Please enjoy this sneak peek of Episode 202 of Shining Vale, which debuts on STARZ tomorrow, 10/19/23.

Also, this sneak peek was assembled/written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 203 of ‘SurrealEstate’. To revisit the previous episode, clickhere. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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For the most part, stories that revolve around hauntings and ghosts, and the individuals tasked with clearing a house of those spirits, tend to stick to pretty specific formulas regarding how that all should go down. In that, the spirit in question needs to be removed through traditional religious means because they’re consumed with evil and a need for revenge or they need to be given justice and license to rest, and well… those formulas stick around because… they are in fact, quite engaging. For they lead to scares and epic moments and stuff that will have us buzzing. But… those are formulas that get a little repetitive now and again. Because there are other reasons that ghosts could be stuck to this plane of existence, and there have to be different ways to give them peace and that is why the SYFY series, SurrealEstate, is one to celebrate.
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Because it is that rare ghost-themed story that breaks from convention and finds new ways to move spirits into the afterlife, and looks at the many reasons that a person might find their spirit locked to our world and that variety is top of mind today, simply because it was featured once again in a powerful manner during last night’s episode. For ‘The Butler Didn’t’, featured quite the unique haunting for the Roman Agency to handle. Because the owner of a home, a man named Andrew, was concerned over the sudden surge in paranormal activity happening in his home. For a hanging spirit was appearing left and right and well… when Susan and Luke spoke to her, she accused Andrew of her murder and made it clear that she was going to bring justice into the fold if they didn’t offer a better answer. Which brought forth a fascinating investigation. One that was unconventional and quirky.

For the team came to learn that this spirit, whose mortal name was Genevieve, was a writer who was apparently murdered shortly after her third marriage. Which of course, pained the picture of a vengeful husband. But more digging and a weird interaction with her son, who took a strange liking to Susan, eliminated the hubby and the son. Mainly because every diary she kept and every bit of evidence they could find spoke to a broken life for Genevieve. One where she harbored no enemies, but yearned for deeper connection with someone that could send her spirits soaring. In fact, it seemed the only person that gave her peace and license to hope… was a mysterious man named Warden. Who was written of often as the bringer of joy, and was near her in dark times and seemed to be the lover she craved, and while it was nice for the team to be able to see her life and see her follies, they were no closer to finding out who took her life. 

Which was problematic, for the spirit was growing more aggressive by the day. But an epiphany on Father Phil’s part… opened up some new possibilities. Since Warden served as an anagram for Andrew, and some odd bits and pieces in the record books for Genevieve’s estate suddenly made it seem as though Andrew might be the party responsible, since he left town post haste after her passing, and perhaps returned out of guilt. Which put Susan in a tough spot, because she knew that someone had to stand up and confront him about this, and since she had the best rapport with him, it would be her. But the cosmic stars and what lies beyond… saved her the worry and stress of having to do that. For Andrew met her in a dream and explained to her, that he was indeed Warden, and he spoke to the dynamic of his relationship with Genevieve, and how she wasn’t murdered. Instead, his desire to end their relationship shortly after she tied the knot for round three, brought about an emotional battle between the two of them, one that involved self-harm and an unfortunate cascade of failures… that led to her end. But that didn’t stop him from loving her and feeling guilt and well… armed with that… Susan and Luke confronted Genevieve’s spirit one last time to ask for mercy and forgiveness, and she granted it… perhaps a bit too late.

