Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Lisey’s Story’.
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Stories that focus heavily on the trauma that results from loss and grief tend to focus on one thing and one thing alone: The raw pain that a person experiences during that difficult time in their lives. Focusing on this pain makes sense because stories are entertainment through and through. Watching a character struggle with their emotions does indeed make for good and engrossing drama, the kind that genuinely moves us and stays with us—for a time. And while that struggle might generate some tears on our end, we know a dramatic sting when we see it, and that kind of endearing dishonesty lets us easily forget the moment in question as we search for a story that is more impactful in nature.

This is why it's paramount to celebrate stories that truly take the time to explore exactly why we hurt when we lose someone. These kinds of stories not only take us through the emotional wringer, but they also try to help the audience heal or prepare for the dark day when they will have to say goodbye—and that's precisely why Lisey's Story on AppleTV+ is of note. Lisey's Story is a series that offers a deeper and more visceral exploration of why we hurt when we say goodbye, as evidenced by the second episode in this fascinating journey. ‘Blood Bool’ spends a great deal of time taking us through an important Landon family memory; a memory that helps Lisey to realize how true love is filled to the brim with bittersweet memories and that it's the toughest memories that make us hurt. We hurt because we feel as though we failed our loved ones by running out of time to provide them with the healing peace and genuine joy that we always wanted to bring to their souls.
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This realization was personified in this episode by way of a grand reflection on the day that Scott Landon sold his first novel. In his excitement, Scott neglected his love and went out celebrating without her, which, in turn, led to a fight and then self-abuse on Scott's part because that's the only way that he knew to how cope with bad moments in his life. This revelation helped the audience to understand how much Lisey wanted to heal Scott, help him, and show him what life looked like without anxiety and pain—a goal that some might consider to be impossible because it's up to the afflicted to leave such matters behind or dealt with. This also speaks to the power of love and how badly we want to make our loved ones' lives right when we see them hurt. It was a beautiful way to demonstrate to the audience how memories like that are what run through our heads when someone we love leaves us and how such memories devastate us through and through—if we had just one more day… it might have been the day that we gave our beloved the peace that they so desperately sought.

However, as was the case with the series premiere, this particular tale had more to offer than a simple lesson on grief. Scott's actions following his cutting incident and a tie-in sequence with Amanda more or less confirmed that there are other worlds than the one we know and love, and that Boo'ya Moon is a thriving place that can heal souls and bodies if one handles their business there just right. We also learned that Scott did indeed travel often to Boo'ya Moon to explore its wonder, and that Amanda is half in that world now and potentially in danger because it isn't always safe. This fascinating twist opens up the story to all kinds of incredible possibilities—a world this powerful could bring about wonders in our own world, if its power is harnessed just right. Plus, Boo'ya Moon's existence undoubtedly relates to Scott's unhealthy fans because they might have visited it too, and its strange nature and inhabitants could, in fact, change the mental makeup of people who spend too much time under its twilight sky.

Alas, a solid investigation of this magical place didn't get underway in this particular tale because Lisey had other proverbial fish to fry by way of Jim Dandy, who we learned is really named Jim Dooley. Because Jim made every effort possible to ignore Professor Dashmiel's desperate pleas to call off his plans for obtaining Scott's unpublished works, and because he felt empowered and alive in doing so, he certainly came quite close to his goal. Jim was able to infiltrate the Landon home and leave a warning for Lisey before heading off to heaven-knows-where. Although this should have been utterly terrifying, one particular decision on Jim's part made his journey far more intriguing than horrific. After all, he was in the Landon home alone and could have easily grabbed the manuscripts with minimal fuss and been on his way no problem… so why didn't he?
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Perhaps Jim believes that he must be gifted these particular treasures out of respect for Scott. Or it could be related to something more negative and scary, such as a deep, dark need to break and punish Lisey before he whisks Scott's stories away to safety… or his own private collection. Either way, it was an interesting twist to include in what turned out to be a surprisingly tense tale. Early on, it seemed as though this story was going to be slow-burning and methodical in nature before shifting gears and moving the plot forward while setting the stage for some grand conflicts. Just like that, Lisey and Jim appear to be on a collision course, and we seem to be closer than ever to stepping into Boo'ya Moon. We're compelled to continue this wild and moving journey so we can see what powerful moments await us as Lisey continues her quest to heal and preserve the legacy of her beloved husband. Until next time, dear reader.
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The first two episodes of ‘Lisey’s Story’ are available to stream on AppleTV+.

