Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Midnight Mass’.
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One would think that a television show that is critical of modern religion, would be eager to tear through every single flaw that it harbors in a quick and precise manner. To truly expose modern religion for what it is and raise awareness at a vulnerable time in its history. But to properly understand religions faults and the impact of those faults, just offering up a hit job on the small screen, really isn’t conducive to that. We need to properly understand what causes these issues so they can be addressed on a fundamental level and changed so they don't transform into a sweeping problem, and that’s why the Netflix series, Midnight Mass deserves our attention.
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For this is a series that does exactly that. Since every single episode dives deep into the root causes of religion’s greatest problems and how to fix them, and that’s allowed for some fascinating and powerful examinations and commentary to take place and it just so happens, that the next episode in this intriguing franchise offers up perhaps its most poignant perspective yet. For ‘Book V: Gospel’ truly takes the time to explore a grave and critical issue that is currently plaguing religion. In that, it is so desperate to retain followers and attract new ones that it is starting to latch onto dangerous and horrible concepts and make them ‘holy’ and attractive and justifiable to worship and it examined how this is happening… by following up on what happened to Riley Flynn.

For if you recall, in the last episode, he was being feasted upon by the ‘Angel’ that roams Crockett Island and when we catch up with Riley here… he’s in a bad place. For not only is his neck broken, but after it is reset by Monsignor Pruitt, Riley is forced to face some horrible truths. In that… he’s a vampire now, and so is the Monsignor and this is simply the way of things now. He will forever crave blood and likely need to kill to quench that thirst and what’s worse, is that Pruitt and Bev Keane… see this as a blessing. As a transformation that ties into the Book of Revelation itself. Making it seem as though Riley and Pruitt are God’s chosen flock to lead the island and its inhabitants to a brave new future and well… that’s really where the exploration in question gets underway.

Since every single word that Pruitt and Keane spew at Riley and themselves, works hard to justify the stupidity and madness of this whole situation. But they are in fact… doing whatever they can to justify it and believe it at their core when they know it’s wrong… because they’re so desperate to see faith be restored to this island. For what they truly believe is that godlessness is sinking its teeth into Crockett and the ‘flock’ is going astray. But if they can sell this incredible lie, this one stunning lie… they can finally have the picturesque, religious Americana that has long since faded and live in some wild utopia where prayer and faith somehow sustain them. Which is what religion does now. For pastors now feel the same fear and latch onto stupid conspiracy theories or morons like Donald Trump, that don’t represent Christianity in the slightest, because they believe following the herd (ironically) or appealing to baseless fears in a manner where the church can save them… will bring followers back into the pews.

When in fact, all it does is propagate danger and radicalize some into becoming the hypocritical zealots we despise now and while all of that hasn’t led to a critically terrifying moment in American history, where demand for a Christian nation explodes into a fight for such, it might. But speculation aside, what matters more here is that Riley recognized that threat and the pure dangers that comes with embracing dangerous ideals and concepts and how they could leave Crockett in ruin and that motivated him to do something quite bold. Wherein he took Erin out onto the water in the dead of night, to tell his tale of vampiric conversion and to ask to her runaway from the danger, despite knowing she would turn back to try and save her friends on the island. But since he knew there would be skepticism to such an incredible tale, Riley also made sure to keep her out there until dawn, to unequivocally prove to her… that he told her the truth and that the threat was real.

Which brought about one heartbreaking ending, where Riley finally paid it forward for his actions and where Erin said goodbye to someone she truly loved and well… where we go from here is anyone’s guess. For the threat on the island is now revealed to someone with some common sense, and Erin will undoubtedly reveal what she’s learned and that will either bring about chaos or unity, depending on who she talks to. But while we wait to see the fallout of this revelation… we can bask in the majesty of one powerful tale. One that really made it clear how desperate religion is right now, and how far it might go to stay relevant if the current exodus reached a critical mass. Making this tale both observational and cautionary in nature and it also speaks to the brilliance and the bravery of this show. Since it takes guts to be that frank about the church and well… now that this unsettling chapter has come to a close, the time has come to turn our attention to the next one… one that will undoubtedly up the ante as the island learns about Pruitt’s dark secret. Until next time.

