There are so many questions about what is surrounding us outside of our planet. While we know that the moon is not made of cheese, we still have little understanding about what else is out there. Being able to locate planets like Earth in other solar systems, we still have not been able to prove one way or another that life exists somewhere else in the universe. While I am anxious to know if there are other civilizations out there, I am concerned that if there are, what will they want to do with our little old planet when they come to visit.
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On its way back to Earth, the space shuttle Churchill is privy to a sight that few have ever seen, the tail of Halley’s Comet. Taking readings for their reports, the crew sees something strange hidden in the tail, another spaceship. The mere size of the ship makes the crew curious, and they decide to take a spacewalk to find out what the origin of the ship is. Getting onboard and seeing massive bat like creatures, Colonel Carlsen makes his way in further and locates three humanoid beings in what appears to be suspended animation. Taking these back to the Churchill, along with one of the bat creatures, the ship turns back towards its home planet.

Hearing that the Churchill is making its way back home but is radio silent and has made no course corrections, Doctor Fallada and Doctor Bukovsky decide it is time to send a recovery team to the ship and look for survivors. As the team arrives on the dead ship, they find a massive fire had broken out and it appears that everyone on the crew were burned beyond recognition. But there is something strange that survived the fire, the three pods which are holding the humanoids appear to be untouched. Bringing the pods back to Earth for research, the recovery team is not able to pinpoint what happened to the crew of the Churchill as all of their tapes have been destroyed.  

With more questions than answers about the failed mission, Doctor Bukovsky has been keeping an eye on the pods and the inhabitants inside. With one pod opening on its own, the group is ready to perform an autopsy on the woman who has been freed from the prison, but they have little idea what she can do. Waking up and sucking the life out of one of the guards, she sees Bukovsky, yet does not do the exact same thing, since she wants a mate. Feeling drained from the encounter, Bukovsky is not able to recall why he was pulled to the woman but knows that he had no way to stop it. Taking the drained-of-life guard in for an autopsy, everyone sees that he is not dead, but a carrier of something that they have never seen before. Being able to regenerate his life with the life of another, a time frame has been mapped out and every two hours, the host will need to feed.
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Trying to find the space woman that has escaped, the doctors get news that Colonel Carlsen is alive and well and decide to pick his brain. Not able to get the answers that they are looking for, Carlsen undergoes hypnosis and tells the story about how his ship became a ghost ship. Being able to feel the space woman at all times, Carlsen finds out that he can see through her eyes and watch as she continues to hunt in London. Being able to take on different bodies, she becomes harder to locate, but Carlsen and his new-found power will not quit as the hunt for the space woman must conclude quickly before she is able to infect all of the country. Using his mind and a touch, Carlsen is able to locate the woman, but she has a plan for the planet as her ship is moving into orbit and it not only involves the country, but Earth as a whole. 

I am not sure why, but every time I used to put Lifeforce on a list of my favorite movies, people would make fun of me and tell me how bad it was. I fail to see this, as it is one of the movies I can sit down and watch whenever it is on, which is saying a lot for me. The story may be strange, or as I have been reading in tweets, crazy, but it gets the point across and that is all that matters. I really liked the character development that was shown on screen for Carlsen and his new counterpart in the hunt for the space woman, Colonel Caine. The race against time is not only for London, but for the world when nobody seems to understand what is happening. The special effects take me back to the eighties, when lightning was all the rage and should be again, because it is epic. With a space woman, a mystery, the truth behind our legends confirmed, a virus and a love story that you never saw coming, it us just a good movie overall that deserves a little bit more recognition, because now you see this story being told every other week in space movies. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1109 of ‘The Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to enjoy the iconic AMC series, The Walking Dead, we left a situation that was quite grim. After all, Alexandria was being battered by a vicious storm and the living dead had infiltrated this broken community. Leading to a dangerous fire and a house full of survivors that found themselves fighting hordes of the dead in order to secure a chance at another tomorrow. Plus, Daryl and Maggie and their group of heroes… dealt with disaster in Meridian. For despite defeating Pope, his right-hand gal, Leah, was eager to exact revenge and finish this fight, leaving all of us to wonder… exactly how they were going to get out of this mess and who would survive this horrible night in Meridian and Alexandria. 
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Well thankfully, our long and unsettled wait for the return of the show has finally come to an end, for last night saw the premiere of Part 2 of the final season of this stunning series and well, ‘No Other Way’ wasted little time in plunging us back into these nightmare scenarios to show us what comes next. Which in Alexandria, involved more trouble and worry for these good people. Because despite being able to keep the horde at bay at the staircase of the house, Judith and Grace were still trapped in the basement and trying their best to keep the walkers at bay. But it wasn’t long before they breached the doors and made their way down the stairs, putting these innocent lives in harm’s way with no help in sight, since everyone else was occupied.

