Farewell, Bingo

It's with a heavy heart that we say "Farewell" to our helper monkey, Bingo.

Bingo has been "the man" behind the scenes since day one, tending to the UBW social media accounts, making sure the website was updated, handling emails, and pretty much any odd task that we directed his way.

Safe travels, old friend!

Happy Holidays!

From all of us here at Uphill Both Ways - -

"Shock the Monkey"

Episode #119

Thanks to all of the schedule shuffling this episode would have originally been recorded and aired as episode #119 and there would be a Christmas episode waiting for you here. But that episode aired LAST week and this episode isn't really a Christmas-themed episode - although it is mentioned a few times. With THAT out of the way, settle down into your favorite chair and listen as Mike and Joe talk a little about "Planet of the Apes" and a fan-film they both reviewed called "Revision of the Planet of the Apes". And of course there's the regular segment - the SLP VHS Dub Tape Challenge - in which Mike lists what is on his six hour tape of "After School Awesomeness". It's the last show of 2021 - join us, won't you?

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW119_Shock_the_Monkey.mp3

It Must Be Christmas Time Again!

 

Movie Review - "Rocky Revision"

Another Hole in the Head Film Festival Review: “Rocky Revision” - Ain't Gonna Be No Rematch

By Mike Imboden

In addition to Revision of the Planet of the Apes, Jorge Torres-Torres has another film running at this year’s Another Hole in the Head Film Festival: Rocky Revision. Like the five-film franchise about a planet where apes evolved from man, Torres-Torres takes the five-film Rocky series — including the sixth, Rocky Balboa — and re-edits the proceedings to tell a slightly different tale than what Sylvester Stallone originally gave us. And, just like Apes, this sounds like it could be fun.

Unfortunately, it’s not as good as it sounds like it might be.

The Old School Kung Fu Fest Reviews - Part 2

“18 Bronzemen” and “Return of the 18 Bronzemen”

by Joseph Perry

New York City’s The Old School Kung Fu Fest delivers the jumps and jolts this month with both online and in-person options (details below). Focusing this year on 1970s titles from Joseph Kuo and his Hong Hwa International Films production company, the festival features showdowns and throwdowns in nine exciting features. Following are capsule reviews of two films in the fest that have received great-looking new 2K restorations. 

18 Bronzemen

Holy cow, what a movie! This is one of my all-time favorite kung fu films, thanks in no small part to the initial group of the titular warriors, who look like a cross between lower-budget versions of the original Marvel Iron Man and robots from a black-and-white serial of the 1930s. To graduate from Shaolin Temple, where they have trained to be kung fu specialists since they were small children, Tang Siu-Lung (Peng Tien) and his no-nonsense friend Brother Wan (Carter Wong) must defeat the bronzemen without being killed and pass other grueling, life-or-death tests. Kuo’s 18 Bronzemen is filled with political and personal intrigue, as characters are out to avenge the death of family members and topple the evil Qing ruling body. And then there is Polly Ling-Feng Shang-Kuan as Miss Lu, a young woman skilled in kung fu herself, who every character initially thinks is a man, despite her never really looking or sounding like one. This one is played much straighter than some of Kuo’s other later films playing at the festival. A good time is guaranteed with 18 Bronzemen, which has a much more imaginative plot than many revenge-focused kung fu films and puts its protagonists through much different wringers than the usual bigger-boss-level fights.

18 Bronzemen

Directed by: Joseph Kuo

Written by: Joseph Kuo and Hsin-Yi Chang

Produced by: Karlot/Kuo Hwa Motion Pictures Co./Taiwan Li Cheng Film Company

Genre: Action/Drama/War

Starring: Polly Ling-Feng Shang-Kuan, Peng Tien, Carter Wong

Runtime: 95 minutes

Rated: unrated

Country of origin: Taiwan/Hong Kong

Release Date: 1976

The Old School Kung Fu Fest Reviews - Part 1

“7 Grandmasters” and “36 Deadly Styles”

by Joseph Perry

New York City’s The Old School Kung Fu Fest delivers the jumps and jolts this month with both online and in-person options (details below). Focusing this year on 1970s titles from Joseph Kuo and his Hong Hwa International Films production company, the festival features showdowns and throwdowns in nine exciting features. Following are capsule reviews of two films in the fest that have received great-looking new 2K restorations.

