One particularly delightful aspect of the AMC series, The Walking Dead, that we don’t discuss enough, is how the show has for the most part… constantly pushed the story forward to new heights. For outside of the farm storyline, which was essential to growth for Rick Grimes and his extended family, this group, and the troubles they encounter(ed) were (and are) constantly in motion. For the prison gave way to war with the Governor, twice even, and that gave way to tough times at Terminus and Atlanta before even tougher times on the road. All before this group settled into Alexandra, which in brought forth its own conflicts, most recently in our discussions… the Wolves. But all of that is proof positive that this series is/was constantly in motion from a story perspective, and even after wrapping up the Wolves storyline… it immediately went to work on the next one. 
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For ‘Always Accountable’ is our first real taste of the ugly and devastating troubles to come for the group. Specifically… the arrival of Negan and his savage Saviors. A feat that this tale accomplished by having Daryl, and Sasha and Abraham finally complete their twenty-mile mission and run into new trouble shortly thereafter. For they quickly found themselves under fire from a mysterious group of aggressors, a sequence that separated Daryl from his friends and sent him deep into the woods… where he encountered yet another surprise. Specifically, a group of people composed of a man named Dwight, his girlfriend Sherry, and their good friend Tina and they… did not really offer hospitality to Daryl. In fact, they claimed he was the enemy and treated him as such.

To the point where Daryl was forced to fight and escape his bonds in an effort to get back to his friends. But the discovery that these folks were carrying insulin with them, helped him to understand they might not be evil. They might in fact, be running from evil and they most certainly were. Since more strangers came by and demanded they return home. An act they eventually did after those men left and Tina was lost, but not before robbing Daryl of his possessions and well, in hindsight, it is obvious now that this was our first introduction to the Saviors. And the savvy comic book fans knew this as well back then and even then… giving Dwight and Sherry this much screen time and spotlighting those troublemakers in depth, made it clear to the uninitiated that something was brewing on the horizon and trouble was only twenty miles away, making this a pivotal tale for the future.

However, there was more to this story than mere foreshadowing and quality tension. For this is another story that took the time to explore a different angle of PTSD, through Abraham’s story. Since his tale more or less spoke to how this affliction can motivate us to always be on guard and ready for the next disaster and the next battle, even when we’ve won the day and found safety. Since Abraham was still ready for war and ready to harm himself if it somehow meant he could keep his edge rolling or find a sense of honor for the greater good. But much like how Eastman helped Morgan rationalize his pain, Sasha did the same here, in the bold terms only he could understand. Leading to growth and calm from Abraham and eventually, a reunion with an old friend when Daryl came back to bring them home in a giant fueling truck.

If anything, this is an episode that has only grown better with time. Because back in the day, this felt transitional in nature and something of a one off because of how many didn’t know the comic book story. Which isn’t a bad thing by any means, since clearly, this introduction brought forth all kinds of powerful moments for those viewers, something the comic fans could only reminiscence upon when they occurred. But looking back at it, and knowing the story and its direction now, this really does become a keystone episode. One that sends chills down your spine a second time around because you know the pain that is coming your way, and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this important story, it’s onto to another critical one. Which just so happened to offer some good news regarding a beloved character that we were all worried about back then. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘How Dark They Prey’.
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The true beauty of the horror genre lies in its versatility. Because this is perhaps the only genre out there, that is able to do it all from a storytelling perspective. For it can combine genres with stunning success and it can of course, make us laugh or cry, and above all… it scares the living daylights out of us, and it prompts us to think. Simply because horror the true home of social commentary, thanks to the fact that any monster or any concept can serve as a wonderful allegory to the problems of the world and the good and the bad that comes with the human condition. Which in turn has allowed for some powerful stories to come forth, the kind that we revere often thanks to the depth this genre provides.
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But what’s equally as impressive when it comes to this genre, is that it is also perhaps the only one… where homage and tributes are encouraged. Sure, you’ll find winks and nods to other movies and directors in other genres, but here… there are full on call outs to the classics. The kind that are never once seen as a rip-off or lazy, as homages in other genres have been viewed. For that is truly the wonder of horror and that speaks to its versatility, and the desires of the creatives that work within the genre… to properly pay their respects to the trailblazers that came before them, and really, the power of the homage is top of mind today, simply because there is a recently released anthology horror film, that serves as a grand love letter to the genre in How Dark They Prey.

A feat that this film accomplishes by offering up a bevy of unique vignettes for us to chew upon. For there is ‘Encounter Nightly’, a story revolving around a pair of UFO chasers that finally stumble upon a solid lead, only to learn that they’ve stumbled upon something quite sinister. Then there’s ‘Harrowing’, a World War II nightmare that features a pair of soldiers faced with the quite the surprise regarding their recently captured Nazi criminal. Plus, there is ‘Blood Beach’, a unique story about a young man searching for purpose after his father has passed away and what he finds on an isolated beach will change his life forever. And all of these stories are brought home by ‘Nelly’, a twisted tale about a chance encounter between a police officer and a surprise monster, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Which are plots that at first glance, seem to offer little in regard to homage or hugs to the rich history of horror. In fact, early on, it just seems like a delightful collection of twisted horror shorts. But as each one rolls along; it becomes apparent that there is so much more to these stories. For instance, ‘Encounter Nightly’ clearly is nothing more than a grand nod to both the found footage films of the modern era and the sci-fi/horror fusions that came about in the 1950s. Not to mention, ‘Nelly’ is a story that also pays homage to the past by not only injecting a little humor in the mix, but by giving us a journey that is visually vintage and harkens back to the wonder of the wild nature of the grindhouse film. 
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But truly, where this motion picture shines, is in the other two vignettes. For ‘Harrowing’ is a story that not only features some supernatural fun… but it harkens back to something primal. Such as the horrors of war and the terror we feel when we are scared, and the unknown surrounds us. Which are notions that add great depth and humanity to this vignette. And of course, there is ‘Blood Beach’, an emotional tour-de-force that deeply explores our relationship with grief and the trouble that can cause us… alongside the biggest homage of all. Since this is a story that ties deeply into Lovecraftian lore, a figure that is essential the birth of modern horror. Which is a twist that adds incredibly gravity and darkness to a tale that surprises in every way. 

