Slices Of Horror

Welcome to my blog, here you will find reviews and discussions of relevant horror films such as “Antlers”, “The Black Phone”, “M3GAN”, and much more. I hope to share my passion for the genre and allow my readers to discover hidden gems and rediscover their favorite horror movies. In other words, I want to share some “Slices of Horror” with you. Thank you.

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Talk To The Hand: Talk To Me Review

Pictured above is the Talk To Me poster.

Image credit: A24

So, this will be my 2nd A24 movie review and I am still processing this movie so if this review isn’t great, I’m sorry. Now, when I first heard about this movie which was a month ago, I honestly thought “oh great…another possession movie.”, but no this is not your typical possession movie and I’m going to tell you right now dear reader… I think this might be one of the best years to be a horror fan. Anyways, enough talking and cut to the chase and “Talk” about this movie in this spoiler-free review…I’m sorry about the pun.

Talk To Me is a 2023 supernatural horror film directed by Danny and Michael Philippou (RackaRacka) and this is their feature film directorial debut. Talk To Me is produced by Samantha Jennings and Kristina Ceyton. This movie is written by Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman. The cast includes Sophie Wilde as Mia, Alexandra Jensen as Jade, Joe Bird as Riley, Otis Dhanji as Daniel, Miranda Otto as Sue, Zoe Terakes as Hayley, Chris Alosio as Joss, Marcus Johnson as Max, Alexandria Steffensen as Rhea, Ari McCarthy as Cole, and Sunny Johnson as Duckett.

The Plot:

When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill, until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.

Positives:

One positive I have about this movie was how the cast worked so well with each other, each cast member nailed their roles…especially Sophie Wilde, her performance makes the viewer feel what she goes through, and she was unsettling in the possession scene which was shown in the second trailer. I appreciated how each character didn’t feel like just another body count as they served their purpose.

Pictured above is Mia in of the many possession scenes in the movie.

Image credit: A24

The second positive I have about this movie was that it didn’t depend on jump scares or violence (except for one scene) to make you feel uncomfortable, rather it was the story itself that made the viewer feel uncomfortable. This movie was made to make you feel something whether that’s discomfort, fear, or whatever emotion you get from watching this movie.

Pictured above is the character of Riley played by Joe Bird in a very unfortunate situation.

Image credit: A24

The third positive is that I’m glad we don’t get a clear explanation as to where the hand comes from, we get hints throughout the movie from the characters, but I liked how they don’t fill the movie with exposition on where the hand came from. This movie is straight to the point which is another positive I have about this movie. It isn’t slow like Insidious: The Red Door or too fast, it is a crisp 1 hour 35 minutes which is a great run time for a movie like this.

Pictured above is the hand that each of the characters used to communicate with the dead.

Image credit: A24

Negatives:

Sooooo, when it came to the negatives, I couldn’t think of one. Now I’m not calling the movie perfect by any means, but when I rewatch this movie I’m sure I will find some flaws but right now, I think this might be one of the better supernatural horror films we had in awhile (Conjuring 2 being my favorite one).

My overall thoughts:

I think this movie is worth your time if you want a supernatural horror movie that has plenty of twists and turns throughout to keep you invested, likeable characters throughout, and has plenty of suspenseful moments. I can picture myself owning this on physical media and rewatching it to find things I might’ve missed in my first viewing.

What did you think about Talk To Me if you have seen it?

Feel free to comment your thoughts and please keep the comments respectful.

Thank you!

Where to watch Talk To Me?

Talk To Me can currently be watched in movie theaters.

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New York, New Rules: Scream VI Review

Pictured above is the “Scream VI” poster.

Image credit: Paramount Pictures and SPYGLASS Media Group

One year ago, Scream (2022) slashed its way into theaters, and it received critical acclaim while being a box office hit making $138.9 million at the box office. It was a beautiful tribute to series creator Wes Craven and as I said in my Scream (2022) review, I almost teared up. So, lets just cut to the chase and go straight into my spoiler free thoughts on this latest entry into the “Scream” franchise.

Scream VI is a 2023 slasher horror film directed by the Radio Silence team consisting of Matt-Bettinelli Olpin and Tyler Gillet. Scream VI is produced by Kevin Williamson, Courteney Cox, and Gary Barber. The cast involves Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, Melissa Barrera as Sam Carpenter, Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter, Jasmin Savoy Brown as Mindy Meeks-Martin, Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin, Skeet Ulrich as Billy Loomis, and Roger Jackson as “The Voice”.

The Plot:

Four survivors of the Ghostface murders leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. However, they soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when a new killer embarks on a bloody rampage.

Positives:

One positive I have about Scream VI was how sadistic Ghostface was, this version of Ghostface wanted to take out the characters by any means necessary. The thought of not knowing who the killer in a massive city such as New York is terrifying. The chase scenes were thrilling, the kills were brutal, and the dialogue Ghostface gets gave me chills.

Pictured above is Ghostface with a shotgun in the already iconic bodega scene.

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures and SPYGLASS Media Group

The second positive I have was how well the characters were done, each character was likeable, and they built up the suspense factor because you had no idea who lives or dies. I also appreciated how they subverted your expectations in this movie. I’m glad that the killer reveal wasn’t as obvious as other movies.

Pictured above is Sam and Tara Carpenter hiding from Ghostface.

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures and SPYGLASS Media Group

The final positive I have about this movie was the performances of each cast member. Each character’s dialogue felt organic and natural. The characters were as I said likeable, and I felt so sad after a certain character died. The characters left a mark in their own way in my opinion.

Pictured above is the Ghostface mask.

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures and SPYGLASS Media Group

Negatives:

The only negative I can think of is that some scenes went by a little quick and I couldn’t process what was happening. Other than that, I think this might be one of the better horror movies to come out earlier this year (Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed them, but not as much as this). Well, I guess this is just a knit pick, I felt like some of the main characters were invincible regardless if they were stabbed multiple times.

My overall thoughts:

After watching Scream VI, I would like to see more of this world and hopefully we get a Scream VII after Hollywood sorts out whatever is going on. This movie delivered on its scares, thrills, and chills the “Scream” franchise is known for.

Where to watch Scream VI?

Paramount+

Digital retailers

Blu-Ray and DVD

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Into The Further: Insidious: The Red Door Review

Pictured above is the Insidious: The Red Door poster.

Image Credit: Sony Pictures and BlumHouse

So, I was unsure whether to post this review this quickly, but after some decision making, I decided to write this review. This was also my first time seeing an Insidious movie in theaters but that won’t affect my review as I want to be unbiased and straight to the point, with that being said, let’s get straight to this spoiler free review of “Insidious: The Red Door”.

