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‘The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear’ Documentary Review

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Flatwoods

Production company Small Town Monsters make a compelling case for local cryptids in their documentary series. With each film focusing on a different local legend – such as the Minerva Monster, the Beast of Whitehall, and the Mothman of Point Pleasant – writer/director Seth Breedlove shares his passion for the mysterious and spooky tales that haunt these small towns.

The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear tells the story of The Green Monster of Flatwoods, West Virginia, and how its cultural reach continues to grow.

The legacy begins on September 12, 1952 when a small group of local kids – brothers Edward and Fred May, and their friend Tommy Hyer – witnessed a bright object streaking across the sky before it came to rest over a neighboring farm. The brothers ran to tell their mother, Kathleen May, who joined them with three other local youths and the community dog (which is an amazing concept, if you ask me).

The group witnessed a large, pulsating “ball of fire” and reportedly discovered an otherworldly creature accompanied by a harsh and pungent mist. Frightened and panicked, they fled, and matriarch Kathleen May went to the local authorities to report their sighting.

via West Virginia Explorer

The Flatwoods Monster appeared at a time that was surging with reported extraterrestrial sightings worldwide. Global and political events were making the world an increasingly fearful place, and the rise in unexplained activity brought a whole new tension to small communities. Rural areas seemed to be a hotspot for these bizarre events. West Virginia, for example, had another legendary encounter in 1966 with the Mothman.

The documentary uses a combination of bright, colorful filters and smooth aerial shots – like a rural Pleasantville – paired with campfire-creepy animation, Tim Burton-esque miniatures, and atmospheric recreations to tell the story.

The creative imagery used in The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear is particularly appealing – I found myself drawn in by the visual storytelling. They inspire memories of 1950s sci-fi films that capture the wonder and wild incomprehension of these shocking experiences.

via Small Town Monsters

Director Seth Breedlove’s interviews with the surviving witnesses probes their memories for the full story while presenting their reports in an impartial way.

He tells us the tale of the Flatwoods Monster – including the helpful historical context – but does so in a way that is both respectful of the sources and not invasive to the viewer’s personal opinion.

I have to mention the director of photography, Zac Palmisano, for his great work here. And a shout out to J.D. Riggs for the monster effects, Chris and Brandon Scalf for designing the animation (with stop motion animation by Santino Vitale), and Brandon Dalo for composing the score.

This documentary really highlights the spectacular creative team behind Small Town Monsters. Their work elevates their subjects and compliments the story in a fantastic way. For me, it was the film’s major selling point.

via Dread Central

The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear is more of a short-subject documentary, clocking in at a cool 45 minutes. The official description is as follows:

Unlock a decades-old mystery that included a government-ordered military examination of a purported alien crash-site, and multiple UFOs seen by countless residents of Braxton County, WV. In the years since their brush with the “Flatwoods Monster”, witnesses have seen their story evolve from a terrifying, true-life event to little more than a fable. Two of the remaining witnesses will set the record straight.

Check out the trailer and the poster below. The Flatwoods Monster: A Legacy of Fear lands on April 6 and is available to order through the Small Town Monsters website.

via Small Town Monsters

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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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