Okay, I know that it is after Christmas, but I could not help myself when it comes to this movie. Because this one is just a true gift and we need to talk about what makes it so great, right now. Now with movies that have stories being compiled into one storyline, it is sometimes difficult to see it come together, but I think that this one did just that without missing a beat. You don’t have to be in a holly jolly mood to fire this one up in your DVD or Blu Ray player, it is year round magical.

Molly and her friends Ben and Dylan are trying to get credit for their investigations around the hallways of the school, but Molly has found something much more sinister that she knows will sky rocket her grades. Finding video of a double homicide in the basement of the school, the group head downstairs and could care less about the consequences. Getting into the room where the bodies were found is not a problem, but when they try to escape the confines of the now basement, they find that they are trapped and none of their keys will work to release them to freedom. As the night grows deeper and darker, they find out that they are not alone in the basement and that there is someone or something along side of them that is looking for something more than a little Christmas cheer.

Scott has been on leave ever since he started to investigate the murders that happened at the school a year ago. Knowing that his life is not going to be the same, he is trying to make the best of his time with his wife Kim and son Will. Taking them out on an old-fashioned tree hunt, Scott knows where to find the tree that they need, but it is behind the fence of a no trespassing sign. Thinking little of the warning, the three jump the fence and get the tree of their dreams, but Will goes missing for a short while on their return to the car. Finding their son and seeing that he is all right, the family heads home, but there is something strange happening with Will as he has not said a word since returning home. Kim knows that there is something wrong with her boy and will not allow Scott to discipline him for any of his actions. When a phone call comes across the lines, Kim finds out that there is more wrong than she could imagine, as her son may not be her son at all.

Caprice is upset about being on the road with her family since she could have been hanging with her friends at the school as they investigate the year old murder scene, but it was not her choice. Her father Taylor is on a mission to talk to his aunt Edda who may be able to help the family. Caprice’s mother Diane is not too happy about the trip as well, but she knows what her husband is trying to do. When arriving at the lavish estate, Aunt Edda throws out the family within five minutes of arriving. Duncan, Caprice’s little brother who is just looking to make a stir, breaks Edda’s Krampus figurine and thinks little of his mistake since Krampus is just a made-up story, or so he thinks. Getting into a wreck on the drive home, the family is forced to move on foot, but there is something hunting them in the woods, and it does not care how naughty they were. With a target on their backs, they need to get back to Edda’s to find a way to stop the beast, but what they find will change their outlook on Christmas for the rest of their days.

Holding down the fort, Dangerous Dan is broadcasting live on Christmas Eve, filling the airwaves with joy even though there is a situation overtaking the local mall.  And no Christmas movie would be complete without Santa taking care of his business, even if it involves handling an outbreak that the North Pole has never seen before. This is just a delightful Christmas horror movie that touches on just a few of the stories that we loved as kids, along with some that were meant to scare us into be nice. If I had to choose my favorite character of this movie, I would have to say that it is Shinny, an elf in Santa’s workshop that seems to be on his last leg. Trust me, his role is epic! We might be rolling into a new genre of horror movies these days and I would be happy to see more come out like this, especially around Christmas time as the horror movies are starting get more of a following once again. This is really starting to get me giddy since all I have had before are horror movies set in the snow. Stay Scared!

There is nothing worse than being replaced in any position by someone that is not qualified to take the role. Doing the job for several years and not losing a beat, if somebody comes in because they are younger or might have better credentials does not mean they should get the same opportunity you had to bust your hump for. But employers are always looking for a way to keep costs down and the newer, younger crowd does not mind coming in for a cheaper rate, especially if they do not know what you are making. Since every job always has the same issues, it is always better to be proficient at what you do, so you are not marked for replacement. For if you stay in your comfort zone for too long, you start to show up on the radar to be the next one out.

Debbie Wilkins is fed up and needs to talk to her soon to be ex-husband about his future plans, especially the ones surrounding his next movie. Not being cast has driven Debbie a little mad, but when she arrives home to see Peter finishing up with another big breasted actress, she finally gets the hint that they are through. Not wanting to let her old life of being a scream queen and being in love fall from her hands, Debbie decides to crash the film set and get herself the role that she deserves. Meeting up with actresses Delilah (the new scream queen), Cheryl (the dominatrix), and Nikki (the cleavage shower), Debbie is ready to take the movie to the next level.

At the set, the women are met by the janitor Norman who needs to collect the expenses for the building being rented out for the shoot. Debbie takes the young man in the back and while the other girls think that she is performing a special duty, they do not know what is hidden in the back room. Norman has been collecting axes and Debbie is happy to see that her new movie set has come with everything that she requires to take care of business. Meeting up with the director and camera man, the girls have a little night of fun and drinking before the shoot finally starts, but Debbie has not come for the fun, she has come for blood.

