It: Welcome to Derry Season 1

Creator(s) - Jason Fuchs (Wonder Woman, It: Chapter Two), Andy Muschietti (Mama, It), and  Barbara Muschietti (Mama, They Will Kill You)

Starring - Taylour Paige (The Toxic Avenger, Brothers), Jovan Adepo (Overlord, Watchmen), and Stephen Rider (Daredevil, Luke Cage)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Go back to where IT all began"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've read a lot of Stephen King's work over the years.  His novels and short stories, along with Goosebumps, was one of the reasons I fell in love with the horror genre.  He's a titan in the horror and literary worlds but I would be lying if I said I was an expert in his work.  Sure, I've read a lot of his work and watched many adaptations over the years but I can't verify how close these adaptations are to their source material.  What I can say is that a lot of his written work and their adaptations are a lot of fun.  Sometime back I was sent word that IT, specifically Andy Muschietti's two films starring Bill Skarsgard, was getting the television treatment.  I didn't follow it closely but I knew I would eventually be checking it out.  Fast forward to a few weeks back and I was lucky enough to get the blu release sent over for review.  I wasn't able to get to it right away but made time for it as soon as I could.

     The series takes place in the town of Derry in 1962 where a young boy went missing.  Several months later three more were brutally murdered in a theater where only one girl survives.  One of the theater's employees, a black single father, is arrested for the murder.  His daughter, the lone survivor, and two other students start looking further into the missing student and the blood soaked history that Derry shares where they uncover the truth about Pennywise.

      I know I paraphrased a lot with the show but it throws a lot at us without over doing it.  It did take some time to gain some traction with me and it wasn't until episode 3 or 4 that I actually started getting into it but once I did I was really hooked.  The acting in this is great for the most part.  Some of the characters are very unlikable and it's not because they were written that way.  The cast is really dedicated to their role and deliver some seriously impressive performances especially from the young cast.  As the series progresses we have some intense performances that shows why everyone was cast in their respective roles.  The story for this season serves as a prequel of sorts to It and It: Chapter Two.  We get a lot of insight into some of the previous feeding cycles of Pennywise along with why he took on the appearance of the clown.  We also get a lot of social commentary from the early 60s mixed in with the character development.  It's very well written and works well but my biggest issue with the show was how long it took to get going.  The first three or so episodes could have been condensed to give the viewer more to grab onto.  Finally, this series doesn't hold back with the visual effects.  I know practical effects can be pricy especially when you have a show with eight episodes   However, a good deal of the visual effects look like shit.  They are very noticeable which was good for a laugh the first few times but they do become eye rolling as the show moves on.  Overall, It: Welcome to Derry Season 1 was a great continuation of what the 2017 film and it's sequel established.  While I can't remember exactly how accurate those films are to the written work, I can safely say that I enjoy it very much.  I do hope we have a season 2 eventually but until then I highly recommend checking out season 1.  

     

The Prince of Terror

Director - Lamberto Bava (Demons, Macabre)

Starring - Tomas Arana (Gladiator, Blood Feud), Carole Andre (Yor: The Hunter from the Future, Flawless), and David Brandon (StageFright, Beyond Darkness)

Release Date - 1996

Genre - Horror

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Lamberto Bava is a name that many genre fans know and love but is one that I could argue is severely underrated.  Bis career started in the mid-70s but it was in the early 80s that he really made a name for himself in the horror genre with films like Macabre, A Blade in the Dark, Demons and Demons 2, You'll Die At Midnight, and Delirium.  There was a few stinkers scattered throughout, like Devil Fish, but the majority of them are must see title for genre fans but they are not as widely known as films like Friday the 13th, Night of the Living Dead, and so on.  Demons especially, is a movie that I think every horror fan needs to see at least once but I can easily argue that most of the other films I previously mentioned of his should be seen as well.  A few weeks back my friends over at Severin sent me the High Tension set.  The set contains four made for television movies from an Italian show titled High Tension.  These episodes never made it to air due to their graphic nature and was recently restored by Severin.  I couldn't wait to check these out and started with The Prince of Terror.  I want to thank Severin for sending this one over!

     The film follows a horror director who calls himself The Prince of Terror and lived in a secluded home with his wife and teenage daughter.  After hosting a dinner for a producer and his date, he finds strange things happening around his home from their family pet going missing, the toilet backing up, and light fixtures suddenly exploding.  Things take a sinister twist when they find their dog skinned and a maniac inside their home.  When the three fight back they learn that the maniac is actually an actor who has history with the director who has partnered with a writer recently fired by the director.  Both are disgruntled and plan on putting him through hell but are unaware just how far the Prince of Terror is willing to go to protect his wife and child.  

     It absolutely blows my fucking mind that Bava went into this to make a made for television movie and this was what he came up with.  I don't know the ins and outs of this one so I'm not going to pretend like I do but from what I have read is that these four films were never aired but did find some sort of release eventually finding its way to VHS or BETA.  While working on this review I was able to find several clips on YouTube from the film that was recorded from sort of tape.  Regardless if it was aired or not, this was one hell of a movie and I fucking loved it.  I wish I would have seen this one earlier, especially when I was first getting into Bava and his films.  The acting in this one is over the top especially for the time but that has always been a trademark of his.  We have some of the cast delivering serious performances almost like they are chasing awards while others are hamming it up in front of the camera.  This inconsistent acting would normally ruin a film but it's fun with Bava and most other Italian genre films.  The story for this one is a bit far fetched but it wasn't predictable and the "what the fuck" moments were plenty.  I don't think this one has a lot of replay value but the story is fantastic for a first time watch.  I suspect he had this story ready for a film and was up against a deadline for the television movie so he did some doctoring and submitted it.  Finally, the film has some pretty gruesome moments that I'm still daydreaming about.  The film doesn't have a big body count but two particular instances uses some phenomenal practical effects that were absolutely gorgeous.  It's not the most gruesome Lamberto Bava film but the few times we get gore, he makes it count.  Overall, The Prince of Terror is nowhere near my favorite film from Italian filmmaker Lamberto Bava but god damn did I love it.  It's a strange film for sure but fans of mid-90s horror and Italian gore will appreciate this one.  It's not your typical made for television movie which makes me question that entirely.  