There are many things that may go unnoticed by people that would surprise you. With all of the signs pointing in one direction, you might know where to go, but the rest of the crowd will be going the other way. Trying to point out these signs to people may be a benefit for some, but the ones that don’t want to see it will continue on their own path. While you cannot save everyone that needs it, you can at least help to give them the tools to hopefully find what they are looking for.
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Arriving on a call, Sheriff Burke is seeing carnage that he did not expect, but there is something else that is troubling him; the body of an unidentified woman in the basement who does not seem to have any wounds of any sort. Knowing that the coroner will be able to shed some light on this new find, Burke needs to have something to tell the press in the morning, so he brings the body over to his old friend Tommy to be examined. But taking this last-minute drop in may be the worst thing that Tommy could have ever done for himself, along with his son.

Getting a surprise visit from his girlfriend Emma at the morgue, Austin tries to keep her curiosity at bay, but nothing is working. Wanting to see a dead body, Austin pulls out an older woman who died of natural causes, but that is not something that excites Emma at all. Pointing to the next tray that contains a body with a hole where the face used to be, sparks some interest. Telling the back story of what was found on and in the body, Tommy also points out the bells that are attached to the feet of the recently deceased. As Emma tries to get a look at the missing face, Austin has a little fun and gives her a frightful jump. Heading out for their date, Sheriff Burke arrives with the body of a Jane Doe and while Austin wants to be out with his girlfriend, he knows that his father will need a helping hand. 

As father and son start their autopsy of the young dead woman, they first take note that there are not any visible wounds on the corpse. Seeing that her wrists and ankles are broken with no signs of bruising is very strange, as is the removal of her tongue. Thinking that this might be a human trafficking style murder like he has seen in the past, Tommy is ready to move on to his next step and cuts the body open. Finding organs that look like they have been tortured for years, Tommy and Austin have stumbled on to something that is much older than they could have imagined. As the autopsy continues and it can be confirmed that the woman is from the Northeast, the strangeness comes head on, not from the woman, but from everything around them.

I have been waiting to see this movie for a year now and while I have had some disappoint me when I’ve waited that long, this one truly did not. I like where the storyline took you overall with the secrets of Jane Doe’s past coming to light whether or not Tommy and Austin want to admit it. I liked the father and son bond between Tommy and Austin, dealing with work and life at the same time made them very likable characters. Then the strange events that start taking place around the morgue is just something I don’t think I was ready for, especially when the radio turned on and the dead seem to come back to life, those were just pretty cool ideas overall. With an unidentified woman, a backstory that continues to get stranger, tattoos, scalpels, blood, a cranky cat and a secret that may remain a secret forever, this is really a good movie to get caught up in. What I really hope that people take away from this movie, is that if there is a big storm coming, don’t stay at work. Stay Scared.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘The Walking Dead: World Beyond’.
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It is definitely safe to say, that The Walking Dead: World Beyond has been building to quite the explosive finale. One where good people broken by fear, put themselves back together to fight an evil greater than the living dead, since it is now well known… that the Civic Republic Military is about as twisted an organization as it gets, since they experiment on human beings in the name of a greater good that they are willing to cast off on a moment’s notice. And of course, the good people we are expecting to lead that powerful fight, are the Endlings. Those innocent teenagers that left Omaha to save a single life and are now preparing to save hundreds of thousands and well… the grand buildup that’s been happening in season two, has left all of us wondering… when the fight will finally get underway.
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Because we are eager to see these evil suckers get their just desserts at last and logic would dictate that the final fight would take place over the course of the last two episodes… to bring about a satisfying conclusion to this epic story. But as The Walking Dead Universe is wont to do, it instead opted to surprise us and start the fight during this week’s episode. Since ‘Returning Point’ saw the Endlings and their allies rise up against the CRM and teach them a valuable lesson for a change and what made this particular opening salvo so surprising, is that it didn’t appear as though a fight was going to happen in the slightest in this tale. For early on, this story was focused on the nature of the plan and assembling an alliance to save the research and researchers from Project Votus, which Leo was able to do with some bold words.

While he dealt with that, Huck set the next part of the plan in motion. Which involved collecting and distributing weapons for the fight ahead, and it also meant getting some important messages to Silas and Dennis. The kind that informed them of what the plan was going to go look like, and their next moves in executing it. Which for them, involved taking a trip to Indira’s community to prepare them for what comes next... and all of this, really did make it seem as though we were going to be treated to a simple morality tale. One where the finer points of revolution were discussed and how difficult it would be to really take part in one, regardless of the importance of the cause, and that’s when the surprises arrived. 

