There is something to be said for people that fear the end of the world. While the rest of us are worried about what happened in the past, they are looking towards the future and coming up with plans on how to survive anything that might be coming our way. Building fallout shelters is one way that folks are preparing for the end of the world and these are great idea. Being embedded in the earth’s crust, away from what is happening on the surface may be a great way to survive for quite some time and even though there might be some hard questions to ask about living there, there may not be an answer until you actually have to hunker down and lock the door from the outside world.

Trying to run away from her bad situation, Michelle is driving along when her car gets sideswiped off of the road. Waking up in a strange room with an IV in her arm and chain on her leg, she has no idea what happened, much less where she is. Seeing that his new guest has woken up, Howard brings her something to eat and knows that she is in for the shock of a lifetime. Trying to be hospitable, he gives her the key to unlock herself and some crutches to help with her knee until it heals. But Michelle believes that she has been kidnapped and uses her knowhow to get whittle a spear out of one of the crutches to try and fashion an escape. Not getting noticed as quickly as she wants for her attack, she sets an old shirt on fire to get Howard’s attention.

Arriving and subduing the situation quickly, Howard explains to the young woman that the world outside is not what she remembers. Not knowing if it is gas or nukes, everyone on the outside is dying and there is no stopping it. Needing to wait it out, being safe underground for a couple of years is not completely out of the question. Finding out that there is someone else in the bunker with her as well, Emmett makes himself known and tries to help Michelle understand what has just happened in the world above, but when she hears a car driving over her room, she even questions Emmett’s sanity. But when Howard decides to show the woman what he knows to be true through the window of the bunker, she is starts to understand that there is something happening outside, but not knowing exactly what, is killing her.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season one finale of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.
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Over the course of its inaugural season, The Walking Dead: World Beyond has done a phenomenal job of exploring aspects of the human condition that are rarely featured in zombie related storytelling. Which has in turn, allowed for this series to provide the audience with thoughtful and relatable episodes, the kind that feature all kinds of life lessons and important reminders about who we are. But while this storytelling decision has made for some engrossing stories and some poignant moments, the kind that stay with you long after an episode has come to an end, this push to examine humanity has put one particularly important plot element on the backburner, specifically… the Civil Republic Military. 

Because outside of learning what we came to know about them in the series premiere and that they use double agents such as Huck, this mysterious organization is still shrouded in the same level of secrecy that surrounds them in The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead. Which is something that has left all of us wondering exactly when we will finally come to learn exactly what this organization is about and what they stand for and what their plan is for the future. And as it turns out, this continued mystery was all part of a grand master plan to reveal the truth about them at the end of season one of this dynamic new series. Since last night’s two-hour season finale of World Beyond finally put their intentions upon display. 

As it turns out, ‘The Deepest Cut’ and ‘In This Life’ were able to reveal to us that they really are striving for some big goals. For they are eager to put together a society of mankind’s brightest minds, the kind that can truly see a bigger picture and think outside of the box. Simply because, mankind is indeed facing extinction, and if a way forward cannot be figured out for the once dominant species on Earth, it will eventually disappear from existence in about thirty years or so. But if the CRM can get those powerful minds to come together and assemble a plan on how mankind can survive, then perhaps at last humanity can receive that all-important second chance that it believes it deserves. Which makes this organization seem noble in nature, since the survival of the species is quite the important cause to pursue.

But while it was nice to learn that the Civil Republic has a solid understanding of the importance of laying down a foundation for humanity’s ensured survival, there is sadly nothing noble about this organization in the slightest. After all, they’ve killed numerous innocents in the name of keeping a plan that should be shared with all, a secret, and we also came to learn just how much they use fear to get people to fall in line. For this tale also revealed that Hope was ‘The Asset’ in question since she has a gifted mind and the CRM believes she would serve their interests well. And despite Hope's reticence to join them, Huck was quick to point out in the most nonchalanant/threatening manner possible; that non-compliance would end with the CRM hunting Hope, and also the death of those she cared about. Which did help to motivate Hope to reluctantly join her father in the Civil Republic, in the hopes of keeping everyone that matters to her, safe. 

However, while it was quite incredible to finally gain a solid understanding of the CRM and how they operate and what their plan actually is, it would be shocking if this series completely abandoned the storytelling elements that made it what it is today and thankfully, that all-important exploration of the human condition was still on display in this story. For the slow reveal that Huck has a double agent, allowed for us to explore the fact that sometimes the people we meet and care about in life, aren’t who we think they are, and that coming to terms with that is a painful and awful experience, as evidenced by the response from just about everyone in the group. For they struggled to realize they’d been played from the beginning and once again, this show offered up a realistic take on how we handle such matters, by reminding us that we can’t take the actions of others to heart and all we can do is be the better person and not sink to their level.

Plus, the series was also eager to explore another important lesson about life, in that… often times our best laid plans never quite go as we expect them to. After all, The Endlings truly believed it would be a straight shot from Nebraska to New York, one that would see them all arrive on the CRM’s doorstep, together. But in this finale, they remain broken and scattered and ready to make necessary sacrifices to keep one another safe and really the chaos of this ending, wherein the bad guys more or less win, serves to reminds us to roll with the punches, whether we like it or not. Because the world is and will forever be chaotic in nature and being upset with how something turned out is wasted energy since a surprise in our plans is likely related to something, we had zero control over. So, it is best to just live in the moment, take a breath and refocus and figure out a way forward under these new circumstances.

But what truly allowed for this episode to shine, was its ending. Because we all should have walked away from this tale with fury and anger in our hearts since Silas and Hope were snatched up by the CRM and the group was still scattered to the winds in the midst of a hopeless world filled with death. But instead, this finale offered up all kinds of hope for season two. Mainly because Hope and Iris have a plan to be reunited and they’re eager to sabotage the Civil Republic’s plans by way of a two-front attack. And it doesn’t hurt that it would seem that the external part of said attack is going to be bolstered by the mysterious group of folks that Will, Felix’s love, has made nice with after his own close encounter with the darker side of the CRM. Which means that perhaps at long last, people are ready to stand up to the Civil Republic and its lies and while it seems that the last thing this universe needs is more fighting amongst a species on the brink of extinction… this particular fight is necessary.

