tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51428321306692745702024-03-29T00:06:27.671-07:00JD and Orchid's Domain The day in the life of J.D. and Ivy, philosophers of the night.J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.comBlogger256125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-5514199009909152302024-02-17T07:43:00.000-08:002024-02-17T07:43:34.588-08:00Mommie Dearest (1981)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDt_FjSStCMSSraCFEZewYJUGSRoZGZTD1D0GeG3ku0LFFxUaPXar8aaMOANm6d6srNPydajPFqtuWC2l7MK52YGI2iCDSLMNa0XNBOd9-0SyLSFWef5N9gGoCgAbGsFqd0AdgtCTbcB4EVt-Blj3ZWqla8BH_hWoGutmCiczJjVXSG4l5Pt2vmcLhUcE/s720/mommiedearest24_480x.progressive.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKDt_FjSStCMSSraCFEZewYJUGSRoZGZTD1D0GeG3ku0LFFxUaPXar8aaMOANm6d6srNPydajPFqtuWC2l7MK52YGI2iCDSLMNa0XNBOd9-0SyLSFWef5N9gGoCgAbGsFqd0AdgtCTbcB4EVt-Blj3ZWqla8BH_hWoGutmCiczJjVXSG4l5Pt2vmcLhUcE/s320/mommiedearest24_480x.progressive.webp" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p>And now the moment you've all been waiting for... the review of Mommie Dearest. Once a upon time when I was a wee little lad, this movie used to play on TV A LOT. I've always thought of Mommie Dearest as this prestige Oscar-bait film but as the years went by, people kept saying how much of a camp classic it was. I didn't get it at first, but upon watching the film a couple of more times, I can definitely see why. The subject matter is pretty heavy. It's about Child Abuse and Child Abuse is not a laughing matter at all. But what most people found funny about the film is Faye Dunaway's over-the-top performance as Joan Crawford, who is a real person by the way. But I don't think it's entirely her fault. It's more so the direction of the film and how it was presented. Well, let's take a deep dive shall we?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zb2sUqLXpdcBlXfzbIAhcQEqfFLil5UfpI9z5KhPHFfG5XKCQLxbMoF7WKCvy0f4EoDM4Aapy7l4m9OOcBAwlPb8PTq-8EUq-22HVCpBE-XwgZJcr-n2gwpHiGV6PKv8ynU_IRDtMxV2t-ueL-X9BQVVJGrV9D4gZ8pd1sSaxoJO5NyCd5ewhWfXqa5Q/s500/51zm4fF8pjL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Zb2sUqLXpdcBlXfzbIAhcQEqfFLil5UfpI9z5KhPHFfG5XKCQLxbMoF7WKCvy0f4EoDM4Aapy7l4m9OOcBAwlPb8PTq-8EUq-22HVCpBE-XwgZJcr-n2gwpHiGV6PKv8ynU_IRDtMxV2t-ueL-X9BQVVJGrV9D4gZ8pd1sSaxoJO5NyCd5ewhWfXqa5Q/s320/51zm4fF8pjL.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The movie is based on the 1978 autobiographical novel written by Christina Crawford, Joan Crawford's adopted daughter. I feel like the filmmakers really missed the point of the novel. It seems as though they were exploiting Child Abuse instead of making a more grounded psychological film. The novel did a good job of depicting what it was like living with a narcissistic parent. The manipulation, the guilt trips, the humiliation, it doesn't hold back and it's kind of tragic. So it baffles me as to why the filmmakers didn't get this right. At least, Christina Crawford acknowledged her mother as a real person while the filmmakers turned her into a cartoon villain. But I feel like Christina was the one who got screwed over in the end. This novel was written in her words, based on her experiences, whether true or not, and to have the film deviate so much from its source material is downright disrespectful.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5e-ErRSblGe8AIOlcRAsZAB9kJJ5bndO21CYqySCZ2eF_2Xc103tx31ETtMsit7NeLWdhZ80JDssV_f2Ljx_9rzXMSMDCR-POTFByFGyK1e2j9HDty_FLW0fZYmpx6nq7hIItpJJymdh07JDrRCBo_6fkNOyRmuzS_cUN27qZMa8tthArRILZazvMWEh/s2500/TELEMMGLPICT000270789399_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqufPWexoDNO0wvV3FQMbBIAgYS90-ad_7pWEw9GU9tmA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1571" data-original-width="2500" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5e-ErRSblGe8AIOlcRAsZAB9kJJ5bndO21CYqySCZ2eF_2Xc103tx31ETtMsit7NeLWdhZ80JDssV_f2Ljx_9rzXMSMDCR-POTFByFGyK1e2j9HDty_FLW0fZYmpx6nq7hIItpJJymdh07JDrRCBo_6fkNOyRmuzS_cUN27qZMa8tthArRILZazvMWEh/s320/TELEMMGLPICT000270789399_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqufPWexoDNO0wvV3FQMbBIAgYS90-ad_7pWEw9GU9tmA.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>As production began, the narrative swayed further and further from Christina. So, it's without a doubt that the true star of the movie is Joan Crawford herself. To add more salt to the wound, Christina Crawford had no involvement in the film, which would've helped it a little bit, I mean these were <i>her</i> experiences. But I guess the filmmakers were more concerned about making a Joan Crawford Biopic instead. There were plenty of actresses up for the lead role but Anne Bancroft, who Joan Crawford accepted the Oscar on her behalf, was the main attraction. Even Mia Farrow was up for the role of adult Christina. But all that fell through when producer Frank Yablans took over. He had his eye on Faye Dunaway. At this time, her career wasn't what it used to be after her Oscar win but she was very much in demand and wasn't afraid to take on risker roles. Faye was sure she was going to win another Oscar nomination for this role. Oh boy, Mrs. Dunaway was going to be in for a surprise. She wanted to go for a more methodical approach to her acting. There's nothing wrong with that persay, but I guess this is one of the reasons why her acting is...a bit over-the-top in certain moments. </div><div>I would like to focus on three memorable scenes. Now just to let you know, these scenes are either totally exaggerated or didn't happen in the book at all, but I would talk about these scenes with an analytical view:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EJpS1krlbmk" width="320" youtube-src-id="EJpS1krlbmk"></iframe></div><br /><div>First, we have the "gardening" scene. Now according to Christina, Joan was a little OCD towards her gardening but I didn't think she took it to <i>that</i> level. In the movie, Joan has this reaction when she gets let go of her contract from MGM. But in <i>real life, </i>It was only a <b>month</b> later when Joan signed on to Warner Bros. So it seems as if Joan was just OVERREACTING. I mean geez, she had enough star power at the time to sign better deals. But I guess the filmmakers wanted to use this chain of events as <i>dramatic effect</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XOILKHmZBwc" width="320" youtube-src-id="XOILKHmZBwc"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Then there's the infamous wire hanger scene. Holy shit, this used to scare me as a kid. To this day, I find it hard to watch because it's something straight out of a horror film. The shadowed lighting, Joan's BOOMING voice, and the most horrifying of all, Joan's makeup. Holy crap! she freaked me out. At first, I thought she was a witch. There is absolutely nothing funny about this scene...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZDTqIItxPY16a-A20Jiuo9zwzdeNKZXq0QDiwgxaayD7WhcuTcJIOg7rtsbcyjOI8ZI7Bg0i9OCktQfdJuwRww89U5svj7uZmHSFRxAsHYUUomDclH8tEMeNIGHtPt9h4nqdW-GvS5E-j1tKDMjdkfdmScgWJoa-6HhpFK8UxMhGAIbaJfULphwrKwVO/s1200/thatface.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZDTqIItxPY16a-A20Jiuo9zwzdeNKZXq0QDiwgxaayD7WhcuTcJIOg7rtsbcyjOI8ZI7Bg0i9OCktQfdJuwRww89U5svj7uZmHSFRxAsHYUUomDclH8tEMeNIGHtPt9h4nqdW-GvS5E-j1tKDMjdkfdmScgWJoa-6HhpFK8UxMhGAIbaJfULphwrKwVO/s320/thatface.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Well, except for this shot...Lol, why is Faye Dunaway making that face? But to be fair this was a really tough shot for her and she almost lost her voice. The scene was actually a compilation of a series of events in the novel. The wire hanger scene was treated subtly, still hard to read but subtle. While the "Cleaning" portion of the scene happened on a separate occasion. The filmmakers decided to combine these two incidents into this <b>long</b> drawn-out scene to accommodate Faye Dunaway's Oscar moment. Like I said this scene would've been effective if Faye Dunaway dailed it down just a notch. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QpG20rrDWmQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="QpG20rrDWmQ"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>And lastly, we have the "strangulation" scene, you know, with the "BARBRA PLEASE!" line. This is supposed to be another harrowing scene where Joan almost KILLS Christina but, again, it comes off unintentionally funny because of Faye Dunaway's cartoonish expressions and, oh boy, this scene is by far her most over-the-top moment. Good god, this woman blows it over. These were actually two incidents compiled into one from the novel. The first incident was when she was caught with a stable boy at age 11 or 12. Yes, she was that young, so that would've been really inappropriate and downright uncomfortable to show on film. The second incident was when Christina became close with the headmaster and his wife, seeing them as a second family. Joan was not having it and pulled her away from school immediately, which is why Joan lied about Christina getting expelled just to spite her. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEb8mqyasWx2_Tsppg9GuEHUQFmiBDP9W3FxFfrd_k37PinVShA3TF8haOcwGqetUYWPAt90rR8mD53QFKQs46bxPOVpobuz6MrHsA6ikuu60zSwaa2MTKgjHdngbux9LCnSTxedoxEMJuzUqrqMXDPD518gjTH0xv1KR9uXfEUs51WAtBIKSBWbC8l3b/s852/Mommie%20Dearest%20Scarwid%20Dunaway.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="852" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEb8mqyasWx2_Tsppg9GuEHUQFmiBDP9W3FxFfrd_k37PinVShA3TF8haOcwGqetUYWPAt90rR8mD53QFKQs46bxPOVpobuz6MrHsA6ikuu60zSwaa2MTKgjHdngbux9LCnSTxedoxEMJuzUqrqMXDPD518gjTH0xv1KR9uXfEUs51WAtBIKSBWbC8l3b/s320/Mommie%20Dearest%20Scarwid%20Dunaway.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The movie makes it look like Joan simply overreacts about her teenage daughter getting caught making out with a boy her age. According to Rutanya Alda, Faye Dunaway took this scene <b>really</b> seriously to the point where she injured her and co-star Jocelyn Brando. Again, somebody had to tell Faye to dial it down but I get the feeling that filmmakers were enjoying this too much. </div><div>There was a lot of information that out from the book such as the twins Cathy and Cindy, in which they had a very loving relationship with Joan, and most of her early childhood that would become integral to her headstrong nature. If they had at least shown a small portion of her childhood and her climbing out of poverty, it would added more dimension to Joan's character instead of, you know, making her into this maniacal dingbat. Case in point, the whole reason Joan freaked out about the wire hangers is that it was a symbol of her traumatic childhood, working in shop factories and living in poor conditions. If the filmmakers would've added a bit of context to the wire hanger scene instead of just a random event. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SIr1GnKe3BtyF8fh4QN8bvntJfuc-SfFu2JulSRbR6DY8hTO9Z3j3UZsMhyphenhyphen2bJDFoaR5TTn_1Ipazr6b_zxKg1Cu-UuYEa0PP-5KLbNyW-PVPVV_OAOEmqsbUGtO7q5fFDkdbPyXnhuLT0YgX_fbo47YvBBxkPcIxo7sC15Hkxi6Eg7_ZQS0wUxUQAza/s1920/MV5BNGE3NTE1NmYtNTQ3NC00MDg0LTg4MDQtOTczMTJkMzFjNjQ4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjMzMDI4MjQ@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1920" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SIr1GnKe3BtyF8fh4QN8bvntJfuc-SfFu2JulSRbR6DY8hTO9Z3j3UZsMhyphenhyphen2bJDFoaR5TTn_1Ipazr6b_zxKg1Cu-UuYEa0PP-5KLbNyW-PVPVV_OAOEmqsbUGtO7q5fFDkdbPyXnhuLT0YgX_fbo47YvBBxkPcIxo7sC15Hkxi6Eg7_ZQS0wUxUQAza/s320/MV5BNGE3NTE1NmYtNTQ3NC00MDg0LTg4MDQtOTczMTJkMzFjNjQ4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjMzMDI4MjQ@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>In the more subtle scenes where, you know, Joan is portrayed like an actual human being, Faye Dunaway does some pretty good acting. There was actually a scene where Joan tearfully confides to young Christina at a beach to soften her a little but the scene was cut for some reason. I guess the filmmakers thought it would be more "entertaining" to focus on the shocking, sensationalized moments of the screenplay. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngTnddtlVy-LXZ17iuGLsHAbkmLJA0uT0DPsAWOP3SQzHaU2Yy5mHgw1bTeK53F_LXbJM3Pv510xElNGH2eFbQ0n-DKnZox0VL2EE80FA_SGI78OiTBsM_q2v2moNnI-YSbCer1gAG1_on0puD8H9d8Vt_ofO5mVyGWHQN_V2DTsfPEOvo9N6c0g6Z7rh/s1800/c31f997942ba524ee307381d05eb846b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngTnddtlVy-LXZ17iuGLsHAbkmLJA0uT0DPsAWOP3SQzHaU2Yy5mHgw1bTeK53F_LXbJM3Pv510xElNGH2eFbQ0n-DKnZox0VL2EE80FA_SGI78OiTBsM_q2v2moNnI-YSbCer1gAG1_on0puD8H9d8Vt_ofO5mVyGWHQN_V2DTsfPEOvo9N6c0g6Z7rh/s320/c31f997942ba524ee307381d05eb846b.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>What I've also noticed about the film is that it has a unique style to it. It does this thing where in each time period the film sort of emulates the style of the movies from within that time period. That's cool and all, I appreciate the effort but what I liked about the Mildred Pierce miniseries is that although it was set in the 1930s and 40s, Todd Haynes went with a gritty, realistic style of the 70s. Since this was made in 1981, I feel like this kind of style would benefit the movie a bit more. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xhw3eZipV9GeUlK6r3OH9ErPUq4_sMIPy_YqmFkRonv3_cakSwmYr1Let9FufgR14_FHmPTAanMppi_WAqoVk-zac1cGqaedY3ld3qW2coD30u3Xkx6qDsHDuq3OWiMe-vlNzHqd3LwPTdNQ0UrTAhsHHRGrAdX37mKN4nNI0worOH-_TFHIcoDkXmgx/s2048/MommieDearestHappyDays3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="2048" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xhw3eZipV9GeUlK6r3OH9ErPUq4_sMIPy_YqmFkRonv3_cakSwmYr1Let9FufgR14_FHmPTAanMppi_WAqoVk-zac1cGqaedY3ld3qW2coD30u3Xkx6qDsHDuq3OWiMe-vlNzHqd3LwPTdNQ0UrTAhsHHRGrAdX37mKN4nNI0worOH-_TFHIcoDkXmgx/s320/MommieDearestHappyDays3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Even though most of the movie is inaccurate, this incident was very true. You see, Christina tried to make it as an actress herself, and she eventually landed a role in a soap opera called <i>The Secret Storm</i>. When she gets sick, <b>Joan </b>steps in to take over her role. Christina mentions her character is 28 while Joan is <i>way</i> past that age. This is so wrong on so many levels. What parent takes their child's acting job? I feel like this was the moment that broke the camel's back for Christina but that's not even the half of it. But Joan is not to blame here, believe it or not. I blame the producers wholeheartedly. They were probably starstruck by Joan's presence and signing her on into the role, even though she was too old to play the part. From what I gather, Joan was at least in her sixties and was in no condition to film because she was drunk on her ass. So yeah, shame on the producers. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK0tEc72TJfMufUSHza1h8tWUGjfLda9gekx0bdXjk0e_hFucaNLpvDRrz4m8etSN03dgTDwzZ5lOUHB6EJfrSio1UPGVPeqcaZDYxhNPcOJ_HyaWYfwVETMMcCo82cUK3znskbZ4NYZStRFerbEvCbMG1GQH0F1xF3p7p_BnzhvPagvrZxKih_WjfASG/s736/76856b7acf9a6045f82e263b043cc16f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="736" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK0tEc72TJfMufUSHza1h8tWUGjfLda9gekx0bdXjk0e_hFucaNLpvDRrz4m8etSN03dgTDwzZ5lOUHB6EJfrSio1UPGVPeqcaZDYxhNPcOJ_HyaWYfwVETMMcCo82cUK3znskbZ4NYZStRFerbEvCbMG1GQH0F1xF3p7p_BnzhvPagvrZxKih_WjfASG/s320/76856b7acf9a6045f82e263b043cc16f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The movie becomes a little understated after except for the "DON'T FUCK WITH ME FELLAS!" line. But besides all that, it's pretty low-key. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpMSvaFeEHjzwy2RynQSIzcSJHeNHQMxQFKPN69m9skVQQIRCWMl6nI1kk-KlUcIW55Dhyphenhyphenc4xGeVitBaW6vw1ZHAOQURIJ2H2HkX3ccqvP0KWjvlTRbOtKxvCkX2i1rcqd3Cs89fZof8LFms4yX1369f6Tb3H2de6eDbi7xk1IXu1ZCBB5NZPZq-Ko0Ph/s1920/MV5BZmQ2ZWNmMmItNGM0NS00MjA1LTk2Y2MtNWFmMTUwMjcyNTQ4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjMzMDI4MjQ@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1920" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIpMSvaFeEHjzwy2RynQSIzcSJHeNHQMxQFKPN69m9skVQQIRCWMl6nI1kk-KlUcIW55Dhyphenhyphenc4xGeVitBaW6vw1ZHAOQURIJ2H2HkX3ccqvP0KWjvlTRbOtKxvCkX2i1rcqd3Cs89fZof8LFms4yX1369f6Tb3H2de6eDbi7xk1IXu1ZCBB5NZPZq-Ko0Ph/s320/MV5BZmQ2ZWNmMmItNGM0NS00MjA1LTk2Y2MtNWFmMTUwMjcyNTQ4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjMzMDI4MjQ@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV1OAiqUvnz9NHVaqxOzMMDvmc-yXa9W5xwVT5VYf9TFMCtcGyJGioHSbHNOCMntr228dUS0dwKVaiRUE5_PV4RT7_6hWwHzOjvBGczvWE7Su0Bjww4sVnm73mUHDbvekQHp5K9_vOdwG_yAocXPd7DKC5kV94da3AG9m5_8wtvkBW-YeSnz9OALa8GYP/s300/images%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV1OAiqUvnz9NHVaqxOzMMDvmc-yXa9W5xwVT5VYf9TFMCtcGyJGioHSbHNOCMntr228dUS0dwKVaiRUE5_PV4RT7_6hWwHzOjvBGczvWE7Su0Bjww4sVnm73mUHDbvekQHp5K9_vOdwG_yAocXPd7DKC5kV94da3AG9m5_8wtvkBW-YeSnz9OALa8GYP/s1600/images%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>There's the part where Christina makes an exceptional speech at Joan's televised tribute special and Joan, while lying on her death bed, is deeply touched. It's actually kind of sweet...well, not for long.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX0FQZtIBegE01Bynztrf5pw3IQ-7Z8sWej_mV7RX0DDSvTz4MOqr14o4YyGktHOS_ENyCB1ZrbuI0uwmowGibYyzVsWHyDi7ZCsqpVpSnBK9WCEt_YcDGtVZtPBnXg7Vg3-RDRVEj4ZeBx2xqP5958d8Hhjtcy9TygLuiQWVf7PmT801wl5jmjHGnVJK/s290/NEolI8F.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="290" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJX0FQZtIBegE01Bynztrf5pw3IQ-7Z8sWej_mV7RX0DDSvTz4MOqr14o4YyGktHOS_ENyCB1ZrbuI0uwmowGibYyzVsWHyDi7ZCsqpVpSnBK9WCEt_YcDGtVZtPBnXg7Vg3-RDRVEj4ZeBx2xqP5958d8Hhjtcy9TygLuiQWVf7PmT801wl5jmjHGnVJK/s1600/NEolI8F.jpeg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><div>By the time she arrives at Joan's funeral and reunites with her brother Christoper, Christina goes to the hearing to see if Joan left a will. She doesn't. When Christoper says, "She always has the last word. Christina stares ahead with fury in her eyes, "Does she? Oh does she..." Thus begins the revenge of Christina Crawford.</div><div>Now do I think this is a terrible movie? It has some merits and I can see what the filmmakers "attempted" to do but the result fell flat. As I said, Faye Dunaway is not to blame here, she takes it too far with her acting and she did cause some tension on the set but she is not the one to blame for this movie's failure. It all weighs down on the filmmakers who instead of making a complex psychological drama turned it into an exploitative romp. It's kind of a shame because it was all there. I don't know what the filmmakers were thinking but at least this film will go down in history as a camp cult classic.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O0FNSuJ437w" width="320" youtube-src-id="O0FNSuJ437w"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-73358866825003313742024-01-28T23:07:00.000-08:002024-01-28T23:07:24.610-08:00The Two Faces of Mildred Pierce <p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y00Hkfcrz7krUhaSamNSvor3cR-um2t5GA2fK4e1Cpm378bzzRijzmViTFPv_RUf4cat1xqarM6PRGg9-u4tDAvyoWj_hCIh-64a_tBTTWS2nuNDofSbR3ZUTEiUBUanvHDZO-r4M9MWYFDvkjsd5-mT6MOYGfOYH-n0yX1Sg1eBPnHPApyeMuYUjUit/s2935/Mildred_Pierce_(1945_poster).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2935" data-original-width="1965" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y00Hkfcrz7krUhaSamNSvor3cR-um2t5GA2fK4e1Cpm378bzzRijzmViTFPv_RUf4cat1xqarM6PRGg9-u4tDAvyoWj_hCIh-64a_tBTTWS2nuNDofSbR3ZUTEiUBUanvHDZO-r4M9MWYFDvkjsd5-mT6MOYGfOYH-n0yX1Sg1eBPnHPApyeMuYUjUit/s320/Mildred_Pierce_(1945_poster).jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyqTnAnXJSfejJ1vv62FOXjAcIf8os10cXAeh8KAd5r-DHqS8T8H95GIRSqKQo9XtkMkhqAISRlREfHQm4G_89PM25XkrtV0lFpsoRFDEC1-Ovq1d2oBV1CHb1yeUPVKXyeRvnxNTLLF2R6HgFdJKHhMNRZM-ZzJ8GD_VYtH2gkbUlPJOCgzWoVdUp6ht/s1500/mildred%20pierce%202011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1012" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyqTnAnXJSfejJ1vv62FOXjAcIf8os10cXAeh8KAd5r-DHqS8T8H95GIRSqKQo9XtkMkhqAISRlREfHQm4G_89PM25XkrtV0lFpsoRFDEC1-Ovq1d2oBV1CHb1yeUPVKXyeRvnxNTLLF2R6HgFdJKHhMNRZM-ZzJ8GD_VYtH2gkbUlPJOCgzWoVdUp6ht/s320/mildred%20pierce%202011.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Before I dive deep into the phenomenon that is Mommie Dearest, I want to discuss the adaptations of James M. Cain's novel <i>Mildred Pierce</i>. Now, I'm gonna say right off the bat that between these two adaptations, I definitely choose the Todd Haynes version. Now don't get me wrong, the original is one of Joan Crawford's iconic films, but Kate Winslet really knocked this off the park for me. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLZPkSJdn-nqKNsIdziZMXA1dZyu0xDC8NY1Oy_ReadM2gTiKFqdmee8yvNcW2EQ3wV4xL-2-NHMyp1FQpEgrbzAK8iQoVizslNvy_OJaum2U4LTzGKjMqBs1jQCsNXAXAVPKRB9g0YNONCRpDzFqRqkWQ4Pn3WtG6m1RZ8Vx8XzvFBODcehDzqwtiPUf/s800/36129878402_eb4791eb10_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLZPkSJdn-nqKNsIdziZMXA1dZyu0xDC8NY1Oy_ReadM2gTiKFqdmee8yvNcW2EQ3wV4xL-2-NHMyp1FQpEgrbzAK8iQoVizslNvy_OJaum2U4LTzGKjMqBs1jQCsNXAXAVPKRB9g0YNONCRpDzFqRqkWQ4Pn3WtG6m1RZ8Vx8XzvFBODcehDzqwtiPUf/s320/36129878402_eb4791eb10_c.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>Let's talk about the novel first. Now although Mildred is a character you can empathize with, she's not exactly portrayed as sympathetic here. First, she seems to favor Veda after the death of her youngest daughter, Ray, She marries a man whom she doesn't exactly care for to please her snobby, elitist daughter, and she embezzles money from her business to please said daughter. So while adapting the 1945 film version, the filmmakers had to make some accommodations to appease the Hays Code.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Nny6_p_YWFZCBg64ZwYKEzSGbpdHnYP98cL-j8rZDpjGJZhYvcPuwIM55nosOBubVqQK5JKNTzk_kVVZU3q0x3Cv3noQuhZu7FUFgqkdtzPJ40eiyYko_9JPmYD2o866dFmBJIOih7B3WEeGUSAp19vkMddjHE7Pr8zSYxNKRvvFFkAcYi-fQ7sw9KgB/s3500/mildredpierce1945.321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="3500" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Nny6_p_YWFZCBg64ZwYKEzSGbpdHnYP98cL-j8rZDpjGJZhYvcPuwIM55nosOBubVqQK5JKNTzk_kVVZU3q0x3Cv3noQuhZu7FUFgqkdtzPJ40eiyYko_9JPmYD2o866dFmBJIOih7B3WEeGUSAp19vkMddjHE7Pr8zSYxNKRvvFFkAcYi-fQ7sw9KgB/s320/mildredpierce1945.321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So screenwriter Ranald MacDougall and director Michael Curtiz decided to take a film noir approach to the story and this is where I make the comparisons to the novel and 1945 version.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O7ILG03tMJRrlmBo1TRrZMyhPLSEgx_NJaVsaYCCYbYg5nrUtOeF2AP_fZCMkOGtd1U9FoUZZZ48mRB9fNMoqiBJigRdVwWP5Uvu1kbU0EWbplira1zg_9Oo6eRi0Hxe50SQKxzgTRLU2ANTMkzM3jY2kS2H38Xk4jDdTTxk_QZ_5Hi42uMq-czxbnm7/s1080/mildred-pierce-3-1600x900-c-default-e1562471978669.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="1080" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-O7ILG03tMJRrlmBo1TRrZMyhPLSEgx_NJaVsaYCCYbYg5nrUtOeF2AP_fZCMkOGtd1U9FoUZZZ48mRB9fNMoqiBJigRdVwWP5Uvu1kbU0EWbplira1zg_9Oo6eRi0Hxe50SQKxzgTRLU2ANTMkzM3jY2kS2H38Xk4jDdTTxk_QZ_5Hi42uMq-czxbnm7/s320/mildred-pierce-3-1600x900-c-default-e1562471978669.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here's the story: After separating from her husband, Bert, Mildred is to take care of her two daughters, Veda and Ray. In desperate need of financial stability, Mildred takes a job as a waitress, at the behest of Veda. But eventually, Mildred learns the ways of the restaurant business and owns a chain of her own. She soon attracts the attention of Monte Beragon, a lazy playboy who's living off his inheritance. Monte sweeps Mildred off her feet and the two begin a love affair. Unfortunately, Mildred's youngest daughter, Ray, dies of an illness, which leaves Mildred in a devastated state. From then on, Mildred grows attached to Veda who becomes increasingly vain and spoiled. Veda even goes so far as to blackmail a boy's family by pretending to be pregnant with his child to receive money from them and when Mildred forgives her after disowning her, Veda has an affair with her now-husband Monty! Talk about some heavy stuff! but I'll stop there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI3WvwV-792gZ8-gPk9aujshWIOpvtWU53DbZXNQkf9NFfM3OYuLt9XKCGQM10XfQRkRqc_wI9dPedqkl8PS8kC5k3CyeGTljA_AaZ2_Clm52POD_PHo6orrQKiOIFu5s0xVS86_gA7AY0PaHZbG9eM2H-ndKtj6UxHMAHbrH5lyz3Axzwqcula3zHQr9/s2265/top-100-movies-1940s-mildredpierce.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1844" data-original-width="2265" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTI3WvwV-792gZ8-gPk9aujshWIOpvtWU53DbZXNQkf9NFfM3OYuLt9XKCGQM10XfQRkRqc_wI9dPedqkl8PS8kC5k3CyeGTljA_AaZ2_Clm52POD_PHo6orrQKiOIFu5s0xVS86_gA7AY0PaHZbG9eM2H-ndKtj6UxHMAHbrH5lyz3Axzwqcula3zHQr9/s320/top-100-movies-1940s-mildredpierce.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The movie starts with the murder of Monte. Yes, the <i>murder</i> of Monte and that's one of the key differences from the book. Monte doesn't die in the book. In the end, he gets away scot-free, running off with Veda to New York, leaving a drunken and depressed Mildred and Bert to their own devices. Though judging by the Hays Code, this was unacceptable. If anything, Monte would be considered an immoral character since he does have an affair with his own stepdaughter and he has an overall unscrupulous nature when it comes to his relationship with Mildred. So the filmmakers decided to kill off Monte to shake up the plot and it actually makes the story more interesting that way. In the first few moments of the film, it becomes a murder mystery. It's made to look like Mildred shot Monte and is putting the blame on her business partner and friend Wally Fay (Burgan in the book). But the story goes deeper than that. During her interrogation, Mildred narrates her life, which starts the story proper. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4xfRbXq-mY1dJ-dIzP8YsOGDrXanPbZAfHitzUjNjNMo9v2essyFdYTR4TLN0q32NurUTmqIHT6JN1X6mEzPS6CQuZxoL16qHzfI4XmpALC0SUSSo3iSbtcJuUSkX4YnlNu-YFIROsnBsf0OEym9qhvoKXCc-rPGS_nja0vmJl5QnLqBit1R1urkKk69/s1200/1_kSqcJx8GYgStHIgVp8G5Og.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1200" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4xfRbXq-mY1dJ-dIzP8YsOGDrXanPbZAfHitzUjNjNMo9v2essyFdYTR4TLN0q32NurUTmqIHT6JN1X6mEzPS6CQuZxoL16qHzfI4XmpALC0SUSSo3iSbtcJuUSkX4YnlNu-YFIROsnBsf0OEym9qhvoKXCc-rPGS_nja0vmJl5QnLqBit1R1urkKk69/s320/1_kSqcJx8GYgStHIgVp8G5Og.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsj3yUEA8vB2ROB8LNyBS-6kSqQ6Ww76o-lDJlleSDnCNmynA3zWwWetjKfOsB5AIrc0K8w_bbMaFA_LK2y1ZBgCnEqr7KJA1dd7rKZ9jCussCUFkzaEakZ_-R1SFj8MmnpkilplulBed1Ysp4ySoCkgbZzRjlcmyKeeDSabWXCUwg-Vf6TrIz5naxh4YE/s1200/mildred-pierce-1945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1200" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsj3yUEA8vB2ROB8LNyBS-6kSqQ6Ww76o-lDJlleSDnCNmynA3zWwWetjKfOsB5AIrc0K8w_bbMaFA_LK2y1ZBgCnEqr7KJA1dd7rKZ9jCussCUFkzaEakZ_-R1SFj8MmnpkilplulBed1Ysp4ySoCkgbZzRjlcmyKeeDSabWXCUwg-Vf6TrIz5naxh4YE/s320/mildred-pierce-1945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>One of the most important elements of the film is the relationship between Mildred and Veda, not just in the story but in characterization as well. There is an archetypal character well-known within the film noir genre called the Femme Fatale. She represents the woman who might lead the male main character into danger. She is a woman of intrigue and mystery and you can never quite figure until the climax of the movie. But Mildred Pierce provides a more female perspective. In the opening moments of the film, at first, you would think that Mildred might be this type of character as it is made to look like she shot Monty and is on her way to frame Wally. But when Mildred begins her narration, we slowly figure out who the real Femme Fatale is, which turns out to be her own daughter, Veda. For those of you who haven't read the novel, Veda does have some shades of this in the original source material. It's sort of built up to how Veda became vain and manipulative and in a way just like the Femme Fatale, Veda does lead Mildred to her doom. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4RP_N0nj238hi-8Jr03p2MxJ1OGYbOcqcQhHxQpAxxnTKt9HP9LKyQQRyKd_vmaLvVoEYKXOeASFDiHxgNDpke6VBfEQBilF9yVGM_35JRqyojZgIEAmh8CBJQktJ_B28tyoiMd-Pfd2Nf8bEBbcErpu4kaoGYrhCw7iygNyAwtaVc-SJXPGpaO68cr_/s352/singer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="352" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4RP_N0nj238hi-8Jr03p2MxJ1OGYbOcqcQhHxQpAxxnTKt9HP9LKyQQRyKd_vmaLvVoEYKXOeASFDiHxgNDpke6VBfEQBilF9yVGM_35JRqyojZgIEAmh8CBJQktJ_B28tyoiMd-Pfd2Nf8bEBbcErpu4kaoGYrhCw7iygNyAwtaVc-SJXPGpaO68cr_/s320/singer.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>On top of that, she gains fame as an opera singer but the Hays Code thinks that this is too dignified for her character and turns her into a chantese instead, which is a common occupation for the Femme Fatale character. Although singing at a nightclub would be out of character for the book version of Veda, it's totally in character for the movie version of Veda. At this point of the movie, Veda is blossoming into a young woman who becomes more stubborn and independent. And also, Veda might use this job as a way to attract possible wealthy suitors and potential managers to jumpstart her singing career. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOO2EyWmlib3z34up62mevRYWXWhY9RPSChFnyE3-Mfr_NJFfVL1rYcZKzFHPK0Mug6YrJwommLeBCEYLjhY703a2vjeBCKzsXgrAaHbXsOo7AEC6msW5RhT2nnUYT64gF8TXpR3Q4zSRZ9IQXfbjaosSZAoHUXF3FzS8NkA2rh2Ec-u4NblstL7D6bOM/s500/Mildred-1-500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="500" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOO2EyWmlib3z34up62mevRYWXWhY9RPSChFnyE3-Mfr_NJFfVL1rYcZKzFHPK0Mug6YrJwommLeBCEYLjhY703a2vjeBCKzsXgrAaHbXsOo7AEC6msW5RhT2nnUYT64gF8TXpR3Q4zSRZ9IQXfbjaosSZAoHUXF3FzS8NkA2rh2Ec-u4NblstL7D6bOM/s320/Mildred-1-500.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsrYcuqKHzFyVieENTp05s0gFpli6E6Mc44X-J5AFQvsRmfMCR51Nbq2kkTxNC_D8JxTE2CIv-ynzLuyzgw7KWT6hoc0K3xs1X9nbF_BBRzTrJQ7vvk17GL0lf9E21SerogbdIVUJpWtO1JSSfdYJ4xXNULSqiWljtwGE9-pg6iT2aqaclgpEVmh7oNHB/s605/b79076bb2cebb90443952f24233679f0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="605" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJsrYcuqKHzFyVieENTp05s0gFpli6E6Mc44X-J5AFQvsRmfMCR51Nbq2kkTxNC_D8JxTE2CIv-ynzLuyzgw7KWT6hoc0K3xs1X9nbF_BBRzTrJQ7vvk17GL0lf9E21SerogbdIVUJpWtO1JSSfdYJ4xXNULSqiWljtwGE9-pg6iT2aqaclgpEVmh7oNHB/s320/b79076bb2cebb90443952f24233679f0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Just as Mildred and Veda start to reconnect again...Boom! Mildred catches Veda and Monty in a passionate kiss. Without any remorse, Veda confesses to Mildred that she and Monty have been in love all this time and they're having plans to run off and get married. Now this may be accurate in the novel, but not in the movie version. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI9kxlHcVh4-SwVRdmre1Twjx69c1cVgwdYC6zN6YUup3QDwWAqsfwV_RBAQg2kaeya6lmpLCenMyV3oiKZj0MiuA11WFA6U3HjU57ZdWymcuuYNIzBTezAnKYq0jRRQjzdlM1bmAJ_4xsp1jfL4qYoWzTV9OgK2lknqbvwbITUHF0HMNPECaxj9AgBt9/s300/veda%20shoots%20monty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="300" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXI9kxlHcVh4-SwVRdmre1Twjx69c1cVgwdYC6zN6YUup3QDwWAqsfwV_RBAQg2kaeya6lmpLCenMyV3oiKZj0MiuA11WFA6U3HjU57ZdWymcuuYNIzBTezAnKYq0jRRQjzdlM1bmAJ_4xsp1jfL4qYoWzTV9OgK2lknqbvwbITUHF0HMNPECaxj9AgBt9/s1600/veda%20shoots%20monty.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: left;">Monty rejects her on the spot and declares his love for Mildred, whether that may be true or not. When Mildred runs out of the house...Bang! Bang! Veda is the one who shot Monty.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQ_L81LRi_hw5t0ds0Mc8Z3p3uHvrtjQu2wI4qXk_7NQkB0RhrEtM4fuD1lJnrDKlsJGMOyUiWfM1D6854p7W0GKtFbeqvtK_HUFJNo53DN6nPMPDASfEfXdPfCOFlqFAYaSWKPFmgE_1v09H1_wCTq0Sabsi2WqggbGaTh6umG-jBe5vTHHEu8GYUI6E/s745/Mildred-Pierce-Joan-Crawford.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="745" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQ_L81LRi_hw5t0ds0Mc8Z3p3uHvrtjQu2wI4qXk_7NQkB0RhrEtM4fuD1lJnrDKlsJGMOyUiWfM1D6854p7W0GKtFbeqvtK_HUFJNo53DN6nPMPDASfEfXdPfCOFlqFAYaSWKPFmgE_1v09H1_wCTq0Sabsi2WqggbGaTh6umG-jBe5vTHHEu8GYUI6E/s320/Mildred-Pierce-Joan-Crawford.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Seeing her daughter for who she truly is, Mildred phones the police but her maternal instincts prevent her from doing so. To add more salt to the wound, Veda gaslights her by saying it was <i>her </i>fault for turning out the way she did. Holy cow!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQJrhTCWHXtF4KNP6Kofd0udq-AqW7pxyfe6_uiNo8UUZ37b5CCu9hctCA4LaQI_RdympRX9XAZZNXxfhcgBvdn8RNR9AX9pEkdc5MyBXqj8gKEx-cyOCLKNyi7srTtjEB3Zsw9EmWivHGK3Ba05zkgQAh7LmJN9Gfmnu2n2qHnwCdYkg1mVY5hJhf57t/s633/79.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="633" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQJrhTCWHXtF4KNP6Kofd0udq-AqW7pxyfe6_uiNo8UUZ37b5CCu9hctCA4LaQI_RdympRX9XAZZNXxfhcgBvdn8RNR9AX9pEkdc5MyBXqj8gKEx-cyOCLKNyi7srTtjEB3Zsw9EmWivHGK3Ba05zkgQAh7LmJN9Gfmnu2n2qHnwCdYkg1mVY5hJhf57t/s320/79.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So as Mildred finishes her story, the police take Veda into custody, and strangely she accepts her fate. After that, Mildred reunites with her ex-husband, Bert and that's where the movie ends. </div><div>I like that they took the film noir angle that not only adds layers to the Veda character but also Mildred herself. Joan Crawford would usually star in movies where her character goes from rags to riches with a fierce determination to break out of their working-class life and into the world of the upper class. This was the perfect role for Joan Crawford and she eventually won an Oscar for her performance. Special shout out to Ann Blyth who really nails the role of Veda with viciousness and ferocity. It was a rarity that film noir was shown through a female perspective and that's what makes this an instant classic. </div><div>But what I really, really want to talk about is the 2011 miniseries by Todd Haynes and oh boy is it great!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6eA-TEUg1mV9G1TZj73ogqKFyjHzjN2l13_PZjT3TX7_SUM-4UuDAhhYn97JFczBer1yEpJ44ufZ3O-6JvSIqgsbSJ9mOSw8jFoKzSU_uomdLVz3edce04eURrvbYtU4tcwWwd0segks8eYKrLZqBJ9PysPF-BKDqxLLhdE683Nl3oOzN-8iGhS8Z_Ht/s300/944858_300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6eA-TEUg1mV9G1TZj73ogqKFyjHzjN2l13_PZjT3TX7_SUM-4UuDAhhYn97JFczBer1yEpJ44ufZ3O-6JvSIqgsbSJ9mOSw8jFoKzSU_uomdLVz3edce04eURrvbYtU4tcwWwd0segks8eYKrLZqBJ9PysPF-BKDqxLLhdE683Nl3oOzN-8iGhS8Z_Ht/s1600/944858_300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>The miniseries goes by the same beats as the novel but in a different context. It's framed as a melodrama but it's actually a character study about a woman going above and beyond the constructs of the time while trying to maintain a relationship with her selfish, manipulative, narcissistic daughter and her lazy, prideful, self-indulgent boyfriend. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIhyphenhyphenQzNPezSKwILXWF6oTLyhBENPWOtNf4IWTU5R8ux1rQiFkWhuQVJFnjxYOgFCHlO2xUshgb2Hdfrgb_VEOxPNQpjpzHDkm80KYPKc2XKqKOG1SZ21Y4qZqEd1H_hkyRywORRD_EvGISdypOsMe_VzgOpSuxcmSdjTFOjH2Mdt-8dp22GHjGZT6GRkp/s800/c865d8ec4e84a21ba22c5a0c805e56fc.