Small beach towns can have it tough from time to time, mainly if they do not have a consistent revenue source. It seems like this should never be an issue for anyone on the beach, but if they don’t have money coming in from tourists, they never survive. While some beach communities don’t want to rely on this sort of thing, it is the easiest influx of cash they can make over the summer. Everyone loves the beach and if you throw a festival, it can show how much people love even the small ones. There is very little that can keep people away from such an opportunity and with a quick buck to be made, it is next to impossible to say no.
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The small island of White Sands is having a problem on the beach as a biker has been found, actually, only his head has been located. Sheriff John Stone and his deputy sister Brenda give it a look and try to find a reason why this seems so out of place. With the head appearing to be dragged on top of the sand, they are ready to rule out an animal attack, but they have no idea what it could have been. Calling in to Doctor Sandy Powers for help on the case, the officers have no idea what is in store for them and their small community.

Arriving home with a great idea of how to put White Sands back on the map, Jimmy Green is able to get a meeting with the Mayor, his father, to present a plan to throw a festival on the beach. The Sandman Festival will give the town a much-needed cash influx that they have been lacking in tourist trade. Even though he is a little bit against it, the Mayor agrees. There is little risk to the event and a high reward to be had if his son can pull it off, but there is something strange happening under the sands of the beach and nobody seems to understand what it can be.

Finding another body near the waterline, a callout to all fishermen on the island goes out and everyone is chomping at the bit to find the shark that is eating their neighbors. But the crazy Angus knows exactly what everyone is up against, a sand shark that swims in the sand is on the loose and he is the only one who can stop it. Everyone laughs at the old fisherman, but they quickly find out that he is right. As Jimmy sees one of his employees being eaten on the beach by the shark, a strong jolt of electricity is able to take out the ancient beast. Since the show must go on and the shark is dead, Jimmy is able to bring the island what he promised, but things do not go smoothly as the smell of blood is too great to keep any of these predators at bay. 

A fun idea as sharks have taken over the waterways, why not have them start to make their way to land, or under soft land at least. The beach is usually a safe place to enjoy yourself, but with an old beast finding a new feeding ground, well, all bets are off. The hatred towards Jimmy throughout the movie is so much fun, as you get to hear what he did in his past and he tries to atone for it by throwing a massive party, he even has a moment of clarity about what is happening, but as he says, the party must go on. Watching people get sucked down into the sand without a trace, other than a little bit of blood or a head of course was way more entertaining than I expected it to be. With plenty of sharks, plenty of blood, a scientist that is starting to understand, a promoter that will not heed the warnings and a finale that will leave you wondering if glass is really the answer. It is a fun movie overall and I love the ideas that came into play during it, especially when you are trying to kill off something that has never been seen before, on a beach at least. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘NOS4A2’.
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When we are young, we tend to view our parents as outright heroes and the center of the universe. After all, we feel the incredible love they provide us with in our youth, and since they are there the instant, we need someone to help us along in any capacity, there is no one else we hold in a higher regard. But sadly, as we grow older and life begins to test everyone in the household, the potential arises to see them in different light. Because pressure and fresh and unresolved trauma can bring out the absolute worst in us and well, when those moments arrive, our parents either stand strong and reinforce our belief in them or give into the darkness and impart some of their pain upon their children. Which is problematic for certain since that kind of darkness is easy for another generation to maintain and grow. 
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For since our parents serve as a guide point, and because we see ourselves in them, we take on their habits and their sins and well, we know how that particular story ends. Which quite frankly, begs the question, is it possible at all to break these unfortunate cycles of emotional abuse? For we slip so easily into the grip of this darkness and the pain it creates, that it seems nearly impossible to relinquish it from our souls. If anything, these traumatic cycles are something that are deeply rooted in our modern society and while there is likely no one answer in ending it, there are likely some things we can do to start the healing process, so that we can remove it from our lives. And oddly enough, these topics are relevant to today’s since discussion; simply because they found their way into last night’s fascinating and devastating episode of NOS4A2.

