31 Days of Drafts and Darkness

The Descent (2005)

We had some fun, now let's get back to pure, unrelenting horror.

Plot: 

One year after severe tragedy struck the life of Sarah, her friends band together and resolve to get her out of seclusion and back into their adventurous hobby: spelunking. Heading to a remote region in the North Carolina woods, the group plans to explore a low-level cavern. All seems poised to make for a great time and new start for the still-grieving Sarah. Unfortunately, the group's resident adrenaline-junkie Juno has tricked her friends, leading them instead to an off-the-map location no one knows anything about. No trails, no markings. Just these five woman vs. the darkness.

Things go smoothly until an underground cave-in blocks off the cavern's entrance, forcing the group to delve deeper and deeper into unknown tunnels in the desperate hope of finding some way out. Their flashlights are rapidly dying and they've only so much food and water.  The journey into the unknown soon begins to bring out the most raw and primal nature in each person.

But despite being lost, afraid, and running of out time, things get much worse for these adventures. Don't expect me to spoil how, but let's just say the darkness can play strange tricks on the stressed-out brain. 

Note: If you've never heard of this movie or know only a little about it, I'd advise you not to watch the trailer on YouTube or the like. Most every trailer for "The Descent" reveals the true nature of the cave, which winds up being one of the biggest shocks in the entire film. Walk in blindly, much like our main characters, for absolute maximum scare effect. 

The Flavor

Dark, paranoid, and severely claustrophobic, "The Descent" knows exactly how to terrify an audience. It's attack is two-pronged, trapping its protagonists underground and in the darkness. Anyone even remotely uncomfortable in tight spaces will immediately squirm upon seeing the inches-high crevices these actresses have to crawl through. I don't consider myself to be claustrophobic, but moments where one of the woman gets stuck wedged between a low ceiling and the cavern floor sparked in me a primal fear that chilled me up and down. And that's just from the start of the journey. 

Gathering up dread over the first half of the film, you'll find yourself so tense by the time the real scares start coming, and they come fast, that you'll likely spend the final 30 minutes of the movie screaming.Tight spaces and darkness are just the beginning. Once the groups starts seeing things the horror revs into overdrive. Most of the terror comes from the group losing its grip on reality and turning on each other. Strange sights and haunting sounds begin to unravel their collective sanity. Keeping a level-head becomes progressively more difficult.

One of my favorite aspects of "The Descent" stems from not simply the pure scares, but how the cast handles them. "The Descent" has an all-female cast but never spends a moment sexualizing or turning its band of adventurers into the typical scary movie cliques. Never once is any of them portrayed as a damsel in distress, bimbo, or virginal bookworm. Each is an experienced explorer, tough and smart. They talk like sailors and behave like actual friends. It not only makes them full-fledged characters, but also illustrates just how horrible a situation they're in. That these grizzled women begin to crack after having spent so much of their free time previously seeking out death-defying activities shows just how bad things get.

If you're in the mood to be frightened not by gore or jump scares (though there is some of each), but more by mounting dread, you'll seriously enjoy "The Descent".

Best Paired with:

No one. If you're looking for scares, watch "The Descent" alone in a dark room. Turn the lights off and the sound up. Wrap a blanket around yourself and get ready. Try to schedule the viewing for late at night to up the effect.

If you'd rather not face the darkness alone, "The Descent" makes a great film to cuddle up to a significant other with for Halloween. Bear in mind they'll likely grab your arm hard enough to break it once the scares start coming.

Accompanying Brew:

For a film so mired in darkness and mystery, I wanted a similarly veiled brew. Tonight's brew of choice packs so much darkness and bite that it's very name echoes the themes of "The Descent".

Sam Adam's Dark Depths is a year-round offering from The Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams). You'll  find it mainly in wine-bottle sized offerings, though Dark Depths in occasionally included in Sam's 'Hopology' mix pack of uber-hobby brews. I recommend fans of bitter brews to snatch these packs up when they see them.

Dark Depths is a Baltic Porter with a higher alcohol by volume content. At 7.6%, it's nearly double the strength of a typical American ale. Bear that in mind as you drink. The strong hop character and higher alcohol create a bittersweet note on the tongue. The darker roasted malt that gives the brew its 'light shall not penetrate' appearance shows up a bit later into the taste. The sweetness also fades quickly enough so the beer never gets cloying sweet, and the dark, smoky character of the porter-side of things helps cleanse the palate at the aftertaste.

Dark Depths isn't the easiest Sam Adams variety to find, but it's well worth if you're in the mood for a rich, complex beer. It has a blend of flavors - bitter and sweet bite with dark smoke notes - that I see popping up more and more in the craft beer world. While I'm admittedly a bit biased by the kick-ass label art, with its nautical edge, the flavor alone makes Dark Depths one of my favorite Sam Adam's flavors. Enjoy it slowly and let the variety of flavors linger on your tongue between sips.

For a deep, dark psychological horror tale, an equally dark and complex brew.

