One particular aspect of our modern world that is quite fascinating, is how helping people is now all the rage. Because truly, there is a sense that people need to come together and do the right thing for others. Either by donating to a GoFundMe for a family or individual that is struggling, or through demands to those in charge to offer better care and benefits to people down on their luck or struggling with mental illness and housing issues. And what makes this so fascinating, is that it is in many ways, a long-overdue and welcome paradigm shift. Because it wasn’t that long ago… that Americans were deeply afraid of other Americans and wanted little to do… with helping them.
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For in the late 1970s and most of the 1980s (and onward to varying extent), there was a strange vibe in America. For parents were constantly afraid that their children would be abducted and harmed by strangers and there was a fear that being kind to others on the street would also result in violence and terror against the individual that wished to help. All of which came forth for reasons that were never quite clear. But it was there, and it is wild to know such fear existed and well… that zeitgeist and that air of fear are top of mind today, simply because a short feature that recently debuted at the LA Shorts International Film Festival, resurrects those fears and explores them and their origin, in a unique and creative manner.

A feat that One for the Road, accomplishes by transporting us to an out of the way diner in the middle of the night. One that is isolated but busy, and on this night, a couple of the regulars here find themselves amid quite the conundrum. In that, Booth and Tookie’s favorite waitress, Gale, is filled with fear over a strange patron that walks in the door. For that Stranger is clearly not of sound mind and body, and he is giving off quite the eerie vibe, and well, Gale asks for their help in chasing him off so the fear in the pit of her stomach can fade. An ask that leaves both men nervous. Because they simply do not know if they want to interrupt their peaceful night and their meal to handle what could be an unsettling situation. But of course, kindness prevails and that… quickly turns to regret, when Booth and Tookie realize that on this night, their good deed will be punished by the secret the Stranger is keeping from them.

Which is a story, that truly reflects that fearful era in American history, in an outright perfect manner. In fact, the film is shot with a look that makes it feel as though we are in the 70s and/or 80s with these people and that only adds to the real fear that is present here from these men and from Gale. The kind that speaks to a culture that at the time… was so rattled by the world and threats surrounding society at the time, that the mere thought of just being kind was outlandish in nature. For the world was seen as this evil place where darkness fed upon kindness, and that truly does give us perspective on a lost era, one that some might say is alive and well. Since some of those fears still exist, but they are nothing like what permeated this era and permeates this night in the story. But all fascinating examination aside, make no mistake about it… this is a horror story.
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One based off of a short story by Stephen King of the same name and of course, that means this particular tale must dive into what the worst-case scenario could be if a good deed were to be punished by the cruelty of the universe and that leads to one tense ending to this tale. Wherein the story plucks upon some very primal fears that we all harbor. Since the unknown hangs heavy over our heroes’ destination and of course, what awaits them is indeed the stuff the nightmares and well, the scares really do work here. Because director Daniel Carsenty builds tension in a masterful manner and handles the scares in a fashion that feels organic and natural. Which makes one’s skin crawl as the horror plays out and ironically enough, going this route adds to the exploration present here. 

Simply because, in someone’s mind, back in the day, that was likely how they saw a good deed playing out, and well, everything we’ve discussed brings together, a delightful horror feature. One that truly pays respect to King’s original story while finding a way to stand on its own, and of course… offers some fine examinations on days gone by, and some fine commentary on the human condition and our relationship with fear, and hopefully this wonderful feature gets a wider release down the line. Because people should indeed get the chance to enjoy this wonderful gem of a horror feature, one that truly features all the hallmarks of a great horror story.

For the most part, stories about grief and its impact upon us, offer up narrow but important perspectives on the matter. Specifically, how it hits us hard and can absolutely devastate us to the point of being immobilized by the pain it shoves into our heart. Or the story is big on showing how that pain can break us and bring us to our lowest, wherein we make awful decisions that create harm. All to hammer home that grief is powerful and life changing, and once we establish that, do we see the character grow and move on from it and well… while that is impactful and thoughtful, those are extreme examples of how grief is experienced and dealt with.

Because grief doesn’t necessarily wrap up in that manner. It may take a great deal of time for a person to resolve the ache of their grief. For that matter, not everyone lashes out in an explosive fashion to handle their grief. Nor do they immediately drop to their knees in sobbing pain. For some people, think they can just live with it and do their best to forge ahead with a growing pain in their heart… or they do damage in a different manner. Thankfully, stories are starting to understand that we can no longer continue to portray grief in a manner that so stoic and black and white. And it just so happens that the Queer Rhapsody Film Series is about to screen a horror/comedy that explores grief in that more enlightened manner. 