For Andrew/Warden returned home sometime before Luke and Susan got there, and while there, his heart gave out. Giving his body rest, yes, but his passing before grace was given, raised the possibility that he would never know of the peace he was now granted. But perhaps, that little chat in the dream and the opportunity to see what lies beyond, helped him to understand he was free and forgiven. All of which brought forth, a vastly different kind of ghost story. One where a tortured spirit was grounded here, for refreshing reasons and where their release took a different path as well. Which brought forth a very emotional and powerful story about how matters of the heart can and will screw us up and well, that made for one amazing episode. One that captivated us and moved us, and made us laugh thanks to Genevieve’s son, Nathaniel, and even shook things up at the Roman Agency. Courtesy of Susan’s decision to step away for not being given the respect she is due and well, in the end, this episode just goes to show how refreshing this series is, and how brilliant it can be, and this kind of story absolutely leaves us curious as to what wonders await us as season two continues along. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 303 of ‘Chucky’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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If there is one question that has been on the minds of every fan of the SYFY and USA Network series, Chucky, it would have to be… what is Chucky’s overall plan? Because he obviously is working toward something within the walls of the White House, and thus far… he’s only given us hints as to what that might be. By mentioning a countdown when he waxes some unlucky soul, and really the only thing he’s basically admitted to is that he seems eager for revenge. Since he keeps taunting the trio of heroes that have defeated him soundly before. But revenge isn’t enough to drive Chucky, he’s had plenty of that in his life. Well as it turns out, there is an intimate plan at play for Mr. Charles Lee Ray and at long last… it was revealed during last night’s episode of the show, in quite the unique manner.
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For ‘Jennifer’s Body’ took the time to fill in all the blanks for us, regarding what happened to Chucky after Season 2 and how he ended up in the White House and well, a lot of it related to Caroline Cross. Who as it turned out, kept Chucky safe shortly after his umpteenth resurrection. For he needed protection from the chaos that suddenly surrounded Jennifer Tilly/Tiffany. For the cops found her, courtesy of Nica no less and that brought her into custody and let Chucky and his new protégé enjoy the majesty of the world and murder. Wherein Chucky felt the need to prepare for a giant revenge run, that is until… a surprise came his way. For he suddenly discovered that he was aging in his Good Guy body. Something that should have been impossible, and well… that prompted he and Caroline to seek out a doctor that knew something about Damballa and his situation.

Which of course, delayed the answer we’ve been waiting for, for a little while, but that’s okay. Because what the show provided us with in the interim, was outright amazing. For the trial of Jennifer Tilly took place while Chucky and Caroline made that voyage, and it was… off the chain. Since Nica took the stand and that brought out old emotions and battles within the courtroom and Jennifer/Tiffany made a point to try and paint herself as legally insane and unable to stand trial… by telling the truth. Yes, that’s right, she told everyone the story of how Tiffany Valentine invaded the body and spirit of Jennifer Tilly and enjoyed her glamorous life. A story so outlandish to others, it certainly had to prove she wasn’t mentally well, but it was all for naught. Because the jury found her guilty, and the judge sent her to death row without giving it a second thought. Making it seem as though… at long last, Tiffany has reached the end of the line. 

Speaking of the end of the line… that was what Chucky learned about his condition. In that, Damballa had abandoned him for his role in that exorcism, and the only way to reclaim his immortality now, was to sacrifice six souls in the evilest place imaginable. Which brought him to the Amityville House in a crossover for the ages, but that didn’t give him what he needed. So, he decided, that the White House was the right place to be. After all, as he put it, millions of people died from orders signed in the Oval Office, and some shady things have indeed gone down within its walls, and some evil things as well, courtesy of the worst of the worst to ever serve as POTUS. So, what better place to make Damballa happy, than a house responsible for rivers of blood. Which was… quite the brilliant way in which to bring Chucky to the White House and all of these elements made, for a downright brilliant episode.

Because it gave the new season pure focus and pure direction, and now we know what Chucky wants and what Chucky needs and that… he is vulnerable at last. So, if by chance our heroes can strike… they could put an end to Chucky once and for all. Provided of course, he doesn’t get to them sooner. But while we wait to see how that plays out, there is more to praise from this episode. Such as the gauntlet of incredible acting that took place from Fiona Dourif and Jennifer Tilly since they let loose here and put on a show for the ages. Not to mention Brad Dourif really shined as Chucky here. For he added a real depth to the bad news Chucky received, and of course… we would be remiss to not take a moment and praise the Andy dream and the umbrella kill, because those were just ‘chef’s kiss’ moments for the franchise and well, it is definitely safe to say that the wonders that happened here, have us ready for next week’s midseason finale. One that should be as epic as they come since it would seem… old friends and old enemies are about to reunite in the middle of the most important home in America. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Four of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023). To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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For the most part, horror stories that cater to a younger audience in any capacity, tend to steer clear of deeper themes and explorations, and understandably so. After all, shows like the original Goosebumps for instance, were/are gateway shows. Designed to showcase the wonder of horror, through baseline scares that happen to be fun in nature. All so a teen will eventually check out what horror has to offer, and well… since that is all they want to accomplish, there is no need to go beyond the scares. But the times are certainly changing when it comes to matters such as that, as evidenced by the next episode of ironically, the new Goosebumps on Disney+ and Hulu. For ‘Go Eat Worms’ not only brought forth the scares but added some incredible depth to the story. 
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Because in this particular tale, we came to learn a lot about Lucas and his family’s past, and why exactly the daredevil lifestyle was top of mind for him. As it turned out, it related to the fact that his daredevil dad passed away ages ago. At a young enough age, and so abruptly, through a daredevil act no less, that Lucas was unable to process his grief, and honestly… nor could his mother. Which meant that Lucas was forced to figure things out on his own and he struggled with that and acted out accordingly to find peace and to be closer to his father in some capacity and well, his daredevil tendencies and pain were exacerbated in this story by way of the evil in question and quite the surprise regarding his mom. In that, Nora was taking part in an affair with Margot’s dad, and Lucas of course found out about it and that sunk him further.

