It is always hard to know what you will find when looking for the truth. With all of the research in the world at your fingertips, until you are witness to something that you and many others do not believe, you will never believe it to be true. Being open minded is the only way to go into a research project since it could take several different turns throughout, especially when you are trying to prove or disprove a myth. Just remember that if you follow the breadcrumbs that are left for you, you may experience the same fate that others did, even with all the technology at your fingertips.
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Traveling to Transylvania to investigate the Hoia-Baciu Forest and the strange stories surrounding it, Rachel and her cameraman Joe and sound man Tom stop in the local town to get some opinions on the haunted woods. While some of the people interviewed believe that there is something strange going on in the forest, there are others that think that it is just normal myths with nothing to back them up. Needing to come up with their own conclusions about what the forest is really about, the group has a tour set up with a local who believes that the stories are true but will take them in, nonetheless. 

Meeting up with Mr. Dogaru and his epic beard, the group starts their trek into the Hoia-Baciu Forest.  Not seeing much along the way except for more snow falling, which covers up their footprints, the group comes to a standstill when they spot something out of place; a teddy bear and a child’s shoe that seems to appear out of nowhere. Not knowing how to explain this, the group moves deeper into the forest looking for the Devil’s Circle where it is said that nothing will grow in that particular area. Asking their guide how much longer it should take to arrive at the circle, Mr. Dogaru delivers the unsettling message that it moves from place to place, so it will be a little longer.

The trek continues until Mr. Dogaru stops and seems to have a conversation with someone in the woods. Not knowing what exactly what the bearded man is saying, Rachel and her team are shocked when the sound of an owl spooks the old man, causing him to run off into the wilderness. Not being able to stop him, the group finds themselves alone in the woods and following what appears to be tracks left by a shoeless child. Coming across Mr. Dogaru and finding him dead, the group decides to follow the tracks for a little longer, but when the tracks vanish, the group has no idea where to head to next. Wandering around in the forest and finding strange markings around them, they have no idea what they mean, much less who is messing with them. While they slowly start to understand that their pasts will come back to haunt them, they find an abandoned tent in the forest and decide to rest up, only to find that they are not alone.

I will admit that I really liked the premise of the movie in that you cannot escape your past mistakes. With two people officially guilty of killing someone, and one that was not able to save a life, it seems like the forest will punish you for what you regret, not what you did. Really, the only thing that kept me intrigued throughout the movie was the relationship between Tom and Joe who were best friends, but outside of that, the walking got a little old and I got more upset with the group every time they mentioned not having a map. With some haunted woods, an ill-conceived hike, snow, more snow, even more snow, attitudes being adjusted, no map, no compass, strange sounds in the woods and an unseen beast that lives to feed on the fears of the guilty, I was kept entertained most of the time, but the story does take a while to make its way to the screen, so if you don’t mind a slow burn in the snow, you may enjoy this just as much as I did. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Midnight Mass’.
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When we last settled in to discuss the brilliant Netflix series, Midnight Mass, we talked at length about the importance of examining the root cause of every last one of the problems that are currently plaguing organized religion right now. Primarily because, they are concerning for certain and if left unchecked and un-repaired, there is a fair chance that they could lead to all kinds of trouble. The kind that would harm a great deal since religion has great influence and power. But rather than purely leave those potential horrors buried in the backs of our minds… Mike Flanagan decided that for the show’s penultimate episode, the time was right to indulge the darkest recesses of our imagination and ponder upon what would happen if organized religion’s problem weren’t addressed and allowed for the worst-case scenario came to fruition.
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Which made ‘Book VI: Acts of the Apostles’ an utterly horrifying story, one that saw religion’s arrogance and desire to remain relevant to be taken to a terrifying new level on Crockett Island. For once Bev and Pruitt realized that Riley was missing and seemingly rejected his ‘blessing’ from ‘The Lord’, they expected him to talk and sow trouble amongst the people and potentially destroy all the progress made in making religion great again on this godforsaken island. Which in turn, allowed for quite the powerful plan to be set into motion. One where Bev and Pruitt would ensure that faith would prevail on this island and all it would take to make that happen… was complete and utter control of its citizens, and well… it was horrifying to see how easily this plan came to fruition.

