Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1514 of ‘Supernatural’. Also, to revisit Episode 1513, ‘Destiny’s Child’; click here.
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For those who know me, it’s no secret that I haven’t followed the Supernaturalverse since its inception in 2005. As I point out in Angels, Demons and Gods, a close friend turned me on to the show with the fan favorite holiday episode, 3.08: ‘A Very Supernatural Christmas’ (Thanks Steph!!). From there, I was hooked – DUH!!! Why do I bring this up? First, most holidays are just not my jam. Not because I don’t like them. I mean. I’m definitely no Scrooge. It’s mostly because I believe the lot of them are over commercialized and structured to suit one faith. Second, holidays on Supernatural stand out to me because they ALWAYS stand out to Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) too! And finally, after an unexpectedly long Hellatus, seeing our boys return to the screen with a light-hearted episode that includes holidays was the treat I didn’t know I wanted! So, before you can say “Go Luigi,” let’s dive in.

The aptly named ‘Last Holiday’ brings a new character to the Supernaturalverse – A Wood Nymph named Mrs. Butters (Meagan Fay) or Mrs. B for short. After a series of malfunctions within The Bunker, like pilot lights interrupting Dean’s grilling and plumbing issues throughout, the boys investigate. In the main control room, Dean hastily (of course… LOL!!), tries to undo the current mode by hitting the reset button. After an auto-restart, things seems back on track and Dean, the “Meat Man” (YES!!), heads back to cooking his burgers. But wait… as Dean enters his room, burger in tow, he finds an elderly lady folding his underwear. His Scooby-Doo underwear – LOVE IT!! In the common room, Dean is trying to figure out who this lady is as Sam joins the confusion. At this point, I’m ecstatic that we’ve got a bona fide Supernaturalverse filler episode that’s well on track to bringing all the giggles – YAY!!!

We learn that Mrs. B was brought on board with the Men of Letters (MOL) before WWII. And when they didn’t return from a ceremony back in 1958, she used her magic to place The Bunker and herself in standby mode. She is quite upset to learn that Abaddon (Alaina Huffman) killed the MOL that fateful night and all that remains are the legacies, Sam and Dean. I ponder on the excellent formula writing of introducing a new, yet seemingly harmless character, with comedy. Then immediately preying on our sympathies by showing her vulnerabilities. Do we fall for it? Why yes… yes, we do!! Because not only does Mrs. B brighten up the place, her magic enhances The Bunker’s abilities including… HELLO – Monster Radar! SERIOUSLY!! Oh, and she cooks too. NICE!! Sending our boys to clear out a vamp nest with a packed lunch is just… WOW, right?? Then the holiday tie ins begin. We see The Bunker decorated for Christmas as Dean excitedly says, “Oh, we are so keeping her.” LOL!! Oh, but there’s more.

The next morning, as Mrs. B serves Sam breakfast, Jack (Alexander Calvert), still adjusting from getting his soul back, enters. Mrs. B’s magical nature instantly knows Jack’s not human and asks, “What are you?” Dean, in his new Christmas gift – a purple nightshirt, complete with a poof-ball cap (LOVING THIS!!) – enters and breaks the tension by calling Jack a millennial… LOL!! As we all recover from the scene, especially Sam (am I right?), Mrs. B still appears a bit taken aback by Jack, but eventually settles in offering him a delicious smoothie. Suddenly, we hear a bunker wide alarm go off. As Dean pays tribute to Ghostbusters (Columbia Pictures; 1984) by yelling “We got one” (HECK YA!), the boys follow the monster radar again. In their absence, Mrs. B warms up to Jack in a somewhat grandmotherly fashion.

From there, we move into a collection of monster missions complete with packed lunches (NICE!) followed by happy holiday feasts and fun showing Thanksgiving, Halloween and the Fourth of July. All of it set to another Ghostbusters throwback – The Bus Boys’ ‘Cleanin’ Up the Town’ (AWESOME!). Plus, we get a nice shot of Sam and Dean entering a monster lair holding MjöInir (not seen since 8.02: ‘What’s Up, Tiger Mommy?’) and the fan favorite grenade launcher from Baby’s trunk, respectively. Settling back in during Sam’s birthday celebration, all seems well. Homey, in fact. I mean… teasing Dean about his age (and cholesterol), rice crispy treats, Jack finally smiling again and Sam going on a date with Eileen (Shoshannah Stern) all sound absolutely scrumptious, no?

Alas… Jack, led to the truth by Mrs. B herself, finds out that this charming little Wood Nymph is a much more powerful than imagined. And, it was only after killing over 200 Nazi soldiers (WOW!) before capture that she was retrieved by the MOL from the Thule Society’s laboratory. WHOA!! Not to mention, Cuthbert Sinclair – AKA: Magnus (Kavan Smith) – is the MOL who, through a “series of experiments” (interesting), convinced her to stay on with them. You know. The assbutt who tried to add Dean, bearing the Mark of Cain at the time, to his collection of monsters in 9.16: ‘Blade Runners’. Ah… yeah… there can’t be much good coming if this guy was involved!! Though, I will say, this late in the game, we’ve now seen multiple references to Abaddon and the Mark of Cain, which has to mean something, right??

Jack confronts Mrs. B, but wouldn’t you know it… she wanted Jack to find the truth. Oh… and those delicious smoothies?? Part of her plan to weaken Jack! OMC!!! Mrs. B slaps some magical cuffs on Jack and locks him in the basement. Then, just as Dean’s about to happily eat a grilled cheese (Boy, he sure loves those… LOL!!), Mrs. B casually tells him he’ll need his strength to kill Jack. The whole scene is fantastic – calm and hilarious (LOL!). But as you would expect, Dean gets locked up right alongside Jack… LOL! But I do love the Archangel blade Mrs. B gives him beforehand. Haven’t seen one all season, am I right?

