Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 109 of ‘Servant’.
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There is no greater reward for fans of television shows that are shrouded in mystery, than when the truth finally comes to light. Simply because at long last, questions are answered, the plot can move forward and usually the grand reveal in question is something quite powerful and moving. To the point where it only invests the viewer further in the storytelling experience. But while a great many shows follow that edict to keep everyone happy, some shows make their reveal; a difficult and painful venture for the audience. For what comes to light is depressing and dark and disturbing and downright unsettling and if handled in the wrong manner, it feels akin to a punishment instead of a reward. 
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But when it is done right, it is impactful and powerful and fits right in with what the series is trying to accomplish, and it just so happens that the penultimate season one episode of Servant handles some uncomfortable truth in the proper manner. For ‘Jericho’ is a story that finally reveals exactly how Sean and Dorothy’s baby died and well, what it reveals is quite shocking. So shocking in fact, that even the normally meek and gentle Leanne feels a need to torment Dorothy in this particular tale. For the truth she learned from Julian has unsettled her soul and understandably so. Because Jericho’s death could have been avoided, something we were unaware of to this point, and the grand reveal of how his passing occurred, definitely leaves one conflicted. 

Because it came about by way of outright negligence from a pair of parents that quite frankly… maybe should not have had a kid in the first place. For the flashbacks in this tale show us how woefully unprepared both Dorothy and Sean were in bringing a child into this world. For Sean was off to film a television show about cooking shortly after his son’s birth. Which meant that Dorothy, who has exhibited some flightiness in the time we’ve known her, was left to her own devices with a newborn and that went about as well as expected. Because she simply could not handle the constant crying and the amount of work that goes into caring for a child. Which should come as no surprise since Dorothy has made it clear that she is used to having others do the nit and grit stuff for her and well, having to genuinely bust her hump, is what led to the dark moments in question.

For one hot and awful summer day, after she brought the groceries back in. Dorothy quickly laid down for a nap, one that extended well into the evening thanks to the sheer exhaustion she was experiencing. But the joy she experienced shortly after waking up from her super nap, quickly turned to horror when she realized that little Jericho, had been left in the car all day, and well… there was no coming back from being trapped in the heat for that long. But that didn’t stop his mother from believing that everything was going to be okay. To the point where she carried her deceased little one around in the hopes of him magically breaking free from death’s icy grip. But despite her best efforts to keep a status quo going and, eventually, the harsh reality of what she’d done finally sunk in and that brought about the breaking point that everyone has been referring to since we first started this journey.

If anything, this was one heavy episode for certain. After all, this is a taboo topic any way you slice it, one that makes people incredibly uncomfortable for obvious reasons. But thankfully this episode handled the matter in a classy manner, and it really does get serious credit for changing our perceptions of both Dorothy and Sean. Because up until this tale, we all thought them to be broken people who suffered pain at the whims of tragedy. But now, it’s obvious that they are a tad on the arrogant side and wanted a baby to pad their social standing and that leaves the audience unsure of what to think about them going forward. Do we feel pity? Fury? Or do we wait and see what the season finale has in store for us before we pass any judgment on the kind of people they actually are? Likely the latter option is the best one to put in place mentally. But it is hard to not think poorly of them after this tale, because all they had to do to avoid Jericho’s death, was to put him, first. Until next time.   

Sometimes celebrations are meant to be shared with many, and sometimes you would rather celebrate alone. There is nothing wrong with either of these choices, it all depends on how you are feeling and if you want to share yourself with others. There are times when you are emotionally drained after a long day and wanting to be alone with a bottle of wine seems like the right idea and that is one that I am all for. Even though your friends want to help you celebrate your next steps in life, you can politely decline to have time to reflect on yourself and your next steps as well. 

Elizabeth has received some of the best news of her life, she has been accepted to the London Philharmonic for the next season. Being a cellist, she never expected this to happen to her, especially with her conductor constantly telling her how much she sucks, but it has happened, and she wants to try and celebrate. But all is not good in her life since she and boyfriend Justin are in a fight over what will happen next in their relationship. Needing a lone weekend out of the public eye to find out what she really wants, Elizabeth decides to hunker down in her place for the weekend to decide on her next steps.

