Few things are as unfunny as the end of the world.  Because when it comes it will likely be a downright depressing and horrible event and with good reason, it's the end of the freaking world. Be it a zombiepocalypse or an asteroid crashing into our world, or both...there is no joy to be had on that fateful day.  Yet, leave it to the comedic genius of a few writers in Hollywood and it turns out, you can make the end of the world pretty freaking hilarious, as we all learned by way of the awesome horror/comedy, This Is the End. 

The plot of this film is well, extremely meta as since every actor in the motion picture plays...themselves and one night at a party at James Franco's house in the Hollywood hills, the unthinkable happens. The Biblical end of the world arrives; first with the Rapture, and that is quickly followed up by fire and brimstone raining from the sky. Now this group of abandoned actors must figure out how to survive the apocalypse and maybe, just maybe make it into heaven before the horrific monsters that now roam the land claim their souls...  

This is another movie that I made the mistake of skipping in theaters because at first, I have to admit, I was skeptical of this one being funny through and through. I mean I loved the lineup of actors, and the premise sounded intriguing enough, but my worry was that we had seen the best parts of this film in the trailer. Well, never have I been so wrong. This movie is flat out hilarious. I love the fact that pretty much every actor in this film plays a parody of themselves and I love the fact that I spent an hour and a half laughing until my sides hurt.  

There are so many hilarious moments in this movie that it would take a week's worth of articles to cover every last one of them. But perhaps the best moments that come to my mind are when the gang decide to go ahead and film Pineapple Express 2, the surprise cameo that happens during the third act, one that I won't get into because you need to see it to believe it and quite frankly, every single scene that features Danny McBride. He's already one of my favorite comedic actors and his scenes in this motion picture completely steal the show.  

Either way, if you were skeptical like I was about this film, don't be. Watch it, enjoy the laughs and then watch it again. In fact, this is one that I enjoyed so much that I ran out and bought it after my first viewing, because it's that good of a comedy and it is one that I find myself popping into my Blu Ray player often to chuckle at time and time again. I cannot stress it enough, watch this one, it's worth your time and who knew that the end of everything, could be this hilarious.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 302 of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’. To revisit the season three premiere, click here.
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While the arrival of the final season of a television show is often met with a touch of sadness, since it means the end is nigh and the story will come to an end… there are reasons to celebrate the fact that a series is about to say goodbye. In that, there is a freedom that comes with the end being in sight, the kind where a television show can take incredible chances storytelling wise and do something powerful and stunning. Or it can outright just let loose with the narrative and move it at a breakneck and stunning pace, complete with resolution and progress at a level that no one expected. All because there’s nothing to lose and nothing to hold a writer’s room back and for proof that is the case, look no further than last night’s episode of Motherland: Fort Salem.
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For ‘The Price of Work’ is a story that wasted ZERO time in moving forward the plot. For instance, a question posed at the start of this story, specifically whether or not President Wade was aligned with the Camarilla, was also quickly answered in this tale. For a lovely dinner at the Bellweather estate, wherein the president and her attaché were Petra’s honored guests, allowed for the army to keep a close eye upon POTUS and even get up close and personal with her courtesy of Petra’s mother. All in the hopes of answering that question and well, in the end, it turned out that the president was indeed free from influence from the evil that threatened the future of the Witch Army, and it was quite amazing to see the show resolve this so quickly. 

Not to mention a grand fight between the once proud Bellweather Unit and the monster that is Hearst took place. Something that one might have expected to happen late in the season. But the reveal that the goop that was being used to harm the Mycelial Network, was being produced in the Cession, where Abigail and her friends had just arrived… proved to be the perfect opportunity to go after the Camarilla and attempt to stop their operations and well… this ragtag unit of soldiers, one without Raelle (more on that in a moment) were quite impactful in their work. Since they disrupted the operation, defeated a great deal of the enemy and they even managed to arrest and wound Hearst and bring him back to their camp. Which was also, just a wonderful surprise, one that really moved things along, and it made sense as to why.

Because this series is obviously, eager to get us to the finish line, and wrapping up matters such as this or putting the bad guys on the defensive… helps to set the stage for the end of the story. But also… so the show can get right into the other elements about this world that it wishes to explore. Since our heroes met the Marshals of the Cession. Whom just so happen to be Indigenous Americans and are quite in tune with magic, which gives them the ability to easily spot a witch. Also, so Raelle and her connection to the network can be explored further, so we can finally understand her purpose and her destiny when it comes to all of that. Which was set up here by having her plunge back into its waiting fungal arms. And by getting into that now, the show can undoubtedly once again… push through such matters in a satisfying manner so we can race to the finish line and enjoy what we are really all here to enjoy.

Which is of course… a final showdown with the Camarilla and the Witch Army. One that settles century old scores and judging from the fact that this series is absolutely wasting zero time in addressing any lingering plot issues and working to wrap up any new ones in a quick and dynamic manner… that’s definitely what we are going to get. But while we wait to see that come to life, we can in fact, bask in the wonder of a well-paced, satisfying tale. One that put a bad guy on the run and answered burning questions… and also let our heroes begin to come into their own as soldiers and featured a few surprises as well. Such as that necromancer moment and well, you cannot ask for much more than that from a show that is in the midst of saying goodbye and it will be quite amazing to see what other surprises await us as the third and final season of this delightful show, continues along. Until next time.  

The hope of every creative mind out there in Hollywood… is that their work will be seen. Because every movie and show produced, is in fact, a labor of love on some level. One that is often personal in some regard to the person that created. So, to have it seen by the masses, is the satisfying endgame that brings peace and serenity to those involved and well, that’s important to mention today, simply because… a lifelong dream for Oscar-Winner Phil Tippett was realized in the most epic manner recently.