When Sam returns from his date, he’s surprised to find that Mrs. B believes that Jack is evil, that he’s poisoned Dean’s mind and that they both must die. OMC! Can you imagine coming home all happy go lucky only to find this fresh hell… LOL!?! Telling Mrs. B he’s going to his room to get his gun, Sam calls Dean’s cell and I wonder… hmm, does Mrs. B even know what a cell phone is? And, I love that Dean didn’t call Sam for help because he didn’t want to interrupt Sam practicing sign language… LOL!! They argue about who was going to look into Wood Nymphs, but then end up reminiscing about holidays and the amazing omelet on Boxing Day… NICE!! The whole conversation is a lovely comedic moment during what should for all intents and purposes be a very serious situation. Bravo!!
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Sam gets busted and a disappointed Mrs. B magically forces him into a chair. Feeling torture is the only way to get Sam to see the light, Mrs. B proceeds to rip out fingernails. YIKES!! And there it is! The lies of Cuthbert Sinclair laid bare. From the beginning, knowing how powerful she was, he tortured and manipulated her to bend to his will. A series of experiments, my ass!! Not to mention, Sinclair kept Mrs. B prisoner by using magic sigils carved above the control center and preyed on her good nature and love of family. And here she is, turning the tables, just as she’s been taught. Very full circle and I LOVE IT!!

In the meantime, a trapped Dean and Jack have a small, yet necessary, moment. After reassuring Jack that he’s trying to forgive him for Mary (Samantha Smith), Dean tells him; “I’m not gonna let some evil Mary Poppins take you out!” YAY!!! Then, using the Archangel Blade, Dean strikes Jack’s cuffs, sending him flying and destroying a hutch. Hilariously trying this move again, only with Jack positioned towards the door, Dean strikes again. Jack flies, taking down the door in the process. YES!!! Dean races to the control room and slams the standby button. As red flood lights and alarm sounds fill the entire Bunker, Mrs. B disappears. Dean and Jack run to free Sam. But wait!

The magic sigils light up and the pipes begin to rattle. Mrs. B appears from a smokey haze with glowing green eyes and charges upstairs. She throws all three boys across the room and begins yelling at Jack that Sinclair told her that she couldn’t go back to her forest because helping The Men of Letters kill monsters is more important and that Jack must die to protect her boys. Sam tells her that Sinclair used her and she seems genuinely stunned. Shaking free of her stupor yet still determined to kill Jack, Dean then yells; “He can save the world.” Confused, Mrs. B begins to break down. The lights come back on and through tears, she says, in reference to the now dead MOL: “it’s just that… I miss them so much.” WHEW!!!

In the end, Mrs. B heals Sam’s fingernails and apologizes to all of them. But before returning to the forest, where she was most happy, she explains that without her magic, The Bunker reverts to standby mode. AWW MAN!! Does she really have to go? Cooking, cleaning, boosting the power in The Bunker… all gone. Good-bye Monster Radar!! Not to mention, she’d sure come in handy in the fight to save the universe!! She also points out that the interdimensional geoscope won’t work either. WAIT! You mean that giant telescope thingy works interdimensionally?? WHOA!! Apparently, Nymph magic or not, it doesn’t seem to be working anyway, but I’m sure the writers didn’t drop this tidbit on us for no reason, right??

In the final scene, Jack asks Sam if he believes Jack can kill God. Sam tells Jack that he’s the only one who can, and I think… hmm, maybe not! You?? The heavy moment is broken when Dean enters presenting Jack with his very own birthday cake, albeit a flopping mess… LOL!! Jack smiles and says, “It’s great.” Dean lights a single candle and Sam tells Jack to make a wish. Jack ponders for a moment then blows out the candle – lights out!

And there you have it. Our first post-pandemic Hellatus episode is complete. Holidays and all, I absolutely loved it!! What did you think about this gut busting filler episode and all the hints it dropped? And, what about Cas (Misha Collins)? He wasn’t even mentioned, right? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_Juanita on Twitter and until next time… GO TEAM FREE WILL!!

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor.'
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When something traumatic happens in our lives, we are faced with quite the decision in respect to how we heal the ache in our hearts, caused by that earth-shattering moment. In that, we can face everything head on and address the pain said moment caused us, or we can try and push ahead as though nothing has changed. All in the hope that time will help us heal, since we believe that putting a little distance between us and the moment in question will allow for us to face the pain on our own terms. A decision that rarely provides us with the outcome that we hope for. But while those are common behaviors in regard to traumatic moments, the kind that we have each indulged in from to time to time, they pale in comparison to the most extreme solution of all.
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In that, there are some who believe that they can wipe away the pain they carry in their hearts, by either finding a way to right the wrong that the universe has sent their way or by simply starting over. Or in some cases, by outright trying to do both at the same time, and what makes this particular option so ‘extreme’, is the sheer fact that this allows for the person that is hurting to let their pain consume them completely, which drives them away from a proper path to healing. Which of course can and will lead to more heartbreak and strife when things go south with their unique and outlandish plan to heal, and it just so happens that this particularly intense method of unhealthy recovery, serves as the focal point for the new horror series The Haunting of Bly Manor.

