This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say, that modern society has made some incredible strides when it comes to understanding and treating mental illness. For we finally understand that the brain and the emotions it creates, is no different than any other part of our body and requires healing and maintenance like anything else. And that has allowed for a great many taboos to come crashing down at last, since we finally know that erratic behavior and excessive tears are related to a mental injury instead of something random and scary. But while incredible strides have indeed been made on such matters, make no mistake about it… we still have a long way to go in busting taboos and treating mental health issues. Especially when it comes to what our minds and emotions do when injured by the grief that comes from losing a loved one. 

Because for some reason we still see death and its impact as something that cannot be discussed in an open-air setting. It’s simply a hardship that will occur that we don’t prepare others or ourselves for, and that leads to a shock when someone we love deeply is suddenly gone one day, and our mental health suffers. Not to mention, we don’t address grief or how powerful it can be following the loss of a loved one. We simply believe it will run its course, or that people need to suck it up and get back into the world, since it is still turning. When in fact, people need a catered mental health experience regarding death, to process the loss and to properly grieve. Or they will suffer. So, how then, do we possibly begin to properly explore death and its power, so that we can speak to it and support others better? Well one way is through storytelling, and it just so happens that a new horror movie from A24, takes the time to explore all of that, by having us observe all of those elements in an intimate manner in Talk to Me.

A feat that this film accomplishes, by introducing to a teenager named Mia. Who has… been through some tough years. For she recently lost her mother, and her family life has been shattered and quite frankly, she has been shattered as well, and is doing her best to put her life back together and just forge ahead. But while she is putting on a happy face and getting by, death haunts her, as does how her mother passed and well… that prompts her to take part in quite the risky game. For a few friends have in their possession, the mummified hand of a long-dead medium, and touching it and requesting that spirits talk to the person in contact with the hand… can allow for an ethereal encounter to take place. An act that thrills Mia and her friends to no end, since it works. That is until Mia’s mother makes contact, along with something sinister, which brings forth a disastrous session. One that leaves a family friend possessed and the door open to the other side, and now it will be up to Mia to decide what comes next. Since she can either leave the gateway open and be near her mom or let her go and save lives in the process.

Which is… the perfect way to explore the subject matter at hand. Since everything in the plot, relates to the fact that we don’t treat death with the gravity it deserves, nor do we really do much for those grieving. As evidenced by the fact that Mia cannot process her trauma or her pain. She just forges ahead as the world expects of her, and that pushes her to explore the dangers of the other side, and the aloof nature with which everyone treats that creepy hand… really is the allegory for how we don’t take death and grief seriously. We see it as something of a game at times and something we observe from afar. But the horrors that are imparted upon everyone in this tale reminds us of how quickly it can infect our lives and how… our desire to be away from the sorrow it creates or the belief that the journey of grief is to be handled alone by those suffering through it… can lead to danger. 
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Not in the sense that spirits will come into our lives and wreak the havoc they do here. But through the reality that grief can in fact, rip a person’s psyche and life to shreds. For grief can and will… drag people to their lowest and consume them and eat at their soul and put them in a dark place all the time… and that is what we see with Mia here. For she truly is struggling every single second she is on screen and she truly is as lost as the souls that roam our world, and her pain and her suffering, is what points out that without real care and real intervention for those hurting, life can slip away as well for folks suffering through grief. All of which takes us on a powerfully immersive journey that gives the viewer great pause. For this that rare story that holds nothing back regarding the power of such matters and the lessons and the moments stick with you, courtesy of the scares. 

Simply because, make no mistake about it, this is a horror film, and the ghosts that haunt this world are scary and violent and horrifying, and they explore our fears of death and what awaits us in the afterlife perfectly and more importantly… they freak you the hell out. Courtesy of the intensity they bring to the moment and the surprises they inject into the story and well, in the end… all of these elements combine to create a very cerebral and haunting horror story. One that really does feature something for every horror fan out there. Because if you’re looking for hard scares, you’ll find it, and if you want gore, that’s here too. And of course, if you want deeper meaning, that’s here in spades, and that is really where this story shines. Because it finally makes grief relatable and accessible, so that we can finally start to confront our fear of it, and help people heal from one of the most difficult injuries their mind will ever experience.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Devil’s Left Hand’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the documentary being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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The horror genre is in quite the fascinating place in this day and age. For not only is it at its apex from a popularity perspective, as evidenced by the fact that horror is everywhere and doing quite well on television and in theaters… but it is also offering up some stunningly intelligent stories as well. That take the time to offer up quality and thoughtful commentary on our world and our societal problems. Not to mention, they’re going deeper as well, since so many of them now are exploring the horrors of the human psyche. To the point where the dangers of grief, trauma, and addiction are being put on display in a new light that both terrifies and teaches and well, those really are elements that are pleasing to see, since it means that horror is finally being paid the respect it deserves and is able to really show off what it can do as a genre. 
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But this of course… has come with its own price. Because horror’s versatility, includes the fact that not every scary story out is home to stunning depth and commentary. For there are a bevy of movies and shows throughout its history that offer up straight scares, or buckets of gore. In fact, one of the most important films in the genre’s storied history, The Shining (1980), can be seen as less of an allegory for generational trauma and alcoholism, and more of an experiment in fear. Since it is a non-stop ride from beginning to end. But those types of stories, those raw, in your face, horror stories have been put on the backburner in these gory salad days, so that these magnum opuses about the human condition can be put on display. But as time goes on, and the demand for horror films grow, there’s room for those types of stories to return to the forefront. In fact, one of note that recently hit the market, is The Devil’s Left Hand.

