Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Locke & Key’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about some of the fascinating themes and concepts that the Netflix series, Locke & Key has taken the time to explore and rightfully so. Because this show is going all out in season two and is spotlighting a bevy of unique topics that don’t get discussed all that often in everyday life. But while it has been fascinating to learn more about the nature of trauma and healing and how the past can be difficult and painful to process, this is at its core… a horror story. One involving a grand fight between good and evil, or more specifically… a family that knows nothing about magic, that is working hard to defeat a powerful demon, and we’ve been curious as to when that particular fight was going to resume. For a monster like Dodge can only hold back for so long, and as it turns out, the next episode of this storied and magnificent saga, served as the perfect time to refocus the story on the fight ahead. 
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But not before ‘Past is Prologue’ closed the chapter on one lingering plot thread. Specifically, the whole mess with Duncan. Because that poor man has been suffering with the past for some time now and when we catch up with him here… that suffering is leading to some manic behavior in an attempt to keep the memories at bay. Which motivated Tyler to work hard to find the Memory Key at the Academy and despite being slowed down by Gabe, for obvious reasons… he was eventually able to get his hands on it and do the seemingly impossible and heal his uncle. Giving Duncan peace at last and a chance at a new tomorrow and that’s a wonderful thing, since they might need Duncan’s prowess with making keys in the days ahead… now that the truth about Gabe’s real identity has been revealed to the family. 

A feat that this story accomplished, by way of two key storylines. The first, involved Bode. Because he received a letter from Rufus and was quick to admit how badly he missed his best buddy and how badly he wanted to see him and catch up on old times. And thanks to Erin, who reminded him that the Anywhere Key was back in the Locke family’s possession, he was able to do just that. Which led to a wonderful and uplifting reunion between two old friends, one that was soured by the end of the day. Because while they were out in Rufus’ new treehouse, Bode was able to check out the incredible artwork that Rufus was creating to both heal and expand his mind and in that art, was an image of two Dodge’s. Which Rufus admitted was an outright memory of that fateful night, one that was he was trying to reconcile, and once the horror that the wrong person went into the Black Door settled into Bode’s heart, he pressed Rufus for more details.

Which didn’t exactly reveal the identity in question, but was still important none the less, since Bode will be able to properly confirm the discovery that Kinsey made in this tale. Because she decided that the time had come to learn more about Eden and her ties to Gabe, and why she was acting so strangely and thanks to a boatload of alcohol at a party, she was able to get her uncomfortable answers, courtesy of the Mind Key. For the instant that Eden passed out, Kinsey went into her head, and after learning a great deal about Eden’s past… she found an uncomfortable corner of her memory boutique, with Scot’s help of course. One that showed her the truth about what happened to Eden in the caves and the truth about Gabe for that matter as well, and just like that… Kinsey and Tyler and Bode are aware that Dodge survived and the first two know that she is using Gabe to play them all, and it will be quite interesting to see what they do with this information. 

Because they could confront Gabe immediately and let the battle and the games begin or they could take a moment and observe their enemy and uncover Dodge’s weaknesses and the details to her overall plan. But while we wait to see what comes next after this discovery, we can most certainly celebrate a delightful and engaging tale. Because it was a true treat to watch Kinsey unravel the mystery of Dodge by using her fears as a strength and it was equally as amazing to see Scot support her in this quest and it also doesn’t hurt, that the fast-moving plot in this tale, still found a way to celebrate something positive. Since Bode and Tyler’s journeys served to remind us of the power of kindness and sadly… that might be the last time we enjoy some lighthearted and uplifting moments this season. Because clearly, with the Dodge out of the bag, things are going to get ugly as she works to get the key she wants, and hopefully our heroes can outmaneuver her and defeat her at last. Until next time.  

In storytelling, one of the most important and anticipated moments for a reader or a viewer… is when the true intentions and scope of evil that the villain harbors, is revealed. Because not only does that raise the stakes for the heroes, since it is crystal clear now what they are up against, but it truly invests the audience like never before. Because now they too, are fully aware of the capabilities of this monster, and their emotional investment in the story and the characters leaves them worried about what is to come and if their beloved heroes will come to harm and well… this particular moment is top of mind today, simply because the Governor revealed exactly how much evil is in his heart, and how ignorant he is regarding the dead, in the next episode of The Walking Dead.
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A feat that ‘When the Dead Come Knocking’ accomplished, by first revealing that the Governor was playing some dangerous games with science. For he allowed Milton to conduct an utterly wasteful and stupid experiment. Because Milton firmly believed that the dead could potentially retain their intelligence and baseline memories of who they used to be if efforts were made to imprint specific aspects of everyday life upon the brain. But this was a working theory that Andrea knew was a waste of time and that it was dangerous as well. Since it once again, downplayed the raw threat the dead exhibited and of course, she’s seen first-hand that the living dead are nothing more than pure, motorized instinct. But Milton insisted none the less and learned the hard way that he was wrong, and that storyline oddly enough, served as the genuine palate cleanser to some truly ugly moments in this tale.

