Caution: This article contains spoilers for the documentary film, ‘The Found Footage Phenomenon’.
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There was a time, where found footage horror movies… were nothing but an afterthought to the casual and hardcore horror fan. For they seemed like nothing more than low-budget outliers, the kind of thing handled by a group of friends on the weekend, so they deserved little attention and little mind. But somewhere along the line, that changed, and this particular format of storytelling became wildly popular amongst the masses. To the point where people were suddenly flocking to see them in theaters, since the studios were getting in on the game as well and just like that... they were everywhere and now they’re beloved and that is quite the incredible journey for this type of film to go upon.
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But it does beg some questions… in that… what were the turning points that allowed for these movies to be accepted by audiences everywhere? Not to mention… what are their humble origins? Because a concept like this doesn’t just pop up overnight and it just so happens, that Shudder is now host to a powerful documentary about the found footage film called, The Found Footage Phenomenon. Which takes the time to answer those all-important questions by exploring the illustrious history of this subgenre of horror, starting with its surprisingly ancient humble beginnings. Because believe it or not, found footage horror films didn’t start in the 1990s with The Last Broadcast and The Blair Witch Project, their origin came about by way of the 1960 film, Peeping Tom.

Which is a motion picture that used first person perspective with the camera, to plunge the viewer into dark moments. The kind that would set the tone for the genre, and while it didn’t influence the studios to make waves of found footage movies, its originality and gravity definitely opened doors for more of these types of movies to come forth and many eventually did, and one of note… would be Cannibal Holocaust. Because that too was a pioneering found footage flick, one that definitely cooled the genre for a bit with its excessive and wanton and unfortunately real violence. But this is a subgenre that cannot stay dormant forever and the arrival of the internet and concerns about it, allowed for two critical movies to come to life.

For the late 1990s were host to the release of The Last Broadcast and The Blair Witch Project and their raw look at humanity’s future struggle to discern truth from fiction and use of viral marketing (before that was a term), respectively, allowed for these motion pictures to take the world by storm and wow everyone with their ability to scare audiences and they of course, inspired others to make these types of films as well before another dip in their popularity took place. Which ended in 2007 when YouTube and viral marketing became a regular thing… allowing for these films to become a fixture at last and for the classics to find a new audience and it really was quite incredible to learn about how moments in time made this type of movie so popular and how far back this subgenre goes.

But where this documentary truly shines, is in its comprehensive examinationof what makes these films popular, and how they continue to resonate when it seems as though they’ve reached a plateau and that relates to the fact that these movies… touch something primal in all of us. Because they in essence latch onto our darkest fears, courtesy of the realism they ground themselves within. For these movies use that realism to bring our worst fears to life and seeing them in front of us and forcing us to face them… is a powerful experience for certain. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that these motion pictures, are often timely and reflective of the zeitgeist of the times, allowing for them to really relate to the audience when they arrive.

If anything, it is best to just call this documentary, the definitive exploration of the found footage film. Since it picks the brain of so many of the pioneers that helped to bring this subgenre into the limelight, and it offers such incredible insight into this type of movie and what they mean to fans and how they stay relevant. Not to mention, it features clips and vignettes and stories from a bevy of movies from across the found footage spectrum. A decision that should motivate a great deal of the viewers that tune in to seek out the ones they haven’t seen, to enjoy something fresh and exciting, and new. But the best news of all, is that if you’ve swung by this review to get an idea of what this documentary is all about… and we’ve done enough to pique your curiosity… you can see The Found Footage Phenomenon on Shudder right now and we certainly hope you do. Because this really is a fascinating documentary about a subgenre of horror that deserves its day in the sun.

It really is quite amazing, how hard the folks at Shudder work to bring us the best horror stories out there. Because as of late, announcements about new movies coming to the network are just hitting us left and right and today is no exception to that rule. Because once again, Shudder has acquired the rights to another powerhouse horror film and well… this one looks to be a fine addition to the already incredible lineup that Shudder is assembling for Summer 2022.
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For earlier today, they announced that they locked up the rights to the folk horror feature, Moloch. Which also happened to be an official selection at Fantasia International Film Festival and well… here are all the details on the latest fruits of labor from the Shudder team, and a trailer for you to enjoy as well… courtesy of the fine folks that work tirelessly to keep our horror fix going.

‘Shudder, AMC Network’s premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to Dutch director Nico van den Brink’s directorial debut Moloch. The film, an official selection of the Fantasia International Film Festival, will be available exclusively on Shudder in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, July 21.
 
“Moloch is a bold and thrilling new folk horror that is sure to chill Shudder members this summer,” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler.
 
Added Nico van den Brink, ”I’m extremely excited to be working with Shudder in bringing Moloch to horror-lovers worldwide. The film will have a wonderful home there. I know we have some very creepy stories to tell in the Netherlands and I'm really looking forward to inviting Shudder's diverse and international audience into the unique world of local Dutch folklore.”
 
In Moloch, 38-year-old Betriek lives at the edge of a peat bog in the North of the Netherlands. When she and her family are attacked by a random stranger one night, Betriek sets out to find an explanation. The more she digs, the more she becomes convinced that she is being hunted by something ancient.
 
Written by van den Brink and Daan Bakker, Moloch stars Sallie Harmsen (Blade Runner 2049, Catch) and Alexandre Willaume (The Wheel of Time, The Last Kingdom) and is produced by Sabine Brian and Ronald Versteeg. XYZ Films are Executive Producers and handle worldwide sales on the project.
 
