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“The Girl With All The Gifts” Brings Life Back to the Zombie Genre

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Written by Shannon McGrew

Zombie movies are a dime a dozen and have become a staple within the horror genre. This past year, a handful of films focused on the zombie invasion, most notably the surprise thriller “Train to Busan”. However, there was another movie that deserved the same amount of recognition; a film that not only had a tremendous amount of heart but was also able to satisfy even the most hardcore zombie fan – that film is “The Girl With All The Gifts”.

“The Girl With All The Gifts”, based off the novel of the same name by Mike Carey, is directed by Colm McCarthy and stars Gemma Arterton, Sennia Nanua, Glenn Close and Paddy Considine. The story, set in a dystopian future, centers around Melanie, an extraordinary young girl who may be the key to curing a mysterious fungal disease that causes humans to become blood-thirsty ‘hungries.’

What I loved about this film was the by far the story. Though we, the viewer, are supposed to fear the ‘hungries’, there are moments when it becomes difficult too. You see, Melanie is part of a small group of children who are infected with this fungal disease but are still able to think and feel. By all accounts they are normal human beings, that is until they get a whiff of a non-infected person, at which point they become ravenous. Because of this, these children are studied and tested upon by scientists who are hoping to discover the cure of this disease. The children are guarded and treated as nothing more than a number on a sheet, with the exception of the school teacher, Ms. Justineau (Gemma Arterton) who sees them, especially Melanie, for the beings they truly are.

The beginning of the film really sets the scene for how Melanie is treated throughout the majority of the film. Looking further into the movie, past the first layer, “The Girl With All The Gifts” showcases how we treat those we don’t understand. Bringing to life our main character, Melanie, is actress Sennia Nanua, who is absolutely outstanding. Though all the actors involved are superb, Sennia really shines through as the breakout of the film. She embodies Melanie with such perfection that she is able to evoke a slew of emotions from her incredible performance.

Being as this is a zombie film, there is no shortage of gore and carnage; however it’s not over the top or unnecessary. What really impressed me though was the makeup effects that were used to transform these once ordinary people info fungal-infected killing machines. The beginning of the film shows the majority of the population as what most would envision a zombie to look; however, as the film progresses, their features begin to change to the point that it looks as though they are becoming a heavily distorted piece of greenery. The metamorphosis that takes place is nothing less than spectacular and the makeup FX team should be thrilled with what they have created.

Helping to push the story further along was the exceptional musical score and beautiful cinematography. When I first watched “The Girl With All The Gifts”, I didn’t appreciate how expressive and haunting the score was, but having watched it again, I now acknowledge how fitting it was for the story unfolding. The score is very understated, but when you focus on it, it begins to take on a life of its own, weaving the story together as a whole. In terms of the cinematography, the landscape we are shown is desolate and hopeless with a forgotten beauty to it. It’s strikingly visual against the harsh reality of what’s happened, but that juxtaposition works so well with the overall theme of the film.

Overall, “The Girl With All The Gifts” is a near masterpiece in the zombie horror genre. It’s a stunning yet grim story that illustrates how quickly we are to judge those that are different from us regardless of if those are the ones that could save us. There were a few moments where I felt the story lagged a bit but other than that, I see no issues with this film. Fans of zombie films that like to have more meat on its bone will have their appetite sated with “The Girl With All The Gifts”. Those of you who are tired of films and TV shows that focus heavily on the undead, I feel your pain, but don’t let this film pass you by as you will not be disappointed.

“The Girl With All The Gifts” is now available to own on Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD), DVD and Digital HD from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

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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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