Over the course of its eleven-year run, the AMC series, The Walking Dead, has asked a great deal of questions regarding what the aftermath of the end of the world might look like. Such as who would we become as a species? And would we be able to shed the darkness and selfishness that plagues our world now? Which are questions that quite frankly… are still being explored by this show since we’ve seen mankind go back and forth regarding those answers. But it has also asked, if people can be decent during an indecent time, a question that has received a resounding yes, and for a time it also pondered upon what the new world would look like shortly after the end of everything. A question the show answered in harrowing manner in the back half of season six and through most of season seven and eight.
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In fact, the answer to that question began to be revealed in ‘Knots Untie’, in the sneakiest manner possible. For this is a story that at first, offered great hope for a true better tomorrow. After all, Jesus had nothing but wonderful news to offer about his community and how the world beyond the walls of Alexandria was so much larger. Not to mention, when Rick and his people had to step in and help Jesus and his friends on the way to the Hilltop, they were greeted as saviors and helpers and welcomed into this tiny little community with open arms. Making it truly appear as though the future post-zombie, was going to see a grand and powerful rebuilding of civilization through and through. One that was sadly complete with the a-holes that we cannot stand now.

Since the group was also introduced to the ‘wonder’ that is Gregory and his ‘charming personality.’ One that motivated him to insult Maggie on a consistent basis. But the return of some couriers, who were asked to make an important drop… showed the Hilltop to be a community in crisis. Since Gregory was stabbed by one its returning citizens in an effort to save his brother and of course, Rick and his team were forced to teach these folks a hard lesson for certain. Because Rick Grimes isn’t going to let good people get pushed around, and well… once the dust settled from that bloody scuffle, the truth about the future of the world was revealed to Rick and company. In that… the meek were being bullied about by a group called the Saviors, whose leader Negan, demanded half of everything, or punishment would befall this tiny community.

A reality that oddly gave Rick, an inspired idea. Because it was obvious in the scuffle that these people weren’t warriors in the slightest and that having their own muscle might prove to be useful. Which is why… Rick opted to have Maggie make Gregory an offer he could not refuse. In that, the Alexandria Security Force would handle the Saviors and Negan for Hilltop, and in doing so, would receive half their food stores on this day and in the future as tribute for future protection. An offer that really was quite enticing for Gregory and he was quick to sign off on it. Allowing for Rick and his family to eat once again and eat well for some time… all the meanwhile showing us that the early days after the end, would be shockingly savage in nature when all is said and done. Complete with warring factions and fights for food.

Which made this, a surprisingly sobering and bleak episode. One that made it clear that supplies would become the new currency of such an era, since food and the rest are essential and worth fighting for in the eyes of those running low upon them, and those that control those kinds of critical goods would be powerful indeed. Not to mention, this one also sets up, some dark times for certain. Since our heroes would indeed bite off far more than they could ever chew regarding Negan and the Saviors. But in this moment, they had agency, power, and food once again, and we hadn’t a clue that such a bold decision would bring forth such trouble… but it is definitely near and our first taste of what is to come, arrives in the next pair of brutal episodes. Until next time.

One thing that horror fans everywhere can outright agree upon, is that no other horror network out there offers better documentaries than Shudder. For their original documentaries and the ones, they bring into the fold, feature fascinating and powerful explorations on important topics in horror. The kind that takes the time to teach us something about horror we’ve never known before. For instance, Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror, truly offered us stunning perspective on the incredible contributions that Black people have made to the genre over the years, and the incredible subtext and commentary that Black creatives injected into the genre. All because Shudder wants everyone to really understand what makes horror, horror, and how it is the only genre out there that properly reflects the world and is totally inclusive.
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Which is why it should come as no surprise… that another quality, brand-new horror documentary from Shudder is about to debut on the network. One that once again explores contributions and aspects of the genre that people simply don’t pay any mind to. For Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror is a four-part documentary that will debut on the network on Friday, that finally takes the time to explore the contributions that LGBTQIA+ individuals have made to the genre, and we here at NTG had the distinct honor of being able to check this series out early and thought it would be supremely worthwhile to preview this series (in a spoiler-free manner, of course). In part because, we want you to be excited about this series and spread the word about it, but more so because… it is another brilliant and powerful documentary on an aspect of horror that few of us are properly educated upon, and that deserves to be recognized.

