The Fear of Knowing – Hannibal the TV Series (Season 1)

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HannibalPoster

As of this month I have finally sat down to watch season 1 of Hannibal. Now I know what you are asking. Why has it taken you over 11 years to watch this show? Well, I’ll be honest. I just never got around to it. Yes, there is a part of me who wanted to wait until the show had wrapped up but beyond that, I never made time for the show.

I decided to change that. With my Dean Koontz backlog finished and my “Terror on Tubi” list caught up to 550 movies, I figured now would be the best time to pick up on Hannibal.

So I sat my butt down, fired up my Tubi app, and started watching season 1.

At the time of this entry, I am on episode 12 of season one. Just one episode away from the season finale. Honestly? I cannot wait to see how the season wraps up. What started off as a nice, slow burn has evolved into an inferno of manipulation, murder, and mystery. Despite knowing the end result of these characters, I have no idea how this season will end. I cannot wait!

That said, there is something I wanted to discuss. Hence this post.

Let’s call it the Fear of Knowing.

Knowing is Half the Battle

Fear is the unpleasant feeling triggered by the perception of danger whether real of imagined. Is someone following us? Is there something lurking in the shadows? These invasive thoughts work to keep us safe.

As a result, it only makes sense that most horror media focuses on the fear of the unknown. The unknown killer, the mysterious event, the bump in the night. This is what makes horror so effective. We don’t know what’s going on and through that, we are afraid.

But what if we did know? Would that ruin the experience? To that I say, no.

Let’s take a look at Nightmare on Elm Street for example. Freddy Kruger is only in the movie for about seven minutes. Before the finale, all we get of Freddy is his voice or a few shots of him bathed in the shadows. It’s a very effective tool. At this point of the franchise, we don’t really know what Freddy is. Is he man or demon? We just don’t know.

The sequels change this up. After the second movie, Freddy stopped being the boogeyman and instead became the main character. You can even see this in the movie posters. The original two movies kept Freddy’s appearance minimal. From three forward, Freddy became the face of the franchise.

Nightmare5 Poster
Nightmare1Poster

Certainly this diminishes his scare factor, right?

Wrong. While true the series became more comedic in tone later down the line, Freddy was still an intimidating villain. His ability to manipulate the dreamworld as he saw fit meant that he was always in control. This means that despite us knowing about Freddy Kruger and his powers, we still fear him.

Hannibal follows the same logic. Even though we the audience knows that Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a serial killer, that does not diminish the fear we have of him. In fact, I daresay it enhances the fear.

Those familiar with the movies and books know that Hannibal is a cannibalistic mass murder. A refined man who feeds upon the rude and kills when the mood strikes. It is this knowledge that enhances the show’s tension for now we are questioning every little thing Hannibal does.

For example; there are moments throughout season one where Hannibal invites the FBI agents to his home for dinner. The show makes it a point to show us the food he presents to his guests. Elaborate, delicious looking meals that belong in a five-star restaurant. It makes your mouth water as he explains the process in making each of these meals.

HannibalSeason1 Dinner

Until you remember where it came from. That is when the terror kicks in. As I said; we the audience knows he is a cannibal. The characters in the show, however, do not. So we watch in quiet horror as they eat the meat provided. Questions begin to form. Is Hannibal serving his guests human meat? No, he couldn’t possibly…

Then, as nonchalantly as talking of the weather, Hannibal says something to confirm our fears. Of course, the characters don’t understand what’s happening. But we do. We understand and we are horrified by that knowledge.

This is what I mean. While it is true that horror preys on the fear of the unknown; there exists moments where Knowing is scarier than Not Knowing. Season 1 of Hannibal is one of those moments.

Do you know of any other examples where knowing a character’s background enhances the suspense? Or are you a fan of the Hannibal series? Let us know in the comments! We’d love to read them.

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Teaser Trailer

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The teaser trailer for the long-awaited sequel to Tim Burton’s masterpiece, Beetlejuice, has finally dropped. Aptly titled Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the teaser takes us back to the quaint little town of Winter River Connecticut and let me tell you, it feels good to be back.

I could not help but smile while watching the trailer. The attention to detail is astounding. I swear it looks as if they had not stopped filming from the original movie. The covered bridge, Miss Shannon’s School for Girls, and even the Ditz’s attic; they look fanastic.

As does our cast. Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara, despite being older, still look their parts. I also appreciate that new comer Jenna Ortega seems to have her own style instead of being a carbon copy of her mother Lydia. Of course, as this is only a tease, we only get the shortest of glimpses of these characters, but from what little I see, I like.

Finally let us discuss the title character himself. Michael Keaton returns as the ‘ghost-with-the-most’ Beetlejuice and let me tell you; he looks absolutely magnificent. The suit, the makeup, the voice; it’s all there and it is glorious!

Yet something else caught my attention. Something beyond the nostalgia. It was the final frame of the trailer. Did you notice because I sure as hell did.

It was Beetlejuice looking angry.

Not annoyed nor frustrated.

Angry.

Beeltejuice Angry

This makes me curious as to what direction Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will take its namesake. Will he be more of a vengeful spirit this time around? Is he harboring ill-will towards Lydia and her family? How did he come back? Who summoned him and why?

These are just some of the questions I have after watching this tease. Hopefully we’ll get more context when they release the official trailer. And when they do, you can count on me to discuss it here!

So tell me; have you see the teaser yet? If so, tell us your thoughts in the comments below! I would love to hear what you think!

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Silent Hill 2’s Creepiest Moment – “It’s Gone Now”

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I recently discussed one of my favorite horror video games, Silent Hill 2. In that post we talked about what makes Silent Hill 2 such a successful horror game and why it still holds up well to this day. That I failed to mention, however, was one of the creepiest parts of the game. I would like to rectify that mistake so let’s get to it.

In Silent Hill 2 you play as James Sunderland, a man haunted by memories of his deceased wife. One day he gets a letter from her asking him to meet her in their special place in the town of Silent Hill. James ventures off to the small lakeside town to seek out the truth behind this mysterious letter.

James arrives to a deserted Silent Hill. The streets are empty; not a soul to be see. There is no one in the tavern or even the bowling alley. It is as if everyone in town had suddenly vanished. On top of that, there is a thick fog that baths the town in a shroud of darkness. It obscures James’ (and by extension, yours) surroundings.

