The Doctor's Halloween Movie Special

Welcome to my Halloween Movie Special!

Every year in October, I enjoy spending some of my free time watching horror movies. So if you are planning on staying in for Halloween, here are some films you might want to check out.


THE BABADOOK

This Australian gem focuses on a widow struggling to take care of her hyperactive son. Things take a turn for the worse when they discover a creepy children's book featuring a creature called The Babadook, a creature that soon seems all too real.

I hope your children don't like to sleep. You might want to forget about it too.

The film stands out because it is genuinely creepy, does not rely on cheap jump scares, and features an amazing performance by Essie Davis. She really carries the movie, showing a wide range of emotions as she slowly loses her sanity. On the other hand, prepare to be annoyed by her son.

"Leave me alone!...... Maybe take my son? But then leave me alone!"

The ending was a little over the top, and might be confusing to some. However, (this is a bit of a SPOILER) if you look at the film as a metaphor for the widow's struggles with her own dark thoughts, then it actually makes a lot of sense. The more I thought about it, the more I liked it. Either way, this is definitely a must-watch for horror fans.


TUCKER & DALE vs. EVIL

Now this is a fun one to watch. Tucker and Dale are just two good ol' boys on vacation in the backwoods when a group of college kids mistake them for murderous hillbillies.

This isn't what it looks like. It really isn't.

Hilarity ensues, and often at the expense of the stupid college kids. You can't help but root for their demise as they hilariously kill themselves.

Oh, those silly college kids. Always throwing themselves into wood chippers.

If you are looking for a great horror comedy, this is one to watch. Turning the killer hillbilly trope on its head, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil is a fun film throughout.


STARRY EYES

This is one disturbing film, with a star-making performance by Alexandra Essoe. The story revolves around a waitress/aspiring actress just trying to make it in Hollywood. But how far will she go to become a star? Very far.

"I'm ready for my close-up!"

This is another great horror film that does not rely on cheap jump scares. It is a character study that builds slowly and does not pull punches. It can be hard to watch at times, but that is part of what makes it stand out. Give it a look if you think you can handle it.


IT FOLLOWS

This one has a very unique idea. The story revolves around a teenage girl who has sex with her boyfriend, but soon learns that in doing so, he passed a fatal curse to her.  That's right... a sexually transmitted curse! Now she is being followed by a supernatural force that only she can see. It is an entity that can look like a friend, family member, or stranger. While it is slow-moving, it is relentless in its pursuit.

Is that a sweet old lady walking ever so sloooowly towards you? RUN!!

This film also features one of the best soundtracks I have heard for a horror movie in a long time. It has an 80s feel to it, which might make you feel like you are watching an older film if not for the presence of some modern accoutrements.

This is an intense movie. Yet another terrific film on this list that does not rely on jump scares. Make this a priority on your horror movie to-do list.


DEAD SNOW: RED vs. DEAD

Another great horror comedy. This is the sequel to 2009's Dead Snow, a low-budget but fun Norwegian zombie flick.

"Do you know why I pulled you over?"

The sequel begins where the last film left off. The sole survivor of the previous movie, Martin, is suspected of killing his friends, since the police don't buy the Nazi zombie army story. Things are looking bad for our hero, but at least the doctors were able to reattach the arm that he lost in the first film..... except that it's not his arm. It's the arm of the Nazi zombie leader, Herzog. This arm has a mind of its own, which leads to some hilariously dark comedy, but it also has some nice perks.

"This ought to even the odds!....."

As funny as it is, the film is also full of gore and fast-paced action reminiscent of a Sam Raimi film. In fact, the movie feels like a love letter to Sam Raimi in all the best ways. There is also the presence of Daniel, a war museum employee who is definitely not gay, the Zombie Squad, a "professional" group of zombie hunters who make dead things.... deader, and a zombie sidekick who just can't seem to catch a break. There is just a lot to love.

"......maybe not."

If you like Evil Dead and Army of Darkness, this one is a no-brainer. Even if you don't, this is one of the better horror comedies out there. Watch it now!


That's it for my Halloween Movie Special. I hope you all have fun and be safe. Happy Halloween!

Street Fighter V - Dhalsim Reveal Trailer

Dhalsim sets the competition on fire in the latest trailer for Street Fighter V!

Looks like Dhalsim retains some of his keep-away gameplay, but has also gained some new options. That arching fireball looks like a great new ability.

Alongside the character announcement, Capcom release information on Dhalsim's V-Skill, the Yoga Float. This ability allows Dhalsim to float in midair for a few seconds, which is a great way to catch your opponent off guard and launch a counterattack.

"Yoga nana nana boo boo!"

Dhalsim's V-Trigger, Yoga Burner, is a flame attack that burns the floor for an extended period of time. If your opponent stands in the flames, they will slowly lose life. However, once they step out of the flames, they will recover this lost health.

"My eyes! The goggles do nothing!"