For Jadis was continuing her fine work in spying on everyone in the facility and what she uncovered was quite unsettling. In that, it was obvious that the science team was moving about and taking part in suspicious acts and that motivated Warrant Officer Stokes… to do something underhanded to see for certain, who was with the CRM and who was against them. Which is why she ordered an evacuation drill, since those who weren’t part of the plan would undoubtedly try and use this opportunity to sneak away. Allowing for her crack soldiers to capture them and deal with them accordingly, and of course… this played out exactly as she expected it to. Since the science team was missing from roll call. But what Jadis didn’t account for, was that the Endlings were expecting this countermeasure and used it to their advantage.

Because they had everyone settle into the Biohazard Lab, which was impossible to penetrate externally. So, they could move into the next part of their plan. Which was to dig into some old mining tunnels that were beneath the research facility and use them to escape, and they even brought an insurance policy along for the ride. Since Hope made a point to lure Mason Beale into the lab as well, wherein he was tied up and informed of the fact that he would help them secure safe passage. After all, the Major General wouldn’t let any harm come to his boy and well… it turns out this part of the plan went off without a hitch. Since they were indeed able to keep Jadis’ forces at bay long enough to execute their escape and take a few CRM lackeys out in the process. But while it was nice to see the fight get taken to the CRM, other battles didn’t end quite as happy.
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For back in Indira’s community, sorrow flowed freely. In part because Will informed her of the death of her son at the CRM’s hands, but also because… she decided the time had come to break the community's agreement with the CRM and get out of dodge. A move that led her chief opponent to swing by the CRM’s facility and rat her out and that led to all kinds of bloodshed. Some of which happened in Jadis’ new office since Huck chastised Brody for doing this and received threats of her own exposure in response. Forcing her to put him down with impunity and the bloodshed didn’t end there. Because Jadis was determined to wipe that community out for even remotely posing a threat to the CRM and had it not been for some unexpected heroes, she would have had her way.

For Dennis and Silas arrived mere moments before the bullets began to fly and they were quick to open fire and save the day in a creative way. Since Dennis used CRM codes and maneuvers to trap the remaining soldiers so he could launch a grenade at them, which ended the fighting post haste but at a bit of a cost. For Dennis was badly wounded in the fight, and might not survive, making this first salvo a pyrrhic victory at best. Especially when one considers that the Endlings outright infuriated Jadis. To the point where she ordered the summary execution of any and all insurrectionists within the tunnels below. Leaving one to wonder if even the Major General’s son is safe from the wrath of a Warrant Officer that’s been embarrassed.

If anything, this is the first time in a long time that an episode of World Beyond was devoid of any deeper meaning or commentary. Since this one was all about the action and taking the fight to the CRM and that’s just fine. Because sometimes, the story needs to just progress and give the audience what it wants and that’s exactly what we get here. A push toward a grand finale, and Jadis and the CRM getting their just desserts and all of the elements we discussed made for one action packed and engaging tale. One that kept us on the edge of our seats and wowed us with the surprises it sent our way, since no one saw the Beale hostage twist coming, and well, now that this one has come to its end, we are sadly forced to wait with bated breath for the next phase in this final and epic fight. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 706 of ‘Fear the Walking Dead’.
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One particular phrase that tends to get under our skin, that we hear often in life is, ‘everything happens for a reason’. And it irritates us, simply because when someone mutters it to us, we’re going through some tough times. Where we don’t want to hear about how the world or God or whatever we believe in is inherently cruel and fine with letting us suffer in an effort to teach us a lesson. But it also gets under our skin… because it is a phrase that is inherently correct, for there are lessons to be learned from hardships and strife and often times… we don’t realize that until we’ve reached our lowest point or stepped away from the situation that is keeping us up at night.
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If anything, this particular learning experience is top of mind today, because it served as the focal theme of this week’s episode of Fear the Walking Dead. For ‘Reclamation’ saw one character learn that all powerful lesson in their farewell episode from the franchise and what’s amazing… is that it sure didn’t seem as though this lesson was going to be part of the episode at all. Because early on, it appeared as though this story was going to be mired in another examination of what happens when the stress of a double apocalypse bears down upon our soul and Althea was going to champion that examination. For when we catch up with here, she’s in a dark place and is ready to return to some old habits to find some kind of peace.

For she firmly believed she should be back on the road and interviewing people once again to give future generations an understanding of the world that once was. But… before she could resume that work, she had to deal with quite the unpleasant surprise. Specifically… the return of the Civic Republic Military. For they wanted their chopper and their lost soldier to ensure their usual secrets were kept as that. Prompting Al to ponder upon her next moves and how best to re-secure her camera from them… since they seemingly discovered it, and that’s when yet another surprise dropped into her lap, in the form of Morgan and Grace. For once they discovered she quietly escaped the Pennsylvania convoy, they opted to find her and save her from making any mistakes, but Morgan quickly learned his efforts might be too little… too late.

