It is definitely safe to say, that the transition of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula to Shudder was nothing short of a gift from the horror gods. For it allowed for the Boulet Brothers to fully let loose and bring forth an unfettered vision of their show and tap into its true potential and that led to a powerful competition. One that both shocked us and terrified us whilst educating us on the rich history of horror because Drac and Swan love the genre and its rich history and want others to know of its wonder.

But alas, there’s been a bit of a gap between seasons for this show, to the point where fans are ravenous for more titillating terror from these horror icons and well, good things do indeed come to those who wait. For we are inching closer to the debut of the spin-off competition series, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans. In fact, we are so close that Drac and Swan and Shudder… recently took the time, to fill us in on what we can expect from this new show, alongside profiles of the competitors and a trailer that helps you to meet the monsters. And well, without further ado, here are all those ghoulish goodies for you to peruse, courtesy of the Boulet Brothers and Shudder, to prepare you for another incredible competition from one incredible show.
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'Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streamer for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, unveiled the cast for the new spin-off series, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans. Based on the popular competition reality show The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, the series will debut with a two-episode premiere on Tuesday, October 25 on Shudder and AMC+ with subsequent episodes rolling out weekly.
 
The drag monsters set to return are Abhora, Astrud Aurelia, Erika Klash, Evah Destruction, HoSo Terra Toma, Kendra Onixxx, Koco Caine, Melissa Befierce, Victoria Elizabeth Black and Yovska.
Hosted and created by “horror's new icons" the Boulet Brothers, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans is a ten-episode spin-off series starring some of the most popular drag icons from the show’s previous seasons competing in a grand championship of drag artistry and shocking physical challenges for a one hundred-thousand-dollar grand prize, the headlining spot on the upcoming world tour and the first ever “Dragula Titans” crown and title.
 
While fans of the series will feel right at home watching this spin-off, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans offers a new format that promises a haunted mansion full of shocking twists and turns that take place in a brand-new “underworld” set that was built just for the season.
 
Along with returning fan favorite competitors, there will also be a rotating cast of guest judges from the show’s past and present, including horror icon Cassandra Peterson (Elvira), Harvey Guillen (What We Do In The Shadows), Justin Simien (director of Disney’s upcoming Haunted Mansion film), David Dastmalchian (Dune, Suicide Squad), pop metal princess Poppy, drag superstars Alaska and Katya, and horror royalty Joe Bob Briggs (Last Drive In), Bonnie Aarons (The Nun) and Barbara Crampton (Reanimator, Jakob’s Wife) to name a few, with surprise guests making unannounced appearances along the way.'

HoSo Terra Toma (she/her, they/them)
Previously Competed On: Season 4
Hometown: HBC, Seoul, South Korea
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Fresh off The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula World Tour, Hoso has quickly transformed from a self-described drag yokai into a full-blown kaiju monster. Their drag and performance skills have exploded in scale, and they feel they are “much, much harder to beat this time around.” A top finalist on Season 4, Hoso’s drag is ever-changing and they plan on unleashing their demented and deranged visions on Titans and beyond.

Astrud Aurelia (she/her, they/them)
Previously Competed On: Season 4
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
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Astrud returns to the competition with the goal of showcasing her dark fantasy style and Lovecraftian-inspired drag at the grandest scale. Since Season4 of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, she’s shed her punk rock style and evolved into a reptilian drag creature ready to serve and present “everything BUT human.” With a killer start and explosive exit on her original season, Astrud has persevered through her early extermination and pushed herself to become more than a formidable monster.

Kendra Onixxx (she/her)
Previously Competed On: Season 2, Resurrection
Hometown: Riverside, California
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One of the fiercest performers to ever compete on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, Kendra’s high-energy stage shows and edgy fashion flare make her a Titan that should not be underestimated. Kendra’s drag has evolved “ten-fold” since her time on Resurrection, and with her unapologetically Black aesthetic now fully formed and refined, she’s hungry to slay the third time around.

Koco Caine (they/them)
Previously Competed On: Season 4
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
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The undisputed fan-favorite succubus of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 4,Koco is an ever-evolving artist bringing their ultimate glam-gore seductress back to our screens at Level 100. Since their season, Koco has morphed into “the deadliest fetish femme fatale in the West”, and this time around, they came to devour the competition.

Victoria Elizabeth Black (she/her)
Previously Competed On: Season 2, Resurrection
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
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Victoria is a shape-shifting ghoul that marries her expert special effects and set design skills with top-notch horror references to bring true nightmarish looks and stage performances to life. Victoria plans to keep pushing drag beyond the normal realms of possibility and create a world for monsters and queer art to flourish. Post-Resurrection, she’s mastered the “art of Victoria” and is ready to slaughter any challenge (or competitor) on her way to the crown.

