It wasn’t that long ago, that we discussed what specific monster one would choose as their favorite one from the horror genre, and that’s a significant thought simply because… the monster and all of its variants truly are a keystone of the genre. For without the ghosties and ghoulies and other creatures that go bump in the night, there would be no scary stories for us to enjoy. Which is why it is supremely important to appreciate them when they appear on screen, regardless of how goofy or silly they might be, for they represent years of storytelling and deeper messages more often than not. The kind that the next episode of Eli Roth’s History of Horror was happy to explore.

Because ‘Killer Creatures’ took the time to examine how exactly monsters send shivers down our spines, and one particular way that these movies accomplish that feat, is by putting the worst parts of ourselves on display. Because deep down in all of us is a temper, and a touch of darkness and when all of that is unleashed, horrible things happen and that’s precisely why the werewolf is a creature that fascinates us. For in many ways it represents the evil within all of mankind, and its final form is a perfect physical manifestation of said evil. But while that alone makes the monster quite fascinating, since they can provide us with a compelling examination of the darkness in our souls, what truly makes them so worth our while is the sheer fact that they can represent so much more.

For these beings can in essence, personify any fear, since monsters can be anything, we want to them to be. Take the movie Gremlins for instance. For what appears to be a goofy and wild horror/comedy about a legend come to life, is really a Jekyll and Hyde story. One that uses the gremlin to explore the duality of man and how we are quick to give into our darkest desires when a mob mentality arrives and it’s not the only one to go that deep in such a smooth manner. For John Carpenter’s The Thing is a wonderful example of how an alien from space can serve as an allegory for our fears of being betrayed by those closest to us. Which are some stunning allegories to find within the framework of such classic films, but these messages and analyses are there and they are embedded in these stories for one key reason.

In that, horror films that dig into such powerful concepts are designed to help us cope with fear in general. Because the world can be a scary place and sometimes, we need a slice of fiction to remind us of that fact, so we are better prepared mentally for when chaos strikes and that’s why perhaps horror films that feature ‘natural’ monsters are so successful. Since they do a phenomenal job of representing the chaos of mother nature and how she can surprise us at any given moment in ways we never thought possible. Which is why movies like Jaws and The Birds hold up so well, because they fit that mold and are timeless, since natural disasters find us in every era. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they are in fact, horrifying films since there really is something quite chilling about seeing the ever-cheerful bird try to rip someone’s eyeball out, and the same goes when it comes to watching a man be eaten by a big ass shark. 

If anything, this particular episode does a phenomenal job of exploring how the monster brings the primal nature of fear to the surface of our minds and our souls when we enjoy a well-done, monster themed horror flick. Since they know exactly how to rekindle our collective fear of the unknown. But what matters more, is that this particular chapter did an incredible job of analyzing movies that we quite frankly, take for granted. Because we simply come to expect the monster to terrify us when we drop by the theater to indulge in a scary story, and that’s allowed for us to forget what makes the monster so scary and hopefully this particular episode will provide everyone with a newfound appreciation for the monster flick and everything that they work to stand for. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1513 of ‘Supernatural’.
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As I explained in my Season 15, episodes 1-12 recap The Road So Far, some might find it superstitiously odd getting cut off from production just after airing your 13th installment. Personally, I see a real-life pandemic throwing a wrench into the big picture as some sort of crazy meta storyline ripped directly from the Supernaturalverse playbook… LOL. Regardless, here we are! Our boys having come out the other side also completed their long awaited journey. And now, the #SPNFamily can rejoice for a time then prepare to mourn once more for a series finale that’s assured to bring all the feels. But, before we jump back into the new material, let’s first take a look at that infamous 13th episode and all it has to offer. So, before you can say man bun (LOL!) or Samwitch (YES!!!), let’s dive in…
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Fresh off the news that they are the “Messengers of God’s destruction,” Death (Lisa Barry) adds to this by telling J2M they’re running out of time. God (Rob Benedict) is ending ALL his worlds and will soon be coming for theirs. YIKES!! Jack (Alexander Calvert) has to be ready which brings us to step two in his preparatory process – find The Occultum. Huh… this is new!! But so was step 1, as we learn that, disgustingly odd or not, eating hearts was needed to strengthen Jack’s body. Step 2, on the other hand, is “more spiritual in nature.” Interesting, no? By the way, I loved the rude and uncomfortably hilarious verbal exchange between Death and Dean!!

With a new mission, the research for signs of The Occultum begin! However, gone are the days when we spend time and usually multiple episodes looking for someone or something. As Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) search the books, Cas (Misha Collins) returns with a lead… NICE!! But not before Dean postulates that killing God will set their universe (our Supernaturalverse) off balance and suggests “the family plan” to eliminate Amara (Emily Swallow) as well. I mean… we all know this, right? But for some reason, I feel like this won’t be as hard as it sounds. That battling Amara won’t be necessary. Because similar to the rest of the Gods discussed in 15.11: ‘The Gamblers’, tired of it all, especially Chuck, she’ll decide to leave on her own?? Just a thought. And who will take over?? Well, certainly not Jack, who just learned how to blow and pop bubbles with gum… LOL!!!

