Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Reef: Stalked’. Also, this article contains discussions regarding domestic violence and abuse, which may be triggering to some individuals.
​
Mankind truly believes… that it is the master of all of its domains. From a more global standpoint, that means we have little doubt that we are the true masters of Planet Earth and all of its wildlife and its future, since we have in essence tamed the planet and dominate it. But this belief really does extend to our everyday lives as well. For we are bold creatures that harbor free will and have created a world where it is possible to chase whatever career path we want, find what makes us happy and influence others through either positive or negative means. So, it makes perfect sense as to why humanity holds to this belief and celebrates it often, because we have indeed accomplished wonders and seized the day. But while it is wonderful to think about what humanity has accomplished and how in control we really are, what’s funny about life and the world… is that we are in fact, only masters over a small domain.
​
Because while we have domesticated the planet and put our cities on its surface, mother nature has no problem reminding us from to time that she is actually in charge of all of us, and she is quick to damage those cities or use alternate methods, to hammer home the reality she is stronger and stronger willed than all of us, and for proof… well… don’t forget that we all had to live indoors for a better part of a year because of her fine work. Not to mention, our more intimate lives are sometimes thrown into chaos by the wills of others, despite believing we have control over them and well… this unfortunate truth about the world and life… can put us in a tailspin and leave us in rattled place. Where we simply don’t know what to do with ourselves and well, it just so happens that how we handle such matters, is explored in great detail in the brand-new Shudder feature, The Reef: Stalked.

A feat that this film accomplishes, by putting one particular character through quite the trying time in her life. For when we catch up with Nic in this motion picture, she has some serious worries about her sister Cath on her mind and rightfully so. For Cath’s boyfriend is walking human trash and quite abusive in nature, to the point where one day he snaps and commits the ultimate crime. A reality that puts Nic into a dark place, wherein she disappears for nine months before coming back to the world to meet her other sister and old friends to an island getaway. A place that Cath was hoping to visit, making this adventure a tribute to her. But alas, this will not be a good time to reflect or heal, for in the waters of their chosen tropical paradise is a great white shark that is eager to test its skills as a hunter and these four ladies… have become its chosen targets.

Which is a plot that perfectly encapsulates the central theme of this story. For Nic is someone that really does think she is in complete control at all minutes of the day and can influence and control situations as they head her way. But the arrival of that shark and the horrors that were inflicted upon her sister, prove to her that she has no complete control in life and that does send her into a tailspin. One where she desperately grasps at straws for control when the shark begins to hunt them, and where she is unable to reconcile the past because she feels as though she failed somehow. Which allows for the movie to explore in great detail, the fact that we have to accept that we are not in complete control at all times, and that the universe will test us in awful ways. Which means if we want to survive its chaotic onslaught, we have to accept the moment, adapt and react accordingly, and take time to heal from the fallout when the chaos passes.
​
That is a message that is quite relevant for certain, since it applies to so many of us in the world right now. But while it is wonderful to find some uplifting commentary on life and the struggles we face, make no mistake about it… this is a shark-themed horror movie, and it delivers on the scares. For that giant and hungry rascal of a shark, will stop at nothing to claim a meal and it goes to great lengths to make that happens and that leads to the quality terror. Since it uses its brute force and size to flip over kayaks and boats and even floating docks to get at food and well, the sheer shock of how quickly it commits those acts is what unsettles you, as does some of the stunning special effects and editing work here. Since there are moments where the perfect combination of computer graphics, stock shark footage and footage shot in the water, come together to really make it seem as though we are witnessing the danger in real time. 

If anything, this is simply a magnificent horror film when all is said and done, simply because it features something for every horror fan out there. Because there are impactful blood and guts here for the gorehound in our lives, plus the scares are perfectly timed and impactful for the person that just loves to jump and scream and of course… for those who love a little depth and meaning to go with their horror, that’s here, courtesy of Nic’s journey. Which makes this a must-see for certain, since you can never go wrong with a horror flick that works to cater to everyone. Plus, shark-themed movies in this vein are always a treat since killer sharks are a staple of the genre in this day and age, and the best news of all, is that you can see this stunning shark flick right now in the manner you love best. For The Reef: Stalked is in select theaters and it is available to stream on Shudder.

