I Dig Crazy Flicks with @CatBusRuss
Episode 274 - B3's Rae Presents: "High Tension" & "Sleepaway Camp" - Fun Horror with Flawed Twists...and "Morbius"
What makes a horror movie try to do to much? Attractive French college girls not enough to keep a slasher's attention? If we do not do something outlandish and borderline offensive, is our summer camp movie unique?
CatBusRuss is joined by Rae of the "B3 Podcast" to determine if tacked on twist endings make "High Tension" and "Sleepaway Camp" more endearing. Or do these not appropriate for Pride Month decisions just kneecap fun, simple, blood-soaked tales?
If you want more cinematic limping, our podcast host decided that it was Morbin' Time. With under 100 minutes of narrative, surely he would not regret giving "Morbius" a watch. "How Did This Get Made" is not about torturing its audience.
Russ is heading to Planet Funk Con in Davenport this weekend (June 26-28). Since there should be at least one bonus podcast covering the convention and an official recap next Wednesday, that is pushing everybody's tolerance to his voice alone. So he returns to the "Ninety For Chill Dot Com: The Podcast" feed to break up the monotony.
Rae and the CatBus do go off on some tangents, but with a combined six years of podcasting experience (at that time in 2023), the ship never steers too far off course. But when the tendencies of French directors is mentioned, there will be some choppy audio waters.
This is definitely going to be spoiler heavy. Alexandre Aja's breakout feature, "High Tension", is about Alex and Marie as they visit Alex's family for the proper peace and tranquility to study up for exams. Once night falls, a serial killing trucker decides to wipe out the family and kidnaps Alex. Marie knows that she is the only one who can save the survivor. What we do know is that she definitely controls Alex's destiny, in more ways that just survival.
"Sleepaway Camp" is about another girl, Angela, who is not who everyone thinks she is. She is quiet and shy to the point where all the girls suspect something is dangerous about her. Since there a series of freak accidents are killing off campers and staff every three hours, it must be the new girl. It cannot be just a coincidence. Perhaps if we knew what she was hiding.
These two horror films both have moments of camp and brilliance, and that is before the twists are revealed. After those occur, do these competent films become failures. I for one am not suggesting that to Marie or Angela.
If you want a snack that is not going to gamble its quality, try a flavor from Doich! Snacking Dough. It is cookie dough with more protein, less sugar, and none of the eight major allergens. Our host is not a cookie fan, but this stuff taste great and leaves you feeling full quickly. Follow the link below to save 20% on your order and give Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake, or WTFudge Brownie dough a try.
Bonus - "Daisies" (1966): Anarchic Czech Lasses & Vern from Cinema Recall
CatBusRuss is starting a new job this Monday, so regardless if he was asked to host his "I Dig Crazy Flicks" panels, he is getting one more convention out of the way. This has led him to a chill pair of conventions in Davenport with movie stars that get him hyped for a film. Welcome to QC Fright Con & Planet Funk Con.
Our host was made aware of Planet Funk Con from watching Cinema Snob videos in 2025 to promote his appearance there. By the time Brad Jones was advertising it, it was too late to apply as a panelists.
Russ did apply this year, and received an email making sure that he was available because they "we're going to schedule all of your panels", but he never received any further updates. After seeing that Planet Funk only had one panel room, doubts arose. When he contacted the con about the schedule, all he received back was the same info being advertised.
This left our host a little frustrated after restocking promotional buttons, but the Peoria Chiefs and the Chicago Cubs are out of town. The Quad Cities is as good of an escape as any place else.
And thus far, he has no regrets. Just confusion that QC Fright Con and Planet Funk Con are being advertised as two different events. Why is Sam Jones of "Flash Gordon" fame a celebrity at the horror con? Was it because you cannot have more than one Jones per con? Does CatBus need to provide claymores to the two since there can be only one?
Russ got to meet Ken Foree, talk shop with a 3D Pokeball dealer whom he met at Quad City Comic Con and Indiana Comic Convention, and having a great chat with Brian O'Halloran about podcasting and shared trauma of being clerks. Add a autograph from Matt Hill, the voice of "Captain N: The Game Master", CatBusRuss is feeling like a winner.
If you need a winner when it comes to healthy snacks, try a flavor from Doich! Snacking Dough. It is cookie dough with more protein, less sugar, and none of the eight major allergens. Our host is not a cookie fan, but this stuff taste great and leaves you feeling full quickly. Follow the link below to save 20% on your order and give Chocolate Chip, Birthday Cake, or WTFudge Brownie dough a try.
Follow me on Bluesky @catbusruss. If you want to be on the show, contact me on Twitter or send an email to russthebus07@gmail.com. All we need is a theme, movie, director, or actor and a focus on sub 100-minute material. As long as the credits start before the 1:39:59 mark on the runtime bar, the movie qualifies.