As Cas tries to explain the deets on his new lead, Dean trying to guess the history takes me back to some of his silliest cool guy scenes over the years. Specifically, his Werepire push in 11.04: ‘Baby’ and his cowboy and mobster obsessions in 6.18: ‘Frontierland’ and 7.12: ‘Time After Time’, respectively. All of which are fantastic. Or in other words, hilarious (LOL)!!

The current information on the whereabouts of the Occultum lead to a guest star fan favorite – and not just because she’s Jenson’s wife either – Sister Jo(Danneel Ackles). The character is devious yet likeable overall… no? We also get a return from Sam’s old flame and Jared’s real-life wife, Ruby (Genevieve Cortese) – NICE!! Though, I will point out that the throwback stories told by Jo and Ruby seem odd since Jo was likely in a different vessel back then. Nevertheless, it’s a minor oversight as I can certainly see either side of the story showing current day Jo based on Sam and Dean hearing each story and envisioning the only Jo, they (and we) recognize. Still. It’s been said before, including multiple times in this episode, that Jo cannot be trusted – seriously, this chick lies… A LOT. Yet, Sam and Dean, on Jo’s word, head to Hell in search of the Occultum. And wouldn’t you know it? Of course, she set them up… in Hell… with Demons!!

Back at The Bunker, as Cas watches over the spell keeping a rift open to Hell for Sam and Dean, he continues to question Jo’s story and the mission at hand. He then gets Jack to remove enough of his Grace to allow him to step into The Empty where he can question Ruby for himself. A long time ago, this might seem surprising. But, as I’ve said in previous recaps, Cas is darker, riskier and just plain all out of f@$ks to give… LOL!! When Jack questions his return, Cas reminds us all that The Empty will only take him when he’s at his most happy. And given their current circumstances, he’s anything but. Okay, he has a point!

While Sam and Dean fight demons in Hell, Cas reaches The Empty which manifests as Meg (Rachel Miner) – HECK YEAH!! Just hearing her say “hello Clarence” was a SWEET throwback – am I right? Not to mention “Pizza Man” (LOL)! Led to Ruby, she tells Cas where the Occultum is but only on the condition that in exchange, Cas frees her from The Empty. He agrees and all I can think of is just exactly when and how this promise will come to fruition. Heck, even though he looked sincere, maybe our darker Cas is just playing Ruby and has no intention of helping her at all!
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Sam and Dean return from their double-cross to find Jack watching over the rift spell and Cas slumped in the chair “kind-of” dead… LOL. As they nervously wait for Jack to bring Cas back, The Empty decides the overall plan doesn’t require our beloved Angel and she begins to crush Cas from the inside out. NOOOO!! Revived just in time… WHEW!! The dual scenes are tense yet comedic. And speaking of comedy, the group brings in Alternate Universe Sam and Dean (AUJ2) and, overall, our Sam and Dean’s interactions with their doppelgangers is fun, weird and just plain great! The hair, the clothing and the beer – hilarious!! “And, don’t even get me started on the car,” or the Family Business (HunterCorp – LOL!!), the private jet and their father who spoils them. OMC, the jabs at the characters AND their real-life selves are excellent, right!?! Plus, AUJ2 note that John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan - JDM) tried to cross over with them, but they got separated. Does that mean at some point, we might get to see JDM reprise his role in a more hipster fashion? YES PLEASE!!! Regardless, for now, AUJ2 decoys it is! And later, to see AUJ2 go from a judgey tone to actually becoming envious of our Sam and Dean seems to be a lightly meaningful play on just why Chuck loves our heroes so much. I guess hunting monsters, drinking beer and watching Busty Asian Beauties always wins in the end… LOL!!

Following Ruby’s information, the boys head to a church which, for the most part, looks pretty average. But wait… Hell Hounds!! Ruby certainly didn’t mention them… LOL!! Of course it wasn’t going to be that easy, right? A narrow escape inside, Sam holds the doors while Dean, Cas and Jack search for the Occultum. Ruby’s words – the top of the cross will point the way – are confusing at first. But then, as the moonlight shines in through a high window, the cross fixed within casts an image on the church floor. Dean pries open a floor board to reveal a small velvet bag. Inside? A spherical object embedded with Anokian. “In order to be in the Occultum, the Occultum must be in you.” I guess I wasn’t the only one who took this to mean ingesting the sphere, because Jack does just that. At first, he appears to feel okay, then doubles over with pain. A beam of light grows brighter from within his body until collapsing on itself. The light and Jack suddenly disappear. Wait… what?? Dean and Cas look just as stunned as I am. Cut to Jack. He wakes up, of all places, in The Garden (yes, THAT Garden) – WHOA!! Duh! Jo and Ruby called it the safest place to ride out the apocalypse. Of course!! That makes so much sense, right?!? I mean. As the little girl Jack encounters explains, God cast humans from The Garden after the original sin then hid it away. And now, humans may not enter. Stands to reason why a money loving con artist Angel and a scheming witch demon would want to hide there escaping the fall of mankind on earth. Jack then sees a snake who sends Jack into a vision filled trance where he sees all the high points of his short life. By the end, Jack falls to the ground in tears. And all I can think of is Jack’s soul!! Back in the church, the beam of light appears again and begins to grow larger. As the boys watch in amazement, the Hell Hounds bust through the doors, throwing Sam across the room. The beam of light grows even larger and brighter, vanquishing the Hell Hounds in the process – VERY COOL! The light disappears and Jack remains unconscious on the floor. Again, the boys appear stunned, as do I.