For while Erin and Sarah and Mildred pondered upon their next steps and how to bring attention to their situation and the scary reality that Pruitt had been feeding the island’s citizens some kind of horrific miracle cure, the power was gently being cut at every sub-station. Plus, the boats were conveniently put under repair and the ferries were sent away. All because Bev and John needed everyone to stay, to make a particularly unsettling choice, one that would change lives forever and well… what allowed for this to happen so quickly and so succinctly… was Crockett’s Mayor. For Wade didn’t even hesitate to green light this plan and even stepped in and helped it to come to life, making it clear how quickly something like this could happen in America if the circumstances were right and while some might say that’s not possible… history speaks otherwise.

Since the Catholic Church has an illustrious history of seizing control with minimal fuss, which allowed for incredible butchery to take place in the past and even now… religious zealots are able to seize power often. For ISIL and its belief that the world was corrupt, fueled enough fear and worry to rally holy soldiers to its cause and quickly create an Islamic State. One that thankfully failed, but there are still fears that another one could rise thanks to the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, since they harbor old religious views and could welcome remnant of ISIL into their government as well. But while it was fascinating to explore what a religious revolution might look like in America, there was still the matter of the last part of the plan… one that helped this episode lean hard into its horror roots. 
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As it turns out, the final part of the plan… was to reveal the truth to Crockett and put the ‘Angel’ on display in front of everyone so that the town could see that ‘God’ had blessed them and wanted them to prosper, and that all they needed to do to embrace God’s love and enjoy the restoration that Pruitt enjoyed… was to die. For then the vampire’s blood would resurrect them as Jesus was once resurrected and that… led to complete and utter bedlam. Wherein mass death occurred, and gunfire and bloodshed broke out over the horror of this reality and once the dust and the fountains of blood had settled, a new beginning had indeed come to fruition on Crockett Island. For the undead walked and they craved fresh blood and thanks to Bev Keane’s decision to open the doors… they are going to get their wish.

Which is… a terrifying cliffhanger for certain. One that truly implies that carnage and terror awaits us in the show’s series finale. But while we wait to see how bad things will get on Crockett Island, we can bask in the wonder of a true tale of terror. One where Mike Flanagan let loose and let our worst fears come to fruition before unleashing the vampiric nightmare we knew was coming and well, in the end, this was just another brilliant episode in this series. One that brings together much of the commentary here with its ‘what if?’ scenario and sets the stage for an epic finale. One that will decide the fate of so many, and will undoubtedly this story to a close in the most brilliant way imaginable and truly, it will be quite interesting to see what lessons await us and how this nightmare is going to end when we dive into the series finale. Until next time.

​There is something about your past that will just never leave your side. As we have all made decisions while growing up, most of them were good, but those few bad ones will stick with us until the day we die. The only thing you can do is to learn to accept that you made a mistake and keep moving forward and while some people are able to do this with ease, most of us don’t even want to think about it ever again. There is only one way to try and lead a happy life and that is living it with no regrets and while it is easy to say that you do, it is something totally different to do so.
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After being charged with killing her mother and sister, Emma has found a new home in the Hollybrook Institution but is still plagued with the nightmares of what really happened. Lashing out in reality when she is dreaming, another patient knows exactly what she is dealing with. Forming a friendship with Jeremy over the Stickman that comes in their dreams, she finds out that he has a plan on how to defeat the monster. Drawing the Stickman during the day, the only way to keep it away for good is to finish the drawing when you are next to death. Accomplishing this on her own time, Emma is found in her room next to death, but with her drawing complete in a place that nobody would ever look.

Ten years have passed, and the nightmares have not come back, and Emma is shocked to get a visit from her doctor telling her that she is about to be released. Hearing the news, Jeremy turns his back on his only friend and there is nothing that Emma is able to do to get him to say anything to her before she leaves. Being sent to a halfway house to get accustomed to living on the outside, Emma is greeted by Paige who cannot be happier to have a new roommate and Liv who wants nothing to do with the new outcast. Being welcomed into the house and meeting all of the other girls, Liv finds out the deep dark secret about Emma and the double murder that she committed years ago.

As attitudes fly around the house, Liv takes the next step and digs through Emma’s bag and finds an old poem. Reading it aloud despite Emma’s warning, Liv has unleashed the Stickman upon the world once again, but this time it is different as it is not only in people’s dreams, but in reality. Fighting off the Stickman after he kills the house mother and driver, the girls are willing to put the blame on Emma, but there is much more at stake as both of the adults in the house have been killed. Trying to come up with a plan that will not get any of them arrested, the group finds out that the Stickman is hunting all of them. Needing to find a way to stop the Stickman once again, Emma knows that Jeremy is the only one that can help them, but in a race against time, will she be able to find her best friend before everyone she knows is killed?