Because what we really haven’t ever given any thought to… is how supremely queer, horror actually is, and how it has been queer from the onset of its creation. For this is a series that truly looks at the origin of the genre and how its early days were filled with subtext about what it means to be queer and how that was brilliantly layered into scary storytelling at a time… where queer individuals were seen as nothing more than afterthought or a scourge upon our world. Which is an awful thing to write, but that is our history regarding LGBTQIA+ individuals and needs to be acknowledged. But that aside, such a truth offers stunning insight upon our favorite horror movies and allows for us to see them in a new light, the kind that immediately prompts a desire to rewatch those movies and see what we haven’t seen before.

But what makes this exploration of Queer Horror so incredibly worth our while, is that this isn’t some scripted download that just pours over facts that were learned by someone who stumbled upon this truth while exploring horror’s history in a casual manner. Instead, this is a journey that is handled in a similar manner to Horror Noire. Wherein, queer voices and creatives are the ones teaching us about this aspect of the genre. So that we are presented with honest learning, the kind that allows for the individuals that put these stories together to have agency at last. Plus, it helps so many of us who don’t understand what it means to be queer in the world and what it meant to be queer and creative at a time when it was even more dangerous than it is right now, to finally have perspective and insight. But above all… this is a documentary that allows for everyone that tunes in… to just learn.

Learn the true origins of the genre through queer individuals and how the perspective of those individuals that came before us, shaped so much of horror today in ways we simply weren’t aware of and how those perspectives persist today. But above all else, it allows for LGBTQIA+ individuals, to be seen. Something that is perhaps the greatest achievement of all in an era where so many don’t want queer individuals to be seen. But that is of course, the whole point. in that, LGBTQIA+ individuals NEED to be seen, and the stories that queer individuals have to tell or have told, need to be recognized for their power and their importance upon the pop-culture landscape and thankfully, we don’t have wait that much longer to enjoy this powerful journey. For Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror will debut on Shudder this Friday, September 30, 2022, and we here at NTG hope you give it a look and join us for our detailed breakdowns of this show. Because this is an important and groundbreaking documentary.   ​

When we last settled in to discuss the wondrous AMC series, The Walking Dead, we talked a little bit how the last episode, explored the power of unity and bravery, and how that can inspire others to do wonders. Since Rick Grimes’ decision to fight the dead with all his might, brought his community together at last and everyone worked together to save it from the rotten scourge within its walls. Giving rise to a feel-good and hopeful ending, one that spoke to a potentially better tomorrow for this community. Which truly made it seem as though, the next episode in this adventure was going to look at that better tomorrow and how it was going to come to life and that’s why ‘The Next World’ was such a surprising tale when all is said and done.
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Simply because, that wasn’t present here in the slightest. Instead, this is a story where the writers’ room realized… they hadn’t fully explored just how far unity and bravery can inspire a person and that is precisely why that became the focus of this tale instead. So, we could see in essence, the complete transformation of Rick Grimes into a leader that once again believes in the good of people and the power of unity, since he did more or less lose his way and it accomplished that feat, by putting he and Daryl back into the thick of the world. To look for supplies of course, since Alexandria was in dire need of food and every other supply that people need and while they were out there, this duo were presented with quite the frustrating challenge.