Back at The Bunker, Dean sees AUJ2 out as he explains how much they’ll love Rio. Beaches, babes and Carnival… LOL, perfect!! Plus, I’m sure having these mirror images as far away as possible suits our boys just fine… LOL!! But before they leave, AUJ2 admits to finding and driving Baby. Uh oh!! Dean’s response is priceless and reminds me of episode 13.15: ‘A Most Holy Man’, where he gets lost in thought regarding what he’d do to anyone that would steal Baby. “And we’re leaving…” LOL!!

In the final scenes, we learn that Jack’s recovered but he’s different. Cas, describing The Garden as “The crossroads of divinity and humanity,” – a succinct and fitting description for sure! – explains that no one has crossed its threshold until now. Cas brings Sam and Dean to Jack who’s sitting in the kitchen grieving over what he did to Mary. To Sam and Dean too!! OMC, Jack has his soul back. YES! I knew it!! Through tears, he begs for forgiveness… we fade to black. WOW!!

And there you have it! The final pre-pandemic shut down episode ends with pain and confusion yet hope and relief. An unplanned though fitting cliffhanger for the times to say the least. Wouldn’t you agree? Let me know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… GO TEAM FREE WILL!!

Thus far, our journey through the rich and winding history of the horror genre by way of Eli Roth’s History of Horror, has provided us with some incredible insight on how the genre has learned how to adapt with the times in order to stay relevant and successful. But while that particular exploration has been quite fascinating in its own right, it would be quite boring if this series only focused upon that evolution on a consistent basis. Because we want to learn everything that we possibly can about this genre and what it has to offer us and that’s why it is a wonderful thing that the next chapter in this phenomenal series, ‘The Demons Inside’, took the time to avoid discussions of evolution to instead focus upon how horror movies dissect and explore our greatest fears.

Which is something we don’t really think about all often when we watch these movies, since we lose ourselves within the story. But the fact of the matter is, horror is quite good at taking our deepest fears and putting them on display and one particular style of horror films that do a phenomenal job of that… are possession themed stories. Because tales where demons enter one’s body, prey upon one of our greatest worries; losing control of our mind and our body. A fear that stems from some of the illnesses that plague mankind and well, what makes these films so effective when it comes to the scares, is the sheer fact that they hold nothing back in their presentation and for proof; then look no further than the two films that helped to give life to the genre, Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist.

For both of these motion pictures force us to watch Rosemary and Regan lose their grip on their sanity and reality in a slow and methodical fashion. Which is something that makes the audience quite uncomfortable and that makes the actual horrific moments embedded in the script all the more powerful when they arrive. Because at that point the audience is vulnerable and vested and that allows for them to go on an emotional ride, one that leaves their heart racing and their mind begging for safety and that really does make these movies quite special for certain. Since they genuinely pull upon something primal in our souls and these stories did such a phenomenal job of putting our fears on display and tugging upon them that future filmmakers made sure to inject this particular element into their own possession stories, in a subtle and genius manner.

Take The Evil Dead for instance. Since this film is often viewed as a gory indie experience that wears its audience down with gore and an assault on one’s senses. When in reality, it offers the viewer a sense of outright helplessness as they watch Ashley J. Williams’ friends succumb to Kandarian evil, which pulls at our own fears of watching our loved ones and friends lose themselves to both physical and mental illness and what’s truly impressive about possession films is that they’ve even been able to reflect upon more modern societal fears and problems in recent years. For Jennifer’s Body was able to offer up a grandiose examination of how women are viewed in the modern world and the lack of control they have over their bodies and of course… Get Out was able to offer up an incredible examination of the lack of control that African Americans have when it comes to their safety and their lives.

But while it is wonderful to know that possession films offer far more than unsettling moments and stunning scares, what this particular episode really did a phenomenal job of putting on display, is how possession stories manage to do something that few horror stories can. In that, they have figured out how to make us afraid of death. For these movies pose the theory that evil is doing just fine on the other side, and that it is eager to cause trouble on every plane of existence and that really does reinvigorate our fear of death, since it removes the peace and comfort we expect to find within it when our time has come, and it makes these stories poignant and powerful. Since they also toy with notions of faith, something that is paramount to so many people. But what matters most, is that this particular chapter in this fascinating documentary reinforces the fact that is going to leave no stone unturned in its exploration of what makes this genre so great, since it provided us with incredible insight on a sub-genre of horror that we don't discuss enough. Until next time.  

I really want to find out where the schools are that allow you to do really cool things for assignments. While I have taken paleontology and archeology classes, ninety percent of the work was done in the classroom, mainly in books.  While I understand how much research must be completed before making it to the field, a little field work would have made the classes much more enjoyable and possibly changed the direction of where my education would have taken me. Being able to pick a subject of what to write about for these classes always left my professors a little taken back, as I could talk about what I read or what the pictures showed at sites, but I always took it a different route to make sure they understood that I knew what was going on with the research, but I wanted to make it wildly entertaining as well.

