in-jokes Archives - Zombies in My Blog

Dear Santa is Like a Christmas Version of Beetlejuice

Released in 1988, Beetlejuice quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Tim Burton combined quirky humor, inventive visuals and a delightfully macabre sensibility that captured audiences’ imaginations. With its unforgettable performances — most notably Michael Keaton’s manic and mischievous portrayal of the… Continue Reading →

Saturday Night Gets Live for Jason Reitman

It doesn’t take Elton John to realize that Saturday Night is all right. Growing up a Child of the ’80s, weekends were absolutely the best and I made a point to record SNL with my high-tech VCR, because I could… Continue Reading →

December 5, 2024

If Transformers One is Canon Moving Forward…

How many times can a story get reimagined before all of its previous versions somehow merge together, becoming one amorphous blob where bits and pieces are used from each release, moving forward? What’s familiar is new again as Transformers One… Continue Reading →

November 20, 2024

Memoir of a Snail Should Break Preconceived Animated Barriers

In the pop-culture realm, gastropods seem to be en vogue. First, Junji Ito transformed ordinary humans into strange snail-like creatures through a wicked curse in Uzumaki and now, an IFC Films release is receiving a lot of publicity as word-of-mouth… Continue Reading →

November 19, 2024

Matt Berry Deserves Some Shadows Emmy Love!

Man with beard in black coat, looking away.

What We Do in the Shadows, the 2014 big-screen release, introduced me to Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. Their dry humor with a supernatural twist was right up my alley and the original vampire mockumentary had me in stitches. Instantly,… Continue Reading →

September 8, 2024

Despicable Me 4 is Messy, But Fun

The Despicable Me and Minions movies deserve high praise for their blend of heartwarming storytelling, vibrant animation and infectious humor. Gru has an endearing transformation from villain to loving father and the mischievous antics of the Minions consistently deliver charm… Continue Reading →

July 4, 2024

Hundreds of Beavers Builds a Dam Looney Film

Immersed in the world of 1980s animation, my affection for Looney Tunes transcends mere fandom — it became a cherished cornerstone of my childhood. Amidst the cacophony of vibrant characters and uproarious escapades, the timeless rivalry between Wile E. Coyote… Continue Reading →

April 10, 2024

Paul Reubens was More Than Just Pee-wee Herman

Per Matt Words cannot express the feelings… For the past three weeks, I’ve been struggling to encapsulate my thoughts. Paul Reubens, better known as Pee-wee Herman, has passed away after a six-year battle with cancer, which he kept very private…. Continue Reading →

August 20, 2023

The Blackening Flips the Script on Horror Tropes

Per Matt Taking a wide glance at many successful horror movies released throughout the years, you’ll surely find quite a few of the same horror tropes. Each film might not feature every single one of them, but there’s a lot… Continue Reading →

June 18, 2023

DC Catches Lightning in a Bottle with The Flash

Batman. Superman. Green Lantern. Wonder Woman. All these characters were my heroes, as I grew up. There were a few Marvel characters thrown in, but the vast majority came from the DC Comics Universe, and I had a reason to… Continue Reading →

June 10, 2023

Geek Culture, Zombies... and Other Monsters

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