Because ‘Chris McQueen’ put that very man on display in this tale and wasted no time in informing us, that the ugly things he exhibited when Vic was growing up, were a direct result of cyclic behavior. Because Chris turned out to be a spitting image of his father, since both of them fought in an ugly war and turned to the drink after, making it quite eerie that these two men ever found common ground. Especially since Chris showed some serious disdain for his dad and his behavior, when he spoke of his late father at his funeral. But it just goes to show how deep this kind of pain goes and how easy it is to inherit it and pass it along and well, what was truly stunning about taking the time to learn about Chris and the cycle, is the sheer fact that Mister McQueen hasn’t quite rid himself of the darkness within, despite his claims otherwise. 

For he actually buried his unresolved trauma deep within his soul and took the time to unleash it in this tale shortly after the bike was finally fixed. Because he was quick to accompany Vic to the junkyard by way of the Shorter Way and well, it turns out they just missed Wayne by a few moments. And knowing that his grandson was still in harm’s way, motivated him to harness that pain and the fury that comes with it, and beat the tar out of Bing and injure him further. Something that sadly robbed Team McCarmody of precious time. For now, Bing had to recover in the hospital, leaving Vic angry with her dad for overstepping his bounds and potentially leaving Wayne to a fate worse than death. But thankfully not all hope was lost. Because eventually, Bing was transferred to the FBI office in Haverhill and after he had a little chat with Tabitha, Vic was finally able to speak with her once friend and discover a way to bring Wayne home.

Which meant that Vic and her father and Maggie and Lou were headed back to Gunbarrel, to lay a trap for Charlie. Because right before he enters Christmasland with his victims, he has them hang an ornament from a tree, something akin to a serial killer keeping a souvenir. But what mattered more about their arrival at the entrance to Christmasland, was that it gave father and daughter time to talk, and what they had to say to one another was poignant and powerful. For Vic made it quite clear how much harm her father’s behavior had caused her, and how much anger it left her with on a regular basis, and how that anger… became a necessity. Because if she were to relinquish it and forgive herself and her dad, that would somehow allow for every hardship she ever went through to not have meaning and weight. A notion that Chris disagreed with, and for the first time ever, he offered his daughter some genuine advice. In that, hanging onto that pain and letting it ‘strengthen’ a person had the opposite effect and created the situation she was in now and that forgiveness at every level could in fact, set her free in ways she never thought possible.

But before she had time to process his words, the Wraith arrived and the plan had to kick into high gear and unfortunately, this last-ditch effort to retrieve Wayne was an outright disaster. Because not only were Maggie and Lou unable to wrest Wayne’s mind from the power of the Wraith and Christmasland; Vic’s showdown with Manx resulted in the worst-case scenario. For the bombs she and her dad planted did nothing more than dust up the old car’s paint job and to make matters worse, Vic’s bike sputtered out at a crucial moment of escape. Which meant that her only hope for survival was her father, and any effort to save her would result in horrific injury or death. But in that moment, none of that mattered to Chris McQueen. He only cared about his baby brat and her safety, and that motivated him to jump in front of a moving car to save her. An act that shattered his legs and cost him his life when Manx felt the need to finish the job and well, Chris’ passing offered up some powerful revelations.

For in his daughter’s true hour of need, he was there for her every step of the way and was even ready to sacrifice everything for Vic. Which means that in his final hours, Chris McQueen was finally the man and the father he always wanted to be, and he in essence broke the cycle by standing tall and oddly enough, his thoughts on forgiveness offered up some philosophical notions on what could end the cycle that so many have suffered from over the years. Because his words make it clear that those folks who find themselves giving into the darker tendencies that mom or dad (or both) exhibit, can in fact change course. For if they take the time to realize that mom or dad’s actions were their own and that they are in fact, in command of their own path, then freedom and peace and a new tomorrow awaits them. Provided of course they forgive themselves and their folks for their mistakes.

Which is a powerful message to inject into a horror story, but that’s simply what NOS4A2 does. For this particular series is unafraid of tackling the topics that few wish to in a brave and bold manner and the show deserves serious credit for taking the time to tackle this powerful and somewhat taboo topic and offer up some kind of a path forward. But all greater concepts aside, the other elements of this episode were supremely worthwhile as well. For seeing Vic and Bing face off in a more human fashion was quite powerful for certain and the entire battle at the gates of Christmasland was intense and unnerving and of course, young Wayne’s fate still hangs in the balance. And if this is the kind of story we are going to get before we’ve reached the season finale, who knows what kind of powerful storytelling awaits us in the final episodes of season two. But in the here and the now, it is definitely a time to mourn. For a good man that lost his way, found direction at the end of his journey, and it is a damn shame that Vic will never get to know the wondrous man we saw in this sorrowful tale. Until next time.