For ‘The Great Good Place’ makes it clear early on that our main character, a young woman named Dani Clayton, is going that more extreme route. Because something traumatic has recently happened to her and rather than sit down and face her pain, she’s opted to fly to London and start her life over as an au pair for the Wingrave family. All in the hopes of healing in her own way and righting this mysterious wrong from her past, and the children she is going to care for truly do seem like they will be able to make that happen. For they too have suffered through some traumatic experiences, which helps her to believe that perhaps they can all heal together. But there is one slight, possible complication to her plan. In that, stately Bly Manor is full of secrets. The kind that walk about in the darkness of night and they are eager to bring out the ghosts that Dani is carrying her heart, and that will likely lead to disaster. 

Now, what is truly fascinating about this particular series premiere, is that the plot feels awfully familiar. Which is something that one doesn’t quite expect from a Mike Flanagan horror story, since he always finds a way to inject something fresh and new into the material he’s working with. But it turns out that such a move is all part of a long and winding master plan storytelling wise. One that is designed to make us feel familiar and comfortable. In part, so we can get to know the characters. Because everyone we meet in this opening chapter of the story is quite the dynamic human being, filled with hopes and dreams and desires and a good and noble heart that is filled with wonderful intentions. And it is quite lovely to be able to properly understand who they are and what makes them tick. But there is a trick to this particular storytelling decision.

Because by spending so much time with bright and cheery people, who fascinate us to no end, we drop our guard and immediately find a sense of safety within this grand exploration of good people that are looking for peace within their souls. Which is a touch problematic. For eventually, we come to learn that Bly Manor is indeed haunted by some powerful spirits and they are slowly beginning to awaken now that Dani has arrived to take care of the children and that allows for the scares to completely and utterly surprise you and this twist also allows for an incredible sense of dread to begin to build in the back of your mind. Because that slow burn approach informs you that this story is going to build to a horrifying crescendo. 

If anything, this really is quite the unique way to kick off this new chapter in the Haunting saga. Simply because you're expecting this to hit the ground running like its predecessor. But instead you're treated to a lovely character study, one that quite frankly, leaves you incredibly worried for these good natured characters when it comes it a close. For we simply don’t know if Dani can handle any further trauma in her life since she is already skirting with her breaking point. But the house cares not about such matters and will eventually challenge her in new and terrifying ways. Which means that we are going to be in for quite the powerful ride in the days and weeks to come. One that will move us and shock us as the secrets of both Bly Manor and the people that live there, are brought into the light in a perfectly splendid and perfectly scary manner. Until next time.  

Looking to get away? Looking to find a way to get your mind off of things? Looking to feel like you are alive? Well, most of us are looking for these things when we take a vacation and most of the time, it does help. When a resort offers such things for a reasonable price, I am sometimes skeptical, but most of the time they are able to wow me. Being in the business to make you forget all of your worries for a few days, it is nice to have someone else deal with all the problems you usually run into while being on vacation, so you can sit back, relax and have a drink on the beach without a worry in the world.
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Seven years after the outbreak that killed over two billion people and changed the world as we know it, things are still far from being back to normal. With refugee camps still being used for so many people, the zombies may be gone, but no one’s lives will ever be the same again. With support groups still in use, people have no way of really getting over what happened to them in the war, but there has been a nice little island resort that has been set up to help some of the survivors find closure. The Rezort is an island paradise where if you have enough money to book a trip, you get put up with state of the art accommodations and most of all, you get to kill the remaining zombies on the island.

Leaving her support group meeting, Melanie is far from feeling better about the outbreak and she still misses the people that she lost and thinks that The Rezort could help her out immensely. With her boyfriend Lewis going along with the idea that killing the undead might get her mind right once again, he is in for the trip as well. Arriving at the airport and seeing up close and personal the refugee situation that is still a problem in the area, Melanie tries to put all of her loss behind her to have a good time, but she has no idea what she is up against.

Arriving on the island and going through orientation, and learning how to shoot a gun, Melanie thinks that this trip is just what she needed, and they should have done it sooner. Seeing the excitement by the other guests on the island, she is ready to pull out her gun and go hunting for those that killed her father. Getting to a perch with her group, Melanie watches as sharpshooter Archer kills the undead without any hesitation. Seeing how Lewis is able to do this as well, since he was in the war, it is time for her to put her sights on one and pull the trigger, however when the zombie looks up at her with its lifeless eyes, she is taken aback and not able to pull the trigger. Mad at herself for not being able to accomplish what she wanted to on the trip, she is starting to have second thoughts about what she is doing there and finds out that the other woman in her group Sadie feels the same way.
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Back in island operations, a bug has been found in the system and while it does not seem to be a big thing at the time, it starts to eat away at the mainframe. When trying to kill it, a virus is activated causing all kinds of chaos around the control room and while the programmers think that they have the situation under control, everything is quickly falling apart around them. All of the electronic locks start to fail around the park allowing the undead to move around as freely as they did in the war and with no warning, all hell breaks loose. With no way to contact anyone in operations and a truck that will not stop, Melanie and her group have to find a way to survive a new outbreak that has taken over the island, and get off of the island before it is incinerated by the 'no nonsense' protocol. But as if that is not enough for her to deal with, she and the group also have the cause of this new threat within their own ranks and they also discover how the island has been thriving with the undead for so long after the war...