It wasn’t that long ago, that we took the time to celebrate Shudder’s upcoming ‘Summer of Chills’ event and rightfully so. Because this was a beautiful gift to horror fans all around the world since it will provide fans everywhere with a bevy of delightful scary stories to help us beat the heat from now until fall. But since this particular network is all about giving the fans what they want and deserve, it turns out that Shudder had another surprise announcement waiting up the Creep’s rotten sleeve.
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For yesterday, the network informed horror fans everywhere, that a bonus tale of terror is coming to this wonderful event by way of director Filip Jan Rymsza, since his feature, Mosquito State is now premiering on August 26th on the network and well, here are the all the details regarding this announcement, per Shudder.

Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired exclusive rights to the psycho-thriller Mosquito State, from director Filip Jan Rymsza and co-written by Rymsza and Mario Zermeno, for release in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand on Thursday, August 26.  An official selection of the Venice Film Festival in 2020, where it was awarded the Bisato d’Oro for Best Cinematography, Mosquito State joins Shudder’s previously announced “Summer of Chills” lineup, which features new film premieres every week through August, alongside the best library of curated streaming horror films.

In Mosquito State, isolated in his austere penthouse overlooking Central Park, obsessive Wall Street data analyst Richard Boca (Beau Knapp) sees ominous patterns: His computer models are behaving erratically, as are the swarms of mosquitos breeding in his apartment, an infestation that attends his psychological meltdown.

Said Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder, “Mosquito State is a masterful allegory for the 2007 financial crisis – Wall Street meets The Fly – and serves as the perfect ending to Shudder’s ‘Summer of Chills.’ Filip Jan Rymsza is very much in command of the ominous, building psycho-horror throughout the film, and we cannot wait for our audience to experience it.”

"After an amazing festival run, I’m excited to share Mosquito State with Shudder’s passionate, ever-growing fanbase" said director and co-writer Filip Jan Rymsza.

 In addition to Knapp (The Good Lord Bird, Seven Seconds), the film stars Charlotte Vega (Wrong Turn, American Assassin), Jack Kesy (The Outpost, Deadpool 2), and Olivier Martinez (Unfaithful, Before Night Falls).

 Mosquito State was produced by Rymsza and Alyssa Swanzey for Royal Road Entertainment and Włodzimierz Niderhaus for WFDiF.

So, as you can see, Shudder has added another incredible gem to an already impressive lineup and it would seem that Mosquito State is filled to the brim with juicy commentary and disturbing concepts and that will absolutely make it worth our while, when it premieres on Shudder, later this summer.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Caveat’.
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It is definitely safe to say that the horror genre is perhaps one of the most intelligent genres out there in storytelling. Since it is one of the few that bothers to put a magnifying glass up to the human condition and/or modern society and explore its struggles and ills in great detail… all while providing the audience with a horrifying and gory story that uses fear to hammer home its point. But while that is a storytelling device and angles that we celebrate in regard to this genre on a consistent basis, focusing upon those elements unfortunately allows for us to sometimes forget that the intelligence of horror extends far beyond quality commentary and examinations of the human condition.

Because this is a genre that can in fact, be quite philosophical in nature. To the point where it has also held that same magnifying glass up to religion and its pros and cons and it has even pondered upon the nature of death and the meaning of life, and as the genre continues to grow in popularity… it is starting to expand to all kinds of other unique examinations revolving around concepts that we take for granted and it is even diving into more positive aspects of the human condition. The kind that we don’t talk about enough in our everyday world since it is easier to discuss and reflect upon the darker stuff we see on the street and hear about on the news and social media. And it just so happens that Shudder recently released a film that meets that uniquely elevated philosophical standard, since Caveat explores two notions that rarely receive any attention in the genre.