The Last of Us Season 2

Creator(s) - Neil Druckmann (Uncharted) and Craig Mazin (Mythic Quest, Chernobyl)

Starring - Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget), Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones), and Isabela Merced (Superman, Transformers: The Last Knight)

Release Date - 2025

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "Every path has a price"

Format - UHD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I've decided to revisit one of my favorite sub-genres this year after spending sometime away from it after it's rise in popularity.  I've always been a fan of zombies but I took a major break over the last few years when The Walking Dead brought them into pop culture and hundreds of unimaginative clones started hitting store shelves.  I figured enough time has passed since it's premier in 2010 so I decided to dive back into the show and zombies in general.  I ventured through The entire Walking Dead series, it's spinoff series, webisodes, and shorts before moving on to some other movies like Romero's Dead series.  A few weeks back I received the second season of the acclaimed horror show The Last of Us which was adapted from an award winning game.  I really enjoyed the first season and couldn't wait to dive into this one.  

     This season picks up with Ellie (Ramsey) and Joel (Pascal) living in the Jackson community after arriving at the end of season 1.  Joel and Ellie's relationship has became strained but Joel refuses to turn his back on Ellie.  What neither of them know is that a group from Seattle have camped in a lodge near their community who plan on making Joel pay for what he had done in the hospital on their way to Jackson.  They are able to find them and kill Joel before leaving when an army of infected rip through their walls.  Ellie is able to get back to Jackson during the aftermath and once they are done refortifying their walls she sneaks out with Dina to find the group responsible for killing Joel.  

     I can't tell you if either season of the show is faithful to the game but I can tell you that this show is damn good even though it reminds me a lot of previous zombie films and series that came before it.  It's hard to make a zombie show stand out and if you can't then you need to make it be entertaining which it does.  The acting in this one is very well done.  The entire cast is great and several of these performances becoming iconic yet Bella Ramsey receives hate for her role.  She's crushes her role here but her character is hard to like.  I understand the importance of her character and how she connects to the story but there is several scenes where I had high hopes that she would meet her end.  That has to do with her acting ability and not her as a person.  The story for this one continues what was started in the first season but doesn't go as far as I had hoped.  We follow Joel and Ellie who start to fall apart while their lives adjust to having a safe place to live.  However, after Joel's death we follow the survivors as they disagree on their course of action.  While the infected are a serious danger, the real danger is the survivors they encounter which is similar to other zombie shows like The Walking Dead, Z Nation, and so many more.  It's not something new or groundbreaking but it works with the story around Ellie who can't be infected and the zombies that are infected with a fungus that takes over.  It's all works into something fun but doesn't really reinvent the wheel. Finally, the series has a lot make-up effects and even more visual effects.  The make-up effects used on the close up scenes look solid but most of the visuals used are noticeable and cheap looking.  I would have loved more practical effects, especially with the gore, but you can't win them all.  Overall, The Last of Us Season 2 is a worthy season to the original run of the show.  While I can't verify how close to the game the show is, it's very entertaining if you are looking for a horror centered show to check out.  

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season Two

Creator - Mike McMahan (Rick and Morty, Solar Opposites)

Starring - Tawny Newsome (The Twilight Zone, Space Force), Jack Quaid (Scream, The Boys), Noel Wells (Old Haunt, American Dad)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Sci-Fi/Comedy

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I believe it was last year when I was introduced to Star Trek: Lower Decks when I was sent season one for review. I’m a Star Trek fan and was interested but I was borderline obsessed when I saw that one of the writers of Rick and Morty, Mike McMahan, was involved. I’m a huge Rick and Morty fan so it was a no brainer that an animated Star Trek show featuring one of the writers would be comfort food for me. That first season was a lot of fun and after reviewing it I quickly rushed to the internet to ensure that a season two was approved. It was, along with a third, but I decided to hold off on binging them until they received a physical release. Sadly, I forgot to keep an eye on the series until season two showed up on my door step. I didn’t want to wait to check this out and as soon as I finished Creepshow Season Three I quickly tossed this one in. 

      The season once again follows the misadventures of the lower deck crew of the Cerritos. We follow them as they struggle with their own self-worth, career aspirations, friendship, and surviving the various missions they find themselves on. 

