Title: Hey let's go to the double feature at the bijou!
Yoni is back for his first solo effort here at the LAT, after two collaborative Sundays working with Yaakov Bendavid over this past summer. Yoni has two solos published at the Universal site as well as 98 puzzles in the Jewish Press dating back at least to 2013. Today is a variation on a somewhat common theme where the front and back of the theme fill each is part of the hidden joy. Simply put, the clue ends up revealing two movie titles. The sparkle comes from both of those movies being in the horror genre, as is revealed in 36A. 2001 Wayans Brothers sequel, and a hint to the four other longest puzzle answers: SCARY MOVIE TWO which was pretty funny with an interesting cast. The icing on this creation is having two of the theme fill be grid-spanners. Well done.
We also have some long fill outside the theme ABSOLVE, ELAPSED, OPTED IN, HERBIVORE and SHREDDERS with the word highlighted in red making its major puzzle debut.
On to the theme:
17A. Checked out '70s AMC cars? (2004, 1984): SAW GREMLINS. The Gremlin automobile was introduced on April 1, 1970, which led many to believe it was intended as a joke. The year of the release of the films is added in parentheses to guide the solver once the theme is recognized. SAW and all of its sequels are truly horrifying. GREMLINS was much sillier, but does show us a baby Yoda?
23A. Genetic indicators? (2018, 2002): HEREDITARY SIGNS. I never SAW HEREDITARY, and am content with seeing only the trailer even though I enjoy the work of TONI COLLETTE. On the other hand, I have watched and enjoyed SIGNS.
51A. Getting no goodies from trick-or-treating? (1978, 1990): HALLOWEEN MISERY. This Jamie Lee Curtis vehicle TRAILER spawned so many sequels. Kathy Bates was so perfect in this MOVIE based on a Steven King novel.
1. Brosnan and Craig, most recently: BONDS. An added hint to the movie basis of the puzzle.
6. "You __ at hello": HAD ME.
11. Bench subject: LAW. The bench and the bar.
14. Mosque-goer's deity: ALLAH. If you want to LEARN more.
15. Certain lesson: MORAL. This usage was coined by Cicero ("De Fato," II.i) to translate Greek ethikos (see ethics) from Latin mos (genitive moris) "one's disposition."
16. "Do Ya" rock gp.: ELO. Electric Light Orchestra.
19. Uruguay uncle: TIO. A Spanish speaking country.
20. Coagulate: GEL. Also, bonus fill reference to all the blood that is coagulating in the theme movies.
21. Went by: ELAPSED. Time, rather than a name.
28. "We need to chat": A WORD. Generally not a good thing to hear.
29. Hand-off recipients: Abbr.: RBS. American Football running backs.
30. Interested to a fault: NOSY.
31. Gamble: BET.
32. Flight sked info: ETAS.
34. "Dexter" airer, briefly: SHO. More bonus fill, with this very popular serial killer's story.
41. Ltr. addenda: PSS.
42. King played by Glenda Jackson: LEAR. This remarkable PRODUCTION included PEDRO PASCAL who plays the MANDALORIAN.
43. Actress Gardner: AVA. She never played hockey in Colorado but she was a beautiful woman.
45. Sneaky stratagem: TRAP.
48. TV watcher's device: DVR.
49. Long-time Delaware senator: BIDEN. I have heard of the man.
55. Chose to take part: OPTED IN.
56. Colorado NHL club, to fans: AVS. Avalanche.
57. 66, e.g.: Abbr.: RTE.
64. 1994 Olympics host: Abbr.: NOR. Olympiske vinterleker 1994 in Lillehammer, Norway.
65. Movie segment: SCENE. More movies, but too many great ones to pick a single one.
66. Curbs, with "in": REINS.
67. Graduating gp.: SRS.
68. Concise: TERSE.
69. Vedder of Pearl Jam: EDDIE. The 2020 Pandemic Tour.
Down:
1. English lit degrees: BAS.
2. Pay add-on?: OLA.
3. Dodgers' div.: NLW.
4. Prop for a Macbeth soliloquy: DAGGER. We get a touch of our Friday Will Shakespeare.
5. Machines that may cover tracks?: SHREDDERS. Really fun clue.
6. "Interesting": HMM.
7. Web pioneer: AOL.
8. Moisture-absorbing substances: DRIERS. Hmm. Are they driers?
9. Virile: MANLY. Thank you, Yoni for the CSO.
10. __ ice palace: Disney movie setting: ELSAS. Was FROZEN a horror movie?
11. Releases: LETS GO.
12. Sci-fi film staples: ALIENS. Another bonus horror film reference.
13. Pine-scented, say: WOODSY.
18. Manning with two Super Bowl victories: ELI. They both have two now.
22. Wine option: PINOT. Their are varieties in that grape family; Pinot blanc (Pinot bianco, Weißburgunder); Pinot gris (Pinot grigio, Grauburgunder); Pinot Meunier (Schwarzriesling); Pinot noir (Spätburgunder, Pinot nero); and, Pinot Noir Précoce (Frühburgunder). Anything else, ask Moe.
23. Montreal NHLer, to fans: HAB. The nickname "Habs" is short for Les Habitants, which refers to the French settlers and inhabitants of the land along the St. Lawrence Gulf and River in Quebec beginning in the 17th century. The "H" in the jersey logo stands for hockey, not Habitants, a popular misconception.
24. Wool sources: EWES. But not mine.
25. Campus mil. group: ROTC. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program offered at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the United States that prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. Military.
26. Airport transport: TRAM.
27. Clear: ABSOLVE.
33. TV's Burrell and Pennington: TYS. Two that bind.
34. "Titanium" vocalist: SIA. I did not know the song or the singer.
37. Jobs creation, in part: APPLE. Leaving out the apostrophe is a bit of a cheat, but still a fun clue.
38. Offscreen friend in "Ernest" films: VERN. The cool part is that we the audience were Vern.
39. Get one's feet wet: WADE.
40. Finished: OVER. I'm over this fill.
44. Whichever: ANY.
45. Hiking hazards: THORNS.
46. "Jurassic Park" enemy: RAPTOR. Another scary movie reference. Are there many more frightening scenes in film?
48. More concentrated: DENSER. Or Ernest?
50. Gave out: ISSUED.
52. Keats, for one: ODIST.
53. Show a bit of pain: WINCE. This means"to recoil suddenly," as from pain, from Anglo-French wenchir, Old North French wenchier which is related to winken.
54. Month in printemps: MAI. French for spring and May.
59. They can get you a job: INS.
60. Crummy grade: DEE. Very.
61. Funny Caesar: SID.
62. Aussie college: UNI. A nice CSO to Kazie
63. Chicago-to-Jacksonville dir.: SSE. This is the time of year for the trip, less than 16 hours driving if you take I-65 S, I-24 E, I-75 S, and I-10 E to your destination in Jacksonville. Or if you take I-10 to I-95 South to exit 36 and go east about 2 miles until you see a Wendy's and a Dandee Donut shop (freshly baked on the premises) where you turn right on 19th avenue to go past three stop signs and you will see our condo complex on the left. Come on by.
