It is always fun to try and find a new haunted location to hit up, especially if you are trying to prove that ghosts are real. While you might be able to show and record some things that point to a location being haunted, everyone is still looking for that one picture of a ghost that will shock the world. As it seems that this has been out of the question for some ghost hunting shows over the years, we still get to listen to disembodied voices and strange photos that cannot be explained. Believing in ghosts is something that not everyone is able to agree upon and while there is some great evidence out there, some people will believe, while others will scoff at the idea, so it is all up to you and what you are willing to accept.

Getting a new lead for The Ghost Club, Tab wants to take a shot at the old Wilkensen Mansion that has been all over the news recently. With plenty of generations of people living there, the mansion would be the ultimate spot to find a real haunting, if one exists. As the group votes to check this place out, Jimmy the leader is left alone in not wanting to do it but will go with the masses. Packing up their cars and making their way to the old mansion, The Ghost Club has no idea what really lurks in the shadows of the old home but will come to find out it is not a normal haunting.

Arriving at the mansion and meeting the caretaker, Stanley, Tab and Jimmy get a tour around the old location. Being taken to five of the hot spots inside the home, they are ready to set up their equipment and get some of this activity on tape. The house seems quiet as they are setting up and they do not see any issues with the locations, but Stanley has one final warning for the group before he retires for the night, in that the old house does strange things to people that stay there. Taking this warning with a grain of salt, Jimmy hands out the assignments for the night and The Ghost Club is in business.

Investigating around the house in separate groups, Tab and Jimmy notice a strange odor on the stairway, Parnell and Noreen see a ghostly face in the kitchen and Caitlin and Austin have a little possession in the attic. As everyone has their stories about what happened to them in the house, they are excited to see what the footage will reveal and decide to keep going. But the house is just starting to wake up to its new inhabitants and it gives them a little scare when the lights go out, allowing for a handful of its secrets be seen. Getting slightly freaked out, the team decides to move on since this is what they have been looking for, but what they do not know is that the house is looking for new residents who will never be able to leave its halls again.

I am a sucker for haunted house stories and this one really hit the spot, especially since it had some possessions taking place as well. While the story did start off kind of slow as you get to know the house, it really did not matter since you got to listen to William Forsythe tell the story of its jaded past. When the lights go off for the first time, the team finds little signs of a haunting going on, but when the house wakes up and shows its power, well, all bets are off the table. With some possessions, plenty of ghosts, a jealous boyfriend, some more possessions, ghost kills, and a stained-glass window destroyed, you really get the feeling that not all ghosts are happy to be checked up on. While I am a huge sucker for haunted locations, I do like to know if the ghosts are nice or sinister and this movie proves that it is a good thing to know that before going in, because if they don’t want you there, you take your life into your own hands by bugging them. Stay Scared. 

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 305 of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous Freeform series, Motherland: Fort Salem, we talked a little bit about how the last episode, was likely the last time we’d enjoy any major downtime or intimate character moments. For trouble was of course brewing across the nation thanks to the Camarilla, and that trouble had to accelerate and soon with this being the final season and all. As it turns out, those thoughts turned out to be true. For ‘Cession in Session’, the next episode in this dynamic series… brought forth serious trouble and strife for our heroes and set the stage for quite the incredible finale. But not before surprising us with a touch of comfortable moments.
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For when we catch up with the rag-tag remnant of the Bellweather Unit in this tale, they’re finally about to meet the Council of the Great River and have their fate decided upon. A moment that allowed for more world-building to take place. Since we came to learn that Manifest Destiny with a hint of witches, drove the majority of Indigenous Americans to forge the Cession. Since the council was made up of the various tribes that populate America and after we learned that, and our heroes pleaded their case, they were in fact… allowed to leave on their own terms to forge their own plans. And well… that’s precisely where this episode upped the ante like never before.

Because as the group was waiting to head West to re-enter the United States, Hearst and his lackeys made their move. For they infiltrated the safe house and fooled everyone into thinking something else was at play. Simply because the Camarilla wanted their heads and that led to an intense and harrowing battle. One that saw Raelle’s dad get pulled into the foray in an attempt to exert subversion over the Bellweather Unit and brought forth concern regarding the reformed Alder. For after she fought the good fight and sent Hearst scurrying into the night, she collapsed next to Tally. Making it clear that the Camarilla’s attacks are having an impact on the Mycelial Network and that’s a supremely bad thing. Since witches need that network to draw their power and this revelation that the network was weakening could not have come at a worse time.

