Moving into a new place can be exciting for many different reasons, but not all of them can be good. While there are the folks out there that want to live in a legit haunted house, they may not know what exactly they are getting themselves into. It can be a fun novelty to have things move around the house by an unseen force, but not knowing what that force is, can leave more questions than answers. It is always good to be questioning what or who is moving around you unseen, but if you find out who or what it actually is, will it be too late?
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Sara Jacobs is beyond psyched to be living in her new apartment, not for the fact that it is a new place, but because there is something hidden in the shadows living there with her, that is moving a glass when she is not looking. Live streaming this for the world to see after setting down the glass, she pans around the apartment and back to the place where it was, and it is gone. Hearing a knock from one of the cabinets, she takes her phone over to show the world that the glass has been moved by an unseen force. Being more excited than frightened, Sara has no idea that the entity has planned next for her.

After watching the footage, Sara’s friend Steph sends her a link on how to exercise demons from her apartment. Not truly understanding what trouble she might be in; Sara spots a box that is out of place with the name Emma written on it. Calling the moving company to get the box taken back, since it is obviously not hers, Sara hears a knock at the door, yet finds no one there. Looking back at her unpacked boxes, she is shocked to see them thrown about with no rhyme or reason. Not giving it a second thought, Sara heads off to bed, but finds it will not be a restful evening when the knocking starts again, but this time there is someone looking to collect from the new tenant, in something other than money.

This is a cool little horror short, it has everything that you are looking for when it comes to getting to the point right away. Not wanting to accept that the thing that is living alongside her in her new apartment might be evil in nature, Sara is looking to have a good time with it instead. Even with the warnings coming her way from her friend, Sara is not disturbed by anything other than the wrongly labeled box for Emma, which may have more meaning to it than she will ever know. With a moving glass, some strange knocking, some disheveled boxed, an incorrect box, a shadowy figure and a moving company that leaves plenty to be desired, this short will surely leave your hair standing on end. Stay Scared.

See ‘Emma’ on Amazon Prime Video.

Superstitions are a great way of explaining why things happen without even thinking about science or why they really happened. Step on a crack, break your mother’s back, that is one of my favorite ones from growing up and to this day, I avoid doing it at all costs. There are many cultures that believe in their superstitions and will not even think about any other reason as to why things happen. While science is based on fact and will never agree with what these cultures believe in, it does not matter to them, they have been around much longer and know what the truth is.

Doctor Margo Green is ready to find out about her grant that she has been fighting for upon coming to work at the Chicago Natural History Museum, but when her boss, Doctor Cuthbert, sees her, she receives some news. Finding out that her co-worker, Greg Lee has also applied for the same grant, Margo is beside herself and wants to make sure that he understands why. With her research hanging in the balance and the biggest gala in the Museum's history coming up, she will have to find a way to convince the investors to go with her. But things are changing in the museum very quickly as she is finding out and her research will always take a backseat to those who are bringing in the customers.

When seeing the boxes that just arrived from South America for another one of her colleagues, Margo is curious as to what could be inside. Sifting through the boxes, she finds the head of an ancient god, but that does not interest her as much as the box that only houses packing leaves. Seeing a fungus on them, Margo wants to identify what it could be and why it would have been shipped all the way to the museum with such haste. Little does she know what she will find and how it relates to a murder that has taken place in the museum overnight.

Lieutenant D’Agosta is working on the case since it bears resemblance to the murders he has been checking out that took place on a freighter. With the heads of the victims being removed, he knows that there has to be a connection and thinking that it might be drug related, he has to follow his gut. D’Agosta wants to ensure that he museum is safe for the employees and will allow the gala to take place at the Mayor’s request, but will have to shut everything down to protect the public. Finding and killing a violent homeless man in the sub-basement seems to be the answer to who the killer is, but as the police quickly find out, there is something a little more sinister running around the museum that cannot be stopped in the conventional manner. 
 
I really want to say that this is a great monster movie, but there is one problem with saying that, I don’t think the creatures are really monsters. Although the creature may not be human, or reptile, it just does not feel like the big scary monsters that we are used to. That does not take anything away from the movie at all, just a thought. I really liked how the storyline played out in this one since everyone is looking for the actual killer and are not willing to believe that it could be something from our nightmares. It all comes down to what science can explain, but as D’Agosta makes sure everyone knows, is that he has his superstitions about working a case and making the correct bust when the time is right. Although the movie does not have all of the blood I would have liked, the pacing is great and when you get to see someone taken by the beast, you get a shot into what it means to be killed by a creature that wants you for your mind. Stay Scared.

