Moving to a new home is never really what it seems to be. While it should be something that everyone in the family wants to do, the packing up of one’s things and putting part of your life in the rearview mirror to move on is never easy. Leaving your friends behind seems like something that we would never get past, but somehow most of us are able to power through. A new home can bring in new relationships, new challenges and hopefully a higher paying job, and while you leave some memories behind, you now get the opportunity to make new ones that are both good… and bad.
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Working on unpacking some boxes, Sarah hears her phone ringing and heads over to pick it up. With her husband on the other end, Sarah hears something strange coming from the other room and walks over to see if she can find out what is making the noise. Not seeing anyone that could be making the noise, Sarah returns to the conversation with her husband about their move and making sure that the kids are alright with being moved in the middle of the school year. With some new furniture being included in the big move, Sarah’s husband is very excited to try and break it in while the kids are in their classes, but there might be something keeping Sarah from getting in the mood.

Hanging up the phone, Sarah hears the same strange sound coming from the other room again and is desperate to find out what is making the noise. Seeing one of the unopened moving boxes moving around, Sarah decides to open it up and see what is causing the commotion. With the box open, Sarah picks up a picture frame from the old house, but sees a stranger standing in the photo that was not there before. Being freaked out, she drops the photo, but needs to make sure that she was not freaking out over nothing. Picking up the photo again and seeing that the stranger is no longer there, Sarah thinks that she is in the clear, but that is only the beginning of her new home nightmare.

If you ever had second thoughts about moving to a new place, this horror short will confirm that you probably should not do it. While you never really know why the family has moved, you get the feeling that there was some hesitation, but mainly for the kids who were moved to a new school halfway through the school year. The phone conversation was cute, and how I would like to imagine most couples talking on the phone after a move, especially wanting to have some ‘special time’ with new furniture in the house, because come on, the move is a good thing and people should be happy. With some strange sounds, a loud clock, a very loud ring tone, a shaking box, an old picture, a masked stranger and some new furniture, this horror short will make you think twice about wanting to move to a new home, especially if you are being forced to unpack everything on your own. Stay Scared.

See ‘Mom Away on YouTube.

The night before Christmas should be a very relaxing time, but for most people, it can be extremely stressful. Not knowing what Santa is going to bring you, even if you have been a good boy or girl can make you wonder if he saw you being bad just that one time. With all of the songs and cheer being thrown around during the season, it is easy to forget that you are supposed to be good year-round in order to get presents from Jolly Saint Nick. Just remember that ‘he sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows if you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.’
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While alone in his bedroom, Tyler is getting ready for bed on Christmas Eve and saying his prayers like there will be no tomorrow. Wanting to make sure that Santa knows that he has been a good boy this year, except for that one time, Tyler really wants to make sure he gets the best presents this year.  Hearing a knock on his door, Tyler’s mother comes in to make sure that he is ready for bed, along with reminding her son that Santa knows when he is sleeping. Turning off the bedroom lights, Tyler’s mother leaves the room, but there seems to be something else going on with her, as the young boy sees her sanding motionless in the hallway.

Giving a call out into the hallway to make sure she is alright, Tyler watches as she slowly walks away, right before hearing a commotion in the distance. Walking out in the hallway to double check on her, Tyler spots his mother lying motionless at the bottom of the stairs, but that is not the only thing that sends shivers down his spine, as there is a stranger in the house dressed like Santa, that has more on his mind than passing on season’s greetings. Making it back to his room and hiding under his covers, Tyler is shivering in fear when his father enters the room and says everything is alright. Seeing his mother upright and healthy once again puts Tyler at ease, but that is where his Christmas nightmare continues, as a vengeful Santa is making his way through the house, looking to kill everyone that Tyler holds dear to him.