I was not as blown away by this movie as I thought I would be, but I did get introduced to a great actress in Hayley Law (Emma) who made this story come to life. While I usually don’t hand out praises to actors or actresses in movies, Hayley really had to shine to make this movie watchable. I liked the storyline overall, with people dying in their sleep without reason and the Stickman being responsible for all of their deaths. I really wish there was a little bit more to the subplots that were being hit on, as you have Emma researching all of the strange deaths, but there was no real follow up to it. With a creepy nightmare killer come to life, blood, jump scares, padded rooms, a fire and a friendship reunited, while I was not blown away by the movie, my eyes were still glued to the screen to see what happened next. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that Americans tend to romanticize war and revolution and understandably so. After all, the nation’s history is wrought with heroic moments related to both. Since the Revolutionary War freed the colonies from the oppressions of the crown and of course… America’s entry into the Second World War managed to turn the tide for certain. Allowing for the Allies to bring down the Third Reich and force the surrender of the Japanese Empire, bringing decades of peace to the world and giving future generations plenty to celebrate on a consistent basis. But alas, while there is some merit to war… since it can accomplish peace, our love affair with it is a tad troublesome at times.
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Because it reinforces the belief that all problems can be solved with military might, when in fact… war should be nothing more than a last resort. For to go to it means sacrifice and bloodshed on a level that few of us will ever understand. But alas, that lesson and reality isn’t one that will easily reach the masses and that’s why popular culture can help to spread the honesty regarding war and oddly enough… The Walking Dead: World Beyond is a story that surprisingly managed to do just that, last night. For ‘Death and Dead’ is a story that saw the Bennett family and their merry band of scientific insurrections, engage in outright combat with the CRM and early on… it appeared as thought this story was going to celebrate such matters.

For initially, the family succeeded in teaching the CRM quite the lesson in messing with innocents and playing around with lives. Because they were in fact, one step ahead of Warrant Officer Stokes and her containment team, since it turns out… they didn’t go into the tunnels after all. No instead, they snuck the dead down into the tunnels… with explosives attached to their backs so that each and every soldier below could meet their end and well… the shock of losing her team actually made Jadis amicable to doing a deal with Leo. One that would see the scientists receive a pair of trucks to escape the facility and start over anew. Which was a fine way to romanticize combat and war, and the joy of it was further reinforced by both Elton and Silas’ journey in this tale.

Because while Dennis did indeed survive his gunshot wound and had the bullet removed, there were no guarantees he would heal properly and without infection. Which prompted this duo to complete their work in shocking the CRM with a wave of Empties post haste, so they could use the confusion the dead would create, to break into the facility and load up on medical supplies and well, it doesn’t get more uplifting than that. Since it served to remind us that there is sometimes beauty in chaos and oddly enough, their successful run also brought forth some unique zombie kills. Since they used the artful globe that Kublek commissioned to run through the dead on their way back to safety and well… that’s really the last romantic moment involving war and combat this episode sent our way.

For once the joy was done, the realistic examination of war got under way and really, several key moments made it clear that romanticizing this notion is dangerous and unhealthy since at its core, war is nothing more than give and take between two parties that wish to have their way over someone else… as evidenced by the surprise counter offensive that Jadis put into play. Because she knew that sticking around to devastate her forces, meant that the Bennett family had other ideas up their sleeve, the kind that would likely involve destroying the nerve gas that the CRM invested so much time into… which is why she was quick to move it once her foot soldiers were gone, to finally surprise the Bennetts an give them an L and she was successful in frustrating them and confronting them.
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Because she made sure to wait in the carpool with Huck, to surprise and attempt to gain the upper hand, and rescue Mason as well. Which led to a tense standoff, one where Jadis tried to explain the long-term decisions behind the forthcoming destruction of Portland and of course, to attempt to get them to tell her where the scientists had gone, so that Project Votus wouldn’t be a total loss and this standoff, ended badly for certain. For once Huck figured out that Jadis was also drawing this out to get the drop on the Endlings, she revealed her allegiance to them and opened fire and in the exchange… Percy lost his life and Hope and Iris and Felix… left with little to show for their attempts to rise up and march to war. For a friend was dead, and their attempts to save a city had failed.

Which genuinely served to remind us, that war is hell and more often than not, resorting to this level of violence is costly and ugly and it will require sacrifices that are not for the weak. But in the end, regardless of the cost and the suffering it brings… it is a necessity now and again and sometimes, the losses an army suffers can transform into a positive opportunity. For in the closing moments of this tale, it was revealed that Project Votus’ poison… was closer than the Endlings ever knew and with a little care and a little effort, there’s still a chance that they can be victorious over the Civic Republic Military and save Portland and hundreds and thousands of lives and that reveal, will make the wait for next week’s series finale… a difficult one for certain.

