It is definitely safe to say that the AMC series, The Walking Dead, is one of the smartest horror stories to ever hit the airwaves. Because it has always made use of social commentary and observations about the human condition to tell its harrowing tales and in doing so, it has provided its loyal fan base with powerful stories. The kind that explores, how the human spirit endures in times of strife and how we process grief and loss and in its later years, it has explored, in great detail… our follies and our missteps and how we can be our own worst enemy because of fear and greed and indulgence of the darkness that sadly resides in all of us. But that particular examination and the hard questions the final season has been asking about humanity, needed some kind of genesis point… since big questions grow from little ones and it just so happens that the second episode of season three, was that jump off point.

For ‘Sick’ is a story that took the time to examine our arrogance and our selfishness and how those elements can prevent us from working together and motivate us to harm and fear one another and it accomplished that feat... by introducing our group of heroes to a somewhat unsavory one. For the jailbirds that briefly made an appearance in the last episode, wherein they watched Rick slice off Hershel’s leg… took the center stage in this story. For they were locked away in the pantry for months on end and didn’t have a clue as to what happened to the outside world and well, once they learned about the end of everything and were given a chance to peacefully coexist with Rick and his family and friends… is when the exploration in question, got underway. Because unfortunately, the leader of the prison group, Tomas… saw this alliance as an opportunity for more.

Wherein he could be the leader this prison needed and where he could be admired at last, and all he had to do… was get Rick out of the way. A feat that was no easy task because Rick Grimes sees all and spotted the treachery, to the point where when the opportunity arose to deal with Tomas and his pseudo-right-hand man, Andrew… he took it and killed one of them for certain. Which of course, brought about peace and new allies since everything was copacetic now with the remaining prisoners that didn’t want trouble. But what matters more here, is the subtle commentary, and how the story spotlighted that the same problems that plagued humanity before the end, were still out there and at the time… few of us had a clue that such problems would continue to pop up down the line. Because at first glance, this appears to be a one off, courtesy of some rightfully broken men. But this was the genesis point that would kick off a bevy of explorations on how the living would be a bigger problem than the dead and it was quite amazing to see that take shape here. 

However, while it was incredible to see the commentary that would shape the future of the franchise come to life in this tale, there were more poignant moments to be found here. After all, Hershel spent the entirety of this episode, knocking on death’s door. For his wound was ugly and his health was in rough shape because of it and for quite some time… it appeared as though a major character death was coming. One that would break our hearts, and that allowed for so many people in this tale, to ponder upon the nature of death going forward and how best to process it at a time when living death is everywhere, and when endless danger wouldn’t allow for a standard grieving process and that too made this moment a genesis point. For the show would explore a great deal of that in later years and in many ways… this sequence was designed to prepare us for the worst. Since season three would in fact, be a bloodbath when it came to the principal cast.

But thankfully, Hershel lived, and peace came to this group once again and in the end, this was just a solid… fast paced tale. One that offered up creepy moments and dark humor, courtesy of the prisoners’ attempts to ‘kill’ the living dead, and of course… set the stage for so much more. Because you really see the formation of what this show would stand for in this story and that’s incredible. Since it gives us grand perspective on the journey that is about to end and well, now that we’ve reached the end of the beginning so to speak… we can turn our attention to another examination of evil. Specifically, what can drive normal people into evil’s mottled and waiting arms and truly, this writer cannot write to dive into that particular tale, one that would introduce us to a nasty and enigmatic and oddly charming villain. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Firebite’. To revisit Episode 5, ‘I Wanna Go Home’, click here.
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One particular aspect of the vampire mythos that shows up often in vampire stories… is undying loyalty from those who have been turned into bloodsuckers, to the one that turned them, and it makes sense why this appears so often in vampire fiction. Because it gives the story, a true bloodthirsty heavy… the Master Vampire. A dastardly being that controls all and expects the eternal life he or she has given their flock, to be repaid in loyalty and complete compliance. Plus, having the master be the source of all things evil in the story, absolves the minions of evil and the finer points of free will… allowing for a streamlined good versus evil tale to take place, one where the hero is always triumphant when they plunge a stake into the master’s heart at the end of the tale. 

But while that makes for an engaging and entertaining story, it is fairly cliché to see these days and something of a crutch creatively. Which is why it is always wonderful to encounter a vampire story that shakes up the mythos and points out that vampires were once human and still carry with them some of their humanity and thankfully, Firebite took the time to explore that in its next episode. For ‘The Bastard King’ introduced a little selfish chaos into the Vampire King’s world, courtesy of Eleona. Because while Tyson and Shanika were making plans to go back down into the caves to rescue Shanika’s mom, shortly after escaping the attempts on their lives, Eleona kept making attempts to reach out to them to offer up quite the deal.

In that, she would lead them into the lair to rescue an ailing mum and help them to kill the Vampire King, an act that seemed way out of line for a vampire to want to take part in, but she had her reasons. Simply because, she was sick of the King and knew him from ages ago and knew that it wouldn’t be long before his brand of cruelty and ass-hattery would bring strife and suffering to this particular part of the world and the vampires that wished to live in the caves. Which was a deal that Tyson was skeptical about, because helping a bloodsucker seemed like a downright terrible and foolish idea. But Eleona made a compelling case for certain, and the chance to make Shanika whole again was too good to pass up, so Tyson agreed to the terms, and quickly came to regret it.