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="800" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRIhyphenhyphenQzNPezSKwILXWF6oTLyhBENPWOtNf4IWTU5R8ux1rQiFkWhuQVJFnjxYOgFCHlO2xUshgb2Hdfrgb_VEOxPNQpjpzHDkm80KYPKc2XKqKOG1SZ21Y4qZqEd1H_hkyRywORRD_EvGISdypOsMe_VzgOpSuxcmSdjTFOjH2Mdt-8dp22GHjGZT6GRkp/s320/c865d8ec4e84a21ba22c5a0c805e56fc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Unlike the 1945 film, the setting takes place during the Depression. This was at a time when families were struggling to keep up heap. These boiling frustrations take a toll on Mildred and Bert's marriage, which also stems from his affair with one of their neighbors. So when Burt eventually leaves, Mildred has to go out hand and foot to look for a job, even one she considers degrading. I like how Todd Haynes portrays Mildred's struggles realistically. She literally goes hand and foot to find employment. It's not glamorous, it doesn't pass in a quick montage and Kate Winslet doesn't wear much makeup than usual. Todd Haynes really shows the realities of what people were going through during the Depression and he displayed that beautifully. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mVwH1wWetgJFMSnHo7k_DiRDltKKqDbwug4BpQmDMQppVO77Dy8ZwpzyDQDq9dov198g2MhS4ETtcjl6eIfM7VOnAeUWObDuBQ7keVKtvo7jXqA0C6jz9Q5cA5P31d3KQkT_xDwNq3ZEZqt4O04QplkDQyooWUNIgjsfHMoA5_ZTyLcfrrxaGv6Pm8M6/s716/p1forrestermeet.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="716" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mVwH1wWetgJFMSnHo7k_DiRDltKKqDbwug4BpQmDMQppVO77Dy8ZwpzyDQDq9dov198g2MhS4ETtcjl6eIfM7VOnAeUWObDuBQ7keVKtvo7jXqA0C6jz9Q5cA5P31d3KQkT_xDwNq3ZEZqt4O04QplkDQyooWUNIgjsfHMoA5_ZTyLcfrrxaGv6Pm8M6/s320/p1forrestermeet.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Mildred meets up with Mrs. Forrester, a rather arrogant woman who's looking for a new housekeeper. Right off the bat, Mildred is getting bad vibes and declines the offer. Though Mrs. Forrester would become an important character later on in the story. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWkGJNhknRI3UVU1AEO2opT7qoDzNSskXcs1DnLh1ZogHiXcY9u3bSJiC9nFJynR7Vdv-DkhtSFfgoeJlwaW0ADVy5cfrVRxxjOrXr8BeK3Ga_J3VaImpOW8P3FYZsc3d_ne4_3D4uACXvFAUQxnr-SnfxI3E53ZuI0SVXRtqElOnpVpfMKPiD8EcwCcY/s503/On-ne-rate-pas-Kate-Winslet-dans-Mildred-Pierce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQWkGJNhknRI3UVU1AEO2opT7qoDzNSskXcs1DnLh1ZogHiXcY9u3bSJiC9nFJynR7Vdv-DkhtSFfgoeJlwaW0ADVy5cfrVRxxjOrXr8BeK3Ga_J3VaImpOW8P3FYZsc3d_ne4_3D4uACXvFAUQxnr-SnfxI3E53ZuI0SVXRtqElOnpVpfMKPiD8EcwCcY/s320/On-ne-rate-pas-Kate-Winslet-dans-Mildred-Pierce.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div><br /></div>As much as she tries to fight it, Mildred eventually takes a job as a waitress, however, this turns out to be a blessing in disguise. She starts off a little shaky but Mildred gets the hang of it and befriends a no-nonsense waitress named Ida, played by the very underrated Mare Winningham. Once Mildred sells her famous pies, it's legit. She is slowly climbing her way into being a legit businesswoman.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCRW_oaX1KjqbK2OChZ17KTZ4sqYAXmVqiG77wg8d71vRNKebMnOYcIe8L2V6wrY905lahWXVPunMgoNMB9SLtr6RBPj9geAlCtA2ofaG4YklC8tM7twgMYcJq0AaC1c6mq6FZbKU9LWGHQ4GlvSc_7evM2z9GpecJVWo_LRZIhxOnB-MCggKODNbiCP3/s600/ddd3fe5241e06ed314d56bd4129b3d52.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCRW_oaX1KjqbK2OChZ17KTZ4sqYAXmVqiG77wg8d71vRNKebMnOYcIe8L2V6wrY905lahWXVPunMgoNMB9SLtr6RBPj9geAlCtA2ofaG4YklC8tM7twgMYcJq0AaC1c6mq6FZbKU9LWGHQ4GlvSc_7evM2z9GpecJVWo_LRZIhxOnB-MCggKODNbiCP3/s320/ddd3fe5241e06ed314d56bd4129b3d52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>During this time, Mildred begins a relationship with Wally Burgan(played by an actor-I've-seen-in-every-movie James LeGross), who just happens to be Bert's lawyer and friend. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that they do indeed start a sexual relationship in the novel but I guess the Hays Code vetoed it and left it as a platonic relationship instead. The fling with Wally is more of a friends-with-benefits sort of thing and it's obvious that Mildred was sleeping with Wally to get back Bert, however, at least she gets a new business proposition out of it. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_qW_jTLK6nXSU_5iwU1Z5DgduVnYD-KaDKPow41UmXeI8iyyDAeZN99-hiU0TdvMy6AJWPcH_dOYubNGWYDjZqiQh4o4_0HT68awQ-rxyv3C_nxceRh_V3W9sdVSPAmKTTadr1L4DRKJl0bh1q1AQAT3DAHqjGUijXriipuOGs2_m9blgFPPadbpG07v/s600/mildred%20pierce%20quinn%20mccolgan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_qW_jTLK6nXSU_5iwU1Z5DgduVnYD-KaDKPow41UmXeI8iyyDAeZN99-hiU0TdvMy6AJWPcH_dOYubNGWYDjZqiQh4o4_0HT68awQ-rxyv3C_nxceRh_V3W9sdVSPAmKTTadr1L4DRKJl0bh1q1AQAT3DAHqjGUijXriipuOGs2_m9blgFPPadbpG07v/s320/mildred%20pierce%20quinn%20mccolgan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Although Mildred and Burt are separated, there is still love there. Unlike the 1945 film, Bert is very supportive of Mildred, lending her his car and even going so far as to finalize their divorce so she can jumpstart her business. The scene between Kate Winslet and Brian F. O'Byran where they agree to end their marriage is pure golden and shares that level of complexity that seems to be missing in the 1945 film. The scene is just pure golden.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC0yIw8Pv3fzxOA841NxLMx6MpNT-CtAAGaC5COCZ3DHKLjaXR3Lon8n2BBbRaSApENC6aeuS8qcmC1fG-6Ew410PfE0bxleJ4qbAYboKpO2cYorC-Die1PT9sO75UKn2LofNt9c4TpmVtVqDKQrhAcAOJ2n45fASzipOxe0p1rek5NZNMfdGFp1idkpC/s295/349158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="210" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglC0yIw8Pv3fzxOA841NxLMx6MpNT-CtAAGaC5COCZ3DHKLjaXR3Lon8n2BBbRaSApENC6aeuS8qcmC1fG-6Ew410PfE0bxleJ4qbAYboKpO2cYorC-Die1PT9sO75UKn2LofNt9c4TpmVtVqDKQrhAcAOJ2n45fASzipOxe0p1rek5NZNMfdGFp1idkpC/s1600/349158.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div>Mildred's actual love interest is, of course, a debonair man-about-town named Monty Beragon played by the ever-so-handsome Guy Pearce. He arrives at the restaurant and Mildred is instantly smitten. When Monty invites her to his vacation home, things get steamy pretty quickly, showcasing how passionate their love affair is. But this newfound bliss doesn't last long, as Mildred gets a call that her youngest daughter Ray is very sick. As we all know, this doesn't end well...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii2VzMrFQ_9dPhvFHj5yR0rEHR0TGtXM1z-BnBzLpa778h3beF9vlwQz3WirU0Qw-KTRcnMaEHCpHd7mGt2IBbWdOg0lXcdwvOS4VBdr2dNdPZ35wYDFQUvlglaV06o63xZCynmtbWUspgo7BA9Nmopy7dRdjunT2y7usUlRQnwrnKDgQbPSRXM0aOOIA/s728/5404_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="728" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhii2VzMrFQ_9dPhvFHj5yR0rEHR0TGtXM1z-BnBzLpa778h3beF9vlwQz3WirU0Qw-KTRcnMaEHCpHd7mGt2IBbWdOg0lXcdwvOS4VBdr2dNdPZ35wYDFQUvlglaV06o63xZCynmtbWUspgo7BA9Nmopy7dRdjunT2y7usUlRQnwrnKDgQbPSRXM0aOOIA/s320/5404_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The miniseries actually focuses on Mildred's grief from this, emphasizing the devastating blow she feels when the doctor informs her of Ray's death. Again, Kate Winslet's acting is phenomenal. The pain and the shock on her face without any dialogue are gripping to watch. Then when the scene ends, Mildred holds on to Veda as she breaks down crying, not to telegraph that Veda was her favorite but in the sense that she doesn't want to lose her too, therefore, her attachment to Veda is understandable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W-BEx3ehXyM4pdEscdm_3HlZ0G3n66XhlSIjFALzxUX1e7joOIiz91ZZ5Zfa2bRdOIWOIJm8Y3hyphenhyphenkR6ld7BjhINEewtS2qRkQ-Eo9XBMLsAG3jOfxJiosUu-0hSIJNyE1vXwG_zx3TwEV88g_a_L8Urp0Eguj6S_S8E670zX35s2B_RLt1EFlJKvOoqy/s500/MV5BMTYxNzczNjMwOF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzIxMDIyMjE@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3W-BEx3ehXyM4pdEscdm_3HlZ0G3n66XhlSIjFALzxUX1e7joOIiz91ZZ5Zfa2bRdOIWOIJm8Y3hyphenhyphenkR6ld7BjhINEewtS2qRkQ-Eo9XBMLsAG3jOfxJiosUu-0hSIJNyE1vXwG_zx3TwEV88g_a_L8Urp0Eguj6S_S8E670zX35s2B_RLt1EFlJKvOoqy/s320/MV5BMTYxNzczNjMwOF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMzIxMDIyMjE@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So Mildred uses this tragedy to empower herself, honoring her late daughter's memory as a blessing to her newfound career as a restaraunter. As Mildred's business begins to boom, so does Veda's defiance. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9y612W3hRckf82EUd6pUbPum5aPonOTRohnbBCZamRL_2u4j-fHs2-TFhYgmmg-HXp4LaLa0Wu1kiYc_wUc3y-wylFEBDWZhdKuW5Nh5HTQnQwXfTXU8njFJapoQFsQ8PjVy3zgbSEIOfXzg-Gcgu9TTfkfjL5zAnWoGOsMIAXLZuZZawM0yPgGezpp5/s707/p3pianoteach4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="707" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9y612W3hRckf82EUd6pUbPum5aPonOTRohnbBCZamRL_2u4j-fHs2-TFhYgmmg-HXp4LaLa0Wu1kiYc_wUc3y-wylFEBDWZhdKuW5Nh5HTQnQwXfTXU8njFJapoQFsQ8PjVy3zgbSEIOfXzg-Gcgu9TTfkfjL5zAnWoGOsMIAXLZuZZawM0yPgGezpp5/s320/p3pianoteach4.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But beyond that, Mildred recognizes Veda's talent as a piano player, which wasn't expanded on in the 1945 film. Although Mildred sees the potential in Veda, her assigned piano teachers don't and it's up until Part 4 of the miniseries that Veda decides to do opera instead.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOhHBLe5bxJISj5C6HlGN_xr89QNMvTEMquL_qZREXAsZcssdHAG7CnnqbcFDImQai_9ed4KNFjQFXq_d00BGVLQ_pyciTCT3BQyS4p-4WfCcY7sRbtjJ2t1JKliv4XiLBweLlVoDT6_r5efOBL5lafJ6seYO68pM7iuCyaRYuuGPiAa4JJIARZlG-AJo/s582/mildred-pierce-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="582" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOhHBLe5bxJISj5C6HlGN_xr89QNMvTEMquL_qZREXAsZcssdHAG7CnnqbcFDImQai_9ed4KNFjQFXq_d00BGVLQ_pyciTCT3BQyS4p-4WfCcY7sRbtjJ2t1JKliv4XiLBweLlVoDT6_r5efOBL5lafJ6seYO68pM7iuCyaRYuuGPiAa4JJIARZlG-AJo/s320/mildred-pierce-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>On one Christmas morning, Veda's ever-growing defiance takes a turn on Mildred when she doesn't give Veda the piano she wanted. Veda gets a little too big for her britches when she starts to smoke <i>in front </i>of her mother. When Mildred gives her a good slap on the face, Veda slaps her right back! May I reiterate this happens on freakin' Christmas of all days! Veda boastfully tells Mildred that Monty gossips to her behind Mildred's back. Yes, Veda is just shy of 14 at this point. Mildred is disgusted by this and after standing up to her vicious little brat of a daughter, she goes to confront Monty. The pair have been steady for a while, but Mildred realizes that it's beginning to be a take-and-no-give situation and whenever they do have an argument, Monty always finds a way to seduce her. But not this time. Mildred is not having it and asks him why he would even talk to her daughter about their relationship. And you know what his response is? He thinks Veda has the mind of an adult. What? Now as you all may know, Veda seems to have an infatuation with Monty and as she gets older, Monty seems to take notice of her too. You think about it, it's very weird and uncomfortable that he seems to think of her as an adult at a very young age. When Monty constantly jokes about being her gigolo, given that ever since she started her restaurant business, Monty has been a bit of a leech on her finances as his own inheritance has been drying up. So Mildred takes off in a heat of frustration leaving the relationship for good...or at least for now.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnomNnN9PB_gZ0x0Wcq-F1vPQU3hX2OkfTJuzPHjEkolWUlElqfXDnkEsVB-QoBvyhtOY5NNM06DJibLddlrU6Y4-esoFmMc4qB32MI9RWXeT9sex09qGyToQo8r_MvBMYIVzmM4ENtVBmaNhmNwoBzdKYcBcViYzvWBkpfhTpHLgNkYaxHl6suwMHsBGI/s500/vjpf_a_1549015_uf0001_c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="352" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnomNnN9PB_gZ0x0Wcq-F1vPQU3hX2OkfTJuzPHjEkolWUlElqfXDnkEsVB-QoBvyhtOY5NNM06DJibLddlrU6Y4-esoFmMc4qB32MI9RWXeT9sex09qGyToQo8r_MvBMYIVzmM4ENtVBmaNhmNwoBzdKYcBcViYzvWBkpfhTpHLgNkYaxHl6suwMHsBGI/s320/vjpf_a_1549015_uf0001_c.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div>Some years have passed and Veda has grown up to be a stunning young woman played by Evan Rachel Wood. Now I'm going to say my piece about Evan Rachel Wood, she is <i>okay</i> in the miniseries. There are times when she is good and I do think she is a good actress, but there were times when she reminded too much of her character from True Blood, talking in an over-the-top posh tone. Anywho, let's continue the story. So Mildred's business has expanded, giving her best friend and neighbor Lucy Gessler (played by the ever-so-talented Melissa Leo) full ownership of a steak and fish restaurant.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijc9EBXCs2PKjxICtFkgHjdos7FRAeProuoHorOGBuoeYPdM-mDxQgsA-8bJrFjOW_56HeYxDl0VsTQPUeamOm7R1Ll5OYJMH1rm3QY2DSaS0JyrAwGG1CRoB2FbYsPHPOSGhJ05M_cVZACy2vsdMl8aKO4_UsmM6LukAAxe5eodcQ1a_2OgKDTASHQtY/s701/p4futuretalk.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="701" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijc9EBXCs2PKjxICtFkgHjdos7FRAeProuoHorOGBuoeYPdM-mDxQgsA-8bJrFjOW_56HeYxDl0VsTQPUeamOm7R1Ll5OYJMH1rm3QY2DSaS0JyrAwGG1CRoB2FbYsPHPOSGhJ05M_cVZACy2vsdMl8aKO4_UsmM6LukAAxe5eodcQ1a_2OgKDTASHQtY/s320/p4futuretalk.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After her piano teacher suddenly dies, Mildred goes in search of a new one in the form of Carlo Treviso, a renowned conductor. Right off the bat, he thinks Veda is a lousy piano player. Feeling detested, Veda quits and frets about her future, which eventually leads to her partying with her friends every night. She tells Mildred that she might get a casting call from a director who just so happens to be Mrs. Forrester's husband but little do Mildred know, Veda has something else up her sleeve. While opening up her restaurant, Mrs. Forrester pays her a visit with some troubling news. As we all know, of course, Veda is blackmailing Mrs. Forrester's son but being the good mother that she is, Mildred doesn't want to hear any of it and escorts Mrs. Forrester out of the restaurant. When Mildred confronts her about this, Veda pulls out the I'm Pregnant card, and Mildred, of course, falls for it. But as soon as she gets Wally on the case to have the boy put in jail or at least forced into a marriage with her daughter, Veda outright refuses and wants to take the money instead. Mildred is in utter shock and can't believe her daughter would stoop that low but Veda defiantly tells Mildred that she wants to use the money to get away from her. Appalled by her daughter's coldness, Mildred firmly tells Veda to leave...And a couple of months to a year pass. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVIUdasmkYaZpeLVwdVKorMPYRptiJ_exIF4sE0j-dW_-bhigaEWcp0uPqGz7V1RHclSLvj814BeqsninhXaWShb_BqrOABmp8Zh2GfHND6M1bJKUwEQhWiPoxBVYHxowAvL1sm1705PGW3G4M302Fj0aMLKNZfNID2fhGnD9oCet6zBtJTZg8LbdjX4q/s1200/1200x675.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVIUdasmkYaZpeLVwdVKorMPYRptiJ_exIF4sE0j-dW_-bhigaEWcp0uPqGz7V1RHclSLvj814BeqsninhXaWShb_BqrOABmp8Zh2GfHND6M1bJKUwEQhWiPoxBVYHxowAvL1sm1705PGW3G4M302Fj0aMLKNZfNID2fhGnD9oCet6zBtJTZg8LbdjX4q/s320/1200x675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>There's not a day that goes by where Mildred worries about Veda and begs Bert to tell her about her whereabouts. According to Bert, while she was away, Veda pursued a career in opera singing and is managed by Carlo Treviso, the same conductor who rejected her not long ago. Mildred hopes for a reunion but it just doesn't happen quite yet. However, Bert comes over to present Veda's very first radio appearance and when Mildred hears her song, she is moved to tears.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCrl_QRAhOefYU9WGlrNTVeGDtM4zx52YhynfR4MoukN9um19FRf65zDw052ymMsw7PbxjiuwGXLOrPcKSaNFF9QG147pfsmY2O3T86d5L2jgJrW-HoCxYCD1YgHBb-d-7k0AqDqM-utI-aa5TvLKGaaXkdosDfcvlRArLtUPPmouctMsiqacImJa4Zrb/s1000/MV5BMTYxNjgxNjQ2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTc4OTEyMjE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCrl_QRAhOefYU9WGlrNTVeGDtM4zx52YhynfR4MoukN9um19FRf65zDw052ymMsw7PbxjiuwGXLOrPcKSaNFF9QG147pfsmY2O3T86d5L2jgJrW-HoCxYCD1YgHBb-d-7k0AqDqM-utI-aa5TvLKGaaXkdosDfcvlRArLtUPPmouctMsiqacImJa4Zrb/s320/MV5BMTYxNjgxNjQ2NF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNTc4OTEyMjE@._V1_FMjpg_UX1000_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Determined to win her daughter, she sees Carlo Treviso to discuss Veda's finances but Mr. Terviso knows better. He warns Mildred that Veda is like a Calcatta, a snake, it's nice to look at but you can't take them home with you. This might hint that Veda is a bit of a demanding diva that's difficult to work with. But Mildred's love for Veda withstands. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4CNZhUm15u51uQqONv_9TuFntXMJDC10-Y2PvPI-zXZ_043-97QyC7aylR53_C1ZQGzJ6O44Om3oH0Ew6Ieq9ZsdXy1aJIQcgAdMQ6NjXmhHNOAfMTvhfeq7nkIrMk2DoXsh1TjbJSoGSdKXg_qcF4MyN62ThCUTwdyPQCOcEeqKFv2-8-SCiD974IPL/s300/monty-mildered-pierce.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="159" data-original-width="300" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4CNZhUm15u51uQqONv_9TuFntXMJDC10-Y2PvPI-zXZ_043-97QyC7aylR53_C1ZQGzJ6O44Om3oH0Ew6Ieq9ZsdXy1aJIQcgAdMQ6NjXmhHNOAfMTvhfeq7nkIrMk2DoXsh1TjbJSoGSdKXg_qcF4MyN62ThCUTwdyPQCOcEeqKFv2-8-SCiD974IPL/s1600/monty-mildered-pierce.webp" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>While taking a drive in the city, she suddenly sees Monty and before you know it, they start reconnecting again. Their love affair is more passionate than before, to the point where Monty asks Mildred's hand in marriage. Mildred says yes...which is the beginning of the end.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovAQgpy9U9eEKJmk6i_TLhnrrihIskqsiIHa0heopH-032GOuvyL5VbJMVk00QLjWWimgof8HGnmNSrDLnbSykhh8WXWOqhyqIxIKzsPXTwW_3cOhuuXHUO4Dn6QUnLYKpWGIxgkJmXvPwW7O4D4yh-oyMFhqu46EfwbtiHJ58iauANnXg8HtQXRrmoMx/s1280/tile.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovAQgpy9U9eEKJmk6i_TLhnrrihIskqsiIHa0heopH-032GOuvyL5VbJMVk00QLjWWimgof8HGnmNSrDLnbSykhh8WXWOqhyqIxIKzsPXTwW_3cOhuuXHUO4Dn6QUnLYKpWGIxgkJmXvPwW7O4D4yh-oyMFhqu46EfwbtiHJ58iauANnXg8HtQXRrmoMx/s320/tile.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>During Mildred's wedding party, here comes Veda, back to her good graces again. So mother and daughter have a heartfelt reunion as Veda becomes the life of the party. She seems to have switched managers at this time and even gets offered a lucrative deal in New York but the new manager blocks her chance of doing so, to which again, Veda is boiling a plan in her head.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXaiVp3WAzM7o4gGISmre7XZRzSDa2k1gJFyAyRpU3OOq-0mDf1b498Am-Cawykb_B5e2LJlSfIAsH68tPD738P4yjWGz9_YVSEk6x5ZOniDe7OXuAFw85pqgL8nc1_1-jaM6_WKGLnfgEDvfllL0TJeUQ31FSaZ3Gk51Esh2P-FHtJ0ESA60DU5KOn2E/s306/veda-mildred-pierce.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="200" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXaiVp3WAzM7o4gGISmre7XZRzSDa2k1gJFyAyRpU3OOq-0mDf1b498Am-Cawykb_B5e2LJlSfIAsH68tPD738P4yjWGz9_YVSEk6x5ZOniDe7OXuAFw85pqgL8nc1_1-jaM6_WKGLnfgEDvfllL0TJeUQ31FSaZ3Gk51Esh2P-FHtJ0ESA60DU5KOn2E/s1600/veda-mildred-pierce.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9fTkgt-RjBXdceQpWOf0grI3ye9mtvHuhZr98TBoJJpmuPb-5RXD6dh8KJjD_ghUimQ_cEcXkMKUXq3qTipizxz1Oe6Cjf-m11tu1mEWTlv723OtJ-52EbanXDJ8szc97slIK32LwNomr5zuok9PJiw9QeXLx1QLmfyDUQac-Ag29fIjcZeqkfgaaP34/s672/mildred%20pierce.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="672" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9fTkgt-RjBXdceQpWOf0grI3ye9mtvHuhZr98TBoJJpmuPb-5RXD6dh8KJjD_ghUimQ_cEcXkMKUXq3qTipizxz1Oe6Cjf-m11tu1mEWTlv723OtJ-52EbanXDJ8szc97slIK32LwNomr5zuok9PJiw9QeXLx1QLmfyDUQac-Ag29fIjcZeqkfgaaP34/s320/mildred%20pierce.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8MK1OWuxwxxmgd3RxpuDwtRHVfJvdDNvRAvHGv8dHvf4-4kwE7MBMp_yeLmaR1hkNnvwdv-3sX93MxDwhrFs_vioZ2rArookEEhBkCD0o0Q-UwEg9q8Zg_k_vKjUkqnzVhgP4TAHhNrj37mIPv1Wo23QxAJnSxdabqSNCbjBJnivAsyPIDRNDbI8lJSJ/s512/unnamed.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="287" data-original-width="512" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8MK1OWuxwxxmgd3RxpuDwtRHVfJvdDNvRAvHGv8dHvf4-4kwE7MBMp_yeLmaR1hkNnvwdv-3sX93MxDwhrFs_vioZ2rArookEEhBkCD0o0Q-UwEg9q8Zg_k_vKjUkqnzVhgP4TAHhNrj37mIPv1Wo23QxAJnSxdabqSNCbjBJnivAsyPIDRNDbI8lJSJ/s320/unnamed.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div>On the night of Veda's grand opening, she captivates the audience with her powerful singing, with one final song dedicated to her mother. Mildred cries tears of joy and for a second there it's pretty sweet. But you all know what happens.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5DKWIN8I0j0DXJGo74rKbm0nHpNVWmNijfqtBk7vfeWuBbLB1Q5MbYgDpjzY5OVgs2fkfzWXi7u980BXnj8P-EPNlWo0b8LgpjFcUTLnOdGhckP0n7CC5kSbD-tW-AhyphenhyphenBsf1A8R5QidkgnMAsg0Nf76lEYtSdva9r8D-oeW1IlByt-elF0zjQxB_h0nr/s1200/MildredandBert.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv5DKWIN8I0j0DXJGo74rKbm0nHpNVWmNijfqtBk7vfeWuBbLB1Q5MbYgDpjzY5OVgs2fkfzWXi7u980BXnj8P-EPNlWo0b8LgpjFcUTLnOdGhckP0n7CC5kSbD-tW-AhyphenhyphenBsf1A8R5QidkgnMAsg0Nf76lEYtSdva9r8D-oeW1IlByt-elF0zjQxB_h0nr/s320/MildredandBert.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So Mildred has been a financial hiccup because of her being distracted by Veda's singing career and also her new married life to Monty. So she has a meeting with Wally and the shareholder concerning her restaurant business when she gets the devastating news that her friend Ida has taken over her duties. She turns to Bert over her concerns about her dealings with Wally and fretting over her daughter's newfound success, which could help her out financially. It's at this point, that Bert becomes very supportive of Mildred as their relationship didn't get much development in the 1945 film. But as Mildred goes to search for Veda, she gets the shock of her life...</div><div>Mildred runs into Monty at their mansion and, he seems to be blocking their bedroom door. Put off by his strange behavior, Mildred pushes him out of the way and...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pzxv1Re79JGWn8lNd8QOeQ9cdTo1QFvn34vcAMw3tm-DhbjdR2evxywgBPboWQQP15_Nl4a_c2tNUwBSTg_nEBP9UVPD7-VmrwpAvLmf7Fm5hDN1PBxN2XZrqbju39Xasb65qFksis7tAnKCDCp3cQRFmQ_Tzm_pBz15GYrYlvOp6XDrMI7rK3nVtnms/s278/1014094.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="278" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pzxv1Re79JGWn8lNd8QOeQ9cdTo1QFvn34vcAMw3tm-DhbjdR2evxywgBPboWQQP15_Nl4a_c2tNUwBSTg_nEBP9UVPD7-VmrwpAvLmf7Fm5hDN1PBxN2XZrqbju39Xasb65qFksis7tAnKCDCp3cQRFmQ_Tzm_pBz15GYrYlvOp6XDrMI7rK3nVtnms/s1600/1014094.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><br /><div>Lo and behold is Veda. And no, Mildred does not catch her in a loving embrace with Monty like in the original. Oh no, no, no, no. Veda is stark naked without a care in the world as if she's glad that her mother caught them in the act. All this time Mildred was worried that something had happened to Veda and something had happened to her alright, and Monty was the cause of it. Veda even smokes a cigarette to imply that yes, the sex was good. The complete nerve of this girl! Monty goes on a rant about how Mildred used him to win back Veda. This is a true statement from the book, this doesn't seem to be the case at all in the miniseries. Mildred seems to genuinely love Monty and it isn't like she was out looking for him, she just so happens to pop into her life again and, therefore, the passion in their relationship to pop into their life again. It seems to me that he was using Mildred to reel in Veda himself.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKty0O3LiSMpfgHeFNcJTJhGEoY3WxErVH9__y2AL_9JpRJQbJxrGzuwPdtGAM4PdvyUXuV453exRZqzH3xTUL67N-LvqIx9YLtLV8Z1bq9fgDJEoKWtvy7XUKSxdIheTEU5tz2GWC7nDtUbU5n8recsZ9aGUhgibUdW83cTq_SByCdXgLp-EQgvzBLvt_/s664/webp.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="664" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKty0O3LiSMpfgHeFNcJTJhGEoY3WxErVH9__y2AL_9JpRJQbJxrGzuwPdtGAM4PdvyUXuV453exRZqzH3xTUL67N-LvqIx9YLtLV8Z1bq9fgDJEoKWtvy7XUKSxdIheTEU5tz2GWC7nDtUbU5n8recsZ9aGUhgibUdW83cTq_SByCdXgLp-EQgvzBLvt_/s320/webp.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I just want to give my roses to Kate Winslet here. She absolutely owns this scene and the key to her amazing acting prowess is how she emotes without dialogue. The pain, the devastation, the repulsion, the anguish, the hurt, the betrayal. It's all detailed in her emotions. Kate Winslet, with all her hard work and talent, definitely deserved her Emmy award. </div><div>Now Mildred doesn't softly. She full-on <i>attacks</i> Veda (and rightfully so), choking her until her singing voice goes out. Oh well, Veda, you should've never treated her mother like that. but her knight in shining armor Monty comes to the rescue. Of course, he would defend the <i>younger (</i>at least young enough for him<i>)</i> Pierce woman. </div><div>But this all transitions into the finale of the miniseries. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMe_lVBAeQBAejQaKxkbKzCbvEVk625X3G4MOY4l_jZa5fxuoMRf7zHImr3m1NNAlSnOYV4Ccec8nH0UoK6mF3vt7-wNsBPGrabO50F1GT_esD3Oyccyd2W9QhlqY4-owJB1oZEYchIiqQx5pkJuc_Xxlc6GV35jd0b28XAWjtnp1_mA9RANpmpmlcFcB/s618/mildred61.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="618" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLMe_lVBAeQBAejQaKxkbKzCbvEVk625X3G4MOY4l_jZa5fxuoMRf7zHImr3m1NNAlSnOYV4Ccec8nH0UoK6mF3vt7-wNsBPGrabO50F1GT_esD3Oyccyd2W9QhlqY4-owJB1oZEYchIiqQx5pkJuc_Xxlc6GV35jd0b28XAWjtnp1_mA9RANpmpmlcFcB/s320/mildred61.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Several months have passed by and Mildred gets a warm welcoming party from her friends after a long trip to Nevada with Bert. Ida feels guilty about taking Mildred's position and wants her to get back in the game again, signifying that there is hope for Mildred after all. But then, Mildred gets an unexpected visitor...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKBkj7mVxisUrs5OFRCO-xncff4C1vjPgfNZc2PJ9hKLL0WwXhXYE7U-KaHrB9tD2Zpm3CcD3WUxXB2Bji9JJEsb6bxzB2hIupFvdQ8bIk7RYJQnbyiaDqmsQIc69JDzE8pWATsfcUdOTbNII6HsaJt_a8O7rpGtEeR7bSHhfryi9pYvQq-ZUMAoPnCEk/s858/d463b4028a7997a2_veda_mildred_pierce_brown_suit_edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKBkj7mVxisUrs5OFRCO-xncff4C1vjPgfNZc2PJ9hKLL0WwXhXYE7U-KaHrB9tD2Zpm3CcD3WUxXB2Bji9JJEsb6bxzB2hIupFvdQ8bIk7RYJQnbyiaDqmsQIc69JDzE8pWATsfcUdOTbNII6HsaJt_a8O7rpGtEeR7bSHhfryi9pYvQq-ZUMAoPnCEk/s320/d463b4028a7997a2_veda_mildred_pierce_brown_suit_edit.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><div>Veda comes to reconcile with her mother but seeing how manipulative and calculating her daughter is, Mildred is not buying it. Now let's dig deep into the main source a bit. The book kind of has a downer ending. Again, Veda uses reconciliation with Mildred as a marketing ploy and uses her damaged voice to switch to a much more lucrative singing contract. As Veda leaves Mildred broken-hearted, Bert encourages her to say, "To hell with Veda," as they spend the rest of the day drunk and miserable.</div><div>However, the miniseries play this out much differently. Once Mildred catches onto Veda's plan, she chews her the fuck and screams at her to never come back again. It's such a cathartic moment, which was very much well-deserved given what Mildred went through to win back the love of a daughter, who's incapable of receiving it. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs95IE68ZSVMCplwSwxIuzikUXfED1TqcdDMj9h4L8MbhdhIXE4IQOLhift5T9Z3kidpKULJ8caNKi07vYcFfVLcmi9YNiXPPe1ND5mOIxoK6uxJVXMyGvZb1aycx6VuZ7nsEt1tCsCSjAQNShZIdhvrzE_x_vqEejaP4l7NPzghhmsgOiiJtcoUqXMZSC/s624/mildredpiercehbo16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="624" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs95IE68ZSVMCplwSwxIuzikUXfED1TqcdDMj9h4L8MbhdhIXE4IQOLhift5T9Z3kidpKULJ8caNKi07vYcFfVLcmi9YNiXPPe1ND5mOIxoK6uxJVXMyGvZb1aycx6VuZ7nsEt1tCsCSjAQNShZIdhvrzE_x_vqEejaP4l7NPzghhmsgOiiJtcoUqXMZSC/s320/mildredpiercehbo16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When Bert encourages her to say "to hell with Veda" and "let's get stinko", it's more celebratory and less tragic. This dialogue translates as to hell with all the hurt, pain, and betrayal that Veda has caused and now that we're finally done with her, let's give a toast to a new beginning. The ending is very poignant and although tragic, it's good that Mildred is around people who support and care for her, which leaves things on a bittersweet yet positive outlook. </div><div>I just absolutely love this miniseries. Todd Haynes is a genius at his craft. The miniseries has the makings of a juicy melodrama, however, Todd Haynes peels into the layers of the characters and situations, adapting the psychological feel of the novel, which he does brilliantly. The cast is phenomenal with some heavy supporting players but the real star of the miniseries is Kate Winslet. She really gives it her all and, again, I give her my roses. I can't imagine any other actress playing this role but her. She got the Emmy and Golden Globe! Definitely, definitely deserved. </div><div>So there you have it. Two completely different adaptations but with the same level of complexity. Both are equally measured as classics of their time and go above and beyond the source material's popularity. But the true core of the story is about how far you go for the person you love, even the ones that don't deserve it. </div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KoOr_OoHbv4" width="320" youtube-src-id="KoOr_OoHbv4"></iframe></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MxiBiPbVFK0" width="320" youtube-src-id="MxiBiPbVFK0"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-83579307468479590652023-12-05T03:18:00.000-08:002024-02-10T21:34:24.868-08:00A Nightmare On Elm Street Ranking <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh60SetnhKepuN-ioz5C9u16qgZAejp9uCuu0k88J2I6VlXiFtZ1guLel3LGeiKknJpExaw_MK06WnQ619PE9oj5yirL5RLfUv_am0_pITROXDR2HuVQQyIYhvq_LuVFnxoEtB4iGoJ-QXAl_u-l_njDmN4nWgLVNagBXH-5qo8eGuFhIW0kWCZvyLtXIm/s1920/freddykrugerevolution.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1646" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh60SetnhKepuN-ioz5C9u16qgZAejp9uCuu0k88J2I6VlXiFtZ1guLel3LGeiKknJpExaw_MK06WnQ619PE9oj5yirL5RLfUv_am0_pITROXDR2HuVQQyIYhvq_LuVFnxoEtB4iGoJ-QXAl_u-l_njDmN4nWgLVNagBXH-5qo8eGuFhIW0kWCZvyLtXIm/s320/freddykrugerevolution.jpeg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><p>Aw, yes, we have reached to the first boogeyman who affected my childhood, the one and only Freddy Kruger. This is one of my all time favorite horror franchises but sadly, this series also has it's ups and downs. It's a shame because based on the concept of it's premise, it has so much potential. Not to mention, Freddy Kruger is one of the most recognizable villains in the past century and some part of me wished he was utilized well throughout the series. Though I still enjoyed some entries of the list, I have to sort out the good and the bad. So let's begin, shall we:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2R9-AshpH6m1JSZYxKz1ShNbw4UKPj-nveB3LBF9r1S9zZiDJ_03qyyLecoK-HnbDiLmUwE5WXF5xYkMYHuh-qXJqBI4DXN402ohuGyqe_bdCwhQLvmOvOpwscxphWRqtT4TiOjSaO60fxKawZXS-YpWTsH_SMtlWputMW3YgbQDZOvFCoGAgGdTYGW9/s873/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2R9-AshpH6m1JSZYxKz1ShNbw4UKPj-nveB3LBF9r1S9zZiDJ_03qyyLecoK-HnbDiLmUwE5WXF5xYkMYHuh-qXJqBI4DXN402ohuGyqe_bdCwhQLvmOvOpwscxphWRqtT4TiOjSaO60fxKawZXS-YpWTsH_SMtlWputMW3YgbQDZOvFCoGAgGdTYGW9/s320/a_nightmare_on_elm_street_poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div><br /></div>9. <b>A Nightmare On Elm Street (The Remake)</b> - Holy Crap! This remake is the worst of the worst. It's stale, it's boring, and it's mind-numbingly awful. The filmmakers totally missed the point of what made the original so effective. It's a very slow, methodical, and psychological film, and although the remake attempts to replicate that, it's bombarded with flash cuts, jump scares, and music video edits. It never gives you time to breathe or even engage with the atmosphere. It starts, then it stops, and that's it. It's downright horrible filmmaking and a total headache to watch. Even though I think Jackie Earle Haley is a good actor, he does not make a good Freddy Kruger in my opinion. Though it's not all his fault, it's the awful script that brings him down. Although the main cast aren't bad actors themselves, their characters are extremely bland, the worst being Nancy herself. And lastly, let me repeat, CGI is <b>not</b> scary and there's a ton of it in this film. It just strips off all of the personality of the original, making this the most bland, insipid, uninspired, and unnecessary horror remake of all time. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHj2UmwhJYOZHOAKEfRO8FIXRJPfs1M69tWHiQmdfdz3IAJ2351d2pVPBN7Gr9FRSVYb_g535JRSL7IGKsE7X5aoBUXYTawv9GI8bLuWoocQSt3vr9o30V6VV1cVCkoOQD9_61xvaIas1IrynyJ6TW_ZkBqa6573X_UekxlVUWI2lpbZT5gOoWNIBlIXM/s892/freddysdeadthefinalnightmaremovieposter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="892" data-original-width="605" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHj2UmwhJYOZHOAKEfRO8FIXRJPfs1M69tWHiQmdfdz3IAJ2351d2pVPBN7Gr9FRSVYb_g535JRSL7IGKsE7X5aoBUXYTawv9GI8bLuWoocQSt3vr9o30V6VV1cVCkoOQD9_61xvaIas1IrynyJ6TW_ZkBqa6573X_UekxlVUWI2lpbZT5gOoWNIBlIXM/s320/freddysdeadthefinalnightmaremovieposter.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><div>8. <b>Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare</b> - This was the film that finally put the nail in the coffin for the series. Turning Freddy into all out jokester is not a good idea in my opinion. I know some people are fans of jokester Freddy but I'm not one of them. Freddy is a full-on parody of himself and it's kind of embarrassing to watch. I get that Robert Englund is naturally funny and charismatic but that's not what Freddy Kruger is. He's supposed to be terrifying with a very <b>dark </b>sense of humor. Instead, the filmmakers gave him the Wile E. Coyote approach. There's actually a scene where Freddy sets up a trap and literally looks at the camera. It's fucking ridiculous. Not only that, the writing is equally bad. I just don't picture Freddy as this 1950s family man. It doesn't make sense to the narrative and doesn't make sense to the character who's supposed to be this working-class weirdo who hides out in the depths of the boiler room. Nothing about this movie works. The side characters are goofy, the deaths, instead of creative and elaborate, are cartoonish and silly, the main characters are either bland or unlikable, including the main heroine who happens to be Freddy's daughter, and lastly, it's a dense and unmemorable film. This is, hands down, the worst of the series. Period. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafNUDDj25u22gMObahJFnAwWtS956aUSg9ygTucsR3kBdlttK5yMjyTh-j3zBfGfUAo6hxZYwuKqMVT_8-21fBi2bQiqkZgXGa5mvyMrp7k2djBaXQ9MnT_o6WjFoEcqCkiG_zLJSITuGKhLMXbCJMvFgmQdDebfXZkgC1V8pzEfJINrDq_e9-6mbOzIk/s755/ANOES%205%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="495" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafNUDDj25u22gMObahJFnAwWtS956aUSg9ygTucsR3kBdlttK5yMjyTh-j3zBfGfUAo6hxZYwuKqMVT_8-21fBi2bQiqkZgXGa5mvyMrp7k2djBaXQ9MnT_o6WjFoEcqCkiG_zLJSITuGKhLMXbCJMvFgmQdDebfXZkgC1V8pzEfJINrDq_e9-6mbOzIk/s320/ANOES%205%20poster.