      I never watched the original Star Trek: The Animated Series all the way through. In fact, I gave up on it after a few episodes when I was younger. I really should revisit it at some time, but I can only imagine that it would do nothing for me especially after watching Star Trek: Lower Decks. The adult humor and characters only appearing in this series is what really attracted me to it. There is no sense of nostalgia or gimmicks to pull you in. Only the humor and adult centered atmosphere that you would typically not associate with Star Trek. I love this show and season two was just as good as the first season. The voice acting in this one is a lot of fun. We have fantastic performances from Tawny Newsome, Jack Quaid, Noel Wells, and Eugene Cordero among many more. The characters are a lot of fun and the voice acting is what makes these characters. The characters are well written, but they use generic and stereotypical sci-fi characters as a basis and then add their own spin on it. It’s not lazy but it is creative which gives the voice actors something to make their own. The stories for this season continue its story arch established in the first season but it does take the back seat in each episode as we take deeper dives in the Star Trek universe. We get a lot of references to other series and films without it becoming a clear cash grab for trekkies. The new missions are fun while keeping with the theme of the show and the humor almost always finds it’s mark. I was a little bummed by the lack of a continuous story, but the episodes were a lot of fun. Finally, I really enjoy the animation. The style is very similar to Rick and MortyWhich I think would help make it more appealing to the younger audiences especially if they are fans of the latter. Personally, the animation style is one of the reasons I was attracted to the show and one of the biggest turn offs I had from the original animated series. Overall, Lower Deck Season Two is another stellar hit. The characters, voice acting, and stories give viewers so much needed expansion to the Star Trek universe with that adult tone that the other shows and films lack. I highly recommend it.

Creepshow Season 3

Starring - Ethan Embry (That Thing You Do, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle), James Remar (Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, The Warriors), and Brandon Quinn (Big Wolf on Campus, The Nightmare Room)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     One of my favorite horror anthologies is George A. Romero’s Creepshow. It is an anthology that I hold in high regard and often compare other anthologies to it when I review them. When I heard that Shudder was turning it into a television series, I was beside myself. A new horror-based anthology series has not been done in a while and very few were able to do it successfully. The most popular anthology horror series that comes to mind is Tales from the Crypt but there have been others. I’ve watched and reviewed both seasons of Creepshow so far and loved them both equally. When I received the press release for season three, I knew I had to see it. I requested a copy and with the insanity the holidays and my family being sick I couldn’t review it on time. However, I was still able to work it in after the release date. 

      This season features double story episodes ranging from conspiracy theory survivalists that kill to keep their child but creates something sinister in the garden where he buries the body to a pedophile getting what he deserves when one of his young victims comes back to life in 1968.

      The Creepshow series is a lot of fun and season three is no exception. The show gives fans a lot of the same style of humor while paying tribute to EC Comics with their reap what you sow twists. Hell, the series more than makes up for the abysmal Creepshow III that should have never been greenlit. Some of the episodes are better than others but this was a fantastic season overall. The acting in this one is fantastic. We have genre regulars like The Devil’s Candy and The Walking Dead’s Ethan Embry and Dexter and Tales from the Darkside: The Movie’s James Remar just to name a few. The casting is phenomenal from top to bottom with some amazing performances from long time actors and up and comers. Everyone works so well together and the characters they portray work for the show. I was seriously impressed by the entire cast, old and young. The stories for this season are like the other two seasons. They are inconsistent, but the weakest link is still better than most movies I’ve reviewed over the years. My favorite of the season is the final episode which takes place during the early hours of the zombie outbreak in Night of the Living Dead. This particular story has a lot of different layers and the fact that it serves as another horror tale set during one of my favorite horror films makes it even better. I also enjoyed the one of the first episodes, if not the very first episode of the season, which follows a conspiracy theory proud boy that kills his wife to keep his son. The story was not what I was expecting at all and I very much enjoyed it. There was a few duds that was fun but nowhere near as enjoyable as most of the others. The episode following the horror nerd that collects props was extremely boring and so was the episode starring Big Wolf on Campus’ Brandon Quin about a billionaire buying a cursed painting. These episodes were decent enough but they were awkward and a bit cringy at times. This season is inconsistent but not bad. Finally, the film has a ton of great visual and practical effects. The visual effects are very noticeable but they compliment the practical effects. The kills are top notch and you damn well know that they wouldn’t skip on the red stuff. Overall, Creepshow Season 3 is another hit and I look forward to more seasons to come. Be sure to snag this on blu or check it out on Shudder!

Sweet Tooth

Creator(s) - Jim Mickle (Stakeland, Mullberry St.) and Beth Schwartz (Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow)

Starring - Christian Convery (Venom, Aliens Stole My Body), Nonso Anozie (Doctor Who, Conan the Barbarian), and Aliza Vellani (The Twilight Zone, The X-Files)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Adventure/Drama

Tagline - "The end of our world is the beginning of his"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Sometime last year Netflix released season one of the post-apocalyptic drama Sweet Tooth. I knew absolutely nothing about the show but I was intrigued when I saw artwork featuring the little boy with antlers. With that being said, I never found the time to check it out. I knew I would eventually because I do enjoy post-apocalyptic films and shows and this one looked just weird enough to hook me. I had no idea it was a DC property until I received the press release for the series blu release. This sold me on it so I quickly reached out to them for a review copy. I never received a reply but a short time later the review copy arrived. I had to work this curious little series into my watch pile and I figured it made the most sense after watching Battle of the Super Sons. 

      The film follows a young boy named Gus who happens to be a deer hybrid. Ten years ago, when he was a new born, the world collapsed in what is being called The Great Crumble when a viral pandemic wiped out most of the population. That same day all children born were hybrids of some sort. Many believed the pandemic was caused by the hybrids and hunt them. When Gus’ dad dies trying to protect him from hunters, he decides to leave the safety of his cozy cabin to venture to Colorado in search of his mother. Along the way he befriends a former hybrid hunter and a young girl with trust issues.  With hopes of finding his mom he learns more about his conception and to trust those who have their faith in him. 

