Welcome to the 908th edition of my series. There is not a lot going on besides football. I do have the Madness week three on this one so keep on reading. I will just shut up and get to my selections for the week.
Abandoned (2022): Spencer Squire directed this psychological horror film I guess you could call it. John Gallagher Jr. and Emma Roberts star as young couple Alex and Sara move into a remote farmhouse with the newborn son. Sara struggles with postpartum psychosis and some secrets of the home as she is driven to the brink of insanity. Kate Arrington, Michael Shannon, Addy Miller, Paul Dillon, Justin Matthew Smith, Paul Schneider, and Paxton Pope co-star in this horror movie. Roberts does a good job in carrying this movie and keeping the suspense. Shannon also adds a lot to this movie. This is a good watch for the season.
A Place Among the Dead (2020): BUFFY and ANGEL alum Juliet Landau wrote and directed this psychological horror film. This is a combination of fact and fiction where is directing a documentary and looking into a link between narcissism in the film industry and vampirism. Gary Oldman, Robert Patrick, Ron Perlman, Lance Henrikson, Anne Rice, Joss Whedon, Mariana Klaveno, Charlaine Harris, Meadow Williams, Tom Holland, Kim Newman, and many others co-star in this independent film. I got to see a special screening of this movie. This has been getting shown through interactive screening events and festivals and has been quite successful. This was a pretty compelling film that is shot like a documentary. This is one that may require multiple screenings and one may pick up on different things each screening. This will be available for the public in October of this year.
Thor (2011): Kenneth Branagh directed this superhero origin film on the God of Thunder. Chris Hemsworth is introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the powerful but arrogant Thor. After Thor takes some rather brash actions, his father Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins, banishes Thor from Asgard to live with humans on Earth. While there, Thor must prove he has what it takes to get his hammer. While there, he meets scientist Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman, and learns some valuable lessons while having to prepare to take on his jealous brother Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Colm Feore, Idris Elba, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Josh Dallas, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, Adriana Barraza, and many others co-star in this superhero film. This is a pretty fun origin story where Hemsworth brought a really good take to the Thor character that has kept going in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through the years. There are a lot of comical scenes of Thor trying to learn the ways of the Earth.
Who Ordered the Hot Turkey (1978): I refer to this as my short film for the week but is technically an episode of the sitcom ALICE from season three. William Asher directed this episode that was a Thanksgiving oriented episode. Linda Lavin stars in this series as Alice who is an aspiring singer that is working at a diner. The owner Mel, played by Vic Tayback, agrees to feed turkey a group of orphaned children. When getting the turkeys, they were all still alive so they had to improvise. Beth Howland, Philip McKeon, Polly Holliday, Joyce Bulifant, Owen Bush, John Colton, James Cromwell, Corey Feldman, and many others co-star in this episode. A young Feldman plays one of the kids in a much earlier appearance. It is also of interest to see a younger Cromwell. Some may not want to see it now but if looking for Thanksgiving themed selections this could be added to the list.
The Raven (1935): Lew Landers directed this film that is essentially an homage to Poe. Bela Lugosi stars as the Poe obsessed surgeon Dr. Vollin. Judge Thatcher, played by Samuel S. Hinds, is desperate to have his daughter Jean, played by Irene Ware, saved and talks Vollin into coming out of retirement to do a procedure. While he saves Jean, his Poe obsession kicks in and hires criminal Edmond Bateman, played by Boris Karloff, to do his dirty work with the promise that he will fix his face. Spencer Charters, Inez Courtney, Ian Wolfe, Inez Courtney, and many others co-star in this horror film. This is the second of eight films where Lugosi and Karloff would work together. This is a pretty clever homage to Poe and is not the same as the 1963 film of the same name that would also star Karloff. These could both make a good double feature though.
Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956): Ishiro Honda directed this Kaiju film and was for a lack of a better work "Americanized" by Terry O. Morse. This was created and is symbolic of nuclear testing and results in lizard type creature that we know as Godzilla. They would use this type of thing for a lot of their other monsters. The original was done in 1954 but in 1956, they edited some footage which included Raymond Burr as an American reporter. I thought both versions were good and I do like the narration from Burr that is added into this one. This was the start of one of the most iconic characters in the world.
