"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
Here we are again, on what some call “Devil’s Night” – or the
eve before All Hallows Eve. Spooky season is drawing to a close with the advent
of Halloween and the turning of the calendar to November later this week. I
find myself sad that the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike has drug on this far (for shame,
studios) and our solidarity prevents us from sharing our normal eerie seasonal cinematic
finds. However, there’s no shortage of spooktacular fun to share with you.
From anime to animated horror stories on BOO-Tube, we’ve explored
some alternatives that hold to the spirit of the chills and thrills of the
season. We haven’t covered everything yet, though! There are still some creepy
corners of BOO-Tube left unexplored. So let’s dive in, shall we?
Welcome to my tour of Paranormal BOO-Tube. What’s that, you
ask?
If you’ve ever heard of the show Ghost Hunters
(2004-), or seen any of the episodes, you’ll have an idea about what to expect
from the list I’m bringing you today. If not, well then you’re in for a treat
if “reality TV” about things that really go bump in the night is something that
interests you.
I’ve always been drawn to the paranormal, riding the line
between trepidation and curiosity. I find the more I educate myself about
topics that make me nervous or scare me, the more I am able to manage those
complex emotions. In this case, it’s become practically a past-time of mine all
on its own to follow various teams that explore the paranormal – and also help
people plagued by it.
Of course, I don’t believe everyone that claims to see ghosts
is necessarily being genuine, for whatever reason. I maintain a healthy
skepticism and respect those that have a process and take the time to suss out
a situation and debunk things that are easily explained and overcome. (For
example, in the beginning of the Ghost Hunters show, when it was still
on SYFY, they explained that they used their plumbing background to solve
issues explained by faulty pipes, excessive electromagnetic fields created by
improper wiring, and things of that nature.) These days there’s all sorts of technological equipment
available to help with investigating the paranormal that allow teams to
document more than what the human experience allows. Further, I don’t hold a
lot of stock in “orb chasers” – because it’s usually dust or bugs or something –
so I tend to dismiss those findings rather quickly.
With all that in mind, I’ve collected the channels of teams
that I have grown to respect and enjoy over the years through exposure on
various TV shows highlighting their work, or even those solely with an online
presence. I have fond memories of watching Ghost Hunters’ all night
Halloween real-time investigation specials. While I don’t know if any of these
teams are hosting anything similar this year, if you’re in the mood for spooky
ambiance and a dive into the world of real paranormal investigations, here’s a
good place to start.
These channels may contain some shaky-cam and profanity.
(1) Project Fear– the team that brought you Destination
Fear (2019-2023) on the Travel Channel now has struck out on their own to
continue to bring episodes to those seeking to join them on their road-trip
challenges. This pair of siblings and their best friends select paranormal
hotspots to travel to and spend the night to explore their own reaction to fear
– and how the paranormal reacts to their fear - as a social experiment. The
team is respectful of the locations they investigate and conducts a fair amount
of research on each location. This new venture on YouTube was supported by a Kickstarter campaign once Travel Channel / Discovery cancelled the original show. These
are their ongoing adventures without studio oversight and strictures.
(2) Ghost Hunters – The Travel Channel has a
channel that shows past Ghost Hunters episodes if you would like to see the
series that sparked my love of Paranormal TV. The team has evolved over the
years but their core mission is to help those that need assistance with
Paranormal issues as well as investigating well-known (and sometimes lesser
known) allegedly haunted locations to debunk where possible and provide paranormal
evidence for property owners and caretakers. (Please note this is not the same team as Ghost Adventures. I do not agree with the practices and procedures of that team and do not promote them.)
(3)Travel the Dead – Katrina Weidman (Paranormal
State, Paranormal Lockdown, Portals to Hell) has teamed up with her best
friend, and fellow investigator Heather Taddy (Paranormal State) to create
a new YouTube series of paranormal investigations. The pair also employ the aid
of mediums to both assist and corroborate their experiences with these
investigations.
(4) The Paranormal Files – Lead investigator Colin
Browen provides a lot of quality content on this YouTube channel full of paranormal
investigations and other quests regarding the unexplained. He often collaborates
with fellow investigators and you’ll sometimes see him on other channels I’ve
mentioned here, as well. I’ve been rather impressed with the production quality
of his work with this channel. Sometimes the videos are on the long side but
they’ve been packed with content.
(5) Groff Adventures– Tessa and Nick Groff
are a couple that investigates the paranormal together. Nick has been behind
the scenes on popular paranormal shows but has since broken away to work on his
own following controversy surrounding his former teammates. I won’t get into
that here because I don’t like talking about that other production – so let’s
focus on the Groffs. Nick’s wife, Tessa, is a medium in her own right and
together they are able to pursue investigations from multiple fronts. Their
channel doesn’t currently have as many investigations on it as some of the
others listed but look for more to be added in the future.
(6) Sam & Colby– Watching this duo is a
lot of fun. I think Sam & Colby might resonate well with “younger”
audiences (Millennials and Gen Z, most likely). They take some crazy risks
sometimes and bring along friends to share the scares. While I don’t think that
everything these channels calls a “demon” is really necessarily that – they do
run into some scary situations and provide entertaining paranormal content.
