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REVIEW: Smart and Twisty, ‘The Axiom’

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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 ā€œCinder 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 sisterā€™s disappearance is more than what it seems, but it is too extraordinary to believe. Relentless she must test Leonā€™s 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.

"The Axiom" is smart and confusing in a good way.

With references to The Matrix and Silent Hill, The Axiom lays its supernatural groundwork with character development and wonderfully so.

Itā€™s 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.

ā€œI donā€™t 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, sheā€™s a powerful rational woman who navigates through Cinder Parkā€™s madness keeping her mind and top intact. Smith doesnā€™t make McKenzie a wide-eyed naif, but an able-minded survivor.

"The Axiom" is smart and confusing in a good way.

Special effects arenā€™t whatā€™s going to grab you here, there is a wonderful homage to something out of Guillermo Del Toroā€™s creature shop and one giant show-stopping reveal, but other than that, weā€™ve 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.

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’47 Meters Down’ Getting Third Movie Called ‘The Wreck’

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Deadline is reporting that a new 47 Meters Down installment is heading into production, making the shark series a trilogy.Ā 

ā€œSeries creator Johannes Roberts, and screenwriter Ernest Riera, who wrote the first two films, have co-written the third installment:Ā 47 Meters Down: The Wreck.ā€ Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine)Ā will direct.

The first two films were a moderate success, released in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The second film is titled 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.Ā 

47 Meters Down

The plot for The Wreck is detailed by Deadline. They write that it involves a father and daughter trying to repair their relationship by spending time together scuba diving into a sunken ship, ā€œBut soon after their descent, their master diver has an accident leaving them alone and unprotected inside the labyrinth of the wreck. As tensions rise and oxygen dwindles, the pair must use their newfound bond to escape the wreck and the relentless barrage of bloodthirsty great white sharks.ā€

The filmmakers are hoping to present the pitch to the Cannes market with production starting in the fall.Ā 

ā€œ47 Meters Down: The Wreck is the perfect continuation of our shark-filled franchise,ā€ said Byron Allen, founder/chairman/CEO of Allen Media Group. ā€œThis film will once again have moviegoers terrified and on the edge of their seats.ā€

Johannes Roberts adds, ā€œWe canā€™t wait for audiences to be trapped underwater with us again. 47 Meters Down: The Wreck is going to be the biggest, most-intense film of this franchise.ā€

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‘Wednesday’ Season Two Drops New Teaser Video That Reveals Full Cast

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Christopher Lloyd Wednesday Season 2

Netflix announced this morning that Wednesday season 2 is finally entering production. Fans have been waiting a long time for more of the creepy icon. Season one of Wednesday premiered in November of 2022.

In our new world of streaming entertainment, it isn’t uncommon for shows to take years to release a new season. If they release another one at all. Even though we will likely have to wait quite a while to see the show, any news is good news.

Wednesday Cast

The new season of Wednesday looks to have an amazing cast. Jenna Ortega (Scream) will be reprising her iconic role as Wednesday. She will be joined by Billie Piper (Scoop), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Evie Templeton (Return to Silent Hill), Owen Painter (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Noah Taylor (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).

We will also get to see some of the amazing cast from season one making a return. Wednesday season 2 will feature Catherine-Zeta Jones (Side Effects), Luis Guzman (Genie), Issac Ordonez (A Wrinkle in Time), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Devs).

If all of that star power wasn’t enough, the legendary Tim Burton (The Nightmare Before Christmas) will be directing the series. As a cheeky nod from Netflix, this season of Wednesday will be titled Here We Woe Again.

Jenna Ortega Wednesday
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams

We don’t know much about much about what Wednesday season two will entail. However, Ortega has stated that this season will be more horror focused. ā€œWeā€™re definitely leaning into a little bit more horror. Itā€™s really, really exciting because, all throughout the show, while Wednesday does need a little bit of an arc, she never really changes and thatā€™s the wonderful thing about her.ā€

That’s all the information that we have. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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A24 Reportedly “Pulls Plug” On Peacock’s ‘Crystal Lake’ Series

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Crystal

Film studio A24 might not be going forward with its planned Peacock Friday the 13th spinoff called Crystal Lake according to Fridaythe13thfranchise.com. The website quotes entertainment blogger Jeff Sneider who made a statement on his webpage through a subscription paywall. 

“I’m hearing that A24 has pulled the plug on Crystal Lake, its planned Peacock series based on the Friday the 13th franchise featuring masked killer Jason Voorhees. Bryan Fuller was due to executive produce the horror series.

Itā€™s unclear whether this is a permanent decision or a temporary one, as A24 had no comment. Perhaps Peacock will help the trades shed more light on this project, which was announced back in 2022.”

Back in January 2023, we reported that some big names were behind this streaming project including Bryan Fuller, Kevin Williamson, and Friday the 13th Part 2 final girl Adrienne King.

Fan Made Crystal Lake Poster

“‘Crystal Lake info from Bryan Fuller! They officially start writing in 2 weeks (writers are here in the audience).ā€ tweeted social media writer Eric Goldman who tweeted the info while attending a Friday the 13th 3D screening event in January 2023. ā€œIt will have two scores to choose from ā€“ a modern one and a classic Harry Manfredini one. Kevin Williamson is writing an episode. Adrienne King will have a recurring role. Yay! Fuller has pitched four seasons for Crystal Lake. Only one officially ordered so far though he notes Peacock would have to pay a pretty hefty penalty if they didnā€™t order a Season 2. Asked if he can confirm Pamelaā€™s role in the Crystal Lake series, Fuller replied ‘Weā€™re honestly going to be covering it all. The series is covering the life and times of these two characters’ (presumably heā€™s referring to Pamela and Jason there!)'”

Whether or not Peacock is moving forward with the project is unclear and since this news is secondhand information, it still has to be verified which will require Peacock and/or A24 to make an official statement which they have yet to do.

But keep checking back to iHorror for the latest updates to this developing story.

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