For Phil spent thirty years designing the horror motion picture, Mad God, and recently… Shudder acquired the rights to that film and released its majesty (our review here) for all the world to see. But something amazing happened shortly after its release. In that, not only was Phil’s work seen by horror fans… but it was apparently seen by all of them. For earlier today, Shudder announced that Mad Dog has become the network’s most-watched premiere of 2022, and here are some more details on this momentous achievement, courtesy of Shudder.

‘Mad God, the epic stop-motion masterpiece that Phil Tippett spent the last 30 years making, debuted June 16 and quickly became Shudder’s most-watched movie premiere of 2022. The film’s huge premiere comes a week after Mad God’s highly successful theatrical release from IFC Midnight in New York and Los Angeles, coinciding with its expansion to an additional 24 screens across North America. Mad God has been a hit with critics too, hailed as one of the best  horror movies of the year and already Certified Fresh® at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

“Shudder is a perfect partner for me and Mad God. It’s amazing to see the range of reactions from viewers to this movie that has lived in my head for 3 decades. From “what the hell was that?” to “that was the best movie I’ve seen in my entire life,” said Phil Tippett.  
“Phil Tippett is a towering figure in the animation and visual FX industry, and Mad God is the ultimate, purest expression of his visionary genius. Shudder is honored to be the exclusive home for his cinematic masterpiece, and we’re delighted to see Mad God enthusiastically embraced by our members,” said Shudder General Manager Craig Engler.

Two-time Academy Award® winning artist, animator and filmmaker Tippett, whose VFX work can be seen in legendary films such as STAR WARS, JURASSIC PARK, ROBOCOP, STARSHIP TROOPERS and many more, was inspired to create MAD GOD during a lull in his schedule following ROBOCOP 2. After sketching and designing a few creatures and sets, he and his stage and stop motion team at Tippett Studio shot the first few scenes of MAD GOD, then suspended work on the project to focus on creating the groundbreaking effects for JURASSIC PARK. Some 20 years later, several of Tippett’s key artists and supervisors stumbled across original puppets and sets from those early shots.  Revisiting the original footage and models, this new generation of artists, trained primarily on computers, longed to learn from Tippett and assist as he revived his long-since abandoned film. Together with a volunteer crew, Tippett taught a new generation of artists and craftspeople as they brought his labor of love to life. In 2020, while the world sheltered through a global pandemic, Tippett completed the final scenes. Mad God world premiered to rave reviews at the prestigious Locarno Film Festival and was showcased at Edinburgh International Film Festival, Fantasia Film Festival and Sitges Film Festival, among others.

Mad God is a Tippet Studio production, produced, created and directed by Phil Tippett, co-produced by Jack Morrissey, and executive produced by Dave Berry, Jules Roman, Sanjay Das, Gary Mundell, Lisa Cooke, Colin Geddes, Katarina Gligorijevic, and Josh Sobel.

About Tippett Studio
Tippett Studio is a premier, full-service, animation and visual effects production company helmed by two-time Oscar and Emmy award winner Phil Tippett, and staffed by designers, supervisors, animators and producers dedicated to delivering premium visual effects at a competitive price. From hands-on stop-motion animation to bleeding edge computer graphics, our Berkeley, California studio services clients from around the world, and has a reputation for excellence and customer satisfaction.  Recent Tippett Studio projects include THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT and THE MANDALORIAN Season 2 on Disney Plus, LOCKE AND KEY Season 2 on Netflix, and Marvel Studio’s FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER.  Projects currently in production include THE ORVILLE Season 3, BLACK ADAM and THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH on Showtime. Tippett recently announced the launch of Tippett Canada, a fully functioning post-production studio that will be servicing clients including Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Disney, Showtime, Legendary, and New Line including THE TOXIC AVENGER.

About Shudder
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand.’

It can be easy to let too much time go by without seeing or talking to your friends. While this might not be the intention, life sometimes gets in the way and there is little you can do about it. It is important to keep your priorities front and center when it comes to living a heathy and happy life and while sometimes it may seem difficult, there are things that can make it easier, like hanging with your friends. It is easy to forget why you became friends in the first place, but why you continue tolerate each other after many years is the reason you still have the happy relationship.
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After winning a deed to a plot at Gitaskog Lake, Jason is ready to share his winnings with his best friends in the world. After years have gone by not seeing them, a guy’s only weekend seems like the right thing to do and everybody is on board with the trip, even though it will be a sausage party. Getting everyone packed up and loaded into the SUV, the guys are ready to reconnect and with cameras all around, they will document how they get along. But the drive is taking its toll on everyone, and the old friends John, Todd, Conrad, Mike and Jason are not ready for what secrets the lake has in store for their relaxing, drunken weekend.

While the group is having a hard time following Jason’s lead, as they continue to get lost on their way to the lake, they find a little restaurant to refuel and get some drinks in their system. Seeing that they are being singled out by the crowd, the group is ready to continue their venture to the lake, only to be stopped by their waiter before leaving. Trying to give the men a warning about the lake and this time of year, the men laugh it off as a silly story and affirm that there is no such thing as the Gitaskog that the natives are afraid of. Making their way up to the lake and finding the little shack where they will be staying, the friends are ready to reconnect with not only themselves, but with nature as well.

Taking a quick dip in the lake and not finding anything out of the ordinary, the men decide to take a hike around and run into a fisherman who has a warning for them. Saying that he has been a target of the Lady of the Lake, but always avoids her siren call, the men decide that he is out of his mind as well. But as the second night of their guy’s weekend arrives, they are shocked to see that a little demon girl has made her way into the camp, along with an unexplained wailing coming from all around them. Not being able to leave in the middle of the night, the group decides to wait until first light to get away, but that might be too long, as the lake comes alive with all of its secrets.