Getting a surprise visit from her friend Marty, Elizabeth is left with a cat to take care of over the weekend as well. But she won't allow that to throw off her good vibes so she goes with it since it will be a good time regardless and she will still in essence, be alone. But all is not good around Elizabeth’s place as there is someone else hiding in the shadows that she does not know about. Sneaking in while she is taking out the garbage, the stranger in the house seems to have sinister intentions for the musician and there is nothing she can do about it. Getting odd feelings that there is someone around, a couple of quick looks over the shoulder satisfy her that there is nobody there, but little does she know that this stranger is keeping a very close eye on her.

Doing her weekend chores, Elizabeth meets a nice guy named John at the laundromat and the two have a nice little conversation. Wanting to know more about her relationship with Justin, Elizabeth is not willing to get too into what they are fighting about but is pleased to meet another friendly face around the area. Returning home to find Justin doing his own thing, Elizabeth needs to find out what, if anything he will do to try and keep the relationship afloat. But the conversation does not fall on deaf ears as the stranger has been keeping an eye on them both. Not allowing Justin to leave the friendly confines of the house, the stranger kills him and sticks the body underneath the bed. Thinking that everything is fine, Elizabeth continues to enjoy her quiet time at home to wonder what her future has in store for her, but none of the scenarios in her mind involve a stranger that is preparing to kill her.

I really liked the premise of this movie, but when it came to delivering the fear, this film came up short. With the stranger moving around the apartment unnoticed throughout, it was apparent that one of the things that he wanted to do was get caught, but Elizabeth never took notice in any of the things he was doing. Kind of strange how that part of the story went, and while I did not feel menaced by it, I am sure it will plant the seed of something terrible that can happen to people when they're alone for some viewers. Besides that, there were some great shots throughout and a cat that everyone loved, that could not seem to make up its mind if it liked someone or not. Stay Scared.

Five Takeaways

1. When stalking someone in their home, it is always safe to hide in their closet. Nobody ever uses their closet.
2. When stalking someone and you are hungry, eat anything and everything that you want, but make sure you don’t have to go number two, just saying.
3. If you need to go to the bathroom when stalking someone in their house, it is best to pee in the sink, on top of dishes, because that makes a ton of sense.
4. When stalking someone in their house, always be friendly to the animals surrounding them, so they don’t give you away and forget who you are when you are gone for a couple hours.
5. When you are stalking someone in their house and kill somebody, the ideal place to put the body is under the bed.  It won’t stink up the place at all… right?

There are times that I love watching the news, mainly to see what is happening in the rest of the world. With so much happening in our country that people would rather forget, sometimes it is more positive to see what other countries are doing and covering that is important. This is why, I love a bit of history shows to go along with my news related viewings, mainly because when I hear about a region of the world that I do not know much about, I like to see where they came from and that usually is where you get the positive reports from. I always encourage people to look outside of their comfort zone for positive things in life, especially now a  days when everything that you see on the news is negative, since it is next to impossible to live your life with only negative vibes coming your way.

On their trek to a history filled Los Angeles, Elise and Seth are looking to uncover some of the darker past that the city has to hide, mainly its connection with the Church of Satan. Driving and going along for the ride, David and Chloe are not sure what to expect, and when checking into a seedy hotel that a famous Satanist committed suicide in, Goth lovers Elise and Seth are ready to get this trip started off right. Seeing from the old pictures that they got the room where the woman killed herself, they are more than pleased, yet Chloe is starting to feel a little uncomfortable with the entire hunt, but the show must go on and Seth and Elise have plenty of places to visit before their vacation can be interrupted by normal fun.

Checking out some of the prime spots around the city, including the house where the Manson’s killed so many people, the group finds themselves in a little dive shop that seems to cater to their tastes. Talking to the salesperson, Elise is insulted, and Seth’s snooping forces the clerk to ask the group to leave or actions not to their liking will be taken. Leaving the store and doing some L.A. sightseeing, the group is able to calm down on the beach for a bit, but Elise and Seth are not done yet and want to know where the poser that threw them out goes to live his life. Agreeing to join in, David wants some real excitement on his trip and is able to get Chloe to go along with the group and find out if the shop keeper is really part of a Satanic cult, or a loser that lives in his mother’s basement as they expect him to be.

Following the shop keeper, the group winds up deep in the hills and find an old house where something seems to be going down. Sneaking around and finding out that there is a ritual going on in the back, the group watches as what appears to be a sacrifice is about to take place. Yelling for help, the group saves a young woman’s life before the cult can take it and are forced to rush back to the city before any harm comes their way. Losing his phone in the process, Seth is surprised that the young woman who was about to be killed is willing to replace it for no fee. Talking to the girl, the group feels sorry for her and invite her to stay the night with them in the haunted hotel room, but they really do not know what she is capable of.  When their party turns into a séance to bring the woman who died in the room back, the group sees that young Alice’s beliefs span much further than their own on the Church and find themselves being haunted by the unseen force that has now targeted them for a simple act of kindness.

