Truly, one of the biggest benefits of the streaming wars, is that every streamer out there… is eager to offer up the most unique content possible. Which is a collective goal that has brought about some stellar storytelling in the past few years. The kind that has quite frankly, changed the landscape of the industry and the awards circuit. For streamers are releasing powerful stories that defy tradition and tropes and wow audiences everywhere with stunning production values and stories that captivate, and one streamer that continues to lead the way in this arena is Shudder.
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Because they do everything, they can, to bring the most original and dynamic horror movies to the masses and they even curate and produce their own content. A decision that has helped to resurrect anthology horror, thanks to Creepshow, and soon that masterpiece will be accompanied by the equally brilliant Horror Noire and earlier today, the network announced another powerful acquisition. For Shudder has acquired the right to the film Raging Grace before the movie is even complete. Speaking volumes to how this network wants only the best and is willing to wait to have it and well, here are all the details on this announcement and on the film, which will help you understand why this news is such a huge deal… courtesy of Shudder.

‘AMC Network’s Shudder, the premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today the new Original Film Raging Grace, written and directed by BIFA-nominee Paris Zarcilla (Pommel, The Century Egg), produced by Chi Thai (The Promise, Little Miss Sumo) and starring Filipina actress Max Eigenmann (Verdict) and David Hayman (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Finding Your Feet). Described as a “Coming of Rage” film, which spotlights the Filipino immigrant experience through a blend of horror and drama, Raging Grace begins production this November in the UK and will debut in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in 2022.  In Raging Grace, an undocumented Filipina immigrant lands a job as a careworker for a seemingly terminal old man, securing a better life for her and her daughter. But a dark discovery threatens to destroy everything she’s strived for and holds dear.

“In Raging Grace, rising filmmaker Paris Zarcilla and producer Chi Thai craft a subversive, contemporary spin on gothic horror,” said Shudder’s Emily Gotto, VP of Acquisitions, and Sam Zimmerman, VP of Programming. “With a bold, urgent portrait of race and power, Raging Grace will take an old, dark house and make it new again.”

Said Zarcilla: “Raging Grace will be the first British-Filipino feature in British cinema history. Growing up Southeast Asian in London, I was taught to assimilate, to excel but not to stick out, to aspire to whiteness and white approval, to be the model minority, a good immigrant, to not rock the boat. Writing this film terrified me because it goes against everything my Asian parents taught me about assimilation. To make this film is to approach a place of trauma and horror. That is what it is to approach the master’s house. It’s about challenging old and new white power; it’s about smashing through the barriers that have held back East and Southeast Asian talent; it’s about raging gracefully. Raging Grace is a cathartic spectacle that explores the trauma of being an undocumented worker, but most importantly, a celebration of Filipino culture and our place in this world.  Here’s to dismantling the master’s house and thanks for AMC Networks and Shudder for giving me the platform to do it.”

Said Thai: “Raging Grace is a rare and exciting alignment of all my personal and professional principles and values as producer, a working mother and a refugee. Working with Paris has been and will continue to be an incredible creative adventure. My hope is for this film to be the spark that triggers an uprising of British East and Southeast Asian filmmaking on a global stage. Instrumental in making this happen has been AMC Networks and Shudder - our formidable partners who have empowered us to share our vision without compromise.”

Zarcilla’s film Pommel, supported by Creative England, the BFI and Refinery Media, was nominated for Best British Short at the prestigious BIFA (British Independent Film Awards), and Special Jury Mention for Excellence in Directing at the Oscar-qualifying Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and was nominated for Best International Short at the Oscar-qualifying Short Shorts Asia in Japan. He wrote and directed two-part television drama, The Century Egg for the Emmy-nominated production company Refinery Media. Zarcilla has also been commissioned to develop Inspector Low, a primetime television series adaptation based on the book by Neil Humphreys for 108 Media. 

Thai is an independent producer who works across television and features. She has been a Cannes Lions finalist three times. Her production company was listed in Creative England’s leading creative companies in the UK and selected for the prestigious BFI Vision Award. Thai’s recent credits include Netflix Original documentary Little Miss Sumo, Royal Television Society-nominated virtual reality feature IF, commissioned by Google, Automat, a drama for Sky, and The Promise, an adaptation of The New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year by Nicole Davies and Laura Carlin for the BBC. Thai’s current roster includes a television adaptation of the Caldecott-winning picture book Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell with five-time Academy-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon.  She is developing a feature adaptation of Dark Chapter, winner of the Not Booker Prize (2017) by Winnie M. Li with Northern Irish Screen, and adapting the award-winning sci-fi novel The Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen into a television series with the support of BFI YACF.

Raging Grace is produced by Shudder, Chi Thai and Darlene Malimas.’

So, as you can see, Shudder really has grabbed hold of something quite special. Since Raging Grace is shaping up to be a powerful and poignant film, one that celebrates the best aspects of horror and shatters tropes along the way. And this news just serves as a fine reminder that streaming really is where the finest stories are being told right now and if you’re looking for the best stories that horror has to offer, you’ll definitely find them on Shudder.

