High school can be one of the best times of your life, or one of the worst. Since everyone has gone through it, they come out with several life lessons that are applied later on, but sometimes it might leave you scarred for many years to follow. Falling in love in high school could be one of the most traumatizing things that can happen, as some people find their soul mate in their four short years, while others end up taking the secret of their crush to the grave.

Tamara Riley is a young woman that dreams about one thing, finding true love. Since she does not have the friends or the looks of the other girls in school that have found their soul mates, she has turned to another method, witchcraft. Although she is not a hundred percent behind the teachings she has been trying to follow, she still has faith that it will work and with a massive crush on her English teacher, she is ready to give it one more try.

Not fully completing a spell on one tireless night, she is amazed to get a call from Mr. Natolly and is delighted to hear that he has come around. What she does not know is that a group of her peers are messing with her for writing a drug testing article that has kicked them off of their school team. Wanting to take her innocence away, the group ends up taking her life and has to find a way to cover it up. Burying her out in the woods with no one knowing, they feel that they are in the clear and will go on with their normal lives, but what they managed to do, is resurrect the awkward girl into someone they cannot resist. 

As Tamara shows up to school the following Monday, the group notices the difference between the old and new her. Trying to apologize for what they have done, they find themselves having to give up more than words to the reborn goddess, they are forced to give up their lives. Moving from one student to another, Tamara is able to control everyone’s actions with just a touch, but even with revenge on her mind, there is something much more powerful driving her, love.

This goes into far darker territory than one of those high school love stories that seem to be popping up every other year. With your basic love story being ramped up by way of a witch coming after what she really wants and several elements of horror that will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat, you are left with just the facts. Love and high school, although they might a driving factor to who we are today, most of the time they just don’t mix. I did enjoy this movie since it made me reflect a little bit on my younger days and made me happy that I did not harass too many people to the brink of wanting to take revenge on me. Stay Scared!

With all of the advances that have been made in the medical field, it is surprising that we have not discovered a way to keep people alive forever. As our average life span has been more than doubled from the early 1800’s, it is amazing that we have not found the way to cheat death altogether. Maybe it has to do with the lack of clinical trials that researchers can get funding for, or maybe it is just not possible. Either way, I am sure that we will see some new medical revelation come forth in our lifetimes that will change our outlook on death, and hopefully for the better.

A secret lab has been opened and is working on finding a serum that will revolutionize the world. The Prometheus Project has been formed to find a way to regenerate failing cells via stem cell research, but they have hit a dead end and are in need of a new set of eyes to make their next leap forward. Dr. Elizabeth Barnes has been brought into the mix of great minds to share everything she knows about stem cells and is able to produce faster results than her predecessor. When the group of researchers start to believe that she knows what she is doing, she is given free reign over the facility, but not everyone is happy about that.

Victoria Travelle was the leader of the research team and is not happy about being replaced. As she has dedicated more time to the project than anyone else, she does not want to give up no matter the consequences. As the first trials of Elizabeth's work fall flat, Victoria is able to jump back into the driver’s seat and implement her own changes. When a functioning serum is created, the group is anxious to try it, and when a dead body is presented to them, the group puts it to the test. As the corpse comes back to life, the group sees that they have found a way to cheat death, however, they are unable to control the reanimated person in front of them and need to find a way to slow down the process.

When a security guard in the facility is killed in cold blood, Victoria puts it upon herself to try the serum again and bring the man back to life. Without reviving him for a week’s time, she sees that there is strange regeneration in the body and once David wakes up, he means much more to her than the first subject. Teaching David like a child, Victoria bonds with him and takes him under her wing. As David develops however, she finds out that he is much more than he was before he was gunned down, he is something special…and dangerous.

This movie brought more to the screen than I could have ever imagined. With the story starting off with a power struggle that could only end badly, bringing people back to life and not being able to control them is a very scary premise. As David comes back to life and learns everything from the books presented to him, he is able to read into the minds of some of the smartest people on the planet and although that does not seem like it could be so scary, what he is able to do with the information, is. With the distinction between science and religion being the focal point in this film, if we could play God and cheat death completely, would there be any need for someone to watch over us anymore? Stay Scared.