31 Days of Drafts and Darkness:

"Piranha 3D" (2011)

So far, we've had some 80's-era fun, delved into the creepy side of celebrity fandom, and broke a witch's curse. I think need we need a vacation. How about a nice, calm lake? Nothing bad happens there.

                                                                        

The Plot:

A remake of the 70's creature-feature, "Piranha 3D" opens on an elderly fisherman quietly spending his  afternoon angling for some trout. I won't spoil who plays the fishermen, but I will say that it's a spectacular nod to classic scary fish-story and a perfect way to start the movie. Suddenly, a tremor rocks the lake. Once his rowboat is capsized, our fishermen is the first to meet a horde of prehistoric piranha that have been locked in a subterranean river for millennia. After being stuck underground for so long, our fishy friends sure are hungry.

Unfortunately for the local town, but good for the fish, Spring Break celebrations are currently underway. Flocks of teens seeking booze and debauchery get to spend the first 20 minutes of the movie partying before meeting some very famished fish. Needless to say, the fish don't stay hungry for long. Om, nom, nom, nom!

Can the grizzled town sheriff, played by Elizabeth Shue, team up with a visiting scientist and town pet-store owner to stop the rampaging piranha before every Spring Breaker is devoured? Will there be skimpy swimsuits and gratuitous...well, everything, along the way? 

The Flavor:

As I write this entry, I find myself struggling to fill in more plot details. There are a few side stories here and there, but for the most part, that's it. Fish get loose. Spring breakers perform every R-rated shenanigan the Motion Picture Association will allow on celluloid. Fish meet spring breakers. Blood bath. I don't really have much more to describe when it comes to plot.

You know what makes this one of my all-time favorite horror movies? That's all it needs.

It's the way the movie fills in that bare-bones (often literally) plot that makes it great. "Piranha 3D" is an absolute box of chocolates for horror movie and creature-feature fans. Director Alexandre Aja's rye tone, 'wink-at-the-camera' style attitude, and use of amazingly-realistic practical makeup make for a film that's simultaneously hilarious and horrifying. While the characters are the same sort of cartoony cliques we've seen in horror before, the utter detail in which they're picked apart by the killer fish is enough to make your stomach turn.

And yet, through it all, you're never disturbed by all the splatter as you would be from a "Saw" film. "Piranha 3D" has a tone that mixes dark humor with gore in such a way that it never forgets to let the audience have fun with the proceedings. After one unfortunate bikini-babe is chomped, we're shown a final shot of her skeleton floating towards the bottom. As the ribcage turns into view, we see a pair of silicone implants still clinging to the bare bones. That sort of grim humor is what allows the movie to be so simultaneously gross and fun.

This isn't the most violent movie I've ever seen (we'll talk about that one later), but it's certainly in the Top 3. The initial piranha attack literally dyes the water red as make-up effect after make-up effect is explicitly shown. It almost becomes fascinating in that the effects-artists are essentially display their portfolios to you via film. While extras flail around, prosthetic appendages falling off left and right, you're kept in good spirits by seeing just how many are trying hard to not start laughing. When it's clear that even the unpaid extras are having fun, you know you're in for a good time.

"Piranha 3D" not only delivers on action, comedy, and creative gore, but the creature designs of the piranha  are incredibly cool. They're built to look prehistoric, like a combination of a modern piranha and velociraptor. They're toothy little devils with lots of personality, and that fact that Christopher Lloyd gets to explain their origin in full Doc-Brown mode is icing on a already tasty cake.

Best Paired with:

If you're a horror fan, dig in. While "They Live" is cheesy viewing that could be enjoyed by any group of friends, "Piranha 3D" has a more hard-core vibe that'll make genre-fans super excited, but may be too much  for casual viewers. If you're party of friends loves them some old-school splatter, "Piranha 3D" will have you laughing and wincing in equal measure all night.

The movie's very much like an amusement park ride in that it knows how to shock you, then let you breathe and laugh at the moment. Just note, for those with sensitive stomachs, the shocks are quite squishy.

Accompanying Brew:

As "Piranha 3D" blends genuine shocks with dark humor into a well-balanced midpoint, I wanted tonight's beer to do the same. Something with both sweet and spice, but dark enough to remain robust and full-bodied.

Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout, a seasonal from the Cape Anne Brewing Co. in Gloucester, combines the spiciness and pumpkin flavor of a typical pumpkinhead ale with the roasted notes and body of a stout. I can't imagine it was easy balancing the roasted-malt tones of the stout enough to ensure they didn't overrun the flavor of pumpkin. Pumpkin is a very mellow flavor, so it goes well with lighter ales. Making it stick out in a darker beer requires careful use, and Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout pulls it off. The pumpkin taste arrives at the later end of each sip, with the stout characteristic flavor and spices showing up first.

For someone looking for a Fall-tasting seasonal beer that's a bit different from the multitude of pumpkinhead ales out there, Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout is a great change of pace. If you're a fan of dark beers - porters and stouts - like me, you'll love how the rich stout flavor helps temper the spices that sometimes get too cloying after half a pint.

