Halloween Happenings

Friday, October 29th – Halloween weekend: Garry and I have been getting into this Netflix show that is really spooky but in a rather old-fashioned way. The program absolutely avoids the slasher sort of directing that generally permeates these sorts of projects. Instead, Midnight Mass tells a story with character development and lets it play out. There are shocking moments naturally, but you are already invested in the island folks.

Undoubtedly, there will be viewers turned off by the use of Christianity (thru organized religion) to explain it all. I found it to be a creative cover for the evil that is brewing on the island. At six episodes we are hooked. The direction for this TV thing is uncanny. It has depended on long monologues. I mean, there are scenes between actors that go on and on before a cut is even made. My guess is that anyone who likes to read a good horror story might actually enjoy watching this; it does take time to unfold.

San Francisco will be hopping this weekend with the Outside Lands festival at Golden Gate Park and Halloween in the Castro. The weather for both will be perfect San Francisco weather. Yes, wear a t-shirt but carry a lite…whatever. 

We are going to catch the new Wes Anderson movie: The French Dispatch. Anderson is the sort of filmmaker that cares more about making characters as quirky as they can be rather than employing a more satisfying conclusion to a story. This director is not a three-course meal, he is an appetizer, and then the waiter forgets you are there. I like to describe his movies as watchable. It is not that I don’t enjoy Anderson’s movies. I like some of them, but that enjoyment is measured. For my tastes: The Royal Tenenbaums and the Isle of Dogs are memorable for different reasons. His wildly popular Rushmore I never finished.

On our own isle of dog, Luna continues her rehab period. There is no more cone of shame, and we are back to some walking in the neighborhood. She puts pressure on the operated leg and walks on it, but she is not quite 100 percent back yet. Naturally, she wants to do more and misses using the entire backyard to run around like a crazy dog (zoomies), but that has to happen gradually as per the Vets order.