A feat that this film accomplishes, by providing us with one supremely unique and original story that allows for those explorations to take place. One that involves perhaps the strangest job offer in the history of job offers. For a man named Barret is fully prepared to provide a drifter named Issac… with $1000 for simply swinging by his family’s isolated property to keep an eye upon his niece, Olga, for a week. Which is a solid deal for a quick babysitting job. But once the duo arrives at their destination, Issac has second thoughts about the gig and with good reason. For Barret forgot to tell him that the property sits on a lonely island and that his niece has some severe mental health issues and oh; that Issac also has to wear a special locked harness to keep Olga in a safe mental space. And while those are some odd surprises, Issac needs the money and agrees to the terms and that is when the real trouble begins. For it doesn’t take long for him to understand that this strange house is also full of disturbing secrets and memories that are about to change his life, forever.

Which is ironically, a plot that at first glance, appears to be nothing special. Because stories that feature isolation and spooky moments and eerie spirts are indeed nothing new. Nor are stories where the protagonist is surrounded by unhealthy people or held captive by them in some form or fashion. But once Issac begins to peel back the rotten layers surrounding this twisted home, the unique concept explorations get underway. One of which involves the nature of karma. For it quickly becomes apparent that the strange happenings in this house are manifesting themselves because of the horrible acts that have taken place under this moldy and disheveled roof and once that comes to light, it is equally as clear that the evil that lurks here… wants to make bad people pay and pay dearly. Which in turn allows for a satisfying finale, where karma does indeed deliver as advertised, to take place, and while that makes for a fine reminder that what we put into this world comes back to us tenfold and could potentially... manifest into something awful if enough bad karma is concentrated in one place... what’s truly amazing about this particularly straightforward examination, is that it sets the stage for the second one.
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Because this motion picture, also ponders upon notions that we have yet to really answer in regard to modern man. In that, are we actually products of our environment and fallible and savage because of that? Or can we actually rise above our surroundings and accomplish positive wonders and that is handled by way of Issac’s journey in this tale. For we come to learn that time and time again, this poor man has had the opportunity to truly give into the darkness surrounding him, yet he outright struggles to do so. Which has allowed for him to consistently find his way out of bad situations and stay true to himself and according to this film, that means we are in fact… capable of being more and of being better and staying true to the good that is embedded within our souls when presented with corruptible situations, and that allows for this story to offer a little brightness to the audience.

​Something that is a necessity. Because despite the fascinating explorations present in this tale, this is at its core, a horror film and the scares and unsettling visuals present in this film, definitely take it into a supremely dark and disturbing place. In fact, there are several sequences that took this reviewer completely and utterly off guard with their raw and unexpected nature, making this scary story as solid as they come and a wonderful watch for certain. Because you really cannot go wrong with a horror film that works to break new ground exploration wise, whilst satisfying the viewer with solid scares and terrifying visuals and well, if you’re looking for a solid and unique horror film that is filled to the brim with depth, then do carve out a little time to give Caveat, a look.

‘Caveat’ is available to stream right now, exclusively on Shudder.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Lisey's Story’.
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When we're young, we're taught by our parents and/or guardians that ghosts simply aren't real—it's understandable why our elders take the time to provide us with this lesson: It teaches us critical thinking. We now have to ponder upon what's real or not real and truly pick apart what our imagination is telling us. It also helps us to not be afraid of the unknown because it will eventually be known to us. Although that lesson is one that definitely conjures warm fuzzies in our minds, unfortunately our parents aren't completely right in teaching us that ghosts don't exist. The fact of the matter is, ghosts are real, and they are terrifying—they just manifest themselves in a manner that we don't expect. This means that parents should really take the time to teach us that spirits (likely) aren't real and that we should be afraid of the ghosts that haunt the real world and appear in the form of emotional trauma, loss, and grief.