Along the way to discover the truth, you encounter a wide variety of horrific entities. Creatures that can only be described as things of nightmares. Men-like beasts who look as if they had been wrapped in fleshy straight jackets, scantily clad nurses with bandaged faces and wielding pipes and handguns, a pair of living legs sewn on top of another pair of legs, and of course the dreaded Pyramid Head – a terrifying immortal that stalks your every turn. These are just some of the monsters that James encounters along his journey.

Normally, the monsters alone would be enough to elicit a player’s whimpers, and yet it isn’t enough. Not for a game like Silent Hill 2. It continues to assault the senses by providing the player with an environment as visceral and disturbing as the enemies themselves.

208Before

One such example would be Room 208. In the Woodside Apartments, the first real “level” of the game, you come across Room 208. It is an important room in which players must solve a puzzle in order to progress. The first time players visit the room they may notice how sparsely decorated it is. The only bits of furniture in the room are a coffee table, an old television set, and a gross armchair. Consequently, it is nothing out of the ordinary. Therefore why should you question this room?. After all, we’ve seen other rooms that look similar. Why should this apartment be any different??

It is only after you find the clock key that the room changes. Even as the room loads into view, you can immediately tell that something is wrong. The sound of static now fills the once quiet room. Walking into the family room will expose players to a grisly sight – a trail of blood leading from one side of the room up to the chair. A splash of blood on the television and in the chair itself, a corpse.

208After

All the while the television remains tuned to a channel of constant static. An eerie soundtrack to the grisly scene lying in front of you. That is what I mean by the environment being an unreliable narrator. Silent Hill 2 immerses players in an ever-changing environment. Similarly, the town, much like James, is an unreliable narrator; constantly changing what is real and what is make believe.

Yet there is something more chilling than Room 208. I am not talking about the prison level; filled to the brim with some fantastically horrifying sound design. Nor am I talking about the endless pitfalls beneath the Museum (If you know, you know.).

No. I am talking about a small, almost forgettable moment early in the game that, to this day, sends chills down my spine.

In Neely’s Bar, a tavern that you can explore during the first half of the game, you come across a window. Plastered upon the window are newspapers and written upon the newspapers (presumably in blood) are 8 simple words.

There Was a hole here…

It’s Gone Now.

Silent Hill 2 Hole

Chills. I have chills.

There is something inherently wrong about this sentence. I cannot put my finger on it. Like, who wrote this? What is the hole that they are referring? Is this a physical hole or a metaphorical one? What made it vanish?

I am picturing some poor soul who, like James, is trapped in their own personal hell. Within the walls of Neely’s Bar is someone who has seen a hole – a hole big enough for them to notice daily. Eventually, there comes a day where the hole no longest exists.

I imagine this shattering their world. That there is this constant in their life that had suddenly up and vanished. The hole has gone away and it took their perception of reality along with it. Furthermore, if that was not strange enough, they also feel the need to tell others about the hole. They paint the window with a warning for others to see. To let people know about the whole.

Of course, this is just a theory I have. . There are some fans out there that feel like this message represents James and his possible alcoholism. That the hole is the pain he feels over his wife’s death and by drinking, he has filled that hole. Either way, it is still an eerie message that sends shivers down my spine.

Although I wish I could explain it better, I can’t. The message triggers this primal fear from deep within. Therefore I cannot help the almost Eldritch-like feeling I get from reading this. Almost as if there is something more ancient, more evil than Silent Hill out there waiting for us.

Feeling almost Eldritch in nature – as if the hole is part of something more ancient, more evil than Silent Hill itself.

No matter how you interpret the message, you cannot deny the sense of wrongness and dread that comes from reading it. Just another example of the brilliance that comes is Silent Hill 2. That even something so small, so simple, can elicit terror in the player.

Now I ask this of you, my dear readers: What subtle moments did you find equally scary in Silent Hill 2? Please let us know in the comments below and thank you for joining us today!

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A Grimm Retrospective: Dolls (1986)

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One of my fondest memories as a kid was sneaking through the Horror section at my local Blockbuster Video. It was here that I was introduced to the stunning VHS box-art designed to titillate as well as horrify. But there was one movie’s cover that stood out from all the others and that movie was DOLLS.


You see; in the days before streaming, before blu-ray, before even DVDS, we had VHS. Bulky tapes that required rewinding. That needed Vertical Hold adjustments to get a clear picture. Tapes that your VHS player could randomly eat and destroy. These wonderful relics dominated home entertainment as early as the late 70s and stayed popular until the early 2000s when DVD finally took their place. And while I do miss taping my favorite television shows as they aired live, I don’t miss the hassle that came with owning VHS. They took up a ton of space. Rewinding them was a pain in the ass and you never knew when your favorite tape would finally degrade to the point of being unwatchable.


That said, there is something that I do miss about the VHS tapes of yore. That being the box art. They grabbed your attention with their heavily stylized and usually hand-drawn artwork.

What made these so memorable, however, was that some art did not even depict a scene from the actual movie. Instead it exercised creative liberties with the movie’s overall concept. One example would be the box art for the horror-comedy HOUSE. It showed an overly detailed rotting hand ringing a doorbell. I remember it terrifying me whenever I saw it at my local Blockbuster Video. The brown flesh, the cracked fingernails, the visible muscle and bone; how could this movie NOT be scary?


Chopping Mall is another one that stands out. The robotic hand carrying a blood red shopping bag with body parts poking out of it. I learned later that the art had nothing to do with the movie but still! It looked awesome!


You have Fright Night with the clouds forming a vampire’s face above a house, Critters with a Crite standing center stage with that creepy, hungry smile upon it’s face. WaxWork with the butler opening a door to a wall of twisted monstrous faces. And who could forget ALIEN with its minimalist style of a single Xeno egg floating in the darkness of space.


Beautiful. All of them.


But then you had movies that were a mix of live action and hand drawn art. One of my personal favorites was the cover for Dead Alive (Brain Dead). It had a woman pulling her lips apart while a screaming skull peaked out from the inside of her mouth. Or what about THEY LIVE with a closeup of Roddy Piper’s face with an alien reflection in his sunglasses?


You have Tremors with the live action cast standing in the desert with a hand-drawn Graboid tentacle coming up from beneath them and Nancy’s frightened face with Freddy’s claws over her face in the original Nightmare on Elm Street VHS Cover.