I really enjoyed the premise of the movie and how the point was made to keep your trip free and clear of littering. I was a little confused about some of the conversations that took place when the group was drunk, but I think that it was kind of the point, since drunk people don’t make a lot of sense. I like the group’s interaction overall, but when Jason had something on his mind, he really seemed to change in his demeanor and while it was a little unsettling, it did add a dynamic to the story that would not have been there at all when the search began for his missing friends. With plenty of cameras, a spooky little girl, a legend in the waters of the lake, a monster, native unrest, plenty of boozing and some farts for the ages, it’s a full little creature feature that will remind you to always clean up after yourself when camping. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Revealer’.
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The end of the world is a concept that has captivated the whole of mankind for thousands of years and understandably so. After all, we are a species that can comprehend death and the fact that we understand it… allows for us to ponder upon how our end can come to fruition and how our society could collapse. And our fascination with such matters has allowed for all kinds of possibilities to be posed by way of various writings and media. For there are biblical passages that speak to an end revolving around fire and brimstone and the return of a messiah. While there are other stories out there that ponder upon an end related to say… the death of death. Wherein corpses return to life and attack the living and of course… the invention of nuclear weapons, has left all of pondering upon what a nuclear apocalypse might look like.
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But while it is fascinating to know that the morbid aspect of our brains has no problem taking a little time out of its day to think about the end of everything and how that might go down… our discussions and thoughts on such matters have managed to neglect an equally as important conversation regarding the end. Specifically… if it were to come, how would we meet it? Because our final moments are critical, to the point where we have expectations of how they should go in normal, everyday life, and we should in fact… have some understanding of whether or not we will meet the end of everything standing tall and brave or in another manner. Since how we go out, might determine our legacy for those who rebuild, and well… it just so happens that a brand-new horror film on Shudder, takes the time to ponder upon that question.  

A feat that Revealer accomplishes by putting a pair of polarizing people in quite the unique and compromising situation. For shortly after we meet devout Christian Sally Mewborne, and proud adult entertainer Angie Piteralli… they are thrust together beneath the same roof, as the end of the world gets underway. A shocking twist of events that forces the both of them to work together and truly ponder upon the meaning of life and the lives they’ve led and that… leads to a supremely philosophical segment of this story as they work to evade an the prince of demons, who has been sent after them to pass final judgment upon both of them, and well… that is quite the brilliant plot when all is said and done, for several reasons. 

First and foremost, because it really does allow for the characters to ponder upon the end of everything and how they should be responding to it. Because with the end in sight and death upon them at any moment… they have to figure out who they are and what they stand for and how they keep that alive in the event they are pulled from this plane of existence. But more importantly, they need those answers so that they can find peace at the end. For neither of them has resolved the concerns and follies that hovered over them before things got weird and that more or less informs the audience that there should be less fear in a situation this threatening. Because this would be our chance to shine, a moment where we can be brave and be everything we ever wanted to be... because we have nothing to lose, and that allows for these characters to grow before our eyes and be honest with themselves and it also inspires us and that’s a good thing.
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Because all fascinating exploration aside on how we should face the end of the world, make no mistake about it, this is a horror film through and through. One that is eager to set a horrifying stage by giving us an apocalypse that ignites imagination and fear with visuals that make it clear the end is nigh and it is awful, and the uncomfortable nature of this story doesn’t end there. Since Asmodeus is relentless in his judgmental hunt of these two brave women and the nightmares he conjures up, leads to some eerie and gory moments for certain. The kind that unsettles the viewer with a brilliant use of the dark and by way of the monsters that roam the shadows. For the ugly little creatures that reside there, are part biblical in nature and part Lovecraftian as well, making for the perfect nightmare fuel and the wonder of this film doesn’t end there.

For this is a movie that taps into the current wave of 80s nostalgia by setting the story in 1987. Allowing for a neon nightmare to take place, one complete with John Carpenter-esque synth riffs and slang and technology to properly immerse you in this alternate 1987 where the tubular times came to a horrifying end in the worst way possible. Plus, there’s the right balance of humor to be found here thanks to Angie and her sassy nature and speaking of the characters, well… none of this would work without quality acting to sell the moment and thankfully, that’s present here too. Since Caito Aase (Angie) and Shaina Schrooten (Sally) are perfect on screen together and deliver performances that feel real and well… in the end, all of these elements make this a must-see horror film. Because this one has something for every horror fan out there. Commentary, depth, gore and fun and that glory days 80s feel, and the best news of all… is that you can enjoy this little gem right now, since it is currently streaming on Shudder.  

One could say that the mantra of modern man can be summed up courtesy of a quote from Ernest Hemingway. In that, ‘the world is a fine place and worth the fighting for and I hate very much to leave it.’ For we do indeed live on a beautiful world, where the miracle is life is commonplace and love is oft declared. Not to mention the freedoms we enjoy allow for us to partake in the world’s majesty and wonder and to top it all off… we are for the most part, safe, and fighting to keep all of that going and keeping evil at bay, is indeed worth our while. So that future generations can enjoy the same spoils of the blue ball we call home and speaking of generations… this mantra is so deeply engrained in our minds… that we teach it often to the young ones that will one day inherit what we prize. 
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But what’s fascinating about this mantra and how much we place stock in it… is that part of it is proven to be wrong time and time again. For the world is oft NOT a fine place. Because while those wonderful things are happening, people are crying and in harm’s way and evil men plot to do horrible things and have no qualms executing those plans and not even children are safe from this harsh reality. Since they too are sometimes targets of the evil that men do. But we hold to that mantra to not really have the discussion that confirms that the world is a broken place that could be a fine place… if we did things differently when it comes to the evil that men do. For if we took the time to understand evil and how it grows and pondered upon how best to stop it… then that mantra could come to life. 