For he could not stand the thought of his father’s memory being washed away by his mother’s emotional needs. Which pushed him to be the town daredevil even harder, to the point where he ate some of those weird worms that he found in the Biddle house and well, what they did for him… changed his outlook on a great deal of things. For they gave him super strength and healing powers, and that made him fearless and reckless and eager to conduct the biggest daredevil acts possible, including the one that killed his father. But thankfully Margot and his mother stepped in and stopped him and pointed out the reasoning for his behavior. Which led to one wild ending where a giant super worm collective left his body and chased him and Nora, and Margot and where Nora found herself committed for telling the truth at last about what happened.

But what mattered more here, was the depth surrounding Lucas’ storyline. Because in essence, Lucas’ journey spoke to the power of grief and loss and the trauma that comes from it, and how that trauma can prompt us to do foolish and hurtful things for a bevy of reasons. To feel something for instance or to fill the hole we feel inside of us and that made… for one powerful episode. Simply because that’s top-notch horror commentary right there. The kind that matches the zeitgeist of the genre right now since so many horror stories are taking that elevated route and looking at the impact of the darkness of life upon an individual and how that turns into its own horror story, and it was wonderful to see here and spoke to an evolution for the series.

For clearly, it is more than just gateway horror now, it’s full-on horror when it needs to be, and its wonders didn’t end there. Because Lucas’ behavior in this story was downright scary and unsettling, as was the whole worm thing, and the ending where they banded together. Not to mention, this episode deserves a round of applause for throwing in quite the twist regarding the messy past between Harold Biddle and the parents of our heroes… by having the one person willing to talk about it committed. For now, Nora is hidden away from the world, and so is the truth and it does leave us wondering how exactly the truth will come to light. And of course, the only way to know… is to hit play and watch the next chapter in this eerie tale. One that informed us here, that this franchise has grown up and is ready to terrorize us in new and exciting ways. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Three of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023). To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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The true beauty of the horror genre is that it can, create nightmares untold. For there are no limitations for the horror genre, and its adaptive nature to the zeitgeist of the times, and countless offshoots and reimagining’s from a monster perspective, really does allow creative minds to do as they please and wow us every step of the way. Because the only thing holding them back is their imagination and that is why when we run into a story that just goes wild and offers up sights and sounds and scares, we’ve never seen before… we should celebrate it. For it is embracing the spirit of the genre and doing something special, and that is precisely why the next episode of Goosebumps on Disney+ and Hulu is of note. 
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For ‘The Cuckoo Clock of Doom’ simply let loose and offered up a wildly dynamic and original horror story. Shortly after providing us with some familiar moments and some familiar tropes. For this story made sure to establish further how evil the Biddle house really is, by having James encounter yet another artifact in this place that brings forth nothing but trouble. Because the Cuckoo Clock in this house, was indeed a harbinger of doom. Since it locked James in a time loop from which there appeared to be no escape. Which is… something of a standard sci-fi and horror trope, one that usually results in a need for betterment of the person trapped or an epiphany must take place for them to escape its temporal clutches and James was seemingly barreling toward that here. Since all he wanted for Halloween was to get close to Sam on this night, and he used the loop to do so. 

