There are times in life where you have to depend on the help of others. Even if you do not trust them completely, they could be more of a blessing in disguise than a hindrance. When not knowing their back story, or even their real names, they may be the only people that are left on the planet that want to help ensure your survival in extreme situations, but they could also be looking for something else from you. Putting your faith in complete strangers may not be high on your priority list, but when the end of the world is at hand, are you left with any other choice?

Sheriff Lincoln is pulling out of a coma that his son accidentally put him in while hitting a foul ball at a T-Ball game. Not knowing what is happening to the world, he is met by Green Bay and Chicago in the hospital and told about their hiding spot in the local mall. Although the Sheriff wants to find his family first, he does truly understand what is happening in the outside world where zombies have taken over. With his first two zombie kills under his belt when leaving the hospital, he finds that his wife and son have found refuge in their old stomping ground, the local strip club. When finding that his son has grown up, he sees that his wife has made a name for herself, being the only living stripper that dances at the club, and people from miles around come to watch her. But their reunion is cut short when a zombie takes a bite out of her goods, and Chris has to put her down. Knowing that it is no longer safe in the club, the two venture to the mall to find a safe place to hold up until the apocalypse passes over. 

Green Bay is not the smartest of people in the mall, and he often finds solace in talking to cardboard cut outs to get his feelings out and while doing so, misses the next onslaught of the dead moving in. As Brooklyn rushes down to the open doors, she drops as many walkers as she can, but when she is overrun by the dead, Romeo puts his sludge on her face to drive the other zombies away. Loving that he has saved her, Brooklyn professes her love for the cold, silent man and does not take notice that he is one of the dead she has vowed to kill along the way. With the mall being breached, the group gives up their sanctuary and Chicago and Sheriff Lincoln and decide that they would be safer heading to the farm that has not yet been touched by the outbreak.

Arriving at Safe Haven Farm, the group is met by the owners Abraham and Sarah, but not their daughter Isaac who is sick somewhere on the property. Suspicious of the fact these people are too nice, the group believes that the older couple may be cannibals since they do not seem to take into account what is happening in the outside world. Meeting Isaac, the group feels a little bit better about their current situation and that they will not be killed in their sleep. But the safety that the farm can offer only goes so far as the group discovers a stash of fireworks and sets them off, letting everyone within earshot know where they are. Darnell shares the group’s fears, but with all of the things he has been hearing about places to stay, along with rumors about a Mysterious Wanderer who kills zombies with ease, he knows that everyone will find a way to survive.

Talk about a movie that hits all of your favorite zombie tropes, The Walking Deceased does not pull any punches when it comes to the problems each one has shown about surviving the apocalypse, but in a hilarious fashion. This is a movie to watch if you are feeling a little run down by over acting, too much drama, or just want to walk away with a smile after watching. There is plenty of action as well, and head shots galore to make any true lover of the genre applaud, and a Sheriff that cannot remember what his son name really is, Carl, Chris, whatever. Even though this is a knockoff of several different movies and your favorite zombie show, it is more entertaining to let your guard down and just let it take you where it wants to. I give this movie props on my end for calling out what will happen with the world's loss of Twitter and the reaction it stirs in those who have gotten the handles they have fought a lifetime for. Keep laughing and Stay Scared.

​There are many things that people will do to become rich and famous. Even though it is not for everyone, it seems like more and more people are jumping at the opportunity. For the select few, it works out the way that they imagine, but for most people, it ends in some sort of a disaster. Not knowing what to do with their newly acquired funds or being able to put up with the limelight that is on them at all times, drives some people crazy, since they were not prepared for what comes with the territory. 

Jemma, her boyfriend Matt and buddy Steve are all looking to become rich. Trying out for a ghost hunting type of show, they are ready to prove that spirits actually exist. Purchasing a haunted mirror on eBay, they have all of the equipment necessary to catch whatever mysteries it holds. When unwrapping their new purchase, the group takes notice to some newspaper clippings that are on the back of their haunted relic and are quite curious as to how they relate to the mirror. But that is not their primary concern, they have their cameras up and running around the clock to catch any sort of spookiness that is trapped in the reflecting side of the mirror. 