In that, they met a man named Paul ‘Jesus’ Rovia… who… sadly stole the truck full of supplies that Rick and Daryl stumbled upon while looking for crops that Eugene suggested they bring back. Which in turn, led to some comic relief for a change since every time this duo bested Jesus, he found a way to hang with them or best them… giving rise to some genuinely awkward and funny moments and some downright tragedy. Since the truck was lost. But despite the hell that Jesus put them through in this tale, Rick did everything he could to care for Jesus and help him, especially after he was wounded. Because what happened in that prior episode and the advice that his friends gave him, helped Rick to realize… there was a better way and that if one exercised caution and watched actions over words closely… he and others could trust again and build a better tomorrow with more people. And since Jesus didn’t play shady like others had before him, Rick knew he was a decent fellow… one that might be worth speaking with further. 

Which was… a supremely subtle and unique way to express that unity and bravery gives us hope and the license to dream again if we’ve lost our way, and it was wonderful to see old Rick back in the fold because of that and the uplifting nature of this tale didn’t end there. Because there was also a touching plotline present behind the scenes revolving around paying one’s last respects to the dead in a world where death means nothing. For Spencer was out in the woods often, looking for his mother’s reanimated corpse, unfortunately. For what was once Deanna escaped on the night the living dead in Alexandria and was meandering about, and with Carl’s help and kindness and Michonne’s as well… Spencer was finally able to put an end to Deanna’s reanimated suffering and lay her to rest. Which was simply a beautiful sequence and gesture through and through, one that reminded us of the importance of respecting the fallen, even when circumstances try to sully that memory. 

If anything, this episode was just… a wonderful breath of fresh air. Because it has been quite some time since we’ve been able to laugh at an episode of this series. But thanks to the arrival of Jesus and the talents of Tom Payne, Norman Reedus, and Andrew Lincoln, we were finally able to. Plus, there was even romance in this tale, since this episode featured the birth of Richonne thanks to that stolen kiss and evening of passion. And regardless of how awkwardly that ended, courtesy of more comedic timing from Jesus, that sequence sets up a powerful love affair that fans responded to positively and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this particularly delightful tale, the time has come for us to explore the bigger world beyond the walls of Alexandria, and the trouble that awaits everyone in the shadows. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say that seasons five and six of the AMC series, The Walking Dead, did a wonderful job of examining how we fail in a crisis. For time and time again, we saw good people panic and let fear sink into their hearts and in doing so… they created problems and showed us how the walking dead took over the world quite easily. But while that brought about some frustrating moments in these two seasons, since so many problems could have been avoided with a little common sense and gusto, the show didn’t totally dog on humanity through and through during this time period. For it also worked to explore how we avoid such problems and how we rise to the occasion and after showcasing more foolishness in the season six midseason finale, the midseason premiere… spoke to how humanity can indeed overcome anything through a simple action.
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One that ‘No Way Out’ made sure to explore later in the episode so the point would be hammered home. Which meant that early on in this tale, we were treated to some surprising moments. Such as how Daryl, Abraham and Sasha escaped the clutches of Negan’s men. Because they did have the drop on our heroes and disarmed them and maintained the upper hand. The only thing they didn’t account for, was pissing off an already pissed off Daryl Dixon. Because when you do that, you pay the piper. Sometimes via a rocket propelled grenade, since Daryl overpowered his ‘handler’ and blasted those other jackasses to smithereens and once they hit the road once again… the show was quick to fool us into truly thinking this was going to be another frustrating tale, one full of bad decisions that could have been avoided.

For back in Alexandria, Rick and his merry group were moving through the streets of the city in their living dead disguises and while that was in fact going well, since they made it close to the armory, leave it to the incompetence and fear of others to bring about trouble. Because sadly, Jessie’s inability to get her son, Sam, to be brave and understand the importance of the situation because of coddling… brought forth disaster. Since he of course, panicked and made noise which allowed for the dead to feed and that led to the end of him, and Jessie and the end of Ron. Because he used the chaos of the moment to try and kill Rick, and while he was unsuccessful there thanks to Michonne, he did serious damage to Carl’s eye with an errant bullet and that is oddly enough, what brought forth the more positive message present in this story. 

