#marksteger

[doomonfilm]

Review : The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2019)

Sometimes you read a movie title, and everything you need to know about that movie is encompassed in the title.  Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  Night of the Living Dead.  Hobo With a Shotgun.  You catch my drift.  That’s why, from the moment I heard about The Man Who Killed Hitler, and Then the Bigfoot, I knew that I had to see that film.

Calvin Barr (Sam Elliot) spends the twilight of his years taking care of his dog and checking in on his younger brother Ed (Larry Miller).  He often reminisces on the love of his life, a woman named Maxine (Caitlyn FitzGerald) that he let slip away before going to World War II.  What really and truly haunts him, however, is his time as a soldier.  Calvin, even as a young man, longed for a peaceful life free of conflict, but when duty called, he answered.  His duties, however, led to him being asked to take the life of Hitler in hopes of winning the war.  Now, many years later, Calvin is tasked for a new mission from American agent Flag Pin (Ron Livingston) and Canadian agent Maple Leaf (Rizwan Manji) : killing a diseased Bigfoot (Mark Steger) to end the spread of the Nightmare Plague, a disease threatening to end civilization as we know it.

This film plays like an exercise in lore-building, where the goal is to create a modern day John Henry of sorts.  With Calvin, we are presented a man often haunted by his past during moments of reflection, and the past we are present with has a moment of ‘glory’ that exceeds the imagination.  Due to his code, his honor, and his hesitancy to be responsible for a human life, however, we are presented with a tortured individual rather than one who holds those memories with pride.  The aforementioned moments where Calvin stops at his reflection to reflect is visual poetry that resonates, with Sam Elliot’s legendary stature furthering the effectiveness of the moments.

The Man Who Killed Hitler, and Then the Bigfoot is a triple threat of sorts : a combination of a No Country For Old Men tale of a man witnessing the times change, a heightened historical drama, and a fantasy adventure.  This allows for the use of a non-narrative structure that not only gives visual subtext for pensive moments in the form of low-level PTSD triggers, but it allows for stylized shifts from one era to the next.  In terms of narrative subtext, making Calvin the man responsible for taking the lives of two monsters plays well against his timid and tender nature, as not even the most heartless man and a rabid beast give him full license and justification for taking a life with no regrets.  

The period-based nature of large sections of the film allows for distinct shifts in design and costuming that are taken full advantage of.  The deliberate pacing of the film makes the 90 minutes hold very well, where the film does not feel overly long, but it doesn’t fly by in comparison to the modern day two-plus hour film.  The score and cinematography during the titular heightened moments balances well against the personal moments, where diagetic soundtrack plays against slice of life moments in comparison.  

Sam Elliot and Aiden Turner do a fascinating parallel job portraying the complexities of Calvin Barr, with Elliot’s pensive nature and reflective regret playing well against Turner’s youthful optimism that is caged by the fear of unknowing, forcing him to take dangerous leaps physically and hold back on the emotional ones.  Caitlyn FitzGerald brings echoes of war-era unrequited love performances to the table, but builds it under a foundation of silent strength due to the unwritten rules of a bygone era.  Ron Livingston and Ritzwan Manji make an interesting ‘good cop bad cop’ pairing, with Livingston playing the American heavy, and Manji playing the curious and concerned Canadian that lacks edge.  Larry Miller and his comedic presence create a youthful vibe that plays well against the world-worn nature of Elliot, therefor bolstering his little brother performance.  Appearances by Sean Bridgers, Ellar Coltrane, Aubrey Hale, and an unforgettable performance by Mark Steger round out the proceedings.

In the end, this film may not win any awards, but it is a short and sweet piece of art that I imagine is rewarding upon repeat viewing.  Funny enough, I watched it twice before writing on it, as it spoke to me enough to revisit it before penning my thoughts about it.  

