Movies
Quick Thoughts: Pilot Episode for Paranormal ‘Pumpkin Morgue’
Drawing influence from British comedy like “League of Gentlemen” and “Spaced”, “Pumpkin Morgue Paranormal Investigators” is a mock ghost hunting web series created by James Branscome and Morgan Rae.
The pilot runs in two segments, each roughly 13 minutes long. After that, there is an additional four episodes at approximately 3 minutes apiece. As I sat through the first four episodes of PMPI, I thought I could get more laughs watching Ghost Hunters’ Steve Gonsalves in a room full of spiders. I am versed in British pop culture (Frost and Pegg of Spaced are on my backup list of baby daddies), but I honestly didn’t see much influence from the above. I mean, I guess if I squint I could. The first few episodes are a bit bland. There is overuse of techniques that seem to shout “I went to film school!” and a running joke with one member’s band playing Thursday nights at a bar.
However, episode five is quite phenomenal. I encourage you to check it out and decide for yourself, but my suggestion to the makers is MORE SAUSAGE. I am sure I speak for all women when I say the more crude the sexual masturbatory humor, the better.
In conclusion, it’s not that this web series isn’t any good. It is. It just seems to be trying really hard. Maybe that’s the point? I just felt I sat there waiting for something that never came…but then again, that’s what paranormal investigating shows do to you – right?
Perhaps, in that respect, Pumpkin Morgue Paranormal Investigators has a lot of potential.
You can check out Pumpkin Morgue at the film’s official website.
Hollywood is serious about landing the next Backrooms. Hot on the heels of a Siren Head feature announcement, Deadline reports that a new movie based on viral YouTube series The Mandela Catalogue is in development.
It also has some Hollywood heavy hitters behind it.
Amblin Entertainment’s Steven Spielberg, United Artists’ Scott Stuber (Frankenstein), and Amazon MGM Studios are set to produce, emerging victorious after a highly competitive 11-studio bidding war.
Launched in 2021, the YouTube series is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin which is “invaded by shape-shifting, nearly immortal creatures called Alternates. The Alternates are led by a false depiction of the Archangel Gabriel and their aim is to wipe out the human race by psychologically torturing them to the point of suicide. The Alternates are known for manipulating AV media, TVs, computers and GPS systems.”
The movie will be directed by the series’ creator, Alex Kister, based on a screenplay he adapted with Tyler Clifton.
The Mandela Catalogue has racked up an impressive 100 million views across its official episodes alone, solidifying it as one of the largest original analog horror franchises on YouTube.
Spielberg and Holly Bario are producing for Amblin Entertainment alongside Aaron B. Koontz for Paper Street Pictures and Stuber and Nick Nesbitt for United Artists. Kister and Clifton are also producing. Annie McCreery will oversee the project for United Artists. Maria Fortese will oversee for Amblin.
Get acquainted with The Mangela Catalogue below while we wait to learn more.