Because the frustration of this moment took hold over Rick, and he did the only thing he knew how to in that moment and brought down some walkers and oddly… that inspired others to join in. And just like that, the entire town was on the streets… with weapons in hand, and they fought for their homes with fury. Not to mention, Glenn stepped up and saved his wife from a horrible fate before being saved by Daryl’s team and Denise also found bravery in this moment and inspired a sliver of good will in a foe, and while he didn’t make it on this night… the town of Alexandria did. Fueled by bravery and an understanding that he only way forward in this life… is together… and if one of us is brave enough to try and take on the world… we can inspire others to do so as well, and one has to wonder what would have become of this world had this kind of unity took place at the beginning.

But what matters more, is that this episode did a wonderful job speaking to how bravery and unity can accomplish wonders for humanity and that lesson could not have come at a better time. For the majority of this season has been quite dark in nature and hard to sit through at times. But balance is always the key to a good horror story and thankfully, this show is about to bring that to the table since good times do indeed await us. For now, a new chapter is opening up for our heroes… one that would create sustainability for the future. But make no mistake about it, the good times cannot last in this particular season. In large part because of that balance since life ebbs and flows and well… it won’t be long before we are reintroduced to the cruelty of the Saviors, and their leader… Negan, as our journey back through season six continues along. Until next time.

The more we continue our journey back through season six of the AMC series, The Walking Dead, the more it is becoming apparent that this really was a season of storytelling designed to shake things up and really test audiences like never before. Because outside of ‘Here’s Not Here’, the first half of this season… was filled to brim with dark and powerful and intense stories. The kind that toyed with our emotions and featured brutal assaults on our senses, courtesy of a resurgent villain in the walking dead themselves. Since their numbers and wild hunger wrought havoc upon Alexandria and well, it is also clear that season six wasn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon regarding that intensity, as evidenced by its midseason finale.
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For ‘Start to Finish’ was another nightmarishly intense tale. One that saw the worst-case scenario come to fruition since the walking dead quickly entered Alexandria the instant that wall fell and that brought forth sheer terror and chaos into this oasis/sanctuary. Since the dead quickly overwhelmed everyone and forced them into their homes, not to mention… claimed the life of their leader. Since Deanna was bitten during the desperate push to get off the streets, leading to her end any way you slice it, and seeing the dead en masse in this idyllic town and watching everyone look at this situation with sheer shock only added to the intensity, and made it clear how dangerous this world still is beyond those walls and how it kept finding ways to test our heroes.

But where this episode truly shined, was by once again giving us a chance to see how fear can bring forth so much chaos and trouble. Since Ron’s fear of losing everything basically brought the living dead into his living room. All because he really couldn’t handle the reality that others had accepted, once again reminding us of how easily the living dead took over the world, while also putting everyone in quite the precarious place. Since the only way out of this nightmare was to go with ‘Guts’ protocol and try and slink past the horde. A move that is as eerie and scary now as it was back then, and the cliffhanger that came out of that, still has gravitas since no good can come out of making noise in the midst of a massive and starving herd.

Yet the darkness and complexities of human behavior in a crisis didn’t end there. Since Carol discovered Morgan’s secret Alexandria guest and that brought them to blows and desperation and eventually… failure. Since the Wolf used the chaos to gain the upper hand and even after staring down the barrel of several guns from Rosita’s survivor camp, he was able to grab Denise and head into the herd, another move that unsettles one’s soul. But what mattered more here, is that this infighting and Morgan’s suggestion to leave this be for now, helps to remind us of how often personal agenda comes into play during a crisis moment, for reasons we don’t fully understand, and outright complicates everything. And had Carol taken his advice and waited, disaster could have been averted.