Having a difficult time coping with her father’s passing almost a year ago, Jasmine (Jas) has graduated to speaking with a psychiatrist on her mother’s orders. Not wanting to be there and not willing to open up to the stranger, Jas keeps everything she can inside and while she knows that she will never get better by doing it, there is no other choice since Jas refuses to let the memory of her father go. But the nightmares are getting worse for the young woman and something needs to change in Jas’ life so her doctor gives her a new medication that should help her sleep better at night. Taking one in the office, Jas is ready to go home with her extended family, since she and her best friend Skye have plans for visiting the haunted Quarantine Station tonight.

Getting home and seeing her boyfriend Cameron waiting for her with camera in hand, Jas is not in the mood and just wants to be left alone. As Skye keeps an eye on the hormone raged boyfriend, she allows Jas some time to herself since it was apparent that her friend had a hard time with the shrink today.  Not allowing himself to be left out of her life, Cam tries to explain his position and winds up making everything out to be his girlfriend’s fault and Jas kicks him out.  A short time later, Jas finds out that her mother and Skye’s mother are going out to party and Jas will have to babysit her little brother and Skye’s little brother. Thinking that it is disrespectful to her father’s memory that her mother is more or less back out on the prowl, Jas tries to shut down, but with promise of a good time at the Quarantine Station, she will not be held back from enjoying herself at all.

While on the tour at the station, the girls and their brothers find out all about the hauntings that are taking place and they want to know more. Hearing stories about the ghost of a girl in a pink dress, they find out that this is the most malicious spirit that anyone has ever encountered and while they should be scared, Jas and Skye want to mess with their siblings. Trying to evoke the spirit of the ghost, the girls give their brothers a slight scare and head back home to work on their report about the station. But they are not alone as the words that they spoke has awakened the spirit of the girl in the pink dress and she wants revenge on whomever gets in her way. Being able to latch on to Jas, the ghost takes control of her living host and forces her to do her bidding. Seeing that his sister is possessed, Zac gets his team together to head back down to the station and try to reverse the curse, but little do any of them know the power that the Quarantine Station possesses and that the hauntings are very real.

A story where the ghost is hell bent on revenge for what happened to her in a past life, I dig it. Getting a full background of what happened in the Quarantine Station and how many people died there, the rumors are the best part of the stories as nobody living knows exactly what happened. It was a great set up to the storyline and watching as Jas becomes a medium for the girl in the pink dress is kind of scary and kind of cool at the same time. As the group was given the rules of the station, it is apparent that there are no rules when the ghosts come out to play and exact their revenge on the living. Watching how friendships are put to the test and how the family dynamic is challenged, it would be amazing to see anyone escape the clutches of one of the most powerful ghosts that ever walked in the station. Stay Scared.

The true beauty of being able to assemble a rich universe in television or film, is that such a move allows for storytellers to explore all kinds of unique concepts. Because new characters and a new setting offer up endless possibilities for a creative team and for proof that this is indeed a reality, well then look no further than The Walking Dead Universe. For this humble and sweeping re-telling of a modern comic book classic is now three shows strong and the two that split off from the original are keen to explore concepts that The Walking Dead can only toy with, since it is married to its printed source material.
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Take The Walking Dead: World Beyond ​for instance. Since this brand-new entry in the TWDU is wasting no time in examining the impact of sustained trauma upon the human psyche and whether or not is possible to live with meaning at the end of the world. But while it will be interesting to see where that examination takes us in the weeks to come, there is no series in this particular universe that is more experimental than Fear the Walking Dead. For not only did this particular tale work to re-envision what the collapse of civilization might look at the hands of the living dead, it’s taken all kinds of incredible storytelling chances every year that it has been on the air. 

After all, this is a series that took the zombie apocalypse to the high seas, and gave us our first taste of what the end of the world looks like outside of the United States, thanks to a trip to Mexico and of course… it’s been the boldest show of all when it comes to main character deaths. Since we’ve seen big name leads disappear from the roster over the past couple of years, only to have them replaced in an equally bold manner. Since Morgan Jones and Dwight have found a new home here after leaving The Walking Dead behind and the wonder of its bold decisions don’t end there. Because this is a series that dared to explored positivity in its fifth season by pondering upon whether or not hope could be used as a weapon in the end times, and the failure of our heroes’ mission to make that happen, brought about all kinds of criticism. 

For fans weren’t looking for these characters to fail or hold their heads high in a prideful manner at trying. They wanted everyone here to fight Ginny and her gang of cowboys and well, with season six now looming on the horizon, everyone is wondering if this series is going to try and maintain the ‘high road’ theme that permeated the fabric of season five, or if we are finally heading back into darker territory. And as it turns out, season six is big on the latter of those two options. Because the darkness and the danger that is a standard in this world is present here in spades. For the dead are once again a threat and our characters are in quite the morose place and understandably so. Because they lost, and that’s never easy for brave people to swallow in the slightest and really, it is the characters that make season six so supremely fascinating.
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Because it is clear early on that everyone that we know and love on this show, are struggling badly with that loss and struggling with what it means to be a good person in a world where that might not matter anymore. Because people akin to Ginny in this universe are strong and powerful and resourceful and beating them seems almost impossible when only a handful of people believe in something more. And finding themselves in a lost place, where hope is robbed from them and where victory or joy seems out of reach is what truly challenges these characters at last. Because now they have to decide if the fight and everything that they could lose in the process is worth it or not, and that really is the perfect way to set up this year’s adventures. 

