It is difficult to stay off of the grid these days with all of the technology designed to find people. Even if you leave all of your devices at home, there still seems to be a way that someone will find you if they are looking hard enough. With cameras all over the place, including the little ones on people’s cell phones, if you are around a populated area, there is no escaping it. The only way to truly get off of the grid it seems is to move to a sparsely populated area with no electricity and running water and depend on nature to take care of you, at least that is what most people that are trying to get away have done and they've managed to get by pretty well to this point.

Vincent Sforza has a knack for finding people that don’t seem to want to be found. Working at Systems Operations, he is excited about his next task of finding people that were included in drug trials that are about to get a massive payout. Needing to find everyone on his list by the end of the week does not seem like that difficult a task for Vincent, but when a file for Charlene McGee gets put back on his desk for the third time, he wants to know why she keeps appearing. After coming to the conclusion that she has passed away in a massive fire when her parents were killed, Vincent turns his attention to someone that he knows is still living, but little does he know that the two are related in a strange way.

Following his leads for James Richardson, Vincent is able to get his hands on some more recently declassified documents that may give him an address for the old man. Searching through the cryptic files, Vincent comes across an old tape that will give him more questions than answers. Turning to his brother for help, Vincent sees what happened during the Lot 6 drug trials back in 1979. Watching as patients go crazy, Vincent’s brother is disturbed with the footage, but the two do not know what is really happening in the background. Keeping his focus on patient records, Vincent is able to find the name of the doctor who administered the trials, but while he is deceased, Vincent talks to his widow. With full access to all of the doctor’s files, Vincent gets a visit from a young woman who he recently bumped into at the library who calls herself Tommie. Taking an instant liking to the young woman, Vincent is ready to share things he has found, but little does he know that he has another person off of his list.

​Charlene 'Charlie' McGee has been on the run since her parents were killed in a raid on their home. Being tested on for years by John Rainbird, she is just trying to keep a low profile and not be found again. Running seems to be the best answer since the testing conditions are less than suitable for anyone and those wanting to see her power in full effect will be disappointed since she made the promise to her father that she wouldn’t use it again. But John Rainbird is looking for his little Charlie once again and when Vincent finds out that the young woman, he has fallen for is not Tommie, but Charlie, he is ready to continue with his job and make sure that she gets her payout. Setting up a meeting for Charlie to meet with the staff, Vincent wants to be there as well to make sure that she is taken care of, but he does not fully understand the situation that he is walking into.

As John has been looking for Charlie for many years, he has continued with his experiments and has his new gang of kids at his beckoned call. Each one of the boys have taken the drug and developed a power special to himself and while not understanding what they are going to be used for, they will do anything for John since he is their father figure. With John’s new plan, Radiant Thunder getting ready to take off, he needs all of the previous experiments taken care of so no one will be able to stop him. Finding out that all of the people that he has tracked down are now dead, Vincent is starting to put the pieces together and knows that he and his family are in trouble but is mostly concerned with Charlie’s wellbeing and wants to help. Little does Vincent know that Charlie can take care of herself and the tables may be turning when it comes to her returning to the clinic to be studied once again.

In many ways, this really feels like a reboot versus a sequel as the storyline has changed from the movie that came out almost twenty years earlier. As Charlie is walking the streets and trying to stay safe, she seems to have lost control of her fire-starting powers, especially after being intimate with someone, but when the time comes to fight, she has complete control. As half of the movie seems to be flashbacks to set up what is currently happening in the story, it could have been its own story altogether, and I wish it had been since it would have made the viewing experience better. The cast was amazing for only being headed up by two headliners, since everyone else delivered very well and I could feel the story heating up as soon as Charlie was discovered. I liked the relationship growth between Charlie and Vincent, as it started out slow, they both ended up with the upmost respect and maybe a little bit of love for each other.  But John Rainbird and his plans to release his new class of talented children on the world, while erasing his old mistakes really stole the show.  Not a bad movie in any way, just wish it was sold a little bit differently since Stephen King movies are always the best when it comes to TV movies.  ​

Making new friends is difficult for many people since they do not know who they can trust. There are the lucky few that are able to gain this trust at the drop of a dime and while they have the ability to make new friends with ease, they may not always be the ones you can depend on. You need to look deeper into the friendships with these people since they may not always be there when you need them the most, not because they do not want to be, but because they have so many others that depend on them as well. Trying to make sure that the friendship is genuine, you may have to test the boundaries to make sure they will be there for you in your time of need.