The deal was negotiated by XYZ Film’s Pip Ngo on behalf of the filmmakers, and Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder.
 
About Shudder
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.
 
About XYZ Films
XYZ Films is an independent studio whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer and Aram Tertzakian and has expanded in recent years into documentary, talent management, and distribution. Some of the company’s classic titles include THE RAID franchise, 2017 Sundance winner I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, and Panos Cosmatos' psychedelic revenge thriller MANDY.   
 
XYZ’s current projects include THE BLACK KAISER starring Mads Mikkelsen, HOUNDS OF WAR starring Frank Grillo, Robert Patrick and Rhona Mitra, and the Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead film SOMETHING IN THE DIRT which premiered at Sundance 2022. Its current slate also includes Nic Cassavetes’ GOD IS A BULLET starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maika Monroe and Jamie Foxx, NOCEBO directed by Lorcan Finnegan with Eva Green and Mark Strong, and ACCUSED from BAFTA-nominated BOILING POINT director Phillip Barantini. XYZ is in post-production on the Netflix Original HAVOC, directed by Gareth Evans and starring Tom Hardy and Forrest Whitaker.’

For a long time… the summer season was a terrible time to be a horror fan. For the only movies showing at the multiplex during this time of year, were big time releases with big time stars. The kind that didn’t focus on anything spooky in the slightest. Not to mention television shows were on hiatus and anything remotely spooky on T.V. really wasn’t airing during summer and to top it all off, the mantra of ‘outdoor season’ that comes with summer… only helped to keep horror down. Since no one thought anyone would want to be inside watching scary movies, when they could enjoy the wonder of nature. 
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But the advent of streaming and peak television changed all that. Since it became apparent that people do indeed enjoy movies and shows of all genres during the summer season and not everyone wants to spend their time outside when the heat turns up. And studios and networks have responded to that revelation, by providing us with a summer television season and one particular streamer… has taken great steps to ensure that horror fans are also taken care of properly during this time of year.

For Shudder makes sure that carefully curated horror programming is available for fans of the genre when the summer season hits. So, they can have their fix and have something to celebrate with other horror fans out there and well, the wonder of Shudder and its wonderful lineups during the summer season is top of mind today… simply because Shudder has released its June schedule. And once again, they are taking good care of horror fans everywhere with another impressive lineup of movies and wonderful collections. So, without further ado, here is that epic June 2022 lineup, courtesy of Shudder.

Upon receiving a mysterious letter that her mother’s grave site has been vandalized, in Offseason, Marie (Jocelin Donahue, Doctor Sleep) quickly returns to the isolated offshore island where her late mother is buried. When she arrives, she discovers that the island is closing for the offseason with the bridges raised until Spring, leaving her stranded. One strange interaction with the local townspeople after another, Marie soon realizes that something is not quite right in this small town. She must unveil the mystery behind her mother’s troubled past in order to make it out alive. Starring Jocelin Donahue, Joe Swanberg, Richard Brake, Melora Walters, Jeremy Gardner, directed by Mickey Keating (Carnage Park). View Trailer HERE.

Mad God marks the feature directorial debut for visionary and Oscar and Emmy Award-winning stop-motion animator and special effects supervisor Phil Tippett, the creative powerhouse involved in such classics as RoboCop, Starship Troopers, Jurassic Park, and Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. Mad God is an experimental animated film set in a world of monsters, mad scientists and war pigs. A corroded diving bell descends amidst a ruined city, settling down upon an ominous fortress guarded by zombie-like sentries. The Assassin emerges to explore a labyrinth of bizarre, desolate landscapes inhabited by freakish denizens. Through unexpected twists and turns, he experiences an evolution beyond his wildest comprehension. A labour of love that has taken 30 years to complete, Mad God combines live-action and stopmotion, miniature sets and other innovative techniques to bring Tippett's wholly unique and grotesquely beautiful vision to life. Winner — Most Groundbreaking Film, Fantasia International Film Festival. Winner — José Luis Guarner Critic's Award - Best Film & Best Visual Effects, Sitges Film Festival. Winner – Nocturno Nuove Visioni Award - Best Film, Trieste Science+Fiction Festival. View Trailer HERE. 

Tensions rise when a stripper and religious protester are trapped together in a peep show booth and must come together to survive the apocalypse in 1980's Chicago. Starring Caito Aase (Black Mold) and Shaina Schrooten (Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge), written by popular comic authors Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Revival) and Michael Moreci (Barbaric, The Plot) and directed by Luke Boyce. View Trailer HERE. 

While searching for the parents she’s never known, New York transplant Grace (Scout TaylorCompton) returns to her childhood southern stomping grounds with her boyfriend (Nolan Gerard Funk) to investigate a promising lead on her family’s whereabouts. Upon arrival, the couple’s weekend takes a bizarre, terrifying turn as a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader terrorize the pair to fulfill a twisted ancient apocalyptic prophecy. Starring Scout Taylor-Compton, Nolan Gerard Funk, Deborah Kara Unger and Jeff Fahey, directed by Rich Ragsdale. View Trailer HERE. 

Celebrate Pride with a curated collection of more than two dozen must-see LGBTQ+ horror and thriller features, series, and documentaries showcasing queer themes, characters, and creators.

