Sasquatch Sunset

“Hwoop!”

The Zellner brothers give Bigfoot their offbeat treatment in 2024’s Sasquatch Sunset. Written and co-directed by David Zellner, the film follows the lives of four Sasquatch over the course of a year. It’s a lot like watching a ninety-minute version of Wild America without Marty Stouffer narrating the action. There is also a lot of absurd and ridiculous humor thrown into the film as well, and it can be off-putting at times.

L to R: Director/Writer David Zellner, Director/Alpha Male Sasquatch Nathan Zellner, Young Sasquatch Christophe Zajac-Denek, Female Sasquatch Riley Keough, and Beta Male Sasquatch Jesse Eisenberg.

The film stars Nathan Zellner as (what I have dubbed) the Alpha Male Sasquatch, Riley Keough as the Female Sasquatch, Jesse Eisenberg as the Beta Male Sasquatch, and Christophe Zajac-Denec as the Young Sasquatch. We get to see them live their lives, from the mundane to the silly to the dangerous, across the four seasons beginning with spring and ending with winter. Had the film made a decision to be either an adult comedy featuring Sasquatch or a dramatic nature film instead of attempting to fuse the two styles together, it probably would have been a great film. The film features amazing emotionally-charged moments of beauty, suspense, and wonder, and a smattering of silly, sometimes vulgar comedic moments that derail the film. I couldn’t settle into any specific rhythm with this movie. The cinematography and music are ridiculously beautiful and lift the film to a higher level.

The actors did an amazing job in this film. I genuinely felt for these characters as they experienced a wide range of emotions and dealt with a number of situations, from funny to terrifying. Riley Keough truly shined in this film as the female Sasquatch. Much like Kevin Peter Hall in Harry And The Hendersons, Keough let the audience know what she was feeling and thinking with her eyes in brilliant fashion. As for the three males, they all did excellent jobs, although they were often sidelined by comedic moments featuring cryptid erections and sophomoric humor. When I say cryptid erections, I mean it. There are Sasquatch penises throughout this film and a number of attempts by the two older males to have intercourse with the female.

The creature behavior in the film leans heavy toward chimpanzee behavior, which was a bit of a letdown for me considering how much I love Bigfoot and cryptids in general. The Sasquatch fling their poop, urinate with excitement, and bounce around a lot like chimps in the film. They do wood knocks and whoops like Bigfoot is believed to in the wild, but I did not like the chimpanzee actions. They also exhibit some human behaviors, primarily used for humor in the film.

As far as the creature costumes go, they are nearly perfect. The creatures don’t look like people in suits for the most part. The only shortcoming in my opinion is with the creature feet. The toes are one molded piece and look very fake. Other than that, however, the rest of the costumes look amazing.

True believers and fans of Bigfoot may be turned off by the behaviors of the creatures in this film. The absurd and gross-out humor may be too much for some viewers to stomach (although there wasn’t anything worth leaving the film for as many news releases claim in my opinion), but the beautiful moments in the film far outweigh these brief moments of sophomoric humor. Is it worth seeing in the theater? Maybe, but this film definitely isn’t for everyone. I enjoyed it and feel like I didn’t waste my time in the theater, but I can definitely see some folks walking out at the end of the movie thinking, “What in the heck did I just watch?”

Thanks for checking out my post. See you again soon!

Jurassic Park Amber Collection: Dr. Alan Grant (2021)

“After careful consideration, I have decided not to endorse your park.”

If Dr. Ian Malcolm was the rock star in the original Jurassic Park film, Dr. Alan Grant was the record producer that kept a level head when the band (or, in this case, the park) lost its way. Dr. Grant was always aware of the dangers in Jurassic Park, but he was also confident that he could save Lex, Tim, an pretty much everybody else that he was responsible for in the film. He was an excellent character played to perfection by the wonderful Sam Neill.

When Mattel first started releasing figures in its Amber Collection way back in 2019, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on an Alan Grant figure. Sadly, scalpers scooped up most of the human figures in this collection before regular collectors could nab them, and I had to wait until late 2023 before I could get my hands on a reasonably priced Alan Grant figure. Well, I finally got one and have managed to find a little time to review it.

