So many people get attached to their pets and it is hard to come to the decision of how to handle their fate when they get older and can no longer take care of themselves. With all of the love and affection they have given you and you have returned; it is hard to see them when things are getting bad. You know that they have had a happy life, but it is so difficult to say goodbye. You know that there is nothing that can replace your best friend, the one that has been there through thick and thin, but you never know what the future might have in store for you when you go looking to fill that void.

Rosalyn is having a tough go of it recently after her father was quick on the rebound and got remarried. Not knowing what her stepmother really wants, Rosalyn is happy to rebel as much as possible, especially when she finds out how much Sara does not like her aging dog. Even though her dog Shep is near death and quickly losing his other senses, Rosalyn does not want to let her friend go, even though all signs are pointing to him being on his last legs. While getting out to the woods with her friends and Shep, Rosalyn sees what the younger dogs are capable of, especially when there is fresh meat in front of them.

After a meteor explodes over town, all of the animals begin to act strange, but the situation goes from weird to worse when the dogs in the city begin to turn violent and vicious. Any dog that gets near a fragment of the space rock loses its mind and turns on any living thing that is next to it, especially humans, since the dogs in the woods, along with the ones in town start to crave meat, they attack anyone that gets in their way and will not stop until their victim is no longer breathing. Leaving no one alive, the dogs move to their next feeding ground and will not leave until their hunger has been fulfilled. Seeing this with her friends, Rosalyn turns her attention to what is most important, her family and of course Shep. Rushing back to pick up her father and step mother, Rosalyn must stay strong since she has the only dog in town that is not looking to take a bite out of anybody.

This is a pretty fun movie and even though I am a dog lover, I am deathly afraid of them now, especially when I cannot tell what sets them off. It all falls back to the meteor fragments that landed around the town and I would be led to guess that it is emanating a tone that only dogs can hear, like the dog whistles that you blow, but damn, this tone must have really struck a chord to make the dogs turn violent. The best part about this movie is that everybody in the town owns a dog or two, this leads to plenty of hunters around the area that are looking for one thing only, blood. The interactions between the characters are great as well and the stepmother Sara really steps up to make sure that her family is safe, even her stepdaughter who does not seem to like her. I have strong feelings that the writer of this movie is a cat person, since you do not see any other animals reacting to this unearthly tone and no cats were harmed in the making of the film, just saying. Stay Scared.

​There are so many wonderful things that happen as you continue to get older and when you are just starting to find out who you really are, you wonder where the time has gone. Each birthday brings new benefits into your life, but eighteen seems to be one of the most important. You officially become an adult and can vote, play lotto and most importantly, pay taxes. Some people could not wait to become an adult, and I being one of them know that I regret nothing from this desire, but I really wish my parents would have warned me about it, because adulting, while being awesome, also really bites.

Freshmen Jack, Turner and Brandon are having the times of their lives in college and would not change a thing. With all of the women and partying without their parents around, what could be better for the three? But Jack has been a little out of it since his eighteenth birthday and keeps thinking back to what his mother told him before he moved in with his cousin Brandon. He is not to be afraid if he feels sick these days, it is just part of growing up, but in Jack’s family, it is something much more powerful than puberty. Getting a letter from his uncle to stay at his house over winter break, Jack, Brandon and Turner jump at the idea and head off to their new home away from home.

Turner has no idea about what has happened in his best friend's past, but Brandon wants to make sure that he knows the family history. While all of the family on Jack’s mother’s side have been involved in some sort of tragic accidents, they are usually the only survivors. While Turner thinks this is just silly information to know, he starts to notice that Jack has not acted like himself over the break. Jack has been waking up outside for the past couple nights with no idea how he got there. Borrowing Turner’s camera, Jack finds out that he may have a family trait that nobody bothered to tell him. Seeing the killing of one man by what appears to be his hands, Jack believes that he may be a werewolf and wants to take precautions, so he does not harm anyone, especially his friends or family. But even with the best laid plans, life throws Jack a couple curve balls and he gets tied up in a situation where being a killer beast would not be the worst thing in the world.