As a bonus, here are some additional images of the cast and crew, also courtesy of Shudder.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Seance’.

How far are we willing to go? That’s a question that each and every one of us will eventually ask ourselves in regard to something important in our lives and with good reason. Because there will indeed come a point where we will be faced with quite the challenge, one that will determine whether or not we will live out our dreams in joy and harmony or if we will languish in a world that never quite suits us. And by asking ourselves that question, we come to discover in the pit of our souls, what we will be willing to do… to achieve that dream and obtain everything we know will make us happy and the vast majority of us out there… will answer that question in a simple manner. One that reminds that we will do whatever it takes to get what we want. 

But what is fascinating about that inspiring answer, is that we come to learn through our journey in life that sometimes, doing whatever it takes to get what we want simply isn’t as feasible or as simple as one might think. Because sometimes going the distance, includes sacrifices that we aren’t quite prepared to make, alongside changes to our lives that will upend our sense of comfort and if we aren’t ready for those kinds of surprises, then perhaps we aren’t quite ready to go the extra mile for what we want. Plus, in some extreme cases, doing whatever it takes, involves inflicting great harm upon others. An act that makes so many uncomfortable and unwilling to take the necessary steps needed to have it all. But some people… will indeed push the envelope to obtain whatever goal is in their minds and it just so happens that Shudder is now host to a film that explores the ugly that can come with just going for it in Seance. 

Now in this particular movie, we are transported to the Edelvine Academy at a time of great strife and transition. For this school for young women has been rocked by a stunning moment, in that, one of the students… named Kerrie, has died as the result of what appears to be an accident. But before anyone can properly grieve and move on, a new student named Camille Meadows arrives to take her place and that brings forth great friction and trouble. In part because Camille is tough-as-nails and has no qualms about teaching people that… but also because the majority of Kerrie’s friends are eager to explore the realm of the supernatural in the hopes of getting in touch with the friend, they might have harmed in the first place by toying with the afterlife. But as is often the case in this life, messing with things we don’t understand can bring about grave consequences, and that is a harsh lesson that all of these girls will learn when their séance with the other side seemingly awakens something with the walls of this storied academy. 

Which at first glance, is a storyline that doesn’t really seem to be all that grounded in doing whatever it takes to get what we want. In fact, it is a story that seems akin to a traditional ghost story and for a great deal of the movie’s running time, it truly feels that way as well. Because at every single turn there are ghosts and shadows lurking about the Edelvine Academy and that in turn leads to some delightfully creepy moments in this story. The kind that truly play off of our fears of the unknown since we haven’t a clue if these young women have indeed broken through the wall that separates our world from the afterlife and angered something they shouldn’t have. Plus, this aspect of the film also produces some intense kills, the kind that are brutal and angry and catch the viewer off guard with their outright savagery. 
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But it is only a matter of time before the viewer comes to realize that nothing is quite what it seems in this tale and that is when the story shifts gears and really dives into the concept at hand. Which if course leads to some harrowing revelations. The kind that makes it clear that doing whatever it takes to get ahead not only comes at a price but can transform us into something far worse than we would ever like to be. A monster in some cases or a shell of the person we once were. Which in essence makes this motion picture a grand commentary on the importance of being honest in what we do and why chasing after what we want has to be done in a moral manner. A lesson that quite frankly, is surprising to find within the framework of a slasher horror film, but it is welcome none the less. Because there is nothing wrong with a story that works to teach others to hold tight to a fine moral core. 

However, you’ve likely noticed at this point that this review is keeping how exactly the movie gets its message across quite vague and there is good reason for that. Because to outright say how, would spoil a great deal for the viewer and ruin a fine experience. One that truly sucks you in with its eerie moments and reflections upon the savage nature of high school and the cruelty that teenagers impart. Which means that to truly bask in the wonder of this movie and its powerful message… you need to see it for yourself, and this writer absolutely hopes that you do. Because this horror film really is quite the pleasant surprise and is also filled to the brim with solid performances and impactful jump scares. So, if you’re looking for a fun ride that takes you on a surprise-laden journey, then log into Shudder when you have a little time and give this gem a look.

The vast majority of us, start thinking about what the new year might hold… closer to the end of December. For the holiday season is a time of inflection, wherein we can focus upon what comes next for us when the calendar resets and that general mantra tends to translate over to businesses as well. Since year end meetings and planning for the future tend to coincide with whenever the company’s fiscal calendar ends. But some people and some companies, get a head start on such matters. Because they understand that planning ahead allows for them to get ahead in just about every goal imaginable. Such as say… maintaining one’s status quo as the premiere streaming service for horror.

Because despite the fact that it is October and Shudder is in the midst of their ’61 Days of Halloween’ event, the network is working hard to bring us the finest in horror… in 2022. For earlier today, Shudder announced that it has acquired the unearthly horror comedy, The Seed, right before its premiere at Beyond Fest, with plans to have it debut in early '22, and well… here are all the details on today’s announcement, courtesy of Shudder.