Getting time away with your family is something that should be done several times a year. With all that goes on in the world, it is hard to remember that everyone needs a break from the everyday monotony of daily life. Sometimes we forget that our children need this break as much as we do and they should always be number one, and we should also make sure that they are expressing their feelings, as so many keep it all locked up on the inside as they do not know how to express themselves for fear of being punished for saying something wrong. We do have to walk a tight rope when listening to what our children are really thinking, but it is important to remember that they are just as fragile as we are, and need someone to fight the battle of life with.

Cory Morgan is trying to get his new family out of the big town to spend some time together and bond. With the loss of his wife, Cory has found love once again in the arms of Sarah, but his son Liam is none too happy with the change. Not wanting to give Sarah a chance at being his new mother, Liam lashes out at her every chance he gets and although he gets in trouble, he feels that he is doing the right thing in remembering his deceased mother. Cory tries to reason with his son about the issues he is fighting, but Liam will not open up to him and makes his father guess what is happening in is mind. 

Getting out to their country house for a little get away, Cory and Sarah find that the house has been used by someone other than them. Calling in the local sheriff, nobody is happy with the response, especially Liam, who cannot locate the last stuffed animal his mother gave him before her passing. Searching around the house to find out how the intruders got in, Cory finds the stuffed mouse in the basement, along with a hole chopped out of the cellar door. Repairing the door, Cory tries to make his family feel safe, but when Liam goes missing in the middle of the night, the happy couple finds that there is something more dangerous afoot than just a break in.

Trying to locate Liam, Cory and Sarah see the town’s sheriff get killed in front of their very eyes and have to find a way to get to safety. With a masked person following them, wearing the head of Liam’s mouse, the couple expects the worse but Cory is able to find that his attackers are not looking for his son’s life, they are looking for a new member of their own family, and now, Cory and Sarah have to find a way to survive the attacks that are suddenly happening, and also prove their love for young Liam, before he becomes someone else’s son.

A disturbing movie to say the least as you are never able to see the faces of the attackers, and I will never be able to look a stuffed animal in the face again after what they do with them in this movie. With a parent trying to prove their love for their child, it is hardest to see what they are made to do to ensure their child’s livelihood. As you watch the screen for the next visual scare, you are left wondering how far you would go to make sure your child will never be harmed. The difficult decisions and sacrifices we make for our children should show how much we love them, but if you never say it, how do they know for sure. Stay Scared.

When it comes to fictional television shows as a whole, I think it is safe to say that season finales are quite the tricky venture. For while they offer a grand opportunity to wow the audience with some incredible storytelling, the kind that leaves us talking for days and eager for the next season to roll around, the wrong moves when it comes to said finale can instead leave its fanbase in a disappointed or angry place. It’s something we’ve seen happen time and time again by way of shows that are either are afraid to move the plot forward or decide that a shock value ending will somehow engender joy from the fans when all we wanted was quality resolution and sadly, this is on my mind today, simply due to the fact that the season one finale of A Discovery of Witches turned out to fall into the latter of those categories since it was a tad disappointing when all is said and done.

Which is a shame since ‘Episode 8’ opened up in such strong and powerful fashion. For we got a grand showdown between Juliette and Diana, the kind that raised the stakes since Juliette left Matthew wounded and dying for choosing Diana over her. Which, in turn, allowed for us to see how lethal Diana’s powers can be when she’s filled with fury since she put Juliette down with giving it a second thought, and really, what I enjoyed about this opening, was the implication that it sent our way because it really seemed for a moment there that all the showdowns we were waiting for were going to come to fruition after Diana healed from the blood sacrifice she made to keep her darling Matthew alive. But alas, the episode instead took quite the mediocre turn.

For rather than ramp up the tension and let Diana finally face off against her enemies, the story felt the need instead to focus upon the power struggle that was building within the Congregation since Gerbert and Knox joined forces to kick Baldwin out of his seat and failed miserably in the process and well, this just felt like wasted time. We already know Knox is evil, and we know Gerbert is a kindred spirit in that aspect as well, and we are also fully aware that both of them want every ounce of power imaginable, so there was really no need to revisit their machinations and well, this segment of the story wasn’t the only element that managed to slow everything down, since Matthew and Diana’s ruminations on what to do next, only contributed to the problems this episode faced.

