​There are many elements that go into making a quality horror film. First and foremost, it has to be scary, and it has to unsettle its audience. But I think one particular element that has been nearly forgotten as the years have gone by is that a horror film should also suck you in when it comes to the story. Because in doing that, you’re completely invested in the events unfolding on the screen and that can sometimes add a new level of terror to the story in question, and recently, I had the opportunity to watch a horror flick that did a fine job of drawing me into the unfolding nightmare it presented in The Nursery.
 
Now in this particular tale we are introduced to a young woman named Ranae who is about to get her boring Saturday night underway. For she’s agreed to babysit for a couple that lives out in the boondocks, and this family’s newborn baby does nothing but eat and sleep. Meaning her job on this eve is to simply keep an eye on the little guy and while that seems simple enough, strange things begin to manifest themselves in the house shortly after the parents leave and it seems to be getting worse as the hours roll on. Thankfully her best friend and a few other pals swing by to keep her company and keep her mind off these strange events but soon, whatever is spooking Ranae is harassing her friends and it doesn’t take them that long to realize that something sinister is with them in the house, and it has its sights set on hurting every last one of them…
 
So, let’s get this out of the way right now, this was an incredibly enjoyable horror film for so many reasons, but the main one, relates to what I mentioned a moment ago, the fact that it draws you in, and what matters when it comes to that is how this movie grabs your attention in that…it simply drops you into the moment. By focusing heavily on the mundane act of getting to Ranae’s destination and settling in for a boring babysitter job, the spiritual activity in this house completely and utterly catches you off guard, to the point where a couple of the jump scares caught me by surprise and it only gets worse from there. Because the audience is in essence privy to a downward spiral as the spirit in question gains strength and really, that descent into terror is in fact the film’s greatest strength.
 
Because the story takes its sweet time in letting the horror play out, meaning that moment by moment the tension continues to build to its eventual crescendo and the wonder of this decision doesn’t end there. Because by taking the slow approach to the scares, the story is also able to take its time in revealing all of the details about the evil spirit in question and this, was quite frankly my favorite part of the movie simply because often times, movies in this vein tip their hand when it comes to the spirit’s origin way too early in the story, removing any shred of mystery and power surrounding said spirit and that made the moment when the truth came out as to exactly who/what was terrorizing Ranae and her friends supremely satisfying to say the least.
 
So really, when all is said and done, this is just a good old fashioned fun horror flick. One that will surprise you with its jump scares, and one that draws you in with a fascinating plot and what makes this film a rousing success in my eyes, is the fact that it’s genuine. There’s no storytelling gimmicks or elaborate sets to be found here. Just a scary story, one where the audience and the characters are put through the ringer and it is that honest approach to storytelling that allows for me to recommend this movie to all of you because it really is just a lovely little gem of a horror film.

The best horror stories out there, are the ones that lull you into a false sense of security. Because once we find ourselves comfortable, and the terror begins again, we are rattled to our core and taken for quite the emotional ride and really, making us feel slightly safe is something that Fear the Walking Dead has managed to excel at all season long. Because we’ve seen love prevail at the end of the world. We’ve seen people speak of hope and push for a better future and that has in fact, made us believe that maybe, just maybe, better days are ahead for every character on this show.
 
However, the fact that the series has focused so heavily on all of that means that we’ve been supremely overdue for some horrifying and heartbreaking moments and wouldn’t you know it? The proverbial security blanket positive storylines provided us with was finally ripped off of our shoulders, because last night’s midseason finale of the show, ‘No One’s Gone’, tore at our guts like a hungry walker and shattered our hearts with a tale that delivered devastation our way and the other day I saw a quote from Coleman Domingo, who plays Strand, stating that this particular episode was going to change the landscape of the series forever and he was one hundred percent right.
 