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div>7. <b>A Nightmare On Elm Street 5: The Dream Child </b>- This one is more disappointing than outright bad. This is where the series was going to go back to its darker roots and, in the beginning, it had potential. But as soon as Freddy showed up, it all went downhill from there. The tone is very uneven. It doesn't know whether it wants to be like the original or follow up with the much campier fourth film. Whereas the special effects from the fourth film were the highlights, the effects for this one are its low point. It looks like something out of Pee-Wee's Playhouse or even Goosebumps. Yes, it looks that juvenile and if Claymation can be used to great effect (Like the early Evil Dead movies I might add), it isn't here. Although the deaths are somewhat creative, Dan's being the most brutal in my opinion, the execution is clearly lacking. Greta's death could be horrifying if it wasn't cut and less comical, but the final result is ludicrous. They literally puff up her cheeks to make her look like a Muppet, it's baffling. Mark's death could be great too if the execution wasn't poor. The filmmakers had the gall to have Freddy riding a freakin' skateboard, it was asinine. And Super Freddy? Were they kidding? I think they were kidding. Who thought that was a good idea? Freddy is probably at his most obnoxious. He's not a complete self-parody like he will be in part 6 but he's heading up there. Not to mention, this was one of Freddy's worst makeup jobs. He looks like an ancient old man with clown makeup. The overall rushed nature of the film squandered the potential that this should've had but without any thought process or a finished script, what can you do? Lisa Wilcox's performance is probably the best thing about this movie where everything else such as the character writing, special effects, and Freddy falls flat, she remains unscathed. Other than that, its a forgettable sequel with nothing else to offer. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0xZXKKzb3w4_NleSFe1V9yEFOACj6ZJ1jEbxyenSzzv7KS5Hb6iZz8VUitc995FTZBdD1jSeSMrEiEEMeadJZyXZbggm7tn83KSPFUQvJHOKQ750Q09siJMs23YfMxyuz1LxEntZVKhQ13_XiR4ooXcGoBudrgMXcV9xeLT6tFe0SddbIz2NkRcDf-fr/s442/Nightmare4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="290" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0xZXKKzb3w4_NleSFe1V9yEFOACj6ZJ1jEbxyenSzzv7KS5Hb6iZz8VUitc995FTZBdD1jSeSMrEiEEMeadJZyXZbggm7tn83KSPFUQvJHOKQ750Q09siJMs23YfMxyuz1LxEntZVKhQ13_XiR4ooXcGoBudrgMXcV9xeLT6tFe0SddbIz2NkRcDf-fr/s320/Nightmare4.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div>6.<b> A Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master</b> - Although this was an <i>entertaining</i> Nightmare sequel, compared to the previous film, this really isn't all that great. This came out during the writer's strike and just a year after Dream Warriors, so it's very apparent that the movie was going to have <i>some</i> problems and one of those problems was killing off the Dream Warriors in the most unceremonious way. At this point, the fans have grown attached to these characters and the way they're used here was just uncalled for. First of all, they dumb down Kincaid and Joey in order for Freddy to be easy prey for them. For some reason, they don't believe Kirsten when they're actually <b>inside</b> Freddy's house in Kirsten's dream, and, for some reason, Joey thinks that since the pipes aren't hot that means Freddy won't be coming back. Oooookay...Also when Kirsten shows the bite wound from Kincaid's dog, they <b>still </b>don't believe her, and it's kind of frustrating to watch. Second of all, the chemistry between them feels off. Instead of a heartfelt reunion between friends who bonded through trauma, there is this looming tension between Kirsten and the boys. This has to do with the recasting of Tuesday Knight, which didn't sit well with Rodney Eastman and Ken Sagoes. Third of all, when they were killed off, the Dream Warriors were treated more like an afterthought, which was very disrespectful in my opinion. Nancy's death in Part 3, was poignant and heartfelt, and she died with dignity, saving Kirsten from Freddy's grip. But when The Dream Warriors are killed, they die with no dignity at all. Kirsten, the last kid of the Elm Street mob, doesn't even get a funeral scene. Instead, it's a rather cliched scene of Alice looking at home videos and a brief glimpse of her gravestone. What a waste. Now I know the special effects are the film's highlight and it's definitely an achievement but there's this one particular scene that rubs me the wrong way. The dog-pissing fire scene is one of them. Who's idea was that and why? Why not just get one of the cars in the scene to drip oil, creating a ring of fire around Freddy's grave? That would've been way much better. However, one of the worst aspects of the movie is that the Dream Warriors are killed in favor of some bland and forgettable characters. The only character that I was totally invested in was Alice and she's the only one that gets any semblance of character development. The second half gets a little better but the first half is really rough. I know it seems like I'm going on a rant at this point but the flaws in this movie stick out like a sore thumb. Freddy has been officially commercialized and this is the beginning of the end of what was ever good about the series, which was the story and characters. With the exception of a captivating heroine, cool special effects, and a cool soundtrack, Dream Master is a below-average film at best. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5Z9J3cul5Whsy8zH4lvs6hcnyc4232lymGjj9zNLmVHxxg8eaKP6UQqtnOMmBMTGAl9NmZg-XnQczljSvqw-diCo_mcrSmZwZr0r9Ci7hNIsw8BqUk3Dfswz-wrGoIVLxwu52tPmJDJJaAUHWHrVSPt6cs8zQeQTw8ZJ0RchFay2H7xhUjQiIacTh2Dp/s1118/Freddy-vs_-Jason-2003-movie-poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp5Z9J3cul5Whsy8zH4lvs6hcnyc4232lymGjj9zNLmVHxxg8eaKP6UQqtnOMmBMTGAl9NmZg-XnQczljSvqw-diCo_mcrSmZwZr0r9Ci7hNIsw8BqUk3Dfswz-wrGoIVLxwu52tPmJDJJaAUHWHrVSPt6cs8zQeQTw8ZJ0RchFay2H7xhUjQiIacTh2Dp/s320/Freddy-vs_-Jason-2003-movie-poster.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div>5. <b>Freddy Vs. Jason</b> - Like I said before, Freddy and Jason are the best characters in this movie where everybody else is stranded on the waste side. There would've been an interesting mix of the Friday the 13th and A Nightmare On Elm Street characters. But instead, the filmmakers go for the usual cardboard cutouts that don't hold a candle to either one of those characters. Ironically, the two leads are probably the worst of the bunch, particularly the male lead Will. Jason Ritter has become a better actor over the years and he seems like a really nice guy too but he is terribly wooden in this movie. I would much preferred Brendan Fletcher's Mark as the film's lead. Not only does he have the better acting chops but he has just amount of the character development for the audience to give a shit about him to where Will has none. Also, if fate would have it, Brad Renfro would've been a good choice, too. He has the right level of intensity that could've fit the character better. I will stand by my opinion and say that Lori Campbell is one of the worst final girls of either franchise. Monica Keena seems like a cool person too, but she's really not good in this. Though it's not entirely her fault, the script does nothing for her character. Even Monica says the script is terrible and I agree with her. Yes, one of the takeaways from this movie is the script. It's just not great and the only thing that has going for is the special effects, Freddy, and Jason. That's it. So, Freddy Vs. Jason may not hold up well but at least a dumb fun popcorn time waster. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r50VHsznb7dUzfYC7yP8vkjAmqtEgpRcg95jGHuXITDw-maC6rWwlPUDF9kos00sA4tM-aByWSYT8moXAIOfu8WWb3i_mPLEwxzLtnf6SHtHEm20Og5wyUq32HT8Tb0QuchnX7DNHxjghywTs8VJStGyJGedcDwNMHSAzIQ0nnpVdCircximX_1bxBvC/s425/Nightmare2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="285" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7r50VHsznb7dUzfYC7yP8vkjAmqtEgpRcg95jGHuXITDw-maC6rWwlPUDF9kos00sA4tM-aByWSYT8moXAIOfu8WWb3i_mPLEwxzLtnf6SHtHEm20Og5wyUq32HT8Tb0QuchnX7DNHxjghywTs8VJStGyJGedcDwNMHSAzIQ0nnpVdCircximX_1bxBvC/s320/Nightmare2.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div>4.<b> A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge - </b>I know this is a very divided movie for some people but Freddy's Revenge is kind of decent in my opinion. Sure, it breaks a lot of rules and doesn't live up to the original in terms of story, however, the movie is underrated with it's hidden themes. Freddy is still creepy in this and the makeup effects by Kevin Yahger is well-done. Freddy has a little bit of a personality in this one but he's still very sinister here. Now I know <i>most </i>of the characters are nothing to write home about, but I think Mark Patton's performance as Jesse really stands out to me. He's not the typical male hero you see in every horror film, Jesse is quite vulnerable and you can tell he's struggling internally, particularly in that it's not only Freddy is haunting him, but his burgeoning homosexuality is too. Sure, the screenwriter's intention was not pure but Mark Patton really sells the role and it's shown through his own struggles as a gay actor at the time. Now had they got rid of the more campier aspects of the film such as Jesse's dance scene, the demonic parakeet scene, the bouncing balls scene, and some of the pool party scene, this would've been a solid sequel right between the first and third film. Overall, this was an interesting entry. Not great mind you, but still interesting. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhova7a79q_3WRpx7ca-aOm1Ff6pbLW8N9rvbx_Peqzfs6oElPoPos2ZjdK0r4Y2Zov6SF5fFHlSF2xYvauFv8vXLG7uJhFR_X27JgBB1bpwXgzwjjHRm9CqpW5o2N1QzGJEp6hUaP3GIzhxy2xevizMXIBlmKeEjXV-EfB7eBuPdUhYq1ivcM-p-ejqny6/s859/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-3-dream-warriors.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="562" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhova7a79q_3WRpx7ca-aOm1Ff6pbLW8N9rvbx_Peqzfs6oElPoPos2ZjdK0r4Y2Zov6SF5fFHlSF2xYvauFv8vXLG7uJhFR_X27JgBB1bpwXgzwjjHRm9CqpW5o2N1QzGJEp6hUaP3GIzhxy2xevizMXIBlmKeEjXV-EfB7eBuPdUhYq1ivcM-p-ejqny6/s320/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-3-dream-warriors.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><div>3. <b>A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors</b> - This is the best of the best right here. The all-time great horror sequel to a highly inventive slasher film. It expands the backstory of Freddy without giving too much away and still adds that level of mystery that's needed for a concept like this. Speaking of Freddy, the filmmakers do a good job of balancing out his character, making him both comical and sinister. However, the characters are what made this film so memorable. They bring back Nancy, which I love and she's there to be a sort of mentor to the new kids. And what makes this so interesting is that they're not your typical slasher victims. They're portrayed as real teens with real problems and they're so vulnerable in fact, that you can't help but feel for them. That's what makes this sequel so pure. But to top it all off, the special effects are the real star of the show. The inventiveness on display is just masterful and it shows how you can put any idea on the table with a concept like A Nightmare On Elm Street. This was the sequel that set the series in motion, forever encapsulating the cultural zeitgeist of 80s horror sequels and I love every minute of it. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj329t37K17UwjR0RpUnWvkF_N7dFqJSRZOCQNNGGbMc25gU_FTbASGt7RpCrr-t30DI3m74EFb3LmXA7S1EWgg0bWd-KByLgvDn7Qfjg7JjhY8Ga0u4jlIIrWv9NGF15upcgrO8fClJNu9aVH2kW1LzXxDCfCOdmyV2nHltJCf9c_QVh8SsNjjGuYSTUnH/s859/Wes_Craven_s_New_Nightmare-603261504-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj329t37K17UwjR0RpUnWvkF_N7dFqJSRZOCQNNGGbMc25gU_FTbASGt7RpCrr-t30DI3m74EFb3LmXA7S1EWgg0bWd-KByLgvDn7Qfjg7JjhY8Ga0u4jlIIrWv9NGF15upcgrO8fClJNu9aVH2kW1LzXxDCfCOdmyV2nHltJCf9c_QVh8SsNjjGuYSTUnH/s320/Wes_Craven_s_New_Nightmare-603261504-large.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div>2. <b>Wes Craven's New Nightmare</b> - This is the top tier Nightmare sequel and one of the true finales of the franchise. All of it is not all perfect but thanks to the greatness that is Wes Craven and the amazing performance from Heather Langencamp, it has this special quality that sets it apart from the other Nightmare sequels. It has all the elements of a "final" sequel: Bringing back a female heroine that we know and love, special callbacks, and honoring the tone and feel of the first film. Craven goes for the meta approach, commenting on the state of the Nightmare films and Freddy's impact on pop culture. But the strongest element of the film is the exploration of Heather Langencamp along with the juxtaposition between reality and fiction. My favorite part of the film is when the script completely takes over the real world where Heather must play Nancy...one last time. It's beyond epic! I like how Wes Craven made Freddy creepy again, without the usual wisecracks. When it comes to Wes Craven's vision of A Nightmare On Elm Street, it's very psychological. So instead of gaudy special effects and disposable teens, it's about a mother protecting her child from Freddy's grip, which makes us sympathize with the central characters easily. There was actual care put into this film moreso than the later Nightmare films. With it's clever commentary and engaging plot, this definitely deserves to be on the top of the list. This is a must-see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKiQE9YT56KL2Y1soOg0Mu63ztAgohc0xFmgHngVsgEqP-34461OvA-PDeyu70c5Jjd4fnZaLXYFdqVhp8JouJsYDpIFitR_2TlivBdL_oAsZ-Z5rqTCmkZke4SvANAXaJQcvjW4GC46VWjVBm69oksS7-oh9iI_r4AmXJ3GaRi7iT3geoW1jhGYyBHG-/s806/A-Nightmare-on-Elm-Street-Poster-Original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKiQE9YT56KL2Y1soOg0Mu63ztAgohc0xFmgHngVsgEqP-34461OvA-PDeyu70c5Jjd4fnZaLXYFdqVhp8JouJsYDpIFitR_2TlivBdL_oAsZ-Z5rqTCmkZke4SvANAXaJQcvjW4GC46VWjVBm69oksS7-oh9iI_r4AmXJ3GaRi7iT3geoW1jhGYyBHG-/s320/A-Nightmare-on-Elm-Street-Poster-Original.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><br /><div>1. <b>A Nightmare On Elm Street (The Original)</b> - There is without a doubt that the first film is the best of them all. The tone, the look, the feel, it all works here. The film is also a great example of less is more, considering that it was made on a low budget yet the special effects holds up really well. My motto will always be less is more when it comes to state of the art effects. I also feel like a horror movie works best is when the monster is rarely shown. Freddy is only seen in darkly lit shadows with very little dialogue and even when he's not onscreen, you can still feel his presence. You can tell that Wes Craven wanted to focus on the psychological horror instead of the usual hack and slash routine that was prevalent in 80s slashers at that time. Freddy is at his best when he's dark and sinister and this one takes the cake. Robert England is very effective in his first outing without a wink or nod to the audience. Furthermore, the characters are utilized well, especially Nancy Thompson. She's more than just an interchangeable final girl who defeats the killer at the end, she's an actual character that we care about and know so much about that we as the audience become attached her narrative. It's a good versus evil story that texturizes the concept without being formulaic. But here's where I'm gonna pull a What If: Instead of Ronee Blakely in the role of Marge, I rather much prefer Abby Dalton from Falcon Crest, who has better chemistry with John Saxon and is a lot more intense than Blakely. With the ending, I would just have Nancy drive away with her friends happily while Freddy attacks Marge out of the blue. So there you have it. Besides all that, this movie is a bonafide 80s classic and remains the top of the horror film food chain. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-5159603844955600752023-11-19T23:04:00.000-08:002024-02-10T10:28:03.268-08:00Friday The 13th Ranking<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbwk_jOK4tzdOMZMHME6XZSC20X07Jvku0gGmFj2avX3tUP0JJ5qyGAr8nkh7sIzn1R9yiq4zAGPhMAor2bDuAM7ADQRaw2ISzaQShCTdFkZkNBD_ecmAU2_dByjjbrArATKeloonVoMtSkGBVV0gU6zNfkptJ7SaoWVWMSKFjrJArbfADjHT67AG1jQj/s1000/jason_voorhees_evolution_by_xamoel_dunzue-fullview.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1000" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKbwk_jOK4tzdOMZMHME6XZSC20X07Jvku0gGmFj2avX3tUP0JJ5qyGAr8nkh7sIzn1R9yiq4zAGPhMAor2bDuAM7ADQRaw2ISzaQShCTdFkZkNBD_ecmAU2_dByjjbrArATKeloonVoMtSkGBVV0gU6zNfkptJ7SaoWVWMSKFjrJArbfADjHT67AG1jQj/s320/jason_voorhees_evolution_by_xamoel_dunzue-fullview.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I know some consider the Friday The 13th franchise to be "not great" but there are actually some decent entries in the series. Some I would probably consider as cult classics. Yes, sure, the Friday The 13th series is not art, but it's the art of horror filmmaking and some of the film directors of these movies have a mutual understanding of Jason Voorhees being a cultural horror icon with interesting variations that makes him stand out in each entry. So without further ado, let's begin:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4sRoqgKNtZJ5gQ8x_fS6PSCqmW2B9Z-SBWvXHHJEVDil-8JuYLGLzkj-yndaEQEH_z02WZlbmFY916My7ITQ5177hKc_djIELolkifSRwrTzO83hwvU52bfsNVfBBZ7bGMH0UncKtXkgbWOplkCTARt1Y_KNmW7aIiuQl0qFdiYen8Jd0KKpsoaif54x/s1600/jason_goes_to_hell_poster_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1076" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4sRoqgKNtZJ5gQ8x_fS6PSCqmW2B9Z-SBWvXHHJEVDil-8JuYLGLzkj-yndaEQEH_z02WZlbmFY916My7ITQ5177hKc_djIELolkifSRwrTzO83hwvU52bfsNVfBBZ7bGMH0UncKtXkgbWOplkCTARt1Y_KNmW7aIiuQl0qFdiYen8Jd0KKpsoaif54x/s320/jason_goes_to_hell_poster_01.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><p>12.<b> Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday</b> - I did say this was watchable...if you don't view it as a Friday The 13th movie. Now when I think about it, it's actually gotten worse over the years. As a young kid, my expectation of the movie was too high. I've got to admit, the cover of this film was pretty cool. But that's all the good I have to say about it. The directing is very amateurish with the exception of a few good special effects and the writing is equally as bad. When I watch the interviews of Adam Marcus, he seems very out of touch and has no idea what he's talking about. He's more concerned about how fans are complaining about what color Jason's clothes are than the actual issue, which is his lack of understanding of The Friday The 13th lore with the addition of some rather confusing plot points. I would say one good thing about this, I thought the two leads were fine, it's just, unfortunately, they're in a really shitty movie with really shitty writing. There were just too many cooks in the kitchen with this one and it's the worst of the series by far. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoc8LmdxUBi6tPtitJymmlAliGzF86WenRf2leOvo_RDQBda2A2dAgVj5_jk8c7RHx8nimOqbqb4kBpYUCtdt6M7l6NKczqPIhdknIJbJpHNZq55tKvaniNvolXWuSxLXATt4y2Y8gRPFR7H0z_qpmtygvI-rKYFIE5KP6h7SaLH2igt_FUxkzusNTcGB/s426/jasonx.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoc8LmdxUBi6tPtitJymmlAliGzF86WenRf2leOvo_RDQBda2A2dAgVj5_jk8c7RHx8nimOqbqb4kBpYUCtdt6M7l6NKczqPIhdknIJbJpHNZq55tKvaniNvolXWuSxLXATt4y2Y8gRPFR7H0z_qpmtygvI-rKYFIE5KP6h7SaLH2igt_FUxkzusNTcGB/s320/jasonx.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><p><br /></p>11.<b> Jason X</b> - Sorry guys, this was my least favorite of the series. I just don't care when a horror franchise sets its main villain in space. It's such a dumb idea and you know the filmmakers working on it are running out of ideas at this point. For an ambitious project, it has a rather cheap execution. The spaceship is just a set with a CGI backdrop. Nothing about it stands out and it's quite boring to watch. Blade Runner, this isn't. The filmmakers try to do the self-aware thing with Scream and Friday Part 6 before it but it's not as clever. It just feels like I'm watching one of those bad SciFi movie of the week specials. I get why people find this to be so bad, it's good but it's still my least favorite of the franchise. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bwEQ2L_DCmkstzZRJEzUMkGLK_U4I5ZHANeZ7PTb04L-akOX7R0lKPvwvM6cvl0WAnAsptplH8pAq_Mql7WX0ivaxcA5FLwZ-mJPg96Q1LVwAGnGHE6UfanZeUD-jwnuGYu0-SWBBjKSaO4vCXiy8oN49ZnA1PnGqe87IVIhmL9b2uMIq0M-4mJPQHvg/s657/Friday-13th-poster-740181.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8bwEQ2L_DCmkstzZRJEzUMkGLK_U4I5ZHANeZ7PTb04L-akOX7R0lKPvwvM6cvl0WAnAsptplH8pAq_Mql7WX0ivaxcA5FLwZ-mJPg96Q1LVwAGnGHE6UfanZeUD-jwnuGYu0-SWBBjKSaO4vCXiy8oN49ZnA1PnGqe87IVIhmL9b2uMIq0M-4mJPQHvg/s320/Friday-13th-poster-740181.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div><br /></div>10. <b>Friday The 13th (The Remake)</b> - I know this movie has its fans, but it's just not for me. Okay, let me start with the positives, Derek Mears did a good job as Jason and is probably the best part of this movie...and that's all. Everything else is forgettable trash. The worst part of this movie has got to be the characters and I know what you're saying, "Well, it's a Friday The 13th film, what did you expect?" But at least the characters in the earlier films were at least likable. The characters in this film are either obnoxious frat boys or vapid sorority girls with the exception of Clay, Jenna, and Whitney. The script is subpar, the gore effects are meh, and although the visual aesthetic is more pleasing to the eye, it still comes off as bland. Overall, I just didn't like this movie and I won't be watching it again anytime soon. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI5QdEiFI2oEcXVgc91T6B2Qv6ufad9wyiTDmXGndwpmYy38FABZgELtGDxUabiSIDC76_9BfAgQ7uErb8lCYePuo7aU6BtSFYI-gPvmPgJ4IybqKaqf-IQdh_jbtqDNK7wk0g3SRgPE-EP4NWTlwC0wwHuybgdSB_Bib7w2CtzksQxZvoki9V6XKA3qi/s747/fridaythe13th-part8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="747" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKI5QdEiFI2oEcXVgc91T6B2Qv6ufad9wyiTDmXGndwpmYy38FABZgELtGDxUabiSIDC76_9BfAgQ7uErb8lCYePuo7aU6BtSFYI-gPvmPgJ4IybqKaqf-IQdh_jbtqDNK7wk0g3SRgPE-EP4NWTlwC0wwHuybgdSB_Bib7w2CtzksQxZvoki9V6XKA3qi/s320/fridaythe13th-part8.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div>9. <b>Friday The 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan </b>- Wow. This has got to be the most nonsensical sequel of them all. This was at a time when the series was heading towards a supernatural route starting with Part 6, which made the series more fun in my opinion. This came right after Part 7 featuring a girl with telekinetic powers. So, of course, the filmmakers of this one decided to be lazy. It's basically a retread of Part 7 but worse. I mean the stuff with Jason on a Boat is fun but it soon wears a little thin for a while. The worst aspect of the movie is the supernatural angle. It's never really explained why the final girl keeps having visions of young Jason. I mean sure, it is revealed that it's a part of her childhood trauma but it still doesn't tell us how she has these psychic visions of Jason. Also, Jason suddenly gains the power of teleportation? Again, none of this is ever explained and it makes for a very confusing watch. It's not as bad as I remembered, but it is certainly not as good. Though I would say, <i>The Darkest Side of Night</i> song is quite catchy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDWS8KLOpxf9EaHkhB9uhT-rLrGGkpSE3J2jY_O4t3b4CA1QzwNPt0wWZkqUbOtiYhhjKdYB8k43Rb6OxGAQBSujQmjA4g1nhv9Z4bQ4ns9FQv2eH9XVM-8PaaeWFxoIDDbMcO4HcKqd2PkvJvJtJAGm2gITLg4cY-1Gx7s414if5G38ZgPXa-nPNmKZ2/s600/Friday%20The%2013th%20Part%205%20A%20New%20Beginning%20(1985).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="415" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDWS8KLOpxf9EaHkhB9uhT-rLrGGkpSE3J2jY_O4t3b4CA1QzwNPt0wWZkqUbOtiYhhjKdYB8k43Rb6OxGAQBSujQmjA4g1nhv9Z4bQ4ns9FQv2eH9XVM-8PaaeWFxoIDDbMcO4HcKqd2PkvJvJtJAGm2gITLg4cY-1Gx7s414if5G38ZgPXa-nPNmKZ2/s320/Friday%20The%2013th%20Part%205%20A%20New%20Beginning%20(1985).jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><div>8. <b>Friday The 13th Part 5: A New Beginning</b> - The reason why this is so low on the list is not that Jason's not in the movie, it's mostly for the overall sleazy vibe that makes it less enjoyable to watch. Some part me of believes that something like this has potential. The plot is actually not half-bad with Tommy Jarvis returning as a tortured young man attending a camp for troubled teens. We could've had a Nightmare On Elm Street: Dream Warriors type of story as we get to know the teens and know what their damage is before "Jason" gets them. But no, that's not the story we got here. Nobody gets any character development, not even Tommy. It's just random kill after random kill. And I know what you're gonna say "It's a Friday The 13th film, what did you expect?" But as I like to reiterate, in the earlier films, the characters had a least some shred of personality, and believe it or not, there <i>was</i> a plot in those movies. On top of that, the characters in this film don't act like real human beings. They're either over-the-top theatrical or just plain repulsive and unlikable. To add more to the sleaziness, there's an ample amount of female nudity. Unnecessarily so. Sure, this is the same guy who once directed softcore porn but hear me out. Believe it or not, there's not really much nudity in these films as everybody like to assume. Even the first one didn't have much nudity with only a quick shot of Kevin Bacon's butt. And when there was nudity, it was, dare I say it, tastefully done. In the '70s and '80s, the young crowd would usually go skinny-dipping and in the early movies, it felt natural and wasn't overly sleazy, but, this definitely went overboard, which includes the remake. It's also very out of focus, I don't know who the real main character is, and the story and its plot twist are kind of all over the place. It's <i>somewhat</i> watchable for what it is but it's not the best.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGabqJaJj9DkJhFRRAMbjVE4K662dIAX3YC6oqj09rz6-qW5cDyX0iIyPmqISeGuQRSCad0ZDdkhoBacSgkd9Asg1gn9WUxzwbb2nhwyTvnKMaz-OW_OjVpmyV7jQH31rmdXJ8u3VcX_0__pD78jwbYfMA5o2TzjzHGH3i_VZN87OGLyWozhYCdfl9pYB7/s720/friday3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="581" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGabqJaJj9DkJhFRRAMbjVE4K662dIAX3YC6oqj09rz6-qW5cDyX0iIyPmqISeGuQRSCad0ZDdkhoBacSgkd9Asg1gn9WUxzwbb2nhwyTvnKMaz-OW_OjVpmyV7jQH31rmdXJ8u3VcX_0__pD78jwbYfMA5o2TzjzHGH3i_VZN87OGLyWozhYCdfl9pYB7/s320/friday3.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><div>7.<b> Friday The 13th: 3D</b> - Once upon a time, I used to like this movie and would watch it so many times. But over the years I've realized that this movie is incredibly cheesy. The characters have actually become caricatures, including this unconvincing biker gang, the 3D effects are really hokey and soured my enjoyment of the film, and lastly, the pacing slogs through most of the time. There are some positives, however. Even though I find the actress to be melodramatic, Chris' story arc was actually well done, which gives a connection between the killer and the final girl. Speaking of, the whole third act, the climatic fight between Jason and Chris is actually quite thrilling. This is also the entry where Jason wears his iconic hockey mask and the rest is history. This may be dumb, but at least it's dumb fun. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0psYJiMxU001qmEy5Fx2xitC21xPb46J0EUv7hL8SShSQVVJ5SObOmxJHjWzCc38-Z1xmTEXH_UiUw6D_3yCdNqYpUnST6P0Ee77aufkV6LozEyfjy_JGVk-q0liA8dcWBwrq8L69PhGMpCaNuZf_Wu0tQIA-pHN0t4nOxXnnVZHZ4hNm85vLHRZ7F9q/s475/newblood2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV0psYJiMxU001qmEy5Fx2xitC21xPb46J0EUv7hL8SShSQVVJ5SObOmxJHjWzCc38-Z1xmTEXH_UiUw6D_3yCdNqYpUnST6P0Ee77aufkV6LozEyfjy_JGVk-q0liA8dcWBwrq8L69PhGMpCaNuZf_Wu0tQIA-pHN0t4nOxXnnVZHZ4hNm85vLHRZ7F9q/s320/newblood2.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><br /><div>6. <b>Friday The 13th Part 7: The New Blood</b> - There was a point in time when I did like this movie but the novelty has worn off. I guess it's because I was a huge Carrie fan and to see a character with similar powers battle it off with Jason got me really hyped up. To be fair, that's probably one of the best and only parts of the movie. Everything else kind of falls off the rails for me and it's actually a step down from the actionized Part 6, which kept itself apart from the other movies, which are standard slasher fare. But at least this is Kane Hodder's first appearance as Jason and the look of Jason is pretty awesome. But I have to say, the only characters that ever got a hold of me were Tina, Nick, Tina's mom, and maybe Dr. Cruise. Not because he was likable, mind you, far from it, but at least he was interesting. The rest of the characters felt like they were pulled out of an after-school teen drama and had nothing else to offer. And once we get to the middle of the movie, half of the couples have sex and it gets a bit too salacious for me, not as bad as the remake, but still. However, it makes up for a spectacular third act involving a showdown with Jason and Tina. But unfortunately, we're left with a very confusing ending where Tina's dead father comes out and grabs Jason underwater. After that, Tina and Nick are carried out on the stretcher, and...the movie just ends. So yeah, this movie was just okay, not great by any means, but just okay. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qxvzVorFskabEylDBt_BrIobE9F1zt99od1yFL3Xr7kqlS4IubGRejmWwc5R0YqXbYXh-e0BLZQ-bQadQ-uSh5t7PKKtmuqKzd51F7niQOgSeeoRG41RbBnGEiQy8th59PUjLZStjbFu6Od-_Vc8-MImPcpoPDHS6tbXXNaeGzWHbF-1S4Y9pykPfioU/s1118/Freddy-vs_-Jason-2003-movie-poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1118" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4qxvzVorFskabEylDBt_BrIobE9F1zt99od1yFL3Xr7kqlS4IubGRejmWwc5R0YqXbYXh-e0BLZQ-bQadQ-uSh5t7PKKtmuqKzd51F7niQOgSeeoRG41RbBnGEiQy8th59PUjLZStjbFu6Od-_Vc8-MImPcpoPDHS6tbXXNaeGzWHbF-1S4Y9pykPfioU/s320/Freddy-vs_-Jason-2003-movie-poster.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><br /><div>5.<b> Freddy Vs. Jason</b> - For all the hype that it's got, this turned out to be a mediocre movie for me. It's not all bad. I think <i>some </i>of the special effects hold up, particularly the practical effects and the battle between Freddy and Jason is pretty epic. But the downside is the characters. Back in the early to mid-2000s, horror films had a habit of focusing on unlikable characters you can't wait to see die. I get the feeling that the writers of this film based these characters on kids that they hated in high school. They're either bland, annoying, or just plain uninteresting, and that includes our leads, Lori and Will. The only interesting characters in this film are Freddy and Jason themselves. I mean their names are in the title, so of course they're the focus through and through. But besides all that, it's a good popcorn flick. Not <i>great</i> mind you, but good on its own.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaP9IzEcG7mRg2RxlfpVZdRlANwXsGX-6vhbjArT3V8Vnm9iVQvpXur5nEbcuQlj0w7BMJepucyi-1QmKeHssgchD_uDemRGIpeWEawIfehQTbI9gl_yjpD5pS2HFzsI4zZdWdXkkIs4ZHagGPxYx45jN0CZ841b8KzUVcqCff6BV6YRWZn3yrf6zSrsk/s755/friday-the-13th-poster-1980.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="505" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaP9IzEcG7mRg2RxlfpVZdRlANwXsGX-6vhbjArT3V8Vnm9iVQvpXur5nEbcuQlj0w7BMJepucyi-1QmKeHssgchD_uDemRGIpeWEawIfehQTbI9gl_yjpD5pS2HFzsI4zZdWdXkkIs4ZHagGPxYx45jN0CZ841b8KzUVcqCff6BV6YRWZn3yrf6zSrsk/s320/friday-the-13th-poster-1980.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>4. <b>Friday The 13th (The Original)</b> - By today's standards, This would be considered a below-average slasher at best but in my opinion, it's one of the classic examples of the slasher genre. Sure, <i>Halloween</i> set the mold but Friday The 13th made a run for its money, thanks to the beautiful cinematography, artful direction, and last but not least, the amazing special effects by Tom Savini. Sure, the pacing might be a little off, which is one of the film's issues but it makes up for it with a climatic final act that was totally worth it. Although the characters don't stand out in terms of writing and development, at least the cast is charismatic and likable enough to care about whether they live or die. Plus, they're portrayed as real people and not just cardboard cutouts. Not to mention, Betsy Palmer's ballsy performance as Pamela Voorhees. I'm telling ya, that lady can act her ass off! And don't get me started on that ending. Oh boy, what a treat! So, this was definitely one of the more enjoyable entries and deserves the honorable achievement of kickstarting a classic horror franchise.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5JIsY9wJGp-sJl6XMOiX2c7-_wY0TYLVkO-n67o_oT7k5J4sJYC8CDQ54aDqivmlQhlM7Zd8tVfDDkVPjx6oexcsd88_NsABoEH_nG7VISYtUjMDPixDkavIBGCOZba3eO019POBYsQGaHro6Akjn-ArR3urosg3YeJOIHNVMMx9-vild80fBFO6n2tG/s1600/friday-the-13th-part-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1032" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5JIsY9wJGp-sJl6XMOiX2c7-_wY0TYLVkO-n67o_oT7k5J4sJYC8CDQ54aDqivmlQhlM7Zd8tVfDDkVPjx6oexcsd88_NsABoEH_nG7VISYtUjMDPixDkavIBGCOZba3eO019POBYsQGaHro6Akjn-ArR3urosg3YeJOIHNVMMx9-vild80fBFO6n2tG/s320/friday-the-13th-part-2.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><div><br /></div>3.<b> Friday The 13th: Part 2</b>- Okay if the first one kickstarted the series, <b>this</b> sequel is the one that started it all. Holy cow! it's so much more entertaining and dare I say better than the original in terms of characters and pacing. 1981 was the perfect year for this movie to come out. Right on the dime! This movie is actually Jason's first outing. Sure, he doesn't have the iconic hockey mask yet but he's still a very effective killer in this one. He's a bit clumsy and awkward but he's very effective at being a creepy woodsman, which I feel like that's what the filmmakers were going for and the 2009 remake attempted to do. Also, you have the amazingly charming Amy Steel as our final girl Ginny Field. I feel like that should've put her to good use. Maybe they should've put her in Part 5 in place of Pam. Nothing against Pam, she's cool but that would've made that movie TEN times better in my opinion. So yeah, Part 2 is definitely one of my favorites. Better story, better pacing, and a captivating heroine. Just perfect.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMmRUnVgX0CNxYQ7kwuXpPP-7RTzIGhqjKYeyhs5rTHdHs04zdHzjj3AQZR5Vbkewk4KTPp1_CJx946tOkyVCuXnI88Q6KwI7JDicNs39NB8fIZyM4_kiYsRIfp6C2LpPQPu8bwDU5XYj0ECJ31gDOVTANvubifJH3wOWhvqyfRylBeBjuV7GqlKNwSOZ/s888/friday-the-13th-part-6-jason-lives-movie-poster-1986-1020194178.