Which is a horror story… that actually takes the time to toy with the audience in a fun way. For this is a story about a couple named Cassidy and Richie, that makes the poor choice to host a séance in their new home as part of their housewarming party. Which goes just fine… until something sinister breaks through the ceremony and makes powerful threats to Richie. Which brings the séance to an end and leaves everyone briefly wondering what the hell just happened and why Richie was so rattled. For there’s no way anything serious came out of this event. But soon, the revelation that Richie heard his father’s spirit that night, and begins to see him, alongside strange happenings that begin to plague everyone that was present at the party, even the medium, puts everyone in a panic. For clearly, they’ve unleashed something powerful through a simple game, but they don’t know what… or how to put it back where it belongs.

Which is a plot that hints greatly… at a story designed to explore generational trauma and the power of it when we don’t resolve it. Since Richie’s dad was an evil man and caused great harm to Richie and his mother, and his visual return also leaves the audience wondering if by chance… he was into some scary stuff that allowed him to live forever. And all of those possibilities really seem to build toward a modern horror story. But that is nothing more than the toying we spoke of earlier. For that makes the audience comfortable and open to whatever the story has to offer and that’s when… this movie straight up shocks the viewer. For there is no deeper meaning to be found here. Just a good old-fashioned evil ghost story and that brings forth one intense and uncomfortable ride. 
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Since we quickly come to learn, these folks are dealing with a force of nature. One that doesn’t want to be reasoned with. It just wants to produce fear, and claim souls and that is what gives us an old-school horror story. One filled with eerie visuals and creepy moments. That pay homage to the classics while also leaving us on the edge of our seats. Because we simply don’t know what to expect from the story or the spirit and well, that makes this a refreshing horror film. One that really does leave your heart racing and requires little thought. It just wants to provide you with an experience, and make you squirm and worry, and truly… it is mission accomplished when it comes to all of that. But what matters most… is that the wonder of this story doesn’t end with its throwback structure and design. 

Because it also features, some fun performances. The kind that speaks to the madness this creature from beyond evokes in the poor souls it is tormenting, and it also… features some damn fine kills and gore. Which is a staple of those classics as well, and the movie does a magnificent job of turning your stomach with the splatter present here. In the end, however, all of these elements make this a delightful watch. One that you can absolutely get lost in and enjoy some fine scares and some fine splatter and in a way, while this horror feature does indeed cater to the folks that want the non-stop scares and gore, it does in fact have something for everyone. Simply because there is indeed one particular message worth nothing in this story. In that, you should never mess with spirit world, for you never know what you’ll unleash when you poke around that realm.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Sharksploitation’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the documentary being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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We live in an interesting time when it comes to shark-themed storytelling. Because in this day and age, the shark is now a larger-than-life icon on the silver and small screen. The kind that audiences flock to and celebrate out of an eagerness to see what wild sharky story they will be treated to, and well… what makes this so interesting… is that… not that long ago, sharks were viewed in a vastly different light in cinema and television. For a couple of decades back, they were feared predators. The kind that would hunt mankind out of a primal hunger for the forbidden flesh we harbor and well… that is quite the polarizing change for how sharks are viewed in entertainment, leaving one to wonder, how it all shifted so quickly. Not to mention… why were they feared so deeply?
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Which are questions that are explored and answered in a brand-new documentary on Shudder entitled, Sharksploitation. One designed to truly educate the viewer on the history of sharks in popular-culture and how they have evolved in storytelling over the past few centuries and well… that brings forth, a fascinating documentary to say the least. One that leaves no fin unturned courtesy of a comprehensive and magnificent journey. One that explores the origins of our collective fear of the shark, and how storytelling fed that to no end and exacerbated it further by way of iconic stories that made the shark our absolute worst nightmare, and it also explores… how those fears were transformed in the 1990s and the turn of the century.