7 Grandmasters

Shang-Kuan Cheng (Jack Long) is all set to retire as the best kung fu practitioner in his region, complete with official banner, when some rapscallion delivers a note claiming that he is not the best. Shang-Kuan Cheng then goes on a quest across the land with his four finest students, and they are followed by Hsia Hsiao-Ying (Yi Min-Li), who starts off as an annoyance but eventually becomes a fifth student. When Shang-Kuan Cheng was a student, his master entrusted him with a pamphlet detailing the Paie Mei Twelve Strikes, the pages about three of which were stolen by a masked man. Intrigue galore comes into play when Hsia Hsiao-Ying is deceived into believing that someone close to him murdered his parents, and the missing three strikes come into play. Long gets a fine showcase here to display his martial arts prowess, and the third act offers some fun surprises.

7 Grandmasters

Directed by: Joseph Kuo

Written by: Joseph Kuo and Da-Wei Kuo

Produced by: Hong Hwa Motion Picture Company

Genre: Action, comedy, drama

Starring: Jack Long, Yi Min-Li

Runtime: 89 minutes

Rated: unrated

Country of origin: Taiwan

Release Date: 1977

 

 

Barbara Crampton Discusses Her Film “Sacrifice”

Horror icon Barbara Crampton Talks About Her Career and Discusses Her Latest Film, “Sacrifice”

Barbara Crampton is a legend in horror cinema. From 1985’s Re-Animator to her four films this year including Jakob’s Wife and Superhost, her body of work has thrilled and chilled fright-fare fans around the world. On the eve of the UK TV premiere of Sacrifice, which Joseph reviewed for Diabolique (https://diaboliquemagazine.com/arrow-video-frightfest-digital-edition-2-reviews-held-the-sinners-and-sacrifice/), Crampton reflects on the early days of her career, tackling a Norwegian accent and the rise of pagan horror. Following is a syndicated interview.

Can you recall how you felt the first time you stepped onto a TV or film set?

BC: Yes, it was for the soap opera, ‘Days of Our Lives’, and it was my very first job, and I had one line, “Hi. I’m your cousin Trista from Colorado”. It was to the character Marlena Evans and subsequently I had whole storylines that lasted for about a year. 

I had extensive experience on stage but the first time I was on a television set it frightened me to death and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get that first line out of my mouth and I thought I was going to forget it, that I was going to screw it up. Then the spell was broken, and I was able to go on and start my career on screen.

"Christmas All Over Again"

Episode #118

Schedules and timing are a bear this time of year and Mike and Joseph were hit from all sides with conflicting commitments and surprise events, so there was no way to get together and record a new episode. But fret not! Using technological wizardry, the guys have cobbled together a "Best of Christmas Episodes" clip show. So, grab that eggnog, open up that tin of sugar cookies, and enjoy nearly an hour of Uphill Both Ways Memories.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW118_Christmas_All_Over_Again.mp3

Movie Review - "Hurt" (2021)

Following a Haunted Hayride, a Couple Learns What it Means to "Hurt"

by Mike Imboden

As the movie starts we’re told this is “inspired by real events” and as things begin to play out it looks as though we’ll be visiting some fairly familiar slasher flick tropes and situations.  It’s at this point that director Sonny Mallhi throws a curve ball and we see that Hurt may not be precisely what we expect it to be.

Movie Review - "Revision of the Planet of the Apes" (2018)

Another Hole in the Head Film Festival Review: “Revision of the Planet of the Apes” - More Fun Than a Barrel Full of Monkeys?

by Mike Imboden

Some time back I watched the original Planet of the Apes re-edited to look like it was an episode of The Twilight Zone.  Most likely due to the fact that Rod Serling played a huge part in adapting Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel, this re-edit works to near perfection. Taking a movie that runs more than 90 minutes and whittling it down to 20-some minutes AND having it still tell a coherent story is certainly an accomplishment. So imagine my curiosity when I heard that someone had taken the original PotA pentalogy and edited it down to one almost 90 minute movie.  I had to see this!

Unbeknownst to me, the mastermind behind this undertaking, Jorge Torres-Torres, already had some of these re-edits under his belt.  Stories like Death Wish, Friday the 13th, and Phantasm (to name a few) have all been re-cut, shuffled, and pasted back together to present tales we all knew, but in a slightly different way.  It sounds fun, but… does it work?

