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Showing posts with label MARCH MIDNIGHT MADNESS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MARCH MIDNIGHT MADNESS. Show all posts

April 26, 2011

FMWL's Midnight Madness Tournament Ends: The 2010-2011 Midnight Movie of the Year is....

It is finished.  By a vote of 14-9, after what seems like a lifetime of FMWL's Midnight Madness Tournament, one film has outlasted 63 others to become our grand champion.  In fact, you could say it assimilated those 63 films, because the winner is....
John Carpenter's The Thing

I'm not particularly surprised by this result.  Not only was it the tournament's overall top seed (due to its 8.2/10 rating on IMDB), it's also one of the most unanimously loved horror films out there.  The gorehounds love it for its effects, classic horror fans love its bleak setting, women love its Kurt Russell beard, etc.  There's next to no downside to the film.  
Much lauding must also go to Evil Dead II, our runner up, which made a good run as the last Midnight Movie of the Week I picked before starting the tournament.  I must admit that I picked it for that spot with the tournament in mind, so its run to the championship matchup didn't surprise me either.
There are a few things I might have changed had I picked this tournament on my own.  First of all, Assault on Precinct 13, which was gigantically crushed by Silent Night, Deadly Night in the First Round, would have at least made my Final Four.  The same goes for The 'Burbs, which I was shocked to see losing to Hammer's The Curse of the Werewolf in the first round.  The Regional Finals matchups might also have gone much differently were I voting, as I picked three losers among the four showdowns.  
On the other hand, I loved the way things shook out - thanks to the fantastic list of folks who helped pick the winners! - especially with the likes of Spider Baby, The Entity, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space (despite much controversy!) making their way deep into the tournament.  And, though I might have pushed the likes of Predator toward the finals - I can't argue with the result.  
And so it is. John Carpenter's The Thing is FMWL's 2010-2011 big thing.  May it proudly grace the sidebar until a new champion comes forth to steal its throne.

Or maybe it'll just wait here for a while.... see what happens....
 
Midnight Musings by The Mike at 8:19 PM 3 Midnight Warriors
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April 18, 2011

The 2010-2011 Midnight Movie of the Year is.....

... one week from being officially chosen.

But what IS official, you ask?  That only two films are left in FMWL's Midnight Madness tournament, which used to be FMWL's March Midnight Madness tournament except it's almost the end of April and I'm lame.

Voting played out in the comments of our last Midnight Madness post, and a whopping EIGHT Midnight Warriors cast their votes.  At least, they better have been whopping, because there were only eight of them.
They were:
MMOTW #32: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre vs. MMOTW # 25: John Carpenter's The Thing

I always kind of envisioned this matchup taking place somewhere in Central America.  Leatherface stumbles across Mexico creating human enchiladas while the shapeless Thing somehow makes its way across the ocean AND the Strait of Magellan to end up in the Rainforest inhabiting parrots and travelers and such.  Somewhere around Belize, probably.

The voters saw things much differently, but they voted - by a slim 5-3 margin - the same way I would have.  And thus....
THE THING moves on to the Midnight Madness Finals!

MMOTW #2: Moon vs. MMOTW #64: Evil Dead II

This matchup just doesn't really make sense.  We've got the subdued nature of Duncan Jones' sci-fi debut, led by Sam Rockwell's unique performance, and the slapstick, in-your-face attitude of Evil Dead II.  Though both films do have some tertiary cast members, they're two of the biggest and best one man shows in genre cinema.

The voters, for the most part, only had one of these men on their minds.  And, after a 7-1 vote, it was decided that....
 EVIL DEAD II moves on to the Midnight Madness Finals!

So, there it is.  The final two films that will battle in the last matchup for the title of 2010-2011 Midnight Movie of the Year are The Thing and Evil Dead II!

The poll is up.  It's at the top of the page on the right.  GO VOTE.  Or I send this guy after you!
Midnight Musings by The Mike at 10:37 PM 0 Midnight Warriors
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April 17, 2011

YOU HAVE LESS THAN 8 HOURS TO LIVE....

....wait a minute.  Sorry, typo.

What I meant to say was, you have less than 8 hours left to vote in the semifinals of our Midnight Madness Tournament!  Click the posters below, go to the post, and leave a comment with your picks for the two matchups!

The Thing vs. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre!  Moon vs. Evil Dead II!  
Who wins? 
YOU DECIDE!!!!!
Midnight Musings by The Mike at 4:11 PM 0 Midnight Warriors
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April 11, 2011

VOTE NOW in FMWL's Midnight Madness Tournament Fatal Four!

For more than three weeks, we've been plugging away at FMWL's March Midnight Madness Tournament.  A fantastic team of writers/bloggers from around the web signed up to help whittle the field of the first 64 Midnight Movie of the Week picks down to these four survivors, who will now battle to become FMWL'S 2010-2011 MIDNIGHT MOVIE OF THE YEAR.  Though I'm entirely grateful to all those folks for helping out so far, I wanted to get as many opinions as is humanly possible for these final matchups.  So, it's time for you - the FMWL reader extraordinaire! - to be heard. 
So here's the rules:
  • Read about the matchups below.
  • In the comments (and using your name or your blogger account, anonymous votes will not be accepted!) tell me which film you prefer in each matchup.
  • Feel free to argue with other commenters, to make your case, to try and sway voters, etc.  (Of course, do so in a civil way.  Any overly mean stuff will be deleted promptly.)  I'm not counting votes right away, so you're free to change your mind all the way up to the deadline.
  • Voting will end at 12:01 (AM Central Time) on the morning of Monday 4/18.
  • After all the comments are left and the votes are tallied, I'll post your comments and votes here on Monday the 18th, at which point the same process will begin involving the final two films that will battle for the title!
Make sense?  Good.  Here's the four films and two matchups we're talking about....


