Written by John Edward Betancourt It is definitely safe to say that Halloween can sometimes be a bittersweet day for the horror fans of the world. Simply because the world demands that once the clock strikes midnight on this special day that we put the scary things away. For the holidays await and there is just no room for the spookier stuff in life. But that is in fact, silly thinking on the world’s part. Because horror knows no bounds and it has movies that relate to the holidays as well, and most important of all… the release schedule for great horror doesn’t end when we throw the last pumpkin on our doorstep away. With that in mind, we here at NTG thought it would be worthwhile, to help guide you through all the terror that awaits us during the holiday season. Because there is still a lot of horror to see and a lot to catch up on. So, without further ado, here is our post Halloween horror viewing guide for all of you to enjoy as the red cups come out and the holiday decorations go up. Shudder Has the MeatsTruly, there is no better home for horror than the streaming service, Shudder. Simply because they have the goods year in and year out. From a careful curation of classics to originals and exclusives, Shudder is your S-Mart of Horror, and they have all kinds of goodies for folks to enjoy this holiday season. For instance, the Boulet Brothers’ new competition show The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans is on the air now with new episodes dropping on Tuesday on the network and of course… Queer for Fear: The History of Queer Horror is a documentary worth watching, as is The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time. Plus, Shudder’s monthly lineup of original and exclusive films will continue along in November, a list of which you can find here. So, if you’re in need of a hardcore horror fix, Shudder will take good care of you because they have all the gory meats. ‘The Walking Dead’ Is Laid to Rest It is definitely safe to say that the AMC series, The Walking Dead, is nothing short of a pop culture phenomenon. After all, this is the series that made zombies and gore cool for prime-time television and its twisted and gooey scares, combined with some quality characters and fine acting, has allowed for it to dominate the Sunday night television landscape. But alas, all good things must come to their end whether we like it or not and the end is nigh for this iconic horror series. For November 20, 2022, will see the series finale arrive. Which makes the final season of this show a must-watch regardless of whether you’re a die-hard or casual fan, or one that walked away from the show. simply because history is about to unfold. Which also makes this a great opportunity to go wild and binge the series if you like as well. But either way, this is a big deal, one that deserves placement on this list and our attention come 11/20 when TWD is laid to rest. The Binge-ables Of course, there are some other juicy horror delights floating about in the streaming world. The kind that you can spend a day just binging to your heart’s desire. For instance, Hulu has a vast library of goodies to binge upon, such as their Into the Dark Series, and they are also home to the delightfully underrated and short-lived horror anthology series, Castle Rock. A true gem that offers new depth to Stephen King’s twisted musings. Not to mention, Netflix has some new stuff for horror fans to indulge in. For Mike Flanagan’s The Midnight Club is available to stream now, and he is a writer and director that always delivers, and if you haven’t watched the final season of Locke & Key, now would be the perfect time to do so. Speaking of perfect timing, another horror series that is worth binging is Servant on Apple TV+. For this is a delightfully twisted and engaging, and downright mysterious horror story from M. Night Shyamalan that completely takes you by surprise over and over again. Courtesy of incredible twists and turns and shocking revelations that keep you hungry for more and now is the perfect time to binge the first three seasons of the show. Simply because the fourth and final season of the series will kick off in January. So why not catch up on the series now, and be one hundred percent ready for the grand finale? The Creature Features Of course, if you’re not in the mood to watch a show this holiday season, or if you simply don’t have the time and just want to take in an awesome creature feature… there are plenty to keep you happy on either a streaming service or in theaters. After all, Shudder has four brand-new features coming to the service in November and there are some big horror flicks to see on HBO Max, Peacock, and Hulu. For HBO is now home to the stellar feature, Barbarian, Peacock has the bold finale to the Haddonfield Saga in Halloween Ends and Hulu of course… is host to the phenomenal remake/reboot of Hellraiser.
But if you’re wanting to swing by your local multiplex to escape with a soda and a tub of popcorn for a couple of hours, there are still some horror flicks still coming to theaters before year’s end. For the upcoming and star-studded horror/thriller The Menu arrives in theaters on November 18, just in time for Thanksgiving and it isn’t the only delectable horror feature hitting the silver screen in that time frame. For Bones and All hits theaters on November 23, and both would be a perfect way to add a little spooky spice to your day. So, as you can see… there’s plenty of terror to titillate us in the weeks to come and we certainly hope this list gives you some direction and joy during a time of year that can be extremely stressful.
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Written by Shae Rufe
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Interview with the Vampire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article also contains discussions regarding domestic abuse and sexual assault, which may be triggering to some individuals.
