So, I've been pushing that supposedly FearNet was going to be showcasing unaired eps of Fear Itself.  But, that's the last I'd heard.  I even saw on wikipedia recently that AIRDATES had apppeared in June.  Those dates passed, I saw nothing.  Also, way back when I first started doing this, I mentioned that LionsGate had promised that when it hit dvd, they were going to included extended cuts (this was before it got cancelled so your guess was as good as mine as to whether they were going to keep that promise).

 

But as we all know, Lionsgate and tv companies do funny things.  The five missing unaired eps have actually aired....in Canada and Latin America I believe.  SO people have seen these, they exist....

 

AND NOW YOU CAN TOO!

 

(I think it'd be better for all of us if we just ignored that thing on the left.)

Announced this past week and seen on Fangoria in multiple places:  Lionsgate presents FEAR ITSELF:  The Complete First Season in a collector's edition four-disc set with skeleton-tombstone case.  Street date will be September 15, MSRP is 30 dollars (so itll probably be on sale for 20 or 24).  Each ep will have a behind the scenes featurette with interviews.  The collection will also include EVERY episode, including the 5 unaired, all in 16X9 widescreen.  And most importantly:  The following 4 episodes will be presented in "Director's Cut" format with new footage not aired on tv:

• Stuart Gordon's "Eater"
• Darren Lynn Bousman's "New Year's Day"
• Larry Fessenden's "Skin and Bones"
• Rupert Wainwright's "Echoes" (which was unaired anyway...SO IT'S ALL NEW TO YOU!)

Once I've gotten my hands on the dvd, I'll probably do a variant on the liveblogging I used to do with this (no ads after all), but yes IT'S DEFINITELY COMING.

This is a quick note to clarify something in the last update I did on the status of Fear Itself and, by extension, my liveblogging of it.  In it, I mentioned Fearnet has a hold of all the aired episodes and has them for streaming on their site and cable service.  This is still true.  However, the removal of Fearnet from Brighthouse and Time Warner has had an unintended benefit for me.  When they announced the push to get it reinstated, they included a list of things they're planning to spotlight in the coming weeks and months.  Notice the first thing on the list:

 

5 Never-Before-Seen Episodes of ‘Fear Itself'
Hostel
Hostel 2
Army Of Darkness
Clive Barker's The Midnight Meat Train (Director's Cut)
Bug
Boogeyman
Resident Evil
Candyman
Darkman
Christine
Vacancy 2
Frontier (s)
Phantasm
Captivity
Child's Play
I Know Who Killed Me, starring Lindsay Lohan
Darkman
Snoop Dogg's Hood of Horror

 

So, this is just to mention, that when Fear Itself's final unaired eps go live on Fearnet, I will be there doing the same old liveblogging of them all.  Fear Itself lives on!

Hey-

This is a quick note before I do a few other things over the next few weeks in my blog (like a new part of my senior thesis...the best movies I saw for the first time in 2008, etc.)  Last summer, I presented the Fear Itself liveblog, giving my honest opinions of the 8 episodes of Fear Itself that I saw.  The show was put on hiatus for the Olympics.  Then for the political conventions.  Then it vanished completely.  No one at NBC would say it was cancelled or that it wasn't coming back.  It just....*poof*...much to my deep annoyance, since 5 eps never aired.  Well now, thanks to discussions with Orlandofan, I can say what's happened for now to the show.  Right now, through mid-January, all 8 aired eps of Fear Itself have reached what seems to have become our genre's mistreated project dumping ground, FearNet (who also, around Halloween, streamed criminally studio-mistreated Midnight Meat Train for free on their site).  It's unclear if any unaired eps will make it there (i'm leaning toward the no because their current schedule of release stops in mid January after all 8 aired episodes are shown.)  Yet another thing to add to my list of annoyance at the mainstream tv mistreatment of our genre today (besides the probable impending shutdown of Monsters HD for me and my continued annoyance at Sci-fi channel's criminally small season of the entertaining "Estate of Panic" game show).  Still at least it gets seen.

 

Maybe this Wednesday I'll watch 13: Fear Is Real on CW and do a liveblog on that.  I don't know though. At least with CW, they don't have much else to replace stuff with so they generally don't kill shows in midseason UNLIKE SOME CHANNELS!

 

Happy New Year Everyone.

Hello and welcome to everyone's favorite soon-to-be on Olympic hiatus, overprotective parent bashing play-by-play tv show review:

 

I'm gonna make this part short:  First, because, once again, Fear Itself is going on hiatus (Olympics this time), this will be the last liveblog til its return post-Olympics.  Second, if you're curious how I feel about those six movies I mentioned in a blog a few days ago, I haven't watched any yet.  Been busy.  Third, I havent seen much response on other sites about Community.  One thing I did see though, bashed it's lack of gore.  If you're so jaded in horror that you NEED gore to elicit a response, PLEEEASE get out more.

 

Oh I think I'm forgetting something....oh yeah....this.  YEP. AGAIN.  THIRD TIME.  This time New Year's Day was the worst show of the week.  I'm going to come out and say it.  Their description of the ep was more graphic than the ep itself.  Plus, apparently according to them, zombies don't belong on network tv.  Oh...and BLOOD doesn't either.  They BASHED that blood was on the walls.  ITS A HORROR SHOW YOU IDIOTS.  STOP ASKING IT TO BE SOMETHING IT ISNT.  Oh and, btw, it took them 7 EPISODES to actually fully rate it as not suitable for children.  Seriously, get a freaking life.

 

See that?  I wouldnt be able to get so angry if all my red blood cells werent replenished.    And on that note, off we go:

 

0958PM:  A) Thank god Last Comic Standing is ending, B) I want the olympics to be here then over, C) Tonight it's Skin and Bones by Larry Fessenden, director of indie hit The Last Winter.

 

1002PM:  This is the western-y one.  And this episode also has been pretty danged boring so far.

 

1003PM:  So we went with the "non-scary" open, eh?  I think it worked better last week.

 

1005PM:  Interesting.  I have no thoughts on these ads.  I mean, I already bashed that verizon ad last week, and the others werent particularly great.

 

1006PM:  OW OW OW OW OW.  WHY WHY WHY AM I SEEING A TRAILER FOR SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2?  WRONG AUDIENCE PEOPLE.

 

1007PM:  Ok, I understand he looked pretty gnarly.  Looks a bit like Ron Perlman actually.  Which he isnt but which is interesting since Perlman was in The Last Winter.

 

1009PM:  "Doug Jones"?  Is that the Doug Jones I think it is?  Are we in the presence of Abe Sapien?

 

1010PM:  Two kinda slow building eps in a row isnt necessarily a good idea.......and where the hell's any music whatsoever?

 

1011PM:  IT IS DOUG JONES!  AWESOME!

 

1012PM:  Niiiiiice.

 

1014PM:  Really really dont care about the olympics and all its commercialization.

 

1014PM 2:  I'm not sure if Pineapple Express is going to be amazingly hilarious or amazingly awful.

 

1016PM:  The opening ceremonies are the ONLY thing I'm gonna watch prolly related to the Olympics

 

1018PM:  Theres something really messed up about only seeing Doug Jones's head.

 

1019PM:  The head's almost animatronic geez.

 

1020PM:  I'm getting the strange feeling that this episode will have precisely one good thing in it.  Doug Jones.  He's sure been great thus far.  But not much else has.

 

1021PM:  Really?  You're referencing the wendigo?  How ironic.  Since FESSENDEN DIRECTED A MOVIE CALLED THAT.

 

1022PM:  Eddie the Indian's not terrible either, I should note that.

 

1023PM:  The fingertips are a very nice touch, makeup wise.

 

1024PM:  All right, we're halfway in and this isnt remotely exciting.  Doug Jones is basiclaly the ONLY worthwhile thing in this.

 

1025PM:  These moments of vigor are great, but they are way way too few and far between for such a length of show.

 

1026PM:  Apparently we did not learn from Darren Lynn the lessons about using the damn quick cuts eh?  Just once or twice or three times isnt so awful though.  Brings The Ring to mind.