Dr. Grant features over twenty points of articulation. He comes with three accessories: a second set of hands in which one is holding his ancient velociraptor claw, a second head with detachable sunshades, and the same flare that is included with the Ian Malcolm figure in the same line. The main head on the figure features a molded hat that cannot be removed but it does have slots to attach the glasses onto the head if you so choose. In all honesty, I’m not a fan of the glasses. They are clunky and don’t look good on either noggin. The spare left hand fits loosely in the wrist socket as well. It’s so loose on my figure that he can’t properly hold up the flare. I do love the velociraptor claw hand, however, as that moment was one of my favorites in the film.

The details on the body of the figure are very good. Grant’s watch and belt have tons of detail as do his pants and shirt. Grant’s bandana is tucked inside the collar of his shirt but looks nice. My only complaint is with the head sculpt, especially the second head with the glasses. The head with the hat is a decent sculpt of Sam Neill, but the second head looks downright creepy. I think that it’s the teeth that creep me out the most. They just don’t look right.

Despite those few shortcomings that I listed, this is still a very cool figure. It’s definitely worth buying if you’re a fan of Grant or of the original Jurassic Park film. I now have the core trio of the original film and Muldoon as well. I may or may not get John Hammond, Dennis Nedry, and Ray Arnold. I do wish that Mattel would bring back the Amber Collection, if for no other reason but to give us Lex, Tim, and Donald Gennaro action figures that scale with the other figures in the collection. Production on the line ended in 2022, and Mattel gave us the smaller scaled Hammond Collection.

Thanks for checking out my post. My next five action figure reviews will be…..batty!

CyPhaCon 2024!

My Local Convention

I’ve been attending CyPhaCon for many years now and it was great to return to this local event yet again. This year, CyPhaCon featured Edward James Olmos, Barry Lowin, Mela Lee, and tons of anime voice actors for fans to meet, take photos, and get autographs. I was there as a representative of the Lake Charles Film Festival once again, and had a table on the second floor of the Lake Charles Event Center that allowed me the opportunity to catch a number of fun and informative panels.

There were a ton of amazing cosplayers at the event and I took a ton of photos. Some of my favorite cosplays are featured in the gallery above. One of my newest friends, Kettlebriar’s Workshop, showed off a couple of his cosplays: an Inquisitor from the Star Wars universe and a member of the Green Lantern Corps. Of course, I also had to get photos with all of the Furries because I love me some Furries!

I also presented two panels: The Cinematic History of Batman and Max Fleischer: Animation Pioneer. My Batman panel had a nice audience and my Fleischer panel, while more of a niche topic, did draw in a few people. I attended panels presented by my bud, Frank Schiavo, and anime voice artist Drew Breedlove. I also attended a panel by voice actors Suzanne DeCarma and Lisette Monique Diaz. The vendor area was packed with excellent items, artwork, and additional fan groups.

I had a really fun time at CyPhaCon this year. They’ve already announced the dates for next year, April 11th through the 13th, and I’m already excited to see what my local convention has in store for 2025!

Thanks for checking out my post! My next event is the Fouke Monster Festival in Fouke, Arkansas later this month. I plan on doing a brief write-up about that event once it’s over, so be on the lookout for that one as well.

McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse Gold Label Owlman

“As long as there’s a Batman…..there will be an Owlman. His true dark reflection.”

While I’ve often listed Black Manta as one of the most wicked villains in the DC Universe, Owlman, Thomas Wayne, Jr., might be one of the few villains to match him. Owlman is Batman of Earth 3 (at least in this instance). He teams up with the Alfred Pennyworth of his world to not only murder his parents and his younger brother, Bruce, but to also take out the Grayson family in order to drive Richard Grayson to him so that he will become his sidekick, Talon. Using fear, Owlman takes control of Gotham City and the Crime Syndicate, Earth 3’s evil version of the Justice League.

