In observance of that autumn spell when we celebrate the primal, compulsive instinct of fear, Rainestorm once more highlights 31 days of spooky scares to season the eerie atmosphere of Halloween.
For those who tuned in last year, I subjected you to a daily dose of diabolical dread and devilish distress. Just as every good horror movie deserves an inferior sequel, I offer this follow-up of also-rans, not bads, and perhaps a couple of you’ve-gotta-be-kidding-mes.
Unleashed: 2005
What evil lurks: There are very few decent childrens’ programs for Halloween outside of the classic, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Having already broken ground with Chicken Run, director Nick Park and Aardman Entertainment cast their signature duo, Wallace and Gromit, in a wonderfully playful horror spoof in their first feature-length motion picture. Having already conquered science-fiction and mystery, this send-up of classic horror films has nary a scare to be found, but it always maintains its loving reverence for the films that it parodies. With a voice cast that includes Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, it is delightfully looney and over-the-top, with the sardonic dog Gromit playing straight man to bumbling cheese-fiend, Wallace.
Highlight from hell: The hilarious climactic “dogfight” between two coin-operated airplanes.
Terrifying trivia: Next door to Harvey’s Vegetable Shop, is a barbershop called, “A Close Shave,” which is also the name of an Oscar-winning animated short starring Wallace and Gromit.
Diabolical dialogue: “Awww. The bounce has gone from his bungee.”
Son of: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). I never was a fan of this film and, to be fair, Wallace and Gromit were around long before it, but Tim Burton’s nightmarish holiday family favorite demonstrated that there was still an audience for claymation motion pictures, paving the way for the duo’s first feature-length outing.
Shoddy sequel syndrome: Aardman hasn’t quite yet determined how to draw out a spritely 20-minute short into a full feature without losing a bit of steam.
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