Nothing happens when the camera is on the mirror for the first night, but something has changed in Matt’s demeanor. He is starting to sleepwalk, which is something that he has not done since he was a little kid. Staring lifelessly into the mirror, Matt is transfixed on something that no one else can see. Waking up in the morning, he has no idea of his actions from the night before and has to be shown the video to believe it. Not being able to speak to what is happening to him, he starts to wear a camera at night to keep track of his activities, but when his nightly motions start to become dangerous for himself and his friends, he refuses to let anyone else view the footage.

Without being able to get a full night’s rest, Matt is starting to scare his friends. Picking up a knife and walking around the flat, he does not seem to be himself. As Jemma moves out of his room for fear of getting hurt, she has to trust that Steve will help keep her safe, but Steve will not let his friend down and wants to help in any way he can. Matt refuses all of the help that is offered to him and locks himself in his room. Without anyone bothering him, he roams the flat in his sleep, but when he cannot get into his friends’ room, he takes to the streets. Chasing down a stranger, Matt gets maced, but when he wakes up, he cannot remember his previous exploits, nor can he see. Being blinded, Jemma is begging for someone to help him, but when Steve finally agrees, the two find that Matt has gone missing. With the new relic in their flat, the three roommates are about to find out the true power that has been hidden in The Mirror.

This movie features your normal, run of the mill haunted mirror, one that can be purchased over any website. I am pretty sure that if anyone is trying to sell anything that is haunted, that there would be a huge demand for it. But I am not one that would like to partake in a haunted item, unless it was my own. As everyone has their own ghosts that they have to battle with, who has time to fight someone else’s? The story stayed consistent throughout the movie and I am happy they did not deviate from it. When Matt starts to turn into whatever is controlling him, you get to see a glimpse of who or what it really is, even if it seems to be just a game gone wrong. Stay Scared.

​When we start to get older, we have to ensure that our affairs are going to be in order for when we are no longer here. I know it is a depressing thing to think about, but nobody can live forever no matter how much we think that we can. Hopefully we will have someone that is willing to go out of their way to help us through the tough times so we can enjoy our later years that much more. But there are so many times that our elders are just pushed away to a retirement facility and left on their own for the remainder of their days.

Ambrose knows that he is nearing the end of the line. Being a military vet however, he will not give up and wants to continue to live his life to the fullest. After losing his sight, his son does not have time to take care of him and is moving his father to the Crescent Bay Retirement Center. Even though he cannot see, Ambrose knows that this is not the place he wants to be, but does not have a choice since there is nobody else around that is willing to take him in. 

Upon arriving in his new home, Ambrose starts to feel around and finds something out of the ordinary sticking in the wall. Not knowing what it is, he asks his new neighbor Delores to tell him what he has found, but before she can really answer, Ambrose has to head back to his new home and tell the movers what he wants done. After getting all set up, Ambrose is all set for the night, but hears something rustling outside of the house. Not being able to see has taken its toll on the old man as he can hear Delores screaming for help and he is not able to do anything. When the screaming stops, Ambrose starts to use his other senses to identify who the attacker was, but he is not prepared to become the next victim. 

With an attacker that smells like a dog inside his home, Ambrose’s own dog attacks but gets killed protecting his master. Ambrose is beside himself and wants to know who or what was in his house and what it was that killed his neighbor. After talking to the police, Ambrose finds out that things like this happen every month and to be safe he needs to remain in his house since there are wild animals all around the community. Not believing that this is a normal dog or wolf attack, Ambrose knows that there is something much more dangerous on the horizon that only comes out when the moon is full. Having a month to prepare for the next attack, Ambrose begins training and stocking up to fight off the beast, but when this starts to filter down into the community, nobody is willing to accept that he is right in the head.

This is a fantastic story about a man that wants to go out on his own terms and is able to. Late Phases (also known as Night of the Wolf) is its own kind of story that does not pull any punches, especially when you find out that there is a possible werewolf on the hunt. I enjoyed how Ambrose chooses to be a loner in his later years and does not seem to care about anyone around him, but knows that it is not right, especially when it comes to his son. Not being happy with where life has put him, Ambrose finds a little bit of solace when visiting church and befriending the priest that resides there. Even if he is not taking the sermons the way that others believe he should, Ambrose is able to gather in the message and knows the things that he needs to change. A great growth story to say the least, with some great splatter and a guy that chooses to carry a shovel, rather than a cane. Stay Scared.