Because while Milton was playing nice with reanimated corpses, Merle and the Governor, were trying to coax information out of Glenn and Maggie, in the evilest ways imaginable. Because in between his usual racial slurs, Merle resorted to violence and the use of a walker to try and get Glenn to talk and when that didn’t work… the Governor resorted to intimidation and threats of sexual assault toward Maggie to get intel and when that didn’t work, he simply threatened lives to get what he wanted and well, it doesn’t get more evil than that. Since those actions made it clear that the Governor really doesn’t care about anyone or anything outside of having complete control over a situation or people, and if he doesn’t have control over someone… he will uncover their weakness through any means necessary to obtain it, and it was definitely in this moment, that we came to understand how evil this man is and how far he will go to further his agenda.

But thankfully, not all was lost in this particular tale. Because our heroes were making plans all along to rescue their loved ones. For Michonne was let into the prison when it became obvious, she wouldn’t survive out there in the land of the dead, and once her wounds were tended to, and the lack of trust that existed between her and Rick was resolved… she revealed how she got the formula and what became of Glenn and Maggie. Which motivated Rick to put together a search and rescue party, one that ran into a great deal of trouble on their way to Woodbury since the dead were everywhere. But eventually, they made it and came face to face with the gates and that’s where this episode leaves us, with our heroes on the verge of taking Woodbury by utter surprise to get their people back.

If anything, this was one quality and amazing tale. Because not only did this episode do a flawless job of exposing the Governor’s evil soul and outright ignorance, but it did so in such a compelling and powerful manner… that this story still leaves you uncomfortable after all these years. Because that scene with Maggie is just disgusting and twisted and it makes you hate the Governor like never before, and while some might see that moment as one that goes too far, it is the right way to really express the depravity of the character and that does up the ante for certain. Thankfully though, the show would eventually make amends for making us sit through that, and it would start its apology off… by making the Governor go through a well-deserved emotional and physical wringer, in the next episode. Until then.   

For the most part, television shows do their best to keep their stories focused on one, maybe two plot lines tops. Because the belief is that, introducing more, runs the risk of diluting important plot points in the story or it could turn the audience off because then there is too much for them to follow. But some shows, firmly believe that when fans are genuinely committed to a series and enjoy everything that it has to offer… that there’s nothing wrong with engaging the audience further and offering up more plot and more important moments, and one such show that holds that mantra often, is The Walking Dead. For it consistently puts on a masterclass when it comes to multiple storyline-based storytelling, to the point where some of its episodes will straight up squeeze four separate plot lines into a single episode in the most seamless manner imaginable.

But what is genuinely amazing about this series, is that it didn’t always hold to that particular edict. For the first two seasons of this show were laser focused on the Grimes group and their experiences throughout the world of the dead and it really wasn’t until season three, when the world was expanded upon… did the series dig into this more ambitious style of storytelling. If anything, this is top of mind today, simply because the next episode in this storied franchise, could be viewed as the genesis point of this ambitious style of storytelling. For ‘Hounded’ is an episode that featured three separate storylines for us to follow. One of which involved Michonne, while the other revolved around Woodbury, and the final one of note… wrapped up a critical concern from the prior episode. 

But more on that one in a moment, because we need to talk about the fact that the Michonne and Woodbury storylines, featured enough big moments to fill two episodes worth of the show. Because Michonne playing a little cat and mouse game with Merle Dixon was about as engaging as it gets. Since it really helped us to understand just how badass and kind Michonne really is. Because she simply took a beating here, and despite getting clipped by a bullet, she still fought on and still did the right thing when presented with an opportunity to ignore brewing drama, and we definitely could have sat through an hour of that and ironically… we would in a different manner later on this season. As for the Woodbury storyline, well that allowed for us to get to know the Governor a little better and helped us to further understand how important it is for him to be a leader and how charming and manipulative he can be… since he has Andrea under his thumb by the end of this one. And let’s be honest, watching David Morrissey do his thing just enchants a viewer and a full hour of further exploration of Woodbury, would have been delightful.

