There is nothing wrong with taking a break from life to help take care of a family member who is in need. While it is not possible for everyone, just making sure that the family knows that thoughts and prayers are with them can be uplifting. The world will continue to turn, and time will continue to pass and if you are not careful, things might pass you by and you do not want that to happen with your family. With everything that is happening in the world, it is important to make sure that you are always there for your family, so pick up the phone, send a text, or just post something on social media to make sure they are aware that you love them.
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After the passing of her mother, Emily and her husband Jesse have had a massive change in their lives as Zach has become part of their family. Suffering from Cerebral Palsy, young Zach needs full time care from his sister, and it is starting to take a toll on the couple, but Jesse will do anything he can to make it work. Taking a leave from work and buying a new house that is close to the medial facility that Zach will be sent to, he wants to make sure the Emily knows that even though things might be tough right now, everything will be much better in the future. With Zach requiring so much time however, Jesse also has the need for something else that has been lacking in the relationship, as Emily has completely cut him off from their marital bliss.

With their friends Woodrow and Michelle along for the ride, the group arrives at the new home and finds that it has a little creepy vibe to it. Putting Zach to bed after the long trip, the group starts to clean up the house and removes strange boards on the windows with some sort of symbols on them. Doing a little bit of research on said symbols, Emily finds out that they are all demon names, but little more is known about what happened in the house before they moved in. As the boards are taken down, Zach starts to hear voices in his room and with the promise of healing the young man, he allows a demon in setting in motion a series of events that no one should be able to survive.

Waking up to find that her little brother has the ability to walk, Emily quickly calls the doctor from the clinic and he is amazed by what he is seeing. Trying to conduct a series of tests on Zach, the doctor becomes the first victim to the killer demon that wants to play its favorite game with the people in the house. Walking back on his own, Zach warns the group that there are others coming, but not knowing what he means, Jesse and Woodrow are able to spot strangers in the woods surrounding the house, cutting them off from their only local beer source. As the demon fully takes over Zach’s actions, he starts to bring up the past of everyone in the house and makes a chilling point, that there is no innocence in the house and everyone must pay for their crimes.

I really liked this movie overall, as I was able to connect with the family aspect of what was going on, but then came the enjoyment of watching the demon pass from person to person, and that was just off the wall. I liked the dynamic between Jesse and Emily as the two have unresolved issues in their relationship and while Jesse wants to make things better, the skeletons in his closet outweigh what he is trying to do. While I don’t understand fully why Emily wanted to turn away from life altogether when starting to care for her little brother, I do understand what she was going through, as family is the number one priority in her eyes. The friends Woodrow and Michelle were a great addition to the story, as they have their own storylines that come in to play for the demon. With a great storyline, some blood, possessions, a demon body repair sequence, some booze, more possessions, an army of spirits and the love for family that no one can ever take away, this is just a great overall horror movie that keeps your eyes glued to the screen. Stay Scared! 

The story of the horror streamer Shudder is quite amazing when you take a moment to think about it. Because this once startup, one armed with a solid foundation of classics, quickly exploded into so much more. In fact, it almost seemed as though overnight, this streaming service became the destination for top-tier horror. Courtesy of an aggressive plan to curate the finest horror films onto the platform, be it through rights acquisition or the outright creation of movies and shows that would feature stunningly scary and thoughtful horror stories that would make the greats proud, and this plan truly helped to establish Shudder as the premier horror streamer on the market.
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But what’s truly amazing, is that Shudder is preparing to write an incredible new chapter in its story. For the respect the network has earned through its original programming is going to allow for a Shudder Original to make its debut at the 2022 Tribeca Festival. A move that will only further establish Shudder’s standing as the go-to for quality horror and grow its reputation and standing and library further, and well, here are the details on the upcoming Tribeca debut of A Wounded Fawn, courtesy of Shudder.

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has announced that its newest Shudder Original Film, horror feature A Wounded Fawn, will have its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Festival. Shudder will release the film, which is written and directed by Travis Stevens (Girl on the Third Floor, Jakob’s Wife), in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in late 2022.
 
“We’re thrilled the Tribeca Festival has recognized Travis Stevens’ distinct and visually arresting nightmare,” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler. “Shudder members are in for a viewing experience that is equal parts gripping, unexpected and surprisingly funny.”
 