For that more or less lay the foundation for a redemption story, one that will finally allow for a group of broken people to find unity and strength and their potential at a time when mankind is lost and shattered. Which means that we are in for one incredible season for certain, one that is filled with danger and intrigue and unexpected surprises and if it seems as though this preview is sticking to broad concepts and nothing more, you’re absolutely right. Because the last thing we want to do is spoil the details, so that you can enjoy them when Fear the Walking Dead returns to the airwaves this Sunday, October 11, 2020 and truly, this reviewer hopes that you tune in and give this series another chance. Because season six is quite impressive.

Broken homes are not out of the norm these days, in fact you seem to hear much more about them than ever before. It is sad to see a family get torn apart and while sometimes it is for the greater good, if there is a child involved, it can ruin their lives. I have been fortunate in that my family has not had these issues since my parents just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary and are still going strong, but I have several friends that have had to deal with it. Although they seem fine, you can see that it has left a scar there when you ask how the parents are doing.

The time has come for Kathy and Lizzy to get on the road and get young Lizzy to her father’s house before the night settles in. Not ready for the trip, Kathy sees that her daughter has taken care of all of the packing for them both and is very impressed.  Lizzy has grown into a strong young woman and even though she might not have had much to do with it, Kathy is proud of her daughter, but needs to find a way to show it.

Stopping on the long drive to get some gas and steal a smoke, Lizzy has given the direction to push through the night and get to her father’s house, so she can sleep in her own bed. Even though Kathy is getting tired, she will do whatever her daughter asks and do her best to get Lizzy home in the fastest time possible. Taking a shortcut through the woods, the car gets run into by something that is not seen, and all that Kathy can remember when waking up from the crash is that she hit a wolf. With the car’s electrics going out, the two have been marooned out in the middle of nowhere, but help will be on its way as Lizzy has been able to contact the authorities. 

Seeing the dead wolf in the middle of the road, Kathy is curious about what really happened and while investigating the body finds a large fang in the wolf's gut. Knowing that there are all kinds of creatures in the forest, she has never seen anything like this before, but does not want to frighten her daughter. As the tow truck shows up before anyone else, the two young women are greeted by the driver, but Lizzy does not want to have anything to do with him, much less let either of them get out of the car on this stormy night. Even though Kathy knows that there is nothing to be afraid of, seeing a torn and battered tow truck driver crawling back to his truck after being mauled by an unseen creature, the truth about what Lizzy feared has come to life as they are now next on the menu of the monster that trapped them in the woods in the first place.

You know, when I saw the previews for this movie, I thought it looked a little bit different from a normal monster movie and I was right. With more suspense than gore, the story really follows the relationship between a former abusive alcoholic in Kathy and her daughter Lizzy, who only wants her mother to get better. With flashbacks about how their relationship declined while Kathy was boozing it up and seeing how much hatred Lizzy had for her mother, it was nice to see that they both still pretty much loved each other when the spit hit the fan. I really liked the underlying story that was being told about the monster that was hunting them down and while so many people complain about the ending of this movie, I think that they did an overall good job in delivering the message. Stay Scared.

Over the course of the past few days, we’ve explored a great deal of fascinating tidbits about the horror genre. Because Eli Roth’s History of Horror has simply done a phenomenal job of putting everything that makes this genre tick on full display, and that’s allowed for us to come to understand exactly how horror is tied to the zeitgeist of the times and our own fears as well. Which is quite frankly, what has allowed for these stories to evolve and thrive as the years roll along since they are keen to pick up on something relevant in our world and analyze it in horrifying and fascinating detail. But while this has made for some powerful and unique insight for certain, the next chapter in this fascinating documentary offered up quite the unexpected twist in regard to another reason as to why these stories are eager to evolve. 

Because ‘Slashers, Part 2’ took the time to reveal to the viewer, that horror is a genre of filmmaking that is also completely self-aware of what it is doing and where it is at with audiences. Which is an aberration since movies (and most forms of entertainment) just roll with the box office results until audiences are outright bored with a particular genre or franchise. But scary movies see the trends and react accordingly and for proof, then look no further than the renaissance of the slasher. Because despite all the accomplishments that were revealed in ‘Slashers, Part 1’, this particular sub-genre was beginning to see diminished returns at the box office, which is a giant red flag that audiences were starting to get bored with the product on the screen and that meant the time had come to revitalize and reinvent the slasher and the best way to do that… was to inject a little fantasy into the mix.

