Television Review - American Horror Story: "Open House"/"Rubber Man"

American Horror Story is really trying to clean up its messes, which is a huge bonus for me. I can watch the show for the simple reason that it's a crazy-ass way to spend 45 minutes, and before it was sort of a like a train derailing in slow-motion. Now, American Horror Story is getting a bit of substance, it's starting to make a little bit of sense, and even some of the characters are becoming a bit more well-rounded thanks to some flashbacks, romantic twists, and even - gasp! - a little personal drama peppered in with the ghost hauntings.

"Open House" has to deal with the fact that the Harmons still live in their house, even after all of the insane things that they can't explain. It's already a tough position to fill, but the episode makes good use of the malevolent nature of these spirits and actually uses their powers for more than just spook scares and harassment.

We're also given a lot more information on just why Burnface Man wants the house so bad. Turns out he was one of Constance's lovers, and he was going to leave his wife and kids and move into the house with Constance. Now perhaps this doesn't make a whole lot of sense, seeing as Burnface Man's wife doesn't want to fight for the house and instead sets herself and the kids on fire; but who cares? At least there's a stronger motive for Burnface Man, even if it does mean that he has some sort of unrequited love for Constance that he should know won't be rekindled (get it? he's burned).

Guess what? Vivien's got twins. Yes, that's right, she has two little demon babies inside of her now. Did I also mention there's a deformed child in the attic of the Harmon house? Well there is, and where before I would have jumped all over this episode for introducing yet another ridiculous and ill-placed scenario, I've found myself shying away from criticizing the irrationality of the thing. I'm not saying that we should totally absolve the writers of the awful ways in which American Horror Story presents its story arcs; nor should we overlook the fact that, for the most part, it's felt like the show has been flying by the seat of its pants.

But "Rubber Man" makes me hopeful that at least somebody on the set of American Horror Story has an idea where all of this is headed. The episode ties together a ton of loose plot lines, including why the gay homeowners are included in the plot at all (although that's still a tenuous connection), where the rubber suit came from, and who the Rubber Man is! The reveal is a little rushed (like, let's say, the first two minutes of the episode), but it was necessary for the plot to progress, and I'm glad to see the shift in morals with Tate. He's a kid trying to figure out his hatred, even after he's dead, and it's good to see a conflict pulling at him from all sides.

Hayden is also more useful as a ghost here, although she does seem to make up some rule about the ghosts being able to remain invisible that we've never really seen before. She uses this device to make Vivien go crazy and shoot Ben - she wants her babies, mind you, for herself and Nora. It's not clear how they will get the babies after Vivien leaves the house, but it's not important right now. Someone has finally left the house - perhaps for good! It'll be interesting to see how that plays out in the next episodes, and dare I say it'll be good for the Harmons' disgustingly redundant divorce fights all the time.

Slash to the Point: I'm starting to put aside my qualms for the things that don't make sense in American Horror Story. It's not solid writing, it doesn't seem to follow any sense of narrative device, and at times it's totally unrealistically hokey. But after becoming so fatigued with its avoidance of anything tolerably believable, I'm coming to accept where American Horror Story is headed. It's even, somewhat, fun.

The Gingerdead Man is coming up!

You can expect a heaping helping of gingerbread madness coming your way soon - I'll be reviewing these bad boys shortly, plus a few others in the Christmas horror series. It's been busy around here, but I promise I'll be back with holiday-themed reviews!

The Evil Ad #43

I wasn't familiar with this before, but apparently Sea World does a Halloween event at their theme park. Titled Howl-O-Scream, the event is featured at both Busch Gardens and Sea World attraction parks, and it's sort of like the things one might see at Six Flags' Frightfest. While I'm guessing it's not equal to the scares and spooks of Halloween Horror Nights, I'd still like to venture out to see all of the dolphins dressed in their best costume attire. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think, for today's special occasion, I'll use a scene from my favorite horror-themed Thanksgiving movie, Thankskilling:

My sentiments exactly. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Television Review - Dollhouse: "Stage Fright"/"Gray Hour"

It's been a while since I last saw Dollhouse (read: almost two years since the first two episodes), and now the show has moved up to television heaven. After only two seasons, Dollhouse was cut from FOX, and this is partially because of the lack of viewership which seems to plague many of Joss Whedon's series. But I'm taking a trip back to the world of Handlers and Actives via Netflix; the company is currently streaming these episodes online.

In the series' third episode "Stage Fright", the main Active in the mysterious and highly elusive Dollhouse is sent out into the field to help protect the popular pop star Rayna from a deadly fan attack. Echo (played by Eliza Dushku) is one of the more developed Actives, since she seems to evolve even after her memory is wiped following each job she performs. In "Stage Fright", her persona finishes the job in an awkward fashion, breaking the programming she is hardwired to perform for a more strategic, outside-the-box conclusion.

The change in Echo is the best part of "Stage Fright", as it's a piece of characterization for Echo that we never normally get for her. Since Echo is, in essence, a blank slate after every mission, it's difficult for Dollhouse to generate a sense of depth to her. It's a problem, in a way, because if the audience is meant to root for her in the face of danger, there's little development to hold onto since Echo is always a different person. This episode might not be especially engaging as Echo worms her way into Rayna's life to minimize the threat, but it does manage to garner some emotions from the viewer after Echo changes.

