​When you look towards the skies at night, many of us get lost in the thought that there is something else out there, not just emptiness. Since we keep hearing new reports about UFO’s coming from different countries, it seems like there is something to them and possibly our leadership knows more than they are leading on. I would like to think that with the transparency that governments have taken to over the past year concerning these UFO sightings, it would be nice to know if they have had contact with alien races and what we should expect in the future. Some folks may not believe that there is anything to this, but the universe is so vast, it is hard to believe that we are the only advanced species around.
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On the night of his little sister’s birthday on March 13th, 1997, Josh Bishop is videotaping everything during the event, but there is something else going on that has captured his attention. With his father trying to figure out what is in the sky, Josh turns the camera around and gets a clear shot of what appears to be a space craft flying over Phoenix. Watching as the unexplained ship vanishes in the distance, he then catches a couple fighter jets flying over the house to intercept, but there is no explanation as to what has just happened. Getting his video to the news networks, Josh has become a pseudo star, but he wants to know more about what he saw that night and is ready to take this to the next level.

Getting his camera gear and taking to the streets to find out what people thought about the lights, Josh meets a young woman named Ashley who shares the same interest as him. Wanting to know more, Josh and Ashley move quickly around the city getting interviews with people from different backgrounds about the lights and their thoughts. But their quest for knowledge is further enhanced when Josh hears that the lights have made another return to the area and he enlists the help of his friend Mark to come along for the ride as well as they check out the hill where the second ship was spotted. Being scared off by the cops who were looking to find out the same thing, Josh has the idea to map out where the lights have been seen and gets his friends to agree to the trip, but little is known beyond that.

Twenty years have passed, and Sophie has decided to pick up the camera and do a little investigation on what happened to her big brother. Being able to watch all of the tapes that were left with the family after his disappearance, Sophie knows that there has to be at least one more of the final trip the group took and believes it could be hidden in the old high school. As her interviews are starting to create more questions than answers, Sophie gets a call from her teacher contact and finds out that there was a second camera used during her brother’s documentary. With the camera being fried to a crisp, she is shocked to see that there is still a tape inside, one that will change everyone’s outlook on whether or not aliens exist.

I’ve been waiting to see this movie ever since I fell in love with the Phoenix Lights story. Just a little different take on what happened, as you get to see some footage from the past littered in between new interviews from today. I’m not a huge fan of the documentary style of storytelling, but this did a decent job overall in keeping my interest. I liked Sophie’s drive in trying to find the truth as to what happened to her brother and how her life would have been different if this event never took place. With a personal stake in the story, she was not afraid to ask the difficult questions and the look on her face when she found out the truth was pretty telling. With a missing person case, no clues as to what happened, a missing camcorder, strange lights in the sky, a government cover up, and a young group of friends looking for the truth, this movie will give you second thoughts about trying to hunt for aliens in secluded locations, that is for sure. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Allegoria’.
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One common struggle that creative minds from every corner of the entertainment industry speak to now and again, that outright surprises us of course, is how difficult it can be to create. And what takes us by surprise when we hear that, is that so many of us believe, that creativity is something that simply moves like the wind about the world and those who take part in the industry are simply attune to a different plane and can tap into this power and just make magic happens for hours on end. But that’s simply not how creativity works. In fact, making art is hard work. The kind that requires hours upon hours of fine tuning and sleepless nights and sometimes… the creatives juices needed to bring something special to life aren’t there.
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Not to mention, there is a tough side to creativity that we also hear about now and again, in that… sometimes in order to create something dark and disturbing in nature, an artist has to, in turn, tap into something dark and disturbing as well. A move that can only add to the struggle sometimes since the artist is forced to take part and be present in thoughts and mental spaces, we all work to avoid. In fact, it can be so devastating to experience that sometimes artists suffer greatly for it, but for the most part, they recover, and they move forward and make note of that experience, but not without a touch of fear. Since those same creative minds sometimes wonder who they would become or what would become of them… if the darkness took hold or somehow came to life.

