrifying ride and you wont even know why you’re so scared.

HOUSE (1977)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

Day 17 brings you the tale of a schoolgirl and six of her classmates who travel to her aunt’s haunted country home. Inspired by the nightmares of director Nobuhiko Ôbayashi’s young daughter, HOOOOOUUUUUUSE is the most bat shit crazy movie you will EVER see and has been described as an episode of Scooby-Doo on acid. Loaded to the tits with blue screen, weird edits, rotoscoping, animation, matte paintings, odd music choices and a gang of INSANE characters, HOOOOOUUUUUUSE will never cease to surprise you from scene to scene. As you can see it’s a personal favorite of ours and so Oscar and myself HAD to do an Audio Commentary for you all you lunatics to enjoy along with us and you premium members get to watch us. So get ready for the greatest piano solo you’ve ever heard a cat play because NOTHING makes any sense in our auntie’s HOOOOOUUUUUUSE.

Re-Animator (1985)

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Day 18 keeps the insanity going with director Stewart Gordan’s cult classic adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft full of gore, laughs and a scenery chewing performance by Jeffery Combs as Herbert West, a new in town medical student who moves in with a local student who soon finds out that Herbert is doing bizarre experiments involving the reanimation of dead tissue. This movie is SO MUCH fun and you’ll find yourself quoting it for weeks after as it’s lines and visuals are unforgettable and if you don’t think that’s possible, talk to me after you see a decapitated head going down on a woman against her will. So keep your eye on the cat and whatever you do don’t plagiarize Herbert West’s work cuz reanimator is here to give you life.

Creepshow (1982)

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Day 19 gives us an anthology movie directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. It tells five stories based on E.C. horror comic books from the 50’s that might just be one of the greatest comic book movies of all time. With performances by Adrian Barbbeau, Ed Harris, Leslie Nielson, Ted Danson AND MORE, Creepshow is full of flashy comic book imagery and that signature Tom Savini gore that makes every horror fan squeal with delight. OH and Stephen King plays one of the greatest hillbillies in the history of cinema. There, I’m done gushing now so keep your hands off the meteor shit and settle into the spooky cuz Creepshow is here to let you know that Jordy’s mama didn’t raise no idget.

In The Mouth of Madness (1994)

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We’ve gone from H.P. Lovecraft to Stephen King and now on day 20 we have one of John Carpenter’s most underrated movies and the final film in his apocalypse trilogy that is ironically an homage to both King and Lovecraft. Sam Neill plays John Trent, an insurance investigator who is hired by a publishing company to find their best selling horror writer Sutter Cane and along the way starts realizing that the writer’s books seem to be making it’s readers go into murderous rages. People, fuck what you’ve heard about Carpenter’s later movies, this is a gem and the perfect kind of movie to get those Halloween vibes going as you ring in the end of the world asking all of those around you… Do YOU read Sutter Cane?

The Devil’s Rejects (2005)

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Welcome to day 21 where you’ll find yourself rooting for the bad guys in Rob Zombie’s grindhouse sequel to House of 1000 Corpses. Follow the Firefly family on the ultimate road trip as they flee from the vengeful Sheriff Wydell who is looking to instill as much pain on them as they have on others. It’s grimey, dirty and full of more blood, bullets and Groucho Marx easter eggs than you can shake a stick at. Guys, this is arguably Zombie’s best movie and is loaded with killer performances by Bill Moseley, William Forsyth, Leslie Easterbrook, Ken Foree and the late great Sid Haig as the unforgettable Captain Spaulding. Trust me, this isn’t one to miss so put on your human face mask and blast freebird because the rejects are here to do the devil’s work.

Sleepaway Camp (1983)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

For day 22 we thought we’d introduce you to cousins Angela and Ricky who have just been sent to camp but before the fun can begin SOMEBODY starts picking off the campers and staff one by one. Look, I know it may seem like it but this is not your typical 80’s slasher and I’d love to tell you all the ways it’s different but I don’t want to spoil anything for you. What I can say is that it’s full of inventive kills and men in short shorts and crop tops. Hey, it was the 80’s, don’t judge. The second me and Oscar decided it was gonna be on the list we KNEW we were gonna have to do an Audio Commentary for it and as always Premium Members get the exclusive Video Commentary. So be prepared to have your mind blown and dub Ricky the real MVP because I promise that Sleepaway Camp is a movie that you will NEVER forget.

Halloween 3: Season of the Witch (1982)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

It’s day 23 which means there 8 more days till Halloween. I wonder if there’s a way to say that in song for? Oh, that’s right, there is and it’s in this movie and it fucking JAMS. Commonly known as the only Halloween movie that DOESN’T feature Micheal Myers, Season of The Witch is a diamond in the rough that nobody ever gives a chance. Oscar had actually never seen this one so if you listen to the Audio Commentary you can actually hear him watch it for the first time and you Premium Members get to watch him pop his Halloween 3 cherry on the exclusive Video Commentary. Don’t believe the trash people talk about this one as Season of The Witch is suspenceful as fuck with brutal kills, a great lead performance by Tom Atkins and a perfect villain played by Dan O’Herlihy. So put on your Silver Shamrock masks and gather by the TV cuz there’s only 8 more days till Halloween.

