Wyvern
Hot take: I think there should be more horror movies with dragons. Dragons are cool, and have plenty of capacity to be truly terrifying, but unfortunately they’ve never really made it into the horror genre. I know that part of the reason for this is that dragons are expensive. They’re huge and they’re most well-known for breathing fire, which would eat into even the heartiest special effects budget. Fantasy films tend to be given much higher budgets than horror movies, so they’re much more likely to be able to afford dragons. On top of this is the looming shadow of Reign of Fire, which was both a critical and financial disappointment, making studios much more hesitant to even touch that kind of film. But hey, at least we have Wyvern.
Wyvern is a 2009 film directed by Steven R. Munroe in which Jake, an ice road trucker with a tragic past, must band together with the citizens of the small town of Beaver Mills to defeat a wyvern that was released from an iceberg by global warming. Made in conjunction with RHI Entertainment and The Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy), it was released as part of the Maneater series.
On Wings of Glory
Let’s start with what I liked.
The cast and characters are good. The character development isn’t super deep but everyone feels like a person, like they had an actual history before the film rather than just being there to fit an archetype. Nick Chinlund’s Jake is a solid loner trying to atone for past mistakes, and it comes across in his character’s choices before his backstory is ever revealed. The scene where he reveals his tragic backstory is fairly convincing. The late Don S. Davis does a spectacular job as Colonel Sherman, providing a fun and energetic presence that could have been utilized more effectively. Tinsel Korey’s Hampton is great, and I like that her experience with the radio tower’s electrical wiring actually gets to be relevant to the plot. The only character that feels extraneous is poor Edna, played by Karen Elizabeth Austin. She doesn’t really get to do much in the narrative, and her character arc just kinda happens without a lot of active development.
The music is nice. All of the music fits the scene nicely, it’s all very well-coordinated. I’m particularly fond of the knock-off AC/DC that plays in the trucking scene.
While the dragon itself is CGI, there are some interesting practical effects in the movie. The wyvern eggs look really cool. They’re maybe a bit fleshier than you’d expect dragon eggs to be, but I still really like them and appreciate the effort the effects team took to make them look interesting.
A small detail I really appreciated is that when they radio for help, Jake specifically doesn’t mention the wyvern because he knows people wouldn’t believe that. I have long been of the opinion that horror movie protagonists tend to be too honest when going to authorities for help. A lot of them will acknowledge how strange their situation sounds but never even consider that gently lying might be their best option. Of course no one is going to believe your friend was murdered by bigfoot, but you could say that you saw some kind of large[] ]\animal kill your friend. Now, whether they would actually be helpful is another matter, but at least they’d show up.
On Wings of Despair
Unfortunately the film isn’t perfect.
A major problem with the film is that they show too much of the wyvern too soon. The first few death scenes completely show the wyvern, so nothing’s left to the imagination when they try to go back hints and implications after those scenes are over. The in-your-face nature of the first death scene feels out of place with the slower build-up they attempt while leading to the second. The sections in the first third of the movie with the colonel would have been so much more interesting and effective if we hadn’t already seen the wyvern. This film could have had an excellent suspenseful build-up, but it was just too trigger-happy.
The wyvern itself only looks okay. I’ve seen much worse in terms of CGI, but it’s still obviously CGI. The coloring could’ve been a bit more visually interesting, especially if they were insistent on showing the wyvern off as much as they could. It doesn’t breath fire, which is a little disappointing, but it’s probably for the best given that in the scenes where they do attempt CGI fire effects they look pretty bad.
Final Thoughts
The film is an honest effort. It’s competently made and engaging. Is it particularly scary? No. Is it high art? No. But it’s a solid, satisfying monster movie where the monster happens to be a dragon. This film easily gets four out of five cthulhus. If you want to check it out on Amazon, remember that we are an Amazon affiliate and if you buy anything from the links provided, we will get some $ back.
(4 / 5)
Released in 2011, Grave Encounters is one of the better-liked-found horror movies by both critics and horror fans alike. At least, that’s the opinion of the few who’ve seen it. For some reason, it’s not as well known as many others in the genre. So today, let’s spread awareness for this overlooked spooky gem.