Which is a concept that is central to our discussion today, simply because there is a brand-new movie on Shudder that takes the time to explore that possibility and that makes Allegoria, quite the fascinating ride. For this anthology themed horror feature, one that connects several vignettes through a couple of common threads, dives deep into what it would look like if the darkest parts of the human psyche and creativity were able to give birth to physical iterations of thoughts and creative concepts that are evil and twisted in nature and spoiler alert… it would be bad. Since that evil is indeed unleashed and without worry or consequence and it consumes and divides and commits horrible acts across every vignette, leaving blood and terror in its wake.

A storytelling decision that makes this… a supremely impactful horror film. Because the scares here work through and through, courtesy of the fact that you never quite know how this movie is going to terrify you. Because at times, the scares just come at you in a fast and furious manner, prompting you to jump or reel back in surprise. But at other times, everything spooky and creepy is a slow burn surprise. The kind that builds tension and prompts you grab the arm of your chair in anticipation of the ugly to come. Plus, the gore is also pretty fantastic, since it isn’t presented in a gratuitous manner, it’s impactful and disgusting as good gore should be, and what’s amazing, is that this movie has so much more to offer than quality scares.
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For there is in fact… a lot of commentary to be found in this story. Some of which is directed at the entertainment industry, and its expectations for artists and the demands they face when it comes to tapping into something more primal for art. But that commentary aside, this is in many ways, a story that deeply explores the creative process and the good and bad that comes with that. Since there are toxic ways to create and we see some of that here, and that makes for some fascinating moments for certain, the kind that answer some questions for the audience and of course… make for engaging storytelling.

Because at its core, this too is entertainment and this movie most certainly entertains. Because its unique structure and fascinating vignettes simply draw you in, regardless of the deeper stuff. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the cast sells the ugly well and that this movie even finds a way to have fun with the material as well. Courtesy of the movie within the movie, Big Baby, and well, in the end… all of these elements make this movie a supremely worthwhile and engaging watch. One that offers up a bevy of wonderful concepts to chew upon and is host to everything that horror fans love. Plus, it’s also full of Easter Eggs regarding the connective tissue of these vignettes, meaning you’ll likely want to watch this amazing ride a few times to properly soak all of that in, and the good news is… you can do that right now. For Allegoria is available to stream on Shudder.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘What Josiah Saw’.
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Often times, stories that focus upon confronting one’s past, are quite noble and inspiring in nature and rightfully so. Because while it does indeed take guts to take a moment and reflect upon the negative impact that a traumatic moment in our lives had upon us and the influence it has on our present and potentially our future, it takes incredible bravery to confront it and resolve it and seeing someone go through that process… really is quite powerful. Since it reminds us that we can achieve anything when we put our minds to it, including finding internal peace and a semblance of happiness, and that’s why we enjoy these types of stories, and why we push to face yesterday when it begins to haunt us.
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But while this type of story is supremely popular in nature at the moment, and the benefits of chasing our trauma both generational and general are becoming widely well known, what we don’t like to discuss all that often, is how sometimes… there is trauma that folks cannot come back from. For these are the dark and devastating moments that break psyches and remove conscience from a person, and those are the folks we see as tragic in nature because they didn’t find the help we did or hope to. And we don’t like to acknowledge it, simply because… it speaks to a failure in this world, since we preach that all can be saved and helped, when in fact… they cannot. Not with the amount of damage they’ve received and well, while we cannot help, we can however study and come to understand what brings about that kind of disaster and it just so happens that Shudder is now home to a study in that vein in What Josiah Saw.