There are so many things that can go wrong when living or working on a beach. As the water levels start to rise, under tows can become more dangerous and you will not know where the waterline will finally stop. There are also creatures in the ocean that most people never want to see in their lifetime, especially sharks. When migration patterns start to change and the sharks are able to locate a new source of food, they make sure to stick around, but little do people know that when sharks are exposed to radiation, that their bodies absorb it and they can turn into a feeding nuclear bomb.
​
It’s just a normal day and the lifeguards on La Jolla beach are in high spirits, all except for Kaplan who has been sidelined with a busted up knee. Now on drone detail, Kaplan will do anything to get back into the water and save lives, but his boss will not let that happen.  When spotting a woman drowning, Kaplan gets the wise idea to hook a life vest up to the drone and get it to her before it is too late. Making the save, Kaplan is reprimanded by his boss, but knowing that he did the right thing and saved a life, he would do it again in a heartbeat. 

While walking the water line, Gina is noticing burned up fish washing up ashore. Not knowing what is causing this she wants to find answers since she is going to school to be marine biologist. With little to no belief that what she is seeing is real, none of her peers foresee a problem with it, but there is something new in the water that the group has never seen before. When returning from a waterskiing trip without his customer, Rottger tells the police that there is a new red shark swimming around off the coast, but when the police don’t take the report seriously, Gina does. Wanting to know more about what he has seen, Rottger walks away from the situation leaving her answerless. But that does not last for long as the shark is hungry and looking for its next meal.

After seeing a red shark jump onto a boat and cause it to catch fire, Kaplan and Gina know that they are up against something new that has never been seen before. With the help of a couple internet vloggers, the group is able to catch the footage that they need to prove the coastline is in danger, but it is confiscated by the government before they are able to post it. When sitting down for lunch, Gina’s Geiger counter starts going off when there is nothing around that should be causing it to. Seeing that the fish has been dosed with radiation, the group leaves the restaurant before it goes up in flames. With everything becoming a cover-up, the group has to find a way to make sure the world knows what they are up against, but when they are not able to get an decent footage of the radioactive shark, they will have to do the next best thing, destroy it before it becomes the first atomic bomb to explode off of the California coast.

If there is a shark out there that possesses the power of the atomic bomb and IS an atomic bomb, I may never go near the ocean again. Talk about the worst of both worlds, a shark that will eat you and make you radioactive in doing so, there is no coming back from that even if you get away from it. The comedy in this movie was spot on and while Kaplan is your main source of it, there are plenty of one liners that will leave you smiling. With the use of social media and drones, this movie does show how dependent some people are on them, even when their lives are in danger and especially at the beach. I cannot get over the finale of this movie, it was epic and when one thing after another starts to go wrong, the saying ‘When it rains, it pours’ really comes to mind.  It is a heck of a ride and might leave you wondering if the government will try to cover this up, what else are they hiding from us. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Resurrection’. Also, this article contains discussions on domestic violence and abuse, which may be triggering for some individuals.
​
One thing that we can all agree upon, is that we cherish strength in our modern world, and it makes sense as to why. After all, it doesn’t take us that long to realize that the world is a very brutal place at times. Where the cruelty of others and the sheer chaos of the universe… can harm us and put us in a tough state. To the point where we stumble and fall. So, to meet people that exude strength in the face of adversity and try to help and inspire others to pick themselves up when the going gets tough, is quite refreshing and inspiring. But while it is wonderful to know that there are people out there that stand tall often and see the challenges life throws our way as minor obstacles to overcome, there is a drawback when it comes to putting strength like that on a pedestal.
​
In that, it teaches others that the only way forward in life… is just to keep their head down and push through the madness. When in fact, that isn’t really how strength is created nor is it sustainable. Because that act and the accompanying persona, forces a person to ignore the real problems of a particular situation and their lasting impact, which can be strong in nature and can create long-term damage. Which means that we as a culture need to cherish the work that goes into creating sustainable strength, the kind that involves dealing with the pain that comes with life’s traumas and the cruelty of man. Because only then do we find peace and only then can we truly inspire and if we don’t deal with those things… then our illusionary strength means nothing and disaster awaits us, as evidenced in the motion picture, Resurrection.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a woman named Margaret who appears to be as strong as they come. For she is a brilliant biologist that has worked her way to the top, she has a daughter that she’s raised right, and she is someone that everyone turns to for leadership and advice. Because it is clear that Margaret doesn’t let the world push her around, or rather… so it seems. For the return of a man named David in her life, prompts her to immediately change her demeanor into that of a woman that is terrified of the shadows. For she and David have an abusive past, one that is about to be resurrected after years of peace, and now that the façade of strength that Margaret exudes has been removed by the return of the one issue from her past that forced her to create a sense of it to begin with, she will be left with the quite the decision. In that, she can either face the past at last and resolve it, or let it consume her. 

