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Review: ‘Feral’ Uses a Strong Female Focus to Fight Tired Tropes

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Feral

For horror fans that are tired of werewolves and fed up with zombies, but looking for that same enticing pull of an isolated panic induced by violent contagion, I encourage you to check outĀ Feral from writer/director Mark Young and IFC Midnight.

In Feral, a group of medical students go on a camping trip to celebrate the end of their studies. The three couples include our lead protagonists, Alice (Scout Taylor-Compton – Rob Zombie’s Halloween, Ghost House) and her girlfriend Jules (Olivia Luccardi –Ā It Follows, Channel Zero).

As one would expect with an “into the woods” horror, these kids are not alone out there. A vicious, feral, humanoid creature attacks one of the couples in the middle of the night (immediately following a marriage proposal, no less), leaving him dead and her mortally wounded.

The remaining campers find the bloody scene and escape with their injured friend to find shelter. They encounter Talbot (Lew Temple –Ā The Walking Dead, The Devil’s Rejects) – a local man of the woods – who provides a safe haven as the group splits up to get help.

via JoBlo

Now, I’m just going to take a quick moment to address one of the film’s shortfalls. The secondary characters are kind of cobbled together with slap-dash points of interest in an attempt to make the audience connect with them during their few minutes of screen time.

For example, the marriage proposal. It’s not entirely necessary, but it serves as an easy point to try and attach some kind of emotion to the following attack. The character proposes, then leaves the tent to relieve himself in the woods, and tragedy ensues.

Now, perhaps I’m just being nitpicky, but I feel like if you’re building up to a marriage proposal, you wouldn’t leave 5 seconds later to go to the bathroom. Maybe you’d do that beforehand?

Anyways, logistics of timing your proposal around your bathroom breaks aside, my point is that there are a few moments of haphazardly crammed-in character details. That being said, there are plenty of strong points toĀ Feral that outweigh this missed step.

via Horrorpedia

The concept behind these feral creatures feels fresh. They’re similar to some familiar monsters – zombies, werewolves, and vampires – but as fantastical as the creatures seem, the threat is not supernatural. It’s something new, unknown, and rooted in the very real danger of a mysterious contagion.

While the creatures only come at night, their prowess as hunters means that no one is truly safe after dark. With a mortally wounded friend and no help in sight, our heroines are fighting the clock to survive. As the sun goes down, a prickling tension leaves the viewer watching every shadow for that sinister flicker of movement.

The film itself is kind of likeĀ The Descent by way ofĀ Cabin Fever.Ā Steady action and building intensity keep the pace moving right along.

via YouTube

I recently spoke to Scout Taylor-Compton about FeralĀ and her role as the fiercely capable Alice. She’s a caregiver and a healer, but she’s got a killer instinct (courtesy of her rural upbringing).

Alice and Jules show solid LGBT representation – their relationship headlines in this “couples retreat gone horribly wrong” horror film. These women are a constant and healthy source of support for one another, openly discussing their fears of coming out to family members and providing crisis-mode backup in equal measure.

Alice keeps control and exhibits a great emotional strength, but her confidence falters. Because of this, she’s extraordinarily relatable. Alice is just moving through the crisis one step at a time – she doesn’t have the obnoxious swagger of someone who’s got it all figured out. She knows she’s vulnerable, but she doesn’t let that break her.

via Moviebeasts

Feral has an incredible female focus.Ā I absolutely loved the factĀ that it completely scrapped the male gaze. This film is about women and their relationships and their fight for survival, and a lesser film would have turned that into gratuitous T&A shots and “girl-on-girl action” straight out of a porn keyword search.

Now, a character’s sexuality can beĀ powerful when it’s used well. Take, for example, Wonder Woman’s balance of beauty, compassion, and unstoppable brawn. But, that being said, it’s no secret that horror films tend to use female sexuality to strip away their power. Horror movies are stereotypically known for their scenes of a scantily clad victim traipsing through the scene of the crime.

FeralĀ treated its female characters the same way that it treated the men – they weren’t eye candy; they didn’t use their sexuality as a power play, they were just women.

The film’s climactic finale is not buried in exposition – it opens a wound and lets it breathe.Ā It infects you with this nibbling curiosity; an itch you can’t quite scratch. FeralĀ gets under your skin in a delicious way.

You can watchĀ FeralĀ now in select theatres or VOD. Check out 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 MartellĀ 

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 childrenā€™s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Panā€™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. Milneā€™s 1926 childrenā€™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 brothersā€™ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending thatā€™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 Brothersā€™ 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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