Everyone has a hard time growing up and that is to be understandable, but when your family history involves being werewolves, I would hope they would give you a heads up. Even when Jack is not feeling like himself, he has no idea what a full moon has in store for him, but Brandon does and now is deathly afraid of him. The interactions in this movie are great and when Turner finds out the secret his best friend has been holding out from him, well, he may never trust anyone again. Watching as Jack’s family tests him, I felt sorry for the young man since he had no idea what the future had in store for him. A little forewarning would have been nice, and Jack may have been able to prepare for his nightly outings when the moon was full, but I guess some family secrets are never meant to see the light of day, especially for the family members themselves. Stay Scared.

​When we last settled into to discuss the wondrous series that is Motherland: Fort Salem, the situation looked quite grim. After all, General Alder and her subordinates were resorting to torture in order to gather intelligence about the Spree, and the Bellweather Unit was headed into a combat situation at the close of that tale. Making it appear as though a major engagement was about to occur, and these poor rookies were about to shed blood for the first time, all in the name of winning the war. But as it turns out, that ominous final shot was nothing more than a temporary ruse, since the next episode of this magnificent tale revealed that our soldiers-to-be weren’t quite committing to actual combat just yet.
 
Instead, ‘Citydrop’ revealed that the act that shares the namesake of this episode, was one of their final training exercises. One that would put them in a simulated combat situation to test their actual readiness as soldiers, and those who excelled would likely get a one-way ticket to War College, while those that failed; would head straight to the front lines to fight for America around the globe. Which means it was paramount for the Bellweather unit to shine in this drill, and well… that was easier said than done. Because an injury to Tally, helped for Raelle to learn the truth about Scylla and everything that happened at the wedding and that immediately caused friction and mistakes from the both of them since Raelle took everything personal, and the unit’s problems didn’t end there.
 
Because Abigail’s repressed anger came to the surface when she and Tally came face-to-face with simulated Spree soldiers, since she put one of them in the infirmary. Something that American soldiers aren’t supposed to do, and it really seemed as though disaster was going to unfold for this intrepid unit as the minutes rolled along. But thankfully, the trio eventually pulled it together, and they were able to accomplish wonders as a team and Raelle finally came to learn that Scylla fed her a mountain of lies and just when it seemed as though this story was headed for happier territory, things took a turn for the dark. Because as these soldiers-in-training completed their exercise and made peace with their demons, the full-fledged ones were preparing to take down the Spree stronghold we learned about last week and that ended in utter disaster.
 
For the Spree destroyed the facility and everyone within it, shortly after sending trucks filled with sadness bombs out into the world, and when faced with the possibility of a massive Spree offensive coming to fruition, Alder made quite the call. Because she ordered the rooks to handle this mess, putting these intrepid women into their first combat situation after all, and while they were able to save the day and stop the Spree from carrying out their attack, this decision came at great cost. For one of their own didn’t make it home since Libba died in the showdown and the fallout that will follow this risky operation won’t end with grieving and reconciliation over having to kill the enemy. Instead it will be extended to something far larger, since General Alder made a terrible decision in the midst of this mess.
 
Because there were hostages in one of the trucks the Spree were using to transport these weapons, and despite this fact being reported to HQ, Alder made the call to wipe everyone out and later lied about how everything went down to the nation, by saying that the Spree executed the hostages. Yet while war is indeed hell, ending innocent lives is beneath the U.S. Army and it is clear that no one agreed with this horrible decision and where we go from here is anyone’s guess. Because this Army is rattled at this point, and everyone seems to have lost faith in Alder, thanks to her poor and reckless decision and it should be interesting to see how our intrepid trio carry on going forward. Because cowardice and murder are not why they answered the call and it may be up to them to restore honor to an Army that has clearly abandoned such a noble notion. Until next time.   

It is hard to know what secrets the planet is keeping from us. As more of the earth is explored, more things are discovered, but one of the places that we never seem to look is in the water. When people go missing in the jungle, they can usually be found, but when they go missing in the ocean, well, that is a different story. With so much of the planet being covered in water, it is amazing that we do not truly understand what is hidden in the depths, but hopefully soon someone will be able to give us an idea of what we have been missing knowledge wise for generations.