Because they believed that time walking and hiding within the confines of history was the best way to regroup in order for Diana to learn her powers, which meant, we were treated to more training montages as Diana learned how to control this powerful ability and well, this segment just didn’t work for me. Because this was dragged out to the Nth degree, to the point where it robbed the audience of the battle we’ve all been waiting for since eventually, Knox and Gerbert and Satu arrived at the Bishop household in the hopes of getting their hands on Diana and the book, and rather than offer up a thrilling cliffhanger, this one ended in ambiguous fashion since we haven’t a clue if Diana’s shock at the end of this story was a result of her traveling back to the past or because she heard the trio of terror entering her house.

If anything, this slow burn approach made this finale supremely frustrating to watch. Because let’s be honest, the entire season was building up to something big, so to go in the opposite direction really is disappointing to say the least and it makes me wonder if things would have turned out better had the show received a couple of extra episodes this season to properly tell its story so that it didn’t have to change direction here and rush everything in an attempt to set up season two. But, while this episode didn’t quite do it for me, I also understand that this is a young show, and young shows make mistakes. And there are so many good things to love about this series that one rough finale isn’t enough for me to declare it bad and walk away, because this really has the potential to become something special. So hopefully, the writer’s room learns from their mistakes here and stay bold in season two, so that this little aberration becomes nothing more than a distant memory. Until next year.

Fitting in and being part of a group is something that many of us strive for. We feel safe in our group, like there is nothing that is able to stop us. Even when there are fights in the group, you always know that the people you are surrounded by are almost as close to you as your family is and most of the time, they will watch over you just like an older sibling would. Having the same beliefs, principles and values is what brings you together, along with striving towards one goal, it is a safe place and for the most part, you should never have to worry about yourself when being in their embrace.

The news crew from VICE is looking for their next big story and the perfect one has just fallen into their lap. With a member's sister writing to him about the new paradise she has found after running away from her drug infused lifestyle, she has invited him down to visit. Even though the group feels like they will be shooting a story that takes place in a hippie ranch, they are in need of the story and follow their member down. 

Arriving at Eden Parish, the crew finds it concerning that the place is guarded by men with machine guns. Not knowing who they are dealing with or what they can do when entering the parish, they find that almost everyone around them is so happy to have given up their past life to be a part of their new home. Being led by Father, everyone has found happiness in their small community and would not want to give it up for anything. The VICE crew is blown away with the responses they get from the locals, but there is a doubt in the back of their heads that there could be something else happening in the secluded location.

As a party is thrown in their honor, the group heads to bed early and wakes up to a disturbing sight that they were not meant to see. As the party is cleaned up, the men with machine guns walk through the community to ensure nobody is talking to the outsiders, but a little girl is able to get her message to the men, asking for help. With so many people wanting to leave the parish and go back home, unrest is brought upon the peaceful community, and the outsiders are the ones to blame.

The Sacrament follows a group of filmmakers as they enter the world of Eden Parish. Being a group of outsiders that do not believe in the harmony outside of the city, they are treated somewhat rudely as they continue to ask questions about this paradise. When they start to believe everything, they are being told about the community however, they find out that not everyone is staying there of their own free will. With a little girl asking for help in escaping her confines, the crew finds out that there are many more that would love nothing more than to leave as well. As the unrest beings, the members from VICE are blamed and punished for their trespass to the utopian camp. Father will not allow his home to be damaged by the outsiders, much less let any one of his parishioners be punished for their faith in following him, and the members of VICE get to witness their faith, first hand.

As far as horror movies go, stories that are based on true events can come end up as some of the scariest. Without the blood, guts and scares that I am accustomed to, this movie left me shaking as the truth behind the parish slowly started to come out. Without knowing how far some people would go to protect their homes and beliefs, this is a great study of the human condition, as everything you see in the beginning of this story, starts to change in front of your very eyes. Stay Scared.

Now what kind of trip would be complete to the Stanley Hotel without watching their signature movie, The Shining? It is on repeat there nonstop all day and all night. Even though this is one of my favorite movies, I have never thought to write a review about why it seems to speak to me. I love the characters in this film and Kubrick did a fantastic job in his telling of the story that unlocked the fear and dread that being cut off from civilization could really cause.   
 
