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Review: ‘BUGS: A Trilogy’ Horror Anthology Leaves a Powerful Sting

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BUGS: A Trilogy

Written by Alexandra Grunberg and directed by Simone Kisiel, horror anthology BUGS: A Trilogy will make your skin crawl – for all the right reasons.

“On their own, spiders, parasites, and bedbugs hold their own private horror for those who are beset by the quiet scuttles and slurps of inhuman creatures. But for Diane, Hannah, and Elena, three varied yet eerily similar women, these bugs represent the larger horrors of paranoia, helplessness, and abandonment.” 

Composer Miriam Mayer has fitted the anthology with a score that perfectly adapts its musical style for each new segment. Musical tones shift from an avant-garde prickling that matches the first story’s stark aesthetics; to a slower, melancholic drone that reflects the declining state of the next segment’s main character.

Similarly, the lighting and color palettes build a strong contrast between each story. These subtle and well-blended differences have a big effect.

Writer Alexandra Grunberg stars in the lead role for all three segments. Each character is brought to life with sincerity — fleshed out with a different characterization and defining physicality. Grunberg’s performances are skillfully distinctive and you truly empathize with her in each frustrating situation.

via YouTube

As an anthology film, BUGS: A Trilogy is confidently focused in its themes and phobias. The women in each segment struggle to be heard as they face steadily growing fears.

In Hatchling, the first segment, a woman named Diane is trying to help make a young ward feel at home while his mother takes a much-needed break (of an ambiguous nature). Young Elliott – who seems hesitant about this arrangement – shows a blatant disregard for Diane’s efforts. To be perfectly frank, he’s a little shit. Diane is in an awkward position where she must put on a smiling, supportive face, trying to maintain some control over the situation while this bullheaded child does what he wants.

Parasite, the second segment, follows Hannah as she suffers mysterious stomach problems. Hannah tries to speak with her doctor to explain that her pain and discomfort have been getting worse, but her doctor insists that she must continue with her medications. Hannah tries to reach out for support, but her calls are not returned. In isolated agony, she faces accusations that she must be doing something wrong to feel this way.

The third and final segment, Bed Bugs, shows the sleepless Elena who is convinced she must have bed bugs in her home. She voices her concerns to her mother and roommate who either refuse to deal with the situation or tell her that it’s all in her head. Elena knows there must be a problem, but she’s regularly hushed or made to feel as though her fears are just an overreaction.

via Indiegogo

Diane feels the need to stay positive and “smile” while her efforts are ignored with rude demands for more. Hannah’s health concerns are dismissed, her strength weakening as she feels something growing inside her. Elena is told she must be imagining the things that are happening in her own bedroom.

The underlying message of each segment is crystal clear, despite the fictional nature of the story. These feelings of being pushed, ignored, silenced, and diminished are ones that all women have experienced.

In a press release for BUGS: A Trilogy, director Simone Kisiel eloquently explains:

“I believe that film is a medium through which an artist can use comedy or scares to not only entertain and provide an escape, but to also spur critical thought in the audience,” Kisiel says. “BUGS: A Trilogy presents female issues, horrific fictional examples of a very real oppression in modern American society in a genre that is widely enjoyed and watched by a range of audiences.”

On its surface, BUGS: A Trilogy is a well-balanced horror anthology with an excellently creepy unifying theme, because – let’s face it – bugs are pretty damn scary on their own. But the film also has a topical honesty that bites like a tick; it will burrow under your skin and leave you with a lasting chill.

BUGS: A Trilogy

via DecayMag

BUGS: A Trilogy premiered at the Women in Horror Film Festival and is available now through Amazon (and streaming on Amazon Prime). You can watch the trailer below!

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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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