The fact is, these covers were a work of art and although every movie had their own style, it was the horror genre that took box art to a different level.

Which leads me to today’s Retrospective.

Dolls (1986): A Visceral Treat for the Eyes.

As I mentioned earlier, there was one movie that stood out among all the others and that movie was Dolls. Dolls had some of the creepiest box art that I had ever seen. It was of a dolly in a red dress and black curly hair. The left side of her face was flawless. Shadows, however, bathed the right side of her face. Through these shadows you could make out the hint of a human skull. Contained within both of her hands, risen for the audience to see, were a pair of human eyes.


It had its desired effect. It scared the living hell out of me. This box art was one of those images that I would see whenever I was alone in the dark. I would imagine that little doll in my closet; staring at me with those empty eye sockets. I hadn’t even seen the movie and already I was afraid of it!
But what about the movie itself?

The original release of Dolls came during the 1985 Italian MILFED Film Festival. It’s story revolves around several people who become stranded in a gigantic mansion during a horrible thunderstorm. As it turns out, the mansion is home to former toymakers Gabriel and Hilary Hartwicke; both of whom welcome the strangers to stay the night.

The group includes a young girl named Judy and her despicable father David and equally foul stepmother Rosemary; businessman Ralph, and hitchhikers Isabel and Enid. The kind-hearted Hartwickes are more than happy to let them stay the night as long as they all behave themselves.


Judy, ever the curious one, discovers that the mansion is chalk full of wonderful toys. This includes stuffed animals, marionettes, and beautifully detailed dolls. Gabriel tells Judy that he and his wife were toy makers and these were their toys. The collection enthralls not only Judy but also the businessman Ralph. As it turns out, Ralph has never outgrown his fondness for toys and is very excited to see such a collection. It does not take long for Judy and Ralph to become friends; having bonded over their mutual love for the Hartwickes’ work.


But the fun doesn’t last long. As the guests turn in for the night, one of the hitchhikers sneak out of their room with the intent of robbing the mansion. What they find instead is a pack of pissed off dolls who brutally attack the hitchhiker. Judy witnesses this event and tries to warn her parents who promptly ignore then punish her for “making up stories”. Upset, she turns to Ralph who, having seen some of the dolls move himself, believes her. Now they must team up to survive the rest of the evening while also figuring out the mystery behind the killer toys and their creators.


Right off the bat I want to talk about the movie’s special effects. They are absolutely fantastic. The crew used a mixture of marionettes, stop motion, and animatronics to bring the dolls to life and it works wonderfully. Because of the different styles of movement, it gives each toy their own distinct aura of creepiness. The jittery, twitchy stop-motion just gives a sense of wrongness to some of the dolls’ movements. Compare this to the dolls controlled by animatronics – with their eyes moving slowly in their eye sockets, their limbs moving smoothly, almost as if they were actually alive – all of which add a sense of danger to these particular toys.

Then you have the bounciness of the marionettes that somehow provide a weird sense of silliness, yet realness, of the situation. There is a scene, for example, in which a marionette gets set on fire. Its body begins bouncing and jerking about as if someone is yanking on its strings. I don’t know why but it just makes the doll feel that much more real. Like it’s actually reacting to the fire. I mean, we know there is a stagehand off camera pulling on the strings to make it move but because we never see the strings or the person pulling it, it just makes the doll feel alive.


On top of that we have the fact that the dolls are not just hollow shells but actual living, breathing creatures complete with a skeleton, muscles, and functional organs. Whenever they take damage, chunks of ceramic break off exposing their ooey gooey insides. It is a wonderful little detail that piles onto that sense of wrongness that I mentioned earlier. It makes us question the toys’ origins. Where did they really come from? How did Hartwickes manufacture them? Are they truly alive or are they possessed by something out of this world? I absolutely love it.


The same cannot be said for some of the characters. While there is nothing wrong with our victims, they do amount to nothing more than a bunch of walking cliches. You have the neglectful father, the cruel stepmother, and the greedy punk rockers. They don’t really have any development outside of their one personality trait but you know what? That’s okay. We are not supposed to root for these people. They are all despicable one way or another which makes watching them get what is coming to them that much more enjoyable.


That said, we do get some great development between Judy and Ralph. As the only characters with good intentions and kind hearts, we cannot help but worry for Judy and Ralph’s safety. I could not help but love the bond that forms between them.


I also enjoyed the toymakers Gabriel and Hilary. They are not just mindless psychopaths, luring people into their home to die for their own sick pleasure. There is a method to their madness and it makes them that much more interesting to watch. In fact, they remind me a lot of John Kramer from the SAW franchise with their philosophy on appreciating the little things in life. I don’t want to go into too much detail but there is a lot more to the Hartwickes than meets the eye.


Then we come to the gore. We get some pretty wicked kills – from someone having their eyes gouged out and replaced with doll eyes, body parts being sliced and chopped with little knives and saw blades, and even a firing squad! But the highlight comes from the doll’s themselves.


Like I said before, the dolls all contain these slimy, almost mummified bodies beneath their ceramic shells. So, seeing their true forms come out whenever they are damaged is a real treat. And they are not created equal either. Some are look as if they had been dead for decades whereas others look as if they were recently deceased. Some have pumping organs, some have red and white muscles, and some even have their eyes intact. I love the variety as it keeps each reveal fresh and unique.
Honestly, I love this movie. The story is simple yet solid enough to keep you engaged, the kills are fun, the special effects top notch, and the victims despicable enough for us to root against. And honestly? I really do believe that this movie helped pave the way for other movies such as Child’s Play and Puppet Master. It contains many elements that both franchises would explore in greater detail and I feel like the effects for Dolls helped inspire the way Chuckie and the Puppets would be animated in the future.


I will always recommend Dolls to anyone who’d listen. It’s fun. It’s unique. And it is one of the few movies that lived up to its terrifying VHS cover.


Please give it a go when you have the chance. I do not think you will be disappointed.

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Silent Hill 2 Remake – Combat Trailer Concerns

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I distinctly remember the exact moment in which I became interested in Silent Hill. I was in high-school and reading a game magazine (either Game Informer or Electronic Gaming Monthly) and there was an interview with one of the creators behind Silent Hill 2. Unfortunately, I cannot remember if it was with writer Hiroyuki Owaku or director Marashi Tsuboyama but what I do remember is how they described the game.