For those that weren’t fighting the dead, were fighting the fires on the other side of town and that was going pretty badly for certain. Because despite Aaron’s best efforts to put out the flames, it appeared as though his fire team was instead stoking them and making matters worse and if they didn’t get it under control soon… it would destroy the windmill and let waves of the living dead through the hole left behind. But thankfully, once Carol’s team finished their sweep of walkers, they were able to join in and help… allowing for Aaron to do something about the situation back at the house. For Gracie fired off their special signal to let him know she was in dire need of assistance and Aaron being the great father and downright good person that he is… wasted little time in coming to their aid. 

In fact, he was quickly able to rescue the girls and move them to safety and well, that came with a hefty price. For his escape route was blocked by a wave of walkers and while he was able to figure out how to use the pipes in the basement to maneuver about and steer clear of rotten hands and mottled jaws, the pipes weren’t holding. Leaving all of us to wonder if by chance, we were about to bear witness to a genuinely heartbreaking moment in this series. One that harkened back to the days where series leads didn’t make it through a season. But thankfully, Lydia was able to get free from the fight upstairs and save Aaron, bringing a moment of joy to Alexandria and the audience as well, since a fan favorite was saved at last and so was the town.

However, while Alexandria’s battle with nature and the undead ended in a joyous manner, the same cannot be said for Daryl and Maggie’s journey. Because when we catch up with them, the battle at Meridian is nothing short of a blood bath, for the Reapers’ super weapon rained down fire and explosions and forced everyone into hiding and of course, that meant more bloodshed was on the horizon. Since the Reapers wanted revenge for their fallen leader, and Daryl came to realize that if a different course of action wasn’t taken, the bloodshed and the loss would continue with no point to it, and that gave him quite the idea. In that, if they could force a stalemate, one that would motivate Leah and her team to leave Meridian for all time, peace could resume and no more lives had to be lost and for a brief moment there, it appeared as though Daryl’s plan for peace was going to work.
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Since Leah agreed to the terms and made her way out of town. But alas, Daryl didn’t count on the fact that Maggie was still in a tough place mentally regarding what the Reapers did to the people of this town and in an instant, she took revenge upon each and every one of them. Killing three of the remaining Reapers and badly wounding Leah. Ending the fight on a sour and dark note since clearly, Maggie was giving into everything she swore she would never become, and the darkness and costly nature of this journey didn’t end there. For Maggie came to learn that Alden didn’t survive his wounds and turned, and to make matters worse, her actions against Negan… finally motivated him to give up on everything and be on his own. Making this entire voyage for food a pyrrhic victory for certain since Maggie lost more than she bargained for.

However, despite the losses she and the others suffered, and the damage done to Alexandria, there was a happy reunion at the end of this tale. One that made it seem as though decent times were ahead. For repairs were underway, food was back within the walls, and everyone was reunited. But that’s when this episode took quite the stunning turn. For in its closing moments, the Army of the Commonwealth arrived at the gates of Alexandria, with Eugene and Lance Hornby right behind them and well… Lance offered them quite the sweet deal. In that, they could stay and receive what they needed to survive or come back with the army and live a better life inside the Commonwealth itself. Giving everyone some kind of future at last and tough decisions were clearly made in that moment, since a flash forward informed us, that Maggie returned to Hilltop and Daryl joined the army and apparently… old friends are in a sour place six months down the line.

Why exactly, we don’t quite know. But it will only be a matter of time before the show reveals to us why exactly Maggie and Daryl are at odds and why Hilltop didn’t join the Commonwealth. But while we patiently wait to learn more about this twist, we can bask in the majesty… of an outright incredible tale. Because this one, was devoid of deeper meaning and commentary, it was just all-out action and adventure and scares and emotion, and it took all of us on one heck of an emotional rollercoaster ride. One that quite frankly, left this writer feeling exhausted when all is said and done, because it did not waste a single moment nor did it let the audience breathe. It just assaulted our senses and reminded us of what this show can do when it applies itself, and it will be quite interesting to see what comes next for our intrepid heroes and learn who stayed with Maggie at Hilltop, and who agreed to enjoy the creature comforts of the Commonwealth. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘A Discovery of Witches’. To revisit the penultimate episode, click here.
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For the most part, horror stories that have something to say about the human condition or our world, tend to make their commentary apparent to the audience. For instance, Bram Stoker’s Dracula makes it inherently clear that vampires represent our collective fear of death and how we will do whatever it takes to hang onto life and the things we can’t take with us in death. And George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead wasted little time in informing its viewers that it was going to examine our desire to consume over anything else and how stuff has dominated our lives. But some horror stories, are sneaky with their commentary and are happy to wait until the moment is right to reveal it and one such series that had no qualms with keeping its message hidden for three years, is the Sundance Now and Shudder series, A Discovery of Witches.
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For its series finale revealed unto us that this magical and mystical story about a witch and a vampire that fall in love, went far deeper than that and the occasional life lessons about personal growth it threw in along the way. For it turns out, it had a lot to say about our world and the big problems plaguing us right now. But before the finale could reveal that commentary, there was some business to tend to, specifically…. dealing with Benjamin and Satu. For they had Matthew and that was unacceptable and that brought about a rescue mission that Diana handled personally, despite bringing backup. For this was her love, the father of her children, so she only felt it right to do this on her own and well… that decision led to some satisfying moments. The kind that saw Satu be humbled at last when Diana chose to spellbind her and Benjamin, well… he was no match for her magic and wit and with those nuisances out of the way, Matthew was saved and able to heal and the big moments arrived at last.