Since that era brought forth a bevy of films that presented the shark in a new light. One that is/was overtly comical, courtesy of sharks that could do things that no other member of their species could. Such as say… fly through tornadoes or eat on land or… become a ghost that could eat a kid in a pool. Giving rise to moments that settle fears when we see how goofy they are when brought to life and oddly… this storytelling revolution, mixed in scientifically factual shark stories, and all of that has given life to a new era. Where sharks are both respected and feared, and that latter issue is now processed through stories that feel safe and remind us of the limitation of that fear since uh… they can only get us in the ocean and most likely… they won’t. Because they’re just big smart fish doing big smart fish things.

However, while we are provided with a fascinating journey on the history of the shark in cinema, this is a documentary that offers so much more. Since it takes the time to deeply explore each era of the shark film and spotlight a bevy of movies that few of us have ever heard of. The kind that features some amazing plots, and land-based knock offs of the classics, and feature some unsavory moments. Such as when a man died filming a shark movie, and the various atrocities filmed on camera in the name of fear and cruelty. But it is imperative to cover such elements and moments in a documentary of this caliber. So that anyone that walks away understands every aspect of this iconic horror subgenre, to truly see the bigger picture and to help this film stand as the definitive source on the history and future of the shark-themed film.
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In fact, this documentary still goes deeper to reinforce that standing, by also taking the time to feature a who’s who of experts in this story. Since we are privy to words from horror film experts, those in the field of shark related science and a bevy of creatives that have worked to bring these films to life. To properly offer us their unique perspectives on the genre, their powerful insights, and stories that we were unaware of. For instance, this writer was unaware of the fact that Peter Benchley, the writer of Jaws, who was inspired to write a story about a killer shark based on old data and news stories… changed his tune about sharks later in life when he spent time near. In fact, he eventually saw them for the gentle creatures they can be and made conservation a whole new focus in his life. 

Which are powerful insights made possible by the comprehensive nature of this documentary. Which is a testament to writer/director Stephen Scarlata’s efforts to truly put the history of this subgenre into one giant tank for all of us to swim through and disseminate, and what he has assembled, is nothing short of amazing. For this is a documentary that really opens one’s eyes to the rich history of the shark-themed film, to the point where you will indeed learn a great deal about this subgenre that you never knew before. All while celebrating what makes it so great and what makes it so important to horror. For it really is a type of film that takes the viewer on a powerful experience, one that plucks at primal fears and helps folks get over them, and the best news of all, is that you too can celebrate this subgenre and learn more about it today. For Sharksploitation is streaming now on Shudder, and we do hope you give this magnificent documentary a look… for it really is quite jaw-some.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season One Finale of ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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One particular word that often sends shivers down the spine of anyone that hears it… is forgiveness. Which is a word that one would think would instead soften one’s heart, since it speaks to a better tomorrow and freeing one’s soul of a particular pain that someone imparted upon us, but that simply isn’t the case. Because that is a word that we’ve come to learn to associate, with completely and utterly forgetting about what that person did to us, through absolution no less, and that’s terrifying. For when someone wounds us deeply, we believe they deserve none of that, just our ire and our fury and that bad things should be imparted upon them. So, forgiveness is out of the question, and what’s amazing… is that our concerns with forgiveness can lead to deep internal conflict as well.
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For we make a great deal of mistakes in life, some small, some large and the big ones… tend to stay with us. To the point where we deeply lament those mistakes and use them as fuel for improvement and we of course… rarely forgive ourselves for what we did at that point in time. To keep that reminder fresh, and the thought of letting that go is equally as unsettling, since it could mean forgetfulness would come into play and history would repeat itself. But the fact of the matter is… forgiveness is not the horrifying concept we pretend that it is. It is critical to our growth, and to not forgive can create great problems for us psychologically and in our everyday lives, and what’s equally as important to realize about forgiveness… is that it is possible to do so and not lose the lessons learned through the dark days that came our way. 

If anything, all of this is critical to our discussion today, simply because it served as the focus for both Negan and Maggie Rhee’s journey in the season one finale of The Walking Dead: Dead City, on AMC. In fact, ‘Doma Smo’, was so eager to explore this complex truth about forgiveness… that it flew through a lot of resolution. For instance, this finale wasted little time, in getting Ginny and Armstrong off the island. Courtesy of a cold admission from Negan regarding how Ginny came to be in his stead. And after that… the Hershel matter was quickly resolved. After of course, Negan discovered the double cross and spoke from his heart regarding how dirty it was and unnecessary. But it did lead to the prisoner exchange in question, and that brought Hershel back to the mainland for a powerful moment that started this grand exploration regarding forgiveness.

