We arrive back in Bon Temps at Fangtasia, where Eric and Russell are handcuffed together and burning outside in the sun. Godric’s spirit appears to Eric and begs him to forgive Russell and end the hate. Eric resists, screaming into oblivion.
Inside, Sookie wakes up with Bill in her face. She slaps him and asks where Eric is. Pam tells her and she heads outside. Sookie uses her powers to detach the handcuffs that bind Eric and Russell and she drags Eric back inside. Sookie has Bill bite her and she feeds her blood to Eric.
A recovering Eric tells the group that Godric told him they must spare Russell. Sookie goes outside and drags Russell back in. They chain him up to one of the poles inside the club. Eric has Sookie guard Russell while everyone sleeps during the day because he cannot glamour her.
Let Me Go
Russell offers Sookie money and property to let him go, but she ignores him. She finds out that the glass jar is Talbot’s remains and pours them down the garbage disposal as Russell screams. This moment reveals something new about Sookie. She has been such a good girl, innocent and caring. In this moment, she is angry and sinister. I’d love to see more of this dimensional side of Sookie. She’s becoming not so one-note.
Alcide arrives and Eric and Bill take Russell to a construction site. Before Sookie leaves, she rescinds her invitation for all vampires present into her home. Before he drives away from the construction site that he’s brought Eric and Bill to, Alcide confirms that this favor erases his father’s debts to Eric. Eric and Bill bury Russell in concrete, making sure that he stays frozen in space and time — doomed to decades trapped in concrete alive and suffering. Russell tells them that one day he will get out and they will be sorry. I don’t doubt this.
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Bill suddenly turns on Eric and puts him in the concrete as well, covering him up. Bill takes Eric’s phone and calls his assassin disguising his voice as Eric’s and asks him to kill Pam.
Sam’s Secret
The morning after spending the night together, Sam makes Tara breakfast. He admits to her that he is a shapeshifter. Tara is shocked and gets angry at Sam for not telling her, stating that it’s fact she’d like to know before sleeping with someone. She thinks over her experiences with Maryann and Franklin and decides she’d like to know how to live her life without the interference of the supernatural.
Later that day, Sam goes to his office to find it ransacked and his brother missing from his rental property. He finds Tommy and chases him in the woods. When Tommy won’t return his money, we see Sam pull a gun and fire.
The Bust
The DEA have come to Bon Temps in preparation for a raid on Hotshot to seize V and meth. Jason finds out from Andy that the raid is happening that very day. Andy warns Jason that if he tips Hotshot off, he can kiss his dreams of being a cop goodbye.
Jason and Crystal race over to Hotshot to warn them. When they arrive, Felton shows up with a shotgun. He tells his father that he cannot get rid of the V, and it becomes obvious that Felton is using and is addicted. Felton shoots Calvin in the face and takes not only the cooler of V, but Crystal as well. Jason is left to fend for the town of Hotshot.
He is brought into the station for tipping off Hotshot and Andy lectures him about how dumb he made the town look. Jason asserts that those people had no one to help them and that he did the right thing, even if it means he can’t become a cop.
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Reunited
Hoyt goes into work to find his mother, Summer, and his high school guidance counselor waiting to stage an intervention. Hoyt listens to what they have to say and then wishes Summer well and walks away. Good for Hoyt!
Later on, Hoyt brings Jessica to an empty home and tells her he wants to marry her and live there with her. Good for them! I’ve been rooting for them from the start.
Meanwhile, we see Maxine – Hoyt’s mother – shopping for a gun. Uh oh.
Visionary
Lafayette is still having visions that come to him in waves. He talks with Sam behind the bar, and sees Sam’s hands covered in blood. While working, Lafayette has a vision of Rene choking Arlene, saying he is inside her. Everything Lafayette is seeing is real, as we know from our knowledge of all the characters’ pasts.
He calls Jesus, who comes and consoles Lafayette, and tells him that he is a bruja – a witch. I suspect they both are, but there is no confirmation yet.
Caught
Tara walks in on her mother having sex with her pastor – who is married with children. After her interactions with Sam and her mother, she cuts her hair into a bob. This seems to be an awakening, a rebirth, for Tara. She is moving forward.
