Becoming famous is something that many people strive to do. Even if what they are doing may not be the smartest thing to get noticed, they will go through with it. Since it is the price they need to pay for fame, and when their activities do get noticed, they are often left looking like fools for their embarrassing antics. Either way, they achieve their dream and people all over the world know them for their antics, but sometimes that leads to worse things on their horizon.

Corey and Scott have a special event planned for the night with their girlfriends Joe and Rachael. Although the girls are thinking that something more romantic would be more fitting, the boys are thinking that becoming famous by proving that Munger Road is haunted will be more exciting. Sprinkling baby powder all over the bumper of the car, Corey parks on the haunted railroad tracks and waits for the frightening event to take place and with video camera in hand, is ready to prove the stories are true once and for all. Getting pushed over the tracks by the ghost of a child that was killed there several years ago, the boys are content and have found the handprint of whomever pushed them to safety.

Chief Kirkhoven is beside himself this night after receiving word that an old collar of his has escaped from a prison bus. Bringing his deputy along for the ride, Kirkhoven is on the hunt for the escaped killer who is now loose in his town. Checking the killer’s old haunts around the town, Kirkhoven is left empty handed, but when he gets word that someone has broken into the killer’s house, he thinks that it is his big break and he will be able to end the next killing spree before it even begins. Shooting a man, Kirkhoven is distraught that it is not the man he was looking for and heads back out to the streets to find the man that turned his town upside down twenty years ago. After getting a phone call from a concerned parent whose son has not returned home yet at three a.m., Kirkhoven knows the only logical place to look is the old farmhouse on Munger Road. 

Joe and Rachael are upset with their boyfriends about their haunted getaway for the night and want to be taken home. Even with the footage that the boys now have on the camera, they agree but run into a problem when trying to drive the girls back. The car dies on the other side of the haunted railroad tracks for no reason and the teens are stuck in the middle of nowhere. Checking the time, 11:14 p.m. shows on all of their devices and watches and does not change for several hours. Hearing movement outside of the car, but not being able to see who or what it is, ghostly handprints start appearing on the windows. Without being able to drive away and not being able to phone anyone for help, Corey steps up and volunteers to head into town for help, but when he does not return for several hours, his girlfriend Joe takes to the train tracks and retraces his steps. What she finds will change her outlook on all of the stories she has heard about the road and her town when she discovers somebody is hunting her and her friends.

Four kids set out to find out the truth behind the haunting on an old road, it is the perfect set up for any horror story and it plays out very well. With the alternate story being about an old killer that has escaped and could be heading back into town, it gives you a name to blame the occurrences on, even though he may not be there. With no way of telling who is harassing the kids while they are stranded on the road and a Chief that is trying his hardest to find the killer before the busiest weekend in the town takes place and a killer on the loose, everything gets tied together in the end as you find out what has happened off of the screen. I liked how the movie worked in the self-footage from the kid’s camera and wish they would have used it a little bit more, but all that aside, it was a pretty good movie. Stay Scared.

Ever hear about that little guy that is hiding at the end of the rainbow and has a pot of gold? Me neither, although it seems like a good thought to have once in a while when you are feeling down. I wonder if there really are the little leprechauns that our parents told us about as children, running around and telling us not to lay a hand on their treasure. But that has also given me another thought, what do these little people do with their gold? I mean, they would be rich by today’s standards and would be able to buy whatever they want. And if they do not want us to take the gold, then why don’t they put it in the bank, since safety deposit boxes are generally a pretty safe place to put things these days.

Sophie, Ben, Jeni and David are all on vacation and looking to have a good time on the Irish countryside. Taking a daytrip to a small town, the group is taking in the sights and spy a large stone marker on their way in, and at least Sophie’s interests are piqued. Heading into the local pub, the group starts talking about their future over a pint and Sophie comes clean about taking a break from her history major to spend time with Ben who is going to a different school. When discussing what the benefits would be of doing a thesis on the small town they are currently residing in, along with how much history the pub holds, the group is interrupted by a local who has a story to tell.

Hamish overhears the conversation and tells them about another group of rocks with markings that were found in a cave not too far from town. Saying that it might be the beginning of life in the isles, Sophie’s thirst for knowledge is stronger than her conviction to stick to the plan. Accepting the invitation that Hamish has extended, the group is ready to stay another night in the town. Listening to Hamish’s stories while riding to their new accommodations, the group finds out that the ancient cave was turned into a mine after gold was discovered in its depths. Arriving at their cabin, the group gets ready to get cozy, but when the night closes in, there is something else hiding in the country side, something that is looking for blood.