​Not knowing anything about your family and history has to be one of the hardest things when growing up. I have been blessed to have been in the presence of my grandparents and even some great aunts and uncles who were more than willing to share stories about my family that even my parents did not know about. I do believe that knowing where your family has come from and what they have done in the past helps to direct you to where you may be headed in the future. Even for those people that do not know their blood relatives, I hope they take notes from their current family and follow their paths, as having a family, no matter who they may be, is better than facing the world alone.

Shawn has the ideal life, since he is getting married to the beautiful Jasmine and is living in a great apartment. The two are so much in love, neither of them can do wrong in the other’s eyes and they will be together until the day that they die. Before burning dinner again, Jasmine receives a strange package at the door with no return address and only a note inside for her husband. Opening the box, the couple finds a VHS tape that nobody should be able to watch, but Shawn has a VHS player at his office and heads off after dinner to view it.

Seeing a man that claims to be his father talking to directly to him about his family and the troubles they have encountered in the past, Shawn does not know what to believe. Hearing the words from the man on the screen, Shawn is led to believe that his family is cursed in a way and his children will be in danger if he does not fulfill his destiny. With no answer on his wife’s phone, Shawn arrives home to see his furniture all stacked in a strange configuration. Not being able to locate his wife, he calls the police to help find her, but as they are ready to call in a missing person’s report, she walks through the front door. With nothing missing in the house, and Jasmine being all right, they couple starts to take notice of the shadowy figure across the way that has been watching their apartment for several days now.

As the tape directed the couple to seek help from Father Westhoff if they had any trouble, Shawn and Jasmine decide to take the advice. Being greeted by a strange fellow named Gabriel, the couple does not believe the stories they are being told about evil lurking outside of their home and looking to harm them. Leaving in a huff, Jasmine is pulled into the woods, never to be seen again and when Shawn follows, he is confronted by an evil being, a Jinn that is looking to put the end to the possible prophecy that surrounds his family. Not knowing who to trust, Shawn runs back to the Father and Gabriel and is taken to another member of his family who is locked up in an asylum. Knowing that he is not crazy, Uncle Ali has been waiting for his nephew and will teach him in the ways to destroy the ancient evil and save his growing family. Without hesitation, Shawn takes to his training since he needs to find Jasmine before she becomes just another victim of the evil force that has been roaming the earth before man was ever created.

Talk about a movie that focuses on belief, I mean wow, and in a good way. I did not know what to expect when this popped into my recommended list, it did not disappoint at all. With some great visual effects and enough darkness that keeps the Jinn hidden in the shadows until they are ready to be seen, this is a movie that I will need to watch again. With everything that happens in this movie and his faith being tested, Shawn only has one goal and will stop at nothing to get the love of his life back. But my favorite character in this movie had to be Gabriel as he could be an angel, or just a normal man, but will do everything in his power to protect Shawn from the evil that awaits him, all while offering up some moments of levity that will leave you laughing as the story plays out. When you look to the heavens above, do you see the stars and planets that surround the earth, or do you see something else? Stay Scared.

A quote heavily spoken throughout the Supernaturalverse is “Family don’t end with blood.” It’s inspired a cast/fans book (Lynn S. Zubernis) of the same name and is almost as popular as “Saving people. Hunting things.” Or, “The Family Business,” which totally makes sense since Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester have gone above and beyond for those they deem family, blood or not. Not to mention, the quote itself originated with our beloved Bobby Singer (Jim Beaver)! Therefore, it also makes sense that after all these years, some of the most popular (and hilarious) memes out there are about the forgotten Winchester half-brother, Adam Milligan (Jake Abel). And in this final season, the writers know addressing this issue is a must, lest they suffer the wrath of fanboys and girls the world over (LOL)! Exactly how they would get there? Well, let’s just say, they’re not some of the best writers out there for nothing. So before you can say Assbutt (LOL!), lets dive in…
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Directed by the huge fandom favorite, Richard Speight Jr. (AKA Gabriel the Archangel), Our Father, Who Aren’t in Heaven feels laced with Trickster magic, am I right? Did the writers create this gem of a tale with Richard’s directing in mind? True or not, this fangirl says YES, because he plays one of the few characters, beyond our trio of heroes, that can relate to the daddy issues sprinkled throughout the episode. Especially from an angelic stand point. No wonder we opened with a “cranky” God (Rob Benedict) at a casino surrounded by dead patrons and staff. Feeding his ego with the slots as he terrorizes a lone surviving cocktail waitress who serves him frilly drinks while fearing for her life. DAMMIT CHUCK!