However, while it is nice to enjoy four engaging stories that truly tip their cap to the genre and the wonder it provides, make no mistake about it… there’s more for us to chew upon from a horror standpoint. Since there are genuinely creepy moments present within this film, the kind that unsettle and push you to the edge of your seat. Plus, there is some quality gore to be found here as well. Especially when it comes to ‘Nelly’, since the blood flies and flies high in that segment and well, in the end, this is nothing more than a delightful anthology. One that any horror fan can easily lose themselves within for a little while and the good news, is that you can enjoy the intelligence of this anthology right now. For How Dark They Prey is on demand, and we here at NTG hope you give it a look, since it really is a lovely tribute to a genre that brings us so much joy.  

We like to believe that we are fully prepared to handle any tough moment that comes our way. For we know that we are resilient creatures that can comprehend and understand differently than the members of the animal kingdom. To the point where we can rationalize and dissect our emotions, and move on from them as necessary, especially when tough times arrive. All so we can survive and thrive and grow in the process and sadly, we come to learn somewhere along the way that while we can indeed handle a tough moment… in the moment… once the darkness passes, we find ourselves in a difficult place mentally. Where going through those very steps is impossible since emotions straight up take over.
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Which in turn motivates us to become quite foolish in nature. Wherein we might withdraw, lash out or find ourselves turning to behavior we normally wouldn’t, to find peace. Which begs an important question… how then do we escape that kind of unfortunate behavior when dark times arrive? And it just so happens that the next episode of The Walking Dead digs into that full bore. For ‘Now’ is a story that takes place shortly after the events of ‘Thank You’, wherein Rick Grimes high tails it back to Alexandria and its walls and safety, and well… the dead sadly come with him and quickly surround this tiny oasis. A reality that is dire and uncomfortable and allows for the people of Alexandria to revert to those very ugly thoughts. 

For they have doom beyond their walls, and they don’t know what tomorrow will bring and they’re still reeling from the horrors of the Wolves coming through this once safe space and ripping it to shreds and well… that puts that dark behavior on display. Since we see some of the good people of this town prepare to loot the pantry out of panic and desperation and worry, plus we see some of those same citizens lose hope. To the point where they believe that suicide is the only answer to their problems. Not to mention, even a hero of the hour, Spencer, succumbs to the same thoughts since he too raids the pantry… despite being the man to convince everyone to not do such acts in the first place. Which are acts that brought forth that all-important answer.

In that, when this kind of darkness arrives, we need a support network. We need folks around us that see the bright side of things, so we don’t lose ourselves in the pain and the sorrow. And once we have that particular network surrounding us, we need to find people that can lead us out of the ugly. Since they are the ones that are levelheaded and have the right kind of advice to put us back on track and above all else… at some point, we need to be the beacon as well. Because we might be in a situation where those other elements aren’t present and if so, we need to be objective and calm and step up to the damn plate and calm others down or ourselves down… so we can forge ahead and do what needs to be done to get life back to normal.

All of which are elements that made this episode, surprisingly uplifting in nature. Simply because this writer didn’t catch such messages the first time around. But they are there, and they indeed help us, and the good people of Alexandria find their way and heal, for the most part. Since obviously, Ron’s stupid behavior will lead to trouble and Spencer is a mess. But not everyone latches onto the lesson. But before we discuss that unfortunate reality, we can revel in the wonder of a quality tale. One that once again let us take a minute to breathe and process the horror and it surprised us as well. After all, this is when we learned that Maggie Rhee was going to be a mother down the line, and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this fascinating journey… it is time to turn our attention to the next chapter in this tale. One that sets the stage for the future in a surprising manner. Until next time.

Ask a variety of people what they know about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and you’ll get back some fascinating and diverse answers. Some of which, will be detailed and enriched as they educate you on the illness and how it works. But they will be in the minority. For a bevy of others will simply speak to being familiar with it, while others will get it wrong and grossly mis explain the ailment and believe it or not… some will just claim it doesn’t exist. But the reason for why such a bevy of answers would come your way is what matters more here. Because that speaks to the fact that we don’t really understand PTSD or discuss it enough, and we need to. For it is very real and very much a problem in our world and that is why the next episode of The Walking Dead is of note.
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Because ‘Here’s Not Here’ is a story that takes the time to really explore PTSD and its power and the difficult road to recovery that accompanies it and it brought forth that examination, by taking us back in time to catch up with Morgan Jones. Who in this tale, was back in the world of the dead. Simply because his struggles led to the burning down of his home and likely the town that he and Rick once called home and well, once he was on the road again… Morgan went to an even darker place than we saw in ‘Clear’. For he was suddenly ten times more violent with the dead and the living and it took an unexpected encounter with a man named Eastman to finally address that darkness through medical diagnosis.

Since Eastman explained to Morgan the fact that he had been badly traumatized and couldn’t sort out that trauma and that brought him to this place mentally and therein lie the grand exploration. Since we were privy to incredible analysis on the causes of PTSD and how it manifests in all of us and how when untreated and unchecked, it can break us and prompt us to harm others. Granted, we won’t murder others in our darker state… but we could lash out, say things we don’t mean to, all in the name of trying to use negativity to heal our soul and our internal wounds. But what matters more here, is that it was finally put on proper display and we came to learn so much about the nuances of this illness and of course… how we come back from it.