      Sweet Tooth is a bit of a gritty drama in regards to looks but it’s a fairly upbeat series with a lot to enjoy. The characters are all well written and beautifully portrayed while the story is slightly predictable but still very enjoyable. It is a bit of a satire series especially in a post-Covid world. You either catch the satire or it’s over your head and you are part of the problem. The acting in this is one is great. Honestly, I loved the characters in this show and the cat fucking kills it. There is no weak links in the casting and the characters, the villain included, is a joy to watch. I seriously can’t wait to see them all return in season two. I loved the story for this one. I know this was a comic series but I’m unsure as to when it was originally released. However, I like to think that the pandemic and how people acted helped shape the television adaptation of the comic. The people hunting hybrids and blaming them for the outbreak is very similar to how many blamed China for the Covid outbreak. It’s a seriously grounded story with racism, false pro-life narrative, and a surprisingly enjoyable post-apocalyptic setting that works. The pacing is spot on and each episode brilliantly builds up on the previous episode. Finally, the film has a little blood but the focus of this one is the make-up effects and the surprisingly enjoyable visual effects. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the hybrids looked and can’t wait to see more in future episodes. Overall, Sweet Tooth should not be ignored. I slept on it and I wish I hadn’t. It was so much fun and I seriously can’t wait to see where we go next season.

Stranger Things 4

Creator(s) - Matt Duffer (Wayward Pines, We All Fall Down) and Ross Duffer (Hidden, The Milkman)

Starring - Millie Bobby Brown (Enola Holmes, Godzilla vs Kong), Finn Wolfhard (It, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), and Noah Schnapp (Hubie Halloween, The Legend of Hallowaiian)

Release Date - 2022

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Every ending has a beginning"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     Stranger Things is a roller coaster of a ride but not in a way many would expect.  When most movie and television fans refer to something as a roller coaster ride they are referring to how exciting and thrilling it is.  However, I like to call a film or show a roller coaster when it's inconsistent.  It has a lot of ups and downs.  Stranger Things is a roller coaster ride for sure.  Season 1 is amazing and the highlight of the series while season two and three were mediocre seasons at best.  I wasn't going to watch season four when it aired but I had invested way too much time into this show just to skip the latest installment.  This fourth season is just as good as the first season which is another high point in the show.  

     The film picks up almost a year after season three.  Eleven has moved to California with Will and his family.  While everyone is moving on with their lives, the group soon finds themselves at the center of another string of murders that may have ties to Eleven.

     Season 4 has so many memorable moments that have already embedded itself in pop culture.  Along with these memorable scenes we are introduced to yet another iconic character that quickly became a fan favorite.  This season has a lot more passion and heart in it that the previous two seasons and I hope the Duffer's keep it going in the next season.  The acting in this one is great.  The gang delivers some fantastic performances along with the introduction of Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson.  Munson is the star of this season and no one will disagree with you.  This cast is great and legendary now.  Even now those that have never seen the show before know who the characters are.  Their performances are now a big part of cinema history.  The story for this one builds upon the previous three seasons while taking it in a much darker direction.  It ties back to Eleven while taking us so much deeper into the Upside Down.  I loved most of this season and some of the scenes actually gave me goosebumps.  Finally, this is a pretty gory season with a lot of great visuals.  The film is host to a a lot of visual effects that look absolutely fantastic while the practical and make-up effects are top notch.  Overall, Stranger Things 4 is just as good as the first season and more than makes up for the mediocrity of season 2 and 3.  This is the season fans have been looking for.  Check it out, I highly recommend it.  

The Boys Season 2

Creator - Eric Kripke (Supernatural, Haunted)

Starring - Karl Urban (Ghost Ship, Doom), Jack Quaid (Rampage, Smallfoot), and Antony Starr (Banshee, Terror Peak)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Action/Crime

Tagline - "Heroes aren't born.  They're made"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I knew that The Boys would be a show that I instantly fell in love with but I was not expecting to love it as much as I did.  I'm a huge fan of super hero flicks but having a grounded and corrupt super hero show following conspiracies, deaths, and capitalism really makes The Boys stand out from other films and shows like it.  Sure, The Watchmen mini-series does give the viewer a gritty and brutal spin on caped-crusaders but The Boys dials it up to 11.  As soon as I finished the first season I immediately tossed in the second season.  It did not disappoint.

     This season follows Butcher who discovered that his wife is alive and gave birth to Homelander's super son.  Caught in the middle is the remaining members of the 7 and The Boys who are still attempting to bring notice to the destruction the supes are causing and how they were all created by Vought when they were injected as babies.

     Season 2 of the boys is a fantastic follow up to the first season.  It not only builds upon the first season but still gives fans what they were wanting from the existing cast.  It's a lot of fun and for those of you that like to binge shows like I do you will find yourself having one hell of a time.  The acting in this one is fucking amazing.  The cast is phenomenal and every character is enjoyable.  Even the smaller roles are still a fun watch.  I know that season 3 is in full swing and I sincerely hope that we have many more to come.  The story for this one does a fantastic job building upon the first season.  We have even more character development and answers to questions that were asked in the first season.  However, the introduction of new questions leaves the viewer waiting for season 3.  I enjoyed every episode and how far the series goes.  Finally, this is just as bloody and violent as the first season.  We get so many fantastic gore shots that utilize practical and visual effects to create something that will stick with you for weeks after watching.  Overall, The Boys season two was just as good, if not better, than the first season.  I seriously beg anyone that hasn't seen this one yet to check it out.  It's one of the wildest shows in television history.