This movie actually turned my head a little bit when it came on my screen. With the entire plot revolving around Satan and the followers of the one below, I did not think it would be able to hold my attention as well as it did. Elise and Seth are the hardcore followers of the religious sect and want to find or feel something about the subject, but when something actually happens, they are exposed for what they really are. David and Chloe did not want to be a part of it, but in good fun, they get thrown into the mix with their friends and there is no way of escaping the Dark Prince when you have promised yourself to him. The movie does have a ton of set up, making you hope that the finale gets here quick and when it does, there is not much time to catch your breath. Not a bad movie at all, it brings some scares, an unseen force and a little bit of blood to the screen that is much needed when dealing with the Prince of Darkness. Stay Scared.

Five Takeaways

1. There is nothing wrong with searching a city for its history, but when it is dark and been shoved under the rug, there might be a good reason for that.
2. When you see that you have stumbled onto a cult hang out, you might want to remain hidden, no matter what.
3. If you run into somebody that was supposed to be killed, it might be better to ask a lot of questions as to why someone wanted to kill them before letting them crash with you.
4. When somebody starts chanting in Latin who is not a priest, run!
5. If you release a curse on yourself, just take it and don’t get anyone else involved, I mean really, don’t be that guy, or gal.

There is something to be said for having a good pet these days, it really is awesome. Ever since I was a little one, I always had the joy of dog running around to help make sure I was never in trouble. At least that is what I told my parents when something broke, it was not me, it was the dog. Even though they knew who did it, they let me get away with many things and I have my dog to thank for it. Being my best friend growing up, I was sad to see him get older and pass on before his time, but there is always a bright spot when it comes to pets that loved you, you will see them again, one way or another and I am looking forward to it.
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Young Tad Trenton is having a hard time in his room these days as there is a monster hiding in his closet, but nobody will believe him. Even when he screams for help, his father Vic sees that the closet door has a latching issue but will not point that out when consoling his son. With a monster speech that he made up, Vic is able to get his son back to sleep, but Tad knows that there is something in the house that is trying to get him and moves all of his furniture in front of the closet door to keep him safe during the night. But in the daylight, Tad is not afraid of anything, with the exception of when his father will be home again to help keep the monsters at bay.

Donna Trenton has a life going on outside of the house and shacking up with local handy man Steve Kemp while her husband is away seems like a good idea. Not finding herself bored any longer, she still loves her family, but needs some excitement to keep a smile on her face and this seems to be it. But things are starting to fizzle in Donna’s mind as she starts to realize how important her family really is and calls off the affair. When she is not able to keep the secret away from Vic, things start to get real in Donna’s eyes and the excitement that she wanted has now turned into something that she never expected from her husband, resentment. When Vic is forced to leave home for a week to get his advertising campaign back on its feet, Donna understands how much she really needs him in her life.

Taking her old Pinto to Joe Camber’s house to get fixed up, Donna and Tad see that there is nobody home and when they try to get out of the car, they see that Camber’s beloved dog Cujo is on a tear. Locking themselves inside of the car and waiting for the large Saint Bernard to go away, the two are without food or water and need to find a way to escape the rabid animal. But there is no escape as Cujo sits and waits for his next victim to stumble out and while being inside of the car is safe, Donna sees that her son is in need of water to keep him from going into fits. As the days pass, Cujo is not ready to give up his hunt, forcing Donna to try to get a leg up on the dog, but she finds out that she is no match for the beast and is forced to wait for help that may or may not be coming since her and Tad’s time is quickly running out.

This is one of those movies that you have to decide who the villain really is and I am still thinking that instead of an attacking dog, it is the mom. I don’t know why I feel this way, but the trouble in the house all came from her not being truthful about what she was doing and besides that, she liked to yell at her son for being afraid. With her issues coming to light, it even seemed like her son loved his father more than her and possibly for good reason. But Cujo did kill people and wanted to make a meal out of Donna and Tad making him the monster in the movie and even Steve turned a little crazy after Donna dumped him, so he could have been a monster as well. I feel bad for young Tad since all he wanted was a dog, but the only one he knew was trying to kill him, it probably scarred him for life knowing that such a majestic animal could change on a dime and attack anyone that got in its way. Stay Scared.

