News
American Ripper was an American Rip-Off
The History Channel’s American Ripper series promised to reveal the identity of Jack the Ripper. However, the eight-part series, which concluded its airing at the end of August, completely failed to deliver on any level.
American Ripper advertised the existence of credible evidence linking Jack the Ripper to H.H. Holmes, an American serial killer who is believed to have committed as many as 200 murders in the late nineteenth century.
American Ripper was spearheaded by Jeff Mudgett, Holmes’ great-great-grandson, who has spent more than twenty years trying to prove his theory that Holmes and Jack the Ripper were one and the same. However, American Ripper provided no solid evidence to support this.
Did American Ripper prove that Holmes was in London during the Ripper murders in 1988? No. Did the series produce any evidence that linked Holmes to any of the Ripper victims? No.
On the contrary, the series demonstrated that the pathology and psychology of Jack the Ripper is completely different than that of Holmes, who was careful, secretive, and not at all fond of advertising, of taking responsibility for, his gruesome deeds. Also, a handwriting expert virtually dismissed the possibility of any match between the Ripper’s handwriting and that of Holmes.
American Ripper should have been called H.H. Holmes: America’s First Serial Killer. All the series proved was that Holmes was a despicable human being, a conman and monster, who constructed a “Murder Castle,” a diabolical torture factory in Chicago, where Holmes hunted and tortured victims then disposed of their bodies in a cremation furnace. While Holmes’ back story is certainly compelling and gruesome, it failed to bring the series any closer to establishing a link between Holmes and Jack the Ripper.
American Ripper unfolded as a series of blind alleys and rabbit holes. It was embarrassing at times, completely exploitative and shameless, and it represents an extreme example of false advertising.
After more than 125 years, it seems impossible that the Jack the Ripper case will ever be solved to any degree of legal certainty. The biggest question left over by American Ripper is: Why did it promise so much to begin with?
Images courtesy of the History Channel.
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News
Travis Kelce Joins Cast on Ryan Murphy’s ‘Grotesquerie’
Football star Travis Kelce is going Hollywood. At least that is what Dahmer Emmy award-winning star Niecy Nash-Betts announced on her Instagram page yesterday. She posted a video of herself on set of the new Ryan Murphy FX series Grotesquerie.
“This is what happens when WINNERS link up‼️ @killatrav Welcome to Grostequerie[sic]!” she wrote.
Standing just out of frame is Kelce who suddenly steps in to say, “Jumping into new territory with Niecy!” Nash-Betts appears to be in a hospital gown while Kelce is dressed as an orderly.
Not much is known about Grotesquerie, other than in literary terms it means a work filled with both science fiction and extreme horror elements. Think H.P. Lovecraft.
Back in February Murphy released an audio teaser for Grotesquerie on social media. In it, Nash-Betts says in part, “I don’t know when it started, I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s different now. There’s been a shift, like something’s opening up in the world — a kind of hole that descends into a nothingness…”
There hasn’t been an official synopsis released regarding Grotesquerie, but keep checking back to iHorror for further details.
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Movies
’47 Meters Down’ Getting Third Movie Called ‘The Wreck’
Deadline is reporting that a new 47 Meters Down installment is heading into production, making the shark series a trilogy.
“Series creator Johannes Roberts, and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment: 47 Meters Down: The Wreck.” Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine) will direct.
The first two films were a moderate success, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The second film is titled 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.
The plot for The Wreck is detailed by Deadline. They write that it involves a father and daughter trying to repair their relationship by spending time together scuba diving into a sunken ship, “But soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks.”
The filmmakers are hoping to present the pitch to the Cannes market with production starting in the fall.
“47 Meters Down: The Wreck is the perfect continuation of our shark-filled franchise,” said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. “This film will once again have moviegoers terrified and on the edge of their seats.”
Johannes Roberts adds, “We can’t wait for audiences to be trapped underwater with us again. 47 Meters Down: The Wreck is going to be the biggest, most-intense film of this franchise.”
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News
‘Wednesday’ Season Two Drops New Teaser Video That Reveals Full Cast
Netflix announced this morning that Wednesday season 2 is finally entering production. Fans have been waiting a long time for more of the creepy icon. Season one of Wednesday premiered in November of 2022.
In our new world of streaming entertainment, it isn’t uncommon for shows to take years to release a new season. If they release another one at all. Even though we will likely have to wait quite a while to see the show, any news is good news.
The new season of Wednesday looks to have an amazing cast. Jenna Ortega (Scream) will be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday. She will be joined by Billie Piper (Scoop), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill), Owen Painter (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
We will also get to see some of the amazing cast from season one making a return. Wednesday season 2 will feature Catherine-Zeta Jones (Side Effects), Luis Guzman (Genie), Issac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Devs).
If all of that star power wasn’t enough, the legendary Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will be directing the series. As a cheeky nod from Netflix, this season of Wednesday will be titled Here We Woe Again.
We don’t know much about much about what Wednesday season two will entail. However, Ortega has stated that this season will be more horror focused. “We’re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. It’s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and that’s the wonderful thing about her.”
That’s all the information that we have. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.
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