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Ash vs Evil Dead Setting Up for Something We Don’t Want to See

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The “Ash vs Evil Dead” universe is one built around splatstick, but this season has felt very different. Sure there have been some classic one-liners, including the Nurse Ratched and Fraggle Rock behemoths in “Delusion,” but right now it’s all about where the program is headed.

I’m beginning to think of “Ash vs Evil Dead” as the original Star Wars trilogy. Much like A New Hope, the first season set the tone. Beyond a reintroduction to Ash (Bruce Campbell), we were baptized into the new world that he inhabits and given the blueprints for the direction of the series.

Earlier I’d alluded to Season 2 feeling different, when in reality it’s simply darker. Much like The Empire Strikes Back, evil has wrestled away the upper hand (points for a double pun?) and it has set the stage for what could well prove a long-standing battle with Baal (Joel Tobeck), who is “by far the most dangerous villain in Evil Dead history” according Dana DeLorenzo from an iHorror interview this past August.

Starz has already green lit a third season, so at the very least Deadite fans will get their Return of the Jedi, but for now, I want to focus on what may be lurking around the corner over this season’s final three episodes.

Much like Darth Vader, Baal has gone to work on the mind of Ash, the one he most desperately wants to turn. As Ruby (Lucy Lawless) noted in an earlier episode, Baal “doesn’t use brute force, he uses paranoia.” The argument that “Delusion” wasn’t a showcase of Baal mentally beating Ash into submission simply won’t stand, because just before the credits rolled Ash more or less asked “What is thy bidding, my master?”

Forget that Pablo (Ray Santiago) tossed the Book of the Dead into the Delta’s trunk of hell, because as it stands Pablito is the Necronomicon and Jefe is en route to put an end to not only its contents, but also his wing man and the Ghostbeaters, and subsequently doom humanity.

While I could speculate all day as to how things play out, I’d rather focus on the cryptic comments from DeLorenzo’s interview, because they are ominous.

kellyTrue, it may seem like reading a bit too much into a show that’s intended to be an entertaining release from reality, but the dark tone of this season raises a question that I cannot shake — Who are we going to lose before the finale in three weeks?

DeLorenzo declared that “Everyone who gets close to Ash Williams dies. We know this. It’s just a rule.” However, she elaborated:

“Because the writers have expanded the universe and we have this very formidable opponent with Baal, there are more people who are going to die this season. It is a much higher body count than Season 1 and a lot more people get tortured. I have to be careful (laughs). Baal’s greatest weapon is torture, and that’s all I’m going to say before I give everything away and get fired from the show. Which I might already be. Who knows? I may not even make it through Season 2. I’m just saying you never know. You never know who’s gonna go. That’s all I gotta say.”

We have offered farewells to Chet (Ted Raimi) and Brock (Lee Majors), but those characters did not exist until this season began. For there to be more deaths, one would think that a main character would have to suffer an excruciatingly emotional exit much like Amanda (Jill Marie Jones) did a year ago.

Which brings us to the most chilling comment of all:

“There will be a mistake — in general, I’m not going to say who made it — that cannot be undone. Actually, I shouldn’t say a mistake because it’s not really a mistake. There will be an “action” that cannot be undone.”

The beauty of “Ash vs Evil Dead” is not only its love affair with the fans, but its innate ability to balance humor with horror and its emotional connection with the residents of that universe.

Of course we all love Ash, but the young fighters are favorites, as well, Pablo in particular. And even though Ruby was originally an enemy, she is certainly a character many would hate to see check out.

Rob Tapert and the writers have potentially set us up for something we do not want to see. In a horror comedy. That’s a testament to the skill at work behind the scenes. For instance, though it was agonizing to see Glenn and Abraham Lucille’d, this is not “The Walking Dead.” That is a drama tied a bit more closely to an apocalyptic reality where it goes without saying that viewers will be emotionally vested in the characters.

“Ash vs Evil Dead” on the other hand, is precisely what Kelly said earlier this season — “Terrible but also awesome.” AvED is supposed to make us laugh at the jokes and over the top blood spatter and revel in the creative ways Ash and the Ghostbeaters dispense of demons.

Only now, we embark on the final three episodes with a very mortal Ruby, Kelly pulling away from Ash and Pablo as the embodiment of the Necronomicon with a brainwashed King once again on a mission to bring his decades-long nightmare to an end.

“There will be an ‘action’ that cannot be undone.”

Maybe it will simply be a Star Wars / Skywalker scenario and someone will lose a hand. It wouldn’t be the first time. Lest we forget, Kelly wondered whether a flame thrower would be the weapon for her last season, so maybe that opens the door for that to become a reality. Who knows?

I’m excited to tune in each and every Sunday and don’t want the season to come to a close. I won’t lie, though, above all, I’m not ready to say goodbye to any of these characters.

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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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