A feat that Darby and the Dead accomplishes by way of a unique and refreshing plot. One that introduces us to a teenager named Darby, who is quite special. For she escaped death ages ago in an accident involving a wave, while her mother did not, and the trauma of being so close to the end and losing someone she loved… transformed her in ways she never thought possible. For she gained the ability to see and interact with spirits that are yet to move on and as Darby grew, she felt it best to help those spirits move on at some cost of course. In that, that becomes her primary focus in life, and she spends more time with the spirits and her dead friend Gary, than anyone else, and Darby is just fine with that. But the death of the most popular girl in school, is about to alter the peaceful world that Darby inhabits. For Capri wants something grandiose to happen before she moves on, and Darby will have to break out of her shell to make it happen.

Which is a story that breaks down in stunning detail, how grief… can transform us and change our lives in far more subtle ways than we are aware of, as evidenced by Darby’s journey here. Since the pain of death and trauma, along with a chance to ‘heal’ herself by helping others… prompts her to become a shell of a person. One that plays it safe, hides from emotional attachment, and is just surrounded by death and sorrow and thrives within it because of pain that goes unresolved. That provides us with a very different perspective on grief, and how it works, and that’s just plain brilliant. Because it does impact people differently, and it can, in fact, prompt other toxic and unhealthy actions outside of the norms we think it does, and that’s important to recognize and understand… so we can help those struggling with their grief.

But this story does more than just present grief in the realistic raw, it also speaks to how we can recover from grief in a realistic manner. For there is no epiphany here or grand decision to just… feel better. No instead, Capri’s push for Darby to step out of her comfort zone and live, showcases that… our escape from grief is gradual, and that it takes time to learn how to function again, it takes time to find value and purpose in our day, it takes time to just… live again, and that is the key to recovery. In that, we simply put one foot in front of the other and start again, and in doing so, the ache begins to fade and we come to understand how to carry that which we lost with us in a manner that is impactful and inspiring, instead of letting it be a burden and that… makes for a powerful journey from a powerful film… one that also harbors more incredible depth within its structure.
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After all, this is a film that is screening at the Queer Rhapsody Film Series, and yet, nothing we’ve discussed seems to focus upon that. But make no mistake about it, this film is designed to reflect the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community, since it features a transgender actor, whose character is part of the fabric of the story in a manner that reflects everyday life, and the film is host to themes that are absolutely related to the queer experience in America. Since Darby’s situation makes her an outsider, someone that people do make fun of for being ‘different’, and that’s something LGTBQIA+ individuals can indeed relate to and since others can as well… that correctly points out, how we are not all that different and share in so much, and that serves as a fine reminder that labels should stop being doled out because of who others love and how they identify from a gender standpoint.

All of which adds to the majesty of this incredible motion picture. One that truly tackles some supremely important topics in our world right now. Because how we treat one another matters and we are just now diving into the nature of mental health and the power of grief because we are finally understanding that ‘sucking it up’ when someone we love dies isn’t the answer. It’s love and support, and finding value in life over sorrow, and that truly makes this a must-see film. For it really does have something for everyone from a learning perspective and is progressive, intelligent, and filled to the brim with amazing performances from rising stars and established ones, courtesy of incredible direction from Silas Howard. All of whom simply add to the gravity and wonder of this incredible story about a universal experience in all of our lives that will indeed transform us and teach us to cherish every moment of the incredible gift that is… life.

To see ‘Darby and the Dead’ at the Queer Rhapsody Film Series, click here. To view it at home, check below and to learn more about the Queer Rhapsody Film Series, go here.

It is the hope of every parent out there, that when their children head out into the world… they are ready to confront it and change it. For parents know that the world can be a hard place, but with the right skill set, and love in one’s heart… the transition to everyday adult life is smoother and can help their kids see the good in the world and nourish it and nurture it and bring about that change, and that has helped to create a society that for the most part… functions and leans toward good, despite teetering on the brink now and again. But sadly… that tradition and that hope has been threatened over the past decade or so.
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After all, the world is an angrier place than it has been in recent memory, and there are concerns about the future of the planet that make it hard to see the good out there and even harder to find hope. Leaving parents to now wonder, if it is possible to keep this tradition alive or if it will die. Courtesy of a world that slips into darkness by way of bitter generations that have to look out for number uno out of a need to simply survive. Well, it just so happens, that a brand-new film on Shudder explores that very concern and whether or not the hope for tomorrow that our children should harbor can survive, in the most unique manner possible. By plunging us into the end of the world in Arcadian.

