It can be difficult to come up with ideas if you cannot remember different parts of your life. While most of us remember having a great childhood and all of the crazy lessons we learned from our parents, there are some folks that have tried to suppress these memories for their own reasons. Trying not to remember part of your life can wind up hurting you in the long haul, since your memories are what has made you who you are today. While I am not saying that you need to talk about the bad times to everyone, you need to be able to face your past head on in order to move your life forward.
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Not being able to break out of her writer’s block related funk, Jessie is shocked to see her boyfriend Brian come home with flowers and an idea for the both of them. With an empty cabin in the middle of nowhere that belonged to her deceased aunt, Brian has a proposal for a week away from the world. Knowing that she will not be able to get any work done if Brian is along, Jessie comes up with a counteroffer that leaves him wondering why he even brought it up. Calling the caretaker of the cabin, Jessie comes to the conclusion that she will go alone and try to find her inspiration once again in order to come up with her next story.

Driving Jessie out to the town diner where the caretaker is supposed to pick her up, Brian is beside himself that she does not want him along for the ride. With everyone in the diner looking at the couple strangely, they quickly get over it as George arrives. Saying their goodbyes, Brian heads home as Jessie makes her way up to the old cabin that she used to love as a child. Not being able to remember anything about that time in her life, Jessie is sure that the memories will come back to her quickly. Arriving at the cabin, nothing sparks in Jessie’s mind about it and George warns her that she has her work cut out for her before entering her new home for the week. 

Stepping into the cabin, Jessie sees that it is trashed and wonders what George is really doing as the caretaker, but lets it slide and cleans everything up. Heading out for a run, Jessie is shocked to see a creepy doll in her doorway. Discarding this and checking out the sights and finding a young girl standing next to the river, Jessie’s gears are starting to turn. Hearing a knock on the door, Jessie meets a young girl named Leah who is more than happy to chat with the horror writer and tell her everything she knows about the town and even her aunt. Not thinking that anything out the ordinary is going on, Jessie goes about her daily duties of writing and trying to find out more about her aunt, but the secrets of the town are starting to take their toll on Jessie and the house seems to be keeping something sinister hidden within the walls that is looking to do harm to the woman.

Starting off a little bit slower than I would have liked, once you start seeing what is happening in the cabin and surrounding woods, the story takes some turns that you would not expect. I will admit that the caretaker really stole the show and young Leah gives you clues as to what is going to happen next. The storyline was pretty good overall, and I wish some things happened differently, but if you love foreshadowing, this is really the movie for you. With plenty of wine, a struggling writer, a Shining reference, a kid with a secret, a creepy doll, a stranger in the rain and the thought of the dead rising from the grave and just walking around at night, it’s not a bad movie and it makes you wonder about the times you cannot remember certain things and why that really is. Stay Scared.

While humanity has solved a great deal of the mysteries that have haunted our minds for thousands of years on end through science and logic and study… there are still some we are struggling to find the answers to. For instance, we still do not know what happens when we die. Is there an afterlife? Or darkness? And in that same line of thinking… if by chance we do survive, do we move on? Or stay on this plane of existence and create the odd moments that have allowed for us to believe in ghosts. Not to mention… we are still infatuated by myths and legends and are eager to know where they come from and if they are/were real... and if some of the ancient ones by chance… exist in present day.
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Because there has to be some reason why they still persist in an era of science and discovery, and the chance that we could find them with technology, only emboldens us further to discover them. But as of yet, those myths and legends still persist and the only real interaction we have with them and observations upon what it might be like to meet them… exists only in storytelling. Especially in horror. Because in that world we can examine their evil or examine how their myth relates to our modern-day struggles and sometimes… those stories can have a little fun with the possibilities, as evidenced by the next episode of Tales from the Darkside. Since ‘Djinn, No Chaser’ features an encounter with a genie in a lighthearted manner.