Can solitude be a bad thing? No one will ever be able to answer that question for sure, except for maybe Jack Nicholson. Playing Jack Torrance in this classic movie, Jack seems to have many underlying issues that drive him to all out craziness. Although he seems to have the love of his wife and son Danny, that does not seem to be enough while taking over the caretaker duties at the Overlook hotel.  

Now this movie does vary from the great King novel, but it was made to terrify the audience and for most people, plants coming to life doesn’t really seem to do that, even in the early eighties. If you have not read the book, or seen this movie you may want to do so before you read what I have to say with the spoilers that may persist.  

Here is your brief summary of what happens in this great film. Jack Torrance, an out of work teacher is looking for a job that will provide him with money and time to work on his part time writing career. The Overlook Hotel reached out to this family man, even though he is an admitted alcoholic that has lost his job and almost his marriage due to his lack of control. Being sober for a time, Jack has regained the love of his wife and son, even after breaking his son’s arm in a fit of rage. With the family back together and on the same page, they are all brought up to take care of this majestic resort over the long winter. With the great storms that hit this region, they will be cut off from the outside world. The roads become blocked off and with an extra heavy snow, the phones go down as well.

With only a CB radio to communicate with the ranger's station, the family tries their hardest to make it through the long hard winter, but Jack seems to be getting more and more obsessed with his job of taking care of the hotel instead of focusing on his writing. With this obsession, he starts to take out all of his inner frustrations on the ones that he loves. The new-found hatred for his family starts off as verbal, but quickly escalates into physical threats when they are doing nothing but distracting him from what he is supposed to be doing. That is as far as I can go without giving spoilers galore. STOP now if you have not read the book or seen this movie.
 
So, what really grabbed my attention about this film, is how quickly the lack of companionship can really change a person’s state of mind. Growing up, I was more of a quiet person that never wanted or felt that I needed the attention of others. When seeing this put in movie form, I knew I would need to change my ways a bit. Watching the progression of Jack Torrance when put into the situation of being shut off from his old friends and vices, he tries to hold it together and admits to his imaginary bartender that he still loves his family, but is sick and tired of them trying to correct his way of doing things. ‘All Work and No Play Make Jack a Dull Boy’, sums this up nicely.

Trying to keep his focus on what is most important to him, taking care of the hotel and his writing, Jack seems fine. But once he is provoked, he does not have a way of controlling his urges to harm whomever is pressing his buttons. This could have been set off by being cut off from the world, his work being a failure in his own eyes, or a haunted hotel playing with his mind. It could be a combination of all three. What could really drive a person crazy, in my eyes, has to be an overall disappointment in one’s self. You combine that with the distrust you have with the ones you are living with and of course being in a place that is cut off from the world, who could you open up to then? If you don’t trust the ones you are with, you will never be able to voice your issues…and go crazy.

Now little Danny, Jack’s son, has a gift that is shown numerous times in the movie, the gift of The Shining. Some people Shine, and some people don’t. Danny is able to tell that there is something interesting at the Overlook Hotel, but is not able to put a finger on it. He is told that nothing in the hotel can hurt him and although the visions of the hotel’s tainted past are very lifelike, they seem to feed off of Danny's ability, growing stronger. These visions keep the boy at odds with his mother and father, and Danny’s defensive system kicks in, locking him out of his own mind, to not be harmed by the place that would drive someone with a weaker mind into madness.  

Now Danny’s mother, Wendy Torrance, does not get tormented by this hotel, but she can feel the trouble brewing between her and her husband. Her husband snapping for no reason, she knows that she needs to protect her son and is looking for a way to escape the secluded location. Not knowing what her husband is capable of, she finds one problem after another leading up to the grand finale. With only her son’s well-being in mind, her mind is opened up to the torments of the Overlook Hotel and she is able to see what she could only assume is the evil that her husband has been exposed to.