Because once they got into the caves and saw minimal suckers roaming about, Tyson got suspicious and those suspicions only grew when it became apparent that the King wasn’t present in his lair and that Shanika’s mom had been moved to another location and well, his concerns were justified. Because in essence, Eleona was working on a grand power play here… one that would give her leverage over Tyson and solve her problems with the King and in order to get exactly what she wanted, she surrendered up the nearby community to the King as part of a grand plan to have Tyson and Shanika ambush him upon his return. But alas, knowing that they were pawns in her plan, and that friends were going to die to execute it, was more than Tyson could bear and he worked to break the deal and rescue an ailing mother… only to get knocked out and captured.

Which left our heroes in quite the precarious and scary place. For there is no help coming, and the Vampire King’s fury is at its peak. But while we wait to see whether or not they will escape their current predicament, we can revel in the wonder of a unique tale. One that watched a vampire turn their back on their master and indulge in all the slimier parts of the human condition to get their way and to potentially take over as leader for the vampires that lurk in these caves, and that just was a wonderful touch to inject into this story. Since it added a wild sense of realism to a story that should have none. But this is a special type of vampire story, and it will be quite amazing to see what other surprises in this vein are in store for us, as we inch toward the end of season one. Until next time.

The new year brings with it, a grand sense of change. For it signals a fresh start, one that is so inspiring and motivating that each and every one of us approach the new year in an eager manner. Wherein we plan to make this our year and accomplish our resolutions and our goals with zest and zeal. But while it is wonderful to know that the new year is indeed a time of renewal, it should be noted… that a great many aspects of our world, don’t have that sense of change when the calendar resets to 1/1, nor do they alter in the slightest. After all, rent is still due, taxes still need to be filed and thankfully, Shudder will continue to deliver quality horror films our way.

Because month in and month out, this service understands that horror fans need to be treated to quality scary stories on a consistent basis and their proud tradition of offering up a bevy of original and stunning content, alongside horror classics will continue along in February as evidenced by today’s announcement. Wherein Shudder informed us as to what terrifying treats will be arriving the second month of the new year, and well… without further ado… here is your guide to Shudder’s 2022 February Lineup, courtesy of our favorite horror streamer.

(Available on Shudder US, Shudder UKI, and Shudder ANZ)
After the death of his mother, Lucas, a loner who lives in a rundown home with his brother Tom, regularly seeks solace in the nearby woods. With his only “friends” being a group of female bullies, he keeps to himself most of the time. But, after a strange encounter with an inhuman monster, Lucas begins to withdraw from others. When the two reach a tentative trust, a bizarre friendship is born, and Lucas is swept up in a series of primal adventures. 
 
Slapface, which won the “Best Audience Award” for “Best Horror/Thriller/Sci-Fi” Film at the Cinequest Film Festival in 2021, was written and directed by Jeremiah Kipp (Black Wake; 60 Seconds to Die ‘Monster’; The Sadist; The Pod) based on his short film of the same title. The film stars August Maturo (Girl Meets World, The Nun), Mike Manning (Son of the South, Teen Wolf), Dan Hedaya (The Usual Suspects), Mirabelle Lee (Blood Ties), Lukas Hassel,and Libe Barer (Sneaky Pete), Bianca D’Ambrosio (The Bay, I Am Mortal, Fear of Rain), Chiara D’Ambrosio (The Bay, I Am Mortal).

(Available on Shudder US, Shudder UKI, and Shudder ANZ)
North of Spain, at the end of the 19th century, during the final throes of the last Carlist war, a little girl is rescued from an orphanage by a mysterious woman after it’s destroyed by a bomb. Wounded and close to death, the girl believes the woman is an angel coming to take her to Heaven. Soon, however, she discovers that this strange being has given her the gift of eternal life by turning her into a vampire. 
 
Directed by Basque filmmaker Igor Legarreta (When You No Longer Love Me), All the Moons won several awards at the 25th Edition of The Fantasia International Film Festival, including "Best Director," "Best Cinematography," and "Audience Award." The film stars Haizea Carneros, Josean Bengoetxea, and Itziar Ituño.

(Available on Shudder US, Shudder UKI, and Shudder ANZ)
While investigating a child abuse case, a young social worker discovers that a supernatural entity is tormenting the family. To save the parents from losing custody of their child, she must confront her fears and use her clairvoyance to stop the malevolent force. Written and directed by brothers Burlee and Abel Vang (The Tiger’s Child.) They Live in the Grey stars Michelle Krusiec (Hollywood), Ken Kirby (Good Trouble, Dynasty), Ellen Wroe (For All Mankind, Shameless), Madelyn Grace (Don’t Breathe 2).