This Owlman figure, a Gold Label exclusive from Walmart, looks great. I picked him up on clearance for around thirteen bucks, and I can only assume that he hit the clearance shelves because casual fans don’t recognize the character. That’s a good thing for me, as Owlman’s complete lack of accessories makes thirteen dollars a much more desirable price point. Owlman comes with nothing other than the standard DC figure stand and a collector card.

I really like the details in this figure. The paint apps are a bit sloppy at times, but look very nice overall. The blue in his suit really pops and his helmet looks wonderful. I love Owlman’s utility belt and his “feathered” cape. His gloves look great as well. He’s also about a half inch taller than most of the other McFarlane DC Multiverse figures, which is pretty cool. Overall, the details work extremely well with this figure.

He features the standard McFarlane points of articulation and is only hindered at the neck and shoulders. His pauldrons prevent his arms from lifting up all of the way. Also, I noticed that the way this figure is packaged, the pauldron on his right shoulder is forced up slightly higher than the left one. His cape is soft plastic and can be lifted in one piece. Other than the lack of accessories, this figure is a fine addition to the McFarlane lineup.

Thanks for reading my post. Do you have this Owlman figure? Let me know what you think about him in the comments section.

Owlman and the boys!

CyPhaCon Returns This Friday!

Celebrating Twelve Years!!!

CyPhaCon returns to Lake Charles for its twelfth year this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Lake Charles Event Center (you might remember it as the Lake Charles Civic Center). This year’s event looks to be an excellent one, as the CyPhaCon staff have loaded up their guest list with some amazing actors, artists, and performers from every corner of pop culture. Get ready for three packed days of geeky goodness!

For up-to-the-minute information, be sure to follow CyPhaCon’s Facebook page or, better yet, download their app that features the full programming schedule, guest and vendor information, and tons of other crucial news that will help you plan out your weekend at the convention. Also plan to attend a few of the special events that are taking place this weekend including the Pub Crawl sponsored by MacFarlane’s Celtic Pub and the CyPhaCon After Dark burlesque event hosted by The Molly Valentine Cabaret.

Some of the guests at this year’s event include Edward James Olmos, Eugene Cordero, Barry Lowin, and Mela Lee. Featured artists include Ashley Gates, Jim Ferguson, Morgan Allain, and Danny Allain. Cosplay guests include Laughing Octi, Capt. Kirk Cano, and Rumplestilt Seam. There are tons of other guests that aren’t listed here, so be sure to check out the app and/or social media for more information.

As far as Ken’s Alternate Universe is concerned, I’ll be stationed at the Lake Charles Film Festival table on the second floor of the event center all weekend long. I’ll also be hosting two panels at the convention. My first panel will take place on Friday at 6PM in Room 3. It will take a look at the career of Max Fleischer. My second panel will occur on Sunday at 1PM in Room 2. That panel will be all about the cinematic history of Batman. Be sure to join me for these panels and come say hello at the Lake Charles Film Festival table! I’ll have a few goodies to give away, so come get some swag!

CyPhaCon a local event for me, so I always look forward to it each year. Below are a few more guests and some pricing information which is subject to change. Make sure to come by my table and say howdy!!!! See you this weekend!

Lisa Frankenstein (2024)

“I have The Cure…..”

Written by Diablo Cody (Juno, Jennifer’s Body), helmed by director Zelda Williams (her feature-length debut) and featuring a cast loaded with talent, 2024’s Lisa Frankenstein has a lot going for it. Unfortunately, the writing and direction just don’t click for some reason, despite the best efforts of a very enjoyable cast. The film is pretty good, but seems to have trouble finding any direction.

The film stars Kathryn Newton as Lisa Swallows, Cole Sprouse as The Creature, Liza Soberano as Taffy, Lisa’s stepsister, Carla Gugino as Janet, Lisa’s stepmom, and Joe Chrest as Dale, Lisa’s father. The entire cast is brilliant. Sprouse manages to have a number of hilarious moments with nothing more than grunts, eye movement, and body language. Gugino is deliciously evil as Lisa’s stepmother, quickly becoming one of the most unlikable characters in the film. Chrest is pretty much the same character that he portrays in Stranger Things (Mike’s dad), albeit with a lot more heart, especially towards Taffy after an especially traumatizing event in the film. The best performances in the movie, at least in my opinion, come from Newton and Soberano. Newton’s character quickly pushed away my sentiments, turning into a monster that’s even more despicable than her stepmother. It was an excellent transition for the character despite the weak script. Her character shift didn’t sit well with me, either, but I’ll talk about that later. Soberano’s Taffy is sugary sweet, but also has an edge to her, quick to defend her misfit stepsister, but also a tad clueless about life in general. She’s the standout for me in this film.