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMmRUnVgX0CNxYQ7kwuXpPP-7RTzIGhqjKYeyhs5rTHdHs04zdHzjj3AQZR5Vbkewk4KTPp1_CJx946tOkyVCuXnI88Q6KwI7JDicNs39NB8fIZyM4_kiYsRIfp6C2LpPQPu8bwDU5XYj0ECJ31gDOVTANvubifJH3wOWhvqyfRylBeBjuV7GqlKNwSOZ/s320/friday-the-13th-part-6-jason-lives-movie-poster-1986-1020194178.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><div>2.<b> Friday The Part 6: Jason Lives</b> - Wow! This movie was action-packed! We have a way more charismatic and well-rounded Tommy Jarvis, Megan Garris, a dynamic lead heroine who compliments Tommy, creative kills, likable side characters, and a take-no-charge Jason who can go toe to toe with The Terminator. This is tons of fun and it knows it's fun. It has a well-developed story that actually has a flow and explores the mythology of Jason Voorhees. I like how the director incorporated smoky fogs, ominous dim lighting, vacant cemeteries, and an old-school horror vibe that sets it apart from the rest of the series. I also like the tongue-in-cheek self-aware humor while also taking a big risk by actually inviting kids to the campground for the first time. Considering how supernaturally powerful Jason is, it makes him a much bigger threat and that's what adds to the excitement. This is probably one of the most innovative of the series and pretty much made Jason into a pop culture icon.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYtF3TrutDMf0qbnwjQUBXq0wy658eWgzjelBXn7lVHOtKas6-ESrzWR0wu5F4jgTaWo3KhP75z-w4dqjhcRDr3LrShX4d-HIhdeHfNEWmRlqboZMBk3lP_n7bPnAWzxyC0Cy01NPcw_eFgCZ6Sfy7ENLYDgMpqvm6I71IUP2cLVJn9cFnxfADM6C15uE/s911/final-chapter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYtF3TrutDMf0qbnwjQUBXq0wy658eWgzjelBXn7lVHOtKas6-ESrzWR0wu5F4jgTaWo3KhP75z-w4dqjhcRDr3LrShX4d-HIhdeHfNEWmRlqboZMBk3lP_n7bPnAWzxyC0Cy01NPcw_eFgCZ6Sfy7ENLYDgMpqvm6I71IUP2cLVJn9cFnxfADM6C15uE/s320/final-chapter.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><div>1. <b>Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter</b> - This is the definitive Friday The 13th film and I've watched this more often times than I can remember. Jason is at his most brutal here and he's actually quite scary at times. There's also a dynamic cast of characters that are actually well-rounded. You have your typical teens partying it up in a vacation home and a single mother with two kids: lead heroine Trish and our future hero in the making, Tommy Jarvis. We also have horror movie maestro Tom Savini back on the drawing board, creating the most gruesome deaths on screen. Although this marks as the final movie of the series, this was only the beginning, molding the franchise into what it is today. Thanks to this movie, this is where the slasher genre reached it's peak. This is by far one of the best of the best. <br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-20875606364485706832023-11-07T18:09:00.000-08:002024-02-09T18:31:45.411-08:00Halloween Franchise Ranking<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp-GvU1uCxxsVBsAgAMtfxyLt3GaPN26fc85uLeEPmwulnZnywaYe4_jJH-FvV3p_xmr1SSq4Rr_4MxlL92ycRSIMlMUy5ykKbTVTQkjOP1bEodNuP8Ih_2tllAHIQqaPUyYhFS-zgA1nv77FD5e5C-Z-OkxFovgsL3oJ6XBThLC6lr-xamqfalj4qlYz/s1569/the_evolution_of_michael_myers_by_theordinaryartmaster_dd78njb-fullview.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1569" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBp-GvU1uCxxsVBsAgAMtfxyLt3GaPN26fc85uLeEPmwulnZnywaYe4_jJH-FvV3p_xmr1SSq4Rr_4MxlL92ycRSIMlMUy5ykKbTVTQkjOP1bEodNuP8Ih_2tllAHIQqaPUyYhFS-zgA1nv77FD5e5C-Z-OkxFovgsL3oJ6XBThLC6lr-xamqfalj4qlYz/s320/the_evolution_of_michael_myers_by_theordinaryartmaster_dd78njb-fullview.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br /><p>Here is my ranking for the Halloween series. Like I said before, I am not the biggest fan of this franchise. Most recently, the filmmakers are doing yet another iteration of Halloween. This time as a "cinematic universe" and a television series. Oh my god, can you let this franchise die! There more bad than good sequels and there's a only a few that I can call "decent." However, I'll save my thoughts on the ranking. Anywho, let's move on with the list:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTemRSzzK2JfdnIp1JhI_B7RKs8y2hR-sToi2H0nZlLckxCMSu18LvrqN1RQRnbweACXuBTl0zDExEzpmMHcEFwJ1nHAA04LMv-lJdoxUphYrgTjYdycKl5Y2nxbrNPrqDQ2Db9tsRZvpIrt0z-VPIymPMduEbFpuxXz5nwQcK6Rso5167NQNn8q1A5EP/s745/MPW-1677.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTemRSzzK2JfdnIp1JhI_B7RKs8y2hR-sToi2H0nZlLckxCMSu18LvrqN1RQRnbweACXuBTl0zDExEzpmMHcEFwJ1nHAA04LMv-lJdoxUphYrgTjYdycKl5Y2nxbrNPrqDQ2Db9tsRZvpIrt0z-VPIymPMduEbFpuxXz5nwQcK6Rso5167NQNn8q1A5EP/s320/MPW-1677.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><p>13. <b>Halloween: Resurrection </b>- This is the bottom of the barrel, people. One of the worst horror sequels of all time and what's ironic about it is that this has no reason to exist. The ending of H20 had a finality to it and the whole point of the film was about the exploration of Laurie's trauma and her overcoming that. I think it's one of the best endings of the series: Laurie chopping off Michael's head and, with the ax in her hand, walks triumphantly to the path ahead. Just beautiful. This was the <b>true</b> ending of the Halloween series. But they completely undo this in the first 12 minutes, using tired exposition and plot contrivances. They unceremoniously kill off Laurie in favor of some bland, forgettable, and very unlikable characters. It's also incredibly dated with its use of a reality show/webcam gimmick akin to The Blair Witch Project. This is nothing more than a cash-grab sequel, milking out Michael for all what he's worth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1bfSKHAAN0sR24QOV2NnPs50PJ713wODx2WsPkW6M5TUAmK_9g7YzONdJeAlWlQuxmn0Uotrq2crwyqKaCd2fQzCLj29CYfxBrZvx7SYg-T5E4vK-H8Bw8E3kaDRGd2bf8lmIHuHoltMPzfae-M_a2U0h-x-nMDAt58vvMBJhVhnpfHfgvWWtt2HGyeW/s1583/halloween%20kills%20sucks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1bfSKHAAN0sR24QOV2NnPs50PJ713wODx2WsPkW6M5TUAmK_9g7YzONdJeAlWlQuxmn0Uotrq2crwyqKaCd2fQzCLj29CYfxBrZvx7SYg-T5E4vK-H8Bw8E3kaDRGd2bf8lmIHuHoltMPzfae-M_a2U0h-x-nMDAt58vvMBJhVhnpfHfgvWWtt2HGyeW/s320/halloween%20kills%20sucks.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><br /><p>12. <b>Halloween Kills</b> - You already know how I feel about this one. This is like hilariously bad, truly the low point of the series. That "Evil Dies Tonight" mantra has been stuck in my head since watching this film and not in a good way. Not to mention, the characters in this movie were incredibly stupid on stupendous levels. Laurie is barely in the movie, Karen and Allyson are out of focus, and most of it is just Michael killing random people with some unnecessary (albeit stylishly well-done) flashbacks. It left me feeling hollow and empty, which made me realize that I'm not really a fan of this series. It's basically a filler movie with no purpose at all. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUrsaGTBtcQYy-VdHOcea1X8YDFtdjl7Uay4JlaaSUPJ8Gg3OWZMgZ5uwAh_uIn48Gu-1vZXp_CUCYCPdv7E5xbW9CQwdQc_WdMejbpzC0vIV3EK75W05tDI0RUY5_RVWNMCKDaV6Sd36SSPw3ZbaLKfJxUPVxGvg7IUoAyNiksRFSRN1JZ3ofIkJvrl5/s300/th.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="212" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUrsaGTBtcQYy-VdHOcea1X8YDFtdjl7Uay4JlaaSUPJ8Gg3OWZMgZ5uwAh_uIn48Gu-1vZXp_CUCYCPdv7E5xbW9CQwdQc_WdMejbpzC0vIV3EK75W05tDI0RUY5_RVWNMCKDaV6Sd36SSPw3ZbaLKfJxUPVxGvg7IUoAyNiksRFSRN1JZ3ofIkJvrl5/s1600/th.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div><br /></div>11. <b>Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers</b> - This film is a total mess and there's no other way to elaborate that. I can see that there was a purpose to making this because the previous movie ended on a cliffhanger. So this film was used to <b>explain </b>the cliffhanger in the worst way possible. I just feel like Michael's motives shouldn't be explained. It's not about what he's about, he just is. And it's all summed up in Dr. Lommis' monologue in the 1978 film. If you listen to it, there's the motive right there! Michael is just pure evil. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Having a cult control Michael's killing spree is beyond dumb and nonsensical. It's these horribly acted characters in these stupid robes and that's where the movie lost me. I consider both the theatrical cut and the producer's cut to be equally bad. You can't fix what was already broken. None of this works and, thankfully after this, the series got a much-needed reboot.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokgv7DR2KwqHkj-nsD9zZzNV_JCk-ZPw5nHZ_QPO3po23CpMNUBwCl46EwusES6elIxKCYiCgnapfjjLY_vl8pgm1iQpa1-MKDZU_i4FLYPOt9HhMHLT_bpg3P3skTmG5sZ0aoW93F2KogrFTU9y0jwLN48GU2qfgGzoClUm5wjp5KcYLD9mZ8LbfrFFu/s350/Halloween2009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokgv7DR2KwqHkj-nsD9zZzNV_JCk-ZPw5nHZ_QPO3po23CpMNUBwCl46EwusES6elIxKCYiCgnapfjjLY_vl8pgm1iQpa1-MKDZU_i4FLYPOt9HhMHLT_bpg3P3skTmG5sZ0aoW93F2KogrFTU9y0jwLN48GU2qfgGzoClUm5wjp5KcYLD9mZ8LbfrFFu/s320/Halloween2009.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>10. <b>Halloween 2 (Rob Zombie Version)</b> - This movie was a waste of my time and really hard to sit through. Not because it was disturbing, far from it. It was because of how utterly OBNOXIOUS it was. Holy crap! Every single character, with a few exceptions, is god-awful. Laurie, our precious main character is a complete shrew throughout the whole film. Hearing her constantly yell and scream is like nails on a chalkboard. Well, it was only because I watched the director's cut but that's beside the point. This movie is also nonsensical with the whole psychic connection between Laurie and Michael while he has visions of his dead mother and a younger version of himself (?). And it's like what am I watching? Not to mention, the first twenty minutes is a DREAM. I mean what the fuck?! From then on, it all went downhill from there. Spliced up with nonsensical visions and Michael Myers killing people while looking like a hobo. Rob Zombie didn't even want to do this movie and I can see why. It's totally unwatchable and should be avoided at any cost. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxgM3r5Jb9Ob1HA8jlps3vE3uoEA4npuqBOAkj2bPnZvMwrcurrUPuJRrQni-PMmWHKtTLh86SC5_2xA1-9pSnYtNgjthXcojA9Tdxqq4gY_UP-p57_plVA_B2TBAUBD6dKwnZXbdVy5wsb14Z_5X7viqwfPThftKemBKlnMcSd2dxeT_-yT0iFMl3mzL/s1451/halloween%20ends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxgM3r5Jb9Ob1HA8jlps3vE3uoEA4npuqBOAkj2bPnZvMwrcurrUPuJRrQni-PMmWHKtTLh86SC5_2xA1-9pSnYtNgjthXcojA9Tdxqq4gY_UP-p57_plVA_B2TBAUBD6dKwnZXbdVy5wsb14Z_5X7viqwfPThftKemBKlnMcSd2dxeT_-yT0iFMl3mzL/s320/halloween%20ends.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><br /><div>9. <b>Halloween Ends</b> - I know this movie has its defenders, but hear me out. The Corey Cunnigham subplot seems like a good idea on paper, but the execution is terrible. Case in point, the opening scene. Now when I first watched this I thought this was very shocking but then I realized, something was...off. David Gordon Green used a lot of comedy angles for this scene, especially when the kid Jeremy falls down the staircase. I just couldn't help but laugh, god help me. And from then on, we've got some terrible, terrible writing concerning Allyson and Corey's budding romance along with some detestable characters you can't wait to see die. Half of it feels like a horrible Stephen King adaptation where Michael takes a backseat. If it had different writers and a different director with a bit of rearranging, this might come out better than it was. But at the end of the day, I was just plain bored throughout. David Gordon Green did a good experiment with Halloween 2018, but I think he should stay away from horror franchises for right now.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7CcUAQXa9OEAFZgUSL_ItZDrHp4smpMp5wFDSC1cfxDosIsBD1X8XzO42ptYRcPvlMMP-QI_kAox5B_bz_wJBv8aJ4vFC5w4nXZ7E6Zu_eZL_-S4rO_04Eh0uZ6MkaoUSdHS-RKArxa6s6PhtPgCuedDcRrJsnlr_C9gYl9dradLcPEf7YFuRqoduQ1b/s1500/halloween2007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="988" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7CcUAQXa9OEAFZgUSL_ItZDrHp4smpMp5wFDSC1cfxDosIsBD1X8XzO42ptYRcPvlMMP-QI_kAox5B_bz_wJBv8aJ4vFC5w4nXZ7E6Zu_eZL_-S4rO_04Eh0uZ6MkaoUSdHS-RKArxa6s6PhtPgCuedDcRrJsnlr_C9gYl9dradLcPEf7YFuRqoduQ1b/s320/halloween2007.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>8.<b> Halloween (Rob Zombie Version) </b>- This made me realize that I'm not the biggest Rob Zombie fan and his style of filmmaking doesn't translate well as a Halloween film. Even the original director John Carpenter agrees. First, Rob Zombie takes too much of his time developing the character, who starts off like a typical kid. Not particularly normal, but typical. Secondly, his appearance is that of a two-ton wrestler which misses the point. He basically body-slams his victims like it's WWE. What made Michael effective in the original is that he's an average-sized man blending in with society. That's what made him scary, he could be anybody. Lastly, half of the characters in this movie are total scumbags! It just loses the tension for me. Plus, it's kind of strange that Rob Zombie would add his usual hillbilly characters in a Halloween film. Haddonfield is supposed to be this mom-and-apple pie type of town and having his usual brand of weirdo characters just doesn't blend well. Overall, it's not that great.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXjqAVU8OV0hzWF7fFVJsZlG0jIuzOSTssUU3V8K02C_mhQQuqQGLF0hyq4-GJ5xgqJWz6LIoVVCbwqt88U7ZLWBf7IBIan-gIsRE56BaBsM8e6AhV0N6E2aCXPijrIWX24oOvLCqfTW606IQKHpUQMCtMi1YN-I3GfEqu-6MFHqJL4X5tHHrute3DSkA/s1280/halloween-5-the-revenge-of-michael-myers-116190l.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1280" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXjqAVU8OV0hzWF7fFVJsZlG0jIuzOSTssUU3V8K02C_mhQQuqQGLF0hyq4-GJ5xgqJWz6LIoVVCbwqt88U7ZLWBf7IBIan-gIsRE56BaBsM8e6AhV0N6E2aCXPijrIWX24oOvLCqfTW606IQKHpUQMCtMi1YN-I3GfEqu-6MFHqJL4X5tHHrute3DSkA/s320/halloween-5-the-revenge-of-michael-myers-116190l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>7. <b>Halloween 5: The Revenge (?) of Michael Myers</b> - This was quite a tedious watch and not to mention, mildly confusing at times. The director was trying to add in these ideas that would stick but it doesn't land. Rachel, the final girl from the last movie, is killed off in favor of Tina, who's barely a character. And to retcon the cliffhanger from <i>Return,</i> they give Jamie a psychic connection to Michael. Oookay. On top of that, Donald Pleasence is extremely over-the-top, turning Dr. Loomis into a blubbering maniac, we have these two useless comic relief cops that serve nothing to the story, annoying teen characters, unnecessary jump scares, and very weak pacing. The only saving grace is Danielle Harris who gives a very sympathetic performance as Jamie and one of the few characters that I emphasized with. Other than that, this was a forgettable, subpar sequel.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRztCSmEC_cecPqMYvD75gYt9UtBNN-cGrdb6aYTv71Z_3HZv0-zchCV7viB8HFuvXVBvrpMkFMOcNPycICJ8TX6MJe-bZCNAAZA7WWOKwlEg5b2zrYPMyf1eJT7HKvOvjBvIHDtsl2IVgw6B0IlTHUd3xdMUbSbZVPB0y-8EZ5wZpkBWQLi6h_JJ5of4L/s898/halloween_4_the_return_of_michael_myers_1988_580x898_495565.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRztCSmEC_cecPqMYvD75gYt9UtBNN-cGrdb6aYTv71Z_3HZv0-zchCV7viB8HFuvXVBvrpMkFMOcNPycICJ8TX6MJe-bZCNAAZA7WWOKwlEg5b2zrYPMyf1eJT7HKvOvjBvIHDtsl2IVgw6B0IlTHUd3xdMUbSbZVPB0y-8EZ5wZpkBWQLi6h_JJ5of4L/s320/halloween_4_the_return_of_michael_myers_1988_580x898_495565.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><div><br /></div>6. <b>Halloween 4: The Return Of Michael Myers - </b>This film was kind of mediocre. It has some things going for it, but the end result is left to be desired. I do like Rachel's story arc of becoming Jamie's protector but the love triangle subplot takes up most of the film. It feels like I'm watching a lame teen drama. The directing is sort of hit or miss. It has some effective scenes yet the rest is nothing to write home about. The first act starts off fine, and the second act is a little sluggish, but it picks up speed by the climax and that's where things get interesting. The positives of this movie go to Danielle Harris who gives a believable performance as Jamie. You really feel for her and the movie becomes much more suspenseful when a child's life is at stake. I would say that Donald Pleasance is still quite good here and gives a balanced performance that seems to be lacking in the later films. Anyway, I don't think this film is all the way awful, it still feels like a Halloween movie but, it's not my top favorite.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZUWESSOVGTaxFHH4wAPMucsaqcKQNnBObwIlm8Qj71EqGyc-K6EMqtS9nFEj9jgSyt4-T8wrmghlw2wAO6MWZpJZt6etR1WdL6ple1iQDNfBYUpWb4RmwDHJ_OCnfaEz_ve7wBjiRjUL1HYb3RJLS-I2BF5yO8ZsnIBg231sWwb5Wt7otU670lFZs4fV/s820/MV5BMmMzNjJhYjUtNzFkZi00MWQ4LWJiMDEtYWM0NTAzNGZjMTI3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTE2OTMwNDk@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="555" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZUWESSOVGTaxFHH4wAPMucsaqcKQNnBObwIlm8Qj71EqGyc-K6EMqtS9nFEj9jgSyt4-T8wrmghlw2wAO6MWZpJZt6etR1WdL6ple1iQDNfBYUpWb4RmwDHJ_OCnfaEz_ve7wBjiRjUL1HYb3RJLS-I2BF5yO8ZsnIBg231sWwb5Wt7otU670lFZs4fV/s320/MV5BMmMzNjJhYjUtNzFkZi00MWQ4LWJiMDEtYWM0NTAzNGZjMTI3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTE2OTMwNDk@._V1_.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>5. <b>Halloween 2018</b> - I know this is a controversial spot right here but it's a slightly above-average movie at best. The directing is well done, one of the highlights is Michael rampaging through the neighborhood of Haddonfield just in one take. The acting isn't half-bad either with Jamie Lee Curtis being the shining beacon of them all. But it's the writing that keeps it from being great. The whole Dr. Sartain twist was a total step down and ruined the pace of the movie. Quite frankly, the entire middle section is kind of a mess and it isn't until the climatic battle between Laurie and Michael that things start to pick up. It's got some good ideas going for it but it's not well-executed enough to keep this higher on the list. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuW3TKDWTJSaEUZXr6b2j7EbAKj2Paje43FTbMTAiEPWgULiN376qHUmD7Cu1qE-mdX2m0JlcE8SSkf9J9XiVePVv7lgMnchYPyRCZerFMarX30oLpLwLvA5whPmx32u2R_0DAqaxM7FDPuWZnCiD-xGO3pZCaqXttT4WTN4uUa4wjJydPZA6ShXYUmpX/s1000/h5dCT0NhUkF1g1xuhL6X2xuYSoL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuW3TKDWTJSaEUZXr6b2j7EbAKj2Paje43FTbMTAiEPWgULiN376qHUmD7Cu1qE-mdX2m0JlcE8SSkf9J9XiVePVv7lgMnchYPyRCZerFMarX30oLpLwLvA5whPmx32u2R_0DAqaxM7FDPuWZnCiD-xGO3pZCaqXttT4WTN4uUa4wjJydPZA6ShXYUmpX/s320/h5dCT0NhUkF1g1xuhL6X2xuYSoL.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /><div>4. <b>Halloween 3: Season of the Witch</b> - Now I have to be honest, I think this is just an okay film but at least the plot is engaging. Now I want to focus on the negatives first. Some of it is kind of cheesy. The acting from the female lead isn't all that great, the writing is kind of sluggish at times, and the pacing from the first act is really, really slow. But there are major positives, such as Tom Atkin's performance as a flawed but relatable everyman and Dan O'Herlihy's turn as an evil toymaker. However, the special effects take the cake. It's actually way gorier than Halloween 2! I can also see that there was a lot of thought and care put into this than the rest of the sequels that came after it. It's quite an inventive premise and it raises the stakes more in terms of storytelling.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKrIJRKirnXJRGPmC-bGI8OEb7FCGMsmY2theNtgUhVQ8MpkUZGe7yRR-iWR5F9uSwe4Aqqoq3pVT6aIXDvKdIGEywaBiWw28ix7mM1eIEkUZAPA6RTfNXe3RhekQyeQxlMVkBS7XPdGukjJn9_5GcFPCAMrFIJ66Jc8o8JUx6rdlV5AV3dyc4PZFTIfH/s600/large_wWWosuveryEoycE5Hh9v4CrTRyH.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKrIJRKirnXJRGPmC-bGI8OEb7FCGMsmY2theNtgUhVQ8MpkUZGe7yRR-iWR5F9uSwe4Aqqoq3pVT6aIXDvKdIGEywaBiWw28ix7mM1eIEkUZAPA6RTfNXe3RhekQyeQxlMVkBS7XPdGukjJn9_5GcFPCAMrFIJ66Jc8o8JUx6rdlV5AV3dyc4PZFTIfH/s320/large_wWWosuveryEoycE5Hh9v4CrTRyH.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>3. <b>Halloween 2 1981</b>-Although this has its issues, it's still a solid Halloween sequel. The biggest highlight of the movie is the directing. Rick Rosenthal did an amazing job capturing the look and feel of the original that actually kept me engaged. There are a few missteps, such as the writing and characters. Laurie is bedridden throughout half of the movie and our focus is on the less-than-stellar hospital staff with zero personality. But it makes up for it with some inventive kills and a suspenseful chase scene between Laurie and Michael. It may not be a perfect movie but it's a perfect Halloween movie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydiC6Jw0T9FxVwXw4Sr6-cHLlTHDtxUkFidjXgu2hGPZZUvva7shEoEEt8SruFZuEGuHylAShM1Cv4BV5fVoPLA1QrLPHPwS2__D0L3dzRtCDVhcRGidtwp4cYyHiCpLMq7N4-qMgibPebAxbb_1elkulytQ4GdYWB2EqsLJoyApS6KGlJoktQKkNyh8n/s595/A70-3083.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydiC6Jw0T9FxVwXw4Sr6-cHLlTHDtxUkFidjXgu2hGPZZUvva7shEoEEt8SruFZuEGuHylAShM1Cv4BV5fVoPLA1QrLPHPwS2__D0L3dzRtCDVhcRGidtwp4cYyHiCpLMq7N4-qMgibPebAxbb_1elkulytQ4GdYWB2EqsLJoyApS6KGlJoktQKkNyh8n/s320/A70-3083.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div>2. <b>Halloween: H20</b> - This is hands down one of the best Halloween sequels. Again, it's not perfect but at least it focuses on Laurie's character development in a very real and honest way. It's less about the body count and more about the effects of Laurie's PTSD. There are some issues such as the tired jump scares, which is a big pet peeve of mine in horror films, and, once again, the writing of the characters, such as John and Molly's forgettable friends and LL Cool J's character who has <i>some </i>agency but is basically a glorified cameo. Besides all that, this is Jamie Lee Curtis at her best. After all, this is <b>her</b> movie through and through. The climax is probably one of my favorite parts. I love how Laurie just walks up to the school with an ax in her hand, ready to battle it out with Michael. It's so badass! But the ending takes the cake, wrapping things up with a neat little bow. This would've been the perfect trilogy too, with the theme being based on Laurie's trauma and her overcoming that. Starting with Halloween, Halloween 2, and H20. All in all, this film is the true finale of the original franchise. Locked and sealed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczKLknOaSUoZ5BhMOZwnXiznYxdRQMthZbCMoOPcce0gHQVY8YTL0yKwrNOd_lzJpTLaFlKS5KG-Nh9NYVXnAI1D2LOzU8Xl8J37LNmxVqow_ilD3_vBH2i0DgtHGV5iCO0o1kkNfBK04ocf61fFuuH3Mspw1bl2FaMPH_JQJH8YkvfUiqaf0rJOfpDwk/s2036/halloween2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2036" data-original-width="1499" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczKLknOaSUoZ5BhMOZwnXiznYxdRQMthZbCMoOPcce0gHQVY8YTL0yKwrNOd_lzJpTLaFlKS5KG-Nh9NYVXnAI1D2LOzU8Xl8J37LNmxVqow_ilD3_vBH2i0DgtHGV5iCO0o1kkNfBK04ocf61fFuuH3Mspw1bl2FaMPH_JQJH8YkvfUiqaf0rJOfpDwk/s320/halloween2.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>1. <b>Halloween</b> - This is it. The forefather of slasher films and easily one of the best horror movies ever made. What works about Halloween is its simplicity and that's what lacking in the other films. This is also the best rendition of Michael Myers where he is presented as a normal-sized, normal-looking man who just happens to be an evil killing machine. When it comes to the suspense, it's not about the kills, it's about the anticipation of the kills. That's what makes Halloween so effective. You don't need blood and guts to make a horror movie engaging. It's all about the <i>technique</i>. The style of direction, the chilling music score, and the characters that we empathize with. Now, Annie and Lynda are nothing to write home about on paper but at least Nancy Kyes and P.J. Soles are charming in their performances. Although it's her first starring role, Jamie Lee Curtis is still riveting as Laurie Strode. With just that look in her eye, you know she's a star in the making. Lastly, Donald Pleasance gives a legendary performance as Dr. Sam Loomis, who's the Van Helsing to Michael's Dracula. Major props to John Carpenter who turned this low-budget B-flick into an all-time classic.</div></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-30278694664815708882023-11-02T00:03:00.003-07:002023-11-02T00:03:50.826-07:00Scream 6 (2023)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UYc8i_vDtekD_n_ceycTlJCpesubFjrVwU_CyA6uhYXeTvC2v3biz2QfC_AE_YHqnewBBViUyCPuQZtV1UPpPSK696I1Cq4vYQc7Qd-fXQtOwU7L6zJh03rBq8gE3ugLXoYtKdtrYa1uFZhTgsDzDHQAo29il8K-KaFh3tJcw9NXrHwdGQwFDTE2-OqV/s1500/Scream6Poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4UYc8i_vDtekD_n_ceycTlJCpesubFjrVwU_CyA6uhYXeTvC2v3biz2QfC_AE_YHqnewBBViUyCPuQZtV1UPpPSK696I1Cq4vYQc7Qd-fXQtOwU7L6zJh03rBq8gE3ugLXoYtKdtrYa1uFZhTgsDzDHQAo29il8K-KaFh3tJcw9NXrHwdGQwFDTE2-OqV/s320/Scream6Poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p>After the success of Scream 5, the filmmakers decided to release yet <b>another</b> sequel early next year. From what I gather, most of the issues that I had with the last are still present here...and then some. This time, the filmmakers are going for a bigger, broader approach by switching the setting to New York. Okay, I guess that's an interesting choice. They also decided to bring back fan favorite Kirby as well. I can accept that. But let's talk about the elephant in the room, shall we? Neve Campbell, the main star of the Scream films is not in this sequel. Do you want to know why? Salary disputes. Can you honestly believe that? Neve Campbell is the soul of the series and the studios won't even pay her the salary that she deserves? It's baffling. Yeah, in a narrative sense, Sidney has moved on and has a quiet life with a husband and two kids, not wanting to get involved with the Ghostface murders but it's kind of odd to not have Neve Campbell in this outing. But anywho, what do I think of this movie? Kind of disappointing. Though it's not all bad. The opening scene was very promising, the New York setting gives away some really cool suspenseful scenes we haven't seen before, and they added some much-needed character development. Is it any better? Not quite, but at least Melissa Barrera has some much-needed range this time around. Other than that, the rest is kind of forgettable. I get that the filmmakers are trying new things but in the end, it's kind of formulaic. I never thought I say that about a Scream movie but here we are. Oh well, let's begin shall we?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA_Xmig4rGqc9AG0QVz35JAvVmLPyd4QQy5WMY24zr5LTQxjBqgurt2OGFeX2W7jUHD_TRaw7UbF0lkhjKkKTPRIsZlNJS3zQjp9wI5svBaCTiG1rcTSixYQGZcGCyZvBEQUgpMVi1HpJkE0l68Uy56-Ooe5MHOnghpvtBh8cCkrY1DdY0qrJGoqitovJ/s1136/Sam%20and%20Tara.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1136" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTA_Xmig4rGqc9AG0QVz35JAvVmLPyd4QQy5WMY24zr5LTQxjBqgurt2OGFeX2W7jUHD_TRaw7UbF0lkhjKkKTPRIsZlNJS3zQjp9wI5svBaCTiG1rcTSixYQGZcGCyZvBEQUgpMVi1HpJkE0l68Uy56-Ooe5MHOnghpvtBh8cCkrY1DdY0qrJGoqitovJ/s320/Sam%20and%20Tara.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>The Story: After the ordeal she experienced back in Woodsboro, Sam Carpenter decides to move to New York with her sister Tara, who's starting her first year in college. But it seems as though the past always comes to haunt those who run from it and Sam's situation is no different. With an unsalvagable reputation and a crippling mental illness, Sam must stop another Ghostface from threatening her and sister's lives.</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiUSASEX2Q9jrmD5ww3rXus8_p4jJa2mWuaP2k-iOql62cXt0LC9KICZS_qMucjpplVbTxCHuswtXwBe8ANST2HGhL10fhDLZTwQK1gMQ4FzRA6BanJFmOrOzQMu5cJRQ7POAEQjKls9ucw24W-E0U9DNcqa4CINesr6G0tr9PNB0rCSKPGHibmLuBpuv/s1379/Scream%206%20cast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="1379" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiUSASEX2Q9jrmD5ww3rXus8_p4jJa2mWuaP2k-iOql62cXt0LC9KICZS_qMucjpplVbTxCHuswtXwBe8ANST2HGhL10fhDLZTwQK1gMQ4FzRA6BanJFmOrOzQMu5cJRQ7POAEQjKls9ucw24W-E0U9DNcqa4CINesr6G0tr9PNB0rCSKPGHibmLuBpuv/s320/Scream%206%20cast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>This cast of characters is...okay. That's all I have to say. It's a shame because they bring back fan-favorite Kirby and even Gale joins in on the action too. But something's lost here. The vibe this time around feels off and it feels like a completely different movie, which is the point but nothing seems to gel well. <div>First, let's talk about the opening scene...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhGzMPD57-fwDfi_u5aihhkPJ-Cg5QcVfOOmYg81m8Zn-LptvulMCJzw_z0pmnN2ug3hKBmJjDcrgDNqioEbU0ojxImuMdz2F6Rbrh5mxAAthXHa9v7UwYaoKX5mdxJd1pcRCerNha1bmeTURQrLFO3M7rkXsl0m7NE2mltP9wattibtOsfyxaivYtpCh/s1280/Samara%20Weaving%20Alleyway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhGzMPD57-fwDfi_u5aihhkPJ-Cg5QcVfOOmYg81m8Zn-LptvulMCJzw_z0pmnN2ug3hKBmJjDcrgDNqioEbU0ojxImuMdz2F6Rbrh5mxAAthXHa9v7UwYaoKX5mdxJd1pcRCerNha1bmeTURQrLFO3M7rkXsl0m7NE2mltP9wattibtOsfyxaivYtpCh/s320/Samara%20Weaving%20Alleyway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The scene starts with University professor Laura Crane (get it?) played by Scream Queen Samara Weaving who starred in <i>The Babysitter</i> films and Radio Silence's own <i>Ready or Not</i>. She's at a busy New York restaurant waiting for her date when she gets a phone call....who turns out to be her date. He apologizes for being late and wants to meet her in the alleyway. And you know what? She actually goes there! I get the feeling she never met this guy physically, so it's impossible to believe that this professional, seemingly intelligent woman would want to meet some random guy she met online in an alleyway. It just doesn't make sense for her character but, then again, this is a horror film, and in horror films, something has to happen. So yeah, she walks in the alleyway and hears the guy getting attacked on the phone. She runs out until...there's a familiar voice on the phone. It's none other than Ghostface luring Laura into her doom...Then, out of nowhere, he strikes!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0tsVfupFUk12h_s4iY-KL6O5IBm697TtVn7TwZ_4LIH7VE8nJpDNBax3CkrsW3rGtkPOqw0uZnt-ReeoqEZVQT35Iwj4prksfTU1EiG2JStT6rZNSBjCJoZp7aIx6Z7rIoQq63qtZR5gAUAdn_s7b5MSVUjU18fQJb-JQl0ASm8MCsChpSRKRZqWXb1t/s1000/LauraDeath.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="1000" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0tsVfupFUk12h_s4iY-KL6O5IBm697TtVn7TwZ_4LIH7VE8nJpDNBax3CkrsW3rGtkPOqw0uZnt-ReeoqEZVQT35Iwj4prksfTU1EiG2JStT6rZNSBjCJoZp7aIx6Z7rIoQq63qtZR5gAUAdn_s7b5MSVUjU18fQJb-JQl0ASm8MCsChpSRKRZqWXb1t/s320/LauraDeath.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnyOz9SMKJavr2U9RCRKDWlmvV84u5aZadmA_t2OQEUzDZ8AP4jlm43ttPqnspkK-E9ZgvguKt0qiiCDdlV-ht82blvNdcq7oIwew4Q8GrvggspLYD4hhRJw3tDTYKrp0fCfXX2NwsG4siUFoOeT_f6FbUN9oEV9giZ9O-fIntfMGqdQ3OendEkSxkTT2/s1280/Faux%20Ghostface%20Killer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnyOz9SMKJavr2U9RCRKDWlmvV84u5aZadmA_t2OQEUzDZ8AP4jlm43ttPqnspkK-E9ZgvguKt0qiiCDdlV-ht82blvNdcq7oIwew4Q8GrvggspLYD4hhRJw3tDTYKrp0fCfXX2NwsG4siUFoOeT_f6FbUN9oEV9giZ9O-fIntfMGqdQ3OendEkSxkTT2/s320/Faux%20Ghostface%20Killer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And Ghostface really goes to town on her as if it's really, really personal. However, the scene doesn't end there. The camera stays steadily on the Ghostface Killer and then suddenly, he reveals his mask...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxRHog9Ix_FhTohKLrf-kM43_3QXlQB4mYQzCpGhipVOn6rNS7qBt7_h6_gAAAlGSeMeZ3E00_rvoXcsIXCKAmQ-6zQgEDaW8zds8XZ3nyhePjYElI9uYBq2v-1EHQUYvWUinjTdyUl4SE43WLiEaU66HT7OvEPD1e2HktMFxMfHZWB5vxZ_Zke3SK-2M/s250/S6_0048.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="250" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxRHog9Ix_FhTohKLrf-kM43_3QXlQB4mYQzCpGhipVOn6rNS7qBt7_h6_gAAAlGSeMeZ3E00_rvoXcsIXCKAmQ-6zQgEDaW8zds8XZ3nyhePjYElI9uYBq2v-1EHQUYvWUinjTdyUl4SE43WLiEaU66HT7OvEPD1e2HktMFxMfHZWB5vxZ_Zke3SK-2M/w400-h166/S6_0048.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It turns out to be a random guy. Okay, I guess I'll go with that. But here's where things get really interesting.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8elGIJgMvrNP9dPOcrs0ElOTOLG781BQwokfpFSTg1AksRquEU41wEnEDk8tzrOn-ghu7v9dUviaJusQyjN1nQmQcsVVZKv5YRDQ-V3tcB_qH3s72SXxtu86HEYubEewAQDmZWI7zUJWBgWK9x0JdJcXJ1xeSRl8g92-OikLMIxPqEGa3icbBE9LS709/s540/tumblr_09353479b69682deea35f13902297290_59fb042f_540.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="540" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8elGIJgMvrNP9dPOcrs0ElOTOLG781BQwokfpFSTg1AksRquEU41wEnEDk8tzrOn-ghu7v9dUviaJusQyjN1nQmQcsVVZKv5YRDQ-V3tcB_qH3s72SXxtu86HEYubEewAQDmZWI7zUJWBgWK9x0JdJcXJ1xeSRl8g92-OikLMIxPqEGa3icbBE9LS709/s320/tumblr_09353479b69682deea35f13902297290_59fb042f_540.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>He runs into Tara (yes, Tara Carpenter) and they have a friendly little chit-chat before he goes to his dorm. Oh yeah, the guy's name is Jason by the way. How convenient. Oh and get this. Once he goes inside his dorm room, guess what he's playing on TV. You guessed it! Jason Takes Manhattan. And that's where I was like, "Okay, this movie is a little too on the nose."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic63kKmSEI_qvA1k8GZpPQMxRb9wHG9dJ82E-mJU3Z5NCCAhqxh8XAp_Zca_l3b_8evDZ1TeAL77P-vRrJ6dVvNd6yra7Cj4hkNuNC2NaXyxTxERLO9_KZU2MI8U8_aUspS59MTMub6v5tmjW7xNi52LZZDg_MrXWufH4W0JWDn9bat2vuOxaEk2FI18D5/s600/Jason-Carvey-Scream-6-Shirt.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="510" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic63kKmSEI_qvA1k8GZpPQMxRb9wHG9dJ82E-mJU3Z5NCCAhqxh8XAp_Zca_l3b_8evDZ1TeAL77P-vRrJ6dVvNd6yra7Cj4hkNuNC2NaXyxTxERLO9_KZU2MI8U8_aUspS59MTMub6v5tmjW7xNi52LZZDg_MrXWufH4W0JWDn9bat2vuOxaEk2FI18D5/s320/Jason-Carvey-Scream-6-Shirt.webp" width="272" /></a></div><br /><div>So, Jason calls up his partner in crime Greg, gloating about his killing of Laura, all because she gave him a C- on the subject of Giallo. Wow, is it that serious? But the person on the other line isn't Greg. But Jason doesn't know that considering that Greg is just fucking around with his Ghostface voice. During this back and forth, we figure out that Jason and Greg are conducting an evil plan to stalk Tara and Sam and kill their friends. But that all seems to come to a close when the voice on the other line tells Jason to check the fridge...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq7ausgQIZ8A1E6mcZRCZvJ4xW2tBCAsqz48v1UGrIQBZa73F46HAbegFKZUYOSSq3wKX2bAkw0S1ygHZB8NeWjNA0TxQ7XuMhczQPKr7rkkceDw-8eWZngkPS9cwiKIJPVr3_c21yPKa66TGa-Zt3eqNry7joeuG_F-onNIve6ivcVWQY_lKCSPXp1lx/s250/GregDeath.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="250" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq7ausgQIZ8A1E6mcZRCZvJ4xW2tBCAsqz48v1UGrIQBZa73F46HAbegFKZUYOSSq3wKX2bAkw0S1ygHZB8NeWjNA0TxQ7XuMhczQPKr7rkkceDw-8eWZngkPS9cwiKIJPVr3_c21yPKa66TGa-Zt3eqNry7joeuG_F-onNIve6ivcVWQY_lKCSPXp1lx/s1600/GregDeath.webp" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div>When he opens it, Jason sees Greg literally stuffed in the fridge, and out comes...