The main dilemma I've been having with the show is that Dollhouse's episodes always feel like one-shots, using the same plot devices for each episode. We send Echo out into the field to perform a task, something goes wrong and the Handler is contacted, and the problem is resolved. Sure, there's a detective working in the background to find the Dollhouse, so that's somewhat an arc to the plot, but for the most part the show has lacked a destination.

That changes with "Gray Hour", an episode that finds Echo breaking into a hotel vault to steal back a stolen piece of the Parthenon. After a rogue remote wipe through a cell phone erases Echo's memory, she cowers and whimpers in a corner, and asks the same questions she would if she was simply erased at Dollhouse. Again, there's that same plot device of the Handlers having to rush in to save Echo; I have a feeling that won't change much for each episode. But "Gray Hour" finds Echo relying much more on other Actives, like Sierra (Dichen Lachman). There's an interplay here between Actives which is good to see, and since the Actives are grouping after their minds are wiped clean, it's almost existential in its ideas of evolution and instinct.

There's also a much stronger story arc developing, because a rogue Doll named Alpha takes the blame for the remote wipe of Echo. Hopefully, Alpha will make an appearance soon, or he'll continue to make advances that threaten the structure of Dollhouse. And the detective will continue to explore the links between Dollhouse and Victor, which should make for an interesting development as long as something actually happens with it.

Slash to the Point: Joss Whedon's series moves forward in these two episodes, which are more of the same for the series (new mission: new problem), but they do push the plot forward in ways that make me quite excited. "Stage Fright" tends to drag, but "Gray Hour" is pretty exciting, and the episode is a good indication of what the show can do when it groups the Actives together.

The Evil Ad #42

Continuing our recap of the Halloween ads of 2011, here we have advertisements for phone company Vodacom. These play off of the undead of the night, using their nocturnal habits as a driving point for the implementation of Vodacom's new free call package.

Wish I had seen these before Halloween!

Book Review - Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger

William Kent Krueger returns to his series of adventures starring Ojibwe Indian Cork O'Conner in Northwest Angle, a mystery novel set on Lake of the Woods by the US/Canadian border. Kreuger's novel melds the familiarity of Cork from past novels with the new setting, which enhances the bond between the characters and nature; the story is also based on a real occurrence that happened in Minnesota, a derecho (definition: huge beast of a storm) that blew up and caused quite a stir in the area. What ensues in Northwest Angle is a tale about religious fanatics, the almighty hand that guides us, and the bravery of a woman who takes a motherless child under her protection.

Krueger certainly has a feel for Cork's character, so it's good to see him spending some extra time with Cork's family. On this trip, he brings his daughters and son along; also on the voyage are Rose and Mal, Cork's wife's sister and her lover, respectively. Each gets some time with the narrative, and Krueger does a nice job of switching between perspectives often and including the subtleties of each character. It's something that invokes a sense of verisimilitude - that Cork is not the only character to dominate each of Krueger's stories.

The plot is also fairly twisting, with a series of reveals that keep the reader guessing. At first, Northwest Angle feels like a survival piece as Cork and his daughter Jenny are stranded on an island after the storm. But after they stumble upon a murder scene, Krueger begins to pile on bits and pieces of mystery, each one more sinister than the last. And Northwest Angle is something of a slow burn, so that means there's a lot of thematic bulk incorporated within the complex plot. The novel is able to juggle these things well, for the most part, although after the murderer(s) has(ve) finally been detected, Krueger tends to drop the subplot about Jenny's care for the orphaned child.

There's a lot of beautiful imagery here, a testament to both Krueger's knowledge of the territory he's writing about and the amorous feelings he has for nature. It's something that ties in well with Cork's Ojibwe background, which also gets fleshed out for a while with the recurring character of Henry Meloux. These moments are where Northwest Angle ceases to be another simple murder mystery and instead becomes something deeper and more original.

Slash to the Point: Northwest Angle is a gripping novel for those who crave a little more from their pulp mysteries. It's another good installment of the Cork O'Conner series, and William Kent Krueger allows us to explore Cork's family life as well as his detective one. Combine that with the scenic paragraphs that fill the pages and you have a book that's great to sit back with on a quiet, frosty evening.

Horror Horizon - November 22

Notable DVD releases for the coming Tuesday. Selections subject to Blu-Ray release as well.

Super 8

"JJ Abrams and Steven Spielberg join forces in this extraordinary tale of youth, mystery, and adventure. Super 8 tells the story of six friends who witness a train wreck while making a Super 8 movie, only to learn that something unimaginable escaped during the crash. They soon discover that the only thing more mysterious than what it is, is what it wants. Experience the film that critics rave is, 'filled with unstoppable imagination and visual effects to spare. It will put a spell on you.'"

Helldriver

"From the creators of Machine Girl , and Tokyo Gore Police, An alien-spawned, mysterious mist blankets the northern half of Japan, transforming those who inhale it into ravenous, flesh-eating zombies hellbent on devouring the surviving human populatin. Plunged into chaos, Japan is torn into 2 areas. The southern half of the country, where the population remains untouched by the deadly gas, lives behind a heavily-fortified wall, while the northern half is a lawless, zombie-infected wasteland." 

Antfarm Dickhole

"Hailed by indiemoviemaker.net as having "the most WTF moments in movie history" Antfarm Dickhole is the story of rampaging army ants that have nested inside a living human body. The unwilling host discovers that when bullies attack him, the ants defend their nest. Thus begins a tragic tale of what happens when the powerless become powerful." 