Brainscan (1994)

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You’ve made it to day 24 where Edward Furlong (fresh off of T2) stars as Michael, a loner teenage latchkey child with a distant father and a love for video games but when he orders Brainscan, an interactive video game where he kills innocent victims, things seem to start going wrong as the local news is reporting murders that seem eerily close to the ones he committed in the game. This is a little known horror flick that kinda went under the radar and god knows why as it’s got the likes of Frank Langella in a supporting role and T. Ryder Smith as The Trickster. Will Michael make it out alive or is he gonna have to turn himself in for his virtual crimes? Only one way to find out.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

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Well, it’s day 25 so naturally we thought it was time for a massacre of the Texas chainsaw variety. When a group of teens travel to a texas cemetery to check their grandfather’s plot after several stories of grave robbing have been reported in the local news they end up being kidnapped and tortured by a family of psychopathic cannibals and get picked off one by one by the human flesh wearing, chainsaw wielding baby of the family known as Leatherface. One of the first “let’s kill a gang of kids” movies, Tobe Hooper visually asaults you with imagery that almost feels like a documentary and though it shows very little blood it somehow remains fucking terrifying. It’s a classic, it’s unsettling and is still as scary today as it was in 1974.

The Return of the Living (1985)

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So you’ve made it to day 26 which means it’s time for some punk rock nihilism. Freddy just got hired at a medical supply warehouse but when his supervisor starts showing him around they accidentally release a deadly gas into the air, causig the bodies of the nearby cemetery to rise from the grave in search of BRAINS. That’s right, this is the movie that started the whole zombies lore of eating brains. It’s gory, there’s kick ass practical effects and every performance is turned up to 11. Full of characters with names like Spider, Trash, Scuz and Suicide this film is the motion picture equivilent of, “Fuck you dad, I’m my own man!” So strap in and order dispatch to send more paramedics cuz Trash is taking off her clothes again and you’re in for a long night.

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT] – [AUDIO COMMENTARY] – [VIDEO COMMENTARY]

It’s day 27 and we’re starting your final week of spooky with the punch to the throat that is director Ruggero Deodato’s controversial game changer that has sparked years of discussion and created the found footage genre. While on a rescue mission deep in the Amazon, professor Harold Monroe finds the footage of the documentary film crew he is searching for and after viewing it all he’s realized not only what happened to them… but why. Basically imagine the Logan Paul suicide forest video if it ended with the people of Japan justifyably and brutaly killing them all. I’m not gonna lie, this movie is fucking ROUGH and since Oscar and myself hadn’t seen it since our teenage years we decided to do an Audio Commentary track and you can hear our trepidation and Premium Members get to see our terrified faces hitting play in the Video Commentary. Honestly, this movie has a lot to say about society that is painfully still relevant and though many can argue that it is unethically produced art WE think it’s something that needs to be seen. So keep the snacks to a minimum and prepare for an oddly happy ending because the cannibals have you in their sights and you kinda have it coming.

Dead Alive (1992)

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Moving on to day 28 and we’re going gorier than yesterday but this time you’re gonna be laughing. Lionel Crosgove’s overbearing mother Vera has been bitten by a Sumatran rat-monkey causing her to get sick, die and come back to life. Lionel tries to take care of his undead mum but it isn’t long before her appetites lead to missing townsfolk and an outbreak of zombies. Let director Peter Jackson show you how they do gore in New Zealand with a movie that famously used 80 gallons of blood in ONE scene and came with a barf bag on DVD. So stay away from the custard and keep your lawn mower blades sharpened because this movie kicks ass for the lord.

Freaks (1932)

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Day 29 takes us to the circus for the movie that ended director Tod Browning’s career. Leila Hyams gives a perfectly villainess performance as Venus, the beautiful trapeze artists who has caught the eye of Hans (Harry Earles) a wealthy little person who happens to be the leader of the sideshow performers. Venus and Hercules, the circus strong man, devise a plot to marry Hans for his inheritance but when the freaks find out their plans they take matters into their own… well some of them don’t have hands, but you know what I’m saying. This is a PRE Motion Picture Production Code movie which means all the sideshow performers were ACTUALLY disfigured and deformed and they all give great fucking performances. It’s dark, disturbing and if that doesn’t get you to press play, you get to see a man with no arms or legs light a cigarette. This may SOUND like something you wouldn’t like but I bet that by the end of this movie you will be one of us, ONE OF US, ONE OF US, ONE OF US!

Scream (1996)

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It’s day 30 and do I really need to tell you about Scream? It’s SCREAM. The movie that brought back the slasher flick in the mid 90’s after all the other franchises had gone tits up. Directed by horror legend Wes Craven, Scream is violent, yes. Suspenseful, sure but self aware enough to NOT just be another carbon copy of every horror film that came before it which at that point was kind of all us horror fans were getting at the time. Complete with one of the best opening scenes ever, Scream is a masterclass in horror but isn’t so in the pocket that a novice horror fan feels left out. It’s rules are clear and at the center is a legitimate whodunit that will have you saying, “THAT’S the killer!” at least 10 times throughout the movie. So get your stovetop popcorn popping and don’t answer the phone because there’s a killer on the other end and he wants to know what your favorite scary movie is.