You know, as far as zombie movies go, this one is not half bad. You get all off the headshots on the zombies that your heart desires, but you also get some great discussions about where and when the killing will actually stop. Seeing the journey that Melanie has to take to survive is great and while she thinks that killing the undead would be good for her, she comes to the realization that they are just people, maybe not like her, but people none the less. Sadie has the same idea about killing the zombies, yet she has taken it a step further by trying to sabotage the park for the unwarranted killing of the undead. I liked how the group tried to pull together for survival and like any good horror movie, not all of them survive. If the park failing sounds somewhat familiar, yes, the movie feels a little bit like Jurassic Park, but instead it's filled with zombies that run the park and they seem to be smarter than your average dinosaur. Blood, check. Headshots, check. Blood Splatter, check. A Great Ending, CHECK! Stay Scared.

There is nothing better than a good snow in my opinion, but I know that many people do not share that thought. One of the things that I really like about the snow is being able to track the creatures that move though my yard. I know of the cute little bunnies that eat the grass in the summer, but every once in a while, I find some bigger tracks from deer and the occasional ones from the local coyotes that like to stroll along the street. If you did not have a blanket of snow of the ground, you never know who or what could be roaming around your house, so maybe it is time to give that a second thought.

The Rill Lodge and Ski Resort is ready to celebrate its 50th Winter Carnival and Mrs. Rill will not allow anything to get in its way. But there is something hiding up in the mountains that has never been seen by any of the locals and when one of guests goes missing and her grandson Tony hears the farfetched story about a monster taking the guest away, he wants to check out what it could have been. Searching the hill and finding a ski jacket covered in blood, then seeing and hearing the beast in the hills, Tony wants to give his report to the sheriff right away. But Mrs. Rill is against this for one reason and one alone, the betterment of the resort and the town, and if anything happens to the Winter Carnival, both of them will suffer and maybe never get back on their feet. 

Arriving up the mountain with his wife Ellen, Gar Seberg is not looking to rekindle his Olympic skiing days, but rather needs a job from his old friend Tony. Without hesitation, Tony is happy to welcome his old friend and his wife back to the mountain and even though he hires Gar, he is more infatuated with Ellen as the two had a very hot past. Trying to get part of the mountain restricted from the skiers to keep them safe from the beast, it is apparent that the mountain killer has found a little out of the way place to keep his food at the abandoned barn. After finding the body of the missing skier in one of the water troughs, Sheriff Paraday is ready to listen to what Tony was ready to tell him about what might be happening on the mountain.

Ellen has her own idea about what is happening around the resort as she is being kept in the dark by everybody, but her investigative mind will not let it go. Following the police to the old barn, she finds large tracks that lead into the woods and believes that she may have found a Bigfoot creature. But the growls of the unseen beast are getting louder and she knows that whatever she is trying to find is not friendly and may be looking to make her it’s next meal.  Seeing that his wife has not made it back for the night, Gar puts his skis on to find the woman that he married and sees that she has found shelter it the old barn where the other body was found. Keeping each other safe for the night, the reunited couple is shocked to see that the beast is trying to get in and after them for a quick bite. Being frightened off by Tony and the Sheriff, everyone now understands that the beast that is roaming the mountain is not only looking for food, but is ready to take it to the next level when it gets hungry again.

I am one that is against this for most movies, but if a remake needs to be made, Snowbeast should be right on the top of the list. As this is a Made for Television movie from the 70’s, you don’t get to see much more than just a splatter or two of blood and I for one would like to see the carnage that the beast inflicted upon its victims. I actually enjoyed this movie very much, with the suspense and the silliness of people not trying to get away from the monster’s growls. When I am watching a horror movie, I know that the love story is needed so you can at least feel something for when one of them gets killed off and the love triangle in this movie does just that. With plenty of suspense, a grandmother that only wants to think about money, missing skiers and a hairy beast in the woods, this is just a nice little throwback to how a horror movie was supposed to be made, even if you don’t have a ton of blood. It is the perfect movie to put on if you are going up to the slopes and wonder if hitting the back country is right for you. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the second episode of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.
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When we think of coming of age stories, we think of fuzzy feelings. For the kids that embark on an epic journey to find themselves while they search for something else, tend to be quite beautiful in nature. Since the teens or kids involved tend to discover the wonder of the world and their life ahead as they continue along in their journey, and that in turn, reminds us of those magical days when we too saw the world and our future in a whole different light. But, what would a coming of age story look like, if the world that our heroes stepped into, was devastated and desolate? Would they still find wonder and joy? Or would they instead ponder upon the horrors surrounding them and the actual nature of their future? Well as it turns out, this scenario and those questions are precisely what the next episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond focuses upon.
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For ‘The Blaze of Gory’ sees our young group explore the world of the dead for the first time ever and what they discover externally and internally, was pretty incredible to say the least. Because they quickly come to learn that everything, they were taught at the Omaha Campus Colony in regard to the dead, does them no good the first time around. Because combat against an unrelenting enemy is something that no one is prepared for, and the odd habits of the dead are elements that everyone needs experience with, and our intrepid characters were quick to gain that experience, the hard way. For their first battle with a walker went poorly and quickly taught them to not waste any time and go for the head and they also learned that… the dead have nothing but time on their side and will do whatever it takes to get a meal. A lesson that came to light when a walker that they spray-painted and abandoned, followed them to their campsite.

But while those dark lessons should have been enough to carry this entire tale, since teens that have never faced walkers/empties, could entertain us for an entire hour as they learn how to deal with them; this episode had a great deal more to explore. For while our intrepid group of teens were assembling their path beyond Nebraska and coming to learn that the world is far harsher than they were taught in a classroom, Felix and Huck were hot on their tails and their journey brought about a different type of discovery for a coming of age journey. For Felix grew up in Omaha before the fall and being back in his old stomping grounds after all these years, brought about all kinds of memories and well… in this instance, the show made it clear; that stepping back into a devastated world, can bring back devastating memories.

