Dear Watchers,When you find a scraggly little creature in a trunk, why not become its best pal? On this Genre Movie Wednesday, you already know why that’s a bad idea. This week, our horror-loving writer Erik Piepenburg recommends a gross and gooey oddity of a movie that wallows in its weirdness. He pairs that pick with something much more straightforward: a period thriller from Gus Van Sant that recreates a real-life moment of televised terror. Read below what Erik has to say about these two movies, then head here to see more of his horror picks. Happy Watching. ‘Hoagie’
Where to watch: Stream “Hoagie” on Night Flight Plus. It’s been a notably deep and deranged year for genre films that defy description. (I’m looking at you, “Buffet Infinity.”) I’m pleased to add to that list this wackadoo creature feature comedy from Matt Hewitt that will thrill fans of marauding little monster movies of the ’80s, chiefly “The Deadly Spawn” and “Ghoulies.” The critter here is Hoagie, a homunculus zygote that a suburban dad named Brendan Bean (Ryan Morley) finds in his trunk. Even though Hoagie has the looks of charred Chucky in “Child’s Play,” he and Brendan strike up a friendship. And why wouldn’t they? Hoagie’s wish-granting powers include materializing pizza out of thin air and decorating a “she shed” for Brendan’s wife with A.I. speed. Unfortunately for Brendan, Hoagie is being sought by Benny Piazza (Stephen Heath, hilarious), a white supremacist who wants to use Hoagie’s powers for global domination. Or something like that. Despite a few talky detours, “Hoagie” is a freaky thrill ride from an assured filmmaker with an adventurous appreciation of VHS-era practical effects and disgusting, cutting humor that is under no circumstances suitable for kids. If your taste in horror is on the stupid and sicko side, do yourself a favor and eat this “Hoagie” up. ‘Dead Man’s Wire’
Where to watch: Stream “Dead Man’s Wire” on Netflix. In 1977, an Indianapolis man named Anthony Kiritsis was so distraught over a real estate deal gone wrong that he took hostage Dick Hall, an executive at a mortgage company, and rigged a sawed-off shotgun to Hall’s head that would go off if Hall tried to escape. As if this horrific situation weren’t bad enough, parts of the saga were broadcast on television. The events of that bizarre day are recreated to thrilling effect in Gus Van Sant’s lithe re-enactment starring Bill Skarsgard as Kiritsis and Dacre Montgomery as Hall. Written by Austin Kolodney, the film evokes transgressions both real and fictional — the hostage taking in “Dog Day Afternoon,” the glorification of Luigi Mangione — as it explores what happens when desperate humans seek improbable justice. (Kiritsis’ demands included an apology from Hall’s father, played by Al Pacino, and $5 million.) Skarsgard and Montgomery share a tortured captor-captive energy that throws sparks. Also giving terrific performances are Myha’la as a TV reporter and Colman Domingo as a D.J. and hostage negotiator.
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