Five Takeaways

1. When your dog has a new scar on its nose, it might be worth taking them to the vet to have it checked out.
2. Yes or No questions always imply guilt.
3. Driving a Pinto is not a good thing, but they sure come in handy if you need a place to survive in an emergency.
4. Always call your auto shop for an appointment, even it is just to make sure someone is there.
5. No matter how hurt someone is, love always conquers all.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 108 of ‘Servant’.
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Sometimes in life, it seems as though the best course of action when we are facing some tough problems and/or dealing with some heavy emotions, is to outright avoid it all. Which is why we bury ourselves into hollow pursuits or fill our hearts with denial, so that we can in fact, forget about our woes and enjoy a sense of normalcy when the going gets rough. But while that does tend to work and allows for us to go about our day, the wonder and the magic of escaping our woes never quite lasts. Because the universe simply finds a way to make us face our troubles whether we like it or not, and at long last, this particularly hard truth finally found its way into the fabric of the AppleTV+ series, Servant.
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Because ‘Boba’ saw Uncle Julian come over to watch the baby for a bit while Sean and Dorothy and Leanne all went out for nights on the town and well, the silence that followed their exit, is what allowed for Julian to begin to face everything he’s been running from. Because quiet time is something that is quite powerful, since it allows for our thoughts on what’s happened to us, to properly take hold and despite Julian’s best efforts to keep them at bay by continuing to spy on Leanne and consume copious amounts of fine wine, eventually that came to fruition. And it was quite powerful to see him to begin to ponder upon the fact that this house had indeed seen some serious emotional horrors and acknowledge the fact that he too, is hurting from Jericho’s passing.

But while that makes it seems as though this entire story was nothing more than a voyage of discovery, one free from supernatural elements and surprises, that simply wasn’t the case. Because once Julian came to discover that his nephew had reverted into the doll that Natalie gave Dorothy in the first place, his internal journey to make peace with his pain, came to a halt. Because Jericho’s transformation more or less put him into an outright panic, and he exhausted every logical line of thinking in regard to the whereabouts of the baby. And that motivated him to finally confront Leanne about everything the instant she returned from her date and that went about as well as one might expect. Simply because she had nothing to say about the baby or her past, instead… she let her strange powers do the talking. 

Because this episode made it crystal clear that Leanne can somehow make the doll alive when Dorothy is near and being faced with that incredible reality, finally allowed for Julian face the pain that he is carrying within his heart and he shockingly opened up to Leanne and told her everything about Jericho and the fateful day that the little one passed away. In part because he was tired of running from his emotions and needed this kind of catharsis, but also because he seems to finally understand that there is something more powerful at work here and hiding from that will do him no good. But while it was nice to see Julian finally be the adult in the room and open up about his pain, his ‘confession’ to Leanne will indeed bring about more harm than good. Because clearly, he had some sour things to say about what happened in this house, and it clearly upset Leanne, judging from her interaction with Dorothy at the end of this tale. 

Which means that Dorothy may have played a part in Jericho’s death, and Sean’s stunned reaction to learning that Julian told the nanny everything, and the ominous nature of Julian’s flashbacks, only seemed to reaffirm that possibility. But truly, the best part of this episode, is that it finally provided the audience with something they’ve been desperately waiting for. For at long last, someone in the family finally owned up to what they’ve been running from and that’s something that has been desperately needed on this series. But while it was nice to see Julian finally man up, his growth is indeed overshadowed by the implication that Jericho’s death was something more than an unexpected surprise, and it likely won’t be long now before we too finally learn the truth about what happened on that fateful day. Until next time.

Over the course of its long and illustrious existence, the horror genre has done a phenomenal job of terrifying us to no end. But how it manages to pull that off time and time again, is what makes this genre so special. Because not only is this genre able to adapt with the times and offer up stories that relate to our fears in that moment, it also knows how to dive deep into the pit our of collective psyche and pluck at our primal fears. And for proof, look no further than the classic monsters that populate this genre. Take the ghost for example, since they represent our fears of the unknown and the thought of them being malicious or vindictive goes against all the comforting thoughts and beliefs we have about the afterlife, and that makes the prospect of crossing over a horrifying one indeed.
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Or there’s the zombie. A creature that represents every single fear we have about death. For it not only goes against our biological purpose in life, these walking corpses serve as an allegory for a life that was lived in an empty manner and in a way, their consumption of flesh is nothing more than a primal urge to find meaning or recapture what they let get away. But perhaps the stories that truly scare us the most, are the ones where we have no power over our minds and our bodies. Because we take pride in the fact that we are normally the boss of our thoughts and our actions and one particular monster that does a fine job of exploring that particular fear, is the werewolf. For it represents a loss of our humanity and control over what we think, feel and want, and while most werewolf related films love to focus on the gore and the fury of how animals function; once in a while you come across one that dives deep into the more philosophical notions we just laid out. Such as the 1981 classic, An American Werewolf in London.