You see, before Silent Hill, horror games were all about the interaction. You interacted with the monsters in some degree. Whether engaging them in combat (Resident Evil) or running away and hiding (Clock Tower), you were constantly interacting. Thus, the design of these games followed the idea of “Showing” instead of “Telling.”

Games like Clock Tower, Resident Evil, and Dino Crisis wanted you to see the enemy. They wanted you to see the zombies, the Scissor Man, the dinosaurs and while these games relied on jump-scares; they also focused on Survival. So much so that Resident Evil often referred to as the father of “Survival-Horror”.  That is having players manage their limited resources to make it to the end of the game. And sure, there can be an argument towards the Clock Tower franchise being the first – I mean it is literally about surviving an unstoppable enemy – it is Resident Evil’s mix of action and horror made it the go to example of the Survival Horror genre.

That all changed with the introduction of Silent Hill

Silent Hill was released on the Sony Playstation in 1999. At first, it was seen as nothing more than a Resident Evil clone but for those who sat down to play it; they discovered it was so much more.

Where Resident Evil focused more on jump-scares and inventory management, Silent Hill focused on atmosphere and the fear of what you can’t see.

Silent Hill takes place in a small town that is as foggy as it is barren. This fog acts as a visual barrier – keeping the players guessing at what horrors could be just beyond the curtain. It was common for players to be walking towards their destination only to have a monster appear in the distance. Shrouded by fog and emitting terrible, inhuman sounds; the glimpses of these creatures proved scarier than Resident Evil’s infamous jump-scares.

Silent Hill 2 took this idea and ran with it. As I said, I was reading an interview with the game’s developer. They explained that it was scarier knowing that something terrible exists than being surprised by its existence. The example they gave was something along the lines of: “Imagine you enter a hallway. In the distance you see something waiting for you. But instead of it coming for you, it turns around and leaves.”

So now you know there is something in the hallway. You know it’s there and that is the direction you need to go. Now you must make the conscious decision to trek down the dark, scary corridor with the knowledge that something is waiting for you. You don’t know where it is nor if there are others waiting with it. Only that it’s there.

Building upon this mechanic was the addition of making your character “combat inefficient”. James, the protagonist in Silent Hill 2, is not a cop, nor a soldier. He is a regular guy. He has troubles swinging heavy weapons and is not the best marksman with a firearm. This forced players to adapt to a new playstyle. That of “fight or flight”. Do you take the time (and the risk) to fight every monster you come across? Or is it better to just avoid them altogether, juking and dodging around them?

That is not to say that other games didn’t use this mechanic. Resident Evil, again, encouraged players to conserve their ammo by avoiding enemies whenever possible. However, this was not always the best (or easiest) option. Resident Evil’s infamous tank-controls made avoiding enemies rather difficult. On top of that, Resident Evil heavily relied upon backtracking – that is, returning to previous locations. By ignoring the monsters you leave yourself open to dealing with them upon returning.

Silent Hill 2 avoids this by sticking to a more linear format. Yes, you do have to backtrack throughout interior locations, the overall experience is still linear. This means you have a lot more freedom in avoiding your enemies, thus making most combat optional.

Which brings me to the point of today’s post. Team Blooper, the developers for the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake just dropped a gameplay trailer titled “Combat Reveal Trailer”.

Now, I pride myself on keeping an open mind when it comes to remakes of classic games. I understand that things must change in order to fit in with modern sensibilities, but usually involve quality of life changes. Better controls, updated graphics, ability to save more often – things of that nature. What worries me is when a remake alters the fundamental nature of the game.

In the case of Silent Hill 2 – putting a higher emphasis on combat and mobility.

Do not get me wrong. The trailer starts off well enough. The return of classic puzzles, the beautifully updated graphics, the music, and environments; these all look wonderfully done. Then the trailer cuts to the combat.

It is here where my worry begins to sit in. Let’s go down the list.

My first concern revolves around the use of an over-the-shoulder camera. The original game used a somewhat isometric style (for the most part) with the camera high in the air at a sharp angle. This means you had a good idea of what’s directly in front of you and a little bit behind. Even in dark environments you can tell when something is sneaking up from behind.

Lighting comparison Silent Hill 2
Left – original Right – Remake. Can you see what’s happening at all?

With this new over-the-shoulder camera, it feels a lot more constrained. During the trailer there are moments that seem so claustrophobic and so dark that I cannot even tell what’s going on except that we are being attacked. While this may be intense for a while, if not done properly it will be more irritating than it is scary. Hopefully this is just an early beta example with the camera and lighting being tightened up before launch. As of now, however, it feels a bit TOO close to the action to where everything seems cluttered and frustrating to deal with.

Secondly, I am disappointed with the introduction of Quick Time Events. We watch our main character tussle with one of the monsters – and the player needs to mash the X button to escape the monster’s grasp. Silent Hill 2 should be above such things. It should not be about button mashing but instead about losing yourself to the sights and sounds of the world around you. This works in more action-orientated games like Resident Evil 4 but just feels out of place with a slower-paced game like Silent Hill 3.

Finally, let’s talk about the mobility of the enemies. Specifically, at the 01:14 mark where we see one of the Nurses hopping, somewhat comically, over a barrier to reach your character.

Now I am not saying that we cannot update the movement and speed of our enemies but there is something disappointing about seeing one of these horrific monsters hopping around the environment as if it were a tactical shooter. In the original games, the Nurses were enemies that could equip weapons. They moved with creepy, unnatural movements (usually dragging seemingly broken limbs behind them) while carrying a variety of weapons. Weapons that include pipes, knives, and even handguns! They would limp towards you, their weapons glinting in the light of your flashlight; every movement bringing a sense of terror to the player.

And, like I said, the terror came not from the fact that they were agile and quick but because they were durable and moved in unnatural ways. So, seeing them becoming these quick, agile things in the remake just feels wrong. Maybe it’s the nostalgia in me, but I still believe that seeing something move in an unnatural state is a lot creepier than something rushing me like a normal person could; regardless with how they look.

So where do I stand? As of right now, I am cautious. Not cautiously optimistic, not cautiously pessimistic; just cautious. Silent Hill 2 is hands done one of my favorite games of all time. It’s no exaggeration either. I still stream this game every year for Halloween. I love this game so it makes sense that I would be worried with how this remake will turn out but as of now, I cannot form a more definite opinion without seeing actual gameplay. What I need is a full minute or two of actual gameplay. Let me see how our character moves, how the lighting looks, how the combat handles from start to finish. Once I get that, then I can make a more informed opinion.