Colby has also shared with their followers his personal cancer scare. This pair
of investigators feels grounded and authentic even if they are silly sometimes.
(7) Twin Paranormal – These twins have been
experiencing paranormal activity first-hand since they were at least 10. They
have taken their journey to the next level now seeking out paranormal hot-spots
to investigate and share their experiences on this channel. Of course, they hit
a lot of places that have been well-documented by others but I have appreciated
their content and unique take on events, as well as the production value of their
videos.
(8) Amy’s Crypt– Amy is a native Australian
that now resides in California. She and her partner travel to explore
paranormal activity at “the world’s most haunted locations.” I’ve really enjoyed
the production quality of her content so far. Her channel is a recent find of
mine so I haven’t watched all of her videos yet. Though I am excited to get her
take on places such as The Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory’s castle, Dracula’s
Castle, Dark Hedges in Ireland, and the like.
(9) The Paranormal 60 with Dave Schrader–
Dave Schrader is a known paranormal investigator, featured on Travel Channel’s The
Holzer Files (2019-). This channel is more of a video podcast – ’ 60
minutes or more, investigating aspects of the supernatural, strange and
anomalous with exciting guests, topics and segments designed to educate,
enlighten and always entertain.” I really appreciated his approach and
perspective when he was on the TV show, and I’m excited to explore this new
venture.
(10) Dead Air: Full Spectrum– This channel is
described as a “streaming channel offering both live and pre-recorded shows
dedicated to a diverse array of entertainment and information related to the
paranormal and other related topics.” From segments titled “Extremely Strange”
to appearances from The Paranormal Couple of Cody Ray DesBiens & Satori
Hawes (daughter of Jason Hawes) this channel offers quite the range of content
for lovers of the paranormal and unexplained.
Bonus! While it’s still unknown if one of my favorite
paranormal shows, Kindred Spirits (2016-) will be renewed for an 8th
season or not yet, I did run across something interesting while searching for
that information. It appears that Amy Bruni, one of the main investigators of
the show has participated in a web series titled “Ghost Hunting 101.”
Extra Credit! – Did you know that before Corpse Husband
became a fairly household name among gaming streamers for his collaborative play-throughs
of games such as Among Us, his rising music career, and his signature deep
voice – his channel started as a scary story space? It’s true! Corpse would
narrate scary tales much like the previous list of channels I published. His
content has moved away from that sort of video, however, they’re still there on
his original channel if you go back to the beginning. (Keep in mind these stories were narrated 6+ years ago so his voice has changed a bit since then - getting deeper over time due to his various medical conditions, so think of this as "young Corpse!")
However you celebrate the season, we hope you have a safe and fun holiday!
It’s a tradition for us to bringour readers a month of spooky content in
October every year. While this year is far different, due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA
strike, we still want to shine a light on some fun chills and thrills for you
to enjoy in this haunting time leading up to All Hallows Eve. It occurred to me
that I knew the perfect addition for this year. Let’s call it BOO-Tube. That’s
right – there is a dark and spooky corner of YouTube content that spans several
genres. There are channels dedicated to investigating the paranormal, creepy
found footage, independent short films, and even a treasure trove of scary
stories.
It's the latter that I’m bringing you today. This is a compilation
of 13 videos spanning channels dedicated to telling scary stories – most of
them “allegedly true.” These tales of terror are sourced through Reddit, subscriber
submissions, and whatnot. I searched up some specifically Halloween-dedicated
or themed content and have compiled the best of what I found below. Each of these
channels has curated their own brand of creep-factor perfect for the Spooky
Season.
These videos are listed in order of length from shortest to
longest.
If Halloween and all things creepy are your jam, we hope this fits the bill!
This channel provides scary stories that they have animated
themselves. The content creator narrates the stories they have brought to life
on the screen. Honestly, the quality of this animation is generally better than
most of the similar “animated scary stories” channels.
This is the first of 2 videos I’ve included from this
channel. These stories are narrated with an ambient score and thematic video
clips. Mr. Nightmare’s content is not animated.
This is another channel that provides their own animations
for their narrated stories. Unlike some, this one also provides a breakdown in the
description for the time-markers for each story. The stories aren’t described
there, just numbered, however.
This is the 2nd offering I’ve listed from this
channel. As with the other video, this is not animated but does provide some
spooky thematic music and video clips in the background of the narrated stories.
This channel focuses primarily on the narrated story rather
than the visuals within the video. The title card remains throughout and there
is a bit of rain as a background score.
Once more, we have 2 video offerings from a single channel.
These were from last year and this channel hasn’t released any new content for
2023. However, if you like these compilations, perhaps keep checking in with
their listings and they might publish something new for this season. This video
has a backdrop of ambiance animated videos and an eerie score. The stories, themselves,
are not animated.
Geek’d Con 2023 has come and gone at last. Over 18,000 people joined us at the Shreveport Convention Center to celebrate all things Geeky and have some fun. This year was pretty much a dream come true for me. I worked hard (and I’m still icing my back days later) but I also got to meet some really cool people, visit with returning Geek’d Con regulars and friends, as well as meet some awesome guests. I had some pretty special interactions with many of the celebrities who joined us this year, but the one that resonated the most and almost had me in (good) tears was Kevin Smith.