The Boys Season 1

Creator - Eric Kripke (Supernatural: The Animation, Boogeyman)

Starring - Karl Urban (Dredd, Priest), Jack Quaid (The Hunger Games, Workaholics), and Antony Starr (Xena: Warrior Princess, American Gothic)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Action/Crime

Tagline - "Never meet your heroes"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     A couple years ago a meme featuring Karl Urban made its rounds on the internet.  It mentioned something about an invisible cunt and would often be used on FB by people proclaiming someone had blocked them.  It was pretty funny but I had no idea what it was until last year when I pieced it together that it was from the television adaptation of The Boys.  Since then I was very interested in the show especially after I heard that Supernatural's Jensen Ackles had joined the cast.  A few weeks back I received the press release that the first two seasons of The Boys would be making their blu debut.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to hook me up with a review copy.  I didn't sit on this one long and as soon as I could I tossed this mother fucker in.  

     The show follows Hughie (Quaid) who finds himself heartbroken when a superhero accidentally kills his fiance.  He becomes obsessed with getting revenge and that is when he becomes acquitted with Billy Butcher (Urban) and his group collectively known as The Boys.  Butcher has spent the last eight years trying to stop the superhero group The Seven which is a product of a pharmaceutical company when his wife went missing.  

     The first season of The Boys was not what I was expecting and I fucking loved it.  It has a story line that really works especially in a time where superhero movies are dominating the box office.  The satirical approach gives viewers something a little different to enjoy.  It's violent, funny, and a bold approach to what Marvel and DC has made popular.  The acting in this one is unforgettable.  So many amazing performances from Karl Urban's Billy Butcher to Quaid and Homelander himself from Antony Starr.  There is no weak links in this series and the entire cast kicks ass.  The story for this one gives us a much more amusing take on superheroes.  In a world where those built different are tasked with saving the human race you find a large amount of collateral damage in which the supes accidentally kill those they are sworn to protect.  It's a fun spin on the classic tropes while giving viewers characters that they will love to hate.  It's amazing writing and the show makes sure to milk every moment.  Finally, the series is pretty fucking bloody.  We get some great practical and visual effects that blend together perfectly.  Fans of horror will truly appreciate the level of gore this show gives us. Overall, The Boys Season 1 is a must watch for fans of superhero movies and shows along with those of you with a taste for blood.  I highly recommend it.  

Stranger Things 3

Creator(s) - Matt Duffer (Hidden, Eater) and Ross Duffer (Wayward Pines, The Milkman)

Starring - Millie Bobby Brown (Enola Holmes, Godzilla vs. Kong), Finn Wolfhard (It, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), and Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands, Alien: Resurrection)

Release Date - 2019

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "One summer can change everything"

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Stranger Things 4 was released I realized that I had missed several seasons.  I fucking loved the first season and watched it several times.  However, when I started season 2 I found myself halfway through the season and not enjoying myself.  I forgot about it until the release of Stranger Things 4 reminded me that I needed to get caught up.  I was able to finish the season and quickly moved on to Stranger Things 3 where I felt the same way as I did with Stranger Things 2.  It was hard to make it passed the middle of the season but once I did I found myself enjoying it.  That mid-season hump is real with this show.

     The film follows the gang after the events of season 2.  A new indoor mall has opened and life seems normal for a very short time.  The gate that Eleven closed left behind a part of the Mind Flayer and now the Russians have built a testing facility under the mall where they are attempting to open the gate again.  It's up to Hopper and the group to stop the Mind Flayer and the Russians.

     Stranger Things 3 does exactly what 2 did.  It takes the viewers deeper into the story that was already established while bringing even more characters into the mix.  I like the characters so don't take that the wrong way but it suffers from the same problems that Avengers: Infinity War did.  Too many characters and not enough story.  It's great but problemed.  The acting in this one is just as good as the other seasons.  There is no weak links and all the characters well written giving the cast so much to work with.  This amazing cast and lovable characters is the series weakness.  There is so many amazing performances and memorable characters.  The story for this one picks up a little after the last season and does a fantastic job at continuing the story.  We have a fantastic addition of the Cold War scare with the Russians opening the gate to the upside down.  The introduction of the new characters does take away from the story but not enough to make it unlikable.  Finally, the series once again delivers some great visual and practical effects.  The visual compliments the practical effects which is something you rarely see as effective as it is here.  I'm not really a fan of the giant monster but it doesn't necessarily look that back.  Overall, Stranger Things 3 is another step forward from Stranger Things.  It's a lot of fun if you stick with it but the mid-season hump is fucking steep for sure.  Check it out but don't expect something as fun as the first season.  

Stranger Things 2

Creator(s) - Ross Duffer (Wayward Pines, Saturday Night at Norm's) and Matt Duffer (Hidden, Eater)

Starring - Winona Ryder (Heathers, Edward Scissorhands), David Harbour (Hellboy, Black Widow), and Natalia Dyer (Velvet Buzzsaw, After Darkness)

Release Date - 2017

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "It only gets stranger..."

Format - Streaming (Netflix)

Rating (out of 5):

     When Netflix released the first season of Stranger Things I was obsessed.  I fucking loved the show.  As soon as I finished the last episode I started it over and forced my wife to watch it.  Before the second was released I had watched the first season three times overall.  However, when Stranger Things 2 was released I found myself struggling to finish it.  In fact, I stopped on the fifth episode and turned my back on the show.  It wasn't until recently when part one of Stranger Things 4 was released that I decided to go back and give Stranger Things  another shot.  It was a solid series but it was nowhere near as fun as the first season.

     This season follows the gang who is still struggling with the upside down when will becomes possessed by a tentacle creature known as the Mind Flayer that pulls the gang and their surrounding family into the fight to save their little town from destruction.