After being part of an experiment, Andy and Vicky go off to live their lives as a family and having a daughter Charlie, they could not be happier. But there is a fear in the house as they continue to get phone calls making sure that they are still around and nothing has changed. Both had positive results from the experiment, while Vicky can read peoples thoughts, Andy gets the power of suggestion and Charlie was born with the power to start fires with her mind. Wanting to train their daughter how to control this power, Andy and Vicky test her every day, but sometimes things get out of hand when Charlie loses her temper. Life seems good, but when Andy gets home from work one day and finds the men from The Shop have killed his wife and are trying to kidnap his daughter, all bets are off.

Taking to the road to find a safe place to hunker down, Andy and Charlie are alone and do not know who they can trust besides themselves. Without any more money and items to sell or trade, the two are forced to steal some money to make ends meet. While it is not in their nature, Andy knows that it must be done so the people from The Shop cannot get their hands on his daughter and conduct their awful tests as he knows they will. While hitchhiking, the two are picked up by Irv Manders who offers them a nice meal, but when the men from The Shop find out their location, they intervene and discover the power Charlie possesses. Being able to escape once again, Charlie promises herself and her father that she will never use her powers again, but what she does not know is that there is another hunter looking for them and this one always gets his man.

Being drugged, Charlie and Andy find themselves in The Shop, but are not allowed to see one another. As Captain Hollister wants to see how both of his new subject's powers work, he is dedicated to making their lives worth living until the next step is taken. With help from The Shop's assassin John Rainbird, Charlie is befriended by the nice orderly John who takes a kind liking to the little girl. Knowing what must be done, John convinces Charlie to show off her gifts and if she does it enough, she will be able to see her father again. While her powers continue to grow, Charlie gets fed up with the lies that the people in The Shop are telling her and demands that she get to see her father now. But her threats are not enough to convince the group to make this happen, but little do they know that while Andy appears to be a good patient, he is working on a way to break the two out and close down The Shop forever.

I keep seeing comparisons between Firestarter and Stranger Things, and you know what, they are pretty similar, but in a good way. Since Stranger Things is a tribute to everything 80’s, Firestarter is the 80’s. With more of the father/daughter dynamic, it houses a strong storyline that shows how far each of them will go when the going gets tough. Not having a mother has weighted heavily on Charlie and you can see it in her eyes when meeting Irv’s wife. Only wanting to keep his daughter safe from all of the testing, Andy has his power honed in and is able to escape the men from The Shop several times, but when the numbers become greater, he lets his daughter take the reins and show what she can really do. What I liked most about this story was the trust that Andy and Charlie had with each other and it never ended, even when they were separated. I would have liked to have seen a little bit more about Charlie and her gifts since we all know she is the Firestarter, but she has other powers that are referenced in the movie, that are never truly shown. Well, it might happen in the sequel, you never know.

Sometimes doing the right thing is not always the best thing for everyone involved. There can be instances where the event needs to play itself out before any type of intervention takes place. Although most people would not stand to see anyone suffer for no reason, if you overstep your bounds, it may become worse for you and everyone else involved. It is a fine line and I will admit that I am not one for waiting in any situation, but the times that I have, it has seemed to work out for the best.

The President of the United States is heading back to Washington, D.C., but Air Force One has taken a different route back to the White House. Flying over the Bermuda Triangle, a storm has hit making it next to impossible to continue the flight. When all seems to be lost, the secret service has loaded the president into his escape pod with a gun and good intentions. As Air Force One goes down, they are able to send out a mayday call to the local naval fleet to recover the Commander-in-chief, but time is limited.

On the surface, Admiral Hansen has received the call and is gathering her best extraction team to save POTUS. Chief Oliver is still on the top of her list as the best, even though he has been known to disobey orders. Needing to get the job done, Hansen puts her feelings aside and assigns Oliver to the task of saving the president before time runs out. Needing to get into the water sooner than later, the fleet does not have a submarine close enough to make the dive in time, but with an experimental rig on the ship, Hansen allows the rescue party to give it a whirl, but it will need an escort to the depths of the ocean.