(Available on Shudder US, Shudder UKI, and Shudder ANZ)
16-year-old Izzy leads an isolated life on a lonely mountaintop. All she’s learned is from her protective mom and the wilderness that swallows them. It’s a gentle, quiet existence — except for when Izzy and Mom bang out loud songs for their band, H6LLB6ND6R. Izzy dreams of a live gig, but her mother thinks she’s too sick and mustn’t be around others. Questioning her illness and starved for companionship, Izzy sneaks down the mountain where she befriends brazen Amber. Izzy is in heaven until a cruel drinking game with a live worm unleashes a new kind of hunger.
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Hellbender, which had its world premiere at the 25th Fantasia International Film Festival in August 2021, is the sixth feature film written and directed by the filmmaking Adams family, Toby Poser, John Adams, and their daughter Zelda Adams(The Deeper You Dig, Halfway to Zen, The Shoot).  Poser and Zelda Adams stars in the film, along with Zelda’s sister Lulu Adams. Zelda took home the Best Actress award at the Fantasia Intl. Film Festival.

​(Available on Shudder US)
In the final season of A Discovery of Witches, Matthew (Matthew Goode) and Diana (Teresa Palmer) return from their trip to 1590 to find tragedy at Sept-Tours. They must find the missing pages from the Book of Life and the Book itself before it’s too late. Their enemies are gearing up against them, and a monster from Matthew’s past who has been lying in wait will return for revenge. A Discovery of Witches Season 3 is based on the “The Book of Life” novel from Deborah Harkness’s bestselling All Souls trilogy and is the third and final installment.

​(Available on Shudder US)        
Love (and a tinge of horror) is in the air for The Last Drive-In’s new special! Joe Bob Briggs will be joined by special guests for a double feature of two unique films that explore the heartbreaking side of Valentine’s Day

A collection of Boris Karloff’s most iconic film roles, premiering February 1 on Shudder US. Presented as a companion to the January 27th Shudder Exclusive documentary Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster: The Black Cat, Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, House of Frankenstein, The Mummy, and Son of Frankenstein, along with The Old Dark House and Black Sabbath, both now available on Shudder US.

February 1

• Tales from the Hood
(Available on Shudder US)
A funeral director tells four strange tales of horror to three drug dealers he traps in his place of business.
 
• Tales from the Hood 2
(Available on Shudder US)
A sequel to the cult classic reunites executive producerSpike Lee and writer/directors Rusty Cundieff and Darin Scott for this horror-comedy starring David Keith. 
 
• Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight
(Available on Shudder US)
A man on the run is hunted by a demon known as The Collector.
 
• Tales from the Crypt: Bordello of Blood
(Available on Shudder US)
The Crypt Keeper returns to tell the story of a funeral parlor that moonlights as a vampire bordello.
 
• Cherry Falls
(Available on Shudder US)
In the small town of Cherry Falls, a psychotic murderer is killing off the virgins of the local high school.
 
• Queen of the Damned
(Available on Shudder US))
In this loose sequel to Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles the vampire Lestat becomes a rock star whose music wakes up the equally beautiful and monstrous Queen of all vampires.
 
• Roh
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA)
Cut off from civilization, a single mother puts her children on high alert when they bring home a young girl caked in clay. She tells of spirits and spirit hunters, but these are not mere superstitions. As more strangers show up on her doorstep, she quickly finds another reason to fear the forest. Malaysia's official submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.
 
• Amulet 
(Available on Shudder CA)
An ex-soldier, homeless in London, is offered a place to stay at a decaying house inhabited by a young woman and her dying mother. As he starts to fall for her, he cannot ignore his suspicion that something sinister is going on. 
 
• Censor 
(Available on Shudder CA)
After viewing a strangely familiar video, Enid, a film sensor, sets out to solve the past mystery of her sister’s disappearance, embarking on a quest that dissolves the line between fiction and reality. 
 
• The Initiation
(Available on Shudder UKI)
A professor struggling to save his marriage and career uncovers a society of witches.
 
• Battle Royale 
(Available on Shudder UKI)
In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary “Battle Royale” act.     

• Battle Royale II
(Available on Shudder UKI)
Three years after the failure of the last Battle Royale program, a second act is forged, and a class of students is sent to an island with one objective: to kill international terrorist Shuya Nanahara. 
 
February 2
 
• Blood Glacier  
(Available on Shudder US)
Scientists working in the Austrian Alps discover that a glacier is leaking a liquid that appears to be affecting local wildlife.
 
·   The Last Winter
(Available on Shudder US)
An oil company drilling in the Arctic triggers something very scary during an expedition in director Larry Fessenden's eco-horror film, which stars Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley), Connie Britton (American Horror Story) and James Le Gros (Hunters).
 
February 7
 
•   Rock, Paper, Scissors 
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA)
Jesus and Jose Maria are siblings living in a closed-off world constructed of strange games and relentless madness. When their half-sister Magdalena returns home to inquire about her share of their inheritance, a strange and bloody affair ensues.
 
•   Entwined
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder UKI, Shudder ANZ)
Panos, a city doctor, relocates to a remote Greek village to offer his services to the underserved community. It's love at first sight when he sees Danae, who lives in isolation and with a mysterious skin condition. Determined to cure her, Panos will soon discover Danae is not the helpless princess he thought she was, and time is of the essence for both.
 
•  Fragile 
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA)
At her new job in a rundown children’s hospital, a nurse desperately tries to keep her patients safe from a plague of random mysterious acts. 