Insidious: The Red Door is a 2023 supernatural horror film directed by Patrick Wilson (who also stars in this movie, and this was his directorial debut), This movie was produced by James Wan and Jason Blum, the movies screenplay was written by Leigh Whannell and Scott Teems, the cast involves Patrick Wilson as Josh Lambert, Rose Byrne as Renai Lambert, Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert, Sinclair Daniel as Chris Winslow, Hiam Ambbass as Professor Armagan, Andrew Astor as Foster Lambert, Juliana Davies as Kali Lambert, Steve Coulter as Carl, Peter Dager as Nick the Dick, Justin Sturgis as Alec Anderson, Joseph Bishara as the Lipstick-Face Demon, Leigh Whannell as Specs, Angus Sampson as Tucker, and Lin Shaye as Elsie Rainier.

The Plot:

Josh Lambert heads east to drop his son, Dalton, off at school. However, Dalton’s college dream soon becomes a living nightmare when the repressed demons of his past suddenly return to haunt them both.

Positives:

One positive I have about this movie was the tone of the movie as it had a tone of finality for *THIS* chapter of the Insidious franchise. I enjoyed how dark this movie got for a PG-13 horror movie as it didn’t hold back on the scares…with that being said that also is a drawback which we will get to later. The demons were terrifying, I audibly said “Nope.” when one of them appeared.

Pictured above are 2 of the many demons the Lambert family faced in this movie.

Image Credit: Sony Pictures and BlumHouse

The second positive I have about this movie were the performances especially Patrick Wilson and Ty Simpkins as father and son duo Josh Lambert and Dalton Lambert as they struggle to confront the demons of their past and present and it makes you root for them. Each cast member did a decent to great job in their roles. The demon performances were unsettling in a way that will make you feel a sense of disgust and discomfort. The third positive I have was the use of The Further and how terrifying it can get.

Pictured above is Patrick Wilson as Josh Lambert

Image Credit: Sony Pictures and BlumHouse

Pictured above is Ty Simpkins as Dalton Lambert with a familiar foe in the background.

Image Credit: Sony pictures and BlumHouse.

Negatives:

One negative I have was the overreliance on jumpscares, I felt like if you want to terrify your audience, throw in a couple jumpscares, not 5-7, I loved the background scares this movie had and the payoffs to said background scares. But the jumpscares seemed a bit excessive. Maybe, I’m being a bit harsh on the jumpscare element of the movie.

The second negative I have was the pacing as some parts of the movie seemed to drag in the beginning, however that is just a knit pick. But overtime the movie picks up which is fantastic.

My overall thoughts:

While I didn’t love this movie, I enjoyed it, however, don’t let these negatives and positives affect your viewing experience of Insidious: The Red Door as I recommend checking it out whenever you get the chance to do so. Check it out in theaters, streaming, and physical media (when it comes out). At least it made $32.6 million at the box office in its opening weekend which is fantastic for horror. Okay, I know it seemed like I was ripping into this movie, but I mean it when I say go check it out whenever you get the chance.

Where to watch Insidious: The Red Door?

Insidious: The Red Door can currently be watched in theaters.

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Thank you so much for everyone’s support! I know this is different from what I usually post, but from the bottom of my horror loving heart, thank you. I can’t wait to show everyone what’s next.

[justthegreat1]

Enjoy Your Last Shift: “MALUM” Review

Pictured above is the Malum (2023) Poster

Image Credit: Welcome Villain

“From the kingdom of our father, the truth will be free. Through the mountain I’ll be guided until I do see. I am safe in the arms of my master, my king. On the last day I will follow my soul will bring.”

These are the words that set the tone for the movie we will be discussing today which is “Malum”, “Malum” is a remake, rather a reimagining of Anthony DiBlasi’s 2015 cult classic “Last Shift”. When I first heard this movie was going to be made I had low expectations considering it is a remake, but after hearing it would be directed by Anthony DiBlasi, I was excited as I believe “Last Shift” is criminally underrated. So, Lets get straight to the spoiler-free review.

“Malum” is a 2023 supernatural horror film directed by Anthony DiBlasi who co-wrote the movie with Scott Poiley, produced by Dan Clifton, and the soundtrack is made by “Outlast” composer Samuel Laflamme. The cast includes Jessica Sula, Candice Coke, and Chaney Morrow.

The Plot:

A rookie officer willingly takes the last shift at a newly decommissioned police station in an attempt to uncover the mysterious connection between her father’s death and a vicious cult.

Pictured above is Jessica Sula as “Jessica Loren”.

Image Credit: Welcome Villain

Positives

One positive I have about “Malum” is how it combines a sense of familiarity while doing something different with the lore that was already established in “Last Shift.” This movie is not afraid to get gruesome and dark. I appreciated how we got some back story on the John Michael Malum and Jessica Loren’s father.

The second positive I have about “Malum” is the special effects, much like “Terrifer 2” they used practical effects, during some scenes I was in awe with how amazing they looked. Even the actors who play the cult members are unrecognizable and unsettling in their makeup.

Pictured above is one of the cult members that turned into what I call “Demon-like” creatures.

Image Credit: Welcome Villain

The final positive I have was the atmosphere as there was a sense of dread throughout, like you can see certain things in the background (PAY ATTENTION) and that creeped me the hell out. From the catchy cult song, the calls the cult members were making, and the sound design, you can feel the fear Jessica Sula’s character felt. I like to describe the movie as a descent into hell.

Pictured above is the “Target Scene.”

Image Credit: Welcome Villain

Negatives

One negative I have about this movie is that we don’t exactly have a backstory on the demon the flock worships. I absolutely loved the design of the creature, but I just wish we learned where it came from and what is its intention. Another negative I have about this movie is we don’t exactly know what made Jessica Loren’s father snap.

My Overall Thoughts

I believe this movie has the potential to be another cult classic from director Anthony DiBlasi with its amazing acting, creepy atmosphere, and haunting soundtrack. I hope we get a prequel or sequel expanding on the lore of the demon and the cult. Also, I’m glad that this movie was released to critical acclaim with an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes. This movie is not for the faint of heart due to some extremely graphic scenes but if you can get past that…this movie is an intense thrill ride.

Where to watch Malum?

“Malum” (2023) can be currently watched on digital retailers with a streaming and Blu-Ray release date to be announced.

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Get In Line: Cocaine Bear Review

Pictured above is the “Cocaine Bear” poster.

Image Credit: Universal Pictures

So, usually I cover movies that are straight horror, but I decided to do something different and discuss this movie. This movie has an insane premise with an interesting story that inspired the movie. Usually, horror comedies are hit and miss for me, but I decided to give it a watch. Let’s get straight to the spoiler free review and hope no cocaine addicted bears are around.

Cocaine Bear is a 2023 horror comedy thriller directed by Elizabeth Banks who also produced this movie, Produced by Max Handelman, Aditya Sood, Brian Duffield, Phil Lord, and Chris Miller. Cocaine Bear is written by Jimmy Warden, and the soundtrack is done by Mark Mothersbaugh. The cast involves Keri Russell as Sari, Alden Ehrenreich as Eddie, O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Daveed, Ray Liotta as Syd, Isiah Whitlock Jr. as Bob, Brooklynn Prince as Dee Dee, Christian Convery as Henry, Margo Martindale as Ranger Liz, Jesse Tyler Ferguson as Peter, Kristofer Hivju as Olaf, Hannah Hoekstra as Elsa, Ayoola Smart as Officer Reba, Aaron Holliday as Kid (Stache), J.B. Moore as Vest, Leo Hanna as Ponytail, Kahyun Kim as Beth, Scott Seiss as Tom, Matthew Rhys as Andrew Thornton, and Allan Henry as “Bear Performer”.

