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Review: ‘Do No Harm’ (2013)

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Independent horror films are often overlooked, primarily because they lack the “blockbuster budget” that really produce the scares.  Viewers won’t see CGI effects, doors opening by themselves, people being thrown across rooms, ghosts hovering around haunted houses, or demons living inside of dolls.

What independent films do bring, is a sense that the story is real.  As a viewer, you feel like you are a part of the story, a fly on the wall.  The emotions seem deeper, and the scares seem creepier.

‘Do No Harm’ does just that.  Created in 2013 by Don Johns and Just A Spark Films, the movie asks the question, “Where does good end and evil begin?”.  It answers the question by following Shawn Mercy (played by Beau Walker) and his three friends as they embark on a road trip.  After getting lost on some country back roads, and experiencing car troubles, they come upon a farm house inhabited by Dr. Lance Pratt, a former surgeon, and his son Jackson.  They decide to wait until morning to continue on the dangerous roads, and spend the night at the farm house.  While the four friends explore the property, and get to know the owners, they learn the truth behind the seemingly nice doctor (William Davis), and his slightly strange son (David Abernathy).

‘Do No Harm’ does a few things very well.  Among the scary plot line, is one of romance between the main characters.  Shawn decides to propose to his girlfriend Crystal (Moriah Thomason) while on the road trip.  There is a pretty typical scene, in which Shawn practices his proposal speech in front of a mirror.  It was a nice breeze of humor, which actually enticed a laugh out of me.

The characters, in general, felt like people I knew, friends of my own.  They had down to earth personalities, with human-like flaws, something of which you don’t see a lot in scary movies.  There is no super hot, ditzy, slutty blonde who gets axed in the first scene.  Instead the viewer meets Kelly (Brittany Norris), a smart, funny, and always hungry girl next door.  Shawn’s best friend Mo (Andrew Arias) even felt like my buddy I watch Sunday football with.  The ladies even get a heart throb in Shawn, something the film seems conscious of, featuring a shirtless scene.

‘Do No Harm’ features a plot line that is pretty generic, but the creators don’t over think it, like most major movie companies do.  The father/son relationship provides needed tension and strain, which is accompanied by gruesome surgery scenes that look almost too real, and flashback scenes that explain the family’s current situation.

Although there are a few scenes where the darkness of night played an important part, there were also a few scenes that could have used more light.  I found myself checking the brightness level on my television because I wasn’t able to decipher what was happening in a few of the scenes.

I felt like a few things really distracted the viewer from the great story ‘Do No Harm’ created.  The dialogue, at times, seemed clunky and dragged on at great lengths.  This, combined with spurts of overacting by some actors, took away from the creepy undertone of the movie.  The soundtrack and sound overlay didn’t quite fit with a few scenes, which again distracted the viewers.

‘Do No Harm’ tried to base the plot on a moral argument, which I felt it touched on briefly, but could have really explored that argument more.  By the end of the movie, I was wanting more background information on our antagonists.

Despite some production distractions, ‘Do No Harm’ did a great job of taking an overplayed plot line, and turning into a relatable, and therefore scarier, story of a family in crisis.  The enduring characters grow on you like your real family and friends would, which makes the movie shake you to your core even harder.  If you want to see a film that leaves the stereotypical horror genre behind, and replaces it with a wonderful story and characters you root for, I would highly recommend ‘Do No Harm’.

 

 

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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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