A feat that the story accomplishes by introducing us to a pair of newlyweds named Danny and Connie Squires, and they are working hard to figure out how to make ends meet as husband and wife when we catch up with them here. In fact, they’re so dug into what comes next for their apartment and their day, they miss the beautiful tent that seemingly appears out of nowhere. One that promises them beautiful décor for their home and well… they do indeed find something quite beautiful to take home… an actual genie’s lamp no less. But this genie is not the traditional type of genie in the slightest. In fact, he’s often angry and eager to cause trouble and the havoc he wreaks upon this couple… drives Danny into a mental health facility and Connie into despair. Proving positive that perhaps these beings of lore, aren’t something we want to meet.

Which is… a very unique twist to inject into this story. Since genie’s are often benevolent and docile and eager to serve, and usually earn their freedom for doing so. So, to meet one here that is just plain salty about his situation, leads to just plain fun. Since he spits insults out left and right just because he can, since he knows he is a mystical being that has control over this couple and that sass leads to some quirky moments. The kind that sees this couple struggle with the wrath of a being that is not happy about his standing as a genie and wants everyone to suffer because he cannot escape his lamp and really… this wild and off the wall story, really does offer up a different kind of horror story. One that is both camp and quirky and really does offer up a wonderful spin on the genie concept. But it also… manages to offer a touch of depth.
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Because in many ways, this story’s fresh take on the genie, is designed to serve as a reminder that for the most part… our obsession with myths and legends likely still exists, because we really do view them as gospel, and that perhaps they persist in their form and their mystery, because we are unwilling to let them fade or grow into something new. But if by chance… we experiment with their personas and mythology and really have a good time with it creatively, wonders could be achieved and new ideas can come to life, and that’s an interesting message to send. One that clearly no one has listened to yet and that might be because of the comedy aspect of this episode. Because it leans HARD into the jokes and really plays up every goofy moment here, complete with a cameo from Kareem Adbul-Jabbar, and all that was likely a turn off for some viewers and some folks looking for inspiration. 

But it shouldn’t be, because this is a fine reminder that horror can be silly and that it can expand into other realms with minimal fuss, and this is one that folks should definitely revisit down the line and enjoy to the fullest. Because it really does some special things, and it absolutely lightens the mood and cleanses the palate after the last two heavy episodes, and it also goes to show… just how versatile a series this can be. Because up until now, it’s been straight terror or super smart horror and it is wonderful to know that this journey is going to surprise us at every turn and offer fresh ideas as often as possible and well, now that this simple and effective story has come to an end, it is time to turn our attention to a tale that leaves us guessing and also features some big names. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.

​While some people like to steer away from the unknown, many people are drawn to it just the same. The need to learn and find out something that nobody else knows is a driving force that should never be lost, especially when you get older. Some people seem to believe that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, but that is far from the truth, as there are many more programs available to keep an elder’s mind working on overtime. It is something to think about, as we are a learning breed that needs knowledge to survive.
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Walking through the town square, the man is looking for something to fill up his time. Looking through the puzzle selection of a nearby merchant, he finds a box without an identifier of what the puzzle is. Asking the clerk what it is, the man tries to warn off his customer and urges him to by another puzzle instead. Yet the man is persistent and wants to figure out what is hiding in the box and offers the clerk much more than the puzzle is worth. Taking the money and saying goodbye to this mysterious puzzle, the clerk allows it to leave his shop once again, knowing that it will not be long until its faithful return.

Arriving home with his new purchase, the man looks at the picture of his dead wife and pours himself a drink. With something to do to eat up most of the night, the man dumps his new puzzle on the table and gets to work. As the hours fly by, the man hears his clock hit the tone of midnight and is shocked at what he is seeing before him. Trying to get his mind straight, the man washes his face as he cannot believe that the puzzle is showing him what he is doing at this exact moment in time. With one piece left, the man is hesitant, yet willing to see the final product…one with a killer end.

Talk about a fun film that showcases not only fear, but the need to know what is not known. I liked how infatuated the man became with the puzzle when he had no idea what it was, even the clerk could not stop him from making the purchase. The shock on the man’s face when he saw what the puzzle really was, well, I even felt very uncomfortable for him, and I was dying to see the final product. The tension in the house is something that I have not seen to this extent in a short before, so it does really help to separate The Jigsaw from the pack. Stay Scared.