Which involves a great deal of personal work and cognitive behavior therapy and working to live with triggers and how to break Automatic Negative Thoughts when we encounter them, since that did begin to heal Morgan… and his journey back also featured an important truth about this we discuss less than the illness itself. In that, we will fail and experience setbacks along the way. But as long as we acknowledge that and put in the work again, we’ll find that peace and eventually, our way back. And we do get to come back from this when we put in the work and we do deserve that peace and that second chance and it was wonderful to see Morgan find that here and finally gain the upper hand over his ugly thoughts and aching emotions here, and of course… it was equally as amazing to see a horror story be the beacon of hope regarding this difficult illness.

If anything, this remains quite the brilliant, and poignant, and powerful episode. In large part because of its core subject matter, since this conversation needed to take place. But also, because, it was what we needed in this moment back when season six aired. We needed that hope, we needed that breath of fresh air, and as for the power… well that came forth via the acting. Because Lennie James just puts on a clinic here and he is balanced out wonderfully by the always delightful John Carroll Lynch. For he brought such a wonderful innocence to this world and an outlook upon it that we haven’t seen since and well, it is best we bask in the intelligence and the wonder of this tale for as long as we can. For the darkness awaits us, and it is only going to get uglier from here. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘Tales of the Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular aspect of zombie themed fiction that isn’t discussed all that often, is that the sub-genre’s true roots are grounded deeply in mysticism and magic. For back in the day, stories about witch doctors in Haiti, that revolved around them being able to resurrect the dead using various powders and rituals, sparked curiosity and eventually stories that featured, the first on screen zombies. Poor souls locked into a spell from which they could never escape and well… they were impactful and fascinating enough, that they dominated the silver screen for years on end. That is until… 1968 came along and a young and dynamic director named George A. Romero, dropped a new kind of zombie into the mix. A reanimated corpse that hungered for human flesh and spread like wildfire since death had evolved into a nightmare.
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That particular iteration of this creature was so impactful and so powerful, that it quickly overtook the OGZ and dominated the landscape, to this day in fact. Since The Walking Dead Universe continues the proud tradition of scaring the living daylights out of us with walking corpses that need to feed on human flesh simply because they hunger. But what’s truly fascinating about the zombie sub-genre of storytelling in the Post-Romero era… is how the mysticism evolved and eventually disappeared. For Romero never offered a solid explanation as to why his dead walked the Earth, outside of a grand hint that it was biblical in nature and of course, it’s all science based in the TWDU since we know unequivocally that a man-made virus created this plague, and it has infected every single human on the planet. 

But after keeping hard mysticism and magic away from this type of story for decades on end, the next episode of Tales of the Walking Dead, opted to bring it back into the zombie fold. For ‘La Doña’ is a story that brings such matters front and center in a supremely unique and deceiving manner. For early on in this tale, our main characters in this journey; Idalia and Eric are just looking for a safe space to stay. Which they find in an old house in the middle of the woods, but their host is anything but friendly to them. For La Doña Alma, the owner of the place, wants them out of the house as quickly as possible once her charity toward them has run its course, for the end of the world has afforded her that freedom. But alas, Eric’s sheer desperation to find someplace safe to live, prompts a fight and an unfortunate accident. Wherein Alma chokes on her meal and dies after hitting her head on the dinner table.

Which in turn prompts Eric to just… claim the home as his own, something that Idalia is fine going along with since they haven’t had a warm place to say since the end began. And that of course, leads to happier times. For they do indeed have food, water, warmth, and a soft bed to sleep in, and they are indeed isolated away from the living dead and their massive herds. But it doesn’t take long for life in this house to become uncomfortable for Idalia. Since she begins to see and hear things around the place, the kind that indicate that Alma might be haunting this homestead because of her ties to magic as a Bruja before the world came to its end. But that is of course, silly in Eric’s mind. For in his mind, such thoughts could be unresolved guilt over how Alma died or potentially survivor’s remorse. Prompting Idalia to try and write such matters off in her mind.

But of course, things get worse, and the visions and moments become all the more uncomfortable, and even Eric begins to experience some strange horrors in his spare time. Making it clear that a curse from beyond the grave hangs heavy over this house, one set up by the Bruja and that in turn motivates the two to just forge ahead, for truly a curse cannot hurt them, right? But soon the activity becomes more violent in nature, and it even casts a mental spell over Eric long enough to put his life at risk when a walker they thought they left behind, arrives near the gates and appears to be outright human to him, and without Idalia’s help, death would have found him. But that act and the continuing intensity of the haunting finally pushes this couple to make a hard decision. In that, they can either flee and live a life of danger or face the horrors of this nightmare shack and potentially lose their lives to the ancient power hiding within its walls... all in the name of a hot meal and safety.
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As to whether or not they do, we won’t discuss here. Simply because that ending is one you need to experience firsthand. But in the meantime, we can definitely applaud the fact that this episode brings mysticism and magic back into the fold. Granted, it doesn’t ret-con ‘TS-19’ and the finale of World Beyond by making the dead something of a mystical curse here. But it actually uses magic and mysticism in a horrifying manner to torture this flawed couple and it uses the terror of the beyond to make the audience uncomfortable as well, and it is mission accomplished when it comes to that. Because this is indeed a good old-fashioned ghost story, one that is both creepy and unsettling and goes the extra mile when the Bruja unleashes her power and her ethereal anger, all of which helps to remind us to never poke around and mess with people that supposedly have ties with things we do not understand.