#3 Seed & Frankenstein Regional Winner - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
How It Got Here: Defeated #14 Seed Raw Meat (12-0); Defeated #6 Seed They Live (12-2); Defeated #7 Seed Ginger Snaps (13-0); Defeated #1 Seed Predator (8-2).  Total Vote = 45-2.
The Story Thus Far: It was a surprise to me that this film was as low as a #3 seed - it was the highest rated three seed, 9th overall - when I used IMDB ratings to formulate the original bracket.  None of the results here really surprised me, though I must admit I thought Predator might put up more of a fight.
My Favorite Screenshot: I'm not too proud to pick this iconic one.

#1 Seed & Myers Regional Winner - John Carpenter's The Thing
How It Got Here: Defeated #16 Seed The Food of the Gods (12-0); Defeated #9 Seed The House of the Devil (14-0); Defeated #4 Seed Big Trouble in Little China (13-0); Defeated #10 Seed Friday the 13th (11-0). Total Vote = 50-0.
The Story Thus Far: The results pretty much sum it up.  No one - including me - has voted against The Thing through four matchups.  It's been a juggernaut.  But it hasn't faced anything quite like TCM...yet.

My Favorite Screenshot: I love this one, which combines a pre-blood testing Kurt (and his beard) with the suggestive poster that proclaims THEY AREN'T LABELED and parallels the film's plot.

#1 Seed & Hammer Regional Winner - Moon
How It Got Here: Defeated #16 Seed The Roost (7-1); Defeated #9 Seed Candyman (7-6); Defeated #13 Seed Piranha (7-5); Defeated #7 Seed Spider Baby (6-4). Total Vote = 27-16.
The Story Thus Far: Despite it being the second highest rated #1 Seed on IMDB, I doubted Moon would make it this far from the start.  I didn't expect it to get past Candyman, and then Piranha nearly shocked it in the Sinister Sixteen.  But, the votes were just enough for it to make it through to represent the sci-fi genre in the Fatal Four.

My Favorite Screenshot: The haunting mysterious young woman from early in the film doesn't look too imposing here....but we just know there's something terribly wrong as soon as she shows up.  

#1 Seed & Blob Regional Winner - Evil Dead II: Dead by Dawn
How it Got Here: Defeated #16 Seed Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (11-0); Defeated #8 Seed The Curse of the Werewolf (11-2); Defeated #4 Seed Death Proof (11-2); Defeated #14 Seed Killer Klowns from Outer Space (9-1).  Total Vote = 42-5.
The Story Thus Far: The last Midnight Movie of the Week before the tournament was one I thought would do pretty well, and I haven't been proven wrong.  It also may have had the easiest run to the Fatal Four, with no disrespect meant to the likes of the Killer Klowns.  Can it survive till the final matchup dawns?

My Favorite Screenshot: There are few things that creep me out like the Evil Dead cabin, and I just adore this shot of it from the perspective of the makeshift cross that guards the grave of poor Cheryl 2.0.
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So there you have it!  Hit up the comments below and vote for the two films you want to see in the final matchup to become 2010-2011 MIDNIGHT MOVIE OF THE YEAR!!!!
Will it be The Texas Chainsaw Massacre or The Thing?
Will it be Moon or Evil Dead II?

YOU DECIDE!  All votes need to be in by 12:01 AM CST on Monday 4/18!
Midnight Musings by The Mike at 11:45 AM 9 Midnight Warriors
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April 10, 2011

FMWL's March Midnight Madness Tournament - The Regional Finals!

Last weekend we whittled the field down to these eight films, and now it's time to take the field down to the FATAL FOUR films that will compete for the title of 2010-2011 Midnight Movie of the Year.  Our trusty and devoted selection Committee is back once more, and let's waste no more time letting their choices get cold!