In the film, Lisa is still recovering from the brutal murder of her mother. Her father quickly falls in love with Janet and marries her, moving himself and Lisa in with Janet and her daughter, Taffy. Lisa is an outcast and frequents the local abandoned cemetery, building a relationship with a deceased young man whose own tragic story is told in the film’s opening credits (a brilliant piece of art in my opinion). One night, the young man is resurrected by a bizarre storm. Believing that Lisa is in love with him, he finds her home and attempts to befriend her. When he learns that she wanted to be “with him” in the ground because the living are jerks and not “with him” in a romantic way, he is disappointed, but continues to care for her. Eventually the duo begin picking off the living to cull parts to repair the Creature’s body. Lisa is also hoping to have sex with her high school crush because she doesn’t want to die a virgin. Lisa and the Creature ultimately end up being hunted down by the local police for the murders. Do they make a clean getaway? Watch Lisa Frankenstein to find out what happens!

Despite a disjointed script and multiple rushed scenes, I enjoyed Lisa Frankenstein. I did not enjoy the transition of Lisa into the villain, but I did enjoy Newton in the role. When Lisa turns bad, it leaves the viewer wanting to find a new hero to cheer for and, sadly, there really isn’t one. The Creature is likable enough at first, but even his turn into a murderous villain didn’t sit right with me. Basically, the two of them were the outcasts that I wanted to support, but they turned into villains that just weren’t justified in their actions. Even poor Taffy has a brief character turn late in the film that mars her otherwise decent outlook on life. Diablo Cody’s story shoots itself in the foot by making the heroes unlikable villains.

The film does have an amazing soundtrack and amazing cinematography. I was especially fond of the cemetery scenes. I also enjoyed the hints and nods at the classic Universal monsters. Cody and Williams seemed to channel Heathers, every Tim Burton film ever made, and the lighting for every goth and/or horror kid that has a YouTube show or TikTok channel as well, as the movie is full of pink and blue neon lighting, dark comedy, and Burton-esque atmosphere. I loved the look of the film, but the script just didn’t hold up as much as it should have.

Zelda Williams and Diablo Cody.

Is Lisa Frankenstein worth a look? It is if you’ve ever been the outcast, a goth kid, a horror fan, or just really, really love the aesthetic of Tim Burton. I’ll probably end up purchasing a physical copy of this film for the look alone, but I can’t say that it’s a great film. It tries very hard to capture the coolness of Heathers and the atmosphere of Burton’s work, but it just falls a tad bit flat.

Thanks for checking out my review. I’d love to see this cast return in a sequel, as I really did enjoy their performances despite the lackluster script and the character turns in the film. Williams did a fine job on her first feature-length debut, so I’m sure that she’ll only get better with more experience. I was really disappointed in Diablo Cody, she’s so much better than this film’s script shows. See you all again real soon!

Truth Seekers (2020)

“How can I put a Smyle on your face?”

With the one-two comedic punch of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost at the helm, 2020’s Truth Seekers combines supernatural horror, science fiction, and comedy in order to create a really enjoyable series. Written by Pegg, Frost, James Serafinowicz, and Nat Saunders, the series follows the adventures of Gus Roberts (Frost), the number one broadband installer for the Smyle communications company, who moonlights as a paranormal investigator and host of the fledgling YouTube series Truth Seekers. Along for the ride are Elton John (Samson Kayo), the newest Smyle hire, and Astrid (Emma D’Arcy), a mysterious young woman who is haunted by multiple malevolent spirits. The series also features Malcolm McDowell and Susie Wokoma in major supporting roles as Gus’ father-in-law, Richard, and Elton’s agoraphobic sister, Helen.