 

1027PM:  Mirrors will be very good.  And probably get a great release.  That's my thought.  Midnight Meat Train on the other hand, if you believe the horror sites, has been unjustly banished to BUDGET THEATERS.  They're like purposely shooting a perfectly good movie in the foot and its just depressing.  If you can find it, it comes out tomorrow.

 

1031PM:  I'm beginning to get touches of Poltergeist here.  Is it just me?  That shot of everyone standing around looking up reminded me of it and the hunt for the ghosts and the cleansing of the house.

 

1032PM:  Eddie Bear might as well be wearing a freaking target on his chest.

 

1032PM 2:  Oh sure, just like Spooked, halfway in we decide to amp everything up.

 

1033PM:  These kids...are so damned annoying.

 

1034PM:  Nice angle there.  That bullhorn shadow shot.

 

1035PM:  Wow.  that was....ow......the acting right there was so bad it actually hurt....was his arm just separated from his body?  If so, that was nice.

 

1037PM:  Well I get the meaning of the title....but it is still a bit odd.

 

1038PM:  Doug Jones really is great for this role.  I mean the man's pretty damned skinny to begin with.

 

1039PM:  That music was so out of place for a second.  Again, nice quick character switch again.

 

1039PM 2:  Commercial placement's bothering me.  Mostly because the episode, with very few exceptions, has been so boring that I don't know where would be a good place to put them.

 

1040PM:  Harold and Kumar 2 was quite good.  But still a step below the original though for me.  But that's just me.  Just throwing it out there.

 

1041PM:  Hmm.  Rosie Perez and Seth Mcfarlane on one Tonight Show.  Anyone who's seen the ep of Family Guy about Y2K knows that might be interesting.

 

1042PM:  Well at least I'm not alone on this.  Apparently, Brendan Fraser is less enthusiastic/excited about his own damn movie than I am.

 

1045PM:  3, 2, 1.........and speaking of Helena, I know I've seen her in something else too.

 

1045PM 2:  And a brilliant line (I've brought dinner!) gets ruined by a terrible scream.

 

1046PM:  Doug Jones rules this episode.  But even he cant carry this alllll alone.

 

1046PM 2:  This is some of the best dialogue I've ever seen.  Specifically Doug Jones, and only Doug.

 

1047PM:  A) Still more great Doug Jones lines, and B)  Violence against women is kinda new in the series.  PTC'll probably get their panties in a bunch over this too.  God I wish someone would just stop them.

 

1048PM:  Niiiiiiice.  Yeah, thisll prolly get called out as worst on tv in a couple weeks too.  Annd the shots of the chunks clinched it.

 

1049PM:  OK THAT WAS A TERRIBLE COMMERCIAL PLACE.  I was just getting more into it because it was ALL JONES basically, and you gotta kill the tension.

 

1051PM:  Wow.  a KY commercial.  On network TV.  The times they are a-changin.

 

1052PM:  You really get the sense they just cut that scene right in half with that ad.  So not a good idea.

 

1053PM:  Hmm....the way I'm getting a domestic dispute/dysfunctionality vibe here is kinda nice.

 

1053PM 2:  JUST LOAD THE DAMN GUN.

 

1054PM:  OK, I can't totally understand him....but the thing dangling out of his mouth was nice.

 

1055PM:  Oh boy...violence against children.....he looks like Rupert Grint.  So apparently Ron Weasley-esque boy's gonna die now?

 

1057PM:  WHAT IS RULE ONE.  DONT LEAVE THE GUY UNLESS YOU KNOW HE'S DEAD.

 

1058PM:  SURPRISE!  IT'S A HAPPY ENDING!  WHAT A TWIST!

 

 

And so my final thoughts:  If Doug Jones was not playing the monster in this, this would probably have been the worst episode so far.  If the episode hadnt had that amazing kitchen sequence, this would probably have been the worst episode so far.  As it has both, I rank it at the same level or slightly ahead of Spooked, but definitely a large step back.  Tension was WAY too slowly built up to be effective.  Episodes have issues when I'm not pulled in by the middle of an hour show.  Again, like Spooked, maybe the possible uncut dvd release will be better.  As it is, it's worth seeing for an amazing performance by Doug Jones, but otherwise a definite low point.

 

And so until next time, this is Crypticpsych saying....did I mention I frigging hate the Olympics?

 

NOTE:  This week's liveblog is dedicated to the memory of David J. DeRosa, the father of a friend of mine who died on Friday, July 25.  He was a man I truly respected, whose sense of humor I shared, and who seemed to me to be a great father to his son.  He will be missed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, and welcome to everyone's favorite weekly outspoken, slightly unhinged, stream-of-consciousness, brutally-honest, ad-critiquing review feature:

 

 

I come to you folks tonight in a rather interesting mood.  Tonight I'm glad about two things:  A federal appeals court decision, and This Film is Not Yet Rated.  First, in the time since my last liveblog, a federal appeals court threw out the fine against cbs for nipplegate at the superbowl.  I agree wholeheartedly with this and, to paraphrase lewis black, they should have because I watched that game and I know that no one couldve possibly seen ANYTHING because they cut away so fast.  The theory that the appeals court went off of (that the FCC was going against their past actions) is outstanding, and I hope it stands as long as possible...no matter what the Parents TV Council wants to happen.

 

Also, I'm in the process of watching This Film is Not Yet Rated.  Its a documentary I mentioned in the PG-13 horror discussion.  I'm loving it.  One thing, for example, is that the MPAA doesnt like sex.  It really doesnt.  It hates it more than violence.  You may think that PG-13 is a rating a movie gets when it has no violence.  No, PG-13 tends to mean no blood....hence how Dark Knight gets PG-13, not R.  Sex though can send them around the bend.  See the R rated Sin City and its high powered bloody violence vs some originally NC-17 movies that may have violence but only get notes on sex.  That and they're such a secretive group, you wouldnt believe it.  I highly recommend it, but its a bit tough to see.  Blockbuster wont rent it as its critical of them.  Netflix does though.  Why do I mention it here?  Because Mary Harron's interviewed in it about what she went through with the originally NC-17 American Psycho.  She says they had no comments on the violence at all (Chainsaw and axe murder).  They just didn't like threesome.  Interesting no?

 

And now, Mary Harron, directing tonight's ep.  I have high hopes for this because it seems like this plays to her strengths with how she examined the 80s culture in American Psycho in the context of a horror movie.  I think she'll be able to balance a social structure well in this in the same way, and I'm hoping I'm right.

 

And now onto the liveblog:

 

0959PM:  God Kath and Kim seems so arrested development-y.  Must watch.

 

1000PM:  Ok, so we're doing the flashbacky thing again.  Well at least there probably won't be nausea inducing pointless quick-cuts this week.  And I imagine the whole eps a flashback so that wont be as confusing as last week.

 

1001PM:  A Rue-Morgue Radio review of Hellraiser for its 20th anniversary release once said that it and Nightmare on Elm Street have staying power because they are based around domestic disturbance at their core.  I agree with them on that.  And I'm hoping that'll apply here.

 

1003PM:  We're having licensd background music in this ep?  that's new.

 

1004PM:  Lead actor looks like Justin Long probably will in about 10 years.  Just a thought.  And that was possibly the least tensioned opening of the series.  That may not be a bad thing here.  I mean we're talking Mary Harron.  American Psycho was a horror movie, but it wasn't only a horror movie.  I have faith in her.

 

1005PM:  I probably shouldnt like that chainsaw ad nearly as much as I do.  And I am so buying Harold and Kumar 2 on dvd next tuesday.  NPH forever.

 

1006PM:  Did he just.....BRENDAN, ITS THE 21ST CENTURY, NOT THE 20TH.  God I have such a bad feeling about this Mummy sequel.

 

1008PM:  I'm really really going to like this.  As has been well documented here, I have a thing about family values people.  And it's not a good sign folks that the furnishings are still there. 

 

1008PM 2:  OH RIGHT, Superman Brandon Roush is the star.  right......totally forgot.

 

1009PM:  Man thats a creepy realtor.  Seriously.

 

1010PM:  Personal conduct agreement?  I love a horror movie based in the horror of some societal norm.

 

1011PM:  MY GOD you're a creepy woman.  This is very stepford wives-esque thus far.  I have to see that movie at some point.

