Murder She Hoped: Raising Hope (2013)


I LOVE the '80s

I LOVE the ’80s

The show is about James Bon Jovi “Jimmy” Chance, who is in his early twenties and a slacker. He left school before graduating, works for his dad, and spends most of his time getting drunk with his friends.

Truth be told I don't

About life.


Carnival of Souls Don't know real

Everything changes when Jimmy has a one night stand with a woman who turns out to be a serial killer. She is sentenced with the death penalty but before she dies she gives birth to a daughter, this little girl being given to Jimmy to raise.



So now they all band together to try and raise this girl, with three of the adults having no clue about children and one who is not in her right mind.


Throw in some other great characters: Sabrina, rich girl trying to “make it on her own” as a grocery clerk; Barney, the dorky but heart of gold store manager; Frank, a strange coworker; an evil cousin Delilah; and more.

Supernaturaldean whinchester shrug smile oh well


This was the first episode I saw as my friend knew I would love it. This episode is fantastic as it is a homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window:

So as this takes place in the last season-I’ll do a quick wrap up. Jimmy had a gigantic crush on Sabrina and after the previous seasons of his being friends with her, them dating, they ended up getting married and moved into Sabrina’s grandma’s house. Since then Burt and Virginia have stayed with Maw Maw taking care of her.

Unfortunately, I can’t rewatch this episode as it is on Hulu and I don’t have that streaming service. So we will be going off my memory.


In this episode, Burt and Virginia have new back fence neighbors and are super excited as they haven’t had any for years. They call that the “weirdo” house as no one stays very long-they are there for not that long and then gone. The meet them and the guy Gary seems like a lot of fun to Burt as he wants another best friend, and Virginia is happy to have people who she can talk to and borrow sugar from. Virginia also gets her hair done cheap at the local senior citizen home and gets it done in ’50s styles mimicking Grace Kelly’s style as Lisa. They are also doing themed weeks at her work (she cleans houses), and her dress looks just like the one in Rear Window.

So in this episode, they have started taking walks after dinner around their neighborhood. All the people they see are based off the different neighbors in Rear Window. A dancer, pianist, married couple who are sleeping outside on a mattress, etc.


As Burt is walking, he trips on a root and falls breaking his leg. He’s stuck in a wheelchair-just like Jimmy Stewart’s character.

That night they have the back fence neighbors over for dinner. Gary is all smiles, creepy smiles and Gina is acting really strange. She is worried, keeps flubbing answers saying the wrong thing-Gary correcting her. It’s so weird-something is clearly not right in this marriage.


Gary likes to thumb wrestle and really enjoys facing off with Burt. Burt enjoyed his company but he is done-they go home and Virginia enjoys being with Gina but Burt feels like something is clearly not right there.


The next day Virginia tries to borrow a cup of sugar but Gina tells them they don’t have any. Her husband comes back and starts acting weird giving them packages. He asks if they wouldn’t mind holding them and of course the Chances say no.

That night the hear yelling and something crashing. They are both afraid something happened and call the police. The police won’t come because the Chances have called too many times-birds were attacking them (The Birds), thought a murderer in the house (Psycho), etc. and instead they send a member of their auxiliary force-Barney-their friend and the manager of the grocery store.

He has a tooth ache and mimics Jimmy Stewart’s voice as he talks. He tells them they are overreacting and that Gary and the wife are fine.

Barney leaves and the two decide they were just overreacting.  They continue to collect Gary’s packages but then Burt sees that the wife isn’t there, instead it is another lady. He starts getting curious and looks through he packages finding an axe and jewelry engraved with “Carla”. They begin to believe that Gary killed his wife and is trying to be with this lady-Carla.

They start investigating, using an old toy of Jimmy’s Miss Suzy Snoop. The telescope used for spying mimics the telephoto lens used by Jimmy Stewart’s character, Jeff.

They want to investigate and try to enlist Jimmy and Sabrina, but while Jimmy is into it-Sabrina is done and takes him and Hope home.

The parents keep snooping and it is a really great episode with a twist ending I don’t want to ruin for you.

This is a great episode and even some of the shots are done to mimic Rear Window. It really is a delight to any Hitchcock fan.

