There is nothing more difficult than trying to make a good first impression. While it seems to come easily for some people who don’t mind being the center of attention, most of us hate that feeling and become very uncomfortable. Even practice might not be enough for the person that we are trying to woo, since we know what could happen if it goes wrong. There might not be a good answer on how to make the best first impression, but it is always important to be yourself, so maybe start with that.
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Heading up to their house by the lake, Greg and Natalie Thomas are surprised that their daughter has brought along a friend. Meeting Ryan for the first time on their little family getaway, Greg is having a hard time understanding what Sarah sees in this unemployed filmmaker, but keeps his mouth shut in the car. Getting closer to town, Greg sees the lights of a police car behind him and comes to a stop on the side of the road to see his old friend Sheriff Hank is ready to pick up where they left off years ago. Getting the feeling that the Thomas family is not a favorite around town, Ryan bites his tongue since he has a surprise for everyone. 

While the adults head into town to get some supplies for the upcoming snowstorm, Ryan and Sarah head out to the lake when Sarah sees some footprints outside of the cabin. Not really thinking much about it, the two find a quiet spot and Ryan pops the question. Saying ‘yes’ instantly, Sarah is ready to start her new life with Ryan and get further away from her past. Breaking the news to her parents, Sarah is flying on cloud nine and even her ex-boyfriend Tyler seems to be happy for her as well. With the holiday quickly approaching, the family and their newest member sit down and open presents, but there will be more surprises as the night moves on.

Waking up in the middle of the night to a strange knocking around the house, the family is shocked to see that there is nobody there. Grabbing his shotgun and trying to find out what is going on, Greg becomes the first victim of the masked group that is looking to take back what is rightfully theirs. Being forced out into the dead of night, Ryan tries to keep Sarah from losing her mind after she witnesses her father being killed. With the town being their only hope for survival, the couple try their hardest to find the keys to the car, but with a killer not far behind them, it may only be a matter of time before they become the next set of victims.

From the beginning of this movie, you could tell that there was plenty of hatred towards the Thomas family which made things very uncomfortable from the start. I really wish that they explained what happened as the officers seemed to be keeping a very close eye on Greg, it would have given us a little backstory and not left everything up to our imagination. The entire movie was pretty uncomfortable, the town, the Thomas family learning that Ryan proposed, even the good neighbor Carl, we never got the chance to feel loved, which was very interesting. It turned into a cool who-done-it movie when you are left guessing who the killer is behind the mask and the uncertainty of how many people were really involved. With an uncomfortable town, a loving neighbor, a proposal, a killer in the house, a killer in the woods, guns, hatchets, love everlasting and a frozen lake, this is a decent movie that will make you think twice about making a good first impression. Stay Scared.

It can be difficult to come up with new ideas, as it seems that everything has been done at least once, or The Simpsons already did it. Trying a new approach to a familiar subject might be the best way to head this off, or as I always like to say, make it your own. Being in the position that I am in today, I tend to watch the same story being told by different people and they all bring their own unique perspective to what we already know and love. Being your own person and making your own choices is the only way to approach life, even if you are not one of the crazy creative types.
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While wanting to get a documentary about The Blair Witch Project in the can to make a little bit of coin, filmmakers Mark and Chris are given a new idea from their friendly director Eduardo Sanchez. Telling the two about the old urban legend of Karl Atticus who made movies that could cause riots, he knows that there are some folks in the industry that would pay big money for the project. Not wanting to deviate from what they are doing, Mark is hesitant, but Chris is able to convince his friend to come along for the ride and see where it takes them. 

Arriving in Maryland and finding out that none of the youth have ever heard of this Karl Atticus person, the older crowd seems to have their stories about him and that is where the two will make progress in their film. Finding a couple of people that worked with Karl, along with his best friend growing up, the two find that they are opening up a door to something out of this world. Finding out about the childhood of the macabre director and what his habits were, they are also starting to see there is a little push back when it comes to digging too deep for the story. When returning to the local graveyard that they were previously kicked out of during the day, Mark is violently beaten by an unknown man and is forced to drop out of the project for a short time.

Being able to replace his longtime friend, Chris continues his deep dive into the life of Karl Atticus and what led to his tragic demise. Hearing more about his movies and the reading material he poured over, especially by author Vernon Blake who wrote the original Mortal Remains, Chris is starting to see a strange pattern emerging. With more clues as to who this man really was and getting word that this story could bring a massive payoff at the end, Chris is able to get Mark back on board for the final few days of the shoot. With a full team, the group heads out into the country side to find the old house where Karl used to live, but once inside they find that they are not alone and even with the final piece of the puzzle in their grasp, they are left to question what really happened to the director, as it appears he may not have died back in 1973 as was originally reported.