Because last night saw the exit of an important character, and I’m not sure how the series will go forward without them. But, while their farewell was tear jerking to say the least, it’s not quite time to discuss that just yet. Because their goodbye served a purpose, especially when one considers that the horror in this particular tale didn’t come from the waves of charred walkers that roamed the baseball stadium that people once called home, it came from the darkness within mankind’s souls because in this story, Strand, Luciana and Alicia were still hell-bent on revenge and they followed Morgan and his crew back to said stadium, to make Naomi pay for being part of the Vultures.
 
And I’ll say it now, kudos to Alycia Debnam-Carey for a performance for the ages because Alicia Clark was possessed with fury, to the point where she was ready to spill as much blood as possible to feel whole again and she was terrifying in this state and seeing her reduced to this, was heartbreaking to say the least and it seemed as though her blood lust would serve as the antithesis to everything this season has stood for and boy, was I wrong about that. Because her journey into darkness, the one she took her friend’s upon, was all part of the plan, for this episode was looking to connect everything together that’s been introduced this season and for a brief moment there, it seemed as though the darkness was coming to an end. 

​Because eventually, Alicia did stand down, and spared Naomi’s life. But it took some serious effort to make that happen and the first step in getting her to cool off, came by way of the moment where she (and we) learned that Madison and Althea crossed paths at some point. Wherein an act of kindness from Al, after getting Madison’s story, helped to inspire the Stadium’s creation and the other big reason she finally backed down, was due to the fact that Morgan was willing to die for Naomi, and he even cited Rick’s words from the season premiere since he finally came to realize once again that life is precious and that people matter and everything he’s experienced these past few weeks helped him come to that conclusion and helped him to inspire Alicia to also believe in that philosophy once again.
 
Yet, let’s be honest, all of this sounds joyful and happy, which is out of place considering that I made mention of devastation in this tale, which brings us back to that all-important character exit. Because in order for Alicia and her friends to come to such a dark place, they had to lose someone important to them since loss can break people in times of great crisis and it turns out, they did. Because at long last, this episode showed us exactly what happened to Madison Clark and sadly…she’s the character that said farewell in this tale, in inspiring and heartbreaking fashion. For when she was faced with the possibility of her family being harmed by the living dead, she made the bold choice to lead the dead into the stadium and sealed herself in with them to keep everyone safe and hopefully inspire her children to be more and be better in her absence, and a day after bearing witness to this sacrifice, I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around her goodbye.
 
For Madison was the connective tissue on this show, and as far as I am concerned, the true lead of the series and well…it’s a bold move to see her leave and honestly, I don’t know where the show is going to go from here because while the cast is stellar through and through, Kim Dickens and her portrayal of Madison were the keystone to this series and well, it really is devastating to see her exit the show, and it rattles the audience because this is perhaps the most solid reminder of the fact that no one is safe in this awful, awful world because if it can claim Madison, it can claim anyone. But all analysis aside, I really am going to miss Kim when it comes to this series, because she’s a phenomenal actor and I intend to watch anything she’s in from here on out.
 
But, I digress, because there is still a back half of the season waiting for us in August and well, I’m curious to see what Madison’s death will mean for this rag tag group of people who are desperate to find peace in the literal and psychological sense. Because without her, her daughter and surrogate family will likely be lost and the new additions to the group will have to try and support them in the midst of the end of the world and that should make for some harrowing stories in the days to come. But, when all is said and done, this was a bold and powerful midseason finale, one that quite frankly feels like a test run for Andrew Lincoln’s forthcoming exit on The Walking Dead and already, the impact of Madison’s death is hanging heavy over this series, because nothing will ever be the same on this show without her… 

It always seems as though outer space is the place where a fair majority of horror franchises go to die. Granted, that’s not one hundred percent always the case, since the Alien franchise wouldn’t work in the slightest if it wasn’t set in the stars, and Jason X was in fact, a fun final ride for Jason Voorhees but really, these films are simply the exception to the rule because once a beloved franchise heads out into the cosmos, the end is usually nigh.
 