Since we are now dying to know if the Endlings can pull off such a feat and teach an evil force a valuable lesson. But while we wait to see how this story comes to a close, we can bask in the wonder of an intelligent and intense tale. Because not only did this story do a wonderful job of showing us the dangers of war and how it cannot and should not be romanticized in the slightest, but it also managed to engage us and keep us on the edge of our seats. Because this episode was filled to the brim with dangers untold, since the dead were everywhere and the CRM was out for blood and well… if that’s the kind of epic storytelling this series is bringing to the table in its penultimate episode, who knows what kind of surprises await us when The Walking Dead: World Beyond, comes to its end, next week. Until then.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 707 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
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One particular concept that continues to fascinate the whole of modern mankind… is the nature and the genesis of evil. Because the idea that an everyday person will one day wake up and make the decision to hurt other human beings seems like an impossibility. After all, we live in a world that is so incredibly interconnected. To the point where anyone should be able to step in, either in person or from afar, and help those wavering between good and evil, so they can be saved from the darkness and live a life filled with wonder. But despite our ability to so via technology, evil persists, and its ability to do so despite the benefits of our world and the kindness that outweighs it… is what keeps this fascination alive and compels us to dive deeper into its origins.
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Which is why we demand that behavioral science continue its major strides in uncovering the genesis of evil and why we expect storytellers to explore this as often as possible, so we can root out the real cause of evil and end it and transform mankind into something genuinely beautiful. But even that hope and that quest seems fleeting at times, especially when one comes to realize that sometimes… evil is born from the simplest of moments. The kind that are in essence, the perfect nexus of emotional trauma and disdain for the world as it stands. Which no one could see coming in the slightest, leaving one to wonder if we can ever defeat it. But rather than ponder upon that further, for the sake of today’s discussion, the simplicity of evil and how that singular moment can nudge people toward it in a tragic and unexpected manner is top of mind… because that played out during last night’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead.

For ‘The Portrait’ took the time to examine what has made Victor Strand so sour and so evil at times and it did so, by offering up a Shakespearean tragedy of sorts. One that saw Victor express in the most subtle way imaginable… that he has been a broken man for a long time, and that he is desperate to have others see him as a hero or a wonder to fulfill some deep-rooted trauma and insecurity and all that of came to light… by way of his desire to have a portrait commissioned by an artist within his Tower. Because he genuinely wanted this painting to really show everyone in the Tower, and those who would soon call it home… that he was the same beacon of light that shone atop this building and that they could trust him and love him and cherish him for his acts. But alas, the painting captured the same ice in his veins that we know exists and that reality… combined with some surprises, left Strand in quite the precarious place mentally. 

Because his desired perception was put to the test. By way of the arrival of Morgan Jones and the Stalkers. Because shortly after Strand figured out a way to show Morgan that he was indeed a beautiful man that had figured out the right way to move civilization forward, by way of mercy and kindness for a sickly Mo and in the midst of that lesson… the Stalkers arrived and opened fire upon the building with zombie bombs. The kind that would soon do devastating damage to the Tower by way of nuclear contamination if he didn’t let this group of rag-tag survivors in and let them share in the wonder of safety and shelter, and that brought about the first real step toward breaking Victor Strand and motivating him to embrace the darkness within. Because there was a real fear that he wouldn’t be able to keep his people safe and wouldn’t be able to exert raw power and attitude over these individuals and that epiphany, made him look weak and indecisive and to complicate matters further… someone in his midst had poisoned him.

Leaving him to believe this was nothing short of an assassination attempt by the Stalkers so they could get their hands on what he worked so hard to build and well, rather than immediately take up Morgan’s offer to help him by way of the MWRAP… he was quick to circle the wagons and attempt to make himself look like the hero as always. For he desperately needed everyone to see he was in control, that he was right about everything and could in fact, get them out of this darkest hour. But alas, it quickly became apparent that wasn’t going to be the case and he was forced to work with Morgan and follow that plan. One that worked so well, that it seemingly kept Strand from turning to the dark side. But the reveal after the Stalkers had left, that Morgan was the one who poisoned him… finally sent Victor down the proverbial rabbit hole. For in that moment… he came to realize a great deal about himself, and his situation and his future.
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In that, he was a monster to others. A being that only cared about himself and his advances, although he built a place to create safety and shelter for others. And that epiphany combined with an admission in the midst of the crisis that he was in essence, desperate to have someone love him and see him in a positive light, preferably Alicia… motivated him to just give up and give the people what they wanted. For if that was how they saw him, that was what they would receive. Making this story a grand tragedy for Strand and a brilliant examination of that genesis point of evil. Of how the right circumstances can break a man and commit him to it, especially when their flawed attempts to do the right thing are rejected and insulted. But while we wait to see what this awakening will produce for the future of the story; we’d be foolish to not talk about the rousing surprise that came about at the end of this tale.