As both a delightful blend of flavors and thematic nod to our feature film, Fisherman's Pumpkin Stout provides lots of flavor without overdoing it. Thus, it's a great companion piece to enjoy alongside some killer fish.

31 Days of Drafts and Darkness:

"ParaNorman" (2012)

Halloween films need not all be blood-fests. Even those crawling with zombies and witches. Today's entry is for everyone in the family to enjoy, save for maybe very small children. 

Note: This is on Netflix Instant Stream right now if you want to check it out!

The Plot: 

Norman Babcock lives in the Salem-inspired Blithe Hollow, Massachusetts. The town is littered with advertisements and slogans relating to a series of witch trials that occurred there hundreds of years ago. Blithe Hollow thrives on the tourism it gleans from hyping up its dark history. There's less emphasis on the hangings, more on the pointy hats and broomsticks. For a town with so many skeletons in its closet, the residents aren't shy about parading around the bones.

The titular Norman appears an average preteen on the surface, enjoying all manner of the morbid. Zombies, horror movies, ghosts, etc. What separates Norman from the rest of us is that he can actually chat with some of these ghouls. Yep, Norman's got the sixth-sense and is able to see and communicate with the dead. We meet him long after he's realized this, so by now Norman's pretty much accepted his gift and made peace with it. He greets ghosts with the same casual attitude the rest of us would to any old acquaintance. Unfortunately for him, these spectral conversations make the rest of the town see Norman as a bit deranged, as all they see is him chatting with empty air. 

That is, save for one resident of Blithe Hollow. Norman's uncle, long ago estranged from the Babcock family, shares Norman's gift for supernatural communication. Norman's uncle is well aware of his nephew's talents. And some centuries-old curse that only their family can stop. Norman hesitates at first, but a series of disturbing visions eventually drive him to put his talents to good use. Teaming up with a rag-tag band of teens, can Norman unravel the curse's mystery and save Blithe Hollow from the vengeance of a long-dead witch?

What follows is not only a thrilling adventure with some mild scares for the little minions, but a few sharp bits of commentary about human nature. Oh, don't get me wrong, monsters are involved, but not all of them are necessarily inhuman.

The Flavor:

"ParaNorman" is somehow able to combine together classic horror, a family adventure, and zombie movie. Norman just so happens to be a horror-movie buff himself, so his choice of viewing habits and posters leaves many an Easter eggs for genre-fans to point out. Hell, his ring tone is Mike Meyer's theme from "Halloween". Other bits and pieces of homage poke their way throughout. When the zombies begin their approach on Blithe Hollow, the music shifts to a eerie grindhouse-vibe. It's obvious the film loves such movies even as it pokes fun at them.

Even with all that going on, what makes this film great goes beyond the creeps. "ParaNorman" is more concerned with illustrating the ways society can be monstrous than it is about tossing zombies and witches our way. Without spoiling anything, I can say that the movie's darker moments are as heavy as they are not because they're supernatural, but rather because they're inspired from actual tragedies.

The film's aesthetic is heavily stylized, leading an unknowing viewer to assume it's a simple cartoon. The claymation effects were done by the same team as in "Coraline" and are beautiful to behold. Though a  family-friendly adventure, "ParaNorman" has no qualms about venturing into mature subjects along its journey. Just because the characters aren't realistic looking doesn't mean they don't deal with some serious, very-real themes. Norman and his band of misfits are actually threatened more by the crazed, torch-wielding mobs of Blithe Hollow than they are by the approaching zombies. The nature of how far people will go when they're afraid of something they don't fully understand is illustrated not only through Norman's being outcast, but also through history potentially repeating itself. 

The young characters refreshing use language that's a bit more edgy than seen in typical 'kid's movies'. No serious cursing, but just as real-life children are fans of rye humor, so too are the heroes of "ParaNorman". It almost reminds me of classic adventure films like "Stand by Me" and "The Goonies" in how kids actually sound like kids and not syrupy-sweet, non-offensive cutouts. They can be mean, even cruel, and feel more real as a result.

Best Paired With:

"ParaNorman" is an excellent Halloween film and makes for spectacular family movie-night fare. I'm honestly surprised the movie's not more well known, as it has all the potential to be a seasonal classic. There are plenty of gripping adventures and soft-scares for the young ones and lots of deeper messages for the older crowd to ponder.

Despite the weighty material, the film's not overly heavy-handed in its course. "ParaNorman" becomes serious when it needs to, but wants you to have fun as well. I'd also call this movie a great date-night film if you're in the mood for something a little out-there and different. Trust me non-believers, it's a great deal more charming a movie than the kiddy-friendly trailers would have you believe. 

Accompanying Brew:

At first glance, tonight's film seems little more than a silly kids cartoon. Once you get started however, you see the deeper, even bitter layers underneath the shiny exterior. Rather than detract from the experience, the added bite makes it more fulfilling. Better. Tonight's brew reflects that.

