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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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Childhood Memories Collide in New Horror Film ‘Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble’

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It looks like ITN Studious and Jagged Edge Productions are going the Avengers: Infinity War route with their upcoming film Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. From the deranged mind of Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey) comes this belligerent mash up of beloved childhood icons.

According to an article out of Variety today, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will consist of Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Tinkerbell, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Tigger, Piglet, The Mad Hatter, and Sleeping Beauty. All of these iconic figured will be warped into nightmarish versions of their former selves. Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble is set to be released upon the world sometime in 2025.

Poohniverse

Actor-producer Scott Chambers (Malevolent) had the following to say about Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. “As horror fans, we would love an Avengers that is all villains. It’d have Freddy Krueger, Jason, ‘Halloween,’ ‘Scream,’ all of those. Obviously that will never happen, but we can make it happen in our own little way, and that’s where this film has been born.”

Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will be a part of The Twisted Childhood Universe. Just like the MCU, each character will first get a standalone film. After introductions are made, they will be reunited in an Avengers style film. Although they will be killing off the survivors from the previous films, they won’t be working together.

Chambers describes this as an “epic sequences of monster vs. monster.” And I don’t know what more fans could ask of the studio. This fantastical idea is a huge risk but Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble sounds amazing.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Check back here for more updates on Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 below.

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Blumhouse’s ‘The Wolf Man’ Reboot Kicks Off Production with Leigh Whannell at the Helm

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Blumhouse Productions has officially commenced filming its reboot of the Universal Monsters legend, “Wolf Man”. Under the direction of Leigh Whannell, known for his acclaimed work on “The Invisible Man” (2020), the project promises to breathe new life into the iconic tale. The film is slated for a theatrical release on October 25th, marking a new chapter in the storied franchise.

Wolf Man

The journey of a “Wolf Man” reboot began in 2020 when actor Ryan Gosling presented a fresh take on the classic story to Universal. This concept quickly evolved into a screenplay crafted by the talented duo Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, who are known for their work on “Orange Is the New Black,” alongside contributions from Whannell and Corbett Tuck. The narrative is set in contemporary times, drawing inspiration from the atmospheric tension of Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Nightcrawler,” albeit with a distinct supernatural twist.

The film has seen its share of directorial and casting shifts, with Whannell initially signing on to direct in 2020, only to step away and then return to the project after Ryan Gosling and director Derek Cianfrance exited. The lead roles have been filled by Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, both of whom bring significant talent to the screen. Abbott portrays a man whose family faces the terror of a lethal predator, with Garner likely playing his wife, sharing in the familial peril. The storyline also hints at a daughter named Ginger, adding a layer of depth to the family’s harrowing experience.

Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott

This reboot represents a collaboration between Blumhouse and Motel Movies, with Jason Blum producing. Ryan Gosling remains involved as an executive producer, alongside Ken Kao, Bea Sequeira, Mel Turner, and Whannell himself. The announcement of the film’s production start was made by Jason Blum, who shared an exciting glimpse of Whannell on set, signaling the beginning of what is hoped to be a memorable addition to the horror genre.

As the “Wolf Man” reboot moves forward, fans and newcomers alike are eager to see how this modern interpretation will pay homage to its roots while offering a fresh and thrilling experience. With a talented cast and crew at the helm, the film is poised to reintroduce the timeless tale of transformation and terror to a new generation.

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‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

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Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

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