For this particular motion picture sees our main character lose complete and utter control of his life and his future when he is converted into a werewolf and that really does make this movie quite the powerful viewing experience. Because despite his best efforts to try and lead a normal life after that devastating attack, David Kessler cannot escape the true horror of what he has become. And really, the downtime he spends trying to deny his true nature and transformation is what makes this motion picture so worth our while. Because he really is fighting a losing battle against the beast within and it is heart wrenching to see his downward spiral as the movie rolls along, as he finally begins to accept the fact that he has indeed lost control and doesn’t have the strength to end this madness on his own terms.

Yet while that alone makes the movie worthwhile and brilliant since that is something that few horror films deal with in such detail, the story also shatters a few other tropes along the way. By way of some interesting explorations on survivor’s remorse and PTSD as well. Because most films in this genre see the characters rebound from traumatic experiences no problem. But here, David is haunted by what happened in the Moors that night, and the ambiguity of whether or not visits by Jack Goodman and his victims are real or fantasy, allows for us to understand that he is struggling with losing his friend and his freedom as an individual and this is handled in such a delightfully clever way that it never seems heavy handed or powerful. But what matters the most here is that David is indeed forced to face his fears and his demons over having a brush with death, and that really does add gravity to an already powerful story.
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But all cerebral themes aside, one cannot discuss this motion picture without discussing its incredible special effects. Because Rick Baker’s work here still holds up well after all this time. In fact, the transformation sequence is still compelling and fascinating and horrifying all at once, and the kills still make one cringe as well. But while there has been plenty written and fawned over when it comes to the werewolf related created creations in this film, one effect that truly doesn’t get enough credit after all these years; is Jack Goodman’s progressive decomposition. Because it is just horrifying to watch this plucky character slowly rot before your eyes and it is the little things that make this so uncomfortable to watch. Such as how the loose flesh on his neck jiggles when he first talks to David or the ghastly grey his flesh adopts a short time later and it is those little touches, that serve as a fine reminder as to why Rick’s work was worthy of an Academy Award.

If anything, it is really just best to declare this motion picture as that rare perfect horror film. Because in addition to all the powerful moments we’ve just discussed, it’s also a downright terrifying movie as well. For the scene in the Moors and the anticipation leading to David’s transformation into a werewolf puts you on edge, and quite frankly, haunts you. Which means this one is a genuine classic through and through and it is one that needs to be celebrated as often as possible. Because this may well be the finest werewolf movie ever made. Since it tackles so many powerful themes, all while giving the audience exactly what they want from a splatter perspective and if by chance you haven’t seen this quirky and twisted and downright delightful masterpiece, please seek it out and give a look. Simply because they don’t make them like this anymore, and you cannot go wrong with losing yourself within a horror flick that goes above and beyond in this manner.    

Over my many years of watching horror films, I'm starting to learn that the best ones out there, figure out how to merge the best parts of indie horror, with their unique and original storytelling, and studio horror, with their slick production values that allow for you to forget about any glaring plot holes, and unfortunately, in this day and age...that blend can be hard to come by. While I love the indies and the stories they bring to the table, sometimes the stories they tell just don't resonate and I'll switch them off, and some studio flicks, just do everything by the numbers and make it look pretty. That's why sometimes, I need to turn to those perfectly blended films, the ones that let me enjoy the best parts of the genre... like the one I watched recently, Children of the Corn.

While going out for lunch after church, Job sees that the kids in town have totally lost it as they kill all of the adults in the diner. Seeing that this has happened all over the small town of Gatlin, Job is trying to look out for his sister Sarah and fly under the radar so that the new leader in town does not hurt either of them. As Isaac is taking his orders from, He-Who-Walks-Behind-the-Rows, he is determined to keep all of his followers in line. But when there is news that outsiders are coming to his town, he finds out that not everyone is on the same page and his most trusted lieutenant Malachai wants to take over when they don’t see eye to eye. Although Issac has won Gatlin’s hearts with his sermons, it may not be enough to keep him from being the next sacrifice.

