Episode 265: From SXSW: 'Dickweed'/'Dead Mail'

Adventures in Movies!

Sure, the Academy Awards are a joke. But they are usually good for something. No, it was not an opportunity to make a real social statement. And who cares about Donald Trump’s nonsense? The Satanic ritual smack dab in the middle of the ceremony, however…

It has been a tough year for the Scream franchise. When everything hit the fan a few weeks ago, it looked like there was nothing that could save the fan favorite series. We thought there was one thing that could turn people’s opinions around, but we also thought there was one hope to make things better. Of course, that was never gonna happen. Until it did.

True crime documentaries are everywhere, which would be fine if they were not all so cookie cutter. The ones that have stood out recently are not the ones with the most gruesome or obscure cases. It is the docs that tackle the strange and offbeat cases that tend to be the most interesting.

Dickweed spoke to us for these exact reasons. Kidnapping, prison breaks, torture, and an amputated penis are all part of its twisted tale. The opening is fantastic and does a great job of drawing in its audience.

So, where did it go wrong? Was it the on the nose title which may be the laziest we have ever come across? Or was how it was able to take an exciting story and completely suck any fun out of it? Maybe it is the strange decision to ignore the most interesting parts of the story and spend way too much time talking to one of the most insufferable interview subjects ever? Whatever the case, Dickweed is incredibly disappointing.

Dead Mail is weird. (What may be stranger is that one of us was actually familiar with one of the strangest parts of the film.) The plot sounds straightforward enough. A dead letter investigator is presented with a bloody note requesting help. His investigation leads to a dangerous situation that may be too much for him to handle.

In that simple premise, FILMMAKER constructs a tale of friendship, betrayal, and synthesizers that will keep anyone watching on their toes. From the unusual structure of the plot to its emphasis on music, we try to break it all down. Is Dead Mail too much or is it able to find the right mix of avant garde filmmaking and sheer horror?

Adventures in Movies! is a part of the Morbidly Beautiful Podcast Network. Morbidly Beautiful is your one stop shop for all your horror needs. From the latest news and reviews to interviews and old favorites, it can be found at Morbidly Beautiful.

Adventures in Movies! is hosted by Nathaniel and Blake. You can find Nathaniel on Instagram at nathaninpoortaste. Blake can be found on Twitter @foureyedhorror and on Instagram at foureyedhorror. You can reach us personally or on Twitter @AdventuresinMo1.

Music in the background from https://www.FesliyanStudios.com