To see ‘The Jigsaw’ click here.

High school can be a difficult time for people, especially when they do not fit the mold. We can all look back at those days and remember the groups that we hung out with, but also remember that if we were not part of the popular clique, we were branded a loser. While this is just further from the truth, if you could go back in time and tell yourself what you have learned now, it would likely be to keep up on your studies, get A’s in all of your classes, and to hell with anyone that does not like you. Being somewhat broken from the mold, I was a popular kid who did not fit in with the clique, so I chilled with the less popular groups, mainly because they were much more interesting.
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While sitting in the background at a pool party, Zeke is glued to his laptop and hasn’t a clue that all of his beautiful classmates are wondering what he is up to. Being approached by Danielle to find out what is so interesting on his computer, he starts to see that she is flirting with him pretty hard. He also notices that Oscar, Danielle’s boyfriend is watching and does not look too happy about what he is seeing. Trying to defuse the situation, Zeke gets tossed in the pool with his laptop and taking pity on the cute boy, Mattie decides to give him her laptop and the two get to talking.

Finding out that Mattie likes the paranormal, Zeke is happy to share that he is part of a ghost hunting team. Knowing of a haunted location that scared her as a child, Mattie offers to employ the group to take a look at a house that her father bought years ago and has never lived in. Seeing that this relationship could become something real, Zeke jumps at the opportunity and gives his team a call for a ghost hunt that might lead to much more. 

Making their way to the old house, Ben, Kylie, Ellie, and Cameron are wiped out from not getting any sleep the previous night but are excited to see if they find any signs of a haunting, mainly because they have not been lucky up to this point. Getting a tour of the house, they find out a little about the Seven Toe Maggie story that surrounds the house, but not much more. Getting their cameras set up, they sit and wait and find nothing but the front door being left open in the morning. Leaving Ellie alone in the house while the rest of the group get breakfast, they are shocked to hear that they might have found something in the photos taken around the house. Rushing back to find Ellie is gone, the group starts to wonder if there really is something to the haunting in the house and quickly find out that the spirit that resides in this place, is not looking to make new friends.

Following all of the horror movie rules when it comes to a haunted house movie, Ghost Witch does not really disappoint for an indie movie. I liked the group’s interaction, that is what really makes it watchable, and a couple of the haunting gags were fun. Once the story really gets going, it brings a backstory to life that could answer all of the questions you have, along with Ben becoming so obsessed with seeing a ghost that his transformation is freaky. With a haunted house, a possession, a shotgun, a tragic story, a young love, a budding relationship, and Seven Toe Maggie wanting revenge, it’s just a run of the mill haunted house movie that will leave you questioning your family’s past and what they are trying to hide from you. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 711 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One thing that can we call agree upon, is that each and every one of us, harbor a variety of unique fears about life. Some are great, some are small, but there is something out there that sends shivers down our spines and motivates us to avoid it at all costs. But of the many unique things that we fear in life, there are surprisingly a handful of them that we actually share in. For instance, we all fear death in some capacity because of the finality it represents and the harm that it causes us emotionally, and whether we like to admit it or not… we also fear growing old. But not for the reasons that one might think. Because our fear of that, isn’t related to being closer to death… since that can hit anytime. No, instead… we are terrified of aging for fascinating and unfortunate reasons.
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Because the hard truth about our modern world, is that we view age… in a supremely negative light. Granted there are exceptions to that line of thinking. As evidenced by the fact we elect government officials that are well past the retirement age, but we view those running for office as folks who are wise and eager to lead while everyone else that ages… is simply past their prime and no longer able to contribute to our world since they are collecting a pension and enjoying their twilight years. Plus, in our collective mind… they represent the end of the line, of a day when the hustle no longer matters, and we are forced to slow down and think upon a life we are sometimes too busy to enjoy, and all of those elements in a world where the grind is celebrated over anything else… make growing old a terrifying prospect indeed.