For we came to learn in this tale that Felix is gay, and that his father came to discover this fact before the world came to an end, and kicked his son out rather than accept him, and despite being shunned and on his own at a young and difficult age, Felix always loved and cared for his parents. To the point where he sacrificed his own safety to make sure they were okay when Operation Cobalt was underway. A decision that proved to be quite heartbreaking. For rather than be with their son at the end, they kept him at arm’s length. And all of these memories and a return to a world that hurt him so, motivated Felix to do something drastic, and in the dead of night; he swung by his old home to deal with mom and dad at last. An act that oddly brought about our first positive lesson in this tale, since Felix’s journey here took the time to remind the audience to deal with our past when times are tough, so that we can find strength for tomorrow. 

Yet while it fascinating to learn that coming of age at the end of the world can be a difficult and harrowing and downright shocking experience, the story still had more to explore in regard to this broad and sweeping notion. For there was also mention of whether or not people can find joy or hope for the future in a world such as this one, and well, this story did offer some kind of positivity in regard to that… in the bleakest way imaginable. For eventually Hope and Iris and Elton and Silas made their way to the great tire fire at the edge of town, and while the devastation present there should have terrified them enough to motivate a journey back home, they pressed on. Partly because they were learning quickly in regard to handling the dead, but so more because they managed to discover a purpose at the end of the world. 
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In that, there was a fair chance that they might be last generation of humans to ever walk the walk. A fact that Elton was studying back home, and the math looked sound that in about fifteen years mankind would perish in isolation, allowing for the dead to inherit the earth. Which meant that going out there, and being brave and doing something noble now, would give what little time mankind had left some meaning. And while that was a sobering and powerful way to motivate these characters to forge their way into a corpse filled, smoky hell, there are no guarantees that they will get the opportunity to complete their noble and now historical mission. For the tire fire is endless, and they are surrounded by the dead and it might take sacrifice and sorrow in order to get the rest of the group safely through this hellish and nightmarish landscape. 

If anything, this was hands down one supremely unique, coming of age story. Simply because it serves as the bleak anthesis to these particular tales, since it removed the romance and flighty air that surrounds the coming of age story. Because these tales really do make it seem as though the epiphanies we deal with as kids or teens are somehow magical in nature. When in reality, we don’t think fondly of those moments of discovery until we reach adulthood. Because only then do we properly understand their meaning and their gravity and what they taught us. But in that actual moment, it was likely a sour discovery, one that upset us greatly. Which means that this is nothing more than an oddly realistic coming of age story, one that forced these teens to face some harsh truths for certain. After all, facing one’s mortality and legacy is something that we tend to not deal with until far later in life.

But the world of the dead is a place where everyone has to grow up and face that reality far sooner than they’d like. And speaking of realism; this episode also deserves some serious credit for offering up an honest take about what it is like to be an LGBTQ individual in Modern America. Since what happened to Felix, happens now unfortunately and it is good to see something that important be featured in a major television series and really in the end, all of these elements made this particular episode, an incredible one for certain. Simply because it explored concepts that rarely get a look in zombie stories, and it handled all of them in an intelligent and dynamic manner and truly, this show continues to impress and that will make the wait for next week’s episode a difficult one for certain. Simply because we are all now curious to see what other powerful concepts this series is going to explore in its next episode, and of course, we are dying to know, if a painful lesson on loss is about to come to fruition in the midst of the tire fire. Until next time.  

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season six premiere of ‘Fear of the Walking Dead’.
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Make no mistake about it; season five of Fear the Walking Dead was a supremely polarizing year of storytelling for fans of this series. Because the idea that people would try to be positive and non-confrontational in the midst of the zombie apocalypse seemed like an outlandish idea to some fans. One that they believe, outright weakened our intrepid heroes and allowed for them to become nothing more than pushovers and it made their decision to surrender in order to see another day in the season five finale, stunning to say the least. For in The Walking Dead Universe, people that face insurmountable odds, fight to the bitter end and find a way to win and surrendering made Morgan and his merry band of friends appear as though they’d given up.
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But while some lamented this storytelling direction, there were others who found it to be downright brilliant. For they believe that it offered up a different perspective on the zombiepocalypse since we rarely see anyone think positively about tomorrow in the TWDU and it did allow for some unique episodes to take place for certain. However, whether you loved season five or outright hated it, it did do enough to garner everyone’s attention and leave folks eager to see where exactly Andrew Chambliss and Ian Goldberg planned to take this franchise in season six and well, at long last we are starting to get an idea of what they have up their sleeves. For last night’s season six premiere took us on quite the wild ride, one that revealed the fate of Morgan Jones, while revealing what appears to be the grand plan for this year’s journey through the world of the dead. 

However, before we dive too deeply into that particular plan, it’s best we take a moment to discuss what ‘The End is the Beginning’ revealed about Morgan Jones’ fate. And as it turns out, this brave man actually managed to survive his gunshot wound. How exactly, we will get to in a moment. Because what matters more, is that when we catch up with Morgan here, he’s in rough shape. For the medical attention he received was nothing more than mere patchwork, and he’s still bleeding from his wound and in dire need of quality care. Because the wound is becoming toxic and gangrene is settling in and that oddly gives Morgan quite the special ability in this particular tale. In that, it allows for him to avoid the dead.