​Before the submarines are able to make it to the recovery point, large worm like creatures rise from under the ships and start attacking. Thinking that they are single entities, the sea men try to take them all out before their ships get damaged, but when seeing all of the creatures pull back when one is injured, leads to a different theory as to what is attacking them altogether. As the attack is crippling the fleet, Chief Oliver takes control of his mission and ignores all orders going forward, heading to the bottom of the ocean to rescue the president. But when Oliver and his rescue team get further into the depths of the ocean, their readings become skewed and they find that there is something far stranger sitting on the bottom of the ocean that they have ever seen before.

Bermuda Tentacles follows a rescue party lead by Chief Oliver, who have been tasked to save the President of the United States. With the search area being around the Bermuda Triangle, everyone is a bit on edge, but when never before documented sea creatures start attacking the fleet, their focus has to change to survival. Chief Oliver knows that time is of the essence and will not wait for an escort to the bottom of the sea to retrieve the president in an experimental submarine. Although the new sub is faster and more maneuverable, it has very limited armor and will not withstand any hits on the hull. As the rescue party reaches the depths of the mysterious area, their instruments start going funky and they think there is an error, but what they find is that there is something on the bottom of the ocean that is larger and alien in nature. Needing to rescue the president is their first priority, but escaping with their own lives comes in a close second as they are searching through an alien ship of some sort that has been hidden from everyone for hundreds of years.

I like the theory behind the Bermuda Triangle as no one has yet been able to explain what is really happening there. When the President is made aware of the alien threat, it is a great look at what someone with power could really do to protect the wellbeing of the nation, along with the world. I did enjoy the interaction between Chief Oliver and Admiral Hansen during the movie, as Oliver does not seem to listen to a word that his commanding officer says, but once the reason is given, you might see where he is coming from. This is just a fun movie as you get to see how the navy would respond to a powerful threat that they were never aware of. Stay Scared.

​Every parent wants the best for their child. That’s why some parents work hard to keep their kids in a good school, or they get them the coolest toys out there, or they just let them eat whatever they want to. It simply does not matter, as parents will bend over backwards for their children at all costs to make sure that they are happy and able to grow into the people that will change the world.

Sarah and Josh are looking to change their lifestyle a little bit. Sarah is still in recovery from a traffic accident and that has made her want to live every moment of her life to the fullest. She wants to start a family with her husband, but Josh has been slowly pushing back on the idea as there is plenty of monetary issues that they will have to work out first. Although Sarah agrees that the point is valid, she has been given a second chance and does not want to squander it for any reason.

A new neighbor has moved in across the street, Dale, and he seems to be a very awkward young man. Sarah and Josh introduce themselves and bring him cookies and Dale seems very happy to have them as a neighbor. Wanting to impress Sarah, Dale tries to catch her eye whenever he gets the chance. Working at the local super market, Dale also finds a way to forge a friendship with the woman, but his motives seem to be a little bit more wanting than that. Sarah also starts having problems with her head, thinking it was from the accident, she does not give it too much thought. Talking to her doctor and friend Leslie, she discovers that she is having night terrors, and although it is not dangerous, she could hurt herself in the middle of the night. 
 
Waking up with no memories of what has been done and not being able to remember any of her dreams that she wakes of violently from, she needs to find a way to end them. Discovering she is pregnant, she tells Josh the good news, but he has a secret of his own, he is sterile. Josh leaves the house, only adding to the stress she is feeling. Without someone to watch over her in the empty home, Sarah sets up cameras to observe what she does when suffering from her night terrors, but when the tape is reviewed, something much darker comes to light since she discovers that Dale is making his way into the house every night and doing something much more sinister than anyone could have expected.

This movie caught me by surprise. I had no idea what to expect from the description that was given about it, but I think that is what impressed me the most. With a storyline that is too long to discuss in one sitting and a cast that played their roles to perfection, this movie will be sticking in my head for a couple more days. I liked how Dale never looked comfortable around anyone, but finds a way to make people like him, even though it is not in the way he desires. I really liked how Sarah was forced to deal with her night terrors every night and trying to figure out what was wrong with her as strange things started happening to her body that she could not explain. This movie left me entertained and happy that I watched it, as I was left feeling, satisfied by how it played out. Stay Scared.

​Sometimes everyone needs a way to find their muse once again. For some people it is easy, since they have that special place they can always go, and their ideas start flowing once again. But for others, they have to go further and further away from their home to find any sort of inspiration. There is nothing wrong with this, it just shows how different people are able to find their ideas and as each person has their own methods, it just makes the final product that much more special.