Because Al was genuinely hell bent on two things, protecting Isabelle now that the CRM had returned and getting her camera back to continue her work and that motivated her to send Grace and Morgan away so she could lure the soldiers to a secret location and kill them. A plan that failed of course when the CRM realized such an act was a ruse, prompting them to instead capture Grace and Morgan. A plan that also failed since this is Morgan Jones we’re talking about here, and that in turn… led to a grand showdown at Al’s location of choice. One that finally brought the CRM soldiers down in the most epic way imaginable, and finally allowed for the exploration revolving around what we learn in times of strife, to begin. 

For once the dust settled, Al was finally able to be open and honest with Morgan and explain that she saw herself as a failure and a charlatan. One that constantly let people down because she found safety behind the camera, and she didn’t think she could ever relinquish that. For it really did give her peace and allowed for her function and it was her desire to return to her roots as a journalist that also cost her time with Isabelle, since she made it clear that the camera and the story would always take precedence over anything and anyone. But discovering that the CRM found the lost chopper and would likely soon find her love, prompted quite the epiphany to pop into Al’s mind.
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One that finally helped her to realize, that she wasn’t listening to the world and what it had to say to her, and it was offering up quite the powerful message. In that, hiding away and in the past was doing her more harm than good. In fact, it was keeping her from any semblance of happiness or forgiveness and if she continued down this path, she would remain miserable and alone and full of regret and well… that motivated her to make quite the bold set of decisions. The first was to bid farewell to the group at last and set out on her own after all. Simply to find her love and make amends and once goodbyes were said, she did just that and found the cabin where Isabelle was hiding and made amends in the boldest way imaginable. 

Wherein Al smashed her camera and abandoned the past… so that she could finally have a future with someone that made her happy and that is… quite the powerful lesson to find within a story buried in apocalyptic sorrow. Since it speaks volumes to the fact that when we are at our lowest, we do indeed need to take an objective look at our lives and our situation and look at what we can learn and gain from it. Since we cannot do anything to change what is currently happening and thankfully, Al figured that out before it was too late and hopefully someone currently going through that, can pick up the same message from the show and gain a little guidance in a time of need.

But all positivity aside, it is going to be weird not having Al and the MWRAP on the show going forward. Since that truck kicked a lot of butts in its time and because Al was quite the quirky and unique character. One that offered up some unique moments and perspectives and hopefully the show can check on her down the line and hopefully she and Isabelle get their happily ever after. Or as happy and as peaceful as it can get at the end of the world and well, now that we’ve reached the end of this grand farewell… one that offered up some uplifting and fascinating commentary, the time has come to turn our attention to next week’s tale. Where it would seem, according to the teaser, Strand’s rule as King of Texas is about to put to the test. Until next time.

It is definitely safe to say, that modern horror films follow a pretty standard formula in this day in age. Which isn’t an insult by any means, since said formula delivers time and time again and offers a sense of comfort to the audience. Since they know they’re settling in to watch a story that features a powerful and creepy monster that makes them squirm, alongside some quality gore and stunning scares before the monster is put down and the viewer goes home to think about all the unique commentary present within the story. Since the modern horror film is also known for harboring depth and observations about our world and the problems that currently plague us.
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But while that has made for some fascinating tales of terror, the kind that genuinely unsettle us and explore some powerful notions about humanity, it is always nice to encounter a horror story that breaks from that norm. Since that kind of horror feature, helps to remind us that the genre can be anything and can do anything. Not to mention, outlandish horror, can also find new and exciting ways to explore the same notions as its brethren. In fact, sometimes a bizarre story of sorts can hammer home the point better by way of its abstract nature and really, this type of horror film and what they can do is top of mind today for one reason and one reason alone. In that, Shudder is now host to a supremely unique, off the wall, horror film that is both refreshing and intelligent in Prisoners of the Ghostland.

Now, in this particular story we are transported to a beautiful place known as Samurai Town and well, this majestic and bubbling town is dealing with some hardships right now. For the Governor’s beloved granddaughter Bernice has gone missing after taking off for a joyride one night and well, that motivates the Governor to do something he doesn’t really want to. In that, he will need to release the stranger that tried to rob the town’s bank not that long ago, a crime that ended in so much bloodshed. But alas, a killer instinct is what is needed to bring Bernice home and with a little explosive insurance, this wannabe hero should be able to do just that, and bring peace to the Governor’s town once again, provided of course... the hero can survive the ghosts that haunt the road Bernice disappeared upon.