While the ‘Better Watch Out’ song may be one of our Christmas favorite songs, it really makes you wonder if there is someone watching you all of the time. This can be disturbing in many ways, and this horror short really takes advantage of it with the line, ‘He sees you when you’re sleeping.’ I do remember my parents reciting this to me many times in the past to try and make me go to sleep before a morning full of presents, but I do not remember a crazy man lurking through the house while I was doing the same. With little bit of light from the hallway, some strange sounds, a ghostly Ho Ho Ho, strange visions, a killer Santa, some presents and a reminder that ‘He’ is watching, this horror short should remind you that you should take heed in knowing that Santa sees and knows all, and you should always be good for goodness sake. Happy Horror Holidays!

Watch ‘Santa’ on YouTube.

Sometimes you need a little something to get you into the holiday spirit, and I for one believe in horror movies for the holidays, mainly because the holidays are scary. Having worked retail for many years of my life, I have seen the worst in people and I only hope that they leave their fury in the stores that they ravage rather than take it home to their families. Seeing the worst of people really puts me out of the holiday mood, but I have been able to keep a smile on my face when it comes to visiting with my loved ones, mostly because it is one of the few times, I get to see them. It has never been lost on me that for some holidays, presents are required and while getting a little something special is nice, it should really be about friends and family and nothing else.

Christmas is near and young Max has unleashed yet another fit, but this time it is for something that he believes in, Santa Claus. Getting into a fight during his school play, his parents Tom and Sarah are not too happy with their son for ruining a great event, but Max’s reasoning seems sound enough. Wanting to believe in the jolly St. Nick, Max can always find a safe place to have a conversation with his grandma Omi who will not allow him to have his spirits broken, especially around the holidays. Not knowing what to ask Santa for this year, Max is forced to dig deep into his soul and find the things that would truly make him happy and this year, it is much more than toys as the pressure of life is getting everyone in his family down.

Stressed over the season, Sarah has the house set up to receive her sister Linda and her family, but nothing ever goes the way that it is planned. When Linda brings in all of her kids and manages to forget her newest baby in the car, Sarah fears for her holiday. But the gift of Aunt Dorothy coming into her house seals it once and for all; this will not be a Christmas she will want to remember. With some spirits running high, the pressure of making things work out has fallen on Sarah’s shoulders and she will not have anyone’s nonsense get in her way any longer. While finishing their meal at the table, sisters Jordan and Stevie start to antagonize young Max and decide to read his letter to Santa for the entire family to hear. Speaking the truth and wishing for everyone else to be brought back to a simpler time when they liked each other, Max is ashamed and gives up on his wish by tearing up the letter and throwing it into the winter sky.

​Waking up to a winter blizzard and no power in the house, the family's problems start to escalate a bit, but it is nothing that they cannot handle. But when cabin fever starts to set in and young Beth does not hear from her boyfriend after several texts, she wants to go check up on him. With her parent's blessing, Beth starts down the road and sees that the storm is much worse than anyone could have imagined, with houses looking like they have fallen under the winter spell for ages, not one night. Getting to her boyfriend’s house, Beth sees a figure standing on the roof of a neighbor’s house but does not fear it until she sees the sinister actions it is about to take. Running for her life, she hides under a truck from the hooded beast, but no place is safe in this winter town as she is soon to find out since there is no escape from Krampus.

As night begins to fall and with Beth still out in the cold, Tom and Howard take to the snow packed streets to find the young girl. With no luck locating her at her boyfriend’s house, the two hear screaming outside, but when they try to chase the sound, they find that something is chasing them. Being able to escape with their lives, the two make it back home and try to tell their wives what happened. All the while the kids are under the supervision of Aunt Dorothy who is more intent on drinking than keeping an eye on them, but Grandma Omi knows exactly what is happening to them. Telling her extended family a tale from her youth and exposing the bell that Krampus left with her when her family was taken, Omi knows that they are all doomed since they have been marked. Not wanting to believe what she is saying, yet finding themselves forced to, the family is in for the ride of a life time...one that nobody has ever survived before.