‘Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired worldwide rights to the black comedy creature feature The Seed, ahead of the film’s world premiere at Beyond Fest, in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 5.The Shudder Original Film, which is written and directed by Sam Walker (Duck Children), will release in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in early 2022.

“Sam Walker’s stunning feature debut blends sci-fi, body horror and pitch-black comedy into one stylish and scary package. We are thrilled to plant The Seed in the minds of Shudder members,” said Craig Engler, general manager of Shudder.

“Very happy to have found the perfect home for my apocalyptic, inter-dimensional, alien sex flick,” added writer-director Sam Walker. "I made the film to purge the bitterness from my soul and to share it with others. So that I feel better. Which I now do. Thanks Shudder, you're the best.”

In The Seed, lifelong friends Deidre (Lucy Martin, Vikings), Heather (Sophie Vavasseur, Resident Evil: Apocalypse), and Charlotte (Chelsea Edge, I Hate Suzie) are finally getting some time away together, using the upcoming meteor shower to gather more followers for their social media channels. But what starts out as a girls’ getaway in the Mojave Desert descends into a battle for survival with the arrival of an invasive alien force whose air of mystery soon proves to be alluring and irresistible to them. Before long the situation devolves into a battle to the death, where the stakes have galaxy-wide implications.

The Seed is produced by Shudder, Camelot Films and Hardman Pictures, in association with Lipsync Productions, Amp International, The Malta Film Commission and Ingenious Media. The film is written and directed by Sam Walker (Duck Children), while Matt Hookings, Chris Hardman and James Norrie serve as producers. The film will have its world premiere on October 5 at Beyond Fest, in Los Angeles, CA.

The acquisition deal was negotiated by Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder and James Norrie and Nina Kolokouri of AMP International on behalf of the filmmakers.’

So, as you can see, once again Shudder has snagged a magnificent horror flick. One that should captivate us at every turn and make us chuckle with its comedic elements and we here at Nerds That Geek, cannot wait to see this wonderful feature, sometime in the new year, and geek out about it with all of you.

A change of venue can be something that everybody needs once in a while. Whether it is just to get away from the craziness of the big cities, or just a way to give yourself a jump start, it’s always a wonderful idea since becoming complacent can be a bad thing. Looking for the right place to live in your newly chosen destination can be easy in the long run, versus what it takes to get the new home and complete the tedious unpacking of all of your belongings. You never know what the future holds, but there is one thing that we do know for certain, we can’t hide from it forever. 
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After hearing his friends talk about doing it for so many years, Mark Klein has finally made the next step in his life and is leaving the big city. With Washington D.C. in his rearview mirror and arriving at his new home in remote West Virginia, he has no regrets. Sending daily video updates to his friends back in D.C., Mark believes that the isolation from the rest of the world will do him good, but he can tell that he will be lonely and offers up his empty rooms for whomever would like to come and visit. But he may not be as lonely in his new house as he thinks, as he starts to hear strange things just outside of his window.

Being woken up in the middle of the night to someone screaming in the woods, Mark has a great idea to tape these events and go over them on his video updates with his friends. Putting a recorder outside of his window, the first recording comes back with the knocking sound, but also a voice that he cannot make out. Not knowing what to make of this, he puts the recorder back outside the window again and continues to catch the strange knocking sounds. Trying to make light of the situation since he does not know who or what is causing this, a visit from Claire has brightened his weekend, but when the sounds become too great for her to take, she leaves as quickly as possible for the madness that only the city can provide.

Heading out into the woods to investigate the latest knocking sounds, Mark spots that a tree had been chopped down in the middle of the night, but that is not the only thing he finds when he discovers a golden locket. Not knowing what this means, Mark will get to the bottom of the strange sounds coming from outside of his window once and for all and hooks up a trail camera. Knowing that whoever is out there cannot outsmart technology, he is shocked to wake up the next morning to see that it has been stolen. With the police not being any help, Mark has to find a way to keep himself and his property safe from whatever is hiding in the woods, but little does he know what he is really up against.

Even though this movie starts off slow and you don’t get the jump scares like some other horror movies, it is actually pretty fun trying to figure out what is haunting Mark. The sounds going unexplained throughout and some creepy pictures from the trail camera make you wonder what it could be, especially when the time stamps are called into question. But watching as Mark slowly goes mad from lack of sleep is the key to the story and his anger towards his friends, along with his new friend outside the window, makes it difficult to tell what is really happening in his mind. With strange wilderness sounds, an unseen haunting, creepy pictures, a backstory of the house and plenty of questions that may never get answered, this is a slow burner, but it keeps you guessing throughout. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1106 of ‘The Walking Dead’.
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The final season of a television series can be quite the unique affair. Simply because, it can go in so many directions. For some shows, treat their final year as nothing more than another season and offer up their standard fare before bidding farewell in a manner that does indeed feel final and satisfying. While others take advantage of the goodbye tour and bring together every single plot point and concept, they’ve ever introduced into a tour de force final season, one that ends in an epic fashion. As for the rest, well… they just... end, with no real understanding of the opportunity afforded to them in their final season and really, 'how is it going to end' is relevant to our discussion today, simply because that question is top of mind regarding The Walking Dead.
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Because in many ways, this is a series that is seemingly wrapping things up in that ‘business as usual’ fashion. Since thus far, these first few final episodes are revolving around the fight for survival, a staple of the show. But the hint of days gone by and the lessons our heroes have learned along the way keep sneaking into the fabric of this tale and adding the Commonwealth into the mix and more wild villains, makes it appear as though something epic is waiting in the wings and well, at long last… it would seem we finally have an idea of how The Walking Dead is going to end. For the next episode in this long and storied franchise, more or less tipped its hand that this series, is going to find a way to blend together its traditional style of storytelling all while bringing a great deal of what our characters have learned along the way together, giving this story meaning and depth on a level that’s not been seen since George Romero’s heyday.