If you missed the Sinister Sixteen, go HERE to check out how we got here!
If you missed Round Two, go HERE to check out how we got there!
If you missed Round One, go HERE to check out all the tourney action!
If you want to know who the selection committee for the Sinister Sixteen is, here they are:
The Frankenstein Regional
What The Mike says: I'm gonna let you all in on a little secret.  I'm not wild about TCM.  I like it alot, I think it's a fascinating piece of horror, but I can only watch it once in a long while.  Predator and I, on the other hand, have no problems.  It completes me.  And it gets my endorsement here.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "TCM is my favorite horror film of all time. Viewing it elicits a visceral response that I don’t believe could ever be recreated. The dinner table scene makes my teeth grind." - Christine
  • "I have to vote for Predator here. It is one of my favorite creatures of all time. So much detail went in to creating it, and it was insanely good for its time! Predator moves on!" - R.D. Penning
  • "Wow...Leatherface vs. Predator. The thought of this matchup would make an awesome film! Arnie could have a cameo where he says to Leatherface: Now you...you REALLY are one ugly muthafucka!" - Geof
  • "Of all the things I love about TCM, the fact that Tobe Hooper thought he made a comedy might be my favorite thing." - Mike S.
The Vote: Predator 2, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 8 - THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE moves on to the Fatal Four!
The Myers Regional
What The Mike says: This is the easiest choice ever.  The man who created Halloween takes on the ripoff of Halloween.  It is called the MYERS Regional, after all.  Gimme that THING.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Be honest: would you rather see a bunch of anonymous teenagers being predictably hacked up one by one, or experience the gory, grueling antarctic mayhem of Carpenter's masterpiece? It's not even close." - Andreas
  • "There is no worthier king to finally dethrone an overrated slasher than Kurt Russell's beard." - Emily
  • "This is no contest, and frankly I'm surprised Friday the 13th has made it this far. Out of the big three slashers, both Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street are far superior for me, and if either of those were facing off against The Thing then this would be a far tougher match-up to call. As it is, Kurt Russell and his beard keep on going. If The Thing doesn't get through to the next round, well, to quote Palmer: You gotta be fucking kidding." - Liam
  • "Every aspect of this match-up screams for The Thing to win....from it's claustrophobic and paranoid atmosphere, to it's grotesque creature, and of course to the presence of Kurt Russell.  I love Friday the 13th, but it pales in comparison to The Thing." - Emily C
The Vote: The Thing 11, Friday the 13th 0 - THE THING moves on to the Fatal Four!
The Hammer Regional
#1 Seed - MMOTW #2: Moon vs. #7 Seed: MMOTW #14: Spider Baby
What The Mike says: I probably like Moon a little more as an overall movie, but I'm backing Spider Baby here.  It's one of the most unique horror comedies ever made, and it deserves the rub.  Moon's day will come, Spider Baby's is here.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Duncan Jones is perhaps THE most well rounded director out there right now. His attention to detail and love for the cinema is unbelievable. Moon easily wins... Sorry Spider Baby." - R.D. Penning
  • "Moon is a masterpiece, no doubt about it. But Jack Hill's Spider Baby is such a perfect slice of campy horror that I believe it would stay on court until the timer ran out, then proceed to tear Sam Rockwell apart with its own adorable hands." - Emily
  • "I'll admit, I've still not got around to catching Moon, but it would have to be something damn special to beat out Spider Baby. There's just something so fantastic about Spider Baby's glorious ricketiness that just gives it so much appeal. It's quirky and off-beat, and I know I shouldn't but I kinda fancy Virginia." - Liam
  • "Spider Baby once again gets my vote because I just can't help but love the wonderful family and their homicidal tendencies... even more than multiple Sam Rockwells." - Emily C 
  • "As much fun as I get out of Spider Baby's quasi-exploitation antics, Moon is undoubtedly the superior film. (Though just for kicks, let's imagine a crossover: what if GERTY had to supervise the Merrye children?)" - Andreas
The Vote: Moon 6, Spider Baby 4 - MOON moves on to the Fatal Four!
The Blob Regional
What The Mike says: I can't stop myself.  I love that Killer Klowns from Outer Space has made it this far, and I love the movie's cheesy brand of awesome.  I love Evil Dead II as well, of course, but it's no fun to always root for the favorites.  Give me Klowns or give me Evil Death!
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Evil Dead deserves the crown. I’ve never been a super fan, but it’s impossible to deny its influence and staying power in the community." - Christine
  • "The best matchup of this bracket! Klowns are awesome but Ash owns. I imagine if he said "Gimmie some sugar, baby" to them, they would offer one of their cotton candy cocoons." - Geof
  • "I can't help it. I just think crazy straws are groovy." - Emily
  • "I'm just not down with the clowns. I hate goddamn juggalos." - Mike S.
  • "While I love Killer Klowns to death, the horror-comedy blend is much more even in Evil Dead II...and it has Ash and demons and evil incantations, which are superior to klowns." - Emily C
The Vote: Evil Dead II 9, Killer Klowns from Outer Space 1 - EVIL DEAD II moves on to the Fatal Four!
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And like that, we're down to FOUR.  One #3 seed crashed the party, but the other three regions were dominated by the #1 seeds, which should set up a dynamic Fatal Four!

The Fatal Four Matchups!
#3 Seed & Frankenstein Regional Winner - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre vs. #1 Seed & Myers Regional Winner - The Thing
#1 Seed & Hammer Regional Winner - Moon vs. #1 Seed & Blob Regional Winner - Evil Dead II

Thanks again to our wonderful selection committee for all their help with the project thus far, make sure to go check out their sites and spread the midnight love around!  And make sure to check back tomorrow....when Fatal Four voting will be made open to ALL FMWL READERS AND MIDNIGHT WARRIORS OUT THERE!
Midnight Musings by The Mike at 10:58 PM 1 Midnight Warriors
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April 3, 2011

FMWL's March Midnight Madness Tournament - The Sinister Sixteen!

After two rounds of vicious action, the field of 64 Midnight Movie of the Week picks has been narrowed down to sixteen diabolical survivors, who will now, naturally, battle each other for supremacy.  It's the Sinister Sixteen, and it promises to whittle each region's four remaining flicks down to a Regional Final.

