WHAT WE COULDN’T CRAM INTO THE PODCAST…
RUNNING SCARED (2006)
April 1, 2025
“Running Scared” Heavily Influenced by Fairy Tales
Each character in this film was written with inspiration from old fairy tales. I loved this film before I discovered this information. After this reveal I have grown to love the film even more.
First and foremost, the film takes place in a fictional suburb of Grimley, New Jersey, which of course is a direct reference to the Brothers Grimm. Oleg was modeled after Pinocchio, on a journey to find his way back home to a real family where he can be treated like a real boy (unlike in the abusive household of his stepfather, Anzor). Even in his movements, Oleg seems wooded and mechanical. He follows drug addicts and hookers through the city, almost mindlessly as he runs, scared to stop and meet the consequences.
Oleg’s Step Father Anzor may be one of the few not inspired by a Grimm’s Fairy Tale character but he does directly represent the failure of the American Dream. Wayne Kramer saw The Cowboy as a kid and finding out John Wayne died at the end sorta traumatized him. That moment in time combined with his super 8 collection was what created Anzors back story. Anzor idolized the “American Icon” John Wayne aka the Duke. He tried to do good in his past, but everytime he did, he paid a heavy price for it. He married Mila to save her life from a life of prostitution, then lost his standing in the mob. In the end, he chose not to shoot Oleg and paid the ultimate price, his life. Both Joey & Anzor are considered by Kramer to be the Big Bad Wolf. What sets them apart is that while Anzor is seemingly just the Big Bad Wolf, Joey is in fact a sheep in wolf's clothing and Oleg’s real protector.
As Oleg searches the city for a way to feel safe he runs into the prostitute Divina being brutalized by her pimp, Lester. Despite what Divina is, she is a safe place for Oleg. Even her name means “divine” or “godlike”. Like a puppy he follows her everywhere. Divina is the embodiment of the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio. She tries to provide advice and send him home, but when he doesn’t go home, she tries to guide and protect him. Teresa, Joe’s wife, is also inspired by the Blue Fairy. Both women wear blue and both represent the forces of good in the film.
Lester, Divina’s pimp was modeled after The Mad Hatter from Lewis Carroll’s 1865 book Alice in Wonderland. He is eccentric, brash, his emotions change at a whim.
Of all the characters in this film, Dez and Edele, the child predators, have one of the most memorable scenes. Both husband and wife make up The Evil Witch from Hansel and Gretel. In Dez and Edele’s home, instead of candy to lure children in, they have video games, toys, and other technology. Just like in the fairy tale, they aim to bring harm to the children they have captured.
Lastly, as you finish the film, you can see the comparisons to all these fairy tale characters in the ending credits of the film.
TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (1983)
March 18, 2025
Twilight Zone Television Show Episodes the Movie is Based On
"Time Out" is the only original story in this portmanteau, however it is still based on a couple Twilight Zone Episodes. It is a partial reworking, but not a full remake, of "Back There" and “A Quality of Mercy”.
"Back There" is the 13th episode of the second season. It was directed by David Orrick McDearmon and written by Rod Sterling.
Opening Narration
Witness a theoretical argument, Washington, D.C., the present. Four intelligent men talking about an improbable thing like going back in time. A friendly debate revolving around a simple issue: could a human being change what has happened before? Interesting and theoretical, because who ever heard of a man going back in time? Before tonight, that is, because this is—The Twilight Zone.
CAST
Russell Johnson as Peter Corrigan
Paul Hartman as Police Sergeant
John Lasell as Jonathan Wellington
Bartlett Robinson as William
Nora Marlowe as Chambermaid
Raymond Bailey as Millard
Raymond Greenleaf as Jackson
"A Quality of Mercy" is episode 15 of the third season. It was directed by Buzz Kulik and written by Rod Sterling. It originally aired on December 29, 1961. The title is taken from a notable speech in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, quoted in Serling's closing narration at the end of the episode.
Opening Narration
It's August, 1945, the last grimy pages of a dirty, torn book of war. The place is the Philippine Islands. The men are what's left of a platoon of American infantry, whose dulled and tired eyes set deep in dulled and tired faces can now look toward a miracle, that moment when the nightmare appears to be coming to an end. But they've got one more battle to fight, and in a moment we'll observe that battle. August, 1945, Philippine Islands. But in reality, it's high noon in the Twilight Zone.
CAST
Dean Stockwell as Lt. Katell/Lt. Yamuri
Albert Salmi as Sgt. Causarano
Rayford Barnes as Andrew J. Watkins
Ralph Votrian as Hanacheck
Leonard Nimoy as Hansen
Dale Ishimoto as Sergeant Yamazaki
J. H. Fujikawa as Japanese Captain
"Kick the Can" is episode 21 of the third season. It was directed by Lamont Johnson and written by George Clayton Johnson and originally aired on February 9, 1962.
Opening Narration
Sunnyvale Rest, a home for the aged – a dying place, and a common children's game called kick-the-can, that will shortly become a refuge for a man who knows he will die in this world, if he doesn't escape - into The Twilight Zone.
