TV
Why ‘Aaahh!!! Real Monsters’ Still Matters
Imagine being an outcast at a prestigious school while also trying to fill the shoes of your predecessor. On top of academic expectations, you’re also navigating a challenging stage in your life where you’re figuring out your identity. In addition to that, you are a literal monster. This is essentially the premise of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.
This show crept to millions of TV screens via Nickelodeon on October 29, 1994. October couldn’t have been a more perfect month if I had said so myself. I am unsure if the creators Gábor Csupó and Peter Gaffney realized they would be a gateway for introducing body horror to many 90’s kids, among other topics. I should thank them for helping shape the ghoul I am today.
Meet Ickis, Oblina, and Krumm: The Misunderstood Monsters of the 90s
The show highlights three best friends who live in the same dorm at the Monster Institute located under the city sewers. We have Ickis, with crimson skin, long ears, a big Cheshire-like grin, piercing yellow eyes, sharp claws, and long feet. He is often mistaken for a bunny rabbit—a very rebellious and anxious bunny rabbit, at that. There is Oblina, who comes from wealth and has a track record of being a model student. She resembles an upside-down black and white candy cane with big red lips and snake-like eyes. The third member of this trio is Krumm. The best way to describe him is a round ball of pale, smelly flesh with body hair who has to hold his eyeballs with his hands. He is not the brightest of the three but loyal to a fault.
This series had a consistent theme: “Getting in Touch with the Monster in You,” a metaphor for discovering your self-identity. Believe it or not, this show helped me feel better about being different. The portrayal of trauma, worries, and challenges was beautifully executed with iconic character design and vibrant worlds. Who better understands the experience of being different than those marginalized?
How Aaahh!!! Real Monsters! Explores Self-Identity and Difference
In one episode, Krumm lost his treasured odor on his birthday. This was no ordinary scent; it was so foul that it could wake the dead. Most importantly, it represented a significant part of his identity. Krumm went to speak to his dad, Horvak, about his dilemma, and he found out that losing his odor was a curse passed down in the family. Generational trauma, anyone? Do not worry, though. If you saw this episode, you know Ickis and Oblina stick by Krumm, and Krumm gets his groove back, well, in this case, his stench.
Speaking of dads, Ickis struggled with the fame of his father, Slickis. He constantly felt pressured to live up to his father’s legacy as a famous scarer. This created a sense of competition, making Ickis feel more like a rival than a son. He often felt neglected, as it seemed Slickis gave everyone else the attention that Ickis desperately craved. Eventually, they had an open conversation to address their issues, which helped them develop a healthier relationship. Ickis understood that he was his own monster and that the abilities he inherited from his dad were uniquely his own.
With growing pains of self-discovery as a young scarer come rules imposed by adults. Though these laws seemed more like restrictions to Ickis, Oblina, Krumm, and other students, they were intended as safety measures for their underground world rather than the human world. You could only interact with humans when assigned tasks that involved scaring them. Yes, scaring humans was homework in the curriculum. Scares were also discussed and graded in class. No pressure.
The Gromble: A Gender-Fluid Icon of Tough Love and Leadership
An academy cannot function without rules, homework, and a strict headmaster. Cue in The Gromble, a feared and respected teacher passionate about helping students achieve their full monstrous potential. He was known for strutting the academy halls with red pumps that complemented his four legs. You read correctly: four legs. It can be argued that The Grumble represents gender fluidity: a male monster who enjoys wearing heels, has a goatee and bloodred lips, and possesses both masculine and feminine voices.
The Gromble displayed tough love and patience. While he was clear about the expectations and rules that students needed to follow, he permitted his students to break these rules to learn the consequences firsthand. At times, he also had to take direct action to save the day. He was more than just a headmaster, a queer uncle, if you will.
To this day, I still aspire to be like him—an icon.