"Life is a Rock (But the Radio Rolled Me)"

Episode #117

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our listeners in the U.S.! The guys have a larger than usual episode to go along with your larger than usual servings of turkey dinner as they discuss some music that they are thankful for, specifically their favorite albums. Some of it's pretty middle of the road, top 40 stuff (Mike, we're looking at you) and some of it is a bit more varied (Yo, Joe!), but all of it is top of the charts for them. But first, kicking things off, is Joseph answering the SLP VHS Dub Tape Challenge of "Cover Ups and Conspiracies". So, take that tinfoil off of your dinner and fashion it into a hat, because it's time for some Uphill Both Ways!

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/Uphill_Both_Ways_117_Life_is_a_Rock_But_the_Radio_Rolled_Me.mp3

Old School Kung Fu Fest

The Old School Kung Fu Fest’s December Hybrid Film Festival Teems with Seventies Shaolin Showdowns and Masters’ Mayhem

 

By Joseph Perry

 

Nothing gets the adrenaline flowing quite like some classic martial arts cinema action. New York City’s The Old School Kung Fu Fest delivers the jumps and jolts this December with both online and in-person options. Focusing this year on 1970s titles from Joseph Kuo and his Hong Hwa International Films production company, the festival features showdowns and throwdowns in nine exciting features. Following is the official press release.

The Old School Kung Fu Fest is back, and this time Museum of the Moving Image and Subway Cinema will co-present eight newly restored films and one fan favorite classic by Kuo on glorious 35mm — four titles available exclusively online, December 6–13, and another five films for in-person big-screen viewing at MoMI, December 10–12.

Movie Review - “The Pebble and the Boy” (2021)

A Young Man Searches for the Truth About His Father’s Mod Lifestyle

by Joseph Perry

Filled with music from Paul Weller and his pre-solo bands The Jam and Style Council, as well as the likes of The Chords and Secret Affairs, The Pebble and the Boy (U.K., 2021) is a coming-of-age/road trip drama that looks at how members of both sides of the mods vs. rockers years in the 1980s United Kingdom have aged, focusing especially on the “once a mod, always a mod” side of the coin, and how the music and fashion from those years lives on today.

"Playground in My Mind"

Episode #116

Drag out that toybox you've kept in storage and let's root around in there for a while as Joseph and Mike reminisce about old toys like Slinkys, Colorforms, Super Balls, and toy robots (to mention just a few things!) However, the first thing Mike has to do is answer Joseph's VHS SLP Dub Tape challenge and provide six hours worth of recorded media with the theme of "Well I'll Be a Monkey's Uncle". Things are gonna get bananas!

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW116_Playground_in_My_Mind.mp3

Famous Monsters Speak!

In episode #115 Mike mentioned a record album that Joseph had told him about and that they wanted to play during the show. However, try as they might, they couldn't track down who currently held the copyright for the recording.  Made back in 1963, it was written by Cherney Berg, voiced by Gabriel Dell, and has been released a dozen or so different times - originally on vinyl by Wonderland Records and, most recently (in 2011), on CD by RockBeat Records.

This thing is great and it's a shame they couldn't play and talk about it as they wanted.  However, here's the next best thing: a link to a recording of the album!  Fans of the classic Universal monsters - notably Dracula and Frankenstein - need to give this a listen.

Movie Review - “Nelly Rapp: Monster Agent” (2020)

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival Review: “Nelly Rapp: Monster Agent” (2020) Is a Fun Family Creature Feature

by Joseph Perry

Live-action children’s monster movies hold a special place in the hearts of Uphill Both Ways’ Mike and yours truly, along with our readers and podcast listeners. From long-time favorite Monster Squad (1987) to the oft maligned Godzilla’s Revenge (AKA All Monsters Attack; 1969), gateway creature features introduce young minds to snarling, growling, crushing, slithering, spooky beasts of all sorts, creating new generations of monster kids. Swedish film Nelly Rapp: Monster Agent is a fun new entry in the subgenre, with a plucky, likable heroine heading up its laughs as well as its lessons about inclusiveness.

8 From the 80s: Slasher Movie Final Girls

Each installment Mike will look back to the decade of decadence and provide a list of eight things – from movies to music to memorable moments and everything in-between.  Keep in mind, this isn’t a TOP 8 list and any numerical notations are included to merely designate one item from another. Because, frankly, how can rate one thing over another when it came from a decade as totally tubular as the 80s?