But that’s where the tropes ended, and inventiveness won the day. Because when Sam asked James to leave the party with him, James did something bold and broke the clock to see if by chance that would end his troubles, and well… that worked… and that nightmare ended and allowed for a new one to begin. Because he wasn’t the only James that escaped the house that night. For the clock created a new James every time the loop was reset, ones that harbored evil in their hearts. Which prompted a flock of Jameses to take the original and throw him into the family’s mine… so they could taste the life of James Prime and enjoy it to the fullest. Which led to all kinds of trouble since these evil clones didn’t have to care about consequences or feelings and well, had it not been for Isabella and the slime incident at the end of the last episode, no one would have been the wiser.

But thankfully… she pointed out the truth about these monsters and that helped Margot and Isaiah stand by her side and help her find the real James. Which they did in an intense manner that saw a lot of slime fly into the sky and thankfully, they rescued their friend and were able to go on with their lives and well… this was just amazing. Because it was bizarre and out there and everything that is indeed perfect about horror. For this story just leaned into the endless possibilities that could come forth from having an evil version of oneself made and it truly let loose and showcased some of the ugly we are capable of in a manner that was inventive and engaging. But above all, it was just an original idea and a fun one at that and it was a true delight to see this series try something so bold and so imaginative.

If anything, this episode deserves a round of applause for making the bizarre worth our while and for also… expanding further upon the whole mess involving the parents of Port Lawrence and Harold Biddle. Because they are indeed hanging onto some dark secrets, the kind that perhaps only Margot’s mother is willing to bring to light and well, hopefully we get to learn the truth about what happened between all of them, and Harold, soon. Since Biddle/Bratt is gaining in power and fury and needs to be stopped and well, the only way to know for sure if the answers are around the corner… is to hit play on the next episode and continue this incredibly refreshing journey through one creepy little town. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Puppetman’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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One unfortunate truth about our lives that we are only now beginning to learn about… is that generational trauma is a very real thing that has impacted a great deal of us, and it is hard to recognize and hard to shake off. And we are only now beginning to learn about it, because we are only now looking into the human mind and psyche and we’re starting to recognize odd behaviors that we never thought much about. Specifically, how we tend to echo the abusive behaviors of our parents to an outright tee. Which is attributed to the fact that they were taught such behaviors by their own parents and so on, and so on. Which has in fact, created generational trauma that we pass on in a vicious cycle and well… it’s hard to detect because… we never knew it was there.
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After all, we trust our parents implicitly and expect them to impart their wisdom upon us, and we mimic and mirror their behavior as part of that. But alas, some of it really isn’t healthy and it takes a dark moment for us to realize that, and some hard work to shake it. Which is no easy task. Since we have to recognize the root cause point of this behavior and unlearn years of behavior through therapy and guidance. But the end result is worth the work, because we will in fact, break decades of toxicity and give the next generation in our family a fresh start, free from those burdens. But sadly, this is something so difficult and so new, that not all will find their way and some will falter and it is important we recognize why that is the case so we can continue to learn how to fight this problem, and one such way we can do that… is through storytelling and it just so happens that a brand-new horror film on Shudder, ponders upon how we could falter in the fight to remove this, and why. 

A feat that ‘The Puppetman’ accomplishes by introducing us to a woman named Michal who finds herself at quite the emotional crossroads when we meet her. Because she is a survivor of a harrowing past, one where she was locked away by her serial killer father, who happens to finally be facing his final days of justice on death row. And with his name being back in the news, she is forced to reflect upon her youth and her life, and well… that is no easy task. For there is a lot of trauma hidden in her soul over such matters, and despite her best efforts to resolve it all, it hangs heavy over her… as do some strange occurrences. For she is sleepwalking all of a sudden, and soon after that becomes a constant… her friends begin to die in a manner reminiscent of how her father claimed his victims. A move that will force Michal to face the past and the potential evil that is now driving two generations in her family to deal with horrors untold.