For in this particular film, we catch up with a father named Paul, and his two sons, Joseph, and Thomas. Who are doing their best to survive decades after civilization collapsed from a strange pandemic that mutated humanity into outright monsters. And in present day, they survive on a remote farm and keep in contact with other families and people out there… but do their best to keep to themselves. For the world has indeed changed for the worse and large gatherings make for a tasty target for these hideous once-human creatures. But staying isolated is becoming harder and harder by the day, since the boys are discovering the world and are curious about what it could be for them, and that leaves Paul worried about who they will become when the time comes for them to be out there on their own… with nothing to really find but devastation.

Which is the perfect plot in which to explore those worries and those concepts. And it does point out how the end of everything should rob future generations of hope and joy. For if there is no career to chase, no family to create and nothing to look forward to but survival… what then is our purpose? Which should make for a bleak and painful film that sees the light fade from all. But that is where the film surprises. Because instead of showing us the final days of hope in the world, Joseph and Thomas do find good in the world and reasons to go on and see what tomorrow will bring. Primarily because of their father and his actions in this story, and that brings about a deeper message. In that, if we want to provide kids with a beacon for a better tomorrow… parents must become that, and they must exhibit that its less about what we find and more about what we do that makes the world a place worth living.
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That is of course, a message that all of us should adhere to, since it could in fact solve a great deal of problems we face right now. But what matters more is that it makes a horror film hopeful and powerful, and that’s a big deal considering how damn scary this movie truly is. After all, it plucks upon our own Post Traumatic Stress from the pandemic by plunging us into another one. One where everyone fears the night and where trust and the sense of community, we do share is gone, and that’s scary to see since it is a fundamental of humanity. Not to mention, the monsters that roam the countryside, are the stuff of nightmares. For they are indeed a hideous hybrid of man and our worst fears, and they are savage and intelligent enough to make one’s skin crawl for certain.

Yet, while it is nice to see a little hope in a horror film, and some scary monsters, none of this works without great acting and that’s here too. With Nicolas Cage leading the charge as an exhausted yet determined Paul, and he sells the burden of fatherhood with an incredible honesty that is relatable and powerful. Plus, Jaeden Martel (Joseph) and Maxwell Jenkins (Thomas) also lend gravitas to the film with their portrayal of young men coming of age at the worst possible time, and all of these elements bring forth, a downright fascinating feature. One that is far more human than one might initially expect, and quite philosophical in nature, and it truly does leave you thinking about tomorrow, and what we can do to instill hope in it again with dark forces constantly cresting on the horizon.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Finale of ‘Reginald the Vampire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular aspect of life that a great deal of us worry about deeply, is whether or not we are a good person and will be regarded as such from a legacy standpoint. Because no one wants to be remembered as a jerk, but some people are, and life is so crazy and so painful and powerful, that sometimes… we lose our way and submit to darkness. So, how then do we stay good? How then do we find our way back from the shadows, if by chance we’ve lost our way? Well, those questions and that concept are top of mind today, simply because it they were all featured in the season two finale of Reginald the Vampire on SYFY.

For ‘Just Like Heaven’ saw Reginald and his friends were stunned at being spared by Bolestro, and Maurice and Angela found great meaning in this. Because they’d spent so much of their eternal lives… doing little and sowing trouble and flexing power, and they began to wonder if there was more to endless life than such matters and fear. So, they decided… they could be more, they could in fact… use their powers for good. Which prompted them to help out everyday people instead of eating them outright and give them a little bit of hope in a chaotic world and their journey showcased how being good is a choice, and that we can come back from bad times and be better if we recognize where we are and put in the work to be more.

But that is of course, the perfect scenario for inflection and new direction. For most of us worry about how to find good when we’re in the darkness. Which is what Reginald dealt with here. Because he was listless and angry over what Uriel did to Sarah and his own life, and that prompted him, to hone his new power, which was freezing an individual in time, to use against Uriel when he finally tracked him down. To instill fear into an angel’s heart moments before Reginald was to put him down. For he truly thought revenge was the answer and that he had to kill to find peace. But in that moment, where he was ready to burn Uriel in the literal sense with a flamethrower, no less… Reginald pondered upon who he wanted to be. Was he to be an agent of vengeance after spending a month trying to convince an angel that vampires could be good, could be better? Or was he to be the man everyone knew him to be. Smart, just, and good. Thankfully, he chose the latter option and spared Uriel’s life and offered forgiveness.