Halloween (1978)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Well you’ve made it. Day 31 and what did you think, we WEREN’T gonna have John Carpenter’s Halloween today? The name of the holiday is in the fucking name of the movie, of course it was gonna end this way and if you’re one these people that says “Oh, an escaped psycho goes around killing teenagers. How original.”, “Oh, it’s the killer’s POV shot, never seen that before.” Well FUCK YOU because the thing you obviously DON’T know is that all the horror clichés you’ll see in this movie weren’t clichés when they did it. This is the movie that did ALL those things first and it did it with NO budget. In fact, this was the highest grossing indie movie of all time for decades and besides all that… it’s fucking awesome! Michael Myers is TERRIFYING, Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode is iconic and Donald Pleasence cannot be matched at Loomis. Without a doubt this is the PERFECT movie to watch on Halloween night and that’s the reason that we have and possibly always will make John Carpenter’s Halloween the final film for your spooky season.

Alright that’s it, 31 days of Halloween programing. So what did you think? Do you like the schedule that Oscar and myself set up for you? Should we keep doing this every year and if so do you have any suggestions for NEXT year. Be sure to let us know on all the main company social media accounts @VictorMoranLive and feel free to send us your thoughts as you watch along with us every day. To subscribe to this RSS feed, click the pumpkin below. We look forward to hearing from you about all these movies and we hope you enjoy the audio and video commentaries as much as we did.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

01JanNovember 10, 2020

2018’s #GreatestBandNamesEver OVER!

Happy New Year everybody! Well it’s now officially 2019 which means that 2018’s #GreatestBandNamesEver contest is over and I know you’ve been waiting for the results. Once again, good job everybody. Now let’s get to it.

RESULTS:

(example: Ranking – Tweeter – Band Name – Favorites)

1st Place:

@VictorMoranLive – Tobor – 10

2nd Place:

@VictorMoranLive – Manga Mimics – 8

@VictorMoranLive – The Death of Stan Lee – 8

3rd Place:

@VictorMoranLive – Butt Whisperer – 7

4th Place:

@MyXXFLY – My Pussy Fro – 6

@ExplicitLyrical – Sexcelsior! – 6

5th Place:

@ExplicitLyrical – A Fetish for Rubbish – 5

@ExplicitLyrical – Amazon Atom Bombs – 5

@VictorMoranLive – Brokeback Breakdown – 5

@MyXXFLY – Freaky Tongue Bumps – 5

@ExplicitLyrical – Funk Marinade – 5

@VictorMoranLive – Honduran Justice – 5

@VictorMoranLive – Intimate Odor – 5

@OldGusMoran – Marijuana Guanabana – 5

@ExplicitLyrical – My Cousins Kurt and Clint – 5

@MyXXFLY – Paradoxical Popsicle – 5

@ExplicitLyrical – Pingus Majingus – 5

@VictorMoranLive – Power Pole – 5

@ExplicitLyrical – Pretentious Puertorican Pricks – 5

@ExplicitLyrical – Shit-fil-a – 5

@VictorMoranLive – Sushi Rich – 5

6th Place:

@ExplicitLyrical – A Crack Whore Named Gertrude – 4

@ExplicitLyrical – Acmetonia – 4

@dr_octo_stress – Angry Black Bassists – 4

@dr_octo_stress – Canadian Fuckboys – 4

@VictorMoranLive – Existential Bread – 4

@VictorMoranLive – False Jedi – 4

@MyXXFLY – Flirts with Crisis – 4

@ExplicitLyrical – GlitterJizz – 4

@OldGusMoran – Gort Klaatu Barada Nikto – 4

@VictorMoranLive – Guatamala Goth – 4

@MyXXFLY – Healthy-Looking Whores – 4

@VictorMoranLive – Hungarian Vegitarian – 4

@MyXXFLY – Intergalactic Brujas – 4

@ExplicitLyrical – Juggalo journalism – 4

@VictorMoranLive – Jesus & Son’s – 4

@OldGusMoran – Kinky Dinky Pinky – 4

@OldGusMoran – Let it out Let it all hang out – 4

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Lewd Dudes – 4

@OldGusMoran – Nordic Freeze – 4

@dr_octo_stress – Suicide by Gluttony – 4

@ExplicitLyrical – Teatro de Boludéz – 4

@VictorMoranLive – Thai Guy – 4

@ExplicitLyrical – Thanos’ anus – 4

@MyXXFLY – The Bomb Cyclone – 4

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – The Moran Collusion Sham – 4

@ExplicitLyrical – The Petulant Masturbators – 4

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – The White Ratchet – 4

@OldGusMoran – Treehouse Trolles – 4

@ExplicitLyrical – Wall-to-Wall Failure – 4

7th Place:

@dr_octo_stress – A bad drunk and the monkey pirates – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Bag O’Hydrangeas – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Black Phoenix Alchemy – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Bureaucracy & The Bourgeoisie – 3

@OldGusMoran – Cannabis Kanobi – 3

@OldGusMoran – Cosmo’s Factory – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Dingo and the Vajingos – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Dollar Tree Shopping Spree – 3