For if mankind truly wants to survive, it needs to abandon all the horrible elements that persisted in modern society before the world came to an end. Which means that deception and demands and fear, all elements that the CRM thrives upon; need to be eradicated. Because they helped in destroying the world in the first place by not allowing for an organized response to walking death and if the CRM is brought to their knees… then there is genuine hope for the future after all. Because then, people will be asked to willingly take part in a grand push to save the species and truly fighting for tomorrow in a noble manner, would bring forth all kinds of volunteers. And it should be interesting to see how exactly Hope and Iris and everyone that believes in more, are going to fight an organization that represents the worst of us when the second and final season of this fascinating series returns in 2021. Until next year.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series finale of ‘Supernatural’. Also, to revisit the show’s penultimate episode, ‘Inherit the Earth’, click here.
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Well #SPNFamily, after 327 episodes and 15 years, it’s over!! I can hardly believe it and I’m still not ready to fully accept it, but here we are. **SIGH** But, before I begin my review of our final ride, I’d like to take the opportunity to say thank you to Nerds That Geek (NTG) for giving me a platform to discuss one of my all time favorite television shows for their iconic final season. It has been an honor!! And for anyone whose followed my journey, whether it was one article, all of them or anything in between, thank you so much for reading, liking and/or sharing my work. I absolutely LOVE this show and if I made even one fan love it with me, I am beyond grateful. **BIG GRIN** Okay, let’s hit the road.

Preceding the final episode, Supernatural: The Long Road Home brought all the feels (RIGHT!?!) with interviews, video clips and an overall love for the fanbase. It was a great lead in, to the finale and my only wish is that it was longer… LOL!! Settling in for ‘Carry On’, with my nostalgia at its peak, I watched with high hopes, mixed feelings and complete and utter love! Now, after several days of letting the series finale marinate, I am still, like many fans the world over, quite conflicted about the last leg of this 15 year tour. Thus, I’d like to explore the overall theme of #Supernatural and the true heart of the series – Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester. I’ll also close out this final review with my own ideas on what I would’ve loved to see in addition to this epic tale. So, before you can say, Ninja throwing stars (LOL!) and yay “Pie Fest” (*wink*)… for one last time, let’s dive in.

Series creator Eric Kripke has always maintained that Supernatural isn’t about the Big Bad, but rather the relationship of two brothers set to an overarching theme of good vs. evil with a fantastic soundtrack (HECK YA!!). In effect, people may have initially tuned in for the genre, but they actually stayed for the family. Mantras like, “Saving people, hunting things – The Family Business” and “Family don’t end with blood,” have given the show longevity well beyond Kripke’s original vision. Leaping off the screen and sprouting fan fiction, charities, personal causes and connections, “The little show that could,” surprised even Kripke with its twists and turns, both on and off screen. As for the end? Kripke’s already gone on record saying, “You [the fans] would’ve hated my ending!” Though he didn’t give any clues as to what his actual ending would be, he definitely maintains that what we received was “The right one.” And by and large, I wholeheartedly agree!! Because seeing Sam and Dean each have separate outcomes yet still come together in the end was beautiful!! But… and there are many buts… if this ending was truly right, then why does a VASTLY polarized fanbase LOUDLY say something different??

Of course, very few finales in television history have ended so perfectly, one can scarcely find criticism. Conversely, a handful have ignited a rabid backlash to the point of disgust. I mean… Game of Thrones anyone?? Sadly, Supernatural somewhat appears to fall in the latter category after some fan reactions caused Jim Beaver, who played the beloved Bobby Singer, to delete his Twitter account… UGH!! I get it!! I have gripes too, but damn… harassing ANYONE associated with the show is just so not okay!! And Bobby to boot! To quote the Winchester father figure himself… “Idjits!!” I’m not sure why he was the brunt of the vitriol, but many others involved got their share as well. Still, there are many who say they loved “EVERYTHING” about the finale and that it was “PERFECT.” While I definitely disagree with the vitriol, I too, fiercely disagree that the finale was perfect. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Beginning with Dean’s death, I’d have to say, this is one of the things I marinated on the most. At first, I was quite upset he died on a measly vamp hunt. Or… that he died at all. You? Then, after really looking at the series as a whole, including knowing about the changes Jack (Alexander Calvert) made in Heaven, Dean’s death makes total sense. Side note: As I began to unfold this section, ‘Goodbye Blue Sky’ (Pink Floyd: The Wall; 1970 album; 1982 film), came on my digital music shuffle. I mean… seriously!! **SIGH** Moving on… LOL!  

Yes, the show toyed with the idea of Dean having a normal life. And yes, the show pointed out that Dean wanted to retire and grow old with his toes in the sand. However, different from Sam, who I’ll get to in a minute, Dean has ALWAYS been a hunter! Not to mention, we’ve seen time and again Dean wanting to be done with the life only to be pulled back in. Some may argue he had no choice, but remember, God’s (Rob Benedict) biggest mistake was giving his creations free will. Therefore, I contend that being a hunter is where Dean was always essentially happy. Even when he was truly sad! An outlet for his anger with an immensely strong sense of duty and purpose, I argue, being a hunter (and a killer) is who Dean was meant to be. Though, as Castiel (Misha Collins) said, “Daddy’s blunt instrument” is also the “Most caring man on earth.” And, especially when it came to his little brother, Dean’s own happiness and peace NEVER mattered more to him than Sam’s!! This is undeniable throughout the ENTIRE series. Further, he survived beating God himself (F&%K YA!!). If he went out during that battle then he wouldn’t have died knowing Sam was safe, which is arguably ALL he ever really wanted, no? The scene itself is beautifully acted, with Jensen in particular, knocking it out of the park. Complete with throwbacks to the pilot, and Dean’s final “Single Man Tear” (Breaking all our hearts even more!!), the whole thing was EPIC! I hated it! I loved it! And I ultimately knew it was right. Apparently so did Jensen, as he took to Instagram to poke (*wink*) fun at his demise. As evidenced by said post, that’s certainly no screw, as the wrathful internet has so passionately dubbed it… LOL!