Beauty is Embarrassing (2012): This is my documentary for the week which was directed by Neil Berkeley. This takes a look at artist Wayne White who has worked art in many ways. His most known was as one of the creators of PEE-WEE'S PLAYHOUSE where he also voiced the character Randy and Dirty Dog, among others. He also helped with Peter Gabriel's music video of his song BIG TIME as well as TONIGHT, TONIGHT by the Smashing Pumpkins. Paul Reubens, Mark Motherbaugh, Matt Groening, and many others get interviewed. This is a very interesting person and can get to know him in about an hour and a half so I would suggest doing it.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959): Terence Fisher directed this film based on the novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Peter Cushing stars as famed detective Sherlock Holmes who is hired on along with Dr. Watson, played by Andre Morrell, by Sir Henry Baskerville, played by Christopher Lee. Sir Henry returns to his family manor after his father dies under mysterious circumstances and is told of a mystery over a supernatural hound. Marla Landi, David Oxley, Francis de Wolff, Miles Malleson, Ewen Solon, John Le Mesurier, Helen Goss, and many others co-star in this film. This was Hammer's Sherlock Holmes and a series of films was planned but this was not as well received as hoped without the monsters so plans were dropped. They did make their mark though on the franchise with a great performance out of Cushing.
Repulsion (1965): Roman Polanski directed this psychological horror film. Catherine Deneuve stars Carol who shares an apartment with her sister Helen, played by Yvonne Furneaux, and expresses disapproval and jealousy toward Helen's boyfriend Michael, played by Ian Hendry. This leads Carol into the brink of solitude and insanity. John Fraser, Patrick Wymark, Renee Houston, Valerie Taylor, James Villiers, Hugh Futcher, and many others co-star his this psychological film. This is very disturbing film that is really hard to describe in words. This is Polanski's first English speaking film.
Cruel Intentions (1999): Roger Kumble directed this film that is a modern-day adaptation of DANGEROUS LIAISONS by Choderlos de Laclos. Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar star as manipulative step siblings Sebastian and Kathryn. They decide to make a wager that Sebastian can bed the wholesome daughter Annettte, played by Reese Witherspoon, of the new headmaster of their prep school. As Sebastian looks to with the bet, in the process he falls in love with Annette but Kathryn will not make things easy. Selma Blair, Louise Fletcher, Joshua Jackson, Eric Mabius, Sean Patrick Thomas, Swoosie Kurtz, Christine Baranski, Alaina Reid-Hall, Deborah Offner, Tara Reid, and many others co-star in this film. This has always been a favorite of mine and prefer it to the period piece that is is based upon. Gellar is a great villain and has no redeeming qualities. It is also a really good love story that the men and women can enjoy for a date night.
Well, that is it for this week but continue on for the Madness. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which includes Emma Roberts, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman, Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Catherine Deneuve, Reese Witherspoon, and many others..
THE MADNESS: SUCKS- WEEK 3
Here is week three of the the Madness. Some are October related, some are not on account of being wild card.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018, 97 minutes, 66 1/2): Adam provides the voice of Dracula in this animated franchise. His daughter Mavis talks her dad into going on a cruise with the other monster friends not knowing the boat is being commandeered by the Van Helsing family.
Little Nicky (2000, 90 minutes, 66 1/2): Adam stars as Nicky who is the son of the Devil and must stop his other brothers from wreaking havoc on Earth.
-Interior of a church
-Nicky transforms into spiders and Adrian transforms into a bat
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Alexander is a wild card this year on account of his vampire past in TRUE BLOOD.
Big Little Lies: Living the Dream S1, E3 (2017, 51 minutes, 666): Alexander co-stars in this series as the temperamental Perry. It is hard to really describe this series on an episode by episode basis except that it is a slowburn mystery series.
What Maisie Knew (2012, 99 minutes, 666 1/2): Alexander stars as Lincoln who is the stepfather to the 7 year old Maisie whose parents put her into the middle of their custody battle. Lincoln and her father's significant other Margo are left to care for her as her parents become very career focused and Maisie takes more of a liking to them. This is a very moving and beautiful movie in my opinion.
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Anne is a wild card this year on account of all her vampire novels.
A Place Among the Dead (2020, 76 minutes, 666): Anne has a cameo in this horror film that is filmed like a documentary.
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Bela is a wild card this year and gets me automatic triple points.
The Raven (1935, 23 minutes, 66 1/2): Bela stars as Poe obsessed Dr. Vollin that references quite a few Poe stories.
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Bruce is always a wild card and is the only person who always gets a wild card spot.
Burn Notice: Fight or Flight S1, E3 (2007, 42 minutes, 666): Sam helps Michael protect a single mother who witnessed a crime from being killed.