Keeping young Nikki away from the group, Debbie shows the young starlet what she is thinking when it comes to making a movie. With one down and several to go, Debbie starts devising ways to get everyone alone and find out what they know about her, her failed marriage and who has been sleeping with her husband. The right answers do not help anyone as she starts on her killing spree while Norman is keeping a close eye on the situation by way of the cameras around the building and is cleaning up any messes as he sees fit. With only Debbie and Norman knowing what is really going on, the few survivors left need to find a way out of the building before they become next on the cut list and there is very little that will slow down Debbie’s rage, as she finds out all of the secrets that have been kept from her for so many years.
​
I like a good revenge story now and then and this one has done it right. One of the things that I like most about the story is how you feel bad for Debbie, even when she is starting to take out her frustrations for being kept in the dark for years about her husband. I don’t know if a murderous rampage should be warranted if this happened to somebody, but I can see where their minds would be if it did. With everything that she has known for years being taken away, Debbie has a difficult time coping and you can see her break down on the screen with the little voices telling her what she needs to do next. I don’t know what possesses people to lie, cheat and steal, but after watching this movie, know that I will not be one of them, because it always seems to catch you in the end. Stay Scared.

Often times in storytelling, once we’ve reached the end of a grandiose moment, or the climax of a particular storyline; our wonderful tale makes a point to get to the end as quickly as possible. That’s due to the fact that a cardinal rule in storytelling is to wrap it up once we’ve reached the apex, and for a great many stories, that makes total sense. After all, in an action movie, once the baddie is gone and the day is saved, there’s no need for a long denouement. It is best to just push toward the end credits and let the audience go about their day. But some stories require a little more finesse storytelling wise, and it is important to see what comes next and how the events of a big moment impact the characters and that is something that The Walking Dead excels at.
 
Because time and time again, we’ve seen our merry band of heroes endure incredibly difficult and emotional moments, and we’ve seen them fight back in epic fashion and win the day. And rather than just fade to black and move us along, the story has often taken the time to show us what comes next after a grand battle and/or horrific loss, and it just so happens that ‘Walk With Us’ set the stage for that exploration to return to the forefront of the series once again. For that episode saw the Whisperer War come to an end, thanks Carol and Negan’s daring plan, which meant that it was up to ‘Look at the Flowers’ to properly examine the fallout of Alpha’s death and thankfully it did so in grandiose and sweeping fashion, and that made for one fascinating episode to say the least.
 
One that saw some people hope to bounce back from these ugly events by focusing upon something uplifting, as was the case with Eugene. Because losing Hilltop was quite the blow and seeing its good citizens scattered to the wind didn’t quite sit right with him. So, he decided he needed to cling tight to notions of community and the possibility that there were good people still out there. Which prompted him to inform everyone about his radio dealings and that he was heading out to meet the mysterious Stephanie. A move that was met with a touch of skepticism and fear, something that Ezekiel asked everyone to put aside in order to hear Eugene out and his words resonated with the King and he opted to join Eugene on this trip, in order to see what would come out of this meeting.

It was a move that Ezekiel regretted to a certain extent, simply because he was no longer in the right physical condition to make this kind of journey. But he did it because he was hoping for something more, and what they found in Charleston was quite unique to say the least. Because someone took the dead and placed them around town in familiar positions, which offered some moments of levity and of course grand curiosity as to who took the time to make this happen and well, it would seem we will get the answers to that question next week. Since the trio did meet a mysteriously plucky woman with a gun at the end of their journey and really, it was just lovely to see Eugene try and restore everyone’s faith in humanity by going on a quest to find good people.
 
Yet while that alone could have carried an entire episode, there was more for this series to explore in regard to the fallout of the war. For Carol decided that there was no going back to Alexandria at this point, which caused grave concern for Negan. Because he needed her to tell everyone about their plan, and unfortunately for him, his pleas to have that truth come out fell upon deaf ears. Which left Negan on his own and to complicate matters further, he met up with an angry Daryl Dixon who was ready for blood and it took some incredible effort on Negan’s part to prove that he wasn’t lying to Daryl. But thankfully, Negan’s decision to save Daryl from some rogue Whisperers and his admission that he put down Alpha, may have bought him his freedom at last.
 