8 From the 80s: Slasher Movie Final Girls

Last time out we looked at memorable slasher movie killers - this time we give the 'Final Girls' the credit where credit is due.  In no particular order (except for one), we have:

Jennifer Ross – Intruder (Elizabeth Cox, 1989)

Jennifer is capable enough but doesn’t quite measure up to some of the other girls on the list. She’s far more reactive than proactive and she doesn’t do much but act paranoid and afraid of her ex-boyfriend. But she’s likable and you want her to figure out who’s killing all of her night shift coworkers even though she never really does so (until the actual killer outright confesses). The ending of Intruder is atypical in that Jennifer doesn’t go bananas and she doesn’t die – instead we get a “realistic” ending.

"Bad Moon Rising"

Episode #115

"It's almost time, kids. The clock is ticking. Be in front of your TV sets for the Horrorthon. And don't forget to wear your masks. The clock is ticking. It's almost time."

But first, Mike and Joseph break out the treats and talk about an assortment of things related to Halloween. Then it's time for something different. The 'Christmas Carol' episode is one of their favorites, so they decided to do something similar for this episode by doing their version of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado". Joseph also answers the SLP VHS Dub Tape Challenge of the theme "Wait! That's my Sister!".

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW115B.mp3

Movie Review - “My Cherry Pie” (2021)

A Night of Horror International Film Festival Review: “My Cherry Pie” (2021) Australian Independent Feature Is a Fun Slice of Slasher Cinema

by Joseph Perry

Australian feature My Cherry Pie is a bloody valentine to 1980s slasher movies, with some Giallo references and a pinch of Spider Baby (1967) for good measure. Impressive practical effects, good performances, quality direction, and some wicked humor make this an independent effort worth seeking out.

8 From the 80s: Slasher Movies With Memorable Killers

Each installment Mike will look back to the decade of decadence and provide a list of eight things – from movies to music to memorable moments and everything in-between.  Keep in mind, this isn’t a TOP 8 list and any numerical notations are included to merely designate one item from another. Because, frankly, how can rate one thing over another when it came from a decade as totally tubular as the 80s?

Slasher Movies With Memorable Killers*

* That aren’t Jason, Mike or Freddy 

The Prowler

Look at this guy – as if being attacked by a guy in combat fatigues and a helmet isn’t enough, he’s got a damn bag on his head so you can’t see his tears of embarrassment over looking like such a schlub.  

Movie Review - "Jack Be Nimble" (1993)

NIGHSTREAM Review: “Jack Be Nimble” (1993)  Is an Obscure Gem of New Zealand Gothic Horror 

by Joseph Perry

Aficionados of well-made, atmospheric weird horror cinema should seek out the 1993 New Zealand feature Jack Be Nimble. It is by no means a fun or even pleasant watch, but it is a fascinating one.

"Look to the Skies!"

Horror Channel Goes Out of This World to Bring Channel Premiere of Brit Sci-Fi Thriller Series “UFO” from October 20

Horror Channel will be continuing its commitment to bringing great cult & classic sci-fi to its audience with Season 1 of the 1970 British science fiction TV series UFO, created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and produced by the Andersons and TV mogul Lew Grade. One of the best of its genre, the 26-part series combines the remarkable talents of the Andersons with those of special effects director Derek Meddings. And with a stellar cast including Ed Bishop, Michael Billington and George Sewell, it proved a popular hit at the time.

 

Following syndication in the US and favourable ratings, a possible second series was planned; initially entitled UFO 1999. This eventually became SPACE 1999.

 

Synopsis: Earth is being visited by aliens from a dying planet, who are abducting humans and harvesting their organs for their own bodies. Earth's defence organisation – a secret, high-tech international military agency called SHADO – suspect that a full-blown invasion is being planned. Called into covert action, SHADO wages a spectacular battle to prevent the alien takeover, which must remain hidden from the public.

The series makes its Horror Channel premiere on October 20, 2021.

"Bark at the Moon"

Episode #114

Lock your doors, pull down the window shades, and huddle close together as it's time for the first of two Halloween-themed episodes! In this episode Joseph and Mike talk about the "unholy trinity" of Universal's classic monsters - Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, and The Wolf-Man - and their lasting visual and thematic impact on pop culture for the past nearly 100 years. Movies other than the Universal ones from the 30s and 40s, cartoons, comic books, and even vinyl recordings have all been stamped by the portrayals of the creatures by Karloff, Lugosi, and Chaney, Jr. There's also the SLP VHS Dub Tape Challenge in which Mike answer's Joseph's challenge - or does he?