There are no cameos this time which is ironically perfect since I just remarked in 15.07: ‘Last Call’, how I’ve begun to look for them in every episode… LOL! However, the sheer amount of major character power is remarkable. Donatello the Prophet (Keith Szarabajka), a personal favorite for his weird humor and love of chicken, comes back to decipher the Demon Tablet. An idea presented by Dean (“Boom!”) as a means of finding a way to defeat Chuck. Right now, the normally untouchable God, is in a weakened state. Sam likens this to an Achilles Heel while Dean hilariously misses the reference calling it Chuck’s weak spot (LOL). Despite the humor, the idea to lock God up as he once did to his sister Amara (Emily Swallow) is born and it’s genius!! Miraculously, Donatello finds an annotation from Metatron (Curtis Armstrong). A personal observation of God no less. WHOA! “The Almighty guards his secret fear, but it is always there.” And the writers’ twist? God shared this secret with his favorite, who Cas explains at the time the Demon Tablet was scribed, was Michael. HA!! Diabolically scrumptious, right!?! Donatello upset by the explanation of where Michael is (Same dude, same!), suddenly faints into his chair.

But wait… he’s possessed by Chuck. WOW!! “Prophets speak the word of God. Sometimes indirectly. Sometimes they’re my Bluetooth.” Say what you will about God, His egomaniacal humor is just darn good! All kidding aside, Chuck explains how He usually loves the back and forth process between He and the boys. “Like tennis with monsters,” He, yet again, trivializes the hero’s lives (GRRR) while telling them to let this new idea go. Hmmm, got Him scared, do they?? Considering Chuck threatens not them, but everyone they care about, Jody (Kim Rhodes), Donna (Briana Buckmaster) and Eileen (Shoshannah Stern), I’d say so. That BASTARD!! Talk about an Achilles Heel. No wonder the writers foreshadowed Sam showing up earlier to “save” Eileen on a hunt. It’s painfully obvious at the time as she remarks that he’s worried about her. Sam responds by asking if he’s being too overprotective. “Little bit,” she says! Of course, even with Cas discouraging the pursuit, Sam and Dean are still going to look for Michael. It’s the strongest shot they’ve got and the clock is ticking, both in their world AND ours! They reason that it was Lucifer (Mark Pellegrino) and Chuck who told them Michael is insane. Hardly beacons of truth these two, right? Seriously, the writing is just on point here!!

And to begin their search for Michael? A quick trip to Hell where they find that Rowena (Ruth Connell) is the QUEEN! I mean. Of course she is! Have you met Rowena? LOL!! However, Michael’s not in the cage. DUH!! Remember what Belphegor (Alexander Calvert) said about the cage door being opened by Chuck during the rupture? None the less, Rowena, with a commanding scream only she can possess (LOL!), orders her minions to find him. Heck ya!! 

While they wait, we see two interesting developments. First, Rowena, noticing the rift between Dean and Cas, tells them to fix it for fear of regret. Giving hilarious examples, she notes regretting making Napoleon (yes, that one!) “So short,” and dumping Mick Jagger (yes, that one too… LOL!) while telling him he’ll never amount to anything. LOVE IT!! But the one that hits home? She regrets everything with “Dear Fergus,” as in Crowley (Mark Sheppard). WOW!! To hear her admit this is huge!

​Second, while monitoring the spell, Eileen gets a video call from fellow hunter Sue Barrish (Luvia Peterson) asking for help with a vamp nest. She agrees to help if not busy when the time comes. This is obviously more foreshadowing as we later see Sam and Eileen rush to help Sue only to find out she’s Chuck in disguise. I knew something was up!! Another demon or even an Angel doing His dirty work perhaps, but not Chuck himself. NICE!! This part of the story becomes the first of two cliffhangers as the final scene changes back to Dean and Cas who come up against a hunting trip of their own, cliffhanger number two – Purgatory!!