I’m not a huge fan of Mockumentaries as a whole, but this one was pretty darn good. I love the story of Karl Atticus and now I want to see his movies, even though he is not real, because they look damn gruesome and sometimes that is what we need. I really liked when the story of the director started to take a turn for the strange, using cadavers on set, and not having any repeat actors on set the following night. Any director that can cause a riot based on his movie being shown only once may be a genius or the devil and I am guessing he was both. With some shocking imagery, some blood, a hooded figure beat down, Eduardo Sanchez, clues, chances to abandon the project and an unknown final copy of the original Mortal Remains, this movie is filled with mystery, some terror and an ending that will make you wonder why anyone would make a documentary film ever again. Stay Scared.

Something that is genuinely fascinating about our modern world, is how we view tough times and well, outright failure. For such matters aren’t seen as learning experiences or an opportunity to grow, they’re seen as moments in our lives that can make us weak. As though if we don’t double down and push through the tough times or turn a failure into a success, we are somehow nothing and well… we are finally coming to realize that looking at problems in our lives in this manner… is actually quite the toxic way to handle life when the going gets tough or when we don’t achieve our goals. Because our mental health and our self-worth suffers greatly, when we hold to that old and outdated notion.
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Because it motivates us to beat ourselves up mentally and view ourselves as less than zero and that can lead to all kinds of trouble. Since it can motivate us to quit our dreams and walk away from everything we ever wanted or it can outright break us mentally and help us to lose ourselves to depression or anger and frustration, and well… the dangers that can come about from holding true to that old line of thinking is top of mind today, simply because it was put on display in great detail in the next episode of Tales from the Darkside. A feat that ‘All a Clone by the Telephone’ accomplishes, by plunging us into the life of a Hollywood screenwriter who is at a crisis point in his career.

For when we catch up with Leon, here, he’s been out of work for months. His agent isn’t getting him anything but obligatory interviews, the rent is due, and his relationship is strained because of the fact that he’s not working. And to complicate matters further, something strange is happening within his own home. For his brand-new answering machine is making calls in the middle of the night and is oddly enough… talking back to him. An act it says it can take part in because it has breached the barriers of the Multiverse and is taking control of his life because Leon can afford this vocal clone with a great opportunity, and now it will be up to Leon to decide if this is real or fantasy and whether or not he wants to put up with another strange wrinkle in his already chaotic life.

Which at first glance, is a story that appears to be grounded hard in real-world notions. Because multiverse theory is real now and popular in popular media and the reality that a universe exists where sentient machines rule the day… isn’t out of the question. But as the story continues along and the answering machine begins to do some genuinely off the cuff things to ‘torment’ Leon… it becomes clear that this isn’t a story grounded in the horrors of science, but the horrors of the mind. Because Leon is indeed failing miserably at his chosen career field, and regardless of how hard he works to find peace and happiness… he simply cannot obtain it and well… it is safe to say that outright breaks him and forces his mind to search for new avenues to create what he craves.
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Where in this instance, the answering machine instead serves as an alter-ego, one that allows for him to escape the horrors of his life and do bold things that can bring him happiness. Since it is the ‘machine’ that proposes to Leon’s girlfriend, allowing for Leon to express what he really feels about her without owning it out of fear of rejection and of course… it gives him the break he needs, trapping him within a prison of his own mind. Where he is eternally a failure in his conscious, while his subconscious pulls wild strings to help him survive. Hammering home, the reality that giving in to failure and seeing it as the end all be all of who we are, can and will lead to disaster. But on a more positive note, Leon’s psychotic break and fate also helps to remind us of the importance of having a support network around us. One that can help us to see failure and tough times in an objective light… so we don’t let those moments consume us and break us.