It's these elements that hurt us and haunt us in a manner far worse than any ghost ever could, especially when the pain is raw and fresh in our hearts and souls. It's that pain that is central to the latest offering from AppleTV+. The brand-new series, Lisey's Story—one that shares the namesake of the novel by Stephen King and was penned by the maestro himself—wastes little time in plunging us into the haunting power of grief and loss and the trauma that comes with them, which makes episode one, ‘Bool Hunt’, quite the visceral affair.

This episode showcases how the final moments of a loved one can haunt us to no end. Lisey Landon sees the defining moment that led to her husband's death play out in her mind over and over again—to the point where she appears to be paralyzed by its power. To further complicate matters, because her husband Scott was a well-known and beloved writer, Lisey is repeatedly reminded of the impact that he had on other people's lives with his work. This impact is a repetitious revelation that continues to pour salt into her wounds and well… this is a brilliant way to open up a television series. The raw emotion sucks you into the story and compels you to continue because you feel for Lisey and her struggle. The most amazing thing about this opening chapter is that it has so much more to offer than an exploration of the sheer pain and horror of the ghosts that we all carry.

This is, after all, a Stephen King story, and he's a writer who's keen to explore horrors both real and fictional—which means there is indeed a spiritual element present here, one that appears to involve Scott's talent and its genesis. It's strongly implied that Scott has a special connection with the multiverse that lies beyond; a connection that allowed him to see trouble coming for his family and work to help his beloved Lisey when his time to leave this plane of existence arrived. This element draws you further into the story simply because you have to know if Scott can indeed traverse the multiverse as implied, whether his potential ability to move between worlds is what made his writing so powerful and primal to his fans, and how—exactly-- his powerful words had an impact upon their mental health, too.

It's also made clear that Scott's fans are scary and dangerous. The introduction of Jim Dandy (as he refers to himself), speaks volumes to how this series is going to explore the dangers that can accompany losing oneself in the power of fantasy. It's clear that Jim sees Scott's work as a gateway to salvation and a way to heal his mind and the world, and his journey here led to some terrifying scenes. These scenes help us to realize that Lisey is in great danger with Jim Dandy on the prowl. Lisey is nothing more to Jim than a speed bump on the road to a literary Shangri-la, wherein Jim can receive his final fix by getting his hands on the unpublished works of the man that he believes is his own personal god—and well, that's a wonderful way to set the stage for what should be a powerful saga. A saga that one hopes lets Lisey find the peace that she so desperately craves—provided, of course, that she survives the onslaught of madness that Jim is about to send her way.
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In the end, this is a perfect series premiere—not only does it connect with the audience on a primal level, but it's a wonderfully well-written and fleshed out episode filled to the brim with poignant moments, stunning visuals, and mystery surrounding the journey ahead. Clearly, Scott Landon kept a novel's worth of secrets about Boo'ya Moon from his wife and the world, and it will be quite interesting to see what Lisey is going to learn about this fascinating place and herself as this dynamic and moving series continues. Until next time, dear reader.
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The first two episodes of ‘Lisey’s Story’ are available to stream on AppleTV+.

​Moving can be one of the most stressful things you can do. Not knowing anyone in your new neighborhood is one of the reasons, but the other is how painful it can be on your checkbook. If you move often, you will find yourself trying to find the best deal around, but most of the time you will have to settle for anything that falls within your budget. Making do with something that is just all right is not something that anybody wants to do, but if the deal is right, it is hard to say no. 
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Arriving at their next house to check out, the Benson family is ready to call it a day, at least Doug is. With his wife Virginia, daughters Melanie and Lori and son Tyler hiding behind the camera, he sees something in this house that nobody else can, the price. With enough rooms for the kids and the price point being right in their wheelhouse, Doug is fine with moving in, even after hearing about the murders that took place there many years ago. Giving Virginia a little pep talk, he is able to convince her that this is the place for them, but little does he know what evil is hiding inside of the walls.

