Tales of horror come in various media formats and one that has kept fans up at night are radio dramas. For Halloween Month, I’ll share some of my favorite horror/mystery/thriller stories from classic radio dramas.
This week we’ll listen to two of my favorite episodes from the classic radio shows Inner Sanctum Mysteries and Lights Out!
First up is The Voice On The Wire from Inner Sanctum Mysteries. It first aired on November 29, 1944. There’s also an alternate version of this story where the main character’s a man. In my opinion it’s not as good as this version. Here’s the synopsis:
Trapped on an island, a voice on the telephone warns a woman that she has only four hours to live. “No doubt the telephone is an ingenious invention but as far as I know no one as yet has been able to commit murder over it although many people have wanted to. Still there are worse things you can get on the phone than the wrong number especially if you happen to call the voice on the wire…”
We end this post with Little Old Lady from Lights Out! It first aired on May 25, 1943. Here’s the synopsis:
In a treasure hunting expedition in the jungle, the hunters catch spider which has been silently staring at them since they arrived.. + This is a strange story about ordinary people, two girls just like you or your daughter or the girl that sits next to you in the office. Alice and her friend Lona have been diving for sometime to Alice’s Aunt Harriet’s for their vacation. Alice hasn’t seen her aunt for ten years and is surprised by how old she seems. But they are more surprised by the cat that Aunt Harriet has in her shed.
Today the latest entry in the Jurassic Park film franchise, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom arrived in theaters. Whether or not you enjoy the sequels to the first film Jurrassic Park, they do draw a crowd who at first ooh and aah over the films and then later run and scream in either in delight or horror at what they’ve witness on the big screen.
While the sequels can’t capture what made the original a classic, it doesn’t mean I don’t have love (and professional criticism) for the later films. So today’s post shows love to the sequels by showcasing my five favorite characters from the Jurassic Park film franchise.
Please keep in mind this list doesn’t include Fallen Kingdom since it just came out.
5. Dr. Ellie Sattler
Dr. Sattler’s a smart and outspoken person. I’m glad that she has a more prominent role in the film than she does in the novel, for it makes her character even more interesting and developed. The following clip alone explains why Dr. Ellie Sattler’s featured on my list.
4. Dr. Ian Malcolm
In the first film, he’s the skeptic on the trip. Malcolm questions everything while also proposing alternative answers that the others are either ignoring, overlooking, or not thinking about. In The Lost World he’s the skeptic who despite repeated I told you so’s, reluctantly returns to rescue his partner and stop others from making a huge mistake.
3. Dr. Henry Wu
While in the first film his role was diminished from what it had been in the novel, Dr. Henry Wu made his return in a big way in Jurassic World. Dr. Wu is an unapologetic scientist who enjoys his work. He tells it like it is to those who don’t want to hear the truth. And those are the reasons why he’s one of my favorites.
2. Kelly Curtis/Malcolm
Appearing in The Lost World, Kelly’s the daughter Dr. Ian Malcolm who stows away on one of the trailers heading Isla Sorna. She’s an extremely smart, nerdy, and athletic preteen. This was the first time I had ever heard anyone use the word troglodyte.
Kelly’s the only character in the original film trilogy to kill a dinosaur on screen.The character’s portrayed by actress Vanessa Lee Chester. Did I mention that she’s the first and only person to successfully kill a raptor without the use of any weapon? No? Oh well here let me show you:
I love this character. I was a teenager when this film came out and let me tell you it was great to see a cool kid character who happened to be an African-American onscreen.
1. The Dinosaurs
Let’s face it: Jurassic Park and its sequels wouldn’t be what they are without the dinosaurs. I mean they’re the main draw of the films and a huge part of why people go see these movies. I mean who doesn’t remember the first time in Jurassic Park when the characters and the moviegoers witness the Brachiosaurus in all of its glory?
That moment on screen is definitely on the list of the best movie moments in history. And what about before we get to that scene? Remember how the film starts with a handler being killed by a Velociraptor? We didn’t see the dinosaur but it did make its presence known with how cunning and dangerous a creature it is. And it starts the conversation about cloning dinosaurs.
And then there’s the T-Rex who’s defining scenes were both seared in our heads. The scene where she escapes from her enclosure and at the end of the film where she interrupts the raptors’ hunt and saves the humans were powerful movie moments. I mean her giving a defiant roar as the banner that states “WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH” comes down sent shivers through my spine.
And that’s just the first film.
The dinos continue to shine in the sequels. In the Lost World, it’s the parents of the baby T-Rex who give the human’s camp a good dressing down after being reunited with their infant. And what about the “Don’t go into the long grass!” moment from the film in which our raptors make their appearance?
In Jurassic Park 3 there’s even more moments. The short fight between the T-Rex and the Spinosaurus. The raptors attempting to outsmart the humans-“They set a trap.” And much more. Share your favorite dinosaur moments in the comments. Shot out to Blue!
And thus ends my list. From the novels to the films and in between, the Jurassic Park franchise is a franchise to be reckoned with. The first film has often been hailed as one of the greatest movies of the action and thriller genres. To this day the film’s innovation and influence made a huge impact on not only filmmakers but generations of moviegoers. While not as powerful as their predecessor, the Jurassic Park sequels have also left their mark for better or worse.
What are your favorite characters from the film franchise? Leave your list in the comments below or on my Facebook page.