If you missed Round Two, go HERE to check out how we got here!
If you missed Round One, go HERE to check out all the tourney action!
If you want to know who the selection committee for the Sinister Sixteen is, here they are:
Let's do this.
The Frankenstein Regional
What The Mike says: I'm more torn than I thought I'd be regarding this matchup.  I think the part of me that wants to be smart and stuff is all "Oh The Mike, Carinval of Souls makes you think so much and is all independently artistic and stuff".  But then he says "and stuff", and reminds me that I'm just a dude who loves awesomeness....and Predator is dripping with awesomeness.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Was Jesse “The Body” Ventura in Carnival of Souls? No? Oh… DUH Predator is unmatched in hot, sweaty jungle alien action." - Christine
  • "As much as I love testosterone-fueled battles against alien bounty hunters, the eerie beauty and shadowy charm of Carnival of Souls lurks into my heart." - Joe Monster
  • "By my voting in this tournament, it must seem like I dislike Predator... something that is definitely not the case, but sadly once again I'm going against it and voting for Carnival of Souls.  I do very much enjoy action packed movies, but I love ones that leave me feeling haunted even more." - Emily C
  • "This is the hardest battle yet for Arnie and the gang, but after a few one-liners and a couple of rounds from Blain's minigun, and it's lights out for Mary in the end. Sorry, babe." - Matt
The Vote: Predator 8, Carnival of Souls 5 - PREDATOR moves on to the Regional Final!
What The Mike says: Those Canadian werewolf lasses had a good mini-Cinderella run, but I just can't come up with a situation where I vote for them over TCM right now.  Leatherface continues to bully opponents.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "They should combine the two to make Werewolves With Chainsaws! That is a side note though, as TCM will definitely take the win!" - R.D. Penning
  • "TCM. Rewatched it last week, just 'cause, and just cause, it is still terrifying." - Emily
  • "I love my werewolves, but they're no match for Leatherface and his chainsaw [which is obviously compensating for something]." - Fred [The Wolf]
  • "Some say you’d need a silver bullet to stop a werewolf, I think a chainsaw would do the job." - TL Bugg
The Vote: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 13, Ginger Snaps 0 - THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE moves on to the Regional Final!
The Myers Regional
What The Mike says: It hurts to pick against Carpenter and Russell...even when you're picking Carpenter and Russell.  But I guess I have to, and I'm gonna go with the one that has more snow and more tension.  The Thing it is.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Ahh, the match we all feared would come to pass! Carpenter and Russell versus… Carpenter and Russell! Most would give up and call it a tie. But there’s one factor that determines the winner of this match. And that’s Kurt’s Eskimo-sized beard. And believe me, my friends, the Beard is everything." - Joe Monster
  • "Oh man, Carpenter and Russell vs. Carpenter and Russell.  While I could give my vote to the underdog here and vote Big Trouble in Little China, my conscious just won't let me, because while that movie is awesomely awesome, The Thing is one of the greatest horror movies known to mankind, with one of the most gruesomely designed creatures, and also, Kurt's beard screams out for my vote.  Beard > No Beard." - Emily C
  • "Bearded Kurt Russell > Clean-Cut Kurt Russell. The Thing wins." - Fred [The Wolf]
The Vote: The Thing 13, Big Trouble in Little China 0 - THE THING moves on to the Regional Final!
What The Mike says: The Friday the 13th factor in this tournament fascinates me.  Some have said a 10 seed is way too low, but I honestly think it's too high.  This is one of those classic "teams that get in on name recognition" picks like we sometimes see in the NCAA March Madness tourney.  But really, one of these movies is a good movie, and the other one isn't.  And Sisters is a good movie.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "I personally think Sisters is the better film, by far, but Friday has made the greater impact on horror and pop culture, therefore my very apprehensive support goes to Jason's mad mother and her hairy knuckles." - Matt
  • "Sisters.  Psst. I actually haven't seen Sisters. I just think Friday the 13th is overrated." - Emily
  • "De Palma owns my heart and this match-up." -  Christine
  • "In the end Mom, always knows better than the Sisters." - TL Bugg
  • "This is a tough one. i'm not a DePalma guy, and I love the cheesy appeal of the early Fridays, but man oh man do i have a crush on Margot Kidder." - Mike S.
  • "The story of Jason Voorhees and his mother is just way to influential on modern day horror to be denied the win." - B.Stank
The Vote: Sisters 4, Friday the 13th 9 - FRIDAY THE 13TH moves on to the Regional Final!
The Hammer Regional
#1 Seed - MMOTW #2: Moon vs. #13 Seed - MMOTW #33: Piranha
What The Mike says: Man, Piranha is a bit of a surprise cinderella here.  I gave it the tiebreaking win in round one against Kill, Baby...Kill! - and then it went on to demolish one of my favorite movies in the tourney (The Devil Rides Out) in the second round.  Conventional wisdom says I should be vengeful, but I love a good underdog.  Piranha gets a vote for being old-school cheese.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Can astronauts swim? Sure they can. But can piranhas live on the moon? I THINK NOT!" - Joe Monster