If anything, this is… another pleasant season one surprise. Because that first viewing, really does make this episode appear to be nothing more than a quirky and twisted tale. One grounded in wild concepts. But clearly, this one was eager to be more, and it most certainly is. Since it is a fascinating examination of what failure and toxic thinking regarding failure can do for us and as an added bonus… this is another story that features some acting and horror legends. Since Harry Anderson plays Leon and of course, Harry would go on to acclaim and fame as Judge Harry Stone on Night Court, and he would return to horror as Richie Tozier in the 1990 iteration of It. And of course, you can’t go wrong with the fact that Dick Miller is in this story as Leon’s agent, because Dick is indeed a silver screen and horror legend and their performances here lend credence to the wonder of this tale, one that really does stay with you long after Leon’s fate comes to an end and well… what’s amazing… is that the series is just getting started when it comes to examinations of toxic notions in our world. Since the next tale explores the horrifying power of… toxic positivity. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 712 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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At some point or another in our lives, and whether we like it or not… we are going to have to face the reality… that death comes for us all. That might happen by way of the loss of a pet or a valued family member. Or it might entail a surprise diagnosis when we’re not feeling well, one that prompts us to take inventory and ponder upon what might happen if we lose our fight with our body, and we can also get the news that someone we care about is dealing with the same thing. But one way or another… this is going to happen in some form, and it will force us to ponder upon our mortality and the life we’ve led and being pushed to do that… can transform us in ways we never thought possible.
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Because it can in fact, terrify us and make us afraid to live our daily lives out of the fear that one wrong step could mean the end for us. It can, however, also be quite positive in nature, and teach us the value of life and of cherishing the moment and everything we have. But more often than not, facing our mortality will simply rattle us emotionally for quite some time before we reach either one of those two particular lines of thinking, and it could potentially prompt us to do things we regret out of a mix of emotions that we simply don’t have a handle upon, and that grand and sweeping moment of chaos is top of mind today, simply because it was put on full display during last night’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead.

For fear was everywhere in Strand’s Tower in ‘Sonny Boy’, and the sheer paranoia that Strand harbored over having to face his own mortality for his actions, pushed him to do some scary things. Such as have Howard and the Rangers… tear through everyone’s bunks to find if people were harboring a means to communicate with Morgan and the outside world, and if by chance those means were found… they were quickly sentenced to death and what’s terrifying, is that this kind of behavior only got worse over the course of the hour. Because along the way, a radio was found in Howard’s office. Which of course, Howard claimed did not belong to him in the slightest because he was and would forever be loyal to Strand and his beliefs, but Victor didn’t see it like that at all, and used this opportunity to really test Howard like never before and that… really helped us to explore exactly how a brush with death can change a person for the worse.

Because in essence, Strand’s close encounter with death and resurrection, filled him with a fear he’s never experienced before. Because he’s always cheated it, always schemed around it. So, to be near it, from a former friend no less… has basically broken him through and through and pushed him to demand more loyalty and sacrifice from people to heal from the pain of betrayal. When in fact, a change in his behavior and a shedding of the darkness he’s embraced would give him the forgiveness and safety he currently craves. But alas, for the moment, the fear is real, and it continues to transform Strand like never before. To the point where he was so filled with anger and terror and every dark emotion one can think of… that he eventually had Howard tossed off the Tower after all, by John Dorie Sr., no less.

Whose journey ironically, served as the flip side exploration in this tale. Because John was also dealing with mortality in this story, primarily because he came to discover that whatever Charlie was exposed to from a radiation perspective, he was as well. And armed with the knowledge that radiation sickness was going to claim him as it would eventually, Charlie, put him in a different kind of terrified place. One where he began to ponder upon his past and all of his actions and what kind of legacy he was leaving behind now that his days were numbered. Which in turn, motivated him to help Strand through a different crisis, one involving Baby Mo. For she went missing in the midst of all of this chaos and well… for a time she became John’s obsession and ticket toward some semblance of salvation in his mind.
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For he firmly believed that if he could find and save Baby Mo, he could have a legacy and he could do something great for a change and give a child a life that he never gave his son and change the environment of the Tower in the process… and he stopped at nothing to make all that happen. To the point where he planted the radio in Howard’s office… to have Strand’s ear and the resources to make this Tower the best place it could possibly be for Mo and everyone else. But alas, Strand’s fear and tests of loyalty, led to none of John’s goals being achieved in the slightest and when John was faced with that failure and faced with the reality that his legacy would be sour and filled with horror for little Mo, since Strand wanted to raise her alone… he made quite the powerful decision to be remembered as a hero.

Wherein he called Morgan and suited up with Howard’s bevy of armor to walk Mo through a sea of the living dead to hand her over to Morgan and get her out of the Tower. A move that spoke volumes to how facing death can be noble in nature and how being brave in doing so… can transform us and make us more than we thought we could be. But of course, it came at quite the cost, his life in fact. But now, at the very least, John Dorie Sr. will live on as a hero in this broken world and tales will be told of the shattered father that gave a fighting chance to a child that had none. But what matters more, is that this powerful and heart wrenching story made it clear that our fears do not define us, unless we let them and that we should face them and whatever darkness they entail. Because to do so offers peace and sometimes a supremely fulfilling redemption, depending on what that fear has done to us from an emotional standpoint, and that’s a powerful lesson to find here.