Yovska (she/her, he/him, they/them)
Previously Competed On: Season 3
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
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The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula’s very own viral monster from Season 3, Yovska is back to haunt your digital dreams long after you sign off. Self-described as “the Trisha Paytas of the underworld”, Yovska has taken the time to hone their craft and crank up the crazy, campy, and terrifying drag further than any masked monster has taken it before. Yovska perfectly blurs the deranged and disturbed, and anything goes with this kooky wildcard competitor.

Erika Klash (she/her, they/them)
Previously Competed On: Season 2
Hometown: Queens, New York
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Erika is the demonic glitch-zombie crossing over from cyberspace to terrorize viewers across all dimensions. Known as “the cockroach of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” for surviving multiple exterminations on Season 2, Erika has learned to inject her horror nerdom across all facets of her drag with precision. A newfound specialty in costuming and UV-makeup proves that Erika is prepared to claw her way to the top, pixel by pixel.

Evah Destruction (she/her, they/them)
Previously Competed On: Season 3
Hometown: Austin, Texas
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She’s hairy, scary, and always bringing a look, Evah will keep you guessing on what she’ll turn out next. Evah is refreshed, emboldened, and wants to continue to show people that “all hair is beautiful” whether in drag or everyday life. A deadly frontrunner on Season 3,Evah has since immersed herself in her craft and understanding the drag artist within, confident that “the script has been flipped” and that nothing will stand in her way from the title.

Abhora (he/him, they/them)
Previously Competed On: Season 2
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
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Abhora is “your worst fears and your greatest delights” all wrapped up in a bloody, beautiful mess. The most polarizing character on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 2,they’ve returned to the competition with a stronger vision of their art, and leaned into their non-traditional drag for the better. A bonafide enigma of the series, Abhora is confident “there is no one else like me; many have tried, all have failed.”

Melissa Befierce (she/her, he/him)
Previously Competed On: Season 1
Hometown: South Central LA, California
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The original glamor ghoul all the way back from The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula Season 1, Melissa is a competitor who has proven they should never be underestimated. She’s polished and “always looking for her 10’s,”but she’s not afraid to give you her monster side on and off the main stage when needed. Since her season, Melissa has picked up skills in prosthetics and creature makeup, mastered her high energy performances and gags, and is prepared to “speak her mind” to any competitor who needs to be checked. Melissa wants to show that there’s a monster within every performer, no matter if you’re a killer beauty queen or not.

If there is one particular lesson in life that none of us ever enjoy learning, it would have to be that when it rains… it pours. Because no one likes to deal with bad stuff in the first place, but when it hits… it comes in waves or at all once and that just leads to tough times mentally. Where you simply cannot get a grip or wrap your head around it all and well… that particular lesson is top of mind today, simply because that is what the next episode of The Walking Dead features. For after spending weeks of having these characters play the hero whilst trying to reconcile their future, the proverbial zombie goop just hit the fan in ‘East’ and well, that led to a harrowing tale, one that remains uncomfortable today courtesy of three key heartbreaking and intense storylines.
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One of which, involved Carol. For she wasn’t joking around when she said she was leaving, since we came to learn here, she snuck out in the middle of the night and swiped one of the cars and well… it didn’t take long for this broken hero to find more trouble in the form of more Saviors. Which forced her to do some ugly things again and left her badly wounded, and off into the world and followed by trouble. Since a single Savior survived the firefight she was involved in and was working to track her, and he wasn't the only one. Since Morgan and Rick were eager to find her and bring her home, and well... their journey came up empty handed, despite some clues being present. Leading to a harrowing cliffhanger for certain. Because back in the day, we hadn't a clue if Carol was okay and safe in the slightest and while we know now her fate... the impact of her leaving and the pain she was suffering through here, made for one tough and uncomfortable storyline for certain.

Not to mention, things back home became quite scary quite quickly. Courtesy of Maggie Rhee. Which was heartbreaking because she was doing her best to keep spirts calm and focused while everyone was out doing their respective tasks, and she was in fact, quite successful at keeping morale going. Since she was able to convince Enid to finally join in and help for a change after she’s spent several episodes trying to run away, to the point where Enid was eager to take on shifts and even help Maggie change up her haircut when she felt the need to just spice things up. And it was during that particular trim that quite the surprise came into play. In that she doubled over and cried out in pain, clutching her womb and making it clear to all of us… that something was severely wrong with the baby and that was just scary to see at such a precarious time.