It’s important to know that not all victims of abuse turn into abusers. That being said, it’s not a shock that Louis has some tendencies of his own. In regard to Daniel the Journalist, Louis seems to be content with exerting his power and will over him. Each episode has progressed with varying degrees of Louis showcasing his power, yet in this he takes it too far. When Daniel makes a comment about Claudia’s journal, how four pages are missing, Louis warns him. Daniel pushes. These missing pages contain the details of what happened when she crossed another vampire. This vampire took full advantage of her, raped her, and Louis took those pages from her journal and tore them free. Supposedly to spare to reader or shield himself from what she had gone through. To Daniel, this just leaves more questions. It’s now Louis’ word without evidence to back it all up. Much like this whole thing, Louis brushes it off. This is his story after all, this is how he is going to tell it. He even goes so far as to demand Claudia be written in such a way to overshadow her countless murders. Daniel is blunt, blatant, doesn’t hold back. So, when he tells Louis that once this is written and out there for the world to see, there is no controlling how the story is taken. Readers decide, no matter how the story is written. At the threat of Claudia not being seen as the precious innocent he believes her to be, Louis exerts his power over Daniel. Forces the man’s arm to uncontrollable and violently shake. It’s beyond cruel to do to a man suffering from the onset of Parkinson’s disease. When he finally lets Daniel free, he snaps. Slapping Louis. It’s a justifiable reaction. Louis, however, a survivor of abuse himself, has no problem toying with Daniel, taking control over this entire situation, and putting Daniel in vulnerable situations. Daniel is caught in the web of a spider, being toyed with until the spider decides to strike. The frivolity at which the vampires treat human lives is a sad affair. Louis seems to have tried to be ethical about it, while Lestat was the opposite. Claudia on the other hand was the worst of all. A young woman now trapped in the teenage body, forced to ever fight it. She’s always going to be seen as just that, a barely pubescent child. In the past, we learn that Claudia’s killings and behavior are an interesting blend of what she learned from Louis and Lestat. She isn’t as calculated, but she is cruel in her own way. She kills to satisfy an insatiable hunger. When she flees, the cracks in Lestat and Louis relationship are once again on full display. Lestat cheats, but he doesn’t want Louis to have anyone else. Lestat does what he wants, and Louis mourns for the child who left. It gets worse and worse and worse. Louis’ sister takes her family and leaves, it’s the last straw that draws Claudia back to Louis.
She points out Lestat’s abuse during her confrontation with them. She isn’t here to stay, she’s here to take Louis and go to Europe. Flee, run, be away from his control. Maybe find others. It doesn’t go well. Lestat attacks her and in turn Louis attacks back. He’ll protect Claudia at all costs because it’s his fault she’s one of them. Lestat is older, much older, much stronger. The fight is terrible and bloody. Louis does his best but he’s not strong enough to win. Lestat drains him of blood, weakens him, beats him to a pulp, emotionally and mentally degrades him. The violence is almost overshadowed by the emotional ploys Lestat uses against Louis.
Love can be a powerful weapon. In the end, Louis is left a bloodied, battered, mess. Claudia is wounded and beyond devastated at what she’s seen. They have to leave. Lestat will kill either or both of them. After all, Claudia is the mistake he regrets making. Louis is the one he chose, wanted. Doubting that Louis loves him back, well that’s just dangerous. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 1121 of ‘The Walking Dead’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
What we often forget about a grand fight for our freedom or the right cause, is that the battle will consist of ebbs and flows. Simply because the party we are challenging, wants their agency and their victory as well and will fight just as hard as we do to achieve their goals and that can make the battle ahead quite difficult and disheartening, even for the most seasoned of warrior. All because, they know that this is the hardest part of the battle and that they will need to dig deep and find that internal drive that is necessary to tip the scales and that is not an easy task. Because the road ahead is hard, and inspiration isn’t always present in the thick of it when the bad guys get a few good shots in. If anything, this particularly difficult leg of the battle is top of mind today, simply because the heroes of The Walking Dead were reminded of that reality during last night’s episode of the show. Because despite having finally defeated Lance Hornsby and getting an idea of how to potentially strike back at the Commonwealth, the road to victory was paved with difficulties in ‘Outpost 22’. For instance, while Gabriel, Rosita and Maggie were able to escape their escort, they found themselves back in the world with minimal weapons and protections, pitting them against the living dead and the unknown without a plan in mind, and that can wear on a person, in fact… it did upon Maggie for certain. For she was faced with dealing with a member of the living dead that was a child. One that echoed thoughts of Hershel and her worst fears about him, and that made her fight difficult at times mentally. To the point where this seasoned and hardened warrior struggled with the right decision in the moment and thankfully… she ran into Carol and Daryl. Who allowed for her to vent her worries and refocus before a grand reunion took place with Gabriel and Rosita. Wherein they took too a moment to breathe and ponder upon their next moves… which involved going after the train that Carol and Daryl were keeping an eye upon. Since that would lead them home and get them intelligence on what they were facing before they went to save their friends. Which allowed for a push in the right direction to take place. Since the assault on the train was an outright success. A move that saved Connie since she was transferred to that train and all of the victories here, ones that included prisoners with information, really did make it appear as though the tide was turning and out heroes would finally have what they needed and wanted. But alas, their prisoners yielded minimal results, and one even took his own life to be saved from the horrors of the Commonwealth, putting them back at square one and unsure of how to save their friends. And of course, they were confused as to where to start looking for them without an ounce of information as to where they were taken, and they weren’t the only ones feeling lost in the moment.