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW114_Bark_At_The_Moon.mp3

THE KING OF THE MONSTERS ARRIVES!

TOHO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND STERN PINBALL ANNOUNCE NEW GODZILLA PINBALL MACHINES 

Stern Pinball, Inc. and Toho International, Inc., the subsidiary of the Japanese entertainment studio Toho Co., Ltd, announce a new line of pinball machines based on the iconic Toho film franchise featuring the King of the Monsters, Godzilla!  The Godzilla pinball machines are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models.

READ MORE HERE!

"Love Me Two Times"

Episode #113

It's almost Halloween season and Mike and Joseph are busy picking out their costumes and decorating the UBW offices with skeletons, Jack O'Lanterns, bats, and all sorts of creepy things they found at the Dollar Store. So rather than skip this week they decided to run an encore of an older episode that sees Joe spell out his mix-tape of songs about sports in the Mix-Tape Challenge and then it's time for the main event as the guys chat about old horror TV shows from the 70s and 80s like "Circle of Fear" and "Tales From the Darkside". It's the perfect episode to get you in the mood for the upcoming Halloween holiday!

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW113_Love_Me_Two_Times.mp3

Movie Review - “Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest” (2021)

Fantastic Fest Film Review:

“Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest” Is a Satisfying Look at Camaraderie and Following Your Dreams

by Joseph Perry

The Danish documentary Cannon Arm and the Arcade Quest is about legendary gamer Kim "Kanonarm" Köbke and his attempt to play his favorite 1980s arcade video game, Konami’s Gyruss, for 100 hours straight — but it is also about much more than that, delving into friendship, receiving help and support from members of your chosen tribe, quantum philosophy, overcoming personal frustrations and obstacles, and much more. A huge amount of humanity is on display in this fascinating, entertaining film that has appeal for viewers far beyond just fans of classic video games.

"Tales From Black Manor" - An Interview With the Filmmakers

TALES FROM BLACK MANOR, INTERVIEW WITH THE FILMMAKERS

And how they want to make a horror film set in the Harry Potter universe

Lexie: Hi! We’re Nick + Lexie, a directing duo! We’ve directed two feature films, a bunch of shorts, and more commercials than we care to remember. Most recently we directed the upcoming Tales from Black Manor, a fantasy horror series about a family that meets Death. 

Nick: We were really inspired, oddly enough, by the Harry Potter series. The idea started a few years ago but really cemented this last year. We have a six-year old daughter and when she turned five, we bought her the Harry Potter illustrated books by Jim Kay. 

Movie Review - “Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster” (2021)

 

“Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster” Is a Valentine to One of the True Legends of Horror Cinema 

Growing up as a Monster Kid in the 1960s and 1970s, I first learned of the legendary Boris Karloff through his classic turn as the monster in 1931’s Frankenstein when the film played on TV and through the Gold Key Boris Karloff Tales of Mystery comic books. I was instantly a fan, and have remained so to this day, which made the new documentary Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster must-see viewing for me. The film is a highly engaging and entertaining look at Karloff’s life and career.

"I've Seen That Movie Too"

Episode #112

The review trilogy comes to a close as Joseph and Mike share their thoughts on six of the movies that aired as part of this year's Genre Blast Film Festival. Were there any stand-outs or stinkers? Is Kringle Time an actual time zone? And what does Vernon Wells have to do with any of this? Before you get the answers to THOSE questions, though, Joe answers the SLP VHS Dub Tape Challenge with the topic of "losing a job". Let's all head to the lobby for some refreshing snacks before the start of the show!

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW112_Ive_Seen_That_Movie_Too.mp3

“Britain’s Answer to Roger Corman”

Tom Paton on His New Sci-Fi Thriller “G-LOC”

 

In this exclusive syndicated interview, director Tom Paton reflects on why making movies is like solving a puzzle, his passion for survival stories, and being compared to Roger Corman. Paton’s sci-fi action thriller G-LOC is scheduled for an upcoming premiere on Horror Channel in the U.K.

 

Horror Channel will be broadcasting the UK TV premiere of your sci-fi adventure G-LOC. Excited or what?

 

It’s honestly so strange to me every time Horror Channel debuts one of my movies. The channel has been such a big part of my life growing up and informing my taste in films, that it’s always a “pinch myself moment” when I see something that I’ve made appear on their TV listing. G-LOC is much more of a sci-fi adventure than any of my previous movies, so it’s great that Horror Channel is supporting it and bringing it to UK audiences.