While legends may be fun to listen to, most people do not give them a second thought. But legends come from somewhere and usually have some sort of truth behind them. Finding out what really happened to cause generations of people to tell these stories is usually a more insightful experience than the hearing the legend itself. I am always a fan of learning about the legends from all over the world and cannot wait to hear more of them as time goes on, but I always like to dig a little bit deeper to see what is really behind it, no matter how far-fetched they may seem.

Spring break is starting and the celebration on Mammoth Mountain is already in full swing. As the slopes are full of young coeds, there is something else under the snow that nobody wants to know about. While doing some avalanche blasting, a group of Native American totems are disturbed releasing an ancient curse on the mountain. The Skookum, a demon summoned by the people of the land has been released on the slope and will stop at nothing until the mountain is clean of all foreigners. Taking the form of a shark and swimming in the snow, this demon has an endless amount of food to choose from until the guests of Mammoth Mountain are able to put it back to rest.

While only a couple of kids have gone missing on the slopes, no real attention is paid to the matter by the resort or the mayor.  Having the best snow in years, spring break is the one time of year that could make or break the town’s future.  But all it takes is one person to raise a flag about what is happening to make things go off the deep end and with two people searching for answers about where their loved ones are and one man who has witnessed the release of the Skookum before, unrest on the mountain may be closer than desired.  Trying to silence these people, the mayor takes a drastic step to replace the town’s sheriff, but the move may be too little too late as the Skookum is already on the loose and taking its pick of anyone that gets in its way.

This movie is actually pretty fun and with my love for sharks, there is no way I would ever miss it.  Sharks taking over the mountains, you might have to think twice about going skiing now…or not.  Although the sharks are the main part of the story, seeing what the powers that be are willing to do to keep their town afloat has to be the secondary story and is a little worrisome to follow. Caring more about their financials than the safety of their guests, I would hope that this never happens where I might be staying.  Keeping the people that are paying your bills alive is a big part of good business. An enjoyable movie and if you have ever thought that a ski trip would be safer than the beach, you may find yourself mistaken, at least this one time. Stay Scared.

When moving into a new home, it is always good to know what happened within its walls before you bought it. You never know what secrets could be hidden inside of the walls, especially if there was a cult living there at some point. I always like to joke that the strange sounds in my house are from the ghosts of an old burial ground, and while I know that is not true, it would be kind of scary if it was. It is difficult to know what you are getting into when you do not know the history of the town or the home you are moving into as different places have different stories and some of them may not be too friendly.

As Christmas is slowly approaching, Ryan has invited his brother Mike to come and stay with his family for a couple weeks. Being fresh out of a breakup, Mike needs to be around someone positive and Ryan, his wife Emily and darling daughter Leila will fill that void.  Even Skyler is willing to give him a listen when needed, but little does the family know what they are in for this holiday season. While helping his brother to put up lights, Mike stumbles upon a strange box that has an old video camera and some tapes that nobody has ever seen before. Wanting to know more about the camera, Ryan is not able to find anything like it on the internet and when he turns it on, he starts to see strange forms inside of his home.

Thinking that it is just a glitch, Ryan enters one of the forms and finds out it is out of this world.  Wanting to show everyone what the camera can do, he finds out that it was used for spirit photography, but more surprises await him. Watching a couple of the old VHS tapes that came in the box, Ryan is getting the impression that the former family that owned the camera is talking about him and his family. With nobody willing to believe him about what is on the tapes and with the house possibly being haunted, Emily gives him a couple days to try and prove his point. Setting up the ghost camera in his daughter’s room, Ryan sees a spirit manifesting itself by her bed. Knowing that there is something strange happening in the house surrounding his daughter, Ryan tries to find out as much as he can about what happened in the house before he moved in and why this spirit would be looking to make friends with his daughter.