As a creature is lurking through the cabin, the group finds that they have been locked in with no way of escaping. Finding the route that the creature used to get in, they are able to get out, but still being in the middle of the country, they do not know where to run. Finding the house that they passed when getting a ride, the group quickly finds out that they are not the first victims of the creature and probably will not be the last unless they are able to do something about it. Finding an old book in the basement, Sophie finds out what is after them, a leprechaun that is looking to be paid back for its loss. Being held as a sacrifice is not the group’s idea of a good time and when they are ready to head back upstairs, Hamish and his son show up. While Sophie knows what they have to do to reach safety, they are being held in the basement while the leprechaun is hunting around the house. Escaping one trap, the group has fallen into another with little chance of escaping, however they do not know what will appease the old beast, only that they need to get back to the marker they passed when coming into town.

You know, if you throw out the notion that all leprechauns are short little dudes who wear green and smoke a pipe while yelling at you to stay away from their pot of gold, this movie is really pretty darn entertaining. Even with a guy that has played a conventional leprechaun now being a beast from your nightmares, it is a nice escape from everyday life. I would have liked a little bit more gore up front, but overall, I did enjoy this movie and hope they have another beast come back to retrieve the gold that the other one lost. I am however a little bit lost with what makes a leprechaun so thirsty for blood. Since they are able to sneak around without anybody finding them all of the time, they could have just taken their gold back, but that is neither here nor there, it is in Ireland and that is hopefully where the lore of the killer leprechaun will stay. Stay Scared!

We’ve all had those days where it seems the entire world is out to get you. As frustrating as this can be, learning to laugh at yourself can lighten the mood and get you through. One of the reasons fans love the Supernaturalverse is because they apply this same theory, much to our delight, on and off screen. And after last week’s heart wrenching and revelatory episode ‘The Trap’, the cast, crew and writers knew the fans needed a hug! To answer the call, ‘The Heroes’ Journey’ took us to the opposite end of the spectrum in so many charming ways that this time, my tears were that of laughter and joy throughout. Giving us more cameos, the return of Garth Fitzgerald IV (DJ Qualls), a Monster Fight Club (NICE!!) and constant comedy was just what the doctor ordered, am I right?? But before we begin, I’d like to point out that as a fan of many genres, I try to avoid previews, articles, posts, or anything else that drops hints of what’s to come. So much so that I’ve even written an article on spoiler etiquette. Of course, one could argue, Supernatural is known for placing lighthearted episodes in between very heavy ones. Having said that, if any of you knew, based on said hints, that this week’s episode had a comedic take, I can honestly tell you that I did not!! And, I truly believe that not knowing made this episode even more enjoyable for sure. **Big grin** So, before you can say “normal-people problems” three times fast, let’s all breath in a dose of laughing gas and discuss…
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After the Monster Fight Club intro, which I must say, is shocking that in almost 15 years, we haven’t seen one of these already (RIGHT??), we jump directly into waves of laughter. The coming scenes toggle between Sam (Jared Padalecki) cooking at the bunker and Dean (Jensen Ackles) picking up provisions at the store, amongst other things… beer… lots of beer (LOL)!! Each of them fight an uphill battle of issues and the writers take care to mix in history with current events. Sam, who’s usually the cook of the two, is burning food (and himself) while breaking dishes as he struggles to keep a grip on things. And Dean, ever the sweets lover, has tooth pain biting into a candy bar while the credit card, set up by the beloved expert hacker Charlie Bradbury (Felicia Day) over five years ago, is declined. Teddy (Jacob Machin), the store clerk, even takes the open candy bar out of Dean’s hand as he pulls everything else away and it’s hilarious!! “Thanks Teddy!” As he hastily leaves the store, Dean is almost taken out by a skateboarder then realizes Baby has a ticket on her windshield. Ironically, while Dean strolls through the store in the beginning, the viewer can see a traffic cop outside placing said ticket (LOL).

Back at the bunker, as Sam races to meet Dean, he almost slips (LOL) and by now, it’s clear to Dean, AND US, that something isn’t right. To add to this, Sam, the health nut, starts sneezing (LOL)!! Taking a distressed call from Garth, Sam and Dean hit the road to help. On the drive Dean proposes they are cursed. In disbelief, Sam tries to rationalize, but when Baby, yes, Dean’s prized possession, breaks down (LOL!!), it’s undeniable that things are… well, weird!!  