Added Stevens, “As the horror genre continues to push forward in fun directions, it's only possible with the imagination and support of companies like Shudder. Their belief in this project and in the artists making it, has been wonderful. We're looking forward to sharing this wild film with audiences at Tribeca and around the world.”
 
Inspired by surrealist art and Greek mythology, A Wounded Fawn follows the story of Meredith Tanning, a local museum curator who is dipping her toe back into the dating pool, only to be targeted by a charming serial killer.  When a fateful romantic getaway between the two becomes a tense game of cat and mouse, both must confront the madness within him.
 
A Wounded Fawn stars Sarah Lind (Jakob’s Wife), Josh Ruben (Werewolves Within) and Malin Barr (The Beta Test, Honeydew) and is an Original Shudder Production, produced by Stevens, Joe Barbagallo via his Barbhouse shingle and Laurence Gendron via Genco Pictures, from a screenplay by Stevens and Nathan Faudree.
 
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.’

There are so many things that can be done to make the world a better place, from writing a life changing novel to finding the cure for cancer. While everyone may not have the abilities to make the world a better place, they do have the ability to make their lives better by never settling. Keeping the urge to learn new things and using them to your advantage is something that can be lost when you get older, but it shouldn’t. They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but they should be saying that you can never keep an old dog down, since there is still plenty of life to continue living.
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Getting word from her father figure, Doctor John in the Amazon that he has found a massive breakthrough, Mina is ready to make the trek down to the forest. With a documentary team coming along to show the world that they have finally found the cure for cancer, Mina and her boyfriend Ben are more than excited to see what the doctor has found. With the promise of a great story to be told, Nikki and her crew are ready to help make history and gain a little bit of fame on their trip as well.

Arriving at the village, the group is greeted by Doctor John and his assistants who introduce everyone to the local tribe. Noticing that they are not being received too well, the group will be included in a spiritual celebration for Anhanga whom all of the locals believe is protecting them and their forest. Being able to do a little bit of research on this spirit, the group finds out that it is more of a devil creature and are not sure what the locals see in him, but after conducting some interviews and finding out about the distrust the tribe has toward outsiders in their community, they slowly start to put the pieces together.

After the celebration comes to an end, the group returns to their camp site to see that it is torn to sherds. With the samples gone and all of the research notes torn up, the group is left to come to the decision to head into the deadly forest to try and locate a new sample. With everyone coming along for the ride, the group is introduced to a guide who does not think that any of them should come along, but needing to document the game changing event, they overrule him and the group ventures further into the rainforest than they could have expected. Being able to locate the frog that houses the magical cure, the group returns to their meeting point to return back to the village, but to their surprise, there will be no boats to ferry them back down the river. Starting to make their trek through the forest, one by one, the members of the group are picked off and the group is forced to believe that this Anhanga creature might actually exist.

I liked the premise of this movie when I first read the description and liked how the story ended up playing out. As finding a cure for cancer was the driving force of the storyline, the fear of the unknown is really what made the story interesting. I enjoyed the interactions within the groups, especially when Nikki fell into a puddle and finally told her camera man to stop filming. The importance of documenting the greatest discovery known to the human race was first and foremost, yet not destroying nature to do so was a great narrative to add into the story as well. With a creepy forest, frogs, ghostly sounds, plenty of wildlife and a dying doctor trying to make his last push for a better life, it’s just a good movie that will make you wonder what would happen if something as massive as finding the cure for cancer was ever discovered. Would it be celebrated by all, or would it be hidden under the rug, since there is more money to made if people continue to die, up to you to ponder. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season finale of ‘Shining Vale’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When it comes to horror stories that involve a poor family that has to deal with an angry ghost trapped within their new home, the biggest moment in that story… is the ending. Simply because this is when good triumphs over evil and where said family is able to reclaim their lives by banding together and defeating the spirit that torments them, and that is a satisfying way to end a story that puts the audience through an outright emotional wringer. One that works so well, that these types of stories make use of it often. But as the genre continues to evolve and this formula grows a touch cliché and stale at times… there are creative minds out there, asking if by chance, there are better, stronger and more unique ways to end this type of tale.
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Because to do so, would take the audience by surprise, and give rise to new and original stories that basically wow, when all is said and done, and that is precisely why the season finale of Shining Vale on STARZ is of note. Because it is a horror story that opted to try something new when it came to the traditional framework of this type of story and that allowed for ‘Chapter Eight: We Are Phelps’ to genuinely stand out as something unique and wonderful. And it also took us for an incredible ride, by outright fooling us into believing that for the first time ever, this series was going to go a traditional route storytelling wise and provide us with the familiar ending, we just outlined.