Being called back to Scotland, Case is not willing to alter his searching ethics, but with the loss of his friend in the Loch, he is ready to carry on his search. Inheriting a research team, Case has to decide whether or not to keep the operation going. Seeing the evidence, Case thinks that there is enough to go on, but being more interested in gathering his friend’s body that has been lost to the depths, he will have to jump in with both feet. Seeing fossilized eggs at the bottom of the Loch, he knows that there was something behind the legends of Nessie that have overtaken the world’s imagination, but he never expected to find that the creature actually exists.

While hearing about a young man being killed in a ferry’s wake, Case wants to understand what really happened since he has seen evidence of something very big under the waves. Receiving a tape that shows what the creature is, Case is convinced that there may be trouble for the Loch and wants to keep everyone out of the water until he figures out what it really is. But the city will not shut down the Loch during tourist season, and with his boss/ex-wife pestering him about making a television show, Case is left with only one option, to find and document the ancient beast. But Case will not be alone on this quest as a local man who has faced the Loch Ness Monster once before is back in town and is looking for a little revenge of his own.

You know, I believe that there was something in Loch Ness that has led to the legend and even though I have not been there yet to check it out, I bet many people still believe there is something in the water. I liked how this movie utilizes the myths around Nessie, but more at the local level. With none of the locals wanting the foreigners around their water, they can do very little to encourage them to go away. With a fun storyline, this movie does not get too political and keeps it light in lieu of what is happening in the water, and there really is a monster in the water, which makes the story so much more exciting… and it likes to eat people which answers the very important question of how it has stayed alive so long. If you do not want to visit Loch Ness after watching this, I would understand, but it has made me long for this journey every more. Stay Scared.

With so many people living comfortably in their own ways, you might be surprised by how they are able to do it. Money can provide a nice, healthy way of living, but with real-estate prices being what they are and rents starting to skyrocket, there are very few alternatives to finding a safe place to live. No matter how or where you live, your home will be what you make of it and many people have figured this out since sometimes there does not seem to be enough money to make your dreams come true.

Maya has had enough of her parents fighting and needs a change in her life. Running away from home to live with her boyfriend Dante, she is about to get a rude awakening of how people get by without money. Rolling up to his apartment building, she sees that the man in her life has been living rent free in a condemned building. Thinking that it is a sty, she gives it a chance and finds out that the only thing that makes a home livable is what is on the inside, or so she thinks.

With no maintenance being done on the building, everything that is flushed down the drains is not filtered. This normally would not be a problem since the building is condemned, but when the people living there are adding pieces of their lives to it, the cocktail being created in the septic system is becoming very strong. As the water is recirculated into the building, the tenants are being contaminated with everything that their friends have been tossing out. Everything is well and good until the drug dealer of the building leaves for a delivery and locks everyone inside. As the fear of being trapped takes over, the fight or flight drive takes over for the infected tenants and all hell breaks loose.
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Not a bad little story and with so many different types of residents in the building, you are left to question how they all arrived there. Everyone is connected by the old pipes that run throughout the building and when the first tenant gets sick, it is a domino effect that overtakes the building in a fantastic manner. Watching the reactions of the residents as the infected start to turn on their loved ones has to be best part of the movie as nobody is safe from what is happening. Being locked in just adds the scares to this film, with no chance of getting out, everyone is forced to wait and see what happens, but time is a luxury that they cannot afford to waste. Stay Scared.