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidydEPQ3L6G9NP_SxP9pE1fGBBeChkcELc-meUF8qF3jBUZAfOd47-FXMvYvSJWn5eFLdKyg-zBQamYr-FEFFPKmcOXXurHk33UukK04UlA8QOjR6PwlzTyC4BewRjXtGWS-jqJ-BrWtZAYX83pkwRJ_cJmQGdCy6x8HLZL8p9H0F6yk1s7GYHgMUrL1H3/s1280/the%20actual%20ghostface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidydEPQ3L6G9NP_SxP9pE1fGBBeChkcELc-meUF8qF3jBUZAfOd47-FXMvYvSJWn5eFLdKyg-zBQamYr-FEFFPKmcOXXurHk33UukK04UlA8QOjR6PwlzTyC4BewRjXtGWS-jqJ-BrWtZAYX83pkwRJ_cJmQGdCy6x8HLZL8p9H0F6yk1s7GYHgMUrL1H3/s320/the%20actual%20ghostface.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwNvRUO-ZBbn8v2mCXmigAJOiiOSJZ3rjdIuvLemwXxVVzPVXKtx270zO5xFSlXp3YEHDsd-Z4jLyAIf7iPzaC8SXj2pnXVA-vYp6n10Mk0Uqsj1EMFVCuoqvl_sG2o8RzRdQWAiWDSjCcD92q4yG25lacr7o_2OBGEjJD9af0LPa_q-4b10wcCKO_x9j/s1000/Jason's%20death.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="1000" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwNvRUO-ZBbn8v2mCXmigAJOiiOSJZ3rjdIuvLemwXxVVzPVXKtx270zO5xFSlXp3YEHDsd-Z4jLyAIf7iPzaC8SXj2pnXVA-vYp6n10Mk0Uqsj1EMFVCuoqvl_sG2o8RzRdQWAiWDSjCcD92q4yG25lacr7o_2OBGEjJD9af0LPa_q-4b10wcCKO_x9j/s320/Jason's%20death.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The actual Ghostface, giving Jason a taste of his own medicine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wow! What an opening! They sort of do the bait-and-switch thing, which I totally love. What makes it interesting is that the killers are revealed right away only to be killed off by the REAL killer of the movie and it plays into the notion that there might be a cult of Ghostfaces. Well, at least that's what I <b>thought</b> it would turn out to be. But it just goes completely left field. More on that later.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Before I get to the "Core Four", as Chad would like to call them (oh god), I would like to focus on the lesser characters. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginVFblCJIiXGDaxdKKnrXp0rpg1QZtE7iF9bG8tUvhTPbAK9rzsxg5e8BUALiqb8IinvPKp5zRLo0LKqzE70xrub12xN3o6MGR13Hqgd6poszNsftIoi6neAPMHscqrI__Oybg2_BtOyC4sNh1NG0ixOczix_Yoi0aCm1BZUrgyfwEyyb1RqF0aBotVyl/s500/danny-brackett-10214978-normal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="355" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginVFblCJIiXGDaxdKKnrXp0rpg1QZtE7iF9bG8tUvhTPbAK9rzsxg5e8BUALiqb8IinvPKp5zRLo0LKqzE70xrub12xN3o6MGR13Hqgd6poszNsftIoi6neAPMHscqrI__Oybg2_BtOyC4sNh1NG0ixOczix_Yoi0aCm1BZUrgyfwEyyb1RqF0aBotVyl/s320/danny-brackett-10214978-normal.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here we have Danny Brackett played by Josh Segarra. All that we know about him is that he's really good-looking and Sam's love interest. Though Danny is not totally useless, he does help around but he's just there for the most part with very little screentime. And whatever chemistry Danny and Sam have is so non-existent. The relationship just comes out of nowhere, there's no build-up or anything. They just kiss and they're suddenly a couple. Oh well, I guess it's part of the really rushed nature of the film.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzO2EE2ihiWXdPI1XMF1T0R3udrZomOWVrisRWuNqU1W44-eKZHqtRvPXCwkL87w0tikWrE0ulLud036LuG8laUBD1KS3jvzk_6ulFj_Mhwt3-4T2L01H6g3aR4RutUlVtbLSl9I2eTI2hQsJeAKV_0o6HYr8Ic7sdU_aaEECXmrskMpUDCcE9AipY3av0/s615/Anika_Kayoko.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="615" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzO2EE2ihiWXdPI1XMF1T0R3udrZomOWVrisRWuNqU1W44-eKZHqtRvPXCwkL87w0tikWrE0ulLud036LuG8laUBD1KS3jvzk_6ulFj_Mhwt3-4T2L01H6g3aR4RutUlVtbLSl9I2eTI2hQsJeAKV_0o6HYr8Ic7sdU_aaEECXmrskMpUDCcE9AipY3av0/s320/Anika_Kayoko.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then we have Anika Kayoko, Mindy's girlfriend, played by Devyn Nekoda, who really doesn't have any scenes of her own. She is <b>always</b> around Mindy, which makes her kind of like a satellite character. So yeah, that's all I got to say about her. She's Mindy's girlfriend and that's that. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub9PYkKEH-sK_Isx38tk8rIN2HEms8ivmEIRGz59D3xESDvOld2HfluXDlmzSlzBIhU_dvZ551bh0GH-z6tv1feaCRFiUfO0prZlu39mu-pfujyPtAC6HOR-tGBxwMB_68Bm6N0sWIAzQwr5sMzvTvmjoZ3Azs3rJPnwQibDNPARrv-VsuID3qj-PIr2u/s792/QuinnBailey-ScreamVI.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="455" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgub9PYkKEH-sK_Isx38tk8rIN2HEms8ivmEIRGz59D3xESDvOld2HfluXDlmzSlzBIhU_dvZ551bh0GH-z6tv1feaCRFiUfO0prZlu39mu-pfujyPtAC6HOR-tGBxwMB_68Bm6N0sWIAzQwr5sMzvTvmjoZ3Azs3rJPnwQibDNPARrv-VsuID3qj-PIr2u/s320/QuinnBailey-ScreamVI.webp" width="184" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then there's Sam's roommate Quinn Bailey, played by Liana Libertero, who is the daughter of Detective Wayne Bailey and has a habit of sleeping around. Quinn does have her moments but she barely gets any screentime, though I will say that Liana Libertero is naturally charismatic.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AXMBw7xaws3A5bTE3_a2RNvSUEqKeC9GscXDJAX31fgrCOVDCL9Msne5O45YRlfZtNUHC_9KA3CxR_KffmnNUAwTqWJRzzlfbWI7cayZVRU0_yx3zFXvbuwtqvug6Ef9bJNtg92vgW4c95eg1rQ7ZLL8syJ3KjitJ4g_BMaA15H7VxynkDZiLcW0LGeW/s563/EthanLandry.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="485" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AXMBw7xaws3A5bTE3_a2RNvSUEqKeC9GscXDJAX31fgrCOVDCL9Msne5O45YRlfZtNUHC_9KA3CxR_KffmnNUAwTqWJRzzlfbWI7cayZVRU0_yx3zFXvbuwtqvug6Ef9bJNtg92vgW4c95eg1rQ7ZLL8syJ3KjitJ4g_BMaA15H7VxynkDZiLcW0LGeW/s320/EthanLandry.webp" width="276" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly, we have Ethan Landry, played by Jack Champion, who is barely a character. He's just there where jokes are usually made at his expense because he's a virgin and a nerd. That's all. That's all that we know about him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, now we're working towards the more interesting characters:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXeTu5LUv-fn0johlX5h7a87BWU9BJsVfUjqJxAlkVx5wuOHmw4A_06i4_jfZy2iwNEfnSRRERlk8y61Hn12QIczUkAML5fE6Auekugq1RqQRcS5uitN1WITkCrCNQ1gcmh4ny4yZxZTzr-4AotbXqLrPsNdhOo39YAbp0c5Rz_NbMG0kQ6DOa4FN__QL/s879/WayneBailey-ScreamVI.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="879" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXeTu5LUv-fn0johlX5h7a87BWU9BJsVfUjqJxAlkVx5wuOHmw4A_06i4_jfZy2iwNEfnSRRERlk8y61Hn12QIczUkAML5fE6Auekugq1RqQRcS5uitN1WITkCrCNQ1gcmh4ny4yZxZTzr-4AotbXqLrPsNdhOo39YAbp0c5Rz_NbMG0kQ6DOa4FN__QL/s320/WayneBailey-ScreamVI.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There's Wayne Bailey, played by Dermot Mulroney, the detective who's investigating the murder case which somehow involves Sam. Dermot Mulroney does okay with the role. At times, he's kind of phoning it in but he gets a little better once his character becomes more proactive but oh boy, once we get to the third act, it all goes downhill from there. More on that later. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59IRWRbu7NWOG8ipBwni6Fw_NiMatB21nkq_Bs5Gxqk2DfexKeoOYaphf3OYzszJReFWEJj4USo1WEeKD07RGcsgs0s0_ahIUt9FJRNEHL52vBREhyphenhyphen0HTgQ5RLckn2eDhebcHs6rZGdL_txjERRJjzWNz_u1maHOxU_7kJD-F6vuSNx1doSw1HDFcYdF_/s1296/Hayden-Panettiere-Kirby-Reed-Scream-6.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1296" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59IRWRbu7NWOG8ipBwni6Fw_NiMatB21nkq_Bs5Gxqk2DfexKeoOYaphf3OYzszJReFWEJj4USo1WEeKD07RGcsgs0s0_ahIUt9FJRNEHL52vBREhyphenhyphen0HTgQ5RLckn2eDhebcHs6rZGdL_txjERRJjzWNz_u1maHOxU_7kJD-F6vuSNx1doSw1HDFcYdF_/s320/Hayden-Panettiere-Kirby-Reed-Scream-6.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In the place of Sidney, we have the one, the only Kirby Reed played by Hayden Panettiere. Would I call it a triumphant return? Um, I don't know. She just doesn't seem like the same type of character this time around. I just see her as this hard-boiled FBI agent since her entire character in the fourth film was about how she was a horror film fanatic. <b>What if </b>she was a screenwriter writing the new Stab film based on her experiences. That comes off much more organic to me. To put the cherry on top, she can collaborate with Gale. Anywho, I thought Hayden Panettiere did an okay job. She doesn't have the spunk that she has from the fourth film but it was passable. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa_wAHWRRbzVekbc7mI1FiRtp4G22EYWEK1u4xCIK3aZ0Usis9jgm2XPxd03Jar5ZHJaMEv8gosC8ak6egOcOXgUpftnvqhwDuEVp3t5hXskM1iY1N4hfIBhZlllAwB6Lok2cAuaTr73H4rRk7fs4IlxLSboKh2eaj4XNY8NvI_vO-MV4kB98YwMx7jVv/s1576/Gale_Scream_VI.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1576" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa_wAHWRRbzVekbc7mI1FiRtp4G22EYWEK1u4xCIK3aZ0Usis9jgm2XPxd03Jar5ZHJaMEv8gosC8ak6egOcOXgUpftnvqhwDuEVp3t5hXskM1iY1N4hfIBhZlllAwB6Lok2cAuaTr73H4rRk7fs4IlxLSboKh2eaj4XNY8NvI_vO-MV4kB98YwMx7jVv/s320/Gale_Scream_VI.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then have the quick-witted Gale Weathers, played by Courtney Cox, who's always on the case. Did she learn anything in the last film? Not really. She was going to write a book about Dewey but instead, she goes for the "If It Bleeds, It Leads" approach, which is a detriment to her character development. She writes a book about Sam and the Woodsboro murders from last year as if Sam has enough problems on her belt. Like I said with the Kirby segment, it would've been more organic if she was a consultant for Kirby who's making the next Stab film, you know instead of banking on controversy. Despite all that, Gale still does have a heart and she helps out the Core Four with sharp investigative skills. She gets a close call with the killer and gets almost killed as a result but, as always, Gale gets better. Courtney Cox is great as always. There may be a few mistakes with the writing of her characters but she pulls through fine. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, now we've made it to the Core Four and we're gonna start with the Meeks Twins:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLjSSwT8kJlkrJnmeE-OOQq_Q47pujxamPh2oK0owG76tlXY94Mm51k5XZR-79oDq3pgGsXcLhqzMQu6eOiTSgKbn8eABHZ5ZDVhmRAupXENdxP1dFlg6d5R8tlk4fsowCOzq9DQY11R5yFiqyPq_2Q11whgjRq5n3CTXIFUdmbA5pjj_iyPu2SAG3EeJ/s227/mindy%20meeks%20martin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="227" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLjSSwT8kJlkrJnmeE-OOQq_Q47pujxamPh2oK0owG76tlXY94Mm51k5XZR-79oDq3pgGsXcLhqzMQu6eOiTSgKbn8eABHZ5ZDVhmRAupXENdxP1dFlg6d5R8tlk4fsowCOzq9DQY11R5yFiqyPq_2Q11whgjRq5n3CTXIFUdmbA5pjj_iyPu2SAG3EeJ/s1600/mindy%20meeks%20martin.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mindy Meeks, played by Jasmine Savoy Brown, is still pretty likable here but there are times when she comes off a bit annoying. There's the whole horror movie rules monologue that was built off from the last film that felt so unnecessary here. It just wasn't needed and it dragged the film down a bit. Then after somebody that she was close to dies horribly, she instantly blames Ethan. I get that she's traumatized but it makes her come off as irrational and I don't like it. Oh and here's a slight spoiler here, there's a moment where she gets stabbed in the subway and her reaction is, "Fuck this franchise." Really? You just got stabbed two times and that's all you have to say? And that's when the movie went down on the hills of cheesetopia. Ho-ly crap! Anywho, despite the (very terrible) writing issues, Jasmine Savoy Brown still does her best with the role. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65JK57XfTcks3w0GDPV-lmRxsW5fEd7xDJrWBCqZQ8rlBHO05heKoxeWUePFTRztk23yWDtDfiUFot9o7RtkMzlKQe-yGqEfDMjVLdeoOsizgqxh9uUeAYPF9kfYyyknugqdC405gzzHHCmz3HnpTdcpBk0H6jrxQAYEbXywQrWsjGfjZDPS9RZoKVNSh/s640/Chad_Meeks_Martin_2.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65JK57XfTcks3w0GDPV-lmRxsW5fEd7xDJrWBCqZQ8rlBHO05heKoxeWUePFTRztk23yWDtDfiUFot9o7RtkMzlKQe-yGqEfDMjVLdeoOsizgqxh9uUeAYPF9kfYyyknugqdC405gzzHHCmz3HnpTdcpBk0H6jrxQAYEbXywQrWsjGfjZDPS9RZoKVNSh/s320/Chad_Meeks_Martin_2.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then there's Chad Meeks played by the very gorgreous Mason Gooding. He's relegated to being Tara's love interest, which is fine, I do like the chemistry between them but it comes out of nowhere. Just to mention, there was no interaction between Chad and Tara in the last film, so it comes out of left field when they suddenly have feelings for each other. But besides all that, Chad is still the loveable, adorable jock that we all love and Mason Gooding is still his sweet and charming self. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmz_2kudfUngk1wRErTepMHzXbki3X1ruwVg8AqOaRU_IA8EoPOUA_0tMDKtjVr-y1WOpSPHZQO8C7azkWka8Rxe0JsH6ly97BwQQgh1Jn73XHohLbloG0PJnz8wECSPpOoHJWG-Yfss0wqnk8DntsEhUAJUjTUnDftj4t69P7ogIxOWK1D-IwJW0u2zt/s2000/Tara.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjmz_2kudfUngk1wRErTepMHzXbki3X1ruwVg8AqOaRU_IA8EoPOUA_0tMDKtjVr-y1WOpSPHZQO8C7azkWka8Rxe0JsH6ly97BwQQgh1Jn73XHohLbloG0PJnz8wECSPpOoHJWG-Yfss0wqnk8DntsEhUAJUjTUnDftj4t69P7ogIxOWK1D-IwJW0u2zt/s320/Tara.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now we focus on Tara, played by the ever-so-talented Jenna Ortega. This time around, Tara tries to move on from her past and starts a new life in college but her constantly paranoid sister Sam keeps hovering over her, but then again, her first scene starts with her almost getting date-raped by a college jock so she's lucky that her sister and friends were around at all. That's pretty much the core of Tara's arc is how she wants to take control of her life and let the past die. As always, Jenna Ortega kills it (no pun intended) and it would be nice if she became the ultimate heroine in the next sequel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFx0mXvtlySQp_YzZKzLa2R6jiReDmWXTvmsBFnX3DjbF8YZHVS8LZa1HIOgHOxyh6l8cbStbiTX0BYTlB25K5yLupbBguO_OkfYX5hycx2MvWFNz6agf2wzHwXsSWt-3Z80wr1DVfGWxAMUKWLt4QXetB4YqrosjQ7ZbxU_EmFKvVYTwJD8QknmlOw6D/s642/Melissa-Barrera-front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFx0mXvtlySQp_YzZKzLa2R6jiReDmWXTvmsBFnX3DjbF8YZHVS8LZa1HIOgHOxyh6l8cbStbiTX0BYTlB25K5yLupbBguO_OkfYX5hycx2MvWFNz6agf2wzHwXsSWt-3Z80wr1DVfGWxAMUKWLt4QXetB4YqrosjQ7ZbxU_EmFKvVYTwJD8QknmlOw6D/s320/Melissa-Barrera-front.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly, we have Sam, played by Melissa Barrera. The filmmakers give her a lot more to do this time and it gives Melissa Barrera a better acting performance. Sam's character is actually explored, which was definitely needed from the last movie. Now I never really jived with her being Billy Loomis' daughter. It was cheesy then and it's cheesy now but at least the filmmakers made Sam a more complex character. She frets over her sister's safety, goes to therapy to deal with her mental illness, and deals with the scrutiny of being a serial killer's daughter. It gives a lot of weight to her situation and it makes Sam more...tolerable. Not better but tolerable. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIVbyyCc9O5Pv9SJ6t-VM1dmrawMumYqsxJ_4znVrv_kAquvPYUOtgoPE7IKZiweEYIsoEJAKkOZ3NpYuarXGheOD298v3Y3xSUPcYlroBL6MastbWjr7B43yn8Zju2b58PQLJbztD-t8e7CKWDAxB9fvaaGqNBRvT6poRaXi-FFJabCq_1lVM4bV0f2Q/s1050/ghost-face-scream-6-1674137313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1050" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIVbyyCc9O5Pv9SJ6t-VM1dmrawMumYqsxJ_4znVrv_kAquvPYUOtgoPE7IKZiweEYIsoEJAKkOZ3NpYuarXGheOD298v3Y3xSUPcYlroBL6MastbWjr7B43yn8Zju2b58PQLJbztD-t8e7CKWDAxB9fvaaGqNBRvT6poRaXi-FFJabCq_1lVM4bV0f2Q/s320/ghost-face-scream-6-1674137313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikboo4ywrVgHmnvtcTV5Mml-Oa9orKjJzDuxKHFVY04E2F_yi0ZRJrf14iOpek6ZqClpi19l8WTPFopM4c_fxz6A3IcEfYZlfOxB3YH8HoslX_GAAIBRjlfuQflbBn_hzsUzPeS84d9f_3XhTfgguCYBF_40GpSNIuR17jwqsGdpXtF95s0HXE3nSKuNkB/s720/Sam-and-her-boyfriend-hold-out-a-ladder-to-help-their-friends-escape-in-Scream-6.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikboo4ywrVgHmnvtcTV5Mml-Oa9orKjJzDuxKHFVY04E2F_yi0ZRJrf14iOpek6ZqClpi19l8WTPFopM4c_fxz6A3IcEfYZlfOxB3YH8HoslX_GAAIBRjlfuQflbBn_hzsUzPeS84d9f_3XhTfgguCYBF_40GpSNIuR17jwqsGdpXtF95s0HXE3nSKuNkB/s320/Sam-and-her-boyfriend-hold-out-a-ladder-to-help-their-friends-escape-in-Scream-6.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzVA0yObeQn7Y-qH2ykPy7SAVhe1qOuWP8AHHaACFdbORQQONwzGt0t0GILSaMTrKuwDpV8nEDCv_r_CnlLDkQ3eYjE9gesdwv1Hb1wdGxK6yYIXHYFNtPUeRjYqpPMcFtwFelKxZ9kY-zbY4avtx_V7tlWiOYkgi0OCEiMmkjPLvTzc1uWglRC_bea_L/s299/Scream%206%20theater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzVA0yObeQn7Y-qH2ykPy7SAVhe1qOuWP8AHHaACFdbORQQONwzGt0t0GILSaMTrKuwDpV8nEDCv_r_CnlLDkQ3eYjE9gesdwv1Hb1wdGxK6yYIXHYFNtPUeRjYqpPMcFtwFelKxZ9kY-zbY4avtx_V7tlWiOYkgi0OCEiMmkjPLvTzc1uWglRC_bea_L/s1600/Scream%206%20theater.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdWorACe_YvGFkK57aKTuV7M2k8-gja4wKD70r__wsPZDCJqAd0tBM6hzp9Hb878kqr21q-srSF4465gpSVx9j_DAm5IGeb_Q95Ia1Djho1R0xEUHqNV4LaV8fEioLmVBUF0fGfIDuYgYSZruerXBUXX5oNodtPMdfujaVtrTvRMqybAkMK9tfgUGJGVW/s1600/scream6_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdWorACe_YvGFkK57aKTuV7M2k8-gja4wKD70r__wsPZDCJqAd0tBM6hzp9Hb878kqr21q-srSF4465gpSVx9j_DAm5IGeb_Q95Ia1Djho1R0xEUHqNV4LaV8fEioLmVBUF0fGfIDuYgYSZruerXBUXX5oNodtPMdfujaVtrTvRMqybAkMK9tfgUGJGVW/s320/scream6_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The biggest draw of the movie is the amazing set pieces that are made for some tight-knit suspenseful scenes. The highlights are The Convenient Store Scene, The Ladder Scene, and The Subway Scene. Let's talk about the Convenient Store Scene. Oh man, that was intense! This was actually the first time a Ghostface killer used a gun. And gives the clue that maybe this Ghostface is skilled at what he/she does. They're not clumsy, they're not bumbling, they're a true hunter looking for their prey. Then we have the Ladder Scene, which was done extremely well. So, the characters are trapped with the Ghostface who sneaked in and killed one of their friends. They barricade the door and from across the street, Danny takes out a ladder that reaches towards the window. The entire scene is agonizingly suspenseful as the characters have to slowly climb on the ladder without falling. Holy shit! I was totally on the edge of my seat! My favorite scene of all, however, is the Subway Scene. Maybe I'm in the minority but subways are the best settings for horror films. What I also like about his scene is that there are special little horror easter eggs. Since this is set around Halloween, people are dressed up in all sorts of costumes, including our favorite slasher movie villains, Michael, Freddy, Jason, and especially <b>Ghostface</b>. That's the real kicker of the scene and that's why it's so suspenseful.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, out with the good and in with the bad. I have to say, the dialogue this time around is...kind of cheesy. I would never say that about a Scream film but here we are. I could probably count about 50 f-bombs, some daytime soap opera dialogue, terrible quips, and the usual movie references. It's not all bad but it gets a little grating at times. However, the real kick in the balls has got to be the third act.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vKD0PQ1dDW7CugrX7BsKVNUiTxMVuk63tiwH_qW15KsV0_PhXf2RoJ7XkTlTFEWGwc9zSWn0ru7Gu-0EQleuAa4gIXCb2vxDFOu_0STNRqmO49rME5c7qL4iJtTyLEDKbaQEbAu6jb_gF39gDJO-062V_KCRjTHSQoOMTlqmvD0K7bcaUqqpA79IWFUw/s2239/ghostface%20scream%206.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="2239" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vKD0PQ1dDW7CugrX7BsKVNUiTxMVuk63tiwH_qW15KsV0_PhXf2RoJ7XkTlTFEWGwc9zSWn0ru7Gu-0EQleuAa4gIXCb2vxDFOu_0STNRqmO49rME5c7qL4iJtTyLEDKbaQEbAu6jb_gF39gDJO-062V_KCRjTHSQoOMTlqmvD0K7bcaUqqpA79IWFUw/s320/ghostface%20scream%206.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since this is set in a big city, it would be impossible to have two Ghostfaces running around, so it would've been an awesome concept to have a cult of Ghostfaces but...this is not what we get here. It's far worse than you can imagine. </div><div style="text-align: left;">There are at least three killers in the movie, and those three killers are:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH1YyyVQMYGCp66HBufeoH8wW-oTqyOzBiLf4NYcuWXT1I_qCFZHUwyXpJM8NBrFXq11kRBoJJetH-f4DrQm7N2I-T8KGENaH6Jh7-bsnRaBsBCFt13LDaI-e6cvADgydjTfVPG1x6iy55qJl-SmpClhtS4XX3w7e8xiBo9RhdFo0NNE7SqYLiOLxStQ6/s1200/three-ghostface-killers-in-scream-6-1678458766459.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMH1YyyVQMYGCp66HBufeoH8wW-oTqyOzBiLf4NYcuWXT1I_qCFZHUwyXpJM8NBrFXq11kRBoJJetH-f4DrQm7N2I-T8KGENaH6Jh7-bsnRaBsBCFt13LDaI-e6cvADgydjTfVPG1x6iy55qJl-SmpClhtS4XX3w7e8xiBo9RhdFo0NNE7SqYLiOLxStQ6/s320/three-ghostface-killers-in-scream-6-1678458766459.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Quinn, Ethan, and Wayne revealing themselves to be the sister, the brother, and the father of Richie Kirsch. So it's basically a retread of<i> Scream 2. </i>The climax is even set in a movie theater. Wow, just wow. I never thought the writing could be that lazier. First off, I don't give a fuck about the character of Richie and I don't even know why this is a thing. Secondly, the acting from these three has gotten extremely over-the-top, especially from Dermot Mulroney. He is hella hammy and not in a good way. Lastly, how the hell can he afford a theater with years worth of police evidence on a detective's salary? Again, it leaves more plot holes than it should. So Tara and Sam go toe to toe with the family of psychos and there are a lot of punches, beatings, and stabbings until Tara takes down Ethan by stabbing him in the mouth and Sam takes down Quinn with a shot in the head. Finally, Sam makes her move on Detective Bailey where her CGI ghost dad Billy (yes they bring him back and I don't know why) convinces her to put on the Ghostface costume to give Bailey a good stabbing. And that, Sam does, practically mutilating the guy. It seems to be all over but Ethan (who just got stabbed multiple times including the mouth, mind you) runs out to attack until Kirby smashes him with the very same TV that killed Stu Macher. Woop di do. </div><div style="text-align: left;">So everybody's reunited, which also includes Chad, who was stabbed multiple times by two killers, somehow survives and is pulled out on a stretcher where Tara runs into his arms in a romantic embrace. There's also Mindy, who was also stabbed two times in the stomach, but for some reason seems perfectly fine, running across two feet without a limp or no pain. What the hell is going on here? Shouldn't this take place at the same hospital where Gale is? And even though, I'm glad that Chad is alive, there's no way anybody could survive his attack. I'm pretty sure they've hit an artery somewhere but oh well. Like I said this series is getting a bit cartoonish at this point where everyone can just have casual conversations while having bloody open wounds. It just makes me appreciate how realistic the first two films were. So as everything comes to a close, Sam gazes at the Ghostface mask, hinting that she might get the thrill of being a serial killer after all...</div><div style="text-align: left;">Wow, what a movie. The sad part is that it had so much potential and it went crumbling down once it got started. The really rushed nature is pretty much evident and the fact that they couldn't afford Neve Campbell is ludicrous to me considering that each of these movies makes a substantial amount of money. Even in the worst box office openings, they still make money, <b>including</b> merchandise. Oh and just to mention, half of the movie is not even set in New York because of budget reasons. Shocker! Plus, the writing issues are very apparent here, so I can see why they would have those amazing setpieces to distract us from the not-so-good writing. Like I said, it's not bad but it's sure as hell disappointing. </div><div style="text-align: left;">They're making yet another sequel, this time replacing the Radio Silence team with Christoper Landon (the director of the <i>Happy Death Day</i> films and <i>Freaky</i>) to which I might check those movies out for reference but until I hope this is the last one because this series is balancing on a thin line of self-parody. Let's just hope the eighth film won't involve time travel like the Stab films...</div><div style="text-align: left;">My Last Word: Not bad but not great either. It's probably good for a rental. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h74AXqw4Opc" width="320" youtube-src-id="h74AXqw4Opc"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-82126468667619059232023-06-20T23:21:00.001-07:002023-06-20T23:21:42.455-07:00Scream (2022)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGhDLjy6mDeI0eHU20W3Hi7bwa6D5BAgthwBXTdfHV1bMQ_tvx2tbVfRx44xzSvM0huzvSrySiMT1_mY3-GmhnimO6GLmcuYpkKWY--inMUZbAiYid85TaV3TfN9EQ5_UjCNvbYy9CCQnM4hEykPwiyVEZQd3punDzUofc2xv77R1XT724R9AxQSaOQ/s3000/1m3W6cpgwuIyjtg5nSnPx7yFkXW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGhDLjy6mDeI0eHU20W3Hi7bwa6D5BAgthwBXTdfHV1bMQ_tvx2tbVfRx44xzSvM0huzvSrySiMT1_mY3-GmhnimO6GLmcuYpkKWY--inMUZbAiYid85TaV3TfN9EQ5_UjCNvbYy9CCQnM4hEykPwiyVEZQd3punDzUofc2xv77R1XT724R9AxQSaOQ/s320/1m3W6cpgwuIyjtg5nSnPx7yFkXW.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">In 2011, Wes Craven confirmed he was contracted to work on a fifth AND sixth installment of the <i>Scream</i> franchise. This would take another ten years for the fifth film to be materialized. During this time, Craven was the executive producer of the <i>Scream</i> television series (never watched it) and had his focus on that. Sadly, however, on August 30. 2015, Wes Craven passed away, leaving the franchise in limbo. On top of that, The Weinstein Brothers were facing numerous sexual misconduct allegations, shutting down any plans for future films. Thankfully, in November 2019, Spyglass Media Group acquired the rights to make a new Scream film. This time, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillet would take over the director's chair while Kevin Williamson fills in the role of executive producer. With the addition of the Triumphant Trio of Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette, the production of Scream 5 was set and ready to go. The result is...pretty mediocre. There are some positive things to be found in Scream 5, but the majority of the film just feels off and the writing is not all that great. Most of these issues have to do with Sam Carpenter, and oh boy, I have a LOT to say about this character. I don't know...It just doesn't seem like a movie I want to latch onto. As much as I would like to examine the glaring issues in Scream 5, I appreciate the effort of the filmmakers trying to honor Wes Craven's legacy but, it just doesn't hit the mark for me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Qil-JXQ5w_nNEt0gUZxuKF6T88uEKWh-MfEJ4YOfACRn2UaWXODg-Y1-uqstBQb5NuUVjcFVohe9ounZ61BgJo1IV44IHY_IMRJhdX8zCpeH60bEI5LG9VxZicMTnR4bCnxw8HM12GhWi8iYFidhmzt_cMbaD8Vz-qkJi_pXvlnLgiBrUQC9wf3H4Q/s800/New-Cast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Qil-JXQ5w_nNEt0gUZxuKF6T88uEKWh-MfEJ4YOfACRn2UaWXODg-Y1-uqstBQb5NuUVjcFVohe9ounZ61BgJo1IV44IHY_IMRJhdX8zCpeH60bEI5LG9VxZicMTnR4bCnxw8HM12GhWi8iYFidhmzt_cMbaD8Vz-qkJi_pXvlnLgiBrUQC9wf3H4Q/s320/New-Cast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPCAD4GAHCkNb85ekAdWa25VaJX8U8Iq2p-KJQYzy5A-GlhSuIx5Bc2HRqu1ndEuQTwyT3LUmEpeSFSZcS5o6VnWlh9nVJ_dq_0ytDtYmkdHoozkTysDgr9dOfP0AXFro8fU9hjlxjTHrVFdqV1JfRp4vlBjjJM26Pckz_RD7YzlEDPQSu7jTO8GrMw/s1024/Scream-6-Cast.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="1024" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPCAD4GAHCkNb85ekAdWa25VaJX8U8Iq2p-KJQYzy5A-GlhSuIx5Bc2HRqu1ndEuQTwyT3LUmEpeSFSZcS5o6VnWlh9nVJ_dq_0ytDtYmkdHoozkTysDgr9dOfP0AXFro8fU9hjlxjTHrVFdqV1JfRp4vlBjjJM26Pckz_RD7YzlEDPQSu7jTO8GrMw/s320/Scream-6-Cast.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">The Story: After her sister survives a brutal attack, Sam Carpenter returns to her hometown of Woodsboro. But as a deep dark secret comes back to haunt Sam, her sister's attacker strikes again. With the help of Sidney, Dewey, and Gale, Sam must unveil the killer behind the Ghostface mask. </p><p style="text-align: left;">To keep up with tradition, let's examine the opening scene:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_LmGnoVOWtcZBP2oV-nKc4jIGJJdcQsgkKF_Y-sGEly_RuxHUszinVjxLlFKQd7msCZmSsUTumKOLRzVE2teASSg6lrTq9oYD6RBJMuI3lUOeiWEW6NDCkB8SzZZThwMZgnHlofEAIcCKnNFkqcJHcc9aiq2wziD3ItponUg24BMAadAOFVYQPmwyQ/s3120/MV5BYTgwMGVmYzgtMzg1OS00OGM1LWI4YjgtMTdhYzBjNmI3N2UwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="3120" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_LmGnoVOWtcZBP2oV-nKc4jIGJJdcQsgkKF_Y-sGEly_RuxHUszinVjxLlFKQd7msCZmSsUTumKOLRzVE2teASSg6lrTq9oYD6RBJMuI3lUOeiWEW6NDCkB8SzZZThwMZgnHlofEAIcCKnNFkqcJHcc9aiq2wziD3ItponUg24BMAadAOFVYQPmwyQ/s320/MV5BYTgwMGVmYzgtMzg1OS00OGM1LWI4YjgtMTdhYzBjNmI3N2UwXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTkxNjUyNQ@@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We open to Tara Carpenter texting on the phone with her friend Amber, planning a get-together. Then, she gets a phone call...As we all know, it's the voice of Ghostface, asking the simple question: "What's your favorite scary movie?" <div>Tara answers The Babadook because it's "Elevated Horror." Elevated Horror is a term used for horror movies that has a more psychological and intellectual meaning. According to Tara, The Babadookis the examination of motherhood and grief. This is in regard to how Elevated Horror has become popular over the years and is often the topic of every social media post. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf1-RlxPH0mK7bFHRaRw03Dj8z0_MxaaICNm4uWPEHO5F7oJkpTRLSAyLiBdQILR6DV-A6H3KJqPjLM4b2MFoduKdMdfZMz3gTeyYHYZvikY0Hsoy5HpY-CjlTu29uStpd3EQGTNIu88XfrtDbs8XiI3CzMTL7eFLoRmelfq86u-udwIXRtTVJx1wRQ/s3120/Scream-2022-Cast-Every-Performer-Character.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1755" data-original-width="3120" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNf1-RlxPH0mK7bFHRaRw03Dj8z0_MxaaICNm4uWPEHO5F7oJkpTRLSAyLiBdQILR6DV-A6H3KJqPjLM4b2MFoduKdMdfZMz3gTeyYHYZvikY0Hsoy5HpY-CjlTu29uStpd3EQGTNIu88XfrtDbs8XiI3CzMTL7eFLoRmelfq86u-udwIXRtTVJx1wRQ/s320/Scream-2022-Cast-Every-Performer-Character.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Things get a bit sinister when the caller quizzes Tara about the Stab movie once he puts out a threat on Amber's life. The question: Who were the two killers in the first Stab movie? Since Tara wasn't born in the nineties, she has no clue what the Stab movies are about. In a moment of panic, she pulls out her to look up the Stab movies on IMDB. Tara actually gets it right by saying the actors' names but the <b>characters</b>' names.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrAlIjiYeNK80j6JVnTvaQGg0NNnpFBQwuXeyEswnvjbpLb6XQq8IDMkpvApidg0LmA1kI7qeBWx-meLueVRBfAC4kdpuIQIxX8V8GFrrETrIi6FuVbFN76p_TTSVgBEpfKgoEczeu3ClMFMdgxMWCbstcBkZsHcN5976zmGUZ3Gf2OeiaJw5YvrTyg/s1200/ezgif-4-aff7d57f31-compressed.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrAlIjiYeNK80j6JVnTvaQGg0NNnpFBQwuXeyEswnvjbpLb6XQq8IDMkpvApidg0LmA1kI7qeBWx-meLueVRBfAC4kdpuIQIxX8V8GFrrETrIi6FuVbFN76p_TTSVgBEpfKgoEczeu3ClMFMdgxMWCbstcBkZsHcN5976zmGUZ3Gf2OeiaJw5YvrTyg/s320/ezgif-4-aff7d57f31-compressed.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Unfortunately, Tara gets a visit from Ghostface. She puts up a pretty good fight but this Ghostface is no-holds-barred and the takedown of Tara is pretty brutal. And as the killer makes their final blow, the title card flashes on the screen. Then all of a sudden, Mrs. Jackson by Outcast plays. That was a pretty weird tonal shift. But here's the twist. Once we're introduced to Tara's sister, Sam, we learn that Tara actually survived her attack. I gotta be honest with you, I did not see this coming. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Anywho, this is where we meet our new main characters. So before we get to the important characters, let's get the side characters out of the way. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tBQtp2PC63fY4zlTQQKa0UgJIBBy1zPvdpl97bgzdwbIRGpKdWQvZiIiI8zxH-TSg_SquFXvYFvMxj56K3YM_MVMzUtGcPSv1CkFjI4vkgncJyFBhEXGicOWtk7JVEfxth0lJ3ar0qy5u6LhmK39MGRiHCab1Sh_riD2TQhyphKzf0tx865KmUyicA/s620/scream_2022_liv_mckenzie-f1fa01f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tBQtp2PC63fY4zlTQQKa0UgJIBBy1zPvdpl97bgzdwbIRGpKdWQvZiIiI8zxH-TSg_SquFXvYFvMxj56K3YM_MVMzUtGcPSv1CkFjI4vkgncJyFBhEXGicOWtk7JVEfxth0lJ3ar0qy5u6LhmK39MGRiHCab1Sh_riD2TQhyphKzf0tx865KmUyicA/s320/scream_2022_liv_mckenzie-f1fa01f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">First, I would like to present to you our weakest character in the movie, Liv McKenzie. All that we know about her is that she's the girlfriend of Chad (Meeks)-Martin, has a volatile ex and is a bit of a drama queen. She throws a massive bitch fit when Chad rejects her for sex and I'm like, "Take it easy, girl. It's not that serious." So yeah, that's all I got on Liv. She's just a bland character fading in the background.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIjqcLv5jMXUEACwJedaMeGGrhLK-p4rTtpBS_vi06Z7mmuXXRSNjWPswU-AQ4oCnVQ_dzO0wVP9YqDEvEx2Xq1O2M_mvNhqGP0AApTvdOACkBGocoG6EhLXbKOEqCKtl1PlKEzRFt7ESK0riOAYGGAUV_EwDijLJcrepVL-p_j6EXJMYriGD5It3DQ/s1000/VincePortal.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIjqcLv5jMXUEACwJedaMeGGrhLK-p4rTtpBS_vi06Z7mmuXXRSNjWPswU-AQ4oCnVQ_dzO0wVP9YqDEvEx2Xq1O2M_mvNhqGP0AApTvdOACkBGocoG6EhLXbKOEqCKtl1PlKEzRFt7ESK0riOAYGGAUV_EwDijLJcrepVL-p_j6EXJMYriGD5It3DQ/s320/VincePortal.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Kyle Gallner is totally wasted as Vince Schneider, the supposed nephew of Stu Macher. When did Stu have a sister? Anywho, Vince is nothing more than a stereotypical bad boy who just so happens to be the ex-boyfriend of Liv. Throughout most of his screentime, all Vince does is cause trouble for Chad and his friends.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9wgay0kZkF1jeuNW79JvibZZV6S7jbWPu4va_kuMbRpM1OkPJWXCXoR1nl_c-o89y3BqU5y-ZepjkZk520dtHcKYwn6VVTF7iFGwYQDj2qzxZUyEykmjlGaiPF6ziuMTq7gCGiPvlV_EmmnwvthJdxxaMU1qKlyq83s76W1p6x7IsOymIac81jo_FA/s563/Scream-5-2022-Movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="563" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy9wgay0kZkF1jeuNW79JvibZZV6S7jbWPu4va_kuMbRpM1OkPJWXCXoR1nl_c-o89y3BqU5y-ZepjkZk520dtHcKYwn6VVTF7iFGwYQDj2qzxZUyEykmjlGaiPF6ziuMTq7gCGiPvlV_EmmnwvthJdxxaMU1qKlyq83s76W1p6x7IsOymIac81jo_FA/s320/Scream-5-2022-Movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Vince is promptly killed with a blink of an eye and Kyle Gallner only has two or three lines to thank for. I actually consider him to be a good actor and would've preferred him in the role of Richie Kirsch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdQC4pKBAkg4SnHHBFif3WbF8juvDjfwuQgc310Gg31hi_PWjAo1XNh8Jz71EJr_GhQq1q3e42lwUW94YqbMJ5C3PhukybzSo_UufOvSLsAzU7cT2E5WougrevsNVxFniuY2GXHLPGGKJZKNYdOxdUTvuhrfWZ0sDC4qqcUso2NRYgoaEPEnrvv9t5w/s1080/Wes_Hicks.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1080" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdQC4pKBAkg4SnHHBFif3WbF8juvDjfwuQgc310Gg31hi_PWjAo1XNh8Jz71EJr_GhQq1q3e42lwUW94YqbMJ5C3PhukybzSo_UufOvSLsAzU7cT2E5WougrevsNVxFniuY2GXHLPGGKJZKNYdOxdUTvuhrfWZ0sDC4qqcUso2NRYgoaEPEnrvv9t5w/s320/Wes_Hicks.