The entire episode is full of surprises, but the biggest ones come when dealing with Michael/Adam. When we first see them, the scene in Hell shifts to an all American diner. The character Adam, having a conversation with himself, or Michael rather, is shown sitting on either side of a booth. Enjoying a cheeseburger and pizza of course!! Ten years without, who wouldn’t want these things… LOL!! And I must say, using a booth to show both sides of these characters having lived with each other for so long, calm and symbiotic, is an excellent way to bring this highly anticipated moment to life. I expected sheer anger, but if you think about it, Michael and Adam have had 10 years (which is likely hundreds by Hell’s standards) to settle. The fact they appear not only at ease, but comfortable with each other, friends even, is simply fantastic. I’m quite impressed with Jake Abel’s acting skills. And later, at the bunker, shifting between characters, though in the same body, he’s not the same personality. His posture, demeanor and overall word structure changes with acting and editing ease. Bravo dude… bravo!! We also get to see just how powerful Michael is when Lilith (Anna Grace Barlow) returns to “fetch” him for God. As she grabs his wrist, Michael’s eyes get that Angelic glow and he smites her with just a look. A LOOK! He then wipes the memories of the obviously befuddled and frightened diner patrons with a few words and a Chuck-like snap of his fingers. Plus, it’s sensing this power that allows Donatello to pick up Michael’s trail. As I said, cohesive! Not to mention, Castiel uses a prayer-like attempt to reach out to Michael only to later trap him with Holy Fire. I definitely didn’t see that coming, You? Cas continues to astonish.

Aside from all this, another “ah-ha” moment includes Michael being seemingly unaware of all that God has done and/or become. Left to rot by the one being he praises the most, he is absolutely dumbfounded when Castiel pushes him to the brink with knowledge of Chuck “The Writer” and events passed. It’s hard to remember that after all this time, both Adam and Michael fell into the pit thinking they were serving a higher purpose. God’s purpose. And with virtually no contact, other than a manipulative Lucifer until the doors swung open, it’s no wonder they question J2M. It’s surprisingly heartbreaking to see the strong and confident Michael drained and saddened. And finally, the family reunion every Adam centered meme in the Supernaturalverse has preyed upon for years finally happens. First, when Michael mocks Sam and Dean for leaving their brother to rot in Hell, Sam says, “We said good-bye because we thought we had to. We were wrong.” Michael then lets Adam out. Totally surprised, Dean says “Michael lets you talk? He lets you be?” Adam explains, having only each other in the cage, they came to an agreement but when asking for an apology, Michael cuts it short. Wait, what?? Then, at the end, after Michael gives Dean and Cas a spell to trap God, he opens the rift to Purgatory and turns to leave. Dean asks if he can speak to Adam. Though Sam isn’t there, Dean, who was actually the most indifferent to Adam to begin with, gets to apologize. Telling Adam he didn’t deserve what happened to him, Adam replies by saying “Since when do we get what we deserve,” then leaves in silence. It’s short, but absolutely touching, right!?! Fade to black…

To close, I’d like to mention a few things. Lilith, though vanquished by Michael, is still God’s minion, right? Will she break free or remain a messenger girl? And what about this Leviathan Blossom? Hmm, it’s the second time this final season Leviathans have been mentioned. The first in 15.04: ‘Atomic Monsters’ which also gave us Benny (Ty Olsson) in Sam’s vision. I assume we’ll see him in Purgatory. With twelve episodes to go, a whole hell of a lot can still happen. The writing is spectacular thus far and the cast and crew promises even more. Not to mention, I expect the pace, fast already, will expedite, so buckle up kids!! Did you agree with Adam’s re-introduction? Predictions? Let me know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… Go Team Free Will!!  

​Moving away from the city and landing by the water is a lot of people’s dream destination. Not having a worry in the world while living next to a lake may be something that everyone wants to do, but nobody thinks it through completely. I am not saying that it is always a dangerous venture, but if you are in the woods, there is no telling what is hiding out there and until you see it with your own eyes, you may never believe it. Knowing what is around you may be more valuable than just trying to find a place away from the craziness of the city.

Getting away from school is the only thing on Mary’s mind. Trying to get her friends up to her cousin’s cabin for a weekend away from all of the troubles in the city, along with Jenn’s cheating boyfriend, should bring the girls closer together. But Mary has a rule on this trip, no phones and no texting. Although Zoe has not been troubled by her boyfriend, she is going to live her life the way she wants and having her outspoken personality, she will make sure that the other two buzzkills know what is on her mind. 

