|
Air Date: Saturday, December 3, 1994 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: An exasperated Gary (Ross Hull) and an impatient Frank (Jason Alisharan) are trying to get a fire started unsuccessfully, when Frank gets the idea to swipe Tucker's (Daniel DeSanto) comic book to use as kindling. Betty Ann enters the scene and takes the book from Frank, saying it would be perfect for her story, while Tucker, still annoyed, is at least happy it's in safer hands. She then offers a "what if?" scenario, with the idea that comic books can be gateways to another dimension, as the campfire roars to life, eagerly awaiting another tale.
Story: Ethan Wood (Amos Crawley) is a talented young artist who comic book companies constantly reject as he seeks to prove his talents to the world. One day, at a comic book shop, a young lady named Frankie (Missy Christensen) sees his artwork. She introduces him to a similar artist's work, that of Sylvester Uncas (Danny Raboy), who designed a character known as the Ghastly Grinner (Neil Kroetsch). Ethan goes home with a free copy of 'Ghastly Grinner' #1, and through a series of improbable events, manages to bring the character into the real world, and has to figure out how to stop him and get him back inside the book. Review: While I really like the idea of a comic book villain coming into the real world, and while this is an episode that ought to be right up my alley, especially as one of the more famous episodes of the series, upon watching it, I actually found it lacking in quality, aside from perhaps a little humour coming from Ethan's nerdy helper, Hooper Picalarro (Heidi Burbela) who plays the dry, humourless nerd pretty damn well. The Grinner's design is excellent, but I'd still never cast Kroetsch as The Joker. They could have done more with this, such as showing us the world inside the comic book, but there's only so much one can do. Final Rating: Spooked
0 Comments
Air Date: Saturday, November 12, 1994 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: Frank (Jason Alisharan) and Kiki (Jodie Resther) arrive at the clearing, claiming to be upset with Betty Ann because she wouldn't theatre hop with them based on her morals, and in the process, got them all thrown out. Despite the other two being upset at her, Betty Ann still stands up for herself, stating that she had a choice and that sometimes staying silent doesn't necessarily lead to good things. In my opinion, this makes Betty Ann a bit of a buzzkill, but since this is for kids, we can let things slide. Support your local theatres, kids.
Story: A kid named Jarred Conner (Jesse Tendler) is visiting his cousin Anne (Kimberly Warnat) at her farm home. The pair play a game of catch in the front yard, which leads to the ball going through the front door window, resulting in Jarred's Uncle Pete (Brian Dooley) and older cousin, Mark (Tyler Labine), making them do some chores. While making a delivery, they find an old scarecrow that Jarred believes might work on keeping away deer for some reason. Upon propping it up, they discover that this scarecrow can perform tasks for them, making chores significantly easier. Still, they also find that one has to be careful what they wish for. Review: Some may recognize this as a basic retelling of the Jewish folktale of the Golem, a being made of clay that would do its creator's bidding and eventually spins out of control. In some ways, it reminds me of 'Twisted Claw' in that it's a 90s-modern, child-friendly retelling of a classic tale with the same basic lessons in place. This one even comes with its own harbinger of doom, "Crazy George" (Sam Malkin), who does a great job at being genuinely off-putting and creepy. The episode, as a whole, is quite solid and does a good job of creating an overall atmosphere, making it one of Betty Ann's better stories. Final Rating: Scared Air Date: Saturday, March 19, 1994 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: In a more relatable intro that most of this show's viewers would be able to relate to, the Midnight Society has brought old photos of themselves, collectively laughing at how they used to look. Betty Ann goes on to tell them all how their pictures reveal their individual personalities and how they'll all turn out. Using this to segway into her story, she questions what if we didn't want to know what our futures had in store? What if our future held something truly terrible that we didn't want to face, and there was no way to avoid it?