As mentioned, there are rules that all scarers have to follow, and for good reason. Monsters have always been used as an illustration of what was deemed unnatural. This series presented plenty of examples of how humans felt about these creatures: fear, distrust, and even something to exploit. Examples include a Hollywood director who exploits Krumm for personal gain. Ickis feels pressured to scare a child’s friends to make the child seem cool, as Ickis somehow befriends this kid. Oblina is pursued by a monster hunter who is determined to capture her and expose the existence of monsters.
Puberty and Fireballs: Relatable Metaphors in ‘Aaahh!!! Real Monsters!’
Revisiting this series as an adult has solidified my appreciation for how real-life topics were creatively presented. I’ll never forget the episode where Ickis had to be taken to the nurse by the Gromble because he was burping fireballs and causing nearby objects to catch fire. Ickis was diagnosed as spontaneously combustible, and the other students began to treat him differently out of fear. You can’t convince me that this storyline wasn’t a metaphor for puberty.
I also enjoyed the story in which Oblina gets braces and develops a crush on a male monster named Gruge. She takes it upon herself to coach him to become a better scarer while attempting to change her identity to please him. However, Gruge ends up using her and moves on. It’s a harsh lesson that many of us understand. Each episode had a strong sense of relatability that resonated throughout.
This show sadly ended on November 16, 1997. Although it is unclear why the show ended, some studio executive action was at play. Sometimes studios don’t know what to do with a good thing. Perhaps The Gromble and the trio decided to visit Nickelodeon to prevent the word of their existence from spreading further.
The series is now streaming on Paramount Plus. Relive the ’90s nostalgia, or watch it for the first time. “Aaahh!!! Real Monsters!” will always have a space in my little scarer heart, and the life lessons will never be forgotten. I am still getting in touch with the monster in me, and this won’t change as long as I keep my fangs sharp, my eyes glowing red, and go bump in the night.
Now that we are heading into the last season of Stranger Things, it is hard to not remember the good times. Much like any goodbye, it feels too soon and is giving us a case of the nostalgia glasses. We all know that not all seasons were created equally. Yet, the wildly popular series managed to keep enough of us invested these last 10 years. It is an undeniable pop culture sensation that will not be forgotten anytime soon. It is also honestly one of the few shows that makes it hard to break up with Netflix. So, I decided to look back and highlight the best parts of each season. Grab a “Justice for Barb” t-shirt and take this walk down memory lane with me.
Our Favorite Moments From Stranger Things
Season 1: Eleven
Season one of Stranger Things brought us many memorable moments that reshaped pop culture. Joyce Byers’ (Winona Ryder) makeshift Ouija board on the wall, used to communicate with her missing son, was a major one. However, this was also the only season that allowed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to be a badass. Which is why she is the best part of Stranger Things’ first season. Watching her showcase her powers as she sought out waffles was a mood. A relatable queen if there was one, right? From using her telekinetic powers to stop annoying diner fans to flipping vans chasing after her and the crew, this season set Eleven up to be a powerful badass. That is even before we get into her mind tricks, which we still have some questions about. Sadly, subsequent seasons have yet to follow through on the promise this one gave us. I could write a whole series about how Eleven is a reservoir of untapped potential in the next three seasons.
Season 2: Steve and Dustin
I think Max (Sadie Sink) is one of the best additions to the show, and I felt Bob (Sean Astin) deserved a better arc. However, only one arc warms my cold little heart when I think about this second season. Few things bring as much joy to Stranger Things fans as the unshakable bond between Steve and Dustin. Season 2 is where this unlikely duo found each other, and that is why they are the best part of this season for me. Steve (Joe Keery) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) bring out the best in each other. Interestingly enough, the actors seem to have also found themselves formidable scene partners. Whether Dustin is bringing Steve up to speed or Steve is giving Dustin tips on how to handle girls, these two stole our hearts at multiple points this season. My personal favorite is when Steve steps in to save Lucas from Billy the Racist, and Dustin cheers him on (while he has the upper hand). Dare I say, this relationship has become the heart of the show.