But what matters more, is that after decades of being in the shadows, mysticism finally returned to the land of the dead and as an added bonus, this particular tale also managed to explore Mexican and Hispanic culture and its ties to mysticism and Catholicism. Since Mexican and Hispanic culture feature a bevy of stories about angry spirits in its folklore and it was quite fascinating and welcoming to see that be given life in a show, and a franchise this popular, and it was equally as amazing to also see an examination on the battle between the old guard and the new guard regarding such stories and beliefs and their place in modern culture. Since that is a universal battle currently being fought in our modern world, giving this story the relevance and power that we often find in TWDU stories. But above all, it was just amazing to see a ghost story pop up in a zombie story and that really was the perfect way to bring this season to a close.

For such a story is experimental and bold in nature and those two words sum up this series nicely. Since that’s precisely what this series has done since its inception, and hopefully, this isn’t the end of the line for Tales of the Walking Dead. For going the anthology route and taking the time to really try new things within this particular world, was quite refreshing to say the least. Plus, it really did allow for this franchise to go places that the zombie sub-genre has never gone before and it deserves a round of applause for doing so in a manner that was fun and compelling and well, that’s all there is to say about this series for the moment. For we have reached the end of season one and now all we can do is patiently wait for that season two announcement and perhaps rewatch this unique series a few more times, to properly soak up its genius and its bravery. Until next time.     

Over the course of its first five seasons, the AMC series, The Walking Dead, was big on keeping balance within the story. Which is why supremely dark episodes, the kind that broke our hearts and rattled us, were quickly counterbalanced by something beautiful and/or a story where the characters began to work toward something bigger than themselves and the end of everything. Or it never let the ugly drag on for too long, all so that the audience would never feel overwhelmed by the horror elements of this brilliant series. But all of that changed in season six. For at the time, Showrunner Scott M. Gimple, was clearly curious as to how hard he and the writing staff could push the audience. 

Which led to a vastly different kind of season. One that still injected good and some balance into the mix, but also… pushed the envelope like never before and challenged the characters and the audience in ways we never thought possible and never was that more evident than during the first three episodes of season six. For not only did the show present us with the biggest walker herd the show had ever seen to date, which injected some risk and terror into the mix, but the arrival of the Wolves in Alexandria only made things worse and the horror was further amplified in Episode 603. By pitting a handful of heroes with their greatest fear to date, being trapped by the dead with no safety and no clean avenue of escape… with injuries present in the group no less.

That made ‘Thank You’ quite the intense and horrifying, and shocking tale. The latter of which we will discuss in a moment because we need to break down the sheer terror present here, the kind that made for an uncomfortable and hopeless tale. Because the living dead really were everywhere in this story, leaving all of us to wonder who would actually make it out of this tale alive. Especially when one considers that the dead tore through a bevy of Alexandrians as they inched toward home. In part because the good people of Alexandria had zero experience in dealing with the dead, but also because of those injuries and the sheer number of the dead and that alone… could have carried the raw darkness of this episode. Because this was just ugly through and through and the dwindling numbers of survivors by the end of this one, really hammered home the sheer danger of this world again and the true threat living death poses. 

But believe it or not, despite being forced to watch several Alexandrians be torn to shreds in a horrifying manner, with the fence death being perhaps the worst that the show had sent our way in a while, it still found a way to get darker and utterly shock us in the process. For Glenn and Nicholas’ journey in this tale led to the darkest moment of the hour wherein a reformed and mostly heroic Nicholas and the always intrepid Glenn found themselves trapped within a no-way-out moment. With the dead surrounding them and there was no possible avenue of escape. Which broke Nicholas and prompted him to take his own life and send Glenn into a sea of the dead in the process, and that in turn, made it appear as though Glenn Rhee, a staple from the beginning, was being torn apart before our eyes. In fact, it was so convincing that audiences at the time were utterly stunned by this move and left wondering if this was in fact, the end of a hero. 

Not to mention Rick found himself isolated and helpless when the Wolves busted up the RV with the dead closing in and well, it doesn’t get much darker than that. And truly, this is an episode that removed all hope from our minds at the time and still feels hopeless now regardless of knowing what comes next. But it just goes to show that Mister Gimple really did accomplish his mission of challenging everyone like never before and of course, for weeks on end people were worrying about Glenn and his fate. But while this episode pulled at our heartstrings and demanded a hug from our loved ones… thankfully that trademark balance was waiting in the wings for us. For the next episode in this tale offered something quite hopeful and beautiful, and served as a wonderful mental break from this trilogy of terror and prepared us in a strange way, for more of the tougher times ahead. Until next time.

Something that is genuinely fascinating about post-apocalyptic fiction, in any capacity, is how little they explore what remains of modern society. Sure, they take the time to show us what survived from a physical standpoint, since we will see the remnant of once proud cities in some of these stories or people will drop references to things they miss, like a cold beer and a hot slice of pizza. But the little things that we go through in our day, and the lessons we learned growing up… seem to just go the wayside in these tales. Take for instance… how we handle disasters and/or emergencies. Granted, there may not be much room for that at the end of the world, but safety is something that is paramount to us in any capacity and these stories seem to forget about that.
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They just show us a world where anything goes, and where the past is utterly out the window, and one has to wonder if it would actually be like that. Or if by chance, some of what we learned is retained and held to and executed and it just so happens that the next episode of The Walking Dead, takes the time to explore what we would retain during an outright disaster, and that made ‘JSS’ quite the harrowing and fascinating episode. One that lulled us into a false sense of security early on. Since it worked to explore Enid’s backstory and just showed us more of everyday life in Alexandria, complete with some gentle ribbing between Carol and her uppity neighbor. But it didn’t take long for outright disaster to just strike this tiny little oasis of peace and tranquility, since she watched her neighbor be cut down before her eyes. 

