We open with Bill seeing a vision of Lilith who claims that only one can lead them and that she chooses him. Lilith urges Bill to drink all of the rest of her blood. We learn that Lilith has been coming to all of the counselors in this vision and telling them the same thing. Bill kills another one of the counselors who he walks in on seeing this vision of Lilith as well. It seems that Lilith is turning all of the counselors against each other.
Nora realizes her errors and while having sex with Eric, the two come up with a plan to escape.
Safety in Numbers
Sookie, after having learned that she was sold to Warlow centuries ago, stays with the fairies to stay safe.
Cavanaugh, a military official of the U.S. government, pays a visit to the AVL and demands to speak with Roman. Upon finding out that Roman is dead, Cavanaugh says that Roman was the only one holding this thing together. The counselors explain their new beliefs and Cavanaugh tells them that the U.S. is prepared for war with weapons the vampires cannot even imagine. He also reveals that the government has video footage of Russell Edgington and Steve Newlin murdering a house of fraternity brothers and they will release it if they need to. Eric breaks Cavanaugh’s neck when he tries to leave.
Nora and Eric volunteer to go on a glamouring campaign to erase anyone’s memory of the video footage of Russell and Steve and the counsel agrees to this. Bill is skeptical and insists that they take guards with them. In the car, Eric kills the guards and the pair fly off into the sky.
Danger in Plain Sight
Jessica asks Bill if she can go warn Jason about the impending war and the fact that Sookie is in danger. Bill says no until Jessica floats the idea that she could turn Jason into a vampire. Bill knows Jessica is bluffing, so he makes her go to do so but makes two guards go with her who will turn Jason if she doesn’t.
When they arrive, Jessica whispers to Jason to trust her before she tears into his neck. As the guards begin to bury Jess and Jason, Jess whispers to Jason and he shoots the guards with wooden bullets.
Jessica goes to Pam for safety. Pam only agrees for information about Eric in return. Elijah’s maker Rosalyn, a member of the AVL counsel, shows up at Fangtasia for answers. Rosalyn can smell Elijah’s blood on Tara and before she can arrest her, Pam says that she is the one who murdered Elijah. Pam is taken into custody at the AVL – probably to try and find Eric, who is long gone.
Advertisement
While at Fangtasia, Rosalyn sniffs out Jessica and tells her that her daddy is looking for her and brings her back to the AVL too. Bill meets Jessica back in the AVL lounge and is angry that she chose a human over vampires, murdering the two guards.
Formulating a Plan
Sam and Luna are mice inside the AVL and are trying to figure out where they even are. They come upon the cages where humans are kept until feeding time. Guards enter the room and wonder how Sam and Luna got out, assuming they were humans for feed. Sam volunteers when a guard says that Bill demands his breakfast.
Maurella brings Sookie to meet the elder that may have information about Warlow. Just as she is about to tell Sookie information about Warlow, Jason shows up to warn Sookie of the danger she is in. The elder is disturbed that Russell is still alive. Sookie insists that they stop running and fight. The elder agrees with her.
An Unexpected Surprise
Terry and Arlene are doing really well. Maurella shows up at the bar and tells Andy about her pregnancy. Andy is convinced she thinks he is stupid because he saw her last week and she wasn’t pregnant like that. Maurella is angry because he swore on the light. She says to forsake his vow of the light is to cause a war.
The fairies rope Jason into an attack plan. Jason goes home and Russell and Steve show up. They glamour him, having him lead them to the fairies – just as planned.
When they arrive, the elder shows herself and fights the pair. Unfortunately, Russell attacks her and drains her.
It seems like because the elder died and she is probably the one to make the invisible fairy portal, it no longer works and Russell can see them.
Someone warns Alcide and his father about baby vamp attacks so they install a silver fence. Alcide and his father save a neighbor when they are attacked by a pack that tries to come to their house first.
We are racing towards a crashing season finale and I cannot wait to see how all of those characters’ issues resolve. Stay tuned!
(4.5 / 5)
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.
Goosebumps is back with season two, The Vanishing. All eight episodes dropped yesterday, January 10th.
Today, we’re talking about episode one, Stay Out of The Basement Part 1. This episode gets its title from the second of the original Goosebumps series. How much else does it get from this source material? Let’s find out.
The story
Our story begins in 1994, with a group of teens planning to spend the night in an abandoned building called Gravesend. And we are surely made aware that it is indeed Ye Olde 1994 with Beastie Boys blaring and references to X Files. Thank you, show writers, for making me feel as old as possible as quickly as possible.