A feat that it accomplished, by setting the stage for a grand showdown between Pat and Rosemary. For shortly after the events of last week’s episode, wherein Terry and Pat gave into more carnal emotions with their party guests… Pat had enough of Rosemary and started to work on purging her from her life. Which was no easy task of course. Because Rosemary enjoyed the wondrous life she was being given through Pat’s book and wanted no part of being cast back into the void. Not when she was so close to finally telling a story she always wanted to tell. But Pat was having none of that and decided to go all out and try to harm herself in order to put an end to Rosemary and well… that led to some good old fashioned horror moments and homages.

Because this was nothing short of an insult to Rosemary, and if she was going to be disrespected in this manner after everything, she did for Pat… then Pat and her family, were going to pay. Which brought forth a recreation of sorts of the ending of The Shining. Wherein doors were torn down by axes and a manic and possessed Pat trudged through the house in the hopes of slicing and dicing her family to bits under Rosemary’s careful guidance and that made for some terrifying moments, filled to the brim with dark humor and well… just when it appeared as though Rosemary was going to be successful, the twist came into play. For the drugs that Pat downed to try and end her life, finally took hold and dropped her to the floor and thanks to Gaynor’s quick thinking… her mother was saved… medically.
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But mentally, there were incredible concerns about Pat and her future and that’s why, she was quickly committed. To keep her safe from herself and others, creating a full circle moment full of commentary on the cyclical nature of abuse and the generational ignorance to genetic mental health illness issues within a family line, since Gaynor made the call… much like her mother did with grandma. But all depth and gravity aside, what truly made this so shocking is that in essence… the ghost won. For Rosemary is likely still within Pat’s subconscious, patiently waiting to unleash hell and to make matters worse, whatever Rosemary claimed to be in this tale… was a filthy lie. Since it was revealed that Pat’s new home wasn’t Rosemary’s dream home turned nightmare, but a facility for troubled women that Rosemary once worked at.

Leaving all of us to wonder the true origin of this vengeful spirit and what it actually wants with Pat and that… is a great way to set up season two of this dynamic new horror comedy. Because it means this was merely the origin story and there is so much more to uncover and of course, there’s so much for Pat to come back from. Which means we here at NTG hope that STARZ renews this show for a second season, so we can continue this refreshing and incredible story. One that truly took the end of this chapter of the story into a bold place, one that will have all of us buzzing for some time over hidden meanings and the sheer gravity of it. But that’s what good horror does, it energizes and engages us and if this is the kind of quality we are getting at the beginning of the journey, just imagine what year two could bring us. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 709 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say that the AMC series, Fear the Walking Dead, has provided its fans with its darkest and boldest season to date. Because it doesn’t get much darker than watching the survivors of an ongoing zombiepocalypse, be forced to deal with the horrors of nuclear fallout and living within the meager confines of a nuclear wasteland. As for the bold nature of that setting, well that has come about by way of powerful stories that examine the lasting impact of such a hostile environment. The kind that has shown us how this kind of world would break a great deal of people living within it, and how its fearful nature might push people that skirt on the edge of the grey area, to plunge into the darkness.
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As evidenced by how Victor Strand has finally embraced the darkness within his soul, which Madison and Alicia Clark worked hard to help him leave behind, by becoming the despot that heroes in the The Walking Dead Universe have fought against time and time again. But while that has made for some powerful storytelling, the kind that has kept us on the edge of our seats, it does leave us to wonder if this is where Fear is going to reside going forward. For this is a show that has attempted to find beauty in prior seasons and featured moments where its characters work for a better tomorrow and as it turns out, the next episode of this harrowing season finally gave us an idea of what might be on the horizon.