My favorite character in this film is Dick Hallorann. The head of all of the staff at the Overlook. He, like Danny has the gift of the Shine. Knowing the secrets that the hotel holds, he warns the Torrance family that this is not a place for the weak and does his best to protect them from what could only be considered their impending doom. While he rests in his off season retreat in Florida, he receives a message via the Shine from young Danny that there is trouble on the horizon. Trying as hard as he can to get ahold of the family, Dick is met with resistance from the hotel. He rushes back to his home away from home to try to protect the family from the hotel and more so from themselves. His efforts are without fail, buying the innocents more time to escape the rage of their provider. Although Dick dies quickly, he is nonetheless a hero in my eyes.

Then you have the Overlook Hotel. I am not a person that likes to think that an inanimate object is a character, but in this movie, the Overlook should have been given the top billing. The hotel is or could be the key reason why people are drawn to madness. With its shady past, the Overlook has soaked up all of the years of hate and despair. The building could be much more alive than the people staying or working inside of it. The walls can talk, the rooms can come to life and the building can bleed. Although this can only be seen by the people that open themselves up to this torment, the Overlook is alive and looking for its next victim.  

Could The Shining be one of the greatest movies ever? I think so. But that is all up to the viewers. There is nothing that should be changed about how this movie was made. To this day, I still happen to get a bit squeamish when seeing the two little girls standing in the hall, their voices in unison; ‘Come play with us Danny, forever and ever and ever.’ Although, I must admit if an offer like this, to be a winter caretaker of a grand resort ever arose for me to do, I would be more than willing take it. Let’s just hope that I don’t get snowed in.

One of the hardest things growing up is figuring out how to fit in with the cool crowd. Everyone wants to be accepted into these ranks, but for some people it is more difficult because of how they look, act, etc. It is rare for a member of these groups to reach out to someone that is different and knows little about the person, but when they do, there is excitement like no other to join into the group and feel accepted.

Melissa has been an outcast for most of her life, and things didn’t change much after her mother died. Being taken care of by her older sister Cheryl, Melissa knows that she does not fit in anywhere and takes out her frustration whenever she can. Although times have been tough, Cheryl has a plan for the two to save up enough money to leave town and start over fresh, but it is taking time and that is not something that her younger sister is okay with.

At the local college, a group of friends have heard the stories about the abandoned asylum and are looking to make up some extra credit for investigating the story that has been told around town. The teacher starts off against the idea but gives in as kids will be kids and if they are able to find anything out, it could be beneficial to the class. The group pulls together a plan and is ready to make it a night that they will never forget and being on Halloween, there will be a great excuse to have a party while doing so.

​Being able to secure a key to get in, the group invites Melissa on the adventure since she has lived in the town her entire life and there are stories about her mother being in the asylum as well. Trying to break through her quiet exterior the group enters into a game of Truth or Dare that leaves them all angry with the outcome. Running around the old building, they run into a former inmate named Wendell who wants them to leave as soon as possible before something bad happens. With all of the doors locked, the group has to find a way to escape before they get into trouble, or even worse, get killed.

Don’t Look in the Cellar follows the story between sisters Melissa and Cheryl. Cheryl has had to grow up quickly and take care of her little sister since their mother died. Melissa is at the point of not listening to her sister any longer and since Cheryl does not have authority over her, Melissa will do whatever she wants. Going to the old asylum with her new friends, Melissa sees how nice it is to be for accepted once in her life, but when things start to go wrong with the party aspect of the night, she starts to feel out of place once again. With her sister trying to find her, Melissa is upset once more, but finds out that there is a secret behind what really happened in the asylum and it involves her family's past. Trying to escape with her sister, the two are forced to team up and survive the attacks of an inmate of the facility that has never left.

A throwback to the old ‘Don’t” series of movies that changed the horror movie world.  What happens when you get told not to do something? Of course, you do it and that is what happens here. There are no deep messages to be found in this movie, just a crazy killer that does not want anyone in his space. There are parts that will make you squirm a little bit and a twist that will leave you shaking your head.  With plenty of blood, it is a good little slasher film that is fun and even though you know what will happen when you go down to the cellar, it is fun to see what happens next. Stay Scared.

Small towns always hold some sort of appeal as everyone always knows what is going on. Many people that have lived in big cities all of their lives have a dream of moving to one of these areas to get away from the crowds as they have put up with this all for far too long. But small towns can also hold many secrets that only those that have lived there all of their lives will know and outsiders will never be privy to.