This month, new to the collection, is a celebration of prolific Queer filmmaker Eloy de la Iglesia (1944-2006), a director of films in the 70s and 80s popular in his native Spain but mainly unknown to the rest of the world. Starting June 1, the Queer Horror collection will highlight these five de la Iglesia horrors and thrillers:

Cannibal Man
After accidentally killing a man, a poor butcher named Marco embarks on a murderous frenzy to cover up the crime. Marco starts disposing of the bodies in his slaughterhouse, but that alone won’t solve the problem.

El Pico
Paco is the son of a conservative law enforcement officer. His best friend is Urko, whose father is a progressive socialist politician. Both young men are heroin addicts. EL PICO is the intricately woven story of Paco and Urko trekking ever deeper into the seedy world of the illicit drug trade in early-‘80s Spain. It chronicles a period of upheaval in the lives of these unlikely friends, as their addiction leads them to escalating criminal activity, kicking off a chain reaction of bloodshed and tragedy. EL PICO shines an unforgiving light into the dark corners of the drug underworld and explores the complexities of family lives that straddle the line between both sides of the law.

El Pico 2
El Pico 2 continues the criminal saga of Paco, a troubled heroin addict who escaped sordid entanglements of murder and overdose, thanks to the actions of his law enforcement officer father. Under the watchful eyes of his father and grandmother, Paco struggles to free himself from the tightening grip of addiction. But salvation proves as elusive as ever, and he soon finds himself drawn back into his old life. From the dark corners of the illicit drug trade to prison and back again, EL PICO 2 is a glimpse into the hellish depths of heroin addiction and the tragedy it visits upon its victims and their families.

Navajeros
Navajeros chronicles the life of Jaro, the leader of a juvenile delinquent gang in late-'70s Spain, depicting his rise from street urchin to outlaw anti-hero on the way to his inevitable end. The child of absentee parents, Jaro has amassed an impressive rap sheet before reaching his 16th birthday, but still finds life unfulfilling. Ambition drives him to take up a sawed-off shotgun and lead his gang on a crime spree that will paint a bloody swathe across the city and drive Jaro closer and closer to violent tragedy. Unflinching and often brutal, the film also treats its subject with genuine humanity.

No One Heard the Scream
One year after his international breakthrough with Cannibal Man, defiant Basque filmmaker Eloy de la Iglesia co-wrote and directed this twisted thriller that instantly made him “the father of Spanish giallo” (Spanish Fear): When a woman spies her neighbor disposing of his wife’s corpse, she will cross the line from witness to accomplice to something far more depraved.

On June 13, for the first time on SVOD, the 2010 black comedy All About Evil will be available in a new restoration.

This over-the-top black comedy is about a mousy librarian who inherits her father’s beloved but failing old movie house, The Victoria. To save the family business, she discovers her inner serial killer – and a legion of rabid gore fans – when she starts turning out a series of gruesome shorts. Unfortunately, her fans don’t realize yet that the murders in the movies are real. The directorial debut of Midnight Movie impresario Joshua Grannell (better known as ‘Peaches Christ’), All About Evil stars Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), Thomas Dekker (Swimming with Sharks), cult icon Mink Stole (Serial Mom), and Cassandra Peterson (Elvira: Mistress of the Dark).

Also joining the Collection on June 1:

Daughters of Darkness
In this 1971 erotic Euro-horror classic, a pair of newlyweds become the targets of the vampire Countess Bathory and her female lover, who’ve been draining local vixens of their blood for centuries. But the Countess has bigger plans for the couple, and so she begins cleverly pitting them against each other until she can strike.

What Keeps You Alive
On the eve of their one-year wedding anniversary, Jules and Jackie become embroiled in a merciless fight for their lives when they find themselves pitted against the most unexpected of adversaries: each other.

And premiering June 6:

The Demons of Dorothy (short)
Dorothy's a film director and a bit of a loser. To avoid sinking to the deepest depths of despair, Dorothy seeks comfort in her favorite TV show, Romy the Vampire Slayer. Unfortunately, her own demons show up. From Alexis Langlois, director of Terror Sisters.

The Wild Boys
The debut feature from Bertrand Mandico tells the tale of five adolescent boys (all played by actresses) drawn to crime and transgression. Punished to board a boat with a captain hell-bent on taming their ferocious appetites, they arrive on a lush island with dangers and pleasures and start to transform in both mind and body. 

June 1

Eye of the Cat
Penned by Joseph Stafano, author of the horror classic Psycho, Eye of the Cat tells the macabre and suspenseful tale of a young man who plots murder after his wealthy aunt announces that she intends to leave her fortune to her cats

In the Mouth of Madness
Imagine a novel so overwhelmingly hypnotic, so tremendously horrifying that it paralyzes its audience with fear and turns its most sensible readers insane. When the author disappears, an insurance investigator hired to find the horror writer discovers far more than he could ever imagine in this spellbinding thriller.

Poltergeist
Late one night, 10 year-old Carol Anne Freeling hears a voice coming from the inside of the television set. At first, the spirits that invade the Freelings' home seem like playful children. But then they turn angry. And when Carol Anne is pulled from this world into another, Steve and Diane Freeling turn to an exorcist in the horror classic.

Mary, Mary Bloody Mary
Mary (Cristina Ferrare), a beautiful American artist living in Mexico to more easily gratify her growing lust for blood. While her horrific appetites are fueled, her life becomes further fraught with the investigation into the grisly murders, love for a handsome young American ex-patriot (David Young), and by the sudden, terrifying appearance of her like-minded father (John Carradine), intent upon satisfying his own heinous hungers as well as his legacy of compulsion. As Mary continues to cut a bloody swath across the country, investigators and her pursuing parent close in--the suspense and nightmarish drama gather to a final chilling confrontation."