​Moving on to Sammy, as Dean has so affectionately called him over the years (*sigh*), it was wonderful to see him honor Dean’s wishes. To move on and live his life. To NOT search for yet another loophole to save Dean no matter how much he wanted to. I mean. Of course we wanted him to bring Dean back. That’s what the show has done for 15 years!! But it’s the end. THE END!! **FROWNY FACE** And, of course, seeing the brothers part was really fracking hard. But, to balance it with Sam’s long life, at least for me, made the blow a little easier to take. Plus, the entire show, from beginning to end is centered around Sam. From his crib in the pilot to his death bed in the finale, Sam is the anchor. And having his arc come full circle was a nice touch!! Though, to reduce what was presumably Eileen (Shoshanna Stern) to a blurry background seemed off, am I right? Maybe Shoshanna had scheduling conflicts. Maybe the Coronavirus pandemic played a role in the final decision not to include her. But at the very least, we could’ve seen Sam say AND sign something to her fuzzy figure from across the yard, no? Regardless, the scenes over a span of many years of Sam with his son Dean (AWWW!!) played by Beckham Skodje, Bradly Droulis and Spencer Borgeson, respectively, were tearfully touching. And, seeing things come full circle again when Sam passes was absolutely fantastic!! For, just as Sam grabbed Dean’s hand and told him it was okay to go, Sam’s son grabbed his father’s hand and told him the same thing. I’m not crying again! Okay… maybe just a little. One final thing though. Sam’s old man hair… HIS HAIR!! I don’t even know where to begin with this poorly portrayed mop… UGH!! Was it on purpose? If so, why? Because, after years of Sam (and Jared) hair jokes and jabs, this one most definitely didn’t land, am I right?

In the interim, as Dean moved on to Heaven, I was still trying to understand what just happened, but not so much that I couldn’t see things that were glaringly obvious. Namely, even more missing characters!! Which brings me to what’s likely, for me, the biggest head scratcher – no Castiel!! I’m still trying to figure this one out and have to yet to come up with any reason other than possibly COVID19 issues?? I don’t want to hate on the final showrunner and writer Andrew Dabb. Chuck knows (LOL!), many a fan has done that already over the years. But I’ve always stood behind Dabb. And though I get wanting to come full circle on a show that has always been about two brothers, there’s no getting around the impact Castiel has had on the show. From his iconic and perhaps most talked about entrance of the entire series as an “Angel of the Lord,” to his insanely tearful end, Castiel has driven the fandom to new heights across the globe. Adding in the fact the writers made #Destiel Canon just two episodes before the end without ANY follow up is quite frankly maddening to say the least. It’s also become some of the harshest backlash out there with people contending the show pulled one of the biggest “Bury your gays” tropes in existence. This, along with an absolute persistence from many in the LGBTQ+ community that the show spent the entire time, particularly since Castiel’s introduction, queerbaiting its audience, should not have been overlooked, pandemic or not, right!?! All of which brings me to what I would call a more ideal ending, including Destiel and few other little tidbits.

​From the get, I would’ve loved to see both the Long Road Home and ‘Carry On’ have a 90-minute runtime each, giving fans a three, rather than a two-hour ensemble. This would’ve given more time for nostalgia as well as character closeouts. Of course COVID19 restrictions obviously made this more difficult, as many of the cast and crew have discussed pre- and post-finale. Including detail in a Creation Entertainment Virtual Panel about a much larger ending in Heaven with all of Dean’s friends and family. However, I think they could’ve accomplished some of this from a distance. One I already noted above, would’ve been to give us a better nod to Eileen. Additionally, a few more minutes here and there on certain subjects could’ve gone a long way. Especially from a show that spent pretty much the entire final season dropping Easter eggs, giving fan shout outs and closing loopholes.

First, leaving the hunter lifestyle behind, while completely the right move for both Winchesters’, seemed a bit unnecessarily final when it didn’t have to be. Something as simple as showing Donna (Briana Buckmaster) or Jody (Kim Rhodes) in the Bunker on the phone with Sam as they discuss a passing of the torch would’ve been wonderful. Giving us an eyeroll at seeing two of the girls arguing about which room they get as they carry in boxes would’ve been great!! Or, at the very least, having Apocalypse Charlie (Felicia Day) or Eileen in person, virtually or on the phone, to extend a Women of Letters/Wayward Sisters legacy welcome would’ve been great, no? I mean. Those are just a couple ideas and any of them would’ve paid homage to the “Nothing every really ends” mantra in a most glorious fashion. Not to mention an ENORMOUS nod to all the fans who were so disappointed that CW passed on the once highly anticipated Wayward Sisters spinoff, am I right?

As for Heaven? While it was wonderful to see Jim Beaver as the real Bobby (not Apocalypse Bobby), Dabb, along with his longtime counterpart and the episode’s director Robert Singer, could’ve included just a bit more info for the fans. Personally, having Adam (Jake Abel) greet Dean in Heaven with a few words on the forgotten half-brother finally getting what he deserved – an eternity with family – would’ve been excellent. Further, they could’ve been standing to the side of Harvelle’s Roadhouse (LOVED THIS!!) as Dean somewhat recognizes his surroundings. Then Adam leads Dean to the front where Bobby sits. It’s better already, no?? Adam and Dean take seat. For the most part, with some warm glances all around, the next scene plays out pretty much the same with one HUGE caveat. As Dean listens to Bobby explain that Jack, with help from Cas (YES!!), has changed Heaven, Cas appears in the Roadhouse doorway behind Dean. ALL THE FEELS!! Bobby nods in Cas’ direction and says, “I’ll let him take it from here.” HOLY COW, this is what we’ve been waiting for since Cas sacrificed himself!