Scott and Penny have found a place away from the real world to start over again. Scott is trying to make a documentary film but has not been able to find inspiration while in the city. Moving to a secluded location surrounded by nothing but nature seems to give him a new outlook. Penny is happy that her love has found something new to believe in, however she has left her regular life behind to be with him and although she loves him, it is a sore point in the relationship.

After fifty days in, Scott is losing his motivation on filming. Penny notices this but is afraid of starting a fight over it once again, since Scott seems to be moving further and further away from her. After an unknown person steals his backpack with the keys to the car, Scott is reinvigorated to start filming again, just to prove a lesson to the thief. Locating a house not too far away from where they are staying, they decide to investigate and find the backpack that was stolen. Upon entering the house, they find that it looks lived in, but once locating a cellar, their tune starts to change.

With scarecrows made out of sticks and bones hanging all over the basement, Penny is starting to think she knows where they are. After finding the backpack, the couple escapes the house unnoticed, but find another display closer to their home. Taking pictures of the strange work of art, Penny finds out that it was done by the famed artist back in the late seventies, Mr. Jones. Knowing that there is a story behind this, Scott picks up his camera and travels around the country, interviewing people that have received these pieces of art from the artist, but finds out that not everybody is happy being associated with it. Returning to Penny, Scott is not ready for the realization of what has happened in his absence. Knowing that he has stolen something from the house of the artist, Scott is put in a place where reality meets nightmares and there is no chance of escaping.

This is one of those movies that will keep you guessing at every turn. Not knowing who Mr. Jones really is or why he did what he did in the past by picking out certain people to receive his art, it keeps your mind working. Keeping the artist in the background, while also keeping him front and center in the story is a great way to keep the audience glued to the screen and that is what this movie did. I enjoyed the storyline of the film, but my main focus was on Mr. Jones’ story as I wanted to know more than what could or would be given. With genuine scares, along with dreams fading into reality, this is a good horror movie to get into. Stay Scared.

​Starting your life over by taking the next step is never a bad thing. When your friends or family members decide to get married, we imagine them disappearing from our lives, but most of the time, that is hardly the case. If you have a strong relationship with them, they will always be a part of your life and although it may take away most of the time that you spend together, they will always be there for you when you need them.

Marcus is moving up in the world as he has found the love of his life in a higher class family than he grew up in. As he never had much to do with his family when growing up, he could only depend on his closest friends and brother and that is who he decided to invite to his wedding, and he absolutely needs them there on his special day. For without them, he would not be the man he is and wants to make sure they know that first hand.

As a special treat to Marcus, his best friends Dobbs, Penny and his brother Josh have decided to give him a bachelor party that he will never forget. Sailing north to a remote island, they have asked for a place where nobody else has ever been. As they approach this non charted island, they see an old building on the side, but after much discussion with the captain of the boat, they find out it has been abandoned for some time. Not thinking too much about it after that, the group of childhood friends head ashore and start their time away with a bang. But when Penny and Josh go swimming before the party begins, Penny sees dead fish surrounding the local reef and that has made her weary about staying on the island.

On the other side of the island, there is something more happening than they bargained for. As Dr. Edwards is conducting research on the new flesh-eating virus that has been popping up in remote locations around the world. Finding the lone survivor from the last outbreak, he has brought Porter to his facility to run tests on him since he seems to be immune to the strain. But Porter wants nothing to do with the tests and just wants to get home to see his wife and comes up with a plan of escaping the prison he is being held in. Without any help from the outside world, he is able to get the facility into lock down status and that is when his fun starts.

This is one of those movies that you watch and wonder, what if. It keeps you wondering who is trying to help who as an innocent man is being held against his will while being tested on. Although he seems to be immune to the virus that is killing people faster than can be counted, he wants no part in helping which makes you wonder why he is being so selfish, but once you get to know him, you can formulate your own reasons. The bachelor party goers do not have it any better as they are not able to leave the island for help and also, I love how their backstories come into play, making you wonder why nothing has ever been said before since they are all great friends. This movie has sucked me in with all of the character conflicts that take place, a rendition of Three Blind Mice and girl fight that will make you cringe. Stay Scared.