Speaking of Carol, she also went on quite the journey in this tale. Simply because, the darkness that she has battled for as long as we have known her, came back with a vengeance in this particular tale. For Carol had to deal with the age old of problem that comes with revenge in that; sometimes it leaves you feeling hollow once you’ve seen it through. And that guilt manifested itself in the form of Alpha, who was quick to taunt Carol and open old wounds every step of the way as she tried to reconcile what her plan cost the good people of Alexandria and Hilltop. But what truly made this segment powerful and unsettling in its own right, is that Carol’s mental manifestation of Alpha, made great efforts to point out that there was something far darker that Carol wanted in the end, and that this isolation was designed to help her accomplish that ultimate and unfortunate goal.

Which was stunning to say the least, because Carol had worked so hard to get to this point. But that little voice just kept on nagging and the more it cried out the more Carol seemed to lose her wits and her will. And this is where Carol had to make the profound choice of whether or not she should she should live and own up to her actions, or if she should finally give up and this broken world take her. But despite phantom Alpha’s best attempts to push Carol into the darkness, she eventually realized that there was still plenty worth living for, and that she did need to answer for her mistakes and it’s a wonderful thing that she chose life and returned home. If anything, it was just fascinating and wonderful to see new relationships and new beginnings be forged from tough times during this segment of the story.
 
But while it was magnificent to see optimism and honesty win the day in the face of adversity in this tale, there was one more plot thread for this story to dive into fallout wise, and that one involved the mysterious Beta. Because this once proud lieutenant to Alpha, found himself lost without her presence and guiding words. In fact, he was so distraught and broken by her death that he sacrificed a member of the flock in the hopes of making sense of everything and shortly after that poor soul was eaten alive, he made his way into an old-time hotel, one that revealed something that fans have pondering upon for ages now; his true identity. For a back room in this place, was a shrine to Beta’s former life. And as it turns out, that record reveal in Fear the Walking Dead was our first inkling into the fact that he was a country music superstar named Half Moon, and being in a place where someone worshipped him, and his music gave him pause.
 
For in this place he had to ponder on what would come next for himself, and the Whisperers for that matter as well. For without Alpha there to remind everyone why they endured bad weather and danger by being surrounded by the living dead, there was a fair chance her twisted vision for the future would fade away. Which meant he was faced with quite the choice. He could either keep that dream of death alive or finally return to his old life, one where he brought joy to others. And sadly, Beta chose the darkness and repaired his damaged mask with his master’s flesh and set out to build a new horde, one that will undoubtedly march on Alexandria and this… this really was one of hell of an episode. Because it covered so much in such a short time, and it offered some beautiful moments of character development all while setting up one ugly finale. One where good versus evil must face off once again and it should be interesting to see where all of these moments of growth take us as we close in on the end of season ten. Until next time.

Small towns are great places to visit in my opinion, but honestly, I don’t think I would be able to live in one. With so little going on and everyone in everyone else’s business, I don’t see the appeal at this point in my life. Maybe when I get older and cannot handle the kids playing their rock-n-roll music too loud, but I have a feeling that will be further down the road. But the people that live in small towns are great and most of the time, they have lived in the town for all of their lives. I can respect that, especially when they get into story telling mode and you learn all kinds of things about everyone who has left the town, and everyone that has chosen to stay.

Carmilla has been on the road for quite a while, trying to find out where her mother, Millarca, has headed off to next. Never meeting the woman, Carmilla is not afraid to think that she has passed on but would like to know what she was like when alive and hopes that the next town on her list will have some answers. Arriving at the last address she could find connected to her mother, Carmilla is given a cold shoulder from Troy the homeowner, but his daughter seems to be interested in why the stranger is looking for the woman. Being a waitress at the local diner, Laura, is able to get the details about what Carmilla is looking for and why. Finding out that Millarca is Carmilla’s mother, she is willing to open up and show the stranger the old trailer where the woman slept for nearly half a year.
​
Laura has an idea to let the stranger rest and offers up the trailer for her stay, but needs to make sure that she gets her father’s okay as well. Laura is intrigued by Carmilla and wants to get to know her better and when inviting her out to a movie, Carmilla sees that the girl is much more excitable than she could imagine. When the two arrive back at the trailer for a night cap, Carmilla is interested why Laura will not leave the town, since there is a big world out there and she should be a part of it. Thinking that this is a good idea, Laura cannot pull the trigger on leaving, her life is here, and she has responsibilities. As the two start to form a little friendship, Carmilla finds out from Troy the secret about what happened in the house when Millarca was a guest and why he does not want to tell a story that is unbelievable. 

Being able to see the police report that housed her mother’s side of the story, Carmilla thinks that Troy is a monster and needs to get Laura as far away from him as possible. Leaving on a whim, Carmilla comes back to get Laura and gets more of the story about what happened between Millarca and Laura’s mother. As her story comes to a close, Laura then starts to confess her love for her new friend and believes that she should follow in her mother’s footsteps. As the two embrace; Carmilla has to formulate a plan to get her new lover out of the house and find a safe place to stay. But Laura refuses to leave the house and when her father finds out what is going on between the two, he knows the steps that need to be taken to protect his daughter from her mother’s fate.