Which is a plot that at first glance, seems more in line with a good old fashioned road trip ghost story. One where some kind of cliché to defeat the ghosts would be critical to saving Bernice. But the good news, is that the plot quickly goes to some unconventional places, and this is where a warning is needed dear reader. Because the journey to find this girl takes the hero down some strange roads, pun intended. And those strange moments are super outlandish and artsy and that might turn off some horror fans who are indeed looking for something more traditional. But this writer implores you to stick with the story. Simply because, there does come a point where the horror elements come into play, and they are both glorious and powerful in nature.
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Since in many ways, this particular motion picture is nothing more than a grand exploration of the horrors of the modern world. Since it offers a great deal of observations on class warfare, as evidenced by how Samurai Town genuinely operates, with the Governor enjoying the spoils of his town while his denizens live in squalor and of course, he wouldn’t be a proper reflection of our world if he didn’t relish in exerting power over them in every way possible. Plus, the hero’s journey speaks volumes to the horrors of the past, and how our mistakes and the traumatic moments we have experienced in days gone by, bring us trouble in the present when we don’t deal with them in the slightest. Giving him goals to work toward, the kind that lead to one heck of an ending, one that satisfies horror fans in just about every way imaginable. 

Plus, it doesn’t hurt that there are a bevy of wonderful actors present in this film as well. Since Bill Moseley plays the Governor with a twisted zest and zeal that only he can bring to the character and Sofia Boutella brings a genuine innocence and wonder to Bernice and of course, Nicolas Cage steals the show as the Hero. Since he once again just lets loose here and reminds us that wild horror films are where his acting skills thrive. But all of that aside, this really is an entertaining and refreshing and original horror flick, one that you’ve likely noticed we’ve not spoiled in the slightest and there is good reason for that. Because you need to experience the wonder of this creative film firsthand and you can do that right now, since Prisoners of the Ghostland is now streaming on Shudder.  

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for Episode 2 of ‘Ragdoll’.
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We live in quite the fascinating and conflicted time when it comes to mental health care. Because on the one hand, we are finally acknowledging that the human mind requires the same kind of care as the rest of our body and that is allowing for new research to take place, and new treatments and therapies and medications to be created. So, we can finally shed generations of stigma and give people the proper and complete care they need. But on the other hand, those stigmas are still in play, especially when it comes to the healing process. Since so many of us think we are ‘cured’ when we take a little time for ourselves to heal our minds, which in turn motivates us to just forge ahead and think little about whether or not we’ve actually fully healed. Because the understanding in our world is that when something has healed just enough, it’s somehow ‘good as new’ and that’s problematic for certain.

Because the human mind is incredibly complex and the healing process it requires from an emotional and psychological aspect… requires far more work than most of us are willing to acknowledge. And the problem at hand regarding that… is that rushing back into our everyday lives when we’re trying to put the pieces of our mind back together… can lead to danger and the potential of a relapse into the state we are trying to come back from, and that particular danger is top of mind of today, simply because it was put on full display in the next episode of Ragdoll. For when we catch up with DS Rose and his team, they and the police are reeling from the fact that the Ragdoll Killer, managed to get to the mayor in such a manner and while they’re trying to figure out their next steps… Rose begins to struggle with the case from a mental stability standpoint.

Largely because, this case is a blast from the past, one that truly represents one of Nathan’s lowest points in life and being immersed once again in the world of the Cremation Killer and the potential possibility that somehow, he’s brought this entire mess to life, allowed for the dangers of rushing back from mental health recovery to take the center stage. Since we saw the stress of the case and the echoes of the past, push Rose to do some odd and scary things. Such as make threatening phone calls to the potentially fictional Faust and even threaten to hurt himself if it meant that the killing would stop. Which speaks to some deeply unresolved root issues from his break a few years ago, the kind that quite frankly, have to be resolved for him to find peace, but sadly… there is clearly no time for that at the moment.

Since the Ragdoll Killer is still on the loose, and it is important to note that this episode did give us some insight into the fact that this monster is playing one incredible game of chess. After all, the list was magically leaked out into the world, striking fear into those upon it and that had to come from the killer, and of course, that ending speaks volumes to a killer… that has thought out their plan for mayhem and madness carefully, and has figured out how to exert great influence over others… and that is quite terrifying to say the least. Because it speaks to the possibility that Rose and the team might be helpless at this point, and utterly unable to do anything to stop this master plan and well, there’s also a chance that Rose and his up and down behavior could complicate matters further… especially if he finally has a major outburst at the wrong time to the wrong person. 