It really is quite the special time for zombie fans everywhere. Because these magnificently disgusting creatures are finally enjoying their day in the pop culture sun after spending decades in darkness since the living dead are everywhere in this day and age. They’re a television juggernaut, since The Walking Dead is still the biggest horror T.V. show out there, and their kind are everywhere in the gaming world as new digital adventures through the land of the dead keep popping up on PC and Console and most importantly, it seems as though an endless stream of motion pictures involving walking corpses are finding their way to theaters or digital release.
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But, while the dead continue to dominate in just about every single way imaginable, there has been of course, some level of backlash. Some believe the genre has flat out reached its peak saturation point, and that it’s all downhill from here for these flesh eating monsters, and there are others who feel that the genre is out of ideas and well, I’m one that disagrees with all of that for several reasons. For I am of the belief that the living dead will forever be the perfect carrier for social commentary since they can be anything we want them to on screen, and all it takes is one solid story involving the dead to revive interest in what they can do storytelling wise, and also because, there are still some incredible zombie films to be found out there on the market, the kind that amaze and impress with their originality and this past weekend I was able to enjoy a film that meets that criteria in The Dead Don’t Die.

Now, in this particular film, we are transported to the tiny little town of Centerville, where, nothing bad seems to happen. In fact, the most drama this town ever sees is when a chicken goes missing from the local farm. But thanks to mankind’s need to chase energy, by fracking the polar icecaps, life in Centerville is about to get far more interesting. For this act is throwing the earth off its rotation and this unnatural change to the planet’s status quo, is prompting the unexpected revival of the dead and now, it will be up to the local Sheriff, Cliff Robertson, and his deputies, Officers Ronnie Peterson and Mindy Morrison, to save this town from the hordes of corpses that are rising from the grave…

So, if that sounds like a fairly by the numbers setup for a movie involving the living dead, you’re absolutely right and there’s good reason for that. Because The Dead Don’t Die is in essence, a horror comedy and the simpler the setup, the better, so that way the movie can get right down to the jokes. But that revelation of course raises quite the important question in that, is this movie funny in the slightest? And the answer to that question, is a resounding yes. Because the jokes really do keep you laughing in this tale, and they all work on screen and that’s thanks in large part to the fact that the gags here are handled in intelligent fashion, allowing for some supremely thoughtful and highbrow humor to take place and the wonder of this motion picture doesn’t end with its elaborate gags and deadpan cracks.

Because it’s inherently clear that Writer/Director Jim Jarmusch wanted to create something supremely special and unique here and he has, because this movie really does have a special feel and vibe to it, especially when one considers the fact that Jarmusch injects a surprising amount of commentary into this film. For this story tackles the ideological divide that America is currently going through in cheeky fashion, alongside an examination of more philosophical concepts such as consumerism, and how death comes for us all. Yet what’s truly impressive about all of this, is that the commentary never overtakes the comedy, because just when seems as though the movie is diving a little too far into a particular topic, the laughs return and the story pivots and well, that’s quite the stroke of genius when all is said and done.  

Yet, while those two elements alone would have carried this movie in their own right, it’s the all-star cast here that adds another layer to this experience. Because there are quite a few, genuine A-listers in this film, and while Bill Murray and Adam Driver steal the show with their deadpan comedy skills, everyone in this cast brings something magnificent to the table. If anything, this movie is just downright brilliant, and it’s one that I highly recommend because it is just so unique and so refreshing, but I will warn, that if you’re not a fan of arthouse style flicks, this may not be one that you truly enjoy. But if you’re all about zombies, and want a good and hearty laugh, then check this one out, because it really is a breath of fresh air and it does a fine job of reminding us that there’s plenty of life left in a genre that seemingly cannot die.   

​Trying to find a new type of life form is something that people have been trying to do since the beginning of science. Not ever believing that we are all alone on this planet, much less another one, the hunt is always strong for the scientific community. Being able to prove that there might be more to our brief history in the universe can make or break a scientist’s career, but no matter the obstacles, they will never give up.

It is the last day of a six month mission to Mars and the crew is at each other’s throats. Wanting to be relieved sooner than later and return home safely is the only thing on their minds, with the exception of crew member Kim, who believes the time they’ve spent on Mars is not long enough. While putting up with delays in her research on the red planet, Kim is still working vigorously to prove that there has been life on the dead planet. But as time keeps ticking away, she is forced to abandon her studies and prepare for the voyage home.  