When going to college you are left without any sort of income and most of the time, there is not much help that your parents can give you since they are paying for your schooling. Most college students are able to find a way to make some extra money to pay for additional expenses by getting a job, but with all of the schoolwork you have, you do not want to double down on your responsibilities. Finding quick work is hard, but if you are able to pick up a babysitting job or something like that, it works out better since not all of your time will be monopolized by having to do actual work when not being able to hit the books.

Samantha is looking to move off of campus since her roommate has taken over the room and is bringing boys over all the time. Needing to get away, she finds a house off campus to rent, that will give her room and more importantly, quiet so she can study. Needing to find a way to pay for this opportunity, Samantha sees that there is a babysitting job posted on the job board that she might be able to take advantage of. Calling the number, she gets the person's answering machine, but when she walks away from the phone, it starts to ring.

Talking to the man on the other end, Samantha is offered the job since it is of great importance to him. Telling her to meet him by the front hall on campus, she sits and waits, but nobody comes to talk to her. Knowing that she has been blown off, she starts to try to find another way to make money, but getting a message that the man called back, she is willing to give it another chance. Having her friend, Megan drive her out to the house, Samantha is told to get out of the job several times, but she will not listen since she needs the money. Arriving at the house, she is told that the job is not taking care of a kid, but the man’s mother. Knowing this is out of the ordinary, the man offers her four hundred dollars to do the job since it is very important to him and he cannot miss the eclipse that will be taking place tonight.

Samantha wants to leave, but the money is too good to pass up so she agrees. Getting a couple of extra bucks for dinner, she is on her own in the large house and looking for something to keep her entertained. Calling Megan, she is surprised that there is no answer on the other end and starts to wonder what has happened to her friend. As the night progresses, Samantha starts to explore the house and finds a strange group of photos in the closet that show the man and his wife standing alongside a much older car than what they had in their driveway. Thinking this is odd, Samantha starts to snoop a little bit more around the house and starts to see that there is something stranger happening and that this is not a normal babysitting job, and once the eclipse starts to take place, she will have to battle for her life in order to leave the house.

When the movie starts, you do not know what to expect in the way of how the story will play out. I am a big believer that if the story is strong, even in a horror movie, the movie will not disappoint and that is what happened in this one, since it did not disappoint at all. Knowing as much as your main character is fun since you will not be able to yell at them to do or not to do something as their impending doom is right in front of them. Being shot in more of a campy manor does not hurt as well as this movie was made in 2009, and it had more of a classic 80s. You get your blood, your scares and a bearded stranger that is an important part of the movie since he is the only one that can tell you what is really going on. Stay Scared.

It can be interesting to see where your mind was when you were a child. With a different type of storytelling, not judged by anyone but yourself, you could pull ideas out of anywhere without fear. But what if those stories you were telling yourself, or your family, had an ounce of truth to them, much less a look into your future? It is hard to remember what you were thinking when writing your stories back in the day and it could not hurt to pull them out and try to get back into the same mind set, just don’t be too frightened with what you might find.

Getting back from his nightly run, Beto checks his mail and finds a letter from his mother. Opening it up and finding an old book that he wrote when he was seven, he gives his mother a call to thank her for sending it. With the title of the book being, Where Monster Hides, Beto is shocked at how dark the book really is, but remembers he was in therapy when he wrote it. As his mom gets a call from her sister, Beto lets her go and starts reading the old instructions on where the monster hides.
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With the first passage involving the kitchen, where it is sticky, Beto checks out under the sink to see that he has a leaky bottle of cleaning solution. Cleaning that up, he moves to his bedroom, but something starts to catch his eye as the bedspread in his book matches exactly to the one that is on his current bed.  Checking under the bed to make sure that the monster was not hiding there, Beto continues with his nightly routine and goes to brush his teeth. Reading the next passage that has to do with the shower, once again he notices that the illustrations in his book match exactly to what his shower curtains are.  Turning off the light, Beto notices a movement coming from the curtains and it continues until he gets up the nerve to check it out. Finding nothing and getting a call back from his mother, Beto is not afraid to admit that he is a little on edge, but his mother is there to walk him through to the end. Sending one more late night text to remind Beto to call her if things get too scary in the last chapter, Beto feels the need to finish the book, but has no idea what that may entail.