Creating a transition, Bobby and Adam cheers each other as Dean and Cas walk on in silence admiring the surroundings. As they come to a stop in the road, they have a few words about Sam, Jack and all that’s passed. Finally, Dean tuns to Cas and awkwardly stumbles to speak. Dean says, “You know I love you too Cas, but…” Cas interrupts him and says, “I understand Dean. Truly, I do.” He goes further to reiterate what he said before his huge sacrifice to the Empty (Rachael Miner) in 15.18: ‘Despair’. That he now knows who he is. That God created him this way and that’s a beautiful thing. That he’s inexplicably happy in Heaven and intends to nurture other Angels to ALWAYS be who they are, just like their strong human counterparts on Earth. And finally, that his sacrifice wasn’t just for Dean, but for humanity as a whole and that he regrets nothing. Interesting… hmm? I mean. Wouldn’t you agree that a scene like this would’ve given closure to not only Cas’ arc, but Destiel as well? Because seriously… including Destiel in the end simply for fanfic lip service, never to speak of it again, let alone hardly even mention Cas except in passing, just truly doesn’t make sense on virtually every level I can think of. You? Furthermore… in reference to Destiel… where some, like myself, see typical macho male behavior across 15 seasons, others see queerbaiting. And we all know this is well known by the writers, especially this late in the game, right? Further, even though I’ve always maintained that Dean is straight, the concerns with Destiel I discussed throughout are quite legitimate. Not to mention the missed opportunity to tie Cas’ story to so many fans going through the same thing – unrequited love, knowing who they TRULY are and the struggle to be comfortable in their own skin. These are all things that any one of us can relate to on some level, no? And, because Cas is such a beloved AND pivotal character, the weight a scene like this would carry is really quite incalculable. Additionally, I have no doubt that addressing Destiel was SORELY needed to get away from tropes and stigmatism's and instead give way to hope and representation. Not addressing ANY OF IT made fans across the spectrum irate on many levels… and rightfully so!! Me included. **SIGH**

Looking ahead, Cas, creating another transition, gives Dean a nod  at what’s behind him where we see Dean’s REAL true love – BABY! Of note, same as the 327th episode run, the standard engine on the 1967 Impala was enlarged that year to a 327 cubic-inch V8… NICE!! Dean gives Cas that “aww you,” all too familiar Dean look… LOL!! Happy knowing Cas is truly at peace, that Sam lived on and that his time in Heaven will be closer to those toes in the sand than he (and we) even imagined, after a strong brotherly hug, off he goes! Cue the montage. As Dean drives, Sam grows old and the rest plays out just as it did on screen with one extra smile from Jack as he looks down from the sky on Sam and Dean on the bridge in the last scene… AWWW! And finally, after the fade to black, we keep things exactly the same. Because I can’t say enough about the personal thank you from Jared and Jensen followed by a large portion of the cast and crew on the bridge. Absolute **Chef’s kiss**, am I right?

Well, there you have it. The end of an era topped off with my own personal visions. What did you think of the series finale? What about my additions to Dabb’s work? Do you have some ideas of your own? Let me know in the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. And I’m sure in the coming weeks, months and even years, we may learn more about what role the Coronavirus pandemic or other unforeseen circumstances played in the finale and the post-pandemic shutdown episodes leading up to it. We might even learn Kripke’s take. **RAISED EYEBROW** Regardless, before I go, it must be said that the cast and crew of this amazing show brought us The Supernaturalverse, ya’ll!! Something that has seen many of us through a large chunk of our lives. Filled with family and rivals, struggles and triumphs, life and death, laughter and pain and hope and grief, Supernatural has given fans the world over something to believe in, on so many levels, and created a fanbase (#SPNFamilyForever) that will live on for years to come. And to that I say… CARRY ON!!

Finding that perfect gift for someone is not as easy as it looks. I know that gift cards and cash can feel like a copout, like you didn’t put any thought in what to get someone, but most of the time it is not. Trying to get something for someone that has everything, you can try to focus on what they really like, like sharks for me, or something that they talk about all of the time, like horror movies for me. 

But you may not know what they own and would hate to get them something that they already have. So that is where the gift of money comes into play. They can get anything that their heart desires, even if it pays for a couple steaks at the grocery store, it is something that they wanted, and your present does not go unappreciated. 

A momentous event is underway as Mark is about to hit his fiftieth birthday and all of the family is coming home to celebrate. Being a good Catholic house, Mark has had to cope with the way the world has changed and accept his kid’s lifestyle choices. Britany is pregnant and is not married, Tony has a boyfriend, Julia is single at an advanced age, Breana is having relations without being married and Jennii is in training to be the family drunk when Aunt Cheyenne passes on. Without his wife by his side, Mark has had a tough go of things and having his mother live with him, along with Britany seems to have worked out well, but grandma is quickly losing her mind as well and there might be some problems on the horizon.

But all is well as it is Mark’s birthday and when opening presents he gets a windup monkey that smashes its cymbals together, just like the one he had as a child. Yet, there is something strange about this old toy as Mark sees himself getting a rifle from his father to take care of business. Waking up and seeing that his family is worried about him, the old man decides to call it a night. Heading to the bathroom, Mark steps on the monkey and instantly his mood begins to change. Lashing out at his family for nothing, Mark takes to the axe and works on chopping wood for the fire. Getting a visit from Aunt Cheyenne who delivers the non-drinker a screwdriver, Mark has had it with the woman and takes her out to the woodshed. With his father giving words of encouragement and blasting Mark for not keeping his family in line, no one in the house will be safe when 'protecting' his family is taken to a whole new level.