If you're looking for a good Christmas horror movie to get you into the spirit of things, well, this is the one. Showing how people act and feel over the holidays, this movie grabbed me right away and I could not turn away from the screen. It’s like when you are watching people fight over a DVD player on Black Friday and you wonder what they act like when they go home, they probably spike it like a football then blame the store for it being broken. The hatred for the season is shown and it releases the Krampus who will be happy to take anything away from anybody, including lives. With plenty of comedy, there are also plenty of scares as well when you see some of your favorite holiday characters come to life in the worst ways imaginable. I was never a fan of gingerbread men and after watching this, I don’t think I will ever want to eat them again, no matter how delicious people say they are. They are deadly. Stay Scared.

Some of the best times of Christmas seem to come when you are putting up the decorations. While you have to wait to open your presents, you get to bring back some memories of days gone by that put you in a better place. With so many of us putting up a tree and decorating it with ornaments with our parents growing up, doing it when you get older can bring those happy times back to light and put a smile on your face once again. As years go by, there are certain things that you do that can bring back memories of loved ones and hopefully they are the things that you never want to forget, since we only get so many years before we become someone else’s memories.
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While putting up decorations around the house, Elizabeth gets a call from her brother Mike who is stuck on the road. Needing to wait for the conditions to let up so he can make it to the house, Mike remembers some of the good times that they had together growing up, but wants to get rid of one memory, the one of ‘Bertha’ that their mother terrified him with. Knowing that it was just a children’s story to keep them good over the holidays, Elizabeth discounts it as a joke and is looking forward to spending the holiday with her brother. Pulling out an old stocking and reminiscing for a bit about her late boyfriend, Elizabeth pulls out the doll that is supposed to keep Bertha away from the house on Christmas Eve.

After having a plow drive by him on the road, Mike says his goodbyes for now and starts his trek back to the house. With really only one wish this year, Elizabeth says it out loud and a loud knock comes from the front door. Opening the door and seeing no one there, she closes it, only to have the knock come again. Thinking that it might be her brother playing a joke on her, she takes an extra step in pretending that she is not alone in the house before the lock turns and the door opens from the outside. Seeing a face that she never thought she would see again; the man asks if she has been good this year and of course she says yes. Receiving a silver coin from her past love, Elizabeth is shocked to see he has disappeared as quickly as he appeared only to find that the footprints left behind are not that of a human, but something from a living nightmare.

This is a pretty good seasonal horror short that will make you want to know a bit more about a German Legend. While I have never heard about this one, the quick synopsis is, Bertha is a witch who would give the good kids a silver coin over the holiday. But for the bad ones, she would take their innards and replace them with straw and pebbles. Pretty grim if you are a bad kid during the year I must say, but I am sure that the story worked well over the years to keep kids from acting out. I really liked the end of the movie, since it sets out to prove that some of the things that we heard as children, no matter how outlandish they may seem now, may have a bit of truth to them. With plenty of snow, a cell phone call, a disappearing door knocker, some rekindled memories and a gift that will last a lifetime, this horror short really makes you question what else you think might have just been a made up story might have an ounce of truth to it when all is said and done. Stay Scared.

Watch ‘White Christmas’ on YouTube. 

As the holiday season moves upon us, it is easy to get caught up in all of the yearly traditions that have always been done. While some of these traditions can get to be a mindless muscle memory type thing, there is one that many families rejoice in, and that is finding the right Christmas Tree. There can be many factors that go into finding this tree, and as I remember as a child, we checked to see if it was tall enough, skinny enough, or green enough. These are all good questions when finding that one Christmas accessory that will help keep everyone in the spirit for the holidays, but maybe you should be asking more questions as Stirring explains.
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At the local tree lot, a woman is looking for the perfect Christmas tree and comes across one that suits her fancy. Getting the tree home and decorating it to the fullest, the woman is very happy with her choice and while it will just be her and her dog this year, she could not be happier. With her fire lit, the woman sits back and reads her book while her tree, full of light, watches her for the evening. When bedtime comes however, there is something that the tree is ready to unleash.