With his camera attached to his hand, Tyler watches as his little sister Melanie makes a new invisible friend in the front yard. Talking to a young boy like he was really there, Tyler finds it interesting, but there is more in the house that he needs to see. Checking out the rooms while the movers are doing their thing, he spots a shadowy figure moving in his older sister’s room. Freaking out a little bit, Tyler goes back to filming everything else that is happening around the house when he films one of the movers falling down the stairs and dying at the base. Knowing that this is the infamous Amityville house, Tyler starts to track all of the strange things that are taking place around him, but when his parents are too busy to care about what he has to say, he thinks about taking another route. 

Not believing that there is anything wrong with the house itself, Doug is getting upset with his kids for leaving the back door open on more than one occasion. Putting in a security system to keep tabs on his daughter, to see if she is messing around, Doug watches the footage from the first night to see the door opening on its own. Believing that there was a prowler outside, he investigates, but finds no one. Knowing that he can put a stop to it, Doug stays downstairs, and this time catches one of the local kids trying to sneak in to see his daughter. Watching as the boy is pulled out of the front door when he leaves, Doug calls the police to take a look around and a puddle of blood is found on the property. With no one believing that it has anything to do with the house, Doug calls in help from one of his former teammates who takes the cameras to the next level, but before he is able to leave the residence, he is killed as well. The house slowly comes to life and with fresh blood in its veins, it is finally able to get enough power to point the torment where it belongs, right at the Benson family.

I saw this movie a couple of years back and am happy it finally made it back on my streaming service. I was unsure how to approach the story, since it tried to do the same thing to the family as what happened in The Amityville Horror movies, then took off in another direction. I honestly could not stand the parents for not listening to their kids at all throughout and for being more than happy to place the blame on them for anything that happened. The kids were the best part of the movie, since they all had their own motives, Lori to make some friends, Melanie to play with her dead friend and Tyler to prove that the house is haunted and find out what happened to the kids whose phone he found in the house.  With plenty of haunting effects, a shadow person, disbelief, a dead best friend and a demon who cannot be stopped, this really is a fun ride, and the finale is worth it as I have never seen a family tormented so badly by a demon in any other movie as they are in this one. Stay Scared.

​Not being in control of the situation is something that many of us do not enjoy. While at your job, you have to do what your boss is directing you to do, or you will be looking for a new job. I like to compare this to why I don’t like to fly, not being able to see what is happening outside, much less do anything about it makes me wary about the situation. I like to be in charge of what I am doing and if it appears that something bad is about to happen, I would rather have the choices being made by me and not a stranger. I don’t know if this makes me a control freak or not, as there are plenty of other times that I will allow someone else to make the decisions, especially when it comes to what is for dinner.
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Moving into her new home, Jennifer is not one bit happy about the situation, but she will have to come to terms with what her mother wants for her. Being able to get the house for a great price and finding Jennifer’s husband, Luke, a good job, the expecting couple should be living on cloud nine. But there is something about this house that is not sitting well with Jennifer and while she is not able to put her finger on it, one of her mother’s friends is able to when he detects a strange energy roaming the halls.

After their housewarming comes to an end, Jennifer needs to use the rest room, but it is occupied by someone that she has never seen before. Asking Luke if there is anyone still in the house, he is shocked because everyone left hours ago. Heading back into the restroom to see that there was nobody there, Jennifer believes that she is losing her mind. While Luke is off at work, Jennifer starts to notice strange things happening all around her, as boxes move on their own and the doors continue to slam when there is nobody shutting them. Telling Luke about these accounts, he dismisses them as Jennifer losing her mind as well, since she had a hiccup in her pregnancy that almost cost them the child.

But Jennifer is convinced that she is not going crazy and when investigating one of the slamming doors, she gets trapped in her room with something not of this world. As the ‘something’ lives in her bedroom closet, she is not able to escape it, and if she tries to lock it in, the door comes off the hinges. Needing some sort of help, Jennifer contacts Walter, a doctor and someone that can feel ghosts to help out, but after his investigation around the house, he is not able to give Jennifer any definitive answers on what is happening. Being upset that the old man has wasted her time, Jennifer shows her disappointment, and the house comes alive as well. Not being able to stop the pregnant woman from her rant, Walter delivers the news to her mother who will have to keep a closer eye on her daughter than she ever expected. With nobody believing that the house is haunted, Jennifer is left on her own to figure out what is happening around her and why she is the only one that is willing to admit that there is something wrong.