For while the Bellweather Unit was fighting hard, Anacostia and Sterling found a way to surprise the Camarilla before their enemy removed their vocal cords, allowing for them to escape and scope out the situation and what they uncovered was terrifying to say the least. Because for some time now, the Witch Army has been quite curious as to why their enemy has worked so hard to collect as many vocal cords as possible and it turned out the answer has been in plain sight this season. For the solders with weaponized cords that we’ve seen this season, aren’t some elite unit designed to go after the best of the best. Oh no, they are everyday warriors and there are countless more of them assembling now, ready to strike and end the Witch Army… as evidenced by the legions of soldiers that Anacostia and Sterling saw training for the fight ahead.

Which means we are now officially barreling toward a powerful showdown between good versus evil. One where good… is going to struggle to maintain the upper hand. For their power is waning, their numbers are thinning, and their enemy is now ready to do whatever it takes to defeat them, and it doesn’t get much more epic than that. Which in turn, makes this quite the important episode. For this one likely set the stage for what the rest of the season is going to look like and that means, we are likely going to be treated to intense, high-stakes storytelling from here on out, and it will be fascinating to see where this story is going to take us, as we race toward the end of this dynamic and engaging and downright fascinating series. Until next time.

Having to do a job or two that you do not like is just part of life and we have all had to do it. Knowing that it is not our future career is what helps drive us to find something better that we are more suited for. Sometimes however we can find ourselves being caught in these jobs and become complacent in them, no matter how much we hate them. It is important to know what you want to do with your future and while you can get trapped in a dead-end job, there is always a way to get out of it, but you have to have the drive to do so.
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While in a meeting, Raphael gets a call that he never expected to get about his nephew dying suddenly.  Needing to take a short leave from work to be with his family for the grieving process, he returns home, but the town has changed drastically. Taking his eyes off of the road and smashing his car through a hobo’s savings and crashing into a tree, Raphael becomes privy to seeing something that no mortal was meant to see as a Grim Reaper is on the scene and looking to claim a soul. As the homeless man dies in his arms, he also witnesses the Reaper turning into dust before his very eyes.

Arriving at the hospital to check on her boss, Carrie watches as Raphael seems to be suffering from some sort of madness as everything is freaking him out for no reason. Getting Raphael to the funeral, she sees that the bump on his head is a little worse than she expected and waits for him outside of the bathroom as he tries to pull himself together. But little does Carrie or anyone else know what is happening in the bathroom, as Raphael is having a meeting with Death himself who has a very important message for his new employee. Telling Raphael about the new power that he has acquired due to witnessing a previous Reaper claiming a soul, the young man will now be taking the place of the fallen Reaper, but Raphael is far from excited about this deal.

With Death appearing everywhere he looks, Raphael tries to explain that this power is not for him and tries to walk away. But there is no walking away from this pact that he unwillingly joined and while he may not be one for killing, the other Reapers are, and he becomes a target. Facing off with a fellow Reaper and winning, Raphael will do everything within his power to keep his loved ones from his or Death’s touch. But some things are easier said than done as Raphael soon finds out when his nephew’s girlfriend is trying to kill herself and is added to his list of souls to take. Fighting off another division of Death’s army, Raphael finds out that there may be a way out of this deal he never signed on for and needing to find another Reaper who is not too keen on killing, it takes Raphael down a road less traveled, yet very bloody.

A humorous look at a tough topic, especially if you do fear the Reaper. Right from the get-go of this movie, you get to see how Death’s evil touch gets used in so many ways and even find out why the Reapers are part of his arsenal. The resilience that Raphael brings to the table is uplifting and while he tries to find a way to rid himself of this new curse that was given to him, he chooses to try and use it to protect the innocent. With plenty of death, easy to read marks, fun at a funeral, trying to explain the unexplainable, a zombie girl with a hunger, a beautiful Life character and the chance to do something to change the world, this is just a fun movie overall and once you start to understand the humor being displayed, you realize that it is alright to laugh a little bit. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Death Count’.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that we live in a genuinely concerning time when it comes to the status of the internet. For this incredible digital world, one that was designed to offer the compendium of human knowledge to anyone in need of answers, while connecting us on a fundamental level like never before… has become less of a knowledge-based paradise and more of a horror show. For it now harbors safe space for the scum of the earth, where they can grow their hate and share in their ugly away from prying eyes. Not to mention, it has unfortunately become an oasis for misinformation as well. Where anyone can use guile and slick designs to create a website that makes them look as though they are an official news source.
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Not to mention, it is a place where revenge comes into play now. Where people can use anonymity to strike back at those that have wronged them in a manner where their vendetta goes viral, and well… all of these unfortunate paradigm shifts in the purpose of the internet are indeed why we are concerned. For we simply don’t know what other bad elements will spring up in a playground that is feeding a unique brand of evil and well… it just so happens that a brand-new motion picture takes the time to indulge our fears about the internet. All by asking the question, what would happen if the worst parts of us were unleashed via the web? And that makes Death Count quite the unsettling and visceral horror movie. 