I have not been a huge fan of this series thus far, but after watching this movie, I might need to give it another chance. With more than just the normal jump scares that you got in the other films, you get to actually see a spirit and how nasty it really is. I really liked the character interaction in this movie as it did not seem too forced and when things started to get weird, they bounced ideas off of each other. The relationship between the brothers had to be the best, especially since Mike is forced to get his brother's back when no one else will and trying to scare him was priceless. The videos were creepy as well, since they feature two little girls, Katie and Kristi, that are being groomed for something much more than even they knew at the time. With your regular scares, a black-eyed child and a vapor moving around the house, it is easy to see that there is nothing that can go right for this family during the holidays.

Five Takeaways

1. If you find an old video camera in a box that you have never seen before, along with VHS tapes from the eighties, don’t even try to work the camera or play the tapes, I mean nobody even has a VCR anymore.
2. When you see a strange mist in the house with a spirit camera and not your regular eyes, head for the hills.
3. If you see your daughter playing Bloody Mary alone and in the dark, and talking backwards, well, you might need to call a priest.
4. If your child puts strange symbols on the wall and will not explain why, remove them as soon as possible.
5. When trying to combat a demon, a wet towel is more than enough to keep it at bay.

I do love to hear about a good haunting these days and will never shy away from it, unless of course if the ghost wants you dead.  Most of the ghost stories that I hear about are somewhat peaceful, but there are some that scare the living daylights out of people. I would like to believe that ghosts are not able to hurt people, but when you hear about attacks by the spirits, you might start to think twice. I would love to see one someday and discover that ghosts really do exist, but until then, I just like to keep an open mind and listen to the stories being told around the campfire.

Arriving at an out of the way farmhouse, Scott, Liam and Holly are ready to start checking out what could have possibly forced the family to leave in such a hurry. Checking out the rooms one by one, they see that nothing was packed, and even dinner plates were left on the table with food still on them. With the best gear they can afford, the group is ready to start their ghost hunt in the house, but during the day, there does not seem to be anything that wants to play with them.

At 3 a.m. however, there is something that makes itself heard in the house as the front door swings open and the hanging lights shake violently. Not hearing anything, Liam sees that one of his motion activated cameras turns on as if it is following somebody, but there is nothing evident on the tape to think that it was anything supernatural. Seeing that there is nothing wrong with his gear, Liam knows that there is something strange happening in the old house, but his boss Scott is still very skeptical. When the second night moves in, everyone in the group hears a massive thud that shakes the house on its foundations. Needing an explanation for this, Scott believes that it was the wind, but now Holly and Liam are starting to get a bit frightened about what is happening around them.

Being a psychic, Holly tries to communicate with the spirit, but while she is not able to feel anything in the house when the sun is up, night time is a whole different story. Seeing the ghost face to face, Holly is fearful for her and the group’s safety, but needing more evidence before leaving, Scott has staged a little trap for the active spirit. Filling the hallway with fog and having all of their equipment facing the door where the specter enters, the group is shocked to see that it does not enter the house while they are watching, but the night is not over and Holly is attacked by the spirit after hours pass, but is able to find a safe place in the house when running into the back room. As the air feels different in this room from the rest of the house, the group now has a safe haven from the spirit that wants them gone, but will that be enough for them when the spirt really comes out to play?

A little different from what I expected, but far from disappointing. Starting off as a normal haunting, then turning a little violent towards the only person that could see it and then finding out the ghost’s true purpose in the house, it fulfilled my needs for a ghost story. I liked Scott as the leader of the group, especially since he wants to prove that the haunting exists in the house, but he has to have scientific proof before he is willing to leave. While Holly and Liam want to leave after the ghost attacks the young psychic head on, Scott is still not convinced and needs more proof and will do anything to get his methods of removing a ghost from the human plane in place. The only thing that I find to be a little unbelievable is that an insurance company would being calling the shots from off screen on seeing if a haunting is really occurring, I have never seen a supernatural package being offered out there by any of the big name companies, but it would be a nice perk to have if you are really afraid of ghosts. Stay Scared.

There are some places on this planet that invoke strange feelings in a person and while it cannot be fully explained, people continue to visit these mysterious places. The Aokigahara forest in Japan is one of these locations as it has been called the Suicide Forest since so many people find their way into the forest when they do not believe that they can go on living before they kill themselves, and it is believed that there is a power in the forest that cannot be overcome by those with problems. It would surely be a place that you do not want to visit if you have any doubts in your life, or if you're experiencing a sense of sadness since that may encourage the forest to prey upon you.