So, before we dig deeper into the central themes of this movie… we need to take a moment to offer up a warning. In that, you dear reader and potential viewer, need to be prepared for the fact that this is a brutally savage motion picture. One that holds nothing back in its presentation of domestic violence and abuse, and also features some dark and unsettling acts and sequences and concepts. The kind that are not for the faint of heart and will genuinely disturb you. Which makes this more of a horror film than a thriller, since the evil that men do and the cruelty, we are capable of is put on full display here and this movie does need to be applauded for going that bold route storytelling wise. Because it makes this movie a visceral experience, one so shocking and vile at times that the point this story is trying to make, is absolutely hammered home.
​
Which is… that we cannot escape our traumas, nor can we just put forth a façade of strength and believe that such a front will heal us. Instead, such acts will merely bury down those problems and help them to grow in strength until the moment arrives when a trigger or a return to that situation… prompts them to explode. As seen here since Margaret in essence… falls to pieces before our eyes and commits to some horrendous behaviors in the name of safety and resolution. When in fact, had she dealt with her pain and the horrors that David imparted upon her… she would have been able to face him no problem and end this madness before it started. But instead, we are treated to the worst-case scenario here, one that truly gives the audience pause when the film has ended, courtesy of the brutal and bleak nature in which this story wraps up. 

As to how exactly it brings everything home, we won’t spoil here. Because the ugly nature of this film needs to be experienced firsthand, as does its stellar performances. For you need talented actors to properly sell the dark moments that take place and Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth make that happen with seemingly minimal effort. For Rebecca loses herself in the pain swimming about in Margaret’s soul to bring us a tortured performance for the ages, and Tim Roth is simply vile as David, and sells the darkness within that man with an earnest glee that feels a little too real at times, and really… all of these elements combine to bring forth a powerhouse and brilliant horror/thriller film. One that captivates and makes your skin crawl, courtesy of its brutal honesty about the dangers of not dealing with trauma, and the good news is, you can experience the raw nature of this story right now since Resurrection is currently in theaters.

There was a time, where horror franchises dominated the cinematic landscape. For people simply could not get enough of slashers and the like and that allowed for Freddy Krueger, and Jason Voorhees and even Ghostface to just dominate cinemas at the end of the 20th Century. But once the slasher fell out of favor, juggernaut horror franchises struggled to maintain a hold on cinemas and even with the advent of DVD and eventually streaming, they still struggled to reclaim dominance of any sort. Granted, there were a couple of outliers for certain, such as Saw and to a lesser extent, Paranormal Activity, but it really appeared as though powerhouse franchises in horror were going the way of the dodo in the 21st Century.

But as streaming continues to rule the day and demand for universe style content grows, it would seem the dominant horror franchise is making a comeback. Since several streamer networks and cable networks are creating new horror stories set in a singular universe… as evidenced by the latest iterations of The Walking Dead and American Horror Story, and it just so happens… that one particular streamer is working to not only build its own powerhouse horror franchise but resurrect the cinematic juggernaut franchise of days gone by. For Shudder continues to work with Studio 71 to produce new films in the V/H/S saga and it just so happens… that another one is one the way.