  • "While the intellectual portion of my brain says that Moon should be the choice here, my gut says to go with Piranha here for the fun factor, and the man-eating piranha action." - Emily C
  • "If anyone's earned the right to make it to the Final Four, isn't it Roger Corman?" - Mike S
  • "Whoa, just when you thought no one could overtake the tucked flannel and beard of Mr. Grogan, the Moon illuminates, and it becomes clear that his combo is only as deadly as his touch. I don't even know what that means." - Matt
The Vote: Moon 7, Piranha 5 - MOON moves on to the Regional Final!
What The Mike says: Can I just watch 'em both?  A bunch?  On repeat?  Man, this is probably the most difficult matchup this round in my head.  Ummm...Vincent Price.  Plus an uncredited Caroline Munro.  Yeah. I'll go with Phibes.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "I'm sure Dr. Phibes has earned its reputation and one day, when I open the bargain bin DVD, I can confirm that, but until that day, Spider Baby warms my heart and only gets better upon repeat viewings." - Emily
  • "Spider Baby is a film that needs to be seen by everyone. It is AMAZING, so it should win." - R.D. Penning
  • "Let’s face it: even Rob Zombie would pick Vincent Price over Sid Haig." - Joe Monster
  • "Phibes! Phibes! He’s our man! If he can’t do it, no one can! And by “it” I obviously mean  crafting creative murders." - Christine
The Vote: The Abominable Dr. Phibes 5, Spider Baby 8 - SPIDER BABY moves on to the Regional Final!
The Blob Regional
What The Mike says: Do I dare vote against Bruce and Ash?  It is Kurt Russell, after all.  Ehhhh....I kinda want to, and I know I wouldn't be considering this if we were talking Evil Dead or Army of Darkness.  Alas, groovier heads prevail - and I'm siding with Evil Dead II.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "While Evil Dead II is awesome, Death Proof is a movie that I fall more in love with every time I watch it. Plus- Kurt > Bruce." - Emily C.
  • "It's S-Mart vs The Texas Chili Parlor, and as much as I like my movies to be a little spicy, I cannot resist a good deal. You're in, Ash." - Matt
  • "Stuntman Mike never had a chainsaw hand. In fact, Stuntman Mike was kind of a little bitch. Ash, however, is the man." - TL Bugg
  • "Shotgun arm and The Chin edge out a cadre of sexy kickass females with nerd cache?  I must be getting old." - Mike S.
  • "Apparently I’m in the minority when it comes to giving love to Death Proof, but I love it and will stand by it ‘til the end…well,  at least until it goes up against EVIL DEAD II!" - B.Stank
The Vote: Evil Dead II 11, Death Proof 2 - EVIL DEAD II moves on to the Regional Final!
What The Mike says: Two overachieving '80s flicks meet in the unlikeliest of Sinister Sixteen matchups.  Though I'm sure I'd have picked something else in this regional myself, I'm kinda tickled to see the support for these movies that's been shown.  That all said - I love Barbara Hershey lots.  I love KKfOS too, but not like I love Babs Hershey. 
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "I'm really digging Barbara Hershey's career resurgence as the go-to hot older mom in horror movies nowadays." - Mike S.
  • "Ghosts who rape women or Killer Klowns from Outer Space? Let's judge this by size. Since klowns wear big shoes, they win." - Fred [The Wolf]
  • "I would rather have a ghost rape me than watch Killer Klowns from Outer Space. How is this movie still in the running. This is the worlds worst Cinderella story, and Jerry Lewis made Cinderfella!" - TL Bugg
  • "When a clown, let alone, a Killer Klown, shoves his hand up John Vernon's ass for the sole purpose of using him as a ventriloquist dummy, you shall have my vote. And my axe - body spray. I don't really use that." - Matt
  • "Easiest choice ever. The Entity has a great premise until it derails into a silly game of lasers. Killer Klowns is perfection." - Emily
  • "Because I don't think that Killer Klowns would be intimidated by an invisible entity who they probably just capture in some cotton candy, they are my choice in this match up.  Plus, I'd rather hang out with the Killer Klowns any day- they seem like much more fun despite their propensity for killing human beings." - Emily C.
  • "Put the titular Entity in any movie of your choosing and you have standard, yet sexy, supernatural hijinks. But if you put the Killer Klowns in a movie, ANY movie, you feel as giddy as Pee Wee Herman. On Prozac. At Disney World. During Christmas." - Joe Monster
  • "I grew up with Killer Klowns. It wasn’t till much later in life that I realized not everyone spent their formative years watching giant clowns capture people in cotton candy cocoons." - Christine
  • "Killer Klowns From Outer Space is my sleeper pick, much like VCU. (Yes I'm a nerd who also likes sports.)" - R.D. Penning
  • "The Entity is, for reasons I cannot understand, a neglected  horror classic.  It’s one of the few genuinely scary movies that I have ever seen.   The fact that Killer Klowns made it past Maniac  in the last round,  just flat-out disgusts me." - B.Stank
The Vote: Killer Klowns from Outer Space 10, The Entity 3 - KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE moves on to the Regional Final!
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And, like that, we're down to EIGHT.  It's safe to say that I wouldn't have drawn the bracket up this way, but that's why they call it MADNESS!  Can the #1 Seeds continue to dominate?  Will a double digit seed break through and become Midnight Movie of the Year?  Come back soon and see for yourself as these eight films battle for regional supremacy and a trip to the FATAL FOUR!

