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It's Halloween time again, and we're looking at the last two original horror franchises we haven't done yet! First up - a story that starts off a thriller, turns to horror, and then clips into the realm of science fiction as well! Written and directed by Don Coscarelli, 1979's "Phantasm" kicks off with a cemetery, an amorous couple, and a stabbing, which provides the reason for our protagonists, Mike (A. Michael Baldwin), Jody (Bill Thornbury), and Reggie (Reggie Bannister) to arrive at Morningside Funeral Home and Cemetery for the funeral services. While Mike and Reggie attend as guests, Jody is spying from the nearby woods, and witnesses the funeral director, someone referred to only as "The Tall Man," (Angus Scrimm), pick up the body-filled coffin by himself and deposit it in the hearse. Of course, neither Mike nor Reggie believe him, so Jody begins a quest to find proof that something strange is going on at the funeral home. Only after witnessing the death of the graveyard's caretaker (Kenneth V. Jones) after he's impaled on a chrome-sphere that sprouts blades and a drill, and chopping the Tall Man's fingers off, does Jody have sufficient proof to convince Mike and Reggie. The inevitable showdown between the trio and the Tall Man can only end one way... but who will emerge victorious? Also starring Kathy Lester, Terrie Kalbus, and Mary Ellen Shaw.

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As we continue our pairing of superhero origin stories in the MCU, we move ahead three years to what is arguably the best origin story to come out of Marvel studios yet! Directed by Joe Johnston, 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger" begins with a team of scientists in the Arctic circle investigaving something that the shifting ice has revealed, some sort of immense vehicle. Once the on-site team is able to get inside, they discover, still frozen in the ice, a round shield with red and white circles surrounding a blue field with a white star. Cut to World War II, and a German military officer named Johan Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) is in Norway, pursuing an artifact reputed to have magical powers. He finds what he is looking for and orders the temple that was housing it destroyed. Then, in New York City, we see a thin, unwell-looking young man named Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) attempting to sign up to fight in the war. Unfortunately, his long list of physical maladies renders him unfit for service, even though his best friend James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes (Sebastian Stan) has already enlisted and been assigned to the same unit Steve's father fought in, the 107th. Eventually, Steve tries again and is confonted by Bucky, who questions his reasoning. This conversation is overheard by Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) who is recruiting for a top-secret experiment. He forces Steve to confess to multiple attempt to sign up, and asks him why. He's satisfied enough with Steve's answer to offer him a chance to participate in his experiment, which Steve jumps at. At boot camp, Steve meets MI-6 Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and their unit's commanding officer Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones). Ultimately, even though Steve is the weakest member of the unit, he is chosen for Erskine's experiment, and turned into America's first Super Soldier. But, after Erskine is killed immediately after his success, and the last vial of super-soldier serum stolen, Steve bursts into action, discovering exactly what the serum has turned him into. He catches the assassin, but before he can take him in or question him extensively, the assassin commits suicide by cyanide. Steve is then whisked off by Senator Brandt to become the symbol of the war effort and assist the government in selling war bonds. Ultimately, however, Steve ends up near the front in Europe, and takes it upon himself to rescue the remaining members of the 107th, including Bucky, and returns them to Colonel Phillips, along with stolen vehicles and weapons using the strange blue energy Schmidt has managed to leech from the magical artifact. Thus the stage is set for Captain America to go up against his first supervillain, when Schmidt's true identity is revealed, with the fate of the free world in the balance! Also starring Toby Jones, Dominic Cooper, Neal McDonough, Natalie Dormer, and Samuel L. Jackson! And the gents reveal which two films they'll be reviewing as they pay tribute to the late, great Robert Redford!

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It's the start of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) for this pairing, and two superhero origin stories, including arguably the best one! But we start as the MCU started, with the very first film of "Phase 1" and an interesting choice it was! Directed by Jon Vavreau himself, 2008's "Iron Man" tells the story of tech mogul, inventor, and playboy Tony Stark Jr. (Robert Downey Jr.) who, after demoing a frightening new weapon for the military in Afghanistan, is captured by insurgents and forced to recreate the weapon for his captors. Unbeknownst to them, however, Tony decides first to create a miniature Arc Reactor to help keep the shrapnel from the bomb that exploded next to him from reaching his heart. But he also decides to build a power suit of armor to use to facilitate his escepa, along with his companion in capture, Yinsen (Shaun Toub). He escapes, but loses Yinsen in the attempt. He is rescued by his friend and soldier James "Rhodey" Rhodes (Terrence Howard). Back in the USA, he's reuinited with his right-hand woman, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and his business partner and mentor Obidiah Stane (Jeff Bridges). At a hastily-called news conference, he announces that his company, Stark Enterprises, will no longer be manufacturing weapons. This sets in motion a series of events where Tony is staying out of the public spotlight while Obidiah handles Stark's board of directors, given Tony's announcement. While at home, Tony creates a significantly more powerful version of his chest Arc Reactor, and then sets about creating a much more streamlined and capable suit of armor. Unfortunately, while this is happening, Obidiah is secretly working against Tony, having been the one who arranged for the insurgents to capture Tony in the first place. As Tony and Obidiah head inexorably toward open conflict, Tony's genius is put to the test, and his legacy is on the line! Also starring Leslie Bibb, Faran Tahir, Paul Bettany, Jon Favreau, and Clark Gregg!

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Our second film honoring Graham Greene, who passed away on September 1st, 2025, brings us to a much more recent historical story. Loosely based on the Wounded Knee Incident of 1973, and directed by Michael Apted, 1992's "Thunderheart" follows FBI Agent Ray Levoi (Val Kilmer) who, because of his Sioux heritage, is assigned to investigate a murder on a Native American reservation in the west. Upon arriving, Levoi reports to his superior officer, and a hero of Levoi's, Agent Frank 'Cooch" Coutelle (Sam Shepard). As the two agents begin investigating the murder, they run into Walter Crow Horse (Graham Greene), a Tribal police officer who immediately butts heads with the two federal officers. Levoi and Coutelle run down a list of suspect until they have only two: Maggie Eagle Bear (Sheila Tousey) and Jimmy Looks Twice (John Trudell). In addition, Coutelle warns Ray about two other factions - the local white militia headed by Jack Milton (Fred Ward) and the local chapter of AIM (the American Indian Movement). But it is encounters both with the local medicine man, Grandpa Sam Reaches (Ted Thin Elk) and Maggie's grandmother Maisy Blue Legs (Sarah Brave) that lead Ray to begin experiencing visions and connecting with the heritage he's ignored all his life. But which will win out in the end... Ray's devotion to the FBi or his new-found spiritual awakening? And who killed Leo Fast Elk (Allan R. J. Joseph)? And finally, the trio reveal which MCU films will be featured in the next pairing!

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