Which hammered home that dark times are external in nature we can either embrace them or fight them and rise above from them to be the better we want to be, to be Reginald, and he was rewarded for going that route. Since Uriel took him to that strange purgatory to see Sarah once more. So, they could speak honesty about their feelings and fight to bring her home. Which was an option in this place, because obviously, the netherworld has some kind of big boss that people call many different names, and perhaps they could grant a gift upon Sarah and her own second chance at life and a life with Reginald, so they sought the boss down and met them. As it turned out, ‘God’… was a toaster and friendly enough to grant their wish with a twist. For a life had to be given to bring one back, and Reginald had two, his human side and his vampire side.

Which sadly… the vampire stuff is what Sarah inherited upon her return to Earth. But hey, at least she’s alive…ish? Either way, that was quite the twist to throw down, one that sets the stage for a wild third season. But before we cross our fingers for that, because as of press time, SYFY has not granted this series a third season, we can celebrate a great finale. One that really did explore how we find the right path forward in life and how we zero in on an identity that fulfills us. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that every moment in this story had some measure of beauty, including Todd’s brief hello/goodbye with Mike’s spirit and even Uriel’s journey and that’s just rare to see in a horror story… but it works here. For this is a different kind of vampire/horror story, one that is truly special and hopefully we do indeed get more of this little gem, so we can enjoy more beautiful moments that celebrate the human condition.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘Reginald the Vampire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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If there is one particular question that has been hanging heavy over season two of the hit SYFY series, Reginald the Vampire, it would have to be… how is Reginald going to save vampirekind? Because season two has showcased in great detail, the tragedy of the vampire. Of how these creatures of the night hold tightly onto our worst demons and amplify them, giving rise to a sour species that Bolestro has rightfully called selfish and monstrous. But worthy of genocide? Well… nothing is worthy of that, and thankfully Reginald agrees. But he has to date, been unable to figure out how to save vampirekind and bring it into the light… nor has he come up with a plan to save the day.

But despite not finding proper salvation for his own kind, the matter with Bolestro came to resolution during last night’s episode. Since ‘The Final Countdown’ saw Reginald and the vampire race survive their final stand against a vengeful angel. But before we break down how that happened, we need to take a moment and talk about the alternate resolution in this tale. The one involving Mike. For Sarah found him in that strange and artful purgatory, and together they worked to get intelligence on whether or not their friends survived… through the recently departed. Which gave them peace and helped Mike decide… to cross over. To a dark future quite literally, but he accepted it none the less and bid farewell to Sarah, but not before telling her… to find her way back.

Which was a fine way to send off Mike after his unceremonious end at the hands of Uriel and as they dug into facts… Reginald and his friends made their stand. For they came to the place they were predicted to do so and stood tall against Bolestro and fought… in a unique manner. Wherein they pleaded their case and did their best to showcase that while vampirekind as a whole… was pretty sucky, pun intended, it had glimmers of hope. For there was tiny, tiny growth, and that meant hope. But despite pointing that out and pointing out the hypocrisy of Bolestro’s decision… the all-powerful angel wanted bloodshed and well that’s when a lovely surprise came into play… Claire. Who we learned can see the future thanks to her powers and she informed Bolestro, that eventually vampires will make peace, after great sacrifice and the end of Reginald’s life.

That was enough for Bolestro to call the whole thing off, since he relished in vampirekind killing itself because well, the dude simply does not like vampires in the slightest and well, much darkness rightfully hung over the aftermath of this near miss. Simply because, Reginald had to die and so much was lost to get here and because… with worry about being good and being just no longer part of the equation… and with death on the horizon… Reginald decided to go for broke. For Uriel was still out there, and he of course hurt Reginald the most. Prompting our favorite vampire to set forth a plan to find the angel that killed his love, to make him suffer and pay dearly before sending him back into the void of the afterlife. 