For the midseason premiere, ‘Follow Me’, is a story that took the time to explore the nature of redemption and how there is still hope to be found in a scorched world where radioactive reanimated corpses wander the countryside, hungry for flesh. And it brought about these positive concepts by having us spend a little time with Alicia Clark and a new friend of hers, Paul. For when we catch up with her, here, she awakens to find herself inside Paul’s home and well… at first, his strange demeanor and desire and to play music at high volumes, left Alicia and the audience wondering if this man was friend or foe and thankfully… it turned out that he was the former.

Because a little down time allowed for Alicia to learn that this gentleman was nothing more than a man of music, and that he only recently had to endure the genuine sorrow that so many others did in this world, since the nuclear blasts took his wife and well, all he wanted from Alicia… was her help. For Paul was hard of hearing and needed new gear to enjoy his music and his only ties left to the old world, and the memory of his wife, and in exchange for helping put his world back together, since Alicia had to break some of the gear to warn him and kill a walker that snuck in... he would offer her food and shelter and safety from the ravages of the world until she was ready and strong enough to head back home. Since the fever was clearly hampering those efforts.

Which was an offer that not only took Alicia off guard, but the audience as well. for we haven’t seen that level of kindness in this new nuclear world and what’s amazing, is that Paul was eager to do more for Alicia than those simple acts of kindness. For he also worked to protect her from Arno and his roving band of nuclear bandits since they were searching for her and were eager to bring her to justice for crimes, they believed she committed and if that wasn’t enough to make this man a genuine hero of sorts… he still went one step further in trying to help Alicia. By asking her to open up about recent events and why Arno was chasing her in the first place… and by also asking her to explore exactly what she wanted out of this tense life and what she wanted to accomplish.
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Which were requests that took some serious work to bring to fruition, but eventually she did open up about everything, and she revealed to Paul that she failed as a leader and cost people their lives when they left the bunker to look for PADRE, and that failure, is what has motivated her to be so aggressive in her push to save others. To atone for her mistakes and to redeem her soul and well… it doesn’t get more uplifting and positive than that. Because we haven’t heard anyone speak to wanting to find redemption for a long time in this saga, and the wonder of this story didn’t end with Alicia's powerful confession and reflections upon failure. 
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Because with trouble surrounding Paul and her, they opted to make a hell of a stand at his place. One where loud music helped to turn the living dead into walking weapons and where our hero was forced to sacrifice himself to keep Alicia safe and that act, one that came out of sheer kindness and selflessness, inspired Alicia to return to the straight and narrow that she’s always been grounded within and do right by the world in its moment of need. Which is why she informed Morgan when she returned to the U.S.S. Pennsylvania that she was quickly leaving. To finish what she started and guide people to a better place to live, one that would be of her creation so that it would be set up just right.

Which is… quite the uplifting ending to find in a universe this dark and sorrowful, and it was welcome indeed. For after eight episodes of darkness and worry and ugly moments through and through, we finally enjoyed hope again and a drive for a better tomorrow and that is quite the gift for certain. Because sometimes… the audience just needs a break from the sorrow and needs to believe that better days are on the horizon. And when one takes into account that Alicia has been here before with her mother (whom is still out there, waiting to be reintroduced) … one definitely feels secure in the possibility that brighter mornings are ahead and that Alicia might be able to do this the right way and it will be quite amazing to see how she pulls this off, in the days and weeks to come. Until next time.

To hear more about Season 7 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’ and the journeys the characters are taking, check out our interviews with cast members: Alycia Debnam-Clark, Alexa Nisenson, Omid Abtahi, Jenna Elfman, and Keith Carradine.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Cellar’.
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There are few moments in this life that we fear more, than losing a loved one… in any capacity. For the people that are closest to us, through blood no less, are so engrained in the fiber of our being that we know their departure from this plane will wound us deeply and that we will never properly recover from said wound. Which is why we see people at their lowest when that dark day comes. Because they simply struggle with that loss and the waves of pain that come with it, until they finally feel ready to move forward in life with the memory of their loved one in their hearts.
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But what we don’t talk about enough in this life, is how long that healing process can actually take and how destructive it can become when a support network for the person suffering from grief doesn’t exist, or if they’re expected to just suck it up and move forward without closure. But we need to discuss that more, since it can create great damage to a person’s psyche and hurt those, they love around them when the fury of being robbed of a loved one boils over. If anything, one could say that grief can serve as one’s own personal hell and that notion and the destructive nature of grief in general is top of mind today, because they serve as the central focus of the brand-new horror feature, The Cellar.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to Woods family as they prepare to move into their brand-new mansion. One that they bought for pennies on the dollar at an auction and where they hope their family can come together. For Brian and Keira are so career oriented that they don’t spend enough time with their children, Steven and Ellie. But the hope in their minds is that having a gorgeous home in the countryside will change all that, once they of course… handle the big account in front of them. But alas, before they can settle in and rebuild, young Ellie goes missing one night during a storm in a manner that eats at Keira, and that motivates her to begin her own investigation into her daughter’s disappearance and what she finds… will prove troublesome. For this old house is harboring some supernatural secrets, the kind that will torment the family in ways so unsettling, that their worst nightmares would serve as a comfort.