It’s wonderful to catch up with Garth and his wife Bess (Sarah Smyth), who now have three kids, including two twin boys named Sam and Castiel (Misha Collins). Seeing Dean’s face as he realizes this is priceless. Especially after hearing the first boy’s name is Sam and watching Dean assume the second must be named after him (LOL!!). And speaking of Cas, while Sam and Dean are driving to Garth’s place, the writers make sure to let us know that Cas is currently in heaven seeking help with God (Rob Benedict). I can only imagine how swimmingly that’s going (insert eyeroll here)! With even more fun to be had, Sam, “The Giant,” (LMFAO!!) goes through agony drinking Bess’s cayenne pepper cure all while Dean gets the full treatment for his 17 cavities (LOL!!) from Garth, the now accomplished Dentist. I mean. Garth was going to dental school before he killed the Tooth Fairy and became a hunter. Again, a legit character history reference. And, Werewolf teeth… DUH (LOL)! On top of this, we the fans, get to dive into Dean’s laughing gas dream, in black and white no less (AWESOME!!), where we see another talent of Jensen’s – tap dancing (insert a very large emoji with heart eyes here!!). Then later, with both of the boys feeling better, Garth asks, “Who did you guys piss off?” as they discuss being the heroes of God’s story. Garth admits he’s perfectly happy being the, so meta, “guest star” of Sam and Dean’s lives. At the same time, in a delightful full circle moment, I remember that Supernatural seasons 1-5 are an excellent representation of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey (Very cool!). Garth then says the boys aren’t cursed. They’re frighteningly normal (LOL!). So normal that Sam’s famous puppy dog eyes don’t work on Bess’s brother Brad (Jesse Hutch) who also plays Crewcut in 9.02: ‘Devil May Care’. 

Dean is lactose intolerant throwing up seven (yes, seven) of Bess’s grilled cheese sandwiches. Neither of them can pick a lock (LOL)! Oh, and they also, hysterically, can’t fight very well either!! Even with an arsenal from the trunk, at the abandoned warehouse turned fight club complete with a caged ring, the boys get captured. Quite easily I might add (LOL)! Once they’re locked up and told they will be the next main attraction, we are privy to my personal favorite, a “Monday Monster Mayhem” dark web commercial advertising a fight between a Vampire named Maul (Daryl Ducharme) and the famous Winchesters’. The best part? To introduce Sam and Dean, this commercial features their well-known Supernaturalverse mug shots from 2.19: ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ prompting me to yell, “Blue Steel!” (LMFAO!!). 

Locked up and set to face off in the cage with Maul, the basically helpless boys are saved by Garth just in the nick of time. This happens right before the Monster Fight Club Announcer (Joe Allard) introduces Sam and Dean to the ring. This Announcer also played Elf #1 in 6.09: ‘Clap Your Hands if You Believe…’ to which I say, “Fight the Fairies!” (LMFAO, again!!). When the Shapeshifter club owner Cutty (Danny Dworkis) goes to get the boys, they’re gone!! Garth, taking on the role of the hero even more, has set C4 bombs all over the warehouse. YES!!! The lone survivor, Maul, emerges knocking Garth unconscious. As Maul easily bests Sam and Dean in a Looney Tunes-like battle, Garth returns from behind to land a machete right through the top of Maul’s skull. WHOA!! “He got Garthed!” LOL! And let’s not forget Dean’s high-pitched voice as a result of a swift boot kick to his family jewels. OMC!!
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With everyone safe back at the house, the boys each hold one of Garth’s twins. Dean remarks that baby Cas is looking at him weird to which Sam responds, “So, kinda like the real Cas.” YES… LOL!!! When Garth sees the boys out for a final good-bye, he reveals a possible way for Sam and Dean to beat their newfound “normal.” By visiting a place in Barrow, Alaska he heard about for when your luck’s gone bad. And though they discuss that everything comes with a catch, considering Garth has been an intricate part of this tale overall, I can’t help but think, “HA… you didn’t see Garth coming, didja Chuck?!” With grilled cheese sandwiches in tow (LOL!) and more hugs from Garth (LOL!), the boys look back as they leave, revealing a glimpse of Garth and Bess through the living room window dancing happily. This rounds out what Garth says earlier that, “Sometimes things just work out.” Agreed Garth… AGREED!

For Sam and Dean, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. But then I remember, Barrow, Alaska, now called Utqiagvik in real life, is where 30 Days of Night took place and it can only be accessed via plane. You know, one of Dean’s biggest fears! It’s also home to the indigenous Inuit tribe of the Iñupiat. This got me wondering about the next episode. Do we have even more comedy or maybe even some Shamanistic magic coming our way? Or will the series break away and give us an update on Cas, Jack and Billie? Regardless, I know I won’t be looking ahead with previews! For now, I’m thinking Alaska… Um, once they get Baby tuned up… AGAIN!! As she stalls, fade to black… and Dean yells, “Son of a bleep!” (LOL)!! A completely lighthearted and much needed episode, no major questions were answered and seriously, I was just fine with that!! You?? Let me know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter and until next time…Go Team Free Will!!

There are times when you are put in a tough situation and have to make the right choice to get out of hurting others. Although most of the time people walk away from these situations, some people confront them head on and try to do what they think is right. With their hearts in the right place, they may come out triumphant, but most of the time they become the victim, hence why most people run from the opportunity. The ones who stay and help and the ones that try to get someone that can do more than they can, are the real heroes, and even if they were not directly involved in keeping someone from being harmed, we should all take our hats off to them and at least say thank you.