In that, Diana was able to use Matthew’s recovery time to dig into the Book of Life and learn the secrets of all creatures and she came to discover, that Witch, and Vampire, and Demon… all stemmed from the same DNA and that the problems they were facing currently was a direct result of the segregation that the Covenant put into place for nine hundred years. Which meant, it had to end, in order for creature-kind to survive, and that led to a bold plan on Matthew and Baldwin’s part, to let Diana call a meeting of the Congregation and sit in the de Clermont seat to guide a vote to end the Covenant. And what made that plan so bold, was that Gerbert was itching to bring her and Matthew to trial. But the sheer shock of this move, left him reeling… as did Diana’s words. For she was able to convince the Congregation to end the Covenant and put Agatha and the Demons in charge of the future of all creatures. Bringing forth peace at last and a way forward as well.

But while that is a happy and satisfying ending to this story, it is what Diana said in front of the Congregation, and the discovery she makes about the creatures of the world, that brings about the commentary in question. For in essence, the reality that all creatures stem from the same DNA… is designed to reflect the reality of our world. For we are all human and all share the same blood and DNA. Yet much like the creatures of this world, we look down upon those that are different and ostracize them and judge them or persecute them, despite the fact… they are us and don’t deserve that in the slightest. But prejudice persists despite that reality and until we take a page from Diana’s book and stop listening to the old white rich men who think they know it all, and love their olden and outdated ways, this will be the norm. So, the time is now to make that change, so we can finally treat each other equally and be as one.

Which is a beautiful and powerful message to find within a series that is a romance at heart, but it is there none the less and it sticks with you long after this episode comes to an end, because… it’s all truth, and things have to change and well, finding that message/commentary here, elevates this series to iconic status. For it has been an exploration about equality all along and has in essence, asked its audience to be better, to embrace change and grow so that we as a species can indeed find the better tomorrow we dream of and well, that is a wonderful way to close out this series and while we should find nothing but joy in that, let’s be honest… this is a bittersweet goodbye none the less. For there will be no more new chapters in this story to enjoy, there will only be memories of a journey that captivated us and enthralled us and moved us and perhaps the only solace in saying farewell to this series, is that we can revisit it whenever we like, and we can walk away from this story knowing… that it had a proper happy ending after all, one where a world in chaos… found harmony.  

Ask anyone how far they would go to protect their family and their interests in either a time of need or in general, and you’ll get back the same answer. In that, they would do anything for them and in all honesty, we would provide the same answer if asked that question as well. Because our family means everything to us and keeping them safe is paramount, but what we don’t really ask ourselves enough… is whether or not we can live with the dark acts that would likely go into that answer. Because if we have to do anything to protect our family, then we are the ones that go on… with our solution in mind day and night and that could be troublesome, and oddly enough, that particular conundrum sits at the center of the season four finale of The Walking Dead on AMC.
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For when we catch up with Rick Grimes, and Michonne, and young Carl Grimes in ‘A’. They’re on the road and doing their best to eat and survive as they make their way to Terminus and well… while they are resting and reconnecting with nature, a hell of a bad moment befalls them. In that, the Claimers finally catch up with Rick and are eager to exact revenge upon him. Since the man Rick strangled to escape, died after all, and turned and these guys being the jackasses they are, believe that retribution is the key to all things and well, that is a poor choice on their part. Because they push Rick too far in their revenge plot and bring out the sheer savagery, he is capable of and in a stunning moment, Rick not only tears out the throat of their leader with his teeth, but he also rips most of these men to shreds with his bare hands.

Proving the point that a parent or leader of a family will do whatever it takes to keep their own safe. But it doesn’t take long for this decision… to bring about the exploration in question. For Carl saw it all play out and watched his father turn into something more and both he and Rick have to reconcile the reality that this is a world that requires that kind of savagery to survive, and they have to figure out how to live with that. Which in turn leads to some tender and powerful moments where both father and son come to understand that the old ways are gone forever and balance has to be the key for the future and in this instance, both seemingly come to terms with what they will need to do keep each other safe. Which is in the end, a fascinating and dark way to bring about resolution to this journey, but it fits this story to a tee. Since it creates a different kind of growth for these characters and prepares them for tough times ahead and it does indeed teach us… to be ready to deal with what we’ve done if we must cross that line.