For their kidnapped friends and family were also uncertain of what to do next. Because they were outgunned and outnumbered and quickly forced into ugly servitude in this tale. Since the Commonwealth wasted minimal time in starting their hard labor sentence, after separating the group and well… that brought forth some dark times. For some of the folks they traveled there with, tried to run, and were gunned down in the process and being faced with the reality that this was their new life, put Kelly into a dark place and even left Ezekiel beside himself. Which was stunning, since he is always a source of inspiration for the group and always has a positive outlook on what tomorrow could and would bring in times of strife.
A sour reality that even Negan realized wasn’t feasible and that prompted him to try and make nice with Ezekiel and formulate a plan for inspiration and freedom. One that did not come to fruition in this episode, but what mattered more about this segment, is that it hammered home the reality that things were dire in this moment and the fight ahead was going to be difficult and painful and truly, there needed to be a hard inspiration point, a rallying cry of some kind and believe it or not. Our heroes found it. For in the closing moments of this tale, quite the horrifying reveal came forth. In that, the dreaded Outpost 22 that everyone was concerned would be their worst nightmares come to life, where pain and suffering and cold and hunger would befall them… turned out to be nothing more than a supremely familiar place. For Outpost 22 was also known as… the Alexandria Processing Zone… and it was formally known as the Alexandria Safe Zone. Making it clear that Pamela never intended for them to leave and had always planned to keep them under her thumb. But what mattered more here… was the sheer fact that this became the rallying cry that everyone needed. Since Daryl’s group found out what their home had been turned into as well and that motivated Maggie to point out that their home, everything they’d been fighting tooth and nail for, had been robbed from them and transformed into a symbol of hate from the symbol of hope it once stood for and well… that could not stand. It had to be made right, and that set the stage, for an epic showdown. One where the Alexandria Alliance will undoubtedly give their all to retake that which belongs to them and drive the Commonwealth out, giving them the victory and strength, they need to finish the fight. But while we wait for that… we can once again celebrate another incredible episode. One that truly put the ugly of this world on display again and tested our heroes deeply and left them low on strength both emotionally and physically. All because rock bottom is where every good and heroic journey begins, and it doesn’t get much lower than this and this episode, also, leaves us as starved as a zombie for more. Because there are only three episodes left in this powerhouse saga and we simply have to know what comes next… and how this long and winding journey is going to end. Until next time. Written by John Edward Betancourt
‘Whatever you do... don't fall asleep.’
There are plenty of good reasons to be afraid of the dark, simply because in the dead of night we are at our most vulnerable. This is when we slip into unconsciousness, and the world fades away. In the darkness of night who knows what lurks in the shadows, what waits for us to sleep, to claim us when we cannot fight back or least expect it. Or rather, that's what our imagination would like us to believe.