For shortly after Morgan and Victor parted ways, in exchange for Grace and Mo’s safety… Morgan found himself surrounded by the Stalkers and was seemingly in dire trouble. That is until Sherry and Dwight revealed themselves to him and informed him that they weren’t with the Stalkers, but an offshoot group with better intentions, before taking him to meet the true leader of this splinter group… who turned out to be Alicia. Who revealed that not only is she thriving and leading people to safety, but that she needs Morgan’s help in keeping folks safe and that will be easier said than done, since those dirty bomb walkers are still out there and one of them, detonated near the camp. However, while a cliffhanger of that caliber was quite engaging and while it was nice to finally see Alicia return to the fold again… let’s be honest, all of that was grossly overshadowed by the core themes of this episode.

Since Victor’s harrowing journey truly hammered home how hard it is to genuinely rid the world of evil since there are people like Strand all over the world, who refuse the help they need and refuse to take responsibility for their actions and will indeed embrace darkness when the right opportunity arises, leaving one to wonder how we combat evil if that is the case and of course… if Victor Strand can be redeemed now that he is at his lowest. But while we wait to get the answers to those questions, we can genuinely bask in the majesty of one quality episode. One that really let Colman Domingo shine through and through since he expressed everything we discussed here in a powerful and subtle manner, and he really does deserve a round of applause for turning in a powerhouse performance and for leaving us quite worried. Because we’ve never seen Strand truly be unleashed and the kind of pain, he is carrying… could lead to all kinds of strife… all because Victor cannot find what he needs to fill the void in his soul. Until next time.  

​The human condition is something our society will always explore by way of creative mediums. What makes us capable of evil, what makes us capable of good, what makes us laugh and what makes us cry will continue to be broken down until the last man or woman on earth closes their eyes for that final time.  

But of all the things we explore about ourselves, there is one element that perhaps we take for granted and overlook in our detailed analysis of us; what we mean to one another.  We rarely think about how much a person means to us until they are gone, and thankfully, with our friends and family around us, the pain of loss can be slowly healed. But what if there was no one to support us and we lost everything?  What if we were truly and utterly alone? These are questions that are thoroughly explored in the 2007 horror/science fiction film...I Am Legend. 

Humanity’s greatest scientific discovery is nothing short of a nightmare. The cure for cancer has evolved and is quickly killing off the population. Some people are immune, others are host to another variant of the virus that turns them into a vampire like creature. Three years after a vast majority of the human race has been wiped off the planet, there is one man still trying to save what is left of our kind. Dr. Robert Neville is working to find a cure in the remains of Manhattan and his greatest challenge lies ahead, for the creatures of the night that he has studied in his private lab, have finally taken notice of him.

In a word, I Am Legend is inconsistent, which is a total shame considering how much the story has to work with. The circumstances that update Richard Matheson's story of the same namesake are awesome, the desolate and decaying New York City are incredible to look at and quite frankly, Will Smith is outstanding and in top form in this film, which means that this motion picture should have been a powerhouse ride, but instead we are left to reflect upon a so-so horror flick. 

So where does the film go wrong?  Well, first and foremost, the ‘Darkseekers,’ the blood loving mutations central to this tale, are in no way terrifying. They are CGI creations that are brutish and mindless, predators yes, but they are easily avoided with a little bit of bleach and daylight. Second to that, the film unravels after its finest moment, wherein Robert is forced to endure true isolation. Will Smith's acting here is brilliant, but his downward spiral feels rushed and out of place. It would have been way cooler to watch him continue his work and slowly lose the best parts of himself in doing so. Then of course there is the third act which is nothing more than a bloody action sequence and well, it just seems out of place. Granted there is an alternate ending out there that improves upon the original, but it isn't enough to overcome the not so scary Darkseekers.