But all lessons aside, this is an episode that also answered the rest of our questions about Terminus. For eventually, Rick and his small crew, one that includes Daryl, since he is happy to be with them again after the Claimers are dealt with… reach Terminus and don’t trust it in the slightest and rightfully so. For it quickly becomes clear during their time there that these people have no good intentions in their heart and will harm others and consume them in order to survive and that leads to a harrowing and unsettling finale. Wherein in our heroes are carefully guided to their own private ‘meat locker’/train car to await a horrible fate on a dinner plate and that really is quite the explosive cliffhanger to end season four upon. Since it reunites the crew and sets the stage for worry and confrontation, since Rick makes it clear… they won’t handle this lying down. 

But while we wait to dive into the next chapter in this journey, we can bask in one quality finale. One that resolved a great deal of plot threads from season four, all while preparing the characters mentally to deal with the real horror of this world… humanity. Since these cannibals are a true low point for the species and they are a hint of things to come for our heroes. But all that aside, make no mistake about it, the dark moments in this tale are epic in nature and still send chills down one’s spine after all these years, making this an iconic finale as well, and now that we’ve reached the end of season four of this iconic franchise, we’ll be taking a bit of a break when it comes to our Retro Recaps of The Walking Dead. For Part 2 of Season 11 has arrived and the time has come to enjoy that, and we will instead dive into seasons five and six (the last seasons we need to provide fresh coverage for) as we inch closer to the final leg of this eleven-year journey. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Horror Noire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Tradition is something that is supremely important to modern mankind and understandably so. After all, it is in many ways… a living history lesson. One that informs us of what once mattered most to our ancestors and in that same line of thinking, it is also a strange form of immorality in a way. Since the people that invented these proud traditions are kept alive every time, we celebrate them. But while tradition is wonderful and has its merits, it also has a dark side to it as well. For there are a great deal of unspoken traditions that we celebrate that are dark and disturbing in nature, and they keep bad concepts and behaviors alive, and those ugly aspects of tradition are top of mind today, because they were the focus of the brilliant season finale of Horror Noire on AMC.
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Which is the proper word to use to describe this finale, largely due to the fact that it was keen to offer us two kinds of examinations regarding sour traditions. One of which was quite intimate in nature. For ‘Daddy’ introduces us to a man named Red that is eager to do something his father could not and be a solid patriarch of his budding family and well, when we first spend time with him, here, he’s quite successful at his endeavors. Since he does so much for son, James. But eventually, the pressures of being a dad, combined with his fears and doubts that he will remain in such good standing, motivate a failure of a father to bubble to the surface of his personality, in a mystical manner of course, and this is… quite the powerful tale.

For it really does strike a chord with the audience. In part because some of the viewers of this vignette undoubtedly harbor the same fears and there are others… who grew up in environments where mom or dad was a clone of the bad behaviors their parents exhibited, and that’s really the commentary present here. In that, bad parenting and abusive parenting is something of a cycle/tradition in our modern world and since so many don’t address the pain it caused them growing up… they quickly adopt those behaviors when the time comes for their turn to be mom or dad. Keeping the cycle rolling and creating a new and disturbing tradition for certain. One that can be broken if the noise is kept out and self-work becomes a priority for those eager to shed it.

As for the second vignette in this finale… well it was far more direct in showcasing a more disturbing tradition. Specifically, that of systemic racism in America, and it accomplished that feat, in a unique manner. For ‘Sundown’ introduces to us a pair of campaign workers named Shanita and Marcus who find themselves and their team in what appears to be a Sundown Town. One that the strange mayor of this berg claims otherwise and to prove his point, he invites everyone to a special dinner. One that helps everyone to discover that nothing is quite what it seems in this town, in fact, it is actually a safe haven for vampires, and it will take every ounce of effort and cunning that Shanita and Marcus have to escape becoming the vampires’ next meal.
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Which at first glance, doesn’t seem to be a story that is really mired in commentary on the disgusting tradition of racism we harbor here in America, but it is there. Found by way of the vampires themselves. For they serve as the reflection of the modern racist in America. That do their best to blend in and claim that they are as inclusive as anyone else. When in fact, they are waiting for an opportunity to strike, and they exist and are enabled because of tolerance. For the little jabs at other races and cultures we let slide, enables them to thrive and know their boundaries and play the victim when they are exposed. But what matters most, is that this vignette points out that by leaving it to its own devices, like this town, and keeping it out of sight and out of mind, has empowered it and allows for it extend to generations of Americans that see it as a norm and that at this point, hard honesty and vocal intolerance is the only way to crack its strong exterior and start the process of its removal.