One that introduces us to a group of people that awaken one fine day in a difficult place. For they discover that they are trapped within various cells and are chained to their beds and have been surgically altered, all to entertain the masses on the web. For they are also quickly introduced to a man named The Warden, who informs them they are going to be taking part in an online game. One grounded in popularity and where the ‘contestants’ will physically harm themselves to garner the most likes. Those with the least amount of likes, will die, and if by chance they opt to not play, they also opt to die… thanks to explosive devices implanted beneath their fresh scars. Which leaves this group besides themselves as they work to decide if they should play by the rules or fight back, regardless of the cost. But for a select few, they are eager to press forward and do great harm to themselves, not only to survive, but to uncover the truth about who is really behind this horror show and why they have been chosen to take part in their vendetta, in the hopes of ending this before too many lives are lost.

Which is a plot that masterfully explores that ‘what if?’ scenario to a tee. Since it truly explores the toxic nature and power of the internet and how easily it could be weaponized to do great harm to people if the wrong person set up the right kind of revenge. But where this examination truly shines is in its commentary since it quickly hits upon our obsession with likes on social media and how we treat that as life and death, and how easily we are sucked into the negativity of the internet. In part because we are curious if what we are seeing is real or not, but also because of the safety it provides us to explore morbid curiosity. Hammering home, the reality that the web can be a toxic place for certain, while informing us through the character’s actions… that change in such matters is up to us since it will require people to say when and not give the trash the clicks that unsavory people are basically begging for.
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However, while that makes this a poignant and powerful motion picture, we’d be remiss to not discuss the horror elements present here as well. Because they are equally as stunning and visceral as the commentary, since we are forced to watch in utter terror as the people trapped within this nightmare do great harm to themselves in order to survive to the next round and hopefully escape this mostly intact, and well… that makes for some uncomfortable moments. For this is a motion picture that holds little back regarding the gore and these sequences are indeed extended in nature. Making for top-notch horror sequences, where the pain is sold via some incredible acting since we need to believe that pain, and the actors do that here, and leave you breathless in the process.

If anything, all of these elements make this, a magnificent horror movie through and through. One that that harkens back to the ultra-violent horror movies that permeated the aughts but offers far more depth. For its commentary really is thought provoking. Not to mention, we need to take a moment and expand upon our mention of quality acting. Because Sarah French turns in a tour-de-force scream queen performance here that genuinely unsettles, plus those out there worried this movie might be too dark, can take comfort in the fact, that Michael Madsen’s performance helps to break that up, since his turn as a grizzled cop adds levity when needed. But the best news of all, is that you can see this magnificent motion picture right now on VOD, and we certainly hope you check it out. For it really is quite the delightful gem, one filled to the brim with everything that horror fans love: intelligence. scares, and splatter.

It can be difficult to process that with all of the talk about space travel and what is waiting for us in the cosmos, we still know very little about our own planet. While water is the foundation of life, we have still not explored much of our own planet that is covered in it. As our technology continues to grow, the little bit of exploring that we do on the bottom of our oceans is still revealing new life that we previously thought could not exist. It is amazing that we still do not know what else the oceans on our planet have in store for us at this point, but I hope we find out more before we try to move on, as there are many secrets hidden in the ocean depths that can still amaze us and maybe answer just a few more questions about our history.
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Needing to find a way to pay off his last employer, Jackson Slate has come up with the plan of uncovering the old Cortez ship that lies at the bottom of the Blue Hole. With plenty of explosives being taken down with him and his team, he is ready to prove that the ship holds more gold than any found before it. Setting the charges at the bottom of the hole, Jackson hits the button setting them all off, but not only does he free the old ship, but something else that has been hiding in the deep for millennia. Being knocked out by the shockwave from the blast, Jackson does not see the sea beast that he has released, but quickly finds out that it is leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

Arriving on the island of Belize for a great vacation, Rod and Jane are looking to dive right in and are able to book a scuba trip to the Blue Hole. With their guide Henry knowing the area like the back of his hand, they know that there will be nothing to worry about. However, on their dive, the couple comes across the unconscious Jackson Slate who will not let them take him in to be checked out. Bringing him to their hotel instead and having marine biologist Sarah make sure he will survive; Jacks is coerced into telling the truth as to what he was doing in the Blue Hole. With the promise of treasure being uncovered in the Blue Hole, everyone’s eyes light up with the chance to become rich beyond their wildest dreams.

Getting the boat loaded up for a dive that will change their lives, Jane is not liking the idea and decides to stay back. As the group of Sarah, Jacks, Rod and Henry make their way to the final resting place of the Cortez ship, they find something more sinister on the seabed than they expected. Pulling up what appears to be an egg from a dinosaur, Sarah finds out that the explosion Jacks set off has released the most vicious sea predator that the world has ever known. Knowing now what is causing random boats to wind up being destroyed with the people going missing, Jacks and Sarah try to pair up with the National Guard to take out the beast before the entire island falls victim to its wraith.

