Scarecrow's Blog From the Darkside

When I learned about the death (from Cancer) of Larry Cohen, like many of my peers (some of whom are Facebook buddies), I couldn't help but want to revisit one of his all-time greats. Yes, Cohen pretty much benefited from the incredible Michael Moriarty (who just appears to improvise all of his dialogue, knowing his character so well, the low-time, put-upon crook, Jimmy Quinn, isn't just a one-note hood the police dump in the slammer after fucking up again), certainly the key gem you take away from this film, Q (short for Quetzlcoatl), from 1982. But I just love this mishmash of monster movie and crime comedy. While Moriarty is indeed the star (his use of Method was praised by critics, although they were not so kind about the rest of the film) and key takeaway, I think David Carradine never gets the credit he richly deserves, a wink-wink, tongue-in-cheek effort as a homicide detective easily dismissed by his superiors for a theory on the giant lizard/bird hybrid creature s...

So Turner Classics' TCM Underground surprised me by featuring Final Exam & Night School early Saturday morning in their 1:00 - 5:00 AM block. Only with this would we ever see these two unlikely candidates for the channel. Just read some user comments for Final Exam and you will see most of my common reviewer peers aren't too particularly fond of it. Boring, worthless, long-winded, with nothing happening are weapons of literary warfare certain to diffuse any serious interest for those slasher fans who haven't seen it but are mining the thoughts and opinions of those who watch their fair share of these era of films and the genre. Night School gets better response, however, although it wasn't the feature slasher of the lineup. I think for most slasher fans, Night School is the A slasher of the two while Final Exam is often lucky to be called a D slasher. I'm not so harsh on Final Exam although the critical point of the motiveless killer just sunk it with many viewe...

Jon Snow recovers from his arrow wounds. But Giantsbane understands that Y’gritte could have easily killed Snow because she hits with her bow wherever she so desires. They meet with another tribe they despise, brought together by Mance, with “crow meat” just ready to cook over an open fire. It is brief, the meeting of the two tribes, but you get that tension immediately. The alliance, uneasy at best, proves that Mance must be quite a convincing leader. Snow goes before a trio tribunal at the Night’s Watch for his “sabbatical” with the wildings, the failure to remain celibate and killing Halfhand. Aemon is there, the blind Targaryen, to usurp his peers on the tribunal, recognizing that with Jon’s knowledge of what Mance and the wildings planned to do to them. Jon committed to their cause, earned Mance’s trust, escaped with his life, and returned to them with all he learned. That has to account for something. Daenerys has to keep Grey Worm and Daario (cast differently with Michae...

So Tywin, going for the symbolism or just to further satiate the ego of his victory, takes the Valyrian steel sword of Eddard Stark, melts it in fervent heat, forming two swords from it, one specifically for Jaime. Jaime, despite missing the hand lost to Locke who wanted to make an example out of him (or just for kicks, take your pick) which swung the sword with the very best of them, arrives to meet his father as Tywin makes preparations for him to return to Casterly Rock (Tywin wanted it but was derided by dear old dad as a man-whore drunk who will not use his former digs as a brothel and house of hedonism) in his stead. Jaime, refusing to allow the loss of his “good hand” demote him from serving the realm, is “dismissed” by Tywin as not suitable for the Kingsguard due to his handicap. Cersei, later, confirms when Qyburn locks on a golden hand, to have fashioned an exact replica of Jaime’s “good hand” even if it can’t possibly function with any accuracy or precision. It is a remi...

I admit that I was emotionally drained from the Red Wedding like I imagine many other Game of Thrones fans were, so Mhysa (which perhaps was going for an iconic visual of a city of slaves lifting up their savior with thanks for seeing that they found freedom from bondage, messianic vision that I realize can be criticized for its perception…blonde, blue-eyed, and white, hoisted to the heavens with hands stretched towards her in celebration, but I feel that wasn’t the intent even as the presentation might could be seen as such), which has a lot of story for a number of characters, with plenty of conversations and dialogues following the death of Robb and Catelyn. But I wasn’t against the episode as much as bummed and low in spirit. I guess maybe I should have allowed the previous episode time to process, gave myself a breather, allowed to horrors of the Red Wedding to rest on the mind and hopefully, eventually ease away. Bran, Hodor, Jojen, and Meesa receive support from Samwell ...