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Review: ABCs of Death 2

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ABCs of Death 2, out on VOD on October 2nd, and in theaters on Halloween, seeks to deliver another menacing, twenty-six-taled experience that fans of its predecessor would expect. It’s hard to review one of these movies as a whole because it’s really about each part, and there’s got to be at least something for just about every type of horror fan, but just as the original was divisive, it’s hard to see this one being greeted much differently.

From the official synopsis:

ABC’s OF DEATH 2 is the follow-up to the most ambitious anthology film ever conceived with productions spanning from Nigeria to UK to Brazil and everywhere in between. It features segments directed by over two dozen of the world’s leading talents in contemporary genre film. The film is comprised of twenty-six individual chapters, each helmed by a different director assigned a letter of the alphabet. The directors were then given free rein in choosing a word to create a story involving death. Provocative, shocking, funny and at times confrontational, ABC’s OF DEATH 2 is another global celebration of next generation genre filmmaking.

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My gut feeling after watching the film for the first time is that as a whole, it’s not quite on the same level as the first. To me, the good far outweighed the bad in Part 1, but it was a little more balanced this time around. If three quarters of the first one was good, then it was more like half and half for Part 2. Honestly this is a somewhat futile review. As I found with the first one, my opinions about some of the segments changed upon re-watching, and I’d imagine a similar experience here. Unfortunately, I’ve only got time to watch it once for now. There’s also the fact that everybody has different tastes, and when you’re talking about 26 different segments, that leaves a whole lot of different flavor combinations. You and I might both like A, but then have completely opposite views of B. We both hate C, but only one of us thinks D is worth a shit. And on and on through the alphabet. I think you get the point.

But that point is as good of reason as any for me to recommend this movie to any horror fan just as I would the first. There’s probably something in there that you’ll find entertaining.

Now that we got through all of the hemming and hawing. I’ll give you my more direct opinions.

While I enjoyed a pretty decent amount of the segments in ABCs of Death 2, I don’t feel like any of them were as effective as the most effective ones from Part 1. There were some truly uncomfortable moments in that one (particularly L is for Libido), but I didn’t get that generally unclean feeling I got from moments of the first film. That doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of horror to go around, and like Part 1, Part 2 offers some moments of comic relief.

Without revealing much about individual segments (the fun of these movies is not knowing where they’re going to take you next), I’ll say the stand-outs in my book were: C, J, K, O, S, W, X, and Z. I supposed those would be my top eight in unranked order. You’ll notice that a good portion of these are later in the alphabet, and that’s an important point to note.

abcs of death 2

2 just doesn’t start off with the bang the first one does. A is for Apocalypse from the first film got things started very well, in my opinion, whereas A this time around just wasn’t one of the most compelling segments. Save for C (which is still probably near the bottom of that top eight list), it takes a while for the goods to really be delivered in 2. The turning point for me was in the J and K area, at which point things just started to feel like they were looking up, and in general, they did. So the lesson here is that if you’re not impressed with the early segments, don’t let that deter you from powering through the rest. Some of the later ones are among the best of the bunch.

The presentation of the segments is a bit different this time around. There’s more of a storybook approach to the visuals from the opening title sequence to the in-between-segment titles and on to the end credits, which are accompanied by a much differently toned soundtrack from the first film. This time it’s more of a kids singing “la la la” kind of thing (which feels pretty familiar) as opposed to that wonderful “Horror Movie” song that takes you out of Part 1. I prefer the first one’s approach personally.

All in all, however, ABCs of Death 2 deserves your time at least once. Then, you can decide if there’s enough there to warrant repeat viewings. I can say with certainty that I’ll be revisiting it in the future, and probably for years to come.

Be sure to check out my ranking of the first film’s 26 segments here. That should actually give you a good idea about my own sensibilities, and may help to color this review a little bit more. But even still, if you think my rankings on that one are ridiculous, then you still owe it to yourself to watch Part 2, because you may like some of the ones I didn’t.

To each their own. I feel like that’s what the ABCs of Death franchise is all about, and that’s a good thing for horror. These movies are great for the genre because they open fans’ eyes to different talent and types of horror that they may not have even considered watching before. More importantly, it inspires creativity and originality, which are two things lacking far too often in mainstream horror cinema. One thing is guaranteed when you watch an ABCs of Death film, you will see something unconventional.

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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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