I Dig Crazy Flicks with @CatBusRuss
Bonus: A Merry Mark L Lester Christmas with Class...of 1984/1999
CatBusRuss might need to do some research because this may be the last Merry Mark L. Lester Christmas. Last year, he covered what maybe perhaps his most memorable films, "Showdown in Little Tokyo" and "Commando". Our host is prepping for a 1986 panel to tour the comic cons, so maybe he will get around to watch "Armed and Dangerous" to compare and contrast with "Police Academy 3: Back in Training", but reviewing "Class of 1984" and the "Class of 1999" franchise may address the pinnacle of his filmography.
He did not direct "Class of 1999 II: The Subsitute", but when you compare it to his attempts to become the next Roger Corman, like "Groupie", there is a lot of potential left on the table. It should be accepted as fact, a little more or just some Eric Roberts could elevate them both to B-Movie classics.
Lester is a man who knew his limitations, and these class of movies show that he was a wise director because of it.
Episode 249 - Be Merry or Be Scary: "Deadly Games" aka "Dial Code Santa Claus" with Gregory Carl
The feature that CatBusRuss is revisiting was originally titled "3615 code Père Noël", but is also known as "Game Over", and "Hide and Freak". It only feels appropriate to have so many titles when you take into account that the Cannon Group handled the international distribution of this film. The title of "Deadly Games" at least secures it a place on Shudder. That platform can never have too many holiday-themed horror flicks.
This movie was released in 1989, a year before "Home Alone". Director René Manzor stated that he feels John Hughes may have ripped him off, but the film is way too dark to be compared to the Macaulay Culkin star turn. At least that is our host's opinion.
Gregory Carl thinks it is closer to the American blockbuster. It is about a nine year-old who is quick to come up with improvised weaponry to defend him and his grandfather against a deranged Father Christmas. Both Kevin and Thomas live in large houses and you wonder where their parents came up with the money, but that is where the comparisons may end.
Russ thinks this feature answers what if Chris Columbus penned "Home Alone". Just check out the wiki for "Gremlins" to see where our host is coming from. Kevin McCallister did not have to deal with insane, delusional criminals. Joe Pesci can be scary, but we did not find Harry to be murderous. Even worse, Gregory suggests that this film's antagonist may have perverse intentions. Lacking humor to accompany the violence, this maybe what a realistic bout with the Wet Bandits would look like.
To get away from the darkness, CatBusRuss received a Christmas gift from Tubi. After 15 years, Albert Pyun's take on "Bloodsport" has finally made it back to streaming. "Heatseeker" stars two of the most under-appreciated martial artists in cinema, Keith Cooke and Gary Daniels, as two champions heading towards a rematch. What makes this a different kind of fight is that Daniels is being sponsored by a biotechnology corporation trying to prove that it is not enough to be human to become a champion. If you come into this feature after the first act, you will want to see where this story goes. Like most Pyun films, the question becomes, can you stand what you see?
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