But the most shocking and scary storyline of this episode, came courtesy of Daryl and his friends. Since he, Michonne, Glenn and Rosita went out into the world to see if they couldn’t find Dwight and deliver a little payback for his decision to kill Denise. And while they did indeed find good ol’ D, they were split up and overwhelmed by the fact that he was out there with reinforcements, in the hopes of a moment such as this. Which led to quite the intense sequence of events, wherein Glenn and Michonne were quickly captured and used as bait to draw out Daryl, and sadly that plan worked and put Daryl and Rosita behind the proverbial eight ball, wherein Dwight took the time to say hello before putting a bullet inside Daryl. Not a fatal one mind you, but one that was designed to torment Daryl further. 

Which was quite the bleak way to end this already bleak tale, but that is the point. For this was indeed just dark times raining down upon our heroes whether we liked it or not and well… watching this one a second time around, actually made it feel darker than when it originally aired. Just because we know what’s coming now, and we know that this story is about to go to one devastating place. But while we wait to break down THAT finale, we can bask in the wonder of a supremely horrifying tale, one that really put our heroes on their heels and saw them struggle to maintain balance of any kind and well, that’s definitely something the Saviors took advantage of and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this blasé journey, the time has come… to meet the man and wrap up season six and our Retro Recaps of this magnificent series. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Sissy’.
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When we are young, we like to believe that the friendships we forge, will last a lifetime and it makes sense as to why. For friendships in our youth are just so pure and there is little conflict within them, and little concern about if they make it to tomorrow. It’s just us and our buddies against the world, and who better to have by our side than our buddies or our besties? Because they just seem to know us at that age, and vice versa and that vibe and the joy really does seem as though it will never end. But just like that, we tend to drift apart from those friends and forge relationships with new ones… and that process continues along well until adulthood. Until we finally make friends with the people that will be with us to the end.
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That process exists, simply because, we learn as we grow that certain people fit certain needs through specific phases in our lives and vice versa. And when we change because of what we learn, we move onto people that fulfill that process until we finally find those proverbial soulmates that know us and vibe with us as we do with them. Which in turn helps us to learn that it is okay to change our friends and bring new people in our lives, because that’s the only way to know what kind of support network we need and having people leave gives us perspective and validation about the person we’ve become. Since we can look fondly upon that portion of our life and see how we grew at the right time. Which is why… it is so fascinating and troubling when people do their best to try and go back and reclaim friendships long gone.

Because it doesn’t make sense when we are in new phases of our lives, and why on earth would we want to recapture yesterday? For we cannot and we tend to learn that the hard way when we try to and that troublesome aspect of trying to recapture yesterday is top of mind today, because it is explored in a fascinating manner in a new horror film on Shudder entitled, Sissy. For this is a story that introduces us to an influencer named Cecilia who while living her best life, runs into her childhood best friend. Whom she hasn’t seen in years and has some rough memories with since their friendship ended on a very brutal day when a bully pushed Cecilia too far. But this surprise reunion brings Cecilia back into the fold of Emma’s life at a critical time. For she’s getting married and wants her old friend ‘Sissy’ to be part of the celebration and well… that’s a ‘yes’ that Sissy soon comes to regret. For the Bachelorette Party she’s been invited to, is also host to the very bully that created a divide in the first place and being around her again is going to make for a difficult and life changing weekend.

Which is the perfect way to explore the subject of this film. Simply because it is obvious that Cecilia has tried hard to move on from those dark times and forge a different path as an influencer, one that looks toward tomorrow instead of behind and well, Emma and her tormentor do everything to drag her back into the thick of it. And their actions and immature behavior are what break down the central theme here. In that, people love to go backwards simply because they’re stuck or don’t like what the present offers them. So, they desperately hope that looking backward will recapture some wonder in a life that hungers for it, when in fact it just recreates that time and nothing more, and that makes so many of the characters here both tragic and relatable. Since we’ve known folks that are like that, who still grasp for yesterday with every ounce of their might. But what’s wild about this film, is that it goes even deeper in its storytelling than its central concept.
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For Sissy is no angel, either. She’s actually quite the violent and angry person because of the experiences of her past, and her real motivation in becoming a positive influencer, is in the hopes of using that to heal her wounds. Which of course, leads to some shocking surprises in this tale when Sissy is cornered and pressed by her former bully… but her journey explores a secondary theme. In that, while it is indeed important to leave the past in the past and recognize its impact upon us, that means nothing if we don’t reconcile it either. Because it is important to give both good and bad moments from yesterday, agency, and do our best to heal from them and grow from their lessons. Because to do so otherwise, traps us and brings us great harm and it can push us to be the person we do not want to be. As evidenced by Sissy’s wild turn in this particular tale. As to what she does, we won’t discuss here, because that’s a twist you need to experience first-hand, to properly experience its gravity.

