Sometimes it is interesting to find out what goes bump in the night, but overall, we really should not want to know. With so many legends being brought into the light, thanks to the internet, it is becoming more difficult to know which ones are really true, and which ones are made up by an active imagination. It is a strange thought that something can be brought to life if enough people believe in its existence, but it does make you wonder if our collective minds can accomplish something that powerful. That’s the kind of late-night thought that will you keep you awake in the dark, when you do/don’t want to see what is lurking in the shadows.
​
Getting ready to go to sleep, Lola looks over at her partner Donnie to see that he is already out for the night. Walking into the bathroom to wash off her face, Lola thinks she sees something out to the side of her eye and is forced to take a closer look. Seeing straight on, a female figure standing in her shower, Lola pulls back to the shower curtain, but the figure ceases to be there, yet when she pulls it shut, the figure is easily seen. This goes on for several pulls and retractions and while there is no one in the shower, Lola thinks that she must be seeing things and tries to head off to bed.

Before she is able to shut the bedroom door however, Lola hears a humming coming from the living room and is forced to check it out. Seeing the back of the same woman she saw in the shower, this time the figure is one hundred percent real. Hiding around the corner, Lola sees the face of a demon in her home and is able to wake up Donnie to take a look. As the home has cameras all around it, Donnie checks the feed on his phone to show Lola that there is no one there. Being sure that his partner is having a bad dream, Donnie heads into the kitchen only to find that the demon is there waiting for him.  Watching her partner’s death on the phone, Lola must find a way to escape the demon before it is too late.

This is a cool little look at the myth of Momo that has been going around the internet for a while now. While I don’t know the entire story behind this demon, I do remember the face showing up on my timeline along with a blurb, that it was just a story and parents should tell their kids that it is not real and that they can sleep soundly in their beds. Well, according to this horror short, Momo is most certainly real and ready for her next victim, probably one that does not believe in her, since it will be easier to take over a non-believer than someone that knows what is up. With a strange disappearing woman in the shower, some ghostly humming, some very large eyes, a creepy face, a death in the kitchen and a possible escape from the nightmare taking place, this is a pretty good horror short that will make you want to question what goes bump in the night, at least until you find out first hand. Stay Scared.

See ‘Momo’ on Amazon Prime Video.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season five finale of 'Fear the Walking Dead'.
​
It’s been quite the wild and fascinating year for Fear the Walking Dead. For season five of this series has served as a grand experiment storytelling wise, one that has taken us to some unexpected places. Because we expect a series that is set at the end of the world, to be rife with tragedy and terror and gooey moments when the dead feast upon the flesh of the living, and those elements really weren’t anywhere to be found in this season’s storyline. Because week in and week out, it was all about positivity and unity and doing more in the end times to rise up above fear and pain in order to give people hope when they need it the most.
 
Which quite frankly, is a direction that polarized the fan base like never before. Because people either loved or hated what this season had to offer. If anything, the disappointment that fans have expressed on social media, made me wonder if the series could do anything to redeem itself in the slightest and really, the only way to do that, is to take us back into the darkness. Which is something that last week’s episode flirted with greatly in the back half of that particular tale, but it didn’t quite commit to the shadows. But it would seem the season five finale was fully prepared to take us to some unexpectedly bleak places, since ‘End of the Line’ provided us with some ugly moments, complete with one in particular that will stay with us for quite some time.
 
However, before we dive into that, let’s talk about the opening of the episode since it set the tone for a fair chunk of this story since it was devoid of hope from the get-go. Because the group was still facing the prospect of an uncertain future, one compounded by the fact that Morgan failed in his attempts to negotiate the safety of everyone. Which meant the sick and the elderly were going to be left behind to fend for themselves and while that didn’t sit right with anyone, the group felt helpless to stop their upcoming fate. That is until a few observations were made, and a hero returned to their camp. Because the group came to realize they could clear this place out no problem, and the horses that Dwight stumbled upon meant that there was water nearby, and all they needed to do in order to seal this place up for themselves, was give Ginny one hell of a fight.
 