The Finale
Sookie opens her door to find Bill. He tells her that both Russell and Eric are gone – that he ended them. A concrete-covered Eric runs up. Eric asks Sookie if she knew that Bill originally was interested in her because Sophie-Anne wanted to make him find her. Eric also points out that Bill let the Ratrays beat Sookie until she was almost dead so that he could feed her his blood to bond with her. Sookie banishes both of them from her home, sending them away.
Inside Fangtasia, Pam has killed their assassin and is alright. Eric laments that he is now out an assassin. Pam asks if he killed Bill and he responds that he did something much worse than that to him — he broke him away from Sookie.
Bill invites Sophie-Ann to his home under the pretenses of drinking Sookie’s blood and walking in the sun. Bill tells her only one of them is leaving the house and they begin fighting to the death.
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Sookie visits Gran’s grave and tells her that she is lost. Claudine shows up and Sookie disappears into fairy land.
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Sarah Moon is a stone-cold sorceress from Tennessee whose interests include serial killers, horror fiction, and the newest dystopian blockbuster. Sarah holds an M.A. in English Literature and an M.F.A. in Fiction Writing. She works as an English professor as well as a cemeterian. Sarah is most likely to cover horror in print including prose, poetry, and graphic forms. You can find her on Instagram @crystalsnovelnook.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism (2022) is a horror comedy directed by Damon Thomas. Based on Grady Hendrix’s novel of the same name, this R-rated film stars Elsie Fisher, Amiah Miller, Cathay Ang, and Rachel Ogechi Kanu. As of this review, the film is available to Amazon Prime subscribers.
Abby Rivers (Elsie Fisher) and Gretchen Lang (Amiah Miller) seek to escape the monotony of high school drama with their friends. However, in their efforts to have fun, Gretchen Lang encounters a troubling otherworldly demon bent on controlling her body. It’s up to Abby to help her overcome this demonic threat.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism Novel Cover
What I Like in My Best Friend’s Exorcism
The effects are surprisingly good. While not overwhelming, these effects never take me out of the film. Even the less realistic scenes fit the overall tone while looking better than expected or required. The 80’s aesthetic strengthens that believability.
Continuing that thought, My Best Friend’s Exorcism oozes the 80’s. Perhaps this comment should set an expectation for the viewer. I can’t exactly comment on the accuracy of the era, but it certainly fits the era of film. If 80’s films don’t interest you, consider looking somewhere else.
While I don’t meet the target audience, the jokes land and provide an enjoyable horror comedy feel. My Best Friend’s Exorcism focuses more on comedy than horror, but this remains a common trend in horror comedies.
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The performances remain strong throughout, with leads Elsie Fisher and Amiah Miller pulling off that best-friend chemistry. The cast purposely captures that 80’s nostalgia. Added to the campy nature of the film, one might grow irritated with the acting choices. For me, it certainly fits with the tone and setting.
Disclaimer Kimberley Web Design
Tired Tropes and Trigger Warnings
Drug use might deserve a mention on this list. While I don’t find this egregious, I imagine this point, or some other technicality, earns the film its undeserved R-rating.
The possession lends itself as a rape allegory, with some characters even believing this to be the trauma Gretchen Lang suffers from. While this isn’t the case, the conversation remains for those who want to avoid such material.
Body horror describes a few scenes of the film, though sparingly. However, one scene convinces me to bring this up for those who get squeamish at the cracking of bones or slimies in the body.
A character is tricked into outing themselves and faces some homophobia because of it. This homophobia is rightfully taken as cruel, not condoned in the slightest, but it remains potentially triggering and deserves mention here.
Elsie Fisher as Abby Rivers (Left) and (Amiah Miller as Gretchen Lang (Right)
What I Dislike, or Food for Thought on My Best Friend’s Exorcism
This film seems to earn its R-rating off some technicality. It is neither raunchy nor gruesome for those expecting that from their R-rated horror films. For me, it’s more an issue of setting expectations. I expect my R-rated horrors to hit hard. My Best Friend’s Exorcism doesn’t.
It would be unfair to expect something like Jennifer’s Body, as this is a lighter and zanier film. There are elements of sisterhood and bodily autonomy that echo the cult classic, but My Best Friend’s Exorcism remains an entirely campier affair.