A feat that ‘On the Inside’ accomplished, by outright terrifying us and leaving us uncomfortable courtesy of two key storylines. One that involved Connie and Virgil in fact. For when we catch up with them here, they’re being chased by forces unseen and are forced to hide within the confines of a seemingly safe and grandiose home in the middle of nowhere. But alas it doesn’t take long for Connie to realize that there is something that is a little too peaceful about his house and that something doesn’t quite add up in its appearance and sadly, she is right. For behind the walls of this quaint little place, are people… but not people we would recognize. For these human beings have been in the thick of the apocalypse for so long that they’ve gone feral and to make matters worse, being cut off from civilization has motivated their nutritional tastes to change as well.

For now, they crave what the dead crave, human flesh, and they purposely chased this duo to their home to trap them and feed upon them and well… that led to the terrifying moments in question. Since Connie and Virgil had to fight to survive creatures that were as hungry as the living dead, but far more cunning and that brought about one tense moment after another. The kind that paid homage to Night of the Living Dead and The People Under the Stairs before this violent and creepy journey finally came to a close on a high note. For just when it seemed as though these heroes were done for, Connie improvised and used the dead to her advantage and made these creatures pay, and thanks to the fact that Kelly tracked down Connie and Virgil’s old campsite… she was reunited with Connie at last, injecting some joy into this tale.
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But there was mention of another intense and unsettling storyline and that was handled by way of Daryl and the Reapers. Because Pope wanted to put an end to Maggie once and for all, and opted to have his boys torture Frost to try and get information as to where she might be hiding or what she might be doing and of course, since the Reapers are about as mad as they come… they opted to get Daryl in on the fun and since he knew that he needed to prove his worth to them to survive another day, he went along with their requests. In fact, he took cruelty to a new level by slicing a bit of Frost off to get him to say something and to sell that he was as evil as they were and that led to another harrowing set of moments for Daryl, wherein Pope asked him to accompany a strike force to take out Maggie. An act that forced him to think fast in ways he hasn’t had to do for some time.

For he had to find a way to help his friends above all else, and that really did bring about some serious tension. Especially when the Reapers searched the safe house that was harboring Maggie and her team. Primarily because, they had to hide in the house when the search began and that meant that Daryl had to do everything in his power to protect them. Which included preparing to throw down and potentially sacrifice himself when it appeared his friends were discovered. But thankfully, they managed to escape and head out into the world, buying Daryl more time to work on a plan to help to defeat the Reapers… hopefully. For in the closing moments of this tale it was revealed that Pope killed Frost while they were all gone and got ‘the information’ he needed from him. Putting Daryl’s future in jeopardy. 

But while all of these moments left us on edge with their quality tension and horrifying scares, you’re likely wondering how that kind of terror really relates to an endgame for the show and what that endgame might be and well, it’s there… subtly buried within the awful moments we have shared in over the past couple of years, really. For ever since the Saviors arrived on this series, we’ve seen nothing but humanity’s worst, and heard about the atrocious acts other survivors are stooping to as this new dark age continues along, and we’ve even seen it in person as evidenced by this episode. Which means that the arrival of the Commonwealth and the struggle happening now, is likely going to lead to a grand exploration as to whether or not humanity is worth saving and if so… what makes us worth saving? Which is a powerful idea to slip into this final season, but it is quite fitting none the less.
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Because zombie stories have always worked toward exploring something grander concept wise, especially in regard to humanity and who we are and where we are going and what we are about, and while The Walking Dead has indeed explored those elements when it can, it hasn't ever dug into it with this level of detail until now. A move that likely means the show’s legacy is designed to be a fascinating exploration on what we are as a species in a time of crisis and what we could be if we truly let go of our past and worked toward a better tomorrow and that is going to make for a fascinating finale. One that will bring together the quality elements that we love about this series while taking it into new and memorable territory. But while we wait to see how that all comes together in the next two segments of season eleven, we can bask in the wonder of one of the show’s scariest tales.