     Stranger Things 2 doesn't have that kick that the first season had.  It's not a bad follow up to the original season but I feel like it's introducing too many characters with so much back story and their own story arcs that it's taking away from the overall show.  Don't get me wrong, I do like the new characters and I like the attitude change they gave Steve but there is so much going on that it makes the main plot of the film lose the impact it was going for.  The acting in this one is fantastic.  The returning cast gives us some seriously amazing performances while giving us even more of the characters that we grew to love.  I really like the fact that Steve, portrayed by Joe Keery, is no longer a douche and a fan favorite.  I'm glad he was moved up in importance and I love the new characters we are given as well but this is the season's downfall.  The story for this one is a serious attempt at following up to the first season.  We get the DnD inspired story with the Lovecraft inspired creature getting the name of Mind Flayer.  We also get a plethora of new characters that does over saturate the story.  This season would have worked if they would have kept the character list short and tight.  Instead, we get so many different side stories.  It's almost as if this season was written by Bethesda.  I liked the set up of the story and how it went but it could have been so much more fun if we would have just focused on the gang and the continuation of this story without the unneeded distractions.  Finally, this season is just as beautiful as the first season.  We have some great practical effects, lots of blood and gore, and some fantastic visual effects.  The deaths are violent and bloody with some good use of practical and visual effects.  Some of the visual effects are a little noticeable at times but overall they are almost as perfect as the practical effects.  Overall, Stranger Things 2 is a serious follow up to the first season.  It isn't without faults and spreads itself too thin at times but is still worth your time.  If you are like me and loved the first season you will find it underwhelming at times but it does have it's moments.  

The Stand

Creator(s) - Josh Boone (The New Mutants, The Fault in Our Stars) and Benjamin Cavell (Justified, Wall Street)

Starring - Whoopi Goldberg (Theodore Rex, Bordello of Blood), Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood, Straw Dogs), and James Marsden (Disturbing Behavior, Sex Drive)

Release Date -2020

Genre - Horror/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "Choose your side.  Take your stand"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was younger I watch a lot of television shows and movies with my grandmother while my dad was out of town.  During one of those nights I watched The Stand mini-series with her.  I remember watching it with her but I didn't remember a damn thing about the show aside from it featuring Molly Ringwald.  A few years back the series was released on blu and I was lucky enough to get a copy in to review.  It was great to revisit it and I found myself completely obsessed with the story.  Fast forward a year or so and I catch wind that the Stephen King story was getting another adaptation.  I was ready to check it out when it premiered on Paramount + but my time didn't allow it.  Soon after I forgot all about it until I started receiving press releases for the physical release of the series.  A few days later a blu showed up for review and I couldn't wait to dig into it.  This was my most anticipated release of the year.  

     The show takes place after the accidental release of a plague where most of the world's population is wiped out.  The survivors, who are immune to the disease, start receiving lucid dreams from the saintly Mother Abagail (Goldberg) or the devilish Randall Flagg (Skarsgard) instructing them to on where they should go.  Mother Abagail's followers assemble in a small community in Colorado while Flagg's people arrive in New Vegas to party and live out their fantasies.  

     After revisiting the first adaptation of The Stand I can safely say that it was one of my favorite adaptations of King.  I was excited but nervous about the new adaptation but I really liked it.  Hell, there was aspects of this one that I actually enjoyed more than the original.  With that being said, some aspects, along with the casting, was not as fun but not enough to take away from the overall show.  The acting in this one is absolutely fantastic.  We have James Marsden tackling the imported role of Stu Redman.  He does a phenomenal job in the role and really made it his own.  He doesn't outdo Gary Sinise but makes the role his own and unique.  I also enjoyed Owen Teague as Harold.  He was extremely creepy when the show called for it and did a fantastic job at creating an emotional bond with the viewer.  Though it is hatred he still played the part and did an unforgettable job.  Skarsgard as Randall Flagg was great as well but he just didn't look the part like Jamey Sheridan did in the original run.  His performance was still great but that look meant a lot in the original mini-series.  The casting that I didn't care for was Ezra Miller as Trashcan Man and Amber Heard as Nadine Cross.  Both of these performances were underwhelming and their personalities were no where near as fun as the original show.  Matt Frewer as the original Trashcan Man was so much fun and his scenes had a sense of humor that Miller's rendition could not touch.  The story for this one pretty much follows the same story as the original.  I had never read the story it was based on but I feel as if both adaptations follow the story fairly closely considering they both are overwhelmingly similar.  I love everything about this story to be completely honest.  I'm not a religious person but I love a story with good versus evil and when you mix that with a global pandemic, supernatural forces, and survival drama then you are in for some compelling television.  It does suck knowing exactly what is going to happen next but the road there is still enjoyable.  I think I would have loved it a little more if I didn't know exactly what was going on but knowing was still as fun.  Finally, the film uses a great mix of practical and visual effects.  The film has some pretty gnarly deaths scenes with some amazing practical effects that truly surprised me.  I guess going to a streaming platform instead of cable allows a production like this one to up the gore factor.  The film also implements some great visual effects as well.  They do stand out from the practical but they don't look as bad as others that I've seen.  Overall, The Stand is a must see for genre fans, as well as, any fan of Stephen King's work.  I fucking love it and can't wait until I can find another reason to revisit it.  I highly recommend it.  