• City of the Living Dead  
(Available on Shudder UKI)
A reporter and a psychic race to close the Gates of Hell after the suicide of a clergyman caused them to open, allowing the dead to rise from their graves. 
 
• The Bird with the Crystal Plumage 
(Available on Shudder UKI)
   An American expatriate in Rome witnesses an attempted murder that is connected to an ongoing killing spree in the city, and despite himself and his girlfriend being targeted by the killer, he conducts his own investigation.
 
•  Initiation  
(Available on Shudder ANZ)
Whiton University unravels the night a star-athlete is murdered, kicking off a spree of social media slaying that force students to uncover the truth behind the school’s hidden secrets and the horrifying meaning of an exclamation point.
           
February 8
 
•   I Blame Society
(Available on Shudder US)
A struggling filmmaker senses her peers are losing faith in her ability to succeed, so she decides to prove herself by finishing her last abandoned film... and committing the perfect murder. Writer/director Gillian Wallace Horvat, nominated for this year's "Someone to Watch" Independent Spirit Award, stars along with Keith Poulson (Her Smell) and Chase Williamson (Scare Package).
 
February 14
 
• Knocking  
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA)
After suffering a traumatic incident, Molly (Cecilia Milocco) moves into a new apartment to begin her path to recovery, but it’s not long after her arrival that a series of persistent knocks and screams begin to wake her up at night. Molly’s new life begins to unravel as the screams intensify and no one else in the building believes or is willing to help her.

• Corporate Animals
(Available on Shudder US)
A delusional CEO (Demi Moore) takes her staff of misfits on a disastrous team building retreat led by an overeager guide (Ed Helms). When catastrophe strikes and the food runs out, mandatory office bonding becomes a lot more... appetizing.
 
·   I Am a Ghost
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA)
Emily, a troubled spirit, haunts her own house every day, wondering why she can’t leave. With help from a clairvoyant hired to rid the home of ghosts, Emily is forced into a “patient/therapist” relationship, uncovering disturbing mysteries about her past that may help her move on to the “next place.”
 
• Silent Retreat
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA)
Janey is sent to a silent meditation retreat, in the woods, for rehabilitation, only to realize that the men who run it are brainwashing women, and if she breaks the rules, she'll discover what lurks beyond the trees.
 
• Spring  
(Available on Shudder US)
A young man in a personal tailspin flees to Italy, where he sparks up a romance with a woman harboring a dark secret.

• Eat Brains Love 
(Available on Shudder US)
A laugh-out-loud funny, romantic, zombie road trip movie filled with heart and brains.
 
• The Wretched 
(Available on Shudder UKI, Shudder ANZ)
A defiant teenage boy, struggling with his parents’ imminent divorce, faces off with a thousand-year-old witch, who is posing as the woman next door. 

• 31  
(Available on Shudder UKI)
Five carnival workers are kidnapped and held hostage in an abandoned and hellish compound and forced to participate in a violent game, the goal of which is to survive twelve hours against a gang of sadistic clowns.

• Hagazussa 
(Available on Shudder UKI)
In a remote Alpine village in the 15th century lives a marked woman. The scapegoat of ancient superstitions and monstrous misogyny, this self-styled witch begins to assert her otherworldly birthright. This atmospheric debut feature from Lukas Feigelfeld is a haunting pagan death trip and a startling vision of psychedelic horror.

• A Night of Horror  
(Available on Shudder ANZ)
A collection of strange and terrifying shorts from Australia’s long running A Night of Horror International Film Festival.

• XX  
(Available on Shudder ANZ)
XX is an all-female helmed horror anthology featuring four dark tales written and directed by fiercely talented women:Annie Clark (St. Vincent), Karyn Kusama (The Invitation), Roxanne Benjamin (Body at Brighton Rock) and Jovanka Vuckovic (Riot Girls), featuring a cast that includes Natalie Brown, Melanie Lynskey, Breeda Wooland Christina Kirk.
 
February 21
 
• Dawn of the Beast 
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA, Shudder ANZ)
A group of graduate students get more than they bargained for while searching for the legendary Bigfoot. Not only is he real, but there’s something far more lurking in the shadows.

• Dogs 
(Available on Shudder US)
Roman returns to the land he just inherited from his grandfather. After he decides to sell the vast desolate property, a local police officer warns him that his late grandfather was a local crime lord, and his men will never let go of the land.
 
• Detention 
(Available on Shudder US, Shudder CA)
1962 Taiwan, during the time of the White Terror. Fang wakes up at her desk, but school has changed. As she wanders through the sinister corridors and other dilapidated rooms in search of her teacher, she meets Wei (Tse Jing-Hua). Together, they must confront the ghosts and deformed monsters that have taken over their alma mater, to find out what happened there.
        
• Come to Daddy
(Available on Shudder CA)
A man in his thirties travels to a remote cabin to reconnect with his estranged father.
 
• Bloodline 
(Available on Shudder CA)
Evan values family above all else, and anyone who gets between him, his wife, and his newborn son learns that the hard way. But when it comes to violent tendencies, it seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.      

• Undergods 
(Available on Shudder UKI)
An otherworldly journey through a Europe in decline – a collection of darkly humorous, fantasy tales about ill-fated characters and doomed fortune. 

