Whether you’re a horror fan or not, attempting to summon demons or playing bizarre games to scare each other is something that most of us do as children (and some of us still do)! I think of the Ouija Board, trying to summon Bloody Mary, or in the 90s The Candyman. Many of these games may have come from long ago, while others are derived from the modern age.

A new Shudder original is now available to watch on AMC+ and the Shudder app, Elevator Game (2023). This supernatural horror film is based around an online phenomenon, a ritual conducted in an elevator. The game’s players will attempt to travel to another dimension using a set of rules found online. A young group of YouTubers with a channel called “Nightmare on Dare Street” has sponsors and requires the channel to hit its mark with new content. A new guy to the group, Ryan (Gino Anaia), suggests they take on the online phenomenon of the “elevator game,” which is connected to the recent disappearance of a young lady. Ryan is obsessed with this Urban Legend, and the timing is pretty suspicious that this game should be played for new content that the channel desperately needs for its sponsors.

Elevator Game was a fun film that used a lot of lighting to reveal its evil elements. I enjoyed the characters, and there was a sprinkle of Comedy mixed into this film that played out well. There was a softness about where this film was going, and that softness dissipated, and the terror began to set in. 

The characters, atmosphere, and folklore behind the Elevator Game are enough to keep me invested. The film left a lasting impression; there will not be a time when I enter an elevator that this film will not float through my mind, even if it’s just for a second, and that is good damn filmmaking and storytelling. Director Rebekah McKendry has an eye for this; I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for horror fans!

I had the opportunity to chat with Producer Stefan Brunner and Actor Gino Anaia about the film. We discuss the folklore behind the game, the Elevator filming location, the challenges outlined in the film’s production, and much more! 

Film Info

Director: Rebekah McKendry

Screenwriter: Travis Seppala

Starring: Gino Anania, Verity Marks, Alec Carlos, Nazariy Demkowicz, Madison MacIsaac, Liam Stewart-Kanigan, Megan Best

Producers: Ed Elbert, Stefan Brunner, James Norrie

Language: English

Running Time: 94 mins

About Shudder

AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers, and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, and New Zealand. For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.

A new Norwegian Film, Good Boy, was released in theaters, digitally, and on-demand on September 8, and upon watching this film, I was very skeptical. However, to my surprise, I enjoyed the film, the story, and the execution; it was something different, and I am glad I didn’t pass on it. 

The film taps into the horrors of dating apps, and trust me when I say that you haven’t seen anything like Writer/Director Viljar Bøe’s Good Boy. The plot is simple: a young man, Christian, a millionaire, meets the lovely Sigrid, a young student, on a dating app. The couple hits it off quite quickly, but Sigrid finds a problem with the ever-so-perfect Christian; he has someone else in his life. Frank, a man who dresses up and constantly acts like a dog, is living with Christian. You can understand why I would pass initially, but you should never judge a movie solely on its quick synopsis. 

Characters Christian and Sigrid were well written, and I was attached to both immediately; Frank felt like a natural dog at some point in the film, and I had to remind myself that this man was dressed as a dog twenty-four-seven. The dog outfit was unnerving, and I didn’t know how this story would unfold. I’m often asked if subtitles are bothersome when watching a foreign film. Sometimes, yes, in this instance, no. Foreign horror films usually draw on cultural elements unfamiliar to viewers from other countries. So, the different language created a sense of exoticism that added to the fear factor. 

It does a fair job of jumping between genres and starts as a feel-good film with some romantic comedy elements. Christian fits the profile; your typical charming, sweet, well-mannered, handsome man, almost too perfect. As the story progresses, Sigrid starts to like Frank (the man dressed as the dog) even though she is initially put off and creeped out. I wanted to believe Christian’s story of helping his best friend Frank live his alternative lifestyle. I became vested in this couple’s story, which was different from what I expected. 

Good Boy is highly recommended; it’s unique, creepy, fun, and something you haven’t seen before. I spoke with Director and Writer Viljar Bøe, Actor Gard Løkke (Christian), and Actress Katrine Lovise Øpstad Fredriksen (Sigrid). Check out our interview below. 

Young talent often brings a fresh and innovative perspective to their field. They have yet to be exposed to the same constraints and limitations that more experienced individuals might have encountered, allowing them to think outside the box and propose new ideas and approaches. Young talent tends to be more adaptable and open to change.

I had the chance to chat it up with young actor and musician Elliott Fullam. Fullam has had a deep passion for alternative music his whole life. I found it astonishing that from the age of nine, Elliott has been the host of Little Punk People, a music interview show on YouTube. Fullam has chatted with James Hetfield of Metallica, J Mascis, Ice-T, and Jay Weinberg of Slipknot, to name a few. Fullam’s new album, End of Ways, just released and focuses on the experiences of a loved one who recently escaped an abusive household.

“End of Ways is a uniquely challenging and intimate record. Written for and about a dear loved one’s recent escape from an abusive living situation, the album is about finding peace in the face of trauma and violence; in the end, it is about the love and compassion that makes survival possible in the face of a terrible situation. A mix of home recordings and studio productions, the album maintains Fullam’s stark and sparse arrangements, with light guitars and layered vocals expanded upon by occasional piano flourishes courtesy of Jeremy Bennett. The album sees Fullam continuing to grow as an artist, with a cohesive and precise set of songs that see him delving into the depths of tragedy. A remarkably mature statement from this burgeoning voice in contemporary indie folk.”

End of Ways Tracklist:
1. Is This It?
2. Mistake
3. Let’s Go Somewhere
4. Throw It Away
5. Sometimes You Can Hear It
6. End of Ways
7. Better Way
8. Impatient
9. Timeless Tears
10. Forget
11. Remember When
12. I’m Sorry I Took Long, But I’m Here
13. Over the Moon

In addition to his musical talents, many horror enthusiasts will recognize Elliott as an actor from his starring role as Johnathan in the bloody hit horror film Terrifier 2, which was released last year.  Elliot can also be recognized from the Apple TV children’s show Get Rolling With Otis. 

Between his music and acting career, Fullam has a bright future ahead of himself, and I cannot wait to see what he creates next! During our chat, we discussed his taste in music, his family’s [taste], the first instrument Elliott learned to play, his new album, and the experience that inspired its conception, Terrifier 2, and, of course, a lot more! 

Follow Elliott Fullam:
Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Twitter | YouTube | Spotify | Soundcloud