Dave and I clash over Chex Mix variations. And also this film.
Dave: This film was perfect at building up and holding suspense. The stark, white clapboard farmhouse and the luxurious, lingering shots of corners, hallways, doorways, and stairs were almost vibrant enough to become another character. The script, particularly the otherworldly voice-over narration, was gorgeous and haunting. Sadly, the pay off (and any explanation of the murky plot) was given short shrift, so you’re left wondering “well, so what!?” even as the film grinds towards the ending that hints at a possible sequel. Thank goodness the sequel hasn’t materialized: it would amount to little more than people wandering around a remote farmhouse and musing about plumbing problems. Still, the first 3/4 of the film is worth a watch, even if the storyline wandered off somewhere and didn’t resolve itself (️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)
Don’t mess with food icons. I don’t want matcha in my cheesecake, fancy gouda in my pimiento cheese, or - heaven forbid - some haute cuisine seasoning in my low country boil. In the same vein, Kirk Castle, I’m not sure I needed popcorn in my Chex mix. Granted, the salty, savory, oniony popcorn was delicious, but you could tell it was popcorn that shimmied into an ill-fitting Chex mix suit. The Worcestershire sauce and butter took me back to 1980s parties, but, since this popcorn wasn’t coated and baked, the flavors weren’t as pronounced, the popcorn was mildly soggy, and it missed a nutty toastiness that makes Chex mix so delicious. Maybe this recipe is a winner if you happen to have both popcorn and Chex mix ingredients hanging around, but how often does that really happen? Otherwise, just make some Chex mix and save the popcorn for one of the dozens of other more satisfying popcorn recipes that we’ve tried. (️️️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Joe: For this critic, an effective horror movie combines atmosphere and thrills. Violence and gore are most definitely secondary, if not tertiary, components. I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House has oodles of atmosphere. Darkened doorways, ominous exterior shots, moody angles, close-ups of trembling faces, rain machine-gunning windows. An air of trepidation looms over every scene. Unfortunately, with the exception of one jump-shot, the film lacks genuine thrills. Carried entirely by the performances of Ruth Wilson and Paula Prentiss, both quite effective actresses, the oppressiveness of the atmosphere is never fully realized in the script. Therefore, the set pieces are haunting and eerie, but serve no purpose other than being haunting and eerie. Ultimately quite disappointing. (⭐️⭐️)
I had another popcorn planned for this evening, but our local Kroger has stopped selling kimchi, so I'll have to wait until we go to Toledo to attend to that recipe. So while I was wandering around Kroger this evening after work, Dave sent me the recipe for "Mix it up", which is really just a glorified Chex Mix with popcorn. Does it count, readers? It does because we say it does. Honestly, with the heady mix of Chex, Ritz crackers, pretzel, popcorn, butter, garlic powder, minced onion flakes, and seasoned salt, could anything possible go wrong? No. Absolutely not. (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)
Popcorn recipe from: 100 Popcorn Recipes by "Kirk Castle"
Joe, I like your defense of the popcorn.