The Russian Spetsnaz is the highest ranked Special Forces outfit that the country has ever seen. By never giving up in their battles, they have made a name for themselves that has even the Nazi’s shaking in their boots. Working outside of the maps they have been given, the group comes across a road to someplace that has not been documented yet, but when they see a convoy coming through, they know they are in the right place to fight. Taking out the unsuspecting German’s, the group stumbles upon something greater than they could understand. With paperwork and a dead body in the back of a transport truck, they may have found out what Hitler is trying to do to win the war.

When being hunted down by a roaming patrol, the group splits up and even though they are the best, they cannot compete with the numbers that are chasing them down. Being captured and taken to an underground base, Dolokhov and his two surviving men are forced to fend for their lives against mutated men that only want to take a bite out of them. As Dolokhov is able to defeat the biggest attacker without a weapon, his life is spared by the Colonel in charge, Strasser, who believes that the Russian may be the secret to making his super soldier program a success. Listening to what the Germans are trying to do to their soldiers to make them stronger and even invincible, Dolokhov’s man Fyodor is thrown into the testing chamber and survives the treatment.

Not knowing if the settings are perfect or not, Strasser has the Russian taken away for observation and hopes to try again on Dolokhov when the time is right. Dolokhov is not willing to wait and is ready to get out of the compound with his man and with whatever intel he finds along the way. Knowing this his country needs to know what is happening with the program is Dolokhov’s main priority, but when he releases Fyodor from his restraints, he can see that his man is fighting off something much evil inside. Strasser knows that the two may never escape his bunker and puts the order out to let all of his past work run free and hunt down the two Russians. Even though his blood thirsty men may not be able to respect the chain of command, the have the strength and the will to kill any normal man that gets in their way. Although the odds seem slim that Dolokhov and Fyodor can escape with their lives, as Fyodor starts to change into whatever kind of super soldier he is becoming, he has the strength to clear the way for his former boss and hopefully lead him to safety.

The machine is brand new in 1945 and has claimed several victims to this point and Strasser is not going to allow it to stop. Trying to create the perfect soldier for his Führer, the tests will continue since there has been some success in the past. Making monsters to fight in the war seems to be the best way to preserve lives, but with that being said, whose lives are they worrying about? Strasser has the will and drive to change the world and with two of the most promising subjects being put into his meat grinder, he is determined to get it right. This is quite the prequel to the series, and I am happy that it was made, even though you don’t get all of the other names from the second installment. It shows how a couple of the solders came to be and gives us a little more info on the witch like lady that was roaming the halls of the bunker. Still, there are questions about the machine and much more questions about the garrison that is trying to take over the world, but you know what, it is just a movie and nothing like this could happen in real life… right? Stay Scared.

Looking for the truth can be a more dangerous venture than it is made out to be. Sometimes the truth behind something will leave you breathless and wishing that you never found it. With so many people trying to find out what really happened in the past, when they uncover an unfortunate and disturbing fact; they question its validity. Questioning and second guessing your findings is a good thing to do when you find out something that you did not expect, but trying to prove that your own findings are false and needing to disprove them before the world accepts it as fact, could be more damaging to yourself than anyone else.

Lena is on the hunt for Nazi war criminals, more specifically the ones responsible for her family’s death. Her end goal is to find an old scientist named Klausener who performed gruesome experiments on the inmates of his death camps and her search is narrowing down quickly. But when she enters a facility filled with dead soldiers, she quickly finds out that there is something completely different on the horizon. After talking with her old partner Wallace, Lena sees video footage of a Nazi platoon that is moving its way through Europe, and nothing is standing in their way.

Wallace knows what is powering these super soldiers and believes that he can stop the magnetic field that has been increasing in size over the past two weeks. With his research all jotted down in his notebook, he has everything that he needs, but wants to have an escort into the battle zone since they do not have guns or any way of protecting themselves. Lena joins him for the one fact that she needs to find Klausener and believes he will be at the center of the magnetic disturbance, controlling the zombies that are moving unabated through the countryside. With their primary guides killed in action before their arrival, the two are able to buddy up with a Special Forces group that have the same objective. 

Finding out from the Special Forces group that these undead Nazi’s can be killed when the magnetic field is disrupted, an EMP can be their greatest weapon. Moving slowly towards their target, Lena notices that the old army is not only wanting to kill everyone in their way, but it appears they are trying to increase their numbers by injecting something into their victims. Although it does not seem to be successful at this point, the group needs to find a way to stop the machine that is keeping these killers alive before all of Europe is overrun. Arriving at the old bunker, the group finds out that the machine has been moved. Thinking that their mission is over, Wallace finds a hidden elevator that takes them deeper into the bunker and finds that the machine is being powered by an old friend who was supposedly killed two weeks back during the latest failed mission. Hunt has become a source of power for the machine and with his body tied into it, the magnetic field can continue to grow and there will be no stopping the Nazi’s from achieving their ultimate goal, world domination. 