Yes, you read that right. The King of Geekdom (as far as I’m concerned) was here in Shreveport, in person - along with his wife, daughter, and the rest of the primary View Askewniverse crew.
With a lot of our guests, I felt somewhat awkward and my anxiety was bubbling under the surface as I struggled to find things to talk with them about other than generic fangirling. Taking into consideration the WGA/SAG strike, I didn’t want to bring up anything that would put them in an awkward position. There was a singular exception to this - Kevin Smith.
Why, you might ask? It was simple. The first thing I said after I expressed how wonderful it was to meet him was to thank him for his public stance advocating for mental health awareness. We had a nice chat for a few minutes on the topic, and we shared a brief hug after he signed my staff badge.
You see, 3 months ago I stumbled across a video on YouTube where Kevin Smith had done a 30-ish minute talk about his own mental health journey. It’s even titled “Trauma is Trauma: A Mental Health Talk with Kevin Smith.” It was released from People’s channel. In this video, he discussed points that struck a chord with me on a very deep and personal level. There are too many people who still do nearly competitive comparisons between traumas - surely an injury or a near-death experience is worse than playground bullying trauma, right? Wrong.
There’s still a stigma surrounding mental health in our society and it’s refreshing and relieving to see people with such far-reaching platforms as Smith sharing their experiences and helping to break down the negativity that surrounds the issues.
I’ve struggled with mental health issues for most of my life, and it’s a hereditary issue just as much as it is affected by events throughout my life and that of my family. My daughter struggles with her own issues and it breaks my heart and tears me up inside that there are so many uphill battles in this allegedly enlightened age that we live in.
My own depression and ADHD have built anxiety road-blocks and fed into the traumas I’ve experienced - and I didn’t even realize I had ADHD until a few years ago now that I’m already in my 40s. If mental health wasn’t such a wonky topic and wasn’t such an onerous taboo back in the day, I can’t help but feel that a lot of the hiccups in my life could have gone differently if I’d had appropriate treatment.
This isn’t just an issue for me - Selina also has her own share of mental health dragons that have to be combated on a regular basis. (She encouraged me to share this with you, so sharing with permission, I promise.) Selina also struggles with ADHD, though also has issues with auditory processing and PTSD as well.
You can say that Mental Health is a very important topic for both of us.
With that in mind, here are a few celebrities that are using their platforms and wide reach to increase mental health awareness.
1) Jared Padalecki -
He’s been open regarding mental health for several years now, while he was still filming Supernatural (2005-2020) to present day. He has used his Facebook page to also promote mental health, discuss his own journey, and hold fundraising campaigns for mental health awareness and charities. He now is involved with a company called Mantra that is focused on wellness of the mind and body.
2) Kristen Bell -
She captured the hearts of millions voicing Anna in the Frozen (2013) movies and is accustomed to being in the public eye due to her marriage to a fellow actor. Beyond the red carpets and all that pomp and circumstance, however, she’s a person just like you and me and has been advocating for mental health awareness for a few years now.
3) Ryan Reynolds -
From the outside looking in, it would seem that Ryan Reynolds has everything and shouldn’t have a care in the world. He has a wonderful career, amazing family, and successful businesses as an entrepreneur. The truth is that he’s just like you and me under all the perks his hard work has earned for him. He’s been vocal about his own struggles with anxiety and traumas in his past. Unfortunately a lot of the filmed segments I could share with you would violate WGA/SAG strike guidelines, so I can only encourage you to search that up for yourself. Here is a short, however, that briefly touches on the topic.
4) Chris Evans -
One of our most well known pop culture icons bringing to life a wholesome comic book icon has been brought to life by Chris Evans. He’s no stranger to anxiety either. He’s opened up about it and has shared his personal journey.
5) Lady Gaga -
Even worldwide music phenoms such as Lady Gaga experience mental health issues sometimes. This particular rock icon has been very open and forthcoming with sharing her struggles and mental health advocacy.
6) Selena Gomez -
Selena Gomez has experienced quite the rollercoaster throughout her career. From her breakout role as a Disney Channel star through her music career, she’s tried to be as real as possible with her fans. That has further manifested in mental health advocacy as well as raising awareness for the autoimune disease that afflicts her. I can relate deeply to this, as my own autoimmune journey isn’t with Lupus but MS - and it impacts my mental health on a daily basis. She has shared her journey through a documentary as well as starting her own company to advocate mental wellness.
7) Howie Mandel -
While in the past there might have been a lot of talk about Howie Mandel being a germaphobe, there probably hasn’t been as much about the fact that he’s suffered with severe anxiety along with his OCD. He’s not shying away from telling his story of how mental illness has affected his life and that of his family in hopes to raise awareness and understanding for those experiencing similar issues.
8) Bonus - I found a video on YouTube that has many celebrities sharing their mental health insight on the Tiffany Maxwell channel. Some are individuals I’ve already mentioned and some included in this compilation have not been included in this list for varying reasons - and yet still their message matters.
If you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety or other mental health distress, there are resources available to you. Below are just a few of the options available. Just remember, you are not alone.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
Anxiety Hotline – Available 24/7 - National Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787 to speak to a professional about anxiety symptoms and get help with mental health resources.