When looking at Anchor Steam's Big Leaf Maple, the first thing that probably comes to mind is maple syrup. Sweet, slightly tangy, and likely to make a beer taste like dessert. Upon the first sip, you realize how wrong that assumption is. Front and center in Big Leaf Maple is the serious business of hops and malt. The bitter bite is pleasant and well balanced by the robust use of malts. You'll  find many Fall seasonal brews center on ample malts. If you're as much of a fan as I am, you won't mind a bit. This one just so happens to bring some hops with it to the party.

Big Leaf Maple's sweetness is incredibly mild, developing slowly over the tongue during the course of a sip. The maple flavor takes some searching for, especially if you're not used to hoppy beer. If you're a fan of hops and well-versed in bitter brews, you'll find the maple tang to be wonderfully subtle. Not too sweet, just pleasant and light in the background. The complexity of the beer reflects the 'more-than-it-seems' vibe of "ParaNorman", and makes a great pairing to go with the film.

Taste aside, Big Leaf Maple features a beautiful amber that fits the autumnal color palate of "ParaNorman" like a glove. 

31 Days of  Drafts and Darkness:

"Antiviral" (2013)

We started off our list with Roddy Piper vs. a legion of media-obsessed aliens. We're gonna stick with the media-centric theme, but this time change up the tone. "Antiviral" is one of those movies that may be light on pure scares, but has a creep factor that gets under your skin early on and never lets up. Shall we begin?

Note: This is on Netflix Instant Stream right now if you want to check it out!

The Plot:

In the near future, mankind's obsession with celebrity culture has given birth to a new industry. Pharmaceutical companies once devoted to curing disease now sell strains of viruses and bacteria to the general public, complete with a guarantee of infection for all clients. Why the heck would people pay for an infection? Why, the strains are all harvested from the bodies of celebrities, allowing devoted fans to truly experience the same feelings as their idol. Has your favorite singer contracted some rare STD? Well, for a hefty sum, you can have the exact same strain, taken directly from their sold blood, introduced into your body. You'll never feel any closer.

Much of society now revolves about the daily lives of the rich and famous. Movie stars are held as pseudo-royalty, followed by paparazzi so doggedly that many hire entire hosts of bodyguards to shield them. Not so far removed from today's world, huh? Well, some of the same biotech that allows celebrity viruses and bacteria to be harvested and replicated has also been applied to the food industry, as people can buy deli meat cultured from celebrity muscle cells. Get why this is a horror movie yet?

Caleb Landry Jones (Banshee from "X-Men: First Class") plays Syd Marsh, an employee at one of America's leading infection clinics. He's half salesman, half nurse. His job involves not only collecting infectious blood from celebrities eager to sell, but also selling the infections to potential clients. Though Syd's got a hot job, his health never seems stellar. Heck, we first meet him checking his temperature via good old fashioned thermometer. If Syd's so well versed in the way of disease, why does he always look so sick? 

Well folks, that'd be because our protagonist has a little side deal going on. After injecting clients, he'll 

frequently shoot up whatever's left into his own body, smuggling the strain out of the facility and selling it on the black market. Apart from having the eternal sniffles, such a lifestyle makes things tense for Syd on the both legal and job-security side of things.

Our plot's set into motion once Syd unknowingly injects himself with a virus custom-designed to outright assassinate the celebrity it originally infected. Now on a literal clock for his and the movie star's life, Syd has to get to the bottom of who designed the disease, why, and if there's any cure. His journey will take you through one seriously warped, dark world.

The Flavor:

"Antiviral" isn't so much scary as it is deeply unsettling. It's disturbing nature stems from how the obsessive celebrity worship and subsequent madness seem they could be a natural progression of the way things are now. Society in "Antiviral" is exaggerated but still feels realistic enough to give you the chills. There are no masked murders or monsters, only people and the insane lengths they'll go in their fandom.

As insane as this world feels, the film does a great job illustrating how the media and local trends amp up the idea of celebrity products. People line up around the block to get a fresh slice of movie-star cutlet. Anyone who's not on board seems outdated and not 'in'. The facility Syd works in appears a white, shiny wonderland not far removed from today's Apple Store.

The violence is very minimal. It's the subject matter that'll make anyone who's squeamish groan. "Antiviral" has this dark, dank mood that jumps back and forth from dirty to hospital-sterile and back, often within the same scene. You're constantly given a vibe that something's not quite right, though it's from the experience as a whole rather than any specific scene. You'll certainly be thinking about what messages the movie has to say as it gets under your skin and crawls around.

"Antiviral" is directed by Bradon Cronenberg, son of filmmaker David Cronenberg. If you're familiar with any of Cronenberg Sr's film catalogue - "The Fly" (1986), "Videodrome" (1983) - you'll have an idea what atmosphere to expect when walking into Cronenberg Jr's vision. Though the body horror is not as openly graphic as in "The Fly", it's certainly there. And when it does show up, though mainly implied, it'll dig at you.