• The Lesson  
(Available on Shudder UKI)
Fin, a lone teen from a broken family, gets caught up in the wrong crowd of delinquent kids in this chilling horror film filled with white-knuckle suspense.
 
February 28

• ABCs of Death 2 
(Available on Shudder ANZ)
Another 26-chapter anthology that showcases death in all its vicious wonder and brutal beauty.

• Across the River  
(Available on Shudder ANZ)
An ethologist works in the remote woods trapping animals and mounting cameras on them to monitor their behavior. The resulting recordings lead him to an isolated village, the site of an ancient curse, where he gets trapped due to heavy rain that raises the level of the river and floods his only way out.

• Sputnik  
(Available on Shudder ANZ)
The lone survivor of an enigmatic spaceship incident hasn’t returned home alone – hiding inside his body is a dangerous creature.

• V/H/S 2 
(Available on Shudder UKI)
Searching for a missing student, two private investigators break into his house and find a collection of VHS tapes. Viewing the horrific contents of each cassette, they realize there may be dark motives behind the student’s disappearance.

• V/H/S: Viral  
(Available on Shudder UKI)
A Los Angeles police chase sends a fame-obsessed man on a wild ride to save his girlfriend from a cybernetic terror.

It’s been a little while since we talked about The Walking Dead, and understandably so. Because we’ve all been quietly and patiently awaiting the arrival of Part 2 of the final season of this incredible series, and we’ve been able to do so, thanks to the fact that AMC made it clear when this show would be returning to the airwaves shortly, after it went off the air for its Part 1 hiatus.
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But the quiet wait for the next chapter in this series came to an end today. For earlier today, AMC released new key art and a trailer for Part 2 of season eleven. One so good and filled with so many eye-popping images, we will be talking about it for weeks on end, likely until 2/20 arrives and well… rather than fan boy over this trailer all day long, instead… here it, and the key art are, for all of you to enjoy, courtesy of AMC Networks.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Locke & Key’. To revisit Episode 203, ‘Small World’, click here.
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It really is quite amazing how the horror genre continues to evolve to properly explore that which we fear. For instance, this is a genre that is starting to understand that what truly scares us, is inside of our minds and our hearts and souls and the more intimate the scare, the more effective it is. Which is why we are seeing a bevy of horror stories now, that are digging deep into the horrors of the real world and the power of the past and trauma and everything in between. For these stories truly tap into something primal in our hearts and minds and this is so popular an angle, that it is even sneaking its way into horror themed television shows and for proof… look no further than the next episode of Locke & Key on Netflix.
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For ‘Forget Me Not’ takes the time to dive into a concept that is only now gaining traction in our world, specifically… the nature and the function of the repressed memory and what happens to the human psyche when that deeply buried traumatic event resurfaces unexpectedly and it accomplished this examination… by putting Duncan in a tough place mentally. For it turns out the memories that Kinsey and Tyler reinserted into his mind, took hold after all and well, having what was lost or ‘repressed’ return to the forefront of his mind, screwed him up, plain and simple. In part because the magic block on his mind made remembering difficult, but more so because he truly had to face some dark memories from yesteryear and that wasn’t easy for him in the slightest. Especially when it came to the ugly one that everyone feared.

Which brought forth some powerful moments. The kind that made it clear to the viewer that the repressed memory is no joke and having it return via some form of trigger can indeed be devastating and terrifying and well, when or if it does for a person… the best thing they can do to overcome such matters… is to have a support network around them. Which thankfully Duncan did here, and while it wasn’t successful at immediately healing Duncan, and was scary at times for Bode and the others… it was obvious that they wouldn’t let those memories consume Duncan and were ready to risk the future of the keys if it meant their uncle would be okay. And while this episode didn’t dive much deeper than that into such matters, it really does deserve a round of applause for taking the time to explore this concept in any capacity and shine a real light on something that genuinely happens in our world and devastates people in the process.

But while Duncan’s journey would have been enough to carry this story from beginning to end, there was still more it offered us. Such as more shenanigans involving Gabe/Dodge. Since our villain confronted the long-departed Chamberlin regarding the lie he told Gabe revolving around the keys and in doing so… nearly lost his life. Since Chamberlin and Sam worked together to stop his particular brand of evil and nearly succeeded in keeping him from returning to the land of the living. Plus, Kinsey came to realize that she needed fear in her life to properly function and reintegrated it back into her psyche and she also came to learn, that Scot is going to be sticking around for quite some time. Since he didn’t get into the film school program and basically kept it a secret and likely has known for some time, adding another interesting wrinkle to their already complex relationship. 

Not to mention, the danger is still real regarding Gabe’s plans to forge a key of pure evil. Because despite being foiled by ghosts and running out of whispering iron, he found a new source present within Josh’s house during a social event, giving him another shot at forging evil and who knows what horrible lengths he will go to in order to convince the Locke’s to help him in his quest. But while we wait to see where that twist takes us, we can revel once more in a supremely intelligent and moving tale. One that added realism to this story like never before by way of its incredible examination revolving around the repressed memory, all while giving us more of what we love from this series, and it will be quite interesting to see what other poignant examinations await us, as season two continues on. Until next time.