However, while all of that sounds intriguing in its own right and engaging, none of that really appears to be grounded in horror elements. But have no fear, the scares are here. Because the surprise twist present in this story really does bring forth some chilling and unsettling scares. Plus, it also brings forth some stunningly amazing gore, the kind that actually makes you cringe in disgust as it plays out and really, in the end, all of these elements make this a complete and satisfying horror film. One that is intelligent and wicked and dementedly fun. Courtesy of the black humor present here as well and the best news of all, is that you can now analyze the majesty of this movie and its many themes, right now. For Sissy is streaming on Shudder and we here at NTG hope you give it a look. Because this one has plenty to chew upon and stays with you long after its ended, courtesy of the questions it asks us about whether or not we’ve made proper peace with our past and our pain.

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the series premiere of ‘Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror’.
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When one thinks of the bare beginnings of the horror genre as we know it today, specific stories come to mind. Such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, since that is widely regarded as the genesis point with its fascinating take on our fear of death and technology and man’s role in toying with the nature of the world. Or we think of the classic Universal films that featured characters like Frankenstein and Dracula and everything in between. And we of course, also think on the subtext that those films provide us with as well, since horror is the home of social commentary and deeper meaning across the board, and had those films not been host to said subtext, where would horror be?
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But what we absolutely never think about… is how those early stories might feature deeper meaning than what we already know. But it just so happens that they do. For the true origins of the horror genre are quite queer in nature, and we weren’t aware of that fact… simply because when horror came to life… being queer was nothing short of a cardinal sin. Granted, in the eyes of some misinformed individuals in this modern era… that is still the same, but it was far worse then, to the point where the LGBTQIA+ experience, was hidden within those early stories, waiting to be discovered. And thankfully, the time has come to properly unpack such matters. For today saw the debut of a brand-new series from Shudder, entitled Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror. Which is indeed a grand exploration into the queer origins of horror.

Such as how Mary Shelley’s sexuality played a big part in the creation of Frankenstein, since she buried the struggles of her own experiences into the depths of that story, to the point where this tale takes on a whole new light once you’ve watched this documentary and the power of such explorations doesn’t end there. Since this series premiere also takes the time to explore how Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Grey is rife with similar subtext and his experiences as a homosexual man in an era where being yourself and embracing your sexuality was more than frowned upon, it was career and life ending. But it is important to recognize what those writers were truly speaking to, so that we have a complete understanding of what those iconic stories are about and what those writers went through.

But this opening chapter to this incredible saga, didn’t stop there with its powerful dissections of how the queer experience is deeply tied to horror’s roots. For it also took a good long look at the bare beginnings of the modern vampire through Tod Browning’s Nosferatu and Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and it really laid bare how both of those stories speak to said experience through and through. Shedding incredible new light on both stories. Since we now have incredible context regarding what Stoker and Browning wanted to accomplish with these tales and wanted to express about what it meant to be LGBTQIA+ at the turn of the 20th Century, and with the guidance of the experts in this documentary, we can finally see that context and ponder upon how far we’ve come and how much farther we have to go regarding equal rights.

However, at this point you’ve likely noticed… that we’ve kept the details to a minimum here, especially when it comes to how this series digs deep into such matters and what it reveals to us, and that was a conscious choice on our part. Simply because, this is a documentary you need to experience. You need to hear about the core pillars of these stories from queer voices, and you need that perspective to guide you for the entire hour. Simply because this is a chance to learn and listen and come to understand an aspect of our world that we don’t know enough about, and we should. Because LGBTQIA+ individuals aren’t some off-shoot of the human race, or some niche concept. They are human beings, whose voices and stories and knowledge are valuable and important and putting all of that on display here, is revolutionary and important, and it will be interesting and powerful, to learn more about how the queer experience is embedded deep within horror as this series continues along. Until next time.