For this particular motion picture introduces us to a supremely broken family that scattered to the wind after the mother of the family died. Leaving her husband Josiah and her son Thomas broken and fending for themselves at the old family house, where bad memories echo daily. And out in the world is her son Eli… who has fallen on hard times and turned to ugly acts to survive, and her daughter Mary is severely detached from life and the world, despite her desires to be part of it. But despite their pain and their silent suffering, the family is about to be reunited at the old house to try and discuss its sale to allow for everyone to part ways and perhaps enjoy a new future. Provided of course, they can handle the horrible memories that are washing over them and the darkness that they nurtured and grew within their souls because of the pain they experienced in this unwholesome place.

Which in many ways, sounds like a homecoming drama over a horror film. One that doesn’t focus on the lost in the slightest, since going home is the kind of act that would instead denote healing. But the unique structure of this film, allows for us to come to understand the horrors of devastating trauma. Because we actually spend a fair chunk of time with each member of the family, and we are able to see through their actions and thoughts… how broken they are, and how badly they want to escape their pain but cannot. For it is embedded into the very core of their bones and it haunts them day and night, and that brings about a bleak character study for certain. One that holds nothing back in showing us how lost these people are, how they can never recover from their trauma and of course… what it transformed them into.
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Which is… different kinds of monsters of sorts. Since Thomas cannot hold a normal relationship in the slightest because of the demons in his soul, and Eli more or less exists and has no drive or desire to do anything but take care of himself… others be damned. And the disconnect from Mary is so extreme, that she is barely hanging onto the fragile relationships in her life and that makes this film hard to watch at times, since it is hard to see people in such a destructive state. But truly it is the finale of this tale that allows for this story to truly shine regarding its examinations. For this is when it informs us how evil inspires evil courtesy of some grand reveals that motivate the viewer to question a great deal of what they’ve seen. But more importantly, those moments hammer home how that level of twisted trauma, really does poison the soul to the point of no return.

If anything, this is… a devastating horror film when all is said and done. One that takes us on a bleak and unwholesome and uncomfortable ride. Since it puts the darkest of acts on display, the kind that we think don’t happen in the world but do and going that route… definitely makes for a visceral and terrifying experience. One that will stay with you long after story has come to an end, as you reflect on the horrors you’ve seen and its realism. Which comes courtesy of some world-class performances from the cast. With Robert Patrick and Nick Stahl stealing the show with the special brand of ugly they both portray and that makes this the kind of horror film, you need to pour over more than once to truly capture its revolting essence and thankfully, you can do that right now. For What Josiah Saw is available to stream on Shudder.

With all of the silly challenges being aired over the internet and TikTok (see: Tide Pod Challenge), there are some good ones out there as well. Like the challenge of not having a cell phone for a week and actually needing to talk to people face to face. Other challenges can take you far away from your comfort zone, like going out into the wilderness and trying to survive for certain amount of time. This is actually a pretty good idea when you think about it, because if (or when) the system fails, you now know of a way to survive, just you and nature for any stint of time. I leave it up to you to figure out what challenges you will take up, but please do not put a Tide Pod in your mouth or any other orifice.
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Wanting to prove that he can survive in the wild with nothing more than a few things to help him on his way, Zach Weiland gets dropped off near the Hollows Shoals of the Georgia wilderness. With camera in hand, he is happy to document his adventure and after walking for a couple hours into the woods, he is able to find a good spot to set up camp. Building a shelter that will always be improved on and having a water source nearby, he is ready to stay for the duration of a sixty-day challenge and show everyone how easy it is, but he is not the only one in the woods as he quickly finds out.

Being woken up in the middle of the night to footsteps outside of his shelter, along with strange screaming in the distance, Zach wants to know what is causing the sounds. Not being able to find anything around his camp site, Zach goes along with his daily duties of surviving and makes some improvements to his shelter and finds a frog to snack on. Knowing that he has everything that he could possibly need in the world, he is still being pestered by the same eerie sounds at night. Setting up a camera outside the shelter to see if he can catch what is stalking him, it comes up blank, but it is possible he does not want to see what images the camera has captured. 