Times are uncertain and life is pretty
abnormal at the moment. We’re all taking comfort in different ways as we try to
get by. For me, I’ve always taken my comfort in visual entertainment. I love to
read, but reading is something I do when I’m calm and happy. My concentration
suffers when I’m down, so I stick to things like movies, video games, and – of
course – YouTube.
When life is normal, one of my favorite
things to do is go to the movies. I go to my local theater, grab some popcorn
and watch whatever new project has hit screens that week. I don’t even worry
about whether or not I have someone to go with. With the theaters closed, I’ve
had to find other ways to get my pop culture infusions.
That’s where YouTube comes in.
Now, I’m not one for tabloid stuff. I don’t
care what celebrity just got pregnant, who cheated on who, or where the tea is.
I’m more interested in actual movie/gaming news and trivia. I want to have
discussions about Easter Eggs. I want to know the new date that A Quiet Place
Part II will be coming out. I’m interested in reviews and lists of pop
culture items that will keep me entertained now. So, I’ve collected a
substantial number of channels over the years that have satiated my pop culture
needs.
I find that those channels are even more
useful to me now.
Below I’ve listed 20 of my favorite movie,
TV, and other pop culture-related channels. (Let’s Play channels have not been
included, but I have plans to write up another article featuring those.)
20 – Alien’s
Guide
Creation Year:
2018
Subscribers as of 5/8:
212K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 100
Average Video Length:
6 minutes
Description Blurb: Welcome to ALIEN'S GUIDE, the new home of
Wisecrack's EARTHLING CINEMA and all things Garyx Wormuloid. Subscribe to catch
new and old episodes of Earthling Cinema, along with Garyx's new Earthling
Culture show, diving into topics like MoviePass, Korean BBQ, and something
called tennis.
This channel was an acquired taste for me, but once I
acquired it, I couldn’t get enough.
My best friend found Alien’s Guide and immediately started pestering
me to watch it. He’s a huge fan of all things alien, so this was right up his
alley.
Alien’s Guide is a channel where the narrator discusses
films from the point of view of an alien trying to understand Earth culture. He
discusses the plot of movies and tries to understand them with his alien
mindset, often misunderstanding things in a comical way.
You won’t get much in the way of information from this
channel, but you will spend a lot of time laughing. So, it depends on what
you’re looking for. If you’re looking for some laughs and you don’t mind a bit
of weird woven in, this is the channel for you.
I’m unsure if the mind behind this channel will return. The
last post is from 6 months ago. If he was still posting this channel would be
higher on the list.
19 – Fallingwithstyle
Creation Year: 2011
Subscribers as of 5/8:
10.6K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 80
Average Video Length:
13 minutes
Description Blurb: I'm what happens when a little kid grows up
listening to DVD commentaries.If you
want to hear earnest, passionate discussion about movies and TV, you're in the
right place. I'm also the co-director, lead writer, editor, and Fan on the show
Inanimate Insanity.
I would love to put this channel higher, but they just don’t
post enough.
Looking through his old videos, it’s easy to see that he
only just now has started to settle into some kind of schedule and flow. In the
interest of full disclosure, I haven’t watched any of his livestreams yet, but
his regular videos are more than worth it. They’re backed by a narrator that
knows his shit and makes the subject he’s discussing feel more interesting.
If you’re looking to give a smaller YouTuber a chance, I
recommend hitting this guy’s page. He has the talent to get bigger over time if
he sticks to this newer format.
18 – Birth.
Movies. Death.
Creation Year: 2015
Subscribers as of 5/8:
12K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 99
Average Video Length:
5 minutes
Description Blurb: Springing from the movie-loving culture of
Alamo Drafthouse, join us for a trek into the weirdest and craziest corners of
pop culture. We've got exclusive interviews, offbeat recaps, and commentaries,
and sincerely irreverently jaunts into what you love. If you've seen Alamo
Drafthouse's ad-free preshow you probably have an idea what to expect, but if
not? Hit subscribe and enjoy Birth.Movies.Death.
In order to discuss this YouTube channel, I need to discuss
its theater counterpart.
When I lived in Brooklyn, the Alamo Drafthouse was my
theater of choice. I lived nowhere near it, and parking was so impossible that
it was often easier to just take the train, but it was still the theater I
wanted to see all my favorite films at. Even after my move, I’ve had no problem
taking the three-hour trip to downtown Brooklyn just to watch a movie at the
Alamo.
The Alamo Drafthouse is not like any other movie theater
I’ve ever been to. The love of film bleeds from ever brick of the building. The
moment you step into the room, you’re struck by an atmosphere that put you in
the mood for cinema. There are tables of books relating to movie trivia, board
games and collectibles based on beloved films, and soundtrack records on a
shelf by a giant window. There’s a sound of laughter and music from the bar on
that first floor where you can look through a morbid museum of wax.
If you get there early and hit the bar first, they make a
killer old-fashioned. If you don’t finish your drink, you can bring it upstairs
to your movie seat where there’s an entire menu to choose from. None of the
food (even the themed stuff) can compare to their fresh popcorn coated in
clarified butter – the smell of which permeates the room.