Naked Massacre

"A Terrifying Shocker based on the Richard Speck murders. For these nine young nurses, opening the door that night meant ending their lives!"

Haunted Changi

"In January of 2010, a group of local filmmakers began exploring the famously haunted Old Changi Hospital in Singapore with terrifying and tragic results. This movie pieces together the original Haunted Changi film crew's footage to tell the full story."

Captive Audience

"An unfortunate woman is kidnapped and subjected to deranged abuses. When she resists, her captor warns her that if she does not comply with his wishes, he will seek a new victim, but that other woman will be killed after his wishes are fulfilled. He videotapes his attacks and forces the captive to watch, telling her that she could have prevented the ordeal. Each time she says ""no"" she is really saying, ""Defile another woman."" Watch with extreme caution." 

Saki the Killer

"Saki (Sachiko Kokubu) is not your average art teacher - she handles prison inmates, as well as art students. When Saki's grandfather (Hidetoshi Imura) visits Saki, he also brings trouble, in the form of an evil Yakuza. Saki uses her artistic demons to fight the gangsters and killers who infiltrate her life, threatening everything in sight. Saki slashes her way to a spectacular showdown of guns, knives and anything she can get her hands on. Saki is out to create her bloodiest masterpiece yet, in this thriller of betrayal, revenge, and killer art. Her paint brush is her blade. Her paint is her enemy's blood." 

Where the Dogs Divide Her

"Where the Dogs Divide Her begins amid the aftermath of a family massacre. A nameless man sits in an unfamiliar bathroom, his bloodied hands trembling as he ponders his crime of passion. An amnesiac without an identity, he goes in search of himself, only to unearth a long-buried family secret surrounding the bizarre deaths of his parents. An abstract ghost story populated by ever-threatening specters, shadowy souls with evil motives who inhabit a nightmare world within a troubled killer's psyche. They might offer a smile or a kind word, but their only purpose is to snare others into their Hell." 

Raymond Did It

"When twelve-year-old Bryce Rourke is accidentally killed in a playground scuffle, his friends decide to blame Bryce's developmentally delayed older brother for the accident. Raymond is taken to a state hospital while the true killer walks free. Six years later, Raymond escapes from the hospital to seek bloody revenge for his brother's death. Starring Lindsay Felton (VH1 Scream Queens, Caitlin's Way), Jessica Palette (Vh1 Scream Queens, Under the Raven's Wing), Elissa Dowling (Dahmer vs. Gacy, Dread), and introducing Kyle Hoskins as Raymond" 

Great White Death

"The most shocking, goriest shark attacks ever caught on film are right here - sometimes only the camera survives!"

Television Review - American Horror Story: "Piggy Piggy"

Starting during the second part of the Halloween two-parter, American Horror Story has been making a shift, or at least trying to. It has found out that the craziness of random ghost encounters and multiple past events don't really make for good television, simply because the amount of plot that has been covered in every episode is so momentous that it's hard to wrap the mind around. In "Piggy Piggy," American Horror Story settles into the characterization of Tate, moreso than most episodes combined.

It's interesting that the character American Horror Story spends so much time with is not part of the Harmon family, although it makes sense considering the bland nature of the two adults. Tate is a compelling character because he has so many emotional problems; the fact that he makes an effort to change himself throughout the show is the main reason why he feels more realistic than the rest of the characters in the show.

In "Piggy Piggy," we're treated to the backstory of Tate's violent school shooting, a storyline that was hinted at in the previous episode. This has been some of the best story American Horror Story has done so far, and again there's a good emotional struggle here between Tate's demented past and the change he's trying to go through for Violet.

The main problem with "Piggy Piggy" is the introduction of Ben's new patient, who's played by the wonderful Eric Stonestreet. It feels like a shoddy way to advance the plot to even new extremes, force the viewer to feel like the plot is moving forward while still retaining the weirdness the show has touted since it first began. It amounts to little, if anything, and unfortunately Stonestreet won't be reprising his role (unless he comes back as a disturbed ghost, which could be possible). The whole idea behind the pig man is forced and lazily plotted, and it lessens the impact of the school shooting, which could have encompassed an entire episode.

Slash to the Point: There's a movement towards working with the characters in a bit more detail in "Piggy Piggy", but the episode does resort to its old tricks when it continues to introduce new, strange twists. While this is one of the best episodes in American Horror Story's run, I'll be interested to see if the show continues to strengthen its characters without being forced to introduce new ghosts to an already overstuffed show.

Comic Review - Samurai's Blood #4

It's been a while since we've checked in with the samurai clan, but when we last left off, Kimura was stuck in a brothel working for a corrupt prostitution leader and Katashi was training as a samurai under the skilled Horitomo. In the fourth issue of Samurai's Blood, this subplot is resolved just in time for the trio of swordspeople to fight the corrupt Gakushi.

The comic has always featured a strong narrative presence thanks to the musings of an omniscient samurai elder, and this issue retains that idea. The main theme of this issue is love and betrayal, two sentiments that remain intertwined throughout the issue thanks to Jun's sly workings and Katashi's obsession with getting Kimura back.

The issue is paced a little slowly, and it dwells upon the same ideas that the previous two issues have been dealing with. So we've been getting the whole "Kimura's gone and Katashi's upset" thing for some time now, and there's not much in this issue that furthers these ideas. That is, until the fight sequence between Katashi and the humongous Tokugawa Daigan, which finds Katashi lusting after the blood of great fighters and figuratively bathed in vengeful hatred.

