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Movie Review: ‘The Devil’s Candy’

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“The Devil’s Candy,” is an enthusiastic horror movie from Tasmanian director Sean Byrne of 2015’s critically lauded “The Loved Ones.”

Here he takes a different approach to the genre sacrificing the blood and guts of his inaugural work and replacing it with atmosphere and art direction. The result isn’t as heavy-handed as most supernatural thrillers, but it deserves a look if only to see the potential this director will surely showcase in the future.

This story involves the Hellman’s, a family of free spirited parents and their teenage daughter who buy a home in a remote part of the Texas countryside.

The real estate agent under legal abide must inform them that a killing took place in the home’s history, which is played out in the film’s opening sequence, but he offers no other details.

Not able to pass up the great price, they move into the house even though it’s much further from the bustle of town than the mother is comfortable.

This is an unfortunate decision because the original killer Ray Smilie (Pruitt Taylor Vince) is still wandering around town hearing the devil chant ancient scripture in his head which he can only squelch by playing loud guitar riffs and killing children.

He makes his way back to his old house to torment the family while dad is trying to figure out the reason he’s having blackouts resulting in some truly disturbing but masterful artwork.

The Devil’s Candy isn’t a jump scare, she-crawled-out-of-the-TV shocker, rather Bryne takes his time to give all of his crew a chance to showcase their works especially his male lead Jesse (Ethan Embry) suffering through displacement, artistic struggles and father/daughter bonding.

Their daughter Zooey played by Kiara Glasco is right at her rebellious stage, but really has nothing to challenge since her parents are already more accepting than most.

The Devil's Candy

Dad is a struggling artist with plenty of unappreciated ideas while mom Astrid (Shiri Appleby) seems to be doing her own thing and for some reason can never pick their daughter up from school; that responsibility falls on dad and sometimes he can’t get that right.

The director probably won’t fault me for pointing out his male lead has an uncanny resemblance to Matthew McConoughey, or moreso, the Anglo-centric countenance of Jesus Christ. And it makes sense if you appreciate the good versus evil subtly (And not so subtle; the dad’s name is Jesse Hellman) of the storyline.

Jesse has to go from unbathed, acrylic stained conceptualist to a confused family man haunted by unsettling visions. He’s also trying to protect his family from Ray Smilie dressed in a red tracksuit who is stalking his daughter with malintent and a large pruning saw.

All of this tension is excellently portrayed through Embry, just as the race for Ray to abduct his daughter, there too is an urgency on figuring out why he’s suddenly having visions and painting demons over butterflies.

The daughter, it would seem, is a bit of a social outcast, favoring acid metal and vintage hard rock over anything else. She’s integral to the plot and has a rather taut scene involving duct tape, but this is Embry’s movie and Byrne knows that’s where his spotlight should remain.

Unlike the director’s torture porn debut The Loved Ones, where the horror comes from sociopaths reveling in the art of mutilation, humiliation, and cannibalism, The Devil’s Candy takes the opposite approach wherein cinematography, art direction and tone almost serve as the director’s reel and effectively tell viewers that there might be nothing he can’t tackle with horrific appeal.

In The Loved Ones, Byrne gave homage to Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining with his use of kitchen wallpaper patterned after the Overlook’s iconic carpeting.

Here his references are left to his lead’s devices. Embry must channel some essence of Jack Torrance for Byrne to make the connection. Perhaps this is a tribute not only to Kubrick, but Nicholson.

Although “The Devil’s Candy” isn’t going to give you nightmares, it’s clear with each carefully framed shot and Embry’s performance, Byrne is the maestro behind the podium conducting every section of things with an able and steady hand. And everyone watching the baton is in pitch-perfection of their part.

Coming away from “The Devil’s Candy,” I was left wondering which I was more excited about; Byrne’s next directorial work or Embry’s next role.

“The Devil’s Candy” is a stylish thriller directed by someone who obviously runs a tight ship.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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