Just a basic story designed to remind you and warn you about what you might have seen as a child and how you would have protected yourself, whether it be in writing, or hiding behind your mom. It always seems that kids are more in tune to what is really going on around them than adults, who just shut it off. Admitting to himself that he was a bit dark as a child, Beto has laid out the road map to where the monster hides, but little did he know that it would be looking for him in his adult life. With some rhyming verses, something sticky, something grabby, something showery, something closetey, and something in the darky, this horror short really hits all the places the monster should be hiding and lets just pray that it does not come to find us all after watching. Stay Scared.

See ‘Where Monster Hides’ on Amazon Prime Video.  

As scientists continue to move forward, there are plenty of things that will never be known when it comes to what they are experimenting upon. Everyone has their own field and are striving to take their research to the next level and hopefully they are abiding by the rules that are put in front of them and keeping it in the lab until it is safe to unleash it on the public. I have seen small body parts, extra-large vegetables and a new breed of rat grown, and all to make the world a better place, but there are plenty more experiments happening that the public will never know about until they are cleared and released on the public, for better or worse.

Tyler is loving his current situation, feeding off of his father’s success. As his father is concerned about the betterment of his company, he wants to see his son take it over one day and even though Tyler does not want the responsibility right now, he has to listen to what his father is saying. While the lumber company is doing well, even reforesting the areas that they have been chopping down, they still get picketed by the forest activists and it is causing headaches all around. But the problem is not the activists harassing their employees, it is the activists getting too close to an area where genetic testing is taking place.

Wanting to keep their profits up, the company has formulated a new gene that lessens the grow time of trees by one third. Not knowing what this will really do in the field, they have a couple of scientists keeping track on the growth and making sure nothing out of the ordinary is occurring with their experiment. As Carter and his friend are always in the loggers’ way, they have come across a tree that looks to be fully grown in just two years of being planted. Taking their samples back to the camp, the two discover that there is something wrong with the sap, as the tree is producing too much, but that not being a cause for alarm, they send their findings back to the main lab for further testing and go on with their day.

But there is something deadly wrong with the sap of the genetically altered trees as the lumber jacks find out the hard way. As one man cuts down the test tree, he receives an open wound from his chainsaw and the sap sneaks into his system causing him to go mad and try to attack/bite anyone around him. Not knowing what is happening, the logger’s leader, Mac, gathers up his prized men and tries to get to safety. Back at the office, the lack of communication from the lumber camp has them worried and to make sure nothing is wrong, Tyler is sent to investigate. Finding nothing but death at the camp, Tyler encounters one of the infected, but is saved by one of the survivors and brought to their safe house. But that is just the beginning as they need to get out of the infected area before being bit, or worse, get locked in.

What makes this movie special to me? The corporate America aspect of how the decisions are made based upon what is the best for the business. Knowing how this works on many levels, it puts a big smile on my face to see how it could play out in real life. With everyone in the office worrying about the stock prices dropping and the news getting out about a failed experiment, they don’t care about what they caused or that their employees are trapped. Watching as the president of the company has to cope with not being able to try to save his son is just sad, but that is the only care that anyone has for the people that are trapped in the field. I would hope that the loss of human life would come into consideration if an experiment like this ever went wrong, but if it was not sanctioned by the government, I highly doubt that anything would be done. Stay Scared.

It can be difficult to know who to believe at times. While you are told to always listen to your elders, you never know if what they are telling you is true or not. As times continue to change and facts get distorted by those who want to deny them, we can at least all agree on some absolute truths. Like how the platypus is still one of the strangest animals that wattles on the planet. Speaking of odd animals, it is also true that that are some other creatures that we have no idea how to identify, as they have been long since forgotten. As times change and we continue to make new discoveries of old things that have been erased from the record, we should not be surprised in the slightest if we discover that there is an ancient good or evil that always surrounds us.
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After losing his parents to a random car explosion, Father Doug Jones is being comforted by his elder, Father Stewart, who poses a challenge to his faith. Challenging Doug to travel to the place where the Lord is least likely to follow, Doug leaves on a trip that takes him across the globe to China. While on his new path, Doug knows that there is little for him to fear, but after watching a female villager get shot by an arrow, he jumps into action, to at least comfort her until the very end. Getting handed an artifact as a payment of thanks, Doug has no idea what powers he just inherited in the far off land.