Enter Wes Craven and his horrifying vision of a killer that stalks people in their dreams. Because A Nightmare on Elm Street took the genre to new heights by providing us with a killer that wasn’t bound by the rules of the mortal world, and was able to strike at people in their most vulnerable moments. Which is downright terrifying for certain, and it clearly resonated with audiences since Freddy Krueger quickly became an 80s icon, and the wonder of using the fantastical to assemble a horror story didn’t end with him. Because Candyman is another story that found a way to prey upon the darkest recesses of our imagination by bringing an urban legend to life in a realistic and terrifying manner and the sheer fact that this story offers up a little commentary on race relations in America, only adds to its depth and wonder and it only helped to make the slasher something more for the audience. 

In fact, commentary is something that continued to help the slasher stay relevant in the 1990s and beyond, something that was handled in a supremely unique manner by 1996’s Scream. For this particular film, took the time to reinvigorate everyone’s love affair with the slasher, by pointedly reminding us of what makes this sub-genre so great in the first place. All by deconstructing the slasher and celebrating its finest elements. Plus, the early slashers of the 21st Century were quick to denounce big business and the divide growing within our society from a class standpoint by way of the Saw films and even the violently dubbed ‘torture porn’ of the early aughts found a way to speak to our ailing world. Since those post 9/11 features provided catharsis to audiences everywhere since they were all about punishing bad people, something that resonated with a nation that wanted justice for its dead.

If anything, this particular exploration of the slasher was nothing short of fascinating. Because it really did help us to not only understand how horror evolves with the times and the tastes of its audience, but it really put on display how vital these films are to our mental health. Which may be an odd thing to say, but it is outright true. Since the slasher offers us a fun escape, one that allows for us to enjoy a high-octane and gory experience where we can work out fears and frustrations before returning safely to our everyday lives. And to top it all off, this exploration and analysis proves without a doubt, that the slasher can be a hyper intelligent genre. One that has plenty to say about our world and now that our journey through this sub-genre is complete, we can dive into another way in which the horror genre examines the terror that comes with losing control of one’s self. Until next time.

If you were asked to name your favorite character from the horror genre, who would you choose? Would it be Dracula? Frankenstein? The Mummy? Because all of those characters are indeed iconic and are absolutely tied to the genre in a positive manner. But let’s be honest, while the classics have their merit, there’s a fair chance that the average person would evoke Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger or Ghostface’s name when asked that question. Because the slasher is an easy and accessible sub-genre of horror. One that people have seen en masse over the years and the popularity of these films and their outright staying power, is precisely why Eli Roth’s History of Horror felt the need to highlight them in the next episode of this magnificent documentary.

Because not only have these movies had an incredible impact upon pop culture over the years, they also happen to have quite the illustrious history, one that was brought to life by way of a true master of cinema in Alfred Hitchcock. For ‘Slashers, Part 1’ correctly points out that the 1960 film Psycho was the true genesis of the slasher film. Because this particular tale took the time to offer up everything that we see in these movies today, since it features a twisted and bloodthirsty killer that is eager to attack the vulnerable, whilst hiding behind a disguise. But while this movie did a fine job of establishing what a killer in these movies should look like, it also provided everyone with a blueprint on how to scare the audience in a simple fashion, all by making use of clever editing in regard to the movie's most famous scene.

But what matters more is that Hitchcock’s masterpiece inspired so many more to make movies in this vein and that’s why the 1970s were awash with horror movies that featured this iconic style of killer. But while a majority of these Psycho inspired slashers, were downright entertaining and chilling in their own right, they really didn't offer audiences anything new or exciting and truly, the slasher didn’t really evolve until John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper decided to take a crack at the genre by way of 1974’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and 1978’s Halloween. Because Hooper’s Chainsaw wasted no time in examining the chaos of the world and how people will sometimes commit to bad things when they have nothing to lose, and the uncomfortable sense of realism present here was also found in Halloween.

For Jamie Lee Curtis’ performance in the film provided the audience with a relatable and familiar and dynamic character for a change, and she was wonderfully counterbalanced by Carpenter’s exploration of what drives a madman to kill and these movies led to quite the golden age for slashers. For what followed Halloween and Chainsaw was a smorgasbord of dynamic and fascinating slashers, the kind that began to explore the darkest recesses of our souls. Take Maniac for instance. Since this particular story put the depravity and instability of a killer on display and really this particular push to create a more realistic slasher only helped to improve the quality of these stories. For you’ll even find touches of humanity in the Friday the 13th films (thank you Kane Hodder), and in the end, all of these movies and their dynamic depth, helped to cement the slasher as a legitimate staple of horror, one that can connect with the masses.  