Which is why stories are so important to the fabric of our lives and our future, since they ask those tough questions and make those examinations to help us understand and grow and it just so happens, that Universal Pictures just released a motion picture that dives deep into the origins of evil and what we should do about it, and that makes The Black Phone quite the powerful film. One that accomplishes its examinations by plunging us into a worst-case scenario revolving around evil. For in this film, we are introduced to a young man named Finn ‘Finney’ Shaw who finds himself living a nightmare. Because a sinister man known as ‘The Grabber’, who is kidnapping and murdering young boys around the city of Denver in 1978… has made Finney his latest target and now it will be up to Finney to figure out how to outwit a man that is hellbent on his destruction.

Which is… quite the dark plot for certain. One that truly hammers home the horrors of the world and how little has changed when it comes to evil. Since this kind of sick act permeates in present day and well… it is Finn’s horrific experience at the hands of The Grabber that makes this an intense horror film through and through. Since Finn goes through all kinds of hell over the course of this film, the kind that unsettles the viewer and outright leaves them jumping in their seats, courtesy of some brilliant jump scares that aren’t forced or manufactured in the slightest. And of course, the sheer reality of Finn’s fate at the hands of this monster, adds a genuine sense of dread to the story as well. The kind that leaves one feeling hopeless and nervous as the story chugs along and those particular feelings, are what allows for this story to hammer home its lessons regarding evil.
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Because being in such an intimate setting with a young man and the monster that wants to harm him. Allows for us to learn a lot about the monster and how The Grabber is nothing more than a marginalized fool that thrives on exerting power over others… which in this case happens to be children, and that gives him the thrill and purpose he needs, and his power is only further enhanced by the helplessness of the community. Which is paralyzed over the reality that the world is not the fine place these people want it to be and that motivates them to hide away instead of doing more, allowing for evil to thrive and that is… some powerful commentary to find in this story. Since it not only speaks to the origins of evil and what allows for it to persist, but it also quietly informs us that we can’t let this kind of nightmare persist. We have to… as the mantra says, fight that good fight, and show evil it cannot instill fear in us and that it cannot win. 

If anything, it is safe to declare this horror film, to be outright and utterly brilliant. For it focuses on the worst monster of all, man, and it provides the viewer with a situation that is taboo in nature since no one likes to talk about kids being hurt or in trouble. But great horror pushes the envelope and puts us into places we don’t want to go, and this film should be commended for that and for selling the scares through some stunning performances. For Mason Thames (Finn) sells the fear to a tee with an earnestness that is a little too real at times an Ethan Hawke is simply terrifying as The Grabber. In fact, he turns in one of the finest performances of his career in this motion picture and really in the end, this is a must-see horror film. For this one really does take you on an incredible emotional ride and it stays with you long after it comes to an end, courtesy of its no holds barred approach and fine reminder that we have a lot of work to do if we ever want to truly make the world, a fine place.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three premiere of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’. To revisit the season two finale, click here.
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If there is one particular season premiere that one particular group of fans have been desperately awaiting in 2022, it would have to be the season three premiere of the Freeform series, Motherland: Fort Salem. For this incredible series is not only heading into its final year, making the premiere in question critical to experience, but fans of this show have been dying to know, what was going to become of the beloved trio of witches we’ve spent so much time with after that harrowing season two finale. Wherein Raelle, and Abigail and Tally were on the run after being accused of murdering the Vice President’s daughter and thankfully, last night’s premiere, ‘Homo Cantus’, wasted no time in informing us as to their whereabouts and status.
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As it turns out, they’ve simply been on the run since that fateful day. Moving from place to place with others in need of safety and when we catch up with them here, they finally found a safe space to call home for a bit. Which in turn, allowed for them to catch their breath and regroup and rekindle old romances and well… let’s be honest, this was an outright relief. Since there was implication that the Vice President would stop at nothing to find them. But more on the delay of the hunt in a moment. Because while it was nice to see our heroes doing their best to get by in a world where they are seen as villains, and not constantly find themselves under fire or duress… make no mistake about it… there was danger waiting for them in the wings.

For while they’ve been on the run, the anti-witch sentiment in America has grown to an all-time high. To the point where police forces were beginning to make use of new detection techniques to spot them and witches of concern to keep the public safe. Not to mention, the general public was eager to turn in any witch they came across to feel safer and look the hero and that sadly… put our heroes on the run again. Since a mistake on Tally’s part to become a better warrior, led to everyone being spotted and well, this fascinating sequence of events… really did a fine job of hammering home how quickly this world has changed and turned upon witches and how only our heroes seem to really understand the pulse of America in this moment. 

However, there was mention of the fact that they weren’t really being hunted in this tale, as one might expect and there was good reason for that. Part of it, likely involved a touch of help from General Bellweather. Since there was no way, she would hunt her daughter and her friends. But the majority of calm really came forth from the fact… that the Vice President and the scummy Camarilla he’s surrounded himself with, are planning other measures. Since the mycelial network that runs about the globe was of concern to them, and there was strong implication that they were planning to attack it with incredible might. A move that could potentially wreak havoc on the witches of the world since that does indeed seem to be a great source of their power.

Which is a surprise that sets the stage for an epic final season. One where our heroes will need to find a way to rise to the occasion and save the day with minimal resources at their fingertips once they learn of this plan, and hopefully… they can put an end to this generations long fight between the Camarilla and the Witch Army and hopefully prove witchkind’s worth to mankind in the process and well, the potential that lies ahead and THAT return at the end of this story… really does leave us counting down the minutes to next Tuesday’s entry. So that we can enjoy more of this phenomenal series and see what other twists and turns await us as we begin to inch toward the end of one the most original shows to hit the airwaves in the past few years. Until next time.