This movie leads you to question what is more important in life, love for a stranger or love for your family. I liked how a little bit of the vampire aspect moved its way into the story and if you are watching this for the first time and did not read the plot on IMDB before watching, you would never have known. The breakdowns that Troy has to go through throughout the story, you might think that he was in the wrong, but he made it very apparent that his family would always come first. Laura seems to be a lost character that needs someone to give her direction, but without having a mother to give her advice, she has to put her trust to a stranger. I really liked Carmilla who did not come into the situation wanting to find anything other than what happened to her mother, she kept her eyes open and when the opportunity presented itself, well, she did not let it pass by. I liked how the movie played out and I did not see the ending coming, which is good in this manner of storytelling. Stay Scared.

Most everybody has problems sleeping at some point and everyone likes to blame it on insomnia. With so much that happens on a daily basis in our lives and trying to keep up with everything else that does not directly affect us, it is a wonder that anyone is able to sleep at all. But some people have found out the secret to a good night’s sleep and those are the lucky ones, while all of the rest of us are up, tossing and turning and making a racket to amuse ourselves. 

Nell has been away from the world ever since she can remember, taking care of her mother has been the focus of her life, but when her mother passes on, she is left with nothing. Having to find a way to make some extra money so she will be able to keep the apartment and not wanting to take up her friend for a baby sitting job, Nell turns to the paper and sees that there is a sleep study that will pay nine hundred dollars a week. Jumping at the opportunity, Nell contacts Dr. Marrow’s assistant and gets added to the study group right away.

At the university, Dr. Marrow is looking for the best candidates and even though he has some problems getting approval for a study about fear, the light sleepers will be his best shot to show how adrenaline makes people better. With the group selected and the ultimate house picked out to perform the study, everyone is sent directions to Hill House. Arriving before everyone else, Nell walks the old house and takes in all that it has to offer her, but there is something more hidden behind the walls. When the rest of the group shows up to the house, they have a great dinner, but it does not go off without a hitch when Dr. Marrow’s assistant is hit with a piano string across her eye and is forced to leave. Dr. Marrow chalks it up as an accident, but the house is starting to wake up from its slumber.

During the night Nell is woken up by the familiar knocking from her mother on the wall, but that is just a taste of things to come when her new friend Theo is woken up by something as well. The two women huddle together in Theo’s room only to see the door being pushed in by someone with great power. As their other insomniac Luke makes his way down the hallway and hears the women screaming, he tries to help, but with no one and nothing in their room, he believes that they are a little bit out of their minds. Dr. Marrow pulls the group together and has a quick talk with them as his experiment is going the way he wants it to, but he has no idea that the house's former owner really does still reside inside of the halls and is looking for someone to play with once again. Can the group escape the clutches of the former owner, or will they continue to believe that it is all a mental game and what is happening around them is just a figment of their imagination?

Just another look into the depths of Hill House and what actually happens inside of the walls when the sun goes down. Not a bad retelling of Shirley Jackson’s novel, I know you miss a lot when the book is put on the big screen, but the all of the frightening components are included. With a great cast on hand, each character had their own fears to deal with during the movie, but none so much as Nell who the house is tormenting the most. I felt bad for her when Dr. Marrow was not willing to admit that the house was haunted, and it took a huge event make him believe it himself. Everything is always more interesting when there is a violent ghost around and not knowing what he/she really wants from you could be the difference between life and death. Stay Scared.

Perhaps the best part, when it comes to starting a brand-new television series, is the sense of discovery that washes over you once you settle in to start this fresh journey. Because you’re truly in uncharted territory and you simply haven’t a clue where the story is going to take you and there’s something quite thrilling about being along for the ride for a change and this is precisely why Motherland: Fort Salem, is such an alluring show. For it really is offering audiences everywhere something new in regard to the witch mythos and it really is offering up a story that is shrouded in fascinating mystery when it comes to the conflict at hand between the American Witch Army and the mysterious Spree. 

Because we are genuinely clueless as to why The Spree is motivated to sow chaos around the world and challenge such a powerful fighting force. But thankfully, last night’s episode of this budding new series took the time to explore some of those nefarious motivations, and unfortunately what we learned about The Spree was a tad disconcerting and that made ‘My Witches’ quite the fascinating tale. Because not only did us give us a little bit of insight as to what the villains are up to, it also took the time to explore more of this alternate America and this tale also made a point to bring a little bit of peace to the Bellweather unit, since they finally started to work together. Something that was accomplished by way of the team’s training regimen.

