DAILY CALL SHEET: OCTOBER 25, 2023

Alone in the Dark (1982) Four psychotics break out of an asylum so they can lay siege to the home of the man they believe has murdered their favorite doctor. Without its cast of uber-recognizable faces this film would probably be relegated to mediocrity, but even if this were Jaws The Revenge level of bad (it's not), the scenery chewing from Jack Palance, Donald Pleasence, and Martin Landau would easily add an extra star or two.

TIL: In Old Testament times, insanity was most often seen as a form of divine retribution for those who refused to heed the word of God. However, as the science around mental illness improved, so did the religious understanding. These days, the Church does not consider psychiatric disorders a moral failure or sign of insufficient faith, but rather a condition which science, medicine, and religion must work together to provide care for.

Kids vs. Aliens (2022) Kids left home alone decide to throw an unsanctioned house party. Unfortunately, uninvited guests arrive, bringing with them close encounters of the worst kind. To be sure, the setup offers some goofy adolescent shenanigans, but don't plop the little ones down in front of it just yet. That's because once the credits roll, this becomes as bleak as one of those old 80's kid flicks that left Generation X forever emotionally scarred.

TIL: The Church commonly defines the Age of Discretion as the age when a child is capable of making free acts of the will, thereby becoming morally responsible for their actions. It's usually considered to be around seven years of age. So kids, if you decide to throw a party while you're parents are away and murderous aliens show up, unless you're under seven, that's on you.