For this really was a waking nightmare, one that injected inventive ideas into how to scare us by way of the creep house sequence and those scares were damn impactful. Because they truly motivated one’s heart to race and the sheer unknown of what was going on, really ignited the imagination in a terrible manner and that was extended to Daryl’s journey as well. Since he was constantly at risk here and we really didn’t know if he or anyone else would come out of this okay since all bets are off during a final season and once again, director Greg Nicotero deserves a round of applause as does writer Kevin Deiboldt for assembling a powerhouse story, one that truly reminded us why we fell in love with this series in the first place and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this fascinating and uncomfortable journey, it is definitely safe to say we are all eager and nervous for next week’s entry. Since season eleven of this storied franchise isn’t messing around and that could mean, some intense times are on their way as we close in on the end of Act One of the final chapter The Walking Dead.    

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season three premiere of ‘Creepshow’.

The Shudder series, Creepshow, has done a phenomenal job of exploring the darkest corners of the human condition. For each and every episode has featured some kind of fascinating, humanity related theme. The kind that truly dig deep into the worst parts of our psyche and the evils that men do and that in turn, has brought forth some powerful episodes… the kind that teach us that man is the worst monster of all in the grossest and most uncomfortable ways imaginable. Since the special effects have also been top notch. But what’s genuinely fascinating about this magnificent series, is that showrunner Greg Nicotero clearly wants it to grow and explore just about every aspect and corner of the horror genre and for proof that this is the case, then look no further than the show’s season three premiere. 
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For the two tales of terror present in said premiere, examine something quite unique. Specifically, they play upon our fears of the unknown and ponder upon the horrors of the natural world, the things we simply cannot control… or can, if one were to harness the evil of the Earth, as evidenced by the first vignette in our journey today. For ‘Mums’, a story based upon Joe Hill’s story of the same name… is all about that harnessing and how it can benefit those who are helpless. Because this particular tale features a young man named Jack who quite frankly, can do little in life. For he lives in a survivalist community with his abusive father, Hank, who is eager to exert control over his son and wife… to the point where loved ones will die if by chance, he doesn’t get his way. A sad reality that is revealed when Jack’s mother dies at Hank’s hands. But once Hank buries her in the garden and lies to his son about her coming home on her own at a later date, to keep his crime a secret, the power of the natural world comes into play.

For Jack plants some strange seeds that mother had in her belongings to surprise her when she returns home, and they in turn… bring to life something quite powerful. In that, they resurrect his mother’s corpse and transform it and the plant life that grows from those seeds into a meat-eating monstrosity. One that Jack can now use to punish those who hurt his mother and boy does he ever, in the goriest and freakiest of fashion. If anything, this subtle vignette reminds us that the planet has plenty of powerful tools to put us down, the kind that people can harness, if they so choose. But that simple lesson aside, there is some satisfaction to be found in this tale, by way of how Jack teaches his trash bag of a dad a lesson and you gotta love that shoutout to Creepshow 2 by way of the plants as well. But what matters most, is that this vignette really does play nicely into our fears of the unknown and of nature.

As for the second vignette, ‘Queen Bee’, well that one truly explored how helpless we are when nature decides to do its thing and it showed us that reality in the most unique way imaginable, by introducing us to a group of teenagers named Debra, Trenice, and Carlos, and when we catch up with them here, they are beyond excited. Because their all-time favorite singer, Regina, just checked into the hospital where Debra’s mom works to have her baby and well… what better way to celebrate such a big moment, than by violating the privacy of your hero? Which is why the trio swing by the hospital to see this incredible moment take place and well, it doesn’t take long for regret to settle in on their part. Because there is something quite odd about this birth. For there are no family or friends present, just dead bodies and doctors and nurses whose eyes glow bright green and well… once they come face to face with their hero, do they come to understand they’re in the midst of something quite awful.
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In that, Regina is not who she appears to be. In fact, she is nothing more than an undiscovered species of insect, a queen no less. One that has disguised itself as a human, and she is preparing to give birth to her brood and now these poor teenagers will be hunted by her human drones so they can provide her babies with food and well, this is just brilliant. Because it really does hammer home the fact, that if mother nature evolved a species to the point where it could overtake us… there is little we could do to stop its ascension, much like we cannot stop tornadoes and pandemics and anything that the planet decides to cook up and that made for a supremely eerie tale. One that honestly hits home with the pandemic still raging and as an added bonus… it also has some fine commentary to offer up regarding the dangers of obsession and in the end, both of these vignettes were just an absolute treat to watch. 

Since they both did a wonderful job of exploring the central theme and they both offered up some genuinely powerful scares. For the voracity of those bloodthirsty mums led to some kickass kills and splatter and well… watching those poor teens be chased by green eyed human goblins through the empty halls of a hospital is just the stuff of nightmares and really in the end, it is safe to say that season three of Creepshow is off to a supremely strong start. Because you cannot go wrong with stories that offer new ideas and fresh scares and it is wonderful to see that Greg Nicotero and his team refuse to cast off the depth and commentary that has helped to establish this series as one of the finest horror shows on the market and well, now all we can do is impatiently wait for next week’s ghoulish entry and all the unknown horrors it will unleash upon us. Until next time, kiddies.  

