31 Days of
Drafts and Darkness: VOL 2!
"Scrooged" (1988)
Mention supernatural horror and Bill Murray in the same
sentence and most people will immediately think "Ghost Busters". A
classic, no doubt, but not the only case where Mr. Murray battled with ghosts.
Well, perhaps battle is too strong a word. Bicker with ghosts.
By all appearances "Scrooged" is a Christmas
movie, yet another retelling of Dicken's "A Christmas Carol". While
the film does have a great deal of heart, it also happens to be pretty damn
creepy. Much of the Christmas spirit comes from the main character's
redemption at the end. But up until that point, there are some twisted
ghosts to deal with first. These ghosts do, indeed, seek to instruct their
target: Scrooge. But they'll terrify him along the way, too.
With an ample dose of paranormal black humor and the musical
stylings of Danny Elfman, "Scrooged" may be wrapped up in red and
green, but it's heart is all orange and black.
The Plot:
The Scrooge of our film is Murray's Frank Cross, a cold TV
executive to whom the term 'cynical' would be an understatement. Frank's view of the
world is total dog-eat-dog. He rose to the top through cut-throat, calculating
business. And all it cost him was his love life and family. Surely that
can't harbor some bitterness?
With Christmas coming up, the TV station is abuzz with setup
over their live production of "A Christmas Carol", set to air on
Christmas Eve. With everything riding on the show's ratings, Frank grows even
more despotic than usual, even firing an employee who dares
question his grim outlook.
Things take a sharp turn when the Jacob Marley of the
film arrives. Frank's deceased mentor Lou Hayward pays him a visit from the
grave. Lou lacks the traditional chains we've come to expect of Marley.
Instead, he's a rotting, dusty zombie that's still decked out in golf clothing. A
perfect uniform to remind him of his sleazy former life.
Lou warns Frank of the dark path he's on. Frank's already
lost his former girlfriend to greed, but now he runs the risk of losing his
soul. Warned of a visitation from three ghosts, each nasty in their own special
way, Frank must learn the error of his ways before it's too late.
Ebenezer Scrooge's journey was built on retrospection and
repentance, with some horror thrown in at the end. Frank? Well, his journey
will sorta be the other way around.
The Flavor:
I don't want to undersell "Scrooged" as a cynical
film. There's plenty of Christmas spirit to be had. After all, we're still
following a play-by-play of "A Christmas Carol", which centers on
goodwill and charity. "Scrooged" just decides to have some macabre
fun along the way. Most of it is played for laughs. But even alongside Murray's
sarcastic talents, funny moments can turn dark very, very quickly.
For Halloween, "Scrooged" offers up plenty of
creepiness. We've already talked about the decomposing Lou Hayward, but he's
only the first instance. Many of the visions Frank receives on his Christmas
journey are disturbing sights, like watching someone set ablaze at a
restaurant. And it's all to the tune of Danny Elfman's haunting soundtrack, which sounds
like a bunch of demonic carolers.
Unsurprisingly, the Ghost of Christmas Future is the
stuff of nightmares. An eight-foot tall reaper adorned in black robes and
literal lost souls, the ghoul's skull is dimly broadcast across a blurry TV
screen located right under its own hood. His lesson to Frank starts off depressing and ends horrifyingly.
"Scrooged" has a playfully dark spirit that's
looking more to spook than traumatize you. Though awash in black humor, Bill
Murray injects enough levity into the film to keep it just as funny as creepy.
His character's redemption at the finale is quite touching, even inspiring,
and that's all due to Murray's sincere, earnest delivery. By the end, we've
seen this guy literally go through hell and come out the other side. When he
says he's seen the light, you can't help but believe him. For all its grim moments, you'll find
yourself walking away from "Scrooge" with a big smile.
Best Paired with:
Okay, yea, this'll do fine on Christmas. So long as you like
your holidays a bit twisted.
But for Halloween, "Scrooged" offers up a great
cocktail of creepy and funny. The makeup and effects used on the ghosts are
fantastic. Just gross enough to be intimidating, they feel less like wise
mentors and more like instructional tormentors. But they do mean well.
It's mostly
through these spirits that the movie earns it's PG-13 rating. I saw this movie as a
little kid, and it scared the hell out of me, but families with older children
(teenagers and up, I'd say) should have a great time watching this together.
Accompanying Brew:
"Scrooged" is a dark film, but also quite sweet.
And both Halloween and Christmas share an affinity for spices, so....
Name: Black o' Lantern
Brewery: Beer Works Brewery
Where Brewed: Lowell, MA
ABV: 8.5%
Style: Imperial Pumpkin Stout
Color: It's an Imperial
Stout, my friends, with the shade of a midnight cloud. Deep brown-to-black
colors dance around the edges while the main body of the beer is pure darkness.
Aroma: There's a dance at play here. One on side, you have
all the traditional pumpkin spices. On the other, a sharp sweetness with a bit
of caramel scent to it. This blend works very well, as even before you
sip, you can tell this brew is packed with flavor.
Taste: The initial while sipping is a
sweet/spicy blend. With an 8.5% ABV, the sweetness has a sharp quality to it,
almost like a kick. The cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove go well with the sweetness. A moment later, another flavor shows up. I love really dry, roasty
stouts. All that roasted-malt goodness appears right as the beer hits the
middle of your tongue. During that time, the sweet character and spices do not
fade. Rather, everything blends evenly to produce an almost caramelized
sugar/spice flavor. Very tasty.
Aftertaste: After swallowing, you'll become aware of the
faintest hint of hops in the background. The slight bitterness goes well with
the roasted quality of the malts, especially as the sweetness recedes. It's
funny, you get to taste the roasted malt paired up with both sweet and bitter
flavors, and while different, both are satisfying. The spices stick around
longer than the sweet flavor, clinging to the tongue alongside the roasted
malt.
Body: Though not quite as heavy as something like an oatmeal
stout, Black o' Lantern still has quite the robust body to it. Take your time
as you drink. It'll fill you up quickly.
Pair: Roasted pork or beef would go well alongside the
spices and dark malt flavors. Also, as a
dessert option, consider dark chocolates.
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