Are You Afraid of the Dark?: Curse of the Shadows

Creator(s) - BenDavid Grabinski (Cost of Living, Enormous), Ned Kandel (Chris Cross, Are You Afraid of the Dark?), and D.J. MacHale (The Wonderful World of Disney, ABC Afterschool Specials)

Starring - Bryce Gheisar (Walk the Prank, Wonder), Malia Baker (The Flash, The Twilight Zone), and Beatrice Kitsos (Child's Play, The Exorcist)

Release Date - 2021

Genre - Horror

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Are You Afraid of the Dark?, along with Goosebumps, were major influences on me when I was growing up.  I was burning through episodes of AYAotD? when I was at home and reading every release of Goosebumps I could get my hands on at school. These children oriented horror tales are something I still look forward to.  I can watched some of the most fucked up and goriest horror films available but still find myself having more fun with films and shows like Stranger Things, It, Fear Street, and so on.  Last year, or the year before, I found myself really drawn to the Are You Afraid of the Dark? revival film that was really three episodes pulled together to make a film.  After seeing it I wasn't impressed but it wasn't a bad experience either.  When I saw that a second season, Curse of the Shadows, was getting a release I was on the fence about it.  I noticed that the cast from the first film wasn't returning yet it was being billed as the second season.  Regardless, my curiosity got the best of me and I reached out for a review copy.  I'm glad I did because I really enjoyed it.  

     The season follows the Midnight Society who is looking for a missing member of their group.  When he fails to show up for school they start retracing his steps where they learn he stole from a magic shop and entered the cursed woods.  The closer they get to their missing friend the deeper into danger they go when they released that the cursed woods are really cursed by a shadow man and the curse is linked to the death of a young girl from the early 90s.

     Curse of the Shadows doesn't have the atmosphere, tension, or chills of the original series but it is leagues above the reboot from a year or so ago.  What made the original run of the series so entertaining was that it was a true anthology series with very few stories intersecting with others.  Curse of the Shadows is more focused on the characters and the overall arching story instead of the group actually telling stories.  Honestly, this second season was more like Stranger Things than it was Are You Afraid of the Dark? but it was still fun.  The acting in this one is impressive.  Anytime I watch a show or film with a cast as young as this one I always find myself completely shocked by how actors that young can act like that.  The characters are fairly generic but they work well for the story with the cast delivering phenomenal performances.  The story for this one doesn't really feel like a fitting tribute to the original AYAotD?.  In fact, if you was to remove the mention of The Midnight Society you wouldn't even know it was AYAotD? aside from the very convincing son of Sardo.  A new title and a few tweaks on the story could have resulted in another new horror property for young adults.  I say this because I am a little bitter that it doesn't play out like the classic show with each episode featuring a new story.  That was what made Are You Afraid of the Dark? so entertaining.  Removing that from the show is like removing the cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt.  The anthology aspect is why so many loved the show.  With that being said, I loved Sardo's son in the film and the shadow man and the curse was surprisingly fun.  I do look forward to future seasons but I don't understand why this had to be titled the way it was.  Finally, don't expect blood and gore in this one.  However, if cgi creature are more your speed then you are in luck.  I'm a fan of how the monster looked but there was a few times where the cgi didn't really match the film.  It looks a little rushed and not as smooth as the rest of the scene.  Overall, Curse of the Shadows is a seriously fun watch.  Honestly, I enjoyed it a lot more than I should have but the fact that it's titled Are You Afraid of the Dark? but doesn't feature the classic tales around the campfire is a bit disappointing. Regardless, this one is worth a watch and I highly recommend it.  

The Walking Dead: World Beyond Season One

Creator(s) - Scott M. Gimple (The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead) and Matthew Negrete (The Walking Dead, Power Rangers R.P.M.)

Starring - Alexa Mansour (Unfriended: Dark Web, The Resident), Aliyah Royale (Strange Calls, Major Crimes), and Nico Tortorella (Scream 4, Odd Thomas)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Horror

Tagline - "The end of the world was our beginning"

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     When I was in high school a substitute science teacher and I was talking about horror movies which quickly spilled into horror novels.  It didn't take long for the conversation to land on comics.  Due to where I lived I was unfamiliar with a lot of comics because nowhere near my hometown carried them.  He told me about several and a few days later he showed up with a couple for me to check out.  Among them was The Walking Dead. I fell in love with the comic series and when I was in college AMC premiered the television adaptation of the comic.  I loved the show but by season 4 I was burned out.  I've watched up to season 8 I think after I was sent them for review but the show has pretty much ran it's course.  With that being said, when I received the press release for World Beyond I was very curious about it.  I reached out and AMC was nice enough to send over a review copy for me to check out.  Thanks!

     The film takes place 10 years after the day "the sky fell" with a community of survivors living in a fortified university.  The adoptive daughters of one of the community's leaders decide to leave in search of him along with two friends.  He was helping a secretive organization who was trying to put an end to the zombie outbreak but after they received some cryptic messages they left to look for him.  Soon after their departure they are followed by two other survivors from their community.  One is a brother figure to the young girls while the other is secretly a plant who is trying to sabotage their mission.

     The Walking Dead series has been using the same plot outline for almost a decade and it's became stale.  It's not as dramatic as it once was and the predictability has killed the show.  However, World Beyond doesn't really step out of the standard Walking Dead premise but it does go about it in a different way which makes it a little more enjoyable.  Hell, I actually enjoyed this first season and I look forward to the second.  The acting in this one is very well done with the characters being the highlight of the show.  The cast is very young but their filmography speaks volumes.  Some of them have been attached to some fantastic projects prior to World Beyond and they used that experience to deliver some seriously impressive performances.  The characters, as I stated earlier, is the highlight of the series and the cast does a fantastic job bring them to life.  Everyone involved should be very proud of the characters they created.  The story for this one mixes what the original uses with the survivors fighting other survivors while the dead wreak havoc with a much younger cast of characters that grew up in this world.  The way the story is approached we still get the mankind is the real monster angle but the focus on the young characters who was forced to adapt to a new world at a younger age made the dull story fun again.  The story is a still predictable but the journey is fun.  Finally, the series wouldn't be part of The Walking Dead universe if it didn't have amazing practical effects.  We get many of the iconic make-up effects with most of the zombies looking absolutely fantastic.  The bee-hive zombie is a new favorite of mine.  With that being said, there is a few times where the masks on the zombies looked extremely goofy but these are few and far in between.  Overall, World Beyond may be beating a dead horse by this point but it does bring a little life to a series that I felt has been dead for some time.  It's fun and if you are like me and gave up on the original Walking Dead series then I would recommend giving this one a shot.  