Yeah, I will admit it, the Amityville name is why I watched this movie and while this movie takes place in Nebraska, you get some of the same elements of the original story, mainly in the attitude of the haunted. The toy monkey came from the DeFeo residence where the murders of Amityville took place forty years ago and it still has the power to make people do things that should not be done. The family, while not being perfect seems to be like every other family these days, but with little things setting off the possessed father, it is a shame to see them all come face to face with death. The addition of a voice to the story is nice in the series, since you never get to hear what the dead are demanding and, in this movie, it is put front and center that Mark has let his family slide for too long and their mistakes need to be corrected. Stay Scared.

Distractions can be a killer for writers these days, especially since everything is written on a computer…  sorry, what was I talking about? I was just watching highlights of a basketball player kicking other players straight in the nuts. I have no idea how the heck this guy is still in the league after doing something so blatant, he only gets a technical foul and gets to keep playing. See what I mean? Finding news stories or crazy links to things that you never thought you would watch, much less care about destroys a train of thought. But it is not only the computer that can be a killer, the distractions of a big city can be just as bad as you sit and look out the window and see all of the fascinating things unfolding outside and you want to be a part of it. If you are not able to keep focused on the task at hand, you may never complete your project, even If you know you have a deadline to make.

Charles Bear has found the perfect place to get back to his writing in Beaver Pelt Falls and is taking his family along for the journey. Although his wife Linda and son Lonnie are not so high on this process, Charles has a deadline that he needs to make for his next novel and the city life is not allowing him to create anything new. Finding an old cabin at the right price, the scenery around their new home will be just what he needs to create his next masterpiece. But there is something living in his woods that might be looking to change his life forever if he does not correct the problem.

Lonnie would rather be back in Chicago with his friends but has found something cool on the property while wandering around. A large bear cave is hidden in the brush and Lonnie is dying to know what is living inside of it. Showing the cave to his father, the two want to investigate further, but time is not on their side as they quickly find out. While Linda is cooking breakfast for her boys, she sees something frightening outside of the window and is scared out of her mind. Charles is able to calm his wife down but has no idea what is stalking his property and calls in an exterminator to take care of the raccoons or whatever is hiding in the woods.

Heading into town to kill some time while waiting for the exterminator to show up, Charles sees a sign for Root Beer and cannot pass it up. Finding Ned Perkins in the middle of nowhere, the family hears about the Field Freak and what it is capable of doing at his old house. Just thinking that Ned is crazy and meeting Jerry the Exterminator, Charles finds out a little more about his new home and the murders that happened there some forty years ago. The Perkins family was torn limb from limb and the only survivor Ned, should have been the primary suspect in the case, but the kid lost his leg in the attack, so he was let off the hook. Not knowing how much stock to put into the stories, Charles and his family are in for the ride of a lifetime when the Field Freak comes looking for something other than blood.

I am still torn on the overall story that was put on the screen, but I must admit that it was just silly enough and had enough frightening moments that I enjoyed it. I can feel for Charles and his process of trying to make another masterpiece and being distracted by everything going on around him. I was a little surprised about his journey in the movie, since he kind of made himself bigger than he thought he could while trying to protect his family, but Lonnie and Linda were much stronger than he could ever be. I think the story really revolved around Ned however and his quest for revenge more than anything. While not everybody took a fancy to the one-legged, famous Root Beer making man, he really knows what he is doing and helps develop everyone in the family. With a monster, some cheap thrills, a touch of blood and crazy beavers, this is just really a fun movie that is worth giving a shot, it’s so silly, what’s not to like? Stay Scared.

One universal fact about human beings, is that we all love to indulge in guilty pleasures when it comes to popular culture. Because sometimes, stuff that doesn’t conform to the norms of the entertainment industry just brings us outright joy, and we are compelled to enjoy it often for that very reason. But what’s truly funny about this, is that we tend to partake of our guilty pleasures in private, even going so far as to only tell a handful of people about our love of them. Simply because people do tend to judge those who love offbeat stuff, and we just don’t want to deal with the snark. 

But the fact of the matter is, you love what you love, and you should celebrate it as often as possible because of the fact that it puts a smile on your face. And one particular guilty pleasure that needs to be put in the spotlight and raved over more often, is the B movie. Because these goofy little films just know how to let loose and have fun with their audience, by telling delightfully outlandish stories. The kind that major studios simply don’t think are worthwhile. But there are audiences out there that eat these tales up and it just so happens that this reviewer recently had the opportunity to enjoy a supremely off-the-wall and incredibly fun B movie entitled, Shark Encounters of the Third Kind.

Now in this particular film we are transported to a tiny coastal town in New England that is dealing with quite the set of problems. For not only are there pirates searching for treasure here, and causing trouble on the water, those very pirates are having to deal with an aggressive shark population that’s eating their scouts, and oh yeah… aliens have landed at the bottom of the ocean. Because they have important business here on Earth and they’re willing to harm anyone that gets in their way via mind control or by using the sharks of the ocean to remove them from the equation. Which means it will be up to a rag-tag group of heroes to put a stop to this nightmare before these visitors from another world can do irreparable damage and well, it doesn’t get more B movie, plot wise, than that.

But the wonder of this movie doesn’t end with an outlandish plot, because every other staple of this sub-genre is present here as well. Such as the fact that the special effects are clearly low budget in nature. Which means we are treated to aliens that are obviously fashioned out of rubber masks and hoodies, and ‘underwater’ sequences handled in front of a green screen, and those elements are juxtaposed by Claymation sharks that just so happen to growl and you know what? All of these elements are just a delight. Because it’s clear that writer John Oak Dalton and Director Mark Polonia had fun with their budgetary limitations and threw caution to the wind and the end result just puts a smile on your face.