The meat of the plot hits when Katashi turns on his own friend - there's that betrayal again - but it's only a quick scenario before the reveal of an important character thought to be dead. I would have liked to see Samurai's Blood linger a little longer on the vileness of Katashi's character; seeing him turn into a lost soul similar to those that are leading the new clan of samurai would have made for a good dramatic shift before the inevitable choice  between pursuing the evil Gakushi.

Slash to the Point: We're getting to the final slice of the blade, but first we must wade through the slosh of emotions that the fourth issue throws our way. It's not a bad issue, but it basically reiterates ideas we've been getting for a while now in Samurai's Blood - there must be a balance between a samurai's lifestyle, and there's always a fine line between honor and shame. But this issue doesn't quite hit the same level of thematic allegory as the previous issues.

Horror Horizon - November 15

Notable DVD releases for today. Selections subject to Blu-Ray release as well.

Evil Dead 2 [Anniversary Edition]

"Ash (Bruce Campbell), the sole survivor of THE EVIL DEAD, returns to the same cabin in the woods and again unleashes the forces of the dead. With his girlfriend possessed by the demons and his body parts running amok, Ash is forced to single- handedly battle the legions of the damned as the most lethal – and groovy – hero in horror movie history! Welcome to EVIL DEAD II, director Sam Raimi’s infamous sequel to THE EVIL DEAD and outrageous prequel to ARMY OF DARKNESS!"

Being Human: The Complete First Season

"Being Human... nobody ever said it was easy. But for three twenty-something roommates - vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer), ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath) and a werewolf Josh (Sam Huntington) - is it even possible? While these outsiders come to realize that there are fates even worse than death, they also discover that there's more to life (and the afterlife) than most "normal" humans could ever imagine."

Humongous (Katarina's Nightmare Theater)

"A group of teens on a boat find themselves in a fogbound night only to run aground on the rocks of the mysterious 'Dog Island' right before their boat goes up in flames. As they gather on the shoreline, one of them goes missing, another is critically injured and four go searching for shelter. They then decide to venture into the still standing house to summon help from its occupants...if any. Luckily, there is someone still dwelling there, but unfortunately there's something else out on the island growling in the dark and it ain't no dog! And it is HUNGRY!"

Bite Marks

"While backpacking across the country, bickering gay couple Cary and Vogel decide to speed up their trek by hitchhiking instead. That s when fate brings them Brewster, a sexually-confused trucker who picks the pair up on his way to delivering a shipment of coffins. After a few strokes of bad luck, the mismatched trio ends up lost and broken down in an abandoned junkyard. Though surviving a night of petty fights and sexual tension seems tough enough, the nightmare is only just getting started as strange noises in the back of the truck reveal the presence of five bloodthirsty vampires..."

Neverwhere

"Richard Mayhew leads an ordinary life in London when one day a girl named Door falls, injured, across his path. The next thing he knows, his life is gone and he's pulled into the fantastical world of London Below. Pursued by the murderous Messrs. Croup and Vandemar, Door and Richard with the help of Hunter and the Marquis de Carabas, attempt to find the Angel Islington, who knows the secret behind the murder of Door's family, and possibly a way for Richard to go home."

Fading of the Cries

"Sarah finds an ancient necklace that belonged to her uncle. The necklace unknowingly unlocks a malevolent evil that has been searching for the relic. The dark force invades her small town, sending hordes of demonic creatures to find Sarah and bring back the necklace. It’s up to Jacob, armed with a powerful sword, to bring Sarah home and save mankind from destruction." 

The Open Door

"Innocent and trusting Angelica falls in with the wrong crowd at school and finds herself grounded during the biggest party of her senior year. The desperate teen turns to a mysterious pirate radio station that appears on full moon nights to grant the wishes of its callers. When her mischievous friends decide to play a prank on her, her wishes are unleashed in a twisted and violent fashion on the unsuspecting teens."

Be back later today with a Horror Horizon. Been quite busy lately.

Television Review - The Walking Dead: "Cherokee Rose"

There's a little girl missing in The Walking Dead, and there's a redneck also stranded out in the expanse of zombie wastes; but for right now, the show is ultimately focused on the recovery of Carl, the treachery of Shane, and the lack of a functioning camp. "Cherokee Rose" doesn't do much to solve any of these problems, but it does feature a lot more characterization for Shane, Daryl, and perhaps, just a little bit, Glenn.

Thankfully, "Cherokee Rose" is one of the better episodes this season because it slows things down enough to explore characters that aren't totally annoying. And Andrea is barely present in this episode, which means I didn't feel like flinging my TV every time she was pictured. Instead, the episode continues the search for Sophia - which has already stagnated - while spending some time inside Shane's head.

It's this time with Shane that is needed, simply because the last episode failed to prepare Shane's brutal but necessary execution of Otis. In "Cherokee Rose", we get the type of remorse and guilt that would have been nice last episode, but at least it's here in some subtly veiled dialogues to Andrea about taking lives. Still, I don't really believe his quick turn on his partner, and there's still some digging to be done in Shane's psyche. I feel like we haven't even scraped the surface.

Glenn also gets some screentime with newbie Maggie, although it consists mainly of Glenn being awkward and then the couple having some hasty sex in a pharmacy. It's all really cheesy, which can be blamed on the nature of their predicament (translation: sex first, love later) - but it's also so awkward that their relationship seems doomed before it begins.