[ethancastillo05]

I’m all set up for the weekend at @toyxpo in Santa Clara! My new spot is right in front of the free play arcade! Play some video games and then stop by! It’s gonna be an amazing show with guests like @michaelheralda, @hollywoodladyj, @kylelambertartist, @noahschnapp, @carabuono, and #MarkSteger (The #Demogorgon! I’ll be there with my latest sketchbook, “analog digital” as well as a bunch of new prints! I hope to see you at the show! #ToyXpo #BayAreaToyExpo #ComicCon #SpiderMan #StrangerThings #NoahSchnapp #WillByers #BlackPanther #DoraMilaje #SpiderMan #HotWheels #HotWheelsCollector #Matchbox

[vicsage2005]

"Whenever something went wrong, they took it out on Harold. They would curse at him, even kick or punch him. Sometimes one of them would take the food they were eating (which they both were sick of) and smear it on the doll's face." - Harold #scarystoriestotellinthedark #alvinschwartz #stephengammell #popcultureretrorama #funkopop #podcast #andreovredal #guillermodeltoro #adaptation #marksteger https://www.instagram.com/p/CBhUf1oAPRt/?igshid=1y22eacrgqaab

[freemovieonline-blog1]

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

Using a special camera that can see spirits, a family must protect their daughter from an evil entity with a sinister plan. Read the full article

[callmejeff86]

#marksteger The monster from #strangerthings and the killer from one of my favorite films #thepact #horror #horrorfan #horrornerd #madmonsterparty (at Hood Center)

[ghostmananddemonhunter-blog]

Stranger Things Mark Steger (Demogorgon) On Shadow Nation

[leonardorodriguez-illustration]

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A post shared by Leonardo Rodríguez (@leonardo_rodriguez_artist)

Una copia de esta imagen estarå expuesta junto a otros trabajos de mis colegas de la #asociaciónespañoladecaricaturistas en nuestro #stand del #ficomic. This is the process, edited as usual :) I Will take this piece as a color test for a final one...not now but soon. #watercolor #timelapse #eleven #strangerthings #strangerthings2 #strangerthings3 #demogorgon #arttimelapse #watercolorillustration #art #illustrationart #illustration #cartoon #waffles #milliebobbybrown #art #artwork #drawing #draw #dessin #aquarelle #watercolortimelapse #marksteger #hawkings #watercolour https://www.instagram.com/p/BhKNkyAhPax/?igshid=6d9p2wlvjvds

[trumpfeed]

via Twitter

[wildeyedrecords]

Well worth a trip to see this beauty before it’s completely ruined. Why SEAN why?? @cbloxx_nomad @nomad.clan @aylo_nomad @leimai_lemaow @strangerthingstv #strangerthings #streetart #spraypaint #irwellwarehouse #cornbrook#graffiti #TheDufferBrothers #MarkSteger #demogorgon  (at River Irwell)

[ethancastillo05]

Tomorrow I’ll be at @toyxpo in Santa Clara! It’s gonna be an amazing show with guests like @hollywoodladyj, @kylelambertartist, @noahschnapp, @carabuono, and #MarkSteger (The #Demogorgon! I’ll be there with my latest sketchbook, “analog digital” as well as a bunch of new prints! I hope to see you at the show! #ToyXpo #BayAreaToyExpo #ComicCon #SpiderMan #StrangerThings #NoahSchnapp #WillByers #BlackPanther #DoraMilaje #SpiderMan

[ethancastillo05]

Link in my profile: In a couple of weeks, I’m gonna be a Guest at @toyxpo in Santa Clara! It’s gonna be an amazing show with guests like @noahschnapp, @carabuono, #MarkSteger (The #Demogorgon) from @strangerthingstv! @hollywoodladyj from @blackpanther will also be there! Be sure to order your PhotoOps and Autographs from them right away! I’ll be there with my latest sketchbook, “analog digital” as well as a bunch of new prints that debuted at this year’s San Diego ComicCon. I hope to see you at the show!!! #ToyXpo #BayAreaToyExpo #ComicCon #SpiderMan #StrangerThings #NoahSchnapp #WillByers #BlackPanther #DoraMilaje