One particular aspect of a potential apocalypse that zombie themed fiction tends to ignore or overlook, is resource management and it makes sense as to why. Because to focus upon that problem, where food and water are scarce, which makes life troublesome for the protagonists of the story, would require a dynamic shift in these tales tonally. One that shines the light upon a different kind of horror and the desire to make that a focus, could potentially turn audiences that love zombies and gore and commentary, off, and motivate them to find a zombie story that is more to their liking. But believe it or not, it is possible to make this notion the focus of a zombie themed story, and still engage the viewer in ways they never thought possible and for proof… then look no further than the season three premiere of The Walking Dead.
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For when we catch up with Rick Grimes and his intrepid band of survivors in ‘Seed’, months have passed since the harrowing events at the farm in the season two finale, and they’ve been on the road ever since. Which means that off-screen, they faced a tough winter. One where they spent their days foraging and moving from house to house and that has yielded rough results from a mental health standpoint. Because food is becoming quite scarce, as is shelter and not having those resources clearly has this group at their breaking point in this story. And it is the silence that accompanies their hunger and the decision to introduce this twist three seasons in that allows for this oft overlooked notion to work so well. Because it pulls at a primal fear, we all share in, since no one wants to go hungry and not know where their next meal is coming from, and it also works and engages us because… we genuinely care about these characters.

So, seeing them starve, when we know they are good people that deserve better, hurts us and nearly robs us of hope. For we can tell the situation is dire and we want them to desperately find a win, and being pulled into the story in that manner, is what makes the prison so special. Because we know what Rick knows. That it has the chance to offer them what they need alongside safety and security and now we are rooting for them to succeed in taking it, and well… all of those elements are quite powerful to watch when all is said and done. Because they all add genuine depth and meaning to a concept that should distract us from the overall plot at hand. Which is surviving a world ruled by the living dead. But while this fresh and engaging take on resource management could have carried this episode from beginning to end, the fact that this story never strays from what makes this series so beloved… makes this premiere downright brilliant.

Because the threat of the dead never takes a backseat in this tale, and we see the living dead often and they are still as frightening and uncomfortable as ever. And having them inside the prison and in places that should be safe, keeps that sense of danger that we love about this show going and what’s just as important… is that the show ups the ante when it comes to the threat of the dead as well. A feat it accomplishes by introducing zombified prison guards that cannot be wounded without close contact, a surprise that gives the dead strength, they should not have. But above all else, where this episode shines, is in its ending. Since we are forced to watch Hershel have a bite taken out of his leg, leaving us fearful that a great man is going to die in this story and that moment still has shock value after all these years.

Which is why this writer opted to declare this premiere as brilliant. Because raising the stakes in an opening chapter is a downright rarity in television, as is truly putting our beloved characters through the wringer. But this episode pulls all of that off no problem, and it also does a wonderful job of reintroducing us to the dangers of this world. But what truly makes a re-watch of this episode so worthwhile, is the nostalgia factor. For this was a powerhouse season for the show, one that introduced a fresh and exciting threat to our extended, on-screen family by way of a madman/down home despot, and well… knowing what awaits and how it made us feel the first time around, energizes a viewer for certain and utterly compels us to continue this journey. To partake in all the horrors and victories and heartbreaking moments once again; that season three had to offer. Until next time.

When you think about spirit doorways, you usually only think of them swinging one way. But when you look at any doorway in the land of the living, you see that they allow you to enter or exit. Knowing this, you should be mindful when trying to connect with something or someone on the other side, because you never know who or what you will invite through or if they are looking to take something back with them. Believing or not believing in the other side is something that is left up to the individual, but you will not find me trying to make contact with a spirit or anything that will open a doorway to the other side.
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Starting to shoot his final Webisode, Shelly and his brother Luis are waiting for everyone to show up. Seeing Paige arrive with the new members of their ghost hunting team, Shelly is shocked when he finds out the price for his players has risen a hundred dollars a head. Paying out more than he expected, the group gets their introductions done on tape and are now waiting for the man with the key to arrive to let them into the extremely haunted Park Hotel. But things are not happening fast enough for Shelly’s liking as his demeanor is starting to go downhill with his producer and girlfriend Paige who will have none of his attitude.

Seeing a black truck arriving with the caretaker of the hotel, the group is ready to head inside. But Doyle is not going to be held responsible for the group as the deal to get in was with his son and not him. Trying to explain to the group that bad things have happened inside of the hotel whenever somebody tries to go in, Shelly and team will not back away. Offering more money to the caretaker, Shelly then alters his approach and threatens the old man and gets pushed to the ground. With the events being caught on tape and the promise of not showing it, if and only if they can gain entrance into the hotel, Doyle lets them in, but still tries to convince them not to stay.

Ignoring the warnings, Shelly and his psychic Malia, producer Paige, cameraman Luis and sound couple of Elsa and Jackson head in and work on getting set up. But things are not looking good for Shelly as Malia has a walk around the hotel and does not want to perform her ceremony to unleash the spirits. Paying her more to do it anyway, the group gathers around and speaks the words to open the doorway to the other side. But when Malia tries to leave the haunted hotel and finds the door locked, the group is in for a night that will change their lives forever as there is no escaping the hotel until the light of day shines on it once again.

