Episode 136 ~ Seed of Chucky (2004)

Surprise! We're continuing our run of Child's Play movies with the controversial Seed of Chucky from 2004, the long awaited follow-up to 1998's Bride of Chucky!

How is this so controversial, you might ask? Well, it takes the more comedic direction from the last movie and pushes it to 11. So you either like this movie or hate it. However, we actually did quite like it, though perhaps not in the way you might think. All in all, it's another successful entry in the series, and we discuss why in today's episode!

For those who wonder, I changed my score to reflect that I consider the last movie and this one on equal level. The first two I still think are the best ones.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 4/5

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Up Next: Curse of Chucky!

Halloween Spectacular X! (Episode 135)

Welcome to our tenth Halloween celebration! We haven't always done dedicated episodes for Halloween, but we've always done something special for it every year. And our ninth anniversary of Cannon Cruisers is no different!

This year we went for a combo we've never touched before! In addition to our month long look at Child's Play, we made today's special looking at the Fright Night movies! These movies were a lot bigger once upon a time, and we'd like to remind you why today!

In the 80s, slashers were king, but there were other types of horror at play as well, and one such example include vampires!

Also, for those unaware, I changed my opinion on the second film between recording the episode and putting it out, so I'm putting the revised score below. My overall thoughts have not changed on the movie, but the more I thought on it, the more my opinion solidified. I think it is as good as the original now.

That aside, let us dive into today's episode as we look at two forgotten gems from one of the best decades for horror movies!

Fright Night (1985)

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Fright Night Part II (1988)

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 5/5 (Post review revision)

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Up Next: Seed of Chucky!

Episode 134 ~ Bride of Chucky (1998)

Where to even start with this one?

In every horror franchise there comes a point where the formula runs stale, so you have two choices: run it into the ground, or go in a new direction. Thankfully, the Chucky franchise made the right decision with 1998's Bride of Chucky. Like most "Bride" horror movies, this movie turns the formula on its ear to deliver a new context to the old favorite. Child's Play is done, now it's Chucky's turn to be the main character.

And boy is it a ride. Find out how in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Halloween!

Episode 133 ~ Child's Play 3 (1991)

This is it, 1991's Child's Play 3: the end of the trilogy, but not the series. This ends the Andy arc of the series as eight years after the events of Child's Play 2, and almost a decade after their meeting, Andy is a teenager and about to become an adult. It is time to put away childish things, but what if childish things don't want to be put away?

The idea behind this movie is a good one, as there is little way to keep it fresh after the previous two entries, so the third entry is kind of the last go: the last moment before the child becomes an adult, thereby retiring the series title (at least, until the 2019 remake), and changing the series focus to Chucky himself instead.

That said, though it isn't perfect, it is a good ending to the trilogy of one of the more overlooked horror franchises. We can't wait to see where it goes after this!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Bride of Chucky!

Episode 132 ~ Child's Play 2 (1990)

Surprise! More Chucky!

We go into the sequel to the horror classic where Chucky finally becomes the icon everyone recognizes and where the stakes are ratcheted up even more! Can poor Andy finally find peace after Chucky ruined his life in the first film? Check out today's episode and find out!

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up next: Child's Play 3!

Episode 131 ~ Child's Play (1988)

Time for spooky season!

This month we've decided to pick one series to focus on throughout the month of October, with a different surprise for Halloween itself. We decided on a series we've yet to cover: Child's Play starring the infamous living doll Chucky!

It's also quite a surprise of a movie, managing to remain tense and even darkly funny at times, while remember what made genre classics like the original Halloween and Nightmare On Elm Street work where so many others did not.

Find out why we're starting this month with a bang with 1988's Child's Play!

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Child's Play 2!

Episode 130 ~ The Dirt Bike Kid (1986)

The magic dirt bike movie probably needs introduction. Starring the main kid from A Christmas Story, and with some involvement by Roger Corman, here you get a bizarre adventure of a boy and his dirt bike modeled after Jack and the Beanstalk.

Yes, it's as weird as it sounds. How weird? Check out today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Child's Play!

Episode 129 ~ Bingo (1991)

If you're above a certain age, you certainly remember the above poster in every video store at one point. This was the age of the wacky animal movie, after all. However, what is 1991's Bingo actually about? Certainly it must be something.

Turns out it is definitely something, though maybe not what one might figure. It's a wacky anime movie, but not quite what you'd expect. Find out how that is in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: The Dirt Bike Kid!

Episode 128 ~ The Sheep Detectives (2026)

Another modern movie!

This one is a surprise. Part mystery, part family film, part religious allegory and musing on the boundary between life and death, there is more to this movie than you might think on first glance. It uses the framework to tell a surprisingly unique story that is a joy to watch with an ending that is well worth the journey to get there.

Find out just why we liked 2026's The Sheep Detectives so much by partaking in today's episode! It's a winner.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Bingo!

Episode 127 ~ Mouse Hunt (1997)

This week we get really obscure (or do we?) with one of the last slapstick comedies of the 20th century, 1997's Mouse Hunt! It's zany, over the top, and weird, but oddly not as dated as one might think despite the time it came out in. That said, it still holds up quite well.