There are posters of obscure foreign B-movies lining the
walls that inspire chuckles, and when you get seated to wait for the movie to
start, there are unique trailers and interviews that no other theater has. The
actual tickets even tend to be cheaper than you can find at other theaters in NYC.
The Alamo Drafthouse, even as a dinner theater, feels more
like it’s dedicated to the love of movies than any other building I’ve ever
been in. Most theaters feel like snack stands that also happen to be showing
films. It’s just a completely different experience for a movie goer.
Birth. Movies. Death. is a channel that brings you the
unique pre-show clips that the Alamo Drafthouse shows in the theater. It can
span from super weird to incredibly informative – and it gives you everything
in between.
Honestly, this channel would be a lot higher if they posted
on a regular schedule, or had a higher frequency of posts in general. Still,
it’s a great channel to peek at, even with a small catalogue of videos to
choose from.
17 – GoodBadFlicks
Creation Year: 2006
Subscribers as of 5/8:
296K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 696
Average Video Length:
14 minutes
Description Blurb: Movies, games, and the occasional editorial.
From A-Z list films, video games, and other assorted overlooked goodness.
Recently, the guy behind this channel suffered a terrible
loss. As a result, he took a bit of a break. He does post about it on the
channel, if you want to know more. Still, even if he is gone for an extended
amount of time, there’s a lot of great videos on his site to go through while
you wait for new content.
That said, his content is a lot of fun to watch.
GoodBadFlicks mostly explores low-budget movies that most
people wouldn’t give a second thought to. I mean, not many people are going to
bring up Terrorvision (1986) or Hard Ticket to Hawaii (1987) when
it’s their turn to choose something for movie night.
In these videos, the narrator goes through the plot of the
film and discusses the trivia behind it. He talks about the writers, directors,
and actors and explains how they got involved with the project. He explains the
work and thought process behind each film and gives the audience a better idea
of the soul of the movie.
Granted, low-budget films like these aren’t going to be for
everyone – but if it is your thing, GoodBadFlicks is a great channel for you.
16 – ScreenCrush
Creation Year: 2012
Subscribers as of 5/8:
610K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 776
Average Video Length:
8 minutes
Description Blurb: We give you Breakdowns, Analysis, Easter
Eggs, and Video Essays about your favorite movies and TV shows. Especially if
your favorites including superhero movies and Star Wars.
Although ScreenCrush is popular for its Easter Egg videos, I
prefer their theory and explanation videos, like the one above.
Generally, their videos tend to be very well researched and
relatable. They are not afraid to take the side of the unpopular opinion,
either.
There’s a lot to get from this channel, but you’ll get a lot
more from it if you’re a fan of Star Wars and/or Marvel films.
15 – Emergency
Awesome
Creation Year: 2012
Subscribers as of 5/8:
3.48M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 4,254
Average Video Length:
10 minutes
Description Blurb: All the best Game Of Thrones, The
Mandalorian, Avengers Endgame and Marvel Movies, The Flash, Trailer, Promo,
Easter Eggs, and Comic Book and Sci Fi Fantasy Stuff with me, Emergency Awesome
Charlie Schneider including: Game of Thrones Season 8, Star Wars The
Mandalorian, Avengers Endgame and Future Marvel Movies, Rick and Morty Season
4, Spider Man Far From Home, The Flash Season 6, Deadpool 3, Young Justice
Season 4, Titans, Arrow Season 8, Star Wars Episode 9 Rise of Skywalker, Marvel
and DC Movies / TV Shows / Comic Books
Clearly, the description for this channel is a little out of
date, but it is still one of my go-to channels for Marvel film news.
Whenever there’s an announcement, a new trailer, or a Marvel
movie release – Emergency Awesome is all over it. They’re true fans of comic
book movies and it shows in the way they approach news around the subject. They
do videos on plenty of other projects, and those videos are very informative,
but I subscribe for the Marvel content.
If you want to know what’s going on with the delays and new
information around Marvel films, this is the channel for you. Especially if
you’re just looking for some quick information without much in the way of content
padding.
14 – A Conversation
With (and A Conversation With Clips)
Creation Year: 2019
Subscribers as of 5/8:
232K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 26 videos
Average Video Length:
74 minutes
Description Blurb: None
So, this one is a little different than the others. It falls
firmly in the pop culture category but it doesn’t really touch on movies or TV
shows or anything like that. The A Conversation With channel is about Philip
Defranco getting some great YouTubers on the show to talk about stuff. Just a
wide variety of stuff.
If you’re interested in YouTube and the personalities that
come from the site, then this channel is where you want to be. He’s had people
like Liza Koshy, James Charles, Sean Evans, and Dr. Mike on the show.
The channel reaches through all the genres on YouTube and
grabs some of the most familiar faces. Each conversation stands on its own and
is, usually, intensely funny.
There aren’t a whole lot of videos on the channel right now,
and the pandemic may be a factor in how often he will be able to post, but each
video is an hour or more and certainly worth watching. If you don’t want to
devote that long to a single video, he also has A Conversation With Clips that posts smaller snippets of the interviews. Those videos are much shorter.
13 – Couch T.
Creation Year: 2014
Subscribers as of 5/8:
214K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 408
Average Video Length:
3 minutes
Description Blurb: You can't love a movie for the same reason
you hate another...