Simply because, he smells of death, and he is seemingly near it as well and that motivates walkers to pass him by because he’s nothing more than a spoiled meal. But he finds no joy in having this ability. Instead, Morgan is racing against the clock to assemble a safe zone for his friends and the good Samaritan that saved him after his desperate radio plea. Because Morgan has finally given up and resigned himself to a fate worse than death. Because he’s failed in his mission and he’s failed his friends and at this point, the only good he can do this world, is to offer his friends and savior some safety. But a chance encounter with a decent man in need, leaves Morgan quite conflicted. Because the chance to do something good does awaken something within him. Something that he works to bury quickly in order to avoid the prospect of disappointing someone else. 

But this kind stranger refuses to let Morgan quit and even offers him a mission, one that would involve getting much needed supplies to the stranger’s pregnant wife and well… the good news is that Morgan isn’t that broken just yet and their quest to save a life is what begins a grand character study/loose reveal of what season six is going to stand for. Because this journey allowed for Morgan to ponder upon what’s put him in this broken state, and it all relates to the sheer fact that he doesn’t understand what he is supposed to be in this world. After all, he’s been the monster and paid the price for it, and he’s also been the pure hero that praises the sanctity of life, even at the end of the world. To the point where he has refused to harm or kill others in order retain that purity. But neither path has produced anything for him. Instead they’ve pushed him into solitude.
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Which means that this particular episode dug deep into the nature of heroism and what it actually means to be one, and of course, whether or not a good man can actually be decent in an indecent time. Or if he has to figure out how balance the light and the dark. Which are a lot of philosophical notions to dive into, the kind that should take weeks for Morgan to work through. But the episode does make use of a simple plot device in order to get Morgan to start to sort this mess out, now. For as they continue their quest to save a pregnant wife, they are pursued by a relentless bounty hunter that is eager to bring Ginny, Morgan’s head. And having to face that particular brand of evil on a consistent basis, and being placed in harm’s way, are what allow for Morgan to work out his past while coming to some supremely important epiphanies about what needs to change for him going forward.

In that, he comes to realize that some people only understand violence and responding in kind is the only way to be done with them or reach them. And also, that, sometimes a hero has to make the tough call and do horrible things in order to see another day and to ensure the safety of others. Which is a stunning lesson to inject into a show that was looking at positivity not that long ago, but it makes sense in this particular situation. Because there’s no reasoning with someone like Ginny, there’s only her way or the grave, and not standing up and fighting for what’s right and doing what must be done, will only allow a monster of her caliber to grow and engender more suffering. And that epiphany, along with the fact that doing nothing would cost an innocent baby its life, motivated Morgan to indulge in the darkness and do what must be done with the bounty hunter in order to ensure his safety and the baby’s. 

A decision that gave him a third chance at life, since his newfound friend was skilled in triage and repaired Morgan’s wound before passing into the beyond, thanks to a bite and clearly, Morgan is focused and clear for the first time ever. Because now he understands the way forward and that challenging Ginny is the only way to keep his friends safe and all of this made for one fascinating season premiere. Because this episode dug deep into the duality of man and every nuance that goes into making a tough decision and that made for a fascinating character study, one that blended together the best and worst parts of Morgan to create a stunning new character. One that is motivated to make the tough calls to keep people safe. Which means that we can expect the other characters to be challenged in this manner as well, in order to truly find their way in the apocalypse And that is going to make season six one fascinating ride, as we come to learn what these heroes are genuinely all about and whether or not they can genuinely make peace with the tough decisions they will have to make, in the weeks ahead. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season two premiere of ‘Eli Roth’s History of Horror’.
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It has often been said, that home is where the heart is, and there is good reason as to why this particular phrase is a common part of our vernacular. Simply because we truly believe the homestead to be a safe and wonderful place. One where we can relax and spend time with the people that mean the absolute world to us and for the most part, that is exactly what a home stands for and provides. But sadly, as is often the case in life; sometimes a home is used for far more nefarious purposes. The kind that quite frankly end up on the six o’clock news when its secrets are revealed and that’s why these more sinister homes show up in horror films often. Simply because the genre can explore every dark avenue of storytelling when it comes to what can happen within their walls and that is also why these ‘Houses of Hell’ served as the focal point for the season two premiere of Eli Roth’s History of Horror.

Because believe it or not, this type of home has quite the illustrious history within the genre and thankfully this premiere was eager to highlight some of those stories, such as the ones that serve to remind us that not everything is quite what it seems behind the façade of a cozy homestead. Which is precisely what Misery accomplished for audiences everywhere when it arrived on the scene. For Annie Wilkes’ perky demeanor and inviting home was nothing more than a grandiose lie. Since behind the inviting walls of her rustic farmhouse was pure madness and terror since she was keen on keeping Paul Sheldon captive in order to fulfill a lifelong dream of being near her favorite author and this type of story really does serve as a fine reminder to never judge anything by its appearance. Especially a house and its inhabitants, since we don’t know a thing about a person or what goes on inside their home until we get to know them. 

But while stories like that are always an intriguing treat, this episode was also keen to focus upon what truly put the ‘House of Hell’ on the map; stories about haunted houses. The kind that harbor that some kind of horrible secret or demonic evil. As was the case in The Amityville Horror and Sinister. Since both of these stories offer the two families involved, an idyllic new home that is seemingly going to provide them with shelter and joy and outright peace. Only to shatter that by revealing to them that a great evil is buried within its walls, the kind that only brings pain and fear. But while that makes for some stunning and genuinely unsettling and horrifying moments in both of these stories, what truly makes them worth the audience’s while is the sheer fact that they both offer a deeper meaning. In that, sometimes the real monster in our households is a family member, since there is some underlying satire present in these tales in regard to bad fathers. 