As the days move on, Zach widens his search around the woods to try and find out who is messing with him. Coming across what seems to be an abandoned campsite, Zach finds a journal that holds some very strange truths inside. Not wanting to read it before he goes to sleep, he continues to be tormented at night by an unseen being and is getting tired of it. Trying to find out who or what it could be, he leaves the safety of his shelter and moves into the darkness, only to find out that whatever it is that is stalking him has the ability to knock over trees. With a lack of food taking its toll on him, along with the strange events happening at night getting worse, Zach decides it is time to pack up and make his way back to the highway, but not marking his path into the woods upon his arrival, he gets turned around and the real torment in the Hollow Shoals comes into full effect.

I had to put this movie on the side burner for a couple days, as I just reviewed another one in this vein not too long ago and I am sorry that I did. Seeing that this was actually a web series, it really did its job well in telling the story, along with showing the mental breakdown that Zach was going through. I liked how shots were taken at other reality shows that can show you how to survive in the wilderness with no one else and the importance of being able to talk to another human being once in a while. With strange sounds in the night, an unseen threat, stories about the Hollow Shoals, a big beard and a creepy black-haired woman in the woods, this movie will make you think twice about trying to beat nature on your own, especially when you find out that the things that go bump in the night are real. Stay Scared.

It is the hope of every parent out there, that their baby is utterly prepared for all the challenges the world is going to send their way when they go out into the world. Which is why the vast majority of parents out there, work hard to teach their kids all the important stuff they’re going to need to know as an adult, alongside lessons on how to handle tough scenarios that will come their way. So that their dream comes true, and their child turned adult can indeed be a productive member of modern society, and for the most part… this particular path and teaching structure works like a charm. Since a fair chunk of people turn out to be just fine and go on to lead good lives and are indeed ready for whatever life sends their way.
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But you likely noticed that the word ‘all’ wasn’t used in that part of our discussion when it comes to the end of that teaching journey. Because sadly, there are some parents out there… who simply don’t care about the kids they have. So, they don’t teach them a thing and simply hope for the best for them. Stunting their growth and putting them in a tough position when they’re adults and with some children… the lessons simply don’t take right away, or they need constant reinforcement of what’s important in this life and even then… there are no guarantees they’ll learn what they need to. Which means they head off into the world, confused and struggling to get by when it comes to the basics and well… these are the folks that require something more but never get it. However they should… since they’re in a prime position to be harmed by the world, as evidenced by the next episode of Tales from the Darkside.

For season one finale of this show, ‘The False Prophet’, explores what happens when those late bloomers are just pushed out into the world to fend for themselves without that extra touch, they need… in the most extreme manner of course, and it accomplishes this feat by introducing us to a woman named Cassie Pines. Whom as it turns out, is indeed that late bloomer who either never received the lessons or they didn’t take, because she is… simply lost in this story. For she puts all of her eggs in mystical baskets to find guidance on simple matters that are second nature and clear to the rest of us… and that may have finally placed her in incredible danger. For her desire to follow the teachings of a ‘psychic’ arcade game known as Madame X, and its successor, Horace X, has brought her to the middle of nowhere… where Horace continues to warn her of danger and a false prophet. And because Cassie cannot make a decision on her own or understand what the danger might be… she drifts between dangerous advice from man and machine… both of whom want to manipulate her to do their bidding.