Yes, it is our mind that truly makes us fear the dark. It makes us believe that perhaps something with endless rows of teeth waits for us in the shadows when in reality we are safe, and often times those fears come from our nightmares. Those vivid slices of distorted life where we meet the monster before being forcefully removed from our peaceful slumber, only to be comforted by the safety of reality. Sure, we may flip on a light to give us an extra sense of security, but we know that nightmares aren't real. But what if they were? What if the boogey man that waited for us in dreamland was waiting there all along? These are questions that are posed in the 1984 classic horror film...A Nightmare on Elm Street. Something horrible has happened on the once quiet and peaceful Elm Street. A young girl named Tina has been murdered and it would seem her boyfriend is the culprit. The police have him locked up, the matter should be closed, but Nancy, a friend of Tina’s believes that the boyfriend is innocent. Only because Tina once spoke of a horrible man that haunted her dreams, a horribly burned man that has also showed up in Nancy's dreams. As she begins an investigation of her own, she uncovers that the man of their nightmares is more than a figment of their imagination. He is a former child killer known as Fred Krueger and he has come from beyond to claim them all. Hands down, this is one of the most absolutely terrifying horror films I have ever seen. Simply due to the fact that the first time you watch this motion picture, you come to realize that this is truly something fresh and original. There were no formulas to follow here or plot devices that you could predict simply because of the fact that this is a film that invented so many of them. It was a wild ride, and you had no clue where you were headed on this waking nightmare and that's all courtesy of the fine work of actor Robert Englund as Fred Krueger. He truly brings the madman to life, playing this child murderer with a zest and zeal that repulses and terrifies every single second he is on screen. Not to mention this film has some of the most incredible kills I've ever seen in a horror/slasher film. Between Tina's death and Glen's death, comes not only eye popping ‘how the hell did they do that’ moments but a surprise trick from Writer/Director Wes Craven, an almost dreamlike ending to their lives. Yes, that's one of the amazing things that this motion picture manages to do, blur the line between reality and fantasy, making for a jarring experience that stays with you long after the movie is over. It truly is a modern classic, and one that has withstood the test of time. It also reinvented the genre and launched a powerhouse franchise... all from the simple concept, of a bad dream come to life. Written by Scott Edwards
Going to summer camp is supposed to help you develop into someone better, or at least give you a chance to make new friends where you never thought you would find them. As time goes on and you meet more people, you may find that it is the place for you, but you also might find that the outcasts in the camps are treated worse than anything you have ever seen. I always tried not to define myself in a single group while growing up, mainly because I never did fit into any one clique. This gave me the opportunity to hang out with whomever I wanted, and I like to think that I became a better person because of it. Learning about different people from very different backgrounds, it was something amazing that I would not trade for anything and the friendships that I was able to make lasted many years and it will never be lost on me going forward.
Wanting to get some sort of look at the famed Camp Crystal Lake to get hits on a website, Wade knows about what happened there many years ago. Telling his friends Whitney, Mike, Richie and Amanda about the murders that old Mrs. Voorhees committed and the atrocity of her being beheaded and her son Jason witnessing it, it is a great ghost story for the ages. Wanting to get away from the fire for a little bit, Mike and Whitney take a walk and find the old campground and give it a look. Finding a cabin that appears to have been lived in recently, they see that part of the Jason legend is true and try to leave, only to find themselves being hunted down by the deranged killer. Being able to make her way back to camp alive, Whitney sees that all of her friends are being killed by Jason and she appears to be next on his agenda. Months have passed, and Clay Miller is worried that something has happened to his sister. Trying to follow in her footsteps, Clay is hitting up every shop and house he can find on his way to Crystal Lake with flyers looking for Whitney. While at the gas station, he gets a rude awakening that some people are not taking his search seriously when he bumps into a rich boy, Trent, who is not willing to give up his time to even give the flyer a look, or listen to any sort of story. Heading off on his bike, Clay gets pulled over by a local officer and is told that everything is being done to find his sister, even when he knows that it is not. Continuing his hunt, Clay finds himself back up at Trent’s cabin and is not greeted with open arms.
Seeing how rude her boyfriend Trent was towards the poor man, Jenna wants to get his mind off of things once they reach his family’s cabin. But Trent only has two things on his mind, going to bed with his girlfriend and keeping his friends Chewie, Lawrence, Bree, Nolan and Chelsea from messing up his place. Knowing that there is plenty of other things to do around the lake, Jenna is ready to try something new and when Clay comes knocking for help, she is willing to give him the time of day and tries to help him with his search. Making their way to the old campgrounds, they take a look inside one of the cabins and find it disturbing, but not as disturbing as a large individual making his way back with what appears to be a body. Hiding from the machete wielding giant, the two need to make it back to Trent’s house and get help for whomever the victim is.
As the party in the cabin is in full effect, Chewie and Lawrence are enjoying their booze and weed while Bree is putting on a show for everyone to see. When a chair gets broken, Chewie is sent out to the tool shed while Bree takes her new man Trent upstairs to take care of her needs. Seeing the freaked-out Jenna and Clay returning, the group does not understand what they are saying, but quickly find out that there is a killer in the woods that is stalking the cabin. Getting the police involved does not help when Jason Voorhees is back in the swing of things and looking to take his lake back from everyone that dares be near it or in it. The ultimate prize of this game will be survival, but will anyone be able to claim it since Jason is looking to set the new high score. Talk about a bloody reboot of a classic franchise that has left us all afraid of Camp Crystal Lake. I have heard decent things about this movie, and I was glad to see that the slasher part of the storyline was strong, but there is something very different about this story that left me longing for an explanation. Jason has never been known to keep anyone alive, but in this movie, he did and that did not sit well with me. I understand why it was done, but it was just silly, I don’t think Jason would have locked up his mother to keep her around, so why would he do it with someone that looked kind of like her. That was strange and also the addition of a weed farm at the camp. I really think that Jason is trying to keep his product safe and is more like a cartel killer in the long run since everyone that found his wacky weed was put down. With plenty of sex, drugs, drinking, crushed dreams and ambitions and of course a lot of blood, I see what the team on the movie was trying to bring back with this reboot, but it just fell short since the story fractured once the killings started taking place. Stay Scared. Written by Scott Edwards
It is next to impossible to know what the future holds for anyone, including yourself. Knowing where you would like to be in five years is great, but in reality, that timeframe is long enough to find out what really matters. As long as you believe the facts and understand what it will take to get where you are going in your allotted time frame, you are head and shoulders above the rest. But don’t let that get you too carried away, because even the finest plans will come up against speed bumps that nobody can foresee.