The Plot:

An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.

Positives:

One positive I have about “Cocaine Bear” is that it knows what it is, and what I mean by that is that it’s a movie about a bear on cocaine, that alone sounds crazy, but they have fun with that premise. The real black bear died on December 23rd,1985 after eating a large amount of cocaine from the containers, the total amount of cocaine that was eaten was 75 pounds which was worth $20 million ($55.6 million, adjusted for inflation).

Pictured above is the ambulance scene from “Cocaine Bear” (2023)

Image Credit: Universal Pictures

The second positive I have about this movie was the dark humor throughout, the reason I loved the dark humor throughout as some of the death scenes are so unexpected and over the top that you can’t just help but laugh. The dialogue was creative and some characters’ reactions to certain situations had me laughing.

The final positive I have about this movie was the cast as they understood the assignment, the acting reminds me of an 80’s b-horror movie. Keri Russell nailed her performance as Sari, and I must give props to the child actors (Brooklynn Prince and Christian Convery.) But this does have some drawbacks which we’ll get to.

Pictured above is the door scene from “Cocaine Bear.”

Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Negatives:

One negative I have is the lack of character development. I know it’s not supposed to be taken seriously, but I would’ve enjoyed seeing how each character’s story progresses since they are all intertwined. Another negative I have is that I felt that the movie wasn’t scary enough, I know the real bear died via overdose, but can you imagine how terrifying would it be to have a 500-pound black bear high on cocaine chasing you. I honestly wish they could have played up on the fear factor.

My Overall thoughts:

While this movie has some negatives, don’t let them affect your viewing experience as it’s one of the movies where you turn your mind off and eat some popcorn. If you enjoy campy, gory, and darkly comedic horror movies, this one is for you. But I’m glad that studios are letting directors make the movies they want even if they are based on…as I said before insane backstories. This movie is amazing in its own way with its over the top violence, comedic timing, and action throughout which only increases its re-watchability.

Pictured above is Cokey the bear getting high on cocaine. “Cocaine Bear” (2023)

Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Where to watch “Cocaine Bear” (2023)?

Peacock

Blu-Ray and DVD

Digital Retailers.

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The Dead shall Rise: “Evil Dead Rise” Review

Pictured above is the “Evil Dead Rise” poster.

Image Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema

42 years ago, Sam Raimi would create a little movie that would spark an iconic franchise and 32 years later that franchise would be rebooted by the movie called “Evil Dead” (2013) which was directed by Fede Alvarez, this movie would receive critical acclaim. Now, 10 years later…this franchise would be brought back from the dead (pun intended) with “Evil Dead Rise” (2023) which is directed by Lee Cronin. It currently holds an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes which is shocking considering the content that is inside the movie, now I know the Evil Dead franchise is known for its bloody content but for me I think this might be the bloodiest one yet, this might be even bloodier than the 2013 remake. Alright, let’s bring out our chainsaws, Boomsticks, and Necronomicon’s and go straight to the spoiler-free review.

Evil Dead Rise is a 2023 supernatural horror film directed by Lee Cronin (who also wrote the movie), Produced by Rob Tapert, Sam Raimi, and Bruce Campbell (who starred in the original Evil Dead movies and “Ash vs Evil Dead”). The cast involves Lily Sullivan as Beth, Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie, Morgan Davies as Danny, Gabrielle Echols as Bridget, Nell Fisher as Kassie, Richard Crouchley as Caleb, Mirabai Pease as Teresa, Anna-Maree Thomas as Jessica, Jayden Daniels as Gabriel, Billy Reynolds-McCarthy as Jake, Tai Wano as Scott, and Mark Mitchinson as Mr. Fonda.

The Plot:

A reunion between two estranged sisters gets cut short by the rise of flesh-possessing demons, thrusting them into a primal battle for survival as they face the most nightmarish version of family imaginable.

Positives:

One positive I have about the movie is the tone, I liked how they combine the campy elements of the original movies with the darker elements of the remake (which I prefer…please don’t cancel me). I appreciated how they balanced the dark humor of the original movie while adding the dark and intense moments of the remake to make it not so silly. I loved how unsettling Alyssa Sutherland was in the role of Ellie, especially during the bathtub scene.

Pictured above is Alyssa Sutherland as Ellie

Image Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema

The second positive I have about this movie was the cast, I really enjoyed the performances of Lily Sullivan and Nell Fisher as Beth and Kassie as their portrayals make you root for them and hope they make it out alive. I also enjoyed the characters in general as they were likeable and made smart decisions.

The third positive I have about this movie is that it was not afraid to embrace its R-Rating, there was tons of blood spilt in this movie with amazing practical effects as Evil Dead is known for that. I’m not going to look at cheese graters the same way again after a certain scene in the movie.

Pictured above is Lily Sullivan as Beth

Image Credit: Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema

Negatives:

The only negative I have is that I wish the movie was just a little bit longer as the ending felt rushed in my opinion, but don’t let that one negative discourage you from checking out “Evil Dead Rise” wherever you can.

My Overall Thoughts:

After watching “Evil Dead Rise”, I can’t wait to see what’s next in the franchise. I really enjoyed the exploration of the theme of motherhood and how it tied into the movie. This movie was disturbing, violent, and as Ash Williams would say…``Groovy.”

Where to watch “Evil Dead Rise”?

“Evil Dead Rise” can be watched in Theaters and through digital retailers now, Blu-Ray and DVD on June 27th.

What did you think about “Evil Dead Rise”?

Feel free to comment on this post and please keep the comments respectful.

Thank you.

[justthegreat1]

Friendship Evolves: M3GAN Review

Pictured above is the “M3GAN” poster.

Image credit: Universal Pictures, BlumHouse Studios, Atomic Monster Productions

This review is going to be a little different because I usually review the theatrical version of the movies I cover, but for todays review I’m going to be reviewing the Unrated version of M3GAN as that was the version that was going to go to theaters before it got toned down to a PG-13 rating. I’m so excited that they released this version of M3GAN so soon after making $171.2 million in the global box office. So, lets get straight to the spoiler-free review.

M3GAN is a 2023 science fiction horror film directed by Gerard Johnstone, Written by Akela Cooper (Malignant (2021)), Produced by James Wan (who also directed Malignant (2021),and Jason Blum. The soundtrack is done by Anthony Willis. The cast involves Allison Williams as Gemma, Violet McGraw as Cady, Ronny Chieng as David, Amie Donald as M3GAN, Jenna Davis as the voice of M3GAN, Brian Jordan Alvarez as Cole, Jen Van Epps as Tess, Stephane Garneau-Monten as Kurt, Lori Dungey as Celia, Amy Usherwood as Lydia, Jack Cassidy as Brandon, Michael Saccente as Greg, Samson Chan-Boon as Officer Carter, Kira Josephson as Ava, Renee Lyons as Holly, and Arlo Green as Ryan.