I will admit that I expected a ghost story here, but it was much more than that. Following Jennifer as she is dealing with her own issues of being pregnant and not liking her situation, you get to see the world turn against her. I was shocked about the distrust that her mother and even husband put towards her as she complained about the house and what was happening. One thing I have learned over my years is never to disagree with a pregnant woman and the opposite was shown here. I wish there was a little more about Jennifer’s past to show how and why nobody was willing to listen to her throughout the movie, I hate to say it, I needed a flashback. With a creepy house, minimal renovations, a disagreeing couple, an overbearing mother and plenty of strange events that cannot be explained, I liked the explanation at the end about what was happening, and even one of the evils was removed from Jennifer’s life. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains some spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Open Your Eyes’.
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When a powerful personal crisis or traumatic experience arrives in our lives, our brains do something quite incredible. In that, they more or less slip us into a survival mode. Which allows for us to get through our daily motions whilst the worst is going on, all so that we can make it to tomorrow… when hopefully the crisis in question comes to an end. And when it does, we can finally slip out of that fascinating mental mode, so that we can begin to process what happened and recover from it and go on with our lives in a healthy and stronger manner. But while that is the norm for a great deal of us, not everyone gets to enjoy that textbook road to recovery when tough times come their way. Because for some folks, the crisis is extremely powerful in nature and really doesn’t seem to have an expiration date.
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To complicate matters further, they’re on their own, without a friend or a family member to help them along with kind words. So, they simply push ahead, with survival mode hanging around for an extended time and that can transform a person into an emotionally devoid zombie of sorts and being in its realm for too long can become a norm. Which in turn leaves the afflicted transformed and despondent when the crisis in question… eventually comes to an end. But what is scary for those folks, is that... in that moment, those dealing with extended survival mode sometimes wonder if this is going to be their life forever, and what might become of their mind if by chance it doesn’t end and well, that is a scary thought indeed… one that storytellers have no problem exploring, as evidenced by the new psychological thriller/horror feature, Open Your Eyes.

Now in this particular film we are introduced to a man named Jason Miller who is dealing with an interesting personal crisis, one that initially seems pedestrian in nature. For Jason is stuck on his latest screenwriting project and his creative block appears to be spilling over into his everyday life by way of strange sounds and hallucinations. But thankfully, he eventually gets his script going and just like that it appears as though his life is on easy street. For not only are the creative juices flowing, but a beautiful woman in his apartment complex, named Lisa, has taken an interest in him, a revelation that will change Jason’s life for the worse. Not because this woman is trouble in the slightest, but because there is something awfully familiar about her and that little nugget of familiarity is going to open Jason’s eyes to a terrible truth that he has been working hard to hide from… one that will change his life in a negative manner. 

Which is a plot that initially seems to be more grounded in the fantastical instead of matters of the mind and the movie initially does little to convince you, that an exploration revolving around what long term survival mode does to the mind, is going to come into play. For the strange happenings around Jason’s apartment, truly make it seem as though this is a paranormal themed story, one where a strange spirit is trying to tell Jason something. Or that perhaps Jason has done something incredibly terrible and something otherworldly wants to make him pay for it and that leads to some fascinating homages to a couple of horror classics. Since those elements remind the viewer of The Shining and at times the more surreal elements of George Romero’s adaptation of The Dark Half. But while it is nice to enjoy a few cap tips to some of the greats, at its core this movie is indeed about how extended survival mode can be extremely unhealthy for our mental health.
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Because eventually, it is revealed that Jason is living in a fantasy world, one designed to keep him from coping with a horrible reality. Which we won’t spoil here because the twist is indeed, that good, and that out of left field. Instead, it’s best we focus upon what this revelation means for the character and the audience. Since it clearly points out that when we let survival mode take over, we utterly lose ourselves and go on a strange form of automatic that can be taken to the Nth degree and that is about as unhealthy as it gets. For whether we like it or not, we have to deal with our problems and our current situation, or it will never improve and we’ll never live life to the fullest or get anything that we want out of it. Which means it is up to us to break out of it when it has taken hold and fight hard to keep it at bay so we can finally move forward in life and that really is quite the unexpected message to find in a horror/thriller.