The story
We begin our story with a TV executive, talking about an ill-fated reality show named Grave Encounters. He explains that everything went south during the taping of episode six. While the footage was retrieved, the ghost hunters were not. Our TV executive assures us that what we are about to see is not a movie, and has only been cut for time.
We then dive into the footage collected from episode six. The ghost-hunting team will spend the night in an old mental hospital called Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital.
During the night, the team does see a few eerie things. A door slams shut. A wheelchair moves on its own. Fairly standard ghost-hunting fair.
The real horror starts when the team isn’t released from the hospital in the morning. Because morning doesn’t come. The sun doesn’t rise and the doors don’t open to the outside world. Lance, TC, Sasha, Matt and Houston are all trapped inside an ever-changing hospital, with the patients who remain even in death.
What worked
The first thing I want to talk about, and the part that attracted me to the film in the first place, is the parody element. Fans of ghost-hunting shows like Ghost Hunters will recognize many of the same elements. The title even has a very similar font. As someone who loves a good ghost hunt, but often finds that these shows take themselves a little too seriously, this was quite enjoyable.
Another thing I loved about Grave Encounters was the effects. The ghosts were shocking, not just the first time we saw them but every time. This is even more impressive when we remember that this movie had a budget of $120,000. The creators taught themselves how to do these effects, and most of them are practical, not CGI. This would have been impressive if the effects were just passible. And they were far more than that.
Finally, I want to talk about the character development. We start the film without much sympathy for our characters. Especially Lance. Lance was so punchable at first. He was flippant about others’ pain. He was clear that he’d make up evidence if he couldn’t find any. And he didn’t seem too interested in listening to his team.
By the end of the movie, though, we care about him and the rest of the team. And it takes so little time for us to change our minds. We see TC talk to his daughter, and realize he’s never going to get home to her. We see Sasha care about the people lost in the hospital. We see Lance protect Sasha and the rest of his team. We see that these people, as willing as they are to financially benefit from other people’s pain, actually do care about each other. No one is a coward. No one is leaving people behind. That’s admirable. And that makes me give a damn about them.
What didn’t work
All that being said, it wasn’t a perfect movie. To start with, there are some questions we don’t get answers to. And not in an acceptable way. It’s okay that we don’t know what really happens in the end. It’s okay that we don’t know how the spirits manipulate time. It’s not okay that one character is simply eaten by fog. That scene, close to the end, just felt lazy.
I will also say that some of the acting wasn’t great. Especially from Sasha, played by Ashleigh Gryzko. I won’t say she was terrible. But her acting was overdone. She was also a bit of a scream queen. We didn’t learn much about Sasha, except that she’s the token girl. Her character could have been fleshed out a bit more.
Overall, Grave Encounters is a great film. Whether you’re a fan of found footage, ghost hunting, or just spooky stories well told, this is one to put on your TBW list sooner rather than later.
For Haunted MTL, this is Nicole signing off.
(4.5 / 5)
Episode four of Agatha All Along started on a sad note and ended on a shocking reveal. Can we really ask for anything more?
The story
We begin this episode, as mentioned, at the graveside of poor Sharon. She’s the first to pass away on The Road, but I’ll be quite surprised if she’s the last.
It’s one thing to have died. But it’s quite another to have died surrounded by people who don’t really care and won’t really mourn you.
After that, we continue down The Road to find another house. This one appears to be familiar to Alice. She tries to turn around and go the other way, but The Road won’t let her escape that easy.
What they find inside is the home Alice shared with her mother. They also find a record of Alice’s mother’s version of the Ballad. After the coven starts experiencing Alice’s family curse, they realize the only way out is to sing The Ballad that can protect them. One that’s been protecting Alice for most of her life.
They do escape the house, but not unscathed. Teen is badly injured. And we see another side of Agatha. Maybe even one she didn’t know she had.
What worked
This aspect shocked me, but Agatha is a good team leader. This is undercut because we all know she doesn’t care about her team. But twice now she has stepped in and helped when a member of the coven was struggling. She didn’t do it with love but with honesty. And sometimes that’s what we need.
Another thing I want to draw attention to is the sexual tension between Agatha and Rio. However, they’re doing a fine job drawing attention to it themselves.
It is killing me.