For earlier today, Shudder let it be known that V/H/S/99 will be coming to the streamer on October 20, 2022, and well… here are all the details on this wonderful announcement and this new entry in this wildly popular franchise… courtesy of Shudder.

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today the return of Studio71’s hit found footage anthology franchise, V/H/S, with an all-new installment, V/H/S/99. The Shudder Original Film will release in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, October 20 and will feature renown genre filmmakers Maggie Levin (Into The Dark: My Valentine), Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down, Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City), Flying Lotus (Kuso), Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls) and Joseph & Vanessa Winter (Deadstream).
 
V/H/S/99 harkens back to the final punk rock analog days of VHS, while taking one giant leap forward into the hellish new millennium. In V/H/S/99, a thirsty teenager's home video leads to a series of horrifying revelations.
 
“V/H/S/94 set a new bar for what is already a fantastic film franchise, featuring some of the best horror anthology segments in recent memory by an incredible lineup of filmmakers,” said Craig Engler, GM of Shudder. “We knew immediately that we wanted to continue the series, and what the producers have come up with in V/H/S/99 will be the biggest and best film yet in the series, and we can’t wait for Shudder members to see it.”
 
“The last year of the 90’s was a perfect playground for us” said producer Josh Goldbloom. “DVD’s surpassed VHS, Blair Witch took the world by storm, and Y2K fears created a sense of apocalyptic dread. Add to that 6 of the most creative genre filmmakers in the world, and we’re confident this is the biggest, baddest, and most wildly savage V/H/S yet!”
 
“Fans of our franchise are going to love V/H/S/99,” said executive producer Michael Schreiber. “Each new film in the series is the chance to showcase a different ensemble of talented and diverse filmmakers, and I’m extremely proud of the work that V/H/S99’s filmmakers have put in to bring their terrifying visions to life."
 
The franchise’s last Shudder and Studio71 collaboration, V/H/S/94, debuted to rave reviews from film critics, with The New York Times calling the film “a grisly, gory gem,” and a 90% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. V/H/S/94 was the biggest movie premiere in Shudder history, setting a record for the most viewers during its opening weekend, and it continues to be a top performing title nearly a year later.
 
Producers include Goldbloom for Cinepocalypse, Brad Miska for Bloody Disgusting, David Bruckner (V/H/S, The Night House, Hellraiser), filmmaking collective Radio Silence (Chad Villella, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, & Tyler Gillett; Ready or Not, Scream), and James Harris. V/H/S/99 is executive produced by Schreiber & Adam Boorstin for Studio71.
 
The deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto and Nicholas Lazo on behalf of Shudder and Schreiber and Federico J. Blanco on behalf of Studio71.’

​Once in a lifetime an opportunity comes along that cannot be passed on. For everyone this opportunity is different, but once it comes your way, you need to make sure that you can do everything in your power to take advantage of it. Make sure to keep your eyes open and watch for it, because if it passes you by, you may never find it again.

Nathan Sands and his daughter Nicole are at the top of their game and have created the fiercest killing creature that the navy has ever seen. A half shark, half octopus creation that can be controlled by remote and told to kill anyone at any time. Smelling success is at hand, the Commander wants a real-life test and S-11 is hit by a speed boat, dislodging its control unit.

With a half shark, half octopus now free to hunt at its own will, the southern coast is in for an eye-opening experience. As S-11 lays waste to the coastline, Nathan Sands is forced to call in help from a former employee that will do anything for money. Andy Flynn is the only man that can stop the killing machine and once he finds out the reason why the experiment is killing everything in its path, he has to become a hero once again.

​Sharktopus is the story of Andy Flynn as he is called back into service to protect the population of Mexico from an unstoppable killer. With S-11 on the loose, and its creators unable to control it, it is up to Flynn to stop it with everything at his disposal. With Nicole Sands along his side, Flynn has to make sure to follow the rules that have been laid out in front of him but knowing the destructive force that the marine hybrid packs, it will not be an easy task.