Rachel and her friend are leaving the bar after a great night of drinking when they notice that one of their car tires is flat. Getting out to change it, they are both kidnapped by a stranger that has an out of the ordinary plan for their fate. Waking up in a barn, they do not know what to expect from the stranger, but he is asking them all sorts of questions about their past and the most important question to him, are they clean?

Ben Geringer and girlfriend Amy are on the other side of town working with their friend Paul to set up a get rich quick plan. Ben has been laid off from his job for something that was not his fault and the plan will get revenge upon his boss. Going to kidnap his boss’ daughters seems like the best way to get even with the old man, but while in the house, Paul seems to lose his mind and kill the old man’s wife. Demanding a ransom for the return of the two girls, Ben, Amy and Paul escape into the woods and their plan seems to be going off without a hitch, but the old man has formed a plan of his own to bring the girls back.

​Across town, Rachel is able to free herself from the old barn but needs to find her friend before escaping back to humanity. Finding her friend with her head cut off, Rachel tries to muster up enough power to kill the old farmer that she believes conceived this act, but he tells her that there is nothing she can do to stop the ‘rites of spring’. Not knowing what the old man is talking about, she sees a figure come up from the cellar that is not human and is looking for blood. Trying to find help, she stumbles on to the hideout Ben, Amy and Paul are staying at and begs for them to leave as well. The kidnapping crew believes she has lost her mind, until the creature comes and takes one of their own.

Rites of Spring follows the story of Rachel and her friend as they have been kidnapped and are to be sacrificed to some sort of creature that brings a prize harvest to a farmer. As his family has always performed this act, he believes that there is nothing wrong with it and will continue to feed the beast until the farm is passed on. When Rachel is able to escape her captor, she runs into an old friend, Ben, who is in the middle of a kidnapping and begs for his help, but with his job going the wrong way and his old boss finding the crew's hiding spot, he does not know what he can do. With the creature following Rachel from the farm wanting blood, it stumbles into the same situation, but is not deterred by the guns that are waved in its face, it kills everyone that gets in its way. Needing to find a way to escape with their lives, Rachel, Ben and Amy need to devise a plan to get on to the main road and get out of town before the beast catches up with them.

I cannot lie, I loved how this movie played out and how two different groups were drawn into the same situation. Although one storyline was kind of stale for a little while, Rachel’s, while she was tied up in the barn, it keeps you intrigued enough to wonder what will happen to her and her friend. I must admit, I liked seeing the hesitation with the kidnapping crew as well. Ben never seemed to be too keen on the idea, although it would get him paid by the man that fired him. This is a just a good overall scary movie that will leave you cringing in your seat as the creature is released and starts its hunt, looking for as much blood as it can find. Stay Scared!

There is nothing more traumatizing to kids than when their parents are having relationship problems. Thinking that they are the cause of the issues, kids feel like they should be able to do something to make the problems go away. If their parents end up splitting up, the kids are faced with having to choose who they want to trust more. Not truly understanding what led to the break up and blaming themselves, kids have to be the hardest skinned in any relationship and no matter what happens to their parents, they have to find someone that they are able to trust.

Stephanie and Clyde have been divorced for over a year and seem to be getting along once again. For the sake of their two girls, the two have put their petty differences aside to make sure that their children know that they are loved. Although Clyde has not been the best at providing the girls with nutritious dinners, he still tries to deliver the proper fatherly love that he was not able to when he was married.

Moving to a new house, Clyde is showing his girls Hannah and Emily that they are the most important thing to him and allows them to take control of his decorating. While driving through his new town, the girls spot a garage sale and urge him to pull over as he is in need of more amenities around the house. With the loves of his life being in charge, Clyde pulls over and allows the girls to go on a shopping spree. Emily finds several things that she cannot live without but puts them all back when she spots a box that has captured her eye the most. 

​Purchasing the box, Clyde takes the girls home and makes sure that they understand that they are the most important thing to him in his life. Emily is slightly disappointed in her purchase however, as her father is not able to open the box, and everyone is left wondering what treasures it holds. The same night, Emily lies awake in bed and hears a voice calling to her. Figuring out how to open the box, she discovers little boxes inside that seem to house very strange items. Finding a ring that she falls in love with, she closes the treasure chest for the night, but has no idea what else is hidden in its depths.  

