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[REVIEW] Debut Episode of Shudder’s ‘Creepshow’ is Nostalgic Fun

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Shudder Creepshow

We’re only nine days out from the debut of Shudder’s new series, Creepshow, and if the debut episode is any indication, we’re in for a real treat.

Based on the concept from 1982’s Creepshow written by Stephen King and directed by George A. Romero, each episode features two creepy stories filled with comic panels, frenetic scene changes, and of course, the ever presenter Creeper.

The first episode fittingly begins with an adaptation of King’s “Gray Matter,” the story of a man whose drinking habit, exacerbated by his wife’s death, leads to an insatiable hunger for more.

The segment stars genre icon Adrienne Barbeau, who appeared as the obnoxious alcoholic Billie in the first Creepshow film, as well as Tobin Bell (Saw) and Giancarlo Esposito (Better Call Saul). All three stars seem to be having the time of their lives as they navigate the story’s increasingly strange landscape.

Barbeau, in particular, stands out. Let’s face it, part of any horror story is embracing the weird and sometimes absurd, and the woman who once found herself fed to a monster in a crate does so with style and a feverish sense of urgency that really sells the story she’s telling.

Director Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead), meanwhile, pulled out all the stops for “Gray Matter,” filling the story with a ton of Easter eggs for fans of Stephen King and the original Creepshow while driving home the creepy/fun combination that makes this feel like a deleted segment of the original film.

What is most surprising, however, is that “Gray Matter” ultimately feels like a savory appetizer setting the audience up for the main course in the second segment of the episode titled “The House of the Head.”

Written by Josh Malerman (Bird Box) and directed by John Harrison (Tales from the Darkside: The Movie), the story concerns a young girl named Evie (Cailey Fleming) who is given an elaborate, beautiful dollhouse by her parents. She spends her time playing with the family who lives in her own little imaginary world until one day when a tiny severed head appears from nowhere and life inside the dollhouse takes a decidedly dark turn.

Malerman crafts an intense and satisfying story in the most unlikely of spaces, creating real terror from inanimate objects.

Fleming (The Walking Dead) proves she can carry a story all by herself. Her performance is beautifully measured throughout as she scrambles to thwart an inexplicable evil while keeping her parents, played by Rachel Hendrix and David Shae, completely in the dark.

Harrison, again, taps into the nostalgia of Creepshow to create visuals that are stunning and ever so slightly tongue-in-cheek to entertain while creating a real sense of dread.

Creepshow is set to debut on September 26, 2019 at 9 pm EST on Shudder and On Demand, and after seeing this initial episode, I personally cannot wait to see what the rest of the series has in store.

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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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.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

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 following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

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.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

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, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and 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.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

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.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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