Berri's Couch

Now to get more critter-y as we look into Burrow's End as it's tale of fascism, rebellion, family trauma and survival. An actual play story that continues the weaving of human morality vs critters and their behaviours into a fun watch that we happily delve into.

Now in a more eclectic discussion about critter media we look at an actual play dnd campaign and why it works that the characters are critters, why we enjoyed these characters and their adventures, and most importantly why reskinning spells can be some of the greatest bits of comedy in a players arsenal.

The classic tale of siege warfare amongst various rodents in the English countryside that launched many copycats and got some children into reading. What is it about the first book in a massive series that captured the imagination of so many so quickly? And can it hold up without the fuzzy feelings of nostalgia.

Well this the end, the show stopping number to cap off the Hatchetfield series as a whole. A satirical take on weak gender swaps, a small town murder, and the continued trend of characters getting proved right in their world view that ends in much more blood than it probably should. We discuss the work itself, a type of story being utilised and it's pitfalls therein, and finally theories based on...

The final of the main trilogy of musicals about this weird little island town and it's multiple timeline goings on. We're going back to school where they may be a god of some sort, there are definitely nerdy prudes and there's murder singing. Who doesn't love a throwback with modern twists?

We return to Hatchetfield, in a different time, but with some familiar faces. However they aren't the focus of this musical (not sure they know what should be but eh) rather the loss of sense to capitalistic desires to fill the emptiness we feel inside with a dash of Lovecraftian elder one's seeking the end of days.

An indie theatre production company doing a horror-comedy musical set in the tropes and character styling's of the body snatcher sub-genre, leads to a trilogy of genre bending musicals? Yes it does. We're starting our look at Starkid's Hatchetfield series with the one that started it all, The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals.

The Crow defined so much of the Goth subculture and their presentation to the wider world, we have a look at the movie, it's effect on pop culture and all of it's little hatchlings that came forward after this hit the public.

Okay so know we have the lasting horror icon of a small boy in a silly hat. No seriously this movie has effected things in ways we were both prepared and unprepared for. The tracking of understanding of certain biblical passages and misunderstanding/misattributions all trace back to here.

It's a classic, it's referenced everywhere, you know it but you don't. It's Casablanca. We start to look at film's that altered the pop culture landscape with one that both gets it's flowers but also doesn't. So let's look at THE classic and see what's going on and how it shaped us even now.

All right so the long awaited (?) continuation of the saga that started with Caesar and now comes to Noa. A film that divided fans in that is either a great evolution of what was started before or a complete betrayal. But where do we land? Listen and find out.

We made it to the end of the trilogy no one expected to succeed but did and captured the hearts and minds of many but can it end on a good note? How does Matt Reeves intend on closing out a story people don't want to end? LIKE A FUCKING CHAMP IS HOW! It's another long one but we can't not talk about the meta textual readings and the characters while keeping it brief.

These movie titles get wordy so shall we. We got A LOT to say on the unexpected sequel movie, including a new criteria for directors going forward, new characters, and how on a metatextual analysis Caesar continues his journey through the Moses/King Arthur mythos as both character points and how society has added to the character archetype.

We going back to 2011 for the hit film Rise of the Planet of the Apes. How does a film balance being a restart, a prequel and technically midquel, an origin for some and more importantly a film that washes the taste of a terrible film away? Pretty well with these damn dirty apes, it's deeper than one would expect and took us places some of us didn't expect at all.

Well we finish the month with not only a sequel but a mid point for Jason Statham player of autistic hyper fixation (violence) men and their adventures of water and revenge. In reflection we have the best and worst of this month wrapped up in a movie that should have gone through at least one rewrite and would have been made infinitely more tolerable with one minor change.

Well that's a film that we certainly watched. The 2006 film that was clearly liked well enough that it got a sequel but in all honesty, what the hell did we watch? A film of it's day that sparks comparisons to Boondock Saints, and talks of Jonah Hex and RIPD (derogatory).

Welp we got a classic vintage Statham doing Statham action directed by the director of Fifth Element. It has everything, oily action, visible night shots and Statham on a beach. what else could we ask for?

All right time to shake off the coffin dust and get into beekeeping. By kicking the hornets nest that is a David Ayer directed movie staring the iconic action man, Jason Statham. A revenge film about taking down internet scammers who prey on the elderly, what could we possibly have to complain about? Please refer tot he director if you want the TLDR.

We got a season 2 of the world's messiest divorce drama, strap in for the emotional weight of reuniting with a partner you lost a kid with. The pain of reliving trauma to uncover the true events and how staying in the warped memories while comforting may not be the healthiest for everyone. We're back baby for round 2 of the most emotionally resonant vampires and their trauma births ruining everyon...

And we're not touching the movie at all on this well trodden path (outside of comparisons because duh) as we discuss one of the most well known metaphors and allegories in vampire stories. What does the TV series bring to a decades old reading while staying truthful to the vision and changing so many details? Grief and it's memory are all on the table to discuss, so let's take a bite of it.

Most recent vampire movie gives us the most relevant and up to date interpretation of a vampire and their place in the world. We try our best not to just sit there and gush over the movie but rather stay focussed on vampiric interpretation and the art that can only exist from lived culture.

TW - Talks of addiction throughout A child abducted is secretly a vampire and has chosen to play with her food. No symbolism or metaphor here right? Wrong! A little ballerina is in fact an exploration of the parasite that is addiction and how it effects each of the characters with a little dash of parenthood thrown in for good measure.

Vampires can mean different things in different stories and we start by looking at a modern take on a classic film and reading. Robert Egger's Nosferatu reinforced the fear of plagues, men in medical fields, and the effect of repression. Or at least that's what we are willing to explain.

And we can finally put a wrap on this month that really dragged us through the emotional ringer with a review of the importance of support networks through the character of Fizzarolli. The only one in this month so far to actually break free of his toxic mentor, performance perfectionism and not have to be drugged and cut off his own limbs to do it.

Well we're seated and ready to savour the flavour of the final dish in one's man pursuit of perfection in food. All while we discuss the relationship between the creative and audience, the nature of requiring external validation to get your art seen, and the futility of it all.