But while we wait to see how the police handle the latest surprises that the Ragdoll killer sent their way, we can bask in the majesty of another brilliant tale. One that once again made our mental health and the importance of maintaining it, a huge focus of the story. Plus, the show deserves a round of applause for straight up pointing out that the only way we truly heal in this life is by confronting and conquering the root cause of our trauma and emotional strife and really the question hanging over this story now… is whether or not DS Nathan Rose can do that at a time when it seems impossible. If anything, it will be quite interesting to see how Nathan responds to the stresses and surprises he experienced here and what other surprises the Ragdoll killer has up their sleeve as this fascinating story continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Behind the Monsters’.
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One would think that a silver screen villain that kills children with impunity, would be reviled by audiences. For children are innocent and sacred and harming them in cinema or books or on television has long been taboo. But believe it or not, there is a character that takes part in such a heinous act, that is indeed celebrated by the masses. In fact, shortly after Freddy Krueger hit the scene in 1984, he became nothing short of a pop-culture phenomenon. One that is instantly recognized after all these years and continues to be quoted and spoken of and well, that’s incredible. Incredible that such a disgusting monster won audiences over and that he’s become a fixture in pop-culture and how that came to be, served as the subject of this week’s episode of Behind the Monsters.
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For ‘Freddy Krueger’ dives deep into Freddy’s wild history and why fans love him so and one big reason that we continue to praise his films and adore him as a monster… is because of the actor that plays him. For Robert Englund truly made the character his own and added a genuine depth and realism to him that no one was prepared for when A Nightmare on Elm Street came out. Which laid the foundation for Robert to really explore the psyche of this monster and what could make him appealing and fascinating to viewers and well what Robert assembled… worked. Because people still cheer when Freddy appears on the screen because Robert’s performance simply lights up the moment. But while his performance is indeed iconic, there is more that went into making this charred boogeyman so popular. 

Such as the fact that his origin story and his mythos… are ridiculously original. Because there is no other monster on the silver screen that resembles Freddy in the slightest and how he kills and how he functions pulls us into his stories the same way he pulls teens into his wicked dreams world. Because there is something powerful and frightening about the fact that he operates within the dream world and is eager to use our worst fears and our skeletons against us. Which in turn also allows for the most creative kills imaginable to take place. Since the dream world offers endless possibilities storytelling wise and Wes Craven and every writer that helped Freddy come to life, took full advantage of that since the teenagers of Elm Street meet some wild and outlandish ends in their sleep.

But above all else, what truly makes Freddy so iconic… is the character himself. Because all too often in horror stories, there is an attempt to humanize the monster in some form or fashion to properly teach the audience a lesson about our world and our society. But there’s no humanity to be found in Freddy. He’s simply a killing machine, one that craves his craft and does so with glee and well… that’s twisted and horrifying and fascinating all at once. Because we are inherently curious about evil and what drives it to thrive in people. So, to be presented with a monster that has no remorse or humanity left within its human shell, truly captivates a viewer and leaves them hungry for more and that quest for knowledge is indeed what compels fans to pour over the franchise.

If anything, this was just another phenomenal chapter in this incredible documentary. For once again, we were able to receive raw and honest insight from the cast and crew of this iconic series. The kind that really did allow for us to understand how much care went into the creation of the franchise and how the late Wes Craven wanted to challenge the audience through Freddy’s stories and well, once you learn all of that… you come to realize how intelligent these slasher movies are and how perfect they really are and how no one will ever be able to replicate what Wes and Robert have done. Because this really was lightning in a bottle, and twisted monster or not, Freddy should indeed be celebrated often. Since there is catharsis to be found in facing the unyielding and unstoppable personification of the greatest monster of all… our fears. Until next time.

Normally this time of year, people make a point to huddle around the television with their family and friends, to binge holiday movies left and right and understandably so. After all, this is it, the holidays and food and gift giving are upon us, and what better way to celebrate them than with a holiday classic that reminds us of the reason for the season? But for horror fans, this simply won’t do. Because they love scary stories and know that they are a year-round affair, and the thought of not being able to watch their favorite horror movie or something fresh and original when the snow begins to fall… is as terrifying as Freddy Krueger himself. 

But while theaters will be host to family friendly content and the networks will air stories about angels getting their wings… not all hope is lost for horror fans. For Shudder is there to take care of us regardless of the season. Because not only are they host to a bevy of epic holiday horror films, but they have new scary stories to send our way whilst Santa is checking his list twice, and it just so happens that earlier today, Shudder announced that a brand-new horror feature will debut on the network on 12/9 entitled, Death Valley and well… here is a quick synopsis of that film and a trailer for you to enjoy courtesy of Shudder.

'Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today that it will release the original film Death Valley in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, December 9.

Written and directed by Matthew Ninaber (Psycho Goreman), who also appears as the frightening monster in the film, the adrenaline-fueled action horror stars his brother Jeremy Ninaber (Escape the Dark), Ethan Mitchell (Escape the Dark) and Kristen Kaster (If I should Die).

When a secret experiment goes horribly wrong, bioengineer Dr. Chloe (Kaster) becomes trapped inside a secret underground facility. With only 24 hours before a fatal decontamination protocol destroys the entire lab, Chloe deploys an emergency distress signal before a terrifying creature (Matthew Ninaber) of unknown origin can consume what’s left of her.

Alerted by the distress beacon, battle-weary guns for hire, Marshall (Mitchell) and Beckett (Jeremy Ninaber) are commissioned to carry out a covert operation to extract the imprisoned scientist. Upon deployment, the team is ambushed by another heavily armed militia hell-bent on finding a way into the compound themselves.

Severely outnumbered, the mercenaries find entry to the bunker through an unsealed emergency hatch only to find themselves in a horrific fight for survival. With time and ammunition running out, the team must locate Dr. Chloe while also navigating the underground maze of corridors before they’re hunted down one by one.

Death Valley is produced by Black Fawn Films who also produced the Shudder original Vicious Fun. The film is executive produced by Matthew Ninaber, Ira Levy, Michael McGuigan and Patrick Ewald. The film is produced by Chad Archibald, Cody Calahan and Matthew Ninaber.'

So, as you can see, Shudder is ready to gift horror fans this holiday season with utterly ghoulish delights, courtesy of what looks to be one twisted creature feature and we here at Nerds That Geek cannot wait to see this tale of terror and geek out about it with all of you come December.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Midnight Mass’.
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At this point, we can all agree upon the fact that the Netflix series, Midnight Mass, has offered up some powerful and poignant commentary on religion and its role in the 21st Century and the root causes of its problems. Yet while this series has indeed explored religion’s faults in great detail over the past three episodes, this is a series that also wants to acknowledge the good that religion can do, and why it remains popular and desired, despite its internal and external struggles. And it is the positive nature that religion provides, and it’s draw, that served as some of the focal themes present in the next episode of this phenomenal series. But alas, in order to properly understand all of that, something awful had to happen. 
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In fact, ‘Book IV: Lamentations’ wasted zero in bringing tragedy into the life of one resident of Crockett Island. Specifically, Erin Greene. Because what should have been another joyous examination, one that would have further built the excitement for the birth of her child… ended in disaster when Dr. Gunning could find no heartbeat or trace of her unborn baby. Which in turn motivated Erin to quickly get to the mainland to find some straight answers and well, what she learned damn near broke her. Because all signs pointed to the weirdest miscarriage in history, one where it seemed she was never pregnant and well… that’s precisely when the story explored in detail why people continue to turn to religion, despite its embattled and broken nature. 

They do so, simply because… it does still offer hope and comfort in a desperate time of need. Since discussions with Riley about what became of her baby girl, revolved around what happens to us when we die and what the afterlife might look like, and religion is in indeed mired heavily in both of those concepts and still speaks to them often. Because they do help people in Erin’s shoes process death and the end and what comes next when we take our last breaths and that part of religion and faith, is indeed beautiful and should be focused upon more. Since hope is a powerful tool in healing and if by chance the church offered more of that over anything else… then perhaps the church would face far less scrutiny and concern.

However despite going a more hopeful and uplifting route in examining religion, the secondary story in this tale… once again took the time to point out more of religion’s flaws. Specifically, what it actually demands of its followers and how quickly its sins are overlooked by its own members, and it accomplished this feat, but informing us of the fact… that Monsignor John Pruitt… had turned and was now a full-fledged vampire. One that suffered from the pain of the sun and craved blood and well… that led to disaster on the island. Because one quiet night, when Joe swung by for support and help… John was quick to make things uncomfortable and dangerous, to the point where a scuffle ended with Joe split his head open. Giving John… license to feed and well, once Bev discovered what had happened… she did her best to cover it up.