But as this genre is wont to do, it loves to explore the impossible and push the envelope in how it terrorizes us. Which allowed for the slasher to go to new and exciting places, the kind that we will explore in ‘Part 2’. But until we dive into that particular chapter, we can bask in one quality examination. Because once again, every horror legend present here had incredibly insightful things to say, and their commentary on their experiences while making these films and hearing about what they mean to these icons of horror on a personal level, just adds new depth and dimension to movies that we’ve likely binged a billion times. Which just serves to remind to us that this series really is something quite special, and it will be quite interesting to hear what Robert Englund and Tony Todd and others will have to say about their experiences in assembling fantastical and iconic slasher stories, in the next episode of this dynamic series. Until then.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.
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It should be common knowledge at this point, that the zombie story has accomplished a great deal on the silver and small screen. For not only have these horrific creatures made horror one of the most popular genres out there by way of The Walking Dead, they’ve also helped to bring some powerful stories to life. The kind that have managed to examine our modern world and the problems that plague society, alongside some powerful explorations of the human condition. Since we’ve seen the darkest parts of mankind on display by those who wish to take advantage of the chaos of the end of the world, and that particular brand of evil has been beautifully counterbalanced by the wonder of everything good in the world. Since we’ve also spent time with noble and just people in these incredible tales. 
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But while these stories have captivated us by way of fine writing and blood and guts and outright scares, what’s truly fascinating about zombie themed storytelling, is that it tends to play it safe when it comes to its setting. For a vast majority of these tales tend to take place in the midst of the ‘dawn of the dead’ if you will, or shortly after the world has come to an end, for maximum drama of course. And really, the only person to break this rule is the master himself; George A. Romero. Since his tales of terror eventually took the time to go far into the future and examine what society might look for those who survived the end and found a way to put the world back together again. But as The Walking Dead Universe continues to expand and explore new frontiers, this particular franchise has opted to follow in Romero’s footsteps and explore what comes next for humanity when the dead have conquered the world.

A feat that is accomplished by way of the brand-new series, The Walking Dead: World Beyond. For ‘Brave’ wasted zero time in showing us a world where modern society found a way to continue along in the face of zombified adversity and that made this particular series premiere quite the fascinating tale. For seeing a fully functional city, ten years after the end, where people go about their day in a familiar manner, speaks volumes to the fact that certain people would do whatever it takes to have a sense of normalcy and continuity in this situation. And while there are courses in self-defense in Omaha and everyone is aware of what awaits them beyond the walls, these people continue to party and go to therapy and do everything that we do now to keep that status quo rolling, and that proves to be quite dangerous.

Because there are others in this brave new world that understand people would be eager to retain what once was, and those nefarious people would be eager to use that desire to their advantage and that’s why the mysterious Civic Republic Military immediately puts up red flags when they first appear. In large part because this organization has been popping up in The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead for years now, and their actions there already make them suspicious. But their desire here to use propaganda and promise to keep the people of Omaha under control only adds to our concerns. Because it’s clear from the get-go that they only seem to have a passing interest in the safety and survival of humanity, unless of course it can offer them something, and clearly, they are going to become quite the menace as this limited series continues along. 

But while it is fascinating to finally put a name to his organization and get an idea of where they operate, it is the more intimate elements present in this story that make it worth the audience’s while. Because this particular story really dives deep into the long-standing psychological effects of sustained trauma and stress. For Hope and Iris, two of our main characters, are broken teenagers when we catch up with them here. For they are haunted by the day the world ended, and they’ve been asked to be strong and be bold for so long, that they have never properly dealt with the events and the loss they suffered on that fateful night of the living dead. Which has left them both in a stunning daze, one where they haven’t a clue what awaits them in a world where hopes and dreams are no longer what they used to be. 
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Which is a brilliant element to inject into this particular tale. Because what’s been expected of Hope and Iris is exactly the expectation that hangs over Daryl and Carol and Morgan and Alicia on the other shows and it is nice to see this story, properly point out that unresolved trauma and excessive stress can leave people adrift emotionally. Plus, it is equally as powerful to see how these elements can absolutely transform youth into hardened teenagers that are unsure of how to proceed in life when forging ahead is all they know, and that particular aspect of sustained trauma is what sets up the future of this story. For eventually, Iris and Hope come to realize that they aren’t really living at this point. They’re simply surviving and waiting for the next crisis or big moment to overcome, and that if they don’t do something about that now, they’ll carry their ghosts into adulthood.

A reality that motivates them, to do something about their problems by heading out into the world, and while that seems dangerous and foolish at first glance; the fact that they are doing this because their father is in trouble behind CRM lines makes their quest a noble one for certain. And really, when all is said and done, this is simply a brilliant way to open up a new chapter in The Walking Dead Universe. For not only does it take us into uncharted territory both setting and story wise, it’s obvious now that this is going to be a genuinely unique and dangerous tale. Because our heroes know nothing of this world and what it has transformed into in the past decade since the dead began to walk the earth and that will present them with incredible challenges, the kind that will change them forever, and that is perhaps the best part about this brand-new series.

Because that kind of character development simply isn’t possible in the other two shows since they are dealing with harsh conditions and maddening villains at every single turn. But here, there’s the open road and time to think, and places to hide from the roving herds of the living dead. Which means these characters will able to find themselves and figure out what they want out of life in a world where death no longer has meaning. But before they find that internal peace, they’ll have to grapple with their past and the hardships of survival since they’re far away from home and that is going to provide the audience with one emotional and powerful experience. One that will see our characters suffer and triumph and rise and fall as they work to save a life and that definitely leaves one excited for the unknown journey ahead and all the wonder and horror that it is going to send our way. Until next time.     