One that will be overshadowed for some time by the subtractions of Omid Abtahi and Keith Carradine from the cast. For Omid really did take part in some critical and formative moments for the Tower and showcased how easily broken men will follow equally as broken me to find peace. And as for Keith, well his powerful performances added a special gravitas to this series through and through and well, perhaps the best way to bid farewell to Keith and his time on the show is to inform him through this review, that he can in fact, take great pride in what he’s done here. For he once told this reporter in an interview, that “if in the end, there is not a moment that I have given to this character, where everyone doesn’t actually believe who I am. Then if I’ve done that, then in that I will, I take pride.” And it is definitely safe to say… we believe in what he did and how he sold the story of a broken father that found redemption, and hopefully John’s actions here will inspire others in this world to do great things... so that the darkness can be lifted from this sorrowful corner of Texas at last. Until next time.

​The power of the conspiracy theory is something that has always managed to fascinate me. In part because the people that subscribe to them, staunchly believe in them through and through, to the point where they will defend said theory to no end, all in the hopes of convincing others to join them in their beliefs. But they also captivate me due to the fact, that the amount of detail and thought that goes into them, is downright incredible. I mean, just pick a theory, and look it up, and you’ll get an idea of how much work has gone into these theories in order to give them credence.
 
Now, I personally don’t subscribe to these theories simply because I don’t think mankind is capable enough of pulling such feats off when we can’t even agree upon the notion of treating one another with respect and kindness. But I do check these out from to time because they are fine works of imagination, the kind that would make for great stories. And thankfully, one filmmaker took the time to toy with the notion that something or someone far more sinister in the world is truly pulling our strings to control us, a common theme in these theories, and by tinkering with this idea on the big screen, John Carpenter created quite the amazing motion picture in They Live.
 
Now, the finer details of the plot for this film will take the back burner today, simply because there’s so many other wonderful things about this motion picture to discuss instead, like how Carpenter does an amazing job of world building in this tale, which is pure necessity to make a plot this wild work. And the sheer mystery that Carpenter puts together when it comes to the aliens that are conspiring against us is outright magnificent because everything that builds up to their first appearance draws you into the story and quite frankly, this buildup ends up paying off in spades because you simply don’t see the big reveal coming. 

If anything, considering Carpenter’s track record for serious horror, the first time I watched this film I expected something evil to pop up on the screen, not pompous and posh aliens that live for the finer things in life and well… that twist works in large part simply because these aliens represent the zeitgeist of the time, since the 80’s were an era of excess and status. But all subtle social commentary aside, the discovery that this fictional world is controlled by creatures from another world is chilling to say the least, but really what makes this movie so memorable goes above and beyond its creepy villains, it’s that Carpenter flat out has fun with this movie.
 
Case in point, there is some serious comedy to be found in this motion picture and all of it is driven by ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper since his performance as Nada in this film is one for the ages simply because, his character delivers some of the finest one liners to ever grace the silver screen and his interactions with Keith David’s character, Frank, are pure gold. I mean come on, the fight in the alley is one of the most memorable showdowns of the past thirty years, to the point where even South Park featured their own ‘homage’ to it back in 2001 with a shot for animated shot remake, which underlines just how epic and iconic that moment turned out to be.
 
However, all fun aside, there are plenty of Carpenter trademarks to be found in this picture as well, specifically John’s ability to build incredible amounts of tension. Because that third act, with all of its action and surprises, outright keeps you on the edge of your seat. If anything, this movie is simply a blast to watch, and it’s wonderful to see John return to his non-horror roots with a story that keeps you on your toes and plasters a smile on your face and on the off chance you haven’t seen this one yet, do it as quickly as you can simply because this one is a true gem through and through, thanks to the fact it plays one of hell of a game of ‘What if?’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Twin’.
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Something that is genuinely fascinating about popular media, is how the creative minds that thrive within it… tend to all latch onto a particular concept at the same time. It could be because word is getting around Hollywood that so and so is working on something stellar revolving around that concept, and others want in on it, or it could be because we humans are on a tighter wavelength than we give ourselves credit. But one way or another… a concept takes root and floods the market and there is good and bad that comes with that. The bad obviously, involves the fact that sometimes some of the stories revolving around that notion won’t be up to snuff in the slightest and/or they’re clearly cashing in on the wave. But on the plus side, it could raise awareness on a topic that isn’t being discussed all that often and needs to be.
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If anything, this is top of mind today, because grief is one of those concepts/topics circulating around popular media right now. For everywhere you look, in every genre, creatives are exploring its power and its gravity and that’s great. Because grief gets swept under the rug often and forgotten about. But we should be spotlighting and talking about it because it has a profound impact upon people when it arrives, and it can transform us for better or worse and one genre that is excelling at discussing it right now… is horror. For there are a glut of grief themed horror films on the market, the kind that are examining powerful aspects of grief in a manner that helps the audience learn through concern and fear and it just so happens, that Shudder is now host to an incredible movie in this vein, one that does a fine job of educating us on the power of grief and what it can do to us if left unchecked in The Twin.