I wanted a monster movie, and I got a monster movie with this one. When I get into this kind of mood, it is hard to go after anything that was wrong about it, even though there was a lot, it’s just better to get lost in the storyline that takes you all over the island. I will admit that I love the idea of dinosaurs coming back to reclaim the planet, but this super sea predator is something that even made my hair stand up on edge, because a T-Rex that can swim is just freaky. With plenty of people being eaten, a super predator, baby super predators, a beast that can swim and walk on land and a marine biologist who gets her time to shine, this is one of those B-Movies that makes you remember why some of them are so bad that you have no other choice but to embrace it. Stay Scared.

It is definitely safe to say, that we live in some unsettling and uncomfortable times. Especially when it comes to American politics. For gone are the days of civility amongst politicians, the kind that brought about compromise despite disagreement. Instead, those nobler traits have been replaced by bombastic rhetoric, and conspiracy theories, and inaction, and apathy to burning issues that Americans desperately want to have resolved. Not to mention, a great deal of those very same politicians are more concerned now with their platforms and their standing in the public eye as a quasi-celebrity. To the point where ratings and buzzwords matter more than the work put in, and for proof… then look no further than the past five years and the prior White House Administration.
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But what’s truly keeping us up at night, is that it seems as though everyone in Washington is working harder to not hear their constituents, out of some foolhardy and selfish quest to cement their legacy and party ideology over anything else, and well… that has us feeling helpless and wondering what we can do to retake the power that belongs with the people. Well as it turns out, there are some things we can do and oddly enough, some simple answers regarding this problem were expressed to us… thirty-seven years ago. For the next episode of Tales from the Darkside explored this very problem believe it or not and that makes ‘If the Shoes Fit…’ quite the powerful and unexpectedly poignant tale, one that does a fine job of exploring the answers in question by forcing us to spend time with an incredible monster… a politician.

For in this tale, we are introduced to a good ol’ boy named, Bo Gumbs. Who it just so happens is in the midst of running for governor in his fine southern state, and when we catch up with Bo, here… he’s settling in for a big event. One where he is going to give an amazing speech to donors to continue to lock up the votes (and necessary cash) to put him into power and well… once he gets comfortable in his world class hotel room… he begins to open up about what modern politics actually look like, to a porter that is quite curious about such matters. Which according to Bo, involves nothing less… than appealing to the lowest common denominator and whipping them up into a frenzy. Alongside always putting on an amazing show. Because he believes that people don’t care about their leaders actually putting in the work, they just love the illusion. But unfortunately for Bo, this porter doesn’t care for that answer, and he channels something quite special to teach Gumbs quite the lesson in humility and where the true power of the nation lies. 

Which is a plot that at first glance seems lightly mired in horror, since that’s just a jackass trying to be elected to office and he goes through some quirky moments in learning his lesson. But when you hear Bo Gumbs speak in private versus via his platform, the horror really does settle in. Since this story basically predicted the direction of American politics and well… the parallels are indeed frightening. For Bo Gumbs is nothing more than a caricature of say… Ted Cruz, or any other hot air balloon politician that just runs their mouth and only works hard to retain power and standing, and well… with the current climate as it is, seeing that parallel come to life really does make one’s skin crawl for certain. Since it feels far too real at times.
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But while that is a supremely unique way to elicit terror in the audience’s soul, there was mention about this episode exploring in detail… how we end this and how we the people reclaim the power that we give these individuals so it can be used for the greater good and not special interests, and lobbyists, and the politician in question. Which according to this tale, exposing them for the clowns that they are and taking them to task over their bombast and nonsense and piss poor results, is a solid way to reclaim that power. Because it either puts them to work so we can get the results we so desire, or they crumble, and we can easily vote them out. Not to mention, it is our votes that matters the most here, since that is the most impactful way to quickly send a message to an idiot politician that has forgotten exactly who they work for.

If anything, this is perhaps… the most unique episode of season one to date. One that was likely seen as just filler back in 1985 since the political climate wasn’t quite as venomous as it is right now. But via a rewatch, it’s obvious this was something bold and unique, and special, and very much in line with what the genre does. For horror loves to dive into politics often and has no qualms with being supremely direct in what it has to say about that arena and well, that also makes this quite the satisfying episode. Since it makes a dumbass politician look bad and gives us hope we can deal with them and their inflated egos and bank accounts after all and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this unique political journey… it should be interesting to see what other prophetic surprises await us in the darkness as we near the end of season one of this fantastic series. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.