Which at first glance, is a story that appears be grounded deeply in supernatural elements and there’s merit to that. Since much of Michal’s quest to be free of the darkness hanging over her, involves a detailed investigation into an ancient spirit that has seemingly taken hold of her, courtesy of the work of her father and mother, who worshipped this being in their youth. Not to mention, this also allows for the horror elements in the story to come into play, since every time the power of this spirit is put on display, horrible things play out on screen. Which does bring forth some creative kills and some uncomfortable moments, kind that set up the incredible and poignant commentary in question. Because in between the gore and the scares, are a bevy of intimate moments with Michal. Who speaks often about the difficulties of facing the dark past that hangs over her, and how hard it is… to let go of it.
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For it has given her strength and sustained her and driven her forward and that… explains why generational trauma is so hard to shake. Because it is indeed engrained in us, and it becomes all we know and to change and let go of it, is downright terrifying. Not to mention, some can find it empowering in a way. As though the anger and fury present from such traumas can in fact offer strength to a person in a time of need, and they will feed off of that, and let it, and the rush it provides, guide them, and Michal is definitely someone who falls into the latter here, since she uses that ‘power’ with abandon because of what it can accomplish for her. Which speaks to how there are some people who simply cannot let go of the darkness and will in fact embrace its comfortability. Which means they will require more support and more kindness to help them along if the world is indeed ready to make a push to really break this cycle of generational trauma. 

For to do otherwise, and let it persist, will indeed result in horrors worse than the ones put on display here. Where children will continue to learn the worst about humanity and perhaps embrace it, and that is indeed a bleak message to leave the viewer with, but it is the right one for certain. For that is the point of this film, to offer caution and guidance so we can be better, and it truly does accomplish its mission in getting its message across in an impactful manner. For Michal’s journey here is indeed harrowing and tragic and ugly and this film deserves a round of applause for tackling a new concern in our world and in the realm of mental health in a no-holds barred manner. One that really does hammer home, the importance of finally dealing with this long-standing problem in our world. So, we can finally move forward and make stories such as these… nothing more than fictionalized accounts of distant memories.

Night time challenges can be some of the scariest challenges you can ever take part in, but some people thrive on doing them. With the lights off and saying something that is supposed to summon the spirit of somebody in a mirror, don’t these people know what they are getting themselves into? While I am not one that believes that bringing a spirit back from the dead is that easy, you will never find me saying Bloody Mary in front of a mirror in the middle of the night, mainly because I am sleeping, but I also have a fear of what could be trapped in the mirror itself. Knowing some of the histories of some mirrors and seeing ‘Boo!’ written on one that gave me the chills, you need to understand the history behind the mirror itself and if it could really be holding onto someone’s soul.

​With the lights off in the apartment, a woman stands before her bathroom mirror and whispers the phrase Bloody Mary three times. Seeing that nothing has happened, she pulls out her cell phone to record her doing it once again, since her friends will not believe that she did this midnight challenge.  Saying Blood Mary three more times and showing that there is nothing happening, she is shocked when a loud knocking echoes through her home and she needs to find the source of it.

Hearing the knocking getting louder at the door, the woman is concerned at who may be standing outside of it. Taking her time at even trying to reach for the handle, the woman knows that it could be anyone, but with the fear of possibly bringing Bloody Mary into her home, she is very hesitant. Opening the door to darkness and waiting for her candle to reveal her husband standing in the hallway, the woman is relieved and goes back to mocking the challenge for her friends. But while chatting with her camera, she gets a call from her husband that will change her ideas on the Bloody Mary Challenge forever.

Not a bad way to show the Bloody Mary Challenge panning out. I really liked the woman proving to herself and her friends that she is not afraid of the challenge, especially after doing it once and having nothing happen. The sheer fear that she shows once a violent knocking starts at the front door is just fun and while the scene might have been a little bit longer than needed, it did indeed serve its purpose of making the viewer wonder who was waiting for her to open up. While you might not find me participating in the Bloody Mary Challenge anytime soon, there might be some folks out there that need to take note that there might not be Bloody Mary waiting for you, but something more sinister hiding out in your mirrors. Stay Scared.