This is likely due to the fact that the franchise in question is completely and utterly out of ideas to begin with, and at this point, space is the only place where something creative can occur. But usually, that final space-bound adventure is a mess through and through and when it comes to the Critters franchise, despite once again loading up with some surprisingly good acting talent, the saga saw the series come to a pathetic end in the depths of outer space in Critters 4.
 
But it wasn’t just the journey into the universe that killed this franchise, the fact that the story takes some strange liberties contributes to the saga’s untimely demise and hampers this movie’s ability to be good. Take Ug for instance. Because in this particular tale, he has transformed himself into an evil and greedy corporate monster, and even changed his name for that matter and this twist simply doesn’t make any damn sense. For a guy like Ug to be genuinely good in the earlier films and suddenly become evil for no apparent reason is just silly and jarring to say the least and that aspect of the story was supremely unenjoyable. 
 
However, Ug’s turn toward evil isn’t the only element that made this movie an utter failure. The production values simply aren’t there since the space station that our characters find themselves upon looks like a re-dressed office building at times and well, it really is a long drawn out sequence aboard said station and much like the last film, a lot of what happens here is downright boring and that’s a shame because this blasé plot and the shuffling about on the station completely wastes the acting talent present in this film since the always incredible Angela Bassett, and cult movie legend Brad Dourif are part of the cast.
 
If anything, this movie truly demonstrates just how out of gas the Critters franchise was at this point since nothing new is brought to the table, outside of that silly twist involving Ug and well, it’s hard to watch really. Because this franchise used to be about fun and adventure and none of that is present here. Just re-hashed ideas and borrowed concepts and while it is what it is, this franchise deserved a better finale, plain and simple. And maybe someday, someone will take up the mantle and give this series a proper farewell, but until that day…this is how the Critters franchise ends, with a whimper…

​I’ve come to learn through the years that we can more or less pinpoint precisely where our favorite film franchises went off of the proverbial rails. Because there is always in our minds, a particular movie where nothing quite felt the same, or looked the same and while we are watching that all important moment the first time around, something in the back of our brains let us know that this was likely the beginning of the end for this storied saga. 
 
It’s a shame really because in many ways, you start to say goodbye to the franchise in that moment and brace yourself for dark days ahead and oddly enough, I find that this happens more often in horror films than anywhere else since the next production team to pick up the mantle simply don’t understand what makes the franchise they’ve inherited special. Or, as sad as it may be, the series in question is simply out of fresh ideas to offer the audience and I would venture to say the latter of those issues is what brought about the beginning of the end for the Critters franchise since Critters 3 turned out to be such a disappointment.
 
Which really is a shame, because this motion picture had the potential to be something great. I mean come on, Crites turned loose in an isolated apartment building? That’s nightmare fuel and it should have made for a fascinating horror film that featured a slow burning mental breakdown of the good people that live in this place since their safety would have always come into question with the Crites lurking in the darkness, and the tension in this story should have revolved around those hungry little monsters slowly closing in on their prey.
 
But instead, we are left with a boring film through and through. Sure, there are Crites, sure they do their thing, but the moments of terror are so few and far between that the audience loses interest about half way through and not even the wonder of Charlie, who has always served as the hero and connective tissue of this story cannot save it from its own mistakes and its slow script and well, as you watch this one, you realize something has gone terribly wrong with the franchise because all of the magic of the first two films is simply nowhere to be found.
 
If anything, the only real awesome part about this film, is that it features the acting debut of someone you may or may not have heard of in Hollywood, some kid named Leonardo DiCaprio and well, Leo’s talent shines in this one since he is an acting machine but really that’s it. That’s the only highlight to talk about when it comes to this flick and that’s unfortunate and really, I think the fact that the powers that be wanted to make this a brooding horror film when the series has always had a touch of levity in it was the grand mistake here. When all is said and done however, if you’re a big time Leo fan, then definitely check this one out, otherwise, avoid it at all costs and watch the first two films instead…

It really is quite the interesting time for the horror film industry. Because at this particular juncture, a genre that once took every risk imaginable storytelling wise is now content to follow Hollywood’s lead and play it safe as often as possible. Which is why we’ve seen such a flood of remakes and sequels and familiar stories from the genre hit the market because those are in fact, safe bets. They’ll make studios plenty of money, they’ll satisfy the everyday fans and sadly, this glut of mediocre films has left this writer in a salty place.
 