As for the other storyline at the prison, well not only did we come to learn that Carol was alive and mostly well, but we finally got to watch Rick Grimes heal from his devastating emotional wounds. A feat that he accomplished by simply going through the wringer in a very unique manner. Wherein he basically took phone calls from the ghosts of the people that died on his watch. All so he could understand that he wasn’t at fault for their deaths and did his best to keep others upright and breathing and well, once he finally came to understand that… he finally snapped out of his dark and disturbing trance and rejoined the group and his family and embraced his little girl at last. Plus, there’s hope for her future as well courtesy of Michonne. Since the right thing mentioned earlier, involved her showing up at the end of this story with everything Lil’ Ass-Kicker needed from a food and health care perspective. Something that came at a great cost unfortunately.

Mainly because Merle managed to capture Glenn and Maggie while they were on a run for those very supplies and well, while we wait to see where that twist takes us, we can in the meantime, applaud an ambitious tale. Because that is a lot to pack into a single hour of television. But this episode pulled it off no problem and found a way to make every last one of those plots as compelling and as engaging as can be and this masterful script (written by Scott M. Gimple no less) would indeed serve as the blueprint for future stories and it also deserves our awe, for setting the stage for some ugly showdowns. Because just like that, two worlds have now collided and it won’t be long before a hero and his nemesis cross paths because of it, but before that happens… there is another ugly comic book themed moment waiting in the wings for us, in the next episode. Until then.

It is definitely safe to say, that the death of a loved one… is a downright devastating experience. Because this is someone that was a part of our lives for years on end, that we connected with on a fundamental level that we cannot explain in the slightest. So, to know, that we are going to wake up and not have them around or be able to speak to them and seek their advice and wisdom or feel the connection we share with them, outright breaks our heart and puts us in a tough place. The kind where we are despondent and broken… sometimes for far longer than we would like. For grief has no timeline and the void their exit creates can never be filled. But thankfully, not all is lost in this life when someone we love dearly dies, for our modern world affords us a great deal of support. For there are groups that we can join that help to support us in our time of need.
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Plus, there are medical professionals trained to help us process our grief and get us back on the right track in life. Not to mention… there’s our family and our close friends. And they never leave our side and hold us up when we are ready to fall and thanks to all of these options, we eventually see our pain fade and we are able to honor those we lost in our own special way. But while it is wonderful to know that we will get through this because of the support available, there is a little part of us that wonders and worries about what might happen if that support network wasn’t there. For our feels are powerful in that moment and at our lowest… we believe we may never recover, or we might lose control and thankfully, fiction is there to examine such fears so we can find some measure of comfort and it just so happens… that the next episode of The Walking Dead explores just that.

For ‘Say the Word’ presents us with a world where there is no support network. Since this world is all about survival and less about emotional nurturing and not being able to connect with anyone over the loss of Lori, puts Rick Grimes in a supremely dark place. Wherein rage and pain take over and motivate Rick to choose violence and to embrace those negative emotions and well, that leads to some ugly moments for certain. Since Rick puts himself at risk often and all but abandons his family to reconcile the unsaid regarding Lori and all the unresolved pain of losing the mother of his children and seeing him falter and seeing Rick go through this, makes you feel for him because you can tell he’s hurting, courtesy of Andrew Lincoln’s stunning performance here, and it makes you pull for him immediately because you know he’s more than this. And this episode deserves serious credit for showing us the worst-case scenario regarding grief and for finding a way to turn that into a positive. But more on that in a moment.

Because while it was fascinating to partake in that worst-case scenario for grief, there was more for this story to explore. After all, things were not rosy back in Woodbury since Michonne knew something was wrong about this place and worked hard to uncover its truths to Andrea realize that the time had come to leave. But sadly, she was unable to do so. In fact, she was basically painted as a fool, despite discovering that the dead were being kept in this place as captives. Which in turn motivated her to leave Andrea behind and well, that’s a scary decision on Michonne’s part. Since clearly, the Governor is not of sound mind since he was the genius behind the living dead themed Gladiator fights. Which are dangerous since Andrea correctly pointed out it makes the dead appear as though they should be not feared. Plus, he is also harboring quite the dangerous secret. In that, his reanimated daughter, Penny, is hidden away from the world in his apartment in the desperate hopes that perhaps Milton is right, and the dead can be saved from their own hunger and loss of humanity.