 

1012PM:  Can't stop thinking someone's gonna fire a gun and Roush is gonna jump in front and deflect it.....and you know what else this is similar to?  Family from Season 2, right down to a main character played by someone known for something else (George Wendt in that case).  The horrors of suburbia are always fertile ground.

 

1013PM:  The Faybors....the next-door neighbors.  My god I am so thankful I don't have any of those.  I try to keep separate from the downstairs apartment.

 

1014PM:  You pay whatever you want?  What happens if you choose not to pay?  I imagine itd violate the personal conduct agreement.

 

1015PM:  WOW These people are waaaaaaay too cheerful.  Which I imagine is the point.  nice atmosphere from all that.

 

1015PM 2:  See, this is how you insert commercial breaks into a show without breaking tension.  By having a general feeling of unease that you slowly amp up.

 

1016PM:  Lost Boys 2.  Yep.  It's real.  And apparently it tells us just how much Corey Feldman's soul is worth.  Whatever it cost him to agree to make the unnecessary sequel.

 

1018PM:  OH look.  A combination of about 80 other better shows into a possibly awful reality show called "america's toughest jobs".  God can you just feel the bottom of the reality idea barrel being scraped?  Now they're remaking THEIR OWN SHOWS.

 

1019PM:  Lol.  He looks like a waiter with that shirt.

 

1020PM:  Coooooooooooooool.  Status quo and the breaking of it are always welcome.  And nice fake out on the leg there.  that was great and darkly humorous.

 

1021PM:  What the.....awesome!  Although that was a terrible "Oh no" by brandon routh.  He can act better than that.  I think.

 

1022PM:  I wonder what he's watching?  the first one i mean.  Is it like when they used Imprint footage in Screwfly solution or did they actually film that?

 

1022PM 2:  Feels like a touch of Disturbia.  Not bad, since they arent HITTING YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH IT like in Eater.

 

1023PM:  Well DUH of course hes sensitive, you're not having a kid implies he cant give you one.  Of course he doesnt want to tell everyone.

 

1024PM:  This meeting is so creepily done.  This feeling of unease is very nice.  Now im thinking a blend of the horrors of suburbia and big brother.

 

1025PM:  God this is a great movie without an ounce of blood.

 

1026PM:  The fade out is very interesting here.  It's much better than the quick cut to black in every other episode.  It fits with the slow build of tension I'm seeing.  This is maybe the best episode i've seen yet.  Unless something inexorably dumb happens.

 

1031PM:  This really is amazingly creepy.  DONORS?  wooooow.

 

1033PM:  "you make it sound like a zoo".  Nice.

 

1033PM 2:  Ding ding ding.  First literal mention of civil liberties.

 

1034PM:  Where do I know that woman with the kid from the beginning from....

 

1034PM 2:  Complete freak?????  she doesnt CATCH THAT?

 

1035PM:  Nice change on Phil there.  Nice fakeout earlier too regarding his whereabouts.

 

1036PM:  Friend of mine just aimed me about how much this is like Hot Fuzz.  Again, absolutely right.  Again, good because I wouldve never caught that, so its subtle.

 

1036PM 2:  Given the choice of seeing Stepbrothers tomorrow, I've instead chosen to take two friends to see The Dark Knight (second time for me).  I think I made the right call.

 

1037PM:  HEY speaking of the Dark Knight....trailer.   And now I will make this pencil disappear.....

 

1039PM:  Also badly need to see christian slater in this new show.  Awesome.  My Own Worst Enemy looks great.

 

1040PM:  .......something's not right here.

 

1041PM:  Wow....I've heard fetuses can look like aliens...but that one, wow.

 

1042PM:  OOOOH!  NICE DICHOTOMY THERE.

 

1042PM:  God I love the creepiness and the "one of us" ness of this.

 

1043PM:  See this is what Spooked failed at.  It started its slow burn too late.  This, on the other hand, is a perfect build to this climax.

 

1045PM:  Again.  I know she's passed out just now,  but you don't notice that THAT'S what they're worried about?

 

1047PM:  Oh that is outstanding.  Are you seeing those kids PTCers?  Any of this seeping into that thick skull of yours?

 

1049PM:  Tell me this isn't great.  And notice how that fade out plays into the idea of going under the influence of that stuff.

 

1052PM:  YES!  WIN.

 

1053PM:  You know, I like the way this episode also has an undercurrent of Reality TV and its suburban populace popularity.  Its a nice possibly unintended sidepoint.

 

1054PM:  Is that a hockey stick?  And also, nice music on this chase.

 

1054PM 2:  and this is where we came in.

 

1055PM:  Oh that's just evil.

 

1056PM:  AND THATS JUST ICING ON THE CAKE, that line.

 

1057PM:  This oughta be an interesting shot......

 

1058PM:  Oh wow that is such an unexpected ironic shot.  I cannot believe they went in that direction.  That is brilliant.

 

1059PM:  I don't remember who directed Skin and Bones, but I think that's next week.

 

 

Overall:  This is the best mostly non-violent ep of the series and, for me, the best overall.  Harron nails how to portray just the abject creepiness of the society and fills the episode with just enough twists, turns, and tension to produce a great ep that could be made into a full-length movie probably quite well.  A great episode with generally good acting  (Roush messes it up a few times, but isnt distracting at all).  I highly recommend this ep to anyone.  I mean even the commercial transition type fit into the style of the episode.  A brilliant short from beginning to end.

 

Until next time, this is Crypticpsych saying....God, I'm glad my lease isn't that complicated.

 

 

 

Good evening, and after a week's hiatus, it's time for everyone's favorite timestamped tv-show review:

 

 

First, off I have a new review up here.  What better place to point out a review of a brilliant Asian horror anthology movie than in a liveblog of an American anthology tv show.  Very "meta" i'd say.  But anyway.

 

Second, I'm gonna come right out and say I'm very excited about tonight's episode.  During last week's hiatus, I managed to catch an interview on G4's "Attack of the Show" with tonight's director and writer, Darren Lynn Bousman(Saw 2-4, Repo the Genetic Opera) and Steve Niles(30 Days of Night).  In it they said they were very happy with their ep and were surprised at what they were able to get away with.  That, plus the fact that I've generally liked Bousman's work in the Saw series and am looking forward to the Genetic Opera, means I have pretty high hopes for tonight's ep.

 

And third....*checks previous liveblog*...at 1015PM two Thursday's ago, I wrote, regarding "Eater", "Oh the PTC is going to LOOOOVE this ep".  Well, guess what I found yesterday night......lol.  I guess I was right.  Fear Itself gets called Worst Show on TV for the second time in five episodes, this time for "Eater".  If you didn't see that coming after watching that ep, you haven't been following this overprotective group of idiots closely enough.  But,, unlike when they did it for "Spooked" and I called them out for bashing a generally gore-less episode, this time, I'm going after them for FLAT-OUT LYING.  Following are quotes from their piece: 

 

-"Since "serial killers" have become standard grist for the C.S.I., Criminal Minds, Dexter, and Bones TV mill, the Fear Itself writers imbue Mellor with every kind of deviant psychopathic behavior from Jeffery Dahmer to Auschwitz."

AND

-"During flashbacks, the viewer sees Mellor torture his past female victims - peeling flesh from their skins, cutting out their tongues, then stir-frying and eating them. Afterwards, Mellor turns his victim's skins and skulls into lampshades and ashtrays."

No.  No no no no no NO, you baseless, fearmongering, self-centered, egotistical, overbearing morons.  The way the episode is written, the cops talk about his past and discuss what he's known for.  THEY claim he does the lampshade/ashtray schtick, THE SHOW doesn't show it.  Similarly, no, you don't see him cut out the tongue, peel their flesh, etc.  It's IMPLIED horror.  It's implied precisely BECAUSE it's on network tv.  And don't get me started on the "standard grist" comment.  These are the same idiots who basically organized a fatwa against CBS for syndicating a HEAVILY edited version of Dexter.  Shows about murder do not create murderers, stop claiming they do.

 

Also, the PTC is against the ending, calling the twist "as close to a happy ending as this horror anthology will allow".  Psst.  A) it's horror, it's probably not supposed to have a happy ending all the time, B) if you want a happy ending in every show and everything in your life, I hate to break it to you but WOW are you gonna be disappointed, and C) HEY IT'S CALLED NIHILISM YOU IDIOTS, GET OVER IT.

