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Review: Netflix Zombie Series ‘Black Summer’ Has Serious Bite

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Produced by The Asylum, Black Summer is a Netflix original series that acts as a companion prequel to SyFy’s now-cancelled Z Nation. Fans of Z Nation will recognize the term “Black Summer” as a series reference that alludes to an extreme drought that gradually lead to the zombie apocalypse.

So unlike Z Nation — which begins well into a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies — this series takes it right from the top.

Black Summer followers survivors of a cataclysmic event who contend with zombies — and each other — to reach a military evacuation site. Jamie King (Sin City) stars as a mother, torn from her daughter, who embarks upon a harrowing journey, stopping at nothing to find her. Thrust alongside a small group of American refugees, she must brave a hostile new world and make brutal decisions during the most deadly summer of a zombie apocalypse.

Karl Schaefer and John Hyams serve as creators, executive producers, and co-showrunners.

via Netflix

Tonally, Black Summer is far more somber and tense than Z Nation, opting for serious scares and hand-wrenching tension over elaborate subplots and zombie babies. This new world is harsh, dark, and deeply cynical.

From a technical standpoint, it’s quite impressive. The musical score is very limited and used more to ease in to scene transitions rather than provide background music. Episodes regularly utilize long tracking shots — and are quite economical with the cuts — adding to the sense of realism. As a viewer, you’re right there with the survivors, following them through their trauma.

The result is pretty intense.

via The Wrap

Admittedly, it’s easy to get burnt out on zombie media. We see a lot of it. The Walking Dead just announced yet another spin-off, Zombieland 2 is on the horizon, hell, even Jim Jarmusch is getting into the grave with zombies.

In a time when global tensions are rising, it seems appropriate to have this hyper-realistic cinematic-style exploration of how we react to a catastrophic event, both on an individual and greater scale. With themes of loss, humanity, and the loss of humanity, Black Summer has quite a bit to unpack.

In Black Summer, we pick up just as society collapses. Homes are evacuated and families are torn apart. Not everyone is a helpful survivor in it for the team; strangers will turn on (or turn their backs on) each other at a moment’s notice. When panic sets in, order is lost, and chaos reigns.

The threat seems very real. Practical weapons are scarce in suburbia, and these zombies are hyper-focused berserkers – they’re actually very difficult to kill, and even harder to run away from.

It’s a nice reminder of how genuinely intense the zombie subgenre can be when it’s done right. The series is less The Walking Dead and more 28 Days Later; it’s really pushing the straight-horror side of the zombie apocalypse with fast, focused, and ferocious zombies.

via Netflix

Whichever side of the “fast vs slow zombies” argument you land on, you have to admit that it really is a necessity for this series to work. Most of the conflicts are set with the understanding that these things are coming for you, and they will find you. Entire episodes are spent with characters that are physically trapped by, evading, or otherwise trying to escape these freakishly fast zombies.

There’s an episode based around one lone character on the run from one determined undead. It features approximately 7 lines of dialogue in 20 minutes, most only 1-3 words long. It’s a powerful episode — with an emotional performance from Kelsey Flower — that brilliantly utilizes the storytelling tool of a full-speed zombie to communicate fear, loneliness, and the dangers of isolation in a post-civilized world.

Another episode follows a small group of survivors in a minivan as they try and avoid these unwavering undead and outmaneuver a predatory black truck full of ne’er-do-well strangers.

Through each episode, the action clips along at a relentless pace.

via Netflix

After watching the first set of episodes, what struck me the most was how well they were constructed. I genuinely felt tense, surprised, shocked, and anxious as I was sucked in to the world of the show. The tightly choreographed long tracking shots really stand out as a strong point as they grip you in the action and carry you through the drama.

It’s an impressively well-made series that demonstrates how zombie media can still have some serious bite.

Has Black Summer reinvented the zombie subgenre? No. Is it the new The Walking Dead? Probably not – nothing can stop that train. But it is a legitimately entertaining series that should be caught by any zombie fan. It’s got enough thrills and kills to satisfy anyone who’s on the hunt for fresh meat — and still keeps some brains on the menu.

 

Black Summer arrives on Netflix on April 11, 2019.

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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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