Because once he and mom had a moment to themselves, he let loose on her. To the point where he spoke to the reality that all she did, was fear Negan, fear trouble really. All because… she couldn’t let what happened to Glenn go. Couldn’t find forgiveness really, and those words stuck with her deeply and left her rattled because… he was right. Maggie had never forgiven the act, and she had to. For forgiveness is the only way to truly let go of the pain we carry, and that left her in a fascinating place mentally. Because we’ve never seen Maggie this reflective or this aware of her actions and her anger and well… she made a promise to Hershel that she would find release and finish this at last. For she finally came to understand that without letting go of our pain, without forgiveness, we are indeed stuck in place and will never grow, and never find peace.

As for Negan… well he came to learn a lot about forgiving oneself. Because being on the island, with the Croat, dredged up a lot of memories. Mainly because the Croat was still stuck in his Savior mentality and wanted to reminisce about the good ol’ days when Negan was bashing heads in with Lucille. And while Negan was able to acknowledge what that meant to him in the moment, this interaction taught him… that he was in this situation because he never forgave himself for the things he did. He played the martyr for his actions and did his time and of course… made efforts to repay and did heroism from time to time. But he always saw himself as the man he was, not the man he could become and that the only way forward… was self-forgiveness. For to not forgive ourselves also traps us, and leaves us doubtful of our potential, and it was fascinating to see this duo learn these lessons. 
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Simply because zombie themed storytelling rarely explores such matters, especially since the characters are forced to live in the gray and do awful things at times to see another tomorrow. But it does speak to the reality that this franchise is ready to move into new territory, and a new tomorrow where these kinds of concerns must be addressed at last. And this journey really did offer up some powerful perspective regarding how a lack of forgiveness can impact us and how hard it can be to let go of the darkness we carry in the name of strength and self-control, and this episode deserves a round of applause for exploring that and for pointing out that this is a form of self-abuse. The only question that now remains… is how quickly Negan and Maggie will be able to work upon what they’ve uncovered about themselves… since this episode did also offer up… some setup for the recently announced second season.

After all, we came to learn in this story, that the mysterious Dama that wants and needs the old Negan back in the saddle… is one step ahead of Negan and ready to apply whatever pressure to keep him going. Since she took the time to befriend Hershel and grow trust between them so she could take his toe. Which was to serve as a reminder that she could get to him again and do far worse if Negan did not comply, since she sensed his newfound humanity. Plus, there appears to be another old-world problem brewing in the new one. Since Armstrong’s debriefing was less about Negan and more about… the methane production plants that the Croat built. For New Babylon wants resources badly, and humanity has enjoyed the fruits of resources for quite the long time and letting it all go after the apocalypse will clearly be no easy task.

A move that sets the stage for war in season two, between New Babylon and the Dama’s Manhattan fiefdom, alongside more character studies and growth for Negan and Maggie and well… that’s going to make the wait for that new season quite difficult. But that aside, we do need to celebrate this brilliant season finale, and an equally as brilliant season. For this show really did usher in a bold new era for The Walking Dead Universe. Courtesy of its wonderful focus on the characters, its new location and desire to really challenge these characters in a new and dynamic manner, through bold and intimate storytelling, and that really did bring about one engaging season. The kind that left us eager for more and finally showed off the true potential of this franchise when it removes itself from the comics and it will be quite interesting to see what incredible moments await us in year two, when we return to this Isle of the Dead with two characters we absolutely adore. Until next time.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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With so many incredible scientific discoveries being made every year, do you ever wonder what discoveries we are not told about? As there are plenty of rules and regulations on how and what the scientist can experiment on, it is easy to believe that there are some rogue scientists out there that will not allow these rules to get in their way. With these scientists going off on their own paths to discovery, we are left in the dark as to what they are really doing and what effect it could have on the rest of us. Just a little food for thought if you were not having enough to stress about in this day and age.
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Checking out the reports from the previous night, researcher Lucinda spots an anomaly in her sharks’ numbers that does not make sense. Seeing that two sharks somehow escaped the facility and made their way back an hour later, she puts in a call to her boss Dr. Foster to show him the report. With all of the sharks accounted for however, Foster does not believe that this is a cause for concern but as a precaution, he puts in a call to his boss Dr. Lorca to give him the chilling news. With the tests going well, Lorca suggests keeping an eye on the situation, but that might not be enough when the sharks start breaking out on the regular. 

As a day has passed, Lucinda sees that there are three less sharks in the holding pen and Foster believes that it is time for his employee to be put into the loop. Putting Lucinda in front of his boss, she is now part of the underground scientific research that is really taking place in the facility. With secret orders for Foster to execute after they leave the facility, Foster kills all of the other test subjects in the facility and he is ready to go hunting for the sharks that have escaped. With Lucinda in tow and some additional information revolving around everything that needs to be done on his end, Foster has another secret of his own that will come to fruition sooner or later.