Which is a story that quite frankly… isn’t really all that terrifying at first. If anything, you just feel pity for Cassie. For she really is that lost soul that doesn’t understand the world and has no guidance or lessons to pull from. She just drifts from moment to moment, hoping the next one will give her guidance and peace, or potentially love and that makes this hard to watch at times. Since we’ve all known or will know people like Cassie. But eventually… the horror does come into play, courtesy of that tug of war between Horace and the scuzzy preacher that comes into the same bus stop where she’s trying to decide her next move and well… it is terrifying to watch a machine and a man manipulate someone so naïve and so afraid. Because it’s just cruel, plain and simple.
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Of course, such machinations and ugliness eventually end in the worst way imaginable. With the priest coming within moments of assaulting Cassie to get his way and with Horace basically becoming sentient and consuming her… which is an ugly way to end and ugly tale, one that stays with you after it is done because of the underlying lesson present in this story. One that becomes clear when you reflect upon the emotions this tale generates. Because all you want to do is help Cassie here and guide her toward the light and therein lie the lesson. In that, that is precisely what these late bloomers and lost souls need. Kindness and guidance and people that are willing to take the time to help them see the world a little clearer. Because that would do them wonders. But alas, our world isn’t quite prepared for such behaviors yet, but such acts would indeed have saved Cassie from such a horrible fate.

In the end however, this is likely a season finale that polarized folks back in the day and would do so now. Simply because… it isn’t season one’s strongest tale. It’s one that is a little hurried and that does the lesson and the darker moments a disservice and obviously, it does take a little extra disbelief to truly sell a sentient fortune telling machine. But those flaws don’t outweigh the benefits and what this story has to say, is powerful to say the least and that definitely overshadows any flaws and brings a brilliant inaugural season of this show, to a proper and intelligent close and that leaves one hopeful for the rest of the journey. Because it can only get better from here, and that’s saying something when one considers how many hits this season had, and truly… it will be an utter delight to dive into season two soon, and all the wild, and horrifying and intelligent tales it will undoubtedly send our way. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 307 of ‘Motherland: Fort Salem’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Often times in storytelling, the march to war or the beginning of one… is quite the epic and emotional affair. One where a solemn general or other military leader is left with no choice, but to command their troops into battle for the greater good and the safety of others. And of course, through great suffering and great loss, the good guys emerge victorious and changed, but heroes none the less… and it makes sense as to why war is viewed in this manner. For it is, romanticized in American culture, largely because of the fact that the US of A has fought in several crucial, planet changing battles where America helped to turn the tide, and vanquish evil. Which made the American Army quite heroic at the time and the perfect springboard for stories that celebrate that nobility.

But alas, in this day and age, that kind of romantic view of war and our own Army simply isn’t possible. For the War on Terror started under dubious circumstances and the fighting took place for so long… there was no longer a noble point to it anymore. Making the army now appear to be nothing more than an endless war machine, one driven by men that wish to use the Army to fulfill their agenda and well… that more somber side to combat is top of mind today, simply because it was put on full display during this week’s episode of Motherland: Fort Salem on Freeform. A feat that ‘She Returns’ accomplished, by having the dark arrive in this tale. Wherein the United States Army, led by the president’s new lackeys, arrived at the borders of the Cession to find their fugitives, and bring every witch to ‘justice’. 

Which in turn, treated us to some uncomfortable moments where leaders with ugly agendas were pushing to basically commit atrocities left and right, as evidenced by how quickly a Marshal was dispatched. And to complicate matters further, the United States Army pushed into the Cession without a fight, thanks to a backroom deal made by Cession Council Member Milly. Which meant, the opening salvos of war came quick in this tale, in the most dishonorable and disgusting ways imaginable, but thankfully… there were indeed real heroes, such as the Bellweather Unit, ready to fight for the right side and the right cause. Since Abigail was quick to fight back with Adil’s help and put a stop to the madness before it spiraled out of control, and she also made sure to inspire the troops that were just following orders... to do what they must to ensure that evil did not prevail here.

If anything, this segment of the story was downright brilliant to say the least, since it truly hammered home how the army is viewed currently through subtle and powerful commentary, and it let our heroes finally become just that, since they took part in noble and just acts left and right. Such as rescuing the council and committing to sacrifice to do so. But as this series is wont to do, it had more to offer than just that plot thread. For this is a story that also set the stage for how the First Song will come to fruition, since Alder came to learn through a shady Camarilla historian… that the only way to uncover its roots is to look into the past. Something Tally might help with. Plus, this is also the story that saw Raelle return to the fold since the Mycelium was finally good with letting her return to the world, giving new life to the unit at a crucial time.