The dog days of summer are quite the interesting time of year. Because for some folks, that excess heat is a warning and a motivator, that they need to get out and enjoy the world now before the chill of fall begins to creep into the air, and they do whatever they must to answer that call to nature and make memories before the color of the leaves begin to change. But for other folks, the torturous heat is a signal to just get the heck indoors and stay there and enjoy a little cool air and maybe catch up on some television while the summer season bakes the world akin to a potato and well… there are enough folks doing that now… that the networks are starting to take notice.
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For the summer season is beginning to harbor a bevy of new shows  on traditional television and movies and shows through streamers, to give those folks who desire a little cool in their summer day, something to do while the sun bears down on the world and one streaming network that is going above and beyond with its summer schedule is Shudder. For not only has Shudder brought forth a ton of new movies and shows for us to watch while we beat the heat, but they’re adding incredible collections of classics for hardcore horror fans to revisit and to give new ones something magical to latch onto and well, they’re showing no signs of slowing down in this effort to provide the world with stunning horror during the hottest of days.

For earlier today, the network released its impressive August 2022 Programming Lineup and well, without further ado, here is all the quality content you can expect from Shudder as the temperatures continue to rise.

A group of artist’s lives become unwittingly entangled as their obsessions and insecurities manifest monsters, demons and death. The directorial debut of Powerman 5000 lead singer Spider One, Allegoria stars Krsy Fox, Adam Busch, Bryce Johnson, and Scout Compton. RLJE Flims will release film on SVOD and VOD onTuesday, August 2. (A Shudder Exclusive) View Trailer: HERE.

Everyone in town knows about the haunted Graham Farm on Willow Road. You'll hear there's a bad history to it. Josiah (Robert Patrick, The Terminator) and his youngest son, Thomas (Scott Haze, Child of God), are all that remain of this estranged family. But after experiencing terrifying visions from beyond, Josiah decides they must change their ways to right a great wrong. After being away for over two decades, Eli (Nick Stahl, Sin City) and Mary (Kelli Garner, Lars and the Real Girl), Josiah's eldest children, are enticed to sell the property and reunite at the old farmhouse in hopes of closing this haunting chapter of their lives for good. Sins of the past will be paid in full. Directed by Vincent Grashaw (Coldwater).(A Shudder Original) View Trailer: HERE.

​In Glorious, Ryan Kwanten (True Blood, Kindred) plays a young man who is spiraling out of control after a bad breakup. His situation worsens after he finds himself locked inside a rest stop bathroom with a mysterious figure played by Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash, Being the Ricardos) speaking to him from an adjacent stall. As he tries to escape, he realizes he is an unwilling player in a situation bigger and more terrible than he could have imagined. The film is directed by Rebekah McKendry and written by Todd Rigney, Joshua Hull and David Ian McKendry. (Shudder Exclusive.)

During the bright Nordic summer, a group of children reveal mysterious powers. But what starts out innocent soon takes a dark and violent turn in this gripping supernatural thriller written and directed by Oscar-nominee Eskil Vogt. (A Shudder Exclusive.) View Trailer: HERE.

Kurt is an outcast in a conservative town who dreams of moving to the city to be a famous drag queen. When he is kidnapped by a predatory old vampire and killed, he is rescued just in time to be resurrected by a gang of rebellious vampires who feed on bigots and abusers. So Vam is the feature film debut of Alice Maio Mackay, a trans teen filmmaker based in Australia. (A Shudder Exclusive.) View Trailer: HERE.

As a serial killer stalks the city, a young actress who just moved to town with her boyfriend notices a mysterious stranger watching her from across the street in this terrifying thriller. Starring Maika Monroe (It Follows) and directed by Chloe Okuno (V/H/S/94). (A Shudder Exclusive.) View Trailer: HERE.

​With the return of the original Creepshow film — directed by George A. Romero and written by and co-starring Stephen King — to our movie library, Shudder will celebrate the iconic duo with curated collections featuring some of their most beloved and fan-favorite films. The collections launch on August 1 and will include Romero's: Land of the Dead, Monkey Shines, The Crazies,  Season of the Witch, and King's: Carrie (1976),  Misery, Salem's Lot, Firestarter, Firestarter: Rekindled (series), Cat's Eye, and Needful Things. The collections will also include current library titles Night of the Living Dead, Day of the Dead, The Amusement Park, Children of the Corn, and Stephen King-specific segments of Shudder Original Series, Creepshow, including “Gray Matter” and “Survivor Type.”
           
Creepshow
A young boy's horror comic book comes to life in a series of five terrifying tales: A dead father comes back for the piece of Father's Day cake that his murderous daughter never served him. A meteorite turns a hapless yokel into a form of plant life. A cuckolded husband plots a seagoing revenge. Something in a crate under the stairs is eating people. And an obsessively clean billionaire suffers an uncontrollable infestation of cockroaches.
 