 

Ok, I think I've gotten angry at overprortective parents enough for one blog...which means:

 

ANND OFF WE GO:

1000PM:  I love Darren Bousman, but I gotta say, quick-cut shots of things = Bousman.  lol

 

1001PM:  I swear I've seen her in something else.

 

1001PM:  She seems fun.  Party girl, dresses in black, keeps a pet tarantula.

 

1002PM:  I WANT THAT SURREAL CLOCK.  and id've preferred if it wasn't so obvious that that was a cgi apocalypse.

 

1003PM:  That "did I do something stupid last night" line was waaaaaaaaay too unintentionally funny for me.

 

1003PM 2:  Wow.  that's some nice lighting and cinematography with the candle thing.  and that's pretty damn creepy, the music.

 

1005PM:  I like the minimalist style that comes from the candle and sparing amount of sound.  Nails the apocalypse well.

 

1005PM 2:  I think the open went on a touch too long, but I can't place why.

 

1007PM:  Not seeing Dark Knight til sunday due to change of plans.  But I can't wait.

 

1008PM:  Wow, that was a really really dumb verizon ad.  If my hand drags me out on a roof just to touch a phone, kill me.

 

1009PM:  That was kinda bad, the "there's blood everywhere".  She couldve acted better than that I think.  Granted, its the apocalypse so it's kinda forgivable.

 

1010PM:  Someone's been watching the last 30 minutes of "the happening"?  Works a lot better here.

 

1010PM 2:  WHEEEE flashback.  this oughta be interesting if that's what they're gonna try and do this ep.

 

1011PM:  That's really interesting with the tarantula.

 

1011PM 2:  posters...Ghoul Garden, Curse of the Wend Witch.  I like her style.....lol.

 

1012PM:  Well that explains the dress....wait...I havent even seen Cloverfield, but I know enough of the story that I'm not liking where this ep might be going.

 

1013PM:  Ok, the Bousman-trademark video editing tricks might get old by the time this is over.....and love the bloody handprints on the door.

 

1014PM:  Ok, seriously Darren.  Stop it.  Just because the character turned around does not mean we need a jerky quick shot of her head shaking all around.

 

1015PM:  I like the zombie walk......and I REALLY like that zombie....at least I think these are supposed to be zombies.

 

1017PM:  Having gone to a wedding and reception with about 12 toasts on saturday, I totally get the wine stain joke in that Orbit ad now.

 

1019PM:  Maybe its just me, but I really don't care about the Olympics this year.  And My Own Worst Enemy looks REALLY GOOD from that teaser.

 

1020PM:  STOP WITH THE DAMN HYPERFAST EDITING TRICKS, IT'S ONLY A ONE-HOUR SHOW!

 

1020PM:  I can think of SOOO many smarter things than letting the basically dead girl into the small enclosed space of the elevator.

 

1021PM:  The elevator not being able to close was really cute.

 

1023PM:  Um...what on earth was that.  I admit I like the zombie movements, but this better start making sense in a hurry.

 

1024PM:  Did that banner just say it was the end of the world?  and more posters eh?

 

1025PM:  Yeah, i'd be the guy dancing with myself...yeeeeeeeesh.

 

1026PM:  This conversation is quasi-hokey yet cute.  It's growing on me.

 

1027PM:  Christ, the camera tricks are like his heroin, he just cant stop giving himself a fix.  Gotta love hitting the person with the car.  And yep.  They're definitely zombies.

 

1028PM:  These are some weeeeird places for commercials....and waitaminute.  Xzibit is in the X-Files movie?  XZIBIT????  That just crossed the line between cute irony for the name and abject stupidity just SOOOOOOO far.

 

1029PM:  They really are pushing ads that have a horror-esque tone now.  Interesting.  They didnt used to.

 

1030PM:  I like that Mega Millions commercial that no one other than me will see.  lol.  Diner with Ed McMahon from Johnny Carson and Don Pardo from Jeopardy is a definite win.

 

1031PM:  I live in FEAR of having that cuddlebear thing in that verizon ad happen to me someday.

 

1032PM:  Stop with the editing tricks.....seriously.  All you're doing is shooting yourself in the foot.  It works when the movie's an hour and a half or two and they're spread out.  Not when they come every five damn minutes.

 

1034PM:  Why do I get the strong strong strong feeling that people who ADORE Cloverfield will love this ep?

 

1035PM:  ANNNND TIMING!

 

1036PM:  For a 10PM Broadcast version of an apocalyptic city, that's not too bad, setting wise.

 

1036PM 2:  This is really creepy and nice, the old couple.  I like that a lot.

 

1037PM:  DO IT!!!  DO IT!!!!  YES!

 

1038PM:  Are we having the second episode in the series that gets immeasurably better in its second half?  Interesting.

 

1038PM 2:  And that's why you wear combat boots to a party in the city, apparently.

 

1039PM:  I should mention I have yet to really see what Bousman and Niles were going on about.  Other than a lot of blood on surfaces there isnt much in this episode that's that shocking yet.  Okay...wait.....yeah there we go....strike that.

 

1042PM:  You know I really thought ER was done like 3 years ago.  That's really sad that it's still around.

 

1043PM:  ARE YOU REALLY EDITING OLYMPICS FOOTAGE INTO A MUMMY 3 TRAILER?  REALLY?

 

1045PM:  Oh that's smart.  Walk away from the broadcast talking about the horribly disfigured people.

 

1046PM:  Well, she's dense.  I couldve called that 15 minutes in.  Then again, as was said in Mallrats, we can smell our own.

 

1047PM:  Darren, hyper-editing to cover the grue does not make it better.  In fact, it probably takes away from it.

 

1048PM:  Cannibalism at 1048 on NBC on a thursday is always fun.

 

1048PM 2:  WILL YOU STOP YOU IDIOT?  JEEZ TAKE A HINT.

 

1049PM:  Saw that coming.

 

1050PM:  Well gosh I hope the PTC is ok with that, I mean it was just SUCH a happy ending.  And if you can't tell that's sarcasm and that I really REALLY liked that darkly downbeat twist, then...wow.

 

1053PM:  Wait.  are we going where I think we are?  If we are than I like this episode WAY WAY MORE than I've let on.

 

1054PM:  WE ARE!  As I said last week, oh the PTC is gonna looooove this.

 

1056PM:  I suddenly totally agree with Darren Bousman.  I have no idea how they got away with this with pretty much no notes from the censors.  and YES!  DOUBLE SHOT OF AWESOMENESS IN THE ENDING!

 

1057PM:  Ok, I don't think I needed him to physically say that.  But I gotta admit I really really really like this.  And it just lifted the whole episode way way way up.

 

1057PM 2:  This ending keeps getting better and better

 

1058PM:  Could've done without the "film burning through joke"

 

1059PM:  YES!  MARY HARRON'S NEXT WEEK!

 

 

Final thoughts:  When you watch this episode, you may, like me, hate it for the first 40 minutes or so.  Keep watching.  That ending and twist was OUTSTANDING.  Ironically this is similar to how i felt after watching Saw and Saw 2 the first times.  I thought the movie was decent, but the TWIST...OH THE TWIST....just raised the movie to another level, just like the twist did here.  The episode right up till the twist was average at best.  But the ending makes the entire rest of the episode 20 times better and make a WHOLE lot more sense.  A very good episode, just make sure you don't give up on it. 

 

Oh, and one other thing.  Darren.  Just because you made a great ending doesnt mean you get a free pass on the editing tricks.  Seriously.  Frigging stop it.  That was one of the most annoying things I'd ever seen.

 

Until next time, this is Crypticpsych saying......AHHH THE ROOM'S MOVING REALLY FAST!  MY HEAD HURTS!  DAMN YOU BOUSMAAAAAAANNN!