Because they were pushed hard in this particular tale and having their backs against the wall and coming to realize that their drill sergeants were not their friends, allowed for them to bond for a change. And that bond is what allowed for wonders to happen since these girls quickly demonstrated their power in epic fashion and really, the show deserves some serious credit for making the training sequences worth our while in this tale. Because this ran the risk of becoming boring quickly, since we saw so much of it last week. But the Full Metal Jacket feel of this segment really did liven it up and it also tied into the bigger plot nicely, since it was pointed out that some of the stuff, they were learning was quite advanced for fresh recruits.

Which brings us to the centerpiece of the night storytelling wise, specifically that grand insight into the fight against The Spree and what exactly these baddies might be up to. And as it turns out, it would seem that the fight with The Spree is going quite badly. Because they’re able to bait and lure witches into horrible traps and even the President of the United States has concerns about how the witches are doing in this war since she’s ready to send in conventional army to end this threat, and that would explain why the girls are being pushed harder than ever before. If anything, it would seem that chaos and destabilization is what The Spree are after and they’re accomplishing those goals. Because they’re rattling the Witch Army and they’re terrifying the people of America, since they are losing faith in their protectors, as evidenced by the scene in the pizza parlor.

But let’s be honest. Sowing discord and putting fear into the hearts of humanity would be too cliché for a series that clearly is working toward something a little deeper. And when considers the work that Scylla is doing to ‘get’ Raelle and that we have a shattered general in the witches top ranks, it would seem The Spree is working to break the Witch Army, and what’s disconcerting is that they will kill as many innocents as they can in order to achieve that goal. Why that is, however, has yet to be seen. But adding a little more mystery to this particular tale, only adds to the joy of the journey. In the end, however, this really was a solid episode for certain. Because you really cannot go wrong with a tale that gives you just enough plot wise, all while taking the time to grow its characters, and it should be interesting to see what twists and turns await us down the line, since it would appear that this series is working toward something big. Until next time.

If you do not believe in something that others do, it is not wise to mock or make fun of it. Just go along with the flow, you never really know what has led them to their respective beliefs and you may learn something special along the way. This is why I watch so many of the ghost hunting reality shows out there, despite the fact I have a hard time distinguishing what is real and what is made up. But what I do know is that these shows offer incredible insight on what drives people to believe in the unknown and also, they’re entertaining. Because if nothing scary happens on the show, ratings drop like a brick. Not everything can be caught on camera, this I have seen with my own eyes, but that is a discussion for another day.

Harold is having a tough time with his recent breakup and needs to do something to clear his head. With his old college buddies doing their ghost hunting show S.P.I.T., Harold thinks that doing a documentary on the show will help him get free of his funk. On their way to meet with Bill, Tim is ready to show his buddy a good time, but the surprises he has in store make Harold second guess what is really happening. Bill is a special effects wizard and shows the boys firsthand what he can do with enough prep time. Talking to the camera, Harold finds out that all of the scares on the show have been manufactured by this legend.

Arriving at the S.P.I.T. offices, Harold also sees that the meat of the show is cut together in the editing room and after a brief meeting with Julie, their prized producer, he is going to be privy to seeing what actually happens on their ghost hunts. Arriving at Hollows Grove Orphanage and seeing the caretaker's concern about letting the group in, Tim is able to convince the old man to open the door against his will. Entering the old building with a disturbing past, the group is ready to get their footage and get out as soon as possible. But that is easier said than done when their camera man Chad is tripped down a flight of stairs. Knowing that the show comes first, Harold becomes the lead cameraman and sees what really happens in Hollows Grove when the sun goes down.

Usually I would go a bit longer with the storyline, but I would hate to give anything away if you have yet to see this movie. It is another one of the Found Footage movies that bring the scares out right when they need to. I liked the dynamic of the S.P.I.T. team and how they all play off of each other, no matter what crappy situation they are put into. But the ultimate payoff is when they find out that the building is really haunted, and they have no way of combating the spirits that are roaming the halls. This one features some great shock scares and the camera work is not as shaky as some other movies of this genre, so it ranks right up there with some of the better Found Footage movies in my memory. Stay Scared.

One thing that is truly fascinating when it comes to cinema as a whole, is how audiences regard films when all is said and done. Because once a movie is released to the masses and absorbed, opinions are formed and that’s really where things get interesting. For in essence, people generally love or hate a film, and there really is no in between. Which is fine, because you like what you like. But it is fascinating to know that people often stay in one camp or the other, simply because there are a lot of inconsistent motion pictures out there that quite frankly, deserve more praise than they originally received.
 