Jack of All Trades: Raging Bully S1, E6 (2000, 23 minutes, 666): The Daring Dragoon is caught by Napoleon and must win a game of poker to avoid execution. This episode introduces Napoleon and is the best Napoleon portrayal of all time by Verne Troyer.
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Catherine is our wild card this year so anything she has done will count.
Eight Women (2002, 111 minutes, 666 1/2): Catherine stars in this French film Gaby who is one of eight women in her French countryside about to celebrate the holidays. Things take a turn for the worst when her husband is murdered and they must piece together who did it. This also has some pretty funny moments and some interesting musical numbers. Glad to make this into a loophole.
Nip/Tuck: Diana Lubey S4, E12 (2006, 45 minutes, 666): Catherine was a guest star on this series as the title character of the episode and requests breast implants that contain her late husband's ashes.
Repulsion (1965, 105 minutes, 666): Catherine plays the lonely and disturbed Carol.
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Bride and Gloom S3, E13 (2001, 42 minutes, 666): Prue is tricked into marrying a warlock which draw her into evil as well as Piper and Phoebe.
-Piper's new power allowed her to turn a man into a pig
The Good, the Bad and the Cursed (2001, 42 minutes, 666): Phoebe is physically linked with the violent past of an old west town and a bullet effects her. Phoebe must team with Cole to the Old West in hopes of saving Phoebe.
Just Harried (2001, 42 minutes, 666): It is Piper's wedding day where she prays nothing goes wrong but Prue gets arrested on suspicion of murder.
Death Takes a Halliwell (2001, 42 minutes, 666): Prue deals with the Angel of Death while also trying to protect an innocent from demons.
-Cemetery
-Seekers are vampire-like creatures
Pre-Witched (2001, 42 minutes, 666): W. Earl Brown guest stars in this episode as a warlock who appears to get stronger after each vanquish. Piper decides that her and Leo need their own place.
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Chris is a wild card this year and gets us automatic triple points no matter the movie.
The Crimson Pirate (1952, 105 minutes, 666): Chris co-stars as Joseph in this pirate movie.
Dark Shadows (2012, 113 minutes, 66 1/2): Chris has a cameo in this vampire comedy adapted for the popular tv series as Clarney.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959, 87 minutes, 666): Chris plays Sir Henry who hires Sherlock Holmes on account of some suspicious activity.
Hugo (2011, 126 minutes, 666 1/2): Chris plays the role of the bookseller in the train station in this Scorsese film that pays homage to the pioneering of film. Remains a favorite of mine and I believe this might be the nicest character Chris has ever played. Thanks to him, this movie counts for the Madness this year.
-Christopher Lee ATB
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Corey is a wild card this year so found a couple selections for the week that would usually not count.
Alice: Who Ordered the Hot Turkey S3, E9 (1978, 23 minutes, 66 1/2): Corey plays one of the orphaned kids and has a line near the end.
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Danny is a wild card this year and I realized he has been in just about everything.
Desperado (1995, 104 minutes, 666): Danny co-star in this violent action film as the knife-wielding Navajas.
The Flash: Elongated Journey Into Night S4, E4 (2017, 41 minutes, 666): Danny guest stars as Breacher who happens to be Gypsy's father and decides to hunt Cisco. This is also the introduction of Ralph Dibny aka Elongated Man.
Machete (2010, 105 minutes, 666): Danny stars in this film as the title character and an argument can always be made to get this counted with all the violence and all but I don't need to worry about that with Danny being a wild card.
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003, 102 minutes, 66 1/2): Danny co-stars as Cucuy in this action film. Johnny Depp co-stars as the corrupt CIA agent Sands and is a pretty underrated performance.
Renegade: Hog Calls S4, E21 (1996, 44 minutes, 66 1/2): Danny guest stars in this episode as Freddie. Reno and Bobby search for an attorney that possesses tapes that will clear Reno's name. This was a middle school show of mine so glad I could use this as a loophole.
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Donna is not a wild card but found a way to bring in the BAYWATCH babe.
Baywatch Nights: Last Breath S2, E8 (1996, 43 minutes, 66 1/2): Donna goes missing like a couple other lifeguards in Baywatch leaving Mitch and Ryan to investigate. This was a spinoff of BAYWATCH where Mitch Buchannon, played by David Hasselholff, is a private investigator. In season two, they took a different direction and decided to try a supernatural approach.
Candyman: Day of the Dead (1999, 93 minutes, 66 1/2): Donna co-stars in this sequel as Caroline who is a descendant of Candyman and tries to get her to join him.