Find out just why we enjoyed it, in today's episode! And why JD wishes he could have seen more Catzilla.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: The Sheep Detectives!

Episode 126 ~ North (1994)

It's been a while, but we finally have a candidate for worst movie we've ever watched on Cannon Cruisers! 1994's North is up there with Bolero as bottom of the barrel. This film has all kinds of talent involved and none of it works on any level.

You're going to have to watch today's episode to find out why, because you won't believe it otherwise. This is one of the biggest flops in cinematic history in how it did much damage to a director that was once highly acclaimed. Few movies can make that claim, but few movies are also this legitimately terrible.

Randy's Score: 1/5

JD's Score: 1/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Mouse Hunt!

Episode 125 ~ Class of 1999 II: The Substitute (1994)

The end of the trilogy! Finally we reach the poorly named final entry in Mark L. Lester's trilogy, capping off in a surprisingly fun way. It's the most straightforward and obvious of the three movies, but no less entertaining.

In fact, the entire trilogy is quite a unique experience, well worth watching today. There isn't much else to compare it to. Check out today's episode as we wrap the series up!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: North!

Episode 124 ~ Class of 1999 (1990)

We continue on with the second instalment in Mark L Lester's "Class of" trilogy with an entry that shakes up what the audience would expect from the first entry. This one is from the students' perspective instead of the teachers', and also adds more fantastical elements to the affair. It's also more action movie than exploitation film this time.

It's also more over the top with heavier horror elements, and also happens to be out personal favorite of the trilogy. Find out why in today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Class of 1999 II!

Episode 123 ~ Class of 1984 (1982)

You're probably aware of a few bizarre and even obscure trilogies in cinematic history, but are you aware of Mark L. Lester's "Class Of" trilogy? It's an over the top look at the school system through a B-movie lens, through making prediction, noticing pattern behavior, and framing it through pure entertainment.

The first entry, Class of 1984, is about the decaying school system as framed through Fear City-style exploitation somewhere between the first two Death Wish movies. It is surprisingly prescient, and also brutal, look at a world they thought might have been but ending up existing not that long after the release of the movie.

How does it hold up? That is the subject of today's episode!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 4/5

 

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Up Next: Class of 1999!

Episode 122 - Angus (1995)

The 1990s were known for the plethora of family films and dramas, but one that has fallen almost entirely under the radar is 1995's Angus. It's primarily known these days for having a soundtrack of alternative rock from the time, including some rare tracks from certain famous bands from the era. But how does it hold up as a movie?

Fairly well, though it is definitely not without its blemishes, which we dig into in this episode. Because, while it is a good movie overall, it could have been a great one. Learn why Angus could have been better remembered with a few tweaks.

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Class of 1984!

Episode 121 ~ Over the Edge (1979)

At the end of the day there are quite a lot of movies we've just plain missed out on. There were so many movies released over the course of the 20th century that we will never see, never mind get to on Cannon Cruisers.

Thankfully 1979's Over the Edge is not one of those movies. It's also not the kind we cover here a whole lot, though it does very much fit in with what we do.

This is a drama that is played seriously enough to be effective but not overly exploitative or grim to turn off those who want entertainment with surprising substance. It's thoughtful without being preachy, and is definitely not the sort of thing that could be made today.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Angus!

Episode 120 ~ Brink (1998)

Another curveball! This week we decide to cover a Disney Channel Original Movie that, surprisingly, holds up quite well. From the era of alternative and eXtreme culture comes 1998's Brink, which perfectly nails its time and place.

You might be wondering how something like that can work in a Disney Channel movie of all things. There is a reason for that! Check out today's episode to figure out why.

Randy's Score: 4/5

JD's Score: 4/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Over the Edge!

Episode 119 ~ Stay Tuned (1992)

Every now and and then on Cannon Cruisers we come across a hidden gem that should be far more well known than it actually is. Today's episode features one of those movies. 1992's Stay Tuned is one of the best movies you've never heard of.

Perhaps it was a bit too ahead of its time, and just outside the decade full of movies it is most similar to, but this film is one unlike any you've seen. Think if Joe Dante had decided to direct a Ray Bradbury style story about a salesman selling a satellite dish made by demons and you might get close to this one. There isn't much else like it.

So check out today's episode to learn more about this cult classic. It deserves more than it has gotten so far.

Randy's Score: 5/5

JD's Score: 5/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Brink!

Episode 118 ~ Mom and Dad Save the World [1992]

This is a movie none of us remember. From the writers of the Bill & Ted series comes another zany adventure into the unknown. A parody of Flash Gordon starring a middle-aged married couple? Definitely a bizarre concept.

Despite some great practical effects, it's not as good as it could be. Check out today's episode to see why that is!

Randy's Score: 3/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Stay Tuned!

Episode 117 ~ Rent-A-Kid (1995)

This was a bit of a detour for us, but not a completely unwelcome one. This pleasant family comedy from the early days of the Disney Channel before the Mouse started making their own, is very much of its time. You know what you're getting on the tin.

That said, despite the above description, it's not all that interesting a watch. Find out how it works in today's episode

Randy's Score: 2/5

JD's Score: 3/5

Spotify link here!

Up Next: Mom and Dad Save the World!