For reference, the flashbacks from season one took place in 1993. I don’t know if these two stories exist in the same universe, but it stands to reason they do. So it couldn’t hurt to keep track of a timeline.
The teens’ plans are ruined when one of them, a boy named Matty, is infected with some horrific thing that seems to melt him before the very eyes of his friends.
Advertisement
We then cut to 2024, where our story really begins. Two kids, Cece and Devin Brewer, are coming to spend the summer with their dad, Anthony. Anthony is Matty’s younger brother. He is now an adult and excited to have his twins spending the summer with him. He only has one rule for them.
Don’t go in the basement.
As it turns out, nothing in the basement will hurt the kids. Until Devin and Cece end up in Gravesend, and accidentally bring home the exact entity that killed their uncle thirty years ago.
What worked
The first thing that stood out to me was the connections that Cece and Devin have to this town, while still being outsiders.
Their dad, Anthony, lives there full-time. And while the twins seem to spend some time there, they really haven’t in years. This puts them in a liminal position of being both newcomers and having ties to the place. They know some people, but not most of their peers. But everyone knows their family, because of the tragic death of their uncle. This is a good way to have some flexible characters. They are both from there and not from there. It works.
Advertisement
I also liked that this first episode has clear ties to the book it’s named for, while not being bound to it. In Don’t Go In The Basement, the kids have to save their father, Mr. Brewer, from the terrifying plant clone trying to take over his life. (Sorry for the spoiler. But the book did come out over thirty years ago.)
While this storyline is going to inspire at least some of our storyline, it’s clear that we’re going to go far above and beyond that. I appreciate that we’re keeping the integrity of the source material, while not being shackled to it.
Finally, I like that Anthony seems like a good dad. He’s worried about his kids. He’s excited to spend time with them. He’s quick to not involve them in fights with his ex, their mom. When he asks them not to go in the basement, he then takes them down to show them that he’s not hiding anything, it’s just not a safe place for them. All good dad points. Even better, we see that Devin goes to his dad when he’s scared. We get the feeling that Anthony would have listened to him if he hadn’t been fending off a homicidal vine at the time.
What didn’t work
I only have one complaint about this first episode. In the very beginning, we see the death of Matty. But, it’s really fast.
Not that I wanted to see a teenager suffer, but we see his face go dark and melt so fast, you’ll blink if you miss it.
Advertisement
For one thing, that lets the viewer off too easy. This is our first dark moment. It should be a little slower. We should focus on the fear and anguish for a few more moments. Especially since this death is going to be the cornerstone of our story for the season.
While I am disappointed that this means we were in fact left on that terrible cliffhanger from season one, I’m happy with how this season is starting. The characters are interesting, the story is dark, and I’m excited to see how it plays out.
Alright, you sick puppies, gather ’round for a tale of family bonding, teenage angst, and good old-fashioned murder. “Bloody Axe Wound” is here to tickle your funny bone and possibly remove a few other bones while it’s at it.
The Gist: Serial Killing as a Family Business
Picture this: a video store that’s actually a front for some seriously messed up snuff films. The twist? The owner’s a serial killer who’s been slicing and dicing teens faster than you can say “late fees.” But wait, there’s more! His daughter, Abby Blake Cut (yeah, that’s her name, deal with it), wants in on the family business. Talk about bring-your-daughter-to-work day gone horribly wrong!
“Bloody Axe Wound” is like “90210” decided to do a crossover with “Halloween” – Jim Phoenix, HauntedMTL
Daddy’s Little Monster
So, Daddy Dearest isn’t too keen on his baby girl following in his bloody footsteps. I mean, come on, it’s 2024 – girls can be anything they want, even psychopathic murderers! But our guy’s stuck in the past, probably still thinks women belong in the kitchen (chopping vegetables, not people).
Last update on 2025-01-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A Feminist Slasher? You Bet Your Ass!
Abby’s not just fighting for her right to party (and by party, I mean brutally murder people). She’s breaking down barriers in the male-dominated field of serial killing. Move over, Jason and Freddy – there’s a new blade in town (no, not Mahershala Ali…only one real Blade…), and she’s got a point to prove (several points, actually, all of them sharp).
Horror Tropes Galore
This flick’s got more tropes than a teenager’s got hormones:
Awkward sexual exploration? Check.