We like to believe that shortly after we’ve been through a horrifying and difficult experience, that life can get back to normal and it makes sense as to why we think that. After all, the problem at hand is over, so there’s no need to fret about the past and we can just move forward. For time heals all wounds and eventually, we will be right as rain and back in the groove and everything will just be peachy keen. But alas, we also learn shortly after those tough times, that such thoughts are nothing more than an outright lie. For trauma is very real and if it isn’t resolved it can and will manifest itself and haunt us and drive us to tough places, and sometimes what we thought was resolved, returns, and well, those particularly unfortunate truths are top of mind today, simply because they made an appearance in the next episode of The Walking Dead.
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For when we catch up with everyone in Alexandria in ‘Twice as Far’, business as usual is on the menu. All because, the battle with the Saviors saw them be the victor, and Negan was dead… so there was nothing else to worry about but getting back down to business and back to normal. Which brought forth a bevy of low-key moments, a lot of repetition and… a sense of dullness. Simply because it was obvious that everyone was trying to go through the motions and force normalcy forward when in fact, a great deal of the people in this town, were struggling with what they did at the Savior complex, such as Carol and others were just frozen in place over the events of the past few months. Since Rosita and Daryl were super cautious and eager to excessively protect anyone and everyone… including Denise, when she asked to go on a run for antibiotics for the town. 

Even Abraham was trying to stick to a routine, to the point where he became Eugene’s shadow for a discussion about the future. Wherein Eugene wanted to manufacture ammunition at the perfect place nearby, and that talk rattled Abraham a bit since this hammered home the reality that Eugene was finally growing into his own and wouldn’t need Abraham as his protector like he used to. A reality that meant nothing would ever be the same and that left Abraham beside himself, and he wasn’t the only one to find himself in such an awkward place. Since Denise held her own and showed Rosita and Daryl that she was capable of being a warrior and that they were stuck in place because of their fear. Which made it seem as though this episode was going to focus heavily on healing, that is… until the other element came into play.

For Denise died horribly in this tale. Simply because our heroes came to discover that the Saviors were not defeated as previously believed. Not to mention, a now disfigured Dwight returned to the fold to taunt and hassle Daryl, and he is the one that killed Denise. And while the rest of our heroes escaped courtesy of a harrowing ambush (courtesy of Abraham) and firefight, and Eugene’s ability to surprise his captor by biting his junk… the damage was done. For Alexandria’s biggest threat was proven to be alive and well after all, and past traumas came bubbling up and for some, it was more than they could bear. Since Carol couldn’t handle the prospect of more war and more bloodshed and exiled herself one night, in the hopes of getting a fresh start at a critical time for her family. 

Because the danger was once again at an all-time high, and the struggle was also real. Since hearts were low and minds were scrambled and justifiably so. For it’s just been hell on earth for these folks all season long. But before the darkness completely slinks over this tale through and through, we can celebrate another intelligent tale. One that really did hammer home the need to heal, even at a critical time and how scary life can be when we discover we didn’t finish what we started. But alas, this will be the last time we talk about anything deeper regarding this season’s storylines. For what lies ahead is something to fear, for revenge is on the horizon and Negan is coming, and those dark elements combined would forever change the landscape of this incredible series. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, a common thread has come up regarding our discussions of the wildly delightful Shudder documentary, The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time. In that, this wildly popular series (more on that in a moment) is starting to inject overall themes into its episodes. Which seems impossible for a list-themed documentary to do, but that is precisely what is happening here. Since last week’s tale explored moments that were primal and visceral in nature, and that added depth and curiosity to the scary scenes explored there and well… this week’s episode also featured a theme of its own.
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For a vast majority of the scary moments featured in ‘#62 – #50’ revolved around horror movie moments that were revolutionary in nature. The kind where a never-before-seen special effect wowed us on the screen or where a storytelling concept and idea presented itself to us for the first time and that’s quite the important thing to focus on. Because when you think about it, a lot of what we enjoy in pop culture in this day and age, is a direct result of horror. Since some of the stuff that trailblazers put forth… influenced other filmmakers to do something brave and bold in their story or tweak a moment and inject it into something supremely standard and mainstream. Not to mention, the work of special effects titans such as Greg Nicotero and Tom Savini, and Rick Baker… paved the way for realistic effects in standard television and movies.

So, it is absolutely important that such moments are featured and dissected and spotlighted. So, we recognize the ingenuity and work that went into them, and how they truly shaped the pop culture landscape with their gravitas, and this week’s episode was rife with stunning breakdowns of how those moments revolutionized the industry and wowed us and stayed with us to this day. For instance, The Howling is a story that not only helped to usher in a new era for effects for werewolves, but it taught a new generation of filmmakers how to subvert and surprise an audience. Plus, the show also highlighted how When a Stranger Calls used minimalist storytelling and tension to create a powerhouse moment of terror, one that resonates with us now since we value our safety and sanctity in our homes, and of course… plenty more folks have tried to recreate that scene since its inception.