CAST
Ernest Truex as Charles Whitley
Barry Truex as Charles' son
Russell Collins as Ben Conroy
John Marley as Mr. Cox
Burt Mustin as Carlson
Earle Hodgins as Agee
Hank Patterson as Freitag
Marjorie Bennett as Mrs. Summers
Lenore Shanewise as Mrs. Densley
Eve McVeagh as Night nurse
Anne O'Neal as Mrs. Wister
"It's a Good Life" is the eighth episode of the third season of The Twilight Zone. It is based on the 1953 short story "It's a Good Life" by Jerome Bixby. The episode was directed by James Sheldon and the teleplay was written by Rod Sterling and originally aired on November 3, 1961.
Opening Narration
Tonight's story on the Twilight Zone is somewhat unique and calls for a different kind of introduction. This, as you may recognize, is a map of the United States and there's a little town there called Peaksville. On a given morning not too long ago the rest of the world disappeared and Peaksville was left all alone. Its inhabitants were never sure whether the world was destroyed and only Peaksville left untouched, or whether the village had somehow been taken away. They were, on the other hand, sure of one thing. The cause. A monster had arrived in the village. Just by using his mind, he took away the automobiles, the electricity, the machines, because they displeased him. And he moved an entire community back into the dark ages, just by using his mind. Now I'd like to introduce you to some of the people of Peaksville, Ohio. This is Mr. Fremont. It's in his farmhouse that the monster resides. This is Mrs. Fremont. And this is Aunt Amy, who probably had more control over the monster in the beginning than almost anyone. But one day she forgot. She began to sing aloud. Now, the monster doesn't like singing so his mind snapped at her, and turned her into this smiling, vacant thing you're looking at now. She sings no more. And you'll note that the people in Peaksville, Ohio have to smile. They have to think happy thoughts and say happy things because once displeased the monster can wish them into a cornfield or change them into a grotesque walking horror. This particular monster can read minds, you see. He knows every thought, he can feel every emotion. Oh, yes, I did forget something, didn't I? I forgot to introduce you to the monster. This is the monster. His name is Anthony Fremont. He's six years old with a cute, little boy face and blue guileless eyes. But when those eyes look at you, you better start thinking happy thoughts. Because the mind behind them is absolutely in charge. This is the Twilight Zone.
CAST
John Larch as Mr. Fremont
Cloris Leachman as Mrs. Fremont
Don Keefer as Dan Hollis
Billy Mumy as Anthony Fremont
Alice Frost as Aunt Amy
Max Showalter (as Casey Adams) as Pat Riley
Jeanne Bates as Ethel Hollis
Lenore Kingston as Thelma Dunn
Tom Hatcher as Bill Soames
"Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" is episode 3 of the fifth season. It was directed by Richard Donner and written by Richard Matheson and originally aired on October 11, 1963.
Opening Narration
Portrait of a frightened man: Mr. Robert Wilson, thirty-seven, husband, father and salesman on sick leave. Mr. Wilson has just been discharged from a sanatorium where he spent the last six months recovering from a nervous breakdown, the onset of which took place on an evening not dissimilar to this one, on an airliner very much like the one in which Mr. Wilson is about to be flown home—the difference being that, on that evening half a year ago, Mr. Wilson's flight was terminated by the onslaught of his mental breakdown. Tonight, he's traveling all the way to his appointed destination, which, contrary to Mr. Wilson's plan, happens to be in the darkest corner of the Twilight Zone.
CAST
William Shatner as Robert Wilson
Christine White as Julia Wilson
Edward Kemmer as the flight engineer
Asa Maynor as stewardess Betty Crosby
Nick Cravat (uncredited) as the gremlin
BATMAN RETURNS (1992)
December 17, 2024
COMICBOOK CONNECTIONS
Both Batman and Police Commissioner James Worthington Gordan, Sr. first appear in 'The Case of the Chemical Syndicate' (Detective Comics #27, May 1939).
The Penguins layer was likely not an entirely unique idea. Alan Moore's The Killing Joke, shows Joker setting up shop in an abandoned amusement park. In Alan Grant's 'The Killing Peck' (Secret Origins Special #1, 1989), Penguin takes refuge in an empty Gotham City Zoo enclosure. He also kidnaps his childhood tomenter in the comic to torment and kill him. It is similar to Penguin taking Schreck back to his layer to cage him and kill him.
In 'The Mad Hatter Goes Straight' (Batman #297, March 1978) Batman launches a bad guy into a truck bed full of sand and is carried away unharmed. In Batman Returns he launches Catwoman off a ledge and she lands safely in a truck bed full of kitty litter.
There is a particular scene in which Selina Kyle grinds all of her stuffed animals in her garbage disposal. This could have been a reference to a scene written in 'Ebon Masquery' (Batman #387, September 1985), where Roman Sionis/Black Mask destroys his own collection of stuffed animals. I think both scenes symbolize the rebirth of the characters in the scenes.
Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth was originally introduced in 'Here Comes Alfred' (Batman #16, April-May 1943) under the name Alfred Beagle.
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot/The Penguin first appears in 'One of the Most Perfect Frame-Ups' (Detective Comics #58, Dec. 1941).
Selina Kyle/Catwoman first appeared in 'The Cat' (Batman #1, Spring 1970). She’s one of few that is depicted as Batman’s foe, ally and most prominent love interest. She tends to lend herself to Batman’s more dark and brooding lifestyle and is a major contrast to his rather sterile life.