Needing to drive across country for his new job, Burt is happy with the arrangement he and Vicky currently have, but he can tell that there is something else on her mind. Finding themselves on a backroad in Nebraska, the two pull out the road map and try to find out where they are, but when Burt’s eyes are off of the road, he hits a kid head on. Seeing that there is something strange about the kid as his throat has been cut, the two need to find a phone to call someone for help, but when they are told by the local gas station attendant to avoid Gatlin, the closest town, they find that all of the signs on the road point that way.  Heading into town, the couple are surprised to see no one walking the streets and when they try to use the phone in the diner, they see kids trying to steal their car. Knowing that there is something strange about the town, Burt and Vicky are ready to leave, but when Burt spots movement in one of the outlying houses, he wants to investigate. Meeting Job and Sarah, the outsiders quickly find themselves on the run from the bloodthirsty kids who run the town and also provide regular human sacrifices to He-Who-Walks-Behind-the-Rows.
 
A pretty chilling little movie that delivers on most fronts. The most frightening thing about this film is that it has a kid preacher that is able to manipulate all of the other youth in the town to follow him and do everything that he says. I like how Burt and Vicky are able to make it into town and find out what is happening from the only two non-believers in Gatlin and while they try to make a change, they are out matched by the killer kids that are looking for blood. When most people would want to run away from the situation, the only two adults in many miles try to explain to these kids that what they are doing is wrong, but when they see who Isaac and his followers worship, they understand that there is no reasoning with them any longer. Stay Scared.
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Five Takeaways

1. When your kids would rather listen to a sermon by a child than go to church with you…RUN!
2. Worshipping something that comes from under the ground is never good.
3. When the corn seems to speak to you and the wind blows fiercely, you might not want to be in a corn field.
4. Do not stop anywhere in Nebraska, even to take pictures of the corn.
5. Fire kills everything, even evil beings that can control children’s minds.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 107 of ‘Servant’.
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When it comes to the power of loss and the trauma that accompanies it, it is commonplace knowledge that it is up to the individual, to finally realize that they can no longer stay within the pain that state of mental being produces, and that it is up to them to get better and find a way forward. As to how long it takes to reach that particular epiphany, varies from individual to individual since grief is a tricky monster for certain. But the expectation is that eventually, we recover and come out that experience as a stronger person and that’s why storytelling focuses so heavily on the road to recovery since it helps and inspires others who might be going through that exact experience, to continue to fight the good fight, in order to find their path forward.
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But the particular path we’ve outlined doesn’t happen for everyone out there. For some let the pain that comes from losing a loved one consume them, to the point where it seems as though they are forever lost to the world. And that unfortunate reality is what has made Servant such a unique series, since it has focused squarely upon this darker side to loss and trauma from day one. For the Turner family has done little to confront the death of baby Jericho and they’ve genuinely made great efforts to ensure they will never have to and that’s led to danger and darkness in their home. Leaving one to wonder if they will ever truly face the harsh reality that surrounds them, and it just so happens that the next episode in this fascinating series, makes an attempt to answer that question in quite the unique manner.

For ‘Haggis’ takes the time to introduce us to a friend of the family named Natalie, who was the architect of the ‘doll’ recovery plan and well, her interactions with Dorothy in this particular tale put her in a panicked place. Because she simply cannot believe that Sean and Julian are letting this unhealthy charade continue, and that motivates her to do something that no one else in the household is willing to do; and confront Dorothy about her situation and what needs to happen next. A notion that sends Julian and Sean into a panic because they’re happy with the status quo, and the fact that Dorothy has a child to care for, and they do their best to keep that rolling. Even going so far as to block Natalie at every turn when she attempts to reveal the truth to Dorothy that her baby is gone from this world. 

An act that oddly enough, they are successful at by offering up one hell of a lie about the baby that is currently living within the household once Natalie discovers its existence. But what matters more about this long, drawn out attempt to hide from truth and reality, is that it offers up a sour answer in regard to the question posed earlier. In that, eventually this family is indeed going to face their pain and the long road ahead, but not of their own accord. Because everyone in this household is an enabler and will do whatever it takes to keep their pain buried deep within their souls. Which means that when the truth does finally come to the surface, the recovery process will be an ugly one indeed and nothing in the Turner home will likely ever be the same. The greater question now, is whether or not we will be privy to it this season, since Sean and Julian are going to the extra mile to protect this mysterious baby. 