With the sharks all having a tracking beacon attached, the hunt should go off without a hitch, and with special laser guns, Lucinda and Foster should be able to eliminate the threat before anyone takes notice.  Being able to track their first shark inland further than it should have been, Foster comes out with more information about the experiments, in that, the sharks can be out of the water for longer than ever. Taking out their first target, the two move onto the next one and come across what appears to be an abandoned cabin, but little do they know that the experimental sharks are not only able to move freely on land, but they are super smart as well.

I will be first to say that the effects in this movie were not the best, but that being said, they did a great job with what they had to work with and I loved the blood splatter. The storyline took a little different turn as you find out that the tests that were being run on the sharks were to make an unstoppable fighting force that can fight on land or sea, which was pretty cool. Then you get to find out that the sharks are not the only test subjects, and it quickly becomes apparent that the world is going to be in big trouble if all of the test subjects are not eliminated. With random Land Shark killings, some blood, a photo session gone wrong, some more blood, a trip to the pool, some more blood and a trip that takes you into the hills that reveals more secrets as to what is going on in the long haul, if you go into the movie with an open mind and wild imagination, this might be more enjoyable than you expected. Stay Scared.

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the show being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say that everyone’s San Diego Comic-Con Experience has been vastly different in 2023. For the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes have changed the dynamic of how shows are presented this year, since no stars or creative writers were present to speak about their upcoming projects and rightfully so. Since they’re on the picket lines fighting for better wages and better job security, which they absolutely deserve. But it did mean, that announcements and news regarding shows, and movies had to be handled differently and, in this instance, a great deal of what we learned this year about what’s coming up and what’s changing came about via simple presentations.

The kind that featured trailers and graphics and quick hit videos and those came at fans at SDCC and on the internet in a rapid-fire fashion, and one particular franchise that offered up a bevy of quick hitting video announcements, was The Walking Dead Universe. For AMC Networks had a lot of good news to share with its fans. Such as the fact that The Walking Dead: Dead City, has been given a second season order, as has The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, well before the show has even aired. And that news was followed by a full-length trailer for season one of Daryl’s new solo show… and the news and announcements didn’t end there.

For we also came to learn this weekend the release date for the back half of the final season of Fear the Walking Dead, which will happen on October 22nd, and of course… we finally came to learn a little more about the forthcoming Rick and Michonne spin-off series. For instance, it will not be titled Rick & Michonne as originally expected. It instead, will be titled The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, and it will indeed be coming to the airwaves in 2024, and that announcement… also had something more for the fans. Courtesy of a powerful teaser that spoke to a powerful TWD show and well… in case you missed those trailers and teasers or you’re like us and watch them an unhealthy number of times, here they are for you to enjoy, as you work to process all this news from the world of The Walking Dead.

This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the documentary being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It is definitely safe to say that each and every one of us… feared encountering a shark when we were younger. In fact, some folks believed that perhaps one would find them in the bathtub or the pool. Because sharks outright scared the living daylights out of us, for we simply thought that an encounter with them would result in pain and suffering. For they also harbored the label of maneaters, creatures that would go wild when hungry for human flesh and well… what we don’t really think about all that much regarding this fear… is the genesis of our terror. But we should.

Because there is likely a common origin, we all share in the matter, specifically… horror movies. For the genre is filled to the brim with shark-themed horror features that utterly terrified us and left us fearful of sharks and their carnivorous potential and well… with a celebration of Shark nearly upon us, Shudder thought now would be the right time to bring forth a fin-tastic documentary about shark-themed horror films and their impact upon the genre and our lives, entitled, Sharksploitation, which will make its debut on July 21, 2023. And to prepare you for what is going to be the deFINitive word on this particular monster’s relationship with the genre, Shudder released a jaw-some trailer for this documentary, and some details regarding it, that we are happy to share with all of you.

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, released today the trailer for the new documentary, Sharksploitation from filmmaker Stephen Scarlata. In the wake of blockbuster classic Jaws, a new subgenre was born. This new documentary explores the weird, wild cinematic legacy of sharks on film and the world’s undying fascination. The film features multiple interviews including of Roger Corman, producer of Sharktopus and Dinoshark; Joe Dante, who directed Corman’s Piranha; Carl Gottlieb, writer of Jaws 1, 2 and 3; Johannes Roberts, director of 47 Meters Down, and Mario Van Pebbles, who starred in Jaws the Revenge along with marine and environmental conservation advocate Wendy Benchley, who was married to late Jaws, author Peter Benchley.
 