We follow Daryl into the woods as he searches for Sophia, and he brings back the titular flower to Sophia's mother, with a story about Native American tears flowering Cherokee roses. It's not consistent with Daryl's character, but it works because Daryl has been an endearing character throughout The Walking Dead and even with his redneck sensibilities, I have a special interest in him thanks to the emotional change he's been making in these later episodes.

There's also a questionable sequence about trying to get a walker out of a well, which didn't work for me at all thanks to the boneheaded ideas the group comes up with. They want the walker out of the well so that he doesn't contaminate the water supply - but I wouldn't drink that water anyway, seeing as how the walker's flesh has become bloated, bloody, and perhaps even gelatinous thanks to the days of marination he's experienced. For them to even consider drinking putrefied zombie water makes me question whether it's the writers who messed up, or if we were supposed to think that everyone at camp was stupid.

Slash to the Point: "Cherokee Rose" is a better-focused episode, with more characterization than what we've been seeing lately. It still doesn't advance the story much, but at least there's more of a solid grasp of what's going on. And the dialogue is a lot better in this episode, with an emphasis on emotion and faith rather than angst.

Television Review - American Horror Story: "Halloween: Part I"/"Halloween: Part II"

If you thought things weren't crazy enough in the Harmon house on American Horror Story, you'll be in for a mindfuck during the two-part Halloween episode. That's right - things get downright kerfluffled, a word that I've made up just for the occasion because of the amount of oddities that find their way into these two overstuffed episodes.

American Horror Story is too rambunctious for its own good, yes, and most of the so-called normal episodes run the gamut from being strangely underdeveloped to all-out unrestricted chaos. But "Halloween" - parts one and two - find the Harmon's haunted home absolutely stormed with ghosts like soldiers advancing upon a bastion. That's because Halloween is the only night they have to run amok; they can leave the house, find their loved ones, go to psychiatric therapy, attempt to have sex with Violet on a beach... you get the drift.

What doesn't really make a whole lot of sense about this whole scenario, though, is that most of the ghosts simply choose to haunt the same place they can't leave. Take for instance our new gay decorators Chad and Patrick; their storyline is succinctly wrapped with a bow in the opening sequence of "Halloween, Part I", and then they decide to come back to the house to help Vivien and Ben decorate for the holiday. But where have they been before Halloween? Will they stay in the house now? And why can certain ghosts stay out past Halloween night, like Hayden, but others must leave before the night is over?

It's the lack of rules that really makes these two episodes feel sloppy. "Halloween: Part I" is the worse of the two, because it attempts to incorporate storylines for Chad and Patrick, Larry "Burny-Face Man", Moira, the Montgomerys, and Addy all at once, in the same episode, while still trying to juggle Ben and Vivien's quickly declining relationship and Violet's new romance with Tate. There's just not enough time for this in one night; there's not enough time in an episode - there's not even enough time in two! These scenarios could still be playing out six episodes from now, and yet American Horror Story thinks it best to chunk them all together as though the audience might get bored with anything less. No sir!

There is strength in what American Horror Story does. The death of Addy is a huge plot twist in this jigsaw puzzle of a show, and yet American Horror Story barely dwells on it. The same goes for Tate, who seems like a nice enough gent once Ben reaches the core of his psyche; the fact that we get a little bit of his past (a high school shooter) in the form of ghosts who haunt him is something I'd like to see a lot more of, but in this episode the storyline is destined to about 10 minutes of dialogue. Something's not right when the show gives up its strongest plot points and replaces them with twenty less interesting ones.

That's just it: I'd love to see this show settle down with some concrete storyline and run with it. Get rid of all of the remaining mess that's been made and focus on one aspect of the show that can be developed and resolved (or perhaps not resolved and simply in remission); make it Tate's past, which garners an emotional connection to high school angst. Or maybe give Moira more characterization like what we got in "Halloween: Part I", where she euthanizes her mother. But what's not working is the cramming of storyline down the viewer's throat, especially when it comes to the lackluster couple of Ben and Vivien.

Slash to the Point: Another miscalculated couple of episodes from American Horror Story, but at this point it's nothing to write home about. There are a few moments of greatness, like the last ten minutes of "Halloween: Part II", and I'd like to see this sort of thing repeated for longer lengths of time and with more emphasis on character. But for right now, we're forced to enjoy American Horror Story simply because it has a multitude of cool ideas that can't be contained into a digestable hour-long episode.

Book Review - The Traitor's Emblem by Juan Gómez-Jurado

Juan Gómez-Jurado likes to pen adventure stories. Despite their heady character development and twisting plots, his books always seem to take on the classic styling of the archetypal quest - and that's a good thing, considering Gómez-Jurado writes with a knack for knowing how to generate a fast-paced narrative out of historical contexts. The Traitor's Emblem is very different from Gómez-Jurado's previous output, most notably because it doesn't feature his serial character Anthony Fowler.

Instead, Gómez-Jurado starts with a fresh storyline about a Masonry emblem that dates back to Germany during the depression between the first World War and the rise of Hitler. This story is framed through the point of view of Paul, who begins his first trials at the age of 15 after he attacks his crazed cousin Jurgen during a ball. It turns out the Jurgen is the son of a baron, and Paul is only staying with them because his father was killed at sea and his mother has no where to go. But Paul and his mother, thrust from their home, must find refuge in whatever a dying Germany has to offer. As Paul finds jobs to pay the bills, he also must face the budding enmity from Jurgen, along with protecting his Jewish dame Alys after Hitler begins to take control of the country.