This is a great follow up the first Outpost and let me tell you why. In only two weeks since Hunt took his band or mercenaries up to the bunker, the countryside is now being ravaged by the undead that he was trying to kill off. Although it is not explained how he was joined with the machine, it is clear that the machine needs the energy of a living person to become more powerful so the troops can achieve their goal. As the magnetic field continues to grow, the soldiers' reach becomes much further and even though they kill everyone in their path, they seem to realize that they need greater numbers and try to turn some of the dead in their wake into new recruits. I am not sure how this works without the original scientists working with the military, but for the sake of the human race, it is not as easy as it looks to create an immortal soldier… for now. Stay Scared.

Sometimes you need help from people you would not normally go to for anything. Some of these individuals would make you cross the street if you saw them walking in front of you, but you know that they may have a different skill set than you possess, that could be utilized in special instances. Talking to these people may leave you afraid for your life, but if you are able to make whatever you want to have done worth their while, they may become someone important in your life. But you should never try to back out of the deal with them, since they are soldiers of fortune in a way and are better to have on your side than being against you.

DC is sitting in the local bar, listening to what his new friend Hunt is trying to find. Knowing the region better than anyone around, DC is willing to offer his services for the right price and Hunt is willing to pay it. Trying to gain access to a remote area that is changing governing hands on a weekly basis, DC knows that it will need to be an in and out mission that should take less than forty-eight hours. Needing to get a team together, DC is ready to move as quickly on this as possible, since the region could be in the hands of someone else by the time they arrive. 

Arriving quietly and safely at their destination, DC and his crew of five mercenaries are ready to dig and find whatever Hunt is looking for. Getting into the hidden bunker is not difficult for the trained men, but when they start getting deeper into the depths, it appears that there was something much more sinister happening there. Running across a pile of bodies, the men pull back since they do not seem to understand what has happened, but one of the men is still alive and is pulled out. Not being able to speak or move on his own, he sits and listens to what is happening around him, but the mercs that have brought him back to the living want answers to what happened in the bunker and who it belonged to, along with what their financier is really looking for.

After uncovering that this was a Nazi bunker, the mercs start discussing the chances of there being gold hidden in the depths, but Hunt is tight lipped about his mission. Finding the reality shifting machine that was used to make super soldiers, Hunt turns it on briefly causing all hell to break out. As the woods around the bunker light up and faceless soldiers fire upon the small team, DC and his boys need answers to who or what they are up against. Hunt comes clean about what was happening in the bunker so many years ago and has a theory that the men they are fighting against are the ones that were experimented on. Even though DC and his men do not believe that they could be fighting ghosts, they quickly find out that the old Nazi’s surrounding them are invulnerable to their bullets and remaining living men in the bunker will need to find a way to contain this threat, or be left in the wake of the dead Nazi patrol that has risen in the woods.

This is the first in a series of three movies that deals with this Nazi bunker and not a bad way to kick it off. Although so much is left to question about how the tests and trials that were conducted on the men in the bunker, it is apparent that they were very successful. I really liked the first appearances of the Nazi troops as they were stuck in the shadows like ghosts. The reality shifting machine is really to key to everything and the reborn Nazi soldiers seem to know that, even though they have been dead for several years. Protecting their home seems to be what the old killers are currently doing, and that should be okay for the world, as long as nobody tries to reactivate the machine, they could just stay in the wooded shadows for the rest of their undead lives… Stay Scared.

There are some things in life that you are destined to do or have happen to you.  It might be hard to believe, but there is really no way around it. I am not a person that really believes in fate, but there are some things that happen that leave you wondering if it could have been any other way. Most of the time, the answer is no, and you have to live with what has happened to you. But the more you sit and ponder about these things, you start to see a pattern and most of the time, and you are able to figure out what is going to happen next.

June Abbott has made a very good living doing what she does best, cleaning, correction, crime scene cleaning. Walking into a house or an apartment, June is a master of getting all of the blood and brains out of everything. This job does take its toll on her however, when she starts having nightmares about women whom she has never met being murdered. Knowing that these dreams will not go away, June puts her pencil to paper and is designing a comic that she will eventually sell. With her boyfriend, Officer Daniel Meyer having her back for whatever she decides to do, June feels like she will be able to take on the entire world.

FBI Agent Ballard has been called into town to check out a murder that has an eerie feel to something that has happened years ago. Twenty years ago, Agent Ballard started to profile the Judas Killer and now it seems like the killer is back and up to his old ways. But knowing that Judas was killed years ago, Ballard knows that it has to be someone close to the original case and when talking with June about her whereabouts, he divulges the fact that her real mother was a victim of Judas and that the woman that has been caring for her all of these years is actually her aunt. 

Being blown away by this news, June confronts her mother/aunt and cannot believe that this has been a secret for all these years. Finding out what happened to Charles Barlow, the Judas Killer, June puts in a call to Annie Barlow who was able to end the crazy man’s killing spree and asks for help. Although Annie is far removed from the situation, she comes to June’s aid and tries to help as best she can. Being pulled away and killed by someone or something during a séance, June thinks that she is on her own to battle whatever evil spirit is hunting her. But her boyfriend Daniel and Agent Ballard will not allow her any time to be alone. Because even though they seem to have good intentions, they both have an ulterior motive for sticking around and watching all of June’s actions.