The Plot:

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a lifelike doll that’s programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by Gemma, a brilliant roboticist, M3GAN can listen, watch and learn as it plays the role of friend and teacher, playmate, and protector. When Gemma becomes the unexpected caretaker of her 8-year-old niece, she decides to give the girl an M3GAN prototype, a decision that leads to unimaginable consequences.

Positives:

One positive I have about the movie was the cast and the use of the character of M3GAN. An example of the use of M3GAN was the descent from a protective friend to an obsessive, psychotic, and cold-blooded killer…. who dances which had me laughing. I really liked the relationship of Cady and Gemma as they bond over time and how the bond they built pays off in the third act of the movie.

Pictured above is the M3GAN dance scene (which is already a meme)

Image Credit: Universal Pictures, BlumHouse Studios, and Atomic Monster Productions

The second positive I have about the movie is how they nailed the tone; it is campy but at the same time it is scary as hell considering the technology we have now. It also discusses the dangers of technology while not being too preachy.

 The third and final positive I have about the movie is the kills as it is bloody in the unrated version while kills in the PG-13 version happened offscreen and bloodless. The kills are pretty creative whether its with a power washer or a paper cutter, the movie (Unrated version) doesn’t hold back on the blood. While it’s not as bloody as “Terrifer 2” or the “Saw” franchise, some of the scenes are horrific.

    Negatives:

The first negative I have about this movie is that I wish we spent a little bit more time with evil M3GAN. Evil M3GAN shows up at the halfway point of the movie, but that’s alright as it pays off. The second negative I have is some of the acting was questionable at some points, however it’s okay as it matches the campiness of the movie.

My overall thoughts:

After watching the unrated version of M3GAN, I believe releasing the unrated version a month after the PG-13 was released was a smart move considering the success of the PG-13 version. In saying that however, I believe this is the version that should have been released in theaters. If you are into killer doll movies or movies that deals with the dangers of artificial intelligence, then this is the movie for you. I found the movie to be really entertaining, darkly funny, and has rewatch value. I can’t wait until 2025 to see M3GAN 2.0

Where to watch M3GAN?

M3GAN can be watched on Peacock, Digital retailers, Blu-Ray, and DVD coming out March 21st, 2023.

What did you think about M3GAN?

Feel free to comment on this post and please keep the comments respectful.

Thank You

[justthegreat1]

Blood, Sex, and the American Dream: X review

Pictured above is the “X” poster. Image credit: A24

I’m aware that this movie came out on March 18, 2022 which makes me a little late to do this review, but it’s better to be late than never covering this movie. The reason I haven’t covered this movie yet is because I didn’t have a Tumblr account or the “X” DVD yet. So, let’s just cut to the chase and start this review. I’m going to give you my spoiler free thoughts on this movie.

X is a 2022 slasher horror film directed by Ti West who also produced and edited this movie (The House of The Devil and The Sacrament). X is produced by Jared Connon, Scott Mescudi, Dennis Cummings, Jacob Jaffke, Harrison Kreiss, Ashley Levinson, Sam Levinson, Karina Manashil, Peter Phok, and Kevin Turen. The soundtrack is done by Tyler Bates and Chelsea Wolfe. The cast involves Mia Goth as Maxine “Max” Minx/Pearl, Jenna Ortega as Lorraine, Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi) as Jackson, Martin Henderson as Wayne, Owen Campbell as RJ, Brittany Snow as Bobby-Lynne, Stephen Ure as Howard, James Gaylyn as Sheriff Gentler, Simon Prast as Televangelist, Geoff Dolan as Deputy, Matthew J. Saville as Officer Mitchell, and Bryony Skillington as Store Clerk.

The plot:

A group of actors set out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts---an elderly couple with a farm and boarding house for rent. But when the couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives in this tantalizing slasher from writer-director Ti West.

Positives:

One positive I have about this movie is the cast, each cast member played their parts perfectly…especially Mia Goth and Jenna Ortega. I think that every horror fan must have seen the Jenna Ortega scream scene in the trailer, and it gave me chills when I was watching that scene. That might have been one of the best screams I have ever heard…in my opinion. The characters were extremely likeable, and you feel bad when something awful happens to them…the movie also makes you sympathize with the villains in this movie…especially the character of Pearl.

Pictured above is Jenna Ortega in X (2022)

Image Credit: A24

The second positive I have about this movie was the special effects as it seems like every kill has been done practically which has been missing in modern horror films…okay not all modern horror films. The special effects in this movie are amazing and the makeup and special effects department deserve more credit. The elderly makeup on Mia Goth makes her look unrecognizable.

The third positive I have about X was the atmosphere as I feel like they nailed the 70’s aesthetic with the clothing choice, the cinematography, and the music. It felt like a 70’s-late 80’s slasher which is one of my favorite eras in horror history.

Pictured above is Mia Goth as Pearl in this stunning red lighting.

Negatives:

The only negative I have about X is that the motives of Pearl and Howard aren’t clear, we get hints throughout, but it doesn’t pay off. However, don’t let that negative affect your viewing of X as this movie is rewatchable.

My overall thoughts:

After watching this movie, I can say that this is an excellent throwback to late 70’s-early 80’s slashers. This is a fun movie, and it gives you likeable characters to keep you invested. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Where to watch X?

X (2022) can be watched on digital retailers, Showtime, Blu-Ray, and DVD.

[justthegreat1]

Merry Axe-Mas: Christmas Bloody Christmas Review

Pictured above is the “Christmas Bloody Christmas” poster. Image Credit: Shudder and RLJE Films

So, I have seen my fair share of Christmas Horror movies, such as “Krampus,” “Better Watch Out,” “Santa’s Slay,” “Christmas Evil,” “Silent Night Deadly Night”, etc....etc. But I have never seen a movie that sounds as insane as the content on screen. This movie combines elements from 1984’s “Silent Night Deadly Night” with the Terminator franchise and I am here for it. So, let’s get straight to the point and I am going to give you my spoiler free thoughts on this movie.

Christmas Bloody Christmas is a 2022 horror film directed by Joe Begos (VFW and Bliss) who also produced this movie. Christmas Bloody Christmas is produced by Brian E. Dutton, Josh Ethier, Emily Gotto, Mark Ward, and Sam Zimmerman. The cast involves Riley Dandy as Tori Tooms, Sam Delich as Robbie Reynolds, Dora Madison as Lahna, Jonah Ray as Jay, Jeff Daniel Phillips as Sheriff Monroe, Abraham Benrubi as Santa, Jeremy Gardner as Officer Smith, Graham Skipper as Mike, and Kansas Bowling as Liddy.