TV episode


For more Alfred Hitchcock, go to One Day You’ll See Something You Shouldn’t: Rear Window (1954)

Modesto Jane Con: Opera Modesto Presents Mansfield Park



I’m sad…

But then Modesto Jane Con was created!










That is not good,



So we attended the preshow with Hillari DeSchane:









So the ten characters we have are:

  1. Fanny Price (Alexandra Jernic)
  2. Edmund Bertram (Andrew Pardini)
  3. Mary Crawford (Angela Yam)- Professional Opera debut
  4. Henry Crawford (Emmanuel Mercado)
  5. Maria Bertram (Darby Schmidt)-Professional Opera debut
  6. Julia Bertram (Brylan Finley)- Professional Opera debut
  8. Aunt Norris (Alison Collins)
  9. Lady Bertram (Anakira Gabriella-Graça)



Sad really.

















The Psychotic Episode: Boy Meets World (1999)

Boy Meets World was one of my favorite shows from the ’90s. I used to watch it anytime it was on. There are a lot of great episodes, especially ones for our Halloween countdown.

This episode comes from season 6. The gang are in college and Cory and Topanga are engaged. Story A is that Cory keeps having these nightmares about killing Shawn. Its kind of weird and a bit boring (to be honest). In the end the dreams symbolize what Cory will give up getting married, the path not taken.

The B story, that’s the one I remember and love. Jack is dating Rachel, the girl Eric also had fallen head over heels with. But since they are together, Eric moved out. He wants to watch the girl they love mack on their best friend?

He tries to move into his parent’s house, but no longer has a room as it is a nursery for his baby brother.

He tries Shawn and Cory, but no dice there either.

Then Topanga’s room, but nope there too.

He is sleeping in the Student Union when Jack ad Rachel find him. They try and bring him back, but anything would be better than having to constantly see the girl you love with your best friend.

He pleas for a roommate, he’s desperate when he gets an answer to his prayer. Another student, Adam is looking for a roommate.

It’s perfect!

So Eric checks out his new digs. It is not only a pretty nice apartment, its gorgeous, Eric only has to pay “whatever he can afford”, and there is a gorgeous neighbor Adam will delightfully introduce him to. Life is good for Eric.


But then Eric sees why Adam can’t kept a roommate. Can’t sit in his dead mother’s chair.

Or his dead Uncle Dave’ couch.

Uhh…this is creepy

Adam calls him from a seat away and will only converse over a phone.

Then Adam brings out his pet parrot for Eric to meet and feed. She’s stuffed. Who does he sound like?

Boy/Man Child

This is getting to weird for Eric-he’s going out…but then Sheila, the neighbor comes over in only a towel and Eric stays.

Eric is actually coming around to living with Adam, the perks outweighing the weird.

But then Adam decides to introduce him to his mother. We hear Adam and his mother talking in the other room.


That’s it-Eric’s out.


Hilarious and so well done. A great homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho and just all around great episode. You should definitely check it out.


For the previous post, go to Which Husband Ran Off With Addie Ross?: A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

For more Boy Meets World, go to Simply Fantastic

For more on Eric Matthews, go to Men

For more on Norman Bates and Psycho, go toI Don’t Kill People Anymore: Psycho II (1983)

It’s the End of the World: The Birds (1963)

It’s the end of the world



Then I stupidly remembered The Birds. Of course!

It’s perfect!





I can’t stop watching!





I’m lucky


So that’s enough background, let’s move on to the review!





















Melanie Daniels: Yes.

Annie Hayworth: Nice drive.

Melanie Daniels: It’s very beautiful.

Annie Hayworth: Is that where you met Mitch?

Melanie Daniels: Yes.

Annie Hayworth: I guess that’s where everyone meets Mitch.



Mitch, however, is besotted.

















Wow, there is more to him than I thought.





Melanie Daniels: No, I wrote the letter.

Mitch Brenner: Well what did it say?


Mitch Brenner: But you tore it up?

Melanie Daniels: Yes.

Mitch Brenner: Why?

Melanie Daniels: Because it seemed stupid and foolish.

Mitch Brenner: Like jumping into a fountain in Rome?

Melanie Daniels: I told you what happened!



Mitch Brenner: I’d still like to see you.

Melanie Daniels: Why?

Mitch Brenner: I think it might be fun.


Mitch Brenner: It is for me.