The truth is, the best part of this film is its exploration of how important we are to one another and that we often don't realize the power and necessity of human interaction. Seeing how Robert has set up mannequins around town to talk to, his connection to the dog, his need to have the television playing in his home often to have that sense of a world gone by are beautiful touches and should have been explored to the fullest. Not to mention, we needed a more terrifying monster. But this is not an unwatchable piece of garbage, there is a lot to be seen in this motion picture. Again, I cannot emphasize enough how damn good Will Smith is as Robert Neville and the first two thirds of the movie are haunting and beautiful. If anything, give it a look and then watch the alternate ending, that will certainly make your experience far more satisfying.  

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for Episode 3 of ‘Ragdoll’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that how we view evil has changed throughout the years. For back in the day, way back in the day, in fact, it was nothing more than an unseen force. A malicious nothingness that somehow influenced everyday people to commit horrible acts and as the years progressed, that void evolved into something tangible. A fallen angel that loved to tempt humanity into committing evil acts so that our souls could be claimed by it. But all these fantastical notions did for us, was deflect from the unfortunate reality that we understand today. In that, man is what is truly evil in this world, and it is man that makes an active choice to become so.
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But while that is a chilling realization, it is one that is recent enough in our history that we don’t quite understand the true nature of evil yet, and why people are eager to commit to it. We simply know it exists and that it is cruel and that it loves to toy with humans to see how far it can press us and/or break us and those latter indulgences from evil are top of mind today… because they served as the focus of the next episode of Ragdoll on AMC+. For when we catch up with the task force in this one. They’re still reeling from the fact that the Ragdoll Killer managed to use an everyday lawyer to do their bidding and kill the next person on their list and well… planning ahead and making sure to utilize every tool at their disposal… is clearly part of their plan to exert pressure over the team, in an effort to see how long it will take to break them.

Which it would seem, they are getting close to accomplishing. For their successful actions and their desire to toy with DS Nathan Rose and prompt him to believe that he is somehow responsible for all of this, is helping to drive quite the wedge in the team. For a great deal of this episode saw Rose and Edmunds and Baxter at each other’s throats or questioning one another. Simply because they were afraid of failure and were rattled by being bested by a phantom of sorts, and because Nathan was doing his best to stand tall with an old stereotype revolving around mental illness. In that, one has to appear strong and in control when they have concerns about their mental health, and well… all of those elements put the team on serious edge and applied the pressure in question and hopefully they can come together soon before these stresses do indeed tear them apart.

But while that particular brand of chaos could have carried this episode through and through, it still had more to explore in regard to evil. Specifically, how it loves to watch its plans come to life and the joy it receives from harming others in the most poetic way imaginable. A feat that this story accomplished, by taking us on quite the ride with the third person on the list. Since the Ragdoll Killer was all about assembling an intricate plan involving their target, one that would showcase their mental prowess and terrify those involved and well, that led to one hell of an intense and unsettling sequence. One that we simply cannot spoil in the slightest, since you the viewer, need to experience its wonder firsthand. But what we can say, is that it hammers home the central theme, and said theme is taken to a whole new level at the end of this tale. Which we also won’t spoil, for that too is epic.

But instead, what we will discuss, is the sheer majesty of this episode and how it did a wonderful job of exploring the nature of evil to a tee. Plus, it also impressed by finding a way to truly put the team to an emotional test. One that genuinely pushed them to the limit through and through and created the potential for genuine strife between them down the line. Also, this episode deserves credit for briefly exploring the whole ‘stay strong’ mantra that we expect people going through a mental health crisis to adhere to… since that kept the show’s powerful examination of how we view mental health, alive, and all this episode does, is leave us starving for more. Because the case is heating up and the stakes are high, and it is quite likely that all of us will be counting down the minutes until next week’s entry. So, we can see where this stunning story is going to take us. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Behind the Monsters’.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, the Shudder series, Behind the Monsters, has done a phenomenal job of teaching us everything we ever wanted to know about horror’s biggest icons. For we are now aware of the fact that humor and raw horror and original thinking… will make a particularly terrifying character an outright favorite for some. The kind that they celebrate endlessly and introduce to uninitiated if the opportunity arises. But while this show has indeed offered up quite the comprehensive look at how we fall for horror’s ugliest monsters, there are still more reasons as to why we grab hold of them so tightly and this week’s episode of the series, pointed out that the fact that the humanity these monsters sometimes display… helps with that.

