The MacGuffin

The Crazies (1973): A great premise is not developed enough by the script and some bad acting brings it down a notch, but still OK. 6/10

This film starts with a military-sponsored marijuana experiment which gets shut down (which then doesn’t end up having anything to do with the rest of the film at all). Then it cuts to Seth Rogan driving around wearing various costumes, serving people subpoenas. He’s dating a girl from high school and when he goes to visit her between classes he argues with one of her teachers. She’s trying to get him to meet her parents for dinner but since he has a job, he’s having trouble working out the timing.

In honor of Shutter Island‘s release, Spencer and John give their top 5 Martin Scorsese films. Additionally, they share some of their favorite indie films of 2009 and give their DVD Picks of the Week.

Big Man Japan – This Japanese film is a fake documentary on a “real life” super hero who protects Japan from monsters. The film crew is interviewing Big Sato, who is the youngest (the sixth one) in a long line of monster-fighters in Japan (meaning he fights monsters, obviously). The guys in this family get phone calls from the department of defense and go to a power generation station to get electrocuted into a 100-foot-tall muscle guy.

New Year’s Evil: Holiday themed slasher focuses more on the killer than most, but all other characters are supremely uninteresting. 5/10

Shutter Island: Some very suspenseful moments coupled with great surrealistic imagery. Goes on a bit too long, but still well worth it. 8/10

Nightwing (1979): It’s Jaws, but with bats and awful special effects that aren’t kept hidden till the end. The actors are good though. 5/10

This film from 1985 is a sequel to the original wizard of Oz from back in the day. The film takes place a few months after Dorothy gets back from the Oz. She hasn’t been sleeping and her Aunt Em is concerned about her mental health. Em decides to send Dorothy to the doctor for some electro shock therapy, since it’s all the rage.

Spencer and John settle back into their old routine as they make their predictions for the Academy Awards, and give their DVD Picks of the Week.

Bad Dreams (1988): Rips off a lot from A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, including a main actress, but it’s a pretty good rip-off. 7/10