Because for some time now, I’ve been desperate to find a horror film in theaters that leaves me uncomfortable and/or terrified when the lights go low, and few of them have stayed with me long after they’ve ended and while there have been exceptions to the new norm here and there, they’re so far and few between that I’ve resigned myself to watching horror films that are merely a shell of the wonders we used to witness on the big screen. And this is why, when I see advertising for a horror film that makes the claim that this new film will be on par with a classic, I’m instantly skeptical that said movie can live up to such a claim and it’s why I went into Hereditary with low expectations.
 
After all, for weeks now I’ve heard about how it is ‘The Exorcist of the 21st Century’ and well, I hate to say it, but after having watched the film, it’s definitely not that in the slightest. Instead, Hereditary is everything that I’ve been hoping for when it comes to this genre and more because holy cow, this really is a damn good horror film, one that I felt was more on par with films like The Shining and Rosemary’s Baby and it has plenty to offer the audience by way of a fresh and original storyline that finds new ways to disturb and unsettle us and well, when all is said and done, this is a film that has in fact stayed with me for hours on end since I watched it since my brain has been focused upon picking apart the many layers that this movie has to offer. 

​For this is in fact, ‘a thinkin’ man’s’ horror film for lack of a better phrase because quite frankly, it toys with the audience. Because by injecting a heavy dose of real world concepts in this film, like the power of loss and grief and how they break people, and pairing it with the possibility that some of the characters may be suffering from mental illness, one has to wonder as this movie unfolds as to whether or not we are bearing witness to an utter mental breakdown filled with hallucinations and questionable acts, or if these horrible events are indeed playing out in real time and the ambiguity that this story presents us with when it comes to all of that is what sparks discussion and wonder.
 
But, all of that aside, make no mistake about it, this is a scary and chilling film, one that has something for every horror fan out there. If you’re wanting a little blood and guts, you’ll find it. If you’re a fan of the supernatural, that’s present here too, and I also love the fact that from an aesthetic standpoint, the movie has a genuine claustrophobic feel thanks to its magnificent camera work, something that is so impactful that scenes that are filmed outdoors, still make you feel as though the walls are closing in. But most importantly, the scares work, and you’re going to feel uncomfortable when watching this film, to the point where you’re squirming in your seat and that, in and of itself makes the movie a rousing success.
 
However, none of this works without some quality performances and thankfully, you’ll find that here as well, and while the entire cast delivers when they’re on the screen, Ann Dowd and Toni Collette deserve a shout out here because their work elevates this film and Toni really is at her finest here. If anything, Hereditary is an absolute breath of fresh air for the horror industry, since it serves as a fine reminder that it is still okay for horror films to let loose and take chances with their storylines and I hope we start to see more films like this in the years to follow and whether or not you’re a fan of the genre, I highly recommend that you go out and see this movie. In part to send a message to the industry that you want more films like this, but more importantly because this movie is downright brilliant, and it is undoubtedly going to scare you. 

​It’s no secret that I’ve always been resistant and skeptical when it comes to sequels, simply because, I’m big on the idea that it is possible to tell a relatively flawless story in a single two-hour run, the kind that doesn’t require any further exposition. But truth be told, my weakness when it comes to that particular mantra is the horror genre simply because, it is the only genre in film that can get away with continuing the story and provide us with something new and exciting in doing so.
 
Think about it for a moment. If it weren’t for horror sequels, we wouldn’t have learned more about Freddy’s Kruger’s past. Nor would we have enjoyed the absolute wonder of Dawn of the Dead and while not every single horror sequel out there is a winner, they’re usually an earnest attempt to give the audience more of what they love while providing something new from their respective universe to delight the imagination and seeing as to how I took the time to watch Critters the other day, it was only right to also revisit the magnificent first sequel in this series, Critters 2: The Main Course.
 