A feat that this story accomplishes, by introducing us to a broken family. One that is dealing with the fallout of loss and grief. For Rachel and Anthony’s son Nathan, died in a car crash recently, and this loss has been so powerful and so profound… that Rachel and Anthony decide to take what’s left of their family, which consists of Nathan’s twin brother Elliot… and move to Finland. To get as far away as possible from their pain and start over fresh.  A decision that at first, appears to pay off. For everyone is happy and content and enjoying their time together once again. But some odd occurrences in the house, and some strange behavior from the townsfolk in the nearby town… leads Rachel to believe that something sinister is happening around her. Something so twisted and evil that it might rob her of what little she has left and now it will be up to Rachel to uncover the mystery at hand to save her family, and her sanity.

Which at first glance, is a plot that seems grounded more in folk horror and notions of Satanism and the like. Since Rachel firmly believes that her husband’s strange behavior and the way the people in town treat her, is related to a sinister plot to sacrifice her baby boy in the hopes of bringing the Devil himself back to life. A wild thought that is reinforced by a new friend in town that also harbors concerns about the town and its citizens and the strange things that happen around the house. Since there really does appear to be something dark residing within the house, something that is eager to take control of the family’s life and future and well… that’s so deeply engrained into the story and played upon so heavily, that the grand surprise revolving around grief in this story… completely and utterly gut punches you with its gravity and power.
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For it turns out, that there is no evil in this town and no machinations of something sinister happening behind the scenes. This is nothing more than a twisted fantasy concocted by Rachel’s broken mind and soul to make sense of the fact, that family strife led to the accident that killed her only son. Which means, there is no twin, no Elliot. Just a projection created to cope with her part in losing her baby boy and because her husband was unwilling to face reality and support her and get her proper help, things spiraled out of control and brought this mess to life and well… that’s a stunning revelation to find here. One that truly hammers home the power and the dangers of grief. Since this twist servers to remind us that when someone is left to their own devices while grieving… dangers untold can come to fruition. The kind that can allow for a person to lose themselves within their pain, making it imperative we support and help those struggling with loss… so they can enjoy a fresh start.

Which is a message that is handled in a heavy manner of course, for this is a horror film, one that’s terror extends beyond its unsettling reveal. Because everything leading up the truth, is impactful and horrifying in nature. Since it is filled to the brim with haunting images and unsettling moments that make one’s skin crawl, and when you take that imagery and the performances of Teresa Palmer and Steven Cree and combine them with that surprise… you’re left with a brilliant horror film. One that is impactful in its commentary and messaging and stays with you long after it’s come to an end. And as an added bonus, you have several avenues available to you to check this one out. Since The Twin is now in theaters and available to stream via Shudder, and we most certainly hope you do take the time to swing by your multiplex or load up the app to see this movie. Because this is an important horror story that needs to be seen and celebrated.  

There are a bevy of perks that come with being a member of the streaming service Shudder. Such as the fact that you’ll be treated to a carefully curated library of the finest horror films on the market, the kind that challenge the audience and elevate the genre to new heights. Plus, where else are you going to find the Ghoul Log or enjoy themed horror programming based on the time of year? But above all else, it is Shudder’s original programming that truly helps it to stand out above the rest. Because Shudder only wants the best in the biz to work with them, and that’s brought forth some stellar shows. Such as Joe Bob Briggs’ The Last Drive-In and Greg Nicotero’s Creepshow.
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Not to mention, this is now the home of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula and a bevy of original films that continue to remind us that horror is always on the cutting edge of storytelling and well, it is their movie production arm that is top of mind today. For earlier today, Shudder announced they have lit the green light on the 1970s themed horror feature, The Sacrifice Game. Giving rise to another incredible Shudder original and well, here are all the details on this fascinating new feature, courtesy of Shudder.