You’re not going to get much in the way of news or trivia
from this channel.Couch T. is fully about the humor.
In these short videos, the narrator describes the plot of
two films that either seem very different or very similar. Using nothing but a
side-by-side comparison, he then shows you exactly why those perceptions are
very wrong.
It’s such a simple concept, but the way he brings it
together is outstanding, such as in the video above. There are very few people
who could so easily compare movies like The Lost World (1997) and The
Incredibles (2004) quite like the narrator from Couch T. can. It’s almost
impossible to argue with him by the end of the video.
Depending on the comparisons being made, the videos can be
frustratingly accurate or hilarious, either way, they’re always worth watching.
12 – Austin Burke
Creation Year:
2014
Subscribers as of 5/8:
59.5K
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 1,369
Average Video Length:
8 minutes
Description Blurb: What is up Flick Fans?! This channel is all
about movies. We talk superheroes, Netflix, television and create lists. But
the focus is movies and this channel is all about celebrating filmmaking. So I
would love for you to take a look and see what this channel is all about. If
you are subscribed then I truly appreciate it. This community means a lot to me
and I can't wait to see where it leads. I was able to get my start on Vine
where I got around 140 thousand followers before it left us. Thankfully I love
YouTube and everything about it. I also hope to be a full-time critic one of
these days!
Austin Burke feels like he could be a friend you’re
discussing a movie or show with. He never feels like he’s looking down his nose
at the project he’s talking about. There’s never a moment when you’re watching
his channel that you feel like he’s talking out of his ass. Even when you
disagree with what he’s saying.
Simply put, he’s a charismatic geek. Here at Trust the Dice,
we love geeks.
This is a review channel that gives you a little more. Aside
from his reviews, you get interesting pop culture discussions and news. You
even get some trivia or lists. Really, it’s a little of everything you’d want
from this kind of channel.
Burke will keep you entertained for hours. He has great movie
recommendations and several videos on what to look for on Netflix. His video
catalogue is HUGE, too. There’s something for everyone.
The description of this channel sounds pretty much like most
of the other ones you’ll see. But what makes it great, at least to me, is one
of their weekly shows.
A lot of their videos give you information that you’ll find
on other channels. Movie and TV news, comic book trivia, etc. Those are still
worth watching because the banter between the hosts is funny.
The thing that makes Mr. Sunday Movies great, though, is
their Caravan of Garbage series.
Caravan of Garbage is a truly unique weekly series that
features the hosts discussing some of the worst projects out there. They go
into a full description of the film, or TV show, and break down why exactly it
sucks. They have me rolling every week.
They just finished up 4 weeks of Fantastic Four
movies and I can’t recommend it enough. It’s hilarious.
10 – Movieclips
Trailers
Creation Year: 2011
Subscribers as of 5/8:
14.6M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 8,338
Average Video Length:
Either 3 minutes or 30 minutes (two different kinds of videos)
Description Blurb: The Fandango MOVIECLIPS TRAILERS channel
delivers hot new trailers, teasers, and sneak peeks for all the best upcoming
movies. Subscribe to stay up to date on everything coming to theaters and your
favorite streaming platform.
Movieclips Trailers is my personal go-to for trailers, featurettes,
and clips. Pretty much everything they put out is built around what’s coming soon.
Where I might use the trailers from actual production companies for the Top 20,
Movieclips Trailers is where you can find an amalgamation of most of the films expected
in theaters (or on streaming) regardless of production company.
This channel is fueled by Fandango and there are a ton of other
movie-centric channels that come along with it. If you’re more interested in
specific clips, you can follow Movieclips.
If you want more information about an upcoming film than a trailer can give
you, Movieclips Coming Soon is the channel for you. Maybe mainstream media isn’t your thing. In that case,
you should check out Movieclips Indie.
Or, maybe, you’re more curious about the trailers of older films. If that seems
like what you want, you’re looking for Movieclips Classic Trailers.
Movieclips is just so incredibly versatile, and has such a
reputable source, that it’s impossible to not take them into account when you’re
looking for movie information on YouTube.
9 – Wisecrack
Creation Year: 2013
Subscribers as of 5/8:
2.84M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 549
Average Video Length:
23
Description Blurb: Wisecrack is a collective of academics,
filmmakers, artists, and pop culture junkies who are curious and contemplative
about the world around us. Our channel explores big ideas like philosophy and
critical thinking through the lens of movies, TV shows, video games, current
events, books, and more.
Wisecrack boasts more than one series on the channel. Those
are: Wisecrack Edition, Deep or Dumb?, What Went Wrong?, 8-bit Philosophy, and
Thug Notes.
In each series, the channel goes into something different.
Either you’re getting a deep dive into a show/movie, or you’re being delivered
a well-researched debate on whether or not the psychology of a project holds up
to the times. In some of the shows you get a narrator offering a lecture, in
others, there’s a debate between a show-runner and a guest. Each series offers
its own perspective and tackles a new idea about a well-known movie or show.
Wisecrack also touches on games and music at times, as well as
other pop culture mediums.
Whether you like your movie discussions with a little ‘original
gangster’ flair or with a heartwarming geeky discussion between friends,
Wisecrack is sure to give you something you’ll enjoy.