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season ten finale of ‘The Walking Dead’.
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Over the course of the past ten seasons; Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Michonne and Carol and every single character that we’ve come to know on The Walking Dead, have managed to accomplish some serious wonders on this show. Because time and time again, they’ve been able to either escape certain doom or conquer incredible evil, regardless of the insurmountable odds hanging over their heads. And while that’s made for some breathtaking moments and some heartbreaking ones as well, how they continue to make this happen after all these years is what makes our journey with these characters so important and so incredibly poignant. Because every last one of these intrepid characters, believe in the depths of their souls that end of the world is humanity’s second chance, and they are willing to fight to the bitter end to give mankind the opportunity to start over in a proper fashion.
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Which is why these characters have worked hard to represent the best of us and ask the hard and introspective questions that we don’t ask ourselves today. All so that they can rise above the mistakes of the past and forge a world where peace and prosperity and safety is available for everyone. To the point where they’re even giving evil an opportunity to change its ways, and for a long time, it seemed as though a utopian ending is where this series was heading. But then came that ugly war with the Saviors, which left these good people rattled and nervous to trust others and then the Whisperers arrived to outright make things worse. Because these horrible people embrace the darkest parts of our souls and break the rules of civility and outright human decency in order to exert power over their enemies and that’s made the past year and a half, one rough ride.

One that has managed to see good people begin to give into their darkest desires and fear and that has helped to erode the sense of unity that these characters worked so hard to create. And when we last left this intrepid band of survivors a few months ago, it truly seemed as though they were facing the unthinkable. For ‘The Tower’ saw the living dead and the Whisperers, now led by Beta, surrounding the safehouse that the Alexandria Alliance used for refuge and for the first time ever, there was an uncomfortable and underlying implication that our heroes might lose this fight and the world might slip into darkness. But after a long and worthwhile wait, the fate of these beloved characters was finally revealed during last night’s season ten finale, in a manner so epic that ‘A Certain Doom’ may go down as the finest season finale in the history of the series. 

Because this one, took the time to put us on an emotional roller coaster ride, one that was filled to the brim with incredible danger. Because in order to beat the Whisperers, the group knew that they’d have to navigate that sea of death outside the walls of the Tower, in order to execute a daring plan to draw the mega herd away. And that likely meant that not everyone was going to make it out of this fight alive and the sobering reality of that, did something that seemed impossible not that long ago. In that, it reminded everyone exactly what they are fighting for, and why they refuse to back down and in a beautiful and subtle manner, these fine people were united once again. But before they could celebrate the wonder of that, the time had come to step into the herd (in a gooey walker disguise, of course) in order to finally put an end to this outright madness.

Which is where the danger came into play. For one wrong move, or a single noise, and the dead would tear our heroes to shreds, and unfortunately that did happen to one hero as everyone moved through the herd. Since a quick scrum with a Whisperer put an end to Beatrice. But with an assist from friends in the Tower and Lydia, eventually our heroes were able to emerge from that nightmare unscathed. Which in turn allowed for their daring plan to come to fruition. Wherein a wagon cart, complete with the finest sound system ever; blasted some 80s hits to garner the attention of the dead. A move that worked and irritated the Whisperers to no end. To the point where they laid in pursuit and found a way to drive our heroes off and disable the music. And that unfortunate surprise and the situation back at the Tower, once again put the future in jeopardy.  
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For the Tower was in peril as well, since Beta ordered his lieutenants to handle any stragglers or evacuees and well, it was in this hopeless moment that everyone truly shined. For Father Gabriel did his best to stand his ground and ensure the safety of the last escaping group, and Negan even joined in on the fight to help Daryl and his team take out the Whisperers one by one from inside the herd, and thanks to everyone’s bravery, and the surprising arrival of Aaron and Maggie at the Tower… at long last, the Whisperers were vanquished and in the wake of this horrifying battle, eventually there was peace and a sense of hope once again. For now, these communities could heal at last and begin to rebuild their cities, their lives, and their dreams to create a world filled with peace and prosperity for the last vestiges of mankind. 

But while that is quite the happy ending, this is still an episode of The Walking Dead and there are still some unresolved and concerning plot threads to come out of this particular finale. For the implication is strong that something horrible happened at Oceanside while this battle played out, and Connie’s fate remains unresolved and to top it all off, Eugene and his first contact team; made some interesting new friends. For in the final moments in this tale, where Eugene’s group waited patiently to see if Stephanie was going to show after all; floodlights switched on and armed guards in incredible red and white armor surrounded the group. Leaving us with one hell of a cliffhanger, one that left all of us wondering, just who these soldiers are and whether or not… they are friend or foe. 

A mystery that will no doubt have to wait until the final season of this series to be solved. But in the here and the now, we can bask in one incredible season finale. Because this one truly had it all. Action, adventure, chills, spills and buckets and gore and it absolutely put us on the edge of our seats. For we simply didn’t know who would live and who would die in this particular tale, or if some people were going to give into their worst instincts and do the unthinkable, and well… it really doesn’t get much better than that. And truly, this finale is the perfect way to begin our farewell tour to this magnificent and sprawling series. Because now our heroes are unified toward a common cause once again, which should make them ready for whatever challenges the eleventh and final season of The Walking Dead, is going to send their way. Until next year.