Now the sole reason I was excited to watch this particular sequel when it first came out, was due to the fact that we really didn’t get enough of the Crites when it came to the first film. Their appearance was handled in a pseudo slow burn fashion and there was only a handful of them and well, my imagination bristled at the possibility at what would happen if there were more of them and really, the movie definitely delivers when it comes to that because there are Crites everywhere and they wreak havoc in epic fashion, in fact, my favorite scene involving them is when that giant Critter Ball rolls through Grover’s Bend and the fun doesn’t end there.
 
In fact, that’s really what makes this sequel so magnificent, the fact that it is fun through and through and it knows how properly mix the gore and the scares with a touch of comedy to lighten things up and really, the best example of this comes by way of the Hungry Heifer scene where our intrepid bounty hunters come face to face with the infamous Crites because it’s an utter fiesta when it comes to splatter and gags and aside from that, I’m also a big fan of the fact that this movie features an air of adventure as well, adding a thrill to it that you rarely find in horror films. 
 
In the end however, this is just a gem of a sequel, you’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you’ll hit rewind on a few parts because of how awesome the effects turn out to be in certain scenes and really, if you haven’t seen this one yet you totally should because it’s a damn good time. And as an added bonus, one cannot forget that this movie features the return of some of the most beloved characters from the first film, allowing for this to feel like a reunion as well and I guess if there’s anything negative when it comes to this film, it’s the sheer fact that this would be the last time we would watch a Critters flick with a smile on our faces because what was to follow when it comes to this franchise, was a fascinating and unsettling change in tone and design…

The fact of the matter is, the 1980’s were a magical time for horror films. After all, new ground was constantly being broken in the special effects industry, and home video helped breathe new life into the genre and this perfect storm of creativity allowed for absolute wonders to come to life as effects artists pushed the envelope with their work as they created waves upon waves of new creatures and monsters.

It seemed everywhere you turned in either theaters or your local video store there was something new and exciting waiting for you on the small or silver screen and it really was the first time you had ever seen anything that unique in horror films. It was simply a wonderful time for the imagination and I recently re-watched one of those fresh and original films the other day, Critters. 

They are dangerous eating machines, that will devour anything in their path. They are cunning, relentless and known throughout the galaxy for the threat they pose. They are the Crites, and, they have come to Earth. And their arrival means that this night will be one of total terror for the Brown family as the Crites tear through their farm. Now survival and hope are the only things on this family’s mind, and if they can hold out long enough, a pair of intergalactic bounty hunters that have come for the Crites may be able to save them from becoming the next meal for these voracious monsters… 

Yes, that is the plot ladies and gentlemen because Critters is a different kind of horror/sci fi film. It's one-part monster mash with hints of Alien thrown in and it makes for a ton of fun. It's silly yes, it's not exactly terrifying, but this is a motion picture that is entertaining enough that you won't be able to stop watching.
 
Obviously, the biggest draw for this film are the special effects, with the Crites taking the center stage. They are animatronic wonders with their glowing red eyes and mouths filled with teeth and they are a blast to watch on screen as they terrorize the poor Brown family. But it doesn't end there, our two bounty hunters have some pretty cool effects moments themselves, especially when the character Ug transforms from faceless void to human being in the goriest of fashion.  

This is truly a popcorn horror flick. You'll find no deep meaning here, no social commentary, just a good old-fashioned monster flick that will have you shoveling handful after handful of Orville Redenbacher brand popcorn into your mouth as you wait for the next awesome gory effect or awesome moment to fall into your lap. Catch this one if you haven't yet, it's an absolute blast.  

While Fear the Walking Dead has done a phenomenal job this season of outright reinventing the series with a newfound focus on examining the human condition by way of tales that have looked at the power of love and hope and what it means to be a better human being in a time of crisis, one cannot forget that this is in fact a horror story. One that just so happens to feature a world filled to the brim with walking corpses that eat human beings and one that has in many ways, fundamentally changed some people for the worse, something that last night’s episode of the show, ‘The Wrong Side of Where You Are Now’, was happy to remind us of.
 