Melanie Daniels: Well not for me!

Mitch Brenner: What do you want?



Not gulls but you understand the feeling.



Poor girl










Him, the dead birds, his eyes!


Traumatizing children for all time.








Mrs. Bundy: That would hardly be possible.

Deke Carter: Why not, Mrs. Bundy?



Mrs. Bundy:…probably contain more than 100,000,000,000 birds!




I’m in shock













I’m crazy







Not gulls but you understand the feeling.


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I Don’t Kill People Anymore: Psycho II (1983)

I don’t kill people anymore.

So you all know how I feel about sequels.

I can’t stand them, there are few and far between that I can actually watch, let alone love.

But I decided to review the sequel to Friday the 13th on Friday the 13th. And to take that one step further, I’ll be reviewing a sequel to horror films that spanned sequels and influenced the horror genre. First one:

You all know that I love Alfred Hitchcock:


And how much I love Psycho.

So I thought I would give this a watch when it came up on AMC‘s Fear Friday. This film takes place 22 years after the original, Norman having been receiving help that whole time has finished the program and will be released to society and the Bates Motel.

Norman thinks he is ready to live his life again, but there are many others who are not. One of which is Marion’s sister Lila Loomis (she and Sam ended up getting married).

Lila Loomis: What about his victims? I have a petition here signed by 743 people against Norman Bates’ release, including the relatives of the seven people he murdered.

Norman sets about living a normal life as much as he can, hopeful that life will be better.

Dr. Raymond: You don’t have to stay. I could find you a place in town.

Norman Bates: No, no. I… I want to stay here.

Dr. Raymond: As long as you realize the memories are more likely to reoccur here. But you know how to handle that now, don’t you?

Norman Bates: Sure.

He discovers the person placed in charge of the motel while Norman was sent away was using the motel as an hourly one and to deal drugs. Norman kicks him out, takes a job at the local diner run by Mrs. Spool, and things seem to be going well. He even befriends a young waitress, Mary Samuels.

Things start going downhill fast when Norman is given mysterious notes and phone calls from Mrs. Bates.

Then a womanly figure in black is seen running around the complex and bodies are piling up.

Norman is trying to keep it together, but is feeling the pressure and unraveling with every attack. Objects in blood are found in the house, he starts forgetting what he was doing and where he was, items of his mother’s he thought were given/thrown away all end up back in the house.

Mary feels bad for him as he is trying so hard, she ends up moving in with him to help him keep it together. And when the sheriff comes to question him about an incident, she outright lies to protect him.

Sheriff John Hunt: Are you sure neither one of you heard anything between four to five this afternoon?

Norman Bates: No, I was…

Mary: [cutting Norman off] He was with me all afternoon. We were walking in the fields behind the house around that time.

Sheriff John Hunt: Okay. Nice to see you again, Norman. [the sheriff and his deputy walk out. Mary closes the front door and watches them walk away]

Norman Bates: [to Mary; bewildered] Why did you do THAT?

Mary: Do what?

Norman Bates: Lie to the sheriff. You weren’t with me all afternoon!

Mary: I had to do something! He was going to arrest you! [Norman suddenly holds his head in pain, and slumps down into a nearby armchairNorman, what’s wrong?

Norman Bates: It’s starting again.

Is someone trying to make Norman go crazy? Has Mrs. Bates risen from the grave? Or is Norman starting to kill again?

I have mixed feelings about this movie.


Let’s start with the negative:

So this movie was made in the ’80s and they decided that the classy way the original film was made wasn’t going to fly with modern viewers. So there is a lot of blood, gore, sex, etc.

Now what was positive:

I like this

I loved that they had the original actors reprise their roles. Anthony Perkins is just sheer perfection at playing a sweet innocent man you just feel sympathy and empathy for-and at the same time flip and be frightening.

I liked that the director really concentrated on trying to copy Alfred Hitchcock’s style and use the same angles and lighting he did.

The story line had a few issues, but for the most part they tried hard to be suspenseful like the original and have an ending you weren’t expecting.


For the previous post, go to For All You Know, A Witch Might Be Living Next Door to You: The Witches (1990)




For more on Fear Fridays, go to Dracula. Not Myth, Nor Ravings of a Mad Irish Novelist, Oh No, He’s Real: Dracula 2000 (2000)