Which at first glance, is a plot that seems to focus instead on cliché. Because time and time again, we’ve seen this kind of story. Wherein a family must fight a great evil in a new home and well, starting off this film in a familiar manner, is quite frankly… a stroke of genius. Simply because it makes the viewer comfortable and relaxed and that allows for the real horrors hiding within the walls of this place to unsettle and terrify the viewer when they grow in power. Which in turn allows for this motion picture to more or less become something of a waking nightmare as it progresses, since the scares just amplify and are impactful and unsettling, and it also doesn’t hurt that there are some serious homages to Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond to be found here as well.
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But all horror elements and surprises aside, that still doesn’t speak to how this movie truly explores the dangers of grief and it how can consume us and put us in our own private hell and well, it’s the little things in this motion picture that bring that about. Such as how this satanic house was forged in evil by a scientist that couldn’t reconcile the death of a family member, and how the evil is reawakened by a mother that cannot reconcile the fate of her daughter. And her desperate desire to see her and rescue her at any cost, allows for the evil in this house and the ending of this film, to serve as the grand allegory for the theme in question. Since we bear witness to the downward spiral grief creates and the doom that comes with it. Allowing for a powerful and brilliant story to play out, one that stays with you for some time after it ends.

In part because the ending is so shocking and so dynamic that you need a minute to reflect upon what you’ve just seen, but more so because… this is no holds barred approach at exploring the power of grief. For it really does consume and destroy Keira and she is genuinely on her own in this story and unable to reconcile her emotions and that hammers home to the audience, to be there for those in a time of need, especially those grieving. Because that could be the turning point in their fight against the darkness, we all fear and well, in the end, this is absolute must-see of a horror film. Because this one really has it all. For there is quality commentary, solid scares and great performances as well, with Elisha Cuthbert stealing the show as Keira and well… if we’ve done enough to pique your interest in this story, the good news is you can swing by your local multiplex or Shudder right now, to check this magnificent gem out.

Please enjoy a sneak peek of the season finale of Shining Vale, which will air on STARZ on April 17, 2022.
 
If the embedded clip below doesn’t work, click here to view it.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 202 of ‘Cursed Films’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous Shudder series, Cursed Films II, we talked at length about how the notion of a cursed film comes to fruition. Simply because, it is genuinely fascinating to know that people hold to the belief that a particular moment or act can suddenly bring dark forces down upon the making of a movie or curse its cast postproduction. But folks do and they hold to that belief tightly for various reasons. Such as say, the possibility that mocking or exposing something that one shouldn’t in the first place, can awaken something sinister behind the scenes and motivate it to punish those involved. Which is a concept that is supremely relevant to our discussion today, because that’s basically what people think regarding Rosemary’s Baby.
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For this powerful horror film, made in 1968, revolved around the rise of Satanists that manipulate an innocent soul into having intercourse with the Devil so that she will in turn give birth to the Anti-Christ and bring about the end times. Which back then (and even now…) was a bold story to bring forth. Since the Christian roots present in this nation would and did, easily take offense to a mainstream movie that spotlights God’s greatest foe and well, the fundamental beliefs about spotlighting evil in our world that the Christian faith warns against, are indeed a deciding factor as to why so many see this movie as cursed. Because shortly after it was released, so many bad things happened to the cast and crew members.

