HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2023

ROCK BAKER'S BAREFOOT: WHEN MICE RULED THE EARTH

Pin-up artist, Rock Baker, hits it outta the park once again with a clever, 64-page, illustrated saga called Barefoot. 

Barefoot has a Don Bluth quality about it (with its unmistakable shades of The Secret of Nimh). This isn't surprising since Baker is a Bluth connoisseur, but his story also contains a cheerful, sci-fi/parallel-universe verve that makes it unique.

The titular character, Barefoot, aka Tiffy Collinson, is a Crissy Carrots/Fievel splicing of sorts. With her boyfriend, Rex Rogers (along with Doc Goldman and Ernie the aviator), our adorable protagonist helps unravel why humans have vanished from the planet, leaving mice the predominant species.  

Within this peculiar predicament, Barefoot falls into a number of fun and exciting scenarios, including a birthday/engagement surprise; feline ambushes; political and theoretical conjecturing; a fateful, rocket launch; and a startling, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman/30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock/Land of the Giants interlude (with a crafty, Twilight Zone, true-identity flip). Through it all, Baker's artistic know-how and storytelling expertise proves nothing short of gosh-darn awe-inspiring! 

I'm beyond giddy that Baker created this one, for it's an ideal companion piece to his Cuties' mythology, yet still acts as a major stand-out in his long, creative queue. (Incidentally, Baker had envisioned Barefoot as a movie. I sure hope that such comes about someday, but the printed version is definitely the satisfying next-best-thing.)

Barefoot is pure, front-to-back enjoyment; order at

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CLS1BLMQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

SO LONG, RICHARD MOLL

As dear ol' Aristotle Nostradamus "Bull" Shannon, you brought a mighty, tall order to nine seasons of Night Court, but then your imposing presence and unique, expressive style shined in all your ventures.

Deathstalker; The Dungeonmaster; The Sword and the Sorcerer; The Archer: Fugitive of the Empire; Caveman; House; Pulse Pounders; Evilspeak; Night Train to Terror; Wicked Stepmother; Galaxis; Shadow Hours; Boltneck; Evolution; Ghost Shark; Scary Movie 2; Nightmare Man; Headless Horseman; Sorority Party Massacre; Casper: A Spirited Beginning; Casper Meets Wendy; Kids vs Monsters; Circus Kane; Slay Belles; and the one that should have spawned a sequel, Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn comprise your jaunts of high, contrasting fantasy. 

On the television side (and in addition to the popular Night Court), you made appearances on Happy Days; Laverne and Shirley; Mork & Mindy; Welcome Back, Kotter; Buck Rogers in the 25th Century; The Fall Guy; T.J. Hooker; Monsters; The Munsters Today; Bigfoot and Wildboy; Weird Science: The Series; Highlander: The Series; Hercules: The Legendary Journeys; Babylon 5; Baywatch; Smallville; Superman: The Animated Series; Batman: The Animated Series; The Incredible Hulk: The Animated Series; Spider-man: The Animated Series 1997; Freakazoid; The Rockford Files; The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo; B.J. and the Bear; Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman; How the West Was Won; Best of the West; The Dukes of Hazzard; Sledge Hammer!; The Facts of Life; and so many more.

You brought laughter, excitement and menace to the screen, Mr. Moll, and as such, immense joy into our lives. For that, we'll continue to elevate your legacy and think of you fondly whenever we return to your work, which trust me, will be more often than not. 

I saw Five Nights at Freddy's

I've held but a passing familiarity with the Five Nights at Freddy's video-game franchise, but knew enough to get the pre-gist of Universal/Blumhouse's titular release, directed by Emma Tammi, who cowrote with Seth Cuddback and Scott Cawthorn (the game's co-creator).  

The skillful trio makes certain that this fast-clipped, jump-scare adaptation sways little from its namesake, which is known for placing its avatar lead against mechanical monsters at Freddy Fazabear's Pizzeria. (The fearsome caricatures attack much like the vengeful androids of Westworld 1973).  

As with the video challenge, Josh (The Hunger Games) Hutcherson's edgy and dejected security guard, Mike Schmidt (ah, not the Phillies' former third baseman😒) is hired to patrol a closed, 1980s, novelty eatery from dusk till dawn (five times over) and faces the brunt of the walking/talking animatronic props. They snap to life little by little each night, yearning for murder because, well, they contain the souls of slain children (with one near to Schmidt's guilt-wracked heart), who've festered enough within their anthropomorphic shells to give them warped, symbiotic cravings. (Take my word for it, the creepy cause isn't as important as the eerie effect.)