This is by far my second favorite shark movie that the SyFy network has brought out. One of the things that I love about this film is the character development that takes place and that is something that is missing in several of these movies. Once again, I am so happy to see so many people getting eaten by the sea beast and although they allow it to walk on land for a short amount of time, it is still a movie after my own heart.

With a great performance from Eric Roberts, I was sold from the first moment I saw a preview for it. Knowing that this was going to be something special and seeing a bungee jumper getting chomped while having the time of her life, how could it go wrong. With enough levity and having Sharktopus’ first kill coming on a working man that yells, ‘Not Like This’, you know what you are signing up to watch. I really love this movie, even though it is hokey and has plenty of foreshadowing, so you know what will happen next, it should go down as one of best shark movies of all time. Stay Scared!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 306 of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
​
We tend to believe… that evil and its lust for power… is a slow burning process. One that slowly corrupts those who aid it and one that creeps up on the world, before exploding into a nightmare that must be faced and defeated post haste and well… there’s some merit to that line of thinking. Because a great deal of the powerful evils we’ve seen take over nations and wage war, took time to do so and succeeded courtesy of apathy and delays. But in reality, evil can either take its time or strike quickly, as evidenced by other horrible moments in human history and when it comes quick… people have to scramble to fight it and well… that particular crisis is top of mind today, simply because it appeared in this week’s episode of Motherland: Fort Salem.

For ‘Book Club’ is a story that saw Hearst return to his masters with his tail between his legs to exude panic about the return of Sarah Alder and the fact that his team was slapped around hard. But rather than panic, POTUS and his lackeys saw this as the chance to spread their special brand of evil post haste. Because Hearst’s intel, proved that the Cession was now harboring ‘fugitives’ wanted by the United States of America and that meant… the president now had every reason to go into the Cession with armed forces to root out any witches that reside there. Which meant the army was going to have to obey and go after their own kind and that meant… everyone had to scramble to ensure that wasn’t going to be the case.

Which is why Abigail and Adil and Khalida returned to Fort Salem in a stealthy manner. To meet with General Bellweather and plan their next steps to keep the pending invasion from spiraling out of control and thankfully, they came up with some solid plans. Such as the fact that the general was going to do her best to create a slow-going campaign. One designed to displease the Commander-in-Chief, but oh well. For that in turn would give the Cession’s forces time to mount a counteroffensive/stalemate and it would keep plenty of witches safe. Plus, it would also provide Abigail with time to accomplish the most important task of all. Specifically, finding President Wade and bringing her back to D.C. so that she would be able to nullify the orders of an illegitimate president. 

However, while it was nice to see that Petra was ready to stall and save lives in the process, judging from the army being amassed to challenge the witch one, there will need to be more warriors present for the final fight ahead and well… they might by lying in wait. For Tally returned home to check on her mother in this tale and was stunned to see, that she was using her Book Club as cover to run an underground resistance ring. One that was quietly striking back at the Camarilla and their illegal actions and well, considering how impactful they were in this tale… there’s a chance the army might have more soldiers ready for the cause… and some resurgent power behind them. For this story also caught up with Raelle and the Mycelial Network. Wherein we came to learn that the network is starting to heal, and it can and will communicate with others as it gains strength, since Scylla and Edwin were able to speak with the mushroom version of Willa.

But what makes that significant, is that the witches will be able to use their full power when the time comes and who knows, Raelle could be part of the fight as well and use her power to really teach the enemy a lesson and well, in the end, this was just an engaging and delightful episode. One that saw battle lines be drawn and saw the Witch Army finally on the offensive after spending weeks getting sidetracked and surprised by their enemy. And while the plan might not be exactly what they want at this point, some control is better than none and well… that likely means the story is about to kick into overdrive, as the search for the real president gets underway and as the protectors of America, prepare for their greatest battle. Until next time.