I have hopes that Team Blooper is able to handle the complexity and psychological aspects that makes Silent Hill 2 such a timeless game. Just as I hope they remember that combat is not a necessity to the original Silent Hill games. Only time will tell.

Let’s see what the next trailer brings us. When it drops, you can be sure we’ll be revisiting this topic but until then, I am not holding my breath.

Tell us, readers: what are your hopes for the Silent Hill 2 remake? Are you excited or are you in the same camp as me, worried with a dash of caution? Let me know in the comments below!

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Unexpected Horror: Dr. Stone

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I have an odd confession. When I was little, I feared Anime more than I did Horror. In fact, I daresay that I got into horror a lot easier than I did anime. Why? Well because the anime that I knew about was violent as hell!

Now while I didn’t want much anime, I did have access to the internet. Through which I discovered clips and screenshots of some of the most detailed and violent movies and shows that 80s and 90s anime had to offer. Movies such as Wicked City, Bio-Hunter, Ninja-Scroll, and Violent Jack were all over the internet and just the site of animated violence was enough to make me feel queasy. Of course, things are different now that I am used to such things but as a kid, I avoided most Anime like the plague.

There were exceptions of course. I got into shows such as Lupin the 3rd, Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, and Tenchi Muyo. It wasn’t until junior high that I started really getting into the harder stuff. I had a friend who lent me a collection of movies on VHS. I started off with Samurai Showdown (my first anime with blood – a quick moment of it spraying out of a character’s mouth), moved onto Ayana’s High Kick, then headfirst into Battle Angel Alita and Ninja Scroll. The former being my introduction to anime gore, the latter being my introduction to, well, everything else.

Since then, I’ve been a fan of anime. Anime such as Spirited Away, Gurren Lagann, Kill la Kill, Hellsing Ultimate, Outlaw Star, Hunter x Hunter, and so on. From the silly to the violent, from the action-packed to the psychological; anime has become another genre that I’ve come to adore.

I know what you are thinking. With an opening like that, I must be getting ready to talk about some kind of horror-anime. Something like Perfect Blue or Paranoia Agent. While I do love them, they are not what I want to talk about today.

What I want to talk about is the wildly entertaining and surprisingly wholesome anime, Dr. Stone.

Dr. Stone is an educational adventure anime that revolves around the hyper-intelligent Senku Ishigami. He is a 16-year-old high-school student with an obsession for science. It does not matter whether its chemistry, engineering, or astrology; he loves it all. So much so that he has dedicated most of his childhood to studying science in hopes of on day going to outer space.

All this changes, however, when a mysterious green light turns the entire human population of earth into stone. 3,700 years later, Senku breaks out of his stone prison and begins his tireless journey to restore the human population with his weapon of choice: science.

What follows next is a fun journey that educates as well as entertains. I highly recommend it. It really handles itself differently than other anime. Instead of having these big epic battles, Dr. Stone focuses on using science and engineering to solve their problems. Even when their enemies’ resort to violence, Senku and his crew fight back in the most peaceful and logical ways possible. It’s great.

Yet not even the wholesome Dr. Stone can escape the long-reaching claws of horror.

**Warning: The following contains spoilers for Season 3**

Season 03 of Dr. Stone finds Senku and his friends advancing in both science and technology. By this time in the show they have already conquered things such as radio communication, hot air balloon travel, and paved roads. They realize, however, that the next thing required for their Kingdom of Science is an improvement to their communication properties. This leads them to build a radio tower. To test its range, Senku and a handful of his allies take a small boat out onto the water and turn their newly boosted radio on. It is here that the horror begins.

Now, as mentioned before, this is a wholesome, comedic anime. The closest thing to a “horror movie moment” came during season 01 where the Senku and his friends discovered a lake of sulfuric acid. It is here where the show represents the deadly Sulfur Dioxide with the image of a rotting angel. She, like the Sirens of Greek myth, calls out to the protagonists in hopes of luring them to their deaths. It’s an intense scene and is admittedly rather scary. Though I would say that the fear comes from the real-world hazard that comes from sulfur dioxide; not the anime itself.

What happens on the boat, however, is a different story altogether.

After activating the high-frequency radio, Senku’s apprentice Chrome tries to contact the mainland. He wants to talk to the priestess of his village, a woman named Ruri. The radio works but as Ruri is about to respond, a stronger signal interrupts her. This signal provides a series of strange noises; noises that turn out to be a series of tapping.

Morse Code.

The team realize that the code is a single word. A single word that is repeating itself nonstop.

“Why?”

It is at this moment that I felt a chill creep down my spine. This is a primitive world. The only people alive are the ones freed by Senku or the natives of the village. Natives who have no concept of science and technology. And yet there is another signal out there in the world. A signal that didn’t exist until Senku and his team activated the radio tower.

Imagine this if you will. You are the only person alive on the planet. You have proof that you are the only person alive on the planet. Then, one day, you wake up to find a message spray-painted across your lawn.

Someone is out there.

And they are watching you.

You don’t know anything about them. Not where they came from. How long they have been there. Why they decided now to contact you. Only that they exist, and you are no longer alone.

That, my friends, is terrifying.

This is why I found the episode so scary. And what makes this specific scene so eerie is the fact that there is no build-up leading up to it. One minute our heroes are enjoying a nice day on the water, the next they discover an invisible enemy that is monitoring their activities.

So there you have it. Yet another example of unexpected horror. Tell us; what did you think of this episode? Did it send shivers down your spine or was there another moment in the show that you found as creepy?

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Playing Horror: Discussing Lies of P

GrimmReflecty83Leave a comment

As long as there have been video games, there have been horror video games. Even before the days of computer graphics we’ve had access to horror gaming in the form of text-based adventures. Colossal Cave Adventure arguably being one of the first horror games; with its creepy atmosphere and detailed descriptions. Everything about it was made to keep players on edge. We’ve since evolved – from the simplistic Haunted House and Halloween on the Atari 2600 to hyper-realistic Resident Evil 8 and Alan Wake II on modern consoles.

But a game doesn’t necessarily need to be classified as Horror to scare its audiences. Case and point: the action role-playing game Lies of P.

