It’s Thursday, and I’m in a horror-ble mood. Let me explain. The topic for this week’s Thursday Movie Picks hosted by Wanderer at Wandering Through the Shelves is “Body Switch.” There are tons of movies on the subject. A good number of them are innocuous, family movies aimed at giving folks young and old a good chuckle. That’s not what I’m interested in this week. Not quite. I do want some laughs, but of a more macabre variety. That means horror flicks. However, I’m not picking THAT horror movie. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great. But you’re picking that one, or at least you’re thinking about it. If you picked one of these, congratulations, you’re as twisted as I.
Child’s Play
(1988)
When serial killer Charles Lee Ray is chased by police into a closed toy store, a shootout ensues. He gets pumped full of lead, but with his dying breath, he utters a voodoo spell that transfers his soul to another body. The catch is that he’s not transferred into a human body, but that of a children’s doll known ironically as a “Good Guy.” The doll is then unwittingly purchased by Karen Barclay for her son Andy. The rest, as they say, is slasher movie history. Truthfully, I could put the whole franchise here since Mr. Ray spends most of his time trying to get back into human form. He also acquires a bride along the way, and as of late, a “seed.”
Shocker
(1989)
When serial killer Horace Pinker is finally caught, he is convicted and sentenced to death by electric chair. What none of the good guys in this movie know is that Pinker has struck a deal with the devil. Are we sensing another theme here, yet? Anyhoo, when Pinker goes to the chair, he doesn’t die. Instead, he becomes pure electricity. He can then take over the body of anyone he chooses. The rest, as they say, is slasher movie history. Wes Craven directs this horror-comedy that came years before he perfected the formula with Scream. A particular source of laughter is the one way the audience, and the good guys, can always identify Pinker. For some strange reason, whatever body he inhabits inherits the same pronounced limp his original body had. Who knew lightning could have a limp?
Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday
(1993)
Finally, the FBI has caught up with serial killer Jason Voorhees. They lure him into a trap in the Crystal Lake area and blow him up. His scattered remains are gathered up and taken to the morgue. The coroner unzips the bag containing said remains and is compelled to eat Jason’s heart, so of course, Jason now takes over his body and starts killing up some folks. The rest, as they say, is slasher movie history. Sorta, but not really, since this is one of the most forgotten entries in the Friday the 13th franchise. Jason’s quest is to find a new permanent host body. It has to be a member of his family. Guess what. This movie has one of those for him to try and chase down.
I like this approach. This is truly inspired. I went with a more conventional approach with the exception of one film in some respects but it's a guilty pleasure.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I really appreciate that.
DeleteA theme within the theme! Love those, I can't say the same for these films though. Actually the only one I've seen is Child's Play which I hated but then I'm not much for horror at all. So my chances of watching the other two are close to nil.
ReplyDeleteI jumped through the decades for mine starting way back in the beginning of the 40's.
Turnabout (1940)-Well-to-do Tim Willows (John Hubbard) is the main operator of his advertising company Manning, Willows, and Claire. His wife Sally (Carole Landis) stays at home and oversees their social life. When together they bicker constantly that the other has it much easier than they do. One day in the heat of an argument they wish they could switch places with each other in the presence of Mr. Ram, an Indian idol they have received as a gift. When they wake up the next morning they have indeed switched places and bodies with each other. Chaos ensues. Sprightly comedy with good performances and a twist ending.
Goodbye Charlie (1964)-Hollywood screenwriter and womanizing reprobate Charlie Sorrel is shot by film producer Sir Leopold Sartori (Walter Matthau) when he catches him with his wife on Sartori’s yacht and falls into the drink. Shortly afterwards Bruce Minton III (Pat Boone) comes to the aid of a dazed woman (Debbie Reynolds-at the height of her blonde beauty) wandering on a beach. She doesn't remember much other than directions to Charlie's residence. The next morning, it all comes back to her: she is Charlie…but in female form. Needing help she convinces her only friend, George Tracy (Tony Curtis), of her identity. Having changed sex, but not his ways the new Charlie now going by Virginia decides to take advantage of the situation, with Tracy's reluctant help. Directed by Vincente Minnelli with a super cast including a young Ellen Burstyn when she was still billed as Ellen McRae. Remade in the 90’s as Switch with Ellen Barkin and Jimmy Smits.
Vice Versa (1988)-While on a buying trip in Thailand for his department store Marshall Seymour (Judge Reinhold) has a cursed Buddhist skull slipped into his shipment by a pair of thieves (Swoosie Kurtz & David Proval). When he returns to the States he finds that he has to take care of his estranged son Charlie (Fred Savage) when his divorced wife goes away for a few days. One morning in the middle of an argument Marshall finds the skull and while both he and Charlie are holding it they wish they had the other’s life and voilà they get there wish. As both first luxuriate and then begin to understand the frustrations the other puts up with the thieves are in hot pursuit trying to get the artifact back. Frantic farce makes good use of Reinhold’s gift for physical comedy.
I knew none of these were your thing, lol. Haven't seen any of your choices, though Turnabout is quite popular today. Guess I need to check that one out.
DeleteI AM KICKING MYSELF FOR NOT THINKING OF CHILD'S PLAY! Damn it, this was such a hard week and that would've solved my problem.
ReplyDeletegreat picks lol
One of the first movies I thought of, lol.
DeleteI picked Child's Play too! I wanted to pick three Chucky movies to be honest haha
ReplyDeleteWe were thinking along the same lines, lol.
DeleteI just knew "Big" would be on here. Was glad to see I was wrong. I've seen all three of these (actually forgot all about "Shocker"). "Jason goes to Hell", easily one of the worst movies I have ever seen. And oh the stupidity of Richard Gant eating Jason's heart. I mean, it's what I would do.
ReplyDeleteI try to go a different route when I can. And I mean, Jason's heart looks tasty, right?
DeleteTwisted is always good but I have only seen Child’s Play which is just silly and who wants such a ugly doll...oh wait...cabbage patch brats were big. I think I shall miss the other 2 and what would possess a coroner to eat a human heart...Ick!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I never understood the love for Cabbage Patch kids. And yes, something did "possess" the coroner.
DeleteThe theme, as you say, is slasher movie history - so brilliant! Of course I haven't seen of them (too scared) but I appreciate the theme within a theme.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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