That one friend who’s way too old to be hanging with high schoolers? You betcha.
A cursed town where everyone’s oblivious to the killer in their midst? Oh, honey, it’s all here.
It’s like “90210” decided to do a crossover with “Halloween,” and somehow it works!
Last update on 2025-01-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Verdict: 4.5 out of 5 Bloody Thumbs Up
Look, I’m not saying “Bloody Axe Wound” is gonna win any Oscars (unless they finally add that “Best Dismemberment” category I’ve been lobbying for). But hot damn, it’s a fun ride. It’s got laughs, it’s got gore, it’s got a weirdly heartwarming father-daughter story if you squint hard enough. This one is a rewatchable movie and probably a cult classic for many of us.
Advertisement
So, grab your popcorn, leave your sensitivity at the door, and get ready for a movie that’ll make you laugh, cringe, and possibly reconsider your family dynamics. Just remember: the family that slays together, stays together!
(4.5 / 5)
P.S. Don’t bring the kids. Unless you want them to have a very awkward conversation with their school counselor.
P.P.S. Sorry, once again, for killing your name in our podcast…
Episode five of Original Sin was surprisingly light. At least, as light as a show can be when it involves murder, teenage drug use, and the anniversary of the death of a beloved parent.
The story
We begin this episode right where the last one left off. Mad Dog, Dexter’s latest victim, is hit by a car and killed. This leaves Dexter with the unpleasant chore of cleaning up a crime scene but not being able to actually kill someone.
Meanwhile, Harry is getting ready for the trial of Levi Reed. This trial seems like it will be a slam dunk, except for one terrible surprise. Turns out Harry messed up and hid what probably wouldn’t have been evidence strong enough to dismiss the case until he hid it.
What worked
One of the reasons why Dexter is so popular is that it’s funny. While it is a show that deals with very heavy subject matter, it’s also managed to be funny most of the time.
Advertisement
This episode is funny. It starts with Dex cursing over and over while he frantically and meticulously cleans up his crime scene, then hiding in a corner with a bag of incriminating trash. We later see him eat way too many pot brownies and get high as a kite, then eat two pizzas while laughing at I Love Lucy with Deb.
These are funny scenes that fit into the heaviness of the show. It doesn’t feel like emotional whiplash when we go from the kids getting high to Harry having a mental breakdown because that makes sense. Rather than forcing humor where it doesn’t belong, the writers made this comedy make sense.
I also loved that we’re seeing Dexter become who he will be. He’s terrified of losing control. He’s always learning how to kill more efficiently. And for someone who claims to not have regular human emotions, he already seems to understand a lot more about how the people around him are likely to act.
At least, he gets how Harry’s going to respond.
I like that he’s not just a teen version of the same character. I like that we’re seeing how this young mentally ill man changed into the adult mentally ill man we all know and love.
Advertisement
Finally, we are really seeing the depths of how bad of a cop, and frankly a person, Harry is. Because Harry isn’t a good person.
He withheld evidence in a murder trial because he just didn’t consider it valid.
He ignored his kids, especially Deb when they needed him.
He’s having an affair with his CI, which is not only bad because he’s a married man, but because he’s taking advantage of a huge power imbalance between the two of them.
And finally, when he singlehandedly lost a murder trial, he got drunk and almost shot a man. When he couldn’t do it himself, he let Dexter off the leash.
Advertisement
Harry is a bad person. And that’s kind of awesome. That’s the sort of villain origin story that I love to see. He is a more interesting character because of this. And Dexter is more understandable because of what we understand about the man who raised him.
What didn’t work
It took me a while to look over this episode of Dexter Original Sin and find something to complain about. And honestly, there’s one part of this season that’s been bothering me.
I don’t love that Harry is spending so much time with little Dexter. It just doesn’t make sense to me. At least, not with the story of the original show.
Especially in the first season, it’s clear that Dexter doesn’t remember anything before the death of his mother. That makes sense, as he was very very small. But this little Dexter feels like he would have been old enough to remember some of this.
But, you might say, he was traumatized. He watched his mother be brutally slaughtered and was left for days in a shipping crate with his mother’s body. And yeah, it does make sense that he would forget a lot.
Advertisement
But would he never have the slightest inkling that he was now being raised by the man who suddenly showed up in his life, babysat him, and tucked him lovingly into bed?
Overall, this was a great episode. It was funny, touching, and moved along several storylines. I’m excited to see what comes next.
(4 / 5)