​'Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streamer for horror, thriller, and the supernatural, and Red Sea Media announced today that production will begin next week on 1970s supernatural horror The Sacrifice Game, written by Jenn Wexler (The Ranger) and Sean Redlitz and set to be directed by Wexler, to star Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Olivia Scott Welch (Fear Street), with Gus Kenworthy (American Horror Story: 1984) and Chloë Levine (The OA), who also starred in Wexler's The Ranger. Shudder has taken all rights to the film in its territories, while Red Sea Media, Inc. has acquired international.
 
The film, which begins principal photography May 9, 2022, is set at a girls’ boarding school over Christmas break, 1971, where Samantha and Clara, two students staying behind for the holidays, must survive the night against uninvited visitors. 
 
The film will also star Derek Johns (The Wolf and the Lion) and Laurent Pitre (Under the Banner of Heaven), along with Madison Baines (1UP) and newcomer Georgia Acken.
 
The producers are Philip Kalin-Hajdu and Albert I. Melamed with Heather Buckley, Wexler, and Todd Slater (King of Killers, The Parts You Lose) of Slater Brothers Entertainment. Roman Kopelevich and Crystal Hill of Red Sea Media, Inc., Peter Phok, Mark Berry and Duane Farley of AMG, with Massoud and Welch are executive producing. Real by Fake (The Morning Show, Big Little Lies) is on board with Marc Côté executive producing and Yannick Sadler co-producing.
 
The deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions for Shudder and Philip Kalin-Hajdu and Albert I. Melamed on behalf of the filmmakers. Todd Slater of Slater Brothers Entertainment brokered the deal with Red Sea Media on behalf of the filmmakers.
 
“We loved The Ranger and are thrilled to be working with Jenn and her team to bring her new film, The Sacrifice Game, to life. Jenn’s film promises to be a wild and thrilling ride that offers a fresh take on timeless horror themes. We can’t wait to share it with our members,” said Shudder General Manager Craig Engler.
 
“I loved this script – it reminded me of the classic horror films of the 70’s,” stated Red Sea Media’s CEO, Roman Kopelevich.
 
“I am extremely excited to be working with this incredible cast and to be partnering again with Shudder and with RSM. The Sacrifice Game is my tribute to the beauty and boldness of ‘70s horror, anchored in an unlikely friendship between outsiders,” said Wexler.
 
“After years working in genre, it is a highlight to be making a Shudder original with this film. Wexler’s thrilling vision pulled us in from the start. We have never seen Mena Massoud and Olivia Scott Welch in roles like these and we can’t wait to share it with the world. We are grateful to be working with Shudder and RSM,” said producers Philip Kalin-Hajdu and Albert Melamed.
 
Massoud is represented by Gersh, LINK Entertainment and Myman Greenspan. Welch is represented by UTA and Vault. Kenworthy is represented by WME, Sugar23, Michael Spencer, and Jen Peros, Famous Last Words PR. Levine is represented by APA and Anthony & Associates. Wexler is represented by CAA and Hitman Studios.
 
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 Red Sea Media
Red Sea Media was founded in 2011 as a sales agent and production company. Recent films include KING OF KILLERS with Frank Grillo and Stephen Dorff; BANSHEE; starring Antonio Banderas; THE SURVIVALIST starring John Malkovich and Jonathan Rhys Meyers and ROGUE HOSTAGE, with John Malkovich and Tyrese Gibson. The RSM slate also includes BORN A CHAMPION, an action thriller starring Dennis Quaid, WHERE ARE YOU, starring 2021 Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins and Madeline Brewer; MANSON BROTHERS MIDNIGHT ZOMBIE MASSACRE starring Randy Couture; BAD THERAPY (starring Alicia Silverstone) and STRAY DOLLS starring Cynthia Nixon & Olivia DeJonge)
 
For more information, please visit: www.redseamediainc.com
 
About Slater Brothers Entertainment
Slater Brothers Entertainment is a multi-dimensional content and consulting company focused on the ever-changing digital and media sectors. SBE works across the spectrum, including investors, media and platform partners, and film and television distributors. SBE’s advisory services incorporate pre-deal activities, due diligence process, deal negotiation, M&E, finance and acquisitions. Since its launch, Slater Brothers Entertainment’s team has successfully assisted in financing or securing worldwide distribution for over 100 films and has led capital investments in multiple digital, media and sports ventures. Slater Brothers Entertainment recent films include: King of Killers starring Frank Grillo, Albatross, The Deep Web, Odd Man Rush, Ragged Heart, Last Three Days, She’s In Portland, Darker The Lake, as well recent documentaries, Miracle on 4th Street, and the highly anticipated Code Red: Youth of A Nation. The company recently launched their SBE financing division and will be producing a dramatic television series to be shot in Europe later this year. www.slaterbrothersentertainment.com’

