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The Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle is as Deadly as it is Beautiful

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Poison Garden

In the sprawling gardens of England’s Alnwick Castle, the seat of the Duke of Northumberland and the filming location of the first two films in the Harry Potter franchise, one can see a variety of carefully cultivated and beautiful plants of every shape and size, but it is the famed Poison Garden that has drawn the most attention since it was opened to the public in 2005.

It all began when Jane Percy became the Duchess of Northumberland when her husband was elevated to the seat of Duke after his brother’s death. After taking up residence in the castle, he gave over the gardens–which then equated to little more than a sprawling Christmas tree farm–to her.

“I think he thought, ‘That will keep her quiet, she’ll just plant a few roses and that’ll be it,'” the duchess told the Smithsonian in an interview back in 2014.

Instead she hired famed landscape architect Jacques Wirtz, and together they meticulously planned an entirely new purpose and structure for the gardens including rare species of plants from around the world.

It was at this time that the Duchess had the idea of creating an “apothecary garden” to display medicinal plants. Later, however, she visited the Medici poison garden in Italy and returned with an entirely new idea.

Instead of displaying plants that would heal, they would cultivate those that could kill.

And so, she began collecting the 100 species that are present in the garden today. She wanted plants that were not only poisonous but would also tell a good story.

Brugmansia is just one of the deadly plants grown at the famed Poison Garden.

So, for instance, she brought in Brugmansia, also called angel’s trumpets, a member of the Solanaceae or nightshade family from South America. Every part of this plant form its pollen to its stems is poisonous. However, it also acts as a harsh, unforgiving psychedelic and sometimes a euphoric aphrodisiac depending on how it is used.

It can also cause tachycardia, dry mouth, migraines, delusions, and death.

Because of its euphoric qualities, however, it is considered a relatively pain-free death but those who do survive have been quite unlucky. For some, you see, those trance-like states it offers border on the psychotic, inducing hallucinations that are far too real for the one who has ingested it. In one such case, a young man who had ingested a tea made from the plant woke to find he had amputated his own penis and his tongue in the middle of his delusions.

The garden also features the Strychnos nux-vomica, the tree that is the source of strychnine.

You don’t have to eat strychnine for it to kill. It can be used in powdered form wherein someone could breathe in the deadly plant. Its toxins can also be absorbed through the skin. Today strychnine is most commonly used in pesticides, and specifically for rats.

Visitors will also find hemlock, the poison that famously figured into the death of Socrates, belladonna aka deadly nightshade, and foxglove which was once used to treat all manner of ailments but has been largely abandoned due to its sometimes lethal side effects.

Ever heard of Ricinus communis? It is used to create castor oil, which is excellent for cleansing the bowels and digestive system, but is also the source of ricin, a poison so potent that a dose the size of a few small grains of salt can kill an adult human.

Along with all these deadly plants, the Poison Garden also uses its platform for drug education displaying cannabis, coca plants, and the opium poppy behind its black gates.

Visitors are warned not to touch, taste, or smell the plants inside the Poison Garden and yet, every year, at least a few fainting spells occur inside its walls.

Alnwick Gardens bring in around 600,000 visitors each year, and no few of them are there specifically to visit their garden of deadly delights.

To learn more about the Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle, you can visit their official website.

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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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