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In terms of performances that lack the intended impact, three over-the-top anti-drug spokesmen outstay their welcome. It’s clearly a jab at D.A.R.E., which certainly works in increments, but then one character becomes an important part of the plot and still keeps his caricature.
Final Thoughts
My Best Friend’s Exorcism fits the taste of an 80’s horror comedy fan. Don’t expect to be frightened at any point, but the comedy lands well enough. The film knows its niche and hits most of its targets. It’s hard to say if the film will stand the test of time, but it certainly earns its runtime. (3.5 / 5)
There’s a lot to unpack from this episode of American Horror Story Delicate, Killer Queens, so I don’t want to waste any time. I just want to take a moment and issue a trigger warning. This episode, and therefore this review, talks about several topics that might be upsetting. These include abuse, pregnancy trauma and miscarriage. It’s heavy. If you’re not up for that, here’s a link to my review of Tucker and Dale, which is considerably lighter and funnier.
The story
Our episode starts with Anna trying to get the police to take her seriously about the break-in. There’s just one problem. No one was seen coming in or out of the apartment except Dex. No one shows up on any of the security footage. The police are convinced it’s just Anna’s IFV medication making her see things.
But Anna doesn’t have time to think about the break-in. She’s just been nominated for a Gotham award, and she needs to get into full Awards Show mode. Siobhan gives her something she calls B12 and tells her that her life now revolves around awards prep.
But Anna’s whole life can’t revolve around that, because she’s pregnant now. Even though she seems to be losing time. Like, weeks at a time without even realizing it.
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Things just get stranger when she’s at the Gotham Awards and accosted by an overzealous fan in the bathroom. After the woman puts her hands on Anna’s stomach, she knocks her over and the woman hits her head on the sink.
Rather than aiding the woman, Anna goes out to accept her award.
Or does she? After throwing up blood on stage, she finds herself back in the bathroom, being helped up by paramedics.
Everyone agrees that Anna needs some rest and space to heal. So she and Dex go to Talia’s house in the country. There, of course, everything gets much worse. Anna starts to bleed after a yoga session and is taken to the hospital. There, she gets an ultrasound by Nurse Ivy. A nurse that no one else knows at the hospital.
Sadly, the bleeding doesn’t stop. And as we end the episode, it appears that Anna has lost her baby.
What worked
Emma Roberts is doing a fantastic job playing Anna. Proving as always that American Horror Story actors are nothing if not flexible. I find myself wanting to compare Anna to Madison Montgomery from AHS Coven. They’re both actresses who experience abuse from men that one might, sadly, expect for women in their station and age range. Madison is gang-abused by frat boys, and Anna has her autonomy taken away from her as soon as a baby is in question.
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That’s where the similarities stop. Can you ever imagine Madison saying, “You’re right, I’m sorry,” to literally anyone? She’d have snapped a man’s neck first. Anna’s body language, voice modulation, and the overall way she carries herself in the world is so different.
This is also part of what makes her relatable. I imagine many of the female-presenting people reading this can remember a time when we’ve said, you’re right, I’m sorry when they were wrong and we weren’t sorry at all.
I also really loved the amount of blood in this episode. There is so much blood involved in being a cisgender woman. It’s something we take for granted, but shy away from when in polite company. There was no shying away here. We’re made to see all of it. I don’t think the amount of blood in the miscarriage scene was overkill at all. If anything, it wasn’t enough.
Finally, it’s a small point but one that I appreciated. I bet you already know the one I’m talking about. When Anna is overjoyed to get to wear the same dress once worn by Madonna, Siobhan reminds her in a stern voice not to rip it.
If you didn’t get the joke, look up Kim K and an incident with the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress. I do appreciate anyone who can poke fun at themselves.
The reference to ‘don’t rip it’ with the dress was fun. I hate Kim K and her whole family, but that was funny.
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What didn’t work
I’m honestly struggling to find anything in this episode that didn’t work. If I had to pick out something I didn’t like, it was probably that we got the barest cameo from Zachary Quinto. I really hope we get to see more of him as the season progresses.
Another thing I don’t like overall is the character Siobhan. I mentioned this last week, and I’ll try not to mention it again because I don’t see it changing. But the character in the show is a bare reflection of the one in the book.
