Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here to take a look at “The Invitation” a vampire flick that has oodles and oodles of nods to Bram Stoker’s classic “Dracula.” It stars Nathalie Emmanuel as Evie, a New York artist who manages to, through a DNA kit, discover she is distantly related to an old family in London. After contacting her cousin Oliver (Hugh Skinner) and meeting him for coffee, she impulsively accompanies him to the English countryside to a family wedding. Once at the manor, she falls under the spell of Lord Walter (Thomas Doherty) and, despite the creepy nighttime vibe and the hard time she has fitting in with British aristocracy, she finds herself falling for the handsome and charming lord. Of course, that’s when everything hits the fan and soon she is trying to survive becoming an unwilling new member of a family of monsters.
Continue readingThe Kenblog: Remembering Wolfgang Peterson!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with the sad news that talented director Wolfgang Peterson died this week at the age of 81. He was a wonderful craftsman when it came to popular cinema and was the director of one of the greatest, if not the greatest submarine film of all time, 1981’s “Das Boot” which had the benefit of telling the tale of a German U-boat crew during World War II from a humanist perspective. Just because they fought for Germany didn’t make them any less human and that element along with Peterson’s fantastic ability to capture the claustrophobic nature of the German U-boat makes “Das Boot” a classic. He also directed the classic 1984 fantasy “The Neverending Story” which is as fresh today as it was nearly forty years ago. Other hits include “Outbreak,” “Enemy Mine,” “In The Line Of Fire,” “Air Force One,” “The Perfect Storm” and “Troy.” His career effectively ended with the flop “Poseiden” but he had a great run and will be sorely missed! So Sayeth The Kendog!
Continue readingDog’s Movie House: “Beast” A Lean, Mean Well Made Thrill Machine!
Howdy folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at “Beast” a new thriller starring Idris Elba as a widowed father of two teen girls who ventures back to his late wife’s home in South Africa in order to reconnect with his daughters. The three go on a safari led by good family friend and park ranger Martin (Sharlto Copley). At first the safari goes perfectly but soon they find themselves the target of a savage lion who is on a rampage after poachers killed most of his pride. Acting unlike other lions, this beast is persistent, clever and lethal, killing people without eating them. It’ll take all of Elba and his families courage and intelligence to get back to civilization alive.
Continue readingThe Dogcast: The Original Vampire Radio Drama “Dracula” For Your Listening Pleasure!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a hankering for a good old fashioned vampire drama after watching the fun Netflix film “Day Shift.” A fun flick but the vampires (save for the boss lady) were a little underwhelming. I’m correcting that oversight with the best radio adaptation ever to air from none other than Orson Wells and The Mercury Theater On The Air. This takes place the same year as the classic “War Of The Worlds” broadcast but a few months earlier. In many ways it’s just as good as “War Of The Worlds” and in some ways, even better. The captain’s log detailing the terrifying events on The Demeter crossing from Transylvania to London is one of the most chilling dramatizations in radio. So enjoy and feel free to comment either below or on my Facebook Page. So Sayeth The Kendog!
Dog’s Movie House: “Day Shift” A Fun, Urban Spin On The Vampire Genre!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at the Netflix Original film “Day Shift” featuring Jamie Fox as Bud, a vampire hunter in Los Angeles who is looking for a big kill (the fangs sell for big money!) He needs the big score to keep his ex-wife (Meagan Good) and precious daughter (Zion Broadnax) from moving to Florida. The problem is that he’s a little too good at his job and he’s been kicked out of the Hunter’s Union (really?) and now needs to get back in to rake in the big bucks. With a little help from legendary hunter Big John (Snoop Dogg, doing his Snoop Dogg thing) he gets a shot, but it’s a probationary one. He’s accompanies by Seth (the scene stealing Dave Franco), a desk jockey whose job is to make sure Bud doesn’t break the rules (Spoiler alert: he does!). It’ll take all of Bud’s abilities along with a little help from his friends to keep a powerful Uber-Vamp named Audrey (Karla Souza) from taking over Southern California and then (cue dramatic music). . .THE WORLD!
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