If anything, this really was the perfect way to bring season one of this anthology to a close. Because it truly offered up some powerful and uncomfortable commentary on the human condition. The kind that asks us to look inward and be vigilant and of course… to speak up about the matters presented here. Because we tend to ignore these traditions and see them as issues that will somehow resolve themselves, when in fact, they won’t. Because it takes collective effort to stop those kinds of problems, and that’s a bold point for a horror series to make and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this journey… one can only hope that AMC Networks has plans to do more with this series. Because it really did allow for Black voices to be heard and it genuinely offered up intelligent and terrifying tales of terror and well… those are two elements the horror industry needs more of and a sequel movie/series, would be the perfect way to help with that.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 305 of ‘Servant’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular storytelling device that we’ve talked at length about when it comes to our recaps of Servant on Apple TV+, is the show’s ability to well… outright surprise us. Because time and time again, this brilliant and dynamic series, finds new ways to use misdirection and surprise to take the story in incredible new directions and well… reminding ourselves of that particular device is supremely important to our discussion of the show today. Because once again, this series figured out a way to outright surprise us in the creative manner that only it knows how to, and that made, ‘Tiger’, quite the fascinating and engaging tale.

One that early on, inferred that we were going to be treated to a downright uplifting story. For this one revolved around a giant block party that Leanne was eager to attend in order to just… live life a little, and once the party got underway, quite the joyous moment took place for Dorothy, since she took control back of her career. Because after her unfortunate moment on live television, one that became a scathing meme, she took the opportunity to get back on camera by straight up jumping on camera when the station sent a crew down to the block party. Making it appear as though she’d be just fine in the end. 

Plus, this episode also added some new wrinkles to the fold of the Turner household. Since we came to learn in this tale that Sean was starting to find faith again, likely because of the miracles and wonders he’d experienced as of late and that led to some awkward moments between, he and Dorothy when she found out he was going to church and taking young Jericho with him and of course… there was fun to be found in this tale as well. For Leanne was indeed able to just have a good time and enjoy herself and for a moment there, it was outright safe to believe that Leanne’s former group was staying away for good. Since we came to learn that the homeless kids nearby were not a threat after all, for they never once caused trouble at this event and other individuals of concern, were nowhere to be found.

But the level of comfort those moments provided us with, is precisely how this episode managed to surprise us. Because just like that, a strange encounter at the face painting booth between Leanne and a stranger, led to the revelation that her old group were using the block party as the perfect opportunity to attack her and that led to a harrowing sequence of events. One where Leanne survived a terrifying assault in a manner that we are unaware of, since she returned home with some ugly injuries before we could learn how she escaped and well… that’s a brilliant way to escalate the plot and bring the danger back to the forefront of the series. Since clearly, old ‘friends’ are out for blood and to complicate matters further… Leanne has now piqued the interest of someone that doesn't need to be digging around in her past. 

For a conversation with Dorothy’s understudy, led to a fascinating search result on the internet and well, just like that… this series is firmly back in horror territory, complete with high stakes and genuine threats and ugly moments and well, this show deserves a round of applause for going this route. Because this is a bold way to plunge us back into terror and it also deserves credit for leaving us with more questions than answers. Specifically, what will come out of this attack and how the heck Leanne survived, because it appeared as though they had the upper hand and well, the only way to know to obtain those answers… is to patiently await next Friday’s episode and continue this wild journey and see what other surprises and uncomfortable moments await us. Until next time.

One particular aspect of television production that is genuinely fascinating, is how fast things move when the time comes to finally put a series together. Because just like that, news begins to pour out about the show and the cast roster is filled out in a fast and furious manner and that’s top of mind today, largely because that is precisely what is happening with the upcoming AMC series, Tales of the Walking Dead.

Because suddenly there is casting news everywhere, and it won’t be long before we get some first look images and trailers and the like. But for the sake of today’s discussion, it is the casting news that matters since earlier today… AMC announced the next wave of stars that will be appearing in this soon-to-be iconic anthology and without further ado, here are the names that are joining the latest entry in The Walking Dead Universe.

‘AMC announced today that Olivia Munn (“The Newsroom,” “X-Men: Apocalypse,” “Six”), Danny Ramirez (“The Falcon & The Winter Soldier”), Loan Chabanol (“Fading Gigolo”),Embeth Davidtz (“Old,” “Ray Donovan”) and Jessie T. Usher (“Shaft,” “The Boys”) have joined the cast of “Tales of the Walking Dead,” the highly anticipated new series in the expanding the Walking Dead Universe. The AMC Studios-produced episodic anthology consists of six original, standalone stories focused on both new and established characters within the walker apocalypse. “Tales” is executive produced by Scott M. Gimple, chief content officer of the Walking Dead Universe, and showrunner Channing Powell, who has been a writer and producer on “The Walking Dead” and “Fear the Walking Dead,” and debuts this summer on AMC and AMC+.
 
“Olivia, Danny, Loan, Embeth, and Jessie are the latest massive talents that will bring new worlds of TWD to life with big, daring, different, emotional, shocking, scary, and crazy stories.  We’re excited for them to come walk with us,” said Gimple.
 
Added Powell, “Somehow we have lucked into the greatest cast — Olivia, Jessie, Embeth, Danny, Loan… We’ve been hoping these episodes will feel like unique, little films and with this range of actors, we are well on our way.”