Because then she would be inclined to stay away and leave them to their own devices and well, it turns out the dead within the Gulch would be the perfect tool to cause trouble with, since they could use this tiny herd as a weapon against her gang. But alas, things didn’t quite work out the way the group expected it to. For when Daniel discovered that Luciana was traveling with Ginny’s convoy, the attack was called off, and to make matters worse, a momentary lapse put Dwight within an inch of death’s door when he lost his horse. And in the end, John and June and Grace were forced to lead the dead to a white-watery grave in order to save their friends and that only added to the darkness.

​For now, the group was without their one weapon and with zero supplies and Strand now missing, it became clear that they were right back where they started and braced themselves for a rough life under Ginny’s thumb. But before she and her people arrived, there was time to partake in a little wonder and joy, and that came about by way of John and June’s long-awaited wedding. Which was quite the lovely affair to watch on screen since it featured all kinds of feel-good and wonderful moments. Plus, there was a little musical number that featured more of Reuben Blades’ lovely voice and talents. But while all of this was magnificent in its own right, the time had come for that all-important shocker, and that came forth by way of Ginny’s arrival.
 
Which is ironic in its own right since Morgan forced a positive moment to happen once her convoy parked at the Gulch. Because he demanded that Ginny take everyone in his group to safety and somehow in the midst of his impassioned plea, he got through to her and she agreed to his terms, allowing for everyone to begin their tearful goodbyes as Ginny’s lackeys quietly split up the group one by one, on purpose no doubt. Because there was a fair chance the group would cause trouble if transported together, and it may happen regardless based upon what Victor Strand had to say to Alicia. Since he explained that he was happy to curry favor with Ginny’s Gang so that they wouldn’t suspect him down the line when sabotage and insurrection popped up at his final destination.
 
But once the farewells were said and Grace was put in a doctor’s care, things took a genuine turn for the worse. For Ginny finally revealed the fact that she knew Morgan would always cause her trouble and likely inspire an uprising in whichever community she sent him to. Which meant that Morgan had to be ‘dealt’ with. And in a stunning sequence of events, we watched Morgan Jones, a man who has cheated death more times than we can count, face it for the first time ever. Because despite his skills with the staff, Ginny got the drop on him and put a bullet in his chest before abandoning him, and it would seem that his fate is a grim one indeed. For the closing moments of this tale saw Morgan begging for his friends to keep fighting the good fight as the blood continued to pour out of him, while the dead… closed in.
 
So, yeah. It really doesn’t get much darker than that, and honestly, I fear the worst for this character. Because there’s no dumpster for him to dive under, nor is there a helicopter waiting to drop out of the sky, which means there’s a good chance that this is Morgan’s final, indignant moments, and the series will likely never be the same if that’s the case. For the group will have lost their moral center and it gets worse from there. For they are also lost and scattered to the wind, under the thumb of a ruthless regime and I fear that more will perish in the season to come, and where we go from here, I haven’t a clue. But it should be interesting to see if a story that shifted toward hope, can maintain that focus in a new place that will likely be filled with despair. Until next year.

One of the greatest things you can ever do to recharge your batteries is to take a vacation. A trip out of town, away from all of your cares in the world is something that everyone should be entitled to at least once a year. What could be better? Add your friends to the experience as well and you would be looking at a vacation to remember. 

Six college students from LSU are thinking the exact same thing, it’s time to get away from all of their cares of real life and schoolwork to have a wild week at a friend’s father's summer house. The house is a great place for a getaway, since it has no cell service, no Wi-Fi, no TV, what else could they ask for? Enjoying the solitude away from their busy life in the city, the group embarks on one of their favorite past times, drinking.

The three couples enjoy their time alone and with the group, until a strange phone call comes from Howard’s (the son of the home owner) father, wherein he informs the group that  there has been an attack in the Middle East with ballistic missiles. Going outside of the house, the group thinks that they will be okay, but a missile appears overhead and detonates a couple miles away. Not knowing what to expect, the group hunkers down for the night and the only worry on their mind, is a strange, rabid dog eyeing the home. 

The Demented is a fun little romp that shows how a group of friends can band together during an outbreak of something they have never seen before. The story follows three different couples and the twists and turns they deal with when it comes to love, betrayal and survival. With the windows being busted open, the group has only one plan of action… get to town and try to survive. Trying to wait it out until an evacuation helicopter makes it to them, the group has to move around the town without being seen or heard by the new predators. 

