American Horror Stories, Backrooms
Happy Halloween, Killer Queens! While we may not have any American Horror Story to watch, we do have five brand-new episodes of American Horror Stories! The wait is finally over, the second half of season three has launched. And I, well, was a lot more excited about that before I saw Backrooms.
Spoiler warning: As the ending is one of the many things wrong with this episode, I will be talking about it. So if you haven’t seen this episode yet and you plan to, maybe save this for later.
The story
Our gory story today is about a man named David. His son, Roman, has gone missing. As David pulls himself further and further away from the world, he finds himself no clipping out of reality and into the poorly lit, all but empty back rooms.
When David eventually finds someone else whoās been to the backrooms, he makes a startling discovery. The reason why heās ending up there might very well be his fault. And itās probably because of what he did to Roman.
What works
Letās start with the positive here. I was very excited to see an episode of American Horror Stories about the backrooms. This is one of my favorite online horror stories in recent memory. I love creepypastas about it, video games that include it, and will watch just about anyone on YouTube talking about it.
And the backrooms depicted in this episode do look a lot like what we see online. I was excited to see the ugly green wallpaper and awful fluorescent lighting that anyone who’s a fan of these stories is very familiar with. I’ve been looking forward to seeing that since the episode titles were released.
I was also impressed, as I often am, with the acting in this episode. Everyone in the rather small cast is doing their best with the story they have to tell. Their reactions are believable, their emotions feel genuine. I can’t say that there were any standouts, because everyone just did as good of a job as they could have under the circumstances.
What didnāt work
Unfortunately, I can sum up my dislike of this episode in one sentence. This story doesn’t make any sense.
Letās start with Danielās motivations for killing his son. They are weak at best. Daniel doesnāt want a child around to distract him from writing. So he takes his son to the park and strangles him.
Just to start with, that’s a senseless motivation. Daniel is wealthy. If he doesn’t want to deal with his son, he could hire someone to look after him. He could send him off to boarding school. Hell, he’s divorced. He could just leave Roman with his ex-wife Riva all the time. There were lots and lots of options besides killing the kid.
It also doesn’t make sense that he would have strangled him. Strangulation is normally seen in crimes of passion, or fury. There are usually strong emotions behind that. And here, there is none of that. We are to believe that Daniel is simply irritated at the interruptions that a child brings, and so brutally strangles his son in broad daylight and then pretends that he disappeared.
There are so many better motivations. Or, even better ways to convey that Roman was causing an issue. We could have seen him pestering his dad while he was trying to write. We could have seen him messing up David’s writing office. We could have seen any number of very realistic things children do that might cause someone mentally unstable to snap and strangle them. But none of that happened. David just decided to kill him, then regretted it.
Finally, let’s talk about this ending. After being shunted into the backrooms again, David finds Roman. Instead of some horrific end, which is exactly what David deserves, he’s sent to a waiting room. It sort of looks like the waiting room for a mechanic. He has a wicked long number, and they’re only serving number one.
And that’s it. This man killed his son in cold blood, and his punishment was an eternity of being bored.
Oh, but there are some parenting magazines on the table to mock him, so I guess that works out.
I hated this for many reasons. The most important being that it isn’t a satisfying ending. It is so tame compared to what I thought was going to happen.
It also doesnāt work with the rest of the episode. Maybe if heād been lost in the backrooms forever, that would have been better. Maybe if heād been hunted by his son through the backrooms, to be killed and then come back over and over. That would have been fitting. Especially if he was always just out of reach of his laptop, so he never could get back to writing.
But no. Heās just in a waiting room, with some magazines. And that just isnāt enough.
The biggest problem Iāve had with American Horror Stories is this. Some of the episodes are spectacular. And some, sadly, fall flat. Backrooms is very much one of the latter. But I still have hope for the rest of the season.
(2 / 5)
After taking a week off, Dexter Original Sin is back. And while no piece of art can ever be entirely perfect, this was as close to perfect as I think we can expect.
The story
We start this episode right where the last one left off. Dexter, with a body in his trunk, finds his dumping grounds swarming with cops. So, keeping his head as cool as ever, he pulls out his forensic badge and pretends he’s supposed to be there. Then, he feeds the remaining arm from his second kill to the alligators before anyone can print it. But, not before Angel recognizes a distinct ring on the hand’s finger.
Jewelry really will be the death of Dexter.
While he might have gotten himself out of that mess, he still has a body to deal with. He decides to take it to a dump in broad daylight. Sometimes he acts like he wants to get caught. But then, maybe he does.