June 2

Available for the first time on SVOD, cult favorite creature features Alligator (1980) and Alligator II: The Mutation (1991) come to Shudder in stunning new prints scanned from the original camera negatives.

Alligator
From director Lewis Teague (Cujo) and screenwriter John Sayles (The Howling) comes an unstoppable thriller with bite. A family returning from Florida decides their pet baby alligator is too much to handle and flushes him down the toilet. Meanwhile, Slade Laboratories is conducting secret experiments with animals and disposing of them in the sewer. The alligator, fending for itself, begins to feed on the dead animals, and grows. Now, twelve years later, after several mysterious murders, David Madison (Robert Forster, Jackie Brown) is on the case to find out who ... or what ... is killing people.

Alligator II: The Mutation
Deep in the sewers beneath the city of Regent Park, a baby alligator feeds on the experimental animals discarded by Future Chemicals Corporation. Nourished by the toxic growth hormones and other mutating chemicals, the gator grows immense in size ... and voracious in appetite. Now, it must kill to survive! It's a classic confrontation between man and beast. This sequel stars Joseph Bologna (Transylvania 6-5000), Steve Railsback (Lifeforce), Dee Wallace (The Howling), Richard Lynch (Bad Dreams) and Kane Hodder (Jason X).

June 6

Backcountry
An urban couple go camping in the Canadian wilderness - where unimaginable beauty sits alongside our most primal fears. Alex is a seasoned outdoorsman while Jenn, a corporate lawyer, is not. After much convincing, and against her better judgment, she agrees to let him take her deep into a Provincial Park to one of his favorite spots - the secluded Blackfoot Trail.

A Lonely Place to Die
A group of climbers make a grim discovery high up in the mountains: buried amongst the peaks is an eight-year-old girl, terrified, dehydrated and unable to speak a word of English. Alison (Melissa George, TV's Grey's Anatomy, 30 Days of Night), the group leader, convinces her group to rescue her. But as they attempt to take the girl to safety, they become involved in an elaborate kidnapping plot and soon must fight for their lives as they re pursued by both the girl s kidnappers and a group of hired mercenaries sent to return the girl to her war criminal father. With danger all around them and mountainous terrain to navigate, Alison and her party are in for a grueling ordeal in order to save both the girl and themselves.

The Wild Boys
The debut feature from Bertrand Mandico tells the tale of five adolescent boys (all played by actresses) enamored by the arts, but drawn to crime and transgression. After a brutal crime committed by the group and aided by TREVOR – a deity of chaos they can’t control – they’re punished to board a boat with a captain hell-bent on taming their ferocious appetites. After arriving on a lush island with dangers and pleasures abound the boys start to transform in both mind and body. Shot in gorgeous 16mm and brimming with eroticism, gender-fluidity, and humor, The Wild Boys will take you on journey you won’t soon forget.

June 13

The Clovehitch Killer
Tyler's a good kid, a boy scout, raised by a poor but happy family in a small, religious town. But when he finds his dad, Don, has disturbing pornography hidden in the shed, he starts to fear that his dad might be Clovehitch, an infamous serial killer that was never caught. Tyler teams up with Kassi, a teenage outcast who's morbidly obsessed with the Clovehitch legend, to discover the truth in time to save his family.

June 20

The Freakmaker
Professor Nolter, a college science professor who believes it is man's destiny to survive an uncertain future by evolving into a hybrid plant/human mutation. To test his theories, Nolter supervises the abduction of young co-eds and fuses them with mutant plants he has developed in his laboratory, placing his rejects in a neighboring freak show (which stars such real-life oddities as the Alligator Lady, the Frog Boy, the Human Pretzel, the Monkey Woman, the Human Pincushion and the unforgettable "Popeye".

Grizzly
An enormous grizzly bear embarks on a murderous rampage in a national park, killing campers, hunters, and anyone else who gets in its way. But when rangers push to close the park, craven officials decide to keep it open. Sound familiar? A year after JAWS broke records, director William Girdler set out to cash in with a knockoff - and guess what? It worked. Grizzly became the top independent hit of 1976, grossing nearly $30 million dollars and inspiring many more animal attack thrillers - including Girdler's semi-sequel Day of the Animals the following year.

Day of the Animals
A group of animal lovers are hunted by killer critters during a camping trip in this over-the-top cult classic from B-movie maestro William Girdler. Leslie Nielsen, Lynda Day George and Ruth Roman are among the campers whose hike turns into a death march when bears, birds, bugs and more start attacking. Though the campy attempts at staging the kills often induce more laughter than fear, especially the scene in which Nielsen fights a bear rug, DOTA still offers jolting thrills for all fans of the animal attack genre.

Every once in a while, I sit back and just take a look at the stars. It amazes me that even with all of the resources that have been put into researching them, we still know very little about what is waiting for us in our galaxy and beyond. While it seems that we are still a way away from being able to find life out there, the thought of finding a place that we can colonize comes to mind. With traces of water being found on Mars and the moon Titan showing real chances of being able to sustain some sorts of life, we may be better off checking out what is happening in our own solar system before looking light years away.
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Keeping up with their work on trying to send back food to Earth, Adam and Alex have other things on their minds as they get a new visitor in their little home on Titan. Knowing that the couple has fallen behind on alternative food for the planet, Benson has been sent to the moon to get them back on track. Bringing along a new robot that will replace at least one of the members of the crew, Benson is starting to take note that young Alex is a very attractive woman and would like to have her as his own. Trying to keep the strange man at arm’s length, Alex may be forced to flee the moon if the promise of what the robot can do is true.