Siobhan in the book was a loving, selfless friend. Which made the ending, well, let’s say impactful to avoid spoilers for both AHS and Delicate Condition. This version, if she continues as she is, is not going to have the same effect.
I’m also quite done hearing the internet swoon over what a great job Kim K is doing. She’s been acting her entire life, I’d be surprised if she wasn’t good at it. And she’s doing no better or worse than many other guest stars have done in the past seasons of American Horror Story. She’s not bad. But she wouldn’t be getting the credit she is if she wasn’t who she is.
Overall, this was a great episode. It was equal parts funny, gory and infuriating. At this point, my only real complaint is that there are only three episodes left until a season break. But now that the writing strike is over, hopefully the break won’t be too long.
Cadaver (2020) is a Norwegian post-apocalyptic thriller directed by Jarand Herdal. This unrated film stars Thorbjørn Harr, Gitte Witt, and Thomas Gullestad. As of this review, the film is available on Netflix.
After an apocalyptic event, the survivors endure in a hopeless world. Among these survivors are Leonora (Gitte Witt), Jacob (Thomas Gullestad), and Alice (Tuva Olivia Remman), a family fighting the hopelessness of a lost world. Leonora desires to keep her daughter (Alice) hopeful, and when a theater opens in their decrepit city, she thinks she has found the solution to their despair. However, they will all soon learn how desperate people have become.
Cadaver Netflix Promotional Art
What I Like from Cadaver
Cadaver takes on a unique focus for a post-apocalyptic movie. While most in the genre tackle the question of where you find hope, the theatrical lens is not one I’ve seen before. It blends these two unique environments together for a pleasant concoction. As a fan of the post-apocalyptic genre, I must admit I find my niche in the everyday lives of someone in such a world.
Leonora’s (usually called Leo in the film) dreamer nature in this horrendously hopeless environment creates a sympathetic contrast. This dreamer nature doesn’t excuse some of her choices, but she evokes sympathy. While most post-apocalyptic entries provide this balance of hope and survival, Leo’s creativity and passion for the arts give her hope and a more focused ideal.
The relationship between Leo and her husband also creates a nice contrast, as Jacob plays the rationalist and survivor. In this decision, both characters provide that post-apocalyptic dynamic of survival and hope. These interactions allow both actors opportunities to create friction as they pull the plot from their differing perspectives.
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I had the chance to listen to the dubbed version, which sounds good. I’m not much for dubs, especially on Netflix, but they did Cadaver with respect and a focus on quality. At the very least, it’s competent and doesn’t distract from the viewing experience.
Disclaimer Kimberley Web Design
Tired Tropes and Trigger Warnings
As hinted at earlier, there are some dumb decisions in the plot. While many fall within character traits, the actions don’t escape criticism. This flaw becomes incredibly repetitive when characters make the same mistake.
Implied suicide occurs throughout the film with one shown incident, but there are circumstances that change the context slightly. A world this bleak invites this depressive and dangerous state as a normality. However, one should prepare if this is a trigger.
Cadaver Family
What I Dislike or Considerations for Cadaver
Again, some decisions had me roll my eyes and endure the plot. This reaction isn’t exactly the experience I seek out in my horror. It’s more haunting to make sensible, or even intelligent, decisions and still endure unavoidable or unforeseen consequences.
It’s likely that nothing in Cadaver surprises you, which underutilizes the interesting premise. There are unique elements, certainly, but never a twist I didn’t see coming. It’s in that execution that Cadaver falls flat and fails to engage a viewer.
The film doesn’t exactly haunt the viewer, but the bleak world effectively depicts the hopelessness of a post-apocalypse. Don’t expect much genuine horror, but you can expect an appropriately uncomfortable and unnerving experience. In short, viewers of Cadaver likely want a unique twist in their post-apocalypse, not a traumatic horror.
Final Thoughts
Cadaver remains a unique viewing experience by adding a slight twist to its post-apocalyptic story. While not a haunting masterpiece, this bleak film will have you feeling the characters’ struggle. While lacking sensible decision-making skills, they are certainly sympathetic survivors struggling in a hopeless world. If this is your niche, it’s certainly worth a view. (3 / 5)
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