Tom Paton on the set of G-LOC 

8 From the 80s - Comedians

Each installment Mike will look back to the decade of decadence and provide a list of eight things – from movies to music to memorable moments and everything in-between.  Keep in mind, this isn’t a TOP 8 list and any numerical notations are included to merely designate one item from another. Because, frankly, how can rate one thing over another when it came from a decade as totally tubular as the 80s?

Comedians

While the stand-up comedian as we know it today was hardly anything new by the 80s (George Carlin, Richard Pryor, and Lenny Bruce are just a few who found fame in the 70s), it was the “decade of decadence” that really saw the art form shoot through the roof.  As comedy clubs appeared in nearly every major city from New York to California, it became easier to get your act in front of an audience and, if you were lucky, you’d land a sitcom or  a cable special. Many were influenced by those who had come before and many inspired those who would come later, but one thing that they ALL did was make us laugh.

Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld’s career took off in the early 80s as he frequently appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and Late Night with David Letterman doling out his observational humor about life, relationships and the minutia surrounding them.  The now-classic sitcom “about nothing”, Seinfeld, (which was loosely based on Jerry himself), debuted in 1989 and ran for nine years.  

"Kung Fu Fighting"

Episode #111

Mike and Joe review and discuss RetroTV's newest program, "Dracula's Kung-Fu Theater" and how it harkens back to old TV horror hosts, albeit with the hook that instead of monster flicks, we get old martial arts films. This leads into memories of hosts from their youth like Sir Graves Ghastly, Bob Wilkins, the Ghoul and others, as well as how current and more recent personalities like Svengoolie, Elvira, and Joe Bob Briggs provide today's horror hounds with similar experiences. Oh, yeah - and there's the debut of the newest feature, The SLP VHS Tape Challenge! Was Mike able to fill up a six hour video tape of things inspired by the topic "The One That Got Away"? Find out by downloading or hitting play now!

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW111_Kung_Fu_Fighting.mp3

 

Skatetown, U.S.A.

Here's an all-but-forgotten blast from the past!

We smell a Retro Review coming on!

Enjoy this glorious trailer!

The Envelope Please...

Popcorn Frights Announces Award Winners with SUPERHOST Receiving the Jury Prize for Best Film and WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED Taking the Audience Award

The Seventh Annual Popcorn Frights Film Festival was a hybrid experience that pulled in a record setting 10,000 attendees and viewers across all 50 U.S. states

August 19, 2021 // – As its seventh edition comes to a close after eight nights of in-person and virtual programming, Popcorn Frights Film Festival is proud to announce its juried and audience awards that were selected from its lineup of 68 films (31 features and 37 short films from 13 countries) in 10 categories. This year’s Jury consisted of South Florida journalists and notable genre enthusiasts, who chose to honor Brandon Christensen’s SUPERHOST with the Jury Prize for Best Feature Film. In announcing the Feature Film Prize for the film, the jury said the following: “We found Superhost to be a highly entertaining film, headlined by one of the best performances of the festival by Gracie Gillam. After terrifying us in years past at Popcorn Frights with Still/Born and Z, Brandon Christensen made the most enjoyable film of this year's festival. We indeed wanted to ‘smash that like button’ and ‘click that little bell’ while watching Christensen's movie, and as such, this is our pick for the top prize of the best feature film.”

"Popcorn"

Episode #110

It's movie review time! The guys sit down and talk about four movies that played at this year's Popcorn Frights Film Festival that was held in person in Fort Lauderdale along with a nationwide virtual version from August 12th until today. On tap are two slasher-esque flicks as well as two creature features, both of which were world premieres. Plus, Joseph introduces the SLP VHS Dub-Tape Challenge. Put some Jiffy Pop on the stove burner and get ready for something completely different.

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/whenitwascool/UBW110_Popcorn.mp3

Retro Movie Review - "Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives" (1986)

It’s Friday the 13th and You Know What That Means

When the thirteenth day of a month lands on a Friday it goes without saying that any good fan of horror flicks knows what they are supposed to do.  Luckily for us here at Uphill Both Ways, Popcorn Frights Film Festival is screening Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives for its 35th anniversary which provides us an extra reason to visit Crystal Lake.  Who says the number 13 is unlucky?!?