Plus, we’d be remiss to not point out how Jacob’s Ladder used unique visuals and storytelling to tell us a tale that was grounded in real world horrors, and that twist informed us that it was indeed okay to explore how life is scary, a message we are seeing in horror often now, and well, all of these moments made for a fascinating episode for certain. One that once again captivated the viewer through and through. Simply because recognizing the uniqueness of these moments, gives them new life and a gravity we never thought of. For so many of us saw those moments in our youth, where the revolutionary nature of them wasn’t apparent to us. They were just scary ass stories that kept us up at night and nervous over whether or not that noise outside was the monster come to get us or our imagination.

But being able to learn about them here, allows for us to cherish experiencing that moment even more and well, that level of richness, completely and utterly explains why this show has gained such a popular following. For it was recently revealed that the premiere of this series was Shudder’s most watched title of 2022 and rightfully so. Because it teaches, it engages and it outright captivates, thanks to its stellar commentary and observations and expertise. Because no one is challenging these moments because Shudder has compiled the perfect list and, the staff at Shudder deserve a round of applause for the accolades this series has received, since their hard work in creating it, paid off in spades. And now that we’ve reached the end of this leg of the journey, it will be interesting to see what other moments await us in the weeks to come, now that we are in the top half of the list. Until next time.

Truly, one of horror’s most beloved and feared monsters, is the vampire. In large part because this is one of the oldest monsters in the genre’s rich history and of course, the various on-screen performances that have come forth regarding this character, from Lugosi to Oldman, were chilling and haunting, and their abilities strike terror in our hearts and fascinate our morbid curiosity at the same time. And this creature is so popular and so engrained that a bevy of franchises have popped up from them, some are supremely fluffy, while others… are far more gothic and horrifying and revolutionary in nature. Such as Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire saga. Since that story explored corners of the vampire’s world that few did, and it was so popular a saga that it brought forth a powerful mainstream adventure with top-tier names attached.
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For both Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise and other juggernauts were eager to be part of the 1994 film adaptation of the same namesake and well, while that edition was indeed quite faithful to the book and featured some fine performance across the board, it felt lacking as a whole and rightfully so. For in retrospect, it is supremely tame from a horror perspective, undoubtedly, to appeal to the masses and like many films from that era, it missed the opportunity to do something brave and bold both with diversity, since it features a predominantly Caucasian cast, and it also missed out from a representation standpoint. Since the homoerotic undertones present in Anne’s story, were extremely watered down in the finished product. Making this movie nothing more than a flawed attempt to properly bring this iconic story to life. But thankfully, a proper adaptation of this story is about to hit the airwaves.

For Monday will see the debut of AMC’s iteration of Interview with the Vampire, and we here at NTG have seen advance episodes and thought it would be best to share with you why this adaptation will be worth your while. Because this one really is special and the first thing that makes it of note, are the horror elements present here. For this really is a hardcore vampire story through and through, one that holds nothing back in its presentation of both the life of the vampire and terrifying themes that Anne featured in the original source material. Since there are wonderful nods at our collective fear of death and the horrors of immortality and of course… the gore isn’t too shabby either. All of which allows for a wonderfully terrifying experience, one that really does leave one uncomfortable and on edge and holds true to the gothic nature of the books. 

But where this story truly shines, is in diversity and representation. Since this cast makes up more of what America and the world looks like, and some of the twists and updates to the plot regarding diversity, better serve the story and add depth to Louis’ plight and desire to become a vampire. But what matters most here, is the representation aspect. Because this is a story that does not shy away from the homoerotic undertones of the novel. In fact, it embraces them in full and allows for LGBTQIA+ individuals to take the center stage in a vampire story, and that’s important and this show deserves a round of applause for not shying away or watering anything down in such matters. For that is simply revolutionary in nature for a television series.

Not to mention, the acting is of course, top notch here as well, with Jacob Anderson (Louis de Pointe du lac) and Sam Reid (Lestat de Lioncourt) leading the charge with their wonderful performances that captivate and engage and Eric Bogosian’s (Daniel Molloy) incredible skill set as an actor also adds to the show, since his performance here grounds the story and of course, he steals every scene he is in. Plus, the production values are stunning and well, all of these elements make this a must-see series. For it is brave, it is bold, and it is everything we’ve ever wanted from an adaptation of Anne’s iconic work and thankfully we don’t have to wait much longer to enjoy it. Since Interview with the Vampire arrives on AMC and AMC+ this Sunday, October 2, 2022… and we here at NTG hope you give this magnificent series a look.

We like to believe, that our journey in life is completely and utterly unique, so that our story has gravity and power and makes us special in the process. But what’s funny is that such thinking is woefully incorrect in nature. For while there are moments, we go through that no one else does, we share in a lot of experiences with others, the kind that take each of us down different paths because we respond to different choices in a different manner. Because that is the human experience, a series of tests that tasks us to make the difficult call and live with the consequences be them good or bad. But what’s truly wild about this… is that sometimes we are supremely taken aback when we meet someone that shared in our journey and took a vastly different path than we did.