Getting ready for bed, the woman looks over to see her dog is already asleep and it seems like a good idea for her to do so as well. With her head resting on top of her pillow, the woman wakes up to what she thinks could be her dog roaming around the house, but a quick look confirms that the dog is still asleep. Needing to find out what is causing the noise, the woman gets out of bed and heads into her living room and does not spot anything out of the ordinary, but there is a little shake coming from her new tree. Continuously watching the tree shake, the woman has no idea what could be hiding inside, but when her new gift jumps out, she may never look at Christmas the same way ever again.

This is a fun horror short that highlights what might be wrong with the season, rather than what is right about it. With the signage at the end showing that who the tree lot really belonged to, you might want to think twice about getting a tree this year. I must admit that the soundtrack to this horror short really blew me away and only being three and a half minutes long, they were really able to get me into the Christmas mood, along with how it helped me to wonder what my tree will have in and under it this year. With a tree shopping trip, some decorating, plenty of lights, lots of music, a snoring dog, some strange sounds and a set of teeth that will haunt your holidays, this horror short really is in the giving mood, especially if you are spending the season alone. Happy Horror Holidays!

Watch ‘Stirring’ on YouTube.

There seems to be a new trend of not being allowed to really overly love a holiday, no matter what it is. After buying all of the decorations, you should be able to put them up without any remorse, so tell the haters to piss off, since it is not meant for them, but for you. Put up a Christmas tree, hang all of the ordainments you possibly can, blast your favorite songs into the night and don’t let anyone tell you that the Christmas holiday should not be celebrated. But be cautious of those who may be a little more overzealous than you, since you never know what plans they may have in store for their Christmas surprise.
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After getting a call from her sick friend, Mary is excited to for the opportunity to make some extra money over the holiday with a babysitting job. With no other plans other than studying, Mary has her head on right and is ready for an uneventful night. With the warning ringing in her head about the family being a little crazy when it comes to Christmas, Mary pays it little mind, but when pulling up to the house and seeing all of the outdoor decorations, she cannot believe her eyes. 

Entering the house and meeting Tom and Judy, Mary gets a quick run-down of what she will be doing.  With very little on her plate, Mary takes a quick look in the den and sees that her friend was not kidding about the family’s love for the holiday. With the room being decked out to the hilt, Mary sees a life-sized Santa in the corner and gives it a closer look, since it does seem to be somewhat out of place, but for Christmas freaks, she does not question it being there. Setting up in the living room to do some studying, Mary hears some sort of commotion upstairs and when heading up, she cannot believe her eyes as the life-sized Santa is waiting for her in the dark. Turning on the light and seeing that there is nothing there, Mary thinks her eyes were playing tricks on her, but when she gets a call from the homeowners and tells them what she saw, it changes her view of the holiday forever.

This is just a fun horror short that gives you plenty of little jump scares, along with getting you in the mood for Christmas. I will admit that this would be the babysitting job I would long for, since you never have to deal with the kid, at least that is the impression that it gives you. The house was set up perfectly for the season and the eyeless Santa staring off into the abyss was creepy as hell, so you better watch out for what it may be looking at. With a crazy Christmas house, some cookies, a creepy life sized Santa, some music, some couch time, some strange noises and the fear of being watched that will never go away, this is a great little horror short that will get you ready for the season of presents… or presence. Stay Scared.

Watch ‘Christmas Presence’ on YouTube.

It seems like no matter what day it is; we always have to worry about work in one way or another.  While our days off should be for taking care of ourselves and decompressing from the daily grind, it never really happens, as there is always something that we either forgot to do or need to the instant we get back to work. It is never easy, trying to turn this off in our minds, and while we should be able to sit back and relax for even a couple hours, it never really seems to happen and our minds default back to what we need to be doing next. Make sure during the holidays, you try to take some ‘me time’ for yourself, as it may be difficult being surround by family and friends, and you need and deserve to shut your mind off to ensure you are not being burnt out by the holiday.
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Cycling through her latest group of photos, a woman sits alone in her apartment trying to figure out her next steps. While working over the holidays, the woman seems fine with her choices, as long as she has her trusty bottle of Vodka next to her, but it has become empty. Getting up to find another bottle, a knock comes at her door and she goes to answer it and finds that there is nobody there. Looking around, she spots a strange box in her doorway and thinking very little about it, she brings it inside.