REGIONAL FINAL MATCHUPS
The Frankenstein Regional - #1 Seed: Predator vs. #3 Seed: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
The Myers Regional - #1 Seed: The Thing vs. #10 Seed: Friday the 13th
The Hammer Regional - #1 Seed: Moon vs. #7 Seed: Spider Baby
The Blob Regional - #1 Seed: Evil Dead II vs. #14 Seed: Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Midnight Musings by The Mike at 3:12 PM 6 Midnight Warriors
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March 30, 2011

FMWL's March Midnight Madness Tournament - Round Two (Part Two of Two)

If you missed part one of Round Two, go HERE.
If you missed Round One, go HERE to check out all the tourney action!
If you want to know who the selection committee for Round Two is, here they are:
There are eight spots left in the Sinister Sixteen, lets see what the Selection Committee has in store for them!
The Hammer Regional
#1 Seed - MMOTW #2: Moon vs. #9 Seed - MMOTW #36 - Candyman
What The Mike says: I adore Moon hardcore.  Yet, for no good reason, I want to pick Candyman here.  Maybe it's because it's a horror icon while Moon is barely established as a two year old film.  I don't know.  But I guess I'm slightly behind Candyman here.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "It's a very tough call: Moon is a fantastic movie, both poignant and cerebral, but I personally lean toward Candyman, for its terrific Philp Glass score, its willingness to address real-life urban issues, and Tony Todd. Just Tony Todd." - Andreas
  • "Is Moon a better film? Of course, but I need to give a big boost to any great horror film that survived the '90s." - Emily
  • "Well, while I consider both films to be truly wonderful representations of their respective genres to the point where I could almost call them equal, I have to give that slight, and I mean slight, edge to Candyman. It's stood the test of time and that is really what pushes it over the line for me in this wicked tight pick." - Matt
  • "Moon is a horror film in a whole other sense and Candyman is a horror icon, but Moon is just a flat out top-notch flick that's too good to take a dive in the second round. This is another OT buzzer beater." - Geof
The Vote: Moon 7, Candyman 6 - MOON moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
What The Mike says: The Devil Rides Out is still my baby, and will always be one of the most underrated horror flicks ever to me.  I don't know if I'd vote against it versus any of the films in this tourney.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Let’s face it…there’s plenty of “cheesy” movies out there, but there just doesn’t seem to be enough quality Satanic ones." - B.Stank
  • "I'm voting Piranha here in honor of Joe Dante and the fallen The 'burbs :( " - Emily C.
    "Piranha might want to gobble up the competion, but it's all going to go wrong for them and these little fishies are going to get hammered. What went wrong out there for Piranha? Well, could it have been.... SATAN!" - TL Bugg
  • "I'm a fan of the old school. So when you have an occult investigator battling a mad sorcerer of the dark arts over the souls of innocents (with the impressive Christopher Lee AND Charles "It's Just A Jump To The Left" Gray as said dueling forces), then we have a first class ticket to Awesomeville." - Joe Monster
The Vote: The Devil Rides Out 3, Piranha 9 - PIRANHA moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
What The Mike says: Look, Silent Night, Deadly Night only made it to the MMOTW because it was Christmas.  Phibes was one of the first movies I thought about when I started the MMOTW.  Easy pick there.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Silent Night, Deadly Night, your "HO HO HO" is only so-so, and when squared off against Vincent Price, you've definitely got to go." - TL Bugg
  • "I don't know that I will ever be able to vote against Silent Night, Deadly Night. It wins!" - R.D. Penning
  • "Festive horror fun has to win. Christmas should be scarier, I mean... it celebrates home invasion." - Liam
  • "Vincent Price spanks naughty Billy out of this contest." - Fred [The Wolf]
The Vote: The Abominable Dr. Phibes 7, Silent Night Deadly Night 5 - THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
What The Mike says: There are times when I forget how much I love The Omen.  It's so epic.  Yet, I think I'm going to have today be one of those times, because Spider Baby sounds soooo good right now.  Done.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "I’m not sure what’s worse… giving birth to Satan, or to a baby that looked like Sid Haig?!  Kiddin’…just kiddin." - B.Stank
  • "Boom! Gregory Peck." - Christine
  • "Virginia, Ralph, and Elizabeth would eat Damien alive and Lon Chaney Jr. would sing about it. And it would blow minds." - Emily
  • "Damien squashes this SPIDER, BABY." - Fred [The Wolf]
The Vote: Spider Baby 7, The Omen 6 - SPIDER BABY moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
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One of the newest films in the tournament leads the pack in this regional, but it's accompanied in the Sinister Sixteen by three titans made between 1968-1978.  Can Moon's modern sci-fi drama hold off some cult heroes?
SINISTER SIXTEEN MATCHUPS - The Hammer Regional
#1 Seed - Moon vs. #13 Seed - Piranha
#6 Seed - The Abominable Dr. Phibes vs. #7 Seed - Spider Baby
The Blob Regional
What The Mike says: I don't know why, but I'm not crazy about Evil Dead II in this tournament.  Maybe it's just too easy to pick it, and I'm trying to take it for granted.  Not sure.  I mean, I'm still picking it...but for some reason it doesn't seem like as passionate a pick as it should be.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Nostalgia alone is enough to make this an easy pick, but it's not all that difficult when we're talking about the heart of one of horror's most beloved and lauded franchises. I believe this has referred to as the holy trilogy of horror, and if that's the case, then Dead By Dawn is the horror equivalent of The Godfather Part II and The Empire Strikes Back. Nuff said." - Matt