Because this fight is about to get, extremely ugly. Since now we know that the Army is going to be asked to commit atrocities in the name of the Camarilla, and that means the Bellweather Unit is going to have to fight harder than ever to  keep witchkind safe, and well, that makes this episode as brilliant as its commentary. For it perfectly set the stage for the final three episodes in this series. For now, we know what is at stake, how bad things might get and how hard our heroes are going to have to work, and that is going to make the final run of episodes here… worth our while since they will be grounded in action, adventure and big moments through and through. The kind that will send this series into the sunset in the right way, and well… all we can do now is impatiently wait to see how our heroes will handle the biggest fight of their lives. Until next time.   

One thing that we can all agree upon, is that everyone on this tiny blue ball we call home is afraid of something. Some of those fears, are quite specific in nature. Such as not being able to be near a spider or other creepy crawlers. Or some just outright fear the dark and what could be lurking within its shadows. While other fears are a touch more meta in nature, such as whether or not we’ve lived a good life or if we’ve done enough to make an impact upon this world. But whatever fear you subscribe to, there are a handful that we all share in. For instance, we all fear death in some capacity, and we all fear the prospect of getting older.
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Because we can see through our parents and others in our lives that are years ahead of us, what time does to the human body and mind. Since we see them struggle to walk as they get older or we see their minds slip and of course, they eventually become frail and weak and in need of care from the very young people that once needed their care and well… seeing our loved ones get old hammers home a few things. One, that life is finite, and our time will come. Two, that we will lose those we love whether we like it or not and finally…. that we are next to go through this process and well, the thought of being weaker in our bones and our minds growing softer really is terrifying and sadly… that fear is so deeply rooted and so horrifying, that it motivates us to treat the elderly in a bad manner.

If anything, this fear and our subsequently poor response to it is top of mind today, simply because it was put on full display in the next episode of Tales from the Darkside. A feat that ‘Grandma’s Last Wish’ accomplishes by plunging us into the Rollins household, at a time when the family is at a crossroads. For their beloved grandma, who lives with them, is getting up there in years. To the point where there are concerns that she might need around the clock care and might become a burden to the household. Which prompts them to prepare to send her to a nursing home. A move that grandma has little say in and is genuinely hurt by. Which prompts her to make quite the wish when the opportunity arrives, one that will teach the family quite the lesson regarding how to properly respect one’s elders.

Which involves… rapid aging. Wherein the family that is ready to ship grandma off loses their sight and their wounds don’t heal quite as fast, so they can experience firsthand what grandma is going through and how hard life can be in our later years, especially when we come to realize… that few care about the elderly. For we do just ship them off and try to keep them out of sight and out of mind to not face our fears and we use every excuse in the book to not see them after that. A move that also helps us to not deal with the reality that they are near the end of their lives. Which makes grandma’s journey… a different kind of horror story, one that focuses on the terror that accompanies growing old and being a subject of ageism and that honestly… makes for one scary episode.

Because we genuinely feel her fear, the kind grounded in being cast out from the world and life she knows and feels safe within, and we also feel the coldness and prejudice her family sends her way. When it is obvious that she isn’t some useless person that needs to be shoved aside. She deserves her family’s love and respect and time since they can learn a great deal from her. Which is another message that resonates, since ageism is indeed a problem in this day and age and is perhaps worse than ever with a generation currently aging before our eyes, and that makes for one brilliant and visceral tale. One that once again subjects us to real world horrors in a direct and dynamic manner.