Season 3: Robin Coming Out to Steve
This season of Stranger Things introduced quite a few new characters to kill, like all the other seasons. However, Robin (Maya Hawke) seemed cooler than most, and we were silently rooting for her to make it. While her easy dynamic with Steve made us worry that she would become another part of the Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan saga, we had nothing to worry about. When Steve professed his feelings to Robin, she surprised us all and came out. This led to Steve surprising us by picking up a more age-appropriate best friend in what is one of the sweetest moments of the show. Aside from becoming Steve’s platonic girlfriend, Robin also went on to become the first openly gay character in the ridiculously large main cast. So, while this season isn’t my favorite, I’m very grateful it brought us this scene and this pairing.
Season 4: Eddie Munson Meets Erica Sinclair
Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn) is probably part of everyone’s favorite moments from the fourth season of Stranger Things. While many people will probably cite his cafeteria entrance, his moment in the woods with Chrissy (Grace Van Dien), or the infamous “Chrissy, wake up,” those aren’t my favorite moments. Because this show taught us that Quinn is a scene thief, and he turned this season’s throwaway character into a pop culture moment, there is plenty to choose from. However, my nerdy ass’s favorite scene is when my two favorites faced off in Dungeons & Dragons.
Resident scene thief Erica (Priah Ferguson) finally found someone who could keep up with her when she showed up to this game. Watching her and Eddie match wits before getting down to an epic game of DnD that spawned numerous fan theories about how Eddie could come back for season 5 is priceless. He forced Dustin and Steve’s duo to become a trio, played Metallica’s Master of Puppets in The Upsidedown, and broke our hearts with his death. However, I choose to remember him alive and becoming begrudgingly impressed with the little girl who takes no prisoners. I would have watched them play this game for hours and lived my best nerdy life.
We’re Looking Forward to Season 5 of Stranger Things
So, those are my fondest memories from each season of Stranger Things. Feel free to let us know your favorite moments and your predictions for the fifth and final season on social media!
The first four episodes of Stranger Things: Season 5 hit Netflix on Wednesday, November 26. Let us know if you plan to watch as they air. Or if you are going to wait until the end of the year to binge the whole season.
In 2014, Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice created magic with their mumblegore-adjacent found footage epic Creep. Three years later, this dreamy duo brought us the second installment of their creepy killer. Seven years would pass until Josef (Mark Duplass) would creep back into our daily lives with six truly terrifying episodes of The Creep Tapes. It would only be a short time until a second season of The Creep Tapes was announced…and even less time for a third season! The best experience I had at the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival was seeing the first three episodes of The Creep Tapes Season 2.
The Creep Tapes Season 2 Creeps Back Into the Spotlight
The Creep Tapes Season 1 was fairly straightforward throughout. It was a fantastic season (that I loved), but the majority of it was more of the same. Josef finds a victim (through various means), plays nice (and weird), goes after victim, and death. The season finale, “Mom (and Albert)”, was the first time we really got some (what seems to be) true background into Josef. From personal conversations, that episode was hit or miss. (I loved it, the dude hung dong!)
Upon hearing the news of Seasons 2 and 3, I was left wondering, will we get more background, OR will it just dive into Josef’s maniacal madness? While the first three episodes of Season 2 don’t do much to give us too much information about Josef’s background, it does up the ante considerably. Season 2 makes clear that Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice have grandiose ideas that they’re only scratching the surface of.
The Creep Tapes: S2 E1 “Joseph”
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but what happens when the imitation is just… wrong? Josef finds himself in the sights of Joseph (David Dastmalchian), who is looking for a videographer to film a video for his unborn son, as Joseph has been diagnosed with cancer. Sound familiar?
How can someone possibly replicate the insane scenario Josef concocted in Creep? It can’t just be a coincidence—and it’s not. We come to learn that Josef has been doing something with his tapes (and films) that allows Joseph to view his work. Unfortunately for Joseph, the wrong man answered his ad.