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Eliza is not a wild card this year but has potential to be and could have been one for the vampire theme.
Angel: Five By Five S1, E19 (2000, 41 minutes, 666): Eliza guest stars as Faith in this episode the follows the Buffy episode where she comes out of her coma and flees Sunnydale to go to Los Angeles. When there Wolfram and Hart hires the rogue slayer to kill Angel.
-Vampire
-Faith is a slayer
-Vulnerability to sunlight
Wrong Turn (2003, 84 minutes, 666 1/2): Eliza stars as Jessie who is with some friends and ends up in the middle of the woods trying to survive among a group of cannibalistic friends. This is mostly an annual watch for me and is one of my favorite horror movies.
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Emma is not a wild card but has established quite a career that she could be one in the future.
Abandoned (2022, 102 minutes, 66 1/2): Emma stars in this movie as Sara who movies into a home that has a lot of secrets and is driven to insanity.
The Hunt (2020, 90 minutes, 66 1/2): Emma co-stars as the character Yoga Pants who is in a deadly game where she finds herself in a clearing with a group of people and are being hunted.
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Famke is not a wild card this year but superheroes and horror lead to this category.
Lord of Illusions (1995, 109 minutes, 66 1/2): Famke co-stars as the Dorothea who is the wife of an illusionist and hires a P.I. to protect her husband that is in over his head.
X-Men (2000, 104 minutes, 666): Famke stars as X-Men member Jean Grey in this first live-action film of X-Men.
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Godzilla, King of the Monsters (1956, 80 minutes, 666): No need to explain this Kaiju film to anyone to get it counted.
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Jeffrey is not a wild card but fate lead him into a category this year.
The Amaranth (2018, 88 minutes, 66 1/2): Jeffrey stars as Richard who moves into a retirement community with his younger wife Lily. It becomes a cult-like community and Lily observes the transformations in her spouse and wonder if there is something more sinister at play.
The Outer Limits: Fear Itself S4, E12 (1998, 45 minutes, 66 1/2): Jeffrey guest stars in this anthology series as Dr. Adam Pike who helps a man cure his paralyzing fear in a questionable way.
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Jeffrey is not a wild card but could be in the future.
Angel: Provider S3, E12 (2002, 42 minutes, 666): Jeffrey guest stars on this vampire series as Sam Ryan who hires Angel to clean out a vampire nest.
-Vampire
-Gunn is a vampire hunter
-Vulnerability to sunlight
Supernatural: Something Wicked S1, E18 (2006, 43 minutes, 666): Jeffrey appears in this episode as Sam and Dean's father John Winchester in flashback scenes. Sam and Dean are going after a creature called a Shtriga.
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Judy is not a wild card but found a couple things for her to earn her way into the Madness this week.
Carrie (2013, 100 minutes, 666): Judy guest stars as the gym teacher Ms. Desjardin as she tries to keep the peace among the girls and with Carrie. This Stephen King obviously counts for the madness.
Halloween Kills (2021, 105 minutes, 66 1/2): Judy co-stars in this film as Karen who is Laurie Strode's daughter as a vigilante mob tries to finally end Michael Myers once and for all.
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Julian is a wild card this year so anything he has done counts.
Leaving Las Vegas (1995, 111 minutes, 666 1/2): Julian co-stars in this film as Sera's pimp Yuri. There was no way I could leave this out to be a wild card. This is a favorite of mine and one of Nicolas Cage's best performances in my opinion.
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Lucas is not a wild card but he earned his way into this week.
Crush (2013, 94 minutes, 66): Lucas stars as high school student Scott who has a secret admirer but takes a turn for the worst in this psychological horror movie.
X-Men: First Class (2011, 131 minutes, 666): Lucas co-stars as Alex Summers aka Havoc in this origin film where Charles Xavier is trying to put together a group of mutants.
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Mae is not a wild card this year but she did connect into my list for a category.
DC Super Hero Girls: Hero of the Year (2016, 76 minutes, 66 1/2): Mae provides the voice of Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl in this animated superhero movie. These are more geared to younger kids. This centers around Superhero High where Amanda Waller is the principal and Gorilla Grodd is the assistant principle.
Freaks of Nature (2015, 92 minutes, 66 1/2): Jenna co-stars in this horror comedy as Jenna Zombie. This takes place in a town where vampires and zombies try to coexist but have to deal with an alien invasion.
-Vampires
-Over the top gory vampire death
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Maria is not a wild card but she is worthy of being on here.