A year has passed, and Doug is still having the same nightmare about the woman dying in his arms and an evil inside of him that he might not be able to stop. With Father Stewart’s words not helping him get past this, Doug takes a walk and tries to free himself from the feelings of dread and his strange newfound appetite for flesh. Passing by the local hooker Carol, Doug once again pays her no mind, as she is of sin. But as night falls and Carol’s life is threatened, Father Doug jumps into action, but not as himself, but as a relic from the past. Waking up and seeing Carol sitting on the end of the bed, Father Doug is forced to ask himself an important question, have his vows been tarnished? But instead he comes to discover that what happened last night was something far more fantastical, since he has gained the ability to turn into a flesh hungry dinosaur.

With Carol by his side, the man of the cloth is forced to read into the history books of dinosaurs to try and understand his true power. As the days go by and he takes out Carol’s pimp for all of the sinning he is happy to admit to, Carol is able to convince Father Doug that he can do more good than evil as the dinosaur and take out all of the crime on the streets. As more and more evil is removed by the VelociPastor, Wei Chan takes notice that his drugs are no longer being as effectively sold and that is not only a bad thing for him, but for his silent partners in crime. Sending a hit squad of ninjas to take out the beast, Doug is forced to come to grips that being the only one of his kind will come at a price, one that goes beyond upholding his vows to the Christian faith.

Okay, so let’s just get this out of the way right now, if you are looking for a deep meaning in The VelociPastor, you might be barking up the wrong tree. But if you are looking for an 80s throwback and an ultimate B movie, well, you are in the right place. With some hokey practical effects and a ton of one liners from all the actors, you will find yourself laughing much more than shying away from what is really happening on the screen. With an ancient artifact, plenty of dinosaur biting, evil being destroyed, ninjas, blood, swords, nun chucks, blood and a couple montages to take you back to the peak 80s B movie revolution, you are in for a treat. Anytime a movie is more than open to make fun of itself, it is hard to go wrong, in a good way. Stay Scared.

​Finding someone to take care of your house has to be one of the hardest things to do. Putting your trust into a complete stranger is very difficult even when they are not around your things, but when they will be in charge of maintaining them, forget it. I have a hard-enough time letting someone grab something off of the top shelf at the grocery store, just imagining them with my things, nope, I will have to pass. But once you find that person that you can trust and believe that they are well worth your time, well that means that you have found a keeper, never let them go!

Grace is having a difficult time keeping up and has been forced to hire some servants to look after the house, along with her children while her husband is away at war. When the doorbell rings, Grace meets Mrs. Mills, Mr. Tuttle and Lydia are finds out they are ready to accept that challenge. Feeling at home with the group, Grace has a stack of rules about the house, especially when it comes to her children, Ann and Nicholas. Since the children were born photosensitive, they cannot be exposed to the light of the sun, so the house must be dark at all times to ensure their safety. Mrs. Mills understands this and will do anything to help the children, but she is holding a secret of her own.

Finding the ad that was supposed to be sent to the local paper, Grace calls out Mrs. Mills on how she and her crew got the notification that their services were needed. Mrs. Mills comes clean and admits that she and her crew worked at the house many years ago and were just hoping to find work. Accepting her honesty, Grace allows the crew to continue working at the house, but she is starting to feel uneasy as some strange things are starting to happen. Ann has been known to tell stories about ghosts in her room and has been told to stop since such ideas are not allowed under the religious outlook of the house. But Ann knows what she has seen and now the spirits are starting to run around the house and are not hiding any longer.

When Grace hears shuffling above her seat, she goes to yell at Lydia about the noise, but when she sees that her young housekeeper is outside, she believes that there is someone else in the house. Searching high and low with no corner free from sunlight, the house is empty and that only means one thing, that the house is haunted. With talk about getting the local preacher to come out and bless the house, Grace decides to take matters into her own hands and starts off to town. As the weather turns worse and the fog bank refuses to lift, Grace sees a familiar silhouette in the distance, her husband. Not letting the situation pass her by, Grace brings her children’s father home only to find that he is not the man she remembers him being. When the only question he asks is about the one time that Grace had lost her mind in the house causing all of her previous staff to leave, she is ashamed, even when he has to leave again. Strange things continue to happen around the house and with a drawing from Ann, Grace is able to find out who might actually be causing these occurrences…or so she thinks.