Normally once the world arrives at November, horror films go into hibernation. For the masses believe that spooky movies had their day in the sun, and it is best to forget them and focus on the Holidays and all the warmth they send our way. But true horror fans, know that’s a lie. Horror is an all-season genre, and neither rain nor snow nor sleigh bells should stop zombies from feasting and slashers from slicing teenagers beneath the mistletoe. Which is why we all have to be thankful, for the horror streaming service… Shudder.
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Because they understand the horror fan’s annual plight and they know we crave these movies when the temperatures turn to freezing and well, in classic Shudder fashion… they’re already looking beyond their ’61 Days of Halloween’ event and planning out their schedule for the winter and first up for the horror-day season… is today’s newly announcement movie, Dead & Beautiful. For this gem will make its debut on the network on November 4th and well… in order to properly celebrate the chilly season of terror that lies ahead and this wondrous announcement, here are all the details on this new movie and a trailer for you to enjoy as well. And we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait to sip a pumpkin spice and watch the terror play out when this movie arrives on Shudder in a few weeks.

‘Today, Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has announced that psychological thriller Dead & Beautiful will premiere on Thursday, November 4 in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The film, which is written and directed by David Verbeek, is also set to play at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX on Saturday, September 25.

In Dead & Beautiful, five rich, spoiled Asian twenty-somethings (Gijs Blom, Aviis Zhong, Yen Tsao, Philip Juan, Anechka Marchenko) are suffering from upper class ennui, unsure how to spend their days when so little is expected from them. In search of excitement, the five friends form the “Circle,” a group where they take turns designing a unique, extravagant experience for the others. But things go wrong when the privileged urbanites awaken after a night out, to find they have developed vampire fangs and an unquenchable thirst for flesh, blood, and adventure at any price.

Dead & Beautiful is produced by Erik Glijnis (Pleasure) and Leontine Petit (The Lobster) of Lemming Film, in co-production with House on Fire International, Nukleus Film, and Woods of Light Film. Indie Sales is handling international sales. The film is written and directed by David Verbeek (R U There).’

It is definitely safe to say that this is a unique period of time for The Walking Dead Universe. Because despite the fact that the franchise as popular as it was when it kicked off over a decade ago, and is still telling some powerful stories… as evidenced by the bold tales that Fear the Walking Dead is currently putting together and by way of the compelling and intense episodes that The Walking Dead is also turning out, this is an era in the franchise that is filled with endings. Because The Walking Dead is in the middle of its epic final season and will be nothing more than a fond memory at the end of 2022 and it is not the only TWD Universe show bidding farewell.

For The Walking Dead: World Beyond is also gearing up for its final season, which gets underway on October 3, 2021 and well… in anticipation of its end, we here at Nerds That Geek were fortunate enough to get a look at the first two episodes of the show’s second and final season and we thought it would be fun to preview what you can expect from this farewell tour of World Beyond, in a spoiler-free fashion of course and well… the first thing you’ll notice when you tune in, is that season two is quite the fast-paced ride. Something that is likely related to the fact that season one did a wonderful job of establishing the characters and what they stand for, which means now the show can let loose in regard to the overall plot and endgame and that’s not the only wonderful element you’ll find in season two.

Because this season also features some quality tension. Simply because our intrepid heroes are far away from the safety of the now destroyed Campus Colony and they consistently find themselves in settings that are a cause for concern, since their safety isn’t guaranteed and we simply don’t know who they can trust, outside of one another. Plus, the CRM is everywhere to be found in this tale since our heroes ended season one in their territory and being near an organization that we know is eager to use deceit and dangerous situations to get what it wants, only adds to the tension of this tale and what’s fascinating about having the CRM so close to our heroes, is that it allows for a long standing wish to come true for the fans.

In that, we finally get an up close and personal look at the Civic Republic Military. Because ever since their first appearance in The Walking Dead years ago, we’ve been dying to learn what this organization is all about and how they function and what they are trying to accomplish with all of their secrecy and might, and this season allows for us to finally come to understand what they are working toward and how they manage to draw people to their cause. But on the flip side of that, such intimacy also exposes the ugly side of this organization since we are also privy to moments and conversations that give one pause in regard to the CRM and still leave one concerned about the future of everyone under their seemingly fascist and totalitarian banner. 

But what matters most, is that it is obvious that season two of this series is going to follow in the footsteps of the flagship series and hold nothing back for its final season. Which means we are going to be treated to some bold and shocking stories, the kind that will force good and wholesome teenagers to grow up fast and make some hard decisions, and it will be quite fascinating to see what kind of lasting impact those tough calls will have upon them and it will be equally as incredible to finally learn everything there is to know about the Civic Republic Military and the enigmatic Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Kublek… and with all of that in mind, let the countdown begin to Sunday, October 3, 2021 when The Walking Dead: World Beyond returns to the airwaves on AMC.