The Plot:

It’s Christmas Eve and Tori just wants to get drunk and party, but when a local toy store’s robotic Santa Claus goes haywire and begins a rampant killing spree through her small town, she’s forced into a battle for survival.

Positives:

One of the many positives I have about Christmas Bloody Christmas is that it embraces what it is. What I mean by that is that it is one BLOODY Christmas movie…The trailers did not lie (I appreciate that). I enjoyed the fact that they used practical effects instead of using CGI. So, this makes me sound like a sick person, but I loved the fact that the violence was over the top as it added to the cheesiness of the movie, and I do enjoy a cheesy movie now and then.

The second positive I have about Christmas Bloody Christmas was that we did not have to wait for the action to start. It makes the one hour and 27-minute run time feel like a breeze, but it does have its drawbacks (we will get to that later). I liked the fact that as soon as the action starts…it does not hold back, and for that reason the movie does not bore you…in my opinion.

The third positive I have about Christmas Bloody Christmas was the soundtrack, I know I do not give composers enough credit in my reviews, but there were moments in the movie where I found myself bopping my head whenever the music starts. Also, the music gave the movie an 80’s-late 90’s feel which is one of my favorite eras in horror.

Negatives:

One negative I have about the movie was that it does not explain why RoboSanta + (Or as I like to call him the Santerminator) went on the murderous rampage. I mean, not all horror movies need an explanation as to why the villains do the things they do. But I would like to see what made RoboSanta + malfunction. Hopefully, the movie gets a sequel, and we get to learn more about RoboSanta +’s functions and why it malfunctioned.

The second negative I have about Christmas Bloody Christmas was the pacing and I know I said the movie would not bore you, but there were some scenes that were unnecessary, and it takes away the viewer out of the tension/suspense the movie is trying to build.

My Overall Thoughts:

After watching this movie, I can say that if you are in the mood for a campy, gory, and fun Christmas movie then this movie is for you. Will this be a classic? Probably not. Cult classic? Maybe. But don’t let the negatives outweigh the positives. This movie is an adrenaline filled bloodbath with an amazing soundtrack by Steve Moore.

What did you think about Christmas Bloody Christmas?

Feel free to leave a comment

Thank you

Where to watch Christmas Bloody Christmas?

Christmas Bloody Christmas can currently be watched on digital retailers, Shudder, and Theaters near you. The Blu-Ray and DVD release dates will be announced soon.

Sources of information:

Christmas Bloody Christmas: Shudder

Christmas Bloody Christmas: IMDB

Christmas Bloody Christmas Trailer  

[justthegreat1]

A work of Art: Terrifier 2 Review

Pictured above is the “Terrifier 2 poster”. Image credit: CINEDIGM, iconic events releasing, SCREAMBOX, and BloodyDisgusting

  9 years ago, A soon-to-be horror icon was born, and his name is Art the Clown who was previously played by Mike Gianelli in the film “All Hallows Eve”. Art the Clown is a character I have been wanting to talk about on this blog for a while and I’m so happy to be getting an opportunity to talk about this character who is currently played by David Howard Thornton.  This review is going to be in two sections, my spoiler free thoughts on the movie and my spoiler filled thoughts on it. So, here we go.

Terrifier 2 is a 2022 horror film directed by Damien Leone (All Hallows Eve, All Hallows Eve 2, and Terrifer) who also produced this movie. The cast includes David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown, Lauren LaVera as Sienna Shaw, Elliott Fulham as Jonathan Shaw, Sarah Voigt as Barbara Shaw, Amelie McLain as The Little Pale Girl / Emily Crane, Chris Jericho as Burke, Kailey Hyman as Brooke, Casey Hartnett as Allie, Charlie McElveen as Jeff, Johnnath Davis as Ricky, Amy Russ as Allie’s mother, Cory DuVal as Coroner, Samantha Scaffidi as Victoria “Vicky” Heyes, Griffin Santopietro as Eric, Owen Myre as Sean, Felissa Rose as Ms. Principe, Tamara Glynn as Shopping mother, and Nedim Jahić as Travis Bryant.

The plot:

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County where he begins to target a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween.

Spoiler free section:

Positives- One of the many positives I have about Terrifer 2 is the use of practical effects. I must give props to the makeup department as they did an amazing job with the blood and gore in this movie (That probably makes me sound like a sick person) as there is one scene where I wanted to look away but couldn’t. Don’t worry, we will discuss that scene in the spoiler section of this review. For a movie with a low budget, the practical effects look amazing compared to CGI in other movies…but that is just my opinion.

The second positive I have about Terrifer 2 is that the acting was better than part 1, now don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the first one, hell I own it. But the acting in this movie was a step up. David Howard Thornton is a scene stealer every time he is on screen as Art the Clown. He can make you feel afraid and some scenes he will make you laugh (or cry if you are afraid of clowns…) Lauren LaVera is great in the role of Sienna, her performance makes you root for the character and she makes smart decisions in a world where horror characters rarely do that (unless you’re name isn’t Laurie Strode from “Halloween” or Erin from “You’re Next”).

Pictured above is David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown

The third and final positive I have about Terrifer 2 is that it is entertaining. It is a throwback to super gory horror movies of the 80’s-90’s with it’s use of practical effects and David Howard Thornton’s performance as Art the Clown…you will not be bored. I’m glad that a movie with a budget of $250,000 earned $11.3 million at the box office and is getting plenty of attention from the internet, news channels, and daytime talk shows which is shocking considering the content that is in this movie.

Stay for the post credit scene.

Negatives:

I surprisingly have two negatives for this movie and that is we don’t learn about Art’s backstory and his motivations. We get hints throughout the movie…but it doesn’t pay off. Another negative I have is the lack of character development. With a runtime of 2 hours and 18 minutes, you would expect some character development. But, don’t let these negatives affect your experience of viewing Terrifier 2 as it has rewatch value.

Spoilers

You are now entering the spoiler section of this review if you didn’t see Terrifier 2…avoid this section of this review. If you have seen Terrifer 2 or don’t want to see it, feel free to read this section.

Thank you

So, Earlier I talked briefly about a certain scene in the movie where I wanted to look but couldn’t and that is the bedroom scene. In this scene Art the Clown brutally mutilates Allie to the point of beyond recognition and he pours salt and bleach on her body (ouch). Art the Clown breaks her arms like how I break chicken wings to get the meat (I’m sorry that I put that image in your head dear reader.) There were a lot of crunching noises in that scene. There was a second scene I wanted to look away from the screen and that was the post credit scene and, in this scene, Victoria writes “Vicky + Art” with her blood (I’m not even going to say where the blood comes from). After this she gives birth to Art’s head and my reaction to this was “What the hell?!”.

My overall thoughts:

After watching this movie, I have to say that this movie delivers on the bloody ultraviolence Art the Clown is known for, while giving us likeable characters and great acting from the cast. Also, this might be the scariest movie I have seen all year (so far).

What did you think about Terrifier 2?

Feel free to leave a comment.