All of which explains… why this episode chose to answer the big question hanging over the season now. Because now we get to see a real test take place, one that will challenge Reginald like never before as we see if he can maintain the best parts of himself with grief and thoughts of revenge surging through his veins and who knows… this could be a test from Bolestro as well. But while we wait to see if Reginald can do the right thing and not succumb to darkness, because we love him and think the world of him and want to see him take the high road as he always does… we can celebrate another brilliant tale from this series. Because this was basically a season finale, done early and that takes guts. But that is what this show has plenty of, and now that the big showdown is complete… we can turn our attention to the season two finale next week, and the battle that will take place for Reginald’s very soul. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Devil’s Bath’.
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There is a strange and unsettling movement happening in the world right now. In that, there are a symphony of strange voices that are crying out into the night… for society to return to a more… classical era. Wherein the world doesn’t seem so convoluted and progressive to them, and well… those voices are growing in chorus… and in influence. For they are winning elections around the globe and entrenching similar voices into positions of power to lay down the foundation to turn back the clock, which so many others fear, and rightfully so. Because the past should remain there for a reason and well, what a lot of this voices want to return to… isn’t healthy for all in the slightest. 

But despite a fair of number pointing out how going to the past will rob people of their rights and bring back measures of hate that were buried for a reason, these voices keep getting others to listen. Leaving all of us to wonder how best to combat what they want and really help others to understand why these voices need to be silenced and/or shouted out of existence, and well… perhaps storytelling can help in such matters. Since it educates in the simplest manner possible, and it just so happens… that a powerful tale about the dangers of going backwards is available to stream on Shudder right now, and that makes The Devil’s Bath an important film. 

Simply because, it transports us back in time to 18th Century Germany. Where a simple life exists. For there is nothing but the land and community, and religion and family. In fact, when we meet Agnes on the day of her wedding to Wolf, the wonder of this era seems to be genuine. Since there is joy and love between the couple, and hope for a long life together complete with a family. But as married life wears on, and Agnes works to balance her new duties as a wife, alongside the curious nature of her personality… the wonder of the world disappears. For she quickly finds herself under fire for thinking differently, for not waiting on her husband hand and foot and that puts her in a deep depression. One that is of course believed to be related to infection but in reality… relates to the fact that she has no future and no purpose outside of being her husband’s property and that… will drive her to incredible acts to be free of the emotional and mental prison she finds herself within.

Which at first glance, just seems to be a dramatic story about days gone by and the sorrows of that past, one free from horror and disturbing parallels. But make no mistake about it, this is a terrifying film… one that does showcase how far we’ve come and why we cannot go back. For to strip women of their rights and make them items and possessions is a horrific fate. One where, we see the lights go out of Agnes’ eyes as she realizes that her fate is a void. One without creativity and thought and emotion, just servitude and pleasure for others and that is indeed a disgusting future for anyone to face, and should never be the case, but was and could be again, and if that alone is not enough to hammer home why we should never embrace the past again… the film makes sure to offer up more talking points on the matter… to truly help us understand.
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A feat that allows for us to see… what a person of Agnes’ intelligence and desires will do to be free, and how far they will go to find happiness and peace, which is potentially achieved in this instance, through wanton acts of outright violence. So that they can be pulled away from a life that is mundane and awful and find peace of some kind of direction that doesn’t involve staring into the distance and hoping something better is on the horizon. Which brings forth a stunning and shocking downward spiral for Agnes. One that prompts her to do things that are outright unthinkable and awful, and that brings about a stunning conclusion to this tale. One that speaks to how mob mentality helped to keep this kind of lifestyle going and how mob mentality is in many ways, fighting a good fight to bring it back now. 

Which makes this film a horror story about the ugliness of humanity, and the darkness we are capable of when we embrace stupid traditions and ideologies that do not matter, and it is very much a chilling and cautionary tale. One that showcases a dark era in our history that for some reason, people want to see return and we simply do not know why. Since this story reminds us… that progress matters and that ideologies die for a reason, and to try and keep them alive is cruel and unusual and disgusting. All of which brings forth a powerful story that quite frankly, devastates the audience and leaves them in deep thought when the end credits roll, and that’s not a bad thing. For great horror makes us think and gives us pause and this film does just that by offering up a glimpse of what was… and what could be again.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Finale of ‘Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article also contains discussions regarding domestic abuse, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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Over the course of the past few weeks, we’ve learned a great deal about a dark side of the human condition, courtesy of the hit AMC series, Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. For season two of this brilliant and poignant show, has gone where few shows ever will. For this season of storytelling focused heavily on the nature of domestic abuse, and how the people that abuse operate, and what drives them to harm others on a fundamental level. Adding all kinds of context to a topic that remains taboo in our modern world for reasons that no one can speak to, but we should in fact… discuss such matters. Since these stories have informed us of the lasting damage domestic abuse imparts upon a person.

