Welcome to That Damned Book Club. We're searching for our new favorite horror novel. We do some research to find a new book for each episode, and just like a book club we talk through the book from cover to cover. We're talking themes, character development, writing style, full on nonsense. Read the book for each episode and come join the club!
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This is a new view for A.J. and a repeat for Aleigh. We watch "Ready or Not," a 2019 thriller starring Samara Weaving, not Margot Robbie. It's a fun little romp where a rich family tries to kill their newest member in a game of hide and seek. So cute. We pair it with a lovely 2021 Zinfandel appropriately called Hunted.
Metacritic Score: 64/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watch "Ready or Not" on Amazon Prime. We start "Ready or Not" 5:27 into the pod, push play on part two at 1:11:18 into the pod, and push play on part three at 1:41:24 into the pod.
This episode we dip into the not-so-kid-friendly children's movie "Coraline." Such a good book and such a good movie. It's so creepy and is exactly like the kinds of movies we grew up with. We honestly had no idea so many well known actors lent their voices to this project. We pair it with Melodramatic Macabre, a rich red blend that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Metacritic Score: 80/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watch "Coraline" on Amazon Prime. We start "Coraline" 4:17 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:08:02 into the pod.
We honestly can't remember the last time we watched an Angelina Jolie movie. "Wanted" is a fun one. It mixes a great cast (who are honestly better than this movie gives them credit for) and smashes them into a 2000s-style wild action movie that has a handful of mystery. And exploding rats. We pair it with Threadcount red blend. It goes with the story. We promise.
Metacritic Score: 64/100
Movie Sync Notes: We rented "Wanted" on Amazon Prime Video. We start "Wanted" 5:41 into the pod, push play on part two 21:31 into the pod, and push play on part three 1:14:19 into the pod.
We're closing out the Scream saga (again) with "Scream 6." Woooo! We really enjoyed the previous installment, so why not keep going? We are both watching it for the first time so anything can happen. In keeping with tradition, we pair it with 19 Crimes Martha's Chard. It's a bit of a standard chardonnay, but for a such a big brand 19 Crimes knows what they're doing.
Metacritic Score: 61/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watched "Scream 6" for free on Paramount +. We start "Scream 6" 7:31 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:26:10 into the pod.
Ok, so we're watching "The House Bunny" this episode and we didn't realize how many people were actually in this movie. Anna Faris, Emma Stone, Colin Hanks, Kat Dennings, Rumer Willis, Kathatine McPhee, and there are more. It's a cute little comedy that has more heart than you would think based on the trailer and promotional material. Plus, Faris always delivers in this type of comedy. We pair it with Dr. G Dry Riesling, which is super light and bright. We were completely shocked. It's great. As a bonus there is a cute little bunny on the label.
Metacritic Score: 55/100
Movie Sync Notes: We rented "The House Bunny" on Amazon Prime Video. We start "The House Bunny" 4:37 into the pod, and push play on part two 35:07 into the pod.
Kevin Williamson is at it again...getting teens killed by an over the top serial killer out in the middle of nowhere. This time it's in "I Know What You Did Last Summer," one of the more big-name teen slasher films of the late 90s/early 2000s era. The cast is chock full of popular actors of the time that appeared in a number of other movies together. They were almost a brat pack of the late 90s. We pair the movie with Wolffer Estate Summer In A Bottle Rose. It's a little pricier than our typical bottle, but it's honestly worth it. Def a crowd pleaser.
Metacritic Score: 52/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watch "I Know What You Did Last Summer" on Netflix. We start "I Know What You Did Last Summer" 4:47 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:08:35 into the pod.
This week we watch the original "Saw." This movie has had a huge impact on the horror genre. Sure, the acting isn't amazing, but the ideas are big and they pay off. I feel like this movie may have been the the prime reason for the popularity of escape rooms. We pair it with Jigsaw Pinot Noir. It really just went and fell into our laps. Work smarter, not harder.
Metacritic Score: 46/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watch "Saw" on Amazon Prime. We start "Saw" 7:19 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:06:42 into the pod.
We're not sure if anyone other than us remembers "Heartbreakers," so obviously it's right on brand for the pod. It tells the age old story of a mother and daughter who make a living swindling men out of money by pretending to fall in love with them. Along the way they get into a bunch of zany shenanigans. Clearly the pinnacle of Sigourney Weaver's career. We pair it with The Velvet Devil Merlot 2021. It's a solid red. Would recommend. We're also into the starkness of the label.
Metacritic Score: 47/100 (but with a user score of 8.3/10. Yay!)
Movie Sync Notes: We purchased the movie on Amazon Prime Video. We start "Heartbreakers" 9:10 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:15:57 into the pod.
Daniel Craig is out here digging through another mystery. Much like "Knives Out," "Glass Onion" is modern Christie-style ensemble whodunit that hits it out of the park. The cast does really well with the material, and that's probably because the material is really good. We had a lot of fun postulating our way through this one and we think you will too. We pair it with The Seeker Sauvignon Blanc which we enjoyed so much that we finished it half way through the movie.
Metacritic Score: 81/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watched "Glass Onion" on Netflix. We start "Glass Onion" 10:55 into the pod, and push play part two 1:25:49 into the pod.
