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Fantasia 2020: Neil Marshall’s ‘The Reckoning’ is Frighteningly Familiar

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The Reckoning

Neil Marshall’s The Reckoning is accidentally one of the most timely films to come out of 2020. Though it was filmed well before COVID-19 shook the world, it’s set in 1665, right in the midst of the bubonic plague and Europe’s witch hunts. Based on (obviously) true events, the film uses chaotic hatred and fear to tell a vengeful tale that still hits close to home.  

In the film, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk) is mourning the all-too-recent death of her husband, Joseph (Joe Anderson). Stuck raising their infant daughter on her own (during a deadly pandemic) she is soon visited by her landlord, Squire Pendleton (Steve Waddington), who demands rent despite her delicate living situation. When she spurns his grossly inappropriate and wholly unwelcome advances for an alternative arrangement, he sparks the fires of suspicion amongst the townsfolk, now certain that she must be a witch. 

For those not familiar with the Malleus Maleficarum, one of the supposed signs of bewitchment was erotic temptation (and also impotence, but that’s a whole other story). That’s right, if you made a man horny, you were most likely a witch. Naturally, once Squire was denied that which he disgustingly believed he was owed, witchcraft was a natural accusation. Grace is taken and tortured for several days in an attempt to gain a confession for her supernatural sins. 

Anyone who has been paying attention during the last several months will notice parallels between the events of the film and what’s going on currently. Self-quarantining and rent freezing are uncomfortably relevant, and much of what makes the first half of the film so effective is this relatable recognition.

Again, The Reckoning was written and filmed long before COVID-19, but perhaps the film suffers from how timely it has unintentionally become. The plot shifts from the grim presence of the plague (complete with plague doctors decked out in fashionably terrifying skeletal masks) and over to the horrific torture of the witch hunts, and the transition is obvious (literally identified by a title card).

The plague is more of a plot device to get Grace into the hands of Britain’s most ruthless Witchfinder, which ends up dividing the film into two distinct acts. One half is a plague film, the other a witch hunt revenge tale. It seems like two films stitched together somewhere in the middle; the plague is acknowledged through the film — to varying degrees of relevance — but there’s no real payoff.

Were this to be released during any other pandemic-free time, this wouldn’t be noticeable, but because we’re suddenly so mindful of it, it becomes hard to let go. With today’s context, the minor details become major, the historical nuances hold more weight; when they’re set aside, it feels like an important element is dropped. 

For a film that is firmly focused on the atrocities committed by the Witchfinder, there’s surprisingly little torture. Obviously there’s a fine line between appropriately bloody and gratuitously gory, but The Reckoning seems to fall on the tamer side. Throughout all her trials and tribulations, Grace remains relatively glamorous. After dragging the leading ladies of The Descent through literal pools of blood and muck, it’s somewhat surprising to see such restraint from Marshall. 

That said, the technical elements are all there. Christopher Drake’s musical score has a powerful drive that pushes emotion and sets a stark, dark mood. Luke Bryant’s cinematography uses lighting and framing to build some beautiful shots. The practical effects are visceral. It’s undeniably a well made film. 

Medieval horror — as a whole — is a relatively stagnant subgenre and it’s admittedly hard to bring something new to the table. The Reckoning starts on a high (and, again, unintentionally on-the-nose) note, but there doesn’t seem to be enough escalation to make it stand out as spectacular. Marshall is a genre favourite for his work on modern horror classics The Descent and Dog Soldiers, so The Reckoning came with high expectations. But it feels a tad disjointed, with a passable yet overall underwhelming climax. 

It is a fairly effective film with solid performances and a thoughtfully constructed, historically relevant story that rings a bit too true at the present moment. But in the grander scheme of Marshall’s work, it may get left in isolation.

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The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors. 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie. 

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

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

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