For instance, William Castle, the producer of this film… came upon hard times after it was released. To the point where his pride was shattered by the angry response to the film, and his career pretty much cooled as well. Which is perhaps, the lightest outcome of the wild stories surrounding this film. Take the post Rosemary’s journey of Victoria Vetri for instance. Because after enjoying wild success in the 1960s as an actor, she too fell upon hard times after taking a role in the movie. To the point where she spent a little time in prison for shooting her husband in the back and now… time has taken some of her memories away from her, as evidenced by how hard it was for to her focus on the past in her interview segment in this story. But even then, issues like that can be attributed to coincidence over curse. Which is why what came next for Director Roman Polanski is important to spotlight.

For a year after this movie was released, major tragedy befell him. For he was the husband to Sharon Tate, who on one fateful August night in 1969, was brutally murdered by Charlie Manson’s ‘family’. Which was a horrific act that still is explored and discussed to this day. But there are definite overtones of a curse when it comes to that, since Polanski led the charge on creating this film, leaving so many to believe that he somehow awakened something dark and that those very forces were eager to punish and well… the fact that we have no definitive answers on whether or not that kind of dark energy exists in our world, allows for this fear to persist. In fact, William’s daughter has such great concerns about that possibility, that she won’t go near the devil themed cigar box Mia Farrow gave her dad as an end of production gift.

But all of that aside, this really was a fascinating episode of the show. One that really dug deep into the origins of what motivates people to believe a film is cursed and how that theory persists, and well… that made for one powerful episode. One that also paid proper respect to the tragedy of the La Bianca-Tate Murders by speaking to impact over theory and it just goes to show that this series, really is one of the most dynamic documentaries out there. Because of its desire to remain neutral and to present everything in an objective light and writer/director Jay Cheel deserves a round of applause for simply exploring the origins of concerns for this film, rather than passing judgment or pushing us one way or another. And it will be genuinely fascinating to dive into other reasons as to why people believe a movie can be cursed, as season two continues along. Until next time.  

One thing that fans of Fear the Walking Dead and The Walking Dead Universe can agree upon, is that first half of season seven of Fear, has featured some of the darkest storytelling to ever grace the entire franchise. A feat the story has accomplished, by plunging us into the worst-case scenario for a zombiepocalypse. Because in addition to the fact that the dead are still returning to life and attacking the living, the poor survivors of the death of death, have also been forced to deal with the realities of nuclear fallout and the wasteland nuclear bombs create… courtesy of Teddy’s decision to envision a horrible new world of his own choosing, one he thankfully will never see come to fruition.
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But alas, the barren fruits of his labor are everywhere to be found and that brought forth some bleak episodes, the kind that saw the harrowing fight for survival break spirits and it even pushed old friends that have been through utter hell together… to turn their backs on one another and prepare to fight each other over what little scraps remain in the remnant of Texas. If anything, it is best to declare this season’s first half a savage vision of the apocalypse. One that rivals George Romero’s own visceral views of the collapse of mankind. But all reflection upon this aside, this level of bleakness and devastation does leave one to wonder exactly what this show is building toward from a storytelling standpoint, and it would seem the show is ready to begin to reveal that to us.

For Sunday will see this series return to the airwaves on AMC and we here at Nerds That Geek were lucky enough to see the first two episodes of the back half of season seven and would like to discuss with you, in a spoiler-free fashion of course, some of what to expect from season 7B and offer our thoughts on what the show is building toward. For there is a tonal shift to be found in these first couple of episodes, the kind where the characters have some genuine moments of inflection regarding their situation and what brought them to such a dark point in their lives. Which brings forth some powerful and moving moments for certain, that appear to be building toward a grand analysis of what is the point of surviving in a wasteland and how does one find hope within it.

Which might in turn lead us out of the darkness, especially when one considers that there is actual beauty to be found in the next two episodes of the show. A move that is surprising for certain since the first half gave us little hope or joy, but it is a move that is definitely welcome. Because these characters have indeed been through hell and deserve something worthwhile at this point and these majestic moments of peace and wonder, only reinforce the possibility that things might get better down the line. But while that might make it appear that the next episodes abandon the horror of this world and just immediately shift toward happy joy-joy feelings, make no mistake about it… this is still a horror series, and the dead are still very much a threat… as is humanity.

