News

‘American Horror Stories’ Went Straight Up ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ This Week

Published

3 years ago

August 7, 2021

Last week, American Horror Stories had a killer mall Santa in the form of Danny Trejo going holly-jolly and ape shit all over some morally bankrupt, social media influencers. This week’s episode, titled Ba’al went all out with a full on 48-minute satanic ride; that was like Rosemary’s Baby on speed.

Ba’al focused on a young couple willing to do anything in order to get pregnant. After a string of unfortunate failed attempts, the couple is out of options, but decide to keep trying in spite of not being able to. On the way out of the fertility clinic, a receptionist gives the young woman a small figure with no discernible features. After taking that figure home, the couple miraculously becomes pregnant.

Initially, the couple is really easy to like. Billie Lourde is great in the role of the poor woman at the center of the whole Rosemary’s Baby satanic fiasco. Of course, Lourde goes from timid and sweet to hysterical and uncontrollable to finish out the arc.

Flash-forward to 9 months later and the couple has a happy-bouncing baby in its crib. However, one night while watching the child through the baby monitor, mom see’s a terrifying demon standing above the crib. It’s actually a jolt. The tremendous make up of the demon combined with the scare timing was very well-done. From here on out it becomes the Rosemary’s Baby blueprint being fully worked out. However, this is Ryan Murphy and Co. so, you can expect some unexpected bits in there. As always the bit of silliness pushed up against horror has almost always been this series’ bread and spooky butter. I think it has been that way ever since season 2, to be honest.

American Horror Stories seems to have the same problems from episode to episode. There clearly just isn’t enough time to fit one of Murphy’s 7 twist structures in 48-minutes of runtime. Less is more. I think that Danny Trejo as the killer Santa worked the best because there wasn’t anything to get convoluted about. It was a straight up Christmas slasher. The overactive squished plots haven’t kept me from coming back week after week to keep up with the anthology. It’s been fun. Plus, there is always something that takes me back to Tales From the Crypt anthology nights back on HBO. Those were special enough to have a left a residual seed of nostalgia, that works in favor of me continuing with this series.

This is neither here nor there but, there is a brief moment in this episode that features a room full of TV execs all chatting about a show called “Gaslighters.” They mention they can put any sort of bullshit in episodes of the series and that the audience will keep coming back no matter what… At times, I have felt that Ryan Murphy is trolling us all with American Horror Story to a certain extent. This whole “Gaslighters” series is an all out huge wink at the audience that proves me right. It is so on the nose, that it is too on the nose. But, I digress.

Ba'al

Ba’al is a fun but all too quick of a ride. Still, I managed to enjoy it. I’ve noticed that I have to watch these with a certain amount of forgiveness in mind. They are sort of trashy and, ultimately, I think that is what I love about them.

Much like, Tales From the Crypt and Twilight Zone there is a big fat morality statement to be had in Ba’al. This isn’t always the case for American Horror Stories. In fact, its rare. Usually, the decadent rules the day in this series. So, it makes a for a nice change to see assholes get their just deserts.

Speaking of make-up effects, much like last week’s The Naughty List, this one has an all out gore-fest of slayings. The huge effects are enough of a reason to dig in and stream all on their own merit.

American Horror Stories: Ba’al is now on FX on Hulu along with the rest of the series. New episodes are added every Thursday.

Have you been keeping up with American Horror Stories? What has been your favorite episode so far? Let us know in the comments section.

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

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

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

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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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

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.