Best Paired with:

Not what I would call 'fun' by any stretch, "Antiviral" is one of those dark films that makes you think and thus is best enjoyed either alone or with a close friend/partner. Make sure you are in the mood for a film that'll actively set out to disturb you but poses some really interesting questions along the way. If you're willing to accept the creepiness, which again, is pretty much entirely cerebral, you'll appreciate the twisted tale for what it's trying to say about our culture.

I've always enjoyed movies with a warped world that echoes our own. "Antiviral" has an echo that is eerily realistic.

Accompanying Brew:

What best to pair with a dark, brooding affair with questions on its mind? How about an equally dark brew that offers up something a little different from your typical stout?

Guinness Red Harvest is the Fall seasonal offering put forth by the famous Dublin brewery to usher in the autumn months.  If you're as much a fan of the velvety smooth texture of Guinness as I am, you'll no doubt be pleased by Red Harvest's similar feel. Like it's darker brother, Red Harvest goes down like silk, making it surprisingly easy to drink for a beer that's heavier in body.

It's the flavor-department where things differ between Red Harvest and a classic Guinness. Whereas Dublin's standby stout features a strong roasted character, Red Harvest features far less roasty flavor and considerably amps up the malt. Much like an Octoberfest, Red Harvest's malts unfold over the tongue and leave a nutty flavor that extends well into the aftertaste. It's an interesting blend: texture and body of a stout with flavor more akin to a Fall red or Octoberfest.

Aside from the eerily-appropriate sounding name, Guinness Red Harvest pairs well with "Antiviral" in that it offers up something other than what you'd expect on the surface. Much in how "Antiviral" appears bio-horror in the 'ick' kind of way, only to instead disturb you subtly, Red Harvest appears your typical stout upon first pour, only revealing its different flavors after a few sips. Both are meant to be enjoyed slowly, to give you time to think about what you're experiencing. Sure, you could breeze through "Antiviral" as a mere creepy body-horror flick, much in the same way you could chug a silky stout without trouble. But you'd be missing out on all the little flavors and details. 

31 Days of  Drafts and Darkness:

"They Live" (1988)

      Seeing as we're just beginning our journey into brews and boos, let's start with something fun.

The Plot:

Rowdy Roddy Piper (yes, the wrestler) plays a drifter looking for a honest day's work. He's portrayed as the kind of well-meaning low-life that wanders from town to town picking up construction jobs whenever he can get them. Everything changes for Mr. Piper upon the discovery of a pair of seemingly-simple 80's-style sunglasses, wide-lens and all.

You see, once Roddy dons these shades, the world reveals its true identity. Some people that otherwise appear normal become grotesque skeletal creatures when seen through the sunglasses. Billboards reveal subliminal messages like OBEY and SUMBIT. Unbeknownst to the general public, aliens have not only invaded the planet, but have actually wormed their way into everything from politics and media to everyday life. Picture grocery shopping next to a red/blue skeleton. Bear with me. The point is that the invasion hasn't just started, but rather it's been going on for quite some time and the majority of Earth has no clue.

Before long Rowdy Roddy Piper (honestly, I have no idea what his character's name is, if he even has one, so let's just stick with R.R.P.) meets up with an human underground resistance movement bent on overthrowing the aliens and exposing them to the world. They've boxes and boxes of the special glasses, but are few in number and resources. If they can destroy a media tower transmitting the cloaking device hiding the aliens the world can realize what's happening and fight back. The problem is said aliens control much of television and the government, so breaking into the TV station where the antennae is held won't be easy. Double-crosses and big hair ensue.

Can our scrappy band of rebels reveal the alien conspiracy?

Will there be cheesy 80's-era cliques ridden throughout?

The Flavor:

Absolutely drenched in cheese, "They Live" is one of those movies that tries so hard to be scary, but because of everyone involved taking things 150% deadpan seriously, winds up hysterical. But charmingly so. Don't get me wrong, "They Live" is an incredibly enjoyable film, but while it's clear that the film maker - John Carpenter of all people - was trying so hard to jam a message about how the media controls the minds of society, the execution is so splendidly entrenched into 80's goofiness that it plays out like pseudo-parody.

R.R.P. and the rest of the cast play every scene completely straight. Not once is there a 'wink at the camera'-style moment to cue you in to the silliness. Rather, it just unfolds in front of you. The design of the aliens, for example, is disturbing. At first. The film draws the creepy factor out of their incorporation into everyday life, and it works. Seeing the skeleton-like aliens dwell among the banks and neighborhoods of urban sprawl is startlingly. It's how R.R.P. reacts to the situation that makes things funny.

Let the following words be forever immortalized in cinema history:

"I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And I'm all out of bubblegum."

The above string of literary gold is spoken by a shot-gun toting R.R.P. moments before he begins a rampage of alien obliteration.