In the end, this is simply a unique and fascinating episode. In large part because it features two polarizing plot threads by way of Woodbury and Rick’s mental break, but also because… it really did offer up a examination of the lack of a safety net. Because Rick really is in a terrifying place here mentally, one where it seems as though there is no way out but darkness. But that really isn’t designed to be a warning or a scare tactic, it’s designed to make us grateful. Grateful that we live in a world where we are afforded opportunities to heal and have people around us that aren’t as broken as we are in that moment and unable to help us, and that’s definitely a different style of commentary to be found in a horror story. Since it asks us to embrace what we have because that will help us to heal, regardless of how bad things seem in that moment and well, now that this fascinating journey has come to an end, it is time to turn our attention to a tale that set the stage for a grand and costly fight with a madman. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘A Discovery of Witches’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Some of the hardest acts we will ever take part in, in life, is admitting that we made a mistake and ask for forgiveness in the process. Simply because… we often like to think we always know the right path through life and making a mistake and needing to atone for it can be quite the ego bruise. As can asking for forgiveness, since it means we need to own up to the fact that we hurt someone for no good reason and having to face the pain we caused them… and the reality that they may not accept our apology or provide us with the penance we seek… is an unsettling thought for certain. Since that kind of failure would hang over us for ages. But if we want to grow in life and we want to be a better and more complete person, these are acts we absolutely have to take part in.
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If anything, this particularly painful process growth wise is top of mind today… because it is the lesson that Matthew was forced to learn in the latest episode of A Discovery of Witches. For when we catch up with Matthew in this particular tale, he and Marcus and Jack have made their way to New Orleans to try and build their Scion. And in order to do that, they need the help of a powerful vampire named Ransom, who quite frankly, has nothing but disdain in his heart for Matthew. For centuries ago, Matthew culled a great deal of the people that Ransom held near and dear to his heart… all in the name of eliminating the blood rage and those losses were not forgotten in the slightest, nor were Matthew’s actions and a sour air hung over his attempts to make peace since no vampire in the Big Easy thought he was genuine about making amends and working together.

Which meant, that in order to bring peace to the past and to get what he wanted. Matthew would have to apologize sincerely, and show Ransom there was remorse in his heart and that he was willing to own up the past to change the future, and that was no easy task. For when the opportunity arose to finally to do so… Ransom made it clear that any misstep in honoring the lives that Matthew took, would result in his own violent end. But Matthew understood the time was right to put away the old way of thinking and the old animosity created by vampire-kind… and grow, and he apologized honestly for his actions and offered an equally as honest apology for every last life he took, and for his efforts and because he was also working to heal Jack in this place… Ransom finally understood that Matthew was indeed genuine and agreed to join this new family. But what matters more here, is that Matthew’s actions, truly hammered home the theme of this tale in a raw and honest and inspiring manner and it was quite lovely to find such lovely commentary on the human condition in this tale.

However, while watching Matthew grow was indeed a wonderful treat, there was plenty going on back home in London. Because Diana and Phoebe were working round the clock to find the final two missing pages from the Book of Life and their hard work paid off. For Diana was able to ascertain, with an assist from magic of course, that Father Hubbard was in possession of one of the pages. A puzzle that unfortunately, Peter Knox solved as well… since he took the time to waltz into Hubbard’s office and demand that the page be given to him. A request that of course, ended with Knox nearly losing his life since Hubbard would never take an order from a witch. Much less a fallen witch of Knox’s low caliber. But thankfully, Hubbard’s decision to chase that witch off, benefitted another. Since Diana was able to get her hands on that missing page and it would seem, she is closer than ever to the third and final page as well.

When all is said and done however this was simply a satisfying episode through and through. Because not only did it take the time to advance the plot by way of Diana’s journey and all the tidbits surrounding it, such as that fascinating ending where Satu and Benjamin engaged in discussions about tomorrow… but it once again offered us stunning character growth and beautiful commentary on the human condition. For Matthew’s journey was quite powerful and it really does take a brave and honest person to own up to those kinds of awful actions, and it was just wonderful to see him continue to strive to be a better person and continue to fight to change the course of the future for his kind and the rest of the monsters that live in this world. And now that this leg of the journey has come to a close, it will be quite interesting to see what good comes out of the Scion and what trouble awaits Diana since the wily Peter Knox is putting in the same amount of research as she is. Until next time.