With her sister working as a teacher in Japan, Sara finds that it is getting more difficult to get a hold of her, but when Jess stops returning her phone calls, Sara knows that there is something wrong. Calling the authorities to try and find her sister, Sara is told that she has entered the Aokigahara woods and very few people are found there alive. Knowing that her twin sister is still alive, Sara decides to head out on her own to find Jess, but sees that little help will be offered by the local people since they fear the Suicide Forest and will not enter it out of fear of the Yurei (ghosts) that are looking for their next victims.

Sitting alone at the local bar, Sara is approached by Aiden who is looking to talk to a pretty girl. Listening to Sara’s woes about finding someone to help her search the forest for her sister, Aiden might be able to help her out. Being somewhat of a reporter, Aiden has made some connections in the area and his friend Michi goes out into the forest once a week on a suicide watch of sorts and informs the authorities of what he finds. Thinking that this is the only way she will be able to get any help, Sara agrees to go on the hunt for her sister with her two new friends and cannot wait for the morning to arrive.

When meeting Michi, he sees sadness in the woman’s eyes and warns her not to go out on the search, but nothing will keep Sara from trying to find her lost sister. Entering the woods, Sara starts to notice the strange thoughts that come into her mind, but after being told that anything bad she encounters is not real, it is only in her mind, she can take comfort in the fact that the forest cannot hurt her. Finding a fresh body, Sara sees that some of the legends are true about the forest, but the hunt will continue for her sister at any cost. Finding Jess’s tent, Sara and Aiden decide to stay behind to wait for Jess to come back from wherever she is and while Michi warns them of what can happen in the dark, the two are not willing to give up on the missing girl just yet. As the night moves in, Sara and Aiden start to hear strange sounds in the distance, but nothing can prepare Sara for what she is about to find in the forest when she discovers a girl that is wandering around and she has a message for the twin about her sister.

This movie did bring some scares to the screen, but they were not what I expected as they were more of the jump kind, rather than the 'mind screw' kind. Although the story started to dig into the psychological kind as the movie went on and during the finale, and they really should have focused on the psychological stuff throughout, since that is what the Aokigahara Forest is known for. I did like how the story that Sara had been telling all of her life about her parent's death turned out to be a lie and how it came back to haunt her and I also liked how the distrust she developed for Aiden came into play so violently. With a young girl who may or may not have been a Yurei helping Sara in her search, it shows how desperate the woman really was and how her mind was able to be manipulated. Although you get some good news as the movie ends, it is apparent that the forest has the power to claim its victims whenever and however it wants. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Shudder film ‘HOST’.
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There is a prevailing belief that we’ve reached a plateau in storytelling. One where creativity and originality don’t exist anymore, simply because every single story out there has been told in some form or fashion at this point, and storytellers are simply rehashing what’s already been done. A notion that seemingly has merit in an age filled with reboots and reimagining and remakes. But the fact of the matter is, that particular line of thinking is outright incorrect. Because there are original stories still being told out there, they’re just overshadowed at times by the stuff we are familiar with. But when you take a moment to dig deep and search for a real gem, what you find is nothing short of magnificent. 

Take for example the brand-new Shudder film, Host. A horror film that was assembled during the height of quarantine, and it is hands down, one of the most original and creative films of the year. A feat that this story accomplishes by keeping everything simple. Even the plot for that matter. For this particular tale revolves around a handful of friends who decide that holding a séance via Zoom, might be something unique and fun to do during quarantine and well, it doesn’t take long for a disrespectful goof to change the night into something more. Because these pals have inadvertently tapped into the spirit world, and they’ve offended what they’ve awakened, and now, they’re going to pay the price for their disrespect in horrific fashion. 

But there was mention of simplicity extending beyond that particular setup and that was no joke. Because the setting of the film is equally as uncomplicated, since you’re a casual observer of this particular Zoom meeting and that particular storytelling decision is nothing short of genius. Because you get to just hang out with everyone early on and get to know them as happy-go-lucky, everyday people. And being in a harmless setting and having some chuckles with some nice folks, and hear of their aloof plans to contact the spirit world is a wonderful way to relax the audience and help them to lower their guard. Which in turn, allows for the scares to outright unsettle you once they begin and make no mistake about it, this film will most certainly scare you.  