Such a vibe runs healthily through the entire movie and sets the perfect tone for what to expect.  R.R.P.'s attempt to show a friend the reality of the world results in what may be the longest fight scene in any movie I've ever seen. For twenty minutes, R.R.P. and Keith David (also in John Carpenter's "The Thing"....and Goliath from the Disney Gargoyles cartoon) brawl it out in an alley because Keith adamantly refuses, for some unspoken reason, to try on the sunglasses. Just when you think the fight is over, with both character stumbling around bloodied, someone tackles the other person and the fight begin anew. This happens no fewer than 5 times. And we're not talking straight up punches here, folks. Oh no, this fight includes straight-up body slams and wrestling. It's glorious.

Most certainly a cult classic, "They Live" not only is a great 80's era invasion flick, but also an attempt to take a shot at the brain-washing attitude of the media. Television is on the alien's side in this movie, and the plot makes sure to cram that message down your throat with a plunger. But the over-the-top nature of the film makes what would otherwise be pontificating into charming fun. Though parts of the movie are creepy, don't go in expecting frequent scares. You will have a lot of laughs however.

Best Paired with:

"They Live" is a fun, Friday night kind of movie to watch with a big group of friends. Order pizza and wings, crack a few beers, pop this baby in the DVD player, and enjoy. Make sure everyone has a solid sense of humor about B-movies, cause' if they go into this expecting serious horror, they're going to be let down. While this movie is also a perfect candidate for the "It's 3 a.m. and I'm still awake" viewing scenario, I recommend sharing this cult classic with buddies.

Accompanying Brew:

As "They Live" lends itself to a night of pizza and friends, where many beers are usually drank over the evening, I want to recommend something on the lighter side. Many people aren't used to heavy, higher alcohol brews, so let's begin with something lighter.

Seeing as we're just starting off "31 Days of Drafts and Darkness", I figured I'd start with one of the more popular seasonal beers: Shipyard's Pumpkinhead Ale.

Shipyard's Pumpkinhead is usually one of the first Fall brews you see lining store shelves into late August, and it certainly appears to be one of the most sought-after pumpkin beers, frequently selling out. Beer purists often scoff at how the brew is very light on pumpkin-flavor, instead blasting the drinker with spices and sweetness. Yes, the pumpkin flavor is faint, with the spices taking center stage. Depending on your tastes, that might not be a bad thing. If you're a fan of sweeter, spicier brews that are heavy on the cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove, you'll enjoy Shipyard Pumpkinhead.

Though the pumpkin taste is very light, as an introduction into pumpkin beers, Shipyard Pumpkin is a solid, safe choice for most people. The flavor is sweet, but not as overwhelmingly as some of the higher ABV pumpkin beers can be. The hoppiness is very mild, so anyone not into bitter beers won't be put off. It also a popular choice for the cinnamon/sugar rim that many pubs have been dipping their pint glasses into as of late.

Shipyard Pumpkin goes down easy and is light enough to have multiples of without spending the night in the bathroom.

 Of all the beers I intend to review, Shipyard's is by far going to be the most akin to the typical American beers most folks are probably used to. Because of this laid-back nature, fitting with the enjoyable vibe of "They Live", Shipyard Pumpkinhead makes a good accompanying brew. The use of a cinnamon/sugar rim to up the fun-factor also goes well with the funky tone of the movie. Think of both the movie and the beer as that bowl of sugary cereal you had in on Saturday mornings as a kid. They may not be the most high-quality things in the world, but they taste good are sure are fun. 

Presenting "31 Days of Drafts and Darkness" - A Celebration of Halloween Film and Brews

 

- A Celebration of Halloween Film and Brews -

  

 With Labor Day well behind us, the spirit of Summer wanes. Shorts and t-shirts get packed away while we dust off our old hoodies. Movie theaters showcase fewer fighting robots to make room for abandoned warehouses and karo syrup, dyed red. Our beverages will darken from golden, fruity concoctions to amber elixirs laced with cinnamon and clove. 

Fall is upon us, and with it comes not only the first eye-rolling batch of Christmas decorations, but the spirit of Halloween. 

Many of us are past the days of trick-or-treating. Memories of odd-smelling masks and late-night stomach aches have long ago been saved into our brain's nostalgia section. But age opens as many doors as it closes. Though we lost the spoils of annual trick-or-treating ventures, in their place has opened a world of equally satisfying treats: the Fall seasonal beer selection. These treats can be sweet, fruity, dark or light, packed with spices or even chocolate. Some of them taste like pumpkin pie in a glass. Others are robust, malty affairs with a hoppy bite. The variety is huge. Staggeringly so, even. What's the best choice for an evening at home? A Halloween party? Dinner with friends? 

Well, take your pick...

Aside from trick-or-treating, Halloween also arrives with a slew of old scary movies on TV and at the neighborhood RedBox. Despite enjoying horror now, I can easily remember being quite the 'fraidy-cat as a child. Call it the result of an over-active imagination, but the nightmares many scary movies gave me through up an entertainment barrier. But as much as I tried to stay away, there was always this odd fascination. I'd scour the horror section of the video store just to analyze the cover art on all the VHS tapes. Some of them were enough to scare me without even needing to see the movie. Despite the chills, there was something about being frightened that sparked a curiosity in me. Not until I grew older did I begin to genuinely have fun watching the films that terrified me only a few years before. 