  • "Hail to the King, baby." - Mike S.
  • "Even a hirsute Oliver Reed can't make me enjoy this shaggy wolf story, so it has no chance against Raimi's near-perfect explosion of horror awesomeness." - Andreas
  • "All who are pure in heart: turn back now! As a genre fan I realize that I'm practically consigned to a life of shameless love for all that is Evil Dead. But nay, brothers and sisters! Here you will only find love for the lupine naughtiness of one Oliver Reed. Scream, destroy, hunt me down with torch and pitchfork, but I shall not move! I cannot explain; all I can say is that my devotion is as natural as the moon." - Joe Monster
The Vote: Evil Dead II 11, The Curse of the Werewolf 2 - EVIL DEAD II moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
What The Mike says: I gotta go with Tarantino's flick, mostly because it reminds me of one of my favorite flicks, Vanishing Point.  The Challenger rides on, as does Kurt Russell.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Quite possibly my favorite Tarantino. Also, Russell. I have sung this film’s praises since its release and I am so glad people seem to be coming around and embracing it. My preferred ½ of Grindhouse." - Christine
  • "Martin.  An imperfect film, but one that offers something truly new for the vampire genre." - Emily
  • "I'm voting Death Proof here because while I like Martin's ambiguous vampiric nature, Martin is no Stuntman Mike, and ambiguous vampires are no match against a trio of angry women with an awesome car." - Emily C.
  • "I would take Martin over any of Romero's last three movies, and Death Proof was just a little too slowly paced for me at times. Martin Wins!" - R.D. Penning
The Vote: Martin 6, Death Proof 7 - DEATH PROOF moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
What the Mike says: Do you really want to know?  Nah, I'll let the committee handle this one.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Maniac features Joe Spinell, Tom Savini effects, and William Lustig in the director's chair. Killer Klowns from Outer Space is about Killer Klowns from Outer Space. If Manaic doesn't win this round it will go down as the greatest robbery since Tarantino saw his first Ringo Lam movie." - TL Bugg
  • "My head almost exploded at the thought of having to choose between these two films! But the Klowns prevail!" - R.D. Penning
  • "C'mon, Killer Klowns from Outer Space... it's no contest!" - Liam
  • "Blame it on my genetic preference to have fun when watching a horror film. Not that scalpings and heads full of prosthetic blood and cottage cheese being blown up can't be called a certain kind of fun, but I guess the air of sophistication that Killer Klowns brings with its cotton candy cocoons just puts it one rung higher than Maniac." - Joe Monster
  • "Killer Klowns from Outer Space...probably the second toughest match in this part of the bracket." - Geof
  • "I won't vote for this one. I love both these films equally." - Fred [The Wolf]
  • "I voted against Killer Klowns from Outer Space in the first round, but I'll give them some love here because, while it's easy to find a maniacal killer, I have a feeling it's not so common to run across a Killer Klown, thus making them much more unique.... and I'm pretty sure that the Maniac does not drink his victims with straws." - Emily C.
  • "Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Just typing those words makes my mouth water for cotton candy. And blood." - Emily
  • "Gritty, dirty and genuinely disturbing, Maniac is one of my favorite 70s (even though this was released in 1980, it is totally 70s) depictions of NYC." - Christine
  • "I’d like to see Joe Spinell scalp every single last one of those annoying EXPLETIVE DELETED clowns." - B.Stank
The Vote: Killer Klowns from Outer Space 6, Maniac 6 - IT'S A TIE! THE MIKE GETS TO USE HIS TIEBREAKING VOTE!
NOW....What The Mike says: Wow, it's something to see how far people fall on opposite sides of the Killer Klown train.  And I can see why, especially against a dark, twisted flick like Maniac.  Which also has my true love, Caroline Munro.  So, I'm going to use my tiebreaking vote to say....hey....I like to party with Killer Klowns.  I admit it.  KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
#10 Seed - MMOTW #48: The Entity vs. #15 Seed - MMOTW #52: The Pit
What The Mike says: I feel like both of these great little '80s movies deserve a slow clap just for being here.  Can this end like Rocky III, with Balboa and Creed both locked in a carbonite-esque freeze frame of them punching each other?
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "The choice here is if one shoud root for the raping ghost picture or the, you know, there really is no choice." - TL Bugg
  • "Entities possess more of a threat than pits. Unless we're talking unshaven feminist armpits... but we're not, so The Entity wins." - Liam
  • "Somehow I feel that the world is a better place knowing that a little boy can push a wheelchair-bound old woman into a hole full of flesh-hungry monsters and we can all look on approvingly." - Joe Monster
    "If ties were allowed, I'd offer one here. Since there isn't long live a film with a sequel we never got to see, The Pit." - Geof
The Vote: The Entity 7, The Pit 4 - THE ENTITY moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
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Underdogs still rule the day in the lower half of this region, while a showdown between Raimi and Tarantino looms in the upper half.  Can Kurt Russell, who has three films in the Sin16, pull off an upset?  We'll find out when we return for Round 3!
SINISTER SIXTEEN MATCHUPS - The Blob Regional
#1 Seed - Evil Dead II vs. #4 Seed - Death Proof
#14 Seed - Killer Klowns from Outer Space vs. #10 Seed - The Entity
Midnight Musings by The Mike at 1:13 PM 0 Midnight Warriors
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March 29, 2011

