189 The Cabin in the Woods

This week Matt and Mark review the meta-horror film The Cabin in The Woods. Boiling down the standard slasher/creature horror formula into a mythology and turning it into a type of Aztec sacrifice ritual works brilliantly here. Mark sees a deeper meaning in the psychology of stage managers who setup and operate this human slaughterhouse while Matt enjoyed the film's dark humor aspects. And for anyone that enjoys horror monsters, TCITW serves up a full plate of your favorites. Mermen anyone?

Download: 189 The Cabin in the Woods

188 The Mist

Celebrating our 4 year anniversary here at The Cult of Matt and Mark we review the Stephen King adaptation The Mist! Hot off reading the novella, Mark sizes up the adaptation and gives it the nod for staying true to the source material while Matt relishes in The Mist's B-movie creature-featureness. But the end... You either hate it or you love it, and Mark and Matt split our votes on this one. I'm sure if you're a veteran listener, you'll probably be able to guess who voted for what.

Download: 188 The Mist

187 Signs

Signs, signs, everywhere signs... A film about apostasy that just happens to be set in the midst of an alien invasion, M. Night Shyalaman's Signs explores the importance of belief systems and the human brain's need to create constructs via pattern recognition. Mel Gibson, the mad genius bastards that he is, delivers one of his best performances as the recently faithless Reverend Hess. An exercise in less is more, Signs brings tension to the table sorely lacking in current films. M.Night shouldn't be dismissed due to his recent bombs, and here he's firing on all cylinders.  

Download: 187 Signs

186 Sixteen Candles

Matt and Mark continue the John Hughes theme this week with the first of the Ringwald trilogy films, Sixteen Candles. A product of the 80's, the character of Jake portrayed here should no more be the focus of teenage girl wish fulfillment than a drunken frat berserker armed with roofies and the tenderness of a Viking war chief. But back then, things were different. Matt and Mark agree that the true "hero" of the film and focus of most of the action is Farmer Ted. A freshmen with a motor, he provides the late night hilarity and action while the passive Samantha merely laments her predicament and falls asleep before midnight.

Download: 186 Sixteen Candles

185 Planes,Trains and Automobiles

A little late for Thanksgiving, we offer up our review of the John Hughes holiday classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Matt coughs up a few anecdotes regarding his experience with the modern marvel we know as domestic air travel, while Mark picks apart the turkey carcass of Neil Paige's fairy tale domesticity, complete with the awaiting water-eyed angelic housewife and the immaculate oven, complete with a photogenic 25 lb butterball.

Download:  185 Planes, Trains and Automobiles

184 Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory

Ending the "For the Kids..." movie review marathon this week, we give our spin on the classic Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory. Matt stumbles trying to offer up his take on the titular character, while Mark cuts to the chase and sizes up Willy as an entrepreneur akin to Silicon Valley monomaniacs like Musk, Jobs, Bezos, and Gates. Paranoid and zealous, Willy lives a hermetic world where those who don't share his vision of a candy utopia are not to be trusted and tested. Meant to be a wholesome family musical, Willy Wonka is more dark comedy with a cutting wit and little regard for handling kids with kid gloves.

Download: 184 Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory

183 Transformers The Movie

This week we review Transformers The Movie, a result of the 80's high concept marketing campaign for the toy industry. Back in the day, Matt and Mark used to watch after school half hour advertisements for Mattel and Kenner in the form of Transformers and the like. Wasted Youth? Who knows. Mark laments dragging his mother to see the film twice while Matt decries the resurgent recycling of 80's toy culture. Is Transformers a good film? Hard to say really. Like wandering minstrels of the Medieval Era, its hard to put oneself in the shoes of the audience to gain any kind of appreciation, but it may be safe to admit, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Unless you're Michael Bay of course, then you'll hump it forever.

Download: 183 Transformers The Movie