New episodes of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’ will also be available a week early on AMC+, staring September 26, 2021.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1105 of ‘The Walking Dead’.
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Over the course of its eleven-year run, the AMC series, The Walking Dead, has cemented itself as one of the finest horror stories to ever hit the airwaves and it accomplished this accolade, by way of outright quality writing. Because every single episode of this incredible zombie story, has featured scripts that draw us in and engage us by way of quality scares and fascinating commentary on our world or through compelling storylines that grow the characters in a unique manner. But above all else, where this series truly shines from a writing perspective, is in its ability to juggle multiple storylines. For this series does boast a massive ensemble cast of characters and every last one of them has been nurtured through 'B-side' stories and ironically, the push to give them all quality screen time and appropriate growth in doing so, was born out of the show’s desire to give the audience a moment to breath and process the terror they’ve just seen.
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If anything, that latter element of the series is of note today, simply because showrunner and head writer Angela Kang, decided somewhere along the way that the final season of this series would be the perfect time to take that particular strength to a whole new level by trying something bold and new with it. By say… seeing how many compelling and complete storylines the series could squeeze into a single episode. For the next episode of this epic saga, ‘Out of the Ashes’, offers no less than four complete storylines and believe it or not, this ambitious plan outright worked through and through. Since each one offered us something unique and dynamic and fascinating and each storyline found a way to grow the characters in a compelling and logical manner and well, of those four storylines, perhaps the best one to start with is the one involving Negan and Maggie.

For this is the first time we’ve caught up with them since their harrowing escape from the Reapers and when we meet up with them here, they’re amid quite the debate. Because they’ve reached the safe-house/rendezvous point that the others are supposed to join them at, but sadly… they are the only ones who have completed this leg of the journey. Which led to a fascinating and spirited debate between the two of them, as to whether they should take whatever supplies were handy and head home or wait for their friends, and well, that ugly debate made it clear that something incredible was happening between Negan and Maggie. In that, they were starting to figure out how to work together as a team and be honest with one another and use that honesty to push one another toward common ground, and that was fascinating to watch play out. Since Maggie’s disdain for Negan made it appear as though death was coming for the former leader of the Saviors at her hands. But now they know they complement one another and can use their differences to everyone's advantage and that really is quite incredible, and it was nice that this segment ended with more survivors of that assault, arriving at the safe-house.

However, while those two hashed out their differences in a spirited manner, back home in Alexandria, we came to learn that growing up without parents in the apocalypse is damn difficult, regardless of how strong one might be. For Judith Grimes really found herself missing her mother in this story, and the cruelty of other kids her age, made that longing worse, since she desperately wanted her mom to be there to teach those kids respect. But above all else… it put Michonne top of mind, and it left Judith worried that she would never see her mother again. But thanks to the kindness of Rosita, Judith found some temporary peace since Rosita helped her to understand how to keep the good memories of those, we love, alive in our hearts at all times and in the end, this plot thread was just sweet through and through. Since it took the time to remind us of the importance of family and how much they mean to us and guide us, and it was just lovely to see Rosita and Judith bond in this manner and see Judith find strength.

Yet what’s wild is that the positivity of this episode didn’t end there, for there was also joy, to be found within the borders of the Commonwealth. For Eugene and his friends finally were allowed to walk within its walls and were assigned their new jobs in this strange place, and well… rather than go with the norm and become functional members of this undiscovered country, most of them (since Yumiko went to reunite with her brother) opted to do whatever was necessary to help their friends back home. Which meant they needed to communicate with Alexandria post haste and that allowed for Eugene and Ezekiel and Princess to come together and make use of Stephanie’s connection with Eugene, to distract all the guards, including Mercer, so Eugene could radio home. A plan that mostly worked since he was indeed able to make contact. But alas, they did get into some hot water over this, but Stephanie’s ties to the community might save them in the end, since she did call in a favor to the mysterious Lance Hornsby. The kind that will apparently keep the group from being exiled back into the world of the dead. 
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However, while it was nice to enjoy some positive and relaxed and fascinating character growth moments, what would an episode of this series be without some fine examinations on the human condition? A feat that was accomplished by way of Aaron and Carol’s storyline. For they took Lydia and Jerry with them back to the remains of Hilltop in the hopes of finding useful items to secure the walls of Alexandria and what they uncovered while they were there was difficult to say the least. For some of their own soldiers from the Whisperer War wandered about in this burnt-out husk, reanimated from death because everyone scattered following Alpha’s harrowing attack, never giving them the chance to be saved from this indecency. Plus, they also encountered something they didn’t expect to see… Whisperers. Yes, that’s right. Members of the enemy they worked so hard to defeat were herding walkers in this tiny little place and well, that revelation brought out the worst in Aaron.

Because he was terrified of seeing a ruthless enemy regain a foothold in this world and that motivated him to go to extremes to uncover whatever plans this offshoot group of Whisperers were cooking up. To the point where he outright used torture tactics and a walker bite to coerce answers that were never going to come out of his prisoner’s mouth. But what mattered more here, is that Aaron indulged so deep in the fear within, that Carol needed to step in and stop him, so that he wouldn’t begin to lose himself as she did and that thankfully pulled him off of the proverbial ledge. For he realized that this wasn’t him in the slightest and he was better than these kinds of actions and his decision to return to the light, paid off in spades. Because that Whisperer revealed, shortly after conducting surgery on his afflicted hand, that Connie was alive and out there, giving everyone hope that they could quickly find her. But before that search can begin, one must reflect upon the majesty of this storyline and how it hammered home that we cannot give into fear or anger, or we risk becoming that which terrifies us.