The Possession follows the story of a broken family. With their parents being divorced, Hannah and Emily have come to rely on each other for everything. Not keeping secrets from their mother, they have formed a great bond and point out their father as the one in the wrong since he was always too busy to take care of his duties. When Emily finds her new box however, the bond between the girls fades quickly and the youthful attitude that Emily has displayed in the past goes by the way side. Finding out that she has made a new friend from inside of the box, Clyde starts to understand that there is something much more sinister happening to his daughter and has to seek outside help to get his little girl back from whatever it is that controls her now.

With the title spelling out what happens in the long run of the movie, it seems to offer a little bit more than that. Following the family dynamics between the two sisters and their parents is what keeps you glued to the screen. With little faith between ex-husband and ex-wife, it is very concerning to watch as they try to blame each other for what is happening to their youngest girl, but it is very true to life, which makes it just that much scarier. It may not be The Exorcist, but it has plenty of similarities that will keep you guessing as to how the evil spirt will try to prevail in the modern world. Stay Scared!

If there’s one thing I truly enjoy when a television series begins to unravel the story’s secrets or provide answers to our burning questions, it’s the sheer fact that the proverbial floodgates are now opened, which will only bring forth more answers and more grand reveals, and that’s precisely where we are at when it comes to A Discovery of Witches. Because learning about Diana’s powers, and the binding curse that was put upon them last week served as the setup for more wonderful reveals since ‘Episode 7’ took the time to explore a great deal more about Diana’s past, and who exactly spellbound her in the first place, in the most organic way imaginable.
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Because, the only way to figure out one’s past is to outright confront it, and that mantra led to Diana and Matthew to the United States and her hometown of Madison to see what her aunties knew about the binding curse that depleted her magic and thankfully, the show did not waste any time in revealing who spellbound our favorite witch and it turns out, that it was her parents all along. Because mom and dad were severely concerned about their daughter’s raw power, and how Peter Knox would look to exploit it, so the only safe thing to do was to hide it, with the caveat that it could return the instant she needed it and well, clearly she needs that power now more than ever, and the reality of that put a sense of urgency into the story as well.

Because Diana knew that it was only going to be a matter of time before Knox took over in this matter personally, and that he would eventually come for her and that meant, she had to learn how to tap into this newfound power and master it for the fight ahead, and that, led to a surprisingly delightful montage sequence wherein she worked to master the strength within. In fact, this part of the story added levity to the danger surrounding Diana since there was some humor to be found in her spells not quite going according to plan and it also allowed for her and Matthew’s budding relationship to grow since we began to see just how much they trust and care for one another and thankfully, Diana eventually came to learn that the best way to handle her power is to embrace fear, since that brings out the best in her.

But, while it was cool to learn more about Diana’s past, and see her witchcraft come to life, there was still plenty of trouble brewing behind the scenes. For Satu’s little power play left the Congregation stunned and reeling, and that’s where the trouble in question comes into play. For Domenico saw a grand opportunity to sow a little disdain in the vampire world and he paid a little visit to Juliette, wherein he planted seeds of doubt and resentment, all in the hopes of getting her to turn her back on Gerbert and seek out Matthew and well…his smarmy little plan worked. For she embarrassed Gerbert in front of Baldwin and she paid her own visit to the Bishop household in Madison and that’s where we leave Diana in this tale, with her standing face to face with quite the mortal enemy…

When all is said and done however, wow, what a great episode. Everything just worked in this one and what really impressed me about this particular tale, was how the characters handled the big reveal about Diana’s parents. Because learning something as earth-shattering as what Diana did can outright divide a family. But everyone here was bigger about the matter and did their best to realize that everything happened for a reason and it was nice to see forgiveness and unity take the center stage so that Diana could quickly focus on getting stronger when it comes to her power and well, this episode also served as a wonderful setup for next week’s season finale. Because it seems as though several showdowns are about to go down, since Juliette needs to be dealt with, as does Knox and you know darn well, I’ll be counting down the minutes to next Sunday to see how everything in this sweeping story comes together. Until next time.