‘Not your regular zombie flick.’ That is what is says on the back of the box and no one is disputing that. A good story with some young actors that make you think about what you would do if faced by a zombie outbreak. The zombies freeze in place when there is no one to chase, but spring into action when a noise is made, as they seem to only be attracted by sound. The classic methods to kill a zombie, such as destroying the brain, may also have gone by the wayside in this film, but that is not where the true scares lie. Having to trust the ones you are with if they are or are not your friends seems to be the scariest thing you will have to deal with. When the world is coming to an end, will you be able to fend for yourself, or will you have to depend on your friends. If it is the latter, make sure you don’t do anything to piss them off. Stay scared.  

It is always difficult to start off in a new place, no matter your age. Needing to find a new clique to hang out with and develop some sort of relationship with can be harder than you ever expected. This is an experience that many children have dealt with and still deal with, and the common thread when it comes to their experiences, is that they all have a little safety net to fall back upon. Whether it is something as simple as a stuffed animal, a doll, a pet or a piece of fabric, there is some special item that brings them solace. Holding on to these things over the years, although it may be deemed strange by some, keeps our head above water until we are able to make those new friends, that are desperately needed to survive.

A new day has arisen for Connor and he goes through his normal morning routine with his stuffed doll Beadie once again. Having a hard time adjusting to a new school, Connor brings his best friend with him on a daily basis, and while his father tries to warn him against this, Connor needs that feeling of being loved that he is not getting at school. But today is a little different, as Connor is trying to keep Beadie from being a distraction on the bus, his secret is discovered by Will who is interested in the new kid’s friend. Giving the doll a little hug however brings new eyes to the doll and the bullies on the bus have found a new way to torment the new kid. 

Playing keep-a-way on the bus, the lead bully holds Beadie out the window and threatens Connor with his worst fear, losing his best friend. Watching as Beadie hits the pavement and gets run over by several cars, Connor has to come to the realization that he has lost his best friend in the world.  Sitting alone and reflecting on this, he is approached by Will, who is sorry that the doll has been lost to the bullies of the school, but while the apology is being made, the lead bully rears his head once again. Getting ready to beat up the new kid, the three boys are shocked to hear the familiar phrase ‘Let’s Be Friends’ come from the doorway of the bathroom and that Beadie has returned for a vengeance, all of his own.

Okay, wow, I don’t think I have been afraid of a stuffed talking doll in a long time, well at least not since the time that Teddy Ruxpin came out and haunted children’s dreams for a generation. This horror short story moved along smoothly and while you don’t get the full backstory as to why Connor and his father moved to the new town, it is apparent that the boy is very attached to his Beadie and there should be nothing wrong with that. I really was really left to question why Connor was so quick to accept the loss of his longtime friend when Beadie became a victim of the road, as it was his best friend, at least to that point. With a very cool doll, some hair brushing, getting ready for school montage, a school bus bully session, some doll getting run over shots, some inevitable bullying in the boys’ room, the rebirth of a demon doll and an Old Yeller scene, this horror short is nothing short of nostalgic for me, in a good way.  There is nothing wrong with holding on to something that makes you feel safe, even if it might be a little different than what others are used to. Stay Scared.

See ‘Let’s Be Friends’ on Amazon Prime Video.

While the original Creepshow is well regarded as a magnificent and groundbreaking horror film, thanks to its unique style and delightfully original scares, I honestly don’t think people talk enough about its long-standing legacy within the genre. Because it was in many ways a groundbreaking motion picture, one that transformed the landscape of the horror genre for decades to come. For prior to the arrival of this movie, anthology horror really wasn’t a thing. I mean, sure, there were creepy stories to be found within the framework of anthology style storytelling, and a few shows like Night Gallery tried their hand at bringing short vignettes filled with chills to the small screen. But after this movie hit theaters back in 1982, everything changed for this relatively underused subgenre.      
 
Because just like that, horror anthology was everywhere. Suddenly Tales from the Darkside was the hot new thing on television, and films in this vein popped up in theaters and on home video constantly in the 80s and 90s and the movie’s overall inspiration even received its own adaptation when Tales from the Crypt arrived on HBO in 1989. So, why then don’t we discuss the lasting influence of this movie more often? I would venture to say that’s due in large part to the fact that there really isn’t a cohesive franchise present for this saga. Granted there’s two sequels that followed the original, but they never recaptured the magic of the source material and that leaves Creepshow on a unique and isolated island.
 