I must admit that I really liked the premise of this movie (which is also known as A Haunting at the Park Hotel​) as it started playing, and how they were trying to unlock the spirits in the hotel. The backstory of the hotel was great, with it being built on a burial ground and how it could turn people violent enough to the point where they would kill their loved ones. When the group is forced into a living nightmare as the hotel comes to life, it was great as they tried to band together against the unseen spirit who is looking to take away their souls and the foreboding crows cawing added creepiness to the story and while I am not a fan of the ending, it had a great buildup to everyone’s deaths. With creepy crows, bricked up windows, a fireless fire, an evil spirit, and plenty of running from the undead, this movie just goes to show you that unleashing a spirit to get clicks on your website may not be the wisest thing to do. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 302 of ‘A Discovery of Witches’. To revisit the season three premiere, click here.
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There are a great many trials and tribulations that families will endure throughout the years. Such as financial strife, martial problems, and growing pains with the children. Since kids do dumb things sometimes and that learning experience is never easy. But of the many troubles a family can face, there is one that parents hope will never come to fruition. Specifically, coming to learn that one of their children, has gone astray and committed awful and evil acts. For to cross that bridge, not only makes a parent question if by chance, they are utter failures at their one job, but it also leaves them holding the bag as to what comes next. For now, they must decide to stand by their child or turn their backs upon them, and this conundrum is top of mind today, because it served as the focal theme of the next episode of A Discovery of Witches.

But it sure didn’t seem as though that kind of tough notion was going to be present here. After all, this is a story that saw Peter Knox once again in duress, since his desperate attempts to have Satu help him regain power in the witch world, ended with him getting his pompous butt kicked… and that’s always satisfying. Plus, Matthew was willing to open up to the world about his affliction and his identity to others in order to help cure the blood rage. Since Diana’s pal put together a research team to figure out this mess and well, it’s a good thing that more resources and honesty were poured into this. Because a surprise reunion with Father Hubbard brought about joy and the conundrum in question. For Hubbard reunited Matthew and Diana, with young Jack. Whom as it turns out, was turned to vampirism, and has spent the decades waiting for his surrogate parents to return.

But while it was wonderful to see this family be reunited at last… it didn’t take long for the issue at hand to come to fruition. For we also came to learn that poor Jack… so missed his ‘mother’ and ‘father’, that he found himself motivated to do questionable acts to obtain memories of them. Such as stealing the pendant that was so sought-after last season. Which also meant though… that Jack was the very vampire that was suffering from blood rage and indulged in it, more often than he should. And to make matters worse, Benjamin was eager to help him enjoy that rage and taught him how to embrace it and how to hunt in the decades in between the return of Matthew and Diana and well, that revelation put Matthew and Diana in quite the difficult place. For their child was in fact, a monster through and through and had done horrible things in this world and now decisions had to be made.

After all, the family edict was to kill blood rage infected family members on sight and knowing full well that was the case, motivated Jack to run off into the night and put his father on the hunt and this was a harrowing sequence to watch play out. Because we never expected Jack to be the monster, nor did we ever expect Matthew to have to hunt his surrogate son and decide his fate and well, when he caught up with Jack… he made his call and a breath of relief washed over all of us. For Matthew realized that Jack was a mere victim of a condition that no one understood, and that science could potentially save lives by curing this mess and he decided it was best… that Jack live. A decision that Matthew might come to regret since his brother won’t like it in the slightest, but even that may not be a problem after all. Since Matthew is ready to split the family to take it in a new direction.

One that embraces the future and rightfully so. Since the world is changing around Matthew and he’s taking part in that change and a new path might bring new opportunities for monster kind and a chance for penance for the ones that suffer from old lines of thinking. But before we enjoy the benefits of these bold decisions, we can revel in the wonder of another brilliant tale. One that really did make it clear how difficult it is to turn our backs on family and how we will indeed go the extra mile for them, regardless of their acts, when we know that salvation is in the cards and well… you cannot go wrong with tender moments in that manner, nor can you go wrong with character growth. Which is what we saw in spades here and in the end, all this episode does is leave us hungry for more, since we are all now dying to know how Matthew’s powerful change of heart is going to impact the monster world in a positive manner. Until next time.

There are people that believe that an eye for an eye mentality is the way to live life, while others say forgive and forget. While it is better to meet somewhere in the middle of these, sometimes the feeling of revenge is so great that it cannot be subdued. It is important to keep your wits about you if you want to make someone suffer, because if you don’t, you may have to face the same fate as them. You never know what the world has in store for you, but if you allow yourself to cross the line, you may find out even if you are in the right, the end result may be bad.

Going about their day, Ed and his son Billy are having a great time as always. Getting their store up and running, they are greeted by a handful of city folk that are looking to have a good experience and a great time as well. Forgetting Mr. Wallace’s goods at the house, Ed offers to deliver it all to his doorstep before the day is out and leaves his boy in charge of the shop. Seeing that the city folk seem to be under control, he thinks that this is a good idea, but that comes back to haunt him when he finds out that they have killed his child.