Watching as his new opposition is building his robot, Adam sees that the robot will be programed using Benson’s mind instead of normal programing. Not fully understanding how this could be done, since he quickly learns that Benson’s mind likes to wander, even when performing the most mundane of tasks, he is reassured that Benson has been trained for this and is a professional. But little does the couple know what Benson did prior to arriving on Titan as his last evaluation deemed him as being unfit for the mission. Keeping to himself and completing his creation, the massive robot Hector, Benson links in to help the robot learn, but he is giving the robot much more than even he knows.

As Hector becomes fully trained by his creator, Benson sees that some of his life traits are taking over, especially when it comes to young Alex. With the robot crushing on the young woman and noting that his creator is a murderer, Benson tries to delete these memories from the system, but the robotic mind is able to house them for later. After killing the station’s dog, Hector is looking for love from Alex and has turned its sights on killing anyone that gets in its way. Not being able to get word back to Earth about the malfunction, the group is forced to take Hector on before they all become just another causality of outer space.

When I stumbled upon this movie, it was further down by my viewing list, but after starting and stopping four space movies prior to it, it was a welcomed gift. I have got to admit that some of the older movies really got it right when seeing madness come to light and Benson is one strange character that does not seem to have his priorities in order. I liked the relationship between the older Adam and the younger Alex and everything they shared before the arrival of Benson. The distrust for people from Earth and the planet itself is a little disconcerting when it comes to Adam, but even he admits that after being gone for so long, things might be better back home…yet they might be worse as well. With a killer addition to the base, the promise of better production, a giant robot, a love triangle, plants, a dog and a fight for survival that revolves around love, I won’t call it a classic, but I will say that it was pretty entertaining when the fear of life and death was put first and foremost. It is hard to have a bad story when you have a killer robot that is more human than human. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 713 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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It is definitely safe to say, that human beings love to plan. We love to plan for upcoming events in our lives and we especially love… to plan for our future. Because we firmly believe that if we take the time to lay out the necessary steps to a particular goal in our lives, that we will easily guide ourselves to success and there is merit to that line of thinking. Because time and time again, we’ve seen how having a plan focuses a person’s attention upon their goals and motivates them to keep going since they do indeed enjoy progress along the way, and we’ve also heard successful people speak to the power of the plan when they’ve achieved their all-important goal.
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But while that feedback helps to serve as a grand blueprint for how we should live our lives and reminds of us the importance of planning for tomorrow, what we don’t talk about enough when it comes to our goals and the plans, we use to achieve them… is how often we are forced to make snap decisions regarding them. Because only in a perfect world does everything go according to plan, and often times… changes in our lives and perfect moments that will help us move forward present themselves to us. Forcing us to think fast and/or put parts of the plan aside so we can accomplish wonders and well, that particular aspect of planning Is top of mind today because it took the center stage during last night’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead.

For when we catch up with Morgan Jones and baby Mo in ‘The Raft’, quite the surprise has fallen into Morgan’s lap. In that, John Dorie Sr. didn’t distract the dead long enough to let Morgan get a clean getaway from the Tower. Instead, the dead noticed Morgan and were quick to follow him every step of the way, and since one walker teaches others that such movement likely means a meal… the rest of Strand’s moat of the dead followed suit, leaving the Tower unprotected and giving Morgan quite the idea. In that, now would be the right time to strike the Tower with everything they had and take it from Strand’s twisted hands at last, provided of course… they could get the dead far enough away from the Tower so they couldn’t double back. 

Which meant he needed an immediate assist to make this happen, and he got it from Dwight and Sherry. Whom quickly grabbed hold of baby Mo and made every attempt to return her to the Pennsylvania, that is… until it was revealed that the ship was leaking radiation and its makeshift crew were abandoning ship. A decision that motivated Sherry… to move up her own timetable on a grand plan she was working on. For she was worried about Dwight and the potential that he might revert to his darker tendencies in this war, and rather than watch him falter and return to a mentality that he could not live with… she was preparing to use an evacuation raft from the sub to send him into the void until this mess blew over, win or lose.

But now… she had to figure out how to make that happen without time to properly discuss or talk on the matter, and her push to just make it happen… helped to demonstrate how a change in plan can benefit us, when the plan in question is wrong. For it turned out that Sherry was pregnant as well and once she was honest with Dwight about her concerns and their baby… Dwight transformed right before her eyes. Because now he had something powerful to fight for, something to be noble about and that motivated him to go the extra mile to save baby Mo and keep his love and his unborn baby safe, and had this shift not come about courtesy of the world… this couple might not have found this bond… nor would Dwight have been given the purpose he’s sought after.
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However, while that alone was a fascinating storyline and incredible way to show us how life’s little surprises can benefit us greatly, it wasn’t the only example of that present in this story. Because while Morgan was working to move the dead away from the Tower, he ran into Alicia, and she was basically spending her time away… pondering upon the nature of failure. For she found little to accomplish her goals and was working on a new plan to try and get the Tower back, one that would involve supply gathering and planning, specifically on how to re-take the Tower. But her time with Morgan informed her of the fact, that he was ready to send the troops right now, and that she would need to lead them.