Watch ‘Bloody Mary’ here.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Two of ‘Goosebumps’ (2023). To revisit the Series Premiere, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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When we last settled in to discuss the creepy new Disney+ and Hulu series, Goosebumps, we talked at length about how this newest iteration of this classic franchise… was offering up a supremely unique structure for the show. For gone was the pure anthology format original fans of the show enjoyed back in the 1990s, replaced instead with a singular setting and characters that would continue week to week, and they would grapple with an underlying story that would connect everyone together. And this time around, artifacts and monsters-of-the-week… would become part of each respective episode, giving this story some anthology elements to explore while evil gathered steam behind the scenes and well, it’s important to revisit this new normal for the show… because it is not going to abandon it in the slightest, as evidenced by the next episode in this saga.
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For ‘The Haunted Mask’ featured all of those elements, in a refined manner no less, and that made for quite the entertaining and engaging tale. One that saw the underlying story gain some serious steam here. Since Mister Bratt finally came to after being infected by Harold Biddle’s evil and angry spirit, only to learn that he was no longer in control of himself. For Harold was taking over and he was beginning to poke about the town and greet those who apparently hurt him back in the day, and well… Biddle’s attempts to dig up the past through old acquaintances and everything that happened to poor Isaiah, prompted Nora Parker to push for everyone to band together and be vigilant against a resurgent evil. Which was met with skepticism, but what Isabella witnessed while they met, might change that.

All of which, really did speak to how this show is building toward something big by season’s end and it also showcased how strong that evil is since Biddle is indeed everywhere and scheming behind the mask of Mister Bratt. But while it was amazing to enjoy this new format and this new story, there was mention of the fact that the show clearly intends to integrate anthology elements into the overall story, and Isabella’s journey helped to hammer that wonderful reality home. For we came to learn in this story that she was the troll that was picking on Allison. Not because she was cruel, but because… she was a nobody. For no one paid her mind or paid her respect and that prompted her to resort to drastic acts to feel recognition and feel something, really.

But of course, the evil that emanated from the Biddle House, saw an opportunity to help her have what she wanted, while benefitting its needs of course, by giving her a powerful mask that offered her confidence and strength to stand up for herself and say what needed to be said or do what needed to be done. Which made her drunk with joy and the rush of being in charge and seen for a change, and the mask fed upon that and pushed her to dark limits to enjoy its spiritual meal. All by having her harm others violently and by having her nearly harm her family to get what it needed. But thankfully, her little brother kept her grounded and kept her away from that mask. Giving Isabella a reprieve and a better understanding of what she actually needs in this life, to find the meaning and recognition she so desires.

All of which added some intelligence and depth to this tale. For Isabella’s journey really did speak to the toxic things we resort to when we are desperate to be seen, and how self-worth is the only way out of that mess and how we cannot let our anger over how others perceive or don’t perceive us, control us. Since it can lead to all kinds of destructive behavior in this life, and it was wonderful to see this show offer up some top-grade commentary on the human condition, all while growing the Biddle threat in a wonderfully organic manner and it also offered a shoutout to the original series along the way. Since the Haunted Mask was featured in the original show, giving rise to a little love for what came before and well, all of these elements, were so wonderful that we are left eager for more. To see what Biddle’s plan is, and to see what other shout outs await us as this wonderful revival of a true horror classic continues to unleash all kinds of evil upon Port Lawrence. Until next time.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Season Two Premiere of ‘Shining Vale’. To revisit the Season One Finale, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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For the most part, horror stories on the small and silver screen, come to a quick or abrupt end once the monster/evil has been defeated, and understandably so. After all, the audience has just endured one incredible emotional roller coaster ride. One that left their hearts racing and well… seeing the darkness be vanquished really was the pay off, so there’s no need to see how the main characters handle winning the day after going through hell… so… fade to black. Which is a formula for horror that has worked well for as long as the visual iteration of the medium has been around, and few have ever fussed about it. For it is satisfying and if by chance there needs to be any kind of follow up, it can wait for the sequel. Wherein we can briefly catch up with the characters that survived the last chapter, shortly before they die.
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Because that too… is a thing that often happens in horror stories, so a next generation of heroes can take on the monster and take us on another rollercoaster ride. But as the years have progressed, there are some creatives that are starting to wonder… what if by chance… horror stories took the time to ponder upon the aftermath of such nightmares? Because it might actually be worthwhile and fascinating, and potentially fun, to see how people who had brushes with evil and things that go bump in the night, get along after dealing with that. For the possibilities are endless there since they could… handle it fine or suffer from trauma to overcome or perhaps struggle if they must face the evil again, if the story injects a sequel-esque twist. Which has indeed brought forth a bevy of new stories that ponder upon such matters, and that is providing us with some fascinating new stories, and it just so happens that the season two premiere of Shining Vale on STARZ, took the time to explore this as well.