Lies of P is a gothic tale inspired by the classic story of Pinocchio. In the fictional city of Krat, engineer and puppet maker Geppetto has teamed up with the charismatic capitalist Venigni to create a series of clockwork automatons meant to make life easier. These puppets come in a variety of styles and professions. Some of these puppets include Police officers, butlers, entertainers, sand enforcers. Unfortunately, the puppets pull a WestWorld and go rogue. And if that was not bad enough, there is also a terrible plague that the citizens of Krat must deal with as well.

You control “P” – a human-like puppet who can lie. This is an important trait as it allows him to move among humans without drawing attention to himself. And you must guide P through the city of Krat to find the cause of the outbreak and put a stop to it.

Lies of P is classified as a “Soulslike” game. That is, a game whose mechanics are based off the notoriously difficult Dark Souls franchise. These are games that challenge the player with claustrophobic environments, disgustingly morbid enemies, and massive bosses. What makes these games stand out among others is the “Souls” system. As the player defeats enemies, they collect Souls (or Ergo in the case of Lies of P) that act as experience and currency. Upon death, however, players drop ALL their Souls where they die. If they die again before picking up the dropped Souls, they lose them forever.

I don’t need to tell you that this system adds a whole new layer of fear to these kinds of games. There is a constant battle between risk vs reward. Do you push onward through the scary alley, or do you turn back around and make a mad dash to the nearest save spot or shop to spend your experience on attributes or items?

And the game preys on this constant struggle. Neowiz Games and Round8 Studios did a fantastic job playing on players’ anxiety and greed. All throughout the game there are items out in the open with the intent of luring players into a false sense of security. There are so many expertly placed moments strewn all throughout the game that trick players into leaping before looking.

For example: There is a moment where a lone enemy stands in the middle of a narrow street. It has its back turned towards you meaning that you can easily sneak up behind it for a stealth kill. At first glance, you cannot see anything else in the street. So, you rush forward to get an easy kill.

Only to discover that just out of view, hidden behind a pillar or a crate, is another enemy just waiting for you to get into range. The first enemy was a trap and you fell for it.

Mechanically this is what transcends Lies of P from an action game to a horror game. The environments are so expertly designed that you will be questioning each step you make. Do you explore off the beaten path in hopes of a new treasure or do you push forward in hopes of finding another save point? Do you take your time in a new environment or do you rush through to lure your enemies out in the open?

Every decision you make just adds another layer to the anxiety cake that is Lies of P. But it isn’t just the mechanics that make it scary. It’s the design as well. Without going into spoilers, the enemy design is top-tier body horror.

The puppets themselves are scary enough. They move erratically – their limbs jerking around unnaturally as they limp towards you. The visual alone is enough to send a shiver up your spine. I personally despise the legless puppets that crawl on their bellies towards you like zombies; their gears grinding loudly as if screaming into the night. They are unsettling and I hate everything about them.

Then you have the biological enemies. Again, I won’t get into spoilers, but let me just say that they remind me of John Carpenter’s The Thing. They are ugly, and mean, and just flat out uncomfortable to be around. And they get worse as the game goes on. I absolutely love it.

Visually, Lies of P is top tier. Like its enemies, the levels have their own distinct style and personality. We see a wide variety of environments throughout the game; each one eliciting a sense of dread in its players. There are claustrophobic alleyways, corrupted bogs and farmlands, a creepy puppet factory, and even a cathedral filled to the brim with all kinds of unspeakable horrors.

In the end, Lies of P is a fantastically crafted game that will satisfy gamers and horror fans alike. From its beautifully gothic visuals to its disgustingly terrifying monsters – it has something for everyone. There is currently a demo out on both STEAM and consoles. So, if you are in the mood for something challenging and creepy than give the demo a shot.  

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Unexpected Horror: Rugrats Season 03 – In the Dreamtime.

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Horror has the tendency of popping up when you least expect it. Case in point: Rugrat’s Season 03 episode “In the Dreamtime.”

Dreamtime Title

In the Dreamtime revolves around our favorite ginger-haired scaredy cat Chuckie Finster. He has been having a hard time telling the difference between his dreams and reality. What transpires next are several short dream sequences that keeps audiences guessing on what is real and what is a dream.

Space Dream

For example, there is a moment in the episode where Chuckie is explaining the dream world to the other Rugrats. Tommy takes inspiration from Chuckie’s dreams and decides to lead the gang of ankle-biters upstairs into Grandpa Pickles’ bedroom. The adventure starts off normal enough, but it doesn’t take long for the world to warp. The staircase grows longer and longer and the babies soon find themselves in outer space. Chuckie’s attempt to join the fun leaves him falling into nothingness. He wakes up with a scream and realizes that it was just another dream.

ClownStu

In the end, Chuckie realizes that dreams are just that – dreams. They cannot hurt him. His father Chas ends up comforting Chuckie before putting him down for the night. However, in a surprise twist, we follow Chas into the kitchen where he encounters a deformed, clown-faced Stu. He wakes up with a shout as the episode ends. This leaves audiences wondering whether it was really Chuckie’s dreams we’ve been watching or Chas’s. Either way, it ends on a creepy note.

The episode obviously takes a lot of its inspiration from horror. The idea of being unable to tell the difference between the Real World and the Dream World is probably one of the oldest tropes of the genre. We’ve seen it in such movies as Phantasm, Donnie Darko, episodes of the Twilight Zone, and the granddaddy of them all: Nightmare on Elm Street.

RugratsDog

To add to the horror, we then have the scene where Chuckie decides to talk to the neighbor’s bulldog. Now this is not a sweet pupper like Tommy’s dog Spike. No. This is an angry, frothing at the mouth, raging bulldog that wants nothing more than to tear Chuckie apart. Luckily, Tommy is able to distract the dog with a stick before Chuckie gets hurt. Still, that does not negate the fact that we just watched a baby nearly get mauled by the neighbor’s dog!

Then you have the sudden, and rather horrific transformations of Tommy and Stu’s faces. These transformations, being so quick and random, reminds me a lot of Large Marge from Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. For those of you who don’t know – Large Marge was a truck driver that Pee Wee Herman hitches a ride with while looking for his stolen bike. She tells Pee Wee about a terrible accident of which she was a witness too. When she describes the dead person’s face, her own suddenly twists and contorts; much to the shock of Pee Wee and the audience.