At the Crystal Lake facility, Rowan is finally ready to freeze the infamous Jason Voorhees with use of cryogenic technology when she gets an uninvited guest. Doctor Wimmer cannot allow this killing machine to be put away for any reason as Voorhees is a miracle of science. Ordering his men to remove Voorhees from the facility, the men are shocked to see one of their own has been shackled up in the middle of the room and Jason is on the loose once again. Being able to get the mass killer into a cryo-pod, Rowan gets the tip of his machete into her abdomen and not only becomes the next victim of Voorhees, but gets frozen with him as well. After Professor Lowe and his class descend to the surface of old Earth, they stumble upon the cryogenics room and are shocked to find the massive man in such good shape after over four hundred and fifty years. Getting ready to transport the body back to their ship, they find Rowan under some cables in the same room and she shows signs of being able to be reanimated. Rushing back to the ship to get their finds taken care of, Rowan is given priority and with the technology of the twenty fifth century, everything goes off without a hitch. Being introduced to her new life on the ship, Rowan finds out that Jason has been brought along for the ride. Knowing that nothing good can come from this, she warns Lowe, but he has other matters on his mind.
Placing a call to his old finance man Dieter, Lowe tries to sell the idea that people will pay big money to see Rowan who is the oldest person to be reanimated, but the idea is not sticking since the technology is so out of date now, but the mention of Voorhees piques some interest. Telling Lowe what he knows about the Crystal Lake killer, the Professor’s eyes start to light up with money signs. Hearing that he can get a payday out of this find, he is beyond ready to collect while leaving his students in the poor house. Trying to get ahold of Adrienne who is checking out the frozen body turns out to be a problem however as too much time has passed and Jason Voorhees is back on the hunt once again.
Defrosting while Adrienne is pulling out his eye balls and cutting the mask off of his face, Jason is back and will kill anyone that dares step in front of him. After dispatching the med student, Jason moves down the unfamiliar halls of the spaceship and smells sex in the air. Opening the door to ecstasy town and killing off another student, the ship is put on lock down with the marines aboard doing what they are trained to do. But none of them has ever faced an un-killable machine-like Jason who is able to take them out one by one. Moving throughout the ship and trying to take care of business the only way he knows how, Jason finds out that there might be one thing that can stop him as technology has changed plenty as the years have shot by. But things can go the other way as well, as everyone discovers when the killer falls on a medical bed that not only heals his ailing and aged body, but upgrades him in terrifying fashion… Talk about the end of a franchise; putting the Voorhees in space to basically destroy a space ship from within by killing everyone onboard. Not even the cold void of space is able to kill Jason in this movie as you see him floating around outside of the ship a couple of times during the movie. While some people did not like this one, I found myself enjoying it, even though there were no aliens trying to take on the killing machine. For the most part, the group dynamic did not change much from the earlier movies, you have sex and you die, you don’t, and you might have a chance as long as you can get away. The technology shown in the future was what really got me going in this movie, the Nano bots and Big Freaking Guns, along with a holodeck to try and buy more time for escaping were just a joy to see in action. With a machete, a hockey mask, unknowing students, an un-expecting professor, the promise of money, frozen bodies, blood and a trip back to Crystal Lake, this is just a fun movie to look back on. I would hope that there would be some sort of safety measures in the future when it comes to collecting frozen bodies, because as this movie does show, you don’t want to allow them all to come back to life. Stay Scared. Written by Scott Edwards
Knowing just a little bit about your family history could go a long way. Knowing that I had an actress in the family back in the 20’s, I have always wanted to follow up in her silent role era stardom, but somehow I don’t think that will happen, at least not for me. I also come from a long line of teachers, which I have embraced over the years and being able to see what they do in the classroom, I’ve been able to transfer their methods to my own style of training. I am happy to note that I do not have any mass murderers in my family’s background, but there are a couple of folks that have been arrested for supporting the wrong side. The more you know, the better you feel about making a decision these days, it is simply in the genes.