Where to watch Terrifer 2?

Terrifer 2 can currently be watched on ScreamBox, Digital Retailers, and the Blu-Ray and DVD coming on December 27th,2022.

Sources of Information:

Terrifer 2-IMDB

ScreamBox: Terrifer 2

 The Numbers.com: Terrifer 2

[justthegreat1]

Answer The Call: The Black Phone Review

I know I’m a little bit late for this review as “The Black Phone” came out on June 24th,2022. But this movie is something I have been wanting to talk about for a while and I didn’t get a chance to do that until now. I’m going to give you my spoiler free thoughts about this movie.

The Black Phone is a 2022 horror film directed by Scott Derrickson (Sinister and Doctor Strange) who also produced this movie, The Black Phone is produced by Jason Blum and C. Robert Cargill. The executive producers are Joe Hill, who is Stephen King’s son (and the movie has that Stephen King elements), Ryan Turek, and Christopher H. Warner. The cast involves Ethan Hawke (Sinister) as The Grabber, Mason Thames as Finney, Miguel Cazarez Mora as Robin Arellano, Madeline McGraw as Gwendolyn “Gwen” Blake, Jeremy Davies as Terrence Blake, James Ransone (Sinister, Sinister 2, and IT chapter two), Tristan Pravong as Bruce Yamada, Jacob Moran as Billy Showalter, Banks Repeta as Griffin Stagg, Brady Hepner as Vance Hopper, Rebecca Clarke as Donna, Gaven Wilde as Moose, Spencer Fitzgerald as Buzz, Jordan Isaiah White as Matty, and Brady Ryan as Matt.

The Plot:

After being abducted by a child killer and locked in a soundproof basement, a 13-year-old boy starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the killer’s previous victims.

Positives:

One of the many positives I have about this movie is the cast, and I know I said this in my “Scream (2022)” review, but the cast worked so well together. I really enjoyed Ethan Hawke’s performance as The Grabber as it sent chills down my spine when I saw him wearing that mask and the dialogue he had in the movie. I loved the performance of Mason Thames and Madeline McGraw as brother Finney and sister Gwendolyn Blake as they felt like actual siblings trying to protect each other and their performances make the audience hope that they get reunited.

Pictured above is Ethan Hawke as The Grabber

Image credit: Universal Pictures and BlumHouse Studios

The second positive I have is how faithful the movie was to the short story which can be read over here, The Black Phone short story by Joe Hill. I really loved the fact that Scott Derrickson includes elements from the story while telling his own story. Now it may seem cliché to some, but I believe that adaptations of stories can be faithful to the source material while telling their own story has the potential to be good or at least decent…but that’s just my opinion.

The third positive I have is that the victims felt like actual people and not meaningless characters that killed off with no consequences. These victims matter and it pays off in the finale. As the movie progresses, we get to learn some backstory on some of the victims and that makes the movie so disturbing.

Negatives:

One negative I have about the movie is that we do not learn about The Grabber played by Ethan Hawke’s backstory. With the movie having a budget of $16 million and earning over $150 million, Here’s hoping that we get a prequel exploring The Grabber’s backstory and his motivations.

My overall thoughts

After watching this movie, I can say that this movie has the potential to be a classic for future generations. This movie is one of my favorite horror movies of 2022 as it delivered on the scares, the chills, and the thrills. The characters were amazing, I enjoyed the soundtrack, and it had many edge of your seat moments.

What did you think about The Black Phone?

Feel free to leave a comment

The Black Phone trailer:

The Black Phone Trailer (2022)

Where to watch The Black Phone?

Blu-Ray, DVD, Digital Retailers, and Peacock

Sources of Information:

IMDB-The Black Phone

The Black Phone short story by Joe Hill

CNBC: Blumhouse’s ‘The Black Phone’ shows that horror, and original storytelling have a place at the box office.

 Pictured above is “The Black Phone” poster. Image credit: Universal Pictures and BlumHouse Studios

[justthegreat1]

For Wes: “Scream” (2022) review

Pictured above is the “Scream” 2022 Blu-Ray which is out now. Justin Jackson 4/15/2022

I originally intended for this topic to be a bonus blog and I was going to talk about horror history and analyze some films, but I wanted to talk about something fun and the movie we are going to talk about is fun. Today we are going to discuss the latest entry into the “Scream” franchise “Scream” (2022) directed by Radio Silence (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet.)

This film is a Requel and yes...I know I wrote a blog about “Originals vs Remakes vs Requels” which mentioned this film. However, this film isn’t your typical Requel as it is the fifth “Scream” movie. I am going to give you my non-spoiler thoughts on this film, The positives and negatives. So, let’s start with the positives of this film.

Positives

One of the positives I have about this movie is the cast, every member of the cast played each other’s roles perfectly from Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter, the younger sister of Melissa Barrera’s character Sam Carpenter, Jack Quaid as Richie Kirsch to the legacy characters played by David Arquette as Dewey Riley, Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers, and Neve Campbell returning as Sidney Prescott. I felt really invested in each character and you can feel the emotions these characters have.  

Another positive thing I have to say is how self-aware it is. Yes, I know some people don’t appreciate horror being self-aware as it would take away from the scares, but that isn’t the case. The film knows when it is time to get serious and to give the audience something to laugh about.  

Pictured above is “Ghostface” in Scream (2022)

Image credits: Paramount Pictures, SPYGLASS media group, and Total Film

The final positive thing I have to say about this film is the character of “Ghostface”. I wasn’t as terrified of “Ghostface” until I saw this movie. From the opening sequence to the end of the movie, I was on the edge of my seat. Rodger L. Jackson as the voice of “Ghostface” gave me chills due to the dialogue he gets, and you can feel the fear each cast member has when they get a phone call from him.  

Negatives

Let's talk about a few negatives I had while watching this movie. One negative I had was the lack of screen time the legacy characters had. They only appeared in a couple of scenes and while I understand why they gave the legacy characters the amount of screen time as they did, I would have loved to see what they were up to 11 years after the events of the previous installment. Another negative which really isn’t a negative as it just a knit pick is the run time, I would have enjoyed seeing more character development with a longer runtime.  

My Overall thoughts

Pictured above is Wes Craven  

Image credit: Imdb and Getty Images

I enjoyed this film because it felt like a “Scream” movie, and it was a beautiful tribute to the series creator Wes Craven who sadly passed away in 2015 due to a brain tumor. I felt the passion the cast and crew had for this movie. When the credits rolled, I had a smile on my face and almost teared up because I now know that Wes Craven would be proud to know his child is safe.  

Scream (2022) trailer: Scream | Official Trailer (2022 Movie)

Credit: Paramount Pictures and Spyglass media group

Where can you watch Scream (2022)?

You can watch Scream (2022) on Paramount +, Digital Retailers, and Blu-Ray and DVD.

