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

Published

5 years ago

November 30, 2018

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.

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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Jake Gyllenhaal’s Thriller ‘Presumed Innocent’ Series Gets Early Release Date

Published

1 hour ago

April 26, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Jake Gyllenhaal’s limited series Presumed Innocent is dropping on AppleTV+ on June 12 instead of June 14 as originally planned. The star, whose Road House reboot has brought mixed reviews on Amazon Prime, is embracing the small screen for the first time since his appearance on Homicide: Life on the Street in 1994.

Jake Gyllenhaal’s in ‘Presumed Innocent’

Presumed Innocent is being produced by David E. Kelley, J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot, and Warner Bros. It is an adaptation of Scott Turow’s 1990 film in which Harrison Ford plays a lawyer doing double duty as an investigator looking for the murderer of his colleague.

These types of sexy thrillers were popular in the ’90s and usually contained twist endings. Here’s the trailer for the original:

According to Deadline, Presumed Innocent doesn’t stray far from the source material: “…the Presumed Innocent series will explore obsession, sex, politics and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”

Up next for Gyllenhaal is the Guy Ritchie action movie titled In the Grey scheduled for release in January 2025.

Presumed Innocent is an eight-episode limited series set to stream on AppleTV+ starting June 12.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

20 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

21 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.