Reviews & Interviews

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: Time Machine back to 1986 with Class of Nuke ‘Em High

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Not much artwork to brag about this week. It was a week of catching up on marketing activities and editing other people’s work. Not always the most fun, but something that must be done.

Class of Nuke ‘Em High (1986) Review

I watched a few horror movies while posting on social media. Puppet Master, one of my favorite horror movies, was one of them. Considering the title above and the picture to the right, the main feature was Class of Nuke ‘Em High. Wasn’t my first time watching the movie, but it had been many years since I’d seen it back when it was first released.

If you’re a fan of 1980s horror comedies, it’s a cult classic that delivers a delightful blend of absurdity and nostalgia. My favorite students in the movie is a reminder of the the weird shit I used to wear in high school.

The cheesy FX is delightfully low-budget and campy, adding to the film’s charm. From grotesque mutations to exaggerated explosions, the special effects perfectly capture the outrageous spirit of 80s B-movies. The movie oozes with an 80s vibe—from the neon colors and wild fashion to the punk rock soundtrack. It’s a time capsule that transports you back to my era of carefree fun and unapologetic camp. Despite its horror label, it leans heavily into comedy, especially with the bad boy/girl characters. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, often stemming from the absurd situations and the characters’ over-the-top reactions.

While the acting contributes to the film’s campy appeal, some viewers might find it lacking. But in the realm of Troma films, the less-than-stellar acting is almost a feature, not a bug. For a movie with a radioactive premise, I expected a bit more gore. The film delivers some gruesome scenes, but it’s relatively tame compared to other entries in the genre.

Overall, “Class of Nuke ‘Em High” is a fun, nostalgic ride that captures the essence of 80s horror comedies. If you enjoy cheesy effects, a vibrant 80s setting, and a healthy dose of absurd humor, this film is a must-watch. Just grab some popcorn and prepare for a radioactive good time!

Rating: 4 out of 5

Winnie’s Weekly Wonders: What I’ve Loved and Achieved

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It’s been a productive and entertaining week, and I’m thrilled to share what I’ve been up to and what I highly recommend you check out.

The collage to the right was a quick compilation I threw together a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, I’ve been incredibly busy with writing that my art projects are suffering, although I do love the way this collage turned out.

I’ve made significant strides in the third book of my series. Barry’s journey is becoming more intense as he continues to absorb Azael’s powers. The plot is thickening, and I’m excited about the twists and turns that lie ahead.

    I recently finished watching the new TV show “Ted,” and I absolutely loved it! The show is a breath of fresh air in the TV landscape. The show masterfully blends humor and heart, delivering a story that is both touching and hilarious. The characters are richly developed, each bringing their unique quirks and charms to the screen. The writing is sharp, and the performances are outstanding, making it easy to get hooked from the first episode. And it’s trashy, a must for me! If you’re looking for a feel-good show that will make you laugh, “Ted” is a must-watch!

    That’s all for this week, folks! Keep following your passions, and don’t forget to take some time for yourself. Whether it’s diving into a new book, catching up on a show, or simply enjoying a moment of peace, make sure you’re nurturing your soul.

    A Good Horror TV Shows & a Werewolf Gets a Manicure

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    Werewolves need manicures too! This is what AI thinks it looks like. Stumped again! I had a hard time finding just the right style and mood for these AI generated images. The challenge was keeping the werewolf in the picture. It wanted to replace it with humans like it did with the demons. This is my favorite. More on my Instagram account. Searches were progressive, starting with the first keywords below.

    werewolf getting a manicure; werewolf with red nail polish; werewolf filing claws; spa setting; long claws; smiling; towel; yellow glowing eyes; wax treatment;

    I watched the new Fall of the House of Usher series over the last few weeks and it was awesome and highly suggested. The modern take on Edgar Allan Poe was quite well done. Creative spins on the deaths of the family members. Interesting that I had reread the main tale recently and then saw the show on Netflix, which of course was the driving factor to get me started. What shall I do next?

    Also want to mention that I’ve been working on a children’s book I wrote a number of years ago, The Mouse Jinn and the Pumpkin. The mouse to the left the main character in the story. His magic is in his red mittens. Like most jinns, he grants wishes that don’t always turn out as expected. I’ve finished all the mice for the illustrations and have started the backgrounds for the story. The book will be done and out before Halloween this year under my real name, Wendy Spurlin. Stay tuned for some more images.

    Why Image Generators Need Much Work

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    I’m not feeling threatened by AI image generators this week because I totally stumped Adobe Firefly with this strange ask below:

    demon; eating tacos; in taco bell in a booth; horns on head; evil look; masculine; wearing a red t shirt

    I also added ‘bulls head’ to the ask because I couldn’t get a demon look without adding an animal to the mix. Every search resulted in a human look including women with the masculine ask. Before I added ‘wearing a red t-shirt’ they were all wearing suits.

    The image to the right is pretty similar to most of the results with different art styles as I changed the query. So AI thinks humans are demons, which of course is correct.

    If you wanna see more of the results, check out my @meanwinniejean Instagram account.

    I watched The Pope’s Exorcist this week. Was kinda in a mood for demons after trying to get the image generator to create demons eating tacos. The movie starts with this, which I loved. Fun going in knowing that the story is based on a real priest, but the movie was way beyond reality.

    “When we jeer at the Devil and tell ourselves that he does not exist, that is when he is happiest.”

    Father Gabriele Amorth
    Chief Exorcist of the Vatican 1986-2016

    Obviously a high-budget horror flick, so I appreciated the dark, dreary settings and quality acting. While a priest who performs exorcists is thrown out of his position, a family moves into an old, broken down abbey. Nice set up! But the Pope has to pull Russel Crowe back into the mix when a demon possesses a kid in the family. I loved the plot or demon’s intention in the storyline, which I won’t spoil.

    Russel Crowe and the possessed kid were good, with all the other characters way too minor in the story. I appreciated that they jumped into the action right away. I wasn’t bored at any point while I watched, so no checking my email while watching. But the cringe and squirm in your seat wasn’t there for this horror freak. The movie is worth watching, especially if you prefer light horror.

    That sums up my week. Did you watch any new horror films, good or bad?

    New Collage and AI Image Generated Grim Reapers

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    It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted. Mostly busy.

    Here’s a steampunk collage I created this week. It started with the hat and grew 20 more images from there. Maybe a bit busy, but there’s something to look at in every nook and cranny.

    More art worth a look is my AI image generated Grim Reapers. Two sets are available on Instagram. My focus is stumping the image generators with bizarre asks, so I asked for Grim Reaper sitting on toilet in gas station; with rats. Then I asked for grim reaper; holding balloons; kids birthday party; cake; presents; with children. If you have any weird mixes in mind, add a comment below.

    And I’ve got a movie suggestion for ya. Little Bone Lodge with Joely Richardson, who I love. She can play some really creepy characters. “Set during a vicious storm, two criminal brothers on the run seek refuge in a desolate farmhouse. Taking the resident family captive, they find the house holds dark secrets of its own.” This movie is really twisted. More psychological thriller than gory blood and guts. The movie was well done and the acting was good. You can watch it on Tubi, but look for the movie title The Last Exit there.

    That’s all from me. Have a great week!