As the months have passed on Mars, everything in their main living quarters has been breaking more frequently. As Vincent is the only handy man that is able to fix anything, the group has learned to depend on his know how to keep them alive during their expedition, but he is battling a problem that runs deeper than what the planet can throw at him. Blaming himself for the loss of a crew member while traveling to Mars, Vincent is having a hard time dealing with confined areas, along with any darkness that falls around him. Trying to keep himself sane for the sake of the crew, he has hidden this, but his memories are coming back to haunt him much more frequently.  

One scientist is bound and determined to get back to his site as one of his sensors has gone off line. Being given permission to fix it before the impending trip back home, he finds strange readings from a sample just pulled up from under the surface, but before being able to relay the information, a cavern opens underneath his feet, pulling him into the core of the planet. As the rescue attempt comes up empty since his body could not be located under the crust of the old planet, a new discovery has been made, mold growing on rocks underneath the surface. As life has finally been discovered on the planet, the group is happy, but missing two of their own makes it difficult to celebrate. That is until the missing crew members come back to the station on foot, and reveal that they are infected by something that wants to keep the planet's secret hidden.

An intriguing theory on life from other worlds, as many scientists have theorized that alien life could be no more than a virus. Without really knowing what an alien looks like, it seems like this would be the next great alternative, since it would be easier to survive underneath a frozen surface as a mold than being a smaller creature with an oddly shaped head. And introducing an infection that could kill the host, but not allow them to die is another way to keep its secrets safe, since it takes control of all of the motor function of its victims. Being trapped on a distant planet is one thing but having something coming after you that you do not know how to kill is something completely different. Stay Scared.

Growing up, we see the world through rose colored glasses, thanks to our inexperience and innocence, and this allows for us to believe that our world is a place full of wonder, where bad things only happen from time to time. And we also see people as inherently pure and good, especially our parents since we believe they are magnificent heroes that can do no wrong, and the pedestal we put our parents upon, combined with this wonderful view of the world sends our spirits soaring and helps us conclude that we can do anything once we reach adulthood because the world is tolerant place, full of wonder and joy. But eventually, all of those notions come crashing down around us. For there comes a day, where the reality of the world is revealed to all of us. Where we see that it can be a harsh and angry place, one where chaos reigns and where some people are in it for themselves, and that series of revelations are only the beginning when it comes to this path of dark discovery.
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Because once we see the selfishness that people exhibit, we begin to examine them closer, and we come to learn that mankind is capable of great cruelty and that extends to the people we hold in high regard. This is when we see our parents in different light, since their flaws are suddenly on display and it is also when we discover that certain friends, we thought were admirable people, are instead quite the opposite and this, can be quite the soul crushing day. For seeing the world in this light robs one of hope, but…not all is lost when it comes to such discovery. Because we also come to learn that there are people out there who work hard to try and make the world a better place and make our childhood views a reality, and well, all of this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply due to the fact that this dark day of discovery, just so happened to serve as the focal theme for last night’s episode of NOS4A2.

For ‘The House of Sleep’ saw Vic finally make a choice when it comes to her destiny, and she chose to embrace it, thanks to Manx’s kidnapping of young Haley, and she simply wasn’t going to stand for that, and if she could indeed use her gifts to recuse an innocent child, then there was no time to waste. But sadly, her immediate push to find young Haley, is what led to the revelations in question. For the Shorter Way brought her to Bing’s house, which simply didn’t make any sense to her. After all, how could sweet, innocent Bing be potentially in the wrong here since he’s a guy who seemingly wants nothing more than to go through life quietly and without an ounce of drama? Which means, she did her best to avoid the possibility that he had done anything, but the mere thought of it, stayed with her.

So much, in fact, that she finally found an opportunity to confront her mother about how dear old dad has a tendency to beat Linda up from time to time and well, a conversation that could have gone south quickly, ended up being productive and powerful when all is said and done. Because Linda was honest with her daughter, and explained the finer points of why she’s put up with the abuse for so long, and why her dear Vicki shouldn’t be so shocked at this discovery, because her father won’t be the first or the last man to embrace his darker side repeatedly, and try and atone for it, before slipping back into it, and while that sounds supremely nihilistic and hopeless, it’s what Vic needed to hear to process the reality of the world, and to finally do something about it. 