Because this particular tale does a phenomenal job of playing off our most primal fears. Such as how we are terrified of the dark and feel that particular fear accelerated when we think we see something moving within the shadows. Plus, the scares also come at us in a fast and furious fashion in this motion picture, which makes them quite effective for certain. Because by keeping the scares quick and clean in this story, you barely have to time to process what’s happening, allowing for the viewer to further live in the moment and be unsettled by the awful things that are playing out before their eyes and surprisingly, the wonder of this film doesn’t end with its simple approach to scares and storytelling. 

For this particular scary story also has a little bit of social commentary to offer the audience as well, something that is engrained within the framework of the plot. Because in many ways, the disrespect that Jemma sends the spirit’s way and the aloofness that everyone brings to the table in regard to the séance, speaks volumes to how people view quarantine and the Covid-19 crisis, as no big deal. And by not respecting the gravity of the situation and pretending as though it doesn’t it exist; they invite something unseen and horrible to enter their lives and this was perhaps the most pleasant surprise of all when it comes to this particular tale. Since found-footage horror films tend to steer clear of depth and analysis in order to focus upon the scares. 

In the end however, this is simply a refreshing and delightful horror film. One that truly catches you off guard with its intensity and its intelligence and to top it off, it features some solid performances as well. Because every single character in this film is believable and relatable and only a solid cast can pull that off and if you’ve got Shudder, it’s best you check this one out ASAP. For it really does take the audience on a wild and harrowing ride, one that gets your blood pumping and your hands quaking and as an added bonus, it’s got re-watch value as well. So that the viewer can properly comprehend what this spirit is up to in the darkness. If anything, this is a movie that serves to remind us, to show respect to every aspect of this world and the netherworld. Because you never know when an off the cuff comment might anger a salty spirit.   

​What you have learned in the past can and should help to form who you will become in life. With all of the failures that have come your way, it is easy to find a way not to have them happen again to make things easier. There is no way in knowing what the future can hold for you, but you can control it by choosing to do things that will work so you don't experience any setbacks. Taking care of yourself is your primary function and when you are finally okay with that, you can extend your reach to others and show them how easy life can be with the tools you have gained.

Eddie has just moved into his aunt’s house after her passing. Needing a reboot in life since he has just gotten divorced, this might be the best move he could have made. But Eddie is still having a hard time with the breakup and after talking to his ex on the phone, he decides that his life might not be worth as much as he thought. Loading up on liquor and pills, Eddie is found by his best friend Mark passed out on the floor of his new home and thanks to his friend arriving just in time, Eddie recovers and realizes that there is much more he needs to accomplish in order to grow in life. 

While in a group session, Eddie talks about his recent divorce and his childhood woes that have made him afraid of the dark. After the session ends, a woman named Amy continues to look at the down on his luck man and decides to give him a night that he will never forget. Taking Eddie back to her place, an abandoned building with no lights, much less any power, Eddie shows his discomfort and offers to take the party back to his place instead. After sharing a great night together, Eddie is surprised to see Amy lying on the floor with a needle in her arm. Knowing that he can help his new friend, Eddie takes it upon himself to get her cleaned up and off the drugs before it takes over her world, but little does Eddie know what secrets the drugs have been hiding from the both of them.

After the detox is complete, Eddie sees the side of Amy that he expected to find and wants to continue on with the relationship, but he is suddenly starting to have strange dreams. Not being able to put a finger on what it could be causing these strange visions, waking up covered in blood is just the start of a life changing experience for him. With neither of the couple being hurt, Eddie finds out that the blood came from his neighbor’s dog that was ripped to shreds in his yard the previous night. The strange dreams continue to flow through his mind every evening and Eddie’s days are starting later and later in the afternoon. Not knowing what is happening around him, Eddie finds out that a little girl from up the street has gone missing and even though he has no idea what happened to her, he sees the girl’s journal in his bedroom. Not knowing what to make of it, Eddie tries to ask Amy what she knows about the girl and while she is clueless, deep down Eddie is aware that she knows more about what is happening around him than she is letting on.

