News
REVIEW: Smart and Twisty, ‘The Axiom’
When five friends decide to go camping in search of another one, things get multi-dimensionally horrific in the new movie The Axiom, and iHorrorĀ has your first look.
You know these friends are in for something extraordinary when one of the characters references the film The Most Dangerous Game in the first act.
The missing friend Marylyn disappeared after making her way to the same camping spot called āCinder Park.ā She is also the sister to two of the campers McKenzie (Hattie Smith) and big brother Martin (Zac Titus).
A helpful tip on where to find Marylyn comes from a questionable source, Craigslist, and a man named Leon who says he knows where she is and how to find her.
Upon arrival to Leon’s mountain-side outpost, McKenzie discovers that her sisterās disappearance is more than what it seems, but it is too extraordinary to believe. Relentless she must test Leonās claims by putting her friends and her brother in mortal danger.
Added to the mix is frazzled friend Edgar who has recently recovered from a breakdown, leaving him and us wondering why the sun never sets in Cinder Park.
With references to The Matrix and Silent Hill, The Axiom lays its supernatural groundwork with character development and wonderfully so.
Itās refreshing to see a film that builds its characters from the inside out instead of throwing well-worn archetypes to the monsters, this is a risky intellectual move by the filmmakers, luckily for us they have a talented cast who read and understood the script, filling out their respective characters in every dimension.
Director Nicholas Woods has some slack to play with here and fills it not with disposable potboiler victim profiles, but honest to goodness people we genuinely care for who make decisions, not because of diagramed plot mapping, but because they have no other choices.
āI donāt think we are where we think we are,ā says one character which gives the confused viewer peace of mind because they most likely feel the same way.
Lead Smith takes the storyline by the reins, sheās a powerful rational woman who navigates through Cinder Parkās madness keeping her mind and top intact. Smith doesnāt make McKenzie a wide-eyed naif, but an able-minded survivor.
Special effects arenāt whatās going to grab you here, there is a wonderful homage to something out of Guillermo Del Toroās creature shop and one giant show-stopping reveal, but other than that, weāve seen some of these pale-faced ghouls before.
It should also be noted that the film is almost completely made of practical effects so hats off to the make-up gang.
Intelligently crafted, well-acted and undeniably thought-provoking, The Axiom proves that horror movies need not be mindless to be effective nor senseless to be scary.
With a twist that swerves into an entirely new concept in the last reel (remember that movie reference in the beginning?), Woods makes sure not everything is summed up by the end leaving the portal open for further chapters in this sinister story.
The Axiom is only the beginning of what we imagineĀ will become a rousing franchise, at least we hope so.
'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?
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Movies
Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed
The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.
Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.
The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.
Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”
Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.
'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?
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News
Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.
The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.
“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.
Fans can enter to win by followingĀ Spirit Halloween‘s InstagramĀ and leaving a comment on the contest post from now throughĀ April 28.
The prize also includes:
An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings
A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear
A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room
A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course
The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II
Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two
“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”
Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.
'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?
Follow our new YouTube channel "Mysteries and Movies" here.
Movies
’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power
Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer,Ā Aaron Taylor-Johnson,Ā andĀ Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.
Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.
Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.
There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.
The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.
'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?
Follow our new YouTube channel "Mysteries and Movies" here.
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