@MilesMoranTalks – Double whammy – 3

@OldGusMoran – Everest Rising – 3

@OldGusMoran – Extreme Gravity Puncture – 3

@dr_octo_stress – Fetish Avengers – 3

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Ghost Fart – 3

@Acidsparkle420 – Hazelnuts and Musk – 3

@OldGusMoran – Hoochikukoochiku – 3

@dr_octo_stress – Hooker Penguins and the Shiny Pebbles – 3

@OldGusMoran – HootersShooters – 3

@OldGusMoran – Hostile, Reptile – 3

@OldGusMoran – Hungarian Goulash – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Kitty Titty – 3

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – La Boca Del Lobo – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Latin Putin – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Maximum Range – 3

@OldGusMoran – MilesAshNerfhurders – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Monkey Titty – 3

@OldGusMoran – MorningGirlMeetsSexieSadiesWrath – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Occasional Kubrik – 3

@OldGusMoran – Pacific Steam – 3

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – People Yelling Fire – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Platonic Pissing – 3

@OldGusMoran – Porgies Pig Toontown – 3

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Pork Bait – 3

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Razz Ran Rampant – 3

@OldGusMoran – Ragnanarok & Roll – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Somalian Sommelier – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Satanic Granite – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Sexy Inception – 3

@OldGusMoran – Shelter Skelter – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Sister Wives – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Sloppy Joe & Tater tot – 3

@OldGusMoran – Snap Twats Lickers Feast – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Spray For Pain – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Sprechen Sie Deutsch – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Sterile Mojoless Dudes – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Tampon & Lemon – 3

@VictorMoranLive – Tastefully Formica – 3

@OldGusMoran – Thanos and The Endgame – 3

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – The Baghdad Battery – 3

@OldGusMoran – The Tart Fars – 3

@OldGusMoran – The Thundercats – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Teton Smash – 3

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – The Ancient Chinese Secret – 3

@VictorMoranLive – The Butt Bandit Band – 3

@VictorMoranLive – The Kim Jeong-Hoon Room – 3

@OldGusMoran – The Porgs From Itchycoo Park – 3

@ExplicitLyrical – Too Lewd for YouTube – 3

@OldGusMoran – Torti Morti – 3

@VictorMoranLive – United Pickle – 3

@OldGusMoran – WA WA 7 The WATWOS – 3

@OldGusMoran – Whale Fart Tsunami – 3

@dr_octo_stress – Queerdos – 3

8th Place:

@VictorMoranLive – A Bag of Pringles – 2

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Black Sass – 2

@dr_octo_stress – Commando lo mein – 2

@VictorMoranLive – Death by Donut – 2

@OldGusMoran – Dropping Deep – 2

@VictorMoranLive – DTFAF – 2

@dr_octo_stress – East Market Slut – 2

@OldGusMoran – Emerald Dragons – 2

@OldGusMoran – Everlasting Papaya Juice – 2

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Fidel Hell – 2

@dr_octo_stress – Gentle needles – 2

@OldGusMoran – Goo Goo Goo Choo & The Eggman – 2

@ezMoneyguapo – Gorilla Fist – 2

@ExplicitLyrical – Hans’ Henchemen – 2

@VictorMoranLive – Hipster Lumberjack – 2

@OldGusMoran – Hula Angula – 2

@dr_octo_stress – Kiwi Headache – 2

@VictorMoranLive – MacMan-She – 2

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Miyagi 99 – 2

@ExplicitLyrical – Paranormal Chinamen – 2

@VictorMoranLive – Part-time Hero – 2

@ExplicitLyrical – Pizza, Wings & Chucherias – 2

@OldGusMoran – PU55Y – 2

@VictorMoranLive – Porg Apologist – 2

@OldGusMoran – Rudy’s Tutty Frutty’s – 2

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Schlemiel – 2

@MilesMoranTalks – Shoopy poopy groopy – 2

@OldGusMoran – The Crystal Creature – 2

@dr_octo_stress – The corrupted condoms – 2

@dr_octo_stress – the great Star Wars baking show – 2

@OldGusMoran – The Lebronettes – 2

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Tirando Vergazös – 2

@Acidsparkle420 – Tottenham Line Massacre – 2

@VictorMoranLive – Transylvania Fogger – 2

@OldGusMoran – Tricky Licky Dicky – 2

@VictorMoranLive – Unintentional Thirst Trap – 2

@OldGusMoran – Wakanda’s Magic Wand – 2

@ExplicitLyrical – Wham! Boom! Pow! in ya Mouth – 2

@dr_octo_stress – Wookie Youtube – 2

@OldGusMoran – Yin Yan Bing Bang – 2

9th Place:

@OldGusMoran – Angula Hula – 1

@OldGusMoran – BangoBongoCongo – 1

@OldGusMoran – Occasion, Occasionally – 1

@OldGusMoran – OggioOrologio – 1

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Poke Buds – 1

@OldGusMoran – Pussy Whisperer – 1

LAST Place:

@Pongo_Pigmaeus – Colombian Parties – 0

@OldGusMoran – Colonoscopy Screamer – 0

@OldGusMoran – ShelterSkelter – 0

@OldGusMoran – Teeeter and The Monkey Man – 0

@VictorMoranLive – The Best of Chuck Norris – 0

Congratulations to MYSELF! LIKE PHOENIX I ROSE FROM THE ASHES OF 2017 AND PROVED VICTORIOUS with 3rd place, a tie with MYSELF at 2nd place and the cherry on top, 1st place!!! I HAVE RETURNED AS THE RIGHTFUL KING OF #GreatestBandNamesEver!!!! Well, atleast for 2018. Who knows what will happen in the next year and who will fight for the throne in BLOOD! So go on and FIGHT in 2019 my battle ready tweeter toads AND LET THE GAME BEGIN!!!