The Traitor's Emblem begins in Paul's childhood, and it's a testament to Gómez-Jurado's ability to swiftly move story that we make it all the way to Paul's life in his thirties. Separated into parts, the novel evenly spaces events between childhood, collegiate years, and middle age; time is the changer of men, and it's no different here as Gómez-Jurado explores the potential of shifting ideas in individuals and the way time and separation affect all parties. In this way, Paul feels extraordinarily characterized, a man we've been with through much of his life. Along the way, Alys gets her own spotlight - her child, her new job, and the hardship of living under a rich and successful father are attributes that change over time.

Jurgen is also one of the most detailed characters, a villain that rivals Hitler in this novel for the most evil. Thankfully, Gómez-Jurado leaves much of the actual Hitler uprising out of the plot, instead choosing to focus on how Jurgen gets caught up in the sea of shifting political tides. It allows Jurgen to emerge as a dominant figure, a bigot who isn't overshadowed by anyone worse than him. That this all happens along with Paul's transformation is quite a feat, and Gómez-Jurado does a fine job of providing both the adventure and the development in heaping helpings.

Slash to the Point: This is another racing example of Juan Gómez-Jurado's compelling work, a fictional piece set in historical Germany that highlights the failing economy after the war. In more ways than one, The Traitor's Emblem parallels America's own current depression; what's different is the standout characters Gómez-Jurado creates and the nuances between each of them that foster in the passing of time.

The Evil Ad #41

Now that Halloween 2011 is over, it's time to start compiling the ads for the holiday - both the ones we got to see over and over again, and the ones we might have missed. I open The Evil Ad back up with a new Halloween ad from Guinness - you'll note I covered their clever designs earlier in this series.

This time the art captures the barrenness of a pumpkin patch, with the dark brooding skyline set behind a mammoth pint of Guinness beer. I like the stalks of the pumpkins twining up the sides of the glass; it would have been more fitting had the advertisement been for a Guinness pumpkin ale.

Horror Horizon - November 8

Notable DVD releases for the coming Tuesday. Selections are subject to Blu-Ray release as well.

Destroy All Monsters

"The year is 1999, and all of Earth's monsters have been captured and detained at Ogasawara Island. All is well in the solar system until one day, a race of alien women brainwashes the monsters and releases them, causing havoc around the world. Godzilla attacks New York City, Rodan invades Moscow, Mothra lays waste to Beijing, Gorosaurus destroys Paris, and Manda attacks London!"

Frankenhooker [Blu-Ray]

"When Jeffrey Franken's fiancée is chopped to pieces by the blades of a remote-controlled lawnmower, he uses his dubious medical knowledge to try to bring her back to life. He reassembles his beloved Elizabeth using the body parts of New York City's finest prostitutes, and resurrects her during a heavy lightning storm. Unfortunately for Jeffrey, his dear Elizabeth's brain is scrambled and she runs amok on 42nd Street, turning tricks and bringing high-voltage death to her customers!"

The Collector [Blu-Ray]

"Get ready for an electrifying and chilling film experience that lays bare the intimate longings of a man—and the woman who has become his captive. Based on the best-selling novel by John Fowles, The Collector tells the story of a quiet London bank clerk (Terence Stamp) whose butterfly collecting hobby takes a sinister twist when he kidnaps a most unusual specimen—a beautiful woman (Samantha Eggar, Golden Globe Best Actress winner for this role). This film is a classic thriller and features a haunting musical score by Maurice Jarre." 

Thankskilling

"A homicidal turkey axes off college kids during Thanksgiving break."

Zombie 4: After Death [Blu-Ray]

"A woman returns to the tropical island where herparents, two research scientists, were murdered while working on a cure for cancer. With the aid of mercenary soldiers, she uncovers a diabolical voodoo priest who raises the dead for an all-out war against the living!" 

Satan's Blood

"Terror, sex and Satanic rituals are on a one-way ride to Hell in Satan's Blood, one of the most horrific and sexiest thrillers from Spain! In this occult chiller, Andy and Anna are a bored couple who decide to go for a drive in the country. On the way, they meet another couple who claim to know them from many years before. Despite their uncertainty, Andy and Anna agree to visit the mysterious couple's country house and end up staying the night." 

Crowbar: The Killings of Wendell Graves

"A young boy named Wendell Graves witnesses the brutal murder of his parents in their own bedroom. He watches in horror as a masked man stabs the couple repeatedly with a crowbar. Wendell escapes and spends the next 15 years of his life silently locked up in his aunt's farmhouse. There she plays the innocent caretaker, brainwashing him into believing that anyone and everyone who enters his parents' home is an intruder who must meet the same fate as they did. Crowbar is a thrilling, slasher film in the vein of Halloween and Psycho that dives deep into the psyche of jealousy and hatred." 

Not Another B Movie

"An adept spoof of cinema's behind-the-scenes experiences, Not Another B Movie combines frightening and disgusting zombies with frightening and disgusting hack directions to tell a hilarious story! With a cast that includes Ed Asner, Joe Estevez and David Faustino, it's an insightful romp through the horror film industry and the horrors of the film industry." 