Granted, ‘humanity’ isn’t a word that many would associate with Jason Voorhees, since he’s something of a powerful zombie or deadite or some kind of undead creature that kills with impunity. But humanity is there in his stories. In fact, he might be the most human monster of all and a lot of that is related to the structure of his franchise. For a series that was born out of the intention of ripping off Halloween, more or less came to life out of ingenuity. Since so much of Jason’s past and future were forged in the moment and the improvisational manner of his world… really does feel awfully human. Since so many of us are making it up as we go and trying things and seeing what sticks… and that really sums up the Friday the 13th franchise in a nutshell and it was genuinely amazing to have this documentary point that out.

But of course, there are a great deal of other reasons as to why we love Jason so, and another big one… is the fact that he offers us catharsis and is shockingly relatable. Now the catharsis comes from the fact that in later films, Jason does tend to kill the jackasses that we cannot stand to deal with in regular life. For a lot of the teens that come to Crystal Lake in those films... are jerks, and deserve the horrible end he gives them, and we find relief in that. As for the relatability, well that comes forth by way of the fact… that Jason isn’t doing this because he’s a total monster/force of nature akin to Freddy Krueger. He’s doing this for revenge. Revenge against people that chastised him for looking different and made an active choice to ignore him and let him die and that is something we can definitely relate to on a fundamental level. As is the long standing trauma he suffers from, regarding how his mother died.

However, while it is nice to find something that we can relate to when it comes to this hulking mass of a serial killer… how Jason exacts revenge is another huge reason as to why he is so popular. Because he is utterly savage when it comes to his kills and he’s downright creative about them as well. And being able to settle in and know that the director of a particular Jason movie took meetings about how to kill teenagers, excites us to no end. Because we know we are going to be treated to something special, something that makes us cringe and cheer and want to barf all at once and Jason delivers on that feeling time and time again. In fact, it is definitely safe to say… that his kills are some of the finest to ever grace the slasher sub-genre.

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Jason Voorhees also has a rich body of work to share with the world, the kind that features unique performances from the various actors that have had the honor of playing Crystal Lake’s most infamous serial killer and really, in the end, this was just another wonderful chapter in this series. Because it really did present Jason in a brand-new light and it offered up some genuinely honest answers as to why he is so popular with fans and why we continue to fawn over him and well, hopefully… this documentary isn’t the end of his story. Because it really does feel as though the time is right for Jason to return to the mainstream, since horror is at the peak of its game and hopefully the whole rights mess is resolved soon, so the Crystal Lake Killer can make his triumphant return to theaters. Until next time.   

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 406 of ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula’.
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There are a great many reasons as to why people love the Shudder series, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula. For some it’s all about the contestants since the Boulet Brothers bring in dynamic and relatable artists that we immediately root for and want to succeed. For others, it’s about the amazing costumes since this competition puts the art of drag on a pedestal and of course… there are so many that tune in for the horror elements. Since we get an education (or refresher) on the genre’s illustrious history and little horror vignettes to enjoy as well. But regardless of which reason you tune in for, there is one in particular that we all share in.

Specifically, we’re here for the intensity. That moment when the Boulet Brothers truly expect more of their contestants and push them to give us their absolute best. For when that happens the competition takes on a whole new life and we are on pins and needles to see who can rise to the occasion and who will stumble and fall and that particular moment is top of mind today, because it finally arrived during this week’s episode. for ‘Hairy Monsters!’ saw the final six be tasked with creating hairy and filthy and horrible monsters that paid tribute to all the furry nightmares that have haunted the horror genre throughout the years and that really did put the monsters to the test… but not before they finally found a sense of unity.

Because now that Merrie and Betty were gone, the remaining contestants took a moment to apologize to one another for their sour behaviors at the end of last week’s episode and that was a wonderful thing. Since it gave everyone perspective on the journey and what they had accomplished to date. But what matters more is that the drama was tabled at last, and the art became the priority and that allowed for some swift and quality work to get done under some newfound pressure. Because no joke, Drac and Swan made it very clear what they expected from this week’s looks and how hard the competition was going to get from here on out and thankfully, the message was received by the vast majority of the monsters and that brought forth some utterly amazing costumes this week.

Specifically, from Dahli and HoSo. Because wow, their creations were nothing short of nightmarish. Thanks in large part to their performances since Dahli was beyond eager to embrace the wonder of his fuzzy Bridge Troll and HoSo simply wowed us all by creating and embodying a horrific and sullied moth creature that looked as though it would happily eat people alive and it just so happens that HoSo’s creation was so solid, that it netted her the win this week. But while it was wonderful to see HoSo rebound… the intensity quickly upped the ante for Sigourney and Jade… who got the business from the Boulet Brothers and found themselves in bottom looks this week and of course… we will not be spoiling who went home at the end. Because you need to experience that yourself.