28NovNovember 10, 2020

…AND WE’RE BAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

Well, it’s that time of year again and I still have a website up and running and NO ONE CAN STOP ME, so you know what that means! Yes, it’s time to let a lovable atheist in search of weed and the true meaning of Christmas program your holiday viewing. What, it worked last year didn’t it? DIDN’T IT?!?

So for all the new kids, I’ll explain what’s gonna happen next. I don’t do this because I doubt your intelligence but because the internet is a big and scary place and I don’t want you worrying that you’ll be suddenly flooded by a hoard of dicks on your screen. That is NOT what’s gonna happen here… not again. But what IS going to follow is a list of 25 Christmas classics in the order and days that you should watch them to have the merriest of Christmases.

Now for the good boys and girls coming back for a second year, you may see some returning favorites but there’s plenty of curve balls keeping it fresh for year two SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU get your fireplace screensavers streaming and your Christmas latte spiced cuz VictorMoranLive is programming the next 25 days of your life.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

We start your 25 day journey with a movie SO good that it’s not only one of the best muppet movies but it’s also kind of the best telling of Dickens’ classic tale using Gonzo and Rizzo The Rat as bickering narrators in a brilliant framing device, a KILLER opening tune with a couple more in the chamber and not to mention Michael Caine having what seems to be the greatest time of his life acting his ASS off in scenes across a bunch of FUCKING PUPPETS! What are you even still doing here, go watch The Muppet Christmas Carol or I can’t help you.

Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town (1970)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Looks like last year’s opening got bumped to day 2 but that doesn’t mean this classic stop-go animation Santa Claus origin story is inferior by any means. Look is it bat shit crazy as far as mythology goes, sure. Is there a weird pedophile vibe in one of the songs (you’ll know it when you see/hear it) but damn it’s full of heart and there really is nothing like watching the jittery movements in the animation to get you feeling like a child on christmas break, mainlining candy canes and tree shape sugar cookies from your neighbor’s house.

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

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Yes bumped down one day as well is the mother of all required Christmas watching. What can i say about It’s a Wonderful Life that hasn’t been said before. It’s poetic, it’s sappy and it was actually a gigantic fucking BOMB when it came out. No shit, It’s a Wonderful Life was a box office stinker but through the years and it’s constant Christmas airtime this movie caught a second wind and is now seen as a Christmas classic that also happens to be about a guy that wants to kill himself and it’s actually really good.You try achieving ANY of that, let alone all at once.

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Well here it is. The movie that I got the most shit for NOT including in last years programing. Let’s just do it. It’s Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas! That stop-go animated movie that you actually enjoyed but was milked for EVERY cent it was worth by Hot Topic and the Disney corporation to the point that you just got sick of it. Also Tim Burton didn’t actually direct it but his name was on it for some reason BUT the animation is gorgeous and the soundtrack is something special. Leave it to Danny Elfman to find a way to make Christmas sound creepy. I still gotta recommend it.

Die Hard (1988)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Now I heard what happened at Comic Con and I know what Bruce Willis said. But I also know what’s in my heart and in my heart I know that Die Hard is fucking Christmas movie. So sit back and watch John McClane save Christmas from professor Snape, a poster boy for the Aryan race, a dime store Urkle and Huey Lewis’ stunt double the only way he knows how… WITH BULLETS! Seriously if this doesn’t scream Christmas to you, you’re just not living your best life.

Look Who’s Talking Now (1993)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

So remember when John Travolta and Kirstie Alley thought it would be a great idea to come back for a THIRD Look Who’s Talking movie? Remember it was a Christmas movie? Yes come witness the conclusion of the Look Who’s Talking Trilogy where Mikey & Julie are old enough to ACTUALLY talk and yet the movie still exists. Watch as studio executives clunkily shoehorn Christmas into a dying franchise. “But VictorMoranLive, who IS talking now?” Why it’s the family’s TWO new dogs voiced by Danny DeVito and Diane Keaton. Sure it’s like a desperate attempt to stay relevant as it slowly dies… but it’s also a Christmas movie. Enjoy.

Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Day 7 is the perfect time for the kind of movie you can show a child that would make them say, “You actually watched this growing up?” and no movie can get that level of judgment like the one and only Ernest Saves Christmas. Nothing says Christmas like a sequel to a movie based on a character from a commercial. OH and it’s Christmas. Imagine if Flow from the Progressive commercials suddenly had a SECOND movie with nearly no budget coming out where she saved christmas and for some reason plays multiple characters. It’s so bad you’ll wonder what the hell they were thinking the whole way through and you’ll laugh the sweetest laughs of all… the laughs of Christmas schmaltz.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Well, you’re 8 days into the Christmas season which means that you’re about ready to watch a man dressed up as Santa Claus straight up MURDERING people. “Did you say murdering people?” You’re goddamn right I said murdering people because in this classic of the heyday of the slasher era gives you all the visions of blood, guts, excessive violence and nudity that every wholesome child has dancing in their heads. I know it seems strong but after 8 days of holiday shopping it’s the perfect flick to help you blow off some steam. You’ll thank me later.