Watching this movie now, versus from when it first came out, I have much more respect for it. I was never a fan of the dual story taking place and that is exactly what is happening, but it is hidden well if you don’t know what to look for. I am a huge proponent for forcing all of the big names in Hollywood to star in at least one horror film, just so they can get a feel for what it looks like to be scared, at least once. The story takes twists and turns and I hate to say it, but Ann has to steal the show for me, even though she is a little b*word to her little brother all throughout. I hated her and that is what makes the role so good for her. I cannot find anything bad to say about this movie, other than the ending is not what I expected, but it was good either way. Just a short trip back in time when things were easier, I guess is what makes this movie so good, that or Nichole Kidman is a good actress, you be the judge. Stay Scared. 

Fear is perhaps the most powerful emotion in our arsenal of feelings, simply because it can motivate us to do a great many things in life. After all, when we are terrified of losing our job, or failing at something that means the world to us, it motivates us to do better and be more and it is quite fascinating to see people push themselves at the beck and call of an emotion that we often deem as negative. But there is good reason as to why we view fear as a bad thing. Because while it can engender good, it also tends to bring out the worst in us. For when we don’t understand something or believe it may harm us, we immediately handle that ‘threat’ in the ugliest of fashion, all in the name of keeping our fears from becoming a reality.
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It’s something we’ve seen happen time and time again, and it is the kind of emotional response that on a small scale, can ruin dreams and relationships. But what truly makes the power of fear, terrifying in its own right, is when it takes hold of a group of people. Because then they band together to deal with what keeps them up at night and often hurt others in the process and that aspect of fear, is precisely where the next episode of The Terror: Infamy decided to go exploration wise. For ‘All the Demons Are Still in Hell’ picked up in early 1942, to show us an America where fear has taken hold thanks to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and well, what fear did to the United States back in the day was chilling and uncomfortable to say the least.

Because there is something horrifying about watching human beings who dedicated hours on end to starting their lives over in America, be asked by soldiers to get the hell out of their homes and find someplace to live and the panic present on everyone’s faces in this episode, as they bounced from home to home, was heartbreaking to say the least. But this was our country in 1942, and this was the stain that we rarely talk about when it comes to the Second World War and while it’s harrowing to watch segments such as this, it’s also poignant and important to remember, especially when one considers the parallels to present day that began to pop up as this part of the story moved along, the kind that truly give one pause. 

For seeing American soldiers grab Japanese children from places of safety is an image ripped straight from the headlines since there are kids down at the border who have experienced this, thanks to the decisions being made in Washington and the comparisons to modern day didn’t end there. Because seeing Chester’s family be forced to clean up a stable in order to have a quality place to sleep, if only for a moment, served as a reminder of the conditions of the internment camps down south. And echoes of ICE were also present in Henry’s story in this tale as he and his friends were subjected to unique interrogations in North Dakota, the kind that were designed to out them as spies and seeing the FBI pull Chester and Luz from his professor’s home only added to the commentary on this agency’s actions in modern America.
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If anything, this segment of the story served as a fine reminder that sometimes ‘The Terror’ in the world is mankind itself and its commentary on how fear can transform us in the worst ways imaginable came through loud and clear. But this is still a scary story featuring a vengeful ghost and those elements were also on display in this tale. For the spirit that is pursuing so many is lurking around every corner and every time she appeared on screen, one had to wonder what kind of horrors would unfold and sadly, it would seem that for the moment, she simply wants blood upon her hands. Because she motivated Walt’s father to pick up a gun and challenge the MP’s present at the race track and that of course, ended in horrific fashion since Walt’s father was gunned down with impunity and at this point, I have to admit that I’m quite curious as to why this this spirit is so bloodthirsty and starved for revenge.