In the series, Gus, Elton, and Astrid investigate haunted locations that, with each episode, prove to be tied together in some way. Elton and Astrid have their own issues to deal with as well. A number of potential villains and allies arise over the course of the show, and the series comes to a close with an open ending that begs for a second season. Sadly, that second season will not become a reality according to Nick Frost.

Each episode follows a basic outline: 1) Open with a flashback that ultimately ties into the situation in the present, 2) Gus’ boss, David (Pegg), gives him and Elton their assignment, 3) Gus and Elton find a solution to their problem, and, finally, 4) A new problem is introduced. From spirits trapped in WWII radio equipment to a vengeful spirit that possesses a doll, Gus, Elton, and Astrid deal with a number of supernatural events, some loaded with humorous moments and others taking on a more sinister feel. All of the events in the show culminate in a showdown with the primary villain in the eighth and final episode.

The show features a number of genuinely creepy moments. I was especially creeped out by the encounters with the ghosts that haunt Astrid. Fans of Pegg and Frost may find the show somewhat lacking in laughs compared to their other work, but the series is interesting enough that the absence of humor at times is not missed. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of humorous moments in the series, just not as many as Pegg/Frost fans would expect in one of their productions.

The biggest strengths of the series are its writing and ridiculously likeable cast. Pegg, Frost, Serafinowicz, and Suanders terrify, tickle, and tear jerk the audience in every episode with their story. Frost, Kayo, and D’Arcy are easy to watch on the screen and their characters make you laugh and pull at your heartstrings as well. McDowell and Wokoma steal every scene. McDowell provides many of the laughs in the series and Wokoma makes you laugh and cry at the same time. The rest of the cast, including Mike Beckingham, Kelly Macdonald, Morgana Robinson, Taj Atwal, and Julian Barrett, are superb as well. Their performances are brilliant.

A lot happens over the series’ short eight episodes, and I hate to see that there will not be a second season. That said, I’m glad that I was able to find this hidden gem on Amazon Prime. If you haven’t watched it yet and love horror and comedy, give it a look!

Thanks for checking out today’s post! I appreciate your support!

Cult Classic: Killer Workout (1987)

“She was so pretty…..”

Aerobics were all the rage in the 1980s. Slasher films were insanely popular as well. 1987’s Killer Workout (also known as Aerobicide) fused them together in the hopes of raking in the big bucks. The result was a ho-hum slasher flick featuring a killer with a fondness for laundry pins, endless shots of women exercising in form-fitting workout clothes, and lots of bad acting.

In the film, a young model named Valerie dies in a tanning bed accident just moments after receiving some great news about her modelling career. The film then jumps ahead five years where Valerie’s twin sister, Rhonda, is running a successful aerobics studio. One by one, beautiful young women (and a few muscular dudes) are picked off by an unseen killer that primarily uses a giant laundry pin to stab victims to death. A new hire appears out of nowhere and a local detective starts to dig deep into the case in order to find the true murderer. Who is the killer? Watch Killer Workout to find out the truth!

This film will most likely only appeal to hardcore slasher fans. It features all of the standard tropes of the genre, from multiple suspects to decent kills to gratuitous nudity, that will definitely keep viewers interested, but it doesn’t cover any new ground. It’s a pretty cookie-cutter killer flick.

The film stars Marcia Karr, David Campbell, Teresa Vander Woude, Ted Prior, and Fritz Matthews. Karr appeared in a number of exploitation and cult films during her career including Chained Heat, Maniac Cop, and The Concrete Jungle. Outside of her, Ted Prior is probably the best known actor in the film. He’s best known for action films such as Hardcase And Fist and Raw Justice.

If you love 80s slashers and/or exploitation films, Killer Workout is for you. It’s definitely on the lower end of slasher films, so don’t go into it expecting very much.

Thanks for checking out my review. Let me know what you think about this film in the comments section.

Louisiana Comic Con 2024!

Photo by Louisiana Comic Con Staff.