But with horror enjoying an all-time high popularity wise with audiences, the time seems right to see if this franchise can not only find new life, but cement a proper legacy when it comes to everything its done for genre and the only way to accomplish that particular feat is to resurrect the Creep and let him tell his jolting tales of horror once again, and thanks to Shudder and horror legend Greg Nictotero, that particular feat has come to fruition. For yesterday saw the premiere of the brand new Creepshow television series on the aforementioned Shudder and at this point, I am fairly certain that you’re all wondering as to whether or not this latest chapter in the saga holds a flame to its predecessor.
 
As it turns out, it most certainly does. In fact, this feels like an organic extension of the original, and I think that’s due in large part to the overall design of the series. Because the wraparound segments that feature the Creep, maintain the look and feel of the first film thanks to the return of a Creep that is grounded in practical effects, and that combined with the familiar color aesthetic from part one, allows for the viewer to instantly return to this world and feel comfortable in doing so. But what truly makes this series so special in its own right is that it has grown up so to speak, since the storytelling is taken to a whole new level in this premiere.

​For this time around, the campy nature of the original has completely disappeared, instead the dark humor has been replaced with feelings of dread since the stories present here; ‘Gray Matter’ and ‘The House of the Head’ deal with their respective storylines in straight forward and unsettling fashion, and well, both of these stories feel akin to a waking nightmare. For their jarring visuals and organic and flowing scripts suck you into the story and fill your soul with fear as you watch one bad thing after another begin to unfold and on several occasions, I found myself squirming in my seat thanks to what played out on screen and really how these two stories accomplish this particular feat is what truly impressed me about this particular premiere.
 
Because ‘Gray Matter’, preys upon our most instinctual fears, such as isolation and helplessness. Something compounded by the fact that our main characters are on their own in this tale since they’re cut off from the rest of the world by the hurricane that is about to make landfall. Plus it also toys with our fears of the dark and the unknown when the Sheriff and Doc arrive at Timmy’s place to uncover the truth as to what’s happening to his father, and all of these elements leave you uncomfortable since nothing seems quite right in this world and that allows for the surprises at the end of the story to shock you for certain.  
 
But while that particular tale is more primal in nature, ‘The House of the Head’ is a tad more philosophical in its exploration of fear. For this tale truly dives into the randomness of the universe and how sometimes bad things enter our lives out of the blue and there is little that we can do to stop them, and it also explores how despite our best efforts to understand why this bad thing happened, we never quite get the answers we seek. Yet what makes this tale stand out even further is that it handles this particular examination in the most unique manner possible, by allowing for our main character, Evie, to play the role of observer when it comes to the little problem she’s encountering with her dollhouse.
 
Yet while that summary doesn’t quite engender a sense of terror, I can assure you, it’s one disturbing tale and that’s really the best part about Creepshow, it’s damn scary. In fact, I am hard pressed to think of the last time I found myself this unsettled by a horror show, but this one pulled it off no problem. Because it got my heart racing, it made me squirm and it made me wince and that’s because once it gets going it feels like a brilliantly colored, technicolor hell from which there is no escape and that’s just brilliant to say the least. In the end, this is a series you need to see, period. Because it is inherently clear this is going to be a bold series that isn’t afraid to try new things and that means we can expect the unexpected and that’s both refreshing and horrifying all at once. Either way, I’m not ashamed to admit I’m hooked on this one, because not only is it going to do right by the original, it’s going to take the franchise to bold new heights after all, and I’ll be anxiously awaiting another terrifying treat from the Creep’s vault of nightmares. Until next time, kiddies. 

It is a question that is asked all of the time, how far would you go to help someone that you truly care about? While I am sure that everyone would do anything to keep a family member out of trouble any way they can, what would you be willing to do for your friends? The friends that I keep the closest, well, I consider them family these days, mainly because they are there when I need them and while it may only be a short list, they are the ones I care about the most. I would like to think that I would do anything to keep them out of trouble if needed, or just give them some helpful words when they are down, but I don’t know how far I would be willing to go if they per se, were going to become zombies or something like that.
​
With their car breaking down in the middle of nowhere, Mark and John are running out of options when it comes to what to do next. As their friend Luke is in a bad way in the back of the car, the two men know that they cannot carry his additional weight when trying to escape. Checking in on their ailing friend, Mark pops his head in the back seat and asks how he is doing. Luke, holding his neck from an injury, knows that his time is short, and he will not be able to make the next leg of the trek that the men have planned and begs them to leave him, as he feels the infection growing inside of him.