After New York, Jason Voorhees is still on the hunt and has returned to his home to get settled back in. With a new person invading his territory, it is time to reveal himself once again, but this time things are different. Watching as the woman is able to run to safety, Jason is met by a strike team that has all of the weapons necessary to take the killer out of the hunt once and for all. Being blown to bits on the battlefield, the remains of Jason Voorhees are taken to the coroner for final examination, but there is something strange in the air. While inspecting the body, the coroner notices that the oversized heart of Jason Voorhees is beating on its own. Taking a bite out of the organ, the coroner is turned into the one thing that nobody wants to see, Jason Voorhees. Shock journalist Robert Campbell is having a fun time with the Jason Voorhees story and is making the most of it for his ratings. With two dead security guards at the scene, it is apparent that the mass murderer is back on his feet and still killing from beyond the grave. Being able to get an interview with the only person who can track down Jason, Robert sits down with Creighton Duke and finds out that the body of Jason is just a shell, the true evil is in the shell’s heart and can only be destroyed by one man, Creighton Duke. As his story is starting to develop, Robert gets the opportunity of a lifetime to visit the town of Crystal Lake with his new girlfriend, Jessica Kimble, who has ties there.
Crystal Lake may never be the same, since the tourist traffic is about to skyrocket with Jason Voorhees finally being taken out of the equation. Knowing that the traffic will be on the up and up, the diner where Diana Kimble works is spicing up their menu by attaching Jason’s name to all of their entrees. Not knowing what the future will bring, Diana meets Creighton face to face and is offered a job to help kill the un-killable Jason. Being creeped out by the conversation, Diana finds out a secret that few people know about her, but is not willing to accept it, especially when talking with her daughter Jessica about anything. Knowing that her time may be running out, Diana gets Jessica’s baby daddy Steven to agree to meet with her and discuss what may need to be done to save the family.
With new folks heading into town to see Jason Voorhees’ old stomping grounds, they are ready to piss on the legend and take full advantage of love, drugs and alcohol. Believing that Jason is gone forever, they are met with the painful reality that Jason will never be dead, even if his body has been blown to pieces. With the body count starting to rise, and the soul of Jason being able to move from meat to meat, Creighton knows one thing for sure, how to put an end to the madness once and for all. After Diana is killed by an officer possessed by Jason’s spirit and Steven is accused of murder, he is willing to spill that information in that Jessica and her baby are next in line for either putting an end to the Voorhees curse or making it stronger by allowing Jason to be reborn in a flawless body. Not wanting to lose his family, Steven must find a way to convince Jessica that she is the key to the puzzle, but that may be easier said than done. Admittedly, this is the first Friday the 13th movie I saw growing up. When this movie made it to HBO, I was about 16 and starting to get a glimpse of what R rated movies were all about and thank goodness it was about the blood and gore, because I don’t think I would like it this much now if I didn’t see it back then. I will always have a place in my heart for this movie, not because it was the best, but because it introduced me to the slasher genre and boy do I love the blood. With that out of the way, it was a good way to try and get fans to join the Friday the 13th series, with Jason being able to move from body to body with ease, what could be more frightening, seriously? Even though the rules are broken the further you get into the movie, who really cares at this point, Jason is going to kill people and get a body in order to be reborn as his massive rotten self. Not the worst of the series, but not the best either, but you do get the ending that everyone always wanted with a crossover promise of a Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees showdown in the future. Well, that is it for now, next I think Jason goes to space and I can only hope that he gets to fight aliens at some point. Stay Scared. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere.