Amazing Stories Season One

Creator(s) - Steven Spielberg (1941, Jurassic Park), Joshua Brand (Homeward Bound, A Year in the Life), and John Falsey (The White Shadow, A Year in the Life)

Starring - John Scott Clough (Phantoms, Quantum Leap), Robert Blossom (Christine, Home Alone), and Kelly Reno (The Black Stallion, Brady's Escape)

Release Date - 1985

Genre - Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Comedy/Drama/Horror

Tagline - "As one experience ends... another adventure begins"

Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     I'm a huge fan of Steven Spielberg which is true for most people my age.  Millennials grew up in the late 80s and 90s with Spielberg being a huge part of our childhood.  Regardless if he was producing or directing, you can bet that everyone's favorite movies or shows growing up was touched by this man in one way or another.  I was born in 86 so I did my growing up in the 90s.  Sometime in the early 90s I caught a few episodes of the short lived television series Amazing Stories.  I remember fucking loving it but the reruns were short and few in between.  As I got older I completely forgot about the show until recently when Umbrella Entertainment announced that they would be re-releasing both seasons of the show on DVD.  I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a review copy.  Thanks guys.

     The seasons follows different "amazing" stories ranging from a high school football star becoming magnetic after a meteor crashes into his room, an airplane gunner trapped under a plan that is about to crash land, to even a ghost train.  

     Amazing Stories is a fantastic television series that starts out wonderfully but starts to drag it's feet as the series progresses.  Don't get me wrong, the episodes that are truly amazing are absolutely unforgettable but some of the later episodes are pretty dull and lack that something that makes it stand out like the others.  It's a fun season but very inconsistent.  The acting in this show is absolutely amazing.  Just when you think a certain episode is the best acted you watch the next episode and see that it's just as good.  The acting is very consistent while the stories are not.  I would be here all day if I went from episode to episode picking apart the amazing performances.  The stories for this one is very inconsistent.  The season starts out amazing with stories of ghost trains, opposites attracting (physically), and so on but as we reach the half way point in the series the shows that stick with you become separated with some dull and forgettable tales that are not worth of the Amazing Stories title.  They are obviously tossed in as filler but just don't have that spark that the other episodes have.  Finally, this is not a bloody or violent show.  We get some visual effects, some make-up effects, and a lot of character development but not the bloody stuff most of you are looking for.  Overall, Amazing Stories Season One is absolutely spectacular.  I know some of the episodes are dull but the rest of the season is truly remarkable.  They really do need to be seen.  

Doom Patrol: Season Two

Creator - Jeremy Carver (Supernatural, Being Human)

Starring - Diane Guerrero (Orange is the New Black, Jane the Virgin), Timothy Dalton (Hot Fuzz, Flash Gordon), and Abi Monterey (Broadway Kids Against Bullying)

Release Date - 2020

Genre - Sci-Fi

Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Early last year I reviewed both seasons of Titans along with the first season of Doom Patrol and Swamp Thing.  Doom Patrol quickly became my favorite show but all the other shows that were part of the DC Universe was fantastic.  Though these series do bleed into the Arrowverse they are still highly entertaining as stand alone shows.  A few months ago season two of Doom Patrol was released on HBO Max.  I wanted to set up a subscription so I could watch it but time and work got away from me and I soon forgot about it.  Fast forward and a few days ago I saw some mutual friends that review as well had mentioned that they received season two for review on blu.  I quickly rushed to my email to request a copy and was lucky enough to get one.  I couldn't wait to dig into this season.

     This season follows the Doom Patrol as they try to work through their anger with Chief who has now included his daughter Dorothy and her slew of imaginary friends.  As they all struggle with their own problems a bigger problem is brewing as Dorothy reaches womanhood which could bring about the end of the world.

     The first season of Doom Patrol is absolutely amazing.  I loved the characters, the story, and the aesthetics.  It really did become one of my favorite shows after that first season.  Season two wasn't as great as the first season but god damn was it still a lot of fun.  The acting in this season is just as amazing as the first season.  The characters are so much fun to watch and the cast really gets into them.  Some of the characters have their own way of expressing different emotions but the cast does an amazing job making the characters their own.  I would be here all day if I was to give everyone in this show the much deserved credit but I'm too lazy for that.  The story for this one really lacks that sense of dread and disaster the first season had.  The show is more focused on each member of the team as the cope and adjust to their own situations.  Along the way we have a few episodes that are not really focused on the season's story arch but they were fun and really worked.  With that being said, the series ended on a cliffhanger and with the uncertainty of film production during this pandemic I'm concerned it could be years before we get any sort of conclusion.  Finally, this season is heavily based in sci-fi so we don't get any blood and gore.  However, we get some great props, sets, and wardrobe.  I absolutely love the look and feel of this show and you really need to see it to appreciate it as well.  Overall, Season two is a must see for DC fans or someone looking for their next television show to binge.  It's funny, looks amazing, and the characters are unforgettable.  This season doesn't have the same punch as the first season but it's still amazing.  Check it out.