Meanwhile, the police are still looking for whoever kidnapped Nicky. There’s a horrific scene in this episode in which the poor kid has his finger chopped off. But this finger might well be the evidence that Miami Metro needs to catch the kidnapper because Dexter notices a sense of hesitation before the cut on Nicky that wasn’t present on the first little boy.
He also finds a drop of blood that doesnāt belong to Nicky.
Once again, it all comes back to blood.
What worked
As Iāve watched this series, and after consuming all of the rest of the work this franchise has offered us, one thing has become more and more clear.
Harry Morgan is a terrible human being.
Letās just take this episode as an example. We see him strongarming a CI that he had an affair with, threatening to stick her in jail and drop her kids into foster care if she doesnāt keep risking her life for him. We then see him go home and lecture his wife, who he cheated on, for not forgiving him fast enough. And we know how this all ends for the Mosers. We know that Laura ends up dead and Harry takes the baby he liked, leaving Brian to the horrors of the foster care system.
- Michael C. Hall (Actor)
- Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The thing is, we were never supposed to like Harry. More and more I realize that Harry is the bad guy. Heās the antagonist of Dexter. And as Iām rewatching the original series, I see clearly that heās been the bad guy from the start. And I think thatās such a brilliant idea.
Not quite as cool, but still impressive was the serial killer advice scene in this episode. Dexter, struggling with where to hide his dead bodies, researches how other serial killers have done so. We see him talk to Ed Gein, David Berkowitz and John Wayne Gacy. This scene brought the absurdity of the series to the forefront. Our main character admires these men. These monsters did horrific things. And we still, somehow, against all decency, like him.
Let me also just say that Scott Reynolds who played Gacy did a fantastic job. The body language and line delivery were just so creepy. For someone who wasnāt on screen for more than a few minutes, he knew how to make a killer impression.
Finally, I want to applaud the twist in this episode. But, as always, I want to do so without giving it away! I will only say that there is a large reveal regarding the person who killed the judge’s son and abducted Nicky. And, I have to say, I didn’t see it coming. It was amazing and raised so many questions. Questions I cannot wait to have answers for.
Honestly, everything in this episode worked. It was well-written, well-acted, and well worth my time. My only complaint right now is that there are only three episodes left.
Of course, itās usually the last episode of a Dexter show that ruins the whole thing. Letās see if they can avoid that this time.
(4 / 5)
After the last episode of Goosebumps, I was concerned. I wasn’t sure where the season was going, and I worried I wouldn’t like it.
Thankfully, this episode got the story and my interest back on track.
For the most part.
The story
We begin our story with a flashback from Alex, finally finding out why she was sent to Juvie. She was at a party that resulted in a house fire, through no fault of her own. Rather than helping her, Alex’s mom Jen simply assumes she set the fire and refuses to help her. So, you know, ACAB.
When Alex gets back, she wants to clear her name. So she decides to find Murph, the person who actually set the fire. To do this, she needs a car. So she decides to borrow Treyās car.
You know, the car that is currently infected by the homicidal sewer spores.
What worked
One thing I’ve enjoyed about this season so far is that no one’s really at fault here. Yes, some of them are doing dumb things. I wouldn’t consider Trey breaking into Anthony’s basement and wrecking stuff to be a great decision. But I can also see how he got there, and why he was pushed to that. I love how we have the opportunity to see the motivations of almost every character.
I also enjoyed how Alexās character is being filled out. She is compassionate, funny and brave. I think sheās going to end up being my favorite character this season.
On that note, a lot of this episode revolved around Alex and her mother. This was important, as we needed to round out the cast. However, I appreciated that we got that focus while still moving the storyline along for the characters we already have established. It’s sometimes hard to strike that balance when we’re not telling a story in a linear fashion. But I think they pulled it off.
What didnāt work
As much as I love the Alex/Cece relationship, I donāt love how Cece is being portrayed.
Maybe I just donāt like Cece.
She is too perfect. She is too charming. Everyone likes her. And several times in this episode she batted her pretty eyes, tossed her blond hair, and got people to do things for her. While I am amused that Alex weaponized this, it’s also irritating. I’d like to see less pretty privilege.
Finally, in this episode, we saw this demonic or haunted spore (or whatever it is) transition from a car to, of all things, a cup of coffee.
What even is this thing? What are the dimensions? What are the rules? What the hell is it doing?