For these are the films that offer up surprisingly good performances, but a shoddy and incomplete plot. Or they straight up feature the opposite. But the bottom line, is that these mediocre films are the ones that are heavily watched and rarely discussed, and they truly do deserve their day in the sun because cinema is a special medium for creative minds to tell their stories and the effort they put forth into ‘okay’ films deserves some level of recognition. If anything, all of this is relevant to today’s discussion simply because the next movie that M. Night Shyamalan created, falls into the ‘good but not great’ category, thanks to some fascinating missteps and successes.
 
In fact, let’s start this grand discussion of The Village by reflecting upon what makes this film work so well. For starters, this is a movie that features one hell of a cast. One that quite frankly features too many big names to break down in detail here and well, that’s a good thing. Because every single super star in this motion picture provides us with some compelling and powerful performances, the kind that sell this story and they all do such quality work that you’re hanging on every single word and every single moment and this film really doesn’t get enough credit for assembling one of the finest casts to ever appear in a horror film.

But while this review could go on for ages about the various nuances in regard to the acting present in this movie, we do need to take a moment and discuss the wonder of the atmosphere present in this story as well. Because the isolated setting and the strange beasts that roam the woods surrounding this tiny village, make for one incredibly eerie environment. One where you feel unsettled over the fact that something is likely lurking about in the shadows and truly, one half of the ending’s grand reveal is quite impactful and honestly, had the story kept the big twist related to the evil of mankind and our need to control others, then this film might have been regarded as a masterpiece.
 
However, the ending is precisely what brings this motion picture into mediocre territory because the big twist is in a word, awful. Because it’s just silly to plop this mysterious village into a ‘wildlife preserve’ in modern times when one considers how connected we are in this day and age. Granted, Shyamalan works to dismiss that possibility by adding a ‘no-fly zone’ into their area. But satellites would see something, and something as simple as starting a fire would create some kind of smoke that would engender curiosity, making it impossible to isolate this tiny little world and that unrealistic ending does undo all the wonder that comes before it, which is a shame.
​
Because the core of this story is about how mankind uses fear to control one another, something that could have offered up some stunning commentary about our modern world. But alas, M. Night’s desire to impress the world with another shock ending, ruined the gravity of everything that came before it and that may be why this movie is often discussed with great disdain. For so many wanted this film to reach its potential. But in many ways, it really does, and there really is a lot to celebrate in this motion picture. Provided of course you just disregard the ending when watching. But all praise aside, this was sadly the last time that M. Night would offer up something genuinely special. Because it would seem the heat, he took for the ending in this tale, would alter his writing style in an unfortunate manner since his next film took a wild turn storytelling wise.     

Jerry and Linda Novak are on their way to Arkham Sanitarium after getting a stressed-out message from their buddy Mark. Mark has been able to gain access to the old building and is dying to find something supernatural there so he can take his fame to the next level. But without Jerry, his scientist and Linda his sensitive, he may run into more problems than he bargained for. Nonetheless, Mark is alone in the old building and is working on all of the shots he can get to make this into one of the greatest videos he has ever been a part of.

When arriving at the sanitarium, Jerry and Linda see that Mark is there, but are not able to locate him inside of the building. Jerry is fed up with Mark and his actions to this point, so he will start filming his own investigation with his wife. When getting nothing from an EVP session, Jerry is ready to move on, but Linda gives it another try and is able to capture a demonic yell, but when she plays it back for her husband, there is nothing on the tape. 

Not believing in ghosts or anything else for that matter, Jerry is ready to disprove the stories about the building but hearing a large bang outside of the room they are investigating and sensing a feeling of dread coming towards them, the couple hightails it to the door. Not being able to open it, Jerry’s face changes and he starts to talk in a voice that Linda has never heard before.

Soon we discover that The Arkham Sanitarium was shut down twenty years ago after a Lovecraftian cult was found performing sex and death acts on the patients housed inside of the walls. With their squid god Cthulhu at the helm, they were trying to open a doorway to bring their beliefs to life in our world. With a small door to the afterlife being held open, the group of researchers find that they are not alone in the building and need to find a way out before they fall victim to whatever madness that is still walking the halls. Being chased by a servant of Cthulhu, the group has no idea what they are in for when the doorway opens up even further.

I really liked how the story started out and you are able to get to know a bit about the characters before you have to watch for a monster to come out of the shadows. The Jerry and Linda relationship is on the rocks after Linda cheated with Mark on one drunken night and Jerry will not let that go. But seeing how he is forced to change his attitude after becoming possessed and finding out that he knows nothing about what is happening around him is just a great piece to the story. Same with Linda and when it comes to Mark, I learned a few things too, but I guess you cannot save them all, especially when Cthulhu is involved. Stay Scared.

