Shudder Announces New Original Film ‘Raging Grace’
We have news about a new Shudder original in development for the horror streaming service. Raging Grace, due in 2022 also marks the first British-Filipino feature in British cinema history. The film should debut in Shudder US, UKI, and ANZ. The film promises a spin of gothic horror with the timely and relevant exploration of the struggles of undocumented workers. The official press release is below.
SHUDDER ANNOUNCES NEW ORIGINAL FILM RAGING GRACE, FROM BIFA-NOMINATED WRITER & DIRECTOR PARIS ZARCILLA AND BFI VISION AWARDED PRODUCER CHI THAI
THE “COMING OF RAGE” THRILLER BEGINS PRODUCTION IN THE UK THIS NOVEMBER WITH A DEBUT IN 2022
NEW YORK – September 30, 2021 – AMC Network’s Shudder, the premium streaming service for horror, thriller, and the supernatural announced today the new Original Film Raging Grace, written and directed by BIFA-nominee Paris Zarcilla (Pommel, The Century Egg), produced by Chi Thai (The Promise, Little Miss Sumo) and starring Filipina actress Max Eigenmann (Verdict) and David Hayman (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Finding Your Feet). Described as a “Coming of Rage” film, which spotlights the Filipino immigrant experience through a blend of horror and drama, Raging Grace begins production this November in the UK and will debut in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand in 2022. In Raging Grace, an undocumented Filipina immigrant lands a job as a care worker for a seemingly terminal old man, securing a better life for her and her daughter. But a dark discovery threatens to destroy everything she’s strived for and holds dear.
“In Raging Grace, rising filmmaker Paris Zarcilla and producer Chi Thai craft a subversive, contemporary spin on gothic horror,” said Shudder’s Emily Gotto, VP of Acquisitions, and Sam Zimmerman, VP of Programming. “With a bold, urgent portrait of race and power, Raging Grace will take an old, dark house and make it new again.”
Said Zarcilla: “Raging Grace will be the first British-Filipino feature in British cinema history. Growing up Southeast Asian in London, I was taught to assimilate, to excel but not to stick out, to aspire to whiteness and white approval, to be the model minority, a good immigrant, to not rock the boat. Writing this film terrified me because it goes against everything my Asian parents taught me about assimilation. To make this film is to approach a place of trauma and horror. That is what it is to approach the master’s house. It’s about challenging old and new white power; it’s about smashing through the barriers that have held back East and Southeast Asian talent; it’s about raging gracefully. Raging Grace is a cathartic spectacle that explores the trauma of being an undocumented worker, but most importantly, a celebration of Filipino culture and our place in this world. Here’s to dismantling the master’s house and thanks for AMC Networks and Shudder for giving me the platform to do it.”
Said Thai: “Raging Grace is a rare and exciting alignment of all my personal and professional principles and values as producer, a working mother, and a refugee. Working with Paris has been and will continue to be an incredible creative adventure. My hope is for this film to be the spark that triggers an uprising of British East and Southeast Asian filmmaking on a global stage. Instrumental in making this happen has been AMC Networks and Shudder – our formidable partners who have empowered us to share our vision without compromise.”
Zarcilla’s film Pommel, supported by Creative England, the BFI, and Refinery Media, was nominated for Best British Short at the prestigious BIFA (British Independent Film Awards), and Special Jury Mention for Excellence in Directing at the Oscar-qualifying Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and was nominated for Best International Short at the Oscar-qualifying Short Shorts Asia in Japan. He wrote and directed the two-part television drama, The Century Egg for the Emmy-nominated production company Refinery Media. Zarcilla has also been commissioned to develop Inspector Low, a primetime television series adaptation based on the book by Neil Humphreys for 108 Media.