It can be easy going through life without a sense of accomplishment, in fact, some of us are happy with it. But there are others that need that validation in their lives which leads them to do things that only a few people have done before. Setting the record for the highest skydive, climbing the highest peak or traveling around the world in record time. While these can help to give people validation in their lives, it might not be for everyone, as we all have bills to pay and families to provide for, but it does show us that these feats can be reached if really needed. While you might not want to go out and try to scale Everest, you might set your sights a little bit closer to home and while you might not get the same satisfaction, you know what is most important to you and yours.
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Wanting to do something new and exciting for herself, Georgia Perry has decided that sailing around the world in record time will be just that. Being able to secure a few sponsors with help from her boyfriend Luke, the time is coming near, but not everyone is feeling the excitement that she is. While putting her mother in a rehab facility, she is hit with the grief of her mother taking her own life before she sets sail, along with her father not getting a good health report right after taking to the water. With the promise of doing this trip the way nature intended, without being boarded, using her engines, or accepting a tow from anyone, Georgia is prepared to take the trip that will change her life forever.

Being powered only by the wind, Georgia has made her way most of the trip without issue, but she needs things to help keep her mind right. Only being able to talk to people on the radio and not seeing them face to face, she starts to hold lengthy conversations with her cat Taco who does not really have much to say. As the trip continues on and she reaches a patch of no wind however, she starts to exhibit cabin fever and not in a good way when she starts to see the ghosts of her past. With the ghost of her mother starting to haunt her and promising that she will never make it back to land, there are other issues on the water as pirates have been spotted near her location.

Trying to push the thoughts of pirates taking over her voyage out of her mind, she is visited by many other people from her past and is starting to have a hard time distinguishing if they are real or fake. Setting up a camera to prove that her mother is abusing her on the trip, she is not able to get a clear view of the old woman, but that is the least of her problems when the pirates are able to locate her. Seeing that they mean to do her harm and more importantly board her boat, she takes a shot at one placing him in the middle of the ocean and causing the others to abandon their pursuit, but that is not enough to keep her feeling safe as blood drops and cigarette butts are found on the ship causing her to believe that she is not alone on the boat at all.

I cannot believe that this movie would be included in one of the ‘B Movie’ packs I have purchased over the years, it is actually pretty good. Watching as Georgia is being forced with being alone and how she copes with the overall silence of the ocean was just great. You are shown early on while making a video for her sponsor that things are quickly going downhill when it comes to her mental state. Then when she meets her mother and father on the boat, well, you know that there is something wrong with her and she is being forced to face her greatest fears overall, which is just great. With the fear of being alone, not wanting to abandon a task laid out, a cat named Taco, ghosts, pirates and letting go of what can hold you back, this is just a great character study that shows that once you are able to overcome all other roadblocks put in front of you, you still have to be able to be comfortable with yourself. Stay Scared.

There was a time when stop motion animation, dominated the filmmaking landscape. For it offered creators a unique way to tell stories, and it could bring to life creatures that would normally only be found in the human imagination, and thanks to the success and quality of films that featured this uniquely skilled and wonderful aspect to filmmaking, it truly seemed as though the road was paved for this particular special effect to dominate the landscape for years to come. But then came the wonder of CGI and it didn’t take long for Hollywood to realize that a hard drive and the right kind of software, could be the new frontier instead and just like that… stop motion animation began to decline in use.
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To the point where it was deemed a novelty of sorts, and eventually, it all but disappeared from filmmaking. Which is a shame really, since stop motion is/was an art form of sorts. One that required incredible creativity, and patience of course, and well… the good news is that this unique medium of storytelling isn’t quite yet ready to be put out to pasture. For long time Hollywood visionary Phil Tippett has been quietly working on a stop-motion horror film for years now, one that is finally complete and ready to be shared with the masses through Shudder and well, Mad God is a film that not only harkens back to an era long gone but reminds us of the wonder of this medium.

For this particular film is a genuine experience. One that revolves around an assassin that has been tasked to travel to a unique and unsettling underworld where monsters roam. So that he can bring down these powerful creatures and restore order and well, it is his journey to his destination that brings about the wonder in question. Because Tippett and his team have created an incredible world with visuals that are ripped from the darkest recesses of our mind. In fact, it is safe to call this motion picture a waking nightmare, one that delves into twisted moments and imagery that are purely grounded in the majesty of horror and oft make one cringe, courtesy of the visceral and outlandish acts the monsters of this strange world take part in.

But while it is wonderful to be treated to some horrific images and wild places, we would be foolish to not point out, what a monumental accomplishment this motion picture is. Because this is 85 minutes of stop motion animation with a hint of live action thrown in and that makes this… outright art. Because we spend A LOT of time in the various weird worlds of this monstrous domain, and we see the creatures that roam here in an up close and personal manner. Which means we are treated to a true labor of love here, one that features stunning detail courtesy of endless hours of work, and well, Phil and his masterful team of artists need to be recognized and applauded for putting together such an enriching and realistic world, and for adding depth to it as well.
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Because there is a lot of symbolic imagery in this movie. The kind that is loaded with commentary believe it or not. Since there are images that speak the ills of capitalism and its impact upon our drive and ambition, and there are some poignant observations on the nature and the dangers of war and our inability to understand how we’d have a better world without it. Not to mention, there are also some incredible homages here to the classics. In fact, one could say that this movie is perhaps a modernized version of Dante’s Inferno. Where the destruction of Hell is the mission instead of escaping its clutches.

If anything, this is simply a brilliant motion picture through and through. One that appeals to cinephiles and horror fans alike. Because in addition to offering shocking gore and twisted moments, it is simply filled with stunning visuals through and through, the kind that are breathtaking and haunting, and it also features a story that is up to interpretation. Making this a unique individual experience, one that will undoubtedly require multiple viewings to truly understand the scope and ambition of this bold and groundbreaking film. One that will hopefully bring about a resurgence in stop motion animation films since this movie serves to remind us of what this medium can truly achieve.