At some point or another in our lives we have either yearned for or committed revenge. Someone hurt us or went out of their way to wrong us and it seemed the only recourse was to even up the score or hope that karma or fate would step in and handle it for us. 

The desire to enact revenge is a powerful one and even in nature science has observed it in the animal kingdom, but for the most part, the act of vendetta is reserved primarily to humanity. But what if the creatures we share the earth with sought out such malevolence? What would our world be like? It's a question that is explored in the final film in the Jaws franchise, Jaws: The Revenge. 

Tragedy has struck the Brody family. Having lost their father Martin years ago, Sean Brody thought it would be good to carry on in his father's footsteps as a member of the Amity Island Police. But one night on a routine run in the harbor, Sean dies in horrible fashion.  His mother Ellen believes that a descendant of the shark that came to Amity so many years ago was responsible, but her ideas are dismissed, and her son Mike brings her to the Caribbean for the holidays in an effort to help her heal. But Ellen's paranoia is warranted. Sean did indeed die at the maw of a great white and it has followed the Brody family to the tropics to settle the score.  

​Released in 1987, Jaws: The Revenge is truly the worst film in the franchise and one that managed to put an end to motion pictures about killer great whites on the big screen for many years to come. While it has some awesome kills here and there from the shark, for the most part the film sadly does not deliver. This go round there is nothing cerebral to be found at all, and while the shark returns to its eating machine ways, this one stays pretty close to monster movie fare as the shark makes plenty of appearances, always reminding us he's here to feast as he enacts his revenge. 

But what makes Jaws: The Revenge tough to watch are the production values. The fourth wall is often broken in this motion picture since well...there are plenty of moments when you see the mechanics that run the shark and well...for the odd decisions in the finale of the film. I'll put it to you this way, the shark roars. Not to mention depending on which version you watch, the ending either involves a moment when the shark explodes for no reason, and yes you can tell it's a clay shark being blown up by an M-80, or the beast's death throes manage to tear apart a boat. 

Either way, it's heartbreaking since one would think having Michael Caine in the cast would have elevated this film to new heights but in the end the franchise simply goes out with a whimper. Either way, this one is worth seeing for the movie mistakes, to remind us of how awesome the first film was and to say goodbye to a once proud franchise.

Whether we like to admit it or not, we are all capable of some supremely dark acts. For mankind has yet to fully shed its ugliest tendencies and more primal instincts and we can call upon those at any time to do the unthinkable if we so choose. But what’s fascinating, is that more often than not, we actively work to keep that darkness at bay, regardless of the satisfaction it might bring us. Because we thankfully harbor a conscience and a logical and analytical brain. One that informs us of what could be if we took the time to indulge in that darkness and of the lasting impact of those consequences, and that does a fine job of keeping the evil at bay and keeping the peace in our lives and the world. 
​
But that barrier is of course… thin in nature. Which is why we still see people ignore that more logical side and of course, pay the price in doing so. Because consequences are always there, it is just a matter of when we pay the piper for our actions. But of course, when one considers how easy it is for some to shed the logic to commit to their demons, one does have to wonder… if that barrier can hold forever in a climate where tension runs rampant, and for that matter… when one considers how many people flirt with the darkness, one has to wonder if the barrier even matters anymore. But it does. Because we are better than our darker instincts, and thankfully… there are plenty of good people working to maintain the barrier, regardless of those who try and collapse it or work around it.

If anything, trying to get around the barrier is a topic that is of note today, because it just so happened to pop up in the next episode of Tales from the Darkside. For ‘It All Comes Out in the Wash’ is the story of a businessman named Carl Gropper, who would do anything to avoid the rules and his conscience to really get what he wants in life, and he thinks he’s found a way to make that happen. For the discovery of a man named Chow Ting, who supposedly can wash away sins via his laundromat, should give Carl the perfect avenue in which to be a ruthless businessman and still be able to sleep at night. And he is more than happy to pay Mister Ting’s high prices to gain that ability. But shortly after Carl agrees to terms on this washing of his soul and enjoys the spoils of a life with consequence, the lack of communication with Mister Ting, leaves him concerned that something has gone terribly wrong with the deal and that his sins… will soon overtake his fragile ego and mind.