 

 

 

 

 

Hello and welcome to everyone's favorite Thursday-night-liveblog-of-a-horror-television-show-airing-on-NBC-at-10:

 

 

What can I say.  Know your audience.  Feeling particularly good about this week's.  Why you might ask?  Remember how I keep mentioning the unnecessary drubbing another site gives this show?  This is a quote from their review of this week's episode, "Eater" (by Stuart Gordon of Re-Animator, Dagon, and now all 3 seasons of Masters of Horror):  "While "Eater" isn’t quite the 360-turn this series needed, it’s downright Emmy-worthy compared to its predecessors."  So if the people  who've said EVERY episode is awful and terrible suddenly say that this one's actually good....this one is probably the greatest television show ever to air.  But we shall see shan't we.

 

Oh and sidebar:  It must be nice to get pre-screeners from a network when all you do is bash the show mercilessly.  The review on their site for this ep actually says that the other directors thus far have been (quoting) "repeatedly humping Rod Serling’s bloated corpse".  First, that's disrespectful.  Second, incorrect as I've tried to show.  And Third, just completely unnecessary.  If you think it's bad say so, but don't pointlessly bring up necrophilia.  But I digress.

 

 

959PM:  REALLY?  LAST COMIC STANDING IS DOING CONFESSIONALS IN A GRAVEYARD THIS SEASON?  OH COME ON.

 

1000PM:  Wow.  um....taallllll.  And nice boots.

 

1001PM:  Gotta admit the set's looking a touch subpar this time.  Or at least the cell is.

 

1002PM:  Anyone else realize that removing a prisoners handcuffs can be a really bad idea when you're in the cell with him?  Just a thought.

 

1002PM:  Oh we got a winner here.  nice laugh.

 

1003PM:  Are you telling me this guy's a shaman or something?  And this was creepy enough WITHOUT the dream sequence/flashback cgi over the chant.

 

1004PM:  All right, that's it.  Here.  The lyrics to Lie, Lie, Lie.  SEEEEE WHY I DON'T LIKE IT BEING USED AS A HORROR THEME THOUGH I LOVE THE SONG?

 

1005PM:  NO IT ISNT.  I'm sorry, maybe i'm jaded from having seen The Matrix and Shoot 'Em Up which are INFINITELY better as action movies, but Wanted, while good, was really really overblown for me.

 

1007PM:  Dear NBC:  Just because a show was popular in another country doesn't mean that it will ALWAYS translate over.  I will probably watch this as it has an Arrested Development feel from the trailer, but don't keep hoping lightning will keep striking like it did with The Office.

 

1008PM:  Death Dance?  SO THAT'S WHY FANGORIA'S BEEN COVERING THIS PARTICULAR EP SO HARD.  GOD I HATE ADVERTORIAL, CORRECT OR NOT.

 

1009PM:  Silence of the Lambs much?  good thus far, but derivative.  I mean come on she even has a male-esque name.  (And if anyone here knows about masculine-feminine characters, its me, but we've already covered that whole thing elsewhere)

 

1010PM:  Gotta admit I like this introduction to our prisoner.  The little flashback vid.

 

1011PM:  32?  wooooow he was a busy boy.  wait dont....OH JESUS.  For the love of God Mr. Gordon don't crib so hard from Silence of the Lambs, it's embarassing.  AND DON'T HAVE YOUR CHARACTERS POINT IT OUT!  JEEZ.

 

1012PM:  It's occurring to me btw, that having half your characters insult the character who's kinda like the viewer in personal tastes isnt so smart necessarily.

 

1012PM 2:  Nice photos.

 

1013PM:  Ok, I'm just gonna come right out and say this.  Geeez the other cops are unlikeable.  I imagine that's the point though.

 

1014PM:  now there's something you don't expect on network tv.  Blowup doll.  A decent boundary push.  And nice arm tattoos too.

 

1015PM:  WILL YOU STOP WITH THE DAMN WAVY CGI?

 

1015PM 2:  Oh the PTC is going to LOOOOVE this ep.  Nicely done on that one.  Very twisted.  I should mention I just watched Deep Red before this btw, so if I dont come off as easily impressed, thatd be why.  This is at least as good as the rest thus far though.

 

1016PM:  I really hope that wasn't a bad place to put the commercial.  There was serious tension builtup there that they just kinda shot.

 

1018PM:  Um what the hell.....JG Wentworth is doing an ad here....of an opera about loans.  I feel like I'm on acid.  And not in a good way.

 

1018PM 2:  Planning to watch the original very soon so i'll be ready to see the sequel as well.  (Hellboy 2 trailer)

 

1020PM:  It's snowing outside the station?  odd....

 

1021PM:  Oh that's beautiful.  ooooo tasty.  Pancreas, large intestine......the fake eye was nice too.  But wow that cop is slimy.

 

1021PM 2:  WILL YOU STOP REFERENCING OTHER MOVIES?  NOW YOU'RE POINTING OUT THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE PARALLELS!

 

1022PM:  I admit that the fat cop is very interesting.  creepy without being overtly so.

 

1023PM:  Someone's waaaaaaaaaaay too excited about this guy.

 

1025PM:  Now that I think about it, ironically, this cell looks just like the one in Nightmare on Elm Street.  Boy they're just throwing the references aren't they.

 

1025PM 2:  Nice jump scare.  WHY....would you drink what he gave you with how he's acting?  Seriously.  I'm gonna bet it's blood.

 

1026PM:  Ok, wait.  are we really sitting here criminally profiling....LIKE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS?  and also, I'm hoping I havent already pinned down the ending already.

 

1029PM:  Don't die on us?  What is this, E.R.?  Don't get me wrong, I get the point of the line, that thought just came to mind.

 

1029PM 2:  See, now that was an appropriate commercial place and a nice surprise.  And I cannot wait for Dark Knight.

 

1031PM:  Oh...MY....GOD!.  NOTE TO LOCAL NEWS!  I DONT CARE ABOUT THE STUPID PREGNANT MAN STORY AND "HIM" GIVING BIRTH!  That does not belong in top stories.

 

1034PM:  Why on earth is the damn cell unlocked in the first place?  I'm really not liking what I'm seeing coming here.

 

1036PM:  I love this psychological stuff in this ep.

 

1037PM:  Why is the fact that it's snowing so hard outside bothering me so much.

 

1038PM:  And there we go just kinda sorta like I thought.  We'll see if it leads to what I think it will.  You can do far better with the gore though if this wasn't network.  It's a good try though.

 

1039PM:  Oh if only giving a woman a bucket of hot wings were all it took to get a date.  God I hate hollywood sometimes.

 

1042PM:  We're running out of Dateline ideas eh?  A whole ep on tornadoes?

 

1042PM 2:  Again with the frigging wiggly stuff.  There are so many more original ways to convey black magic.

 

1043PM:  Thank you for verbalizing my theory about the ending!

 

1045PM:  I do want to make it clear:  I do like this episode a lot.  It's got a lot of tension and is very gripping.  But one thing's for sure.  It is annoying just how much it references other stuff in dialogue.

 

1046PM:  Coooooool

 

1047PM:  What the hell.............YES!  VERY NICE.  Theory's still alive.

 

1049PM:  As a side thought, in case people are curious since I doubt a trailer for Hancock will air here, I loved it and it continues to prove my theory that we need more specialized critics from the populace.  The critics hate it.  But the everyday people love it according to critic sites user reviews.

 

1050PM:  Still thankful that I don't watch America's Got Talent.

 

1050PM:  NICE VOICE.  GOD I LOVE PROPERLY DONE CAJUN.  Even though I'm thinking I called it.  Yeah, I called it.

 

1053PM:  I don't know why but I really liked that line.  and the eat your heart out line.

 

1053PM:  OHHHHH VERY NICE.

 

1054PM:  WILL YOU JUST BREAK THE DAMN GLASS?

 

1055PM:  HEY THERE WAS AN ACTUAL GOOD USE FOR THE CGI!  *APPLAUSE*

 

1055PM 2:  The Eater ranks up there with Moonface for me in Masters of Horror history btw.  Great villain who'd be good in his own full-length movie.

 

1056PM:  OH please say they're goin dark.

 

1057PM:  This is why you don't put a criminal like this in a minimum security prison.

 

1058PM:  YES!  For a minute I didnt think they went dark enough on that.

 

1058PM 2:  AND WE GET B*TCH ON NETWORK TV AGAIN.  NICE.  and nice ending.

 

1059PM:  According to the preview just now, Fear Itself will not be new next week so no liveblog till two thursdays from now.  Just a note.  Will still blog otherwise though prolly.