But while it has been fascinating and important to learn how men like Lestat de Lioncourt rip minds and hearts apart with their words and their manipulations… there has been one important lesson that the series has understandably kept in the shadows akin to a vampire. In that, those who suffer from domestic abuse, don’t deal with it for the rest of their lives. There comes a point where they either step away from it and reinvent themselves for the better or sadly, tragedy does strike because an abuser crosses the line. Which is also important to recognize since that speaks to the dangers of why we cannot keep this taboo. But for the sake of today’s recap, we can discuss… those who escape and how they do it, and truly, the season two finale of the show was the right time to ponder upon such matters.

For ‘And That’s The End of It. There’s Nothing Else.’ was indeed the end of the interview with the vampire Armand and Louis de Point du Lac, and what better place to learn about how people abused by a lover, escape their clutches and find agency and start over. Which was explored in the past and in present and well, the past taught us… that the first step of removing oneself from an abusive situation is to have that person… understand… they are in one. That it cannot persist, or they will suffer worse consequences and well, that means… confrontation. The kind where the abuser must know what they’ve done and must know the abused will no longer tolerate the pain and the madness. Which Louis expressed in the most violent and literal vampirical sense possible. Through revenge.

Which he was able to execute through a gift from Armand and wow… did he teach Santiago and his group quite the lesson. Wherein they paid for Claudia’s death and the enabling of Lestat de Lioncourt with their lives and when he was done with them… he confronted Lestat as well and informed him that there would be no more emotional ties, no more power over Louis. And that… is a fate worse than death for an abuser, because their power is everything to them, and to have it removed is the final blow, and the one that devastates them for all time. And it was amazing to see this show, speak down upon revenge in this matter, since it doesn’t accomplish anything, but also speak to the need to stand tall, and say… enough. For that is indeed step one and it took seventy-seven more years for Louis to reach the final steps. 

Which came forth, via a horrifying revelation for Louis. In that, once the interview was done, Daniel and his friends at the Talamasca helped to reveal that Louis did indeed fall into the cycle of moving from one abusive relationship into another. Which can and will happen because of how much work goes into healing even when one has said enough. For it was revealed that Lestat saved him on that fateful night and that Armand was eager to follow through and please his coven, but took credit where possible to gain advantage and power, and that revelation allowed for Louis to say enough again and understand he needed to heal himself internally first before ever being near a lover again and in order to do that… so much must come into play. First is indeed, learning to love oneself again and find that peace within so there are no flaws for abusers to find and exploit.
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But also… Louis learned and taught us, that we must let go of the shadow of the past, and those who imparted harm, and one way to do that… is through forgiveness and kindness. Which seems impossible to offer to a person that may have physically beat another or left people in tears over the cruel words they vomited from their mouth. But it is a necessity. Because to see them with fury for all time, only keeps a fire lit within. A fire that does not need to burn forever. It must be extinguished; it must go dark so that the light beyond can be found again. And yes, that does mean… offering forgiveness, so that one can let that pain go. Granted, there does NOT have to be absolution. But one can forgive and never forget and show kindness because that too disarms and removes power from an abuser.

Which is precisely what Louis did here, by returning to New Orleans. To reflect upon the journey, and the pain and to confront Lestat at last and do just that. And to also be reminded of the fact, that every abusive relationship does have its moments of honesty, usually at the beginning before the darkness comes and to cherish those moments and to, when the time is right… find the value in the whole experience. Which also sounds absurd. But… one cannot forget that our experiences both good and bad, offer lessons, and without the darkness… we don’t grow. We don’t move forward and sometimes… meeting those awful people push us toward great things for reasons that are personal yet powerful. Ergo, that’s where kindness and forgiveness truly pay off, and now… Louis can enter the next chapter of his life because he healed, he forgave, he moved on and found agency at last.

All of which brought forth, a stunningly powerful episode of television. One that truly explored elements that we’ve never seen horror touch before, much less the vampire genre, but it was present, and it was glorious. For not only was it the perfect way to bring home two stunning years of incredible storytelling through and through, but it was the lesson that needed to bring this chapter to a close. The one that so many out there needed to see, for this offered a path to healing and a reminder for those who did heal, of the incredible person they are and the wonder they accomplished by saying, ‘enough,’ and of course… it set the stage for a powerhouse third season. Where we will see more of Louis, the vampire Daniel Malloy, and Lestat and Armand and enjoy a new musing on the human condition and all its glory and folly. Until next season.