ClownTommy

Clown-Face Stu and Clown-Face Tommy follow the same idea. Both keeping their faces normal, or hidden, before the big reveal. Combine that with their suddenly squeaky and high-pitched voices (‘When I Talked. Like. THIS!”) and you got yourself one memorable episode.

And memorable it is. In the Dreamtime is one of the most talked about and referenced episodes of the Rugrats. People, to this day, still consider In the Dreamtime to be one of their earliest experiences of ‘nightmare fuel’ with many fans still considering it to be one of the creepiest episodes of this long-running franchise.

And I agree.

At the time of this post, In the Dreamtime is currently available to stream on Paramount +.

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Five of our favorite Christmas Horror Movies.

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It is that time of the year again. Time to busy out the Christmas lights, the hot cocoa, and most important of all; holiday horror movies! These are five of our favorite Christmas Holiday Horror movies. Is yours on our list?

Gremlins (1984)

What is it:

Randall Peltzer is desperately looking for a Christmas present for his son Billy. His search takes him to Chinatown where he discovers an antique store containing a small, furry creature called a mogwai. The shop owner’s son secretly sells Randall the mogwai but not before giving him three very important rules in how to handle the mythical critter.

Rule number one: Do not expose a mogwai to light – especially sunlight which can kill the poor creature.

Rule number two: Do not let it come in contact with water.

And most importantly rule number three: NEVER feed it after midnight.

Of course, Randall’s Son ends up breaking all these rules resulting in the birth of violent Gremlins. Now the family must work together to destroy the Gremlins before they overpopulate and destroy the town.

Why we love it:

What I love the most about Gremlins is that it is legitimately terrifying! Sure, Gizmo the mogwai is adorable but his Gremlin counterparts are anything but! Their sharp teeth, beady yellow eyes, and menacing expressions make them a thing of nightmares; especially if you are a little kid who is watching the movie for the first time. This is all thanks to the spectacular special effects done by Chris Walas and his team. They made the Gremlins, and Gizmo, quite believable.

It also balances its horror and suspense with slapstick humor. This is no small feat mind you. If you lean too heavy into the horror than the humor feels out of place. If there is too much slapstick than the Gremlins lose all malice. Luckily it manages to handle both quite well providing us with a memorable, and surprisingly dark, Christmas movie.

Krampus (2015)

What is it:

A dysfunctional family has a rather nasty Christmas dinner resulting in the youngest son Max tearing apart his letter to Santa. Unfortunately, this blasphemous act summons the “Shadow of Santa Klaus” – a monstrous and powerful deity known as Krampus. Krampus, along with his army of elves and evil toys, seeks out Max and his family to punish them for losing the spirit of the holiday.

Why we love it:

A horror movie about Krampus is nothing new. Just google “Krampus movies” to see dozens upon dozens of movies dedicated to the so-called shadow of Santa Claus. So, what is it about the 2015 movie that makes it stand out above the rest?

Well, it’s because this movie has something the others don’t.

Heart.

I know that sounds like a line out of a Saturday Morning Cartoon but it’s true. Behind the terrifying creature designs and chilling atmosphere is a heart-warming story about two families coming together. You have the well-off and privileged Engels (the family where our main character Max comes from) and their rough and tumble cousins who live like a family of survivalists with a “strong eat the weak” mentality. They are opposites in every definition of the word. So much so that the entire first act is dedicated to showing how incompatible they are as not only family but friends as well.

But that doesn’t stop them from putting aside their difference with the crap hits the fan. As soon as they realize something is wrong, they band together. And it is through this team-up that they discover that they are not as different as they once thought.

This is the core of Krampus. Yes, it is a horror movie with spectacular practical effects (seriously, the design of Krampus and his elves are god-tier.) but it is also a movie about family coming together when times are their roughest. It is this reason that makes Krampus a must-watch during every holiday season.

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

What is it:

A group of Finnish hunters discover that their season has been ruined after discovering hundreds of massacred reindeer in the snowy wilderness. They set up a series of traps in hopes of catching whatever it was responsible for the animals’ deaths. Thinking that wolves were responsible, they are shocked to discover the body of a grizzled old man inside their pit-trap.

It doesn’t take long for the hunters to realize that there is something sinister about this old man. Enticed by gingerbread and lured by the flesh of children; the hunters believe that this is no man but Santa Claus himself.

Why we love it:

There is something unsettlingly funny about Rare Exports and I think it is because of how serious it takes itself. On the surface it sounds rather silly. A movie about reindeer hunters capturing and auctioning off a feral Santa Claus? It sounds like something you’d see on television as a Christmas comedy special. But the fact that every member of the cast and crew treats this as a serious movie, with Santa being a serious threat, that makes the movie that much more enjoyable.

The humor does not come from one-liners or slapstick but from the ridiculousness of the situation. But do not, for one second, think that its ridiculous nature undermines the horror. The movie is still scary but in an unsettling way. Even when nothing is happening you cannot help but feel a sense of wrongness in the air. You can contribute this with the fantastic way the movie is shot – with lots of quiet moments, sweeping shots of the frigid landscape, and wonderful sound design.

And as much as I would love to discuss the second half of the movie, I fear that by doing so I will be ruining some of the best parts of the movie. So, with that said, I do recommend Rare Exports if you are in the mood for something different in your holiday horror lineup.

Santa’s Slay (2005)

What is it:

Santa is not the happy-go-lucky elf that we all know and love. He is, instead, a demon who lost a bet with an angel. His punishment? To spend the next 1,000 years spreading joy and happiness to the people of the world.

Unfortunately, the 1,000 years is up, and Santa is looking forward to spending this Christmas doing what he does best –anyone and everyone in his way. So, you had better watch out and you better prepare to cry because Santa Claus is coming to town.

Why we love it:

Now don’t get me wrong. This movie is dumb. It is a dumb, stupid, pointless movie with very storyline, useless characters who exist only to die, and is based off an idea that has been done to death. A killer Santa? We’ve seen it before. It’s nothing new.

So, what makes Santa’s Slay worthy of our annual holiday horror marathon?

Two words: Bill Goldberg.

The wrestler-turned-actor is the sole reason to give this movie a chance. Not only does he make it watchable, but enjoyable as well. Every scene he is in he is hamming it up for the camera. You know Goldberg understands the kind of movie he’s in. As such he spends his time chewing the scenery; spouting a ton of Chrismas-themed puns as he uses his experience as a wrestler to manhandle his victims in a variety of hilarious methods.