Land of the Dead
Legendary filmmaker George A. Romero's latest undead epic finds humanity's last remnants battling to survive the unspeakable truth: the zombie hordes besieging their city...are evolving.
 
Monkey Shines
Injected with human brain cells, a super intelligent female monkey is enlisted to help a wheelchair-bound quadriplegic get on with his life.

The Crazies
Ordinary citizens turn into homicidal maniacs after a chemical weapon is released in George Romero's 1973 follow-up to Night of the Living Dead. After a mercifully brief foray into romantic comedy, Romero returned to the subject that made him famous - multiple maniacs attacking unsuspecting townspeople - and the government's misguided response to the chaos.

Season of the Witch     
After Night of the Living Dead, master of horror George A. Romero turned his eye to witches. On the surface, Joan Mitchell has it all – family, friends, and a beautiful home equipped with all the latest appliances. But when a neighbor educates her on the practice of witchcraft, Joan believes she’s discovered the perfect antidote to her monotonous suburban existence, and embarks upon a dark path that will lead to a shocking conclusion.

Carrie
Based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, Carrie is a high school loner with no confidence, no friends... and no idea about the extent of her secret powers of telekinesis. But when her psychotic mother and sadistic classmates finally go too far, the once-shy teen becomes an unrestrained, vengeance-seeking powerhouse who causes all hell to break loose in a frenzy of blood, fire and brimstone! Piper Laurie, John Travolta, and Amy Irving are terrific in this horror classic.
 
Misery
After his car crashes in the mountains during a blinding snowstorm, famous novelist Paul Sheldon is "rescued" from a car crash by Annie Wilkes, a fan obsessed with the main character in his series of novels. But when Wilkes reads his latest book--and learns he has killed her favorite character--she teaches Sheldon the real meaning of Misery.
 
Salem's Lot
Driven by inner forces even he cannot understand, novelist Ben Mears (David Soul) returns to his hometown to write about a mysterious mansion that has intrigued him since childhood. But he discovers a horrifying secret: The community is slowly becoming a village of vampires.

Firestarter
Based on the Stephen King novel, this supernatural thriller stars Drew Barrymore as Charlie McGee, a young girl whose ability to start fires with her mind has dire consequences for everyone around her.

Firestarter: Rekindled (Series)
A maniacal agent has a personal score to settle with a woman who can start fires with her mind.

Cat's Eye
Drew Barrymore, James Woods, Alan King, and Robert Hays star in this three-part anthology of Stephen King short stories connected by a stray cat who wanders through each tale. Chain smoker Morrison (Woods) joins a stop-smoking group run by sadistic Dr. Monatti (Alan King). A gambler named Cressner (Kenneth McMillan) makes a bet with his wife's lover. And a young girl (Barrymore) is terrorized by a tiny troll.          

Needful Things
Sheriff Alan Pangborn is baffled -- and a bit scared. Almost overnight, the residents of Castle Rock, Maine, the normally peaceful seaside community he serves, seem to have gone mad.

​August 3
 
Amityville: The Evil Escapes
The demonic forces that were lurking in the infamous Amityville house for over 300 years escape to a remote California mansion by inhabiting a lamp. The evil latches onto a little girl living in the home by taking on the form of her dead father. When it completely possesses her, it's up to a young priest to perform an exorcism and attempt to lift the curse from the desperate family.

Amityville: A New Generation
Photographer Keyes Terry is given an old mirror from a homeless person. He gifts the mirror to a friend, but what he doesn't know is that demonic forces project grisly deaths upon the mirror's surface. Soon, these projections begin transpiring in the real world, proving to be portrayals of the real fates of Keyes's loved ones.

Amityville: Dollhouse  
A dollhouse that is a replica of the infamous Amityville haunted house is given to a little girl. Soon after, all sorts of horrible unexplained accidents start to happen. The family must work together to fight off the terrifying evil that has inhabited their lives. The house might be miniature, but the evil is full-sized.
 
August 8
 
The Oracle
Young Jenny Jorgens begins communicating with the ghost of a murdered embezzler named William Graham. Her disbelieving husband Ray thinks that she's gone insane. Jenny is eventually enlisted by Graham's spirit to avenge his asphyxiation.

Freeway          
Vanessa Lutz (Reese Witherspoon), a teenage delinquent, runs away from her prostitute mother and perverted stepfather to go live with her grandmother. While on her way, she meets Bob Wolverton (Kiefer Sutherland), a charming yet sadistic serial killer. Fearing for her life, she attempts to kill Bob, but Bob makes himself appear the victim and Vanessa is sent to jail. Now she must escape and clear her name before he can strike again.

August 9
 
Motherly
When a vengeful couple invades her home, a single mother is forced to do whatever it takes to defend her daughter.

Marionette
A therapist loses her grip on reality when a ten-year-old boy claims he can control her future.
 