It is universally known that parents strive to provide a better life for their children. For parents hope their children will have better opportunities in life than they did. Most parents take great pride in their offsprings’ accomplishments, but some parents go overboard and become obsessed with their children’s achievements, using the success of their children to attempt to fill a hole that was never filled through what they themselves have accomplished (or not accomplished) in life. Outside validation of their children’s abilities is what these parents crave, often without regard for what the child’s preferences are.
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In fact, it’s become culturally apparent that some affluent parents have lost the plot when it comes to getting their children into the most elite of colleges. Princeton’s in the Mix explores just how awry things could go when a parent loses sight of what really matters to their children in the name of blind ambition.

This story finds Beth, played to devious perfection by Heather Burns, obsessing over the entrance exam scores of her pianist son, Teddy. He has thus far been unable to break the scoring threshold that she wants him to get on the SATs so that he can get into what she considers a good school. Teddy is unconcerned, much to Beth’s chagrin. He’s far more interested in preparing for an upcoming piano competition than studying for the SATs. Beth has run out of ideas of ways to get him the extra time she’s certain he needs, despite exploring every avenue of cheating she could imagine.

Then comes a revelation from one of her fellow admissions obsessed parents: her son is getting extra time to take the test because he seriously injured himself in an accident, much to his mother’s glee and delight. This news is a revelation to Beth, providing a fresh avenue of hope for improving Teddy’s test scores to a woman near crazed over the results, and an air of twisted creativity, to ensure that her son gets exactly the right injury he needs to heal… and meet her needs.
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This timely parable gives the horror treatment to a subject that has filled headlines in recent years. After witnessing the actual lengths that wealthy privileged parents have already gone to getting their children into college by cheating in a myriad of ways, it makes this film incredibly believable. People are capable of terrifying things once obsession overtakes their senses. This slow burn satirical horror film imagines just how very far some people would go and features an exquisite musical score that really captures and amplifies the scenes of this immensely enjoyable film.

Princeton’s in the Mix feels fresh while also employing some of the delicious classic elements of horror, like suspense and gore, in addition to a fascinating snapshot of the simultaneous terror felt by both teens and their parents alike about what will lead to success or result in failure as high school nears its end, and adulthood looms large ahead. It’s an engaging film that invites you in, pleasantly, and then grabs you so that you can’t look away from its jaw-dropping climax. The horrors pictured in this film are made all the more visceral by the fact that this very scenario is not out of the realm of possibility in a culture far more obsessed with status than a quality education.

It really is quite amazing what horror can teach us in this day and age. For now, it really is a medium for understanding the human condition, and the darkness we carry and, in some cases, how to combat it, and it makes sense as to why this is quickly becoming the norm. For we fear the darkness within, and we fear what we could become if we embrace it, and what better place to face those fears than within the framework of a scary story that lets us safely process those fears and/or express them through the character’s harrowing journey and what’s amazing… is that horror is continuing to expand into new frontiers when it comes to such explorations. 
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For now, it is even looking at the traumas we carry and how to heal from them, and it’s also taking the time now… to serve as an educational tool. To explore some of the fears that others carry through the scary experiences they go through in life. Such as the ups and downs that members of the LGBTQIA+ community experience on a daily basis. For there are undue pressures upon those individuals to conform to societal norms, and if they don’t… they face horrors untold, as is explored in a short horror feature that recently screened at the Frameline Film Festival, Spookable.

Which is a story that takes us on a camping/cabin journey with Sean and Tamina, a pair of transgender individuals that are split on whether or not this trip is a good idea. Mainly because Tamina is not about that camping and cabin lifestyle and her concerns only grow, when this duo encounters a strange individual that continually showcases wild behavior, wild characters, and is all around annoying. But there are bigger problems at play here than an annoying neighbor. For this camping site is also home to a creepy and uncomfortably gooey cave, one designed to claim victims to transform them into werewolves and if Sean and Tamina don’t head home soon, there is a fair chance they will become the cave’s next victims.