With only nine episodes left post mini hiatus, ‘Galaxy Brain’ wastes no time getting to the point and neither will I. Let’s discuss…
​
We open four weeks prior on Earth 2 at a Radio Shed (nice name…lol!). In the Supernaturalverse timeline , this is just after Dean (Jensen Ackles) called God’s (Rob Benedict) plan galaxy-brained (*writer’s wink*) in 15.09: ‘The Trap’, telling him to go back to Earth 2 and play with his toys. UH OH!! Louden Swain’s Pop Tart Heart plays overhead. NICE!! As the music fades, a DJ discusses the Paris Climate Agreement and President Hilary Clinton kicking off her reelection campaign in Iowa. Wow, Earth 2 indeed!!

Chuck appears and soon, in front of a giant wall of multiple TVs, typical of any electronics store, claps his hands and says, “It’s monologue time.” Each screen changes to other Earths and different Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean’s!! We find out via Chuck’s own admission, over all the others, our Sam and Dean challenge, disappoint, and surprise Chuck. I LOVE IT!!! In fact, Chuck’s affection is so well acted that it makes me wish for the days when Chuck was just a drunken fandom writer. Then again, that was all an act anyway (*frowny face*). In reference to his other creations, Chuck says, “They don’t spark joy,” then says “It’s time to start cancelling shows.” Roll title card!! Again, how many times can I say “DAMMIT CHUCK!?!”

As a side note, now that I’ve been to a Supernatural Convention, these characters, particularly Chuck, since Rob hosted all four days, seem different to me now. Closer and more real! I can only imagine how those who regularly attend Supernatural Cons feel, right??

Moving along, throughout the episode, the scenes at the Bunker are fantastic. Sam, Dean and Cas (Misha Collins) discuss Jack (Alexander Calvert) and Billie’s (Lisa Berry) plan for him to kill God. Geez, just typing that feels weird! Sam questions a soulless Jack, the overall cosmic balance, Amara (Emily Swallow) and the lack of knowledge surrounding Billie’s plan. All legitimate concerns, right?

Speaking of Jack, even with no soul, he seems conflicted by his return to the Winchester fold. And when he runs his hand over the initials MW carved into the table in the common room, he seems quite regretful. *SIGH* We also meet Jack’s new secret babysitter, Merle the Reaper (Sandra Ferens), who seriously rubs me the wrong way from the get!! Later, Jack and Cas playing Connect Four is totally the awkward cuteness I didn’t even know I needed… lol! Plus, after Sam, Dean, Jody and Dark Kaia return, Cas tells Jody that it’s nice to finally meet her in person. To this, I paused. Have they really never met in person? HOLY COW!! From there, as the group contemplates options, Dark Kaia interrupts saying they’re wasting time. Classic Dean says, “Hey not Kaia! Not helping!” LOL!! And when they are deciding what to do with Dark Kaia, considering she attacked Jody, she pipes up saying, “Do I get a vote?” LOL, I love Jody!!

Post attack, we find out why Dark Kaia acts so hasty. She knows her world is ending! She can see this through our Kaia’s eyes. KAIA’S ALIVE!! I assumed, writing in The Women of Supernatural, that Dark Kaia wanted to get home to help her family. She actually meant Kaia as now she says, “I thought I could leave her behind. But she haunts me.” WHOA!!
 
We also get a scene between Dean and Cas where, to me, Cas seems overly sure that Jack is the answer. I think of earlier in regards to Jack eating Angel hearts, when Cas admits, “The hearts were disturbing.” And, because it’s been shown a few times on recaps and now mentioned, specifically with Cas commenting on it, I feel this will come back around somehow. Possibly involving Cas’s heart. YIKES!!!
​
Continuing their conversation, Dean reflects on revenge. Cas is hesitant, but Dean goes on to say, “Chuck wanted Cain and Abel and now we’re going all Biblical on him. Killed by his own Grandson. That sounds right to me.” Boy do I agree, but still, I cannot help but wonder the specifics. The writers pointing out something we, for the most part, already know, just like the eating hearts thing, seems… telling, no?

The group tries to figure out a way to open a rift without using Jack’s powers. Cas even tries to call Sergei (Dimitri Vantis), surely a desperate move, right? But they NEED Arc Angel Grace or Jack’s Nephilim Grace as a substitute, which is off limits for fear of tipping off God. While directing this, Richard Speight Jr. must’ve loved watching all this play out considering his character was/is an Arc Angel, LOL!!