For ‘Chapter Nine: Homecoming’ picked up a mere four months after Patricia ‘Pat’ Phelps was locked up in a mental health facility for well, attempting to murder her husband and bring harm to her family and well… that set the stage for a perfect exploration of what life might look like for people that had that kind of brush with evil. The kind that only Rosemary’s angry spirit could provide and as it turned out… this story postulated the possibility that life would be terribly, terribly sorrowful, and rough for everyone involved in such chaos. Terry for instance, spent some time in physical rehab following that dark day. Because that hit to his head and the damage to his body was a lot for him to bear and he needed time to heal, physically and mentally, and the kids… well they too struggled mightily to move forward with such darkness in their lives. Because someone had to step up and take care of the family and Gaynor took on that role at great cost. Since it forced her to drop out of school and join the workforce and take care of her baby brother, Jake. Who was doing his best to find stability.

Which brought forth some fascinating follow-up to such an event, one that posed the reality that perhaps the many heroes out there who have faced evil in the horror universe fell upon hard times and dark days as they tried to recover, and while that alone would have carried this episode from beginning to end… there was still more that this story wanted to ponder upon regarding its central theme. For it also wanted to know… what would happen to a character in a horror story that served as vessel for evil if they were freed from the madness and went back to their regular lives. Which was handled through Pat here. Since she ran out of insurance money and in true American Health Care fashion, was sent packing accordingly. Which brought her home and while she was eager to put the pieces of her life back together, by reconnecting with her family and making amends… that was going to be no easy task for her. Primarily because… life back at Casa de Phelps was a mess in every sense of the word.

After all, Gaynor could only do so much from a cleaning perspective and she of course… had some deep emotional scars from her mother that she was not willing to address. Not to mention Terry was still fighting tooth and nail to reclaim his memory after that slam to his head and that made reconciliation tough. And of course, Jake was sticking to a pattern to find stability in this life. Which forced Pat into isolation. Where she had to reflect upon her journey and everything that happened and that put her in a dark place mentally, to the point where her mother and her agent had to step in and offer support and point out… that it is easy to tear down what we cherish in life, but putting it back together takes a great deal of time. Which in turn, pushed Pat to do her best to begin to mend fences, and there was progress there. The kind that sadly, might be threatened by something quite evil. For despite receiving incredible treatment, an old friend by the name of Rosemary happened to be hanging about. Giving rise to the wonderful question that season one leaned in upon often. As to whether or not Pat is actually suffering from mental illness… or if an unholy ghost is indeed haunting her rustic home.

But while we wait to see if that is the case or not, we can revel in the majesty of one intelligent season premiere. Because this was that rare horror story that dug deep into the potential emotional and physical damage that would come forth with a battle against the supernatural or the darkness of humanity. Since people would indeed see their lives change and they would be forced to heal in dynamic and unique ways. Not to mention, this story deserves a massive round of applause for exploring Pat’s journey here as well. Because horror stories usually kill off characters like Pat or leave them in a devastated mental state to move onto a new hero. So, to have Pat heal, and face the consequences of the evil that was in control, be it real or be it through a break, made for a powerful story, that offered some refreshing perspective on such matters. But that is what this series does, it shakes things up, keeps things fresh and it is just wonderful to have it back on the air so we can continue to be surprised by a quality horror tale that goes places other scary stories simply will not. Until next time.

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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There was a time, where introducing children and teenagers to elements of horror through television, was nothing short of taboo. For such elements were considered to be dangerous to children and so many believed that such concepts should not be introduced into their lives until their age was appropriate enough for them to understand the fictional nature of such stories. But as the years rolled on, it became apparent that introducing young minds to horror in the proper manner, i.e., not trauma bombing them with gore and hardcore scares… could in fact be beneficial to a young mind. To help them comprehend fear and perhaps process it in a healthy manner with a little supervision and discussion with their parents.