Which in turn serves as a fine reminder, that the modern church is big on expecting its congregation to give every last drop of their finances to the ‘Lord’ but will offer little in return when the chips are down for those very servants in need and obviously, Bev’s actions speaks volumes to how quickly the church will cover something awful up to maintain image and hope for the masses. A move that was reminiscent of the unsavory and disgusting coverup the Boston Globe uncovered about the priests in that town twenty years ago. But while the commentary here was once again poignant and relevant, we would be foolish to not discuss the quality horror that came out of John’s transformation. Because it was downright terrifying to see this mouse of a man suck a skull dry of blood and it was equally as awful to have the greatest revelation of all come to light.

In that, it turns out that the disappearance of Erin’s child, and Leeza’s healing and the return of Mildred Gunning’s memory, is related to the fact that John has indeed been feeding the town the vampire’s blood in small doses. Likely in the hopes of using its twisted healing powers to give the people of Crockett undying faith in something more and hope for a better tomorrow. But judging from how this discovery was received by the vampire when Riley walked in on it shedding its blood… all John has done is doomed the island to a horrific fate. One where this demon of sorts will not rest until it either has either complete control or a flock of nouveau vampires to help quench its endless thirst for warm human blood, or consumes its residents whole. But while we wait to see the fallout of this discovery, we can bask in one incredible tale. One that once again offered up some fascinating thoughts on religion… all while setting the stage for a terrifying disaster. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 405 of ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula’.
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When we last settled in to enjoy the fabulous Shudder series, The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, it truly appeared as thought quite the shift was coming to the dynamic between the monsters. For weeks of intense drama between Sigourney Beaver and Merrie Cherrie finally came to a head in ‘Monsters of Rock’, to the point where every monster made it clear they were done with the drama, and it appeared as though it was finally coming to an end, since Merrie was sent to her grave at the end of that episode. But alas, much like the slashers of the 80s and 90s, drama doesn’t die easy when the stakes are high in a competition of this caliber, and it made quite the wild reappearance in this week’s edition of the show.
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For shortly after the monsters reunited and learned they would be doing a ‘Ghosthip Glamour’ themed costume this time around, and a lip-sync performance of The Boulet Brothers new single, ‘Wicked Love’, the drama got underway. For it turned out that Jade Jolie and Bitter Betty had gone from friends to enemies following the events of last week, and that brought about quite the smack talking festival in the boudoir. To the point where the rest of the competitors were forced to sit back and just watch the drama unfold. But once the duo got that out of their system, everyone was able to get to work on this week’s theme and that allowed for a little bit of peace to settle over the show and the timing for that was perfect, since it helped the audience to focus and enjoy… some kickass costumes this week.

Because the vast majority of this week’s costumes, perfectly fit the theme in question, allowing for some ethereal and eerie performances to take place on the stage. The kind that allowed for Dahli to receive some seriously high marks from the judges since they busted out another screen worthy creation and it also turns out… that Sigourney Beaver stole the show with her ghostly invention. Which allowed for her to win this week’s competition. But alas, the wonder of Sigourney’s first big win in the competition was vastly overshadowed by more drama, which was set into motion by way of a bold decision on Jade’s part. For there was a brief competition earlier on to find a special key, one that would provide the owner with immunity this week or allow for someone to be put up for elimination and Jade found that key and chose the latter option and asked that Betty be placed in the extermination round. 

So, that, some harsh words for La Zavaleta and HoSo Terra Toma regarding their costumes, and the pressure that the final seven were currently feeling… served as the perfect storm to allow for frustrations to boil over and that led to the most dramatic moments of the night. Because everyone was ready to vent and fuss and rip into one another and goodness, did that make for some intense drama. The kind that saw disrespect and held back bile just flow and well, that definitely overshadowed the extermination round since all the ugly things that were said were powerful to say the least and it definitely put Sigourney’s big win on the backburner for certain. But all of that aside, the extermination round did happen regardless, and another monster was sent home and well… the only conundrum left hanging over this wild episode… is whether the drama has come to a close… or if it is about to ramp up.

Because the rotten things said here won’t be easily forgotten, and the stress is only going to intensify in the weeks to come with six competitors left. But while we wait to see what kind of fallout the drama will bring… there is still a lot to praise and celebrate regarding this week’s horror lesson. Since the Boulet Brothers did a wonderful job of resurrecting lore that once dominated the world and storytelling. For it was commonplace in the era of sailing, to constantly hear about ghost ships and ghostly sailors and pirates that roamed the seas and preyed upon the unfortunate or ignorant and well… it was simply awesome to see that part of human and horror history be resurrected in this fashion and it really did make for an entertaining ride, one that definitely ended in an epic and ominous manner. Until next time.