One would think that the death of a fictional character, would have little impact upon a reader or an audience. After all, the ‘person’ that dies in a story, isn’t real in the slightest. So, there’s no need to really mourn them since their death is there to serve the story and its emotional beats and nothing more. But the fact of the matter is, the end of a fictional character can be quite the traumatic experience for readers and viewers. Because when a story is written well and the characters are dynamic and relatable and important to the audience, the death of someone fictional will emotionally shatter a person and for proof… then look no further than The Walking Dead. Because its beloved characters and some of the ends some of them have met, have outright made national headlines.
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Because each and every one of them are indeed relatable and their plight and struggle via quality storytelling has outright attached us to them and that’s why, when one of them goes… we are indeed left besides ourselves and in tears. Because they were something special to us and something good and watching them exit this world is about as difficult as it gets. If anything, this topic and its impact is of note today, simply because we’ve reached a point in our Retro Recaps of season three in the show, where impactful and emotionally devastating deaths came into play. For ‘Killer Within’ is a story that saw not one, but two series regulars disappear from the show in a stunning manner and this episode accomplished that particular feat… by surprising us in just about every single way imaginable.

For this is a story that opened up in a supremely happy and hopeful manner. After all, the group had the prison to themselves, they were working to clean it up and prepare for the future and despite having a little disagreement with Axel and Oscar, nothing was going to stop them from getting what they wanted and that’s when the first big surprise came into play. In that, the survivors were forced to encounter hordes of the dead, unleashed by an unseen force, and their arrival immediately scattered the group while Rick and his inner circle of lieutenants tried to figure out the source of this treachery. Which as it turned out, related to Andrew. Because he survived Rick’s attempt to kill him and was wreaking havoc to get revenge in the worst way imaginable and while Rick and his team were able to stop Andrew at last, the damage had been done.

For T-Dog was bitten in a desperate attempt to slow the spread of the dead when the chaos started and with his death sentence signed and delivered, he went so far as to sacrifice himself to keep Carol safe when the opportunity arose, leaving all of us stunned in that moment since he was a good man that always did right by the group and it turns out that he wasn’t the only thinking about the greater good in his final moments. Because when faced with the prospect of her baby dying in the womb, since Lori went into labor and was unable to deliver her little one through traditional means… she demanded an impromptu C-section. Knowing full well the risk to her life and she too, succumbed to sacrifice to keep someone else alive and well… just like that, two polarizing and important characters were gone forever, and the impact of their loss was immediately felt in this episode.

Since the moment when Rick learns about his wife’s fate is devastating to watch as was T-Dog’s end, and the worry over Carol hung heavy at the end of this tale, and well… it just goes to show that when done right, this kind of storytelling decision can hit us hard and it also served as a fine reminder, that this world will forever be dangerous and no one is ever safe from the ravages of the dead and even after all these years, this episode is quite impactful. Because these were heroic deaths in the end, the kind that redeemed a hated character and shattered hearts over one that was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this would of course… be the bare beginnings of great loss in this series. But before we bid farewell to more characters, we can take a moment and revel in the wonder of one powerful and brave tale. Because it takes guts to kill series leads, much less two that were lightning rods for the fans, but that’s the kind of bravery this series exhibits and now that we’ve reached the end of this bloodbath, we can turn our attention to a tale that properly explores how difficult it is grieve in a world where death surrounds everyone. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three premiere of ‘Servant’. To revisit the season two finale, click here.
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Often times when the villain is defeated in any capacity in a horror story, it signals the end of that particular chapter. Wherein those that survived the onslaught of terror, are allowed to either go off and live their lives in peace and harmony or they swing by in the sequel to perish at the hands of a vengeful monster that cannot be stopped, and this formula exists for one key reason. In that, it allows for the story to remain fresh. Since new characters and locations and bits of mythos do indeed liven things up and keep the audience or the reader coming back for more and oddly enough, for a time… it seemed as though the AppleTV+ series, Servant, was going to follow this particular formula.
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After all, the Turner family (with an assist from Leanne) had defeated the evil group that was terrorizing them, and they even managed to get Jericho back from the great beyond. Making it appear as though this chapter of the story had closed and a new one was going to be written. But the season three premiere wasted little time in reminding us of the fact that this series is as unconventional as it gets, and that formula is something that it will never follow, and ‘Donkey’ sent that message across… by plunging us back into this world a few months after the events of ‘Josephine’ so that we could see... that life was actually lovely for the Turner family. For Dorothy and Sean had their baby back at last and Jericho was healthy and thriving and that allowed for them to be whole again, and they weren’t the only ones exhibiting smiles in this tale.