However, while all of that would have been enough to carry this episode, it still had one more surprise to send our way. Since that post-credits sequence finally properly introduced us to the trouble ahead since those fine ‘gents’ explained their position and the position of Negan. A moment that now has ten times the gravity, since we are fully aware of what that name means in this segment of the story. In the end however, this was simply a bleak and intense tale through and through. One that hammered home the nature of season six and back in the day, left us worried about who might suffer their end in that sea of living death and well, the good news is… we don’t have to wait all that much longer to revisit that, since the midseason premiere awaits. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Raven’s Hollow’.
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If you have ever attended a meet and greet for an author or hung out with them at their table at a local convention, you’ve likely heard someone ask them a critical question: ‘Where do you get your ideas?’ Because there is a genuine belief that all authors and writers, tap into a place within the human mind that can truly bring forth incredible concepts from seemingly thin air and it makes sense as to why people hold to that. After all, some of the stuff that Stephen King comes up with, is outright incredible, and the same goes for the other greats as well. Since Tolkien’s universe is grand and sweeping, so why not believe that there is something special about their brains that the rest of us don’t have? But the fact of the matter is, their brains are indeed like everyone’s else… they can just take an idea and expand upon it with their imagination in a manner that seems to be born from a place no one understands.
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Take King’s IT for instance, since all he did was ponder upon how terrifying a clown could be and that opened up a bevy of possibilities, all of which were indeed scary. Not to mention, sometimes ideas that writer’s come up with, are grounded in experience. For a strange encounter at a local coffee shop, got them to ponder upon ‘what if?’ and that led to a powerhouse story that left others pondering upon that core question. But of course, we aren’t always privy to those genesis points and that can lead others… to use their own imagination to ponder upon where a great idea could have come from and that kind of thinking is central to our discussion today, since a new movie on Shudder, explores where Edgar Allan Poe might have come up with some his greatest ideas. Which makes Raven’s Hollow quite the fascinating tale, one that plunges us into a critical moment in Poe’s life.

For when we catch up with him here, he’s still a West Point cadet and out in the world with his other fellow cadets, going about their business when they stumble upon something quite awful. Specifically, a man that is pinned to a contraption of sorts and happens to have his insides exposed. A move that prompts Poe to lead his men to the nearby town of Raven’s Hollow to find out who is behind such an injustice, an act that proves to be troublesome. For this town is filled to the brim with lies and guile and the longer Poe and his men stay, the more they hear about an ancient legend known as ‘The Raven’. A being that apparently is vengeful and hungry for human flesh and once others are aware of it, they become a target of it. Which means that Poe and his cohorts must solve the mystery and origin of this being before it, or the person pretending to be it… comes for them. 

Which is… a heck of way to explore how one of history’s greatest writers came up with the many dark ideas he put to paper, since it’s fictional and speculative through and through… but it works here. Because having a being such as that, hunt Poe and his men would absolutely haunt someone’s dreams and psyche to the point where they would need catharsis and understanding through creativity. But that isn’t the only ‘real’ moment that inspires the man, since there are hints here of how he came to think of ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ and how he designed ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’, all of which is handled in a supremely smooth and slick manner. To the point where you might miss it if you are potentially caught up in the other wonders that this particular horror film has to offer. Because not only does this movie feature unique origin points for iconic stories, but it features a solid mystery and of course… some genuine horror elements.
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Because this is a film filled to the brim with some horrifying imagery. For the Raven in and of itself is downright terrifying and likely grounded in the very real legends of the Wendigo or the Skinwalker, adding all kinds of incredible depth to this story. Not to mention, the mystery surrounding it is genuinely creepy in nature and quite gothic as well. Which is a particular element we don’t see as often as we should anymore. But of course, the gore is indeed what sells the horror through and through. Since the Raven is a voracious beast, one that has no qualms with doing horrible things to the weak and vulnerable flesh mankind harbors and truly, there is a moment in this film that will haunt everyone for ages on end. Because the discovery in the church is simply horrifying to say the least and embodies the world of Poe perfectly and the era of horror that he thrived within. 