 

OVERALL:  *reads the other review fully*.  Uh huh....well they agree with me on the fact that the silence of the lambs references are way too heavy.  But then they can't even praise the episode right, saying it runs into a wall and ends with a conclusion that is:  "random, downbeat and just plain silly".  Look, here's the facts.  The degree of references to Silence of the Lambs and other films do get massively annoying.  And yes, I did predict the BIG twist in the story very early on.  BUT.  The gore's high, the tension's good and ratchets up very well, the atmosphere is fantastic, and I think the villain puts this episode over the top, beyond just a Silence of the Lambs clone.  A very good episode with a beautiful dark ending that overall ranks with Family Man and The Sacrifice as the best of the series for me thus far.

 

Until next time everyone.....Bon Appetit.  ;-)

 

Hello, hello, everyone and welcome once again to:

 

 

Before we begin looking at tonight's episode, "In Sickness and In Health", I'd like to make a couple comments.  First off, check it out:  I CALLED IT!  Yes, Fear Itself took only two episodes to become those morons at Parents TV Council's Worst Show on Broadcast Cable.  However, beyond the usual fact that I find the PTC ignorant, stupid, negligent of their own children, and obsessed with the lives of others, I find it really odd which episode they picked.  Really?  "Spooked"?  The most cerebral, possibly least violent episode thus far?  Not only that, IT AIRS AT 10PM!  Outside of nudity and language really, NBC can do whatever it wants.  See, the wonderful thing about the FCC is, 10PM is NOT the family hour you idiots!  Seriously, if you don't want your little rugrat to see it, don't let them!  And why the hell are they up at 10PM anyway?  Jeez.  Fear Itself does not deserve the title of Worst TV Show of the Week but for trying to ban it and for claiming that your campaigns had anything to do with such things as FX's Dirt getting cancelled, all the active members of the PTC deserve my award for worst parents in the country.

 

Also:  I'm gonna take this chance to call out other site's reviews of Fear Itself.  Last week's ep:  on one website, the review begins as follows:  "Is three episodes enough to deem a series failed? Maybe for regular shows, but anthologies are just too hit or miss. But man, “Family Man” was one of the thinnest premises I think I’ve ever seen stretched out to fill in an hour run time and if they don’t get better soon, we may have to write this one off."  ARE YOU SERIOUS?  I personally loved how after the review, the site's commentors said it was the best episode of the three(I rank it with Sacrifice personally), whereas the guy reviewing called it the second dissapointment in a row.  Seriously people, lighten up.  It's network tv, its not gonna be the same as the Masters of Horror you once knew.  Enjoy it for what it is.  Decently told stories in network timeslots that might be extended and put out on dvd later.  It should be noted that, SHOCKINGLY....the same site has already reviewed tonight's ep and called it...poor.  Again.  Just so surprising of them to say that.  I don't honestly know if I can take it.  (God I hope sarcasm is carrying through the text.)  It should be noted though, another horror site called Family Man the most enjoyable ep thus far.  I agree that Family Man was very very good.

 

Now then onto the liveblog:

 

1000PM:  Ok, those are damn creepy kids even though they aren't trying to be.  I think it's the faces they were making.

 

1001PM:  Music's nice, but it's not hard to nail down wedding music.

 

1002PM:  Wow, even I don't believe her friends.  lol.  AND THE BRIDE ARTICULATES MY FEELINGS!  NICE!

 

1003PM:  Ok, this is interesting, this feeling I'm having.  I'm gonna try to articulate it.  This opening scene is a bit bland, really contrived, but, at the same time, the dialogue fits the scene.  It's REALLY a weird feeling.  Like it's a boring, strange scene....but maybe that's what a soon-to-be-married woman talks about with her bridesmaids, I wouldn't know.

 

1005PM:  I thought that tradition was the other way around.  Groom can't see bride, not opposite.  And I admit that last shot with her by the statue was contrived yet simultaneously fitting.  After all, we're talking about John Landis here.  He does love to mess with the genre conventions.

 

1006PM:  Just like last week, I'm planning to see a movie tomorrow whose trailer I saw during this show.  This time:  Wanted.

 

1008PM:  Hellboy 2:  The Golden Army.  Such a good trailer.

 

1009PM:  Love the religious statues over the credits.....OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SHOOT THE KID.  (Again though, it has that Landis feel.  Like you were supposed to laugh at the fact that the kid randomly ran by screaming.)

 

1010PM:  Did I mention the lead from "Psych" is the groom?  Seems to have a good handle on the role thus far.  Kinda fun-loving.

 

1012PM:  I find that death thing an interesting wrinkle in the ep.  Why does this feel so contrived?  I don't understand....

 

1013PM:  There is a nice mood being set by the continual shots of religious imagery.  Very dark.

 

1014PM:  Nice jumpscare, I must say.  Might be unnecessary, but it is what it is.

 

1015PM:  Script's starting to wear on my nerves here.  This is no Family or Deer Woman.  I really do love the set design, though, with the statue going to commercial.  Again though, like Spooked, an episode cannot be great if all it has is great set design.  I hope this picks up.

 

1019PM:  I watched America's Got Talent in the first season.  I haven't since.  These ads keep telling me why.

 

1019PM 2:  What a weird line from the priest!  Is that what priests always do?  And that was an odd cgi there.  Kinda out of place.  Though intriguing.

 

1020PM:  I like the coughing guy.  That was funny.  Very Landis.

 

1021PM:  Do they really take that many photos at weddings?  That's gotta suck.

 

1022PM:  Ok, that staring thing is REALLY annoying.  It'd piss me off too, and I'm not even in the movie!

 

1022PM 2:  Now THAT'S a brilliantly set shot.  The mirror etc.  Beautiful.

 

1023PM:  My GOD the bridesmaids are MASSIVELY annoying.

 

1024PM:  Well that dash of cgi and music strike on the second appearance of the note was unnecessary.

 

1024PM 2:  I admit freely the knocking thing is creepy.

 

1026PM:  Niiiiiiiiiiiice.  Atmosphere's working very well here.

 

1026PM 2:  WHY is there this stupid trend of hidden camera ads?  Seriously!  First, Burger King did the whopper freakout thing, now Volkswagen is doing this dumb thing with the talking car.  Jeez.

 

1027PM:  And personally, in case you're curious, I loved Get Smart and give it a high endorsement.

 

1028PM:  OK, I liked this Diet Pepsi Max headbob Haddaway ad when I first saw it during the Super Bowl.  And I still do.  The Kattan cameo sells it.

 

1030PM:  Another jumpscare....and I love the crap thing.  That was great.  As is the hard of hearing priest.  Landis really does well with humor-blend horror.

 

1033PM:  Identical twin uncles?  Weird......

 

1034PM:  I just realized btw, I never expected this whole ep to be on the one wedding night.  Thought it would have been over more time.

 

1035PM:  Wow, he's nailing that blend of loving husband in one scene and deeply paranoid seething anger in the next. 

 

1036PM:  Ok, that was really funny.  The Alan thing.

 

1036PM 2:  Did we really need a 3-D remake of Journey to Center of the Earth?  Just curious.

 

1038PM:  I like these Verizon horror dead zone ads, but I really do wonder if these ads spawned because of this show.  I've seen em on other networks, it's just a thought.

 

1040PM:  I didn't need to see Fred Willard as an amazonian native in that ad for Tonight show, and don't forget the first SNL airing saturday at 1130, hosted by Carlin.

 

1040PM:  OH FOR THE LOVE OF GOD THOSE BRIDESMAIDS ARE ANNOYING AND CREEPY.  DO THEY HAVE TO DRESS ALIKE IN EVERY WAY?????

 

1042PM:  Who the hell was that smiling guy with the drink?

 

1044PM:  God he's good at the crazy/intense.  And I guess that's the other twin uncle.  And WOW those statues really do add to the atmoshpere.  I always knew religion's obsession with death and martyrdom was good for something (No offense meant to the religious).

 

1046PM:  Ok, seriously, why wouldn't you just say something.  What the hell.  I mean come on.  The silent lying treatment doesn't help anything.

 

1047PM:  WELL ANSWER HIM!  It's a good frigging question.