Home Alone (1990)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Back for a second year on the list, it’s Home Alone and why? Cuz it’s Home Alone, ok? Cuz Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern being brutally injured by the child equivalent of Rambo. Cuz John Heard and Catherine O’Hara are in this movie for some reason. Cuz John Candy as Gus Polinski, the Polka King of the Midwest, is possibly one of the most earnestly funny characters ever in cinema and he’s in two fucking scenes of the movie. Why am I still trying to convince you to watch Home Alone?!? Just GO watch Home Alone.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Also back for seconds is Rudolph. That story we know and love, done in the stop-go animation of Rankin/Bass. It’s crazy to think that this 1964 TV special is only 47 minutes long and has somehow managed to stay in the pantheon of Christmas regulars for multiple generations and it keeps going. Maybe it’s the animation, maybe it’s just the time of year but the Christmas season just isn’t complete until I see this genetically mutated reindeer guide Santa’s slay. Just sentimental I guess.

S01E10 – Mr. Hankey The Christmas Poo (1997)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Starting off the next round of 10 is that South Park classic that introduced the world to Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo. Full of great songs and the relatable story of a boy that just wants to understand the holidays. Honestly there are few things that can bring a family together like this special. Everyone can laugh at it. I mean, it’s a singing turd with a Christmas hat on. It’s damn near universal that this is just funny… It’s Christmas.

Rise of The Guardians (2012)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Popping it’s 25 day cherry at day 12 is a movie so looney in it’s internal lore that it could only come from the mind of Guillermo Del Toro. Watch as Jack Frost gets an origin story so fucking epic that it’s not even fair that this is a kids movie. Marvel at the “childhood lies” branch of the Avengers attempts to recruit him by showing off the expansive worlds of The Sandman, Tooth Fairy, an australian Easter Bunny for some reason and Alec Baldwin as a Russian Santa with ‘Naughty’ and ‘Nice’ tattooed on his forearm, I’m not making any of this shit up, you HAVE to watch this movie.

All I Want For Christmas (1991)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Back again, it’s The Christmas Parent Trap? Yeah… yeah it is. But hey, Leslie Nielsen as SANTA, a couple of adorable kids, horrible 90’s fashion and Kevin Nealon playing a Baxter in a Rom-Com disguising as a Christmas movie? So get your hairspray and Kmart jeans ready for the gift of love cuz this crappy Christmas classic is proving to be a favorite amongst any who remember seeing it. Now join the club and watch it! You’ll thank me next year.

Santa Claus The Movie (1985)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

This movie may NEVER come off this programming schedule and rightfully so. This pre-CGI epic AND I MEAN EPIC, is loaded to the brim with off the wall mythology and lore that by the way, I’ve never seen before OR AFTER this movie. Mr. and Mrs. Claus freezing to death in the snow, magical elder Elves that grant immortality, it’s got it all. Worst part about this movie is that no one knows about it and when you watch it, it looks good. All the effects work is well done, the sets are huge, money was clearly spent in the making of this movie.So I say do yourself a favor and watch this hidden gem. If only to see John Lithgow sell magic candy to kids that make them fly.

How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Back again on day 15 is this Dr. Seuss classic that has now sprung TWO feature film adaptations that have yet to stand the test of time like this one. So accept no substitutes and watch Cindy Lou and the rest of the citizens of Whoville get their beloved Christmas stolen by the Grinch. Sure he gets to save the day at the end but there is something enjoyable about watching all the inventive ways he finds to steal the gifts. Magnets on the stockings is a favorite of mine. Go watch it and have some hot cocoa while you’re at it.

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

So you’re 16 days into the Christmas season, you’ve been shopping, you’ve been gift wrapping and you find yourself feeling a little empty about the whole thing. Well do I have a Christmas movie for you! It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas! Watch Charlie Brown, a bald boy in an existential state of ennui that just doesn’t seem to understand Christmas. Prepare to feel as you watch this depressed child’s cries for help go ignored by friends, family and even his own dog as they continue to express how they all find him tedious and annoying. It may not be the Christmas movie we want but it for damn sure is the one we can all relate to.

A Very Murray Christmas (2015)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Back with a bullet on day 17 is that possibly new Christmas standard full of music, celebrity cameos, BILL FUCKING MURRAY and beautiful shots of people staring into the middle distance in a contemplative manor. For Christ sakes Sofia Coppola directed this fucking thing, look, I don’t need to know how this bizarre Netflix Christmas special came to be, I just need to enjoy it. I suggest you do the same and as always, look out for “Santa Claus Wants Some Loving” featuring George Clooney. It’s a personal favorite and further proof of its own weirdness.

The Night Before (2015)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Alright, I have to admit that I was actually late to the party on this movie. I didn’t actually see it till a year ago and it surprised the shit out of me. Not only is it full of drugs and cursing and drinking and dick jokes but it kinda has a heart to it and is one of the best uses of Michael Shannon in a comedy since Groundhog Day. It was everything I thought it was gonna be but in a GOOD way. Oddly enough all the reasons why I thought I wanted to skip this movie ended up being the stuff that made me love it. So send the kids to bed early and watch this rated R Christmas story.