When exploring the cabin, the girls find out that there is no cell service available and they will not be able to text anyone. Wanting to connect with nature a bit, the girls head out to the lake and go for a swim. Having never seen a beaver before, Jenn spots a dam and tries to get the cute little wood eaters to come out. But when a bear comes out of the woods and frightens the girls, they are saved by Smyth, a veteran of the area who warns them to cover up and stay inside at night. The girls don’t believe the old man, but when the night moves in and they are planning on getting drunk, there is a sound in the bushes outside that frightens them all. With unexplained banging and doors slamming the girls think that there is something in the house, but when Zoe comes back from her run into the woods, they find out it is nothing but their boyfriends from school.

Wanting to keep Jenn’s mind on what has happened in her relationship, Mary leaves the decision up to her if the boys can stay or not. Saying that it would be okay, the boys get on to their business and make up for lost time with their ladies. In the morning, the group all reconvenes and goes for a swim in the lake, but now, there is something in the water that is looking for blood. When swimming, one of the boys gets pulled under the water and when he resurfaces, he is holding his severed foot in his hand. Looking out into the water, a band of beavers are headed towards the coeds and they need to find a way to escape before it is too late. Being able to find refuge in the cabin, the group decides that it would be better to get to town and bring help back, but what they don’t know is that this breed of beavers outside of their door are smarter than the average beaver and cannot be killed in a conventional manner. 

ZOMBEAVERS!!!! I mean the title says it all if you had any questions. Just a good old horror story by the lake, with the good ol’ girls and good ol’ boys having the time of their lives when a group of tainted beavers come swimming in. A call back to the classic horror story by the lake, but now a new threat that I have not seen before has been unleashed. I love this kind of movie that does not hold back, even when you have a good idea what is going to happen next. With one main surprise, I am just fine with how it plays out and know now, what it takes to escape a lonesome cabin without help from the outside world. Stay Scared.

There are many people that believe that life has a predetermined pattern that it will follow, but I am one that believes that it all comes down to chance. The argument that I have about life being planned out is that nobody can factor in accidents. There are so many things that an accident can bring into the realm and nobody can foresee what it can bring. An accident can come in many ways, but it is never predictable, not even a psychic can tell you when or where it will actually happen. 

Catching a ride back home, two strangers on an otherwise empty bus start to talk to each other. Freddy and Ana have no memories of ever meeting each other in the past, but when talking, they find out they are neighbors and only live a couple of houses away from each other. Even though Ana is trying to finish writing her current project, she is willing to give the stranger a listen, but is not able to complete her story when the ride comes to a sudden halt. As the bus crashes, their lives begin to become very strange.

Waking up late for work, Ana heads down to the hospital to find that she is the only one there. Thinking that she is being punished for being late, she checks around, but is unable to find anyone in the building, not even a patient. Freddy is running around town but is finding the same result. With no one around, the two meet up and discuss what could have happened while they were asleep, but nothing is making any sense. Wanting to find a reason for their abandoned town, the two walk into the old diner that has been closed for several years and find it booming with customers. Not being able to get anyone’s attention, Freddy heads down Main Street to find that he is invisible, but Ana finds something much stranger. Watching her younger self having lunch with her Aunt, Ana is starting to believe that the possibility of being dead or in an alternate dimension is not that farfetched.

Trying to leave town, the two find that they are being held in by a massive dark cloud that is moving closer and closer. Being able to gauge the movement of the cloud, the two have less than three days of finding a way to escape their purgatory. Not truly understanding what is happening to them, the two are faced with their life choices up to this point and need to find out what they could have changed. But Freddy being a comic book artist and Ana working on her stories, they do not have a way of appeasing whatever is holding them in. Crossing into the dark cloud which they both fear, the two find a doorway that could lead them away, but the only problem is that they do not have the key to open it, and they are not alone as a demonic growl chases them from the darkness.

I never seem to know what I am getting into when watching some of these movies, and After is no exception. Getting to follow two characters that are different in many ways, they have to learn to trust each other and work together to find a way out of their current predicament. I enjoyed how they both played off of each other, along with learning their fears throughout the movie, and even tying it back to when they first met. With both of their memories being utilized, they have in a way created this world, and they have the answers on how to escape it, but only if they are true to themselves. A good story and not a movie to shy away from if you are looking for something that is different but can still bring the good old-fashioned scare to the screen. Stay Scared.

Taking hunting trips with your family could be nothing new for many people. As my neighbor grabs his kids and heads out once every couple of months, it has become more a tradition than anything else. They all seem to come back in high spirits, even if they do not have a prize to present at the dinner table. Watching as the kids are growing up, I’ve noticed that one wants to keep it up, while the other is not very happy with the killing of an innocent animal. That's what leaving home and going to college does to some people.