Normally the series finale of a show is quite the somber affair. For it is the farewell journey, wherein we must say goodbye to some quality characters and a quality story, regardless of whether it is fiction or nonfiction and that is no easy task. Simply because we don’t want the show to end, despite the fact that all things must. But once in a great while, a series finale comes along that actually inspires excitement within us, and compels us to watch it with glee to see how everything come to a close. Making it a bittersweet affair when we finally do reach the ending. Since the reality that we have reached the end eventually does sink in and one particular finale that meets that particular criterion is The 101 Scariest Horror Movie Moments of All Time. Simply because… we’ve been dying to know what Shudder and its panel of experts and horror legends selected as the absolute best of the best for horror movie moments and how they came to the conclusion that they were the scariest of all time. Which has absolutely elicited excitement and wonder in all of us and staved off the sorrow. But what matters more... is that ‘The Top Ten’ definitely did not disappoint. Because wow, the right moments were selected here and made total sense through and through and what was truly impressive about this finale, is that it didn’t abandon the show’s formula to just power through the top moments on this list. It made sure to use education to really enhance why they were selected and why they went in their respective order. All by informing us that the top ten not only exhibited all the other elements we’ve learned go into making an elite horror movie moment. But that they also found a way to enhance them further. In that, each and every one of them… elicited an emotional response while making use of those aforementioned foundational elements, and just amplified them and our emotions to eleven, if you will. For they just assault our senses and emotions and never let up in the process and that added new meaning and gravity to the moments present here. For instance, such a decision added so much more to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining, since it created an air of raw fear once The Overlook Hotel grabbed hold of Jack, amplifying the terror as the movie barreled toward its horrifying conclusion. Which is also the case with John Carpenter’s The Thing. For that particular movie not only preys upon our fear of the unknown, but it uses its graphic imagery to tap into the darkest parts of our imagination. Bringing forth an equally as impactful assault on the senses, the kind that makes the viewer squirm in their seat to this day with the visceral nature of its special effects, and the fears it taps into and amplifies as the movie continues along. And that kind of logic played out often with every single movie moment presented here. As for what movie moment came in at #1 however, we won’t discuss here. You simply need to settle in and watch the finale and enjoy that epic reveal yourself… before coming to realize… that this is it. That we’ve reached the end of a powerhouse and meaningful eight-week journey. One that undoubtedly served as a wonderful stroll down memory lane for some, or a challenge to others to get moving and see these movies as quickly as possible. But above all, these past eight weeks celebrated the most versatile and intelligent genre out there and brought the right kind of attention to it and did these moments justice and that is the hardest thing to leave behind, because that kind of respect is rare and well in the end, all we can do is extend our thanks to Shudder. For not only providing us with a logical and definitive ranking that was assembled with care. But for also giving it meaning and connection and well… that’s it, horror fans, that’s all there is to say about this wonderful series. One that will hopefully be shared and viewed multiple times by fans looking to educate others and those looking to get into the genre and all that is has to offer. Written by Scott Edwards
There is nothing better than high school graduation. With all of the parties that follow and getting to see your friends for one more awesome night, there really is nothing better. But it can also be a sad event as you know that not everyone is going to be going off to college at the same school and it might be the last time you see your friends for many years. I guess it really just depends on how you look at things. When thinking back to my graduation, we got rained and hailed on and were rushed through because there was another class behind us, but the fun that commenced afterwards was memorable and I would not trade that in for anything in the world.
Arriving at the party cruse for the seniors of Lakeview High School, everyone is excited for their trip. Heading to New York for their final celebration, an unexpected passenger makes her way aboard. Rennie has been the outsider in her class and kept it that way after losing her parents in a car crash when she was little. Being taken in by her Uncle Charles, who teaches at the high school as well, he is not too pleased to see his ward coming along, with her fear of water and all. But Rennie is ready to have the trip of her life and will not let her uncle get in the way of that. At the top of the boat, Sean is given the order to take the boat out, but does not know all of the commands that he needs to call out before freeing the boat from the dock. A disappointment to his father the Admiral, sailing may not be what his final choice in life will be. On the back of the boat, J.J. and Wayne are working on a music video and J.J. is having the time of her life with her new guitar. While everyone has been settled in for their quick trip across the water to New York, a couple of the students have taken notice that Jim and Suzi have failed to join them. Thinking little about that, they have no idea what has happened at Crystal Lake. Dropping anchor when arriving at their first destination, Jim hits a power line, setting off a massive underwater fireworks display. With Jason resting comfortably in his watery grave, he is awoken once again with the electricity and ready to make those who have invaded his space pay with their lives. Taking care of Jim and Suzi without issue, Jason finds himself arriving on the ship filled with young and horny high schoolers that need to pay the price. Picking them off one by one, Jason Voorhees is back once again and will not stop until all of those who have disrespected him are dead and buried.
Heading up to the ship’s cabin, Sean sees that his father and the first mate have been brutally killed and calls all of the remaining students up to get their thoughts on what they should do next. With all of the other passengers depending on Sean to be able to sail them to safety, the rumbling of Jason Voorhees’ name fills the air. Charles is not having any of the stories and tries to take command of the situation but has no idea what to do next. Thinking that the deck hand that seems to be crazy is the one behind the murders, Charles is able to confront him with a flare gun, but quickly finds out that he is not the killer as he lies dead on the deck. Losing power in the ship, the survivors have only one option of surviving and lower a lifeboat into the water and make their way for land.