Because this was going to get ugly and the risk to baby Mo was too great. Which meant that Morgan was going to have to step away from the fight and protect his budding family and well, that sent Alicia into a panic. For she simply didn’t believe she was ready in the slightest to be a leader like this and do the things she would have to when she squared off against Victor Strand, not without a proper plan and preparation. But she had no choice and it was indeed now or never and that forced her to dig down and forget about the mistakes she’s made and just lead these freedom fighters toward the Tower, in the belief she would get it right this time, and hopefully Alicia can embrace everything she’s learned and end this mess peacefully… since they’ve all faced great suffering in the wake of Teddy’s decision to nuke it all.

However, while we wait to see what will come out of the march to the Tower and the subsequent conflict awaiting our heroes, we can bask in the wonder of another intelligent tale. One that really did a fine job of teaching us its embedded lesson through the characters, something that was helped along by some quality performances. Since Christine Evangelista, and Austin Amelio and Alycia Debnam-Carey, sold the vulnerability of their characters through and through, adding genuine realism to their plight. Plus, it also doesn’t hurt that this episode was packed to the brim with intense and incredible moments courtesy of the dead and well… this is one that definitely leaves you hungry for more. For the stage is set for a grand showdown between broken friends and that will make the wait for next week’s tale, as painful as it gets. Until next time.

The horror genre is filled to the brim with iconic stories that we talk about and share with our friends because of how incredible and terrifying those particular tales turned out to be. But while we enjoy these films time and time again, I’ve come to realize that we rarely take the time to appreciate precisely what makes these stories so iconic and so important. That’s not a bad thing by any means because when a horror flick is damn good, the scares and the disturbing moments do take precedent in any discussion. But sometimes, we forget that the iconic ones can teach us so much more when it comes to the assembly of a quality scary movie.
 
Case in point, the fact that these legendary horror films remind us that sometimes the simplest set up when it comes to plot, story and design can be incredibly effective in providing us with the scares and that, keeping the monster in the shadows can sometimes be far more effective in providing the audience with chills rather than keeping it on the screen nonstop. And in this modern era, where style and substance and gore and effects tend to be the focus over the story, it’s refreshing when one takes the time to revisit a film that works hard to keep everything simple, as is the case with John Carpenter’s The Thing. 
 
Now this is another motion picture that we won’t be breaking down in depth plot wise today because we’ve all seen it, we all know it. Instead, I want to talk about all the key elements that make this horror flick an absolute masterpiece and the first thing that helps accomplish that, is indeed the simplicity of this film. After all, everything about this story is grounded in that notion, especially the setting. Because by taking us to the middle of Antarctica and locking us in with a group of everyday joes in their research station, we are treated to quite the character study, and quite frankly, some of the finest tension and terror I’ve ever seen when it comes to the genre. 

​Because there’s no grandiose escape plan coming into play here, or a cityscape where the creature from another world can wreak havoc. Just a dozen men unsure of what the hell is happening exactly and that’s the other big win for this film, the fact that the audience is in the dark as much as the characters, and we are forced to watch the horror unravel at the same time as these poor men and the fact that we never quite know who is ‘infected’ in this story until it is too late is brilliant to say the least. Because the unknown is what horror thrives on and you’ll find that in spades here and by not being able to trust anyone in this story, the audience becomes about as uncomfortable as they can get.
 
However, while it seems as though praising simplicity in this film when its special effects are top notch in every single way seems hypocritical, Rob Bottin’s incredible work actually helps strengthen the simplicity of the story due to the fact that Bottin’s effects feel organic and natural through and through since the designs for said effects are wild and disturbing enough to feel like the logical progression of an alien being that will do anything and everything to survive and let’s be honest, these are some of the finest horror effects to ever grace the silver screen. They’re twisted, they turn your stomach and make your cringe and kudos to Rob Bottin and his crew for creating such foul and awe-inspiring gore.
 
Yet I firmly believe that this story remains so iconic for reasons beyond its simple approach to the story and the atmosphere. I’m a firm believer that The Thing was a horror film that was in fact, ahead of its time. Because its bleak nature simply wasn’t welcome in theaters in 1982, but it’s a staple now and I love when I stumble upon films that understand where the genre is headed. But when all is said and done, this movie is truly a modern classic, one that people consistently speak of fondly and revisit often and with good reason, it’s a damn fine horror film. It’s chilling, it’s scary and it’s one that needs to be seen if by chance you haven’t, check it out, because it truly is a wonderful hybrid of classic and modern storytelling, and thanks to its low key and straight forward approach to terror, it’s a film that withstands the test of time. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Sadness’.
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One thing that horror fans can agree upon, is that the zombie is perhaps… one of the most terrifying monsters the genre has to offer. After all, these creatures are in fact, disgusting. Since they are often rotten corpses returned from the void that no longer resemble our loved ones and no longer hold our values. They are merely machines of pure, motorized instinct that wish to consume flesh courtesy of an insatiable hunger. Plus, what they represent is equally as terrifying since they in essence, thumb their nose at our biological purpose in life and everything that we hold near and dear to living and their uncomfortable wonder, doesn’t end there. For they also stand in often, as the allegory for our world’s problems.
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Since they have served as a mirror for our obsessions with consumerism and materialism, and often help to examine our societal woes and concerns. Which means at this point, the zombie has in many ways... reached its apex as a villain, and simply cannot be improved upon in the slightest, as evidenced by its current popularity and how well its design blends into modern zombie stories. But there are some creatives out there, who don’t subscribe to that in the slightest, and firmly believe that the zombie can in fact, be scarier and can push the envelope storytelling wise and commentary wise, further and well… it just so happens that Shudder is now host to a zombie film that makes a grand and successful attempt to reinvent the zombie and make it a more frightening creature, and that makes The Sadness, a revolutionary horror film. 