At first glance, that appears to be nothing more than a story that is a grandiose send up of horror films. Since clearly, Sean and Tamina’s journey has all the tenets of B-movie horror. Such as an isolated cabin in the woods, weird warning signs from weird people, and mysteries and horrors untold waiting within the woods, and well, you would be right to think that. Because of the fact that this is a horror comedy at heart, and it does poke at those old tropes, and how tired they’ve become and that allows for some lighthearted and fun moments to take place. The kind that are counterbalanced by the incredible commentary here.
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Because the journey that this duo goes upon, explores the prejudices that transgender individuals receive in the world since Tamina and Sean are consistently sized up and questioned with a glance. Not to mention, there are vignettes present here, that revolve around the pressures that LGBTQIA+ individuals face from a society that fears gender fluidity and truly, the werewolf subplot present here clearly serves as an allegory for the patriarchal, masculinity conformity that is expected of so many and is imparted upon so many, and that how that creates more than harm than good. Which makes this… a perfect horror comedy. Since it properly brings the laughs and harbors the genius commentary present within horror.

But what matters more, is that it really does offer us insight into experiences that so many do not know and do not understand, and that… is huge. Because understanding and learning is how we overcome our fears, and there is indeed fear out there about the LGBTQIA+ community, but there should not be. For as this story also showcases, members of that community aren’t monsters, they’re people, plain and simple. Who want what everyone else wants, and that what we really should be afraid of, are the real creatures of the night. The hate that hangs heavy over the air and the ignorance that lets it persist, and only great horror stories, such as this one… know how to properly point that out.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 208 of ‘Reginald the Vampire’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this article contains discussions of suicidal ideation, which may be triggering to some individuals.  
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One unfortunate moment that we don’t like to remotely think about in this life, are our final days and understandably so. After all, to think about that, means we are thinking about the end, and no one wants to ponder upon their own death unless it is absolutely necessary. Plus, to do so early seemingly adds a morose air to our daily lives, as though we’re just focused on the end instead of the journey. But like it or not, there will come a day where the end of the road lies ahead and well, since we don’t think about it, that does beg some questions. Such as, what will our final moments look like and what should we be thinking about when they arrive?

Well as it turns out, the next episode of Reginald the Vampire on SYFY pondered upon such matters and that made ‘We Can Be Heroes (Just For One Day)’ quite the powerful tale. One that explored a great deal regarding the end, after it took the time to also think upon… what the afterlife might look like. After all, Sarah made her way into a unique place after Uriel did his rude little thing last week and well, it turned out that Sarah made it to Heaven, and it was… a fascinating place initially catered to the wants and need of the soul before they were expected to explore the great beyond. Which was, a fascinating idea to ponder upon, as though Heaven would grant someone an adjustment period in a comfortable place before what lies beyond is embraced, something this writer is hard pressed to find a parallel of, story wise.

But of course, what lies beyond that adjustment spot will have to wait for another time, because the show did not reveal it here and instead, turned its attention to our vampire heroes. For they didn’t die and go to a similar place, they instead were just transported to the Slushy Shack. Wherein all they could do was face the end and hope a plan would emerge to defeat Bolestro and that led… to the exploration in question. Wherein we came to learn that some people would want to go out differently if facing a specific end. Which is what Angela wanted. Because she hated the idea of an angel taking her out… so she seriously considered taking her own life to have agency and control. A move that while unsettling, paralleled our world and new laws that allow for folks with terminal illnesses to take their own lives, and it did speak to how some folks want control at the end.

For others, the end is nothing more… than a reflective time. Wherein we take inventory of our lives and the moments that mattered to really decide how ready we are and if there’s any unfinished business to handle. Which is what everyone else focused upon in these disturbing hours, and that brought about love and joy and gratitude and… the most important aspect of all regarding the end… acceptance. An understanding that the end is nigh and that we should embrace in the inevitable in a brave and bold manner because that will inspire strength in others when their times comes and so… we are ready. Which is where everyone found themselves at emotionally at the end of this story, with a general plot twist of course. In that, they were all ready to stand before Bolestro and just, accept their fate, be it good or be it bad, and showcase something quite important to the angel.

In that, they were capable of more than he thought and that if by chance… he wanted to strike vampirekind down, he would be wiping a species out that had potential, that had depth and stories to tell that went beyond just murder and mayhem. Which might save them, might not, but peace was in their hearts and that made for one powerful and beautiful episode. One that really did reflect upon some serious stuff and some hard philosophy and showcased just how deep this show can go. Because this is stuff you just don’t see in horror and vampire stories all that often, and this show deserves a round of applause and our awe for going this route and setting up a different kind of hero’s journey. One that may end in an unconventional manner when we tune into a final showdown between vampires and one angry angel. Until next time.