August 16
 
Alone With You
As a young woman painstakingly prepares a romantic homecoming for her girlfriend, their apartment begins to feel more like a tomb when voices, shadows, and hallucinations reveal a truth she has been unwilling to face.

Achoura
Four childhood friends are reunited when one of them surfaces after twenty years, forcing them to confront a creature straight out of a spine-chilling Morrocan legend.

Bloody Oranges
A retired couple entera a dance contest, a corrupt politician, a girl eager to lose her virginity, and a young lawer obsessed with social status – a seemingly benign look into the daily livfes goes haywire in this shocking black comedy.
seeking vengeance for the death of its mate.
 
 
 
August 22
 
100 Monsters
In the first of a trilogy of yokai (Japanese supernatural spirits) films written by Tetsuro Yoshia and released in the late 60s, a greedy slumlord’s attempts to forcefully evict his tenants invite the wrath of the titular yokai when a cleansing ritual is botched, with terrifying results.

Spook Warfare
In the second Yokai film, an evil Babylonian vampire is inadvertently awoke by treasure hunters, and a brave samurai teams with the yokai to defeat the bloodthirsty demon. 

Along with Ghosts
In the last of the trilogy, the yokai are roused to defend a young girl on the run from deadly yakuza

Snake Girl and the Silver Haired Witch
Noriaki Yuasa, director of the much-beloved Gamera series, adapts the works of horror manga pioneer Kazuo Umezu. A young girl named Sayuri is reunited with her estranged family after years in an orphanage – but trouble lurks within the walls of the large family home. Her mother is an amnesiac after a car accident six months earlier, her sullen sister is confined to the attic and a young housemaid dies inexplicably of a heart attack just before Sayuri arrives… is it all connected to her father’s work studying venomous snakes? And is the fanged, serpentine figure that haunts Sayuri’s dreams the same one spying on her through holes in the wall?

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Good Madam’.
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There was a time, where horror movies and shows, leaned heavily into featured monsters to express an important message. For having a monster stand in to explore themes regarding say… the nature of consumerism or our fears of death, made the exploration of such matters far more palatable to audiences and it offered a sense of escapism as well. Since the viewer was able to immerse themselves within the fantastical, while a zombie or a werewolf or a vampire… helped them to inadvertently learn more about the problems of our world or the human condition as a whole. But as the genre continues to evolve, something incredible is starting to happen with how it delivers its messages and analyses.
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For audiences are quickly warming up to having horror stories be realistic in nature and present their commentary or observations in a direct manner. Which is allowing for our traumas and problems to be presented to us in the raw. Which in turn is leading to a fascinating new wave of horror stories to come to life. The kind that really hold nothing back anymore and put the horrors of the world on full display, offering up a bold new era for the genre, one that is sometimes intimate. Since this move is allowing for the genre to educate and in some cases, help audiences to heal or seek help with what whatever it is that is eating at them. If anything, this evolution is top of mind today, simply because Shudder is now host to a film that explores topics in that raw manner in Good Madam.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a mother named Tsidi who is in quite the troublesome place. For the death of her grandmother, the woman that raised her, has led to strife. For now, the family is fighting over possessions and who will live in the house that Tsidi was raised in and that, is more than she can bear. She simply wants a quality place to raise her own daughter, and that drives her to move in with her mother, Mavis. A decision that comes with its own baggage. For Mavis is the live-in housekeeper of a woman named Diane and well, it quickly becomes apparent to Tsidi that Diane means more to her mother than blood, and that this move is going to challenge Tsidi like never before. Courtesy of that conflict and the unresolved trauma regarding her mother that is now bubbling to the surface of her mind.

Which makes this motion picture, a grand look at the sins of the parent, and how the poor decisions a mother and father can make… will create lasting damage for their child. The kind that will haunt them into adulthood and makes them desperate to heal and equally as desperate to have the balance they never enjoyed when they were younger. A move that really does allow for some intimate horror to be put on display since there are echoes of trauma that we’ve all experienced on some level present here, and that definitely makes the viewer uncomfortable and gives them pause and well, this is indeed a brave route to go. Since this movie features some raw and visceral commentary on family and its failings and people do treat that kind of talk as taboo. But it allows for impactful and unique scares to take place, the kind that stay with you because of their realism.
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Yet what’s amazing, is that this film has more real-world horrors to explore. Because this movie also has a lot of say about institutional racism. Something that has to be addressed since this is a film based in South Africa where Apartheid ruled the day for generations, and it is handled in a powerful manner. Since the story is quick to point out how class standing, and wealth inequality continue to create conditions that help to keep Black people in a suppressed status and how kindness and fake virtue from the white upper class creates a false sense of freedom. When in fact, that kindness is being used to exert control and keep a minority in check and that’s incredible commentary for certain… the kind that reminds us that while we’ve made progress with equality, we still have quite far to go.