While there is only one more playable character to be revealed for the final roster of 16 fighters, Capcom announced that they plan to release 6 more characters throughout 2016 after the game's launch. The idea is to release one new character every 2 months. This will bring the roster up to 22 by 2017.

All DLC characters can be purchased with Fight Money, which is earned by completing daily goals or leveling up individual characters. Daily goals include challenges such as landing a certain number of Hadokens or anti-air attacks. Leveling up a character just means playing the various game modes with a single character. When you level up a character, they do not get any stronger, but you do earn bonus Fight Money. So the game rewards gamers who play often and experiment with multiple characters.

If you are the impatient type, you can also buy new content using Zenny, which is purchased using real money.

Street Fighter V is scheduled to release exclusively on the PS4 and PC on February 16, 2016 in North America and Europe.

Jessica Jones - First Full-Length Trailer

Watch the first full-length trailer for Marvel's new Netflix series, Jessica Jones!

Very intriguing story. The villain came off as disturbingly powerful, and from the looks of it, the show could be even darker than Daredevil.

The series stars Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones, David Tennant as Kilgrave, and Mike Colter as Luke Cage.

Here is a short synopsis:

"Ever since her short-lived stint as a Super Hero ended in tragedy, Jessica Jones has been rebuilding her personal life and career as a hot-tempered, sardonic, badass private detective in Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Plagued by self-loathing, and a wicked case of PTSD, Jessica battles demons from within and without, using her extraordinary abilities as an unlikely champion for those in need... especially if they're willing to cut her a check."

This is the second series Marvel will release exclusively for Netflix. Luke Cage and Iron Fist will also be released exclusively for the popular streaming service, which will lead to a big miniseries called The Defenders featuring the lead characters from all four series in one big team-up.

The entire first season of Jessica Jones will be available on Netflix on Friday, November 20th.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Official Trailer

Watch the latest trailer for Stars Wars: The Force Awakens! "Just let it in."

Wow, Finn was about to throw it down with Kylo Ren in a lightsaber duel! I cannot wait to see what happens in this film.

Directed by J. J. Abrams and set after the original trilogy, the film stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, Max von Sydow, Lupita Nyong'o, and Gwendoline Christie.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will arrive in US theaters on December 18th.

Street Fighter V - Laura Reveal Trailer

Capcom officially announced Brazilian fighter Laura in the latest trailer for Street Fighter V!

Very interesting character. Laura is a Jiu-Jitsu fighter, but she wields electricity like Blanka, and her spin move looks like something right out of his moveset as well. Also, her fighting style is referred to as "Matsuda Jiu-Jitsu", which could mean she has a connection to Sean Matsuda, a Brazilian fighter from Street Fighter III. Furthermore, she is the first grappler in the series to wield a projectile. It will be interesting to see how this new kind of character will be utilized during gameplay.

Laura using her Thunder Clap projectile.

Capcom also released information about Laura's V-Skill and V-Trigger. Laura's V-Skill is called Linear Movement, which allows her to quickly move forward to attack, or backward to escape. She can also change it up to confuse her opponent. If the player does not specify a direction to move when activating this skill, Laura will perform an overhead kick instead.

Laura's V-Trigger is called Spark Show, an electric buff that makes it easier to stun opponents, and allows her Thunder Clap projectile and Linear Movement to go further.

I don't think your arm is supposed to bend that way.

Laura joins Ryu, Chun-Li, Charlie Nash, M. Bison, Cammy, Birdie, Ken, Vega, Necalli, R. Mika, Rashid, Karin, and Zangief as part of the game's roster of world warriors. The final roster is expected to have 16 playable fighters total, so expect two more characters to be revealed soon.

No official release date has been announced, but Street Fighter V is expected to arrive no later than spring 2016 exclusively on the PS4 and PC.

Street Fighter V - Zangief Reveal Trailer

Zangief piledrives the competition in the newest trailer for Street Fighter V!

Wow. The Red Cyclone looks stronger than ever. Zangief has gained a "V-Skill" called Iron Muscle, which allows him to absorb one attack and recover health. His "V-Trigger" is called the Cyclone Lariat and allows him to spin very quickly, pulling in his opponent for a multi-hit attack. Each character in the game has his or her own V-Skill and V-Trigger.

Karin is another old character who was recently announced.

Like R. Mika, Karin hasn't been seen since Street Fighter Alpha 3 back in 1998. Her new V-Skill is a knockdown attack that can go through projectiles like Ryu's fireball. Her V-Trigger is an incredibly flexible attack with a variety of follow-ups and variations at your disposal after the initial attack connects. This allows Karin to control the flow of the fight while confusing her opponent.

Zangief and Karin join Ryu, Chun-Li, Charlie Nash, M. Bison, Cammy, Birdie, Ken, Vega, R. Mika, Necalli, and Rashid as part of the game's roster of world warriors.

No official release date has been announced, but Street Fighter V is expected to arrive no later than spring 2016 exclusively on the PS4 and PC.