My favorite of their videos is seen above. I adore their
take on the way actors portray the Joker and how it seems to be a roadmap of
how Hollywood, itself, evolved over the years. I seriously recommend giving it
a watch.
6 – Jeremy Jahns
Creation Year: 2007
Subscribers as of 5/8:
1.71M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 1,678
Average Video Length:
6 minutes
Description Blurb: A show of movie reviews and comedy. If I
make you laugh, then I've done my job. Subscribe, and spread the word!
This is almost solely a review channel. At the beginning/end
of a year, he does a couple of lists based around the movies that came out the
previous year and the ones that are coming out soon, but the rest of it is all
about reviews.
I’ll admit that I know not many people binge-watch reviews. I
do, but I know that I’m in the minority with that. Still, if you were going to
binge any reviews (aside from ours) I’d recommend that you look into Jeremy
Jahns.
Jahns is so incredibly charismatic and hilarious that it’s
hard to look away when he’s talking. Whether it’s about a film or video game,
he’s easy to listen to. Not only that, but he’s clearly just a fan. He never
has a stick up his ass and you can feel the love of entertainment oozing from
every one of his pores.
I always find it a pleasure to listen to someone talk about
something they’re passionate about. I think you will too.
8 – The Take
Creation Year: 2016
Subscribers as of 5/8:
1M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 421
Average Video Length:
20 minutes
Description Blurb: This is the Take. It's where you come to
understand more about your favorite movies, shows and culture. Our video essays
make the story worlds you enter richer and deeper. Think: Endings Explained,
Character Studies, Hidden Messages and Symbols Revealed, Actor and Director
Profiles, and more. We want to share our love of visual culture with the world.
So here's our Take.
On this list, the binge-ability starts here.
Every one of The Takes videos is meant to be educational and
sincerely entertaining. There are videos about the long shot in 1917
(2019), explanations about plots or endings, and – what drove me to the channel
– videos delving into various popular tropes in movies and TV Shows.
I’ve been considering an article series where I go into the
best and worst tropes of the cinematic world. If I opt to do it, this YouTube
channel will be one of the places I go to conduct research. They go into tropes
you may never have even thought about. It’s insanely interesting stuff.
Although the ‘Trope, Explained’ series they have is new, they
also have another series that goes into the history of a type of character that
acts as a kind of spiritual successor to it.
They also focus on more specific projects, but if you want
my opinion, start with the video above. Just remember, sometimes binging stuff
like this becomes involuntary.
7 – WatchMojo
Creation Year: 2007
Subscribers as of 5/8:
22.4M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 18,077
Average Video Length:
13 minutes
Description Blurb: Top 10 lists on Music, TV, Film and Video
Games. We publish 4 or more Top 10s daily. Subscribe for new top 10 lists every
day, and binge watch on Top 10s covering Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music,
TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics and Superheroes. WatchMojo’s back
catalogue has ten thousand videos on Top 10 lists, Origins, Biographies, Tips,
How To’s, Reviews, Commentary and moreYour trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.
If you don’t know about WatchMojo yet, then I’m just going
to assume you haven’t spent more than an hour on YouTube. When people think
about channels that do lists, WatchMojo is almost always the top of their list.
Here’s the thing, I LOVE WatchMojo. I binge-watch the hell
out of their videos. However, I almost never agree with their lists. For me,
that’s part of the fun. I like to yell at the screen when I disagree with them.
It’s never a visceral trolly kind of dislike. It’s more like I know I’d really
enjoy a hearty debate with pretty much any of the people who make the lists.
WatchMojo covers pretty much everything from movies and TV
to songs to tabloid stuff to science and news. Anything you can think of, they
probably have a top 10 or top 20 list on it. They also have a ton of sub-channels
(https://www.youtube.com/user/WatchMojo/channels).
They have a new series where they go through the Best Movies
of each genre from A-Z. I really enjoy playing along with those videos, though
some of their picks are mind boggling.
5 – WhatCulture
Creation Year: 2011
Subscribers as of 5/8:
2.01M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 2,713
Average Video Length:
13 minutes
Description Blurb: WhatCulture is an online culture magazine,
covering Film, Gaming, TV and more! Check back regularly for exclusive Top-10s,
previews, reviews and other awesome content!
WhatCulture is one of my favorite YouTube channels in
general.
At first glance, it can seem like a very typical Top 10 list
channel – not unlike WatchMojo. There’s one very simple difference between WhatCulture
and the grandfather of list channels.
Where there’s the occasional narrator that I just don’t
connect with on WatchMojo, WhatCulture’s narrators are all such unique
characters that it’s difficult to not enjoy listening to all of them. They also
don’t seem to redo their lists as much, and their accompanying website is a
pleasure to browse for hours at a time.
My favorite part of this channel’s lineup is Ash vs. the
Evil Wed. It’s punny and full of the best (or worst) of what horror has to offer.
You know how much I love to mix my horror with comedy.
If you like the Top 10 format, I highly recommend you check
this channel out. You won’t be disappointed.