 

1047PM 2:  Ah the church.  Always a good place to find random blunt/pointy objects at an arm's reach.

 

1048PM:  Really?  I live in NJ, so I get news previews for NYC.  Did someone really put a huge waterfall under the brooklyn bridge?  Look, I walked Central Park when those damn orange gates were there.  That was cool, though not artistic.  How the hell does someone experience this stupid water fall thing like I did walking through the gates?

 

1050PM:  My......GOD that's a cool trailer.  I can't wait to see Wanted tomorrow.  Utter awesomeness.

 

1052PM:  All right, hit me with this ending.  Statues are still creepy of course.

 

1052PM 2:  Ok, I like this confessional thing far far too much as an ending setting way too much.

 

1053PM:  YES!  I WAS HOPING THEY'D GO HERE!

 

1054PM:  Wow I really like this a lot.  It's a very subdued ending thus far.

 

1057PM:  Um....NICE.....AWESOME!

 

1058PM:  Very nice.  Very crypt-y....but I do wonder about a certain aspect of the story though that I'm not going to say since that might be a spoiler.

 

Overall:  This episode slides in just behind Sacrifice and Family Man.  But I mean JUST behind.  It starts very slow which detracts, but unlike Spooked, atmosphere and pacing help it along.  The ending is great and the tension builds FASTER than Spooked and thus, works way better than Spooked's virtually actionless first half-hour.  A very decent episode that once again proves the idiot on the other site is just that.  A total and complete idiot.

 

 

EDIT:  Earlier today, I realized something about this ep.  This is the first ep that is purely psychological.  There is no blood or gore at all in this episode (outside of the twist), and, for me, it still worked as a kinda campy little piece.  For some, it might not, but at the least it worked for me.  This episode proves to me that the episode can work if it doesn't go extreme with gore.

 

And I thank my friend, Chris the Mad Scientist, for editing for grammar, listen to him this fall on WSOU radio out of South Orange, NJ.  (www.wsou.net streaming.)

 

We'll get to the liveblogging in a second.....

 

BUT FIRST:  A sneak preview of a movie review I'm working on.  I'm reviewing a movie that's very very close to my heart and that I consider to be one of the, if not THE most underrated horror movie of the last 20-30 years, specifically by critics and the horror intelligencia.  How underrated?  Well....Compare it with the other things I've reviewed thus far.  From Rottentomatoes:

 

Tales from the Darkside:  The Movie:  Critics-38% positive, Users-60% positive.(underrated yes, but not as underrated as this.)

 

Disturbing Behavior: Critics-28% positive, Users-37% positive. (they mustve seen the edited cut.)

 

Poultrygeist:  Critics-68% positive, Users-66% positive.  (EVERYBODY LOVES ZOMBIE CHICKENS!!!!)

 

and...?????????:  Critics-35% positive;top critics-17% positive, Users- 70% POSITIVE!

 

HOW?  How the hell did the critics get this so wrong?  I'm sick of this movie getting critically eviscerated for no reason, and soon I'll prove why I think it shouldnt be.  What am I reviewing?  Well that would ruin the surprise wouldnt it......suffice to say that what Darkness Falls is to The Horror Czar, this movie is to me.

 

Now then.  Ahem.....

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!  IIIIIIIITS.......

 

 

So sue me, I was bored last night.  lol.  It's nothing special.  I just sliced the bottom off a desktop background from the nbc site, cropped it a touch, and added a text box of Chiller Text in Paint.  Easy.  The original had those weird lines in it, btw.  I dunno.

 

And away we go.

 

0959PM:  I'm sorry but Last Comic Standing was WAAAAAY better before they drove it into the ground....but that's neither here nor there.

 

1000PM:  Scenes of an intense nature?  Wow, now THAT's an unwieldy euphemism.

 

1001PM:  PANCAKES!!!!!....sorry couldn't resist....they really have nailed that idyllic suburbia look thus far.  I don't know if it's the church, the house, the costume....just seems....suburban.  That's a compliment btw.

 

1002PM:  Remember kids...distracted driving is dangerous.....seeeeee?  And that is a fantastic touch.  the blood, the amazing grace. That was really good and lightly eerie.

 

1004PM:  a crucifix?  really?  wow that's creepy....looks like we've got our patented haley joel osment creepy kid quotient intact.

 

1005PM:  See...this is what happens when you START eerie and unsettling.  You get an entertaining ep, thus far.

 

1006PM:  This'll prolly do what masters of horror did in season 1.  Namely, win the emmy for best opening titles.

 

1007PM:  "Wanted" has so much potential, and I really hope it fulfills it.

 

1009PM:  I really hate this hidden camera talking VW ad.....and I'm only going to say this once.  Re:  The Baby Borrowers:  LEAVE THE DAMN MAURY PLOTLINES ON MAURY YOU IDIOTS.  DON'T TURN THEM INTO STUPID REALITY SHOWS OR TAGLINE THEM "IT'S NOT TV, IT'S BIRTH CONTROL"!....cough....rant over.

 

1011PM:  Ronny Yu btw, is our director of the week.  I personally liked Freddy vs. Jason, btw, so I have very high hopes for this.....nice, "family man" is the newspaper headline alias of the serial killer.  Awesome.

 

1012PM:  "Spiritual transmigration is a stunningly crappy defense."  Outstanding...lol

 

1013PM:  I kinda like the intensity of him trying to convince the lawyer.  Very nice, and not quite overacted.

 

1014PM:  COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL.....

 

1015PM:  Set design victorious again for the prison walls.

 

1016PM:  God's will?  and that closet line is awesome.

 

1017PM:  The chemistry between these two is amazing.

 

1019PM:  See that?  Tennnsion.  Build tension and suspense before the commercial, and I don't mind waiting for it to come back.

 

1020PM;  Did I just see a rabbit steal 7Up and a woman destroy her ex's stuff with her teeth?  GOD commercial's have gotten weird.

 

1022PM:  OK, I just saw Tiki Barber v. Ed McMahon, Ice-T v. Joan Rivers, Raven-symone v. Wayne Newton, and Kathy Lee Gifford v. Dog the Bounty Hunter.  Celebrity Family Feud will....survey says!.....SUCK.

 

1023PM:  Why do I get the feeling the "tapes" will make the dvd release? lol

 

1024-1025PM:  Oh awesome.....church.  lol.  This whole scene is a brilliant blend of humor and a dash of dramatic irony.

 

1027PM:  Wow, he's a niiiice man.

 

1028PM:  Well, that was a stupid thing for you to do, idiot.

 

1029PM:  Shreveport?  But....hes in ohio.........i'll let it go.  And that was nicely twisted.

 

1030PM:  Well thats an interesting wrinkle to the story.  It's a different way of telling it, and I think I like it.  Not everyone will, but I do. 

 

1032PM:  I'm loving this sense I'm getting of these two characters and their traits.  They work so damn beautifully together.

 

1033PM:  Oh yeah, that's helpful.  First you spoil the Robert Downey Jr. cameo in the trailers for Hulk, now in the new one, you ruin theLou Ferrigno one.  Keep it up.  Why don't you just show the dang ending and save us the trouble?

 

1035-1036PM:  Hmm...James Taylor at the PNC Bank center.....I don't think I can yell no loudly enough to convey my displeasure.

 

1037PM:  I'm loving the sense of tension that's just simmering throughout this whole ep.

 

1038PM:  This ep has a fantastic script......and abu ghraib references anyone?

 

1039PM:  "You're embarassing"  wow these fish out of water-esque scenes are really good and funny in a darkly comic way. 

 

1040PM:  Skabetti?  Ok, I'm not sure if I find the little girl more creepy...or annoying.  Cute.  But annoying.

 

1041PM:  God, I love these family scenes.  On some level this ep seems kinda like a kindred ep with Family from Season 2.

 

1044PM:  Ok, really.  Just stop.  I honestly think they've reached the bottom of the celbrity barrel, busted through it, and dug 8 feet into the dirt below with the people on the celebrity family feud things.  I could be wrong.  But jeez.  The kardashians?  The Girls next door?  REALLY?

 

1047PM:  Now that was a nice touch.  I honestly didn't see that coming....the public record thing.