Which in turn plunged us right into that exploration in question since it was revealed that this was an attack from the Wolves, and they had come to ‘liberate’ this town of its earthly ties and this of course… allowed for this episode to tie into the cliffhanger moment from the season six premiere. Since this violent and bloody assault brought forth the horn blowing, and a great deal of death. For this was indeed a disaster through and through, one that few were able to respond to. In part because they were caught off guard but also because so many Alexandrians didn’t have the knowledge of how to defend themselves in a time of crisis. But thankfully, as this nightmare played out it became clear that in this instance… how a disaster arrives and how it is resolved at the end of the world, would not only resemble the past but likely be handled in a similar manner as it was when mankind was thriving.

For the bad guys would have the upper hand at first and would be able to do some damage, which the Wolves most certainly did. But eventually, the good and brave folks that are either sworn to defend or wish to defend… would take control of the situation. Which Carol worked to do by getting to the Armory, and she quickly loaded up on weapons and distributed them out and since the Wolves were keen on using knives and blunt weapons to harm people… they were no match for firepower. Which in turn, allowed for a disaster to quickly come under control and sadly… much like in the world left behind, that also involved accepting the unfortunate reality that innocent lives were lost and that so much blood was shed and well… in the end, all of these elements made for one sorrowful and ugly tale, one that cost Alexandria so much.

But it did also offer up some insight into life at the end of the everything, and the new kinds of disasters and crises people could potentially face and how much of the past is retained in that kind of situation. Plus, this episode also made it clear… that season six was going to be vastly different in tone. Because a story this bleak, this early, meant that the show was only getting started with the darkness and that was quite the surprise since hope was a big theme in season five. But there was a rhyme and a reason for this, since it was all designed to prepare us for a big moment far off… one that would plunge the show into bleak territory for years to come. But before we get too ahead of ourselves, it is best to offer up a round of applause to a bold tale… one that truly went to some ugly places and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this intense nightmare… it is on to the next episode. Which just so happened to take the darkness present here to a whole new level. Until next time.    

For the most part, zombie themed horror stories, tend to stick to pretty familiar territory. Such as say, a story that immerses us in the end of the world as the living dead begin to take over and control everything. Or we are plunged into the world shortly after the dead have taken over, so we can explore the plight of those that survived and their struggles as they work to navigate a bold new world where the meaning of death has changed. Which are a pair of formulas that not only crowd please, but are the foundational concepts behind some of the most famous zombie movies out there, and if it worked for them… why not stick with it? 
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Which is why the AMC series The Walking Dead remains of note. For it is a series that often worked to break free of those formulas, by adding a fresh spin on what we already know, or by outright changing the rules and forgetting about formula to provide us with something fresh and original, and never was this more evident than in the season six premiere of the show. For ‘First Time Again’ is a story that… defies convention and truly gives us a unique and refreshing story. One that saw the good people of Alexandria mere weeks after the incidents that happened in ‘Conquer’, working to solve a nasty and scary new problem. Specifically, a massive herd that has to be diverted to keep Alexandria safe and the work to move them away, is where unconventional comes into play.

Sure, we’ve seen people in these stories toy with the dead and use distractions to move them away so they can escape and survive. But to see this community work together to herd them like rotten cattle? That was new, and the danger was very real during this sequence, and it was simply tense and powerful and quite frankly… scary. Because there is just something utterly terrifying about seeing thousands upon thousands of zombies just lumbering about at the promise of a singular meal and kudos to the show for giving us something new with the living dead and for still finding ways to inject gore and raw horror into the matter. Since Carter’s death was the stuff of nightmares, thanks to Ethan Embry’s powerhouse performance after his character was bitten in a horrific manner by a surprise gross walker, and the wonder and originality of this story didn’t end there.

Because in between the tense stuff, was exposition and follow-up regarding the wake of that intense season five finale. One that showed Rick struggling to be the new de factor leader of Alexandria. Simply because he had to still work to come back from the dark place, he thrived in during the course of season five. But having Morgan around, since he was always good for Rick and vice versa, seemed to finally help Rick find his way and it brought out his kindness, and of course, Rick was able to lead, put together that wild plan and even quell Carter’s attempts to rally an insurrection to remove Deanna and Rick from making any major decisions, and this really was quite innovative. For flashbacks usually serve a different purpose in storytelling, one that doesn’t involve a linear and coherent narrative. But it works here, and there were still more surprises waiting for us in this story.

For its ending, wherein all we do is hear a massive horn blasting in the distance, is both intoxicating for the imagination and horrifying at the same time. Because in that moment, we didn’t know what was going on, we just knew it was coming from Alexandria and that it likely meant trouble. Which in turn kept us hooked and eager and for the next episode, which in its own right was shocking and unconventional. But before we dive into that, we need to celebrate one quality premiere. Because this one shook things up nicely and made it clear… that season six was going to be a vastly different and brave ride. One that in the end, shocked us, angered us, and worried us, and it will be quite the treat to revisit all the big moments this season sends our way one more time and reflect upon them in a more objective manner. Until next time.

Ah, the perfect time of year has arrived for horror fans everywhere. For spooky season (or spoopy if you prefer) is now in full swing, regardless of what anyone says otherwise, and we are also in the midst of Shudder’s ‘The Home for Halloween’ Event. Wherein we’ve been treated to terrors untold through stunning movies and where discussions have begun thanks to The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time. But as we inch toward October, and All Hallows Eve, Shudder thought it was pertinent to update its programming lineup list for all of us… since there were still some goodies up in the air for October. So, without further ado, here is the official October Programming Lineup for the month that is host to Halloween, courtesy of the Home for Halloween… Shudder.

‘Shudder is the leading streaming service for thrills and frights year-round. But this Halloween season will feature the best line-up in its history. Shudder members will enjoy a new slate of weekly movie premieres, original series Queer for Fear, 101 Scariest Movie Moments of All Time, and the return of the Boulet Brothers in The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans, a Halloween special with Joe Bobb Briggs called Joe Bob’s Haunted Halloween Hangout, a new edition of Shudder’s fan favorite “The Ghoul Log,” a 24/7 streaming jack-o’-lantern, and much, much, more.’

