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Zombie Burger: A place to enjoy your Manwich

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If you build it, they will come. No, not the legions who travel to Dyersville, Iowa every summer to watch Hall of Fame baseball players like Mike Schmidt and Carlton Fisk emerge from the corn for a charitable exhibition, but rather fans of zombies, walkers and biters.

Let’s face it, zombies aren’t the only ones who need to eat. Those enamored with them need sustenance, as well, and Des Moines has you covered.

I was stoked to find that Zombie Burger existed at all, but I could hardly contain my excitement on the way to the feast. And though there isn’t much by way of reference to zombie film décor on the walls or elsewhere, the joint more than made up for it on the menu (which is a faux newspaper titled The Villager replete with the faux latest zombie happenings).

Wall art

Wall art

We’re not talking ham smothered in chocolate sauce, either.

From burgers with monikers including 28 Days Later, They’re Coming to Get You Barbara and Boomstick swarming the menu, there is plenty to keep you smiling.

Not only is the grub delicious, there’s plenty of it and appears in the blink of an eye.

Remember that Jim Gaffigan bit where he is commenting on how quickly Chinese food comes? “I think I’ll have the…oh, it’s here.”

After we placed our order, I wandered to have a looksee and not two minutes later the appetizer had arrived. And the burgers followed shortly thereafter. And by shortly, I mean mere minutes. So if you’re starved for flesh, you won’t have a long wait ahead of you.

Three Little Pigs as told by the Wolf nachos appetizer

Three Little Pigs as told by the Wolf nachos appetizer

And the service? Spectacular. Quick, conversational and incredibly friendly. I can say without reservation the service at Zombie Burger was the best I’ve experienced at any restaurant in memory. Their crew are certainly the type of survivors who would find a way to get Andy down from the top of the gun store.

But back to the food. I got the George Romero Pittsburgher because, let’s face it, I had to. The king of zombies? I had to pay my respects with a side of fries, right?

The George Romero Pittsburgher

The George Romero Pittsburgher

A buddy of mine selected The Walking Ched, which was just cheese, macaroni and cheese and more cheese heaped atop a juicy burger. Believe me, there was no room left in hell or our stomachs by the time we finished. And, oh-by-the-way, two boxes accompanied us on the way out because that was simply way too much to eat in one sitting.

After we chowed, our attention turned to the drinks and desserts.

The libation which caught my attention (and generated a wide grin) was Tallahassee. A beverage complete with vanilla vodka, cherry Kool-Aid and, of course, that sweet, cream-filled log known as the Twinkie. It may have had an expiration date, but I wouldn’t know because we didn’t wait long enough to find out before ending its existence.

If I had one complaint (not really a complaint, more of a slight disappointment), it was the lack of a replica Winchester rifle over the bar because, I mean…while we had our pint and our pig snacks, that was the what more we wanted.

It’s this simple. If you dig zombies and ample portions of fantastic food, Zombie Burger is a must stop. Not just if you’re in Des Moines, because that’s too specific, so let me help you out: If you find yourself in the state of Iowa, press pause on whatever it is you’re doing, punch Zombie Burger into your GPS and go against the grain — make the pilgrimage to the sweet sanctuary of the undead.

It’s not a shit idea. And you know why? Because it’s really obviously not a shit idea.

Can't a guy take a dumper in peace?

Can’t a guy take a dumper in peace?

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.

In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:

“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”

Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.

Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”

Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.

“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted MansionBeetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”

Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows,  Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.

During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.

Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers  Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.

Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.

It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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