For Julian was finally getting sober since he was in recovery, and he still had some kind of a thing going with Leanne and well… that genuinely made it seem as though the next chapter of this story was going to revolve around peace and healing and in many ways… it still might. Since the happiness that trio are exhibiting is hard to shatter. But make no mistake about it, this is a horror story, and it found a way to keep its themes revolving around the power of trauma and loss rolling, by way of Leanne. Because despite enjoying intimacy with Julian and finding a place and a home at last that was nurturing and healthy… she was oft scared in this story. For she knew the monsters she left behind were still out there, and she was convinced that it was only a matter of time before they came calling once again.

Which allowed for the story to really explore how trauma stays with us and can control us and it accomplished that examination… by having us to spend a great deal of time with Leanne in this story. So, we could see the fear that was surging through her veins. For every minute of every day, she kept a close eye out for members of her former group, even going so far as to bother strangers on the street because they resembled people she knew. Plus, she basically refused to leave the house and well, her journey in this story made it inherently clear that in the immediate wake of trauma, when it is severe enough… we are not ourselves and it will have a tight grip upon us, and the only way to be free of it is through care and support and well, thus far… she’s only getting the latter regarding that and that does leave one to wonder if this will spiral out of control. 

Or… she could also be right to be vigilant and afraid since we simply don’t know if her former life will come back to haunt her. Which only adds to the mystique of this trope defying premiere. One that really did shake things up and take us into new territory, all while staying true to the show’s raw examination of the darker moments of life and well, all of these elements make this a brilliant premiere for certain. Since it was the perfect blend of reintroduction and growth and it offered plenty of mystery as well. For we simply don’t know what this story has in store for us going forward, since this is undiscovered country with an unpredictable evil and that really is a brilliant way to set up season three. Because it will motivate us to not miss a single minute of a fresh and original horror story that is going to surprise us at every turn. Until next time.

Something that is genuinely fascinating about the new year is that it takes a little time for it to ramp up for everyone. As though a collective moment of reflection/relief/relaxation takes over all of humanity and allows for us to enjoy a little quiet time before things kick into overdrive and they do indeed get going in an intense manner, and quickly, and what’s wild is that this even applies to the creative world and for proof… look no further than Shudder.

For this beacon of horror enjoyed a brief hiatus at the start of the year, quietly releasing a few films without an ounce of news on future releases. But just like that, Shudder has come to life and not only announced its February lineup the other day, but the movers and shakers at Shudder are also quickly moving in regard to preparing the rest of 2022’s lineup on the network. For earlier today, the network announced that it had acquired the rights to the Sundance Midnight Official Selection, Speak No Evil, and well… here are all the details on an acquisition that we here at NTG cannot wait to watch… courtesy of Shudder.   

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to psychological horror Speak No Evil ahead of its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. An official selection of Sundance Midnight, Speak No Evil is written and directed by Christian Tafdrup (A Horrible Woman) and is set for release in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland in late 2022. 

“Speak No Evil is a bold entry into the genre for writer/director Christian Tafdrup that expertly blends terror, humor and the mundanities of human interaction,” said Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder. “We can’t wait to transport our members to the Dutch countryside for a casual weekend of psychological twists and shocking turns.”

Said Christian Tafdrup, “I am delighted to team up with Shudder as our distribution partner for Speak No Evil — I am so looking forward to meeting the U.S. audiences with this film, and appreciate the great passion and ambitions of the Shudder team.”

In Speak No Evil, on a vacation in Tuscany, two families – one Danish, one Dutch – meet and become fast friends. Months later, the free-spirited Dutch family extends an invitation to the more conservative Danish one for a holiday weekend getaway at their countryside home. However, it doesn't take long before things gradually get out of hand as the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings. The Dutch hospitality quickly turns unnerving for the Danes, and they find themselves increasingly caught in a web of their own politeness in the face of eccentric…or is it sinister…behavior.