In the end however, this really was quite the fascinating character study for certain. Since it really did do a magnificent job of reminding us of how hard people will work sometimes to avoid the troubles in their lives and really, it will be quite interesting to see how far this denial can go before it finally collapses. But while it was lovely to finally see this matter return to the forefront of the story, we would be remiss to not point out the fascinating supernatural twist present in this tale as well. For this episode more or less confirmed that Leanne has some kind of power to resurrect the dead, since she brought that dead dog back to life after Julian beat it down. Which leaves one to wonder, if she has channeled Jericho back from the great beyond and well, the only way to find out for certain; is to continue this harrowing journey and see what others secrets it is willing to reveal. Until next time.

Everyone always wants answers, but there are only a few people out there that are willing to do the work to find them. With nothing being handed out in any aspect of life, if you are not willing to find the answers, you may never know what they are. You can ask all of the questions you want and be content with what is handed back to you, but most of the time it is not the answer you have been looking for. It is hard to know what the correct information really is when someone else is delivering it to you, but most of the time something is left out and if you really want to know it, you have to find it for yourself.

Since Patrick is not happy with the explanation of what happened concerning his sister’s death, he turns to a ghost hunting group that might be able to help shed some light on what actually happened. With his friend Frank looking to shoot a documentary on the subject of possession, Patrick meets up with the ParaShooters group and quickly finds out that their psychic Thomas is not a fake. Returning to the room where his sister supposedly killed herself, Thomas is able to pinpoint what happened to her without knowing anything about the situation. With the group being attacked by a powerful spirit, they quickly realize they need to learn more about possessions and figure out what the spirit wanted with Patrick’s sister.
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Meeting with a professor on the subject, the group finds out that there is really no rhyme or reason to why people become targets, but if it turns out that it is the devil lurking inside of someone, then he will do everything he can to bring about the end of the world. Being told not to get in the evil spirit’s way, the group is on the hunt for someone else that might be possessed by the same spirit. Finding the Tynan family whose daughter Hailey has been acting strange for several weeks, Patrick and his team have found that it is the same spirit that took his sister away from him. Being able to catch the spirit during its ‘dead time’, the group sees the power that it possesses and is forced to deal with the repercussions of messing with something they do not fully understand.  
 
This movie features a slightly different look at how possessions take place by way of a group of ghost hunters trying to figure out the secret behind them. With the loss of his sister, Patrick is determined to find out what really happened and after witnessing the power of the devil that was inside of her, he knows deep down that there is no way of stopping it. I really liked how the spirit is able to jump to whomever he wants to torment at any time, usually there has to be some sort of body contact. Watching as the group slowly falls into the trap that the spirit wants them in, they have no way of stopping it until it gets what it wants and that might be the scariest thing about this story. Stay Scared.
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Five Takeaways

1. When consulting an expert on a particular subject, you should take their advice.
2. When witnessing the power of a spirit in an empty room, you may want to steer clear of anything to do with what you have just seen.
3. Don’t try to overpower a possessed person, because whatever is inside of them has gifted them with super strength.
4. Knowing the devil’s name is not enough, especially when you don’t have a priest on your side.
5. Don’t be around power boxes if you are afraid of being possessed, it is just a silly idea.

It truly seems as though, 2020 is a year of endings, storytelling wise. Because we’ve seen some big-time franchises come to a close this year, since Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ended its seven-year run this summer and Supernatural is preparing to exit the airwaves after fifteen seasons on the air. And even George A. Romero’s legendary Living Dead saga came to a close this year after five decades of storytelling by way of the aptly titled finale novel, The Living Dead. But while the stories we’ve lightly discussed here were able to end on their own terms, that particular courtesy hasn’t been extended to every ending in 2020.
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For some shows and stories are sadly coming to their premature end and if you’re reading this article, well then, you’ve already heard the sour news in regard to the AMC series, NOS4A2. Because yesterday, showrunner Jami O’Brien announced to fans everywhere that AMC did not opt to provide this fascinating series with a third season, bringing Vic McQueen’s journey through the world of strong creatives to a close and leaving those same fans in a tough place. Because this series was seriously beloved by its fan base and it is safe to say at this point, that everyone is feeling a tad down over the fact that the adventure has come to a close, and that our Sunday summer nights will no longer be populated by Vic and Maggie and every character in that colorful and dynamic world. 