Sean and Mike Neary are ready to get away from their lives and get up to the mountains for a little hunt. Mike even has a special guest along for the ride this time as he is able to convince his wife Wit to come with them. Although she is not really into eating meat, or killing anything innocent, she is a very competitive woman and will do anything she can to win. But there is something different about Wit on this trip as well, since she has a secret to tell her husband when they get some alone time.

Sean seems to be different himself, but Mike is not really paying any attention to it as the booze is flowing without an end in sight. When they finally reach their intended camp site, Sean seems to be preoccupied with Wit and when Mike takes another call from work, he stumbles upon something he does not want to see. Leaving it for the night, Wit and Mike go to bed in their tent, while Sean sleeps under the stars with his dog, but when the group wakes up, they are frightened as to what has happened to their camp site. With all of their gear and supplies taken in the night, Mike tries to blame his brother for some sort of prank, but Sean denies it whole heartedly. With his dog missing as well, Sean leads his brother and Wit back to their marker tree to find their way back to the car and heads off on his own to find out who is behind the actions at the camp site.

Preservation follows brothers Sean and Mike, along with Mike’s wife Wit as they have left the city to go on a little hunting excursion. While Mike’s cell phone is attached to his ear for most of the time, Sean gets to know his sister-in-law a little bit better, but before he can make his feelings felt, he finds that they are being targeted by somebody in the woods. With all of their supplies being taken in the dead of night, Sean heads off to find who is behind the prank and find his dog. But what he stumbles upon is something more serious than he could ever imagine. Being sliced in the stomach and knocked out of his hunting blind, time is short for him, and soon his brother Mike will find out what has happened. Being hunted by someone in the woods, Mike tries to keep Wit safe from the attackers, but time is short and there are more than one of the mystery attackers coming after the group. When Wit reaches the top of a peak and tries to call her husband, she finds out that she is the only one left and will have to do everything that she can to survive the onslaught.

This might not be one of the scariest movies I have ever seen, but it does make you wonder if these types of people exist in the world. The hunters seem to have a plan to take out the family that has intruded into their woods, but is it only a game to them? Wit is the strongest and maybe even the luckiest person in the group and is able to confront her attackers but seems to have a problem when wanting to pull the trigger. I really wish she was a little more aggressive earlier in the film to make her snapping that much more violent, but she did a fine job when needed. I liked how the story continued, as it never really seemed to let up, especially when the attacks started and I will admit that I was shocked by how the attackers used their down time, and how they prepared for their next advances against the Neary family. Stay Scared.

​How far would you go to become famous? This is a question I am sure many people have asked themselves over the years, since there always seems to be the urge in everyone to be in front of the camera. I even wanted to be an actor for a short time in my life but seeing what some of the elite have been able to do, I have left that dream in the wayside. But it is not always about the talent you have inside of you, but rather, what you are willing to do to get that ever elusive first starring role. If it is placed in front of you at a cost, something that you would not normally do, would you be able to bring yourself to give up on your moral values if it means fame and fortune for you in the future?

Sarah has been trying for some time to get into the acting game, attending classes and going to auditions in her time away from her real job; being a waitress in a potato shack. Nothing has clicked for her, but she is still keeping at it. After her latest audition, Sarah is displeased with her performance since she could not seem to remember her lines and goes home to freak out, but she is not left alone for very long as her roommate Tracy wants to get her mind off of things and takes her out to a party. But before leaving, Sarah spies a listing on the web for an audition for an old popular studio that is casting their next production, Silver Scream. Submitting her application, Sarah heads out to the party and lets her cares disappear for a couple hours.

This feeling does not last long as she is picked on by everyone at the party and she forces herself to leave without saying an unkind word. During her walk home, she gets word from the studio that she has been accepted to audition. Preparing like no other, she is ready to shine for the casting agents, but when she is not able to gauge what they thought of her, she runs to the bathroom and throws a fit. When the casting director comes in and sees this, she asks Sarah back into the room and wants to see the fit being thrown in front of her very eyes. Reluctant, Sarah goes through with it and the agents seem to be impressed with her emotions, but still give her the generic line of calling her back. 