Written by Tafdrup and his brother, Mads Tafdrup (A Horrible Woman), Speak No Evil stars Morten Burian and Sidsel Siem Koch as the Danish couple, Bjørn and Louise, as well as Fedja van Huêt and Karina Smulders as the Dutch couple, Patrick and Karin.

Speak No Evil is Tafdrup’s first genre film and was presented as part of Works-in-Progress at the Gothenburg (Göteborg) Nordic Film Market 2021. The acquisition deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder and Susan Wendt, Managing Director of TrustNordisk (Another Round) on behalf of the filmmakers. 

The film is produced by Profile Pictures’ producer Jacob Jarek (Rams, Shelley), in co-production with Oak Motion Pictures in the Netherlands, with support from The Danish Film Institute, FilmFyn, The Netherlands Film Production Incentive, with co-financing from DR and Nordisk Film Distribution. Local distribution will be facilitated through Nordisk Film Distribution.’

One of the biggest reasons that the AMC series, The Walking Dead, became an outright phenomenon… is its characters. Because every single person that we know and adore on this series, is incredibly relatable in some form or fashion. For we either share traits and habits with them or know someone that does and that really did allow for us to latch onto this series in a manner that we never thought was possible and what’s wild… is that this realism extends beyond Rick Grimes and his family and friends. Because the villains of this universe, also have incredible depth and some form of relatability to them. Since their toxic traits are painfully familiar since we’ve encountered them somewhere along the line in our travels and they were able to properly nurture them in this broken new world, and it just so happens, that our first real taste of the depth that goes into their construction, came about in the third season of the series.

For ‘Walk with Me’ is an episode that introduced Andrea and Michonne to a new corner of The Walking Dead Universe, a tiny little berg known as Woodbury. Which was a thriving community of seventy-three people that went about their day as though the dead weren’t walking the earth and attempting to eat the flesh of the living. And it accomplished that goal, by way of its enigmatic and charming leader, a man known only as the Governor and what made his first appearance in the live-action arm of the franchise so compelling… is the sheer fact that we instantly know what this guy is about and what kind of a weasel he is. Because we’ve all run into people like the Governor in our lives. You know the type, an everyday guy that is well-spoken and commands the room but is easily forgotten once you leave their presence since they have no substance… and you know that their ability to blend in, in that manner, just pisses that kind of guy right off.

Because they are the way that they are, to get noticed and to be somebody to someone since they don’t exist at work or at home. So, given the chance to take over and be a leader would be a dream come true for them, especially if they don’t have to answer to the rules of the world and the etiquette that others follow and bury them with, and well… how does one infer all of that about a guy like the Governor in an episode that hides his evil for the majority of the episode? Easy… it’s all in the little angry clues he peppers in throughout the episode. Because when someone stands up to him or expresses frustration, those years of anger bubble up to the surface of his face and boil over in his voice and the dagger stare he gives the foolish person that dared to speak. Making it clear that he is done taking orders and s*it from others and only gives commands now and that’s a testament to David Morrissey’s acting skills since it takes a supremely talented actor to pull off that kind of subtlety.

But while it is incredible to see all of that now, the subtle layers to a villain isn’t the only draw of this episode. Because let’s be honest, this is another geek-out fest. Courtesy of the fact that Woodbury came to life on the small screen in a dynamic manner and you can’t go wrong with the fact that this episode brought Merle Dixon back into the fold and that Michael Rooker doesn’t miss a beat in playing him. Plus, it’s also awesome that this episode is filled to the brim with homages to George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead, courtesy of the Dr. Logan-esque lair that Milton has created for himself. And of course, this episode features one of the biggest comic-book homages of them all, by way of the Governor’s fish tank room. Wherein the fish tanks full of walker heads were brought to life in a creepy and gore-ious fashion, courtesy of Greg Nicotero’s incredible special effects work.