Simply because it is supremely hopeful and inspirational and designed to reach out to those struggling in the world right now and that’s just a rarity since these two genres tend to take a hands-off approach in such personalized matters. But it is there and oddly enough, it works, and it makes this movie a fascinating watch. One that might not be everyone’s cup of tea, since it is a slow burner of sorts, one that works toward its grand reveal. But that ending really does make the journey worth one’s while since it is filled with so many unexpected surprises and heft and well, if you’re in the mood to enjoy something that definitely keeps you guessing, while finding new ways to surprise you and inspire you, then give Open Your Eyes a look. Because this really is quite the refreshing motion picture, one that really does offer the viewer a unique experience.    

Waiting for your parents to arrive and pick you up is never a fun thing. Most of the time if they are late, it is due to traffic, or one of them is taking a nap, but they eventually make it. But as minutes turn into hours, you find yourself wondering if something might have happened to them. Today with the great invention of the cell phone, you can find out very quickly, but it is not a fool proof system as of yet as there are still dead spots where a signal can never be found. It can be frightening to let your mind wander, especially when it comes to a loved one who you depend on, so always look towards the lighter side of what might be going down.
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As the school is getting ready to break for winter, Kat is noticing that all of her parent figures are leaving her. It should not be too bad as her parents should be arriving at any time, but they are not picking up their phone to tell her their progress. Being paired up with Rose, who is looking for freedom in the Catholic school to do her own thing over the break, Kat is pretty much on her own. As she notices that she is all alone, there is a friendly voice that is willing to comfort her on the phone and has given her specific instructions of what to do before he arrives.

Wanting to spend the break on her own at the school, Rose has some things to think about since she has missed her period and fears that she is pregnant. In the middle of a date with her boyfriend, Rose breaks it off and decides to take care of the child on her own. Getting back into the school and hearing something in the basement, Rose walks in on Kat who seems to be doing some sort of ritual in front of the furnace. Getting the younger student back to her room, Rose starts to notice that her newly appointed friend seems to be changing for the worse in front of her eyes. Not knowing who or what Kat is talking about most of the time, Rose tries to keep a closer eye on the girl, but it is too late as she sees that Kat is not able to thank the Lord for the meal they are about to eat.

Having to wait overnight for her bus, Joan is freezing in the middle of winter and just needs a helping hand. Seeing the girl struggling, Bill is more than happy to help and offers the stranger a ride to wherever she needs to go. Even though his wife is not happy with the idea of helping the girl, she is overridden by Bill who believes that Kat looks like someone that he used to know, his deceased daughter. Talking to Joan about why he is really helping her, Joan starts to have flashbacks to what happened to her many years ago. Even though she is thankful for the help, Joan would rather be on her own to take care of her personal issues but having warm bodies around her on the anniversary of her life changing is not a bad thing. 

Interesting movie to say the least. I have always said that I am not a fan of telling a story using different timelines, but this one did a pretty good job at it. I really enjoyed the relationship that Rose and Kat developed while being left alone at the school. While Kat attempted to bond with the older girl, she was shut down and forced to look somewhere else for a relationship. Little did either of the girls know what that would do to them in the long run, and there was also the wonder of Kat’s descent into a new world. The only thing that I would have added into the movie is knowing the exact passage of time that had taken place, while it should have only been a couple days, it seemed like months when you finally got to see Rose’s baby bump. With some jump scares, a bloody knife, decapitations, a loving family and a sinister voice on the phone, I was more than happy to wait and see what happened at the end. Stay Scared.