However, what’s equally as entertaining about this movie, is that the same loose approach that the aforementioned filmmakers used for the plot and effects, is applied to the characters as well. Which allows for some chuckle-worthy moments to take place as the colorful folks that populate this small-town spit off one liners or react to some wild situations and really in the end, it’s the fun factor that makes this movie worthwhile. Because this is a motion picture that never takes itself too seriously and fully understands its standing and that allows for this story to simply entertain the viewer through and through. So, if you’re a big fan of B movies and you’re eager and proud to enjoy them on a regular basis, then this is the movie for you. Because you simply cannot go wrong with a Sci-Fi/Horror feature that offers its audience growling sharks and angry aliens.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Eight of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.
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One concept that The Walking Dead Universe loves to explore, are stories that involve redemption. For time and time again, we’ve seen broken people on The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead work hard to come back from the darkness that once permeated their souls, so they can become functional members of the new world that is being built. Which has made for some powerful and uplifting stories at times, since it helps to remind the audience that we can always come back from the brink when the going gets tough, and that we are better angels than our demons suggest, provided of course we take the time to recognize that, and for a time; it seemed as though this notion was going to be featured in The Walking Dead: World Beyond as well.

Because Silas was looking to find salvation and a fresh start by going on this mission to save Iris and Hope’s father and this notion was further reinforced by Huck's recent tutoring of Hope on matters of kindness and sacrifice and how they matter above all else at times. But as it turns out, this push toward the standard redemption tropes that this franchise tends to reside within, was all part of a grand ruse. For putting people that have never had to suffer through hardships at the end of the world, a la Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon or Alicia Clark and Morgan Jones, into the midst of a nightmarish world, can in fact have quite the negative impact upon the human mind and force them to lose themselves to the pain and the sorrow they carry within, as evidenced by this week’s episode. 

For ‘The Sky Is a Graveyard’ saw several characters break under the pressure they were currently facing and that allowed for the story to explore multiple angles as to why people give into the darkness and in the case of Silas, it’s related to the fact that sometimes… a lack of overall faith in us and who we are, can send us into a tailspin. Something that was explored by finally revealing to the audience exactly what brought about the perception that Silas is a monster. For it turns out that dear Silas was actually abused by his father on a consistent basis, and on the day that he decided to defend himself, he accidentally wounded his father mortally. Which in turn prompted his dad’s resurrection, eventually forcing Silas to act and save his mother before his reanimated corpse of a father could do any damage.

Which in essence, makes Silas something of a hero. For not only did he stand up for himself, rather than continuing to take abuse time and time again… he also saved his mother’s life in the process. But rather than be seen in that light, she only saw him as a monster and a murderer, and the same went for others in the Campus Colony. Which is something that fundamentally damaged Silas, psychologically. Because his father’s conflicted views of him, since dad did indeed show his son love from time to time, in between physical and emotional beatings; left Silas confused as to whether or not he was a decent human being, and such thoughts left him longing for acceptance and faith from other human beings and now we know why he was so eager to stick with the group on this journey.

Because he found everything he needed within the confines of his newfound family and well, all of that disappeared in this tale. For the thought that he potentially hurt Tony and Percy, left a vast majority of the group questioning his motives and his true personality and that broke him. For the only people that he ever viewed as family now saw him as a potential monster as well and it drove him to accept death’s sweet embrace before Hope intervened, and a lack of that release in turn motivated him to do something quite drastic and just leave his friends behind. Because they were just like everyone else, and perhaps he was better off on his own, where he could finally have his fresh start and be free of judging eyes and venomous words. 
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But while that alone made for one powerful tale, one that really did help us to understand how people lose themselves within sorrow, he wasn’t alone in this particularly bleak journey. Because Elton’s desire to prove that Silas was innocent, spoke to how he believed that the world was a beautiful and just place. Where wonders can happen with a little faith in others and sadly… those beliefs came crashing to the ground when Hope finally gave into her guilt and her pain over what happened with his mother and told him the truth about everything. For that robbed him of his hope and his cheery outlook and motivated him to also head out into the world, on his own. In part to try and keep Silas company, since he still believed in him, but also to clear his head and try to make sense of a senseless world.

Yet what was truly impressive about this particular tale, is that it went above and beyond in its exploration of this topic, by exploring the dangers of what we can transform into when one becomes lost. A feat that was accomplished by one hell of a reveal at the end of this tale, wherein we came to learn that Huck’s ‘scouting’ mission a little while back, included a meeting with Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth Kublek. Because sadly Jennifer ‘Huck’ Mallick, is a dedicated member of the Civil Republic Military and she’s working to keep an ‘asset’ within the group safe and well, how this relates to the theme in question… is that it is obvious now that Huck was so broken and so shattered and lost by her decision to defend the innocent that Kublek and her kind were able to sell her on notions of heroism and the greater good. Meaning that sometimes losing ourselves makes us vulnerable to outside influences, the kind that force us further into the void.

In the end however, this truly was quite the powerful episode. For once again, this series took the time to dive into concepts that its companion shows have yet to dive into and that led to some emotional moments for certain. The kind that really allowed for us to understand what makes Silas tick, and how quickly the world can bring us down when we let its special brand of chaos into our souls. But most important of all, this particular tale set the stage for a powerhouse season finale. Because now we know that not everyone has good intentions in mind and clearly the CRM is close to making a move to get whatever it is, they want from ‘The Asset’ and it should be interesting to see where we go from here now that chaos has found its way into the group's dangerous and broken, yet noble journey. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the season six midseason finale of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
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One particular notion that many people believe is outright critical to our success is life, is planning. Because sometimes finding our way forward is downright impossible. Simply because, in that moment, we haven’t a clue how to get where we want and need to go in both the literal and figurative sense. But putting together a plan, gives us focus and direction and it allows for us to figure out a way to achieve our goals in life and that’s why people stand by plans time and time again. For when they are well-written and carefully thought out and executed to a tee, we tend to get exactly what we want out of life.
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But while it is indeed inspiring to hear about how plans are indeed handy and fulfilling, what we don’t talk about enough when it comes to them… is how we need to be ready to adapt them on a moment’s notice. Because the chaos that is life, finds ways to seep into our plans and complicate them and if we don’t change them to handle the moment the hand, they can grow stagnant or blow up in our faces. If anything, this is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because the importance of the plan and our need to adapt and change them when the situation calls for it; served as the primary focal point of the season six midseason finale of Fear the Walking Dead and injecting this concept into ‘Damage from the Inside’ made for dynamic and fascinating episode for certain.