It is always nice to get back to nature once in a while, especially if you are stuck indoors and away from the elements for most of your life. While I don’t go camping every weekend, since I am not as young or as spry as I once was, I still like to head out for the occasional hike and take in what Mother Nature has made for me. It is easy to forget all of the great things that nature can offer us, especially when we have so much technology surrounding us all day long. Only you can decide when the time is right to do this, but don’t keep putting it off, because a release from the technology ridden world is needed more often than not.
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Getting a ride to their next filming location, television personalities Hank and Dallas are ready for anything that the Pine Barren woods can throw at them. Telling their viewers, a little bit about the history of the location that they will be hiking through, they also bring up the legend of the Jersey Devil who has been seen along the trail. Not wanting this to be the focus of their filming of a 21 Day Survival Challenge, they try to stay off of the topic and are happy to see that they have found something else to talk about. 

After running into a small coven of witches performing a ritual in the woods, Hank is able to interview each of them and get their stories, but they are not all good-hearted as the third witch passes on a warning for the men to leave. Ignoring this and making their way to the first campsite, the two get a fire going and fall asleep, but Hank is a little concerned about what is hiding in the woods. Hearing a sound that wakes him up, Hank wants to know who or what is out there, but not being able to see anything, he is forced to let his fear hide inside of himself. Starting day two, the men are able to find a water source which was needed, but no food yet and set up camp again on an empty stomach.

Being awakened again in the middle of the night, Hank sees two glowing red eyes staring at him in the woods. Not knowing what kind of animal this is and thinking that the reflection of the flashlight caused the glowing effect, Hank is sure that there is someone or something stalking the campground. Dallas keeps his cool around his co-star and keeps the importance of making the show in the front of his mind, but as the weather starts to take a turn for the worse, it is apparent that the two men will need to work together to survive. But with a lack of food and water around them, Dallas is starting to get frustrated by Hank and his silly stories and the two quickly find themselves at a breaking point when Mother Nature starts to lay her hand down on them.

This is a found footage movie that starts off cheery and fun but takes a turn for the worse when it is apparent that the characters are not prepared for what lies ahead of them. While you get all kinds of great advice from the hosts about how to survive, you also get a good list of mistakes you should not make, like not bringing a map. I liked how Hank’s concern of what is hiding in the woods came through while the story played out, but when Dallas loses it, well, I was left wondering if he was going to kill his friend. I enjoyed the hiking banter that was given throughout, and while I am sure I would get tired of someone yapping in my ear all day and night, it was pretty funny and kept me smiling until things turned real. With a bag of batteries, a 21 Day Survival Challenge, declining weather, a group of witches, a growling in the woods and the overall fear of the unknown, this is pretty fun found footage movie that shows you that you can still have fun with the genre and make a great ending to keep the audience guessing. Stay Scared.

There was a time, when H.P. Lovecraft’s twisted stories were darn near impossible to bring to the silver and small screen. For their madness and mysticism were in essence, held back by the limitations of technology at the time and horror as a whole was more focused on mainstream monsters, such as vampires and slashers. But as the years have rolled along and technology/special effects have become incredibly efficient, and as the demand for new stories continues to grow… proper realizations regarding Lovecraft’s work are finally coming to bear.

In fact, over the past few years, we’ve seen unique and authentic takes upon his work, hit the market. The kind that has unsettled us in a manner that does justice to his terrifying words, and it just so happens… that another Lovecraftian themed tale is about to make its way to the finest horror streamer out there. For earlier today, Shudder announced that they have acquired the rights to Glorious, a horror film in the Lovecraft vein that was recently a Fantasia Festival Selection and well… here are all the details on this unsettling new film, courtesy of Shudder.

‘Shudder, AMC Network’s premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to Rebekah McKendry’s Glorious starring Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Kindred) and Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Being the Ricardos). 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, August 18.
 
Said Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder, “With Glorious, Rebekah brings Lovecraftian horror to a place it’s never been seen before: a rest stop men’s room. She and her all-star cast have created an inventive and original cosmic horror that manages to be both darkly hilarious and profoundly personal.”
 