Granted, it still has that wicked Darkside twist that the series is known for, since there is something to be said about seeing this cruel family be at an advanced age at the end of this tale as penance for treating grandma akin to everyday garbage. But outside of that, this is just another bold tale from a series that really tapped into some special stuff in its first season, and it was once again ahead of the curve here. Since this was something rarely discussed back in the 1980s, but this series put it front and center no problem, and it deserves a round of applause for that and for hammering home a simple point. In that, we can’t fear getting old, nor can we fear it for our loved ones. For it is our destiny. So, rather than cower in fear over what it is to come, we can instead… relish in the moments with our elders and learn from them and cherish them until their time arrives… so they don’t head into the darkness feeling neglected and unloved. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.

There was a time, when horror stories utterly refused to explore the more intimate horrors we deal with in everyday life. Not out of some close-minded stance or out of the belief that the genre couldn’t handle such matters. No instead, this was more motivated by the fact that the genre wasn’t mainstream enough and people weren’t quite willing to embrace what the genre could offer. Which is why the monsters that popped up on the screen, were allegories of sorts, so meaning could be snuck into a particular tale and no one would be the wiser. Unless of course they wanted to recognize the meaning of the monster and what it had to say about modern mankind and our problems.
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But eventually, that which held the genre back disappeared and now… intimate horror is everywhere. Since films such as Doctor Sleep now explore the lasting impact of trauma, or the damage that domestic violence can cause to the human mind, as evidenced by the motion picture, Lucky. But while horror is now enjoying its boldest phase to date, where no topic is off limits anymore, what’s amazing… is that there were a few horror stories that breached the barrier and tested the waters, well before the mainstream revolution we’re enjoying now became commonplace. For the next episode of Tales from the Darkside digs into a topic that no story was looking at back in that day, since it put addiction and all of its horrors on full display.

A feat that ‘Bigalow’s Last Smoke’ accomplishes, by plunging us into the strange situation that a man named Frank Bigalow is dealing with. For he wakes up one fine morning and realizes that something is amiss. After all, the multiple packs of cigarettes he keeps around his house are missing and oh yeah… he’s trapped in a replica of his own apartment. Because somehow, someway, in the middle of the night… he was transported to this exact replica and robbed of freedom and his smokes, so that his addiction to cigarettes can finally be addressed by way of the strange and intense treatments that a Doctor Synapsis has designed. In fact, Frank is in contact often with the good doctor through a special television screen and he is not happy. Because this goes above and beyond from a therapy standpoint and he won’t be treated in this manner, and he will have his smokes. A pushback that traps Frank within a difficult battle of wills with the doctor, one where Mister Bigalow will be punished dearly for non-compliance… or given his freedom… if he finally decides to give up his nasty habit.

Which is… a brilliant plot that explores so much regarding addiction. For starters, it dives deep into how we have poor mental health care and addiction care in America. Because the only way to truly root out addiction and free a person of its trappings, is to address the root cause of the matter in the first place. But instead, we work with shock treatments in modern America, and rehab centers where people come and go in a revolving door manner because of what isn’t addressed. Which is precisely what Frank goes through here to the Nth Degree. Since Doctor Synapsis really puts Frank through the wringer to get him to just hand over his smokes, rather than fix why he needs them, and that in turn leads to stunning and painful conflict. The kind that puts Frank in a dark and painful place often because he hasn’t learned in the slightest the nature of his addiction, he only knows compliance or pain. 
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As for the horror elements present here… well that is handled by story’s the intimate look at addiction. Granted, cigarettes might be considered a substance so mild, that it cannot teach us a proper lesson on such matters, but people get addicted to nicotine, and it does serve as an allegory for the power of addiction. Since we see Frank go through withdrawal and the mood swings that accompany that, and we cannot help but feel a tinge of pity for him when we realize the power his addiction has over him. Since it transforms him as it sees fit to get what it wants and that’s a powerful allegory for certain. One that can easily be applied to alcoholism or harder substance addiction, and kudos to the show for putting addiction on display in such a raw and visceral manner and for giving us some idea of how hard it actually can be to shake.