In addition to Hutcherson's beleaguered Schmidt, there's his intuitive sister, Piper (Unstable) Rubio's Abby; Elizabeth (Once Upon a Time) Lail's Officer Vanessa Monroe, who knows a thing or two about the menacing mechanisms; Michael (Scream/Scooby-Doo) Lillard's Steve Ragland, Schmidt's "brutally honest" career counselor who harbors a consequential secret; Mary Stuart (Benny & Joon) Masterson's spiteful-to-the-custody-core Aunt Jan; and comprising the antagonistic automatons, Kevin Foster's Freddy the Bear/Fazbear; Jay Kinder-Martin's Bonnie the Bunny;  Roger Manning's Foxy the Fox; Jess Weiss' Chica the Chick (with her candle-topped, cupcake mascot), all of whom are fascinating yet nightmarish for their uncanny-valley bestiality. 

Like this year's cutie-pie-gone-wrong fable, M3gan, the debate over A.I.'s usefulness makes Freddy's content relevant, even if what's featured is old-school (and possessed). However, if the truth be known, this cheer-over-sadism idea was implemented in Danishka Esterhazy's 2019's horror retooling of The Banana Splits. Even so, that revamped, Hanna-Barbera premise (much like Rhys Frake Waterfield's Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey) seems to have taken inspiration from the Freddy's game.  

Freddy's isn't, as one can deduce, uncommon in its flipside terror (whether as a game or movie), but then, Tom Holland/Don Mancini's Child's Play wasn't perceived as innovative when released 1988 (an admitted rehash of Richard Matheson's Zuni Doll segment from Trilogy of Terror). Despite this, the Chucky venture received praise for its chilling execution. Freddy's holds the same tried-and-true gleaning, turning cuteness on its head through a successful, slasher succession. 

Freddy's now occupies theaters, but for Peacock subscribers, it's been queued to view. No matter where or how one experiences it, Freddy's is a sufficient, sci-fi/supernatural outing that should give most viewers just the right dose of temporary tingles this Halloween. 

HAPPY NATIONAL FRANKENSTEIN FRIDAY 2023

R.I.P. RICHARD ROUNDTREE

You became a no-nonsense icon through Shaft, Shaft's Big Score!, Shaft in Africa, the Shaft television series and Shaft 2000 (as a cameoing uncle). 

However, you muscled your way into many other top-drawer features: An Eye for an Eye; Maniac Cop; Mind Twister; Vegas Vampires; Haunting of the Mary Celeste; Se7en; Steel; Speed Racer; George of the Jungle; Theodore Rex; Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon; Original Gangstas; Crackhouse; Antitrust; Earthquake; Embassy; Man Friday; Portrait of a Hitman; The Fifth Missile; Charley-One-Eye; Bonanza: The Return; Bonanza: Under Attack; Days of the Assassin; Diamonds; Escape to Athena; The Trial of Ben Barry; Game for Vultures; This Bitter Earth; One Down, Two to Go; Moving On; What Men Want; Young Warriors; Firehouse; Diamonds; Jocks; Corky Romano; The Baron and the Kid; Killpoint; Night Visitors; City Heat; Capone's Boys (Al's Lads); The Big Score; The Banker; Ladies of the House; Duke; Angel III: The Final Chapter; Christmas in Connecticut 1992; The Confidant; and All the Days Before Tomorrow. 

On television, you hit it out of the park, as well, with appearances on Roots; Blade: The Series; A.D.; Alias; Murder, She Wrote; CHiPs; 21 Jump Street; Magnum P.I. (the original); MacGyver (the original); Knight Rider (remake series); Lethal Weapon; L.A. Law; Profiler; The Closer; The Mentalist; The Player; Amen; The Love Boat (the original); The Beauty and the Beast (the original); Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (the original); Hangin' with Mr. Cooper; Soul Food; The Wayan Brothers; Roc; Dream On; Cherish the Day; Desperate Housewives; Touched by an Angel; A Different World; Lincoln Heights; As the World Turns; Generations; Resurrection Blvd; Diary of a Single Mom; Star; Being Mary Jane; Family Reunion; Chicago Fire; Rescue 77; and the time-leaping western, Outlaws. 

You were a consummate actor who made any role reasonable and identifiable, Mr. Roundtree: tough, earnest, funny and respected by all who had the pleasure of viewing your plenteous work.