​Getting a second call back for the part, Sarah has to bare it all for the agents and show how much passion she hides inside. Not ever letting loose like this before, she has a good feeling about what is going to come next and quits her job and banks on getting the role. Being invited to the producer’s office, Sarah knows that she has the part, but he has something else in mind before making her a star. Not willing to give up on her morals, Sarah storms out of the lewd venture and joins her friends once again. Finding out that one of the girls has replaced her in a movie the group was going to shoot and seeing that she is sleeping with the director, Sarah’s mind changes and she knows what it will take to make her dreams come true… but at what cost?

Starry Eyes follows Sarah as she is trying to make a name for herself in the acting game. Having struck out so many times before, she has finally found a horror movie that she can sink her teeth into and wants the role. Finding out what it takes to be famous, especially with the studio, leaves a bad taste in her mouth and her stomach turning. But she desires the fame and wants to get away from her so called friends as they all make fun of her and her choices in life. Talking the plunge, Sarah becomes very ill and needs help from someone, but the only people that are willing to give her advice are the ones from the studio. Needing to trust what they say, Sarah joins in on a pact that will change her life forever, but are the costs worth the rewards as she will have to leave her comfort zone once again to become the face of the movie.

This movie almost left me speechless when watching what poor Sarah has to go through and that is probably why I like this movie so much. Knowing that there are things that actors and actresses have to do to appease the studios, I would hope that they never have to go this far. Watching as Sarah transforms into her new self is just an amazing journey and I kind of wish there was more of that here. Her friends never seem to lay off of her and even though they have a place in their hearts for her, they will never let her feel like a part of the group, much less like a person. Getting pushed over the edge is one thing but making a pact to become something greater than one’s true self is something completely different. Stay Scared!

Going off to college can be a hard thing for many people, since for most of us, it is the first time we are free and clear of our parents. Having to be our own adults, so many people embrace this freedom and do things that they would never have done if any family member was around. But there are those people out there that will not change and act as if their parents are still watching over them. These are the people that I have to admire, not changing their morals for anything or anyone and just staying true to who they are. 

After spending all summer at home with her grandmother who is battling cancer, Alex has finally made it back to school. Moving into a new rental off campus, Alex, Jessica and Bree are roommates once again and looking to live it up. But Bree has something keeping her from being extremely friendly with Alex since she is sleeping with Alex’s boyfriend on the side. Although this is a secret in the house, Bree is not backing down on her activities, but wants to keep it away from Alex as long as she can.

Alex and Jessica head off to a pre starting school party where they drink too much and have a good time, especially on the way home. Stopping at a fortune teller’s shop, the drunk girls enter and are looking to be entertained, but something goes wrong when the gypsy sees another figure standing behind the ghost of Alex’s mother. Throwing a fit in the shop, Alex does not remember anything that happened that night, but is starting to think that she is going crazy around the house when hearing strange sounds and seeing things that are not there. Not being able to explain what is happening to her, Jessica tries to get her some help from the school’s counselor, but Alex does not want to talk about her troubles for fear of sounding crazy.

Devil Seed follows the story of Alex Froshiber as she is returning to school after a long summer of taking care of her grandma during her fight with cancer. Moving in with her friends, Alex feels at home on campus, but there is something stalking her in the new house. After a gypsy woman tells Alex her future, something invades Alex’s body and she is not able to escape it. As the days go by, Alex begins to doodle in her books, but it becomes more vigorous and she is not able to explain when she did them, much less what the symbols mean. Losing blocks of time, seeing people who are not there and hearing strange sounds around the house, she has to find a reason behind what is happening to her. Looking up demons in the library, Alex is able to identify some things that are happening to her that relate to being possessed, but when she starts receiving symbols in the form of scratches on her body, Jessica has to step in and get her some help. Wanting to help her friend is the only thing on Jessica’s mind, but should she be interfering in something she herself cannot explain?

Just your run of the mill possession movie with a young woman that has never done anything wrong becoming the victim. But being given a little gift from the demon as well, I like how Alex has to battle all of her fears, along with a cheating boyfriend that is jumping down her throat whenever he is in the mood and she pushes him away. Without really trying to delve into the religious aspect of the possession, this movie does a great job showing the journey that Alex has to take and the surprise she has when she finds out what is wrong with her. I kind of liked it, although I wish the demon infecting her was a little bit more violent right from the start, as some of the actions it performs could have been served earlier in the story, to really instill the fear into the audience and the roommates. Stay Scared.