Which is a plot that really does a fine job of exploring the struggle our world deals with often regarding those who wish to break the rules and those who wish to keep the order in place. Since we see quite the power struggle take place between Carl and Chow. One where Carl goes the extra mile in both obtaining his moral freedom and in indulging in the darkness, since he truly lets loose with the special brand of evil that only businessmen seem to understand. But he is reined in neatly by Mister Ting. Who uses silence and the specter of freedom to keep Carl in check and force him to ponder upon his actions and that leads to one fascinating journey. One where Carl basically gets played by an unsung hero, pointing out the duality of man, and that while this struggle never ends, good does tend to conquer evil. 

Not to mention… there is a lot of powerful subtexts here regarding race relations in American and White Privilege as well. Because Carl’s deep desire to use an Asian American’s supposed ‘power’ to solve his problems, speaks volumes to appropriation of culture and how Caucasians tend to indulge in that often in America and how they believe they are entitled to such acts because of the color of their skin. Which adds depth and gravity to an already powerful story, since it echoes our current times and current struggles, while serving to remind us that perhaps we aren’t are far along as we might like regarding race relations, since this kind of crap happens every minute of every day. And kudos to the show for adding that depth to this story and for speaking on this kind of topic well before it became a regular discussion.
​
However, what truly makes this story impressive, are its fascinating horror elements. Because there is no traditional monster to be found here, and Chow Ting’s supposed ability to wash away sins is never proven. Instead, we are simply left with the worst monster of all, man. Specifically, a man that is greedy and power hungry and cares little about anyone or anything but himself. Which leads to some genuinely terrifying moments for certain as we watch Carl indulge in the darkest recesses of his soul and kudos to the show for going that route with the horror elements, since those always resonate through and through and well, it would seem that this episode’s decision to ponder upon our darker elements, inspired the writer’s room to go one step further. Since the next episode, examines a wholly different kind of evil that resides within our souls. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.

It often takes a disaster to remind humanity just how fragile we really are and how powerful nature truly can be. When we see a tornado level part of a city, or a hurricane rip apart all that man has built we are left with a new sense of humility. 

But our ability to control so much of the world makes those moments of terror fade into memories and we return to our role as masters of the planet, until such reminders arrive again. Sometimes those little nudges from mother nature may not be as severe as a natural disaster but by way of demonstrating how nature can sneak in anywhere, even where we believe we have complete control. It's that hint from nature that fuels Jaws 3-D.

It has been many years since the incidents at Amity Island and one of the sons of Martin Brody, Mike, has not let the terrors of the sea deter him from staying around ocean life as he enjoys his work as a marine biologist at Sea World. In fact, the shark at Amity Island is all but a distant memory until a baby great white is captured inside the park and its thirty-five-foot mother has followed her baby into the complex...to feed. Now the terror begins once again as Mike and the staff must figure out how to stop the shark and save as many lives as possible. 

Released in 1982, Jaws 3-D earned its unique namesake courtesy of the grand 3-D craze that swept horror films in the early eighties and although the three dimensions of terror promised on the poster are no longer available, you can absolutely tell where the special effects were intended to thrill us and at the same time, that focus on effects reveals that this is the film where the franchise completely and utterly lost its way.  

The cerebral nature of terror and trauma evident in the first two films is nowhere to be found in this motion picture. No, instead the shark went from representing our worst internal fears and fear in general to serve as a slasher in the vein of Freddy or Jason because this go round the shark is smarter and methodical and bloodthirsty in ways that resemble man over beast. While Richard Matheson and Carl Gottleib's script gets props for the parallels of man versus nature and how nature always reminds us of its presence, the end result is just a high-octane splatter flick.  