Not being able to see where they are going, Sean is able to navigate close enough to find New York and the group is ready to put this nightmare behind them. But when arriving in the big city, the group sees how violent it can be there as well as Rennie is taken away by a couple of muggers. Before they are able to undress her, an unsung hero arrives from the shadows as Jason Voorhees has followed the group from the boat. Being drugged, Rennie starts to see the world in a different light and is able to pinpoint her fear of the water and knows that there might be only one way to beat the vengeful killer. When all is said and done, I could not get over the fact that Jason could never dry off. I know that this seems to be silly, but the movie was as well and even though it was entertaining with some new kills on a cruise ship, I simply wanted just a little bit more. I mean having Jason Voorhees in New York City with all of the crime that takes place there, I would have loved to have seen him take his killing spree to the next level and just start hacking gangbangers to pieces, but alas, he only has eyes for the kids that come from his little lake. Rennie really had the toughest go in this movie, as she is haunted by something that happened in her past and cannot figure it out until her life depends on it, but Sean was always there to try and keep her safe and grounded, even when he didn’t have a clue what to do next. One of the greatest takeaways from this movie is how disgusting this version of New York City really is, I mean when the sewers are filled with toxic waste every night at midnight, what kind of city is that? Well, there are still more movies showing up in my recommended list that have Jason’s name attached, so I guess that this is series is far from over. Stay Scared. Written by John Edward Betancourt
Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans’.
It is definitely safe to say that television shows that are grounded in competition and elimination, are downright brutal in nature, especially when it comes to folks that are eliminated along the way. Because for the most part, they are forgotten and discarded by the show, regardless of how close they came to a win or how talented they might have been. For so many of these shows are grounded in the ‘winner take all’ mentality that modern society revolves around. But thankfully, there are some competitive shows out there that are looking to change that and showcase the value of the contestants that were ultra-talented and suffered through a bad break, and one such series that is leading the way in such matters is the brand-new Shudder series, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans. For Dragula is a show that always features incredibly talented drag artists. The kind that are so good at what they do that sometimes, their being sent home comes down to something simple or just not being up to snuff in the moment. Which is why Drac, and Swan have brought back former competitors in the past, to give them a fresh shot at winning the all-important title of Dragula and well… for their first spin-off series for Shudder, they opted to bring back who they deemed to be some of the finest to never win the competition. Which is just epic and unheard of and well, that made the series premiere of this show, quite the engaging and wild ride. Mainly because it was just a delight to see so many familiar faces compete once again and showcase their talents once more and catch up with them, and well… it was comforting to know that the Boulet Brothers genuinely want to give these monsters another shot at glory. But of course, that wasn’t the only amazing aspect of this series premiere. For ‘Halloween Horror Show’ let it be known that there would be some new wrinkles to the fold of this storied franchise. For instance, the extermination challenges are gone in Titans. Replaced instead by a group fear challenge, wherein everyone must participate or the hesitant party risks moving forward and/or might be replaced by a competitor that was let go and well… if the first challenge is any indicator of what the monsters and the audience can expect from these challenges… these are going to be brutal. Not to mention, it was up to the monsters this go round to decide who was going home, instead of the Boulet Brothers and that was supremely new and enticing and exciting for the audience. Because that is going to add some drama and depth to this competition, the kind that will undoubtedly force the monsters to up their game as artists and of course… do their best to keep votes on their side. However, while such surprises might leave some concerned that this show is going to abandon everything that we love about this saga to begin with, have no fear. For the core elements of the show remain intact. For there are still lessons and homages to horror abound. Since the opening sequence was Tales from the Crypt meets Bride of Frankenstein, and the Halloween House Party had that classic vintage horror vibe and of course, the costumes were… mostly amazing. Since they featured fresh takes on classic Halloween monsters, complete with epic Pumpkinheads (courtesy of Yovska and Victoria Black) and a devious Devil (courtesy of Evah Destruction). But there were some not so good looks. The kind that sent someone home for certain. As to who, we won’t discuss, nor will we discuss the winner. Simply because you need to experience the wonder of this episode firsthand and all the tea that comes with it. Which by the way, is still a staple of the franchise here as well… and is still served piping hot. Instead, we’re just here to talk about how great it is that one, the Boulet Brothers are back on the air. Two, how wonderful it is to enjoy a competition show filled to the brim with second chances for hungry monsters that want that title of Dragula. And three we need to praise Drac and Swan… for making sure we’re not getting the same old thing. Because they could have just churned out a by the numbers clone of Dragula. But here… we get something that stands on its own by being fresh and new and exciting and epic. Where the stakes are even higher for those getting a shot at the second chance and it will be fascinating to see what other surprises await us (and what other awesome judges will drop by, since Cassandra Peterson was amazing here) as the inaugural season of Titans rolls along. Until next time. |
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