[AYAOTD? Recap with Erin Callahan] 2.2 "The Tale of the Midnight Madness"

RECAP

Kiki and David are eager to get the storytelling started because they have passes to the Fright Night triple feature. Frank says he’s never going back to Fright Night, then tells a story about how truly scary movies can be.

Pete and Katie work at the Rialto, a classic old theater that’s being driven out of business by the new multiplex. Pete’s determined to save the theater, but handing out flyers to potential customers isn’t doing the trick. In swoops Dr. Vink to save the day! In exchange for one night a week to show his films, he gives the manager a film that he guarantees will bring in customers. The manager scoffs, but Pete is forced to put on Dr. Vink’s film when the projector malfunctions. Young and old flock to see Nosferatu on-screen. But after the manager reneges on his deal with Dr. Vink, the pale-as-snow vampire starts sucking blood off-screen as well. After Pete and Katie find the manager with bite marks on his neck, Pete must enter the film and battle Nosferatu. Pete defeats the vampire with good, old-fashioned sunlight, but the audience won’t be safe for long. Dr. Vink has purchased the theater and plans to show his films every night.

Kiki and David are too scared by Frank’s story to go to Fright Night. They give him their tickets and he invites Gary to go with him since “it’s just a movie.”

REVIEW

Troy: I love the call back to Frank’s fear of the dark, which plays into why he wrote this story. In an anthology series, a little continuity goes a long way.

Erin: The attention to detail in this series truly warms my heart.

T: This story features a new type of duo – co-workers! Great that they can keep the dynamics fresh fifteen episodes into the series.

E: I really dig the dynamic between Pete and Katie. There’s a natural chemistry between them that lets us know they enjoy working together but are on the verge of one of those cute, high school co-worker romances.

T: Speaking of the dynamics, they’re really fun in this one. “Let’s hug again!” is a great line from Pete and Katie plays it off in a really fun, oblivious way. I hope those crazy kids get together. Or Pete finds someone who digs him and he remains BFFs with Katie through college and the 2000s.

E: My god, that is just adorable. Hey Troy! Let’s hug again!

T: Hey, millennials: So, in the 1990s, malls were shutting down small stores, like your local movie theater. Nowadays, Amazon is shutting down malls. It’s the circle of retail life, and it’s sad.

E: The American shopping mall had a decent run. Amazon is a bag of dicks, but I’m honestly not going to shed tears over the fact that we’re now seeing the rejuvenation of downtowns. Wait, are we still talking about AYAOTD? Let’s circle back. I ADORE that Pete is on a mission to save the Rialto because he likes old movies. I have such a fondness for characters who are nostalgic for things they’re too young to remember.

T: Vink’s classic horror reintroduction is perfect. Strike that, his entire appearance in this one is perfect.

E: Aron Tager, man. What a freaking treasure. And I’m kind of in awe of the way they seamlessly transition him from a mad scientist trope to a supernatural filmmaker. It just works! And I love that he reminds Katie he is “NOT a nutbag!” LOLOLOLOLOL.

T: Often movies-in-a-movie tend to be farcical or over the top, this feels like a grounded, realistic silent horror film. It gives the story legs.

E: Fun fact for the readers: Troy and I got to watch this episode together while he was visiting New England from the land of swamps and pro-life billboards (aka Florida). We were both super impressed by how well the effects here have held up. The shots of Nosferatu emerging from the screen are fantastic. It’s a good reminder that CGI isn’t always the most effective way to bring something otherworldly to life on screen.

T: The shot of the vampire’s shadow in the real world is desaturated so it gives a black and white vibe, which blends the real world and the movie world. Nice touch. Moreover, the movie bleeds into the Rialto through subtle touches. The door’s lock is like a castle’s, shadows crisscross our vision.

E: Wow, nice catch! Again, the details.

T: Pete going in and changing the movie ending is such a great solution. It’s very simple, but it feels earned.

E: I would have liked Katie to play a more active role here, but you’re right. It works really well.

T: I don’t think they even bothered with a mid-story Midnight Society scene last week, and this week’s adds absolutely nothing. Although it is fun to see them all gorging on popcorn while Frank’s narrating.

QUEER OR NOT?

T: This is such a stretch, but it turns out Frank only told this story to scare his friends into giving him their movie passes so he could take Gary to the midnight show. Looks like with Eric gone, Frank’s moving on. Did you catch anything more solid, like in the story itself, Erin?

E: Oh my god, I love this theory! The Frary theory? The Grank theory? Yes, let’s go with Grank. I didn’t catch anything else, but Dr. Vink is campy in a way that strikes me as queer-adjacent. He’s no Sardo, but I could totally see him hanging out in cabarets in Berlin, looking for actors for his diabolical films.

TRIVIA, USELESS TRIVIA

T: Vink’s version of Count Orlok is played by Christopher Heyerdahl. This was one of his first roles, and he’s worked steadily in genre film and television. Three Twilight movies, and recurring/regular roles on True Blood, Sanctuary, Stargate: Atlantis, Hell on Wheels, and Van Helsing among them. From his performance here, it’s well-earned.

E: His creep factor is on point.

T: This story isn’t actually based on Nosferatu, but DJ MacHale said it’s inspired by the “Pied Piper of Hamelin.” A struggling town (theater) has a problem with rats (no customers) so this charismatic stranger offers to solve the problem for a payment, but the town leaders (Mr. Kristoff) renege on the deal, so the stranger gets his revenge.

E: I never would’ve picked up on that, but it makes so much sense. “Pied Piper” is seriously one of the all-time scariest folk tales. Even scarier is the fact that it might be rooted in actual events. I digress here, but I think we’re overdue for a deeply dark and bizarro on-screen depiction of the Piper. Robert Eggers, are you reading these recaps?

T: This is showrunner D.J. MacHale’s all-time favorite episode of the series.

E: I can totally see why.

MODERNIZE ’90s CANADIAN KIDS

T: The fun lies in playing with silent horror movies, so I really don’t see much to change to modernize the tale. Teens working at a dying theater could still play today.

E: This one holds up shockingly well. Katie and Pete wear their work uniforms through most of the episode, so even the fashion doesn’t need an update. The only modernization I might throw in is the two of them IMDB-ing the shit out of Dr. Vink.

JUST GIVE IT A NUMERICAL RATING ALREADY

T: This episode is so solid. The leads are fantastic, the setting is fun, Dr. Vink’s return works, BUT it’s mostly set-up with a short (albeit effective) pay-off. They include some creep factor in the first bit with Vink, but it’s not enough, so I have to dock it a little. 9.2 CAMPFIRES OUT OF 10.

E: Your point about the pacing is valid, and I would’ve liked to see Katie play a more active role. That said, this episode is almost on par with Kiki’s “The Tale of the Captured Souls,” so I’m going to give it 9.5 CAMPFIRES OUT OF 10.