Thai is an independent producer who works across television and features. She has been a Cannes Lions finalist three times. Her production company was listed in Creative England’s leading creative companies in the UK and selected for the prestigious BFI Vision Award. Thai’s recent credits include Netflix Original documentary Little Miss Sumo, Royal Television Society-nominated virtual reality feature IF, commissioned by Google, Automat, a drama for Sky, and The Promise, an adaptation of The New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year by Nicole Davies and Laura Carlin for the BBC. Thai’s current roster includes a television adaptation of the Caldecott-winning picture book Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell with five-time Academy-nominated animation studio Cartoon Saloon. She is developing a feature adaptation of Dark Chapter, winner of the Not Booker Prize (2017) by Winnie M. Li with Northern Irish Screen, and adapting the award-winning sci-fi novel The Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen into a television series with the support of BFI YACF.
Raging Grace is produced by Shudder, Chi Thai, and Darlene Malimas.
Raging Grace star Max Eigenmann 
Raging Grace star David Hayman 
Raging Grace producer Chi Thai 
Raging Grace director Paris Zarcilla
What do you think about Raging Grace? Let us know in the comments!
We’ve reached the penultimate episode of Original Sin. This season has been a bloody delight so far, but of course, the endings usually ruin anything related to Dexter.
See the original series ending, book series ending and New Blood ending.
But so far this ending has been good. Let’s discuss.
The story
We begin this episode with the whole force worrying over Bobby, Harry’s partner. They decide to have a blood drive, which is a really good way to respond to a tragedy.
In a flashback scene, we see that Harry and Doris took in both boys. Doris is, by the way, a living saint. She takes these two boys into her home and heart. Until that is, Brian almost kills Deborah.
Not for the last time.
Meanwhile Dexter is planning to take out Captain Spencer. The only problem is that, through a series of rather heartwarming events, he’s given blood twice on the same day. So when it comes time for the kill he isn’t at his best.
Even so, Dex almost makes the kill. The only problem is that Nicky is still alive. And Dexter, proving again that he is a strange and gentle monster, cares more about saving the son than killing the father.
What worked
I first want to shine some well-deserved light on the casting in this series one last time. Because Roby Attal, who played Brian, did a fantastic job. He looks very much like Christian Camargo, who played Brian in the original series. But of course, the important thing is the facial and body language. He smiles like Brian, moves like Brian. And, of course, kills like Brian. He was the perfect choice.
I also really enjoyed the scenes between Dexter and Captain Spencer. They were well done and emotional. I loved the passion and anger in Dexter’s voice when he confronted Spencer. I loved Dex playing a video game and putting in Nicky’s initials. And I really loved Dex stabbing Spencer with a hypodermic needle through his hand and into his neck. It was well-written, well acted and cathartic.
Now, in the interest of fairness, I owe Sarah Michelle Gellar an apology. Because she was great in this episode. Her character, Tanya, was passionate and perfectly well-acted. Best of all, she looked her age.
And she looked beautiful.
So often in media women’s ages are hidden like dirty secrets. Even more so when she was popular in her youth. So to see her look her age, look haggard and tired, was fantastic.
What didn’t work
All of that being said, this was not a perfect episode. The worst thing, in my opinion, was that we found out why Captain Spencer abducted his son. Why he killed an innocent boy. Why he kidnapped these boys and tortured them for days before he killed them. And why he slaughtered an entire houseful of people.
I have no intention of spoiling the reveal for you. But when you watch it, I’m sure you’ll share in my disgust. I was expecting some deep dark secret, maybe some sort of corruption or betrayal.
But that’s not it. And the reason he had doesn’t make sense. Why torture these boys with his intention was, well, what it was?
I have some hope that this reveal was false. After all, all we have is the word of a man plastic wrapped to a table. I guess we’ll have to wait until the next episode to find out.
Finally, I do want to point out one thing that is a little disappointing about the series as a whole.
It’s kind of hard for there to be a lot of suspense for the coming episode. We already know that nothing very bad can happen to our dear demented Dexter. He will not be caught. He will not go to jail. He will not die. Neither will Deb, Brian, or any of the other beloved characters from the original series. So much of the tension we might have felt just isn’t there. This is a struggle for a prequel series and one that I don’t think this series has done enough to address.
Despite the slight letdown of the killer’s motivation, this was a good episode. It set up the finale with a great cliffhanger and left us with more questions than answers. I’m cautiously optimistic about the last episode of Dexter Original Sin.
(4 / 5)
Good news to my nonbinary pals – we no longer exist!