I don’t know what it was, but this movie did not pack as much of a punch as the first did. I am not sure what it was, since a couple actors from the original came back, including Stevie, my favorite psychic, but something was off. With great ghostly scares and a great ending, I think it might have been the subplot of June and her mother/aunt that slowed the story down for me. I understand how much she loved her mother and wanted to keep her off of the drugs that she was doing, but it might have been a little reach to think that in a non-sober state that June would not have found out who she was long ago. There was also the séance, which was important to the plot line, but it did not seem like there would be a chance for the killer to get out of the attic without anyone seeing him. But you put those two things aside in my mind, you have got a good old horror movie with twists and turns that will leave you exhausted. Stay Scared.

There are so many people that spend their lives in the pursuit of knowledge. This is far from a bad way to spend your days on this planet, since there are many others that would rather sit back and do nothing since learning can be one of the hardest things to do. Wanting to know more about myths and legends however can also prove to be costly, not just monetarily, but mentally as well. And if you are able to find out what you are looking for, will you be disappointed when the answer is not what you expected?

Scarlett Marlow is looking to prove her father’s studies correct when she undergoes the hunt of a lifetime. Trying to locate the philosopher’s stone, Scarlett has been taken all over the world, but now she has a lead on its whereabouts that she cannot pass up. Locating the Rose Key while underground in Iran, Scarlett believes that the legends are true and will stop at nothing while continuing her hunt. Needing help to decipher the language on the Rose Key, she has to find her old friend George and beg him to help.

Although George is not as excited about the hunt for the stone as Scarlett is, he decides to help out his past love one more time. Reading the old texts, new riddles are revealed to where the stone may be hidden. Noting all of the old locations around France, Scarlett knows that the stone is hidden beneath the city and the only way to find it is to dig through the catacombs. Knowing that she is going to need help in her hunt, a stranger in the catacombs recommends that she contact Papillon who is a master, underground. Being beckoned back to the tour group, Scarlett and her group see that the stranger is mysteriously gone. Not thinking twice about what they have witnessed, they find Papi drinking in a night club and get him to agree to take them under the city.

With the promise of treasure, Papi gathers his own team as well and makes it known that timing is a factor. Making it down to the first level of the catacombs, Papi points out the crazies that will be walking around the old tomb as well. When they miss their mark and head off course, a cursed entrance appears to be the better way, but Papi will not allow the group to use it and instead makes them climb over the loose bones that have been undisturbed for many years. After the roof collapses on their bone route, the entrance presents itself once again, and this time it is the only way out. Following the tunnels under Paris, the group thinks that they are going around in circles, but when they arrive in the same rooms, they start to notice the small differences. Wanting to get back up to the surface is their main priority, but they must go down before they can go up again and that is when the power of the catacombs comes to life.

I have seen all the screams from this movie in the previews, but I still wanted to see more. One of the things that kept me intrigued as the story started to move along was all of the history that was presented. This did not end as the hunt for the philosopher’s stone continued, with some references to other ancient cultures. But the scares are what made this movie a little bit different, since this massive tomb was feeding off the individuals for the most part. There are a few scenes that will leave you shaking your head and leave you wondering why you have bought into the story, and I will let you know that they are explained at the end, so you don’t feel cheated. I liked the movie and it will have to join my ever growing DVD collection at some point, but until then, I will have to keep my eyes open and make sure that I don’t wind up underground for any reason since I have my own inner demons that are dying to torment me as well. Stay Scared.