But there is one particular scene in the film that will make you squirm, when the character known as Philip is eaten alive by the shark. We are treated to an inside view as the beast holds him in place beneath the depths of the water and well...chews without swallowing.  It's a pretty eerie moment and if anything, this film is worth watching for the awesome kills and the gore. You won't be wowed watching Jaws 3-D, but your bowl of popcorn will definitely be empty.  ​

You know a streaming service is doing something right when it finds itself involved in more than just uploading movies to a server. Because that means the streamer in question is quickly becoming the definitive source for its audience and it is trusted by many to deliver in whatever capacity is being asked of them and Shudder is a service that continues to cement itself as such. For not only is it creating original films and securing the rights often to quality horror films, but it is also working in conjunction with partners on release schedules for horror films, as evidenced by today’s news.
​
For earlier today, Shudder and IFC Midnight announced the dates for the theatrical run of the upcoming horror film See No Evil, alongside when it will debut on Shudder. Further informing us of how intertwined Shudder rightfully is in the horror community and film scene and how it is a trusted source to bring these films to the masses when they’ve wrapped up their time in theaters, and well, without further ado… here are those dates and more information regarding this joint announcement, and the film, courtesy of Shudder and IFC Midnight.

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, and IFC Midnight announced today a theatrical run for the highly-anticipated psychological horror Speak No Evil beginning Friday, September 9 ahead of the film’s streaming debut on Thursday, September 15.  A national rollout will follow beginning Friday, September 16. An official selection of Sundance Midnight 2022, Speak No Evil is written and directed by Christian Tafdrup (A Horrible Woman) and has also played the Goteborg Film Festival 2022, Seattle International Film Festival 2022, Chicago Critics Film Festival, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival where Tafdrup won Best Director, and the Fantasia International Film Festival.
 
In Speak No Evil, on a vacation in Tuscany, two families – one Danish, one Dutch – meet and become fast friends. Months later, the free-spirited Dutch family extends an invitation to the more conservative Danish one for a holiday weekend getaway at their countryside home. However, it doesn't take long before things gradually get out of hand as the joy of reunion is replaced with misunderstandings. The Dutch hospitality quickly turns unnerving for the Danes, and they find themselves increasingly caught in a web of their own politeness in the face of eccentric…or is it sinister…behavior.
 
Written by Tafdrup and his brother, Mads Tafdrup (A Horrible Woman), Speak No Evil stars Morten Burian and Sidsel Siem Koch as the Danish couple, Bjørn and Louise, as well as Fedja van Huêt and Karina Smulders as the Dutch couple, Patrick and Karin.
 
Speak No Evil is Tafdrup’s first genre film and was presented as part of Works-in-Progress at the Gothenburg (Göteborg) Nordic Film Market 2021. The acquisition deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder and Susan Wendt, Managing Director of TrustNordisk (Another Round) on behalf of the filmmakers ahead of Sundance.
 
The film is produced by Profile Pictures’ producer Jacob Jarek (Holy Spider, Rams), in co-production with Oak Motion Pictures in the Netherlands, with support from The Danish Film Institute, FilmFyn, The Netherlands Film Production Incentive, with co-financing from DR and Nordisk Film Distribution. Local distribution will be facilitated through Nordisk Film Distribution.

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. For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.
 
ABOUT IFC MIDNIGHT
Established in 2000 and based in New York City, IFC Films is a leading U.S. distributor of independent film. Its unique distribution model makes independent films available to a national audience by releasing them in theaters as well as on digital and cable’s Video On Demand (VOD) platform, reaching nearly 50 million homes.
 
Current and upcoming releases include Chloe Okuno’s WATCHER, Andrew Seaman’s RESURRECTION, Hannah Bergholm’s Sundance critical hit HATCHING, and Eskil Vogt’s THE INNOCENTS. Some of the company’s successes have included Andy Nyman’s critical darling GHOST STORIES, André Øvredal’s box-office success THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, Peter Strickland’s modern giallo BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO, Natalie Erika James’ RELIC, SWALLOW from Carlo Mirabella Davis and the award-winning and cultural phenomenon THE BABADOOK. IFC Midnight is a sister label to IFC Films, and is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.'