This piece of information is crucial for understanding who (and what) Josef is. At points, he seems mentally ill, misguided, a man who just gets too damn lucky sometimes. The information gleaned reveals a much more careless, while still sophisticated, man who believes he’s creating art (of sorts). What’s the purpose of creating chaos in the modern age of technology if you can’t share it with other degenerates?
The “flip of the script” in Season 2 Episode 1 “Joseph” is a heart-racing 20-ish minutes of anticipation. I didn’t separate my butt from the edge of my seat until the credits rolled. But it’s with the casting of Joseph that the true magic of the Season 2 premiere excels. Who else can outmaniac a maniac? Of course, it has to be David Dastmalchian.
The Creep Tapes: S2 E2 “Mark”
Mark (Robert Longstreet) wakes up in a concrete room, his leg chained to the ground. A TV sits atop a table. An empty tub sits across the room. Someone lies still underneath a blanket, with a chain coming out of the bottom. And Josef accompanies Mark, leg chains and all. What could go wrong?
One of the most interesting things about Josef as a character is his ability to showcase his flaws, something that is extremely apparent in Season 2, Episodes 2 and 3. Nearly everything that can go wrong for Josef goes wrong. The reason it goes wrong is because of a simple oversight on Josef’s part. And it’s kind of heartening to see. Nearly every time we see Josef in action, he has a general grasp of his overall plan. He knows, more or less, how his targets will react, and his incredible improv skills allow him to course correct when necessary.
“Mark” just goes off the rails in ways Josef could never imagine.
Season 2, Episode 2 is Duplass and Brice’s nod at the Saw franchise. And, if anything other than a few laughs, solidifies the intense planning and expertise that goes into a John Kramer game. One simple oversight can cause a highly crafted plan to fall apart at the seams. To boot, “Mark” is one of the funniest pieces of horror media I have ever seen. It begs the question, what if an absolute dufus was put in a Saw film?
And don’t worry, bloodhounds, there’s gore aplenty!
The Creep Tapes: S2 E3 “Wes”
Wes (Diego Josef) finds himself taking a job to help Josef film a house-flipping show’s pilot episode. But night descends, and Wes realizes that they’re in the middle of nowhere. Wes’s attempted escape from Josef leads to an unfortunate run-in with law enforcement. Oh boy, how will he get out of this one?!
Even the greatest of franchises will bottom out at some point. Much of what we’ve seen Josef do involves a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. HOW is there not at least a Reddit thread about filmmakers/videographers who have gone missing after answering Craigslist ads? There is no way a 20/20 wouldn’t have been made about these killings if they were real. I mean, just look at how many tapes we see in the opening. Josef is talented at what he does, but everyone slips up eventually.
“Wes” brought me to a point where I was unable to suspend my disbelief. When AMERICAN police see someone moving a potentially dead body and don’t immediately cuff and detain them, you’re asking a bit too much. The crux of this episode revolves around a repeated word: “professionalism.” I get that it’s supposed to shine a light on how unprofessional the police are in this scenario, but it’s a step too far.
What I will say is that it’s a fun angle to take. We’re watching this killer that we’ve seen commit nearly 10 murders, and there are more we haven’t, interact face to face with the police. How will he get out of this sticky situation? I just don’t believe the way it is handled is grounded in a reality that would ever make sense. The chemistry between Wes and Josef, though, is some of the best in the entire franchise. They play off of each other incredibly well, and it makes you wish “Wes” were a feature-length film character instead of an episode character.
A Bold New Chapter for The Creep Tapes
Overall, the first three episodes of The Creep Tapes Season 2 were an overall blast. Even with the issues I had throughout “Wes”, I was entertained the entire time. “Joseph” and “Mark” are contenders for the best episodes of the entire series (and maybe even best entries in the entire franchise). I love seeing Mark Duplass and Patrick Brice spreading their wings to take Josef in different directions. They find ways to keep the product feeling original while still paying direct homage to horror properties beloved by the masses. If these are the first three episodes of Season 2, I think we’re in for a real treat with the final three.
The Creep Tapes Season 2 premieres November 14 on Shudder and AMC+.
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