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Sure you watched Seth Rogen do drugs in The Night Before but on day 19 your best bet is to chow down some edibles and hit that vape cuz you’re blasting off into space with this sci-fi Christmas Schlock fest that’s plot involves a Martian elder called Chochum The Ancient One telling his people that they must kidnap Santa Claus to save their children that no longer have a childhood due to Mars’ technological advances in child care. Did you just read that sentence? That’s actually how insane this movie is and that insanity just feels like my kind of Christmas.

Jingle All The Way (1996)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Hey, remember when Arnold Schwarzenegger was a bankable family comedy leading man and Sinbad was still riding off that Different World good will? Remember when you didn’t hate Jake Lloyd and it wasn’t problematic to have a scene where a large man punched a little person causing that little person to fly back in the air 10 ft? Then watch as a father searches for a Turbo-Man action figure on Christmas eve for his son. Laugh as hijinks ensues and Arnold befriends Sinbad but first they kinda fight and stuff and Phil Hartman is great in it. WATCH IT!

Gremlins (1984)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Alright, time for my favorite Christmas movie of ALL TIME. Look, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Christmas is not Christmas for me until I see a Gremlin come out of tree, attack a woman and inevitably get liquefied in a FUCKING BLENDER. If that isn’t what Christmas means for YOU then I don’t know what to tell you. Actually, I do know what to tell you and that is that I feel SORRY for you. The pain that you must have in your heart this time of year… it must be unbearable. Now put on your big kid pants and go watch Gremlins.

Scrooged (1988)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

I know what you guys are thinking, “Didn’t we start this whole thing with a retelling of A Christmas Carol?”.Yes, we did, See this is what is commonly known as double dipping. I don’t know what to tell you, this movie is just so great. Maybe next year it won’t be on the programming lineup but this year do yourself the favor of watching Bill Murray at the height of his powers, playing the 80’s yuppie scumbag version of Scrooge cuz it looks great, the effects are still fun and it’s FUNNY. This close to the big day you’re gonna need a laugh. So have one on Bill.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

This late in the season must have you stressed out with family and Chevy Chase can relate. (Side Note: the phrase Chevy Chase can relate has never been used before) Be it family, neighbors, the elderly OR animals, Clark Griswold does his best to remain a sane human being in the midst of holiday chaos and stress about a certain Christmas bonus he’s been coveting. Plus that moment when Julia Louis Dreyfus asks “Todd” why the carpet is wet and he goes, “I don’t know Margo.” makes me laugh EVERY fucking time. I can’t help it.

The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Ok, we’ve been here before, it’s Christmas Eve, you’ve been getting high in spurts through the day and you just wanna watch something that’s gonna, I don’t know, BLOW YOUR MIND! Well look no further than The Star Wars Holiday Special. Watch as Chewbacca’s family go about an average day speaking Shyriiwook to each other with no subtitles for TWENTY MINUTES before getting to a human speaking english. Marvel at Jefferson Starship, Boba Fett’s first appearance and elderly Wookie porn. Cringe at alien cooking shows, Carrie Fisher looking higher than a giraffe’s ass and a cantina barkeep musical number that’ll make you long for the 20 minute subtitleless Wookispeak. It’s amazing. Watch it NOW.

A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All (2008)

[TRAILER] – [WHERE TO FIND IT]

Now, I know that this was the Christmas day movie last year and if I’m being honest, it’s probably gonna be it next year too because in MY house it has just become tradition to watch A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All. Willie Nelson taking his weed back from the baby Jesus, Toby Keith fights a war on Christmas and John Legend is in DESPERATE need of nutmeg. Not to mention Elvis Costello, Feist, John Stewart, a murderous bear, and George Wendt as Santa Claus himself. So do yourself a favor and give yourself the greatest gift of all and that’s in the title so you know it true.

Well that’s it. 25 days of Christmas programming. So what did you think? Do you like last year’s schedule better? Have you seen last year’s? Click right here to get it and if you have any suggestions for next year or just like what we’re doing and wanna say, ‘hey’ you can find me on all social media @VictorMoranLive so feel free to follow or subscribe. Look forward to hearing from you about all these movies. Enjoy!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

29MayNovember 10, 2020

#TheEndOfTheMovie: Analytics

Ok let’s see, what to write that will get the attention of people and get shares and likes and drive traffic to my site? I could talk about being a father. Nah, that doesn’t get as much traction as one would like. I’d have to change father to parent. Fuck I wish I was a woman. Slap the word mother on shit and suddenly everyone gives a fuck what you have to say but that’s not an option unless I was Trans and if I was trans, OH BOY. Could you imagine the amount of traffic? A father turned mother, wait Orange Is The New Black did that shit YEARS ago. It’s probably old now besides I’m not Trans so that would be a major poser thing to do. Ok, so what can I use to drive in the audience? How can I exploit myself to improve my analytics? Ok, we’re brown. High yellow but brown enough to be chucked in the back of a truck in Mississippi. That’s not enough though. My parents are Cuban so in the eyes of most that would make me Cuban though I’ve spent my life being told I’m not Cuban enough by Cubans while simultaneously being told by Americans that I’m too Cuban to be American. So we can’t really use the LatinX thing. Oddly enough the people that have been most compassionate to my “#struggle” is African-Americans and I’m pretty sure it’s cuz they know that at a KKK cross burning we’d be kindle together quick as fuuuuuuuuuuuck and there is nothing that brings people together like knowing you’d both be lynched by the same people. #Respect. But back to the matter at hand, what can I #exploit about myself that is marketable? Let’s see, I already said I’m brown. I’m heterosexual, which let’s face it is NO help these days. Being a straight male is like buying a one way ticket to who gives a fuck what you have to say town.