Our love affair with horror films, is fascinating to say the least. Because this is a genre that offers up buckets of gore and depravity and it brings our worst nightmares to life on the silver or small screen. Which means we should be repulsed by these tales of terror since they represent the darkest parts of our soul and our imagination. Yet, they endure, and they are beloved and we truly crave these tales and every macabre moment that they have to offer and as this genre continues to grow in popularity; it is beginning to become obvious as to why we are addicted to scary stories that make our skin crawl at every single turn. For these tales more or less offer us a safe harbor emotionally.
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Because they take us on a horrific ride before letting us catch our breath in the comfort of the theater or our own home, and that kind of release can in fact be quite healthy for our psyche. But truly, the defining wonder of this genre is that it offers up some of the most intelligent stories out there. Because these stories often have something to say about our world or our modern society or life in general, since fear refines everything to its purest form and being able to learn more about the human condition in a thrilling manner, allows for the lesson to stick and it keeps us coming back for more time and time again. And it just so happens that AMC decided to bring an intelligent horror series to the masses, one that made its debut on the horror streaming service Shudder last fall and well, seeing Creepshow on the small screen once again definitely allows for one to have a newfound appreciation for this absolute horror gem.

Because this love letter to George Romero and Stephen King’s anthology creation only gets better with every viewing. For now that the gloss and the shine of having a new iteration of this franchise available to the masses has worn off, the smarts of its scripts are now on full display and that added gravity to a second viewing of ‘Grey Matter’ and ‘The House of the Head’. For these particular tales take the time to dive into an overall theme, our fear of the unknown and how they accomplish that is quite impressive for certain. Take for example ‘Grey Matter’, a story that upon first glance seems like a fairly by-the-numbers affair in regard to the unknown. After all, the audience and the characters haven’t a clue that something horrible is waiting in the darkness, they just know that something is there, and it is going to be unpleasant. But this second viewing revealed some supremely deep concepts, the kind that a viewer can relate to.

For in many ways, this story is about the horror of addiction and how that creates a fear of the unknown for those who watch a loved one succumb to it. Because Timmy quite literally watches his father become an alcoholic before his very eyes, since his dad won’t stop pounding down beers after the death of Timmy’s mother, and he truly cannot comprehend what his father is going to become now that alcohol is his primary source of sustenance and the fear that he expresses over that is quite real and quite unsettling and it is only further enhanced by dear old dad’s physical transformation. For in many ways the gooey being he becomes is a manifestation of his alcoholism, something grounded in reality since there are many accounts of personality changes that accompany alcohol use. But what matters more is the raw fear we witness here of losing a loved one to something unhealthy and unpleasant since addiction is indeed a real-life monster that haunts so many.
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But while ‘Gray Matter’ offers up an unfortunate, real world commentary, what makes ‘The House of the Head’ so special, is how it preys upon our more primal fears. For the severed head that lives within the confines of Evie’s dollhouse, is a sheer force of nature, one that no one can comprehend in the slightest. Because there’s never a clue as to where it comes from, or what it really wants out of murder, and it cannot be reasoned with and encountering an unknown entity like that, is something we all fear. It’s why we still look over our shoulder in the dark when we hear a noise we don’t recognize or keep a light on in the middle of the night. Because we truly are terrified of encountering something we simply cannot deal with and this story gets serious props for keeping the mystery of head intact for the entirety of its tale and for of course, stirring up that primal fear within all of us since we haven’t a clue what is coming next.

If anything, all of this just speaks to how much loving care went into the creation of this particular series. Because that’s the kind of depth writing wise that George Romero would have preferred to direct, and it doesn’t hurt that the master of terror himself, Stephen King, is the original brain behind ‘Gray Matter’. And his own battle with addiction definitely explains some of the themes present in that particular tale. But all of that aside, this episode holds up quite well upon a second viewing. In fact, it only gets better. Because this time around, one can really appreciate the nuances present in these tales, and of course, let one’s inner nerd, geek out over the Easter Eggs and the big names present in this opening chapter. Either way, it’s just a real treat to see this gem on a cable network, where so many can bask in the wonder of this legendary franchise and all of the intelligent storytelling that is has to offer. Until next time. 

I always like talking to writers and listening to how their writing processes work. Everyone has a different way of making their stories come to life and they all work out great for them. And when it comes to writing the ending of the book, they all have the same problems as their stories take so many twists and turns, or the ending changes from what they expected. As long as the story is told the way they wanted it to be told, I will never give notes, much less complain about what they have written. It is their story and they should be commended with bringing it to life on the page in front of you.