One that at first glance… appears to be nothing more than standard zombie fare. For when this movie opens, we are plunged into a world that resembles our own. Since there is a pandemic happening, one that has fatigued the world to the point where life appears to be getting back to normal, as evidenced by the mundane interactions we bear witness to, early on in this story. Since Jim and Katie are arguing about simple things when when we catch up with them, right before their day takes quite the turn. For a mutation in the infamous Alvin Virus, has transformed some of the sick into bloodthirsty murderers. Who appear eager to inflict cruelty upon others through wanton and brutal violence and now… Jim and Katie will have to fight hard to survive a world that is quickly crumbling around them. 

Which really is a by-the-numbers zombie movie plot. One that should offer us nothing revolutionary. But making us comfortable with a story that we’ve seen a thousand times before, really is quite the wonderful way to set up the surprise in this film. In that the zombies here are classic in nature, and full of infection over a bastardization of death… and they fully comprehend the horrors and atrocities they are taking part in. Which immediately changes the game since they can talk and express their twisted feelings. But what truly sets these zombies apart and makes them so original… is the pleasure they take in killing and harming others. Because they are in a state of bliss when they rip out an eyeball or play with entrails and that is… something incredibly fresh to see within the genre and it quite frankly, terrifies the viewer to their absolute core. 

For we cherish our ability to produce beauty and kindness, and we firmly believe that we as a species have moved beyond the savagery of our lesser instincts and our cruelty. Which is why it is always shocking to us to see anyone decide to embrace that darkness, because it immediately reminds us… that we are supremely capable of savagery and cruelty and have not moved on from it, and to see that on display here, is a real assault on the senses. Because it is just horrifying to watch people smile with glee as they tear open the flesh of a terrified person and the commentary that comes with that in some instances, combined with the conscious decision to show that violence in an unfettered and unrestrained manner, leads to long and extended sequences of terror and discomfort. The kind that is further enhanced by the fact… that the imagination of these transformed humans knows no bounds in how to impart cruelty.

Which means, that you absolutely need to be warned up front, that this is an extremely graphic and disturbing motion picture. One that crosses just about every line that can be crossed, as it works to examine as to whether or not modern mankind is as evolved as it believes it is, or if by chance… we are merely one-step away from transforming into true monsters. An examination that carries weight when one considers the fears we currently harbor worldwide, regarding the sudden resurgence of ideologies and organizations we thought were long defeated. If anything, all of these elements make this a brilliant and frightening motion picture. One that truly reinvents the zombie subgenre in a horrifying new manner, and stays with you long after its come to an end, and the good news, is that if you’re okay with a story that pulls no punches… you can enjoy this twisted and visceral creation, just by logging into Shudder.  

One would think, that after spending the past couple of weeks, locking up the rights to several new films and greenlighting another epic one… that the folks at Shudder would take a moment to sit back and relax, and marvel over what they’ve accomplished. But in their minds, it’s about the fans and making sure they have everything they need to get their horror fix. So, resting, is out of the question. They need to keep tirelessly adding to the library and for proof… then look no further than today’s announcement.
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For earlier, the premier horror streamer announced that it has acquired the rights to the horror film, Revealer, shortly after its United States Premiere and well… here are all the details on another incredible land for the network, courtesy of Shudder.

‘Shudder, AMC Network’s premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired Revealer, the feature debut from Emmy® Award-winning director Luke Boyce. The film, which made its U.S. premiere at Kansas City’s Panic Fest, stars Caito Aase (Black Mold) who won the fest’s Audience Award for Best Actress and Shaina Schrooten (Scare Package II: Rad Chad’s Revenge) and will be available exclusively on Shudder in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, June 23.
 
Said Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder, “Luke Boyce has crafted a darkly funny and surprisingly moving apocalyptic horror that we can't wait to share with Shudder members.”
 
“We made Revealer as the entire shift of the world changed beneath our feet and we responded to that creatively. It is a movie that's wild and scary, but also heartfelt and emotional. It's a neon-drenched, horror-filled call for connectedness and we are so incredibly excited to have teamed up with Shudder, a platform and community I love dearly, as the perfect home to share it with the world," added director Luke Boyce.
 
In Revealer, what started off as a typical Chicago work day in 1987 for Angie Pittarelli (Aase), a dancer at the Revealers Bookstore peep show booth, turns tragic when her annoying boss is suddenly killed in an uprising outside the store leaving her trapped in the booth, unable to escape. Soon she learns that hiding out in the booth next to hers is none other than Sally Mewbourne (Schrooten), an overzealous religious protester that seems to get a kick out of regularly harassing Angie. Sally is in a panic claiming that the rapture has occurred and the apocalypse has begun. With nowhere left to turn Angie and Sally must separate their differences and come together to fight this unknown evil, navigating the treacherous bootlegger tunnels below the store to survive the unthinkable.
 