 

1048PM:  Ok, I just think Amazing grace is an inherently creepy song when done right.  As like this.  Brilliant use of music/sound.

 

1050PM:  WOW that's twisted.  lol. *standing ovation*

 

1051PM:  I took that online challenge.  Got a 4 out of 10.  Questions were oddly specific.  Surprisingly good quiz.

 

1052PM:  I'll be seeing Get Smart tomorrow.  My mom saw it in sneak preview, said it was hilarious.  But I will be the judge of THAT!

 

1053PM:  If The Baby Borrowers is successful, I swear I will lose all faith in the American tv viewing public.

 

1054PM:  All right, lets see this twist that I'm supposed to not see coming.  I know what I think it is, but I'm thinking I'm gonna be wrong at the moment.

 

1055PM:  Oh THATS convenient.  Of course that's where he is.

 

1056PM:  I really hope they didnt just cgi those utensils.

 

1056PM 2:  I'm not really thinking I'm wrong anymore......lol.

 

1058PM:  Ok, not quite what I thought it was gonna be....but damn close.  lol.  Great ending.  Very Crypt-esque.

 

1059PM:  I'm liking the look of next week's Landis ep.  Preview had some good imagery.

 

OVERALL:  An outstanding episode.  As good, if not better, than The Sacrifice.  By having tension to begin with and a storyline with tension inherent in it, the commercial breaks mattered less as I was engrossed in the story.  This episode worked for me on just about every level. Good acting, good set design, great chemistry in the cast, a dash of dark humor, just a brilliant brilliant ep.  Ronny Yu should be very proud of this.

 

And, btw.  I'll be going to the Saturday and Sunday of the Fangoria convention this weekend and I'm planning to do a site report blog as soon as I can afterwards.

 

Until next time, I bid you dark dreams.

 

 

Before I begin this liveblog, I want to address statements I've seen in other reviews.  Many people on other sites claim that The Sacrifice from last week cut away from the gore and was obviously cut for network tv.  OF COURSE IT WAS.  IT'S ON NETWORK TV!  Even then, I defy you to show me another show on network tv that had some of the visuals seen in this episode. 

 

Also, they were annoyed about the commercials, claiming tension couldnt be built up.  A) Last I heard, these were going to be released uncut later on on dvd.  Just like Masters of Horror.  and B) I did not see a single time in the last episode where the commercial break killed tension.  If anything the commercials served as almost a afterthought after some moment in the plot or story where the action reached a crescendo. Once they were over, the action picked up right where it left off.

 

My favorite though...had to be the guy mad about the presence of the NBC watermark in the corner the whole episode.  I assume that person has never seen tv in the last 5-6 years since EVERY CHANNEL DOES THAT.

 

Now then.  On to the episode at hand:

 

1000 PM:  Well thats a hell of a lot darker than I thought Eric Roberts could pull off.  Nice scene.

 

1002 PM:  Hey wasnt that guy playing the criminal in "Pick Me Up"?  I could be wrong....

 

1006 PM:  I think I'm finding this exchange on Harry's methods way too amusing.

 

1007 PM:  I'm really surprised at the range Eric Roberts is showing.

 

1009 PM:  NICE!  Completely unethical....but nice!

 

1009 PM:  What the hell is up with those pants?....eh minor.

 

1010 PM:  Ep's movin slooooooow.  Comparatively with last week I mean, not that thats a bad thing.

 

1011 PM:  I take a similar amount of sugar in my coffee.  Just a random thought.

 

1013 PM:  Crime scene tape?

 

1014 PM:  I saw a review of The Incredible Hulk on a horror site today.  I have no idea what it was doing there.

 

1015 PM:  It occurs to me as I type this that Brad Anderson, the director of this ep, did the Sounds Like ep in Season 2.  I liked that ep, even though it moved very slowly.  This one, I'm not so sure yet.  Very little's really happened yet.

 

1017 PM:  Why is Nashville Star on this network?  What is this, like it's 4th network?

 

1017 PM:  Where have I seen his partner before......and the We will Kill you in grafitti on the back of the door and Bodies in basement written on the wall were nice.  Set design and props are the hallmark of this ep thus far.

 

1019 PM:  Surprising how little music is in this after last week's great sound work.

 

1021 PM:  And just as I say that, Anderson starts messing with the senses.  Well he does have a style....

 

1022 PM:  Seems to be a far more cerebral ep than last weeks.

 

1023 PM:  Are we really going the witchcraft route here?

 

1024 PM:  That was decent.....yet a bit lowkey...music was nice...and a decent buildup...but a bit much for pretty much a glorified jumpscare.

 

1025 PM:  ARE WE CGI-ING SHADOWS IN A WINDOW NOW????  REALLY????

 

1026 PM:  What the hell was that he stepped in....and i'm liking the continuously changing grafitti figures.....but this episode really is far too lowkey and ghost storyesque thus far.  Unless this changes fast, I'd think they shouldve moved this toward the middle of the season.

 

1029 PM:  Wow...that was a really really dumb ad for Secret flawless deodorant.  Just a thought.

 

1031 PM:  Social worker's a bit hammy.  Okay, no, REALLY hammy.  lol

 

1033 PM:  This had better be building to one hell of a climax and soon.

 

1034 PM:  I think the thing he stepped in had bullets, teeth, and FEATHERS??? in it....weird.

 

1035 PM:  And it doesnt occur to him that it's odd that Howdy Doody is playing on the tv.....OK THAT WAS GOOD.  The grafitti figures have been the best damn things in this ep.

 

1036 PM:  At least his partner's good comic relief.

 

1037 PM:  Was he just watching......?  Was that what that was supposed to be?  If it was, they couldve done it better.

 

1039 PM:  Anyone know why Snoopy shills for Met Life?  I'm just curious.

 

1041 PM:  WHAT IS THIS THE FREAKING PREDATOR?  IS HE A GHOST HUNTER NOW INSTEAD OF A P.I.?

 

1042 PM:  This climax is getting better......I liked the otherworldliness of his flashback.  And how his color just kinda blends into the background.

 

1043 PM:  OH NICE!  That explains the teeth and blood thing.  Feathers mustve been my imagination.

 

1044 PM:  Ok, im not so sure he was in Pick Me Up now, but I have seen him before.  I just don't know where.

 

1045 PM:  THATS WHERE WE'RE GOING WITH THIS?...3......2.......1........

 

1046 PM:  THERE IT IS.  We're recycling Masters of Horror sidetwists eh?  Nicely filmed but unless they surprise me...um, like now...that was totally irrelevant.

 

1049 PM:  GOD THAT GUY IS SO GOOD IN THIS EP.  please please show it.  please.....damn.  That would've been a fun visual for network tv.  Came close though.

 

1050 PM:  In commercial now, I can say that that was a very nice climax actually...it just took way way way too long to get there in an hour ep.  In this case I do think that these commercials hurt the ep, only because they pad out the running time and interrupt the slower part of the ep.  In the first ep, there were almost like, spaces for them.  like perfect slots that prevented loss of tension and atmosphere.  Here they just dragged the ep out with them.

 

1053 PM:  I like this ending thus far.  It's kinda lifting the opening a bit.

 

1055 PM:  Saw that part coming.

 

1059 PM:  I'm just gonna say it...after seeing that preview for "Family Man", next week, I bet you money I know what the "Twist you'll never see coming" is.  I'll say when I do this next week if I do.

 

Overall, a far smaller step back than I thought at the start.  Eric Roberts is very very good in this episode as is the criminal.  The social worker's very hammy most of the episode but calmed down at the end.  This episode is actually hurt far more by network tv, not by lack of gore but by commercials that make the episode longer.  For that reason, when they release this on dvd, the far quicker story will probably be better.  This didnt hurt the sacrifice because the action was constant.  The ending/climax lifts this ep big time.  But its nowhere near the standard thus far, The Sacrifice.  I will say this.  The atmosphere/props/set design are brilliant.  It's just set design doesnt carry an ep.  Worth seeing, and hopefully better without the breaks in the slower parts of the ep.  In fact, the last commercial didnt feel as bad.  Because there was action in front of it, not just random exposition.

 

And yes, I do realize the irony of mentioning a flaw related to commercials in the episode in the same post as lambasting people for it in another review.  Thank you.