This was an interesting film to watch, especially when you get to see somebody that knows exactly what is happening to Eddie. While taking care of Amy during her detox, Amy also helps Eddie get over his fear of the dark, so you believe that they are there to help each other in life, but things change drastically when Eddie starts having his disturbing dreams. While talking out the dreams, Eddie finds out from his new friend Astrid that back in the olden days, he would have been set up for an exorcism. The relationship battles are what really made this movie flow, Eddie and Amy were great together, but Eddie and Mark most of the time just stole the show. With a little bit of blood, a sexy possessed woman and a down on his luck individual, you might need to pay a little bit more attention when Eddie starts to see a change. Stay Scared.

​There are towns that welcome outsiders in without question, but there are others that want to keep everyone away. The small-town lifestyle has never been for me since I like to say and do things that may not always be approved of by the elders, and if I am the only one doing them, well, it just makes life a bit more difficult. If you are born into this lifestyle, you know which lines you can and cannot cross, but when you move into it, it will take the rest of your days there to get the rules down. It might not be the right place for everyone, but if you are able to fit in from day one, you are a leg up on the rest of the world.

Taking a job on a charter boat, ex coast guard pilot Eddie Hooper is getting ready to start his life over again. Running from his soon to be ex-wife, Eddie is in the good graces of Sheila who seems to have taken quite the liking to him, as the local bartender Ida has noticed. But Eddie is not ready for a relationship yet and has noticed something strange around town since there are missing persons posters hanging up all over the place. Thinking that this is odd, Eddie starts asking the right questions and most of the answers point to young Veronica Chandler.

Hearing that all of the missing men were seen around Veronica, Eddie desperately wants to ask her if she has seen his brother who went missing a couple months ago, but she is a hard woman to track down. With his focus needing to be on work first, Eddie is surprised to see that Sheila is keeping a close eye on him as well and she starts to throw herself at him after a couple drinks. While getting closer to her is not something Eddie wants to do, he does enjoy the company, along with the information that he is able to pick up about the town and its history along the way.

But all is not good in the town as Eddie witnesses a man being taken before his very eyes by a couple ghosts that come up from out of the sea. Needing to know who or what these creatures are and why they are taking heathy men from the boardwalk, Eddie starts to dig, and it all comes back to a ship that was destroyed in the late 1800s. Finding out the darker history of what happened on the ship that got caught in a sand barge, Eddie is able to pinpoint the location of where the missing men are being taken to, but the local detective is a little bit wary about the information. Knowing that he is right, Eddie is able to uncover a body to prove his point, but not only does that make him a suspect for the police, but he is now a target for the undead to find him and put him to work in the afterlife.

An interesting premise with ancient lore from the sea coming to haunt one little town. I did enjoy the final act of the movie since you get a good killing and get to see why the undead are returning to the land to collect the living. I really liked the bartender Ida as she kept the story moving and was always there for some added advice. The interactions between Ida and Eddie were probably the best in the movie until the crazy old man who hides underneath the town makes it to the screen. Like I said, the ending of the movie did provide a very good payoff and I wish it lasted a little bit longer, so we could at least get to see how the undead sailors from the sea actually took care of their business. Stay Scared.

​Growing up, we are taught that America’s sustained success and outright positive image, is a direct result of good old-fashioned hard work and elbow grease, with some unity thrown in for good measure. For our history classes are rife with lessons about Americans that came together with a common goal in mind and that uniquely unified vision allowed for us form the greatest nation in all the land, and overcome our mistakes when it comes to racial and societal injustice, all while providing incredible opportunities for everyone that lives here. To the point where anyone can be the next superstar or mogul, provided they are willing to put in the work and be a team player, and hearing that message in our youth, leaves us eager to conquer the world so we too can take part in the wonder of America.
 
But a funny thing happens as we grow into adulthood, in that, we come to realize that this particular view of America isn’t exactly correct. For the harsh reality of the matter, is that we are a nation whose citizens are very rarely on the same page. Because we the people believe that its ‘every man for himself’ in America, and also that our personal beliefs matter more than someone else’s and if by chance that seems out of line or cynical, well then just turn on the news. Because the twenty-four-hour news cycle will be happy to remind us of the fact that someone went to jail today for screwing over other people financially or that Congress is gridlocked once again over a simple issue that would benefit everyone, if one party could just get their heads out of their asses and use some common sense. Plus, you’ll also enjoy a snippet of people endlessly debating issues that have been settled, simply because their belief in God and country matters more than a woman’s right to make decisions for her own body.
 
