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Boomschtick: Review of Ash vs Evil Dead S02E01 — “Home”

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“I’ve made a huge mess.”

Ten months after Ash (Bruce Campbell) and Ruby (Lucy Lawless) made a pact for the Ghostbeaters to lay down their weapons and head back to their lives, the author of the Necronomicon admits that she has lost control of her “children” and needs Ash and his cohorts to help her send them back to hell.

The first few minutes from “Ash vs Evil Dead’s” Season 2 premiere came locked and loaded. Of course, the splatstick fare of blood, guts and one-liners are abundant, but we also learn a bit more about Ruby and why Ash and the group need to head back to The King’s hometown. In short, the story lines which will drive the second set of ten episodes have already been revealed, now we just enjoy the ride.

With that in mind, if you haven’t seen “Home,” we suggest you turn around and head back because there will be spoilers.

What interested me most about the premiere was not about new characters or even the dynamic between Ash and the suddenly desperate Ruby, but rather that the show took time to focus on Pablo (Ray Santiago) and Kelly (Dana DeLorenzo). You’ll recall that the truce agreed upon from Season 1 had nothing to do with the thoughts or feelings of Ash’s minions, nor was living it up in Jacksonville, because while Ash was partying, Pablo and Kelly were busing tables and tending bar, respectively.

The tandem aren’t quite resentful, but certainly frustrated. You picking up on the theme, because it doesn’t appear to have been lost on the Deadites?

Possession notwithstanding, Ash’s sidekicks had evil come at them in a rather straightforward manner throughout the first season. The tandem didn’t have to endure the Deadite mind-fucks Ash had at the cabin back in the day (or even last season), but it certainly seems that the Evil Dead universe will continue to expand with meatier plots involving the Boomstick Butcher’s left and right hands (forgive the pun). Both get their craniums toyed with in hopes of planting seeds of mutiny, and we all know that Kelly has a far shorter distance to travel than Pablo when it comes to that particular road.

ghostbeatersWhile we didn’t get to see Ted Raimi in the opener, we do get a glimpse of the Kandarian Dagger, a taunting chant we may have heard before and the Six Million Dollar Man. Let’s just say that if you had any lingering doubt whether Lee Majors would adapt to the genre, fret no more because he was bloody seamless as Ash’s father, Brock. DeLorenzo told iHorror that no one could deliver a one-liner better than Campbell — unless they were Majors — and she was right. Pops is quick on the trigger and with biting words, thinks Pablo is an illegal and isn’t exactly keen on his son’s return. Not that he’s alone. No one in Elk Grove wants Ashy Slashy there.

So they embarked on a quest to find Ruby and it didn’t take them long to do just that, which symbolized the final bricks of a foundation that will carry us through Season 2.

We’d be remiss if we neglected some fantastic references from the season debut before moving on to questions heading into Episode 2.

We had learned that the events surrounding Army of Darkness were fair game this year, and the show doesn’t waste time alluding to the third film of the Evil Dead trilogy. You’ll know it when you hear it because there are a couple of not-so subtle moments that will make that huge grin you’re already sporting nearly rip your face off.

On the subtle (and excessively excited) side, though, I am convinced there was a nod to The ‘Burbs in the season premiere. I don’t want to spoil it by saying anything more, but just know that it is there and it will elicit a “God, I love this street show!”

Season 2 looks to up the ante from character development to buckets of blood and even the baddest villain in Evil Dead history that Ms. DeLorenzo had told us about. However, there are questions:

  • For all his bluster and bravado, why did Ash tuck tail and run 30 years ago rather than explain what really happened at the cabin?
  • Why didn’t his father believe his son when he told him that he did not murder Cheryl or his friends?
  • What is Ruby’s end game? We know she needs Ash’s help now, but when will she once again assume the upper hand?
  • What else can the Necronomicon do that we aren’t aware of?
  • Is Pablo assuming Cheryl’s role? What’s with the waking nightmare visions and doodling?
  • And you know the Deadites are merely using Kelly’s subconscious against her. When will she lash out and take things in her own direction?

Look, “Ash vs Evil Dead” is a show that can be enjoyed at face value, but it’s just far more fun to dig a little deeper in anticipation of what’s to come. Let’s not forget, Ruby fought alongside Attila the Hun and Genghis Khan, but our favorite “dipshit” is her Obi-Wan.

If that’s not a reason to come back every week, we don’t know what else we can do for you.

Catch you on the flip-flop.

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Brad Dourif Says He’s Retiring Except For One Important Role

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Brad Dourif has been doing movies for nearly 50 years. Now it seems he is walking away from the industry at 74 to enjoy his golden years. Except, there is a caveat.

Recently, digital entertainment publication JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols talked to some of the Chucky television series cast members. During the interview, Dourif made an announcement.

“Dourif said that he’s retired from acting,” says Nichols. “The only reason he came back for the show was because of his daughter Fiona and he considers Chucky creator Don Mancini to be family. But for non-Chucky stuff, he considers himself retired.”

Dourif has voiced the possessed doll since 1988 (minus the 2019 reboot). The original movie “Child’s Play” has become such a cult classic it’s at the top of some people’s best chillers of all time. Chucky himself is ingrained in pop culture history much like Frankenstein or Jason Voorhees.

While Dourif may be known for his famous voiceover, he is also an Oscar-nominated actor for his part in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Another famous horror role is The Gemini Killer in William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist III. And who can forget Betazoid Lon Suder in Star Trek: Voyager?

The good news is that Don Mancini is already pitching a concept for season four of Chucky which might also include a feature-length movie with a series tie-in. So, Although Dourif says he is retiring from the industry, ironically he is Chucky’s friend till the end.

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Editorial

7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch

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The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.

The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.

We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.

Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?

Scream Live (2023)

Scream Live

Ghostface (2021)

Ghostface

Ghost Face (2023)

Ghost Face

Don’t Scream (2022)

Don’t Scream

Scream: A Fan Film (2023)

Scream: A Fan Film

The Scream (2023)

The Scream

A Scream Fan Film (2023)

A Scream Fan Film
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Movies

Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month

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Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.

Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.

According to IMDb: Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.

Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.

Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.

Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.

While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.

Infested

According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “He’s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”

The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.

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