In several occasions, because of the things I sometimes say out loud without even realising it, I have been told that I'm a weird person, in a creepy, scary way. What I'm trying to say here is, if Netflix (cause in them I trust unless they give me the Iron Fist treatment, in that case, I'd go Punisher mode on them) made a show about me, I'd immediately know what to pick for this week's Thursday Movie Picks, the weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. But since such show doesn't exist --mainly because I'm not famous but also because it'd bore the shit out of y'all-- I had to put on my thinking cap and this is what I came up with.
Santa Clarita Diet (2017-)
Sheila (Drew Barrymore) and Joel (Timothy Olyphant) are an ordinary married couple who work as realtors while trying to raise a teenaged daughter (Liv Hewson). Their lives are turned upside down when Sheila stars craving raw meat, specifically human flesh. There's the perfect mix of real life, weird and dark in this show, and I absolutely love it.Stranger Things (2016-)
When young Will goes missing, we are taken on a supernatural journey of 3 stories as his mother (Winona Ryder), his brother, his friends and the police chief start searching for him. I loved the first season, a little less the second, but it's definitely worth the time.
Twin Peaks (2017)
Set 25 years after the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), it follows multiple storylines, most of which are associated with FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (MacLachlan). I liked the original series better but I picked this one because, when it comes to weird, nothing beats this. If you've seen it, then you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't seen it, go see it.
I was only an occasional viewer of the original Twin Peaks and wasn't fond enough of it to try the new one. I've heard of the other two but haven't watched a minute of either. The Drew Barrymore one sounds disturbing.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't really my area of viewing expertise so I had to reach back a bit to come up with three that I was familiar with. I thought of American Horror Story which I tried to get into but it's just too much for me.
Dark Shadows (1966-1971)-The first and probably only daytime horror soap opera. Young governess Victoria Winters arrives at the Collins' estate-Collinwood, in Collinsport, Maine. Greeted by shut-in matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (40’s film noir queen Joan Bennett) and other various members of the family including cousin Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) and the seemingly sweet but truly evil Angelique (Lara Parker). She is soon plunged into a world of strange occurrences and terrifying happenings that includes vampires, ghosts, werewolves, zombies, man-made monsters, witches, warlocks, time travel, and a parallel universe. Enormously popular in its day this spawned a couple of theatrical features during its run, an unsuccessful relaunch in prime time in the 80’s and the Tim Burton misfire.
Cop Rock (1990)-A police drama in musical form! Truly peculiar show that tried to blend those two disparate elements. For example in the premiere as the judge addresses the jury they rise as one and sing the verdict-“He’s Guilty”-Gospel style! There’s also dancing shootouts and harmonizing lineups! In the late 80’s no one was a hotter ticket in TV than producer Steven Bochco following the successes of Hill Street Blues & L.A. Law and he had achieved a level of carte blanche rarely achieved. This is what he did with it? It has been cited as both one of the 50 Worst TV Shows of All Time and the single most bizarre TV musical ever.
American Gothic (1995-1996)-Taking place in the town of Trinity, South Carolina the story revolves around the seemingly good natured but corrupt Sheriff Lucas Buck (Gary Cole), a murderous rapist manipulating people to "fulfil their potential" usually towards evil pursuits by way of supernatural powers. His main goal is to control and mold Caleb Temple (Lucas Black) into his image. Dark secrets abound including the fact that Caleb is Buck’s son via a rape committed in front of Caleb's older sister Merlyn (Sarah Paulson), who is murdered in cold blood by Buck in the first episode but whose ghost guides Caleb aided by the town’s newly arrived Dr. Crower (Jake Weber) and Caleb’s out-of-town cousin Gail Emory (Paige Turco). Pitch black, truly eerie and brilliantly acted especially by Cole and Black this was conceived by Shaun Cassidy of all people and ex-produced by Sam Raimi. Sadly it only lasted one season.
I guess Santa Clarita Diet is kinda disturbing but it's also so much fun!
DeleteWe match on Stranger Things! I haven't seen the other two, but i'd like to see Twin Peaks eventually.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very weird one. If you like Lynch, go for it.
DeleteWe sort of have the same pick in Twin Peaks but I went with the original series but not the revival (which I haven't seen yet as I still have unfinished business with the second season).
ReplyDeleteI wanted to pick the original at first but I went with this because it's even weirder. And it's pretty damn good too.
DeleteI never got into Twin Peaks so I never watched the wind Twin Peaks although it fits perfectly for this theme. I really want to see the show with Drew Barrymore because it sounds like a dark comedy which I enjoy. Stranger Things is a hit and another I want to see but, in both cases, I don’t have Netflix or HBO or wherever else they show it because I just have regular cable.
ReplyDeleteThe Barrymore one is a dark comedy, a very well done one.
DeleteI keep looking at the synopsis for The Santa Clara Diet whenever I'm on Netflix but then watching something else. Maybe one day. I've seen a few episodes here and there of Stranger Things when I've walked in on my daughter watching. God show. Haven't seen any of Twin Peaks and I probably won't, because David Lynch.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you for that. Lynch's work isn't for everyone.
DeleteI still have not seen Santa Clarita Diet.
ReplyDeleteI like but don't love Stranger Things.
I tried a few episodes of season one of Twin Peaks but it was too boring for me and the weirdness had yet to happen.
I'm sorry Twin Peaks didn't work for you.
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