Of course, knowing how well this series tells a story, it will only be a matter of time before we uncover the true intentions of the Yurei. So, in the here and the now, it’s best we simply celebrate another brilliant episode, one that dove deep into some of the mistakes that are being repeated now. And while some will lament the modern-day commentary present in this tale, and likely chastise the show for hammering this ugly part of our history home, I for one, celebrate it and encourage it. Because this happened and is happening now, and we shouldn’t shy away from either era when it comes to these unfortunate decisions and if a scary story is what is needed to properly raise awareness about what’s happening on the border, so be it. But, all commentary aside, it’s equally as important to tell this story and see the plight of the Japanese-American in the 1940s, when fear gripped a nation and prompted the greatest generation to make a poor choice and I am quite curious to see what kind of bold and uncomfortable stories await us as this new season continues along. Until next time. 

​On some weekends or holidays, college students look forward to coming home and visiting with their families. Since most people move states or regions and cannot make the weekly trip, this is a big deal for everyone involved and some good home cooking or having one’s laundry done by mom and dad, makes for a great escape from college life and all of the studying going on. But there are some instances when you return home to find that not everyone is happy to have you there, as your parents have moved on with their lives, or your extended family is looking to do something other than catch up. This would leave anyone not wanting to go home again and make sure that their lives at the campus is their focus as their friends have become their new family.

Jenny Brook is looking forward to her first trip home to her father’s Tuscany estate in ages. Being sent away when she was very young to live with her grandparents, Jenny has no idea what to expect from the trip but spending time with her father has made her very excited. Knowing that the property is bordered by a large lake, she is looking to have a nice walk and talk with her father about life and other things that are happening. Even though her father, Dr. Brook is excited to have her home, he has his own business to take care of and will not put anything on hold for his daughter.

Arriving at the estate, Jenny meets Olga, the house keeper and is treated very kindly by the older woman but has a strange feeling about her. Her father is trying to make sure that she feels comfortable around the house before he mysteriously disappears on her first day back. Not knowing what to do, Jenny walks down to the lake that her father has been studying for the past twenty years and runs into a blind girl that is surprised to find anyone younger at the lake. Taking Jenny back to her home, a rundown hospital, she gets to meet several other children that have something wrong with them. Finding out that they are all sick in one way or another, Jenny offers to come back and read to them. Jumping at the idea, everyone puts in their special requests for stories they would like to hear, but when Jenny tries to leave, they urge her to beware of the adults in the area, as they are violent.

Jenny thinks little about this and returns home, but comes back the next day since there is nothing for her to do in the area. As she talks with the children, she finds out that there is something special about the lake and gets invited to see it firsthand. When one of the older children places his hands in the water, he awakens something ancient in the water that needs to be corrected. Three idols have been taken from the depths of the lake that need to be returned so the spirits can rest again, and Jenny knows who has them, her father. Searching the house, she is able to find the idols and give them back to the lake, but that is not enough as she starts to find out that her father is not the nice man that she knows him as, along with finding out she has a sister who is dying in the house and needs transplants from her kin to continue living. When Dr. Brook finds out that Jenny knows more than he thinks, he has to work his magic before she tries to escape, in order to save his other daughter.

This was not the scariest movie I have ever seen, but it did keep me intrigued with what was really happening in and outside of the Tuscany house. With Jenny being new to the area, she is told everything upfront about the lake and what powers it holds but is not able to put two and two together. Being drugged and dragged off to surgery and not knowing what is really happening gave me chills as I know that strange things like that can happen but seeing what the good Doctor was really up to is what makes this movie something special. With the other group of children having free reign of their current home, and the lake having supernatural power, I am not sure you will be able to figure out the ending until you give it a view. Stay Scared.

Of the many incredible storytelling accomplishments, The Walking Dead universe has pulled off throughout its years on the air, I’ve always been a huge fan of how they sneak wonderful and subtle homages to other horror franchises and zombie stories within the framework of their episodes. For the flagship series has found ways to pay tribute to great horror minds from all over the world, but its finest homages tend to be related to George Romero since we’ve seen some of his iconic zombies on display in that series in the smoothest of fashion. But, as the years roll on and the time jumps get bigger, the homages are starting to shrink a little bit in favor of the overall story, and that’s not a bad thing in the slightest, since that’s allowing for Fear the Walking Dead to take up that particular mantle.
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For the sister series is free from comic book constraints, allowing for it to do as it pleases and pay tribute to the stories that allow for it to be on television today and for proof, look no further than last night’s episode, ‘210 Words Per Minute’. Because this particular tale went all out and put forth an incredible tribute to George A. Romero and his magnum opus, Dawn of the Dead, by setting an episode within the confines of a mall and man, I won’t lie, this made me as happy as can be. Because Dawn is my all-time favorite movie, to the point where I’ve actually been to the Monroeville Mall. So, to see a place that looks quite similar to such an iconic ‘movie set’ and see moment after moment from this movie come to life in subtle fashion was a true treat and that allowed for me to be caught completely off guard by what arrived next within the framework of the story.