​Mad God Ghoul Log – Premieres Saturday, October 1
The “Ghoul Log” is Halloween’s answer to the Christmas Yule Log: a 24/7 streaming jack-o’-lantern providing the perfect ambience for all your Halloween festivities. Fan favorites The Ghoul Log, Return of the Ghoul Log and Night of the Ghoul Log are back, along with a very special new edition inspired by Phil Tippett’s Mad God, hand-crafted by the team at Tippett Studios. 
 
The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time – Premiered September 7 - New Episodes Wednesdays
Master filmmakers and genre experts celebrate and dissect the most terrifying moments of the greatest horror films ever made, exploring how these scenes were created and why they burned themselves into the brains of audiences around the world.
 
Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror – Premiered Friday, September 30 - New Episodes Fridays
Queer for Fear is a four-part documentary series from executive producer Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Steak House (Launchpad) about the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the horror and thriller genres. From its literary origins with queer authors Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, and Oscar Wilde to the pansy craze of the 1920s that influenced Universal Monsters and Hitchcock, through the “lavender scare” alien invasion films of the mid-20th century and the AIDS obsessed bloodletting of 80s vampire films, Queer for Fear re-examines genre stories through a queer lens, seeing them not as violent, murderous narratives, but as tales of survival that resonate thematically with queer audiences everywhere.
 
Joe Bob’s Haunted Halloween Hangout – Premieres Friday, October 21
For his fourth Halloween special on Shudder, the World’s Foremost Drive-In Movie Critic leaves no plastic skull, fake spider, or foam tombstone behind in his mission to celebrate the Samhain season the RIGHT way for once! Leaving nothing to chance, Joe Bob and Darcy enlist the help of a special surprise guest.
 
The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans – Premieres Tuesday, October 25
Hosted and created by 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.  Guest Judges include Elvira, Harvey Guillen, Justin Simien, David Dastmalchian, Poppy, Alaska, Katya, Joe Bob Briggs, Bonnie Aarons, Barbara Crampton, and more to be announced later.

A disgraced and demonetized Internet personality (Joseph Winter) tries to win back his fans by live streaming himself, spending a night alone in an abandoned haunted house. However, when he accidentally unleashes a vengeful spirit, his big comeback event becomes a real-time fight for his life (and social relevance) as he faces off with the sinister spirit of the house and her powerful following.Deadstream stars Joseph Winter, who wrote and directed the film with Vanessa Winter. (A Shudder Original) VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

In Dark Glasses, an eclipse blackens the skies on a hot summer day in Rome – a harbinger of the darkness that will envelop Diana (Ilenia Pastorelli) when a serial killer chooses her as prey. Fleeing her predator, the young escort crashes her car and loses her sight. She emerges from the initial shock determined to fight for her life, but she is no longer alone. Defending her and acting as her eyes is a little boy, Chin (Andrea Zhang), who survived the car accident. But the killer won't give up his victim. Who will be saved? The long-awaited return from Italian master of horror and acclaimed writer-directorDario Argento, the film stars Ilenia Pastorelli, Asia Argento and Andrea Zhang. Beginning Friday, October 7, Dark Glasses will debut at the IFC Center in New York and at the Laemmle Glendale in Los Angeles, ahead of the film’s streaming debut onThursday, October 13. Additional theaters, to be announced later, will follow beginning Friday, October 14.  (A Shudder Original) VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

After a double mastectomy, Veronica Ghent (Alice Krige), goes to a healing retreat in rural Scotland with her young nurse Desi (Kota Eberhardt). She discovers that the process of such surgery opens questions about her very existence, leading her to start to question and confront past traumas. The two develop an unlikely bond as mysterious forces give Veronica the power to enact revenge within her dreams.  Also starring Malcolm McDowell, Jonathan Aris, Rupert Everett, and OlwenFouéré. Directed by Charlotte Colbert. (A Shudder Exclusive) VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

V/H/S/99 marks the return of the acclaimed found footage anthology franchise and the sequel to Shudder’s most-watched premiere of 2021. A thirsty teenager's home video leads to a series of horrifying revelations. Featuring five new stories from filmmakers Maggie Levin (Into The Dark: My Valentine), Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down, Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City), Flying Lotus (Kuso), Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls) and Joseph & Vanessa Winter (Deadstream), V/H/S/99 harkens back to the final punk rock analog days of VHS, while taking one giant leap forward into the hellish new millennium. (A Shudder Original) VIEW TEASER TRAILER: HERE.

Margaret's life is in order. She is capable, disciplined, and successful. Everything is under control. That is, until David returns, carrying with him the horrors of Margaret's past. Resurrection is directed by Andrew Semans, and stars Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth. (A Shudder Exclusive) VIEW TRAILER: HERE.

​To mark the Shudder premiere of Dark Glasses and Dario Argento’s long-awaited return to the director’s chair, we are proud to present an expanded collection of works from Italy’s master of horror. Opera and The Stendhal Syndrome premiere on October 10, joining titles already on Shudder including Deep Red, Tenebrae, Inferno, Phenomena, Trauma and The Cat o’ Nine Tales along with the Argento-penned Demonsand Demons 2. 
 
Opera 
A stalker torments an opera star by forcing her to watch her friends being murdered in one of giallo horror god Dario Argento’s most terrifying films. When young operetta Betty is thrust into a leading role in Verdi’s Macbeth, she’s unprepared for the carnage that’s going to be unleashed. Soon enough she’s being stalked by a black-gloved killer who loves tying Betty up and taping needles around her eyes so she - and by extension us - are forced to watch the vicious slayings. The great Brian Eno and Goblin’s Claudio Simonetti composed the stellar score.
 