[justthegreat1]

Is Hollywood running out of ideas? Originals vs Remakes vs Requels

Now we have entered a heated topic of discussion in the horror genre, what is that heated topic in the horror genre, well judging from the title, it's about originals vs Remakes vs a new trend in Hollywood,Requels and is Hollywood running out of ideas? I’m going to explain how each category fits in the horror genre and discuss whether Hollywood is out of ideas, I’m most likely going to get hated for this, so here we go.  

Originals

So, what is an original horror film? An original horror film is where a film uses a unique concept and uses it to its advantages. There has been a debate whether Hollywood is out of original ideas, even though we live in an era of remakes, reboots, and sequels, The answer might be yes. But I’m going to explain why I believe Hollywood still has *some* original ideas when it comes to the horror genre.  

We still get original horror every year, but it often gets overlooked due to new franchise installments such as the new “Halloween” films, the new “Scream” film, and the new “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” film that came out on Netflix recently. Some original horror that has been overlooked last year in 2021 are “Malignant”, “Censor”, “Antlers”, and many more.   Now you may be asking “Justin, I thought you were going to talk about original horror films like “The Exorcist” (1973), “IT” (1990 and 2017/”IT: Chapter Two”)., “Jaws” (1975), etc.?” Well, dear reader, those aren’t original horror films, they are adaptations of books. When I’m discussing horror films with concepts we haven’t seen before, such as “Hereditary” (2018), “The Evil Dead” (1981), “Halloween” (1978”, and “Scream” (1996), and so much more. (I know “Scream” (1996) and “Halloween (1978) are slasher films but they both put their own twist on the genre.) 

Pictured above is the “Scream” (1996) poster

Image credit: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1074316-scream

Pictured above is the poster for 1978’s “Halloween”

Image credit: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/

Remakes  

Now we have entered controversial horror movie territory, we are going to discuss remakes in this genre, and I know people don’t necessarily like remakes of classic horror movies, but some horror remakes are good if done correctly.  

What are remakes and why are they part of the horror genre? Remakes are new versions of a classic movie, and they played a significant role in the horror genre from the early 2000’s to early 2010’s. Some of the remakes that were made in this era are “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (2003), “Friday the 13th (2009)”, and “A Nightmare on Elm Street” (2010). Some of these movies received a mixed to positive reception but made plenty of money at the box office.  

Requels

Now we have entered the era of horror films we are in currently, The Requel era. This era of horror films received traction when “Halloween” (2018) came out and it made 255.6 million dollars in the domestic box office. https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1342342657/ After this movie was released, this trend has become a mainstay in horror films.  

So, what is a Requel and how does it fit in the horror genre? A Requel or remake sequel is when a film studio decides to make a sequel to the original horror film ignoring the earlier sequels which creates a new timeline of events. Confused? Yeah, me too. But the reason these fit in the horror genre is because these horror films can be a better sequel than the earlier ones. Let's take “Halloween” (2018) for example, it received a 79% rating while the other “Halloween” sequels received low ratings.  

Halloween (2018) trailer: Halloween - Official Trailer (HD)

Pictured above is the “Halloween” (2018) poster

Image credit: Universal pictures and BlumHouse studios.

Verdict

While it may seem like Hollywood is running out of ideas in the horror genre, there still are *some* original concepts, we just have to look for them, as difficult as that might be.  

Sources of information:

https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/10/2/17915924/horror-movie-remakes-2000s-psycho-texas-chainsaw-massacre-halloween

https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl1342342657/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077651/

[justthegreat1]

Dissecting the themes of “Antlers” (2021)

Pictured above is the cover for the “Antlers” (2021) Blu-Ray release. Justin Jackson 4/14/2022

“Mother Earth has been pillaged, stripped of her life's blood. A violation that has awakened the Malevolent Spirit. Seeking the lost, the frail, and the depraved.... Pray it desires not you.”The words that set the tone for the film we are going to discuss today which is “Antlers”.  

Antlers is a 2021 horror film directed by Scott Cooper and produced by Guillermo del Toro which stars Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Scott Haze, and Jeremy T. Thomas. The plot follows a teacher and her brother who want to help a young boy, who harbors a dangerous secret which has deadly consequences. There are several themes in this film and I’m going to do a deep dive into this film so expect spoilers.

The Wendigo

Pictured above is Frank Weaver played by Scott Haze before he turns into Wendigo played by Scott Haze  

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

Pictured above is Frank Weaver who is in the middle of transforming into the Wendigo

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

Pictured above is Frank after his complete transformation into the Wendigo

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

The movie covers the Algonquian Native American legend of the wendigo (Windigo), which devours human flesh to survive a harsh winter. One version of this legend discusses how the first-ever Wendigo was a long-lost hunter. During an extremely brutal winter, the man’s hunger grew to the point where he resorted to cannibalism. When he committed the act, the man transformed into something inhuman, a man-beast roaming the forest looking for more people to eat to sustain its hunger.  

Another version of the story tells how the first ever Wendigo (Windigo) was a warrior who made a deal with the Devil. The reason he did this was to save his tribe; he gave up his soul. Eventually peace came and there was no need for this beast and his tribe kicked him out and he was forced to live in the forest as an outcast.

https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/legend-wendigo-44773

The Wendigo can be used as a representation of greed, selfishness, and excess. However, The Wendigo is a representation of greed, selfishness, excess, and environmental devastation, which was brought by human greed.  

Plagues of Poverty

Frank Weaver

Three of the characters in this movie suffer from poverty and the names are Frank Weaver, an alcoholic and methamphetamine cook. Frank Weaver gets possessed by a Wendigo when he and his partner go into an abandoned mine where their lab is, His partner does not survive the encounter.  

Pictured above is Lucas Weaver played by Jeremy T. Thomas  

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

Lucas Weaver

The second character is Lucas Weaver played by Jeremy T. Thomas, One of Frank Weaver’s sons. He is 12 years old, and he often spends his time wandering around the small Oregon town, killing small animals, and collecting roadkill for his possessed father and brother, he often gets bullied for being the quiet kid in school. He begins to open when his teacher, Julia Meadows invites him for ice cream. We’ll get back to her in a bit.

Pictured above is Aiden Weaver in possession of the Wendigo played by Sawyer Jones  

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

Aiden Weaver

The third character is Frank Weaver’s youngest son, Aiden Weaver played by Sawyer Jones. Aiden is a 7-year-old boy who was with his father inside the truck when his father and his partner got attacked by the Wendigo. His possession takes a bit longer than his father's because his father consumed human flesh while Aiden didn’t commit any cannibalism. Aiden barely gets to eat any of the food Lucas brings him and his father because his father pushes him away and eats the food in an animalistic manner. The possession is complete when “Frank” in his Wendigo form is killed, and the spirit of the Wendigo is looking for a new host and Aiden is the nearest person. Unfortunately, Aiden gets killed which can be described as a mercy killing by Julia Meadows.  

