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Netflix’s ‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ is an Epic Masterpiece

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The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

On August 30, 2019, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance will premiere on Netflix with a star-studded voice cast and a return to the amazing Jim Henson Company puppetry that made the original film an instant classic when it debuted in 1982.

The dark fairy tale-like series is made up of ten episodes, each nearly an hour long, packed with enough action, adventure, intrigue, and fantastic landscapes and characters to transport the willing viewer from our humdrum lives to the mystical world of Thra.

Set many years before the events of 1982’s The Dark Crystal, the new series focuses on the growing strife between the varied clans of Gelfling and the Skeksis who have assumed control of the Crystal of Truth.

The Crystal’s power has darkened under the Skeksis stewardship and that darkness is seeping out into the world of Thra. Rian (Taron Egerton), Deet (Nathalie Emmanuel), and Brea (Anya Taylor-Joy), three Gelfling from different clans, have discovered a new insidious plot by the Skeksis and they set out to unite the Gelfling to fight this new threat.

Director Louis Leterrier worked in tandem with The Jim Henson Company to recreate the world of Thra much as we knew it in that original film with intricate, lifelike puppetry, textured hand-sculpted sets, and a bare minimum of CGI effects to give it the feel of a classic production.

What’s most incredible about the series is that, after only an episode or two, one begins to forget that these are puppets at all. Certainly they are completely unearthly beings, but they seem alive and the more alive they become, the more immersive Thra becomes.

The attention to detail in creating the world of Thra is evident in every single scene and setpiece.

Beyond the physical spectacle of the series, the writing is stellar. Jeffrey Addis (Life in a Year) and the writers have expanded upon the mythology of The Dark Crystal, creating a story that is compelling and answering questions that have lingered for 37 years about the Gelfling, Mother Aughra, and the Skeksis and Mystics.

Likewise, music for the series composed by Daniel Pemberton (Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse) and Samuel Sim (The Spanish Princess) is nothing short of glorious. Together they created an evocative soundscape that ranges from symphonic swells to deceptively simple folk songs.

For their part, the talented voice cast is more than up to the challenge of embodying the denizens of Thra.

It would be a daunting task to point out the pitch-perfect performances of all the actors in the series. Egerton, Emmanuel, and Taylor-Joy are joined by the likes of Lena Headey, Harvey Fierstein, Eddie Izzard, Helena Bonham Carter, Toby Jones, Simon Pegg, Jason Isaacs, and Gugu Mbatha Raw to name just a few.

Each brings their own dynamic talents to their roles, breathing life into these characters with seeming ease, but there are two performances that must be pointed out.

Mark Hamill is deliciously evil in the role of the Skeksis Scientist. The actor has proven his talent as a voice actor time and again and this role is no different. Whether he’s feeling petulant, vindictive, or power-hungry, there is never any doubt that he is a dangerous enemy to have.

Likewise, puppeteer and voice actress Donna Kimball proves she was more than up for the task of bringing Aughra to life. In fact, the similarity between her performance and Billie Whitelaw’s in the original film is downright uncanny. She fully embodies the ancient, powerful mistress of Thra at every turn.

Donna Kimball gives a masterful performance as Aughra in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance

And then there’s Thra, a mystical world with a life all its own.

Thra breathes; Thra sings. Thra can nurture; Thra can kill. Thra mourns, and Thra can die which leads us to the heart of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. It is a reminder to all of us that those in power are not always right and those who rebel are sometimes the true heroes.

If I had one complaint about the series as a whole, it is that I found the pacing a bit uneven at times. Certainly exposition and character development are fundamental to any story, but there are ways of doing that while maintaining momentum, and there were one or two episodes where that forward-movement slowed quite a bit.

Fortunately, these issues are not enough to detract from the series as a whole.

In fact, by the end of the series, audiences will almost assuredly find that they have been on an epic journey that is both nostalgic and new. It also leaves you with the feeling that there are more stories that Netflix could tell within this world, and all eyes will surely be on the streaming platform to find out if this adventure will continue.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance premieres August 30, 2019 on Netflix.

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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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