Munn most recently starred in “Violet,” a critically acclaimed indie drama written and directed by Justine Bateman. She also starred in Netflix romantic comedy “Love, Wedding, Repeat” and crime thriller “The Gateway.” Her voiceover roles this past year include Marvel’s “Hit-Monkey,” Netflix’s “America: The Motion Picture,” and short film “Save Ralph.”  In 2019, Munn starred in STARZ series “The Rook” and in 20th Century Fox’s “The Predator” opposite Keegan-Michael Key and Sterling K. Brown. In 2018, she appeared in the critically acclaimed second season of HISTORY series “SIX,” where she played ‘Gina,’ a ruthless and smart CIA operative. In 2017, she voiced the role of ‘Koko’ in “The LEGO Ninjago Movie.” She also starred in “Office Christmas Party” alongside Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston, “X-Men: Apocalypse” as ‘Psylocke,’ and Universal’s “Ride Along 2” with Kevin Hart and Ice Cube.  From 2012-2014, Munn starred as ‘Sloan Sabbith’ on Aaron Sorkin’s hit HBO political drama “The Newsroom.” Variety recognized Munn as the “2014 Breakthrough Actress” winner at theVariety Breakthrough of the Year Awards. Her other film credits include “Mortdecai,” “Deliver Us From Evil,” “Magic Mike” and “Iron Man 2.”  She had an arc on FOX’s Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated comedy “The New Girl” and appeared in the Emmy-winning Showtime environmental documentary series “Years of Living Dangerously” from James Cameron and Jerry Weintraub. She is repped by CAA and Atlas Artists.
 
Ramirez will star in the 20th Century Studios for Hulu suspense/thriller “No Exit,” produced by “The Queens Gambit” co-creator, Scott Frank. The film is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Taylor Adams, which will premiere on February 25. The film tells the story of a college student stuck with a group of people at a mountain rest stop during a blizzard. Things take a turn for the dangerous when the young woman discovers a kidnapped child in a car belonging to one of the people inside, setting in motion a terrifying life-or-death struggle to discover who among them is the kidnapper. Last year, Ramirez starred in Disney+/Marvel’s massively successful, “The Falcon & The Winter Soldier,” as ‘Joaquin Torres.’ He will next star opposite Tom Cruise in Paramount’s highly anticipated “Top Gun: Maverick,” which will release May 27 and Netflix’s dual timeline drama, “Plus/Minus” opposite Lili Reinhart. In addition, Ramirez just completed filming “The Stars at Noon” for director Clair Denis opposite Joe Alwyn and Margaret Qualley. Ramirez is repped by CAA, Anonymous Content, Viewpoint and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman.
 
Chabanol was born in Paris, France, and is of Vietnamese, German and Italian descent. She starred in John Turturro's comedy, “Fading Gigolo,” alongside Woody Allen and Turturro. Soon after, Chabanol was cast in “Third Person,” a romantic drama written and directed by Paul Haggis. She can also be seen in “The Transporter Refueled,” produced by Luc Besson. She is repped by Buchwald.
 
Davidtz credits include “Old,” “Ray Donovan,” “Mad Men,” “In Treatment,” “Californication,” “The Amazing Spiderman,” “Matilda,” and “Schindler’s List.” She is repped by CAA, Berwick & Kovacik and Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern. 
 
Usher recently co-starred in “Shaft,” written by Kenya Barris and directed by Tim Story. He stars in the titular role of ‘JJ Shaft’ opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Richard Roundtree. The film is produced by Ira Napoliello and John Davis and released this summer. He will also appear in George Nolfi’s upcoming film, “The Banker,” opposite Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie.  Additionally, Usher co-starred in Roland Emmerich’s “Independence Day: Resurgence,” alongside Jeff Goldblum, Liam Hemsworth, and Vivica Fox, and filmed the Universal feature “Almost Christmas” co-starring Gabrielle Union, Danny Glover, and Mo’Nique. Usher was the lead of LeBron James’ hit series “Survivor’s Remorse” for STARZ, which follows ‘Cam Calloway’, a basketball phenomenon.  Most recently, he wrapped shooting Netflix’s “Windfall,” starring alongside Camila Mendes.  Currently, he can be seen in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Amazon series “The Boys,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Soon he will be seen in “Something’s Wrong with Rose” for Paramount Players. He is repped by Zach Kaplan, Jessica DiBiase, Trey Cannon and Judith Usher.’

It wasn’t that long ago, that we talked at length about how the AMC series, The Walking Dead, puts on a masterclass in de-compressive storytelling. Wherein the series knows how to take its foot off the gas pedal of terror to let the audience process what they’ve seen and reconcile horrors untold, and that particular plot device is important to revisit today… because the next episode in this series makes use of it and rightfully so. For ‘The Grove’ was an unmitigated nightmare of an episode, one that explored some supremely dark subject matter through and through, so the time was right to give us all a breather and some happy moments for a change. 