If anything, this is just… a wonderful horror film through and through. In large part because it works to fill in the blanks for one of horror’s greatest legends in a supremely compelling and engaging manner. One that feels natural oddly enough, which is saying something considering the kind of material that Poe wrote. But also, because… it’s just a wonderfully scary story as well. One that harkens back to our youth and our first discovery of gothic storytelling, and it is also filled to the brim with eerie and disturbing visuals and dark concepts and splatter and well, everything that a horror fan could possibly want. But the best news of all, is that you can enjoy this unique and engaging horror movie as often as you would like. For Raven’s Hollow is now available to stream on Shudder and we certainly hope you give it a look. For it really is a refreshing and original take on how writers come up with the wild ideas that entice us and keep us coming back for more of their work.

Time and time again, we’ve talked at length about the wonder of Shudder and how the staff there is continuously working hard to bring us the best horror movies possible. To the point where they are looking farther ahead than any of us. For while so many of us are relishing in their upcoming October 2022 slate, Shudder’s acquisition team is thinking about 2023 and probably beyond. Because that’s the kind of foresight they have for their events and for proof that this is the case, look no further than today’s announcement.
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For earlier, Shudder let it be known that they acquired the rights to the horror film, Spoonful of Sugar, before its world premiere at Fantastic Fest. In part because they obviously know this is going to be a quality horror flick, but also because… this is part of that long term plan. Since the movie is indeed slated to be part of the ’23 lineup and well, since you’re now curious about what to expect from this movie… here are all the details on the newest addition to Shudder’s vast library, and details on the acquisition, courtesy of the finest horror streamer around.

‘Shudder, AMC Network's premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural, has acquired psychological horror Spoonful of Sugar, ahead of its world premiere at Fantastic Fest later this week. The film will be available exclusively on Shudder in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand in 2023.
 
The second feature from director Mercedes Bryce Morgan (Fixation), Spoonful of Sugar is written by Leah Saint Marie (Price of Honor) and stars Morgan Saylor (Blow the Man Down, Homeland), Kat Foster (Gaslit, Jean Claude Van Johnson), Myko Olivier (United States of Al, Menendez: Blood Brothers), Danilo Crovetti and David Yow (I Don’t Feel at Home in this World Anymore, Under the Silver Lake).  The film is produced by Vanishing Angle’s (Werewolves Within, Thunder Road) Matt Miller and Natalie Metzger along with Katrina Kudlick (Fixation, Ladyworld).

"With Spoonful of Sugar, Mercedes Bryce Morgan delivers an incisive psychological horror laced with nightmarish visions of hallucinogenic beauty. We can't wait for Shudder members to take the trip," said Craig Engler, General Manager, Shudder.
 
Added director Mercedes Bryce Morgan, "AMC Networks’ Shudder is the perfect partner for this movie, and we're so honored to be able to showcase such a unique story. I can't wait for audiences everywhere to dive into the trippy psyches of our characters."
 
In Spoonful of Sugar, a disturbed babysitter experiences a sexual awakening while using LSD to alternatively treat a seemingly “sick” child from a family with dark secrets of their own.
 
The deal was negotiated by Vanishing Angle 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. To experience Shudder commitment-free for 7 days, visit www.shudder.com.’

Back in November of 2015, there was one big question hanging over season six of the AMC series, The Walking Dead. Specifically… was Glenn Rhee alive or dead? Because that horrifying image at the end of ‘Thank You’ never quite gave us a straight answer as to whether or not he was. For the shots of guts moving about didn’t give us absolute proof that Glenn was dying a terrible death, but at the same time… it most certainly didn’t say otherwise. So, for weeks on end, we all debated hotly his fate, and so many of just wanted an answer really. So, we could finally just find closure of some sort, and it just so happens that the next episode in this series, offered us just that.
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For ‘Heads Up’ is a story that flat out informed us in its opening moments, that Glenn did not in fact, die. Instead, Nicholas’ corpse knocked him off the dumpster and fell atop him, allowing for the dead to tear into him and for Glenn to safely escape and hang out until the living dead moved from their unexpected meal. A reveal that was hotly debated back in the day, since some saw it as a copout, as though the show just couldn’t go through with a big death. While others saw this as a godsend of sorts and that some of the cast would indeed be seen as sacred and safe. And some… pondered upon whether or not this was a test to see if by chance the audience could indeed handle a major character death. Something that was on the horizon.