Going back to John, Mark is upset to say that Luke will not be joining them, but John is not willing to leave the situation as is. Begging Mark to do the right thing and put Luke out of his misery, John is convinced that no one should end up with the infection taking over them at any point. Going to the trunk to get a baseball bat, Mark is ready to end his friend’s pain, but when looking in the backseat, he sees that Luke has gotten out. Looking around for a brief second, John and Mark see their friend filled with rage and Luke attacks them without slowing down. After getting back up from the rampage, Mark watches as John is torn to shreds by his friend and is able to end the assault of his ailing amigo, but now he must make the choice of putting another friend out of his misery before the masses of infected catch up with him.

This is a pretty cool horror short that you find out is a little bit zombie driven, even though they do not say it by name. With an infection taking over the world, the team had to stop for supplies, off screen, and obviously bit off more than they can chew and have a man down. I liked the hesitation that Mark had to show when it came to moving on without one of his friends, and the job John had to do to convince him that no one should be left to the infection. With an infected friend, a choice to make, a baseball bat, a gut tearing session, some deep black eyes, some head bashing and an overall cry for help, this short demonstrates that sometimes what must be done is not always easy, even if you know it is the right thing to do. Stay Scared.

See ‘In the Blood’ on Amazon Prime Video.

There is unfortunately, a dark side to the geeky things we love; the cash grab. We all know that the franchises we celebrate in our heart are a business, and when they bring us top notch stories we are more than happy to hand over our hard earned money to keep it going with the knowledge that those who cash the check will undoubtedly feed our hunger and do it with class. 

But there are those out there who simply see the dollar signs, and when opportunity falls in their lap to get their hands on a well-known franchise that has spent a few years languishing in oblivion and make money on the name alone, the end result is often times a complete and utter disaster. Such was the case with today's movie review; Creepshow 3.

So let's get right down to it. This movie is awful. Five more tales of ‘terror’ are presented to us and well, they're not scary, they're not funny, they're not good. As I stated before, this was nothing more than an opportunity to get paid. There is no Romero or King involvement here, their rights to the first two films remained in the hands of the production company and they were sold off to the highest bidder. That means there is no passion to be found here, no love of E.C. Comics as we saw in the last two films. 

This is merely an hour and forty minutes of stuff that happens, with some blood mixed in, a vampire, and a rip off of 'The Hitchhiker' from Creepshow 2. Just to give you perspective about how bad this film is, know that the rip off tale is entitled 'The Haunted Dog', and no, it is not about an evil pooch from beyond, it's about a bad hot dog. That's right a jerk of a doctor gives a homeless man a tainted hot dog that kills him. Now the doctor is haunted by the homeless man who consistently spouts the line 'Thanks for the good dog' to 'torment' the doctor. Yup, I actually had to type all of that, and it is just as stupid on screen as it is in this article.  

So why spotlight this film? Simple, so that you don't have to watch this utter piece of garbage. Yes, I took one for the team and sat through this whole mess so that you don't have to. It’s really that bad, and I implore you to not see this movie or support it in the slightest. Because the people who made this abomination don’t deserve our time or a single dime of our hard-earned money. However, while this did indeed put a stain on the franchise’s wonderful standing, something magnificent did come out of this mess. Because Greg Nicotero and Shudder were able to snag the rights to the saga, and tomorrow will see the beginning of a new era for the franchise when Creepshow premieres on Shudder, and I have high hopes that this new entry in the series, will restore it to its former glory.