If anything, these first two episodes make it inherently clear to the viewer… that the bold nature of season seven isn’t going to cease. In fact, it would appear that the writer’s room of this show is going to go harder and really examine every possible outcome a true disaster would have upon the human psyche and that is going to lead to some stunning storytelling. The kind that will give us plenty to chew upon and well… we here at NTG simply cannot wait for you to see what season 7B has in store for all of you and to geek out with all of you over it, in the coming days, and we hope you swing back here for some extended coverage of season 7B as well. Since we have some interviews with the cast of the show to share with all of you before the show returns from its mid-season hiatus on Sunday, April 17, 2022.

You know that a streaming service is growing in popularity and stature when it just so happens to dominate the headlines of a particular day, and that is of course a good problem to have. Since it really means said streamer is accomplishing wonders and it just so happens, that this is a problem that Shudder is dealing with today.

Because not only did this wildly popular horror streamer, announce that it had acquired a top-tier new zombie film earlier today, but it also just released its May 2022 programming lineup. So, with so much Shudder news to process today, let's not waste any time and get right down to showcasing the incredible lineup of horror films and shows and original programing that Shudder is sending our way come next month.

In The Twin, following the aftermath of a tragic accident that claimed the life of one of their twins, Rachel (Teresa Palmer, A Discovery of Witches, Warm Bodies, Lights Out) and husband Anthony (Steven Cree, A Discovery of Witches, Outlander) relocate to the other side of the world with their surviving son in the hopes of building a new life. What begins as a time of healing in the quiet Scandinavian countryside soon takes an ominous turn when Rachel begins to unravel the torturous truth about her son and confronts the malicious forces attempting to take a hold of him. Also available in theaters and on demand on May 6 from RLJ Films. View Trailer: HERE

After a year of combating a pandemic with relatively benign symptoms, a frustrated nation finally lets its guard down. This is when the virus spontaneously mutates, giving rise to a mind-altering plague. The streets erupt into violence and depravity, as those infected are driven to enact the most cruel and ghastly things they can think of. Murder, torture, rape, and mutilation are only the beginning. A young couple is pushed to the limits of sanity as they try to reunite amid the chaos. The age of civility and order is no more. There is only "The Sadness." The film is the feature debut of writer and director Rob Jabbaz and stars Regina Lei (76 Horror Bookstore), Berant Zhu (We Are Champions), Tzu-Chiang Wang (It’s Drizzling) and In-Ru Chen. VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

Directed and produced by Sarah Appleton and Phillip Escott, the documentary tracks the origins of the found footage technique and how it transformed with technological changes throughout the last few decades. The Found Footage Phenomenon features interviews with integral found footage directors whose films impacted the horror genre like no other sub-genre has, around the turn of the millennium. Score by music legend Simon Boswell. VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

Widowed mother Holly (Sienna Guillory) is radically tested when her teenage daughter Betsey (Jessica Alexander) experiences a profound enlightenment and insists that her body is no longer her own, but in service to a higher power. Bound to her newfound faith, Betsey refuses to eat but loses no weight. In an agonizing dilemma, torn between love and fear, Holly is forced to confront the boundaries of her own beliefs. Also starring Ruby Stokes and Lindsay Duncan. Directed by Ruth Paxton. VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

Shudder’s acclaimed documentary series is back to explore the facts and myths surrounding a new batch of famous films some consider cursed. In the season finale, Cursed Films travels to Roma, Italy to discuss the making of what is arguably the most controversial horror film ever made, Cannibal Holocaust. Writer/Director Ruggero Deodato discusses the film from concept through creation, including the famous court case that saw him defending himself for the murder of a performer in the heart of the Amazon. Meanwhile, his cast and crew detail the struggles they faced while trying to meet the expectations of a demanding director, who continually pushed them towards their breaking point.