Opening up the box to find a large piece of coal inside, the woman wonders what the strange gift means. Looking around for a brief second, the power goes out in the apartment and the woman grabs her camera and starts taking random shots around her place to see where she is going. But when taking a second to look, the woman is shocked to see that there is someone else in the apartment with her and it is getting closer with every picture she takes. Not knowing what is going on around her, the woman is shocked when her television turns on by itself and a ghostly hand hits the screen, but that is just the beginning of the strangeness that will be taking over her world on this holiday night.

Well damn, the message of this horror short is right there in front of you, never work over the holidays, because that is bad! I really liked this one, and while the message I am typing about might not be right, it is how I saw it overall. The strange character that showed up in the photos may not have been a Christmas ghoul, but it sure was something that you will wonder about during the holiday season. With some work going on, a Christmas tree, a strange box, a giant piece of coal, a camera, plenty of flashes of light, a strange character in the apartment and the need to be with somebody over the holiday season, this horror short will hopefully help you understand that there is more to life than just working. Stay Scared.

Watch ‘On a Christmas Night’ on YouTube.

I will never forget the first time I watched George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. Not because of the lasting impact it would have upon me, since it is a big reason why I got into writing, and it is my favorite movie of all time. Oh no, I remember that first viewing simply due to the fact that the movie scared the ever-living hell out of me. In fact, I wasn’t able to sleep for weeks after watching that movie because every single time I closed my eyes, I saw those mottled blue hands rushing at me, or splashes of blood from the various body parts that came to pieces in that film. Because it is the special effects that stay with you long after that motion picture comes to an end, thanks to the incredible work of one man, Tom Savini.
 
Because Mister Savini truly brought nightmares to life in that motion picture, and many more to follow, to the point where his high-quality splatter and illusionary effects made him a household name. But you know that if you’re reading this, because Tom’s story in the special effects industry is common knowledge and countless others have similar stories to my own when it comes to their introduction to his work. But what we truly know little about, is Tom Savini the man. The guy who eats dinner like the rest of us and spends time with his family during the holidays just like we do and well, I would venture to say Tom has kept his private life, private, for various reasons. But with his illustrious career now cemented forever as one of the greatest in the industry, Tom has clearly decided that the time has come to open up about who he is as a person, by way of the stunning documentary, Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini.
 
Now, I said this documentary is stunning, for one reason and one reason alone; for this is truly an uncensored look into Tom Savini’s life and his career. The kind that offers up unique and powerful anecdotes and a fascinating look into what makes this kind and gentle man tick, and what motivated him to bring nightmares to life on the silver screen and I have to admit, that I was sucked into this documentary from the get-go. Because we get to learn about Tom’s childhood and upbringing and we even get to see the formative places where horror infected his veins and being able to see these places and learn about his early years makes for one fascinating tale, and everything that follows this introduction into Tom’s life is equally as intriguing, since this documentary works hard to keep its focus on Tom and his life experiences.
 
Which is a big deal, since so many documentaries focus more on the work and the reaction of the fans to said work. But this one continues to highlight every facet of Tom’s life once he’s thrust into the spotlight. Allowing for us to share in tender and joyful moments and some sorrowful ones as well as Tom gently explains the highs and the lows of his life and how difficult it was to deal with the tougher stuff while trying to accomplish wonders for the movie biz, and this is really the part that I appreciated the most about this documentary. Because this is the stuff that few behind the scenes featurettes ever show us; the human side of the people who work endless hours to entertain us in some form or fashion and it was quite refreshing to get Tom’s honest perspective on projects he struggled with and hear about how sometimes the work wasn’t easy when stuff was going on at home. If anything, that was supremely relatable since we’ve all had to go to work and get things done when we’re struggling and oddly enough, learning all of this allows for the viewer to see Tom Savini in a new light.
 