Growing up, we all thought that bedtime was nothing more than a suggestion and our parents might be out of their minds to think we would go to sleep before we wanted to. As we get older however, we start to understand that sleep is important and for a healthy life (what the doctors say at least), we need to sleep for eight hours a night. While this may not seem like something that can be achieved every night, we at least have a day off once in a while to catch up on our sleep and we can nap during the daylight hours. Someone once said that there is plenty of time to sleep when you are dead, and while this is one way to look at it, you may find that you feel more alive with the more sleep you get on a nightly basis.
​
Not wanting to go to sleep yet, a young boy sits in his bed asking his father to check the closet once again to see if there are any monsters waiting to jump out and scare the young man when the lights go out. With no monsters in the closet, the father is getting a little fed up with his son asking for all of these childish things, but he will do it, nonetheless. Checking under the bed, and finding no monsters, the father is ready for bed and is begging the boy to go to sleep as well. Not feeling tired yet, the boy asks his father to read him just one more story, but in a huff, the father declines and leaves his son to go to sleep on his own.

Sitting on his bed in disgust, the father is having a hard time coping with the loss of his wife and knows that his son is having a hard time as well. Wanting to apologize to his son for acting crass before bed, the father tries to gather his thoughts before he says something wrong once again. Down the hall, the boy is looking around his room for the monsters that are planning to gobble him up during the night. With his main focus on the monkey doll sitting on the chair next to his bed, the boy keeps shining his light on it over and over again, but as the light pans back, the boy is shocked at what he sees. While a woman sits in the chair with rotting skin, she picks up the flashlight and gives the boy exactly what he has been wanting, a story.

A little different than what I expected, as this is more of a drama than a horror short, but it does show that love conquers all. With the boy and his father missing a mother in the house, it is easy to see why they are at each other’s throats in the beginning. While the father is trying to find the way to raise his boy the right way without a mother, he is not willing to bend to everything that the boy wants. While this seems to be the right way in the old man’s mind, the boy needs and wants his mother back and asking for it may just be enough. With an annoyed father, a boy who is afraid of monsters, a flashlight, a story about a train, some wrinkled old skin and a woman who is not willing to let a boy suffer in the dark, this story tells you that your loved ones are never too far away, even if you do not see them every day. Stay Scared.

See ‘Good Night’ on Amazon Prime.

​An overflow of ideas is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, we've all experienced that moment when you're on to something good, be it planning for a vacation or something special for those we love, and suddenly the ideas flow freely and you realize that you have no choice but to bid farewell to some of the bigger notions swimming about in your head, whether they were awesome or not. Simply because they’re impractical or impossible to accomplish in the moment.
 
In film, this same principle applies from time to time and in movies it can only mean one thing, that all of those wonderful and excessive ideas can be used... in a sequel. For example, this was something that happened to George Romero and Stephen King in regard to their horror masterpiece, Creepshow. Because there were so many stories to tell that they could only settle on five at the time. But the handful they left out, were just enough to help bring another comic book themed horror film to life, in Creepshow 2.

This time around, King and Romero only provide the audience with three tales of terror, each one varying in quality of course. But before we break this movie down any further, let's answer the question that is burning in all of your minds; is Creepshow 2 any good? Well, that’s a yes. But it is important to note that this particular sequel is only good, not great, and the reason that I cannot give this motion picture a glowing review is because of the inconsistency present in all of the respective stories present here.
 
First and foremost, the opening chapter in this film, ‘Ol’ Chief Woodenhead’ is a mediocre entry at best, one that offers up a decent but by the numbers affair about revenge from a statue that won’t stand for disrespect. But while one can forgive a mediocre tale, the second story in this film is what really hurts it. For while ‘The Raft’ offers up a fascinating nightmare scenario for some college students out looking for a good time, it is severely dated and out place in the modern world, complete with an uncomfortable scene that removes one from the story. If anything, the film’s saving grace is its finale, ‘The Hitchhiker’, because this one is a tour de force of terror, one complete with the twists and turns and gore that made the first entry so enjoyable.

But at times it feels like this motion picture is missing something special, and in a way it is. As since this time around Stephen King and George Romero are not quite as hands on, with King taking credit for the stories and Romero the screenplay. Which means their perfect touch is clearly missing from this film, but their involvement is what keeps it alive. But all complains aside, please give this one a look because there are definitely some creepy moments to be found in this flick, and John Harrison's direction is crisp with the scares, keeping the tension rolling after a slow start, and those components alone make for a solid little horror sequel, one that doesn't surpass the original but definitely holds its own.