There is so much history between these two characters that we just don’t know yet. But we want to know. This is one of the biggest drives to watch the next episode, at least for me. While at first, it seemed like Agatha was to blame for their riff, it appears after this episode that it might have been Rio. Or, frankly, it might have been both of them. All I know is that I am constantly reminded of Rio’s question to Agatha from the first episode.
“Do you remember why you hate me?”
Finally, I thought the 70’s vibe of this episode was very fun. I especially liked the camera shots that were quite reminiscent of old 70’s show. The split screens, the quick gasp shots. It reminded me of Scooby Doo and Jabber Jaw in the best way.
What didn’t work
I don’t have much negative to say about this episode. The only real complaint I have is that I didn’t like this new version of The Ballad. It’s fine, but it isn’t nearly as cool as the first.
All in all, this was a great episode. I have so many questions about Teen, about Rio, and about what The Road has in store for the rest of them. And I can’t wait to see what’s next.
(4.5 / 5)
Movies n TV
Evil: “A is for Angel” (S2E2)
“A is for Angel” is an episode of the supernatural drama, Evil. The assessors investigate a potential angelic possession.
“A is for Angel” is an episode of the supernatural drama, Evil, created by Michelle King and Robert King. The central cast includes Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, Christine Lahti, and Andrea Martin. It originally aired under CBS before moving to Paramount+. As of this review, it’s available through Netflix and Paramount+ and its add-ons.
The assessors investigate a potential angelic possession. David (Mike Colter) meets a helpful nun (Andrea Martin as Sister Andrea). Kristen (Katja Herbers) talks to the police. Sheryl (Christine Lahti) takes out her frustration on someone who deserves it. Leland (Michael Emerson) makes a haunting confession.
What I Like about Evil: “A is for Angel”
While “A is for Angel” fears depicting a biblically accurate angel, it still evokes a haunting terror such angels evoke. Brandon J. Dirden’s Raymond/Archangel Michael provides an unsettling performance that directly comments or alludes to actions that angels take in the bible.
This episode introduces Sister Andrea, who will become a key character of the series, acting as a spiritual advisor and mentor to David specifically. She’s interesting enough to evoke lasting memorability, given more attention than debut characters in their introductory episodes.
Leland’s confession to David gets dark, revealing much of the personal relationship the two had before the series began. While nothing remains confirmed, and Leland clearly aims to antagonize David, David’s reaction suggests that some truthful admissions linger within the deception. However, it’s ultimately a viewer’s decision to weigh these claims.
“A is for Angel” creates a rather terrifying dynamic that evokes a haunting narrative. Where the previous episode focused more on what comes next, “A is for Angel” dives into the horrific implications of the procedural plot.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
As mentioned earlier, the procedural plot involves an angelic possession and some Old Testament godliness, which might upset some viewers. Some points suggest sexism and abuse, but little of this receives attention beyond the claim.
A character potentially murdered their wife, suggesting spousal abuse, but the reality of the situation seems blurred. Regardless, the victim tries to leave their abuser, which is a common source of abuse in domestic violence.
While nothing remains confirmed, a child molester apparently receives angelic punishment. The viewer takes the word of the angel’s supposed host on this claim, which hardly means an absolute confirmation.
Suicide, potentially assisted suicide, is another plot point alluded to in the episode. Little remains a proven fact, but the suggestion seems plausible considering what the viewer knows of the situation. As this remains the only confirmation, the claims seem interpretable.
What I Dislike about Evil: “A is for Angel”
Again, “A is for Angel” puts a lot of focus on the horrifying concept of an angel but doesn’t try to depict a biblically accurate angel. Frankly, it’s a wasted opportunity, considering the haunting nature of their descriptions. Such descriptions rival that of Lovecraftian abomination in horrifying potential. It seems like a perfect opportunity for a show or film like Evil. Even as “A is for Angel” challenges the depictions, it hesitates to open its’ trillions of eyes to the opportunities available.
Leland allows the assessors into his home and leaves valuable evidence for the team to find. For such an intelligent character, these oversights seem uncharacteristic. Viewers might assume this frantic response is a ploy, but his reactions suggest otherwise.
Final Thoughts
“A is for Angel” returns Evil to the horror roots that the previous episode hadn’t lingered on. The episode unravels some mysteries of the past that better contextualize relationships. If you’re eager for Old Testament godly intervention, this episode brings out a proper dose of it.
(3 / 5)