Story: When a high school basketball team gets their pictures taken, once they're developed, Matt Dorney (Eddie Kaye Thomas) finds that he's not even in his own photo. When he goes to the photographer, Mr. Calhoun (Richard McMillan), to get a refund, Calhoun refuses but offers him an old-style camera for free. Though Matt's grateful, after bringing it home, he comes to realize that everything he takes a picture of gets ruined seconds later, which he soon comes to realize includes people's lives, upon taking a picture of his bully, Kullback (Christian Tessier), which results in a near-miss when a locker falls on him. Review: This was one episode I had to think on for a while, but all in all, I rather enjoyed it. I like the concept overall, but there are things I would eliminate, such as the (spoiler alert) "little gremlin" that lives in the camera, causing all the mayhem. It could just be a cursed camera. Aside from that, it's a little predictable, but I don't have a lot of negative to say about it because the whole climactic sequence here actually hits surprisingly well. It's also sort of fascinating to see a pre-'American Pie' Eddie Kaye Thomas, and the frame of the episode is another solid one from Betty Ann. It's not quite a favourite, but it's solid. Final Review: Scared Air Date: Saturday, February 12, 1994 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: The episode opens with Frank (Jason Alisharan) getting some comeuppance, and once Tucker (Daniel DeSanto) teases him about it, he then turns his attention to a book Betty Ann brought with her. Using it to introduce her story, she mentions how the scary stories they tell all share the idea that the listener's imagination is what makes them frightening, because, in a way, they're able to become a part of it. They begin to wonder what they would do if faced with the monster. What follows is another one of my personal favourite stories in the series.
Story: Ricky Winter (James Sherry) is your typical preteen brat whose mother (Lynne Adams) still insists that when she's out, he needs a babysitter. Enter babysitter Belinda (Natalie Radford), a somewhat mysterious young woman, who is big on books and comes highly recommended. Her method is to try to get Ricky to read a book instead of lounging around watching TV. The catch is, these books come to life, and before Ricky knows it, he finds that after attempting to read several books, the book worlds collide, and soon Ricky finds himself having to use the power of imagination to get out of this mess. Review: This was always a stand-out episode for yours truly. I have to admit that nowadays, Ricky is enough to get on my nerves, but otherwise, the episode is great. The concept of your imagination when it comes to reading, being able to hook you just a little better than TV, spoon-feeding you imagery, is still relevant today. I also like the character of Belinda; it's a fairly obvious nod to 'The NeverEnding Story,' and even the closing scene back at the Midnight Society campfire is humorous, showing a bit of Betty Ann's darker side. It's a little cheesy now, yes, but I have to admit, it's still among my favourites. Final Rating: Afraid Air Date: Saturday, February 5, 1994 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: While the Midnight Society gathers, Tucker (Daniel DeSanto) races into the scene. When Sam (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) grabs hold of him, asking what the rush is, he mentions excitedly that Betty Ann was up for storytelling; the excitement comes from Gary (Ross Hull) telling him how weird and spooky her stories are. With the pressure on, Betty Ann brings out a doll, much to Tucker's disappointment, so he rudely sets up for a nap during her story. However, Betty Ann's intro holds Tucker's attention, and he remains secretly engaged with it.
Story: A girl named Melissa (Maia Filar) heads to her Aunt Sally's (Eve Crawford) and Uncle Pete's (Sam Stone) house for a weekend visit, where she would typically hang out with the neighbour girl, Susan Henderson (Amanda Walsh). However, since Susan's family has moved, Melissa is now stuck being bored, which eventually leads her to explore the now-abandoned Henderson house. There, she finds a dollhouse in the attic, along with a mysterious door. Upon opening that door, Melissa sees another world, and Susan is wandering around, seemingly lost. Melissa takes it upon herself to try to rescue her, despite people not believing her. Review: Conceptually, I wouldn't count this episode among those in my wheelhouse. The whole doll thing doesn't bother me, and the episode contains so much sweetness that it's tough to be creeped out by anything, even the idea that Susan is slowly turning into an actual doll. The aunt and uncle overact a bit too much, and Melissa can get on one's nerves every so often. Still, it's Susan, evidently being directed to act stiff due to her transformation, that really hurts the episode. With no emotion, it just doesn't feel like a real threat. This episode will likely be decent for some, but I'm pretty far removed from it in terms of personal taste. Final Rating: Calm Air Date: Saturday, August 14, 1993 Storyteller: Betty-Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: As several members of The Midnight Society approach the clearing for another meeting, they discuss that night's rare February 29th full moon (an event that did not occur in the 90s, last occurring in 1972) and the superstitions attached to such a rarity. Upon their approach, they find a mysterious stranger standing there, wearing a creepy skeleton mask, revealed to be Betty Ann. She claims she's wearing the mask for protection from evil spirits due to the rare moon and cultural superstitions, which segues nicely into her story.