In the end however, this was just a solid episode through and through. One that holds up well after all these years, courtesy of those stellar performances and it's wonderful subtlety in exploring the makeup of a monster. Because by the end of this episode, we come to realize that the Governor is a genuine nightmare. One that will soon take those years of oppression and control and explode upon the world and well… it is hard to say if any of us will be prepared for that particular brand of ugly, the second time around. But this writer is here for it and cannot wait to gain new perspective from one of the ugliest and most compelling storylines the series would ever offer. Plus, it will be a real treat to watch David Morrissey chew up the scenery as this iconic villain once again, since he really did steal the show in season three and set the bar for every single villain to follow. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Last Thing Mary Saw’.
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One collective belief that most of modern man shares in, is that humanity has made incredible progress regarding equality over the past couple of centuries. After all, women can vote when a century ago they could not. Love is finally recognized as a universal act in the courts, allowing for same sex marriage to take place and of course… people from different ethnic backgrounds are finally seen as equals and not as property or lesser citizens, since they are afforded all the rights that rest of us of are. Which means in essence, we should be living in a grand utopia of sorts, one where the sky is the limit, and our future will be written in harmony. But alas, that simply is not the case. For the world is still a chaotic place where prejudice seems to be returning to the mainstream and for proof… just look at the past couple of years.
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For there is a raging battle happening in the courts right now regarding women’s reproductive rights, the kind that the wrong side appears to be winning, which will set back decades of progress and remove freedoms. Not to mention, equal rights regarding the color of your skin or your heritage are not as commonplace as they should be, and Neo-Nazi beliefs are being praised and embraced in a nation that once worked with the world to squash them. Plus, despite finally having same sex marriage be recognized as legal, there is still plenty of prejudice and hate that LGBTQIA+ individuals experience regarding their right to love whomever they wish to love, and let’s not forget that some refused and still refuse to view the law of the land regarding this, as such. Which means we have a long way to go equality wise and these kinds of persistent problems do leave one to wonder… what is the root cause of this lack of progress?

Well as it turns out, the horror industry is leading the charge in answering that all-important question, and it just so happens that Shudder is now host to a motion picture that offers up a potential answer to this problem and that makes The Last Thing Mary Saw, quite the poignant and powerful horror feature. One that outright informs us of the fact that religion, not the concept of it as a whole mind you, but how it is interpreted by individuals that use forgiveness and self-interpretation to drive their own dark agendas… is likely one big reason as to why we are stuck from an equality standpoint. A point it drives home by way of a straightforward plot. Wherein a well-to-do family in New York, is worried about their daughter Mary. For she is clearly in love with the maid, Eleanor, and their religious beliefs and social standing, makes that a sin in their eyes and prompts them to turn to the wise matriarch, who knows her Bible… to figure out how to break the spell of forbidden love that has washed over these young women. And she believes the best way to do that, is through reconditioning and prayer and well… at first glance… that’s not exactly a groundbreaking plot.

After all, that feels akin to cliché territory since we’ve heard those horror stories of prejudice and ultra-devoted religious beliefs, before. But therein lies the trick. For this story is set in 1843 and by going that route and showcasing elements that are familiar and still happen today, the story hammers home its point. Because if we are still hearing about families that try to ‘pray the gay away’ and/or use abuse to ‘recondition’ or remove someone’s supposed ‘impure urges’, then not much has changed and well… much hasn’t. Because people like the matriarch of this story still exist and if they’re not family members, they’re still old white, ignorant idiots that have a pulpit before them and revel in harming those that they believe are different in the name of a God they’ve created, and well, seeing that on display here and knowing little has changed, makes this an infuriating and uncomfortable viewing experience.
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Since it speaks volumes to how some are holding generations of progress back because of outdated personal beliefs that should have no gravity in the mainstream. But preying upon fear and the weak and using power and monetary influence allows for these beliefs to stick around. Which means that in essence, this is a horror film about the horrors of faith and prejudice and the ugliness that comes out of them, and it doesn’t hurt that the movie uses that notion to make the audience nervous and uncomfortable. Because one of our underlying fears is what devout zealots are capable of when they are eager to prove their way is the right way to the masses. Which gives life to a genuine sense of danger that hangs over Mary and her love, and that puts the viewer on the edge of their seat as they hope with every fiber of their being that these innocents will come out of this nightmare unscathed.

As to whether or not they do, we cannot reveal here. Because there are so many surprises that would be criminal to reveal in this review. Which means, this is a movie that you need to experience firsthand. To not only uncover the resolution of those ominous plot point. But also, because this story is powerful and relevant and brilliant in every way imaginable, and it truly is a quality horror film through and through. Courtesy of the fact that it puts this kind of prejudice on display in the raw and forces us to face it at last. Not to evoke a sense of terror or to casually observe a reality. But to challenge us, to challenge it, and demand better of our fellow man so we can finally move forward as a species and achieve the wonders we dream of. So, when you have a chance, please swing by Shudder, and give this stunning and poignant film a look. Because this one really is something quite special.