Something that Shudder often gets right, is that it is okay for a streaming service to offer up themes when it comes to the stories it presents to audiences. Because themes make life fun and add a sense of fun and accomplishment when a viewer binge watches the themed collection and well, as we get into the middle of the year, Shudder has found a fresh theme to bring to the table for the month of July. In that, the otherworldly is going to be a big focus of their programming… alongside the usual amazing originals they send our way and well, without further ado, here is the July 2022 ‘Otherworldly’ lineup for Shudder… courtesy of the network.

​The hit series returns with Briggs, the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic, presenting eclectic horror movie double features, interrupting the films to expound upon their merits, histories, and significance to genre cinema. Episodes this season have featured a celebration of The Last Drive-In’s 100th movie, Joe Bob’s first hosted silent movie and special guests including Hellbender filmmakers The Adams Family. Tune in to Shudder TV on July 1 at 9pm ET to catch the premiere of this holiday weekend season finale, or watch on demand starting Sunday, July 3. (Shudder Original)

While on a trip with her young son, Cecilia has a car accident. Three days later, she finds herself wandering a lonely road with no sign of her child – and no memory of what happened since the crash. Cecilia’s desperate search for her son leads her on a wrenching and tumultuous journey to face off against a religious fanatic who holds the shocking key to it all. (Shudder Exclusive) ​VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival. Tsidi, a single mother, is forced to move in with her estranged mother Mavis, a live-in domestic worker caring obsessively for her catatonic white ‘Madam’. As Tsidi tries to heal her family however, a sinister spectre begins to stir. South African director Jenna Cato Bass (Flatland) co-wrote the film along with Babalwa Baartman and ten other members of her cast. (Shudder Original)

In Moloch, 38-year-old Betriek lives at the edge of a peat bog in the North of the Netherlands. When she and her family are attacked by a random stranger one night, Betriek sets out to find an explanation. The more she digs, the more she becomes convinced that she is being hunted by something ancient. Directed by Nico van den Brink (Het Juk). (Shudder Original) VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

This is GWAR is the powerful story of the iconic heavy metal art collective, as told by the humans who have fought to keep it alive for over thirty years. The feature documentary includes interviews with the band members, both past and present, and other artists, including Weird Al Yankovic, Thomas Lennon, Alex Winter, Bam Margera, and Ethan Embry, including never seen footage of legendary GWAR frontman Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus). (Shudder Original) VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

In an effort to heal after witnessing her sister's horrific murder, Nic, her younger sister Annie and two close friends travel to a remote Pacific Island for a kayaking and diving adventure. Hours into their expedition, the women are stalked and attacked by a Great White shark. To survive, they will need to band together, and Nic will have to overcome her post-traumatic stress, face her fears, and slay a monster. Written and directed by Andrew Traucki as a follow-up to his 2010 film, The Reef. Starring Teressa Liane (The Vampire Diaries), Ann Truong (Cowboy BeBop), Saskia Archer (Boshack), Kate Lister (Clickbait), and Tim Ross (Wonderland). Also, out in theaters, and VOD on July 29 from RLJE Films. (Shudder Exclusive)

To mark the 75th Anniversary of the Roswell UFO Incident, Shudder presents a curated collection of some of our favorite terrors of extraterrestrial origin. Whether its little green men or tentacled monsters in the cold reaches of space or hidden in plain sight just next door, these aliens do not come in peace. The collection launches on July 1 with new Shudder additions They Live and The Thing (also part of our July John Carpenter collection), the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Lifeforce, Planet of the Vampires, Dark Angel, Without Warning, and Invaders from Mars. The collection will also feature current Shudder titles like The McPherson Project, PG: Psycho Goreman, Fried Barry, Color Out of Space, and The Untamed.

They Live
Nada (Roddy Piper), a down-on-his-luck construction worker who stumbles upon a special pair of sunglasses that reveal an astonishing global secret-- the world's ruling elite are actually aliens in disguise who aim to keep humans in a state of mindless consumerism. Wearing the glasses, Nada can see the secret messages behind all advertising, and he is capable of discerning which normal-looking people are, in fact, ugly aliens in charge of the campaign to keep humans subdued. Now, the battle is on to free the human race from this secret, subliminal tyranny! Good fun-filled with genuine chills and scares and a bitingly satirical assault on our consumer culture, "They Live" is one of Carpenter's finest achievements.

The Thing
A terrifying, gruesome, and absolutely chilling remake of "The Thing from Outer Space" that boasts some of the most impressive and amazingly gory special effects ever put into a horror film. It all begins when scientists at an arctic research station discover an alien spacecraft under the thick ice and thaw out the alien body found aboard. What they don't know is that the alien can assume any human form, and before long the scientists can't tell who's real and who's a deadly alien threat. Kurt Russell leads the battle against the terrifying intruder, and the supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Richard Dysart, Donald Moffat, and Wilford Brimley.

Dark Angel
A troubled woman is drawn into a career of casual murder, while her loved ones and friends, who have also been her victims, never suspect a thing. Golden Globe-winner Joanne Froggat (Downton Abbey) portrays the notorious Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, a child of the northeast England coal fields who dreamed of escaping the hard life of a miner’s family.

Invaders From Mars
David Gardner’s starry-eyed dreams turn into an out-of-this-world nightmare when invaders from the red planet land in his backyard and unleash their hostilities on unsuspecting earthlings! Paralyzed with fear as the aliens take over the minds of his mom, dad and even his schoolmates, David must somehow find a way to stop them: before they turn the whole human race into brain-dead zombies.