Story: Dysfunctional siblings, Claire (Tamar Lee) and Andrew (Ryan Gifford), are on their way home from the local carnival, along with their babysitter, Louise Lam (Vivian Liu), on a February 29th full-moon night. When lost, they find a small tavern, where they meet the creepy Master Raymond (Robert Higden), who points them towards a "shortcut" which leads to a mysterious house. But after Louise wanders in to find some help and seemingly disappears after a while, Claire and Andrew soon find they'll have to set their differences aside and cooperate to rescue their babysitter from this creepy abode. Review: This episode is a good one in terms of its spooky factor, ultimately becoming a fun and eerie "haunted house" episode. Adding to that is Master Raymond being a literal soul-collecting villain, the souls being trapped, helplessly, within the "whispering walls" of this house (in 'Potter'-like paintings for the most part), and even acidic food that eats through things in an Alien Xenomorph blood kind of way. Despite it being one of the creepiest concepts the show has had so far, the "solve" for it is too convenient and straightforward, and sadly takes me out of it. Some consider this one a classic, but for me, it doesn't hit as hard as it could. Final Rating: Spooked Air Date: Saturday, July 10, 1993 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: As Frank (Jason Alisharan) and some of the others build the campfire, Frank asks the rest of them if they have ever felt like they were being watched. At that moment, they're blinded by a few flashlights, which Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull) uses to creepily bring her story in, with the help of David (Nathaniel Moreau) and Kristen (Rachel Blanchard). She begins everything with a short speech about how we never really know who someone is, inside out; to me, a more kid-friendly way to say we all have skeletons in our closets, and it's on with the story.
Story: Billy (Aaron Ashmore) and his adopted sister Karin (Trish Lindstrom), who he seems to be able to top at anything they do together, live in an apartment building consisting of 13 floors. The tenants of the 13th floor seemingly vanished one day, leaving it abandoned, and it has since become a sort of play area for the pair. One day, the 13th floor gets taken over by what claims to be a new toy factory, inviting Karin up to test out some new products. She goes, insisting that Billy join her, and experiments with various toys and games, but what she doesn't realize is that the "toy company" has plans, and she's not really there to test products. Review: When I was younger, considering the twist this takes, I may have taken it to heart more, as it has a lot to do with something I intensely feared in my preteen years. Nowadays, though, it's easily one of the corniest episodes, but not without some of that ironic laughter I love getting from the show. Nowadays, it serves as a time capsule, reflecting the popular trends of the time. But it hasn't aged all that well, either, and it's hard to find the "toy company" a threat when their environment looks like it was done over in time for Easter. It's okay, but it was definitely creepier to watch for me back in the day. Final Rating: Spooked Air Date: Saturday, October 10, 1992 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: As night sets in around the Midnight Society campfire, Kristen (Rachel Blanchard) makes a point of asking why people only ever tell scary stories at night, for if they are frightening enough, shouldn't they be just as effective during the day? Some of the others have their reasons why night works better. As Betty Ann takes her seat in the storyteller's chair, she alludes to the conversation matching up with the story she's about to tell, which everyone except Eric (Jacob Tierney), who feels he's in for something boring, seems excited for.