But rather than ponder upon the more sorrowful aspect of this show coming to its end, I thought it would be best if we took a moment today to instead bid this saga a proper and respectful farewell, by reflecting upon what made it so great and examine why it will withstand the test of time. Because the fact of the matter is, NOS4A2 was a supremely special series through and through, one that quite frankly, managed to resonate with its audience by way of its characters, since we were outright able to relate to them. For each and every one of these dynamic characters felt like people we’ve known in life, or we’ve been them at some point or another in our own lives and by being able to instantly relate to them and believe in them, we found ourselves immediately invested in this series and that is no small feat.

For often times, it takes shows years to properly establish that level of depth, but this show was able to pull off this feat from day one, and the power and the gravity of the characters was extended far beyond their relatability factor. Because their struggles and their strife, took the time to teach us important lessons about life. Which is something that is often unheard of in the horror genre. Granted, the genre is often supremely deep in general since it provides us with social commentary on bigger issues in the world, but this was simply next level storytelling. Since it challenged the characters and the viewers to grow beyond the horrors of real life and use our experiences to be better people through and through. Making this saga quite inspirational at times since Vic McQueen often found a way to rise above her pain and her fears by facing them head on. 

But while it was wonderful to enjoy a brave and cerebral story on a consistent basis, make no mistake about it, this was a story grounded in terror and it also did a phenomenal job of haunting our dreams. Because when Charlie Manx was able to unleash his special and twisted brand of evil, he and in turn the show, held nothing back and that brought about some incredibly dark episodes, the kind that put the audience through the wringer, emotionally. And thanks to the care that went into the scares, they were always impactful and always unsettling and well, all of these elements are what will allow for this show to live on years after its end. Simply because we’ve only scratched the surface of what this show had to offer, and its incredible nuances and layered storytelling will be continually fawned over and studied and that’s a wonderful thing. Because in doing so, word of mouth will help for others to enjoy this phenomenal series and fresh eyes will get to partake in its wonders and its deep-rooted terrors. 
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But while it is good to know that this series will undoubtedly find new life down the line, it is still okay to feel sad and upset over the fact that the story has come to an end. Because that does mean a talented cast and crew are now broken up and off to their next adventure and that nothing new episode wise will come our way. But all sorrow aside, we do need to celebrate the fact that we did get to see this series accomplish a goal that few shows will ever achieve, in that, it did tell a complete story. One that offered up plenty of resolution, and that is quite the feat for certain and now that we’ve reached the end of this journey, all we here at Nerds That Geek can do, is offer our thanks. First to Jonathan Langdon for playing the coolest nerd on television in years, and to Mattea Conforti for providing the audience with one of the finest and most conflicted villains to ever grace the small screen.

Plus, Ashley Romans deserves thanks as well for helping to make this world believable, since her performance as Agent Hutter helped to sell the wonder of the world of strong creatives. Also, our thanks go out to Virginia Kull and Ebon Moss-Bachrach for playing two painfully realistic characters, since their take on broken parents felt a little too real at times. Because we’ve known moms and dads like Chris and Linda, lending credence to their acting skills. And of course, Jahkara Smith deserves kudos as well for giving us one incredible character in Maggie. Because the fearlessness she brought to the character helped us to believe that she and Vic stood a chance against the monsters they were facing and speaking of those monsters, a round of applause is in order for Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. For his portrayal of Bing Partridge was downright legendary since he was able to bring to life a villain filled with anguish and fury and desperation over never quite fitting into this world.

Of course, Zachary Quinto also deserves his own round of applause for giving us a performance for the ages. Because Charlie Manx was a downright terrifying monster, one so furious over being marginalized by the world that he felt a little too real in 2020 and he was balanced out nicely by Ashleigh Cummings’ portrayal of Vic McQueen. Because her work here was downright incredible, and she really helped the audience to believe that everyday folks can accomplish wonders, since this artist from a broken home was able to rise up and be the hero that the world needed, and hopefully she and Zachary are nominated for Emmys next year for their powerful work here. And last but certainly not least, many thanks are in order for Jami O’Brien and Joe Hill. Because without Jami’s brilliant attention to detail, none of the wonders we discussed today would have existed, and hopefully film students everywhere will watch this series to understand how to properly adapt a novel. Which brings us to Mister Hill, who made all of this possible by pondering upon what a vampire story might look like if it was grounded in reality and the end result of that dream, was downright magnificent. Either way, that’s it fellow fans. The story is over. But while there may not be any new adventures involving Christmasland headed our way, at least we can take solace in the fact that we can revisit it and this magnificent story, whenever we so choose.