Produced by Scarlata, Kerry Deignan Roy (Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist), and Josh Miller (Sonic the Hedgehog), the feature-length documentary examines the sub-genre of sharksploitation films, from Corman’s 1958 She Gods of Shark Reef, to the release of Jaws, and the subsequent knockoffs.

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, Australia and New Zealand. For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.
 
About AMC+  
AMC+ is the company’s new premium streaming bundle featuring an extensive lineup of popular and critically acclaimed original programming from AMC, BBC America, IFC, and SundanceTV and full access to targeted streaming services Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited, which feature content such as A Discovery of Witches, Creepshow, and Boyhood. The service features a continually refreshed library of commercial-free content, with iconic series from the AMC Networks portfolio including Mad Men, Halt & Catch Fire, Hell on Wheels, Turn: Washington’s Spies, Rectify, Portlandia, and series from The Walking Dead Universe, among many others. The service also offers a growing slate of original and exclusive series including Gangs of London, This is Going to Hurt, Dark Winds, and the first two series in a new Anne Rice universe, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches. With new movies released every Friday, AMC+ is the newest destination for exclusive film premieres direct from theaters all year long. AMC+ is available in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Korea, and Spain and is available in the U.S. through AMCPlus.com, the AMC+ app, and a number of digital and cable partners.’

This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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​As life continues to get more and more out of control, it is easy to forget what is most important, family. With everything that is going on, you can find yourself missing your kid’s soccer matches, or blanking out on an anniversary and these are the things that make life worth living. While your absence can be understood by the impacted parties, these are the moments that you will never get back and you might find yourself regretting it as you get older. Knowing the importance of making a living so you and your family can afford to live is important, but there is something to be said for being there for them as well, since we only get one shot at this life.
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Watching his daughter celebrate her eighth birthday in perfect fashion, Damon is reminded by his Padre that he has a job to do later on in the night. Putting Caroline to bed with some loving antics, Damon is forced to break the news to his wife that he will be working again. Begging him to put that life behind him, Damon explodes into a tirade about what he is trying to protect the world from and heads off into the night. Meeting up with Padre and Cy to try and bring their friend Dale back from the dark side, nobody knows what is awaiting them at Damon’s house when the job is done. As a demonic force has taken over his wife, Damon tries to exorcise her, but when that fails, her life is taken away from him and his daughter. 

Years have passed, and Damon is living the good life on the beach when he gets a visit from Padre who has something on his mind that he is extremely worried about. As Caroline’s eighteenth birthday is on the horizon, Padre fears that she will suffer the same fate that Damon did back during the war many years ago. Knowing that his daughter is strong, even though she is not living with him, Damon is not willing to accept that this will be her fate. But the signs are showing for Padre, and he is able to get his old exorcist friend to come along on one final exorcism with him for his daughter’s sake.

Growing up in a border town, Caroline has been able to fit in with any crowd that she wants, but now things are getting easier for her. Being able to manipulate anyone to her will, she finds an unsuspecting boy to come to her birthday party with her, even though he barely knows her. As she has turned older and the demon inside of her is ready to collect souls, she racks up a few at the party, but has no idea what is waiting at home for her. Seeing that the demon that has taken his daughter is the same one that took his wife, Damon wants to handle the situation as calmly as possible, but with his daughter’s life on the line, there is nothing he will not do to bring her back to the light.

A twist that I have not seen in an exorcism movie before, demons battling demons with the church standing behind it, that is something new for sure. While I would have liked to get a little deeper into the background of the war vet Damon and understand what caused him to become a demon hybrid, he was nothing short of amazing when it came to exorcising demons. Caroline really stole the show and appears to have the demon taking over her more often than not, especially when a soul needs to be collected, but that is not all she wants as taking blood from the victims seems to be important as well. With a demon exorcist, a dysfunctional team, some shady friendships, some blood, some lust, and a demon that refuses to go back to hell, this movie is a pretty good spin on the genre. While I don’t know one way or another if possessions are real, I will now steer clear of anyone that has their eyes changing colors on a regular basis. Stay Scared.

This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.

One important lesson that we are forced to learn time and time again in this life, is that we simply must approach difficult times and major problems we encounter, with a level head. Because when we don’t… disaster strikes, and that disaster is often how we initially learn this lesson. Since the mess that follows our emotional outburst or desire to forge ahead without thinking when the going gets tough, speaks to a reality where a level head and calmness would have solved so much of the problem at hand, and likely would have led to a prompt resolution of the matter. So, we swear to ourselves that we won’t let that happen again when life and a moment overwhelms us, and oddly enough that promise… why we learn this lesson over and over.
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Because let’s be honest… in the moment, when emotions rush high and our nerves our frazzled, we will break that promise, and just let our emotions get the better of us and approach the problem with fire in our hearts. Or we will just push forward once again and hope for the best and create a new mess for us to clean up and bring forth a revisiting of the lesson at hand. For we are only human, and we are always tied to our feelings and that does beg the question… if it will be ever possible for us to truly overcome such foolishness and approach everything with a level head and in reality… it is. it just takes one hell of an ugly moment or tough situation to hammer it home. The kind that happens to be life and death, as evidenced by the plot of the brand-new Shudder horror feature, Quicksand.