After accidentally running over Billy with his motorcycle, Joel is not going to stick around for anyone to find him and encourages his group of friends to leave the scene as soon as possible. Making their way to the cabin, Joel cuts off communication to the outside world and finds that his decision is being met with resistance from his friends Chris and Tracy. Taking care of those two, Joel and his girlfriend Kim explain to everyone else what the deal is and if he gets caught for killing the kid, even with it being an accident, he will be hauled off to jail. Knowing that Billy’s ideas are all wrong, his brother Steve tries to talk some sense into him but needs to focus on his girlfriend Maggie who is in shock after witnessing the boy being killed. Not knowing what the future will hold for them, the group is shocked to see that they have become the target of something that has not walked through the town in many years.

Fulfilling his commitment to Mr. Wallace by delivering his feed, Ed has something else on his mind and asks the elder man for help. Knowing that there is a woman that lives in the hills that can help him resurrect his son, Mr. Wallace is not going to allow his friend to travel down that road, but his boy Bunt will. Taking Ed to Haggis who has the power, Ed finds out that she will not be able to save his son, but if he wants revenge, she can surely help with that. Digging up a beast that has laid dormant for many years, Ed is sure that what he wants will make things right, but little does he know the price he will be forced to pay as well.

It has been years since I have seen this movie and I don’t understand why, it is a great revenge story that features a shot at redemption…along with plenty of blood. I really liked Ed Harley having to deal with the demons that he released on himself and I also enjoyed seeing how his true intentions were to change things for the better. The group of Joel, Kim, Steve, Maggie, Tracy and Chris were overall fun, especially when they are being hunted by Pumpkinhead. With plenty of blood, a myth turned real, a grieving father, a man not taking responsibility, motorcycles, blood and a hunt that will leave everyone in its path dead, this movie does not leave you longing for much when the credits start to roll. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Firebite’. To revisit the last episode, ‘Vampire Mythology Bullshit’, click here.

Normally in vampire stories, failure is a good thing for the vampire hunters that stalk the children of the night. Because it often means that they’ve seen the vampire’s lair and learned about its layout and their enemy’s weaknesses. Which in turn allows for them to heal their wounds and regroup and go after the evil that lurks in the darkness with impunity, so they can finally end it once and for all, and it makes sense as to why vampire stories stick to that formula. Since it adds a sense of danger to the story and gravity, plus it also gives the characters an opportunity to grow before defeating evil in a heroic manner. One that leaves the audience with a grand sense of outright satisfaction.

But not every vampire story is eager to follow that formula and would prefer to try something new and wow the audience along the way, and one such series that is eager to shake things up and take us on a different kind of journey is Firebite on AMC+. Because ‘I Wanna Go Home’ is an episode that doesn’t follow the ‘failure’ formula present in these stories in the slightest. For when we catch up with Tyson and Shanika here, mere moments after they have escaped the lair of the vampires that lurk outside of Opal City, they’re in a tough place. For they are wounded both emotionally and physically and while Shanika is ready to shake off the pain and load up on weapons and go back down there for her mother, Tyson is not. He simply needs a minute and that is precisely when this story diverges from the standard fare.

Because Shanika is caught by Kitty, stealing first aid supplies in preparation for round two, and Shanika’s condition is of enough concern for Kitty… that she calls social services and has Shanika taken away to a group home and just like that, our vampire fighting duo are split up and in some dark and tough places that they never expected to be. For Shanika, that involves getting by in a group home where she doesn’t want to be in the slightest and to top it off, she has to deal with bullies in this facility that make her life ten times more difficult. And while she of course, finds a way to handle them and their violent tendencies in a manner that allows for everyone to come to an understanding, and gets out of that place, it was fascinating to see a hero be separated from their mission in such a unique and dynamic way, after enduring a setback in their goals.

As for Tyson… well he simply fell into a pit of despair. For Shanika being taken away from him and letting the Vampire King rip her mother out of his arms when they were mere inches from daylight… made him feel as though he was an utter failure. One that didn’t deserve an ounce of happiness for always losing and letting down people that mattered to him, in his mind at least, and that motivated him to just drink his days away. To the point where hygiene and anything else didn’t matter and this too was just fascinating through and through. Since you rarely see heroes regress and hide in this manner, especially in horror stories such as this one, But thankfully… Tyson was reminded of what matters most, courtesy of the Vampire King. Since he managed to infiltrate Tyson’s world by turning Eleona and realizing the severity of the threat at last… finally allowed for Tyson to rise to the occasion.

The only question now, is whether or not Tyson woke up from his stupor too late. Since the Vampire King and his flock of bloodsuckers’ strike when Shanika is vulnerable at the end of this tale. But while we wait to see how our heroes react to this counteroffensive, and whether or not they are indeed, too late, we can bask in the wonder of another original and fresh tale. One that really put a unique and realistic spin on failure. Since so many of us, have indeed drowned our sorrows in booze when the going gets tough, and unfortunately, a teenager getting put in with social services out of concern for their health and safety… happens often. Plus, the horror elements were as top notch as always, as was the humor and gore and once again, this writer will be counting down the minutes until next week’s tale, to see what other surprises this show will have in store for us.