Although it does get a bit slow in the middle, it still manages to provide us with a fun albeit stupid good time. This is the perfect holiday horror movie to throw on in the background as you go about wrapping presents or baking goods. Something that is great background noise that you don’t have to pay much attention too to enjoy.

P2 (2007)

What is it:

Businesswoman Angela Bridges is kidnapped by an awkward security guard who confesses that he is in love with her. He is convinced that he and Angela are meant to be together and will stop at nothing to get his way.

Why we Love it:

Holiday horror generally tends to focus on the more comedic elements of the genre. I mean, just look at this list. Everything previously can be considered horror-comedy. Even ones that take themselves seriously as Rare Exports does – it still has a tinge of comedy to its darkness.

P2 is not one of these movies.

P2 is first and foremost a psychological thriller. It is a slow, satisfying burn that relies on atmosphere and suspense instead of slapstick and humorous dialogue. And what makes P2 so scary is how real it feels. This is a movie that preys on a woman’s biggest fear: being stalked and manipulated by a toxic, violent person who is obsessed with her.

Log Out

The suspense is only compounded by Wes Bentley’s performance as stalker Thomas Barclay. How easily he transforms himself from condescending “nice guy” to psychotic sociopath is brilliant. It just makes him that much more unnerving as you can never tell what he is going to do next.

But I’d be remiss to mention Rachel Nichols as Angela Bridges. To put it simply; she is badass. She is resourceful, manipulative, and not afraid to get her hands dirty when the situation calls for it. You cannot help but root for her as she tries to outmaneuver the obsessive and cautious Thomas Barclay.

And for those who say that P2 is not a Christmas movie; I tell you to watch it again. Not only does it take place during Christmas Eve, but it also includes Christmas Lights, Christmas music, and even a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

Take that, Die Hard!

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Godzilla Minus Zero Review: A Gargauntuan Terror with a Lot of Heart.

GrimmReflecty83Leave a comment

What is is About:

Godzilla: Minus Zero follows the story of disgraced Japanese kamikaze pilot Koichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki). Koichi, unable to go through with his suicide mission, fakes engine trouble and lands on the small repair station on the island of Odo. It is here where he suffers through an unforeseen catastrophe that leaves everyone at the station dead save for himself and one other mechanic. With the war coming to an end, Koichi is discharged and sent back home.

It is here, in the shambles of his war-torn home, that Koichi meets two other survivors: the resourceful Noriko (Minami Hamabe) and a baby she rescued named Akiko whose parents were killed during the bombing of Toyko. Wracked with survivor’s guilt, Koichi reluctantly allows the two to stay with him.

At first it seems like Koichi will finally be able to get past the horrors witnessed during the war. He gets a job, makes new friends, and even helps his community. Unfortunately, this all comes to a crashing halt with the appearance of a gargantuan creature known only as “Godzilla”.

With Japan on the verge of total annihilation, Koichi must face his inner demons if he has any hope in protecting all that in which he loves.

Review:

My relationship with Godzilla is a complicated one. I’ve always been a fan of the franchise despite never actually finishing a Japanese Godzilla movie. I have seen bits and pieces of them but never actually sat down to watch one. Because of this, my primary exposure to Godzilla came from the American movies – the 1998 Godzilla, the cartoon series on Fox, and, of course, the latest Monsterverse series. This makes Minus Zero the very first Japanese Godzilla movie that I’ve watched from start to finish.

And it blew me away.

I cannot describe in enough detail just how much I enjoyed this movie. It took the one complaint I had with the Monsterverse franchise – the human element – and made it not only the most important part of the movie but the motion engaging and emotional part as well.

I am not ashamed to admit that I watch Godzilla for the carnage. I want to watch a giant lizard beating on other giant monsters while destroying everything in its path. As such, I am not really a fan of the so-called human element that the Monsterverse crams into these movies.

However, that isn’t the case for Minus Zero.

The best way for me to describe Minus Zero is as follows. The Monsterverse movies are Godzilla films that just so happens to have people in it. Minus Zero is a war film that just so happens to have Godzilla in it.

Koichi’s story, along with stories of those around him, is so compelling that even if you removed Godzilla, it would still be a great movie. Watching Koichi battle his inner demons – his survivor guilt, the disgrace he feels from abandoning his kamikaze mission, and the struggles he faces daily to redeem himself – makes for a phenomenal character story.

Ryunosuke Kamiki’s performance as Koichi is masterful. You feel every raw emotion that goes through his mind. You feel his fear at going into battle. The guilt he suffers through from being one of the only two survivors on Odo. And the angry, primal pain he goes through when witnessing Godzilla’s destructive power.

I also love that he is not the typical “hero” that we’ve come to see. He doesn’t make these grandiose speeches to rile up the crowd nor does he run into battle guns blazing. He’s just a man. A man with fears, insecurities, and nightmares. As human as you and me.

The rest of the cast is just as good. There is not one person in this movie whom I feel is a waste. Koichi’s work friends are fun and entertaining to watch. The chemistry between the actors felt real and authentic – so much so that I found myself worrying constantly for their safety.

As for the finale? Oh man. Seeing the fear on their faces as they witnessed the sheer power of Godzilla in all his glory. I could not help but clutch the arms of my chair. What phenomenal acting by everyone involved in this movie.

And speaking of Godzilla. I’ve always heard of him being described as a “Force of Nature” and Minus Zero is the best example of that descriptor. He is literally an unstoppable force; a being of pure destructive power and we are but ants. Normally I cheer whenever Godzilla appears on screen but this time, I feared his presence. This was not the cartoony action “hero” that I’ve grown to love in the Monsterverse.

No.

This Godzilla is a monster through and through.

Now as much as I would love to go into more detail, I fear that if I did, I would be stepping into spoiler territory. So let me conclude with this final message.

If you have the chance to see this in theaters, do so. I went to see this in IMAX, and I don’t regret it one bit. Not only is the movie visually beautiful but the sound design is top notch. I felt every footstep, every growl, every roar as if I was there in front of Godzilla. And when his theme song kicks in – booming over the theater speakers? Oh man. What an experience.

I give Godzilla Minus Zero a 5/5.

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