Because to see that, gives us pause and leaves us to wonder who we could have become if we continued on that path in a manner that we worked to avoid or are working to avoid. Which of course, might motivate us to change our course when we realize we might be flirting with disaster and a future that resembles something far worse than we ever imagined and well… this fascinating aspect of the human experience is top of mind today, because it was put on full display in the next episode of The Walking Dead. A feat that ‘The Same Boat’ accomplished by pitting Carol against her foil so to speak. For shortly after she and Maggie were transferred to a mostly secure Savior Safehouse, they came to get to know their captors.

Who were, a bunch of degenerates for certain, the kind who were rude and only out for themselves. The typical kind of jackass that Negan excelled at recruiting. But one in particular, named Paula was of note. For she was sharper than the rest and hyper aggressive and she was suspect of Carol through and through. Who of course, worked hard to put her fake persona on to keep the Saviors off guard and well, that persona did wonders. Since it got Paula to open up about her past and how she in essence, walked a very similar path to Carol in life. For she too came from an ugly background, one devoid of meaning and full of external oppression, and while she didn’t outright speak to being abused by her husband as Carol once was… the disdain for her life was similar. 

But what truly caught Carol off guard regarding the parallels here… was the sheer fact that Paula was a killer, one as skilled and ruthless as Carol was. The only difference was that Paula enjoyed it and was eager to murder if it gave her peace of mind. A reality that stunned Carol through and through, because with a smidge of effort she too could be that kind of killer, and that made her next moves hard. Because Carol knew… she would need to dive into that dark well again and work to bring these people down to survive and while she did execute a grand and brutal fight, one that granted she and Maggie their freedom, she was rattled by this encounter with a possible different future, to the point where she was clearly changed. 

However, that would have to wait for another time to explore, since there was also the matter of dealing with ‘Negan’ in this tale, which Rick truly believed he accomplished in the closing moments of this story, since Primo proudly claimed to be the man that terrified and horrified so many under that moniker. But what mattered more here, is that this was a powerful character study. One that truly tested Carol like never before and really gave her stunning insight into the shared experiences of the world and how our choices can easily make us good or bad, or something in between and the show deserves kudos for offering up this kind of unique story in the midst of chaos and crisis and well… sadly, this encounter won’t be the end of such ugly and unique matters. Since as mentioned, Carol has a lot to chew upon and of course… we’re not done with the Saviors just yet. Until next time.

It has often been said that mankind is but a meal or two away from devolving into pure savagery and well… that’s a saying that has yet to prove itself to be true in the industrialized world. Simply because, we eat well in such nations, and in America… we have a tendency to waste food with impunity. Leaving all of us to wonder… if people in the United States would indeed abandon their civility and become something far darker if food was scarce in nature. In fact, it fascinates us enough, that an episode of The Walking Dead took the time to explore this idea in a powerful manner. For ‘Not Tomorrow Yet’ saw the good people of Alexandria face quite the worrisome truth. In that, without regular partnerships with the Hilltop… food would quickly run out.
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A reality that Rick Grimes expressed to everyone at a town hall once he and the team returned from the Hilltop, and he put that truth out to the people… to sell them on hell of a plan. One where a large contingent would travel with Jesus and Craig to the headquarters of the Saviors. Wherein they would rescue the Hilltop’s captured citizen and deal with the Saviors and Negan. Which meant another brutal fight awaited a community trying to recover from a prior and costly one, all in the name of a deal that would keep them fed regularly, and that… brought up some interesting debates within the community. For Morgan saw this as supremely problematic, and indicative of a collapse of who they were and what they stood for, and he wasn’t the only one that had concerns. 

For Carol quietly struggled with the fact that more killing was going to have to take place, since so much blood had been spilled in the past few months, and the lives she’d taken were beginning to haunt her. And others also pondered upon the reality that they were going to fight in the name of a warm meal. But despite all those reservations, the plans moved ahead. With Rick putting together a comprehensive and powerful plan. One that would lull the Saviors into a sense of comfort, by providing them with a walker skull that look liked Gregory’s head. Keeping them happy enough to hand over the hostage, and that would allow Team Alexandria to take them by surprise so they could end this fight before it ever began, and wouldn’t you know it? That first part of that plan went off without a hitch.