No secret: Halloween is my favorite holiday. Even when I avoided most creepy movies, those that centered around Halloween were popular residents of my VCR. To this day, I get excited to see these spooky features pop back upon TV. Some of these have become seasonal staples that I'll watch every year.

And what better way to enjoy a Halloween film than with an accompanying seasonal brew? Well, that and the addition of a few friends. If scary movies and beer have anything in common, it's that they're best enjoyed socially. And so I had an idea: to celebrate the holiday and the many films and beers associated with it, I'd delve into some of my seasonal favorites and share them with you. 

And so I present "31 Days of Drafts and Darkness", where I'll review a Halloween movie and pair it with a beer each day from Oct 1st-Oct 31st!

Let the games begin

Some quick rules:

1.) Every day leading up to October 31st, I'll post a new dual-review on my blog: http://quixotesheir.blogspot.com/.

Each review will feature a Halloween-themed film and an accompanying beer I recommend you enjoy while watching said movie. Not every review will center on a horror film, so anyone opposed to scary movies will have something to enjoy alongside the gore-hounds and genre fans.

 I'll also try to note whenever a film is available on Netflix for ease of finding/viewing. 

Here's how each movie review will break down:

The Plot - A basic breakdown of the film's storyline and major characters to give you an idea what the movie will entail. Consider this section the skeleton of the review. It'll provide a framework with which to build off. I'll be sure to keep things brisk and simple, so no worries about spoilers. 

The Flavor - If the plot is our review's skeleton, the Flavor is its heart. Here, I'll go into vibe and atmosphere, delving into the deeper themes running throughout the film. Is the movie a thoughtful commentary on human excess and corruption or are we here to watch a bunch of Spring Breakers get chewed on by monsters? The overall Flavor(s) of each flick will then lead us to...

"Best Paired With..." - Here's where I set up the conditions for the optimal view experience. Is said film better watched alone at 3 a.m. or with a group of friends on a Friday night? Would it make a good first-date movie or send your companion fleeing from your twisted tastes? Is the movie in question family-friendly? Remember, more than just scary movies will make this list.  

And finally

Partnering Beer - Taking into account the movie's themes, I'll make my recommendation for the perfect beer to enjoy while watching the film. 

2.) Some of my movie choices will be well-known, but for the most part I'll try to stick to cult-classics and under the radar gems. Some of these films and beers have already been talked about by authors/filmmakers on websites like I-Mockery, Cracked, Cinemassacre, Thatguywiththeglasses, and countless others, so I'll be sure to put my own unique spin on their interpretation. Beer helps.

Speaking of which...

3.) My choice of beer will go along with what I feel are the movie's themes, atmosphere, and general feel. The goal is to match up the flavor of the film to that of the beer. Thus, a dark, brooding movie will likely feature some smoky porter or the like. I'll try to feature as many Fall varieties as I can get my hands on so you'll be able to try them before the Winter brews start popping up. However, some of my choices will be year-round styles, so I'll be sure to note which brews are seasonal and which can be picked up anytime. 

4.) Lastly, my ultimate goal of this little project is to have fun celebrating the Halloween season. As such, don't expect many torture-style flicks to show up. This list is to help folks have a good time rather than feel like they need to shower after the credits.

Please let me know what you think of the movies/drinks I review and potential recommendations. I welcome your comments and of course, if you've recommendations, send them my way as well!

Stay tuned for my first entry on October 1st! Cheers, fellow creatures of the night!

Mad-Mutants: My Review of X-Men First Class

It's fitting that X-Men, First Class takes place in the 1960's. A period known for civil-unrest, the sixties saw our nation tackle race, sexuality, free-love, war, drug use, and loss of the innocence of the decade prior. So too does 'First Class' portray mutants in a similar light. Most folks who'er unfamiliar with comics see the X-Men as a simple super-powered bunch of do-gooders, but the birth of the comic was actually in response to all the changes the 60's carried with them. That the the early X-Men comics came out during the civil-rights movement is no coincidence. Marvel comics typically tackle social issues through its characters, and the X-men are the strongest example of that theme. More than anything else, the X-Men embody mankind's paranoia of the different, violence in the face of change, and hatred of what we don't understand.

Before discussing 'First Class', let's lay some groundwork. The first three 'X-Men' films took place in modern day, and like all comics, kept its characters in sync with the times. 'First Class' follows along with the continuity of that first film trio, acting essentially as a prequel. The movie's title describes how these are the very first X-Men. Problem: the original group of X-Men - Cyclops, Jean Grey, Beast, Ice Man, and Angel - can't serve as the first class in, well 'First Class'. In this line of continuity, Prof. X and Magneto are in their 20's, and most of the X-Men named above aren't even born yet. Remember, we're in the 60's here. So, this film is forced to tweak the canon comics storyline a bit. While irksome, it's an unavoidable change.