If you could move the clock forward and see the future, how far would you go? Just like tarot cards, would every move you make thereafter change the outcome? Well, this isn’t tarot cards! It’s Supernatural and God (Rob Benedict) is a frustratingly spoiled fanboy who bends the rules where and when he sees fit. However, the point is, there’s still rules!! And as we see in The Trap, Chuck needs certain rules to be broken for him to leave the Supernaturalverse of this Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) behind. We also get to see a reconciliation between Dean and Cas (Misha Collins) that’s been a long time coming. For better or worse, before you can say “Leviathans’ aren’t florists” (LOL!), let’s dive in, shall we…
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Picking up in the casino from ‘Our Father, Who Aren’t in Heaven’, Sam and Eileen (Shoshannah Stern) are each tied to a chair facing one another. Already a tense scene, we learn that Eileen has been God’s puppet all this time. What!!! Horrible news, am I right? Chuck admits that he and Sam are connected through the gunshot wound, keeping him from leaving earth. So, not only is he weakened by this wound, but it has bound him to Sam thereby binding him to this earth. Tricky little rules, eh!? And more so, the wound is festering with hope. Yes, hope! Sam, ever the optimist, believes that they will defeat God and win! But Chuck has other plans. After using Eileen to dig into the wound with a scalpel, because the assbutt is too chicken-bleep to do it himself, Chuck realizes it’s not working. He then uses time, specifically, future time, to wear Sam down. Like Sam, in the beginning, I thought, “No way! This won’t work!” However, what we see in the future through a series of four scenes culminating with Sam and Dean being hunted by their own, is shocking. Devastating even!! We learn that all the Wayward Sisters are dead except Jody Mills (Kim Rhodes). No! Just. NO!! Cas has been locked in a Ma’lak Box after going crazy from the Mark of Cain. WHAT!?! And to top it off, Sam and Dean are now vampires! #WTF!!! Hence the hunting by their own kind in the fourth scene on December 9, 2022. The worse part is seeing Jody shoot Sam before Dean attacks and kills her while alternate universe Bobby (Jim Beaver) brings a machete down on a fallen Sam’s head. WHOA!! All the while, present day Sam watches. By the end, he’s clearly distraught. And so am I!! But Chuck’s not done yet. He divulges to Sam that without God, evil will prevail and the monsters will take over. Without God, they will NEVER win. **SIGH**

On the flip side, Dean is trying to reach Sam with no luck. Eileen dials Dean, while Chuck is focused on Sam, and sets it to speaker. YES!! However, Chuck realizes this and destroys her phone. Ugh, how many times can I say, “DAMMIT CHUCK!?!” Dean tracks Sam’s phone to the casino and is ready to hit the road and go in guns a blazing. Yep, me too Dean!! Cas stops him. Because. Purgatory!! The clock is ticking and without the Leviathan Blossom, they cannot perform the spell to trap Chuck. Man, it’s hard to think when you’re panicky and angry, but Cas is right! They wouldn’t stand a chance AND it’s not just Sam and Eileen they’re trying to save, but the whole world.

Purgatory doesn’t go as planned, of course!! After forcing a Leviathan, played by Tom Stevens who also played Will in 8.01: ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’, to show them where a Leviathan Blossom is, Cas can’t move due to an Angel trap surrounding the space where the Blossoms grow. By the way, they only grow at the site of a Leviathan’s rotting corpse and the process takes months. Huh, go figure! Then we hear a name not yet spoken this season or in quite some time. As described in my article The Supreme Beings of ‘Supernatural’: Angels, Demons and Gods, it’s Eve (Julia Maxwell)! – The Mother of All Monsters. WOW!! I can only assume those in Purgatory know what’s happening on Earth and were expecting someone would come looking for the Leviathan Blossom. During a scuffle, Dean is knocked unconscious and, because he killed Eve’s alphas and swallowed her Leviathans, only Cas is taken. But why? Dean is the one who actually put the nail in Eve’s coffin, so to speak. It stands to reason that Eve would obviously LOVE to get her hands on the man who got the drop on her. HER! THE MOTHER OF ALL THINGS SUPERNATURAL taken down by a measly hunter! 

Also, it doesn’t make sense that the Leviathans don’t know who Dean Winchester is, right? And while I’m asking questions… we saw Benny (Ty Olsson) in one of Sam’s visions during ‘Atomic Monsters’, so I expected to see him in Purgatory. However, he’s explained away by a Leviathan in just a couple sentences. Killed by his own kind. Is this really true? Finally, the rift is left unattended for nearly 12 hours. Did, or rather, can anything else slip through? All interesting things to ponder, hmmm? Coming to, Dean makes his way through Purgatory, seemingly looking for Cas while heading towards the rift. We then see one of the most heart wrenching scenes of the season. Possibly even the series!! Dean is a bit frantic. Upset that Cas is gone and that time is running out. He stops and wearily looks around. Resting his hand on a tree, he prays to Castiel. As he tells Cas he forgives him for everything, he admits his anger freely and completely. This is HUGE for Dean, am I right!?! He drops to one knee and as his tears flow, so do mine! To see him this distraught is heartbreaking. At the same time, it’s beautiful to know that after all these years of me getting upset with him over his anger, that he actually knows how bad it can be. He truly knows!! **SIGH**
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Nearing the rift, Dean finds Cas, a bit worse for wear, sitting against a tree. OMC!! I thought Dean was going to have to leave Cas in Purgatory – AGAIN!! However, Cas gave himself up then once he spotted a Leviathan Blossom, fought his way free before reaching Eve. Whew!! TOGETHER, they make it back to the bunker and perform the spell. Having it collected in a ceramic sphere Cas notes that because he will take the Mark of Cain, someone else must break the sphere. Wait! Can I just say that I had truly had no idea THIS spell is the one that puts The Mark on Cas? WHOA!! The future scene doesn’t say how Cas got The Mark. Was this explained before… at all?? They race to the casino and after they enter, Eileen, under the force of God, attacks Dean from behind. Cas tackles her then Chuck appears. Dean punches Chuck. YES!!! It doesn’t end well, but hey, he got to punch GOD right in the face… lol! Cas then rolls the spell filled sphere to Sam. Dean tells him to smash it.