In the end however, this really was quite the ambitious TWD tale. Because this writer is hard pressed to think of another episode from days gone by that featured these many storylines in a single episode. But this one pulled it off. Because everything here was engaging and powerful and poignant and likely important for the future of this final season and well, a round of applause needs to be extended to writer LaToya Morgan and director Greg Nicotero, for bringing this complex vision to life in a seamless and compelling manner and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this particularly packed tale… it is definitely safe to say that we are all extremely excited and nervous about what comes next. For it would seem a reunion with Connie is in the cards at last since the group is ready to go get her and there might be hope for a better tomorrow for Alexandria. Since Eugene is fighting for them within the walls of the Commonwealth, and that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode a difficult one for certain. Since this is the first time in ages we’ve felt hope for this group, and if Daryl can figure out how to handle the Reapers… that hope can last. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the finale of ‘Slasher: Flesh & Blood’.
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Something that is truly fascinating about slasher stories, is that regardless of how dynamic their plots turn out to be, they always fall back on some fairly specific formulas when they reach the end of their gory tale. In that, the heroes either figure out a way to defeat the supernatural being that is chasing them and do so in an epic manner or the heroes in a more realistic slasher story… decide that they need to stand up and fight the predator that is chasing them and do so in a manner that reveals the killer’s true identity and intentions before they are defeated in an equally epic and gory manner. If anything, these formulas are so engrained within the fabric of the genre, that one had to wonder if by chance… the latter of those two formulas would show up in the finale of the Shudder series, Slasher: Flesh & Blood.
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Largely because, for some time now… the mystery of the Gentleman and his desire to kill the Galloway family with impunity, screams of formula. Since his actions have truly felt as though this particular individual has desired revenge against this family and the only way to stop him would be to understand why in order to properly fight back. But this series, has been eager to do something different within the genre, and it has dug into some incredibly fascinating concepts and themes and rather than let those examinations go to waste or be cast to the wayside for a more traditional and classic ending, the final two episodes in this dynamic show… opted to just outright shock us in the end and bring all the themes and examinations around full circle, after the story decided to toy with us of course.

Because early on in ‘Goldfinger’, it really seemed as though we were in fact, going to enjoy that more traditional ending. For shortly after Aphra was split in two by the Gentleman, making it clear that he had no allegiances… the remaining survivors debated skipping out on the game and just hunkering down until help could arrive. But Grace’s desire to rise to the top of the family’s hierarchy and be compensated for her injuries and the loss of her son, was too great of an opportunity to pass up and well… that led to the more traditional feel in question. Because her attempts to seize the fortune, brought her face to face with the Gentleman and that of course led to her end and once the others figured out how this dude was getting around… they decided it was time to fight back and that led to quite the surprise.

In that, they were able to catch the Gentleman and learn that he was in fact, Dr. Persephone Trinh. Whom we all thought died in the wood chipper. But we quickly came to learn in ‘Kindred’, that she faked her death. Because Spencer hired her to handle the wholesale slaughter of his family. To of course, teach them a lesson and to weed out the weak because he was as evil as they come and for a moment, it seemed outwitting the good doctor and figuring out a way to survive without playing the game was going to be the endgame for this story. But that’s when this tale took quite the unexpected turn. For Spencer simply murdered Trinh when the opportunity arose and that allowed for a relaxed and gross hunt for the grand prize, which Trinh had apparently hidden inside Spencer’s mostly warm and rotting corpse and that’s precisely when another twist came into play.
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Because for weeks now, the series has been examining the darkest recesses of our souls and how greed corrupts us and brings out the worst in us and that means that this story actually ended in a tragic manner. Because the possibility of walking out of this nightmare with a boatload of cash combined with the darkness that everyone already indulged in… motivated everyone to completely give into their worst instincts. Which motivated Theo to kill Spencer and for he and Liv to indulge in incestuous desires before Liv murdered him in cold blood. Which means she was the winner in the end since she found the prize in Spencer’s rotten corpse and well… it was a pyrrhic victory at best. For Liv was forever transformed by this experience, to the point where her future child will undoubtedly suffer in the same manner as the rest of the Galloway clan once did.

Which means that there is no happy ending to be found in this tale. For evil won and infected the souls of everyone that took part in this awful and twisted weekend and that is quite the brave and bold end to this particular tale. For we expect slasher stories to end with catharsis. But this is no standard slasher story. For this series aspires to be more and that is why this finale deserves our awe. Because it accomplished just that and it really does leave you in a dark place when the credits roll, making this a top-notch slasher story when all is said and done and now that this harrowing nightmare has come to a close, all we can do is hope that Shudder approves this show for a fifth season. So, we can once again see the creative team behind this brilliant series, upend the tropes present within the slasher story to provide fans everywhere with poignant and unsettling tales that put the darkest corners of the human condition on display.