I Sold My Soul to Satan

"Real zombies, vampires, witches and demons - nothing is off limits in La La Land. Thousands of Hollywood hopefuls lineup around the block to be selected to strike a deal with Satan himself in order to achieve the unattainable stardom they so desperately seek. Ultimately, Kai Blackwood, an aspiring rock star is chosen and embarks on a nefarious path of real-life occult practices following the instructions laid out in the ancient book Le Grande Grimoire and proceeds to literally sell his soul to the Devil." 

The Carpenter

"Wings Hauser builds a hallucinogenic house of horrors in this bloodcurdling thriller! Alice is experiencing a breakdown. Her cold, unsympathetic husband is cheating on her. She is having vivid psychotic nightmares and the only thing keeping her happy is setting up house in her newly-acquired country estate. But the home -- and her shattered nerves -- are in need of repair. Until Alice discovers the perfect man for the job. In the delirious dead of night, a strange solitary worker (Wings Hauser - "Vice Squad," "Tough Guys Don't Dance") is inexplicably renovating her house."

7 Nights of Darkness

"In 2008 six reality television show contestants spent seven nights in an abandoned and haunted asylum. The show never aired but an editor for the network was able to piece together some footage. The prize for staying all seven nights was a share of one million dollars that was to be split amongst any contestants that didn't leave. No prize money was ever awarded." 

Skeleton Key 3: The Organ Trail

"So once again, Nilbog calls to you! It calls you back... Do you hear it? Howard does. And once again he and his band of merry men venture through that covered bridge and back into the world of monsters! With Cornelius still trapped in the town and on the run from zombies, Howard and crew try to seek him out for a glorious rescue and at the same time cure Howard's all new zombie bite which has the poison in him! Can you handle the Key times 3? Can you handle naked bodies bouncing through every scene? Can YOU! HANDLE! A French puppet? Gore, chills, and thrills await you over that bridge. So take a journey into the crazed and disturbed. For they are waiting... For you. "

Television Review - The Walking Dead: "Save the Last One"

I've been pretty hard on The Walking Dead lately. That's because I know it has all of the right elements to succeed. Its execution has been lacking lately, and the scripts haven't managed to provide the right mix of character development and zombie attacks. There's also been quite a few plot holes that I just can't wrap my head around. But that doesn't mean I've given up on the show for this season; instead, it means that I'm looking for ways to not harp on it - in essence, I want to stop being the Negative Nancy or the Nitpicking Ned and start enjoying the series for what it can do.

But that's not going to happen for "Save the Last One," the third episode for this season that finds Rick and Lori contemplating their son's death and Shane trying to fend off a horde of zombies with Otis after attempting to recover some medical equipment from a school gym.

Right now, the troops are split off from each other; some stay at the RV to help find the still-missing Sophia, while T-Dog and Glenn trek to the doctor's farmhouse to get T-Dog some medical attention. Notably, The Walking Dead focuses more on Glenn in this episode than much of last season, and it's nice to see him get the spotlight (and perhaps a budding romance?) for once, since he's probably one of the characters that's developed the weakest. We're still not getting much in this episode, but at least it's more than we had before.

The same is true for Otis, who began a secondary character and leaves the show a secondary character thanks to Shane's awkward, traitorous decision. Poor Otis; he's a guy who accidentally shot Rick's kid because he couldn't see him behind a deer (who woulda thunk it anyway?), then is blamed for this action so he feels like he owes them something, and then he's basically murdered by Shane and eaten alive, which we see in all its gory glory. There's little remorse expressed for Otis, and unfortunately it seems he was only there as a means of furthering the story without having to incorporate a new character.

Shane's actions seem very off to me, and I don't necessarily believe that his character would do something so heinous. Sure, he's cheated on his friend Rick - somewhat understandable, since everyone thought Rick was dead. Sure, he's been a dick, almost raped Lori, and severely beat an abusive husband. But these things aren't the same magnitude as the events that transpire in "Save the Last One". I found myself questioning his character; I think the scriptwriters jumped the gun here, and didn't do enough work to show the change in Shane's character. It's just not believable, and I don't think it's developed enough to warrant this kind of happening.

Despite the harrowing conclusion, "Save the Last One" features a lot of nothing for its 45-minute length. Throughout most of the episode, the plot mimics that of the episode before it, where Lori and Rick struggle to come to grips with the thought of their son's death. It does bring about one good discussion about the point of living or dying in this zombified world, but it's also a topic we've been skirting around for a few episodes now.

There's also a moment with Daryl and Andrea, although this is quite truncated and there's not much in the way of exposition. The two stumble upon a hanged zombie whose legs have been eaten away (altogether this didn't make sense to me - did he hang himself, not die, and get his legs eaten by zombies while being strangled? Did he kill himself, and then the zombies ate him after he died so he became a zombie? How did he turn?), and Daryl questions Andrea's outlook on life after seeing the terrors of attempted suicide. She barely gives an answer - "I'm not sure" - and it's supposed to give us some depth to her character, but to be honest it's the same answer she's been giving since last season.

At least we do get one storyline completed, and that's Carl's recovery after Shane successfully returns with the medical supplies. This was almost inevitable, and so the fact that we've spent two episodes waiting for his recovery feels like a waste of the show's time. Don't put someone in danger that we know will make it; how about someone like T-Dog, whose survival is always up in the air?

Slash to the Point: Overall, a disappointing episode from The Walking Dead simply because there's little plot progression. Most of the same themes carry over from the previous episode, and the only real advancement is Shane's return, the death of Otis, and Carl's recovery. It simply takes too long to get this far, and when the characters continue to revolve around the same problems they've had since the ending of last season, it indicates that the show needs a real shift in its plot arc to get it out of the circular story its created.