Because now you see him for who he really is, a good man who wants nothing more than to bring joy into the hearts of others with a simple sleight of hand (that might also involve a severed hand), and who really is good to his fans and in the end, I think it is best to call Tom’s story, inspirational. For one quickly comes to learn that nothing really ever brought Tom down. No matter how big the task, or how difficult the situation, Mister Savini stayed the course and only worried about the moment and what he could control, and there’s something supremely powerful and uplifting about that, since we too could and should approach the day more in that manner. If anything, this documentary is a must-see in my book for both horror fans and fans of film alike. For this is just a down home story about a talented man who got his shot and made the most of it, and brought happiness to so many, along the way.

The joy and excitement that comes from Christmas Eve is a childhood memory that you never forget. With the promise of getting presents in the morning and stories of Santa bringing them to you while you are sleeping is something that fascinated most of us. Wanting to catch a glimpse of the Jolly old bearded man that somehow made his way into our houses is something that most of us tried to do at least once in our lives. The possibility that we could actually see Old Saint Nick doing something that seemed impossible may be the only reason we stayed up later than we should have, that or the excitement of getting presents in the morning and being hopped up on the milk and cookies that we guzzled down after dinner.

Waking up with the intent of putting her sister’s gift under the Christmas tree, young Kenley walks into the family room and sees someone that she never expected to see, Santa. Pulling on the old man’s red suit, Kenley is shocked to see that this is not the Jolly old bearded man that she envisioned, but a monster that is looking to feed on something other than cookies. Not being able to escape the monster’s grasp, Kenley is consumed by the imposter, but not before her sister sees what is really going on. Letting out a scream after seeing her sister disappear into the monster’s belly, Delaney is no longer looking for presents from the Jolly Old Child Eater, but revenge for the loss of her sister.

Years have passed and Delaney is ready to put a full proof plan of attack into action. With her friends gathered around the table, Delaney outlines what each of the group is going to be tasked with as Walter makes his rounds on Christmas Eve and leaves piece of coal in the wake of the children he takes. Staying up late and hiding behind the couch, the group starts to see and hear the signs of Walter making his way into the house and a loud bang comes from the front door. Answering the knocks, Delaney is shocked to see Anjelica ranting and raving about not being invited to the party, but before the girl is able to complete her thought, Walter is behind her with the need to feed. Locking the door, Delaney makes sure her friends are ready for the attack but is shocked when she sees that Walter is not only a child eating imposter, but the bringer of nostalgic gifts as well.

When seeing the title of this horror short, I was wondering who Walter was and was actually surprised that he was an imposter Santa, but not at all shocked when he was eating kids, because let’s be honest, there is very little that is off the table when you are watching something from CryptTV. The kids were all great, with all of the major tropes being highlighted, especially when it comes to trying to use technology while battling a monster. With a plan to kill the child eating beast, some oversized candy canes, plenty of Christmas lights, cookies, milk, a snow globe and a catch phrase for the season, this horror short will make you think twice about trying to catch Santa in the act of delivering presents, because that is a bad thing and he might just give you coal, or take it to the next step and turn you into it instead. Stay Scared.

Watch ‘Milk & Cookies: Walter’s Revenge’ on YouTube.

Revisit episode 15.06, ‘Golden Time’, right here.

Each week, as I enjoy my Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester fix, I try to see themes emerging within each episode. Thus far, some of my predictions have been wrong, but no matter. Guessing is half the fun. The other half? Well, it’s how these wonderful writers continue to catch me off guard even while showing me some of the same lessons. This week our beloved boys experience different revelations – each in their own ways. While Sam and Eileen (Shoshannah Stern) hold down the fort, Dean heads to Texoma, Texas and considering both Jared and Jensen live in the Lonestar State, I’ll take this as a nod. But the tributes don’t stop there! Before it’s all said and done, we have more cameos, which I’ve now begun to look for in every episode. As well solid references to a classic movie and TV show, gun law jokes and finally, a fantastic guest star and duet!! We also get a surprise return of a formidable foe! So, before you can express your shock at Dean turning down real bacon, let’s get into it shall we…
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Opening with a couple ladies leaving a bar, ‘Last Call’ starts like any other monster of the week episode. One girl, Sally Anderson (Georgia Bradner), turns her back to hurl up her evening (LOL) and the other, Angela Sullivan (Madelyn Grace) violently disappears. Roll title card. Which by the way, is just super (get it?!? – *wink*), every season!! Madelyn Grace is our first cameo as she’s credited for Lady #2 - Maddy Hillis in 9.17: ‘Mother’s Little Helper’ which revealed Abaddon’s (Alaina Huffman) back story. Man, I loved that episode!! You??