If anything, all of these elements make this… another forward-thinking episode. Because this really is the kind of stuff that modern horror is diving into on a regular basis now, and it’s wonderful to know this show was so ahead of its time and that it was fearless in putting this on the air. Because this is the kind of story that would have received pushback from someone along the way, but clearly… no one listened to that noise and the end result is a poignant and brilliant horror story. One that truly reminds us that monsters are real and that sometimes they reside within us, and well… now that we’ve come to the end of this particularly intelligent journey, we can now turn our attention to a tale of terror that is going to explore a fear that we all share in. Specifically… the fear of growing old. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.   

It is definitely safe to say, that the living dead subgenre of horror has proven itself to be perhaps the most versatile and dynamic subgenre in storytelling. Simply because… it fits into every mold out there and it can tell every type of story and for proof… just look the subgenre’s body of work. Because not only will you find utterly terrifying stories filled with gore and viscera, thanks the hungry walking corpses that populate this universe, but you’ll also find philosophical musings on death and our world within the framework of these stories. Plus, the zombie fuses with any genre out there, since we’ve been treated to dramatic and moving moments courtesy of the zombie and its impact on man, and this is a creature that’s even inspired comedic romps and romantic comedies along the way as well.
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But what’s fascinating about the living dead and their contributions to the world of horror, is that there is one particular type of tale that no horror master or franchise has really toyed with regarding the zombie. Specifically, the anthology. Granted, they’ve popped up in anthology-based storytelling over the years, but the closest we’ve ever really come to an anthology style zombie story is Fear the Walking Dead. But even then, the connective tissue of the characters makes that a loose anthology at best, and a solid attempt to bring the zombie into this type of story. In fact, the work happening on that series is impactful enough… that AMC and The Walking Dead Universe’s Chief Content Officer Scott M. Gimple, decided that perhaps the time had come to move the living dead into the world of the anthology.

Enter… Tales of the Walking Dead, a brand-new, six-episode anthology series set in the TWDU that arrives on AMC and AMC+ on August 14, 2022, and we here at NTG thought it would be worthwhile to spotlight this bold new entry in the franchise, in a spoiler-free manner of course… because it is something special. For this really is the first-ever zombie anthology series. One that features a new story every week, set in a different part of this nightmarish world, complete with new characters and unique situations for them to experience, and that brings forth… a must watch series. In part because, you simply don’t know what the show is going to focus on week to week and that excitement alone makes this worth your while. But there is so much more to this series than just giving us fresh tales in the world of The Walking Dead, it’s the quality of the stories that truly makes this saga worthwhile.

Because this series, takes the opportunity to tell six vastly different stories. That examine bold concepts, that we simply haven’t seen in the TWDU before. Because you’ll find stories that are lighthearted and wild in nature, and some experiment with concepts that would never work in the framework of the other shows. Giving this series a newfound freedom to explore whatever it wishes to. Which sounds as though this show goes off the rails and leans heavy into experimentation but have no fear… the tenets of this franchise are there. For there are plenty of bleak, and powerful, and scary moments to be found here, alongside the show’s stellar commentary on the human condition and one episode, actually digs back into the age-old question that this franchise has toyed with often. In that, are we worth saving?

As to which one that is, you’ll just have to wait and see. Because we promised no spoilers here, and we mean it. Because this is a refreshing entry in The Walking Dead Universe that you need to experience. One that really does surprise and engage, and it also doesn’t hurt… that it is filled to the brim with huge names from the industry and they all turn in top-notch performances that sell every poignant moment in this saga both big and small, and of course, the best news of all… is that the wait for this dynamic new entry in this iconic franchise… is almost over. For Tales of the Walking Dead will debut on AMC on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at 9 p.m. EST/8 p.m. CST on AMC and AMC+. With the first two episodes streaming that same night on AMC+ and well, we here at NTG hope you give this show a look and join us for our usual morning after geek-out sessions as we all reflect upon an important moment in living dead history.