Lifeforce
A frightening journey into the unknown awaits when a mission to investigate Halley's Comet discovers an even stranger phenomenon: an alien spacecraft! Following a deadly confrontation, the aliens arrive on Earth, where their seductive leader begins a terrifying campaign to drain the lifeforce of everyone she encounters. And when the mission's sole survivor sets out to destroy her, he comes face to face with the most charming - and horrifying - being he's ever known.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)
One by one, the residents of San Francisco are becoming drone-like shadows their former selves. As the phenomenon spreads, two Department of Health workers, Mathew and Elizabeth, uncover the horrifying truth: Mysterious pods are cloning humans and destroying the originals! The unworldy invasion grows stronger with each passing minute, hurling Mathew and Elizabeth into a desperate race to save not only their own lives, but the entire human race.

Planet of the Vampires
After landing their spaceship on the mysterious planet Aura, astronauts become possessed by formless alien vampires trying to reach Earth.

Without Warning
A group of teenagers head out to the lake for a relaxing camping trip in the mountains. They ignore the warnings of the local truck stop owner and head to their destination. Things go terribly wrong when they run into an extraterrestrial who throws deadly discs that suck the blood of their victims. The group heads back to the truck stop for help from the eclectic group of residents: a crazy war veteran (Martin Landau, Ed Wood) and a determined hunter (Jack Palance, Batman).

Joining the collection on July 6, is the 1983 cult-classic The Deadly Spawn for the first time on SVOD.
A group of campers stumble upon the remnants of a meteorite and discover some fanged, worm-like creatures have hitched a ride to Earth. After the “camper” appetizer, the alien spawn take refuge I the basement of an isolated house…and get ready for the main course.

Also joining the Shudder Library on July 1:

Celebrate the Horror Master with a collection of some of his most terrifying creations. New to Shudder this month are John Carpenter classics The Thing (celebrating its 40th anniversary) and They Live, which are part of this month’s Alien Encounters Collection. Also new to the library are Escape from New York and Prince of Darkness. These join currently available Carpenter favorites Halloween, In the Mouth of Madness, and Body Bags.

Escape From New York
In a bleak, alternate future, Manhattan Island has become the nation’s only maximum security prison. When Air Force One crash lands in the prison, the government sends in a disposable hero— Kurt Russell icon, Snake Plissken, an outlaw and former war hero—to get him out.

Prince of Darkness
When a physics professor and his research students are asked to come to an old abandoned church, they don't expect to find a large glass canister of swirling green liquid. As their investigation continues they uncover the shocking truth-- the ooze is really the essence of the Devil himself, and the students have disturbed his slumber! They must fight together to keep Satan and his minions at bay and prevent him from releasing his father, the anti-God, and bringing about the apocalypse! Master of horror John Carpenter will keep you clinging to your armrest in this delightfully terrifying film starring Donald Pleasance, Jameson Parker, and Oscar winner Lisa Blount.

July 1

The Burning
When an ill-advised prank misfires, summer camp caretaker Cropsy is committed to hospital with hideous burns. Released after five years, hospital officials warn him not to blame the young campers who caused his disfigurement. But no sooner is Cropsy back on the streets than he’s headed back to camp with a rusty pair of shears in hand, determined to exact his bloody revenge. Contains strong language, sexual scenes, violence and gore.

Return of the Living Dead
In this essential of 80s horror comedy, two employees of a medical supply company accidentally release a toxic gas that raises up the dead. Soon the town is overrun with flesh-eating residents of the local cemetery who are hungry...for human brains.

God Told Me To
A cop investigates a string of murders committed by strangers who claim “God” told them to kill. But are the killers actually talking about the heavenly father? Or is someone pulling their strings? If Det. Nicholas (Tony Lo Bianco) really wants to know, he’ll have to descend into a netherworld of deranged faith and confront his own connection to a homicidal messiah with a perverse plan for the soul of mankind. Utterly original and deeply unnerving, Larry Cohen’s critically acclaimed cult classic is regularly cited as one of the greatest horror movies of all time.

1BR
After leaving behind a painful past, Sarah scores the perfect Hollywood apartment only to discover that her surprisingly welcoming neighbors may harbor a dangerous secret.

July 2

We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Two sisters live in isolation with their deranged uncle following the deaths of the rest of their family. When a cousin comes to visit, family secrets and scandals unravel. Based on the beloved Shirley Jackson novel.

July 5

The Long Walk
An old Laotian hermit discovers that the ghost of a road accident victim can transport him back in time fifty years to the moment of his mother's painful death. Directed by Mattie Do (Dearest Sister), who won Best Director (New Visions) at Sitges International Film Festival for the film.

Meatcleaver Massacre
When a professor specializing in ancient rites and rituals is attacked and his family killed by four of his students, he summons an evil spirit to hunt down the attackers and avenge his family.

Mansion of the Doomed
An insane surgeon finds himself up to his armpits in eyeballs after guilt prompts him to begin removing the eyes of abducted people in hopes of performing transplants on his daughter who lost her own in a car-accident he caused.

July 11

Who Saw Her Die
The life of a Venice sculptor is torn apart when his visiting young daughter is found murdered. But when the police are unable to find the killer, the grieving father's own investigation uncovers a high-level conspiracy of sexual perversion and violence. What depraved compulsions led to the murder of this child? And most horrifying of all, Who Saw Her Die?

Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion
A psychotic pornographer blackmails a married woman into becoming his sex slave by threatening to reveal that her husband is a killer. Desperate to protect the man she loves, poor Minou is forced to endure kinky bondage games until threats of murder force her to go to the police. But when she brings the cops to the madman’s house, it’s empty, and soon, Minou’s sanity is called into question. Luciano Ercoli’s stellar giallo references classic Hollywood suspense thrillers, aided by a clever script from Ernesto Gastaldi (TORSO) and a superb score by Ennio Morricone.