Because the Saviors took the bait, and that allowed for Rick’s team to head inside and take part in some ugly, ugly acts. The kind that involved killing people they’d never met in the depth of the night while they slept. But sadly, there was mention that the plan wasn’t flawless and well, an errant Savior who felt the need to rise in the middle of the night, brought forth an intense firefight. And while our heroes won the day, they still suffered some unique losses. For shortly after they secured the compound, they came to learn that two of their own were captured by some outlying Saviors that weren’t in bed that night, giving rise to a cliffhanger. But what matters more, is that this episode gave us some fascinating insight as to whether or not that old saying could have merit.

As it turns out, it might. Since the good people of Alexandria, who really have done their best to be the better people in dark and ugly situations… let the prospect of hunger push them into a dark place. Where they were willing to be warriors and take lives at the prospect of a hot meal. All because they involved themselves in a matter they could have avoided dealing with. Which would turn out to be a decision that would bring them great heartbreak and even darker times, but also… there would eventually be bright spots again. But in there and the now, this episode deserves our awe for offering up such a powerful and dark journey, one that isn’t done just yet. Courtesy of the living nightmare that Carol and Maggie are about to deal with. Until next time.

Recently, we’ve talked at length about the wonder of Shudder’s original programming and with good reason. Because they are providing horror fans everywhere with ridiculously great content. The kind that is blazing trails with incredible concepts and commentary and their stories are as brave and bold as they come. But we haven’t talked about enough, is how Shudder is beginning to build an original programing empire. Because they are beginning to produce sequels to films, they created, and they are moving so quickly on making that happen... that it just so happens that we will be privy to several of those very sequels this year.

For V/H/S/94 arrives on the network next month, and shortly after that… the sequel to Satan’s Slaves will appear on the network. For earlier today, Shudder announced that it has acquired the rights to Satan’s Slaves: Communion, the epic follow-up to the supremely scary original and well… here are all the details regarding this new entry in Shudder’s growing original library, courtesy of horror’s finest streamer.

‘Shudder, AMC Network's premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural has acquired the rights to Satan’s Slaves: Communion, the terrifying sequel to the Shudder Original Satan’s Slaves from acclaimed writer-director Joko Anwar (Gundala, Impetigore). Satan’s Slaves: Communion follows a family living in a rundown apartment after escaping terror from their mother who returned from the death not knowing that their new place is a bigger threat to their lives. The film which was the first Indonesian film shot with IMAX technology will be available exclusively on Shudder in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand on Friday, November 4.
 
“For at least the last half decade, Joko Anwar has been directing some of the best horror movies in the world. The original Satan’s Slaves is widely lauded as one of the scariest movies in Shudder history, so we’re beyond thrilled to have Joko back with a sequel that more than lives up to the original. We can’t wait for our members to see how this terrifying story plays out,” said Shudder general manager, Craig Engler.
 
"I'm thrilled to have Shudder releasing Satan's Slaves: Communion and presenting the movie to its perfect audience. This film is a direct sequel to the first one and will answer some questions left in the first movie while opening up new things to explore in the storyline," said Joko Anwar.
 
Returning cast members to the franchise include Tara Basro, Bront Palarae, Endy Arfian, Nasar Anuz, Egi Fedly and Ayu Laksmi; while new to the second film are: Muzakki Ramdhan, Fatih Unru, Ratu Felisha, Jourdy Pranata, Kiki Narendra, Nafiza Fatia Rani and Iqbal Sulaiman. Satan’s Slaves: Communion is produced by Tia Hasibuan, Gope T. Samtani and Sunil Samtani.
 
Anwar is a prolific writer-director-producer.  His latest project is horror adaptation Fritzchen and  his previous film work includes Impetigore, A Copy of My Mind and The Forbidden Door while serving as writer-director on television shows, Halfworlds and Folklore.
 
Satan’s Slaves: Communion has broken box office records in Indonesia and is one of the highest profile acquisitions to come from the territory in some time. 
 
The deal was negotiated by Pip Ngo of XYZ Films on behalf of the filmmakers, and Emily Gotto, VP, Global Acquisitions & Co-Productions on behalf of Shudder.
 
About Shudder
AMC Networks' Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers, and the supernatural. Shudder's expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.
 
About XYZ Films
XYZ Films is an independent studio whose mission is to empower visionary storytellers from every corner of the planet. As a producer, financier and distributor, the company is uniquely suited to identify talented filmmakers and bring their stories to life. XYZ recently expanded into talent management, working with a global roster of
filmmakers. XYZ was founded in 2008 by Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. The company’s titles include THE RAID franchise, 2017 Sundance winner I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, and Panos Cosmatos' psychedelic revenge thriller MANDY.’