Addiction

Addiction plays a significant role in this film as two characters in this movie suffer from addiction. One of the characters is Lucas’ teacher Julia Meadows played by Keri Russell, a recovering alcoholic, she suffers from guilt after her father’s suicide. She turned to alcoholism to deal with her father’s suicide and her implied sexual abuse at the hands of him. She has a supportive brother who is a sheriff of the small Oregon town they live in; his name is Paul Meadows. One of her major character moments occurs when she is at a store staring at a bottle of liquor and turns away.  

Pictured above is Paul Meadows (Jesse Plemons), Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas), and Julia Meadows (Keri Russell)

Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

Another important moment in this film is when she suspects Lucas is being abused by Frank Weaver, so she invites him to get ice cream with her and Lucas begins to open only for a little bit. Julia Meadows wants to help Lucas Weaver because of her own experiences of abuse by her own alcoholic father.  

Even though we talked about Frank Weaver several times in this movie, one of his character traits is being an alcoholic. He has a bad reputation in the town and not only is he an alcoholic, but also a meth addict. On the day of the attack, His plan was to get inside his meth lab with his partner and cook some and get out, He does survive, but is not the same as we discussed earlier.  

To cope with the pain, Frank Weaver is shown to be drinking some alcohol. But His addiction transforms into something else, consuming human flesh. After killing the principal of the school Lucas attends and eating her, he craves more flesh to the point he isn’t satisfied with the roadkill Lucas supplies. His addiction for flesh ultimately leads to his demise when Julia Meadows kills the transformed Frank.  

Antlers (2021) trailer: ANTLERS | Final Trailer [HD] | Searchlight Pictures

Sources for information: https://www.tbsnews.net/splash/legend-wendigo-44773

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7740510/?ref_=tt_ch

https://www.vudu.com/content/movies/details/Antlers/1408561

[justthegreat1]

The Legacy Of Horror

Before I start discussing the legacy of the horror genre, I would like to use a quote from English actor Mark Gatiss, “The cinema was made for horror films. No other kind of film offers that same mysterious anticipation as you head into a darkened auditorium. No other makes such powerful use of sound and image. The cinema is where we come to share a collective dream and horror films are the most dream-like of all. Perhaps because they engage with our nightmares.”

The horror genre had its start in 1765 when Horace Walpole published “Castle of Otranto”, and this is said to be the first piece of horror fiction in literary form. In 1818, Mary Shelley published “Frankenstein” which follows a doctor who creates a monster which leads to his own destruction.  

https://filmschoolrejects.com/why-horror-matters/

https://www.britannica.com/art/horror-story

There has been a point in cinema history that many people called “The Golden Age of Horror”.  “The Golden Age of Horror” occurred between 1931-1946 mostly due to Boris Karloff’s portrayal of Frankenstein’s monster in Universal Pictures 1931 adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein” and Bela Lugos portrayal of Dracula in the 1931 film adaptation of Bram Stokers novel of the same name.  

Pictured above is the movie poster for “Dracula” (1931) 

Image credit: Universal Pictures

Pictured above is the movie poster for “Frankenstein” (1931)

Image credit: Universal Pictures

https://www.classichorror.club/golden-age#:~:text=When%20you%20look%20at%20the,of%20literary%20and%20mythological%20monsters.

On September 8th,1960, a film that’s considered to be the first slasher film was released to the public and the film is called “Psycho” directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The cast includes Anthony Perkins as “Norman Bates”, Janet Leigh as “Marion Crane”, Vera Miles as “Lila Crane”, Virginia Gregg as “Norma Louise Bates”, and John Galvin as “Sam Loomis”. The plot revolves around “A Phoenix secretary embezzles $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run, and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.

Image credit: https://www.originalfilmart.com/products/psycho

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/?ref_=tt_pg 

When people discuss the legacy of horror, I believe it is important to talk about “The Exorcist” which came out on December 26th,1973. Now this film was controversial during the time it was released. Here are some of the reasons as to why this film was controversial were the subject matter which follows a young girl named “Regan” who was possessed by a demon which was played by Linda Blair. The premise alone upset religious institutions.  

Another reason this film was controversial was because of the reactions audiences had when they saw the movie which included fainting, vomiting, and having heart attacks in theaters. Despite these controversies the film received ten nominations at the 1974 academy awards, even being the first horror film to be nominated for best picture.

Image credit:https://moviesanywhere.com/movie/the-exorcist

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070047/?ref_=tt_mv_close

https://www.cbr.com/why-exorcist-film-and-trailer-banned

The horror genre is more than just movies and novels, this genre is an art form. This genre has expanded into the music genre with artists like Ice Nine Kills who made an album titled “The Silver Scream” and “Welcome to Horrorwood: The Silver Scream 2” which has songs about classic and modern horror films such as “Halloween”, “Scream”, “A Nightmare on Elm St.”, “The Fly”, “Child’s Play”, and many more that I can’t name on the top of my head.  

Image credit: https://open.spotify.com/album/7JHuopZAKDulAbpg61Yjzm https://open.spotify.com/album/4PyOq7kavqglGk3cexcygx 

On the topic of horror being more than just movies, novels, and even more than music, this genre can bring people together by creating horror themed events. Some of these events include “Spookala”, “Spooky Empire”, and “Universal Halloween Horror Nights.” These events give horror fans an opportunity to interact with their favorite actors in the horror genre and it gives them a sense of community.

[justthegreat1]

What does horror mean to me?

Out of all the possible blog topics I could have chosen, why horror films? The reason is simple: I am extremely passionate about horror, and it means so much to me. What started off as just an ordinary movie night with the family eventually turned into a way for me to cope with my anxiety and this coping mechanism turned into a passion.  

So, how did this passion start? It was 2013 and I just completed my homework assignments and to top it off, it was a Friday which meant it was movie night. This movie night was a special one for me because it was the night, I got introduced to the horror genre. The movie we saw was the original “Child’s Play” (1988) movie and ever since that night, Horror has been my favorite of all the genres.  

There are multiple reasons as to why I am extremely passionate about the horror genre and here are some of them. I am going to discuss the reasons in the following paragraphs.  

The first reason is that the horror genre has given the world multiple iconic forms of media whether it is “Halloween” (1978), Stephen King's “IT” (1986 novel) (1990 and 2017 adaptations), “The Exorcist” (1973), and many more!  

Pictured above is me watching “IT” 2017. Justin Jackson 4/16/2022

The second reason as to why I am extremely passionate about this genre is that it gives me a chance to analyze and discuss the themes of a movie I just watched with my family. Sometimes, I would look for the smaller details that hint to a bigger story in the movie.  

The third and main reason as to why I am extremely passionate about the horror genre is that it helps me cope with my anxiety. Whenever I watch a horror movie or read a horror novel, it gives me a chance to escape from the world around me.

 Now, I know that sounds extremely cliché, but hear me out. Horror movies (for me personally) give the viewer a rush of adrenaline which makes the viewer feel either A. Scared, B. Excited, or C. Both.Now, I am not a professor of all things' horror, But I believe these feelings allow the audience a chance to get distracted from their problems whether it is work, school, or problems at home for an hour and a half or two hours, it gives them a way to release the stress they have.