Story: One night, while siblings Dayday (Noah Godfrey) and Emma (Suzanna Shebib) enjoy a presentation of 'Night of the Living Dead,' they notice some new neighbours move in across the street, coming across as seemingly odd considering the late-night hour. Over the next few days, Emma notices strange things unfolding throughout her community, as well as across the street, such as peculiar neck wounds on people and large crates labelled as refrigerators getting dropped off at the neighbour's house. Soon enough, Emma suspects the family of being vampires, taking the investigation (and possibly her own life) into her own hands. Review: This episode borrows elements from 'Fright Night,' and as a result, it becomes a kid-friendly version of the horror classic. It works out well for what it is. Some kids need to dip their toes into horror lightly, as opposed to others who can dive in. This is another episode I meet very much in the middle; however, as it has a level of fun to it, much like 'Fright Night.' Still, the twist ending to this episode is somewhat lame and tacky, even for this series, which already wears its "lame and tacky" label proudly (it's honestly why I have so much fun with this show). Still, Eric is no longer bored by the end of Betty Ann's tale. Final Rating: Spooked Air Date: Saturday, October 17, 1992 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: As several members of the Midnight Society head to the campfire for their meeting, they stumble on what appears to be a burial mound. While David (Nathaniel Moreau) chooses to believe it was probably someone's Dog, Frank (Jason Alisharan) bets his Michael Jordan rookie card they'd find a corpse if they checked. As the gang moves in closer, a dummy skeleton pops up, sending some, namely Eric (Jacob Tierney), running. As it turns out, it was a practical joke done by Frank and Kiki (Jodie Resther), essentially unrelated to the upcoming story.
Story: Dean (Mathew Mackay) and his best friend, Alix (Staci Smith), are treated at school one day by a visit from a renowned archaeologist named Dr. Oliver (Emma Stevens). With her, she brings various artifacts found on archaeological digs and the multiple cultures associated with them. Among them is a Babylonian staff said to bring good fortune, which Dean immediately takes advantage of, hoping that it will help with everything he's struggling with at school. In exchange, he's meant to resurrect the previous owner of the staff, a powerful, bad-news sorcerer named Goth (Stephen R. Hart). Review: For whatever reason, this one does not click with me. It's your basic story about a person craving more than what they supposedly have, going to great lengths to get it, and ultimately finding that the power was in them all along. I also have a thing against what characters like Dean do here when they suddenly give themselves a hairstyle, put on a leather jacket, and are suddenly kinda cool. I don't know why, but that always irks me. I also think Goth is just plain goofy-lookin' and impossible to take seriously. This one is lame but may be suitable for an ironic laugh. Final Rating: Calm Air Date: Saturday, August 22, 1992 Storyteller: Betty Ann (Raine Pare-Coull)  Frame: Just as Betty Ann is getting into her story, which takes place at a carnival, Kristen (Rachel Blanchard) gets up to walk out of the meeting based on Betty Ann's introduction of a clown to the story. As the rest of the group taunts her, primarily Kiki (Jodie Resther), Kristen stays to prove her bravery to them. Even though she technically makes it to the end of the story, it is established that she is terrified of clowns, and Eric (Jacob Tierney) can't help but give her one final good scare with a clown mask, sending her running.
Story: A little snot named Josh (Christian Tessier), his best friend, Weegee (Daniel Finestone), and Weegee's little sister, Kathy (Tamar Kozlov), attend a local carnival called Playland. However, they hesitate to enter a fun house, fearing it's really haunted by a cigar-smoking clown named Zeebo. Josh, the ever-cocky kid, tries to show his bravery by going in and stealing a dummy Zeebo's nose, and getting Weegie to wear it to school for a week. But it is soon met with the haunting consequences of what happens when someone takes something that doesn't belong to them. Review: This episode has a few memorable moments that stand out as spooky and solid atmospherically. The room of doors in the fun house has a certain eeriness to it I can't quite put my finger on, and all of the haunting aspects of the episode never show a ghost, but maybe a puff of Zeebo's cigar smoke and a giggle, leaving a little to the imagination. Sadly, however, none of that is enough to dull Josh's attitude or his constant talking to himself, which becomes annoying. So, while in some ways it's pretty effective, in others, you get taken out of any spooky fun you may be having with it. Final Rating: Nervous |
RSS Feed