The Stendhal Syndrome – (Also, part of Shudder’s House of Psychotic Women Collection)
A detective suffers strange hallucinations while hunting a serial killer in Dario Argento’s bone-chilling ‘90s masterpiece. Anna (Asia Argento) is on the trail of a psycho when she experiences Stendhal syndrome, a condition that causes people to become overwhelmed by works of art to the point of psychosis. But when the killer kidnaps and rapes her, it begins a process that threatens all who cross Anna’s path. Using CGI to bring Anna’s artistic hallucinations to life, Argento crafts a brutal yet visually stunning thriller that stands on par with his classics.

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Kier-La Janisse’s (director of Woodlands Dark & Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror) groundbreaking and influential dive into female neuroses onscreen and in horror, Shudder will collect films explored in both the original and expanded editions of House of Psychotic Women. New to Shudder beginning October 1 are I Like Bats, Footprints, Identikit, The Rats are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here, The Stendhal Syndrome,May and Santa Sangre. These join current Shudder titles Alone with You, American Mary, Asylum, The Babadook, The Baby, Bleed with Me, Butcher Baker Nightmare Maker, Carnival of Souls, The Corruption of Chris Miller, Darling, Il Demonio, Dream No Evil, I Blame Society, Forbiden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion, Knife of Ice, Knocking, The Midnight Swim, May, Ms. 45, Next of Kin, Orgasmo, Phenomena, Prevenge, and Resurrection.
 
May – October 1
Nobody knows what to make of May (Angela Bettis). Born with a lazy eye, for which she wore a patch while growing up, she became a loner oddball whose only friend was a perfectly kept doll. She moves to L.A. and takes up with a filmmaker (Jeremy Sisto), but the relationship sours quickly -- and dangerously. She then befriends an alluring lesbian colleague (Anna Faris), but that, too, along with every connection May attempts to make, turns deadly.
 
I Like Bats - October 4
Katarzyna Walter stars as a happily single vampire who works in her aunt’s curio shop when not feeding on various suitors and sleazebags. But when she falls for a handsome psychiatrist, she’ll discover that no affliction is more horrific than love. It combines splashes of absurdist black comedy with jolts of old-school gothic horror for a slyly contemporary take on the female bloodsucker mythos.
 
Footprints – October 4
In the most criminally underseen giallo of the ‘70s, Florinda Bolkan (A Lizard In A Woman’s Skin, Flavia The Heretic) stars as a freelance translator who wakes one morning missing all memory of her past three days. But will a trail of odd clues lead her to a place where perception and identity are never what they seem? Directed by Luigi Bazzoni (The Fifth Cord) with cinematography by three-time Oscar®-winner Vittorio Storaro (The Bird with The Crystal Plumage).

The Rats are Coming the Werewolves Are Here – October 4
The Mooney's are a typical English family, except for one tiny detail... they're all werewolves. One member of the family is of a mind to change their legacy, which stirs up family drama of the worst kind. The second of gutter auteur Andy Milligan's productions made in England, this werewolf family saga is filled with the bitter worldview and confrontational hysteria Milligan is known for.
 
Identikit – October 10
In what remains the most obscure, bizarre, and wildly misunderstood film of her entire career – and perhaps even ‘70s Italian cinema – Elizabeth Taylor stars as a disturbed woman who arrives in Rome to find a city fragmented by autocratic law, leftist violence, and her own increasingly unhinged mission to find the most dangerous liaison of all. Academy Award® nominee Ian Bannen (The Offence), Mona Washbourne (The Collector) and Andy Warhol co-star in this “unique, hallucinatory neo noir” (Cult Film Freaks) – barely released in America as The Driver’s Seat – directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi (‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore), adapted from the unnerving novella by Muriel Spark (The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie) and featuring cinematography by three-time Oscar® winner Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now, The Last Emperor).

October 1
 
The Descent
One year after a tragic accident, six girlfriends meet in a remote part of the Appalachians for their annual caving trip. When a rock falls and blocks their route back to the surface, the group splinters and each one pushes on, praying for another exit. But there is something else lurking under the earth - a race of monstrous humanoid creatures that have adapted perfectly to life in the dark. As the friends realize they are now prey, they are forced to unleash their most primal instincts in an all-out war against an unspeakable horror. Neil Marshall's relentless, claustrophobic creature feature proves one of the truly scary films of the 21st century and is rightly regarded as essential.

The Descent Part 2
Distraught, confused, and half-wild with fear, Sarah Carter emerges alone from the Appalachian cave system where she encountered unspeakable terrors.
​
The Gate
When two boys accidentally dig up the gates of Hell and summon an army of tiny demons, they have to work fast to stop the demons from turning them into human sacrifices, or a big bad demon king will soon be slithering through the gate to take over the world. Starring a young Stephen Dorff (Blade)
 
October 3
 
The Collingswood Story
Young couple Rebecca and John attempt to keep their long-distance relationship alive via video chatting. However, a chance encounter with an online psychic plunges their lives into a world of nightmarish supernatural phenomenon. 

Dark Night of the Scarecrow
When young Marylee Williams is found viciously mauled, all hell breaks loose in her small rural town. A gang of bigots pursue a suspect: her mentally challenged friend Bubba Ritter.
 
October 4
 
The Other Side of the Underneath
In 1972, screenwriter/feminist/radical theater icon Jane Arden adapted her own multimedia stage production "A New Communion for Freaks, Prophets and Witches" into a nightmarish exploration of reason, chaos, and her own battles with mental illness unlike anything audiences have seen before or since.
 