But regardless of where you fell in those groups, Glenn was alive and ready to get back into action. For he genuinely wanted to do some good with the crisis mostly passed and he had the opportunity to do so when Enid popped up in this nearby town. Because she was doing everything to get away from Alexandria out of the belief it wasn’t worth the time. But Glenn spoke to how this was a chance to start over and do things right and how it would take every last person believing in this to make it work. Which eventually allowed for Enid to contribute again and at just the right time, thanks to that ending. But what matters more is that Glenn’s return here was more than just resolution and peace, his journey really was the setup to something greater thematically. 

In that, this was a story designed to truly explore the wonder and importance of unity and how we as a species do need to find common ground and stop treating one another as an enemy. Which is of course, easier said than done at the end of the world. But for the rest of us out here, who aren’t dealing with herds of walking, flesh-eating corpses… we can be the instrument of change. And this was further hammered home by the events that took place in Alexandria, since so many of those moments focused on that concept and the power of unity and well, that could not have come at a better time. Because of that aforementioned ending. Wherein the old church tower collapsed from the stress of having a semi slam into it, knocking down a wall near the herd.

Which is… another cliffhanger for certain, one that would serve as quite the game-changer. Since it would bring forth some ugly moments in the weeks to come via its resolution, the kind that would indeed alter lives and the dynamic of Alexandria. But what matters more, is that fans were given a gift here… or a curse, courtesy of a debate that still rages on to this day and they were of course, given an episode that featured growth and bravery and all the best parts of this series. Since that is what we tune in for, the human condition and its potential for wonder during a horrible time and truly… that is about to be put to the test, since a fallen wall, means the walking dead, and fear, and chaos, will soon be inside the walls of Alexandria. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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As we continue our journey through the Shudder series, The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time, one thing is becoming quite apparent. In that, the scary moments are only getting bigger and bigger. Because great care and great thought went into this epic list, so that the show’s title lives up to expectations and when one considers how many terrifying moments were featured in this week’s episode, one has to wonder… just how much more horrific the moments are going to get. But before we scare ourselves in pondering upon such matters, we have plenty to discuss from this week’s entry. For this one also featured… a fascinating theme to the moments it featured.
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In that, this was an episode, that more or less explored… some primal moments. For there were a great deal of scares in ‘#75 – #63’ that focused heavily on the chaos of the universe or nature’s power over us and how that can be utterly terrifying for certain. Take for instance, what this episode had to say about Cujo. The movie that made the St. Bernard a chilling animal by giving one rabies, and the moment featured here, which was so hopeless and powerful, really spoke to how nature can and will surprise us with its random cruelty and put us in an uncomfortable and scary place when it does so. Giving rise to newfound depth and perspective to this story, and the many others that this episode featured that spoke to something more primal and visceral in nature. 

Not to mention, this is an episode that quite frankly, offered up its finest analysis of the scary moments it featured to date. Simply by giving every expert and star, a chance to really break down why a particular moment was so scary. Which also gave rise to new perspective on what makes these moments so incredibly terrifying. For instance, the discussion revolving around the first time we see a zombie eat flesh in Dawn of the Dead (1978) was about as detailed and educational as it gets. Since both Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero, titans of the industry, took the time to really break down every single second of that sequence and the nuances that went into the terror and that was just incredible to sit through and that was but a sampling of the intelligence present in this episode.

Because every single segment featured that kind of breakdown, Cujo included. Since there were discussions on camera angles and the setting and how standard moments, we take for granted from years of horror were instrumental to building the fear. Which was just magnificent to experience, simply because how often are horror fans treated to an outright masterclass on horror filmmaking? But that is what this episode was from beginning to end, a grand study on what makes a perfect horror movie moment, and that made every single second of this episode about as compelling as it gets and that undoubtedly left all of us eager for more from this brilliant series. One that made it clear that this journey is only going to get better and more intoxicating from here.