But what matters most about this episode, is that Drac and Swan did not mince words here and really made it clear how the contestants need to up their game going forward, and it will be fascinating to see how the monsters respond to the amped pressure and scrutiny from our intrepid hosts in the weeks to come. But while we wait to see that, we can bask in the wonder of the best episode of season four to date. Which is saying something considering how great this season has been. But we really saw some incredible and stunning costumes this week, and the tribute to furry monsters was top-notch and well, now that this magnificent episode has ended, it’s time to keep an eye on the clock once again. As we count down the minutes to another round in the intense and satisfying battle royale to earn the title of Dragula. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Strings’.
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One thing that we can all agree upon, is that sometimes… life just gets to be too much for us to handle. Be it excessive bills or personal strife or problems at work or an outright catastrophe, one way or another, life is going to just pour it on and leave us staring at the ceiling at three in the morning while we wonder exactly how we are going to handle this overwhelming moment. In fact, it gets so bad and so terrifying at times… that our first instinct is to simply run away from it all. So, that we don’t have to deal with our problems in the slightest and can just start over fresh and see where the reset button takes us. But the vast majority of us, simply don’t do that. So, eventually… we sleep and get up and face the day and all of our problems. At least… that is what the majority of us do.
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Because some people, actually indulge in that flight response and are on the road or heading to the airport by dawn when the world overwhelms them, and they promptly find themselves far away from their problems and ready to start anew when they finally calm down and well… they always end up serving as cautionary tales. Because the reason the majority of us stand tall in the face of adversity, is because we know running won’t solve any of our problems and the folks that do run, learn that lesson the way hard. And really, the dangers of running from our problems and how our problems can overwhelm us when we do, is top of mind today, because they serve as the central themes of the new Shudder feature, The Strings.  

Now in this particular film, we meet a musician named Christine and when we catch up with her, here… she’s exhausted and on the road. Not because she’s heading to or from a gig, but because she’s running. Running from a love named Derek, running from her current situation, in the dead of winter no less and well… she seems to find peace at her final destination, her aunt’s cottage by the beach. Wherein she can take a moment and catch her breath and work on some new tunes and start over fresh. A plan that seems to be working and helping her mental health… that is until a strange shadowy presence begins to make itself known to her in the middle of night. One that can manifest its strength by moving objects around the house. Leaving Christine beside herself as she ponders upon its purpose. But she needs to hurry when it comes to figuring that out… since its actions are becoming more violent, and it won’t be long before this spirit does something quite bold.

Which is a plot that feels akin to a ghost story that ramps up the terror in an organic and brisk manner, over a story that explores the horrors of ignoring our problems. But make no mistake about it, the latter concern is the focus and that stays front and center in this story… by way of a slow burning journey. Which means dear reader, it is time for a warning. Because some horror fans out there… don’t care for slow burning horror stories that use the character and silence and simple moments to build the terror and it does need to be known that this movie leans heavily into that device. But whether you’re a fan of it or not, this writer implores you to stay the course and hang with the silence and the simplicity. Because there is a payoff, one that is handled in a beautiful and subtle manner. 
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For Christine’s simple moments and attempts to restart her life from afar, truly makes it clear that she is running hard from her problems and not facing them in the slightest. Which means that the dark presence surrounding her, is a manifestation of her problems and a metaphor for the fact that ignoring one’s problems…. only makes things worse, and that we cannot escape them, and they will eventually grow and catch up with us. And if we continue to ignore them when they warn us of their presence… they will in fact, bring forth a disaster of epic proportions into our lives. Which is of course, expressed here via a worst-case scenario, but the point is there none the less. Making this horror film a straight up elevated horror story, one that is supremely personal in nature and supremely brilliant as well. 

Because this is a wonderful way to express and explore the movie’s message and by going the slow burning route, we really get to know the characters on a fundamental level and genuinely understand how overwhelmed and broken Christine is. Which is a testament to the quality of the script, which was written by Ryan Glover and Krista Dzialoszynski since it takes great care in the writing process to properly create those kinds of intimate and relatable moments and it also takes solid acting to bring it to life. Which means a round of applause is in order for Teagan Johnson, since she sells the frustration and the terror that Christine experiences in this story and well, in the end… this movie is definitely worth watching. Because you can never go wrong with a horror story that builds quality dread and offers meaning, and the good news is… you can see this engaging story right now, since it is available to stream on Shudder.