October 11
 
Dragula Season 1  
The Boulet Brothers host a competition of drag performers who don’t just push the envelope – they hew it up and spit it out. With themes like Zombie and challenges like being buried alive, this ain’t your momma’s drag competition. Joining seasons 2, 3 and 4 and ahead of the upcoming Titans spin off exclusively on Shudder, revisit the first season of the Boulet Brothers’ beloved groundbreaking drag-horror competition.
 
Lux Aeterna  
Béatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg are on a film set telling stories about witches. Technical problems and psychotic outbreak gradually plunge the shoot into chaos. Written and directed by Gaspar Noé.
 
October 24
 
Manhattan Baby 
In Lucio Fulci’s chilling follow-up to The New York Ripper, an evil Egyptian entity possesses the young daughter of an archaeologist. When Susie returns home, she and her brother Tommy start behaving badly, and visitors to their room begin turning up dead. Can Susie’s parents stop the entity from destroying her? Or is it already too late? Borrowing elements from Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist and Poltergeist, Fulci crafts a surprisingly gore-free ghost story that favors suspense over gruesome kills. The opening sequence ranks among the director’s best work.

Demonia  
In what fans consider his last great film, Godfather of Gore Lucio Fulci returns to the startling imagery and bloody excesses of his ‘70s/‘80s classics for an unholy saga of demonic nuns and supernatural carnage: When a Canadian archeological team excavates the ruins of a medieval Sicilian monastery, they unleash the vengeance of a crucified coven of satanic sisters with full-on Fulci fury.

Aenigma  
For his final horror hit of the ‘80s, writer/director Lucio Fulci combined elements of Carrie, Phenomena, andSuspiria with the grisly surrealism of his own past classics for one last shocker: When a bullied student at a New England girls school becomes comatose after a prank gone wrong, her tormenters will suffer graphic telepathic punishment that includes the infamous ‘death by snails’ scene.

Fulci for Fake  
He was known as The Maestro of Splatter, but who was the real Lucio Fulci? Through never-before-seen home movies, rare behind-the-scenes footage from his classic films, audio confessions from Fulci himself and revealing interviews, writer/director Simone Scafidi creates an unflinching portrait of the one of the most visceral, controversial, and immortal horror filmmakers of all time.

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Speak No Evil’.

​Something that is difficult for a great deal of us, is openly trusting strangers that only recently came into our lives. Because, while they were likely friendly and chill during our first encounter… we simply don’t know them and their intentions. And since so many of us have been burned emotionally by being trusting toward ‘nice’ people that eventually took advantage of us or hurt us, we simply struggle to let the new folks in. Not to mention… we hear horror stories about how some trusting individuals end up being badly harmed by individuals that were eager to take advantage of that trust, and that too… leaves one nervous to just open the doors to our emotions. 
​
But at the same time… if we don’t trust others to a certain extent, we could miss out on the friendship or the love affair of a lifetime and the thought of missing out on that… pushes us to do the thing and trust as best we can and see what happens. But this constant back and forth in our minds regarding whether or not we should trust in the first place can be exhausting and of course… it motivates all of us to wonder, what we should do? Should we just throw caution to the wind and trust with reckless abandon? Or should we be always cautious? Well at it turns out, there is a brand-new horror film on Shudder that explores the answers to those questions… in the most terrifying and harrowing way imaginable in Speak No Evil.

A feat that this movie accomplishes, by whisking us away on vacation to Tuscany. Where we meet a pair of families at a lovely getaway destination, one of which… is eager to make new friends. Because Patrick and Karin, are firm believers that people should acquire as many friends as possible, and they seem to click with Bjorn and Louise during their stay… to the point where they invite them and their daughter Agnes to their home in Holland. An invitation that surprises Bjorn and Louise, to the point where they are unsure if they should accept it or not. For they simply don’t know this couple and aren’t sure if they are trustworthy in the slightest. But of course, the chance to make new friends makes them take the plunge and sadly… it doesn’t take long for Bjorn and Agnes to take issue with their hosts and their son, Abel… and little do they know that the strange and rude behavior being exhibited is merely the beginning of a nightmare vacation that this family will come to regret.

Which is at first glance, a plot that seems to be more of a warning than a lesson in trust. For Patrick and Karin are textbook jerkwads that should not and cannot be trusted in this film… for so many reasons. Since they are of course, supremely rude to their guests, they’re abusive to their son and they’re irresponsible and reckless. Not to mention, they are hiding a horrible and terrifying secret. One that leads to all the horror elements in this tale. Since this couple has indeed invited their guests to their estate for a nefarious reason and that leads to a stunning and shocking, and downright bleak finale. One that gives the end of Night of the Living Dead a run for its money, making this a solid horror film through and through, one that does indeed feature the answers we seek.

For in essence, this is a movie that informs us, that we should take the time to engage in trust. Because we don’t know where that trust will lead us, and it is better to err on the side of potential over caution. But… make no mistake about it, if by chance concerns arise or the gut comes into play with that bad feeling about a person, we should obey those worries and hold to our concerns, and address them ASAP. Because they are likely right and worth listening to and the proof behind this theory, is in the proverbial pudding here. Because Bjorn and Louise are confronted with so, so, so many red flags here. But they keep trying to err on the side of courtesy and the spirit of friendship and it costs them dearly in the end, but thankfully… their folly is our gain since we learn so much from their actions. 

In the end, it’s safe to declare this particular horror film as quite cerebral in nature. Since it does require an observant eye and thoughtful mind, thanks to the mystery surrounding our villainous couple and it does leave you with a lot to chew upon. But before you proceed with this film, do be warned… it is a true slow burner through and through, which can be off-putting to some. So, if those don’t always agree with you, this writer asks that you give it a chance and stick with it until the end, because the third act is off the wall terrifying and the best news of all… is that you don’t have to wait another minute to enjoy this gem. For Speak No Evil is available to stream on Shudder right now and we here at NTG hope you give it a look. Because this one, really is a nightmare come to life.