Because outside of the fan service, this episode actually had quite a bit to say about the human condition and it used the trio of Morgan, Grace and Dwight to explore all of it, starting with a vignette on the sheer power of good deeds. For the whole reason that our trio was at the Bridgeview Mall in the first place, was to fulfill a dying man’s wish of seeing the stars one last time. And while the plan didn’t exactly go the way that Morgan and Grace had hoped since the dead and mistakes complicated matters as they always do, eventually they were able to help the man in question and provide him with what he so desired and this was just so lovely to watch. Because Morgan and Grace risked life and limb to provide this with man a smile and a little joy in his final moments and seeing his reaction and seeing the fulfillment it gave this duo, spoke volumes to the fact that good deeds are quite the wonderful thing.

However, this story wasn’t quite done yet with its exploration of humanity, and it actually took the time to dive into how sometimes a solid scare or an uncomfortable moment forces us to take inventory on our lives and where we’ve been and where we are going and that was handled by way of both Dwight and Grace’s journey. For D came to realize that Logan’s cronies were following the group in an effort to discover where the oil fields were at and this, was an opportunity for Dwight to reflect upon his checkered past and see if by chance he was indeed growing and refilling his karma bank under Morgan’s tutelage. And when he was given an opportunity to hurt the man tailing him, D finally came to realize that the dark man who used to serve as Negan’s number one has indeed put himself on the right path since he let the man go, and watching him outwit Logan’s lieutenant and teach him a healthy lesson was a true treat to watch through and through. 

But while D’s moment of growth was fascinating and fulfilling to watch, Grace’s moment of inflection led to so much more. Because she wasn’t doing well in this tale, since she passed out early on in the story, prompting her to wonder if her time had come at last and that definitely motivated her to do what any logical human being would do when faced with the prospect of the end; ponder upon one’s life and all the good and bad that has come with it. Which in Grace’s case, involved giving some serious thought as to whether or not she had wasted precious time by overthinking every decision that had come her way and while it sounds as though that would be quite boring to watch, her decision at the end of this reflection, made this subtle journey completely worth our while.

In essence, Grace finally decided that it would be best for her to just move forward at this point and enjoy whatever moments she has left, provided of course that the radiation is indeed beating her down. And it would also seem that she’s going to double down on helping people since she went above and beyond in this story, taking the time to try and help Morgan through his pain as well. Because she recognized a little joy in Morgan in this tale, especially when wonderful memories of the past bubbled to the surface and honestly, it was quite incredible to see someone really try and reach Morgan on a fundamental level in this manner. For I really cannot think of a time that anyone has made an attempt like this and this decision on her part, put Morgan squarely in the spotlight as the story kicked off its final and most poignant examination of the night.

Because this segment of the episode reminded us, that while the will is sometimes there to heal and move forward in life, the actual task in and of itself is supremely difficult. Because we get attached to those powerful emotions, for they help to keep us sharp, and I guarantee that the difficulty of letting those feelings go is partly why Morgan turned his back on a potential romantic relationship with Grace, along with the fact that he’s terrified of losing someone else that he cares for and that he probably doesn’t think he’s that deserving of that kind of happiness just yet. If anything, this was quite the beautiful twist to throw into the story since it added a depth to Morgan he’s been sorely missing since he’s always so closed off and honestly, who knows where this romantic revelation is going to take us.

In the end however, this really was quite the magnificent episode. Because it really did try some new things storytelling wise, something that Fear always excels at, and I also appreciated how it took the time to gently build the threat that Logan is posing behind the scenes since one had to wonder if he and his group were just going to show up and wreak havoc at any moment. But all danger aside, the beautiful character study this episode provided us with is what truly allowed for it to shine, because you simply cannot go wrong with presenting us with the best parts of humanity, especially at the end of the world, and it’s great to see the characters making a genuine effort to enjoy life in a land of the dead and I really do hope everyone finds what they’re looking for, because heavens knows they deserve it at this point. Until next time.