Because… we aren’t even remotely close to being done with this list just yet. One that continues to offer us so much from an insight perspective and features moments that are quite frankly, exactly where they are supposed to be. And if this what we are getting a mere three episodes into the journey, imagine what awaits us down the line. Where we could in fact, garner even more incredible insight on the stories that shaped our love of horror from experts that truly understand every facet of the genre and of course… even bigger and more terrifying moments await us. The kind that will be given new light and new perspective for all of us and that is going to make the wait for next week’s episode downright painful. Since we absolutely need more of this magnificent show and all the lessons it has to offer. Until next time.

It is extremely strange to know, that in roughly two months’ time… we will all be huddled around our televisions and our tablets, to watch the final episode of The Walking Dead. For after twelve wonderful years and eleven amazing seasons, including one giant final one… we are reaching the end of the journey. For only eight episodes remain in this blockbuster and game-changing saga. Which means, we will undoubtedly continue to pour over our favorite episodes in the next couple of months and express our favorite memories on social media and of course… fret over how this story is going to end. 
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Because every fan of the show out there wants this series to stick the landing and give us a powerful ending to close out the saga of the Alexandria Alliance and the good people that reside within it. In part because this series deserves that kind of ending and farewell, but also because… it would hurt us deep in our souls if by chance the ending wasn’t as epic and sweeping and dark as the sixteen episodes that preceded this final block of storytelling. Which means we are all dying to have some kind of idea as to what we can expect from the final eight episodes so we can have our concerns assuaged and we here at Nerds That Geek are happy to help with that.

For we have had the opportunity to sample of the final episodes of The Walking Dead, and we thought it would be worthwhile to discuss them in a spoiler-free manner and inform you… that Angela Kang and her whip-smart team of writers and the cast and the crew… have indeed saved the best moments for last. For the final episodes are nothing short of sweeping, and epic… and downright cinematic in nature. Because there is a scope and a feel to these final chapters in the story that feel akin to George Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Making this quite the powerhouse end run, one that puts you on the edge of your seat and locks your attention to the screen with visuals and moments that are just phenomenal in nature and the wonder of these final episodes doesn’t end there.

Simply because, everything that makes this series great is on full display here. From the acting to the sequences that harken back to the early days of the show. Not to mention, this is a final run that digs deep into what it means to be decent people in an indecent time, a concept that harkens back to the central theme of season eleven of the show, in that… are we worth saving? But of course, us horror hounds tuned into the show early on for one reason and one reason alone, zombies. For we wanted to see what Greg Nicotero and his team at KNB could do with the living dead in the 21st Century and not only has Greg and his team delivered on the effects for the last eleven seasons… but they go above and beyond in these final tales. For the walking dead are simply top notch here and terrifying once again for fascinating reasons and there’s still more reasons to celebrate the horror present in this show.
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Largely because, Greg and his team… also push the envelope with the gore. Which is saying something when one considers the fact that TWD has shown us the inner workings of the human body often. But here, every drop of blood is savored, and every gory effect is given extended time on screen, making this nothing short of an effects masterpiece and perhaps Nicotero’s magnum opus for zombie special effects in the same manner as to how Day of the Dead stands for Tom Savini. If anything, all of these elements come together to provide us… with everything we could have asked for and more for the end of our favorite show.

That means, we can watch this without worry and just lose ourselves in every epic moment and properly steel our emotions for a grand farewell to a saga that made horror and the zombie mainstream at last, and the good news is… we don’t have to wait that much longer to enjoy this farewell tour. For The Walking Dead returns to the airwaves on October 2, 2022, at 9 pm EST/8 pm CST on AMC. With the first two episodes of the final leg of season eleven, available on AMC+ on that same night. And we here at NTG cannot wait for you to experience the wonder of these final episodes, and we also cannot wait to geek out with all of you via our recaps every Monday morning, for a few more weeks at least… as we say slowly say goodbye to a universe that has given us so much.