For this is a story that introduces us to a couple in the midst of a supremely stressful situation. Because Sofia and Josh are preparing to divorce and they sadly… are spending more time with one another than they care for. Thanks in large part to a medical conference they are both attending, since they are experts in their field, but also because they’re stuck in a singular hotel room while they also work on important speeches for their field, and well… this nearly breaks them. Because it really is a lot and too much to bear and that prompts Sofia to take part in a risky hike to just get away from it all and enjoy some nature to clear her head. Which is a journey that Josh opts to part in as well for safety’s sake and well… his presence and the surprise arrival of a thief, only adds to the stress and leads them down a scary path. One where their attempt to flee the thief, plunges them both into a pool of quicksand, wherein they must now figure out how to survive or call for help before nature and hunger claims their lives.

Which is at first glance, a plot that appears grounded in a series of unfortunate events. Because everything leading up to this couple’s plunging into quicksand does seem like a bunch of bummers. But when one really looks at the characters and their actions, it quickly becomes apparent that this is indeed a story that explores the real dangers of acting on impulse in the midst of a crisis. Because this couple is outright stressed out in this story, and more or less at their breaking point mentally. Which pushes them to forgo the help of a local friend who knows what to look for in Colombia, and the local customs and concerns, and just be reckless and impulsive, and that does bring about disaster. Hammering home, the dangers of letting our emotions build and guide us during a stressful time, while pointing out that it might have to be a moment this harrowing to make the age-old lesson stick, since there is awareness of their missteps as this ugly reality plays out for them.
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Because aside from that lesson… this couple goes through utter hell in that quicksand. After all, they find unwholesome surprises within it, and must contend with the dangers of mother nature from a weather and an animal perspective. Plus, they only have each other for comfort and they’re broken as is, and that leads… to some genuine horror in this tale. The kind that puts you on the edge of your seat and makes you nervous every step of the way. Because you’re as helpless as Sofia and Josh, and that brings about some ugly moments, the kind that leave you wondering whether or not this couple will survive this harrowing and ugly ordeal. As to whether or not they do… we won’t spoil here. Because that would ruin the ending and cheapen the experience of a genuinely terrifying and intelligent film.

One that truly preys upon a lost memory that many of us shared in collectively. Since so many of us (this writer included), were terrified of quicksand growing up, and we all thought we would encounter it and be in this situation. And that really does unsettle you and oddly… it lends to the majesty of the central theme since one could cite the quicksand they fall into, as an allegory for the quicksand the mind creates when we let emotions drive us and push us forward. But what matters most, is that this is a refreshing horror/thriller feature when all is said and done. Courtesy of the fact that it offers up a unique scenario to create the horror in question and equally unique moments to elicit fear in our souls and you simply cannot go wrong with a horror feature that takes the time to be inventive in this manner, all while reminding us of the importance of taking the time to think before we leap.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘The Walking Dead: Dead City’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article was also written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say… that the AMC series, The Walking Dead: Dead City, is nothing short of a greatest hits celebration of what makes The Walking Dead Universe so great. After all, the quality character development the saga is known for is present here. Not to mention, the living dead are a genuine and terrifying threat in this series, and we always love a good scare. And this saga also includes the action and adventure the franchise is known for, and there’s nothing wrong with going this route, since it has brought forth an enjoyable experience. If anything, the only traditional element missing in this particular tale to date, are the great big twists the Universe is known for as well… but all of that changed during last night’s episode. For the twist and everything else we crave about the TWD Universe worked its way into ‘Stories We Tell Ourselves’, and that made for one incredible and stunning tale. 
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One that further pondered upon the future of Negan. Because for some time now, we’ve been wondering as to whether or not he might find redemption in this tale or at least start moving toward it… and that latter element played out in this particular tale. Because he spent a lot of time on the streets of Manhattan with Armstrong, all in an effort to get to the Chelsea docks. All because Armstrong knew they could detach it from the island and set sail for the mainland. Getting them out of this nightmare city of the dead and back toward New Babylon, wherein Negan would of course be turned over to the authorities. But before that could happen… they had to contend with the walking dead. Who took the time to remind us that Manhattan is a busy, and bustling city full of millions upon millions of ghouls, since they were nearly overwhelmed by the many corpses following them.