One that also took the time to explore the fallout of Victor Strand’s decision to sever all ties with Alicia. Because they spoke for the first time in weeks in this tale, and only because Strand was in need of her help. For someone attacked a convoy that was he was in charge of, one that was carrying dear Dakota to safety until the situation was resolved with the mysterious people that blew up Tank Town. And in the wake of that attack, Dakota went missing and that’s when Victor called his old friend in to try and help him, find her and well… his plea didn’t exactly engender enthusiasm from Alicia. For she was deeply hurt by his decision to just throw her into the wilderness, despite his claims that such an act was part of his master plan to bring down Virginia’s communities from the inside. And speaking of that plan… he truly believed that keeping Dakota safe and maintaining Ginny’s trust in him was paramount to executing it. Hence why he needed Alicia’s help, so the boss would be none the wiser to what happened here. 

Which was a request that Alicia went along with, but not for friendly and helpful reasons. No instead, she helped out in order to execute her own plan for safety and security. For she knew full well that she could use Dakota as leverage to escape her current situation, and finding out who was holding her captive could prove to be useful to Alicia, if in fact they were strong enough to bring Ginny down. But instead, her search for Dakota is what ended up exploring quite the lesson in how the best laid plans sometimes go sideways and that we need to adapt and change them as necessary, and all it took to get to that particular epiphany, was a dose of pure madness. For eventually she and Charlie were able to figure out that Dakota was being held in a nearby vacation spot, one that was being maintained by a broken man named Ed. 

As it turns out, Ed lost his family ages ago due to his twisted creations, since he ‘modified’ the living dead in a frightening manner to keep strangers out, And losing his wife and daughter to a failed modification, damaged his psyche badly enough that he vowed to keep anyone else in his custody safe at any cost, and if that meant he had to exert physical and psychological harm to make that happen; so be it. Which of course, was bad news for Alicia and Charlie and Dakota, since he was quick to lock them within the confines of this out of the way getaway and imply that harm would come to them if they didn't comply, and the sheer fury that such an act drew from his ‘guests’, eventually led to disaster. For when the opportunity arose for Alicia to fight back to try and secure freedom for herself and her friends, she took it, and Ed was mortally wounded in the scuffle and filled with regret for not having done something differently with his path and his plan.
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A regret that he was quick to express to Alicia, and his words and Strand’s desire to stick to his plan, no matter how much it hurt others, combined with Morgan’s unexpected arrival and expressed desire to use Dakota as a pawn instead of giving her a chance to escape the madness of her sister… finally allowed for Alicia to reach her epiphany. For all of these plans were unsustainable in every sense of the word and would cause more bloodshed down the line, and that required a serious course correction in regard to these plans. The kind that surprisingly, Morgan agreed to when he finally realized that Alicia was right and that there had to be a better way for everyone to get what they want out of this unfortunate conflict. But while it was nice to see these two old friends get back on the same page once again, Victor’s choice in this matter, hammered home the trouble of sticking with the plan. 

Because that’s precisely what Victor did when presented with an opportunity to adapt and change and well… that unfortunate choice could potentially make him a pariah and an outcast when it comes to the people, he’s straight up bled with over the years. And to make matters worse, Ginny truly seems to believe that he is on her side, and his admission to her that Morgan Jones has taken her sister to a secure location… prompted Ginny to break out her ‘secret weapon’ and reveal to Strand that Grace has been quietly locked away for just such a moment and will be used as leverage in dealing with dear Morgan and well, this reveal puts Strand in quite the pickle. Because eventually, he will genuinely have to pick and a side and fight for it and stick with it, since hanging out within the grey area simply isn’t going to work for him anymore and it should be interesting to see what Strand decides to do, since it would seem that circumstances are quickly unraveling his carefully laid out plan.

In the end however, this really was quite the fascinating and engrossing midseason finale. For it really did offer up just about everything we love about this series. After all, it was creepy and unsettling thanks to Ed’s house of deformed zombie horrors, and it also featured some intriguing and complex interpersonal conflicts, and it did a fine job of setting the stage for a grand showdown between Ginny and Morgan. Because now the both of them have human bargaining chips and it should be equally as interesting to see how their conflict comes to a resolution now that Morgan is starting to remember that there is a better way, and also whether or not their final battle will happen before the season six finale. Because there is still a greater threat working behind the scenes out there and well… what matters most, is that this midseason finale left us hooked and eager for more, because that’s what a good midseason finale does, and it is safe to say that all of us will be counting down the days until the midseason premiere, so we can see how all of these juicy plot lines are going to be resolved. Until next time.

​Looking for something new to do is hard for some people to do. Thinking outside of the box can be difficult, especially when it takes you out of your comfort zone. But the rewards that come from that can be so much greater, as long as you take a chance. You never know what the future holds, especially if you are not willing to open the door.