This episode is all about "Knives Out," the 2019 murder-mystery that kinda took the world by storm. It has a great cast, clearly a decent budget, awesome filming location, and great writing. There's plenty of humor peppered throughout as well. It's very Agatha Christie for the modern age which, as Christie fans, speaks to us. We pair it with Niepoort Douro Twisted Tinto 2020. It's a mineraly and dark fruity wine that we really enjoyed.
Metacritic Score: 82/100
Movie Sync Notes: We rented "Knives Out" on Amazon Prime Video. We start "Knives Out" 12:54 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:23:59 into the pod.
They really nailed it with Shrek. That movie is still funny. And there are so many good performances in it. We can see why it spun off like thirty sequels and whatnot. We've never seen any of those, but the original is the way to go. We pair Shrek with Folklore Tinto from Castel Pujol. It is delicious. It's an absolute would-buy-again. It's a blend of Tannat and Petit Manseng grapes which lead to a bold but light and fruity red.
Metacritic Score: 84/100
Movie Sync Notes: We rented "Shrek" from Amazon Prime Video. We start "Shrek" 8:46 into the pod, and push play on part two 57:48 into the pod.
We're watching another Mel Brooks movie. This time it's the no-so-classic "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" from 1995. It's a fun little movie with a lot of the cast of "Robin Hood: Men In Tights" but with only like, half the laughs. But it's all ok because Leslie Nielsen is there and that's always a treat. We pair the movie with Vampire Pinot Noir. It's the rare occasion where we found a wine first and then divined the movie based on the wine label. The wine? Delicious.
Tomatometer: 11%
Movie Sync Notes: We rented the movie on Amazon Prime Video because it's just easier. We start "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" 12:59 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:13:33 into the pod.
It's every millennial's cult-favorite-deeper-meaning-too-cool-to-understand movie "Donnie Darko." It's a really solid movie with good performances and is well shot. Nostalgia keeps it feeling almost magical, but remove that history and it could be a little hokey. It's probably still cool enough to convince a slew of new teens that it might contain the meaning of life and death. We'll see! We pair it with a Sauvignon Blanc called The Loop because of storyline reasons.
Metacritic Score: 71/100
Movie Sync Notes: We purchased "Donnie Darko" on Amazon Prime Video for $2.99. We start "Donnie Darko" 11:35 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:11:29 into the pod.
Can't believe it's Halloween time again. On one hand we're thankful because we're now too old for the summer heat. On the other hand another year is almost over and that means we're another year older. That means we have to watch "Shaun of the Dead." Def one of the best zombie movies out there. And it's a comedy. Love it. We pair it with Killibinin Scaredy Cat, a Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend from Australia. This is our third foray into Killibinbin, and they have yet to disappoint.
Metacritic Score: 76/100
Movie Sync Notes: We rent "Shaun of the Dead" on Amazon Prime Video. We start "Shaun on the Dead" 6:25 into the pod, and push play on part two 1:13:25 into the pod.
Happy Season 4 Premiere! Since it's Fall, we're kicking off our new season with a seasonally appropriate movie, "The Haunting." It's the 1999 reimagining of the the story originally told in the novel The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, and it's distinctly late-90's. This movie was so over the top that it proved to be great material for Scary Movie 2. We pair it with Sixth Sense Syrah.
Metacritic Score: 42/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watch a purchased version of "The Haunting" on Youtube. We start "The Haunting" 13:28 into the pod and push play on part two 1:17:35 into the pod.
We cannot express how much we love Scary Movie 2. It's a worthy successor. It may not be the pinnacle of the Scary Movie franchise (which is undoubtedly the first movie) but it's stupid and funny and parodies a good bunch of films. We want the Wayans brothers to make another movie in this genre because they are just so good at it. And Regina Hall had better be a part of it. We pair the movie with a Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon from Secret Cellars. The label really tries to sell you on the wine and it mostly delivers. Plum, light oak, vanilla. It's all there. Would def buy again.
Metacritic Score: 29/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watched a purchased version of "Scary Movie 2" on Youtube. We start "Scary Movie 2" 9:14 into the pod and push play on part two 53:04 into the pod.
It's time to get into "South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut." We're just in time for the 25th anniversary of the series and knowing that we watched it when it premiered makes us feel old as hell. The movie is great. The topical comedy is so spot on that it still applies. We pair the movie with 2019 Rock View Reserve Pinot Noir which we absolutely loved.
Metacritic Score: 73/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watched "South Park: Bigger, Longer, & Uncut" on Paramount+. We start "South Park" 11:06 into the pod and push play on part two 58:49 into the pod.
This episode we watch 1996's "The Craft." It's the cultural staple that served us "Ya scared Sarah?" "I bind you Nancy." and "These are my gifts!" This was definitely the piece of media that made us want to call the corners. What would we do without it? We pair it with a California Cab Sauv from Witching Hour. Blessed be.
Metacritic Score: 55/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watched "The Craft" on Amazon Video. We start "The Craft" 8:17 into the pod and push play on part two 1:04:13 into the pod.
FernGully was in regular rotation in our house when we were younger. I feel like it's one of the few well received animated movies for kids that wasn't made by Disney in the 90's. We personally think it's the sole inspiration for the movie Avatar because it's...the same story. We pair it with The Arborist from Vina Robles.
Metacritic Score: 67/100
Movie Sync Notes: We watched "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" on Amazon Video. We start "FernGully" 6:06 into the pod and push play on part two 1:09:45 into the pod.
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