A bit later, Jack visits Dark Kaia and after dream walking with her, he sees how badly our Kaia is suffering. Jack is now intent on using his powers to open a rift. This causes Merle to make her presence known to everyone. She berates Jack for wanting to risk it all for one life, and says, “that’s not just dumb. That’s Winchester dumb!” Dean’s reaction to her comment is priceless!! She threatens to tell Billie but Jack calls her bluff. NICE!! She then threatens to stop Jack. He calls her on this too, because we all know he’s stronger than her!! GO JACK!! Merle changes her insult from dumb to stupid (eyeroll), but with little options, she also changes her tune. A surprise to the boys, she tells them the Bunker’s Cosmic Warding originally stripped by Amara was never properly restored. WOW! Using a spell and power from Cas, Merle restores the warding, hopefully blocking them from Chuck’s radar. YES!!

As Sam and Dean prepare, hearing them talk about feeling like the old times, is a small moment for not only them, but us, that fans. We miss the old days! Sam and Dean together. Saving people. Hunting things. The Family Business. And with the end, in more ways than one, on the horizon, it’s nice to know the writers are right there with us!! “Winchester dumb/stupid” all the way…LOL!! Also, Cas asking Jody to stay behind was just so damn awesome! To protect Claire (Kathryn Newton)!! Someone they both care so deeply for. It was definitely not “Some BS male chivalry thing,” (LOL!!). Did I mention that I just love Jody? *BIG GRIN*

Jack opens the rift. Sam, Dean and Dark Kaia slip through. The storms have gotten worse. Dammit Chuck!! As they make their way, they are surrounded by monsters with glowing red eyes. On the attack? Nope! Dark Kaia tells Sam and Dean to stand down. The creatures aren’t hungry or hunting. They can sense the impending doom. Duh, right?? The storm increases and they frantically run away. Approaching Dark Kaia’s old home in the forest, a faint light shines from a fire within. They call out to Kaia. Surprised, she slowly emerges, knife in tow. She sees Dean. A man who once held a gun to her face. Teary eyed, she runs to him, hugging him tight. An amazing scene to say the least!! When our Kaia sees Dark Kaia, Sam assures her it’s okay. The storm worsens!! They head for the rift, but Dark Kaia holds back. She tells them she never belonged in their world. Dammit, I don’t want her to stay and die. Just. No!! But she does. Closing her eyes, Dark Kaia embraces the storm as planetary destruction washes over her. Gone!! *SIGH* On the other side of the rift, the new trio returns. Jody hugs our Kaia in relief. 
​
After some time to clean up, Jody invites Kaia to return to Sioux Falls. She asks if Claire will be there and my head is filled with hope for a relationship that was abruptly halted years ago. Not to mention, having Kaia back basically reunites the original Wayward Sisters line up!! Seriously, I’m still mad at CW for passing on this series and the soon to be off screen reunion feels a bit like the writers agree, right??

Things seem complete. Then suddenly, Merle dies with a surprise reaping from Billie. WOW!! I mean. Sam, Dean, Jack and Cas ALL looked legitimately scared. Same guys… SAME!! Quite the opposite of the Winchester mantra, Billie explains how one life is nothing in the grand scheme of things. She then tells them all the worlds, except theirs, is dying. Hmm, must be why she was so busy before, right?

Sam questions Billie’s plan. But Billie, the ultimate consequence, says that after she became Death (Julian Richings), she inherited his knowledge AND his library. Everyone has a book!! Yep, even God!! The scene cuts to 5.21: ‘Two Minutes to Midnight’, where original Death says, “At the end, I’ll reap him, too.” I scream “YES!!” But wait! Chuck wrote his own demise? Cas, totally on my page (no pun intended), questions why God would write “the blueprint” to his own death. Billie explains that the books actually write themselves!! WOW! And Chuck, to create other worlds, had to build himself into the framework of their world to keep the balance. OMC!!! In his own selfishness, he did this to himself!! AND, he has no idea what’s in his own book as Billie states, “No one can read their book unless I let them.” This is diabolically wonderful!! But, there’s more!! Jack is part of God’s book!! So are Sam and Dean!! YES!! Billie reminds them how she once told Dean they have work to do, another long standing Winchester mantra! HECK YA!! She says it’s their destiny. That they are “the messengers of God’s destruction.” End scene! SPEECHLESS!!

The final scene takes us back to Earth Two, present day. The Radio Shed has seen better days. Chuck, surrounded by empty fast food containers and pizza boxes, sits in front of the TV displays watching the destruction of all his creations. He rises to leave. Giving false hope to the poor clerk whose been serving him for weeks, Chuck walks out, tossing his soda, while giant fireballs plummet into the Radio Shed behind him. Credits! Dammit Chuck!!

Was this episode as revelatory for you as it was for me? Did I miss something profound? Let me know if the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… Go Team Free Will!!