Comic Review - The Unexpected #1

The absence of a House of Mystery Halloween compilation from Vertigo's comic output this year was a disappointment, but combating the hole in my heart is a new variety pack of stories called The Unexpected. This is a new series debuting in December 2011 with a bunch of new one-shot stories collected in a tome that seems to feature odd or twisted original tales. There are nine different tales in this collection, one which is a prologue to a series called Voodoo Child.

There isn't a lot of time to spend on each story, so I'll devote a few sentences to each in an effort to truncate this review. Up first, I just want to discuss the cover to the compilation, which was done by Rafael Grampa. It's certainly unexpected enough, as the entire thing feels a bit random and disconnected from the other stories; but it's also one of the most intriguing pieces I've seen in a while, combining imagery from the '50s and '60s with a more modern sexualized killer.

Up first is "The Great Karlini" by Dave Gibbons, a story centered around the titular magician as told through his own point of view. It's a simple enough story, and might even seem rather predictable, but it's the way that Gibbons tells the tale - through poignant remarks about being a magician that also provides an emotional weight to life - that makes the story one of the strongest in The Unexpected.

Next is "Dogs" from G. Willow Wilson and Robbi Rodriguez. In it, dogs begin to take over after they've noticed that humans have squandered their freedoms; the dogs force humans into submissive roles, and the humans feel like nothing has changed in their role-reversal. The execution of "Dogs" is quite good, although the art from Rodriguez does make the entire thing feel a little too cartoonish for my taste.

"Look Alive" from Alex Grecian and Jill Thompson has a promising concept - about a zombie woman who makes herself up to look alive in hopes of finding a human mate - but the premise goes nowhere after the initial plot build. Unfortunately, Grecian simply takes us through one day of the zombie's life before dropping out again, and I'd like to see more of what happens to her rather than the quick slice-of-life that's featured in this issue.

The ancient Mexican mythical creature Ahuizotl makes an appearance in "The Land" by Josh Dysart and Farel Dalrymple. The plot follows an old Mexican farmhand blamed for the death of a boy when in reality it was Ahuizotl who killed him; Dysart draws comparisons to the prejudice of Americans, the borderlands between Mexico and the United States, and the senseless wars between peoples. It's one of the most poetic stories in The Unexpected, mixing monsters with metaphors in the best possible way.

"A Most Delicate Monsters" poses the question of how cavemen would be excepted by contemporary culture. It's a rather bland tale, funny in places but otherwise too stationary for its own good. It has its moments, but its expected ending feels out of place for the story that Jeffrey Rotter started to tell. "Family First" is another predictable tale, this time using wordplay to twist the ending. It's unoriginal and, likewise, unremarkable in its execution.

Stuck in the unoriginal rut is "Alone", about an cheating boyfriend who dies after crashing his car and can no longer speak to his significant other. Both characters are pretty deplorable in this short, and it's difficult to find the moral here when both cheated on each other and seem to learn nothing about their own insecurities.

"Americana" is a warm-hearted tale set in an apocalyptic future, about a woman surviving throughout the years thanks to her mother's ingenuity, her own smarts, and the fact that she continues to live for later generations to thrive in a wasteland. It's touching, and it's different from most post-apocalyptic stories in that it rarely dwells on the bad but looks ahead to the good, to the rebirth.

Finally, "Blink", a prologue to Voodoo Child, rounds out the whole compilation with a somewhat confusing story meant to pique interests in the comic series. I wouldn't say that it does its job well, as the plot seems to cater towards the reader of the series rather than the newcomer. It seems like an interesting comic series, however, and that's thanks to the great artwork by Denys Cowan.

Slash to the Point: On average, The Unexpected's first issue is surprising fare, featuring a number of new stories with fairly original ideas and good storytelling. The middle of the issue has a few missteps, but the quality of the other stories makes up for the others. It's certainly a series I'd like to see again; we can never get too many horror comic collections.

Halloween is dead! Halloween Fifteen a success!

Hope you folks had a good Halloween this year. I'm a bit bummed out that I have to start taking down the Halloween decorations; they've almost become part of the decor of my apartment since they've been up for almost two months now. But all good things must come to an end, or else Halloween wouldn't seem that special when it rolls around.

The Halloween Fifteen was a success, even though it was a huge, time-consuming monster that had me stressing out about for most of October. It's not easy to compile others' reviews, and it's even more difficult to write fifteen reviews in a month while balancing a job, my girlfriend (who was very patient but got tired quickly of the movies I chose), and roommates who also wanted to watch different movies. Plus, I tried to cover other areas of horror too, like The Walking Dead and American Horror Story. Suffice it to say it was a busy month, and I'll miss it but it will be nice to not have to be so busy.

Thanks go out to everyone who participated in Halloween Fifteen, and to those of you that tuned in for each film, thank you for being a part of my Halloween this year. It's always fun to get multiple takes on a film, and I love prospering the community. Look for a similar event happening the month of December, although I'm not unwrapping the details just yet.

Just because Halloween is over, it doesn't mean the blog stops. I've got a bunch of stuff lined up, including a review of Vertigo Comics' The Unexpected #1 (coming very soon), a post on The Dead, more horror movie news now that we settle back into a groove, and the same columns that you know and love from before (although I might be fazing some out). Thanks for reading, and hope to see you all year until next Halloween!