The Dark (2005, 93 minutes, 66 1/2): Maria stars as Adelle who is mourning the loss of her daughter who is believed to be dead. She is visited by Ebrill who claims to have been dead for 60 years.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008, 112 minutes, 66 1/2): Maria replaces Rachel Weisz as Evelyn and goes on another adventure with Rick where the Mummy in this one is the ruthless first Emperor of Qin, played by Jet Li.
-Not based on western civilization
-London
-Jet Li shapeshifting into a three headed dragon?
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Natalie is not a wild card this year but could be considered.
Black Swan (2010, 2010, 666 1/2): Natalie stars as talented but unstable ballerina Nina Sayers who loses her grip on reality due to her artistic director, rival and overbearing mother. I feel with the nightmare around her and her descent into madness that this can be considered psychological horror. Natalie gives possibly her best performance in my opinion and was very dedicated to the role in things like paying for her own training understanding they had a low budget.
Thor (2011, 115 minutes, 666 1/2): Natalie co-stars as scientist Jane Foster who forms a fascination of Thor and helps him along the way. The gods and Asgard should make this one count.
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Historic Beech Grove Cemetery Tour (2023): This is an annual event where a tour through a local cemetery is given on history of Muncie and some of its people. I played one of the historic figures. It is not really Halloween related but I am playing a dead person and we are at a cemetery.
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Paul is a wild card this year on account of his vampire role in movie BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER.
Beauty is Embarrassing (2012, 88 minutes, 666): This is a documentary about artist Wayne White and has some interviews with Paul to make this one count. (2 points)
Pee-Wee's Playhouse: Now you See Me, Now You Don't S1, E4 (1986, 23 minutes, 666): Pee-Wee puts on some magic tricks and makes himself invisible but finds it will be hard to become visible again.
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Batman Begins (2005, 140 minutes, 666): Rutger co-stars as Earle who is trying to get control of Wayne Enterprises. This would count either way but I don't have to make an argument.
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002, 113 minutes, 666 1/2): Rutger co-stars as Keeler in this biopic about CIA assassin Chuck Barris whose cover was the shows like THE GONG SHOW that he was known for. This is possibly the most accurate biopic of all time.
Sin City (2005, 124 minutes, 666 1/2): Rutger co-stars in this comic book adaptation as the crooked Cardinal Roark in this film. This would usually likely count with the dark undertones but I need not make an argument this year thanks to Rutger.
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Sarah is a wild card this year possibly because of my own popular demand.
The Big Bang Theory: The Stockholm Syndrome S12, E24 (2019, 23 minutes, 66 1/2): Sarah makes a cameo as herself in this series finale to the popular sitcom.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Bargaining S6, E1 and E2 (2001, 90 minutes, 666):
-Vampire
-Main character is a slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, with Feeling S6, E7 (2001, 50 minutes, 666 1/2): This is the musical episode of the series when a demon forces to town to sing. A lot of secrets also come out in this episode.
-Vampire
-Main character is a slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Villains S6, E20 (2002, 41 minutes, 666): Willow turns to very dark magic to go after Warren following the murder of Tara while Buffy tries to stop her.
-Vampire
-Main character is a slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Two to Go S6, E21 (2002, 41 minutes, 666): Dark Willow targets Jonathan and Andrew for vengeance as she continues to wreak havoc all over town and even has a fight with Buffy.
-Vampire
-Main character is a slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Grave S6, E22 (2002, 41 minutes, 666): Giles tries to stop Willow from her darkness and from destroying the world. I believe the dark version of Willow was possibly the most disturbing element of the series.
-Vampire
-Main character is a slayer
Cruel Intentions (1999, 97 minutes, 666 1/2): One of my favorites, I made this count before through Tara Reid and now I get to use it for Sarah.
Ringer: If You Ever Want a French Lesson... (2011, 41 minutes, 666): Bridget suspects Ander to be the "hit" on her. Macawi abducts Bridget's only friend to get to her.
The Simpsons: The Wandering Juvie S15, E16 (2004, 23 minutes, 666): Bart is sentenced to six months in juvenile detention. While there he meets Gina, voiced by Sarah, and is forced to escape with her.
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THE WORLD OF SUPERHEROES AND SUPERVILLAINS
Watchmen: Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship S1, E2 (2019, 55 minutes, 666): Angela investigates the most recent murder in this dark superhero mini-series.
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NWA Powerrr Ep 130 (2023, 46 minutes, 666): This episode has Vampiro as well as Violent J of Insane Clown Posse so I feel these characters should get me a point.
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