Lafayette, LA

I’ve honestly lost count on how many times I have attended Louisiana Comic Con. What I do know is that every time I’ve attended this event, whether as an attendee or as a panelist, I’ve had a great time. This year’s event featured DJ Qualls, Kim Rhodes, Kevin Nash, Cerina Vincent, Nakia Burrise, and many, many other actors. It also featured some amazing artists and wonderful vendors. The panel lineup was awesome as well.

I attended the event as a panelist and as a representative of Filmsquatch. I arrived early on Saturday morning to set up my table and then made one quick pass around the event to get my bearings for the weekend. When the doors opened on the convention center, wave after wave of attendees came crashing through the fan group area located on the second floor. There were some amazing cosplays by attendees and pros alike, and I cosplayed (I’m using that term loosely) as Pugsley on Saturday and as Charlie Brown on Sunday.

My panel on Saturday, The Cinematic History Of Batman, was the most attended panel that I’ve ever presented. I don’t know the exact number of attendees, but almost all of the chairs in the Mardi Gras Ballroom were full. The audience interacted well with me and appeared to really be enjoying themselves. My Sunday panel, Max Fleischer: Animation Pioneer, had a lighter crowd, but that’s most likely due to the fact that Fleischer is a very specific topic to cover. Those that did attend that panel, however, offered up some great questions and seemed to like the panel. The response to my panels this year have taught me a lot, and I plan on using that information to make my panels better in the future.

Since Saturday was so busy, I didn’t get to leave my table very often. Sunday, however, gave me the chance to cruise around a bit more and I checked out the vendor area. There were so many things that I wanted to purchase, but I settled on a Creature From The Black Lagoon ornament and a Creature air freshener for my car. I also snagged a few books and some cool freebies from the other fan tables. I also did a little networking with other podcasts and hopefully you’ll be hearing the Filmsquatch guys on other podcasts in the near future.

Louisiana Comic Con was awesome this year! They’ve already announced the dates for next year, March 8-9, and you know that I’m gonna be there! I hope that you can make it out as well!

Oh, and props to Liquid Death for providing drinks for panelists!

Thanks for checking out my post!

CoastCon 2024!

Biloxi, MS

I finally got the chance to return to one of my favorite conventions this year. CoastCon 2024 was a great event and I attended as a representative of Filmsquatch! I arrived on Friday afternoon and quickly set up my table. I got to meet a ton of great folks including many young filmmakers interested in submitting films to the Lake Charles Film Festival (which I’m also a part of at the moment). The rest of the evening was spent catching up with a few good friends that I haven’t seen in a long time.

I went to The Reef for supper on Friday night. It’s one of my favorite restaurants in Biloxi. I had a Let It Riptide drink to “settle my nerves” for the evening and headed to my hotel room at the South Beach Hotel in Biloxi. I chilled out for the rest of the night and woke up refreshed and ready for Day Two of CoastCon! I spent the entire day talking with more folks and managed to squeeze in a little time in the vendor area. I also ran into more friends and got to hang out with them for a little bit.

I hit my favorite souvenir shop in Biloxi, Sharkheads, on Saturday evening and tried Snapper’s Seafood Restaurant for the first time. The food was awesome! I highly recommend the Gulf Club Wrap. I’ll definitely be going back there on my next trip to Biloxi.

I spent Sunday at CoastCon in full cruise control mode. The crowd was really great, especially for a Sunday. I visited with more of my friends, checked out the vendor area, and had a mimosa for breakfast at the convention. It was a very laid back day. That’s what I love the most about CoastCon. It’s a true Southern Gulf Coast event that is laid back, fun, and easy to enjoy.

Another great thing about CoastCon is the fact that it’s in Biloxi! I skipped out a little early on Sunday afternoon and cruised the beach for a bit before the long trip back home. CoastCon was great this year and I hope that I can attend again in 2025!

If you haven’t attended CoastCon, I recommend that you do so as soon as possible. It has gaming, fantasy, science fiction, and more in one convenient and beautiful location. You can catch representatives for CoastCon at multiple events across the Gulf South. They are eager to get you prepared for their next event, so be sure to tell them hello at an event near you!

Thanks for checking out my post!