This is kind of fucked up but it’s a true story so fuck it, I’ll tell it. So when I was in pre-production for the last movie I was trying to make, I met up with this guy who was helping the Coral Gables Art Cinema find local film projects, both short and feature length, for them to give like grants to or whatever. Anyway, the guy read the script and we sat down and had a meeting with him and he kept giving us all these dodgy answers as to why he thought the board he worked for that made the final decisions wouldn’t go for our movie. He kept being very vague and dancing around the subject until he finally said, “Look, honestly? If you were a gay man or a woman they would be all over this but you’re just a straight Cuban man IN MIAMI where there are LOADS of Cubans and you don’t even lean into being Cuban in the script.” Crazy, right? Not, “the script wasn’t solid” or “your production plans look iffy.” Forget that the production would have had multiple races in front AND behind the camera. None of that mattered and so that brings us back to here. What to exploit. Hrmm. Well, there’s the fat thing but that doesn’t help because you can only be a fat woman on the internet. You know cuz it’s sexualized. No one is fantasizing about a fat man but SOMEONE is masturbating to a picture of a fat woman RIGHT now. No, the only time anyone pays attention to a fat man is if he’s dancing, falling or chronicling every step on the “journey” to being a not fat guy and that’s just gross. ALL OF THIS is gross actually.

Look, maybe it’s my age talking (which is also a fully exploitable thing: See Dabbing Granny) but I always believed that all that mattered was the quality of your work because, shouldn’t it be? Why do I have to know “what’s your race”, “who you fuck, how you fuck, where you piss, who you praise”, “how you vote”,”what you watch”, “when you eat and how you live” just so I can enjoy your work? Just do good work and none of that other shit matters. You rise above. But that’s what I BELIEVE. The reality is what matters now is having a niche and oddly enough my straight, high yellow, fat, atheist, Hispanic ass is not enough niche to move the needle. In all fairness to the way things work, it doesn’t help that I refuse to lean into any of these things, cuz, ew. The good news is that when I wither away into obscurity, a death I very much I look forward to, I will wither away with the pride of knowing that I never exploited myself for the sake of commerce.

OH WAIT, mental illness! I’m mentally ill, that’s a niche, right? #MentalIllness. Guys, I’ve tried to commit suicide SO MANY times, you have no idea. Seriously, majority of my classes were in portables. I fantasize about killing everyone in line at the market JUST because. Do mentally ill people buy things? I mean, yeah, I buy things and I’m HORRIBLY bipolar. I FOUND MY NICHE GUYS! FUCK ALL THAT PRIDE SHIT I WAS TALKING BEFORE! I CAN FINALLY EXPLOIT MYSELF NOW! WE’RE GONNA BE RICH!!!

written by Victor Moran

edited by Danielle Ruiz

VictorMoranLive.com

…it's what the voices in your head are talking about.

Category: Blogs

SO SPOOKY WE MADE A NUMBER 2!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

#TheEndOfTheMovieBlog …I dream of Muppets (part 3)

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#TheEndOfTheMovieBlog …I dream of Muppets (part 2)

New to #TheEndOfTheMovieBlog?

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#TheEndOfTheMovieBlog …I dream of Muppets (part 1)

New to #TheEndOfTheMovieBlog?

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THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM, IT’S CHRISTMAS LUNATICS!!!

Aggretsuko: We Wish You A Metal Christmas (2018)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

It’s the 2019 Fall Preview!

Welcome to the VictorMoranLive fall preview Lunatics!

Yes, the air is getting crisper, the temperature is dropping and we are gonna spend the next month giving you Lunatics some sneak peaks and early previews of some of the programming we have coming to you in 2020.

Flagships, Garry In Real Life and This Will Not Be Helpful are of course returning to get you through your Mondays and Fridays as always to make sure your week begins with the world’s favorite webcomic and ends with its most useless podcast.

Get your melodic fix with our music curation podcasts, Jocote Jams and The Soundtrack. Hosts DJ Jocote and Victor Moran will be mixing up an hour of music you should know about once a month for all Premium Members from January to June.

As you can see, we’ve been up to a bit of work on the site so we figured we’d let you take a peek in at VictorMoranLive in a Monday to Monday special that covers the whole year of 2019. All that Monday to Monday insanity you love in one extra large episode.

Stay tuned.

IT’S SPOOKY SEASON EVERYBODY!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!

2018’s #GreatestBandNamesEver OVER!

1st Place:

2nd Place:

3rd Place:

4th Place:

5th Place:

6th Place:

7th Place:

8th Place:

9th Place:

LAST Place:

…AND WE’RE BAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

#TheEndOfTheMovie: Analytics