Yet while that is frustrating in its own right, those are problems that we can write off as a result of other root causes. Such as the generational divide that this country often suffers from, or from putting the wrong people in positions of power since politicians are renowned for promising the world in order to get a seat at that congressional table. Which means that in order to get proof positive that our nation is divided, we simply need to take a solid look at current events and the fights that are happening right now over simple science, since that really does help to remind us of how Americans draw lines in the sand and refuse to step over them. Which is a harsh reality for certain, one that leaves all of us to wonder, if there will ever come a day where we are actually unified and what it would actually take to make that happen and oddly enough, these are notions that George A. Romero takes the time to ponder upon in the final film of his storied career; Survival of the Dead. 
 
Which makes this quite frankly, George’s most complex and ambitious ‘Dead’ film. Because people in our modern world, really don’t like acknowledging that there is anything wrong with modern society, and we know how it goes when that kind of truth is put on display. But George refused to sugar coat this topic, and opted instead for an outright direct and bold commentary on the current state of modern America, and the end result of this brave examination is one angry motion picture. One that was poorly received upon its release because of its sour nature. But that is something that also happened with Day of the Dead, and time allowed for that film to become regarded as one of Romero’s best. Something that this reviewer believes will eventually happen with Survival, once its messages and analysis are embraced. 

​But that really will take time, since everything in this film features a scathing observation on American life. Such as how the system has failed so many, something that is embodied by Sarge and his troupe. Because they were supposed to be the heroes, the ones that would rush in and save the day. But instead, they turned into fodder for the dead, and felt it was best to forge their own path. One free from a losing side that would sacrifice them and countless others in a vain attempt to spin a narrative that spoke to how humanity was winning its war against the dead. Which echoes the modern world to a tee since so many have little faith in the government and the police and the military because they aren’t quite standing up for what they were founded upon anymore, and that harsh observation is further compounded by Romero’s dissection of modern American politics.
 
Because the Muldoons and the O’Flynns more or less represent Republicans and Democrats respectively and their interactions in this film, are a perfect reflection of how these two parties interact in America. Because they’re constantly at one another’s throats, and they firmly believe their plan is the only correct course of action and disagreeing with that is a personal attack or an assault on their ideals and much like their real-life counterparts, they bicker and scheme while real disasters surround them, the kind where people suffer. And all it would take to end the emotional and physical toll, would be to combine forces and figure out a solution that is grounded in logic and fact. But instead, the two heads of these families never once deviate from their notions of ‘party’ and it costs Plum Island everything, allowing for this film to end in bleak and devastating fashion for certain, complete with a powerful closing image that will forever haunt the viewer. 
 
But while we’ve talked at length about Romero’s observations of what’s wrong with the country and how these issues cause us more harm than good, this movie does try to examine what it would take to change the course of this unfortunate behavior and surprisingly; Romero offers up some simple solutions. Such as the fact that we all need to recognize, that we are all in this together. And that in a time of crisis, we should be worried more about one another over anything else, and if we stuck to the facts and focused on an outcome designed to keep people healthy and safe, a lot of our problems would be eliminated, especially the ones America is facing in this moment. Plus, he also asks us to be better people integrity wise, and that we take the time to listen and understand where others are coming from and find genuine common ground. The kind that would allow for everyone to get something out of compromise and if we could do those things, then perhaps we could immediately point our nation in a different direction. One where being mindful became the norm. 
 
But does that sound like too easy of a fix? Well you bet it does. But why not think simple in regard to big problems? Because thus far the complex solutions we’ve come up with have done little, or they’ve galvanized the ignorant into thinking they are in fact, right. If anything, these observations and messages simply speak to the frustrations of a man who had seen and heard 'enough' and felt the need to use a platform that he revolutionized to shout that word in loud and gory fashion. Either way, this really is quite the phenomenal way to close out a movie career, since Survival holds nothing back with what it has to say. But what matters more, is that this motion picture has new life now, largely due to the fact that it is no longer the final and incomplete word from George Romero. Because ending the saga on an angry note, without closure, just didn’t feel right and watching this one again with The Living Dead about to hit bookstores everywhere, suddenly makes this movie feel as though it is just another piece of an incredible puzzle; one that we are finally about to complete.