Maddie’s first novel has earned her praise from the writing community, along with her neighbor Sarah. Finishing reading her friend’s book, Sarah is blown away by the ending and wants to know how Maddie was able to come up with it. Not being reluctant at all, Maddie tells her friend that there is a writer’s voice in her head that is able to put her in the correct direction and it sounds like her mother. Burning her dinner while talking to Sarah, Maddie has to say goodbye and get back to work since she is reaching the ending of her second novel. 

Being deaf and mute has not stopped Maddie from accomplishing her goals and while using Facetime on her computer to talk with her sister, she finds out that there is something moving around behind her. Thinking little about it, she receives photos on her computer from her phone… of herself. Finding out that there is a madman standing outside of her home that hopes to do her harm, Maddie tries to convince him to walk away, but he is not willing to leave just yet. With the promise of entering the house when it is time, Maddie has to find a way to connect with the outside world for help, but with her power being shut off, the computer is not an option. The madman stalks the house while Maddie has to figure out her plan of attack on escaping, but as the night goes on she finds out the only way she will survive is to fight her way out.

I really liked how this movie played out, especially when Maddie finds out what is happening right outside of her window. Not being able to hear anything, she tries to keep track of her soon to be attacker while he looks for a way in. The most disturbing part of this movie had to have been when the madman is knocking on the window of Maddie’s room, not with his own hand, but the hand of his previous prey. There is only one part of this movie that does not sit right with me, specifically when Maddie says that she can feel the vibrations from her fire alarm, since it is not utilized for the rest of the movie. Besides that, it is a good story and you are forced to see the world through Maddie’s eyes since she cannot hear her attacker coming for her. With some disturbing imagery, plenty of blood and a crossbow that is the key to survival, this is a movie that does not disappoint. Stay Scared.

There can be many things that go bump in the night, but when they are hidden in the darkness of a forest, they could be even scarier than anything you could ever imagine. With so many unknowns roaming about, that sound in the bush could be a squirrel or it could be a wolf... or worse. The unknown can play tricks with your head and force you to do things that you normally would never do. Combine that with the thought that there might be something out there that is coming to get you, well, good luck facing your darkest fears.

Adam and his infant son Finn are on a walk in the woods looking for something interesting. Finding a dead deer in an abandoned house, Adam stumbles on a parasite that he has never seen before. Bringing a sample home to test, he sees that it is very aggressive and can control animal's minds. Sharing his find with his wife Claire, Adam is pleased with his discovery, but will not be able to enjoy it for too long as the window in the baby’s room is smashed in.

Thinking that it is his neighbor trying to get his attention to stop him from entering the hallow, Adam calls the police to investigate. Not being able to prove that there was any foul play, the officer leaves, but not before making sure that Adam knows what lore surrounds the woods that he continues to enter. Thinking that these are old tales designed to scare children, Adam continues with his business, but finds out that there may actually be something to the stories. After his car breaks down on his drive back in from town, Adam finds the same parasite growing on the engine, while he does not know what could be causing it, he does not have time to worry as the woods quickly awaken.

While staying home, Claire gets visited by her abusive neighbor, Colm, who has brought her a present. A book about the lore of the surrounding woods and what will happen if her husband continues to enter them. Claire cares less about the book and only about the safety of her baby, so she throws it aside, but when the creatures from the woods make their way to the house, the family starts thinking twice about what they are involved in. Not being able to escape in their car, Claire, Adam and Finn will have to make their stand in the house, but they will have to take one of the legends to heart. Putting iron bars back on the windows will help keep them safe, but when the parasite moves through the wood in the house, all bets are off.

I am actually pretty happy I watched this movie, finally. There are more than enough scares, especially when the lights go out and the creatures from the woods start to make their move. The family dynamic is the main storyline and when a baby is involved, you can understand why. I must admit that when Adam finds out he is infected, his role grows, and even though you don’t want to trust him, you might have to look at the big picture. Watching him transform into something else was not a disappointment and Claire’s reaction to seeing what he has become is priceless. You might want to think twice about entering the woods out there, especially if there are stories about what they do or become when the sun goes down, just saying. Stay Scared.