But wait!! Sam can’t. God did it – He broke Sam freaking Winchester!! Sam falls hopelessly to his knees dropping the sphere which rolls directly at Chuck’s feet. And in one fail swoop, the wounds heal, Chuck crushes the sphere to dust and then reveals that Sam’s visions of the brothers fighting each other to the death were memories. Memories of other Sams’ and other Deans’. WHAAAAT!!! Holy cow, that totally makes sense. It also explains Benny a bit more. Chuck insists, that just like the other brothers, this Sam and Dean will end the same. Dean angrily stands up to God one last time telling him they won’t give in. God smirks and says, “We’ll see,” then disappears. WOW!

Back at the bunker, Eileen says good bye to Sam. I don’t want her to go, but she’s right! She doesn’t know what’s real and what isn’t. Before she leaves, Sam kisses her then says, “I know that was real.” Dammit, I thought I was done crying!! After, Sam regroups with Dean and Cas as they ponder their next move and boy do things look grim! Fade to black. Truly black. The Empty!!! We see Jack (Alexander Calvert) and Billie (Lisa Berry) behind him simply says, “It’s time.” Again I say, there’s still rules!! YES!!!!!! And I thought this episode was going to end on a somber note!! I mean. As far as midseason openers go, The Trap had me screaming and crying at my TV more than once, but it still ended with hope. However, it was full of tense #WTF moments eclipsed by tear jerking and moving scenes, and that means my statement to “buckle up” from the previous review was spot on!! Wouldn’t you agree? Let me know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_Juanita on Twitter. Until next time… Go Team Free Will?  

Overall, life breaks down into one battle, good versus evil. There is nothing in between and in reality, we see evil winning more often than not. It has to do with the news coverage, since when good things happen, it does not keep the viewers intrigued. It is frightening to know that this is how the world has changed and for anyone trying to find the good out there, they have to look much harder. There are so many people that will not even try to look for the good these days, since it takes so much effort, but for those who are willing to walk the extra mile, their lives appear to be that much better.

Mia and John Gordon are expecting their first baby, but John is starting to get very concerned. Working on his residency in the local hospital, he does not know how good of a father he is going to be when having to be at work all of the time. When he voices this concern, Mia gets upset and does not believe what her husband is saying. Knowing that anything that comes out of his mouth next will be taken the wrong way, John pulls out a present that he was holding on to until the baby was born, but with how things are going, he needs to win the love back from his wife. Opening the box, Mia sees that her vintage doll collection has been completed.

But the happiness does not last long as Mia is woken up by a scream from her neighbor’s house. As John is a doctor, he walks over to investigate, but when he comes out of the house covered in blood, Mia is told to call for an ambulance. But there is someone in her house and while dialing the hospital, she is attacked by her neighbor’s daughter and boyfriend who are part of a cult. As John comes back into the house to see his wife being assaulted, he tries his hardest to fight off the intruders, but his wife gets stabbed in the belly. As the police show up and gun down the intruders, they find out that Annabelle has taken her own life while holding onto the new doll that Mia had received.

Making sure that the baby is alright after the attack, Mia is afraid to go home again, but will not voice her opinion on the matter, but knows that she wants to rid herself of the doll that cultist woman was holding when she died. Throwing the doll out is not a problem for John, but during their first night back in the house, strange things start to happen. Losing the signal for the television and having Mia’s sewing machine kick on for no reason are harmless happenings, but when John is out of the house, the events get more violent. When the stove is turned on and catches the kitchen on fire, Mia tries to escape the house, but is pulled back by an unseen force. Giving birth to their first baby, Mia will not return to the house again and needs to get far away from the entity that is trying to hurt her, but when the new family moves into their new penthouse, they find that the doll has made the voyage as well. Although the couple thinks little about the doll, the strange occurrences once more start to happen in their new home, but now there is an alternative motive behind these occurrences, one much more sinister that involves their baby.

I am a pretty big fan of The Conjuring and was over the moon when I heard this movie was coming out. Since Annabelle plays a small role in the previous movie, I wanted to see what she could bring to the table in her own story. Although she does not move on camera, it does not make it any less scary when her power is greater than any doll you will ever see. Winding up in different parts of the house and being able to scribble whatever she wants, whenever she wants, she is one doll that I still would want nothing to do with. Plus, there seems once again to be more to the story than was put on the screen. Now I want to know more about the cult that Annabelle joined and what their practices were, since when she was in the house carrying around the doll, she seemed to have a plan, and with taking her own life, she knew that there was something more to be had. With plenty of scares, a sewing machine and an awesome Hi-Fi record player, this is a movie that you may want to second guess about watching when you have any freaky dolls in the house. Stay Scared.