“But Brannyk,” you may be thinking, “what am I supposed to do now that I am no longer a real being? How shall I spend my days?”
Unfortunately, the government has not released a handbook for this occasion, so I thought we could brainstorm together.
BECOME A GHOST
There are some benefits to being a ghost, for sure.
No rent or insurance payment. No corporate job, no cleaning cat litter, no AT&T trying to sell you another line after repeatedly telling them that you just want to make sure that your autopayment is on, but they’re all like, ‘Why would you pass up such a bargain on a second line? Are you an idiot? Why wouldn’t you need another phone line?‘ and so you have to tell them, “Because I’M DIVORCED, ASSHOLE, THANKS FOR REMINDING ME OF THAT!”
Ahem. I digress.
Yeah, you may not be able to venture out, much like Adam and Barbara in Beetlejuice. You may need to put up with someone else crashing your place and moving around all of your shit. Or Ryan Reynolds trying to sell you Mint Mobile. Or some toxic couple taking your creepy doll that you spent years on trying to possess.
Or, my absolute biggest pet peeve, when you’re practicing for the ghost speed chair-stacking championship and the normies just don’t appreciate your cool skills.
But the advantages are that you get to stay home, watch tv, stack your chairs and hope whoever buys your house/visits your creepy woods/gentrifies your neighborhood is a cool person, too.
(2 / 5)
It’s a good choice, but has a lot of drawbacks.
BECOME A CREATURE
Look, if you’re not going to exist, go big or go home, I’d say.
Monsters are cool. They play by their own rules. Sometimes they cause havoc. Sometimes they come around and help people. Sometimes they work alone. And other times, they have a lot of friends. Sometimes they just need some affirmation. And sometimes they’re…in high school, apparently?
The cool thing is that they come in all shapes and sizes.
Monsters are generally misunderstood. Some have their fans. Others are hated.
So basically, just like people, except with more tentacles.
The only downsides are that you might be too big or too “ick” for some people (these can also be pluses), you may have a taste for human flesh (no judgement), or the biggest issue – there are too many choices.
You could get stuck trying to figure out what kind of monster you are. If you’re not into labels, it’s an absolute nightmare. Or if you’re like me, it’ll be like standing in Subway for 15 minutes trying to figure out what toppings and dressings you want while the “sandwich artist” is openly judging you.
(4 / 5)
I like the customization, but it can be a bit too overwhelming.
BECOME A CRYPTID
Hear me out. I know it seems a lot like the monster category, but it’s not quite.
Cryptids are weird and mysterious. They keep to themselves. They have people who are fascinated by them and post on Reddit about them. Some have people making documentaries about them.
They’re like monsters’ quieter cousin who reads books in the corner at family gatherings. They collect shiny things they find by the side of the road. Sometimes they’ll steal a peanut butter sandwich or two.
Ever so often, they might scare a human just by existing or by politely asking for their stuff back.
Each one kinda has their own goals and priorities. Their own hangouts and interests. But unlike monsters, they’re not looking to rock any boats-
Never mind, I stand corrected.
(5 / 5)
I like the freedoms of being a cryptid and also dig the cottage-core vibe I get from them.
CONCLUSION: LET’S BE REAL FOR A SECOND…
I know it’s hard right now. It’s going to be hard. You may not exist to some assholes, but you are real. You have real feelings and thoughts and dreams. You have a real future. You have real decisions. Real actions that affect this world.
You have the real ability to wake up tomorrow and choose to exist. And for whatever reason you choose. Use it. Ghosts and monsters and cryptids are powerful, just like you are, even when you don’t feel like it. They have a place in our human world, just like you do. You make this world interesting and important.
You are part of this world, you are real, and you are not alone.
The horror community is one of acceptance, diversity, creativity and passion. In these times, it needs to be. We need to rely on each other. We need to cultivate and protect each other, as much as we need to protect ourselves.
And it looks like I’ll be coming out of my own cryptid hovel I’ve spent the past few years in to remind you that. My job isn’t done. Not by a longshot. And neither is yours.
You exist to me. Today, tomorrow, and forever.
Be safe out there, friends.
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