Revealer is written by comic authors Tim Seeley (Hack/Slash, Revival) and Michael Moreci (Barbaric, The Plot) and produced by Shatterglass Films and The Line Film Co. along with a number of genre mainstays including Sarah Sharp, Robert Patrick Stern and Brett Hays. Aaron B. Koontz rounds out the producing team under his Paper Street Pictures banner.
 
The deal was negotiated by Aaron B. Koontz on behalf of the filmmakers, and Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder.
 
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.’

Some people believe that there is nothing more important than money and while we need it to make a living, it does not always amount to happiness. There is something to be said for those that have found richness in happiness with their families and loved ones. Not being able to buy all of the crazy things that are supposed to make them happy, they focus on who is around them leading to a great life. While it is nice to have some expensive toys to play with, will they ever truly make you happy?
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Waiting for her husband to leave for his next medical conference, Muriel Arrowsmith has something in mind while he is gone. Bidding him farewell, Muriel gets dressed up for the night’s events and her employee David is happy to be along for the ride. Staying in the shadows of the Hampton Castle, Doctor Stephen Arrowsmith watches as his unfaithful wife brings David into his bed and he has had enough of the charade. Rendering them both unconscious and tying them up in his lab, Stephen tortures the two until he has filled the void of love in his heart. Knowing that there will be no repercussions for his actions, Stephen finishes his final act and is ready to move on with his life and his true love, the housekeeper Solange.

Yet there is a problem that Stephen and Solange will have when it comes to their living situation, as Muriel’s estate has been left to her crazy sister Jenny who has spent most of her life in an Asylum. After some time has passed, Stephen has come up with a plan to get all of the estate moved to his name and takes Jenny as his new bride. Not agreeing with this plan, Solange is forced to watch her love take on another that is not her and sees that Jenny and Muriel look pretty much alike. Knowing that Stephen is not over his past love for his past wife, Solange warns her love about the spirits in the castle, but being a man of science, Stephen will not be hindered by such talk, as ghosts do not exist. 

As the days go by in the old Hampton Castle, Jenny is starting to have visions during the night that are disturbing her. Knowing that she is crazy, Stephen is ready to see her mind come unwrapped with a little bit of help from his arsenal of drugs so he can lock her up once again. But the visions Jenny is having is of a murder that took place in the castle, and she is starting to find out what happened to her sister. Wanting to prove that his young bride is crazy, Stephen turns to her former doctor to help prove this point, but when Doctor Joyce witnesses Jenny being possessed by her sister, he knows that there is something much more sinister happening within the castle’s walls.

I really love looking back at old horror movies, mainly because they are all focused on the story and nothing else. While you get a couple jump scares here and there, they are more psychological than anything else and leave plenty to the imagination. Being based on money, it is apparent that Stephen wants every dollar that he can possibly get out of the relationship before he leaves with his love and while Jenny does not see this, the ghost of Muriel does and is ready to exact revenge on her living husband. It is hard to deny that Stephen and his love Solange are in the wrong and I really like how Doctor Joyce is able to put some pieces together to at least try and get Jenny out of the castle before her time runs out. With some ghostly visions, a brutal double murder, a family crest, a castle and ghosts looking for payback, this is just a great movie that shows that love can outweigh money, but at a cost. Stay Scared.

It really is an amazing time to be a horror fan. Because not only are horror stories at an all-time high popularity wise, but there are people out there working overtime to bring horror fans top-notch stories that maintain our love of the genre. And one such group of people that continue to deliver in that arena, are the good folks at Shudder. Because the original programming arm of this iconic horror streamer, continues to send stunning horror films our way and once again… they’ve informed the horror world that another gory gem is about to come to life.
 
For Shudder and RLJE Films recently announced that they are teaming up to produce the brand-new horror film, Destroy All Neighbors. A movie that will feature a stellar cast and some other surprises and well… don’t take my word for it, instead… here are the official details on this exciting new project, courtesy of Shudder.
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‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, and RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, today announced their partnership on the newest Shudder Original Film, Destroy All Neighbors. From music-video and commercial director Josh Forbes and starring Jonah Ray Rodrigues (Mystery Science Theater 3000) and Alex Winter (Bill and Ted franchise) who also produce, Destroy All Neighbors will have a day-and-date release in theaters and on Shudder in 2023.  The film, which is also produced by Russell Sanzgiri (Michael Bolton’s Big Sexy Valentine’s Day Special), is from an original script written by Mike Benner, Jared Logan, and Charles Pieper.
 
“We’re so excited for Josh, Jonah and Alex to bring this hilariously dark take on ‘the neighbor from hell’ to our members,’” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler. “Giving this tentpole feature as big of a launchpad as possible with our partners at RLJE Films is sure to get the whole ‘neighborhood’ talking.”
 
In Destroy All Neighbors, struggling prog-rock musician William Brown (Rodrigues) finds himself in a living nightmare when he accidentally kills Vlad (Winter), the neighbor from hell. Vlad’s disembodied corpse delights in tormenting William, sending him further into madness and impending doom.
 
“We’re thrilled to be working with Shudder and RLJE on this labor of love,” added Winter. “Our film is a return to the kind of physical effects-driven genre comedy that's all too rare these days."
 
Casting is underway and production is set to commence this July.
 
CAA Media Finance helped broker the deal.
 
Winter is represented by CAA, Forward Entertainment, Hollander Entertainment and Sloss Eckhouse Dasti Haynes LawCo.’