Which put them into hiding in a very strange place, wherein clearly someone lost their minds at the end of everything before making a hard call about what their future should look like and this place… served as the catalyst for the beginning of Negan’s redemption. Because while he and Armstrong were roaming about this shelter, Negan saw an opportunity to use the downtime and situation to his advantage to escape, with a roaming walker no less, by tossing that ghoul into Armstrong and high tailing it out of there in the belief that Armstrong would handle his own. Which he did, but he ripped his wound open in the process and despite the pain he caused, Negan instead decided… to preserve life and get them to a safe place. Wherein Armstrong finally opened up with the understanding that Negan wasn’t what he appeared to be, and well… this was wonderful to see. Since it really was Negan doing some good for a change and trying to be honorable, and that speaks volumes to the reality that he is indeed working to redeem himself. 

All of which, brought forth that quality character development we love, and hints of terror. Since that sequence did feature a lot of walkers and the scares didn’t end there. After all, Maggie and her merry band of escapees were beneath the city in the very, very disgusting sewer system. Wherein we saw the Croat’s methane factory in action and endured some nausea inducing biology, courtesy of decomposing bodies and a pile of flesh that would have fit right into the movie Fight Club, since it could have been used as the basis for a new line of post-apocalyptic all natural soaps. And of course… danger was obviously at every corner in this tomb, since there were moving fingers and shifting piles of bodies, and traitors in the midst of everyone. For we also came to learn that Tomassao was in fact, the one that sold everyone out, leaving Maggie to wonder if they were going to survive or if he was going to harm them further, and she would have to put him down. 

But thankfully, there was no violence left him in, just one last act of heroism when the dead finally made themselves apparent. An act that went nowhere since the dead tore him and Amaia apart, leaving Maggie and Ginny to face the dead on their own… and that’s really where the true scares came into play. Since Maggie and Ginny encountered a hot spot of the dead near their exit, and that brought forth a nightmare inducing walker. One that was made out of many. Since the decomposition process in this place brought forth a fusing of multiple walkers into one giant body. Giving rise to a super-walker that was near impossible to fight since heads and teeth and mottled hands were everywhere swiping at Maggie. But she is of course, one of the greatest warriors to grace this franchise and shed the fear this creature inspired to find its weak points… and bring it down… and well, this was quite the terrifying and unsettling and gross sequence, and kudos to the show for getting back to its gory and scary roots in this epic manner.
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However, there was mention of surprises in this tale, and those came later in this story. In fact, there were two juicy twists to be found in this tale, one of which involved the Croat. Since we came to learn… he’s not the one in charge of this madness, and not the true heavy. Instead, he works for a mysterious woman that loves the finer things in life and wants the island to be formed into her own designs, and she too… wants Negan in Manhattan. Out of the belief that perhaps Negan can be turned back toward evil, to help her preserve the utopia she believes she has created with the Croat. Which truly was quite the surprise, since everything pointed to the Croat being the King of New York. But he is just the pawn to his Queen, no more than the blunt instrument that Negan saw him to be, and well… this little surprise and this interesting dynamic… turned out to be related to the other big reveal in this story. One that involved Maggie Rhee.

For she has spent this entire series to date, speaking to the Croat’s cruelty and working to sell Negan as untrustworthy in this tale, but also the only person that can help her, get Hershel home. only for us to learn… she hasn’t been telling us the truth. For on the fateful night that Hershel was taken, it wasn’t the raid she spoke of, one full of theft and carnage. It was instead, nothing more than a bold request. Where Maggie would lose her son for a time, so that she would find Negan, and deliver him to the Croat. So, all of this time… Maggie has been telling lies to get her son back, adding a dark wrinkle to the age-old question, ‘how far would you go to protect your family?’ and this created a new chapter for Maggie Rhee as well. One where she is clearly sliding back a bit in her healing process because of all the darkness this whole event has drudged up. Giving rise to the reality, that she hasn’t put in all the work needed to heal just yet, and she will have to make a decision soon, as to whether or not she will commit to that work.

Because Ginny was able to deploy the emergency flare that she and Negan agreed upon to use if distress came into play, and Negan did see it. Meaning that the truth will be exposed quite soon and well, it will be interesting to see what Negan does when he discovers that his ally… someone he has tried desperately to make amends with on his road to redemption, is out to cause him great harm. But that aside, this really was one amazing episode. Because all the greatest hits played out well, and this one took us on an emotional rollercoaster through and through, and well… now that we’ve reached the end of this breathtaking tale, all that awaits is one big finale. One where decisions that will have lasting implications upon lives and souls will be made, and it will be interesting to see if better angels win the day when we settle in for the season one finale. Until next time.