A feat that ‘Us’ accomplished by way of two key storylines. The first of which, involved catching up with Daryl and his new group. Since that allowed for us to learn how the Claimers function and how terrible they are as people and while that might not seem like a great way to uplift one’s spirits and/or let us process the horrors of the prior episode, this segment surprisingly helps to clear our mental palate. Because it is indeed a chance to learn about how people are surviving in the apocalypse and all the details present here keep our attention and serve as the welcome distraction, we were waiting for in the first place and while this segment might not end happy, since Daryl appears to be stuck with these a-holes, that’s okay.

Because the genuinely happy stuff came about by way of Glenn and his adventures. Because he was determined to find Maggie and moved at a breakneck pace to do so, and seeing his determination in finding his lost love, was awe inspiring and hopeful for certain and there was no stopping him in this tale. Since he was quick to abandon the strength, he enjoyed in numbers with Abraham’s group to search for Maggie in a dangerous location with Tara. A move that brought about some scares since the tunnel they entered was wall to wall with the living dead (and on a side note, this segment of the story did feature a slick Day of the Dead zombie cameo). Leaving one to wonder if by chance the happy moments were about to come to an end.

But thanks to Eugene, the joy kept coming. Because he took Abraham’s message about sticking together in a time of crisis to heart and purposely led Rosita and the Sarge to the exit point of the tunnel to reunite with Glenn and Tara, and bring them along to Washington and well, who they met instead… led to all kinds of joy. For they found Maggie’s group and doubled back with them and saved the day. Reuniting these lost lovers at last and once that happy moment came to a close, a moment that was both joyous and cautious at the time, came to fruition. For this newly formed group made their way to Terminus and were greeted with open arms and a plate of food, making it seem as though peace would come to them at last.

However, our rightful suspicions of new groups left us nervous back then about this arrival, and of course, with what we know now… this ending has become horrifying. Especially when one considers the fact that they were offered what could best be described as a plate of Soylent Steve. But in that moment, this was indeed a bright spot of an episode. One that really did help to remind us that it can’t all be bad at the end and that little moments do come about that bring joy and salvation in dark times, and that makes this a worthwhile episode for certain and well, now that we’ve reached Terminus at last, the time has come for its evil to be exposed… and that is where we will pick up, next time. Until then.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘They Live in the Grey’.
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The phrase, ‘time heals all wounds’, is one that that still has relevance in this day and age for one reason and one reason alone. In that, it has some truth to it. Because when we deal with dark times and troubles in our lives, there does comes a point down the line… where the emotional pain begins to subside, and we seem to feel better overall about our days and our lives. But while that phrase gives us comfort and perspective, and a dash of hope when the going gets tough and we are hurting, it is a saying that glosses over a great deal when it comes to the recovery process. Because in reality, what truly heals our emotional wounds and gives us joy back… is confronting our pain and the trauma that caused it.

For only then can we truly resolve what is eating at our soul, and that... takes time, and it is the work that goes into healing our pain that coincides with the moment where the days become brighter and tolerable. But sadly… there are a great deal of folks that ignore that aspect of recovery. In fact, they stick to that advice and the mantra that we have to just… ‘tough it out’ in order to move forward, and while that may work in the short term, eventually… it comes back to haunt everyone that attempts that route, and it can lead to dangers untold psychologically as well. The kind that are destructive in nature and those dangers are of note today, simply because they are explored in the latest addition to the Shudder library, They Live in the Grey.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a clairvoyant woman named Claire Yang who is going through some tough times right now. For she recently lost her son Lucas in a horrible accident, one that she believes she caused, and his death has upended her life. To the point where her husband Peter, has removed himself from their home and really, the only thing keeping Claire together in the moment, is her job as a social worker. But her latest case is only going to add to her struggles. For the family she is asked to investigate is being plagued by a violent spirit, one that clearly wants something from said family and it will be up to Claire and her special gifts to solve that mystery before it is too late.

Which is at first glance, a plot that seems mired heavily in traditional ghost stories in the vein of The Sixth Sense and there is merit to that. Since Claire can see ghosts and see how they died and that is quite frankly, how the scares come into play in this tale. Since the spirits she sees, appear out of nowhere to seemingly torment her, and their occasional normal appearance only shocks us further, as does the reveal of how they died. For that brings about gory moments that unsettle and the jump scares are simply top notch, and this is an aspect of the story that is supremely satisfying, because you can never go wrong with a good old fashioned ghost story that knows how to effectively chill an audience through and through. 
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But it is the stuff between those moments that speak to the central theme of needing to deal with one’s trauma. Because this story makes it crystal clear that Claire has buried her emotions regarding what happened to Lucas, in the false belief that somehow that will allow for time to heal her and well, that decision allows for a subtle and intricate downward spiral/cautionary journey to take place. One that sees Claire’s life fall to pieces the harder she tries to keep the past at bay and that leads to some powerful and relatable moments. The kind that genuinely teach us what will happen to our lives if we deny ourselves a confrontation with our pain and our past, and the film really does do a wonderful job of using horror elements to hammer home its powerful and stunning commentary on this matter.