Heading out on vacation, Gracie, Adam and Lee are looking for something fun to do in Northern Australia. Coming up with a plan to see a crocodile farm, the group gets to see some of the largest creatures that are no longer in the wild, and they even get a chance to hold some of the smallest ones for memory’s sake. Needing something more to do on their trip, Adam spitballs an idea of heading further north to take the Blackwater Barry tour down the rivers and possibly get a little bit of fishing in as well. While his wife Gracie does not seem too keen on the idea, she does like the thought of doing something together and Lee is always up for an experience. But Gracie has a secret that she does not want the group to figure out, at least not until the time is right.

Arriving at Blackwater Barry’s dock, the group is saddened to hear that they just missed Barry for the river tour, but Jim would be happy to take them out instead. Taking Adam to get some fishing supplies, Lee sees something different about her sister and calls Gracie out for keeping her pregnancy secret from them all. Waiting for the right time to tell Adam that he is going to be a father, the group loads into the little fishing boat and they make their way up river. Being the perfect time of year with the river being flooded, there is plenty more opportunities to catch fish on this trip and while the tourists will not be able to keep them, it will still be a life changing experience. 

With a lack of bites on their lines, the group moves further into the flooded brush, but there is something else in the water that they did not expect. As the boat gets capsized by a large predator, the group scrambles to the surrounding trees for safety and finds that they are being hunted by a large crocodile. Seeing that their guide Jim has vanished in the attack, Adam, Gracie and Lee are left wondering what will happen to them. Wanting to wait for help to come seems like the best option, but when hours go by and no other boats are seen, the group is forced to come up with an alternative plan. Gracie takes to the trees to try and find a way to safety, but when she reaches the end of the growth and sees that the mainland is a hundred meters away, she knows that the swimming option will be frowned upon. Adam has the idea of getting back to the boat, but when he discovers it is hung up on something, that is easier said than done. The longer the three wait, the more likely they are to succumb to the crocodile’s needs of a good hardy human meal.

This movie really feeds on the fear of the unknown as you really never see the hungry crocodile waiting to strike. With the murky water surrounding them on all sides and only the trees giving some sort of safety, it is only a matter of time before the group falls in from lack of food and water. I liked the way every splash of water that was heard was the croc, even though you could not see the deadly hunter stalking the group. With their emotions running high and options limited, the wait is probably what did them in, since they were much too afraid to do anything, even when the croc was not seen. I know one thing that I learned after watching this movie, if I am going out in croc infested waters, I will be on a big boat that cannot be flipped by one, that is for damn sure. Stay Scared.

There was a time when television shows fell into two simple categories: hits and misses. Obviously, the hits would get all kinds of attention and enjoy longevity and the misses, well they were quickly cancelled and quickly forgotten… for the most part. Because from time to time, some of the ‘misses’ were actually top notch shows that were marketed incorrectly or stuck in the wrong time slot, allowing for them to slip through the cracks and live in infamy as stories that never got a fair shake. But thankfully, this era of peak television has mostly managed to eliminate that particular problem.

Because now, a cancelled series that didn’t jell on a particular network can find new life on another one, or a streamer, and that’s allowed for some wonderful shows to continue to thrive and please their dedicated fan base and oddly enough, this rise in network swapping has also led to shows reaching out to streamers and networks that specialize in their genre, so they can take their storytelling to new heights. Which is why Shudder is starting to see certain horror shows reach out to them. Because this streaming network knows exactly how to handle the scares just right and that’s allowed for magnificent specials such as The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Resurrection to pop up on the network, since Shudder was eager to give the Boulet Brothers everything, they needed to take their competition to the next level.

In fact, Shudder did such a wonderful job with that special, that another horror series has opted to join forces with them in order to bring about the best possible experience for its fans. For a brand-new season of Slasher: Flesh & Blood is in production now and is slated to premiere on Shudder in 2021 and well, Shudder and the show are going all-out when it comes to this new season of the series since a huge name from the industry is going to star in it. But who exactly is that name? Well, without further ado, here are all the details on this titular new season, courtesy of Shudder.

Slasher: Flesh & Blood follows a wealthy but dysfunctional family gathering for a reunion on a secluded island. Their old wounds and competitive rivalries flare up when the family realizes a masked killer is on the island, intent on cruelly picking them off one by one. As with the past installments of the series, Slasher: Flesh & Blood will combine elements of traditional murder mystery with the intense horror and bold kills that audiences have come to expect.

Canadian horror legend David Cronenberg has joined the cast for the new season, which will also continue Slasher’s trend of bringing back cast members in new roles. Returning from previous seasons are Paula Brancati, Jefferson Brown, Patrice Goodman, Sabrina Grdevich, and Christopher Jacot. New faces this year include Rachael Crawford (Heartland), Jeananne Goosen (The Walking Dead), Sydney Meyer (Departure), and Alex Ozerov (The Americans).

“Slasher is clever, bloody, scary and fun, and adding David Cronenberg to the mix will take this new installment of the series to the next level,” said Craig Engler, Shudder’s general manager. “We couldn’t be more excited to work with Aaron Martin and the team over at Shaftesbury to bring Slasher: Flesh and Blood to Shudder members.”

“We are so thrilled that Slasher will be brought back to life on Shudder,” said Shaftesbury Chairman & CEO Christina Jennings. “We know the fans of the show weren’t ready to say goodbye, so we are eager to bring them the goriest, scariest chapter of this anthology yet.”

“The Slasher series overdelivers on good old-fashioned gore, horror and fun with fast pacing and exceptional casting,” said David Kines, President Hollywood Suite. “We are very excited to throw our support behind the series and resurrect it for another bone-chilling season.”

So, it is definitely safe to say that the casting of David Cronenberg makes this new season an exciting prospect. Simply because he has brought forth some incredible horror films over the years and his involvement in this project will only add gravity and depth to it and truly, this is shaping up to be one exciting ride. Because this will likely be an unrestrained and visceral horror story since it is now on the right network, and it will be interesting to see how far this new season is willing to go to scare the tar out of us, and thankfully... we won't have to wait too long, to find out.