Suspicious Death of a Minor
A young girl is found brutally murdered and the case is handed over to Detective Germi. During the investigation, the detective discovers a prostitution trafficking linked to powerful people.

Watch Me When I Kill
Mara, a beautiful young nightclub dancer, witnesses a brutal murder and soon finds herself stalked by an animalistic gloved killer! While enlisting the help of her boyfriend Lukas to track down and stop the maniac, the mystery surrounding the killings is slowly uncovered. As more bodies are found and secrets are uncovered, the truth behind the masked slasher is much more horrifying than anyone could imagine.

Blue Sunshine
When a seemingly ordinary guy at a party suddenly goes berserk and starts slaying the other guests, a man named Jerry (Zalman King) is falsely accused of the crime. Thrust into a classic Hitchcockian "wrong man" scenario, Jerry investigates a series of similar murders where ordinary people become instant homicidal maniacs, hoping to find out what’s really going on before the cops catch him.

July 12

The Convent (2000)
40 years after young Christine massacred all the nuns at her boarding school, the condemned convent has become a spot for fraternity antics. But one night, when a group of sorority girls, frat boys and a goth chick named Mo break in, they find a group of Satanists who sacrifice Mo, allowing her body to be possessed by demons. As the demons come out to play and the blood starts to fly, one girl knows exactly who can help stop the terror: Christine (Adrienne Barbeau).

The House on Sorority Row
A vicious killer stalks a group of sorority girls at their graduation party in this 80s slasher favorite. When the mean Mrs. Slater tries to put the kibosh on their kegger, Vicky and her friends devise a nasty prank to get even. But when things go too far and Mrs. Slater dies, the girls cover up the crime and have the party anyway. What nobody knows is that someone saw what happened, and they're not about to let the girls get away with it. Before long, the psycho starts picking off the partiers, turning the blowout into a bloodbath of epic proportions.

July 15

Bloody Hell
A man with a mysterious past flees the country to escape his own personal hell... only to arrive somewhere much, much, much worse. In an effort to survive this new horror, he turns to his personified Conscience.

July 18

Phantom of the Mall: Eric's Revenge
A masked killer stalks a waitress (Kari Whitman) in a shopping mall just opened by a California mayor (Morgan Fairchild).

The Forbidden Door
As a successful young sculptor increasingly loses his grip on sanity, he imagines his wife, friends and family are all conspiring against him, begins filling his best-selling works with unspeakable human matter, becomes obsessed with brutal hidden-camera abuse videos, and inches inescapably closer towards the most horrific final act of all.

Santa Sangre
An armless woman drives her son to kill in Alejandro Jodorowsky's surreal shocker. As a boy, Fenix saw his father cut off his mother's arms, and the resulting trauma sent him to a mental hospital. When mom visits him years later, he escapes, but soon must satisfy her thirst for santa sangre ("holy blood").

July 19

Tombs of the Blind Dead
A group of friends revive a group of Satan-worshipping zombies who hunt by sound in the first of Spanish horror auteur Amando de Ossorio's Blind Dead films. In the 13th century an order of evil knights sought eternal life by drinking human blood and committing sacrifices. During their execution, crows pecked out each of their eyes. But this wouldn't be a horror movie unless some unsuspecting nudniks stumbled on their tombs and woke them up, leading to a gripping, gruesome chain of events that'll make you wish your own sense of sight wasn't quite so intact.

Mosquito
Science-fiction becomes horrifyingly real for a park full of innocent campers, as a hideous horde of mutated mosquitoes viciously attacks without warning! A band of survivors flees the bloodthirsty swarm in an attempt to warn the world of the mosquito menace. against a killer whale seeking vengeance for the death of its mate.

July 25

Hard Rock Nightmare
Jim and his band need a place to rehearse, and the isolated family farm was perfect- no neighbors, just the band and some girls. Rock & Roll, and a party before the big concert tour. Unknown to the group, Jim is haunted by the memory of a demented grandfather who traumatized him as a child with stories of being a werewolf. The terrified child drove a stake through his grandfather's heart, and years of treatment have not erased the guilt or the lingering fear of his grandfather's revenge. Twenty years later, the horror returns. On a full-moon night, the revelry of the band is shattered as a two-legged wolf brings slaughter to their party. Jim draws close to insanity as his friends are butchered, and he must finally confront the terror from his past.

Hard Rock Zombies
A freshly-out-of-the-grave band of Hard Rock Zombies is thirsting to take their sweet revenge, as they give the performance of a lifetime.

Slaughterhouse Rock
A group of teenagers are drawn into a deserted prison by nightmarish visions, where they try to exorcise a cannibalistic cavalry officer.

The Toolbox Murders
A madman stalks and kills female victims using the items in his toolbox. Mario Bava regular Cameron Mitchell (I) is Vance, the serial killer who seeks revenge - in the form of rape and murder - on any "sinners" he comes across. But when a detective visits Vance's family, it sets off a creepy chain of events that escalates until the shocking finale. One of the most well-known grindhouse films of the '70s, Toolbox Murders was savaged by critics for its extreme-violence but later found a big cult of fans on home video.

Uninvited
A ferocious mutant cat boards the getaway boat of some white collar criminals after escaping from a research lab. Once the ship has sailed, the clueless crooks think they're in the clear. Little do they know their fluffy feline can grow big and houses an even more monstrous kitty in its mouth! Schlockmeister Greydon Clark (Satan’s Cheerleaders) enlisted b-movie horror favorites including Clu Gulager (Return of the Living Dead) and George Kennedy (Creepshow 2) to play the human cat food. You won't be picking up strays after taking this deadly journey... Contains strong language.