Which quite frankly, was a touch surprising when one considers just how much focus the series has put upon the bright side of things at the end the world. But, by leaving the last episode on the cusp of a gunfight, and with John Dorie wounded, now seemed like a good a time as any to delve into the darkness and explore what it is that drives men to do the evil that they do, and enjoy a refresher course on how the living dead remain quite the threat in this world and well, it kicked off this bleak journey by allowing for the gunfight that we all hoped Alicia, Strand and Luciana would step away from, to get underway.
 
In fact, this particular gun battle was a tough one to watch because it showed us how anger can transform us since the same trio I made mention of a moment ago were consumed with revenge, and the look in their eyes when it came to their idea of how to set things right was downright frightening and what’s equally more terrifying…is the sheer fact that this group of good people…put down a fair majority of the Vultures, including Mel and well, I’m a touch worried now as to whether or not the original group has lost their way but before we could delve too deeply into that matter, it was important to take a little time to explore a moment that apparently helped to stoke their burning anger.
 
Because at long last, we learned exactly what brought about the end of the baseball stadium, and it turns out that when faced the prospect of having to fend for themselves, the Vultures were split on what to do next, since Mel wanted the group to move on to their next target, while Ennis wanted the group to take everything in the stadium by force and somewhere in the midst of that fight, Mel found himself injured when his bus careened off the road, leading to a tough decision for Madison when Charlie asked for their help in healing him, in that, do they take him in and provide care, or leave him to fend for himself?

​Madison of course, chose the first option, a decision that proved controversial at first, but it’s a good thing that she did. Because once Mel regained consciousness, he warned everyone of Ennis’ plan to bring down the stadium in his own special way and as everyone worked to reinforce the place as a last ditch effort to keep it going, the story returned to the exploration of what makes us do bad things since fear came into play for Madison, and she made the call to exile Mel back into the world to quell that fear and well, what I truly found fascinating about all of this in general, was the sheer fact that this story offered no easy answer as to why sometimes people do bad or malicious things.
 
Because let’s be honest, kicking Mel out wasn’t like the new Madison in the slightest. She’s preached constantly about how everyone deserves a second chance, but fear can cloud our minds and anger can push us to do things we may later regret and really, what we were privy to in this tale were those kinds of knee jerk moments that simply don’t make sense to us later on and I appreciate the fact that the series didn’t offer us a black and white answer and stayed firmly in the grey and I also liked that the kids and Strand tried to show Madison that the high road is the way to go by making the attempt to bring Mel back to the stadium for treatment but alas, it was too little, too late, since this part of the story…is where the dead came into play.
 
In fact, the return of the living dead ended up being a chillingly unique twist to the story since Ennis in essence, weaponized the dead, since the Vultures covered the dead in oil and lit a fire near the stadium so that these walking abominations would catch fire and render any reinforced wall useless and well, this segment of the story was in fact…downright terrifying. Because it’s been roughly a full season since we’ve seen a herd this big on screen and it was uncomfortable to see this many walkers in one place again and it’s obvious now, this herd ruined Madison’s dream of safety and to make matters worse, the charred remnant of this waking nightmare is still at the stadium, meaning that life is going to get a whole lot more difficult for Morgan and his group, since they’ve returned there at Naomi’s request to make use of the infirmary in the hopes of saving John Dorie’s life. 
 
If anything, perhaps the best word to describe this episode is, chaotic, simply due to the fact that everything fell to pieces in this tale and considering the fact that Alicia, Strand and Luciana know where Naomi is headed, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’re planning to finish their quest for revenge and it would seem at this point that the first half of season four is headed to quite the crossroads, wherein the original group will either choose redemption and the high road, or embrace the darkness and become no better than the Vultures and at this point, I haven’t a clue as to which path they are going to take. Either way, it’s all going to make for a powerful midseason finale. Until next time.