Which is a concept that the most shocking movies from this genre decided to expand upon. Because that concept speaks to the fact that the greatest evil of all is mankind and making that the focus of House of a 1000 Corpses and The Last House on the Left is what allowed for these two films to become quite the visceral experience, for different reasons of course. For this notion more or less made Corpses an emotional rollercoaster ride. One that kept assaulting your senses as the story continued along since you were constantly exposed to the outright cruelty of the Firefly family and oddly enough, the wild finale of that film is the only levity and release that you receive when watching it. Whereas Last House embraced this concept to the fullest, providing us with a horrific motion picture that exposes the darkest aspects of our soul for the entirety of its run time, leaving the viewer in a dark place and in need of a hug once the credits begin to roll. 

In the end however, what this particular episode really does for the audience and new fans of horror, is showcase how versatile the evil house sub-genre of horror truly is. Because really, a house can be anything a creative mind or the viewer wants it to be. And that in turn allows for some dynamic storytelling to take place, since you haven’t a clue as to whether or not you’re about to step into a story that reflects the horrors of the real world, or if this particularly lovely home is going to try and eat the poor souls that just bought it and that makes these movies a genuine treat. Because they always seem to find a way to outright surprise you and this is likely a sub-genre that is only going to grow and thrive as the years roll along. Simply because this particular sub-genre has yet to be properly mined from a creative perspective and who knows, perhaps future stories about homes that harbor evil will warrant a part two from this wonderful series. Until next time.   

While mankind has unlocked a great many secrets about our universe and life on earth, there are still plenty of mysteries out there to intrigue us. Such as the age-old question, what happens to us after we die? Because we simply don’t know what will occur moments after we take our final breath and that particular query has led us to believe all sorts of things about what awaits us in the void, since the possibilities are truly endless in regard to this notion. But there is a consensus that our spirit lives on after our bodies expire, and our belief in that has only grown stronger. And of course, horror movies are happy to seize upon this concept and explore it to the fullest. Since it not only plays into our fears and concerns about the unknown, but it also allows for them to dive into our outright fear of death. Which has helped for some powerful, ghost-themed horror stories to come to fruition, the kind that Eli Roth’s History of Horror took the time to examine in its season one finale. 

For ‘Ghost Stories’ offered up a wonderfully deep dive into these tried and true tales and what made this finale stand out, is the sheer fact that it opened our eyes to some supremely unique aspects of ghostly storytelling. Such as the fact that these stories tend to represent our fears of losing a loved one. Take Poltergeist and Insidious instance. For these two films, feature two different families that are eager to cast spirits out of their respective homes, because the ghosts in question are desperate to the claim the lives of a child. And that truly does represent the fear of having some unknown force akin to a car crash or a natural disaster or a pandemic, just rob of us of someone we love and what the parents do in these movies, speaks volumes to how far we would go to keep our loved ones safe. If anything, it really was quite fascinating to learn that ghost stories feature this kind of depth. Since so many of them offer up something far more traditional; such as raw terror.

Something that this episode was eager to explore as well, because it would be disrespectful to the genre to not discuss two of the finest ghost stories out there, The Haunting (1963) and The Shining (1980). Because both of those films did a phenomenal job of capturing the essence of what makes ghost stories scary. Since both of them feature isolated locations that rob the viewer and the characters of any sense of safety. And they also offer up vengeful and hungry ghosts, the kind that are eager to terrorize and claim their victims in order to draw strength from them and it also doesn’t hurt that they both feature damn fine scripts. Because The Haunting really does offer up a compelling adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s source material, and of course, everything that Stanley Kubrick brought to the table in The Shining hooks the viewer in every way imaginable, and that’s why these films will likely remain the gold standard for years to come.

But what truly made this final entry in season one so worth our while, is the fascinating examination that it offered up about ghost stories that explore a fear, we don't discuss enough. Specifically, that we all worry about coming to the end of our lives with unfinished business on the table. Because there is a belief that ghosts are apart of this world, for that very reason and that the thought that we could be trapped here because of that, is a chilling one indeed. Which is why this particular type of ghost story exists. Because it can provide us with a fascinating exploration of what kind of outright torture a soul could experience by choosing to lead a life without substance. Which is something that really does remind us to live life to fullest, every single day that we are still breathing, and that makes these types of stories oddly motivational in nature, Despite the fact a lot of them focus on murder and untimely deaths. 

In the end however, this really was the perfect way to end season one of this fascinating series. Because ghosts are something that truly fascinate us, and the discussion surrounding them and whether or not there is an afterlife, and the general safety of said afterlife… will continue on until we somehow get concrete proof of what awaits us in death. But all of that aside, we do need to make note of the fact that tackling a topic that keeps us talking, is the perfect way to leave one hungry for more from a documentary about horror films. Because the fascinating points posed here, stay with you for some time and are the kind you share with others as you wait for History of Horror to return to the airwaves and thankfully, that long wait is over. For tonight bring us the premiere of season two of this magnificent and engrossing series and after you’ve watched it on AMC this evening, join us here tomorrow for our recap of the season two premiere! Until next time.  