While the film's name 'First Class' points to a student coming-of-age story, the movie is really about the growth of Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr into the more well-known Prof. X, leader of the X-Men, and Magneto, classic X-Antagonist. Both are mutants, people born with unique abilities beyond human comprehension. The film starts with their childhoods - one pampered, the other persecuted - and follows their lives, friendship, and eventual split as partners. Prof. X and Magneto are often compared to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X; Xavier feels that mutants can live in peace with humanity, Erik beliefs equal-treatment for mutants will only come via force. Xavier believes mutants are another beautiful step in mankind's evolution, a step Erik sees as a superior one.

"We have it in us to be the better men", Charles argues with Erik.

Erik's reply: "We already are the better men."

Xavier, played with wonderful warmth and naivete by James Mcavoy, can use his powerful telepathy to read the minds of those around him. We meet him in college, where he uses his powers much in the same way many of us would: to pick up coeds. When you first see this portrayal of Xavier, you're shocked. Prof. X has always been shown as the stalwart, wise mentor of the X-Men. To see a swaggering young Xavier use his power for personal enjoyment seems in contrast to the character, but it's important to illustrate that he's inexperienced and hopelessly idealistic. Idealism is one of the most important character-traits of Charles Xavier. After all, his main dream is world peace between man and mutant. But at this early point in his life, that idealism is blind, and it winds up getting people hurt. Of course, such calamity happens to be the rough lessons that turn Xavier from cocky grad student to wise teacher, and watching how he's changed by the consequences of his inexperience is fascinating. Mcavoy does a tough job of blending youthful bravado (underscored with doubt) with a strong ambition.

Erik Lensherr's life takes him down a very different path. We meet Erik as a young boy imprisoned in a concentration camp. The first manifestation of his magnetic-abilities occurs in response to the forced separation from his parents. The nazi scientist who later becomes the villainous Sebastian Shaw, played with sleazy class by Kevin Bacon, takes interest in the young mutant's powers. Erik becomes his lab rat. Upon growing up and escaping the camp, the adult Erik spends his time traveling Europe hunting down Nazi war criminals in hiding. The execution of his former captives is James Bond-like and brutal in it's slickness. Erik doesn't need a gun. He's more than capable of turning knives, bullets, and in one nerve-tweaking scene, mental dental fillings against their owners.

As the man who becomes Magneto, Michael Fassbender imbues Erik with a torturer intensity and businesslike sense of realism. He wants the opposite of Xavier. He wants justice. He wants to be vindicated. And above all else, he wants to ensure that 'his people' (referring to mutants, but the link to innocent Jews killed in the holocaust in there, too) are never targeted by 'those under orders' ever again. Fassbender's Erik enacts revenge coldly, but shows a wounded interior. He doesn't enjoy the violence, but is so angry that it consumes his life. Tragically.

While the individual roles of Mcavoy and Fassbender are spectacular, their interaction and friendship drives the film. Both want acceptance for mutants, but have such varying background and experiences that their methods cause ample conflict. The writers also make wonderfully subtle use of their powers in ways that deepen the characters. One such example is a tear-jerking scene where Xavier looks deep into Erik's dark past and recalls for the man a forgotten childhood memory. I won't spoil the specifics, but the memory is human, raw, and tremendously moving.

Another standout was Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique, a shape-shifter who can appear however she'd like, but has a scaly-blue appearance in her natural state. She grows up alongside Xavier, practically a sister, but partially resents Xavier's 'all up-side' ability. While Charles can walk the streets without people knowing he's a mutant, Mystique must constantly concentrate on looking human in order to look human. Erik sums up her predicament wonderfully: "If you're always concentrating on maintaining your appearance, than you're only half-concentrating on whatever else you're doing." Lawrence's take on Mystique is a refreshing take from the Mystique of the first three X-Men movies, who was more silent shape-changing badass than she was a three-dimensional character. Lawrence plays Mystique as vulnerable, ashamed, but good-at-heart. She understands the need for mutant equality, but is far less optimistic about it happening than Charles. And who can blame her? When, late in the film, she's given the chance to change her true-blue nature by Beast, another mutant with a unique physical build, she turns him down. Her character arc is one about accepting yourself.

I understand I've not spoken much about the plot of the film, but in order to understand the storyline, it's important to understand the characters. Many superheroes are imbued with pathos, but the X-Men are practically famous for it. Aside from Shaw, there are few all-good or all-bad characters in this movie. Instead, there are people: imperfect, well-intentioned, but prone to mistakes and anger.

At their heart, the X-Men are about understanding what makes us human, and 'X-Men: First Class' illustrates that point artfully. There is great action, but don't expect an action film. This is far more positioned on the drama side than the explode-everything-with-CGI side of the film-making fence. The result is a movie where you care about the characters, which in my opinion, is the most important task a movie must accomplish. If I couldn't care less about a character's plight, why should I bother becoming invested in the story? With 'X-Men: First Class', I cared about every character, even the minor ones, because they were all given the respect they deserved. Costumes and powers aside, it all comes down to personal, human struggle. That's the X-Men.