Which led her back to Bing’s place for one powerful confrontation, and while Vic was scared, and rightfully so, she never let her fear get the better of her, and did her best to manipulate Bing just enough to see if she could find Haley’s mother, Sharon, on the premises. But alas, while she was brave and bold, even to the point where she handled Charlie on the phone like a champ, she was too late. There was nothing to be found at Bing’s house, outside of the awkward stuff, and it took another voyage through the Shorter Way to reveal Sharon’s fate in that, Bing had put a nail through her skull and buried her well after Vic’s initial visit, and while the police were able to take it from here, there’s no justice to be found for Sharon just yet since Vic didn’t have enough evidence to point the finger at Bing and her wild day of discovery ended with a locked door, and the realization that truly, she can be the counterbalance to the evil in this world.
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Yet, while all of that was dark and powerful in its own right, the story had so much more to offer when it comes to this story. Because it isn’t enough to just remind us of the fact that people do bad things in the world, it’s important to explore why, and that was accomplished by taking a trip back in time to see Bing’s childhood and what we saw, was awful. For he was severely abused as a child, and even the happiest of days, such as Christmas, turned out to be nightmarish for him thanks to his father, which allows for us to fully understand why he joined Manx’s cause and why he’s so obsessed with the holiday. Because he wants nothing more than to see that magical time of year as something pure, since one fine Christmas, his dad pushed him past the breaking point, prompting Bing to go on a murderous rampage that saw him put down his father and assault his mother before ending her life and really, the lesson here is that sometimes people indulge the darkness within because evil engenders evil, and since it was okay for dear old dad to treat his son like garbage, why should Bing care about anyone else?

Which is a chilling and realistic answer/message to find in a series about a soul sucking vampire, but that’s what horror does best and to properly close this story out, it needed to show us the foil of Vic’s journey, and that came about by way of Haley’s fate at the hands of one Charlie Manx. For their journey to Christmasland allowed for to us understand exactly how manipulative this vampire truly is, and how he uses a child’s potential loss of innocence to get what he wants. Since he recognized that Haley had a rudimentary understanding of how the world works, and rather than let her discover the truth and possibly find strength from it, he used his skill with words to try and keep her trapped within that rose colored dream, and sadly, his plan worked. Because eventually, what Mister Manx had to say made sense to dear Haley and she decided that perhaps should trust Charlie, and lowered her guard, and that unfortunate decision, sealed the young girl’s fate.

If anything, Charlie’s ability to bastardize this sacred holiday and turn it into a soul-sucking lie, makes him one of the most chilling villains to ever grace the genre. Because it takes a special kind of monster to be good with destroying something so pure in order to get its own way and well, when all said and done, what a powerful episode of NOS4A2 this turned out to be. For this one, was as dark as they come, and its bold subject matter gave me pause on several occasions, especially the portions that put our cruelty on display and while there was some levity to be found in this tale, by way of the gas station scene, the darkness present here is what will stay with me for days on end. But, on the upside, it’s inherently clear now that Vic is as strong as they come, and if she can handle the truth about her beloved father, she can handle anything Charlie throws her way and I truly cannot wait now, especially after this episode, to see Vic put an end to his twisted machinations because Charlie Manx is damn near the personification, of evil. Until next time.   

When we think about our respective careers, dream job, or really, any particular task we want to accomplish in life, the end game is the first thing that comes into our minds. We picture that penthouse style corner office, one that features a nameplate with our name and the title ‘CEO’ sitting atop a beautiful glass desktop. Or we imagine winning every award and accolade imaginable in our respective field, so we are regarded and remembered as the absolute best at what we do, and well, we ponder upon the ending of our journey or how well we can master it, simply because, it’s healthy to say the least. For, knowing where we want to be, gives us focus and drive and motivation to achieve that goal and well, when you reach it, there’s no greater feeling.
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But what we sometimes forget when it comes to our gleaming goals, is that the journey matters just as much as the ending. For in order to become that powerful and wise CEO, endless hours of grinding it out in middle management is part of the game, because hard work is what gets us where we want to go, and it is easy to lose sight of that, and the little victories that come our way as we walk toward our goals. If anything, those baby wins are what matter the most, simply because, they remind us that we are actually making progress toward our goal and well, this is on my mind today because little victories have been popping up everywhere as of late on Fear the Walking Dead, and last night’s episode of the show, ‘Skidmark’, provided the group with some of their most significant wins to date, when it comes to their quest to help others.