FMWL's March Midnight Madness Tournament - Round Two (Part One of Two)

Where there once were 64, there are now 32.  And as we enter round two of FMWL's March Midnight Madness Tournament, the matchups suddenly start to look a little tougher.  Some of the films I thought would go a long way are already gone, and some films I assumed no one else had seen are still standing.  The initial bracket I filled out based on my preferences - more on that someday - has already lost two of its final four flicks.  And now...the Selection Committee is back (with one new member, the fabulous Christine of Paracinema!) and ready to pare the field down to the SINISTER SIXTEEN!

If you missed Round One, go HERE to check out all the tourney action!
If you want to know who the selection committee for Round Two is, here they are:
Are you ready?  Let's see what we've got!

The Frankenstein Regional
What The Mike says: Roadgames is one of my favorite underdogs in the tournament.  It's got Stacy Keach rockin' a mean 'stache, Jamie Lee being her, and a great Hitchcockian vibe.  It's a ton of fun.  BUT...Predator is Predator.  I could watch it every day and never get tired of it.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "While the Predator is quite a formidable foe, and Stacy Keach would probably be easily beaten up by Arnold and Co., my love for anything Hitchcock-esque is giving Roadgames the psychological edge in this match-up, over the superior physical force in Predator." - Emily C
  • "The PREDATOR pushes his self-destruct button to destroy these ROAD GAMES." - Fred [The Wolf]
  • "When you get right down to it, a film can only reach the true heights of beauty if it has a beefcake commando who is more incomprehensible than the crab-faced alien man-slaughterer that is hunting his hunky white ass down." - Joe Monster
  • "Once again, not much competition for the film with more baby oil and testosterone than a Mr. Universe competition. One of the best action films ever made, one of the best creatures ever created and one of the toughest casts to ever be cast, Predator makes it through another round without any sort of resistance from the opposition." - Matt
The Vote: Predator 9, Roadgames 2 - PREDATOR moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
What The Mike says: Differing styles battle here, with the black and white horror tale taking on the colorful noir tale.  Pretty Poison carries a couple of game changing performers in Anthony Perkins and Tuesday Weld, but I like Herk Harvey's low budget flick to stay strong and hold off the young and dangerous lovers in my heart.
What the Selection Committee says:
  • "Pretty Poison's deranged duo are fun to watch, but nothing can beat the existential dread of Herk Harvey's no-budget masterpiece." - Andreas
  • "Carnival of Souls has to win, purely based on the fact that Pretty Poison sounds like it could be a Twilight sequel. Harsh, but true." - Liam
  • "Tell me one thing: what is it that you’re gonna be thinking of while you’re lying in your bed late at night? Is it gonna be the handsome Anthony Perkins being corrupted by the lust to kill and influencing pretty cheerleaders? Or will it be the demon-ghoul with the wide, black-rimmed eyes staring you down as he reaches out to you, smiling all the while? Terrified yet? Carnival wins." - Joe Monster
  • "Tuesday Weld relied on her feminine wiles to get her film though rough round one, but facing off against Candice Hilligoss and Carnival of Souls' late game offense, Pretty Poison lacks potency. In a match up between Carnies and Cheerleaders, Carnies always win." - TL Bugg
    The Vote: Carnival of Souls 11, Pretty Poison 1 - CARNIVAL OF SOULS moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
    What The Mike says: I know TCM is certainly a more terrifying flick, and it holds a big place in horror history.  But They Live is a personal fave to me, and I can't avoid picking it.  Plus, I think my MMOTW post about it (linked above) is about the only thing I've ever written that's worth a damn.
    What the Selection Committee says:
    • "This is like making me pick a favorite child. Both films helped shape my genre love and each have a special place in my cinematic heart. TCM. But don’t tell They Live…" - Christine
    • "I'm here to pick They Live, and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum! Yeah I know that was lame, but I had to do it!" - R.D. Penning
    • "At one point in my life I had a TCM “Who will Survive and What Will Become Of Them” poster hanging over my bed. A woman I’d previously dated/turned gay took it down and put a Say anything poster in its place, promising me it would improve my results with the ladies. Sure enough, soon afterwards the two of us had a brief but torrid fling While John Cusack, boombox in two, kept silent watch." - Mike S.
    • "They Live ...by a buzzer-beater bucket in the 2nd OT." - Geof
    The Vote: They Live 2, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 12 - THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
    What The Mike says: I do love Ginger Snaps greatly, but Dead of Night wins another vote from me.  The goofy golf ghost tale, the wrap-around story, and - most of all - Hugo, cement it in my heart as the king og the anthologies.
    What the Selection Committee says:
    • "Werewolves and sexual politics make for good horror, but the brilliant anthology film Dead of Night leaves Ginger Snaps in the dust for one reason: Hugo." - Andreas
    • "Feminism! Werewolves! Katharine Isabelle! *swoon*" - Christine
    • "Those who know me realize that my love for werewolves is nothing short of rabid. But when you pair the story of an angsty teenage lycanthrope with one of, if not the, greatest terror anthologies to ever be committed to the screen, there’s just no denying my decision. Dead of Night also claims an edge for helping to solidify my traumatizing fear of little wooden men who sit on laps." - Joe Monster
    • "Ginger Snaps gets my vote here because I don't want to vote against a hormonal crazed teenage werewolf- I have a feeling that she'd be a much harder foe than anything that Dead of Night could throw my way." - Emily C
    The Vote: Ginger Snaps 9, Dead of Night 3 - GINGER SNAPS moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
    ------------------------------------------------------
    With two rounds in the books, The Frankenstein Regional is left with aliens, spectres, chainsaws, and werewolves.  If that quartet doesn't make your blood boil, check your pulse!
    SINISTER SIXTEEN MATCHUPS - The Frankenstein Regional
    #1 Seed - Predator vs. #5 Seed - Carnival of Souls
    #3 Seed - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre vs. #7 Seed - Ginger Snaps
    The Myers Regional
    #1 Seed - MMOTW #25: The Thing vs. #9 Seed - MMOTW #15: The House of the Devil
    What The Mike says: I still don't get how IMDB users fave The House of the Devil a NINE seed.  Heck, I see it no lower than a 4.  BUT...The Thing is all kinds of a one seed.  Its' so good.  Really good.  Can anything stop Carpenter and Russell?
    What the Selection Committee says:
    • "A valiant effort, but really...it's The Thing" - Emily
    • "No contest really, The Thing has to win because it's Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. You can't argue with that logic I'm afraid." - Liam
    • "Ti West is one of my favorite new horror directors because he has shown that he can handle an over-the-top gore fest as well as the “slow burn” tension builder.  If this was Micheal Chiklis’ version of The Thing, I’d say Ti would have it no problem…but it’s not, it’s Carpenter’s." - B.Stank
    The Vote:  The Thing 14, The House of the Devil 0 - THE THING moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
    What The Mike says: This is a big no contest in my eyes.  Stir of Echoes is good, but Big Trouble in Little China is a one of a kind flick that I love dearly.  Carpenter and Russell reign again!
    What the Selection Commitee says:
    • "I love me a creepy ghost story even more than absurdist humor." - Mike S.
    • "No contest really, Big Trouble in Little China has to win because it's Kurt Russell and John Carpenter. You can't argue with that logic I'm afraid." - Liam
    • "An insanely odd and endlessly entertaining film that is 100% powered by Kurt Russell's mullet." - Emily
    • "Carpenter and Russell are the Pippen and Jordon of this series, but they're not going to be content til they clear this round and face off against themselves and The Thing in the semis." - TL Bugg
    The Vote: Stir of Echoes 3, Big Trouble in Little China 9 - BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA moves on the Sinister Sixteen!
    #6 Seed - MMOTW #59: Sisters vs. #3 Seed - MMOTW #13: The Body Snatcher
    What The Mike says: Man, this is a tough one. These are certainly polar opposite films, but I think I give Karloff's diabolical turn in The Body Snatcher the edge by a Hare.
    The Selection Committee says:
    • "This was a very difficult one for me, but I think Sisters pulls it out by just a hair." - R.D. Penning
    • "The dark streets of Scotland? The corpse stealing? The murder, the mayhem? The KARLOFF? You know where's it at." - Joe Monster
    • "I have a sick De Palma obsession. If Sisters was a person, I’d marry it." - Christine
    The Vote: Sisters 8, The Body Snatcher 2 - SISTERS moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
    What The Mike says: The combination of Caroline Williams and Dennis Hopper, when mixed with the clan from the original TCM, makes for great fun.  I certainly admire Friday the 13th for what it did for slashers...but I prefer most of its sequels to it.  TCM 2 gets my blessing.
    What the Selection Committee says:
    • "While The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was an entertainingly odd follow-up to the masterpiece of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, it's no match for Mrs. Voorhees' revenge motivated massacre and Kevin Bacon's short shorts." - Emily C.
    • "Dog will hunt...and drown on FRIDAY THE 13TH." - Fred [The Wolf]
    • "This is one of the tougher match-ups for me, mostly because I like the films almost equally. However, I think the edge goes to Friday simply for the fact that it spawned a creature way more massive than anyone could have ever imagined, not only with its own long-lasting franchise, but the influence it had on the Slasher genre." - Matt
    • "This is the film that introduced me to the joys of Bill Moseley. I still get the giggles watching him cook up little bits of his scalp on his metal plate." - Mike S.
    The Vote: Friday the 13th 7, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Two 6 - FRIDAY THE 13TH moves on to the Sinister Sixteen!
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    Something...just a gut feeling, I guess...tells me that we're gonna see a Kurt Russell/John Carpenter film move on next round.  And on the other side of the region, the artistry of De Palma will face off with the mother of cheap slashers.  As a wise man once said, I'd buy that for a dollar!
    SINISTER SIXTEEN MATCHUPS - The Myers Regional
    #1 Seed - The Thing vs. #4 Seed - Big Trouble in Little China
    #6 Seed - Sisters vs. #10 Seed - Friday the 13th
    Midnight Musings by The Mike at 11:30 PM 3 Midnight Warriors
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