The hit series returns with Briggs, the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic, presenting eclectic horror movie double features, interrupting the films to expound upon their merits, histories, and significance to genre cinema. This season features a wide array of fan favorites, obscure cult oddities and surprise guests. ​

May 1

Eli Roth's History of Horror S3
This season of Eli Roth’s History of Horror continues to explore the fun and the fear of scary films – both timeless classics and wildly frightening films that flew under the radar, tackling the topics of Sequels (That Don’t Suck), Infections, Psychics, Apocalyptic Horror, Holiday Horror and Mad Scientists. All-star lineup of interviewees include Cate Blanchett, Margaret Cho, Jeffrey Combs, Jamie Lee Curtis, Geena Davis, Lex Scott Davis, Robert Englund, Vanessa Hudgens, Elliott Knight, David Koechner, Christopher Landon, Meat Loaf, Greg Nicotero, Jonah Ray, Giovanni Ribisi, Jessica Rothe, Madeleine Stowe, Quentin Tarantino, Jennifer Tilly, Edgar Wright, Rob Zombie, and many others.

Broadcast Signal Intrusion
In the late 1990s, a video archivist unearths a series of sinister pirate broadcasts and becomes obsessed with uncovering the conspiracy behind them.

Goodnight Mommy
Twin boys who do everything together, from collecting beetles to feeding stray cats, welcome their mother home after her reconstructive surgery. But with her face wrapped in bandages, and her demeanor distant, they grow suspicious of her identity.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
Chainsaw-wielding maniac Leatherface (Bill Johnson) is up to his cannibalistic ways once again, along with the rest of his twisted clan, including the equally disturbed Chop-Top (Bill Moseley). This time, the masked killer has set his sights on pretty disc jockey Vanita "Stretch" Brock (Caroline Williams), who teams up with Texas lawman Lefty Enright (Dennis Hopper) to battle the psychopath and his family deep within their lair, a macabre abandoned amusement park.

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)
Driving through Texas, young yuppie couple Michelle (Kate Hodge) and Ryan (William Butler) stop at the Last Chance Gas Station, but after they witness the owner attacking a hitchhiker named Tex (Viggo Mortensen), they panic and flee. In their hasty departure, they get lost and soon find themselves pursued by the chainsaw-toting maniac known as Leatherface (R.A. Mihailoff). While running, the couple bump into survivalist Benny (Ken Foree), who they team up with in an effort to escape.

May 2

The Babadook
A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son's fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.

The Midnight Swim
When Dr. Amelia Brooks' three daughters travel home to settle her affairs after she disappears in Spirit Lake, they find themselves drawn to the mysterious body of water.

May 9

Popcorn
A master of disguise deranged killer begins killing off the college students who are organizing a horror-movie marathon in an abandoned theater.

The Stylist
A lonely hair stylist becomes obsessed with the lives of her clients and descends into murderous madness.

A Ghost Waits
A man's job requires him to clean a house, which turns out to be haunted. In the course of trying to exorcise the ghost, he falls in love with her.

May 16

Brain Damage
A young man discovers a disgusting parasite has attached itself to his brain stem. He becomes addicted to the psychedelic euphoria it produces, but in return he must feed it human victims.

May 23

Tetsuo The Iron Man
A businessman accidentally kills The Metal Fetishist, who gets his revenge by slowly turning the man into a grotesque hybrid of flesh and rusty metal.

Tetsuo The Body Hammer
When metal-worshipping fanatics abduct his son, a father unleashes his dormant destructive power, as his naked rage transforms the once-feeble flesh into a grisly symbiosis of metal and tissue.

May 24

The Prowler
An unknown killer, clad in World War II U.S. Army fatigues, stalks a small New Jersey town bent on reliving a 35 year-old double murder by focusing on a group of college kids holding an annual graduation dance.

May 30

The Unseen
A television reporter and her two friends head to Solvang, California to cover a Danish festival. When there is a mix-up at the hotel and they are left without hotel rooms, the girls accept the invitation of a friendly museum owner to board at his large farmhouse because the rest of the motels in and around town are sold out. But unknown to the women, something is living in the basement of the house. Their stay soon becomes a horrific nightmare when, one by one, they encounter the 'unseen'.

Demon Wind
The strange and brutal deaths of Cory’s grandparents has haunted him for years. Determined to discover the truth, he has returned to the desolate region where they lived, along with a group of friends, to try and uncover the mystery. Ignoring warnings from the locals that the area is cursed, Cory and his friends soon realize that the legend is true, as the Demon Wind, possesses and destroys them, one by one, turning them into monsters from hell.

May 31

Kolobos
Cameras record the violent deaths of several unsuspecting actors on the terrifying set of an experimental film.