Of the many, many, many, MANY monsters that populate the horror genre, it is outright safe to say that none of them are quite as famous as the vampire. For this ancient creature has been a fixture in storytelling for millennia, and its incredible nature is why this bloodsucking creature of the night continues to captivate us after all this time. Because there is truly something fascinating about an immortal being that lurks in the darkness and feeds upon the essence of what it once was and that simple description of a surprisingly complex monster has allowed for creative minds to dive deep into their world and their culture for generations on end, and that’s why it is a wonderful thing that this creature served as the focal point of the next episode of Eli Roth’s History of Horror.
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Because ‘Vampires’ did a fine job of putting these stories into perspective so that we all have a better understanding how these creatures resonate with us and one way that they make that happen… is by offering up a relatable examination on the more sour parts of the human psyche. Because often times, the more classic vampires, like Dracula, are portrayed as tortured beings. The kind that that could never move on from the loss of someone they loved, or they saw an opportunity to seize control of the universe and play god, or they were outright afraid of death and saw this as the perfect way out from ever having to deal with it, regardless of the cost. And it is that wonderful commentary on the human condition and the warnings that these characters provide that allow for us to be captivated and enthralled by a genuine monster. Since we share in those fears. But what matters more, is that these explorations also laid the foundation for deeper examinations of who we are as a people. 

For as the years rolled along, the vampire found a way to satirize the taboo nature that people associate with human sexuality. Because for a long time now, people have viewed sex as a 'filthy' act, and these creatures poke fun of that silly perspective by presenting vampirism as a road to sexual freedom, and it is fascinating to realize that sex and vampirism are so deeply connected and thanks to the openness of modern times, this satire was able to blossom and grow into so much more. Because stories such as Interview with the Vampire or True Blood were able to reflect upon the nature of homosexuality and how others view it incorrectly as a great evil and that makes modern vampire stories quite powerful and poignant since they are truly going into bold and uncharted territory. The kind that is quite frankly, long overdue. 

But while it is fascinating and wonderful to know that there are writers out there that are using this genre to push the envelope and force us to have quality conversations about equality and openness. It is important to talk about the fact that the classic romanticism of falling for a tall and dark and mysterious stranger that could potentially cause one great danger, is still alive and well in this genre as well. Since Twilight took the vampire world by storm when it hit the market by making that a focal point of its plot and while these movies are indeed a tad on the cheesy side, one cannot deny the fact that they clearly resonated with their audience by connecting to something fundamental. However, while plenty of folks will shun that particular series because of the fact that it is a little too mainstream for their liking, the good news, is that there is still plenty of raw and visceral vampire themed entertainment out there, to satisfy fans of this iconic genre. 

In the end however, this might actually be the most intriguing chapter in this grand exploration of horror. Simply because this one really dove deep into the more philosophical nature of the vampire, and how well they actually tie into our everyday lives and that is just something that we haven’t seen on this series to date. But when one takes into consideration how they are created, it makes sense as to why we are able to connect with this creature. For they were us and wish to be us in again in some capacity and there is something quite primal and relatable about that, since people have or will see others they care about ‘turn’ into someone else when illness or severe trauma strikes. Which perhaps makes the vampire the most horrifying creature of all, since it genuinely represents our fears of the unknown. Until next time.   

There is something to be said about finding a house that you love, that is also in your price range. I don’t know about the rest of the nation, but the skyrocketing home prices in Colorado are making it more difficult for people to get in on owning a house. And when you finally find that perfect place, there are another ten people that have put bids in on it, so you need to go over the asking price, or show the current owners that you are more deserving by making them cookies and such. Being able to show how much you will love the home for years to come may be the little bit extra that the owner needs to see and sometimes that is even better than money...sometimes.

Being greeted by real estate broker Francine, Emma and Noah have finally found a house in L.A. that is within their price range. With a special appeal about the house, the two are astonished that it is something that they can afford, and it being in an estate sale does not hurt either. Even though it requires a little bit of work to make it into their own home, the couple decide to pull the trigger and end up getting the house for twenty thousand dollars above the asking price. Everything inside of the four walls now belongs to them, yet there is a story that goes along with the house that is more sinister than even they can imagine. 

Hearing the story about a woman killing herself within the walls, Emma and Noah have no problems with an extra ghost lurking around, but there seems to much more to it than that. Hearing something outside one night, Emma tries to investigate, however as something is being slammed into the outside wall, she does not have the nerve to check it out. When Noah opens the door and finds a letter addressed to them, warning them that they are in a place where they do not belong, the couple shrug it off thinking that kids are just having a good time with them. But that is not the only thing that is out of place in the house as there are packages being delivered to the house addressed to the previous owners and Noah cannot find a way to make the deliveries stop. Opening up a package to see a dead cat and another letter of warning from 'The Raven', the couple try to keep an open mind, yet there is someone keeping a close eye on them as their secrets are starting to become exposed.

While Noah works during the day, Emma is making new friends around the neighborhood and Jeanne seems to be the nicest lady around. Living with her son Mikey, who is autistic, she is a single mother that is just looking for someone that can help and that she can help as well. Everything seems good for Emma when she is around Jeanne, but Noah is starting to get a bad feeling about the relationship. As the letters from The Raven all revolve around the health of Emma, she is starting to see and feel it on a daily basis, the house seems to have it in for her. But the last straw is when The Raven is actually spotted outside of the house and breaks windows to terrify the young couple. But getting the cops involved may not be enough when a man sized bird is coming to punish you for living in its house.

I thought that this would be a little more haunting than what it was, but that does not take away from where the story ended up.  I liked the couple of Emma and Noah and while they took the familiar thriller steps and made the same mistakes, they seem to be made for each other. Jeanne and Mikey however really stole the show and I would love to see what happens when they both get old enough to actually talk to one another. I enjoyed the secret of the house slowly being revealed throughout and while there is one locked door in the house that no one can get open, it shows that evil can be anywhere at any time, no matter how nice you are to anybody. Stay Scared.