Doctor Solar, Man of the Atom Comic Book Cover Gallery

 

Bride of Monster Kid Radio - HOUSE OF HORRORS (1946)

After far too long I return to Monster Kid Radio to discuss a classic horror film with Derek Koch! One of the last movies to star Rondo Hatton as the Creeper it might be considered a bit of a hidden gem. But surely, the fact that it is available on Blu-Ray (with a commentary track, no less) would indicate there is some attention paid to this film. Perhaps - but not enough!

 

So listen to the two of us dig into the joys and missed opportunities of this crackerjack little thriller. If you have half as much fun as we did, you'll have had a damned good time! 

Poster Art And Lobby Cards for FRANKENSTEIN 1970 (1958)

 

Classic Planet of the Apes Marvel Magazine covers

 

The Spider - Classic Pulp Covers

Feeling the desire to read another one of these!

 

Doc Savage Pulp Covers

 

For some reason this week I've been thinking about Doc Savage and I realized a sad thing. There will never be another film version of the character made. We've aged out of the period in which there were enough creative people behind the scenes with a love of the character willing to push a new film forward. While there have been sporadic revivals with various comic book series and even a series of generally excellent new books called The Wild Adventures of Doc Savage published starting in 2011, I just don't see anyone willing to bankroll a film based on a character that debuted in 1933. Even the possibility of a 100th anniversary celebration wouldn't be enough to get things off the ground, I fear. Our last chance came and went about ten years ago when Shane Black wanted to cast Dwayne Johnson in the role but he just didn't have the clout. (Maybe if he hadn't cut his Predator film down to the bone he would have had the financial success to get the project off the ground but Black is often his own worst editor.)

So now, for all eternity we are saddled with the incredibly flawed and silly 1975 George Pal film as the only cinematic version of the character available. Doc Savage deserved better, but at least the original pulps are regularly reprinted in cheap versions so he won't completely fade away. But his fanbase shrinks smaller with each passing year and that is a shame.

What I Watched in August 2026

THE END OF OAK STREET (2026) is a well-crafted and surprisingly moving film. In its DNA it is easy to see several 1980s influences with most people pointing to the suburban Spielbergian essence but I think it borrows nearly as much from Joe Dante’s bag of tricks. It balances an intimate, character-driven story with good atmosphere, creating something that feels both thoughtfully plotted and emotionally resonant. It is our attachment to the central family characters that defines the effectiveness of the film as the story unspools. Things become increasingly harrowing and, at times, downright violently grotesque in ways that the early JURASSIC PARK films steered clear of for fear of the dreaded R rating. Not so here where the horror of humans no longer being at the top of the food chain is made clear in gory fashion. Luckily, the performances give the characters real depth while the pacing allows the story’s quieter moments to land without feeling forced. I was especially impressed with the moment when the teenaged daughter slips out to the garage to listen to a beloved song. That scene’s vision of a young person finding a way to cope with fear was touching and helped define her state of mind and personality. 

This is only one of several instants in which the film shows warmth and attention to detail. It finds meaning in ordinary moments with realistically drawn characters and gradually builds them into something genuinely affecting. By the end, THE END OF OAK STREET almost feels like a story you experienced alongside its characters instead of just as an observer. It’s a sincere and engaging film that deserves to be seen regardless of its lackluster box office numbers.

 

Oh! And all this while I also spent the first 20 minutes of the film being hopelessly distracted by Anne Hathaway’s legs! Seriously, those things are works of art. Plus, she gives a brilliant performance as well with most of the film turning on how good she is in her complicated role. 

The List

SURVEILLANCE (2008) – 7 (Jennifer Lynch's absorbing crime tale)

I WANT YOUR SEX (2026) – 7 (funny look at sex and the eternal confusion it creates)

INITIATION (1987) – 5 (self-centered teen douches his way into the Australian Outback)

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY (2026) – 9

AT THE EARTH’S CORE (1976) – 5 (rewatch on Blu)

ANGEL OF H.A.R.M (1983) – 4 (soft-core espionage comedy)

THE LAST PLATOON (1988) – 7 (Richard Hatch in Vietnam)

AAA MASSEUSE, GOOD LOOKING, OFFERS HER SERVICES (1972) – 7 (giallo)

ICE CREAM MAN (2026) – 4 (boring series of OTT gore scenes – the young cast is solid though)

THE LONE RUNNER (1986) – 4 (Deodato post-apocalyptic sort-of western) 

THE MUMMY’S CURSE (1944) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

UNDERTONE (2026) – 7 (solid slow-burn chiller)

THE TROLLENBERG TERROR (1658) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE END OF OAK STREET (2026) – 7

X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE VRACH FRANKENSHTEYN (2026) – 7 (recut version is pretty good)

BENEATH THE PLANET OF THE APES (1970) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH IN CAMP MIASMA (2026) – 8

SEARCH AND DESTROY (1979) – 6 (Vietnam vets stalked by a killer)

THE RIP (2026) – 8 (excellent Miami-set crime tale)

THE DOG STARS (2026) – 8 (excellent post-apocalyptic drama)

THE GLOVE (1979) – 4 (weak PI/skip tracer tale that wastes its cast)