Which of course brought forth stories that blended kids’ themed storytelling and scary stuff together, and the seamless nature of those stories and their outright success, paved the way for a new generation of spooky centric storytelling aimed at kids to come to life, and it just so happens that a special show in that vein is heading our way. For 10/27/23 will see the debut of Curses! on Apple TV+. A spooky animated adventure series that will offer up a grandiose and engaging plot, that is grounded in somewhat heavier horror elements than we usually see for this type of show, as evidenced by today’s gift from Apple TV+. For earlier, they released the trailer for this show to prepare families everywhere for quite the spooky treat, and to give you an idea of how far this type of hybrid story has come and how epic, and flawless, this series is going to be… here is that trailer and a synopsis for all of you to enjoy, as we countdown the days to what should be, a true Halloween delight.

‘Apple TV+ today released the trailer for the new animated, spooky adventure series for kids from DreamWorks Animation, “CURSES!,” premiering just in time for Halloween on Friday, October 27.
 
When a generations-long family curse turns Alex Vanderhouven to stone, it’s up to his two kids, Pandora and Russ, along with his wife Sky, to return artifacts stolen by their ancestors to their rightful homes and finally lift the curse for good.
 
The family-oriented series is created and executive produced by Jim Cooper (“DreamWorks Dragons”) and Jeff Dixon (“The Hurricane Heist”). John Krasinski (“A Quiet Place” Parts I & II) also serves as executive producer and Allyson Seeger (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”) as co-executive producer. Leo Riley (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Tron: Uprising”) is supervising producer, with Chris Copeland (“Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts”) and Justin Copeland (“Wonder Woman: Bloodlines”) serving as creative consultants. 
 
The series features the voice talents of Emmy Award nominee Gabrielle Nevaeh (“Monster High”) as “Pandora,” Andre Robinson (“The Loud House”) as “Russ,” Emmy Award nominee Lyric Lewis (“Waffles + Mochi”) as “Sky,” SAG award winner Reid Scott (“Veep”) as “Alex,” Rhys Darby (“Our Flag Means Death”) as “Stanley,” James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) as “Larry,” Emmy Award winner Rhea Perlman (“Barbie”) as “Margie,” Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad (“A Raisin in the Sun”) as “Georgia Snitker,” and Robert Englund (“A Nightmare on Elm Street”) as “Cornelius.” 
 
Apple TV+’s all-age offerings now streaming globally on Apple TV+, include the BAFTA Award and Humanitas Prize-winning “El Deafo,” BAFTA Award-winning “Lovely Little Farm,” “Duck & Goose,” “Get Rolling with Otis,” Spin Master Entertainment’s “Sago Mini Friends,” GLAAD Media Award nominated “Pinecone & Pony,” “Frog and Toad,” The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-winning “Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock,” “Harriet the Spy” and “Slumberkins,” Sesame Workshop’s “Helpsters,” Joseph Gordon-Levitt, HITRECORD and Bento Box Entertainment’s “Wolfboy and the Everything Factory,” Jack McBrayer and Angela C. Santomero’s Emmy Award-nominated “Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show,” Peanuts and WildBrain’s Emmy Award nominated “Snoopy in Space,” “The Snoopy Show,” and Scholastic’s “Eva the Owlet,” and Peabody and Emmy Award-winning series “Stillwater.” Live-action offerings include Bonnie Hunt’s DGA and WGA Award nominated “Amber Brown,” DGA Award winner "Best Foot Forward," “Surfside Girls,” WGA Award winner “Life By Ella,” Sesame Workshop’s Emmy Award-winning “Ghostwriter” and Scholastic’s “Puppy Place.” 
 
Also included is “Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth,” the Emmy Award-winning television event based on the New York Times best-selling book and TIME Best Book of the Year by Oliver Jeffers and specials from Peanuts and WildBrain including Emmy Award nominee “It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown,” “Lucy’s School,” Humanitas and Emmy Award nominee “To Mom (and Dad), With Love,” “One-of-a-Kind Marcie,” Emmy Award-winning “Who Are You, Charlie Brown?” and “For Auld Lang Syne.”  
 
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have earned 376 wins and 1,570 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and historic Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
 
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $6.99 per month. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free. For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.
 
*New and qualified returning subscribers only. $6.99/month after free trial. Only one offer per Apple ID and only one offer per family if you’re part of a Family Sharing group, regardless of the number of devices you or your family purchases. This offer is not available if you or your Family have previously accepted an Apple TV+ three months free or one year free offer. Offer good for 3 months after eligible device activation. Plan automatically renews until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.’