“For years, I had been searching for a project that would let me show my preferred artistic style - that would let me be absurdist, sardonic, transgressive, and weird. And Glorious gets really f’n weird.” added director Rebekah McKendry. “As a diehard horror fan, I’m thrilled Glorious has found a home at Shudder, and I know Shudder fans will find something unique, wild, and thought-provoking lurking inside our rural rest stop bathroom.”
 
In Glorious, Kwanten plays a young man who is spiraling out of control after a bad breakup. His situation worsens after he finds himself locked inside a rest stop bathroom with a mysterious figure (Simmons) speaking to him from an adjacent stall. As he tries to escape, he realizes he is an unwilling player in a situation bigger and more terrible than he could have imagined.
 
This film is written by Todd Rigney, Joshua Hull and David Ian McKendry.  AMP International’s Bob Portal and Inderpal Singh serve as producers along with Joe Wicker and Morgan Peter Brown from Fallback Plan Productions, Jason Scott Goldberg and Christian Armogida.
 
Glorious is an AMP/Fallback Plan production, in association with Mississippi-based Eyevox Entertainment, with Rick Moore from Eyevox serving as executive producer, alongside James Norrie and Nina Kolokouri at AMP.  Kwanten, Barbara Crampton, Mark Cartier, Gaba Gavi and Kevin Kale also serve as executive producers, with Jessica Taylor as an associate producer.
 
The deal was negotiated by AMP International’s James Norrie and Nina Kolokouri 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.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two finale of ‘Cursed Films’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Normally when we settle in to watch a documentary series that has established what it wants to express to its audience… there is comfort and preparedness in our minds. In that, we know exactly what we are getting into, and we are ready to have that message reinforced through careful and unbiased storytelling… so we can come away from any particular chapter with new lessons and perspective in our hearts. But every once in a while, you run into a documentary series that figures out a way to shake things up and teach us something new and surprising when it comes to its overall themes and one such documentary series that has managed to accomplish that… is Cursed Films II on Shudder.

Because for weeks now, we have come to realize that this series is all about showing us how a series of bummers or odd coincidences or playing with concepts that immerse a story in darkness… can lead to the belief that a film is cursed in nature and that is likely what all of us thought we’d be getting when it comes to the season two finale of this show. Since Cannibal Holocaust is a controversial film that absolutely appeared to be mired in bad moments and poor coincidence, so how could it not be perceived as cursed by audiences? But instead of offering up that particular line of thinking, this finale instead found a way to pose a different type of examination regarding what makes a film appear to be cursed.

In that, it is completely possible, for the making of the film and the actions of the cast and crew… to create their own curse and punish themselves in the process. For we came to learn over the course of the hour that every single decision made by the film’s director and the active choices to participate in his vision by the cast… cursed this film from the get-go and led to self-made suffering and strife through and through. The kind that has lasted well beyond filming, and in essence, cursed the minds and souls of some of the cast. For instance, a lot of the more controversial physical decisions for some of the cast, such as taking part in the uncomfortable finale for the only woman in the story, played by Francesca Ciardi, left Francesca full of regret.

Since she came to realize that she sacrificed a moral stance in the name of art and that has certainly haunted her since the film’s release and she’s not the only one filled with regret over choices in this film. Because there are several other cast members, that took part in scenes that remain in infamy. For this movie is indeed notorious for its depiction of killing animals, and it is infamous in that regard because animals died on location and on screen in a savage and cruel manner. And crossing that line as a cast member and seeing how those uncomfortable acts live on by way of this film’s cult status, has left those cast members with shame and hurt in their hearts and those moments, combined with the wanton and ultra-graphic violence present within the film… hammer home the point of this particular tale.

In that, it is indeed entirely possible to curse oneself when making a movie. For poor and ugly choices and indulgences, resonate within one’s conscience and soul and judging from the scowls and bitterness that poured out of the cast in this finale,, those moments will stay with them always… and that is quite the fascinating way to bring this season to a close. Since we did not expect such a twist to come into play. But in many ways, this works and properly bookends the season, since it speaks to how… it is us that creates perception and reality in our minds and until we understand that… myths surrounding films will persist and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this fascinating journey, all we can do is hope for a Cursed Films III. Because there are so many dark stories that we need to revisit and ponder deeper upon and hopefully Shudder grants this series a third season, so we can enjoy more of Jay Cheel’s insight and objectivity regarding cinema’s most controversial films.