Next, we see Dean in his room searching for cases. Frustrated and needing something, he finally stumbles across our missing girl. Bam, he’s ready to hit the road. He’s itching to hunt which is a welcomed surprise since he’s been sort of discombobulated trying to wrap his head around the whole Chuck (Rob Benedict) and his “stories” madness. Can you blame him?? He joins Sam and Eileen, who are cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Hungover to boot. Margaritas!! I love it. And what’s this? Dean pokes fun at Sam and Eileen’s chemistry before he leaves reminding Sam to leave a sock on the door… HA! I’m dying!! I can honestly say that this wasn’t the girl I expected Sam to end up with, but it’s a happy adjustment! Carry on!! (*wink*) Not to mention that later, as the story pushes towards Sam and Eileen getting together, my heart melts just as they’re about to kiss. Too bad Castiel (Misha Collins) interrupts them. But hey, Cas is back… yay!! And he’s got what initially seems like a good idea – a probing of Sam’s wound to search for a connection with Chuck.

Meanwhile, Dean rolls up to a Texas police station and has a weirdly uncomfortable, yet hilarious, encounter with Sheriff Dillon (Emy Aneke). Another cameo, Emy played Sampson way back in 2.02: ‘Nightshifter’ (R.I.P. Ronald Reznick (Chris Gauthier), am I right??). We also get our first classic television nod since Dean’s FBI Agent’s last name is Dukes, though the oddball Sheriff (the next Denzel, mind you… HA!) makes a sillier reference to “put up your dukes,” LOL!! My first thought was Bo and Luke Duke (The Dukes of Hazzard; CBS) which is later confirmed when Dean sings the theme song with his old buddy and now retired hunter, Lee Webb. Played by the lovely and real-life friend of Jensen’s, Christian Kane. NICE!! Angel (WB) and The Librarians (TNT) memories flood my content wittle mind! Lee owns the bar that Sherriff Dillon refers Dean to. Named Swayze’s Bar, we see our first of a few references to the fan favorite late 80’s movie, Road House (Silver Pictures).

Dean seems completely at ease in this down-home bar. His chemistry with Lee’s employee Lorna (Aliya O’Brien) is on point and I love it!! She’s our third cameo, since she played Gloria Jane in 7.22: ‘There Will Be Blood’. NICE! But by far, the best moment in the entire episode is seeing Jensen sing with Christian as his character Lee says to Dean, “You can’t just sit around lip syncing ‘Eye of the Tiger’ when no one’s watching.” YESSSS!!! I’m genuinely ecstatic for this second tip of the hat to 4.06: ‘Yellow Fever’. Aren’t you?? The first when a scene picks up at the end of Dean’s Ghost Sickness story as I say, “No way!! I would’ve never thought Dean would discuss that case ever again!” (LOL!!) Who doesn’t have a clip of Dean screaming in fear over a cat saved somewhere!? And now, to see Jensen as Dean portray being nervous on stage only to have him fall into sheer happiness by the end is just pure joy to watch!! Probably for the first time in a long time, Dean is genuinely happy. He NEEDED this! We did too!!! Apparently, the Dukes of Hazzard theme song is something that John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) would play for them stating, “Listen up boys, this is real music.” Aww, so fitting for John as they raise a glass to his memory. Next, the two use “Road House Rules,” in making short work of some bar vagrants. Awesome! We also get our fourth cameo – Brad Kelly, credited as Bar Brawler #2, plays a bouncer in 10.02: ‘Reichenbach’, when Dean and Crowley (Mark Sheppard) are BFFs (LOL).