But at first glance, it sure didn’t seem like anything positive was going to happen in this tale. Because a fair chunk of this story revolved around another concerted push from Victor and his splinter group to get their hands, on Daniel’s prized plane, with mixed results. Because the always wily Daniel planned ahead, knowing full well that Strand would make another attempt to steal the bird, so he sabotaged it, and kept some critical parts on his person and well, that meant it was business as usual here. For Daniel was still unmoved and filled with disbelief when it comes to Strand’s claims about how he had changed, and the odds of him leaving that stance seemed slim, that is until Charlie came into the mix. For she was at Daniel’s side in this story and spending a little time with a young girl who sees the world in a purer light, is what took this tale into positive territory.

Because she came to learn, that Daniel and her team have actually been working to accomplish the same goal after all, since Mister Salazar has spent his days disabling booby traps in places where vast stores of supplies await and seeing a young girl treat her elders with such respect, and learning that Strand has surrounded himself with others who were dedicated to doing great things, seemingly began to shatter the walls he was surrounding himself with. But the instant trouble arrived, and there was a chance that others could be hurt by a direct course of action, Daniel retreated to his anger and his disdain once again, and made himself the hero to make a point to Strand that sacrifice and danger is sometimes necessary when doing the right thing, and well…it’s a lesson that Victor was able to prove he has indeed learned, since he sacrificed the plane’s engines to save everyone from a tiny herd and that act, seemingly put to bed the bad blood between two old friends and more importantly, this half of the group, helped someone in need. 

Yet, while that alone would have been enough to hammer home the wonder of making progress toward a greater goal, the series had more feel-good moments waiting for us, ones that involved Morgan and the other half of the group. Because as John and June continued to shower Dwight with kindness and care by helping him search further for Sherry, Morgan and Alicia were hard at work trying to find Al, and they enlisted Dylan’s help in the hunt since he admitted to them that he and his brother and sister had spotted those mysterious, raven clad soldiers moving about the countryside. But it didn’t take long for Morgan and Alicia to realize that Dylan was up to no good and leading them on a wild goose chase and when confronted with that, surprisingly the young boy actually bothered to tell the truth, for unexpected reasons.
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One reason he finally lowered his guard, was due to the fact that Luciana was supremely supportive of him during their time together and she made him feel at home for a change, and seeing how much effort she put into his mental and physical health was enough for him to finally drop his guard and admit to Morgan and Alicia that they were in fact, being played, and that the time had come to end this little game, because Max and Annie were in serious trouble. Which brings us to the joyous part of this segment, since our warrior duo saw a grand opportunity to prove to these kids at last, that they meant them no harm and that they truly did wish to help everyone and well, Dylan’s request for an assist could not have come at a better time, because Annie was wounded and the dead were near and while the day was saved, the situation was still tenuous.

Because the kids still didn’t trust Morgan and his group in the slightest, and they revealed that they have strength in numbers. But thankfully, some pleading and prodding from Dylan finally allowed for a moment of peace between the two groups and while Morgan and Alicia didn’t exactly get these kids to join the cause, because they refuse to leave their dead parents behind, they did at least prove their worth to them, and that not everyone they encounter is evil, and that’s helpful in its own right. But, all feel-good stuff aside, Al is still out there, and likely still a prisoner of these well-armed mystery forces and her fate remains even more uncertain, now that everyone bore witness to one of their familiar helicopters taking to the sky and at this point, who the heck knows how they find her and save her if she’s aboard that chopper…

When all is said and done however, I really cannot get over how lovely this episode turned out to be. Because the group is hitting a hot streak in their goal to make the world a better place, and now they’ve helped a great many people in a short period of time, and that’s just incredibly uplifting. If anything, I’m truly impressed with how this series is suddenly surging into positive territory, because it’s really something you just don’t see in the zombie genre, and what’s more impressive is that…it works! I’ve really found myself invested in this new storyline and I really want to see the group succeed in their quest. But, all feel-good moments aside, the mysteries that come with the end of the world weren’t fully removed in this tale, because we still haven’t a clue if Al is okay or not, and is Daniel coming back from his little quest? Or is he going to abandon his new friends to keep his personal penance going? I’m sure all these questions will be answered in time, so for now, I’ll just sit here and bask in the wonder of a hopeful and inspiring story, set in a world, where the dead walk the earth. Until next time.