If anything, it is safe to declare this horror film to be downright brilliant. Simply because it perfectly blends together the horrors of the real world with the mystique of the supernatural in a manner that is so smooth that it has something for every horror fan out there. Because it has gore for the splatter hounds, scares for those that just want to be chilled and plenty of thoughtful commentary for those want more than a ‘boo’, and even folks who want a visual feast will find something to satisfy here. Since it should be noted that the visuals in this movie are breathtaking as well, and the best part of all, is that you can watch this stunning and visceral horror film right now if you’d like. For They Live in the Grey is live on Shudder and we here at Nerds That Geek certainly hope you give this one a look. Because this one, really is something special.   

Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve talked at length about Shudder regarding how this network makes a great effort to hustle and lock up a bevy of amazing horror films for its fan base to enjoy. But while that praise is well deserved, something we don’t talk about enough in regard to Shudder… is the sheer fact that it is a creator of horror content as well. Because they are indeed host to a bevy of original films and shows that only add to the wonder of what this streamer has to offer and well… that’s top of mind today for good reason.
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Because earlier today, Shudder took the time to announce the cast of  their latest original venture, History of Evil, and well… this just goes to show that Shudder is all about the perfect horror experience and will do whatever it takes to bring us the best horror story possible, even if that means giving life to it themselves. And well, without further ado… here are the details in question, courtesy of Shudder.

‘Shudder announced today that Stephanie Beatriz and Paul Wesley will headline the cast of the Shudder Original Film HISTORY OF EVIL, a horror-thriller written and directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Bo Mirhosseni. Produced by XYZ Films, Two & Two Pictures and Jake Siegel, the film will stream exclusively on Shudder in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.
 
In the film, a family on the run from a corrupt state takes refuge in a safe house with an evil past - a terrifying last stop on a near-future Underground Railroad.
 
Beatriz is best known for her work on such hits as ENCANTO, IN THE HEIGHTS, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and she’s just finishing an incredibly successful run starring in 2:22: A GHOST STORY on stage in London’s West End. She is repped by ICM Partners, Authentic Talent and Literary Management and attorney, Mitch Smelkinson. 
 
Wesley is known for roles in “The Vampire Diaries,” BEFORE I DISAPPEAR, PEACEFUL WARRIOR and “Tell me a Story”. Wesley has a burgeoning directing and producing career under his production banner, Citizen Media. He is repped by ICM Partners, Anonymous Content and attorney, Marcy Morris.
 
Both Beatriz and Wesley will serve as executive producers.
 
“We are thrilled to be working with XYZ and Two & Two Pictures as we continue to spotlight new and emerging storytellers within this genre, and Bo’s thrilling film debut is no exception,” said Emily Gotto, VP of Global Acquisitions and Co-Productions for Shudder. “We are excited to have such talents as Stephanie and Paul on board to bring these dynamic characters to life and look forward to sharing the film with Shudder members.” 
 
Babak Anvari and Lucan Toh of Two & Two Pictures commented, “We are delighted to be working with Bo, Stephanie and Paul on this deeply terrifying and unique horror film, and honored to have found a home at Shudder, whose cutting-edge platform has continues to push genre films forward. Everyone on this team has demonstrated a commitment to bringing timely and entertaining stories to the world, and we couldn't be more excited to work with them.”
 
HISTORY OF EVIL is the first project under a pact between XYZ Films and Two & Two Pictures to discover, develop and produce projects from first and second-time genre filmmakers from under-represented demographics. The pact is set to produce two to three pictures a year initially and was hatched as a result of XYZ Films partnering with Two & Two on UNDER THE SHADOW, Anvari’s feature film debut, which went on to win a BAFTA for Outstanding Debut. The companies most recently collaborated on Anvari’s third feature film, I CAME BY, which is currently in post-production. Two & Two, based in London and Los Angeles, was founded in 2017 by Anvari and Toh after they worked together on Anvari’s debut, UNDER THE SHADOW.
 
About Shudder 
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.
 
About XYZ Films
XYZ Films is an independent studio whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. As a producer, financier and distributor, the company is uniquely suited to identify talented filmmakers and bring their stories to life. XYZ recently expanded into talent management, working with a global roster of
filmmakers. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. The company’s titles include THE RAID franchise, 2017 Sundance winner I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, and Panos Cosmatos' psychedelic revenge thriller MANDY.
 
About Two & Two
Founded by Babak Anvari and Lucan Toh, Two & Two Pictures is a London and Los Angeles based Production Company dedicated to creating distinctive, filmmaker-driven content for film, television and emerging formats. We specialize in finding unique voices and supporting their vision from development through release. Toh and Anvari first worked together on Anvari’s debut feature film, Under The Shadow, which was the UK selection for the Foreign Language Academy Award and won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut in 2017. Two & Two produced Anvari’s second feature Wounds, and the anthology horror series Monsterland for Hulu. The Company is in post-production on Anvari’s third feature, I CAME BY, for Netflix. Two & Two have a First Look TV Deal at AMC Studios.’