But the fact of the matter is, this is a terrible fear to harbor and a horrible way to look at old age, but it will take great efforts to change that perception in our world. But thankfully, there are people attempting to do that, through storytelling no less. For fiction is always the perfect place to offer us perspective on our world and our problems and believe it or not… there is a horror story out there that bothered to tackle ageism and how we need to view older people in our world and injecting that into the next episode of Fear the Walking Dead, allowed for ‘Ofelia’ to stand out as one of the finest episodes of season seven to date. Simply because it offered up powerful performances and was unafraid to put ageism, and mental health issues front, and center and it accomplished this feat… by having us catch up with one Daniel Salazar.

Whom was struggling with his mental health and some cognitive decline when we last saw him and unfortunately, those issues were persisting when we reunite with him in this tale. For his memory was still spotty at times and in order to help with that, Luciana was working with him on a consistent basis with tools such as flash cards to keep his mind sharp and functioning and well… it was her work to help him that led to some stunning moments and incredible twists and turns. For one card in particular, one that featured a boat… reminded Daniel immediately of the now long-gone Abigail, and his late daughter Ofelia, and in his confused state, he believed that she was alive and well and that he needed to find her and help her come home to the Pennsylvania and that, led to the first twist in question.

Because Daniel basically abandoned ship briefly to get his little girl home, and that motivated Wes and Luciana to follow after him and calm him down and center him to help him understand that Ofelia was gone. But the arrival of Arno’s troops didn’t allow for that happen and instead led to their capture and potential interrogation. For Arno wanted the guns that Morgan had recently discovered and well, while Luciana and Daniel awaited their turn in front of Arno, Mister Salazar came up with quite the plan. For there was a boat in this complex that resembled the Abigail, and come hell or high water, he was getting on that boat, and he was going to find his hija. Especially after Arno ‘confirmed’ that Ofelia was on that boat… and for a time… Luciana thought this might not be a bad idea… to help him realize the truth about Ofelia.
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But what mattered more, is that his plan to get on that boat, allowed for escape and freedom to take place for the trio. Reminding us of the fact that Daniel is still quite the wily fighter and able to see five steps ahead of most people and while Luciana’s part of the plan didn’t work… Daniel’s anger over being lied to by Arno, led to the end of a foe and a grand alliance at last with the remainder of Arno’s people. Which meant that Daniel was a true hero on this day and brokered a peace deal in a swift and impactful manner and well… seeing that play out in the manner that it did, motivated Luciana to do something quite bold. In that, she lied to Daniel and told him that she was wrong and overheard that Ofelia was instead in Strand’s Tower. In the hopes of giving her side the advantage since Daniel would be relentless and focused on bringing her home and well… that difficult and stunning call on her part… was not without consequence.

For Wes could not stand for using Daniel in this manner and of course, she may have unleashed a lion. For a focused and determined Daniel will stop at nothing to accomplish his goals and that might upend some of Morgan’s. But above all, it is the commentary present in Daniel’s journey here that matters more. Because over the course of the hour, we were presented with a raw and powerful look at ageism and mental health bias. Since everyone basically wrote Daniel off as a crazy old man, who was too senile and useless to be worth of anyone’s time and that placation and manipulation was the right way to handle him. Which are views we often share about older folks in our world and clearly it needs to stop. Because as Daniel made it clear, and to paraphrase Rubén Blades himself, getting older doesn’t meant that someone is useless.

Which is a powerful message to send, one that reminds us to not shy away from folks that are older and that we should instead engage them and help them find direction at a time in their lives when they need it most. Not to mention, they deserve our care and respect. Because without them… so many of us wouldn’t be here and well, those unexpected messages and stunning performances from Rubén, Danay Garcia and Colby Hollman… combined with the quality direction of first-time director Alycia Debnam-Carey, made this a magnificent episode. One that was both moving and powerful and engaging through and through and truly, it will be downright fascinating to see where Luciana’s decision takes Daniel and the fight in the weeks to come and if by chance… she can find redemption for choosing to use Daniel’s condition as an end to her own means. Until next time.

To learn more about this episode and how the cast responded to it, check out interview with Rubén Blades, Danay Garcia and Colby Hollman, right here.