Traditionally, ghost stories follow a pretty ‘by the numbers’ formula. There’s a haunting of some kind, someone is terrorized by a spirit and they either enlist someone else’s help in figuring out why this entity is obsessed with them, or figure it out on their own, before they finally confront the spirit in question and resolve the living nightmare they’ve been experiencing. It is simply something we’ve seen time and time again when it comes to this sub-genre of horror, and that’s why I’m such a fan of AMC’s The Terror: Infamy. For this is a series that refuses to give into conventional tropes and clichés and for proof, just take a moment and ponder upon last week’s chilling story.
 
Because ‘Taizo’ was a truly bold venture, one that defied everything we just discussed, since it took the time to reveal Yuko’s spiritual secrets and her relation to Chester in the middle of the season and that’s just unheard of in a ghost story. Which means that we are now in uncharted territory when it comes to this tale since we haven’t a clue where its headed. And that sense of the unknown had me extremely excited to tune into last night’s episode to see what would await Chester now that he was seemingly free of Yuko’s cold and disturbing grasp and ‘My Perfect World’ took full advantage of the ambiguity that the previous episode put forth, in regard to whether or not Yuko was alive, by providing us with quite the bold character study when it comes to Chester.
 
For now, everything had changed for him. His life was in essence a lie, and he hadn’t a clue who he was or where he really came from and that left him directionless and listless for the time being, that is until an important package arrived at the Internment Camp. Because all of his letters to Luz were sent back to the camp and that immediately changed him. Suddenly he was done with sitting on the sidelines in life, and he was done with being trapped behind the walls of this place, so he broke out while he was being transferred to another camp for being a trouble maker, and he went and made amends with his love and motivated her to escape her situation and start over anew elsewhere as well. But not before taking the time to dig into his past and discover that he has a twin brother, and while Chester’s story may not have been all that thrilling, it was just nice to see him grow and try and make something positive out of his current situation and it should be interesting to see how his second chance in New Mexico is going to treat him. 

​But while it was nice to see some positivity injected into Chester and Luz’s life for a change, what would an episode of this series be without strife and scares, and all of that came about by a series of harrowing events from within the camp’s walls. For a surprise encounter with Yuko (more on that in a moment) injected great fear into Major Bowen, to the point where he isolated himself in fear and felt the need to lock down the camp, which could not have come at a worst time. Because an ugly illness was spreading through the barracks and without aid from a hospital, people would surely die, and that prompted Amy and Ken to take action in bold and unique fashion. For while Amy was content to use the Major’s authority to help people out, Ken’s attempt to have a man to man talk with the Major ended in disaster. Because Bowen was in a wild state when Ken found him and the situation quickly led to blows and that put Ken in a tough spot, the kind where he needed to subdue the Major and that made it seem as though he was in the wrong and took Bowen hostage and that cost him his life when all is said and done. And nothing will ever quite be the same in this camp thanks to Amy’s actions following this ugly twist of events.
 
However, I also made mention of a Yuko sighting and it’s important we talk about that simply because, this episode took the time to reveal that she was ‘alive’ and well in this particular tale. Because somehow, she got to her body in time before the shack burned down last week, and she was able to get her corpse to a mortuary to repair the damage done to it and once she ‘healed’ from her wounds, she resumed the search for her son. Which is what allowed for her and Bowen to briefly cross paths since she went there looking for Chester/Taizo and for a moment it seemed as though Chester had indeed escaped her clutches at last since he was gone by the time she got there. But the Yurei is resourceful and wise in its own right and she used a photo that featured Luz to swing by Los Angeles to visit the home of Chester’s love and unfortunately for our star crossed lovers, Yuko was able to infect Luz’s father to discover where they might have gone, and sadly she too is headed to New Mexico to be reunited with her baby boy. 
 
If anything, I really appreciated the fact that this episode went in such a wildly different direction. Because it made the characters a priority over the ghost and it was nice to see a more unique side to Chester and see that he desperately wants to forge his own path over anything else and hopefully he can find a little joy in his day to day experiences before the Yurei finds him once again. Plus, I also loved how this particular tale took the time to show us how the people of the camp are reaching their breaking point. Because good people can only handle this kind of pressure for so long and it should be interesting in the weeks to come to see what Amy has planned to avenge the death of her love and how this showdown between Chester and the spirit of his mother will be resolved now that their struggle is free from the confines of the Internment Camp. Until next time.