Suspension of disbelief can only take us so far. We have to have a set of rules for the world for us to buy into it. I can buy a sentient spore. I cannot buy it jumping from living creature to car to coffee cup.
Do better.
Even so, this was a really fun episode. Iām enjoying the story so far, and Iām interested to see how long it takes everyone to get the parts of their story together so they can see the whole picture.
(3.5 / 5)
Smile 2, a psychological supernatural horror, released in October 2024 just in time for Halloween, sees director Parker Finn (Smile, Laura Hasn’t Slept) return with a sequel starring Naomi Scott (Aladdin) as pop star and recovering addict Skye Riley. While Smile 2 boasts a talented cast, it ultimately falls short of its predecessor, offering a familiar storyline with minor variations and a predictable finale. The film attempts to introduce a new method to combat the parasitic ‘Smile Entity’, but this addition fails to elevate the sequel beyond a pale imitation of its chilling predecessor.
The Plot.
Smile 2 begins shortly after the end of the original; just six days after Rose Cotter’s death. During a short interlude scene, we watch as the now cursed Joel attempts to pass the Smile Entity on by killing one criminal in front of another. The plan backfires spectacularly, inadvertently passing the curse onto an innocent bystander named Lewis Fregoli.
The film then shifts gears, introducing Skye Riley, a singer and performer making a triumphant return to the spotlight with a comeback tour after a tumultuous past. During a candid interview on the Drew Barrymore Show, Skye opens up about her struggles with addiction and the devastating loss of her boyfriend in a car accident. Her sobriety journey, however, faces a severe setback when she seeks pain relief from her old high school friend, the unwitting Lewis Fregoli. In a chilling turn of events, Lewis takes his own life while Skye watches, passing the Smile Entity onto her.
Unaware of her new cursed existence Skye gets on with rehearsing for her tour, but she begins to notice that strange things are happening. People are smiling at her in an unnatural way and she becomes the target of anonymous attacks and aggressions. When text messages begin to arrive from an unknown number, Skye decides to get some answers.
Highlights.
Let’s not beat about the bush. I found Smile 2 difficult to finish and was struggling at about the hour-and-a-half mark to stay awake. That being said it’s worth watching because everyone needs to see the 3-minute scene of the āsmilersā chasing Skye through her apartment. This was possibly the creepiest thing Iāve seen on a screen. The buildup, the synchronicity of the movement of the actors and their positioning, the camera work, and the lighting. I have rewatched it several times and it doesnāt get old. If you are only interested in watching this, fast forward to the 123-minute mark and get ready to be impressed.
Drawbacks.
Where do I start?
My primary concern with Smile 2 is its striking resemblance to its predecessor. The narrative follows a familiar pattern: an attractive woman fleeing a supernatural force, grappling with hallucinations, experiencing a mental health decline, and culminating in the revelation someone close to Skye was the Smiling Entity after all. This repetitive structure diminishes the film’s impact.
- Sosie Bacon, Jason T. Usher, Kyle Gallner (Actors)
- Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
While the introduction of a new method for shedding the entity initially offered a glimmer of hope this concept wasn’t fully realized. It just served to add names to the line of people that the entity has infected in the past.
Furthermore, the film’s pacing suffers from excessive focus on Skye’s musical career. Scenes showcasing her stage rehearsals and music videos, while intended to establish her identity as a performer, feel unnecessary and detract from the narrative momentum. Yes, we understand sheās a performer, you told us, you donāt need to prove it. These scenes appear to artificially inflate the film’s runtime, suggesting a lack of confidence in the core story.
The Final Take.
Ultimately, Smile 2 fails to expand upon the established lore of the franchise. The film’s conclusion feels contrived, with a blatant setup for a third installment. Hopefully, if a ‘Smile 3’ is inevitable, the creative team will bring fresh ideas and avoid simply retreading familiar ground.
(2 / 5)
Both Cthulhu’s granted for that one scene.
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Kyle Gallner, Naomi Scott (Actors)
- Parker Finn (Director) – Parker Finn (Writer) – Parker Finn (Producer)
Last update on 2025-01-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
-
Editorial7 days agoFireside Chat 2025: Apparently I Don’t Exist
-
Movies n TV3 days ago
Goosebumps The Vanishing, Back on Track With The Haunted Car
-
Original Creations5 days ago
Alice – A Haunting Tale of Isolation and Betrayal by Baylee Marion
-
Original Series2 days ago
Nightmarish Nature: Invisibles Among Us