3 – The Film
Theorists
Creation Year: 2014
Subscribers as of 5/8:
8.54M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 238
Average Video Length:
14 minutes
Description Blurb: Hello Internet! I'm Matpat and welcome to
FILM THEORY! Do you ever wonder what secrets could be hiding in your favorite
movies and shows? So do we! From figuring out the biology of Attack on Titan's
Titans to revealing the dark secrets of Disney movies, we cover it all! Want to
take a deep dive into the world of nerdy theories? Join our community of Loyal
Theorists today!
If you know Matpat, you likely know him from The Game
Theorists channel. It’s much bigger than this one and was made several years
earlier. I intend to (hopefully) do a list on gaming channels later on that it
will undoubtedly be a part of. For now, I’m more concerned with his Film
Theorists channel.
This channel focuses on finding the fan theories (both
popular and not) from movies and TV shows. It will then either prove why the
theory is right or debate it. Matpat tackles a lot of Pixar and Disney, but
that shouldn’t be a shock to anyone. There are a ton of theories surrounding
films from those production companies.
His videos tend to be so well thought out that it borders on
obsessive. That may mean something big for his therapist, but for viewers it’s
just plain entertaining.
4 – CineFix
Creation Year: 2006
Subscribers as of 5/8:
3.62M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 2,011
Average Video Length
(Not including watch parties): 11 minutes
Description Blurb: CineFix is the ultimate destination for true
movie buffs & filmmakers on YouTube.
The countdown videos at CineFix are next level. WatchMojo
and WhatCulture are more about comedy and full-on pop culture. CineFix,
however, wants to educate you on cinema. They aren’t concerned with simplicity.
Every single thing they post involves a ton of research.
They come at movies like that fun college professor you had
that made you want to care about whatever they taught. They don’t drone on and
just say a movie is the best because that’s the way it is. They give you real
reasons and they break down their choices for you to such an extent that even if
you would have disagreed with them at the start of the video, you likely won’t
by the end.
They tackle genres, differences between an adaptation and
the source material, soundtracks, movie history… everything that is important
to the film world. CineFix is the best cinema education you can get without
actually going to film school.
The binge-ability where this channel is concerned is
incredible. I have fallen down holes that lasted 3 to 4 hours – and I came away
from it feeling like I’d truly learned something. Watching this channel – for however
long – never feels like wasted time. You will almost always learn something new.
If you love film like I do, this is the channel for you.
2 – CinemaSins
Creation Year: 2012
Subscribers as of 5/8:
8.9M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 835
Average Video Length:
17 minutes
Description Blurb: No movie is without sin. We exist mostly
just to remind you of that.
New sins videos every Tuesday & Thursday.
Most people have at least heard of CinemaSins. Whether they
love or hate it is another story.
CinemaSins looks at movies from a completely different
perspective. There are no lists and they aren’t looking to teach you anything.
The goal of this channel is sardonic reference comedy, and they take it to the
extreme.
I’ve seen plenty of people scoff at CinemaSins for being too
negative. My mom once asked me why they do videos on films if they don’t
actually enjoy it. I had to explain to her that she’s looking at it wrong.
If you have a really close group of friends, chances are you
rib each other occasionally. You love your buddies, but you will absolutely
call them out on their bullshit or make fun of them jokingly. That’s what this
channel is for movies.
It calls each film out for its tropes and inconsistencies –
but it also just has fun with it, like an old friend. I’ve seen sins given out
because the movie made the narrator feel something or because it reminded him
of an entirely different film. It’s all just meant to be comedy.
Now, understandably, not everyone enjoys that brand of
humor. Some people can’t separate the negative from the funny. Even still,
sometimes you can’t watch too much of CinemaSins in a row because you can begin
feeling a bit negatively toward films yourself. If that happens, just split up
marathons of CinemaSins with my final pick for this list. It’ll keep you
balanced.
1 – CinemaWins
Creation Year: 2015
Subscribers as of 5/8:
1.56M
Number of Videos as
of 5/8: 201
Average Video Length:
18 minutes
Description Blurb: Because liking things is more fun than not
liking things. Sometimes the critics are wrong. Some movies, while full of plot
holes, continuity errors, and bad acting have plenty of wins! Every week I’ll do
a movie you love, that maybe the world hates. Did you go into a movie with your
mind made up? Maybe there's more greatness in it than you thought! And some
movies are just so good they deserve the winning treatment. The internet is
full of so much hate and negativity, ultimately I hope my videos will brighten
your day! I use a similar format as CinemaSins specifically to be their
opposite. This is just my spin on films that I think don't get the respect they
deserve or are so good they need to be celebrated. Or more often, stupid crap
that made me laugh and want to watch it again.
CinemaWins is not as big or well-known as CinemaSins… but I absolutely
think it should be.
You hear me talk a lot about the difference between a full-on
critic and a fan plenty of times. The difference between CinemaSins and CinemaWins
embodies that to an almost parody level. Where as everything on the
aforementioned channel is shown in a negative light, everything on this channel
is shown from a positive perspective.
The narrator here is all about what makes films good – even films
that are notoriously bad. He’ll admit when he doesn’t think a movie is good,
but he’ll also point out the things in it that make it suck just a little less.
If you need a shot of positivity, or just want to believe
that anything can be good for a little while, this is absolutely the channel
for you.
Right now, with the world seeming to get more and more fucked
up every single day, I think CinemaWins is one of the best channels to binge
watch in any YouTube category.