It’s not all fun and games though, as the writers effortlessly reveal early on that Lee isn’t the hunter Dean remembers. To up the stakes, seeing a bit of himself in Lee, Dean appears to overlook the obvious hints, and doesn’t realize things are this bad until he wakes up tied to a chair in Lee’s basement. Yikes!! After Lee’s villainous confession, he leaves Dean to die at the hands of a Marid. One who grants its captor good health and wealth as long as they feed it human blood. Regardless, this is Dean we’re talking about. He breaks free and later tosses the head of the beast at Lee’s feet before their epic fight. Dean ends Lee with a broken pool cue. WOW! I took this as the final Road House nod because who doesn’t remember that epic pool cue fight scene? Overall, this trip produces Dean’s revelation that saving people and hunting things is EXACTLY what he should be doing, and I couldn’t agree more! Screw Chuck and his stories, real people matter more!!

Back at the bunker, Castiel’s plan takes a turn for the worse as the probe of Sam’s gunshot wound causes severe pain, throws Sam against the wall and knocks him unconscious. Holy crap!! But wait! Sam has visions during this, and we see clips of Chuck’s actual thoughts and memories. Including his sister Amara (Emily Swallow) noting that he’s not at full strength. OMG!! This is big! The viewers know this, but now the Winchesters’ will too. Wake up Sam! WAKE UP!!! And Castiel, who as I mentioned in my recap of 15.06: ‘Golden Time’, is angry and all out of F$@%S to give, calls and threatens an old foe into helping them. Sergei, played by Dimitri Vantis, is forced to come to the bunker, but he has ulterior motives. Of course, he does!! I mean… this is the guy who responded quite indifferent to the fact that HIS idea to help Jack (Alexander Calvert) fails in 14.07: ‘Unhuman Nature’. Seriously Cas, you let this jerk know where the Men of Letters bunker is?!? Couldn’t they have taken Sam to Sergei? Thanks to this asshat, Sam’s condition worsens. Kudos to Eileen for choking a big guy like Sergei and threatening to kill him if he doesn’t fix it, NOW! But Cas, the Angel mind you, is equally impressive, and just a bit scary, as he reveals that Bobby (Jim Beaver) is watching Sergei’s niece. She won’t live to see another day if Sergei doesn’t undo what he’s done to Sam. WOW! Cas is at his wits end with dear old Dad and I love it!! Heck, even Sergei, before leaving states, “I like this you Castiel. It’s very Russian.” So, basically ruthless then?? LOL, yep!! By the end, our group is together again, though tension still exists between Cas and Dean. Aww come on guys, just hug it out already!! Sam shares his revelation – that God isn’t as strong as they once believed. He says, “Dean, Chuck is weak… I think we can beat God.” End scene. NICE!!

A few other things I noticed include Cas mentioning that Angel Radio has been silent for months (weird, right?) and Sergei describing Sam’s soul being stretching so far that it will pop like a rubber band. Whoa! I predict that this will come up again. And what about the Key to Death, Sergei originally demands? This Black Key opens Death’s Library! Hmm, that could be important (LOL). And the Mark of Cain? We’ve seen several hints to it this season. Intriguing, no? Also, they barely identify the monster which seems to be a bit of a trend now. The monster of the week ceases to be the focus of ANY episode at this point. The cases seem easy in a way, but actually, the writers appear to be clearing things up quicker to focus on the real Big Bad – God. Previous seasons would use these fillers throughout a season. No more! There’s much bigger fish to fry!! The writers are wasting no time giving us the deets and I am soooo here for it!! Oh, and finally, the Texas gun references… just, insert an eyeroll right here, am I right? That’s my only negative, however, and it gets a pass simply because overall the final season has dazzled thus far and ‘Last Call’ is definitely one of my favorite episodes to date. What about you? What did you think? Let me know if the comments below or reach out to me @obi_juanita on Twitter. Until next time… Go Team Free Will!