In the end, this is just… a fascinating and unique horror film. One that defies convention and provides us with a unique take on trauma and racism and some other ills of the world we simply don’t like to speak to, in a refreshing manner. Plus, this film uses visceral imagery and visual metaphors to sometimes get its point across. Making it one of the most original horror films of the year for certain and it is one that will likely require multiple viewings in order to properly assimilate the commentary and messaging present here and the good news, is that you’re able to start that process right now. For Good Madam is available to stream on Shudder and we certainly hope you give it a look, so you too can enjoy the majesty of this wonderful and engaging horror story.

We tend to view summertime, as a relaxing time… and rightfully so. After all, the skies are clear, the days are lazy, so why not just go outside and forget about work and enjoy the weather before things turn colder in a few months. Which is why so many people schedule vacation time during the summer, so they can do just that with their family at their side. But not everyone sees this time of year as the perfect time to kick back and relax. For some, summer is just another season to work harder to achieve big goals.
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Which is the mantra of the team at Shudder. Since they work, day and night, regardless of the temptation of the season, to bring horror fans the best films possible and for proof… look no further than today’s announcement. For while some of us were sipping on a cold lemonade on a lazy river, the good folks at the finest horror streamer out there, locked up the TIFF official section, Saloum, to bring it to the network later this year and well… here are all the details on this latest addition to an incredible library, courtesy of Shudder.

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, and IFC Midnight announced today a theatrical run for the highly-anticipated and award-winning Shudder Original Saloum beginning Friday, September 2 ahead of the film’s streaming debut on Thursday, September 8.  A national rollout will follow beginning Friday, September 9. The film, written and directed by Jean Luc Herbulot (Dealer) was a breakout release of Midnight Madness at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, before playing Fantastic Fest 2021, the Red Sea International Film Festival, the Sydney Film Festival, and the 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival.
 
“Saloum is a bold combination of horror, revenge thriller and African folklore that's worthy of every bit of praise it’s been receiving at festivals,” said Shudder General Manager, Craig Engler. “We’re proud to share this incredibly original and thrilling film from the distinctive voice of Jean Luc Herbulot with our members and theatergoers.”
 
Said Herbulot, “I created the Hyenas as a personal gift for my own 7-year-old self who grew up without heroes and my 37-year-old self who was bored by modern African cinema, and today I hope they can be the heroes of many across the globe.  It's very important for us at Lacmé that this type of story offers a glimpse of what African myths and legends can generously deliver to a global audience.”
 
In Saloum, shot down after fleeing a coup and extracting a drug lord from Guinea-Bissau, the legendary mercenaries known as the Bangui Hyenas – Chaka, Rafa and Midnight - must stash their stolen gold bounty, lay low long enough to repair and refuel their plane and escape back to Dakar, Senegal. When they take refuge at a holiday camp in the coastal region of Sine-Saloum, they do their best to blend in with their fellow guests; including a mute named Awa, with secrets of her own, and a policeman who may be on their tail, but it’s Chaka who happens to be hiding the darkest secret of them all. Unbeknownst to the other Hyenas, he's brought them there for a reason and once his past catches up to him, his decisions have devastating consequences, threatening to unleash hell on them all.
 
Saloum stars Yann Gael, Evelyne Ily Juhen, Roger Sallah, Bruno Henry, Marielle Salmier and Mentor Ba. The film marks the first production from Pamela Diop and Herbulot’s pan-African Lacme Studios. Diop produced Saloum and the executive producers are Hus Miller, Douglas Jackson, and Mike Shema. Alexis Perrin and EV.L Prod are co-producers.
 
The acquisition deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder and Adeline Fontan Tessaur, co-Founder and Managing Director of Elle Driver on behalf of the filmmakers.’

It really is quite fascinating how The Walking Dead Universe is continuing to evolve right before our eyes. For not only is the first spin-off, Fear the Walking Dead, about to become the flagship series since The Walking Dead is nearing its end, but the saga continues to experiment with new kinds of storytelling to better bring us a rich and diverse zombie universe born from Robert Kirkman’s fascinating vision. For not only have we been privy to enclosed stories such as The Walking Dead: World Beyond, but we are about to enjoy the franchise’s first foray into hard anthology storytelling via Tales of the Walking Dead.
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For this dynamic series arrives on August 14, 2022, on AMC and AMC+ and it is shaping up to be a unique and intriguing entry in The Walking Dead mythos, and as we inch closer to its arrival, AMC continues to offer us new samples of what to expect from this new series. For earlier today, the network released a brand-new teaser for the show and some key art, and well, without further ado, here are those goodies for all of you enjoy (courtesy of AMC) … as we count down the days to the latest addition in The Walking Dead Universe.