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Then we have Wes Hicks played by the very handsome Dylan Minnette. Wes is a nice enough guy but all that we know about him is that he's the son of Town Sheriff Judy Hicks and has a crush on Tara though, I would've preferred them to be an official couple but that's just my suggestion. But here's where the plot hole comes in. So, you mean to tell me that during the events of <i>Scream 4, </i>Judy Hicks had a six-year-old son? There wasn't even a hint that she was a single mom, so it was kind of confusing. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz03MMGxTElkcVGr5iUjHfhuS6R2oK1cpbNreN7D3PiIu5Gq2-YNKINuoEnzvKZP7lHA1zFLF74uD32e6AWYKeiPkV1ejfPSLbOvM_DW_oMZ6l03BAVQTwpi2GwwPgz_9r_1ufXSNUf8zpLe6h7X5c9ZxInTDFhQd6kPD7PRmk5PKzodiLvo_G8H5vag/s782/Judy_Hicks_Scream_5_Image.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="627" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz03MMGxTElkcVGr5iUjHfhuS6R2oK1cpbNreN7D3PiIu5Gq2-YNKINuoEnzvKZP7lHA1zFLF74uD32e6AWYKeiPkV1ejfPSLbOvM_DW_oMZ6l03BAVQTwpi2GwwPgz_9r_1ufXSNUf8zpLe6h7X5c9ZxInTDFhQd6kPD7PRmk5PKzodiLvo_G8H5vag/s320/Judy_Hicks_Scream_5_Image.webp" width="257" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Speaking of, let's focus on Judy Hicks for a bit. She is now the sheriff of the town, which is admirable but the downside of it is Dewey is left in the dust. More on that later. Judy seems to have animosity towards Sam for some reason because of all the trouble she caused in Woodsboro. Sure, you can understand Judy's frustration but now that Sam is a grown woman, it seems strange for a character like Judy to hold a grudge for that long. Anywho, both Judy and Wes get some extremely gruesome deaths. The build-up of the scene was pretty well done for the most part. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9jl7YdWXTSC1cfZ5leHgF13Pb-sdCKd_X4lHch70MCO7iieCPBwpAkkXxbD0XNcIzr_K8_mC_fr5qKHtXsEsANhSLh4A51yGXOz1iDQt2JvXE9meM2-dUtKCkoKmcG_wWTriZmcoSF9gKeAEITFYFKW-fMzB-rxMFtbRv05ZIRmxedVDhadhnGH3DA/s620/marley_shelton_judy_hicks_scream-805a823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9jl7YdWXTSC1cfZ5leHgF13Pb-sdCKd_X4lHch70MCO7iieCPBwpAkkXxbD0XNcIzr_K8_mC_fr5qKHtXsEsANhSLh4A51yGXOz1iDQt2JvXE9meM2-dUtKCkoKmcG_wWTriZmcoSF9gKeAEITFYFKW-fMzB-rxMFtbRv05ZIRmxedVDhadhnGH3DA/s320/marley_shelton_judy_hicks_scream-805a823.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Judy gets a threatening phone call from Ghostface on her car phone. When Ghostface references Psycho, the scene cuts to...you guessed it:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F7cKdxva4bg7NUZdyq7jywtC9A__ZDRP0r9l3aTIoUjwi47rALaop1K9P_lP4h-Th5DGtIMG6UUCst0FX4d3RvPex9VB3t1O3PIt0zxX4R12Eo6f7eOMvCEOH1suo2iDmwEDQprnC791Z1FE2o6od7eNkfw7TZpU8_A80q5t4AqrNWVp1PCXZmcyKQ/s960/Wes%20Hicks%20Shower%20Scene.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="393" data-original-width="960" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F7cKdxva4bg7NUZdyq7jywtC9A__ZDRP0r9l3aTIoUjwi47rALaop1K9P_lP4h-Th5DGtIMG6UUCst0FX4d3RvPex9VB3t1O3PIt0zxX4R12Eo6f7eOMvCEOH1suo2iDmwEDQprnC791Z1FE2o6od7eNkfw7TZpU8_A80q5t4AqrNWVp1PCXZmcyKQ/s320/Wes%20Hicks%20Shower%20Scene.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Wes taking a shower. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7En-MtuFY3JC82LcmB9BcZwIMHNpP1ecy8ReTPLaFnw3vxaswHTHjT1OsCepBmx-F_ujikJ81D9-uPC5mvl0WuTY2XaSacz7KkyY8Mbrq0hM9TZPiimdDwpWHnYBNuNQPIsi0ZO9Jj7EwOZCoPTLjBQ8nN6aMpy9Y5yHk47M5oHJ6z3MuvZSuFOA9Eg/s1140/judy%20hicks%20in%20action.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1140" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7En-MtuFY3JC82LcmB9BcZwIMHNpP1ecy8ReTPLaFnw3vxaswHTHjT1OsCepBmx-F_ujikJ81D9-uPC5mvl0WuTY2XaSacz7KkyY8Mbrq0hM9TZPiimdDwpWHnYBNuNQPIsi0ZO9Jj7EwOZCoPTLjBQ8nN6aMpy9Y5yHk47M5oHJ6z3MuvZSuFOA9Eg/s320/judy%20hicks%20in%20action.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Judy makes a sharp U-turn and races to the finish line. Just when you think Judy makes it on time...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg85jCTR74KdvorSXZDFMvCVb3nZbedFpvqsthGMZVb0cUOuEQM1CLIFq1fMZoRSuT1_cbPPxYi3VDQXG1_9DHcD61626hiMgaAeUHRa8OFpEx9X4S8hAg7luAe_a6RGtSokMY-doXp_1hn_dAWLP1jaMmDYUyluTgIz747LB12zmGK6aWw2_uZ4V7A/s1400/Judy%20Hicks%20Death.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1400" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgg85jCTR74KdvorSXZDFMvCVb3nZbedFpvqsthGMZVb0cUOuEQM1CLIFq1fMZoRSuT1_cbPPxYi3VDQXG1_9DHcD61626hiMgaAeUHRa8OFpEx9X4S8hAg7luAe_a6RGtSokMY-doXp_1hn_dAWLP1jaMmDYUyluTgIz747LB12zmGK6aWw2_uZ4V7A/s320/Judy%20Hicks%20Death.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">BAM! Ghostface gets her and it's pretty shocking to see Judy, the loveable deputy from the fourth film, go out in such a bloody way. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_h27Bi20YMgbbu8nMF3ZZkXF6hpff52FH0KPKaxBaJBqjW5qFnCew8NADjK1kYsp1YXif4yzl-6XO_XvKgJKw3nV1_GvaT-XH-VFDlip4hjNX7zuWuxQuVIPirf4LalBK8cMdVewI9MtBbQc4NvW0COgOr2NNMcoVGiJ1jnN3pGyj7vhsCBCQCaZiw/s480/wes%20hick%20neck%20stab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_h27Bi20YMgbbu8nMF3ZZkXF6hpff52FH0KPKaxBaJBqjW5qFnCew8NADjK1kYsp1YXif4yzl-6XO_XvKgJKw3nV1_GvaT-XH-VFDlip4hjNX7zuWuxQuVIPirf4LalBK8cMdVewI9MtBbQc4NvW0COgOr2NNMcoVGiJ1jnN3pGyj7vhsCBCQCaZiw/s320/wes%20hick%20neck%20stab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /><p style="text-align: left;">Wes is no match for Ghostface either when he gets a REALLY slow stab through the neck. Yeesh! This scene as a whole was incredibly suspenseful and also, the bloodiest so far. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HT6d8FD-2cfGde1g0RNpZODMf6q4I0cCB-DNEHgPZ1cKQp0Fj9424s6YfjoB54XgwMhWM7NTYQWerfnroq4yhzuVwdlkNNDK1K1kEW8hnlraGCEbrSHtePxE8jxl9gHMOsyQNKKzNeRUoYoyxCTcVz04CzviQL-YncFwHnuWHd0voL4zerHWgxqlHA/s500/AmberFreeman-Scream2022.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HT6d8FD-2cfGde1g0RNpZODMf6q4I0cCB-DNEHgPZ1cKQp0Fj9424s6YfjoB54XgwMhWM7NTYQWerfnroq4yhzuVwdlkNNDK1K1kEW8hnlraGCEbrSHtePxE8jxl9gHMOsyQNKKzNeRUoYoyxCTcVz04CzviQL-YncFwHnuWHd0voL4zerHWgxqlHA/s320/AmberFreeman-Scream2022.webp" width="317" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Then there's Amber Freeman played by Mikey Madison, who seems to be a little too overprotective towards her friend, Tara. There's not much to know about her after that. The filmmakers try to give off this mysterious aura about Amber but she is just not developed enough for me to care. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdc2RZ-VULDAd7ya_Il6YYmRgRKCHQIvuGJxNypVXEoaNM9Tv_BmTxb4QRZz6VWVLtWvgMdgOJs3fwe5sPjUDCOpG4s0Z_OOzC4eY1H1qhsi9d7RKsMyFZ6MWLXSbaxK6pl_FV24fv1Wk5cFIMJjQel6j70HR9sslxp3VRXyDJropC0z-DOmBvQQY6g/s976/Richie%20Kirsch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="976" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdc2RZ-VULDAd7ya_Il6YYmRgRKCHQIvuGJxNypVXEoaNM9Tv_BmTxb4QRZz6VWVLtWvgMdgOJs3fwe5sPjUDCOpG4s0Z_OOzC4eY1H1qhsi9d7RKsMyFZ6MWLXSbaxK6pl_FV24fv1Wk5cFIMJjQel6j70HR9sslxp3VRXyDJropC0z-DOmBvQQY6g/s320/Richie%20Kirsch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Richie is the boyfriend of Sam Carpenter and he does nothing for me either. Don't get me wrong, Jack Quaid is very charismatic but he's given the worst dialogue and what makes his character even more unbearable is that the filmmakers prep him up to be this comic relief. His jokes are just terribly flat. If they would've took out the cringy dialogue, made the character a bit more serious, and cast Kyle Gallner, I would be singing a different tune. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkQXgc2vKwMX8HinR_q0Upf7EN9VKEYWqONj6yNNPSvZF3IJNYRuRpaYFYm7-vViJy0sMgPpkKM8HWphbnpjBTOt6xuC64FwWEM6PZFnokRxyZJtr6g3Cc1nUb0cUZ7gn77bj7Qkr1XOoMY4QsaRkvVOwYjxRbyUr6J_UNt09rGpHlZkMj28gZDIrAA/s980/Chad%20and%20Mindy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="980" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkQXgc2vKwMX8HinR_q0Upf7EN9VKEYWqONj6yNNPSvZF3IJNYRuRpaYFYm7-vViJy0sMgPpkKM8HWphbnpjBTOt6xuC64FwWEM6PZFnokRxyZJtr6g3Cc1nUb0cUZ7gn77bj7Qkr1XOoMY4QsaRkvVOwYjxRbyUr6J_UNt09rGpHlZkMj28gZDIrAA/s320/Chad%20and%20Mindy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Then we have the niece and nephew of Randy Meeks, Mindy and Chad played by the handsome, charismatic, and sexy Mason Gooding and the funny, charismatic, and adorable Jasmin Savoy Brown. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASJljcxqtpMYNvho_3MEZlDrsAwhUbj_UCoy56cUz1Ay9K71kUhmM5VUc46d0qNGPU5lBH0QuuqK2stkeSFtPZjZlutgu5lhnEBTIaPQNeNprVpTq5o1qq5DGg757uaF1xMdvl_pAQV1wA2bs2hCRXrx6C3iCBtPWv292QFdeE54dzGgRJ3RIrR5nIQ/s294/Martha_Snacks.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="225" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASJljcxqtpMYNvho_3MEZlDrsAwhUbj_UCoy56cUz1Ay9K71kUhmM5VUc46d0qNGPU5lBH0QuuqK2stkeSFtPZjZlutgu5lhnEBTIaPQNeNprVpTq5o1qq5DGg757uaF1xMdvl_pAQV1wA2bs2hCRXrx6C3iCBtPWv292QFdeE54dzGgRJ3RIrR5nIQ/s1600/Martha_Snacks.webp" width="225" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Oh yeah, a special shout-out to Heather Matarazzo as Martha Meeks, the little sister of Randy and mother to Chad and Mindy. It's a small little cameo with only one line but Heather Matarazzo makes it work just by the way some comes in like a nice suburban mom with baked cookies in her own adorable way. But anywho, back to Chad and Mindy. They really don't have that much screentime, but when they are on screen, it's totally worth it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN94r3f6Jp8ObUfl2Zpe6MpklpuqwF-ljG7BvPysxMjw44qT2WUYqZmey_oQaiKTU3F6ii3GJCqND1kFgtkwsOszJQU6NvBlQ9hU9_JPge_lpFm-7ePoIp80-WixnMvOgWfeJk-cSuzFDckbdaqaJ3zUi4L_3RxYaZLZPsVQEnJzYstS3EvWjzY-gMpg/s348/Chad_Meeks-Martin.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="294" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN94r3f6Jp8ObUfl2Zpe6MpklpuqwF-ljG7BvPysxMjw44qT2WUYqZmey_oQaiKTU3F6ii3GJCqND1kFgtkwsOszJQU6NvBlQ9hU9_JPge_lpFm-7ePoIp80-WixnMvOgWfeJk-cSuzFDckbdaqaJ3zUi4L_3RxYaZLZPsVQEnJzYstS3EvWjzY-gMpg/s320/Chad_Meeks-Martin.webp" width="270" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Chad is the loveable jock type and is far from dumb. He's quite the gentleman, has a witty sense of humor, and is an all-around nice guy. <b>He's</b> actually the one who rejects Liv for sex and not the other way around. Furthermore, Chad is quick to defend his friends which adds more to his likable qualities. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAuwM_9n9UQ7dMnd3Pr25eDpHzhLdXcimhYvF_siC-Ycqi-28VMTvwU-9yH6pyFV6tnwARKl7oL3Gz0ovOaYtumDfQ0ER55vhf9ivJ3LEz57ztdn_qWiI6plDLQnfMoibt3biLiB5cbjfZL4D4umizzU69vnvTNHu5wsu5OKwy5Ufy3yJ8ssj1OwjTg/s540/Chad%20Meeks%20Chase%20Scene.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="540" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAuwM_9n9UQ7dMnd3Pr25eDpHzhLdXcimhYvF_siC-Ycqi-28VMTvwU-9yH6pyFV6tnwARKl7oL3Gz0ovOaYtumDfQ0ER55vhf9ivJ3LEz57ztdn_qWiI6plDLQnfMoibt3biLiB5cbjfZL4D4umizzU69vnvTNHu5wsu5OKwy5Ufy3yJ8ssj1OwjTg/s320/Chad%20Meeks%20Chase%20Scene.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Chad gets a close call from the killer but he makes it out okay. And I'm totally glad he did. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_paxL0bVn_XvvowbM2cC0EF_NzdJ4unmjwFUrw2x56IJm0Eb5hI3gAgjOLtLVwvZ5vkFGEp-8mlSlwXCMByc9xKwyd9uJDZ5OkpmJ9SDYZqVl6YjSZTk509EeU_4jWxsdxGFmUQVegHbn7f_O9_6SHkXRdmqRiK--oAQqZrqwZum2GQWuqIHwSL4INw/s347/Mindy_Meeks-Martin.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="347" data-original-width="296" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_paxL0bVn_XvvowbM2cC0EF_NzdJ4unmjwFUrw2x56IJm0Eb5hI3gAgjOLtLVwvZ5vkFGEp-8mlSlwXCMByc9xKwyd9uJDZ5OkpmJ9SDYZqVl6YjSZTk509EeU_4jWxsdxGFmUQVegHbn7f_O9_6SHkXRdmqRiK--oAQqZrqwZum2GQWuqIHwSL4INw/s320/Mindy_Meeks-Martin.webp" width="273" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Mindy is probably one of my favorite characters in the movie. The scene where she gets to shine is when she lays down the rules of the "requel." Just like her dear uncle Randy, Mindy knows her shit and Jasmin Savoy Brown really gives it her all here. With just a small amount of screentime, she leaves a pretty big impact. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrFNydWpsp1_y2rMhTCHDMV6oNVg5tTldEkBhpbfIHsxY_jeAdECMyLuen5ZtzH2WI02gRiOpxUKoOG0EQxNSGint2u2eGTFrhSfZujNfv7CVBCdMBDur2GHNdgy_DVhAaSUjs5xfp4ANSnQsUP7YyONC9AqjtoL3yXmKj9cdisHI7912zSLkiDIDtw/s608/brown-scream-cb-210113_1642108012645_hpEmbed_3x2_608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="608" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrFNydWpsp1_y2rMhTCHDMV6oNVg5tTldEkBhpbfIHsxY_jeAdECMyLuen5ZtzH2WI02gRiOpxUKoOG0EQxNSGint2u2eGTFrhSfZujNfv7CVBCdMBDur2GHNdgy_DVhAaSUjs5xfp4ANSnQsUP7YyONC9AqjtoL3yXmKj9cdisHI7912zSLkiDIDtw/s320/brown-scream-cb-210113_1642108012645_hpEmbed_3x2_608.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2F1Fv3bfIVOwLqfZmFx8_71XrYtBkcP1P_fkpmkUF2DP7TcYm4xACpXWOpfslQ9EkL1PqcacLTxqZshvweHGTxygSSjBA_0-VmEslqCE3mQopyKO17mhAYK0bdVZawMqmiac3GDAYB2DLobycR9I2g6ooqXw5eu-SZRtAXw3iXCEEeB_N-QSQ6_aJw/s1000/mindy-meeks.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2F1Fv3bfIVOwLqfZmFx8_71XrYtBkcP1P_fkpmkUF2DP7TcYm4xACpXWOpfslQ9EkL1PqcacLTxqZshvweHGTxygSSjBA_0-VmEslqCE3mQopyKO17mhAYK0bdVZawMqmiac3GDAYB2DLobycR9I2g6ooqXw5eu-SZRtAXw3iXCEEeB_N-QSQ6_aJw/s320/mindy-meeks.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Mindy also gets a close call from Ghostface but just like her brother Chad, she makes it out okay. Now that is the true power of twining!</p><p style="text-align: left;">We have now come to this, our Triumphant Trio. They're a little older, a little wiser, and a lot savvier.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuYg2ZJtOcT-Zj1yYv8yu5kp39QJ_FIRdGpJDOeytbHLTTvq62fKKeiPtjSC-E6T7LV86E4MNTOP0C7bL5RKhD2rcOwjDSSsRMTy8avwAnD4pDaqI1EcLQMCofomkoeqC7_EcT6WXvFHNvWwehLhpu7PDzrAeuv-7vFV-QGBVzfn0SGuwx7oIg7Yy3w/s1500/WIDOW_GALE.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="1500" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFuYg2ZJtOcT-Zj1yYv8yu5kp39QJ_FIRdGpJDOeytbHLTTvq62fKKeiPtjSC-E6T7LV86E4MNTOP0C7bL5RKhD2rcOwjDSSsRMTy8avwAnD4pDaqI1EcLQMCofomkoeqC7_EcT6WXvFHNvWwehLhpu7PDzrAeuv-7vFV-QGBVzfn0SGuwx7oIg7Yy3w/s320/WIDOW_GALE.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Let's start with our favorite TV news anchor/bestselling author Gale Weathers played by the ever-so-incomparable Courtney Cox. In the years of dark, sensational tabloid stories, Gale has regressed into the safe compounds. I guess at this point, Gale wanted to soften her image after being branded as the 'His Girl Friday' of the Woodsboro Murders but that doesn't mean she's still hot at her game. When the Ghostface killer is on the prowl, Gale is right in the field mines, ready to make her mark. Sadly, Dewey won't join her this time...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklCNE-q-NfGNhEGz-h44MPPLNKC5vu0r07x2ycsHS2XmUo_Ab0HUBrAgk0s6lst2kmUOjWZzQYQ_EokRN09Z5Kc6AAYb07MMfbFvus8ljDWyY98kCVy22RC0VeyiYPbNs9FkcURfrdtV22JaE_uIyT4HVMvjyiY7r5w7GMSPDzsoWBBR4nh7iOyN-PUk3/s1200/dewey%20and%20gale%20scream%205.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgklCNE-q-NfGNhEGz-h44MPPLNKC5vu0r07x2ycsHS2XmUo_Ab0HUBrAgk0s6lst2kmUOjWZzQYQ_EokRN09Z5Kc6AAYb07MMfbFvus8ljDWyY98kCVy22RC0VeyiYPbNs9FkcURfrdtV22JaE_uIyT4HVMvjyiY7r5w7GMSPDzsoWBBR4nh7iOyN-PUk3/s320/dewey%20and%20gale%20scream%205.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlhT9Bdh7QdrlN0K9dBjoIDqsVVASTM8OJlipDj2ZJlDOZyjsLe8SWEmgWAg0qqrD_8QHIBopd0UW0hsEDRHOrjBiArtQnvjGRYluVUACVCEWKVMkyx0UcmfyhQn5NtBHhfxkeh4mET5FwNJBpWvWQTOzqMw8kAHqKOjbRhIPa2zgQYEcqPTnB1tjjkmA/s1564/Dewey%20and%20Gale%20reunite%20Scream%205.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlhT9Bdh7QdrlN0K9dBjoIDqsVVASTM8OJlipDj2ZJlDOZyjsLe8SWEmgWAg0qqrD_8QHIBopd0UW0hsEDRHOrjBiArtQnvjGRYluVUACVCEWKVMkyx0UcmfyhQn5NtBHhfxkeh4mET5FwNJBpWvWQTOzqMw8kAHqKOjbRhIPa2zgQYEcqPTnB1tjjkmA/s320/Dewey%20and%20Gale%20reunite%20Scream%205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Dewey and Gale are no longer together. But I do think the chemistry between Courtney Cox and David Arquette still works here and their reunion was painstakingly bittersweet. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AKJ49KIyEU1tCvMCN6CdcCvr8DTJ_a0btDAdSHL_hYmrVRwTbcbinffcwFssEJ38VANDpniT21eg2EuvHfBcfgzcCPmttzzcC08gc1CKahB1OAyd7vEduLm17Yuub0xB6pGmdwxN6X5oDYFF_wL-OIznLhnHc6DYaHBnKu6zRal3ifkCIl9tqgjro8Sw/s620/david_arquette_scream_2022-8b1cf5e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1AKJ49KIyEU1tCvMCN6CdcCvr8DTJ_a0btDAdSHL_hYmrVRwTbcbinffcwFssEJ38VANDpniT21eg2EuvHfBcfgzcCPmttzzcC08gc1CKahB1OAyd7vEduLm17Yuub0xB6pGmdwxN6X5oDYFF_wL-OIznLhnHc6DYaHBnKu6zRal3ifkCIl9tqgjro8Sw/s320/david_arquette_scream_2022-8b1cf5e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Speaking of, let's move on to Dewey played by the criminally underrated David Arquette. The characterization of Dewey is one of the main issues that I have with the film. After the events of Scream 4, he's divorced from Gale, has resigned as sheriff, and lives in a ramshackle trailer with an obvious drinking problem. Seeing how the character evolved throughout the film series, it's kind of disheartening to watch knowing that this will be...Spoiler Alert! His Last Screen Appearance. </p><p style="text-align: left;">So here's how it goes. When Sam and Richie ask for Dewey's help, he firmly dismisses them. He's been down that road before and without the person he loves, he doesn't want to go back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0FXuzixNL9Rb-1KdJeOKxvE7jNrFbtc_U5qhemTOocqHtzeHKeD1Tmpk_Tvo9cwkrDsxHR7flaNNrYzNGALib-ipnfgpHhwKVRR6f42GOH2pOwVeTB6HsP2aqz1rtSoZ4Lqzm2fV1zwpdaKtUwyCVum43IsOFgIbolruLHYHOOfZ-RSNW8Czrj4b5ZBQ/s960/scream-2022-dewey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw0FXuzixNL9Rb-1KdJeOKxvE7jNrFbtc_U5qhemTOocqHtzeHKeD1Tmpk_Tvo9cwkrDsxHR7flaNNrYzNGALib-ipnfgpHhwKVRR6f42GOH2pOwVeTB6HsP2aqz1rtSoZ4Lqzm2fV1zwpdaKtUwyCVum43IsOFgIbolruLHYHOOfZ-RSNW8Czrj4b5ZBQ/s320/scream-2022-dewey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">But as you do, Dewey comes to his senses and grabs his badge and gun. With some words of encouragement from Gale, Dewey becomes the hero we know and love. But this is where something stupid happens. When he joins Sam and Richie to rescue Tara, Dewey <b>stays behind </b>to finish off Ghostface. His reason? He has to shoot him in the head... because he always does. Worst. Writing. Decision. Ever.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy1YRJmt5VcPEoDNNCiVCWS5c7rzvumAThw-AoYtwxyqFwBnzThiubH04m6u7c09vpUlw74XYL2Abj8u1NP3CL-XzCXWS0EMNbzGZoiEIbG88QMx8qz_I851iJLGT7AELeL_GDXIZk9h6I2B5tVrbB31aR_80w-70FkaIC3lwmktC3HhU0VL8J1o3-jCZ/s540/Dewey's%20death%20Scream%205.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="540" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy1YRJmt5VcPEoDNNCiVCWS5c7rzvumAThw-AoYtwxyqFwBnzThiubH04m6u7c09vpUlw74XYL2Abj8u1NP3CL-XzCXWS0EMNbzGZoiEIbG88QMx8qz_I851iJLGT7AELeL_GDXIZk9h6I2B5tVrbB31aR_80w-70FkaIC3lwmktC3HhU0VL8J1o3-jCZ/s320/Dewey's%20death%20Scream%205.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">And this ladies and gentlemen is the moment where Dewey dies! why did this have to happen? Okay, if you wanted to give Dewey his final farewell, why not have him sacrifice himself for Tara's life? That would've come out so much better. And why not throw some of David Arquette's wrestling moves, make it more badass. Oh well, this is Dewey's swan song and he will be missed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVjpBFnnDtEQcKwfWjCoRHMfBraQfm499BUUlp9w_ReaWlcxwbYphWX1FeB4nOzimJT-3Tcf5_Y6rgyl6QjSBH3F96D7dTqVIh6bip94Mt2ZF96EpEcfAI3qG0tx72Tu9_yNY7jXD9CRuxOsTTd3hRL9hIPwgeXbSWiqkkCkFwLF_Klf7Nh-XT9z_lIbI/s268/0dyghidlywca1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="268" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVjpBFnnDtEQcKwfWjCoRHMfBraQfm499BUUlp9w_ReaWlcxwbYphWX1FeB4nOzimJT-3Tcf5_Y6rgyl6QjSBH3F96D7dTqVIh6bip94Mt2ZF96EpEcfAI3qG0tx72Tu9_yNY7jXD9CRuxOsTTd3hRL9hIPwgeXbSWiqkkCkFwLF_Klf7Nh-XT9z_lIbI/s1600/0dyghidlywca1.gif" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I would also like to mention the heartbreaking scene of Gale discovering Dewey's dead body. Courtney Cox really sells it here, invoking Gale's shock and devastation. I consider this one of the better scenes in the movie just based on how tragic Dewey's death really is. All I can say is, David Arquette had a pretty good run and he's one of the reasons why this character is so memorable. Au dou to you good, sir and may god speed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZRqIzC5_7YXmf4H7cVSgcSq_NvkqpvUr_o1SA1osSHmgcrXjC74KUSJMqpKl-Y2UVqbEfDBS3g-111vHQHIDmbc6LHHAchLRjt0dve3ORoGuLrYrB20tm3nZrHkFg5N6cjp0G3YJvfe5NpMfQc0-n_XLD-f6axCkzx-wau_3csXtYxRwArOPHy5kCQ47/s1200/scream-movie-5-2022-neve-campbell-sidney-prescott-4.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZRqIzC5_7YXmf4H7cVSgcSq_NvkqpvUr_o1SA1osSHmgcrXjC74KUSJMqpKl-Y2UVqbEfDBS3g-111vHQHIDmbc6LHHAchLRjt0dve3ORoGuLrYrB20tm3nZrHkFg5N6cjp0G3YJvfe5NpMfQc0-n_XLD-f6axCkzx-wau_3csXtYxRwArOPHy5kCQ47/s320/scream-movie-5-2022-neve-campbell-sidney-prescott-4.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Now, we have reached to the one and only Sidney Prescott played by the legendary Neve Campbell. In the years since, Sidney has settled down, got married, has two kids, and lives in a quaint, suburban neighborhood. There's a quick little reference that she's married to Mark Kincaid, the detective from <i>Scream 3. </i>It would've been nice to have an on-screen cameo from Patrick Dempsey but I digress. But the most important part is, Sidney is living the life she's always wanted: A life of normalcy...until she gets a phone call. No, it's not Ghostface. It's from our dearly departed Dewey, prompting Sidney to get back in action. Though considering her Final Girl experience, Sidney is fully prepared. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy_C5vaHAk_YPCEz_h0MSUWuLhYH7LKnCCaEiX1-11iwA_pXDXS0Ll4LnAFtfg6Rv_qwy8ndPpSGm4TpvVvAE5lVFOmXooUokNUf4BGTbfYE27TWuPnAuhKez6hLJhozFfHWE5L9kZXJugEaDMczHnRXlkzVvfd04WfbOOUCFkfr_zmpW2YIh8eDxDHpI/s695/Scream-5-Sidney%20and%20Gale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="695" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwy_C5vaHAk_YPCEz_h0MSUWuLhYH7LKnCCaEiX1-11iwA_pXDXS0Ll4LnAFtfg6Rv_qwy8ndPpSGm4TpvVvAE5lVFOmXooUokNUf4BGTbfYE27TWuPnAuhKez6hLJhozFfHWE5L9kZXJugEaDMczHnRXlkzVvfd04WfbOOUCFkfr_zmpW2YIh8eDxDHpI/s320/Scream-5-Sidney%20and%20Gale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">But just as she arrives for another heartfelt reunion, sadly, Dewey isn't there to lend her a hand. By this time, Dewey's death brings Sidney and Gale closer than ever, forming a close-knit bond they never knew they had. This is actually the first time Sidney and Gale work together and they make quite a formidable team. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMPUSuKyUbyzrktwqpBUQNEtVtfyEyl6upEbjNnm26YVhrnVBje2pEoNLpgwQv8OB0OV28QPLg6l5oBMkE0j9ddRBHIVWUdNIS6h6VEYvxiAnqHAcUuH1E9Y0VqC3ShlVIDU1K88C6VbRv4tLic3APCJVdAtt2ZpyCa3dKd3jgLWMbTEpclBGvV2EX59o/s1552/Scream6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="1552" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMPUSuKyUbyzrktwqpBUQNEtVtfyEyl6upEbjNnm26YVhrnVBje2pEoNLpgwQv8OB0OV28QPLg6l5oBMkE0j9ddRBHIVWUdNIS6h6VEYvxiAnqHAcUuH1E9Y0VqC3ShlVIDU1K88C6VbRv4tLic3APCJVdAtt2ZpyCa3dKd3jgLWMbTEpclBGvV2EX59o/s320/Scream6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Although Sidney makes a triumphant return, she doesn't have as much screentime. I guess to make way for newcomer Sam Carpenter, which I will get to shortly. But besides all that, Neve Campbell gives the character a self-assured toughness but gives this protective Mama Bear energy that I love. Although I think this film is rather subpar compared to other Scream films, Neve Campbell will always be the best part of it. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Now is the time to discuss our new main characters, the Carpenter sisters.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxhyJcc8O_YDhyTDnDvU94NTIK-esvJEviIVCK9DgD9O_VUQfZjzAiDcXnNlf46HyPm8l0sGTwJxzmH6MlnvrcA05gkxk8bczoBft4gSa-U2wC1lXUZu1goPFcJ4kxXUY9OQpq-_tBwZo3E-96KHLs6PFvxphx2eCbLADVhknM0L2NO6CETV1xOwzMhHk/s500/Scream%205%20Tara%20Carpenter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxhyJcc8O_YDhyTDnDvU94NTIK-esvJEviIVCK9DgD9O_VUQfZjzAiDcXnNlf46HyPm8l0sGTwJxzmH6MlnvrcA05gkxk8bczoBft4gSa-U2wC1lXUZu1goPFcJ4kxXUY9OQpq-_tBwZo3E-96KHLs6PFvxphx2eCbLADVhknM0L2NO6CETV1xOwzMhHk/s320/Scream%205%20Tara%20Carpenter.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Here we have the youngest of the two, Tara Carpenter played by the lovely and extremely talented Jenna Ortega. Although Tara is an important part of the story, she is more or less a supporting character, which is a shame because Jenna Ortega is a very effective Scream Queen.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB_wj5bl9cVrJ0aiAt50xbi0xTQqyu8Kl4s6JrMfSPYykzV9LpDkiJQbfHYw0vQtx08AvyeYJ2-hSQJu0XUQL_nccyo28OkMRrwH4JTyEuQ2xw_neK61G7aoHoEsAirF7Dpz2wCIAYWr2iIXFyhPbXx88frzNidEzPhf1cR_0OLa1-9AgAD8aPntHhDT0/s1521/Tara_Carpenter.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1521" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB_wj5bl9cVrJ0aiAt50xbi0xTQqyu8Kl4s6JrMfSPYykzV9LpDkiJQbfHYw0vQtx08AvyeYJ2-hSQJu0XUQL_nccyo28OkMRrwH4JTyEuQ2xw_neK61G7aoHoEsAirF7Dpz2wCIAYWr2iIXFyhPbXx88frzNidEzPhf1cR_0OLa1-9AgAD8aPntHhDT0/s320/Tara_Carpenter.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I would've preferred her to be the main character instead of Sam or better yet cut out the Sam character completely. It would be a great twist if you'd suspect Tara to be the opening victim but turns out, she's the movie's final girl. For most of the film, Tara is used as a plot device to make way for Sam's story arc. This is a bummer because Jenna Ortega would've made a very compelling lead. This girl is definitely a star in the making. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VJ4HERLxlF6b8SIuLg_qRiAbvAQoHsg_njyQV0Kf4_5J_iYcmnufguafNJXJkoIIGA8jWfycSsEsmml2RGONjfFSyPrUkMR_fhgphjXPmWpkQr5JjYQ2xW-AW8CPEMl2IIB0_jTfGlTRXwrTHnJgE2TRl-rVCjcKU1IKTiqrMcaE7ovE7jE3co6o44GM/s1280/scream-movie-melissa-barrera-2022.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VJ4HERLxlF6b8SIuLg_qRiAbvAQoHsg_njyQV0Kf4_5J_iYcmnufguafNJXJkoIIGA8jWfycSsEsmml2RGONjfFSyPrUkMR_fhgphjXPmWpkQr5JjYQ2xW-AW8CPEMl2IIB0_jTfGlTRXwrTHnJgE2TRl-rVCjcKU1IKTiqrMcaE7ovE7jE3co6o44GM/s320/scream-movie-melissa-barrera-2022.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Now we have entered into the forgone conclusion to one of my biggest, I mean, biggest issues of this movie, and that is the character of Sam Carpenter. Let's just get the elephant out of the room. Sam Carpenter is the supposed daughter of Billy Loomis. I consider this to be a major plot hole but at least the movie <b>tries</b> to explain it to us. You see, Sam's mom had her back when she was in high school. I'm guessing that Sam's mom is probably the bitchy cheerleader from the first movie (In which, the actress just so happens to be Skeet Ulrich's girlfriend at the time). Okay, this is where this subplot is becoming more complicated than I expect. So apparently, Billy was with Sidney and the unnamed mom at the same time? Considering that he was the mastermind behind the Woodsboro murders, I don't see how he would balance out a love triangle at the same time. But the real question is, how does Sam know all this? The good o'l diary in the attic. How cliche. Sam found all this out when she was a mere teen and just like that, she became rebellious and left town, leaving Tara behind with an emotionally absent mom. I guess this explains why the mom doesn't check up on the girls, especially Tara. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWzRTS2dlWGVAt8HA35Pw7l9obZIfqeMe45ggYWse_KVMHxid-_cgXB8GaewLWdlGFOknCGgZRfn8PRN2kLBmOa29c1a8AL0GwEEkkmJfgTg3BZIGOuEEft7gq_zUN_szaBX5X0Bc4IZDqX0Gv8ZHj5Y_ruC6nU9FOMkDww8SEmSHxM-TDzho8-hbyb8l/s600/Cheesy%20Cgi%20Contraption%20of%20Billy%20Loomis.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWzRTS2dlWGVAt8HA35Pw7l9obZIfqeMe45ggYWse_KVMHxid-_cgXB8GaewLWdlGFOknCGgZRfn8PRN2kLBmOa29c1a8AL0GwEEkkmJfgTg3BZIGOuEEft7gq_zUN_szaBX5X0Bc4IZDqX0Gv8ZHj5Y_ruC6nU9FOMkDww8SEmSHxM-TDzho8-hbyb8l/s320/Cheesy%20Cgi%20Contraption%20of%20Billy%20Loomis.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">But this is when things get really dumb. <b>Apparently</b>, Sam has some sort of mental disorder where she keeps seeing her dead biological dad in the mirror. Okay, I appreciate the Skeet Ulrich cameo but I thought this was completely unnecessary. It would've been good if the filmmakers had a hallucination/dream sequence similar to Sidney's nightmare in <i>Scream 3 </i>but no, they kept using him and using him to the point where it became cheesy and redundant. Oh and one more thing, I can totally see the CGI backdrop on Skeet Ulrich. Was it worth it? This is by far one of the dumbest decisions in the movie. Period. Point. Blank.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_1Wll8rx1YdOQujApSoYYF2CreaEHIwiBkWo7lNlKOrA56JDM7rYmasQebRf37OhcMIAwmiu1XqR2LCYIaHWZf1lERqYmsjdvORXEoGiec5NcCfsP5j-ZuzwUk4Gzw_JCd2_1LHHpsldrcj_rhIsjYeL1EqNutBOQoh9sjxjMBr77YiOmDkh6fTyaH0z/s1155/Scream-Melissa-Barrera-Cotton-Jacket3-910x1155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="910" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_1Wll8rx1YdOQujApSoYYF2CreaEHIwiBkWo7lNlKOrA56JDM7rYmasQebRf37OhcMIAwmiu1XqR2LCYIaHWZf1lERqYmsjdvORXEoGiec5NcCfsP5j-ZuzwUk4Gzw_JCd2_1LHHpsldrcj_rhIsjYeL1EqNutBOQoh9sjxjMBr77YiOmDkh6fTyaH0z/s320/Scream-Melissa-Barrera-Cotton-Jacket3-910x1155.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Okay, let's talk about Sam's personality. Oh wait, she doesn't have one. I get why the filmmakers wanted to make Sam a blank slate but where do you go from there? They try to pull the "mysterious" card on her but it doesn't work either. I don't buy that she's this former teen rebel. There's just not much of an edge to her, and maybe it has something to do with her acting. Now before I go on, I just want to say that I am not attacking Melissa Barrea, she seems like a really lovely person, I pray for all of her endeavors but she just wasn't good in this movie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQypO4uc0qFuCMqaKChadz0OVBrGHrjK3rGoOJY7fd9Tqhb3gqF6FDwWdJ6sKZcprGVkeVmVqktoXI56myvpMf3HUWiuSUvKmv4j4OjymUFtWWRU1dlpjRyAmwXpNFIBmSyK6kH47hmsOJhV58XplsEtAdtZr9XOdgmAZv0b7ytMlEdP-ad0IGJXNw98W/s1080/d92ba917d411be9b0d74e69b645ed474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1080" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXQypO4uc0qFuCMqaKChadz0OVBrGHrjK3rGoOJY7fd9Tqhb3gqF6FDwWdJ6sKZcprGVkeVmVqktoXI56myvpMf3HUWiuSUvKmv4j4OjymUFtWWRU1dlpjRyAmwXpNFIBmSyK6kH47hmsOJhV58XplsEtAdtZr9XOdgmAZv0b7ytMlEdP-ad0IGJXNw98W/s320/d92ba917d411be9b0d74e69b645ed474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-dje9ArmMVz49p3d3YsmIOTehwhX_dvTrSaX7_tL7Bgh0vpVlOm6ak8SzH1H5k-akd-rpd4uWC6_-fqrR55BKF_LAxrayLHkJWL-P7yKfuI3SQ0MUzxSLqbYox2LRhHYPYYq65I0KCrXbGnfHgKDyG-9pruzAWUdkWlGABuM1ZncILavY1wnnCn4LZlt/s580/Tara%20Recovering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="580" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-dje9ArmMVz49p3d3YsmIOTehwhX_dvTrSaX7_tL7Bgh0vpVlOm6ak8SzH1H5k-akd-rpd4uWC6_-fqrR55BKF_LAxrayLHkJWL-P7yKfuI3SQ0MUzxSLqbYox2LRhHYPYYq65I0KCrXbGnfHgKDyG-9pruzAWUdkWlGABuM1ZncILavY1wnnCn4LZlt/s320/Tara%20Recovering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">For example, there's the hospital scene where Sam confesses to Tara about her biological dad. Jenna Ortega knocks it off the park. Melissa...not so much. I just didn't feel enough emotion. Though, it's not really her fault. The screenplay writes her as a flat character with flat lines.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttxkixr3RtICk_2J8dFl5b43yPElqfQxyHEGpicM_MYE-8KHtn8K2UXUeyyP8mBwp2LUNZtU62_rgnVSLqT1V1LWWvCOZhIUA9gzvHuFdAFHm5THXPA_cJ7pecH9ZndXK-lYz3FAGOqvq1zJCXallgpyzzUAsPZ_h6jN-3UBOU2N0Y3PnMa_v2fd-D3by/s1622/scream-7.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1622" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttxkixr3RtICk_2J8dFl5b43yPElqfQxyHEGpicM_MYE-8KHtn8K2UXUeyyP8mBwp2LUNZtU62_rgnVSLqT1V1LWWvCOZhIUA9gzvHuFdAFHm5THXPA_cJ7pecH9ZndXK-lYz3FAGOqvq1zJCXallgpyzzUAsPZ_h6jN-3UBOU2N0Y3PnMa_v2fd-D3by/s320/scream-7.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">And does anyone notice that the chemistry between Melissa Barrea and Jack Quaid was off? Maybe if they had Kyle Gallner. Just maybe. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Alright, this is the moment where I pull a What If. Let's say instead of Sam being his biological daughter, why not make her Billy's half-sister? What if, after the events of <i>Scream</i> and <i>Scream 2</i>, Billy's dad moved on, got remarried, and had two more kids, Sam and Tara. Therefore, Sidney can throw in a reference about her half-brother (Roman from <i>Scream 3</i>) and then we're sold. This comes out so much better than the script asked for. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNwM-erR9panx4aaggjbSyuuiOo_gNdM5x9uftsXdd2e0U5QCeDniC4aSB2Dv139_U4ZnFis7WCtJuEpS8Sg1SSEjjdSjVx1zDVbjD8EuBtmwjKpvwTY05iQ0QeEeBVgifw0NhE6rj3KF7XwA6bF5hh3UDhUWvtvSSvQ7yu0Y9Si5sdutvH0EVbgyrJ6C/s828/IMG_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="828" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNwM-erR9panx4aaggjbSyuuiOo_gNdM5x9uftsXdd2e0U5QCeDniC4aSB2Dv139_U4ZnFis7WCtJuEpS8Sg1SSEjjdSjVx1zDVbjD8EuBtmwjKpvwTY05iQ0QeEeBVgifw0NhE6rj3KF7XwA6bF5hh3UDhUWvtvSSvQ7yu0Y9Si5sdutvH0EVbgyrJ6C/s320/IMG_2087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG11wvGPf_VGWPHT7YNyVAf7XORqn9W0uxd9nRSl5ghDGQ9CzLWl5lXzjpP0XoQcDhnF852KRa7sVGyLImML7w_AJtx78zpsd6LumxEVU1TfrcUKCo-VcSmA5HjgF5vPxbw4zMxorKtT7HCx1UOrUanTUhItW2MWJWXZfN2I-iijxZLZlgFpyjEZR9IJE/s1200/scrfp_018r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="1200" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlG11wvGPf_VGWPHT7YNyVAf7XORqn9W0uxd9nRSl5ghDGQ9CzLWl5lXzjpP0XoQcDhnF852KRa7sVGyLImML7w_AJtx78zpsd6LumxEVU1TfrcUKCo-VcSmA5HjgF5vPxbw4zMxorKtT7HCx1UOrUanTUhItW2MWJWXZfN2I-iijxZLZlgFpyjEZR9IJE/s320/scrfp_018r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoyBpEX2iyleZV7l0XBzPC9tr7kA60WSAWPMcG3eBewQchTOPKdzWQyGWlnwcjkg_oGeE0fjZz00uheBHEc_Q5UXEKJBsBybMWOpWGCUj02-PGINdsKxIzDkG4zmATBmFJ02aQIb9jhv9qIRYgRMsvacU2sigpRkdKf3R6y3u7LHbi_cTcHGV9Tm7wBi1/s1150/scream-6-e1642200218843.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1150" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoyBpEX2iyleZV7l0XBzPC9tr7kA60WSAWPMcG3eBewQchTOPKdzWQyGWlnwcjkg_oGeE0fjZz00uheBHEc_Q5UXEKJBsBybMWOpWGCUj02-PGINdsKxIzDkG4zmATBmFJ02aQIb9jhv9qIRYgRMsvacU2sigpRkdKf3R6y3u7LHbi_cTcHGV9Tm7wBi1/s320/scream-6-e1642200218843.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"> I thought the directing was much better than Scream 4, going for a gritty, stylistic style similar to Radio Silence's own <i>Ready or Not.</i> But as you know already, my main complaint is the writing. Sam's story arc is something straight out of a cheesy soap opera. It was so uncalled for. I just have a feeling that this wasn't Kevin Williamson's idea but somebody had to greenlight it, right? But in my humble opinion, if they would have went with the aforementioned What If, Sam's story arc would be much more organic. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3apit0b6OL6VCXEYSJTjJlgWqWtDiaCJ8fqpaSeFDpYVVu_g2g7o7ikEacTVwsyVGIkjDDbyxLSHJq519tVt5uwfr7zZ83oLsXohJ8neTDK8eDZSOpm_N2wracsSXrkfqjWKNZR7Hnw9NcFG2IUBJ_Eeg-ylJ96u4P1rzxgGDNJ0SD7yP12DWRkiww2VH/s1024/Scream-1024x587%20Ghostface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1024" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3apit0b6OL6VCXEYSJTjJlgWqWtDiaCJ8fqpaSeFDpYVVu_g2g7o7ikEacTVwsyVGIkjDDbyxLSHJq519tVt5uwfr7zZ83oLsXohJ8neTDK8eDZSOpm_N2wracsSXrkfqjWKNZR7Hnw9NcFG2IUBJ_Eeg-ylJ96u4P1rzxgGDNJ0SD7yP12DWRkiww2VH/s320/Scream-1024x587%20Ghostface.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Now is the moment you've been waiting for...Who is the killer behind the Ghostface mask? It's not Sam. Oh no, that would be too easy. But it is someone close to Sam and Tara...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD_dW-bx4J6cJ3hu6sqym2B9F3b1G7nWhlba2OsDZXtZjf7BLyCR7yfsPejKWt7hkBhmgnG1NffOe4d9eWjQoYaoWlQr2mduGjlxy6ZiAS9d9yvhdQWWiMKnceaxhyVCl65FBJ44EOvW54ch6S4mk2h0-tDpogQl5PQBGZ-Odz84daN_Fj3mjh6xem5RA/s1000/640761f6934c2c001802e2ff.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDD_dW-bx4J6cJ3hu6sqym2B9F3b1G7nWhlba2OsDZXtZjf7BLyCR7yfsPejKWt7hkBhmgnG1NffOe4d9eWjQoYaoWlQr2mduGjlxy6ZiAS9d9yvhdQWWiMKnceaxhyVCl65FBJ44EOvW54ch6S4mk2h0-tDpogQl5PQBGZ-Odz84daN_Fj3mjh6xem5RA/s320/640761f6934c2c001802e2ff.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9R-zEUut32X42O25M_g19GbSpjbyJ2UgJP50OC4rKsAeAERCL9xXo_GWUfEy4Wkpnx7KPRmWWESupjsCBBxh0LIuXVmPQez1pEDIXq_vmyMc9vq_-vMdry8SXv55LXEeYtmpYrS5jdDRUo62A1yge-1VU49Fa3QcvhOxDtxX7sjLWW2qz1cvE6T-8ae5/s300/Amber_Gun.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="300" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9R-zEUut32X42O25M_g19GbSpjbyJ2UgJP50OC4rKsAeAERCL9xXo_GWUfEy4Wkpnx7KPRmWWESupjsCBBxh0LIuXVmPQez1pEDIXq_vmyMc9vq_-vMdry8SXv55LXEeYtmpYrS5jdDRUo62A1yge-1VU49Fa3QcvhOxDtxX7sjLWW2qz1cvE6T-8ae5/s1600/Amber_Gun.webp" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Yep! You guessed it! It's Richie and Amber. Being lifelong fans of the <i>Stab</i> franchise, they hate of what it's become. So they make their own real-life <i>Stab</i> film to connect the dots to the relatives of the class of Woodsboro High circa 1996. I think this is a commentary on toxic fandom but I can point out the obvious clues, such as Richie watching a bad movie review of <i>Stab</i> 8 and Amber's obvious obsession with Tara. </p><p style="text-align: left;">So right into the third act, Sam, Tara, Sidney, and Gale go toe to toe with Richie and Amber. Mikey Maddison's acting becomes incredibly hammy and so does Jack Quaid's. There's crazy and then there's doing a little too much. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpxOqqlwD9cpj8Au9H5wtSuQnXSW6DHekCINIj-9nFuIzWdgDwLCt1OZBxcXJPvlCMcLCi0iE_xQtzqioi7cI3CMI5_ex1fPWQebsl88wDFDl3Qumcu-ZX6wxH6wVk8DYa-gV0ciDW_Qd3VkHFtvkTuAVd2VSAtW4DsfTH6CWvaa5UhgOaETIYHxi4A7h/s498/amber-freeman%20on%20fire.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="206" data-original-width="498" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpxOqqlwD9cpj8Au9H5wtSuQnXSW6DHekCINIj-9nFuIzWdgDwLCt1OZBxcXJPvlCMcLCi0iE_xQtzqioi7cI3CMI5_ex1fPWQebsl88wDFDl3Qumcu-ZX6wxH6wVk8DYa-gV0ciDW_Qd3VkHFtvkTuAVd2VSAtW4DsfTH6CWvaa5UhgOaETIYHxi4A7h/s320/amber-freeman%20on%20fire.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Sidney and Gale overpower Amber who is quite strong for her small stature but she is no match for the triumphant duo. Drenched in sanitizer, Sidney and Gale shoot Amber into a firey blaze. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bGdNvZgNf_nGeJYI2CwhI3I8sVf_vi9RoalrpPKW34Kx1UkmY5tvPHsCcL-5cGVuAe5rVqQWFSYi7V7Sxu_opnwvxaEkFcoIRXP85Uw2Uz_lBs6jcLdxDJz5P76xcegyXQYIrC02R8tY3d-o7jXtns_BDmjzo2CtXcf11i76pX5hUoMMiUx-e6Fsj8VM/s640/sam-carpenter-final-girl-or-villain-v0-xmkbg53f7i7a1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="640" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bGdNvZgNf_nGeJYI2CwhI3I8sVf_vi9RoalrpPKW34Kx1UkmY5tvPHsCcL-5cGVuAe5rVqQWFSYi7V7Sxu_opnwvxaEkFcoIRXP85Uw2Uz_lBs6jcLdxDJz5P76xcegyXQYIrC02R8tY3d-o7jXtns_BDmjzo2CtXcf11i76pX5hUoMMiUx-e6Fsj8VM/s320/sam-carpenter-final-girl-or-villain-v0-xmkbg53f7i7a1.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyROInaf1KYdHpy-AyhYGYjwG0X9x6mkr8DAE0ucc-mGz7-x2sU5xfRK3VVE1I8GnAQr16mkMDc_v0lbDxoBYYQXCtKjkfvVlPjjsQMS_97Bvnknwaw27F06hHw_lOWLuCuHd5Fgu0x9W4ZsPEr9HdoAGBZe3UZmmc6amzX7Gfabgp3AItbqlwxxmRCZE/s3360/Richie_Kirsch_Is_Dead_Scream_5.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1389" data-original-width="3360" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyROInaf1KYdHpy-AyhYGYjwG0X9x6mkr8DAE0ucc-mGz7-x2sU5xfRK3VVE1I8GnAQr16mkMDc_v0lbDxoBYYQXCtKjkfvVlPjjsQMS_97Bvnknwaw27F06hHw_lOWLuCuHd5Fgu0x9W4ZsPEr9HdoAGBZe3UZmmc6amzX7Gfabgp3AItbqlwxxmRCZE/s320/Richie_Kirsch_Is_Dead_Scream_5.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile, Sam goes head-to-head with Richie but she's able to take him down. When she has Richie cornered, Sam spouts out a cheesy one-liner, "Never mess with a daughter of a serial killer." Sorry, Sam, you are nowhere near Sidney's level. And just like that, Sam goes to town on Richie, stabbing him multiple times. She then slits his throat and shoots him in the head. Talk about overkill. But the girls aren't finished yet. Amber, her face horribly disfigured, lunges at them with a knife, and then...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU9cdwMSJ-43_H7gl0RF8QZNA335lU9dT54KIUJo99Xh5ekvK_9276muzKkEf8rqN0Wnr-pn7xaCNE24Szz-jpX1exRTFuEV3MLdyHvLd9hrr3uRszVum-toZthcKN4J3fbUqH-uc4mPFL0fxC1Ih1Po_YjaRSBSQH7It8qK2RNb69yu7y6xP4Db8agzT/s1920/S22-Unmasked-56-Tara%20Shoots%20the%20Killer.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU9cdwMSJ-43_H7gl0RF8QZNA335lU9dT54KIUJo99Xh5ekvK_9276muzKkEf8rqN0Wnr-pn7xaCNE24Szz-jpX1exRTFuEV3MLdyHvLd9hrr3uRszVum-toZthcKN4J3fbUqH-uc4mPFL0fxC1Ih1Po_YjaRSBSQH7It8qK2RNb69yu7y6xP4Db8agzT/s320/S22-Unmasked-56-Tara%20Shoots%20the%20Killer.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">BANG! Tara shoots her in the head. "I prefer the Babbadok," is her badass line and Jenna Ortega sells it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C_QDOynBGYtrc2-eNo3IifxNx3mTZEifyVTlkd3tVG62b9ytk1RRkJEP9Ci8hR-GSPXBoPk22q3RUanx_DAsAhys26ocbYTKsYqSIRZAyrUKI1b7eGOAQgxfgPk5bhUXR0IP87EUdb1lFXfXnRyAvH9bweACNylBoclbh9UEHL4XA-5uhWpg8yVS_5jt/s540/chad%20and%20mindy%20recovering.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="540" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4C_QDOynBGYtrc2-eNo3IifxNx3mTZEifyVTlkd3tVG62b9ytk1RRkJEP9Ci8hR-GSPXBoPk22q3RUanx_DAsAhys26ocbYTKsYqSIRZAyrUKI1b7eGOAQgxfgPk5bhUXR0IP87EUdb1lFXfXnRyAvH9bweACNylBoclbh9UEHL4XA-5uhWpg8yVS_5jt/s320/chad%20and%20mindy%20recovering.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgaVD-Lm495_6Udv3o_GSbLG9IeoCK2i1mNyda-oxPJc7D9El5Tg7-ddeza6FXVYrwX1iMKRnpR7jMm8Lc6CX_CoI75XWpcm0Ni_5KuNYs_J0xYCVtB3G4KI3_6xbwLfE7ruQymwt6XdHP-LVJnyKptnYhCZ2C-7v6CMiTw8KV9QGXIhVtkUlSRRXeyq9/s640/are-you-ready-to-say-goodbye-to-sidney-and-gale-or-should-v0-12q3o1uztei81.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="640" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfgaVD-Lm495_6Udv3o_GSbLG9IeoCK2i1mNyda-oxPJc7D9El5Tg7-ddeza6FXVYrwX1iMKRnpR7jMm8Lc6CX_CoI75XWpcm0Ni_5KuNYs_J0xYCVtB3G4KI3_6xbwLfE7ruQymwt6XdHP-LVJnyKptnYhCZ2C-7v6CMiTw8KV9QGXIhVtkUlSRRXeyq9/s320/are-you-ready-to-say-goodbye-to-sidney-and-gale-or-should-v0-12q3o1uztei81.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LGFho5Ka33r9Ar5VPTH2sI7uz6vN_XdKFkCiQLCA_O-5fjFKok60FivXwivURu_V1I7oXw83S91Yvs0WxyttOlNEen0Htxtvpn06rvEB5V46YoK9sLr2Ar_92XYXRE4Ckyo7M9nbJ5bqlX-BI00x2tR3rjtqmD09zR_WwJKlc1pDxeIQGkOgfg9crD9e/s540/sam%20and%20tara%20make%20up.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="540" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LGFho5Ka33r9Ar5VPTH2sI7uz6vN_XdKFkCiQLCA_O-5fjFKok60FivXwivURu_V1I7oXw83S91Yvs0WxyttOlNEen0Htxtvpn06rvEB5V46YoK9sLr2Ar_92XYXRE4Ckyo7M9nbJ5bqlX-BI00x2tR3rjtqmD09zR_WwJKlc1pDxeIQGkOgfg9crD9e/s320/sam%20and%20tara%20make%20up.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;">As the Triumphant Girls (Sidney, Gale, Sam, and Tara) step out of the house, wounded but not broken, the police arrive. Out comes the Wonder Twins, Chad and Mindy, being wheeled out in their stretchers. Then there's the Carpenter sisters in mutual rejoicing; Sam coming to terms with her past and, Tara safe and alive in her arms. Zen Survivor Sidney sits proudly beside her former frenemy and now best friend Gale Weathers. As their story arc comes to a close, Gale tells Sidney that she might write a book about Dewey, The Unsung Hero of Woodsboro. Okay, I'm going to pull another What If:</p><p style="text-align: left;">Let's say if the filmmakers had Kyle Gallner cast as Richie, it would be kept a mystery that he's actually the nephew of Stu Macher. Therefore, that would hype up the fans who wanted Stu to return. See? Maybe Richie would be obsessed with Sam being the half-sister of Billy Loomis, so much so it becomes toxic. Along with Amber, he sets his sights on reigniting the Woodsboro Murders.</p><p style="text-align: left;">If the filmmakers would've kept that version of the story, the screenplay could've had a better flow. Just my opinion. </p><p style="text-align: left;">So yeah, that was Scream or Scream 5 or Scream 2022, it doesn't matter. I just think it was an <i>okay</i> film but it had so much potential to be better than it was. I've heard Scream 6 has been released and judging from what I've seen in this movie...it might take a little while for me to review. Trust me, I've seen it and...I have a lot of thoughts. Anyway, Scream 2022 might not hold up well for me.</p><p style="text-align: left;">My last word: Not bad but not great either. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-TfkyBWEoWY" width="320" youtube-src-id="-TfkyBWEoWY"></iframe></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-2491482661463154682023-05-08T23:43:00.001-07:002023-05-08T23:51:33.022-07:00Candyman (2021)<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7geI315aysqRTGuzNlkawKLCsd4WgoIOdEBhWdNzWHeXbutdWu7EJ0esYaxIkfUC877h0-mrz3yLsuGGbl67jx5RrKonPb9aETJO18KGRqSkSySg__uvD6E88nb9lmERK3hM1wXyeroXQSXdNeDceQ4FtpgcRYIx7Aq598qEjugCFsHpcMihWbu0DA/s283/candyman%202021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="178" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7geI315aysqRTGuzNlkawKLCsd4WgoIOdEBhWdNzWHeXbutdWu7EJ0esYaxIkfUC877h0-mrz3yLsuGGbl67jx5RrKonPb9aETJO18KGRqSkSySg__uvD6E88nb9lmERK3hM1wXyeroXQSXdNeDceQ4FtpgcRYIx7Aq598qEjugCFsHpcMihWbu0DA/s1600/candyman%202021.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p></p><br /><p>After the disastrous reception of <i>Day of the Dead</i>, it would be over a decade for a Candyman sequel to be produced. In 2004, Clive Barker was involved with a 25 million budget. This would've actually been great, considering that Clive Barker is the writer of the source material, but unfortunately, that never came to be. In 2009, filmmaker Deon Taylor was set to direct the film, which would've taken place at an all-women's college during the winter, thankfully ignoring the events of<i> Day of the Dead</i>, but the film fell apart due to rights issues. Fast forward to nine years later, it was announced that Jordan Peele, the director of <i>Get Out</i> and <i>Us</i>, will be producing the sequel with the help of Nia DaCosta filling in the role of director. This seems to be like a match made in heaven. So, by 2019, pre-production for the fourth Candyman sequel was on the go. And the result is a...pretty mixed bag. </p><p>The way I can describe Candyman 2021 is an almost perfect movie. The directing? Amazing. The acting? Top-notch. The writing? I'm afraid I have to go with a...meh. I would say that the build-up of the story is well done but up until the third act, it's a bit of a mess. And there is so much to uncover with that, so let's start the review. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvBfgBbiMrf2jc5Bwu8H_XJ9dvkIyAG-LwbNMSsg7yygGhrquapR71jeyplWDexq05NUSGY03P9HWYLljakNpZ_3W6ZhY3IWQfBQYalLyhrLr-vb-6Jqg4RN1NmfD1CMtSdHrupv0InArejSdVR_VvDvvrqIu7SL3rEToTwEnE855CtjwB_enfHwO4w/s350/candyman-movie-screenshot1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="197" data-original-width="350" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvBfgBbiMrf2jc5Bwu8H_XJ9dvkIyAG-LwbNMSsg7yygGhrquapR71jeyplWDexq05NUSGY03P9HWYLljakNpZ_3W6ZhY3IWQfBQYalLyhrLr-vb-6Jqg4RN1NmfD1CMtSdHrupv0InArejSdVR_VvDvvrqIu7SL3rEToTwEnE855CtjwB_enfHwO4w/s320/candyman-movie-screenshot1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Story: Anthony McCoy, a renowned painter in the Chicago art scene, is seeking inspiration. With the help of his girlfriend, gallery owner Brianna Cartwright, he's hard at work on his next project. After hearing about The Legend of Helen Lyle, Anthony investigates the now-gentrified Cabrini Green where he meets Laundromat owner, Willam Burke. Forty-two years ago, as a young boy, William witnessed the police beating and eventual death of Sherman Fields, a mentally-challenged homeless man who was wrongfully accused of giving a white girl candy filled with razor blades. He was soon proven innocent, long after his death, though in the afterlife, Sherman has ingrained himself as a "Candyman" legend. As Anthony becomes more and more obsessed with the Candyman mythos, he would later uncover a secret from the past that would change the course of his life forever...</p><p>The cast is phenomenal, hands down, and it was one of the few things that got me invested in the film. The strongest of the bunch are Yahya Abdul-Matten, Teyonah Parris, and Colman Domingo. So, I would gladly share my perspective on these fantastic actors, starting with:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZBN-cxvF7j-o46F_bYc4bNTT7R9nT-_PjBa5fBZHwppERLd1NLGOkvvw_WkEZYEHvr_L7RgXsnhZAR60LipURhgAjpymBdYqxoGzQ-zCFQ4kOyuJqz-1k5WM2IA9lMBbV2fB8WCWS8g02SOQ5goR6qCx6YnVOQYgESHeGoO1H9m9hs1LLZNaLxkZgQ/s700/yahya-candyman-1-1597075015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="700" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZBN-cxvF7j-o46F_bYc4bNTT7R9nT-_PjBa5fBZHwppERLd1NLGOkvvw_WkEZYEHvr_L7RgXsnhZAR60LipURhgAjpymBdYqxoGzQ-zCFQ4kOyuJqz-1k5WM2IA9lMBbV2fB8WCWS8g02SOQ5goR6qCx6YnVOQYgESHeGoO1H9m9hs1LLZNaLxkZgQ/s320/yahya-candyman-1-1597075015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Anthony McCoy, played by the very sexy and very talented Yahya Abdul-Mateen. Not that anybody knows yet, but the mystery surrounding Anthony is that he is the son of Anne-Marie who got kidnapped as a baby and eventually saved by Helen Lyle. I thought it was quite an interesting touch to have him as the main character. Another interesting callback is that Anthony is an artist himself as if Candyman has christened him to be the next big talent. However, it seems as though Anthony has some self-absorbed, self-destructive tendencies that get in the way of his success. </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUTz5w0sKcRMnEOVdUkVjUzEng0kDAGY-yrrDw9N3rS5DcsjiiuMWvoFc6nmwdzsDSCp6fK5XTsROe1uPChv6p9VdDDXBZJLpsSud3zBMVlCul7TsQ6V5bmfswkm8LQO7qWQfjfEz-ItUV7a7bWWo2R3wwqd5MhSh1XVBAFcwJ27DJEfAxD5DUPgUyg/s2000/candyman-film-still-2021-01.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFUTz5w0sKcRMnEOVdUkVjUzEng0kDAGY-yrrDw9N3rS5DcsjiiuMWvoFc6nmwdzsDSCp6fK5XTsROe1uPChv6p9VdDDXBZJLpsSud3zBMVlCul7TsQ6V5bmfswkm8LQO7qWQfjfEz-ItUV7a7bWWo2R3wwqd5MhSh1XVBAFcwJ27DJEfAxD5DUPgUyg/s320/candyman-film-still-2021-01.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But once he discovers the Cabrini Green projects, Anthony gets stung by a bee as if he's been marked. When he gets more and more obsessed with the Candyman lore, Anthony literally starts to become him! It's kind of like a pseudo-<i>Nightmare on Elm Street 2</i> situation. This actually got me invested but, unfortunately, that's not all to the story. I'll talk more about the third act later. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmuyZX99guPJVUFFBwpEGIykx0Q-0hmbqu_mk7QUY-gjfxHzZepPpQuFlhYKZ1EFi5w4M6TQDPTc4v2yo7Y89mjcLPxaIz8C-t8pBrqPwngdo8DjG5YxbQRQDmExdm9LQFvlt5Y9guRHBuSZKHLwyZrpFY5rEzRZi2rFQlvrJctZ1s8e24uS0RKwGUg/s700/yahya-abdul-mateen-II-candyman-01-700x400-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="700" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmuyZX99guPJVUFFBwpEGIykx0Q-0hmbqu_mk7QUY-gjfxHzZepPpQuFlhYKZ1EFi5w4M6TQDPTc4v2yo7Y89mjcLPxaIz8C-t8pBrqPwngdo8DjG5YxbQRQDmExdm9LQFvlt5Y9guRHBuSZKHLwyZrpFY5rEzRZi2rFQlvrJctZ1s8e24uS0RKwGUg/s320/yahya-abdul-mateen-II-candyman-01-700x400-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Though I would say that Yahya Abdul-Mateen did a really good performance. The first choice to play Anthony was actually Lakeith Stanford and I would've loved to see that. He is an <i>intense</i> method actor and would've knocked it off the park, splendidly, however, Yahya really honed it in and gave a more vulnerable approach to his character . he has just the right amount of range to balance out the drama and horror of Anthony's situation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbJdpnBUh15aD9DhcYRkNuODWcLD6o9CJKQ5V0wqV-OXPGfB9sBpsBQaa_r4EVDKZ5qS6FMnAnle0keHbEwBrJ2t0V80fZcZkhJaf7q3078BC9ljQ5kQfeNzBHDEyAv5DJaRIEsNIktrf5hSY_beBs8MkhtJzhLoD9G4gSbxYJI3pCTHOp_Moq-rJVg/s1200/candyman-2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbJdpnBUh15aD9DhcYRkNuODWcLD6o9CJKQ5V0wqV-OXPGfB9sBpsBQaa_r4EVDKZ5qS6FMnAnle0keHbEwBrJ2t0V80fZcZkhJaf7q3078BC9ljQ5kQfeNzBHDEyAv5DJaRIEsNIktrf5hSY_beBs8MkhtJzhLoD9G4gSbxYJI3pCTHOp_Moq-rJVg/s320/candyman-2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Brianna Cartwright played by Teyonah Parris was the showstopper for me. Not only was she incredibly likable and relatable, but she was also believable in what her character was experiencing. Brianna takes the role of the audience surrogate, even to the point where I wanted her to be the main character instead. I just have to say it, she has a more compelling story arc than Anthony's, which ties into the movie's theme about trauma. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJKfRZwiMUz9l5h9IYpIwHHnq1yYGyELEqeT6zbeB6yQ24NF9F_ztdvqmsfZJSGw6a4_QcX_AM9vo3wMxF7yRybD4y017u4MVQwzTDCw9a-Eva-N_GTJqPzVWPSouwfZPMA4M8-1RXXYif0ndYrFMqOagGhsJF5xd3RR0rUtG-YKJAizwAPcY00VoSQ/s1487/candyman-e1599863426438.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1487" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJKfRZwiMUz9l5h9IYpIwHHnq1yYGyELEqeT6zbeB6yQ24NF9F_ztdvqmsfZJSGw6a4_QcX_AM9vo3wMxF7yRybD4y017u4MVQwzTDCw9a-Eva-N_GTJqPzVWPSouwfZPMA4M8-1RXXYif0ndYrFMqOagGhsJF5xd3RR0rUtG-YKJAizwAPcY00VoSQ/s320/candyman-e1599863426438.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJDQp9DNJLNRbRjOOEz4nJluPSX4csUu8Fuy0GiMqWsKLFJceD0IgzKRWK4RWNzxXQVs3dKOZGnWXo5kHvHpnhVwi_iP7nMz06ncXyqITke_lt810u-KLmos-I52GgkICkdg1k3vhn1PYLCm7apKivIXNSu0jMG3nHLzkrB-RDtuCx-kPcXtOuo6-MA/s1400/bh9gwwhsgzvhzvnjvffh.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="1400" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJDQp9DNJLNRbRjOOEz4nJluPSX4csUu8Fuy0GiMqWsKLFJceD0IgzKRWK4RWNzxXQVs3dKOZGnWXo5kHvHpnhVwi_iP7nMz06ncXyqITke_lt810u-KLmos-I52GgkICkdg1k3vhn1PYLCm7apKivIXNSu0jMG3nHLzkrB-RDtuCx-kPcXtOuo6-MA/s320/bh9gwwhsgzvhzvnjvffh.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p>As a little girl, Brianna witnessed the suicide of her father who was an artist himself. As Anthony becomes more engrossed with the Candyman mythos, affecting his mental state, Brianna begins to distance herself until she uncovers the ugly truth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloq8fUAZd-1DdjxdrG_NUnvuHqkgcl5OcgXXs7kOaDB9cFOX9oBzyKJpTsnQBwIkGX1FWYg1RdyaDdLNrnbG74GFe-F3jsXP5zKEjhoiIb73cBhQaAkbfeUKJxAP3lDwS3QFdklj-6JePVUFUj9i555_jJSrUKXjpF9NEgTlJIIqmH_XcRjrc_WYqdg/s1307/candyman-2021-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="791" data-original-width="1307" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloq8fUAZd-1DdjxdrG_NUnvuHqkgcl5OcgXXs7kOaDB9cFOX9oBzyKJpTsnQBwIkGX1FWYg1RdyaDdLNrnbG74GFe-F3jsXP5zKEjhoiIb73cBhQaAkbfeUKJxAP3lDwS3QFdklj-6JePVUFUj9i555_jJSrUKXjpF9NEgTlJIIqmH_XcRjrc_WYqdg/s320/candyman-2021-yahya-abdul-mateen-ii-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Teyonah Parris was fantastic as Brianna. Furthermore, I like how she portrays her character as an actual human being, reacting to the horror in a realistic way. For one instance, after witnessing Anthony's psychotic meltdown, she decides to smoke a joint with her brother and his boyfriend. Something that<i> I</i> would do in a situation like that. So, not only did Teyonah Parris give a top-tier performance but she also played a character I would totally hang out with too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fuiDyWWI2dIRzOStFRm8e5cotuII8W88gLKgm1B1Y4O0BCPUP9lyU-GzqAFLJ-C95ZsdUKXM9n_X1FdToxXC5en9YDOLyAfQVWNraYocEeDhD9lNZeuXN7gusl7PL8EvOS0ORklxttxkvlM5c1P2Z23e98QpDIvE6AkmGAN-SkoKX2su18iTXQMpUg/s780/intro-1628440181.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fuiDyWWI2dIRzOStFRm8e5cotuII8W88gLKgm1B1Y4O0BCPUP9lyU-GzqAFLJ-C95ZsdUKXM9n_X1FdToxXC5en9YDOLyAfQVWNraYocEeDhD9lNZeuXN7gusl7PL8EvOS0ORklxttxkvlM5c1P2Z23e98QpDIvE6AkmGAN-SkoKX2su18iTXQMpUg/s320/intro-1628440181.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Then we have William Burke played by the also sexy and talented Colman Domingo. William's trauma starts with the opening scene of the film when he encounters Sherman Feilds before his eventual death and lives to tell the tale. After his experience, he studies the Candyman mythos that trickles down to generation after generation. There's really not much to know about William after that. He's sort of like the exposition guy who gives Anthony the historical context surrounding the "Candyman" spirit. He's kind of mysterious and mostly hides out at the laundromat in which he owns but there's much more to talk about in the third act. Oh boy, just wait. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd3nv_tca__VPh9aZqDapkzQe4q3Wwz_i5PKXzmru5-PUHogkpkd5Phms2UvYOrFIzeNYAr54PBuzMMzWJxdKhTWtm8fUC0Bc3paF6a5n1oBXCnWGfNKmcUZ1FkzzRULsGs7tj1hGbS5wnqe4XBVJl2jQC7muk6iAQEfxC66U6pZdIEhlZUw61wuY7A/s600/9eaafc37acad5f57-600x338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsd3nv_tca__VPh9aZqDapkzQe4q3Wwz_i5PKXzmru5-PUHogkpkd5Phms2UvYOrFIzeNYAr54PBuzMMzWJxdKhTWtm8fUC0Bc3paF6a5n1oBXCnWGfNKmcUZ1FkzzRULsGs7tj1hGbS5wnqe4XBVJl2jQC7muk6iAQEfxC66U6pZdIEhlZUw61wuY7A/s320/9eaafc37acad5f57-600x338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>However, Colman Domingo was really great in the role. He has this smooth, storytelling voice that's almost equal to Morgan Freeman's. He also adds a level of complexity to the character where we emphasized with his trauma. In one of the film's most powerful scenes, William breaks down in tears, explaining the cycle of abuse that black men like Daniel Robitaille experienced, expressing how this hits home for him. Colman Domingo really did for me in this scene and it's one of his shining moments. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu0vQKA5fia0HpClFAbcmv1mPuGdPk-Yf8FSi4iZuzZfD0Z-CZg3ZjD1tyK9mDmbgf9jeNSCOYBhApuYX7Fx1WZgjsKWZ8N60sk44MUVUGrzHpfPKR4HXFknf0LiGBYs2WWIAiKZAwWD2-ZC38TiJaXXaG6lq4jHq_pcmwweqhh143h-5CkKiT8N4Cg/s2000/best-candyman-2021-quotes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxu0vQKA5fia0HpClFAbcmv1mPuGdPk-Yf8FSi4iZuzZfD0Z-CZg3ZjD1tyK9mDmbgf9jeNSCOYBhApuYX7Fx1WZgjsKWZ8N60sk44MUVUGrzHpfPKR4HXFknf0LiGBYs2WWIAiKZAwWD2-ZC38TiJaXXaG6lq4jHq_pcmwweqhh143h-5CkKiT8N4Cg/s320/best-candyman-2021-quotes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The most breakout role goes to Troy Cartwright played by Nathan Stuart-Jarret. He's the film's comic relief with a healthy dose of dry humor to balance out the horror. In the first few scenes, he is the one who tells the story of Helen Lyle, though the events are not particularly accurate to what we saw in the first Candyman. The news article (according to Troy) paints Helen as this nut-job who was so obsessed with the Candyman lore that she beheaded a dog and kidnapped a baby as a sacrifice, and whilst seeing Candyman, in a disillusioned state, sacrifices <i>herself</i> in the fire. Though according to the people who witnessed the bonfire, this news article is 100% percent false. Somehow, this sparks an interest in Anthony, not knowing that he was the baby that Helen supposedly kidnapped. Therefore, Troy fits into the inciting incident by diving into his fascination with urban legends. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvQrDK9efKZretWXbiNzJx7h2_v-Nixd18Mx7lJzZz0m6J536NojB-_sWWu1h2QVa3x1v7yu9kU_ZxxeKirg-NaS--lQFDsVR05l2DWNnBHxtOCxpio0u-RMxcV9_3bViAJA02E4ONqzZs7JiodlvAClIKw6WODnT8JQLDvLG7RNuG5fTTm4fh-upww/s445/2980.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="445" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcvQrDK9efKZretWXbiNzJx7h2_v-Nixd18Mx7lJzZz0m6J536NojB-_sWWu1h2QVa3x1v7yu9kU_ZxxeKirg-NaS--lQFDsVR05l2DWNnBHxtOCxpio0u-RMxcV9_3bViAJA02E4ONqzZs7JiodlvAClIKw6WODnT8JQLDvLG7RNuG5fTTm4fh-upww/s320/2980.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There's also Troy's boyfriend, Grady, who he shares incredible chemistry with. Their comic timing is always on point. But aside from being the comic relief, Troy is usually the voice of reason, too and he and Grady give Brianna the emotional support she needs. Overall, Nathan Stewart-Jarret's performance as Troy was one of the most entertaining parts of the movie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBaGfppHEcIBY6r-DkzB4GG3GzpLjiQsoOXeajSSb5Ns0GFasfdm1P7lIK-bfoYU57LJ089HGz3swvuoscV5UxwbhF1xWq33h9H2M34CaKGbO1Q10HBSDXc1kw9fGpKcUQ-UfHvtTvOEhIs1V9lbUQbN_lrlnzWt2Cry9NpmABHvt0pLsx7s2Xnoxvg/s1000/candyman-2020-vanessa-williams-e1597255369922.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBaGfppHEcIBY6r-DkzB4GG3GzpLjiQsoOXeajSSb5Ns0GFasfdm1P7lIK-bfoYU57LJ089HGz3swvuoscV5UxwbhF1xWq33h9H2M34CaKGbO1Q10HBSDXc1kw9fGpKcUQ-UfHvtTvOEhIs1V9lbUQbN_lrlnzWt2Cry9NpmABHvt0pLsx7s2Xnoxvg/s320/candyman-2020-vanessa-williams-e1597255369922.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p>Then we have the exceptional Vanessa A. Williams as Anne-Marie McCoy. I just want to say Vanessa looks incredible for her age and on top of that, she really knocks it off the park in her one and only scene. It shows how much impact her character had in the original. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fhwba4xmFEO_NoRtatZoXoF5ZuATQU79bjC5DON96ldYEaayiENpcM7N_XWpTJUH9wk_yPsUqZux902vyF7VBgmBRi9XVSlj8WW0I9GC0pBXnPFQ_53Hhwlt8eKIdUAeHyCcr_ZTh0T7zjaWLnn4joqfxkB46AHyPZ1dvZk03egbjkpANNQRBCOOmg/s2667/210829070046-03-candyman-2021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2667" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Fhwba4xmFEO_NoRtatZoXoF5ZuATQU79bjC5DON96ldYEaayiENpcM7N_XWpTJUH9wk_yPsUqZux902vyF7VBgmBRi9XVSlj8WW0I9GC0pBXnPFQ_53Hhwlt8eKIdUAeHyCcr_ZTh0T7zjaWLnn4joqfxkB46AHyPZ1dvZk03egbjkpANNQRBCOOmg/s320/210829070046-03-candyman-2021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This is by far one of the film's best scenes, Vanessa and Yahya are at their top form here, honing the emotions and devastation the characters are feeling. It's a very effective scene and a testament to how great the acting truly is.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVwjUPXBkdH2YiGVuym50h0wFxQ1s5415IpkCz04swtHvJjCnwlqkYO5SfrMcWjs40zyNUR3Uo3Vuite7-f9TTE09L9ZC_cirPp6FVl07Ye3QE5XFEIoKrHgNWvcPTxC0taCrA4gBzbzsE03i-yRORbxvbk9b8SwEQuB50inaegeW5gUsEJpfxebMww/s900/Candyman-Courtesy-of-Universal-Pictures-copyb-900x467.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="900" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVwjUPXBkdH2YiGVuym50h0wFxQ1s5415IpkCz04swtHvJjCnwlqkYO5SfrMcWjs40zyNUR3Uo3Vuite7-f9TTE09L9ZC_cirPp6FVl07Ye3QE5XFEIoKrHgNWvcPTxC0taCrA4gBzbzsE03i-yRORbxvbk9b8SwEQuB50inaegeW5gUsEJpfxebMww/s320/Candyman-Courtesy-of-Universal-Pictures-copyb-900x467.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDI6ke9Ashxb_CDADkyn02L0HOevaR9QhUqdNpH0wYcpoYV60m92bLxfOgvFsJktSrBcEFwDh3PJG1zEua1W84LPSmXw3BG0o4B8QDp7aBym3rvUhA_hRa73s1kduDzQl_FU2IGryinMov3jk0S6AzixUCFTpwA3Z0Qmfo3RN_GiWwjt3f36A5FKP8g/s1000/candyman-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="1000" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDI6ke9Ashxb_CDADkyn02L0HOevaR9QhUqdNpH0wYcpoYV60m92bLxfOgvFsJktSrBcEFwDh3PJG1zEua1W84LPSmXw3BG0o4B8QDp7aBym3rvUhA_hRa73s1kduDzQl_FU2IGryinMov3jk0S6AzixUCFTpwA3Z0Qmfo3RN_GiWwjt3f36A5FKP8g/s320/candyman-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Lastly, we have the eponymous Candyman...Sherman Fields. First off, I just want to say although the actor Michael Hargrove has a creepy presence about him and plays the character well, I just don't see how Sherman Fields fits into the Candyman timeline. </p><p>Okay, I'm going to get into spoiler territory here:</p><p>So, William mentions that there is actually a Candyman hive, morphing into the faces of black men who were killed by injustice. But from my understanding, in the original film, the residents of Cabrini Green only thought of Candyman as one entity. When you examine the timeline of the 1992 film, I just don't see how Sherman Fields fits into it. So was it possible that people were talking about two Candymen? Okay, you know what, I'm not gonna dwell too deep into this because this has a lot of plotholes, trust me. But I will say this, I wish they would've had Tony Todd as Candyman, again. He's the only one that can embody this role perfectly and it was such a missed opportunity. Technically, he is <b>in</b> the film but I'll talk more about that in the third-act segment. </p><p>Let's get the <i>so-called</i> victims out of the way:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSFMUq1Abch5CCkdr10WQDYfAQIM9nbtozzDaePlcqXDEOzYYThjvu26a4CvneIEyuWysl39DYlvsyDUdId_bC62YF0rezhNyhOFgi6_Fxuw3nbwM4oJhb42wHe8SEv0zgRQf9_QB04RaAiC2JObLyhy7Kx52A99dBdMifeOGGy6qICs5jCwr_blSXQ/s538/Clive_Privler.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggSFMUq1Abch5CCkdr10WQDYfAQIM9nbtozzDaePlcqXDEOzYYThjvu26a4CvneIEyuWysl39DYlvsyDUdId_bC62YF0rezhNyhOFgi6_Fxuw3nbwM4oJhb42wHe8SEv0zgRQf9_QB04RaAiC2JObLyhy7Kx52A99dBdMifeOGGy6qICs5jCwr_blSXQ/s320/Clive_Privler.webp" width="194" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtL6HUQKMBwN2KUO7GZpjPyEIbIGTu4lKcFW-LfUxxlNhND7hDppY5oJ-JNkhWk5BtgpiuAIhaZftP9PqW8Iy1AEH0IcD7td7z50vrXWElPe0DUDTKvZr0pZtYt7YRPO-sM6jzmyVzOQaCpu7pqQAch1f-4KZdKp3AW93ZW-uG2U5eFE5v6nwyVjXHQ/s414/Jerrica_Cooper_(Candyman).webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEtL6HUQKMBwN2KUO7GZpjPyEIbIGTu4lKcFW-LfUxxlNhND7hDppY5oJ-JNkhWk5BtgpiuAIhaZftP9PqW8Iy1AEH0IcD7td7z50vrXWElPe0DUDTKvZr0pZtYt7YRPO-sM6jzmyVzOQaCpu7pqQAch1f-4KZdKp3AW93ZW-uG2U5eFE5v6nwyVjXHQ/s320/Jerrica_Cooper_(Candyman).webp" width="278" /></a></div><br /><p>We have the arrogant, pretentious art dealer Clive Privler and his equally arrogant, pretentious girlfriend Jerrica Cooper. Let's keep this short and simple. Clive is whiny and self-observed, and Jerrica is a stereotypical goth dominatrix. By the way, their acting and dialogue was so cringe that I couldn't wait for Candyman to come and hook the hell out of them. Their death scenes are very reminiscent of Miguel and his girlfriend's in <i>Day of the Dead</i> but that's all I gotta say about them. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda_NGLjjmOO8eoHx2zmLf8GTnHtGOFF6oIEi7wmoHtqAeIUSMshhmutKZAtINEsy2pA0vaqQbkyO-YyeKx42sORG4UCy8fJemX1p_ykX2wIuk6a1H4avOzUYrDKX6YpCD8IdPs5d3-dq9fOIwE4PcQykd7dgORdQQskqikHT6aLodT9OweBLUr6pCag/s799/Finley_Stephens.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="790" data-original-width="799" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda_NGLjjmOO8eoHx2zmLf8GTnHtGOFF6oIEi7wmoHtqAeIUSMshhmutKZAtINEsy2pA0vaqQbkyO-YyeKx42sORG4UCy8fJemX1p_ykX2wIuk6a1H4avOzUYrDKX6YpCD8IdPs5d3-dq9fOIwE4PcQykd7dgORdQQskqikHT6aLodT9OweBLUr6pCag/s320/Finley_Stephens.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Then you have the snobby art critic Finely Stephens who was dismissive of Anthony's latest project. She promptly gets killed when Anthony leaves her apartment. Me I say more?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJcbjtIaZKKkkJrWYxAc4zCmWyNd2JiQdwyLpnXcFMdscm5FW-h9e1eVV6ytsJzHMzkvPHuYpKLv5zj7zUInDkY6gEgsWl_sks1QdDAE5qFTp1UZjoLFDaGRH_OYGD3cGzhjYwgH5mqqZEUK-mEkqLyIZ16SONb8N1jTEb2rggjqRwMPZqw0zpvG6Uw/s1280/candymanhighschoolgirlssummoncandymanclipblogroll-1629381701469.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJcbjtIaZKKkkJrWYxAc4zCmWyNd2JiQdwyLpnXcFMdscm5FW-h9e1eVV6ytsJzHMzkvPHuYpKLv5zj7zUInDkY6gEgsWl_sks1QdDAE5qFTp1UZjoLFDaGRH_OYGD3cGzhjYwgH5mqqZEUK-mEkqLyIZ16SONb8N1jTEb2rggjqRwMPZqw0zpvG6Uw/s320/candymanhighschoolgirlssummoncandymanclipblogroll-1629381701469.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Finally, we have a teenage girl (can't recall her name) who attended Anthony's show, fucking around with her friends in the bathroom as they prepare for the Candyman ritual. Before they do this, a timid black girl enters the bathroom and they start teasing for no reason.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCmM63RjSppHIbYOVPzQl8yXRsiBxUwY6Fv7G3aUh-9EKjb5MBAPr_1bobnYC1ekShdHRNcQE-GgtasobgLXALljuoNvuFgkf9f9WnaPdNLUxueUaSrvPQShJFPL7VyU5K59fn063x9awUXfyy5ghmuMs9aOfGCZY_R6Mi4NjLFFfgLYYHlwWLcokfw/s500/MV5BNmQyMGNjNDktMWZhYy00NTkwLTg4MTQtNGIwZDI2MmNmOWU2XkEyXkFqcGdeQVRoaXJkUGFydHlJbmdlc3Rpb25Xb3JrZmxvdw@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCmM63RjSppHIbYOVPzQl8yXRsiBxUwY6Fv7G3aUh-9EKjb5MBAPr_1bobnYC1ekShdHRNcQE-GgtasobgLXALljuoNvuFgkf9f9WnaPdNLUxueUaSrvPQShJFPL7VyU5K59fn063x9awUXfyy5ghmuMs9aOfGCZY_R6Mi4NjLFFfgLYYHlwWLcokfw/s320/MV5BNmQyMGNjNDktMWZhYy00NTkwLTg4MTQtNGIwZDI2MmNmOWU2XkEyXkFqcGdeQVRoaXJkUGFydHlJbmdlc3Rpb25Xb3JrZmxvdw@@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>When the black girl hides in the bathroom stall, the snobby teenage girl and her minions/friends continue their ritual and...just as you guessed it. Candyman slaughters them mercilessly, leaving the black girl as the only eyewitness. </p><p>Having unlikeable characters in a horror film isn't always a bad thing but the problem is you don't feel <i>scared</i> for them. I think horror movies work best when you empathize with the victims. Sure, they don't have to be perfect but by making them apathetic, slightly racist assholes kills the tension for me. And that's the main problem with the movie: it barely has any tension. I guess the only tension it has is Anthony becoming "The Candyman," and most of the suspense can be seen in the third act but that's all I got here. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQWIIqer3SQZuRpdLkhW0fyCX_zKRJUQm0ypnsrWGfc-XS_eiysieWAcXJQf7fvvFtO0Mr9q56FHHWCFGF_y3PnaKxUUucaSDsXK0Q10lkAcDK9TfcYHxjhnF4BqgQWX3IPCzhu3W3w7HduGUv3C0lONnm5RMrW3ba-5LCfv5dHDZXZTwZY5Fsm9ZdQ/s1345/candyman%20a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1345" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQWIIqer3SQZuRpdLkhW0fyCX_zKRJUQm0ypnsrWGfc-XS_eiysieWAcXJQf7fvvFtO0Mr9q56FHHWCFGF_y3PnaKxUUucaSDsXK0Q10lkAcDK9TfcYHxjhnF4BqgQWX3IPCzhu3W3w7HduGUv3C0lONnm5RMrW3ba-5LCfv5dHDZXZTwZY5Fsm9ZdQ/s320/candyman%20a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Now, let's talk about the film's social commentary. It goes into the cycles of trauma but also the exploitation of trauma. Although Anthony "thinks" he's making a good cause by painting portraits of brutalized black men, he is just like Helen Lyle, in the fact that he's unknowingly exploiting peoples' trauma for his own gain. Then there's the apathy of African-Americans who suffer from trauma, which is why Candyman exists at all. But there's much more to add to the commentary once we...yes, of course, get to the third act. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IvI-U5SyVNvnXtWkhBsr5_YlGBV8B-TWjYLUbV4Bq9SQIKDFaOyBiaitQhsY1L4KDRLnFvUR5blqe0zjiF6mnXuuiQqf013G7-pOhsWk9HUGZ7ahIE2m4rnYm93jNon9nvos01koSpKLzCGA149QeKD3oKKmRZ3L01jVQmXa8PtN0qH4iUDocQyZbg/s1400/wsb0h4oioleqnfhduhbk.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IvI-U5SyVNvnXtWkhBsr5_YlGBV8B-TWjYLUbV4Bq9SQIKDFaOyBiaitQhsY1L4KDRLnFvUR5blqe0zjiF6mnXuuiQqf013G7-pOhsWk9HUGZ7ahIE2m4rnYm93jNon9nvos01koSpKLzCGA149QeKD3oKKmRZ3L01jVQmXa8PtN0qH4iUDocQyZbg/s320/wsb0h4oioleqnfhduhbk.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I want to start by saying that Nia DaCosta's directing is masterful! First, lets talk about the opening credits. Remember when in the first film, the opening credits were overhead? Now it's down below with a mirroring effect. Here's a comparison:</p><p>Candyman 1992 Opening Credits:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TSd81qwxDNo" width="320" youtube-src-id="TSd81qwxDNo"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Candyman 2021:</p><p>(click on the picture)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRCezSMKITM" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76A3CMWJxqEgGEdObIZ4K2AvMhMpoVcsPERJ_gu4e5M5pukFAJ-IivXxBKqn0dZ0Wu27zkSIWX677B-qE6239MIEcPg6ao3qs_8Rw_NRhwsNB6B4Vl_aJoF3yE0PdiGy7Gtz_6stmLE7EygP3y-D25ETE0STok5_eFjySPDqs6wj_7Uaa32FkPjXrlQ/s320/maxresdefault%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p>Tell, me. How cool is that?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjp1gbOmR_yA_PHS8gBC9bloYMRr087BYUgEjllvpJLgkLggkVVhn2FPJ0fQ4nMG5ZxijOIeBghsgDQAQjox-HlCK3kYFP1BGIj5ZgTlyiuMv9h0qo3IxYkBNN_EJL_RgigB1H6mHpufX6gDHhSq4Lx8lq6hE8mDKSDCF88IP4lqOssdBaiXsalr-Pkw/s1280/candyman-1273320-1280x0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1280" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjp1gbOmR_yA_PHS8gBC9bloYMRr087BYUgEjllvpJLgkLggkVVhn2FPJ0fQ4nMG5ZxijOIeBghsgDQAQjox-HlCK3kYFP1BGIj5ZgTlyiuMv9h0qo3IxYkBNN_EJL_RgigB1H6mHpufX6gDHhSq4Lx8lq6hE8mDKSDCF88IP4lqOssdBaiXsalr-Pkw/s320/candyman-1273320-1280x0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I also like the addition of the shadow puppets. It's very effective and creepy, standing out as one of the film's visual highlights:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UIkBqG1a8MM" width="320" youtube-src-id="UIkBqG1a8MM"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTgK_977WBBwDE3GWKl8T5tkTHb6jAbQzKApwnC5LNVaPJtGYnGMt2w81JcOeYdyX3Mz1b-HlSYboA0DUYmV_RL7FKfANo_8o-KOwGAXpOqrdOXrTYH-Tw0iileX7A8q3emhnD8BXnj4qe4J3KfAiMsOs0nVNy6XkXU0hG6uxUN6KPpa3R5XsTrNMdA/s1000/candyman-clip.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTgK_977WBBwDE3GWKl8T5tkTHb6jAbQzKApwnC5LNVaPJtGYnGMt2w81JcOeYdyX3Mz1b-HlSYboA0DUYmV_RL7FKfANo_8o-KOwGAXpOqrdOXrTYH-Tw0iileX7A8q3emhnD8BXnj4qe4J3KfAiMsOs0nVNy6XkXU0hG6uxUN6KPpa3R5XsTrNMdA/s320/candyman-clip.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, there is <b>one</b> issue I have with the visuals. These days, filmmakers have this habit of inserting CGI into horror films. I'll say this once and I'll say again, CGI is not scary! It would be nice to realistic blood in horror movies again. There is hope when it comes to the low-budget horror movies but as for the mainstream, I don't know. The worst of these types of effects is shown in the bathroom scene and the climax. It was probably a last-minute thing to get the film completed but It could've been done way much better. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I did say that the film didn't have any tension, that's just in terms of the screenwriting. The film itself is an examination of Anthony slowly becoming Candyman, complete with some gross body horror. That's where the tension works for me, not for the so-called victims. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">May I present to you the travesty that is the third act:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When she goes to look for Anthony, Brianna seeks out William at the laundromat. Then, out of nowhere, William abducts her and places her hostage at an abandoned church.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of a sudden, the scene switches back to a young William arguing with his older sister. I hate to say it but the child acting is...not great. But anywho, his sister conjures up Candyman (Sherman Fields) and he kills her and all of her friends. When William opens the door, he sees Candyman standing over his sister's dead body. I felt like this should've been the opening scene instead. It feels so disjointed. And yeah, it gives William a motive for his madness but nothing ever comes of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brianna breaks out of consciousness as William goes off on a psychotic rant about resurrecting the Candyman hive. Colmon Domingo's acting is...really over-the-top in this scene and it gets a little grating at times. So William unveils Anthony and initiates him into the hive. Anthony's body is completely covered in beestings and to put more salt in the wound, William saws off Anthony's hand and <b>impales</b> a hook, <b>right</b> in the stump (with CGI blood by the way). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brianna eventually breaks free from her ropes and makes a run for it. William chases after her. The two of them go on a cat-and-mouse chase until Brianna stabs William to death (CGI blood and all). Anthony stumbles through, collapsing into Brianna's arms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Suddenly, a horde of police officers comes out of nowhere and shoots Anthony unprovoked. For some reason, they arrest Brianna while a police officer sits in the car with her. The police officer tries to intimidate her into agreeing that Anthony was indeed the killer and that their shooting was justified...Woah, woah, woah, wait a minute. Who is the true villain of this film? Is it William? The Candyman? Or the Police officers themselves? Let's continue. So instead of complying with the police officer's demand, Brianna uses the rearview mirror to conjure up Candyman. All of a sudden, The Candyman, or shall I say, The Candyman "Hive" goes into an all-out bloody massacre, murdering all of the police officers in total (to which all of their blood organs are made of CGI. I hope this trend ends).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So after the deed is done, we see The Candyman morphing into the faces of black men who were killed by injustice, one of them being Daniel Robitaille played by the one and only Tony Todd in a one-shot (CGI remodeled) cameo. His last words: "Tell Everyone."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What. The. Fuck. Okay, it's time to go on a rant. Well, not particularly a rant, but more of an autopsy report. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8BdxdW3Y48Tee75YuOQk3Zh3lV7vbQSM487WJXKFqyXld3izm5A6eYuXwb6OAxk2ER9aUG2h3SqgaEfEznbbeRjTy-QgHe1NIV1upufkYFCr2RYn3BsffFKeJ6Ur_T_i1VXUf3tCu8A27uj-wL0HM9b_nzsmo3BNRs2IkDuTn5D002_eLcIZXPb6Og/s270/thumb_15FBD85B-130F-46D3-A0F1-54EBB525599F.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="270" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8BdxdW3Y48Tee75YuOQk3Zh3lV7vbQSM487WJXKFqyXld3izm5A6eYuXwb6OAxk2ER9aUG2h3SqgaEfEznbbeRjTy-QgHe1NIV1upufkYFCr2RYn3BsffFKeJ6Ur_T_i1VXUf3tCu8A27uj-wL0HM9b_nzsmo3BNRs2IkDuTn5D002_eLcIZXPb6Og/s1600/thumb_15FBD85B-130F-46D3-A0F1-54EBB525599F.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First off, I would've loved to see Tony Todd reprise the role of Candyman instead of some lousy tacked-on 20-second cameo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP4F5GW3DUkT6oxh99Myy9Vn0gr7SZSSrR_LFKwUpb81gKgATx7zgeB3bpRNpEMriLNK_8kuRvIO2g0wH554q-BbANCtZypZCo87Pmkwb3S9YXIYIADd0wfw6lQ-h9fy44437EOUL8XdyiVKVnUtmFo6KjUf5F1qx1q1xh3r3Nl444kyQLUzA_Bd9gQ/s750/5L0MMi0IE6VOQQFMt7xekRA7SVM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfP4F5GW3DUkT6oxh99Myy9Vn0gr7SZSSrR_LFKwUpb81gKgATx7zgeB3bpRNpEMriLNK_8kuRvIO2g0wH554q-BbANCtZypZCo87Pmkwb3S9YXIYIADd0wfw6lQ-h9fy44437EOUL8XdyiVKVnUtmFo6KjUf5F1qx1q1xh3r3Nl444kyQLUzA_Bd9gQ/s320/5L0MMi0IE6VOQQFMt7xekRA7SVM.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, they gave the lead actress of the original, Virginia Madsen, a <b>voice</b> cameo. Just a <b>voice</b> cameo. Didn't the first film end with Helen becoming a creepy urban legend herself? What happened to that? This actually harkens back to Benard Rose's original idea about having Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd reprising their roles in a prequel as mentioned in the <i>Farewell to the Flesh</i> review. What if Helen became Candyman's bride after all? It would've been so cool if they included that in this sequel. It's such a missed opportunity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second of all, is Candyman an anti-hero now? I don't know, it just doesn't work for me. He's more of a deeply complex anti-villain in my eyes and the changing of this takes away his imposing, mysterious mystique. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, the whole message behind the film is to showcase how corrupt the police system is. I get the message but it's executed terribly. Though I would say, the commentary is handled a lot much better than what the filmmakers of <i>Day of the Dead</i> were trying to accomplish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But what takes me out of the film is it's lack of subtly. The third act alone just ruins the entire film, stripping away any potential it has. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me, Candyman 1992 is above and beyond the best of them all. It's a film that really holds up for me and the execution of the social commentary is superb. It's a bonafide classic, which still leaves an impact in the horror zeitgeist.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The 2021 sequel tries to hold a candle to the original but there's just no way. Candyman 1992 is a lightning in the bottle. Instead of paying homage, Candyman 2021 crumbles in its shadow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last Word: It's a mess. But it's a beautiful mess. It's good for one watch. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7sMfkeygFI" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q7sMfkeygFI"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><br />J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-10814614248113327872023-03-24T01:37:00.073-07:002023-03-24T10:36:38.142-07:00Scream 4 (2011)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Do-4sZEG9M5EkPAN3hF8_o7qnEhkNdYRJ6-slIObSeYEUC4beoY2w_ihznkvJQnkysC9iAjrX9in4_tPgfxNKZDSRWnbtpk5YSOSlN3mw9tnUDtNZ8IYYmg9HpUHVzTag3jNjZpx6t-5gCoisYHsc9YA74s6plTdywDNKcMtbvii00Qs2NFKYr5HMw/s1500/919NxnjIhoL._SL1500_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1055" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Do-4sZEG9M5EkPAN3hF8_o7qnEhkNdYRJ6-slIObSeYEUC4beoY2w_ihznkvJQnkysC9iAjrX9in4_tPgfxNKZDSRWnbtpk5YSOSlN3mw9tnUDtNZ8IYYmg9HpUHVzTag3jNjZpx6t-5gCoisYHsc9YA74s6plTdywDNKcMtbvii00Qs2NFKYr5HMw/s320/919NxnjIhoL._SL1500_.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><p>In July 2008, The Weinstein Company announced that a fourth Scream movie would be in the works with Wes Craven taking the directing seat once again. Though it wasn't until two years later that Kevin Williamson made his grand return, this time, with the recycling of his first outline of the third film. But the production had a rocky start. </p><p>In May 2010, Cathy Konrad, who produced the first three films, filed a $3 million lawsuit against The Weinstein Brothers. The suit accuses the Weinstiens of unscrupulous behavior and a scheme to force her to walk away from the <i>Scream</i> franchise without compensation and cutting the cost of hiring someone else to produce. Judging by their notorious reputation behind the scenes, I'm totally on this woman's side. </p><p>But anywho, the show must go on and once again, Craven and Williamson recruited The Triumphant Trio to make the fourth <i>Scream</i> film. Williamson picked up the leftover notes he made for <i>Scream 3 </i>but with an entirely new spin. You see, this was at a time when horror remakes were running rampant (and still are), so, Willamson reinforced this commentary into his script, blending in the old cast with the new cast. Furthermore, Williamson and Craven made sure that this time the production was not going to have any more mishaps like they had in the previous two films. </p><p>And the final results turn out to be...a pretty solid sequel. It may not be as good as <i>Scream</i> <i>2</i>, but I found myself really enjoying this and I thought the final twist was very effective. I was definitely impressed by the breakout performance of Hayden Panettiere, who stole the show in my opinion. There seems to be a perfect balance of humor and horror that leans into a parody at times but an affectionate parody nonetheless. I would say that this is one of the more comedic Scream films but it still handles its serious moments well too. </p><p>So, overall, I dig this movie. It may not be at the top of my list but I still think it's a fun time. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oWlqp3Ll76A7aREnc9S4YTcLxa-K4G1Fn8KGI2Eu37PzVk67FLeD14ABc3ROleszeJap2dfq8NaRI14iAgXDDde3GWQl5Pb8Ov1V4yCcvCC10PSdm5e1f-rTSRAvXlmcoYqA5QtVCOUjPBxBY5nDMbvDw8v0H_swOp_g84uh6yIugtIsu3FpalNypw/s800/image-w1280.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oWlqp3Ll76A7aREnc9S4YTcLxa-K4G1Fn8KGI2Eu37PzVk67FLeD14ABc3ROleszeJap2dfq8NaRI14iAgXDDde3GWQl5Pb8Ov1V4yCcvCC10PSdm5e1f-rTSRAvXlmcoYqA5QtVCOUjPBxBY5nDMbvDw8v0H_swOp_g84uh6yIugtIsu3FpalNypw/s320/image-w1280.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The Story: After the events of <i>Scream</i> 3, Sidney Prescott, now a successful author of her autobiography, has returned to her hometown of Woodsboro during her press tour. Coincidently, it just so happens to be the 18th anniversary of the Woodsboro murders. Unfortunately, this incites the murders of two high school girls, which ties back to Sidney when the evidence is found in her car. She then retreats to the residence of her long-lost cousin Jill, who, along with her friends, becomes the killer's main target. With the help of her longtime companions, Dewey and Gale, Sidney must face The Ghostface Killer once again. </p><p>In this go-round, we have not one, not two, but three opening scenes:</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMA6PFOp83LBZPfWXPc-PDJz8Iv88g96kw4kib6jSkd8PHkiIXsLasa5sfoYFv-vexGw9b3tlYxIRZ71pkzdxPg17XFteKzlYHXl_EAWiMdZF1DFZS95clNLX9nc9T72YsphElaFKUDSRKpjYYZpARuSFepJpD2CaNDSnnAuOjmnjfQSLirF3Fzqs7w/s1334/6nu5vtlrqg741.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1334" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMA6PFOp83LBZPfWXPc-PDJz8Iv88g96kw4kib6jSkd8PHkiIXsLasa5sfoYFv-vexGw9b3tlYxIRZ71pkzdxPg17XFteKzlYHXl_EAWiMdZF1DFZS95clNLX9nc9T72YsphElaFKUDSRKpjYYZpARuSFepJpD2CaNDSnnAuOjmnjfQSLirF3Fzqs7w/s320/6nu5vtlrqg741.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The first opening scene starts with two young girls being targeted by the killer with...Facebook messages of all things. When I first saw this I was like, 'Oh my gosh! This is going to be a hoot!' But thankfully, it turns out to be a <i>Stab</i> sequel as a meta-joke. The two young girls are hilariously played by Shenae Grimes and Lucy Hale, who were known for their popular teen dramas such as <i>Degrassi</i>, <i>90210</i>, and<i> Pretty Little Liars</i>, respectively. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9PX-sBApgWT4dW7Mfm1efgWM399AcyQPSMlBcGtz-F7OE9Jgyw6BgEZnHpwmqH2av6hKIiAgCQ6-XPv1Ovwq_Jit3SuHpTkUaz0DdcVDIAVTt3y4CP68ERm7HcUkgxvYkK4nAymi_SroEFjk6uQX96xwV5E6amM_HA0XzNX49_MSpU_lnYctmfTaBA/s950/00037012.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="950" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9PX-sBApgWT4dW7Mfm1efgWM399AcyQPSMlBcGtz-F7OE9Jgyw6BgEZnHpwmqH2av6hKIiAgCQ6-XPv1Ovwq_Jit3SuHpTkUaz0DdcVDIAVTt3y4CP68ERm7HcUkgxvYkK4nAymi_SroEFjk6uQX96xwV5E6amM_HA0XzNX49_MSpU_lnYctmfTaBA/s320/00037012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This jump cuts to Anna Paquin (Sookie from <i>True Blood</i>) and Kristen Bell (the titular <i>Veronica Mars</i>, The Voice of <i>Gossip Girl</i>, and Eleanor from <i>The Good Place</i>). Anna and Kristen are two types of film critics: The Cynic and The Optimist. Anna is harshly critical of the movie's nonsensical plots and meta-humor. Kristen, however, likes how the film adapted a true story and did its own thing. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHQrjU2LzoyDEdZOaGRMbF_Q0CYyOGK8C65LLkF0Yq4vQmmm-yzN19xr8GvnA4i3Fo-GFKkfUSZdHZXWga1g81s1Gjt-mtn0sndcnO0O5eJ57jpwXP_UKe6eg-ScKhYC-bKDvtvBljRwdpXpWbNBT-bNRiyhpnouF8C5abO7Skg2SjW1z_V6h_GkeMQ/s1366/MV5BZjZiZjQ2NzktNzVlMC00ZGE1LTk2NWMtMmMyMTI5YzRjZDI1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHQrjU2LzoyDEdZOaGRMbF_Q0CYyOGK8C65LLkF0Yq4vQmmm-yzN19xr8GvnA4i3Fo-GFKkfUSZdHZXWga1g81s1Gjt-mtn0sndcnO0O5eJ57jpwXP_UKe6eg-ScKhYC-bKDvtvBljRwdpXpWbNBT-bNRiyhpnouF8C5abO7Skg2SjW1z_V6h_GkeMQ/s320/MV5BZjZiZjQ2NzktNzVlMC00ZGE1LTk2NWMtMmMyMTI5YzRjZDI1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Tired of Anna's constant criticism, Kristen pulls out a knife and stabs her! While Anna slowly dies, Kristen simply turns on the movie and eats her popcorn. Bravo! Comedy Gold! <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahxnU8CUK7g7qojurW1cBk_5DLBoNtUbFQS24LBFgkFq1Osn6NE8OQilxf7Gj8aTynYx1RZayMssNv5pgwIkaQ2JU7qPDwD1tIRmkibyIhkCU5n-9F640O2XVLwDjWkKQiYSoi-6k1fa0sco9SW6iJIr9VG7LqBmb2cw85-FUXteQqTxHexApBrqRwQ/s1200/MV5BNDE0YTcwMTktMWI4Zi00ZjcxLTk2MzItZjE1YzMxOGE4M2NiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI3NzE4MTM@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahxnU8CUK7g7qojurW1cBk_5DLBoNtUbFQS24LBFgkFq1Osn6NE8OQilxf7Gj8aTynYx1RZayMssNv5pgwIkaQ2JU7qPDwD1tIRmkibyIhkCU5n-9F640O2XVLwDjWkKQiYSoi-6k1fa0sco9SW6iJIr9VG7LqBmb2cw85-FUXteQqTxHexApBrqRwQ/s320/MV5BNDE0YTcwMTktMWI4Zi00ZjcxLTk2MzItZjE1YzMxOGE4M2NiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI3NzE4MTM@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWH_f_sH42NWqp1Adkt2xlCJNjWvk1MVs82XBCWpfkR35OhGE8Ce-1h6QqD6VSxw27HISdg2VTYxzaFEDQIWOkTwS0nKSsQlsDDmRQ3zEu8tK4cRSxfGLlSatuaRu4Sae-vjeM1kUUPiDJwfEd0Gufsaq9pJiu4-tt9wlEt2Q07yOwWjD5zZGcsOSjQ/s1777/MV5BNzA5MmZmNzAtMDExMC00ZmZjLThkOGUtNjBlMjBhN2Y0Njc2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI3NzE4MTM@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1777" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWH_f_sH42NWqp1Adkt2xlCJNjWvk1MVs82XBCWpfkR35OhGE8Ce-1h6QqD6VSxw27HISdg2VTYxzaFEDQIWOkTwS0nKSsQlsDDmRQ3zEu8tK4cRSxfGLlSatuaRu4Sae-vjeM1kUUPiDJwfEd0Gufsaq9pJiu4-tt9wlEt2Q07yOwWjD5zZGcsOSjQ/s320/MV5BNzA5MmZmNzAtMDExMC00ZmZjLThkOGUtNjBlMjBhN2Y0Njc2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI3NzE4MTM@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>But it turns out to be yet <b>another </b>Stab sequel when we jumpcut to the <b>actual </b>opening scene with two high school girls, Jenny Randall, and Marnie Cooper. They're similar to the girls in the first scene, except they're blond and portrayed more realistically. Also, the two girls share the same dynamic as Anna and Kristen, the cynical film critic and the optimistic film critic but their friendship is genuine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sD2hJt-H73oH6gf6-3PR5o1p5JIIIW0ePQx-e0KnT46cDCqj16fJ9mn_LVo_WGp1xLWHXiXLmEQstfWyJv_-cw_T-j63_zuyBfUQsPQVRMyUOBE6VBZ7pirS16hLnVsaZrs69m712CsRbpya6z7z3x8Pr_oILEfXbsdxA3AUaUiZ-EhQKAbH3Nzgkg/s595/aimee-teegarden-in-scream-4.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="595" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3sD2hJt-H73oH6gf6-3PR5o1p5JIIIW0ePQx-e0KnT46cDCqj16fJ9mn_LVo_WGp1xLWHXiXLmEQstfWyJv_-cw_T-j63_zuyBfUQsPQVRMyUOBE6VBZ7pirS16hLnVsaZrs69m712CsRbpya6z7z3x8Pr_oILEfXbsdxA3AUaUiZ-EhQKAbH3Nzgkg/s320/aimee-teegarden-in-scream-4.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p>Jenny, who's an avid fan of the Stab franchise, innocently pranks Marnie but suddenly, Marnie is attacked through the phone. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQVQ-P_INP24BoLzpMBmn1B4hViCDxY3WnuppaHlVpj8Ls0DIcPmi-jTz87apU1w11BOEBxJ-OFnkCEsCAgj2ST02C3sWp6XcHDxyHYVr-x5eEOJ5qeBWt1apzOUxqHsJtDEn63EZgpHWD5hvoH_1kYyQ5Uc5o45gX6qjQuIMjR78i1fms5C0SrHGHQ/s550/DVV0.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="550" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQVQ-P_INP24BoLzpMBmn1B4hViCDxY3WnuppaHlVpj8Ls0DIcPmi-jTz87apU1w11BOEBxJ-OFnkCEsCAgj2ST02C3sWp6XcHDxyHYVr-x5eEOJ5qeBWt1apzOUxqHsJtDEn63EZgpHWD5hvoH_1kYyQ5Uc5o45gX6qjQuIMjR78i1fms5C0SrHGHQ/s320/DVV0.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7yg24ZntYEWpfrU-LChnDWIWDFBoyuIIbCQ36cePTYc7dF2t0O7iI5oVMMC7pKwCU8dSsfIdBZ5wqXrn3Vyv_pkTw6W0B-9OVRCLuPfPIfEZekqm7LAK5B0n9AM3pRG0ZkjwCdlWzVwvMLINOh_IyM9EO76HkvG7b3c1hLrFeNY-rs8MftexwNSylQ/s461/Brittrobertson.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="461" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7yg24ZntYEWpfrU-LChnDWIWDFBoyuIIbCQ36cePTYc7dF2t0O7iI5oVMMC7pKwCU8dSsfIdBZ5wqXrn3Vyv_pkTw6W0B-9OVRCLuPfPIfEZekqm7LAK5B0n9AM3pRG0ZkjwCdlWzVwvMLINOh_IyM9EO76HkvG7b3c1hLrFeNY-rs8MftexwNSylQ/s320/Brittrobertson.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Jenny frantically rushes down the stairs to save her friend but it's too late. Marnie's corpse crashes through the window. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqlFpnVOkCJozjPXy-rp9oLUBTfwju2oav0DT4UXQpKGq-BErpIu9yYjj5Lz5TH4sHx2RU_8mkx0zwWrHQ4DmqswbtUkUtljw6VhxqGTDBYAc0CYB4FfqrbrflYZfTyqhlAze3Lp8ev7iUrWmUatoeS5TkVXzE7iMe-xVggrTjcg7-mLTK-1PCst4eQ/s702/MV5BNWM4MTc5Y2UtOTIwOS00NDMwLTgxNzQtZmI1YmFkZTY1MDExXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzg3Mzk0Nw@@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="702" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqlFpnVOkCJozjPXy-rp9oLUBTfwju2oav0DT4UXQpKGq-BErpIu9yYjj5Lz5TH4sHx2RU_8mkx0zwWrHQ4DmqswbtUkUtljw6VhxqGTDBYAc0CYB4FfqrbrflYZfTyqhlAze3Lp8ev7iUrWmUatoeS5TkVXzE7iMe-xVggrTjcg7-mLTK-1PCst4eQ/s320/MV5BNWM4MTc5Y2UtOTIwOS00NDMwLTgxNzQtZmI1YmFkZTY1MDExXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzg3Mzk0Nw@@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYkAzKlZMYgxy8aXIPEWqr_n1KM_g_tBVVU92l8gixUqg_RdsVdYgyKOGbYn8tpg7_7uC6CGDwkZVAqvnhIjx2Xi2K52AI3pMo_5LBu6keWNesN6Xuv1PVnrP4Pi4bg0YmZHwn8EYlzw2OWLBX8V24nd2m8FeO9pQ0HlBZSsL8htllSmnfvJ8SGRTxw/s461/Aimeeteegarden.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="461" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYkAzKlZMYgxy8aXIPEWqr_n1KM_g_tBVVU92l8gixUqg_RdsVdYgyKOGbYn8tpg7_7uC6CGDwkZVAqvnhIjx2Xi2K52AI3pMo_5LBu6keWNesN6Xuv1PVnrP4Pi4bg0YmZHwn8EYlzw2OWLBX8V24nd2m8FeO9pQ0HlBZSsL8htllSmnfvJ8SGRTxw/s320/Aimeeteegarden.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Out comes the Ghostface Killer, closing in on Jenny and she dashes to the garage. Of course, Jenny trips and falls, crawling her way to the garage entrance but the Ghostface Killer gives her a painful rendition of Tatum's death scene, only this time, the garage pins down her spinal cord, leaving Jenny totally helpless before the killer makes his/her final stab. Yet another clever twist on the opening scene, only this time it's three. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl-xSHShijq9SLBhrUs6iBrYLDsDfe9ZR7Dt2wylIAlw8nZESvLty2sSxQ6jsp26cnKDruoZ0-2Gktz_1i_pTJ1Rpj7uAJBWiyPEpWOKTDYKeFo_4SkNc7n92nUa2go1vor_e1-GtCXaUKN29YkSZcy4kWd-8Lxh6nZMAkzGELoSvBeruWeJXV-ddqQ/s570/765f9c246bcd44f774ee70dc1b680888--scream-movie-scream--cast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="570" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl-xSHShijq9SLBhrUs6iBrYLDsDfe9ZR7Dt2wylIAlw8nZESvLty2sSxQ6jsp26cnKDruoZ0-2Gktz_1i_pTJ1Rpj7uAJBWiyPEpWOKTDYKeFo_4SkNc7n92nUa2go1vor_e1-GtCXaUKN29YkSZcy4kWd-8Lxh6nZMAkzGELoSvBeruWeJXV-ddqQ/s320/765f9c246bcd44f774ee70dc1b680888--scream-movie-scream--cast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Now let's examine our cast of characters. First, let's start with our new cast of characters who somehow share similarities to the cast of the original. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCThpGA34pEQxgJLMzq6qwARtxn-b0TzYTOKtQNx_-vHsMK8vdtWpL5T2l92DEiGE8JVvFpoMNcPHEcWz2QA9hj84TmZu1IrRGXvpHwHPBvNNTibvGeEg79LQfHE70xcx1Jyoo1_B0V2M0ApvnKHfmXN1TJj2r9eOyugtO4YA2gb41LRmGAXoDG4ZZA/s555/Olivia_Morris.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkCThpGA34pEQxgJLMzq6qwARtxn-b0TzYTOKtQNx_-vHsMK8vdtWpL5T2l92DEiGE8JVvFpoMNcPHEcWz2QA9hj84TmZu1IrRGXvpHwHPBvNNTibvGeEg79LQfHE70xcx1Jyoo1_B0V2M0ApvnKHfmXN1TJj2r9eOyugtO4YA2gb41LRmGAXoDG4ZZA/s320/Olivia_Morris.webp" width="186" /></a></div><br /><p>First and foremost, we have Olivia played by Marielle Jaffe. I just don't think she was developed enough as a character. Nothing against the actress, she's good with what she's given, which is very little. But she does get a really brutal death scene, which I found to be incredibly intense.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3uSvxKM3_QxfcXdC9lQImmkcWADqvKUmr4eUfxKZLAMENmFfVsch2jgFADNIhlK5v9WAlwMT_toALJ2s6_gH-oqk4fkbmuN5_uoN21J2iC0Dx80owMo6JnptgodKGaFPOEaD9uFCEBHuRIU83k8X36uKO_lgsfjd7Jtyx_FlpCwVZdS52egItR4XsA/s1920/MV5BNDgzNGJiYjEtNTc5YS00Nzk3LTlmYjItMjVmYzgzMjM3MzUzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3uSvxKM3_QxfcXdC9lQImmkcWADqvKUmr4eUfxKZLAMENmFfVsch2jgFADNIhlK5v9WAlwMT_toALJ2s6_gH-oqk4fkbmuN5_uoN21J2iC0Dx80owMo6JnptgodKGaFPOEaD9uFCEBHuRIU83k8X36uKO_lgsfjd7Jtyx_FlpCwVZdS52egItR4XsA/s320/MV5BNDgzNGJiYjEtNTc5YS00Nzk3LTlmYjItMjVmYzgzMjM3MzUzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Adam Brody and Anthony Anderson are just cameos in my opinion. They play the stereotypical bumbling cops who get easily dispatched. They are supposed to be comic relief but their dialogue is not really all that funny.</p><p>Now, this is when the characters get a tad bit more interesting...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_upwFCUJuw6kEfNvh4gupHyPRwmYOpNi748RS2Isflh5egX4gVNe9kwoj39dKKkvksEUxZtCqCnfNh4MZTxsJ5JUJHScpmrb52JnuFBr8_IFY-GwO4utqDwgUrEs5QyFI0gffMKNdUO3aTN5P7a9CpA38kwEzuRfzj5FZ0J8qHK8cVxlosZhIIPTlw/s912/S42011-JillPhoto3.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="912" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_upwFCUJuw6kEfNvh4gupHyPRwmYOpNi748RS2Isflh5egX4gVNe9kwoj39dKKkvksEUxZtCqCnfNh4MZTxsJ5JUJHScpmrb52JnuFBr8_IFY-GwO4utqDwgUrEs5QyFI0gffMKNdUO3aTN5P7a9CpA38kwEzuRfzj5FZ0J8qHK8cVxlosZhIIPTlw/s320/S42011-JillPhoto3.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We have Puesdo-Final Girl Jill Roberts, who seems to have issues with her cheating boyfriend, Trevor.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucxCDrrBuFjFpf0Rk_SyXMTte4pH3v52fovOtER_45WJ6NeM9hn8UnySqPMIenysnLfuF_3xq_BDY0R9ewYkkHlJ8Jj46IcMWOh_Juv76fbuWvHaz2eFOZgXIRtth2wv5WtMXU1lDa3VAYzlfgjcdXFdslOC71DtlTYaHHnQkcApNcbUMaTEPEWB6UA/s445/TrevorSheldon.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="369" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucxCDrrBuFjFpf0Rk_SyXMTte4pH3v52fovOtER_45WJ6NeM9hn8UnySqPMIenysnLfuF_3xq_BDY0R9ewYkkHlJ8Jj46IcMWOh_Juv76fbuWvHaz2eFOZgXIRtth2wv5WtMXU1lDa3VAYzlfgjcdXFdslOC71DtlTYaHHnQkcApNcbUMaTEPEWB6UA/s320/TrevorSheldon.webp" width="265" /></a></div><br /><div>He's played by the very sexy Nico Tortorella. He's more akin to Billy, sexy, and smooth, but with a dark side. However, in this case, it's a "playboy" side. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzCZXVuGKpNavNBaVK1jiy0CBLFEPjXZntlVCmYe0FXRyFIZBDz8UI3poizrzZ5P_uF5nOESKGf1JoKOIFZRV7fAJBUPAtJU64mUbKNd8O4KR9KJEqEH_VC1G5WoGDmUEWzn94RvPfSwKWgMS-ZQ5y2Ckz-4NXelbONDHIKwbNaf704wIOfBM9QiXQQ/s1300/Emma-Roberts-in-Scream-4.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="763" data-original-width="1300" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzCZXVuGKpNavNBaVK1jiy0CBLFEPjXZntlVCmYe0FXRyFIZBDz8UI3poizrzZ5P_uF5nOESKGf1JoKOIFZRV7fAJBUPAtJU64mUbKNd8O4KR9KJEqEH_VC1G5WoGDmUEWzn94RvPfSwKWgMS-ZQ5y2Ckz-4NXelbONDHIKwbNaf704wIOfBM9QiXQQ/s320/Emma-Roberts-in-Scream-4.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Now back to Jill. As if deja vu is starting over again, she gets threatening phone calls from the Ghostface Killer because of her connections to Sidney but I'll get back to Jill later in the review since she is a really special case in this situation. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiZkBwv6pZkoQ2BeIYNqjTb1iEGd_VS0PEYW6L4nIoGCmsQXxhS2fob7iutd0OccLpG-l8VlTDBHJHyutC7P28dn__sxfVuHFnYO9xLd1wTcuG0w4tpSEWlGSIkC4r2SH6HqqlAJQco1sv3DHRA8iGrU6g26df9N69XEbeovOKn-QTqUEuU8k30yEww/s500/tumblr_n9edzwsITQ1qij1mgo3_500.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="500" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSiZkBwv6pZkoQ2BeIYNqjTb1iEGd_VS0PEYW6L4nIoGCmsQXxhS2fob7iutd0OccLpG-l8VlTDBHJHyutC7P28dn__sxfVuHFnYO9xLd1wTcuG0w4tpSEWlGSIkC4r2SH6HqqlAJQco1sv3DHRA8iGrU6g26df9N69XEbeovOKn-QTqUEuU8k30yEww/s320/tumblr_n9edzwsITQ1qij1mgo3_500.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>As we go along, we have Woodsboro Film Club President Charlie Walker and his tech-savvy best friend Robbie Mercer as the pseudo-Randys. The movie plays around the notion that they might become the next Billy and Stu but it's fairly subtle. They really get into the heavy facts about the <i>Stab</i> franchise and how it connects to real-life murders with Charlie hosting a screening party of the first Stab movie. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV17KiQLy5n7xaCd-Do_3ivErwLcT6vLZhBYbn8cSOG8FocxOLUL3H7c2SvVzYnEDWyGniVSvYfG4PB8njt7qZm9DM8QO7fCxa2JRxAtuW4B455bmrnMwgD2QFwBCx8o9q2WmYVpLLwopyBku1hYptQrdBQgDoFeLREbLu_AamSs4SEdhXgHyDsQVDg/s1318/Robbie_Profile.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="941" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaV17KiQLy5n7xaCd-Do_3ivErwLcT6vLZhBYbn8cSOG8FocxOLUL3H7c2SvVzYnEDWyGniVSvYfG4PB8njt7qZm9DM8QO7fCxa2JRxAtuW4B455bmrnMwgD2QFwBCx8o9q2WmYVpLLwopyBku1hYptQrdBQgDoFeLREbLu_AamSs4SEdhXgHyDsQVDg/s320/Robbie_Profile.webp" width="228" /></a></div><br /><div>In the film's more comical moments, Robbie comes out as gay, thinking it would save himself from the killer...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2ME_S_Jr4rg_krvf8B_nXLxzPsJ_diP8QqYuujvpgDEeWmdYWZ5wv3S8Sz1pLoVJqvHeTjcwBrOrfmjAXsrvlg6PMwcIkIxIA8Kxsh3fXM5XjRYqv3cjbJufuw7PMZfZR3dD2I99yGeUptfs0DZvhVfUkjKkUhoMy5pzmK5W0lrSCmhiTEg5VBvL5Q/s1275/20200908_074611.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1275" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2ME_S_Jr4rg_krvf8B_nXLxzPsJ_diP8QqYuujvpgDEeWmdYWZ5wv3S8Sz1pLoVJqvHeTjcwBrOrfmjAXsrvlg6PMwcIkIxIA8Kxsh3fXM5XjRYqv3cjbJufuw7PMZfZR3dD2I99yGeUptfs0DZvhVfUkjKkUhoMy5pzmK5W0lrSCmhiTEg5VBvL5Q/s320/20200908_074611.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Spoiler Alert! It doesn't and Robbie sadly meets his end. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrb1GlseTH6cr2zX69lFV8qCRLgKP72gpyRk5QIf3GgunveLM-gfTMD0X3QhXdZuOhzM2uzF9HFVI4VgK7hM9znG7fIlE7zYmiGA4hMafgb5aWOmSdlu3AxEy4MqGglJ_VlfKqFilWMz5vADYGXvv8_dFZ_IhZ_-cClJzqzFgFDocQNYFtuAODogIPg/s350/charlie_walker.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="350" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrb1GlseTH6cr2zX69lFV8qCRLgKP72gpyRk5QIf3GgunveLM-gfTMD0X3QhXdZuOhzM2uzF9HFVI4VgK7hM9znG7fIlE7zYmiGA4hMafgb5aWOmSdlu3AxEy4MqGglJ_VlfKqFilWMz5vADYGXvv8_dFZ_IhZ_-cClJzqzFgFDocQNYFtuAODogIPg/s320/charlie_walker.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>There's more than meets the eye with Charlie...we'll get to him later. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yPC5tA0QEOaiPVzvuRiN8vNA_D2bLgptlifuX3dNpd1mpSXNQBjQFrG8fYVbQXECtqew_n78CAfPLM9VPIOf70RUUUUGmEVijto5h-IeS7VMEBHMklau76F3IRjkKKy4ei0OLugEfwXuPyw4vgKhAFI4cSTNyqIumP_d3-Wu5zzUrEdMgIHkBePogg/s401/JH2.PNG.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yPC5tA0QEOaiPVzvuRiN8vNA_D2bLgptlifuX3dNpd1mpSXNQBjQFrG8fYVbQXECtqew_n78CAfPLM9VPIOf70RUUUUGmEVijto5h-IeS7VMEBHMklau76F3IRjkKKy4ei0OLugEfwXuPyw4vgKhAFI4cSTNyqIumP_d3-Wu5zzUrEdMgIHkBePogg/s320/JH2.PNG.webp" width="232" /></a></div><br /><div>Then we have a pseudo-Dewey who becomes a female counterpart in the form of Judy Hicks, played by the underrated Marley Shelton. She is the town deputy and Sidney's former classmate. She means well but her lack of social skills and her offbeat personality makes Sidney suspicious of her. But it turns out that she is a hero after all and saves the day. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_lux7UDWDJNF7nBurSvil4iM3XyqBPGh90VMbr293xFgaJTFFePhnuSNutrl_l-P_2FpnA-pl0LdxXr5MqcpntTj_JiaIkfFhmYXeSlLwhHgsXDt0oBFPgffRnpcVcnXbM0xkrbg0zYliY8_zms8NAPhztCQ39DtXoZyzgRkNJjC-D1GBn-v95JWwA/s500/Rebecca.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_lux7UDWDJNF7nBurSvil4iM3XyqBPGh90VMbr293xFgaJTFFePhnuSNutrl_l-P_2FpnA-pl0LdxXr5MqcpntTj_JiaIkfFhmYXeSlLwhHgsXDt0oBFPgffRnpcVcnXbM0xkrbg0zYliY8_zms8NAPhztCQ39DtXoZyzgRkNJjC-D1GBn-v95JWwA/s320/Rebecca.webp" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div>Then we have the pseudo-Gale Rebecca Walters played by the very talented Alison Brie. She's probably way worse on the bleed-if-it-leads mentality and the ironic thing is Rebecca is a big admirer of Gale Weathers. Though by this time, Gale has evolved into a well-rounded character and, at this point, Gale doesn't stand for Rebecca's bullshit, striking her down with her natural Gale prowess. And when it's clear that Sidney can see through her callousness too, she promptly fires Rebecca on the spot.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ3Z8oDGDRJc_qJYBB425CafMdAN9oNiE0RzRyKwHhSGKaqL03qTyPI5WkWNdcqPHI1Trmlbosr7ghkZGN2ylv9bmS5xRqyYvjwmb31sGqo5WaJRHVLvqnivuGnP111rtvgfu0fEDS3cuLjGtsr5F9y01hs00bFFQcelGuT6SfMvsfN__7rm9w5GK5w/s500/tumblr_lt2pp5s1lN1qij1mgo1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="500" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJ3Z8oDGDRJc_qJYBB425CafMdAN9oNiE0RzRyKwHhSGKaqL03qTyPI5WkWNdcqPHI1Trmlbosr7ghkZGN2ylv9bmS5xRqyYvjwmb31sGqo5WaJRHVLvqnivuGnP111rtvgfu0fEDS3cuLjGtsr5F9y01hs00bFFQcelGuT6SfMvsfN__7rm9w5GK5w/s320/tumblr_lt2pp5s1lN1qij1mgo1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bKldxCqS4f2O_U6L8D0yZe-N1SU4vgRDuIB2_oUtH-Wr46LmM6by_s0SnMGFVLdaqbV_KaBSczhY2LKf5fCndT2tk26Cl68M2nhZuilNtWEi3P6gFiIdUsrQyFY25Mq5oQDKHu20Qtqa_bxIcdZQ1nIe-HGmM8qzoIV8YhJYalHlTgjnvqiZuSOvpA/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bKldxCqS4f2O_U6L8D0yZe-N1SU4vgRDuIB2_oUtH-Wr46LmM6by_s0SnMGFVLdaqbV_KaBSczhY2LKf5fCndT2tk26Cl68M2nhZuilNtWEi3P6gFiIdUsrQyFY25Mq5oQDKHu20Qtqa_bxIcdZQ1nIe-HGmM8qzoIV8YhJYalHlTgjnvqiZuSOvpA/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>She gets a rather stupid death scene where she could've easily survived but I felt like the script made her stupid on purpose. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BsVKDBYTaBzEIDB0FC1mDKwmX5f3VzwuN45ao7wbUQ-ZG5LMmFCJM3AqszEpluItegWl9Y-vy-KGj66PhEKomqKrYutp4EoTP8Bam7QOQtHa9Y4qnbHTwJkRjeiXbDVnicxnT0fD7SxuBPMEICzEVOT0KfpSBf3AVKpN464PSQDlqZE0yU9B4JLaoA/s412/rebecca_walters.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5BsVKDBYTaBzEIDB0FC1mDKwmX5f3VzwuN45ao7wbUQ-ZG5LMmFCJM3AqszEpluItegWl9Y-vy-KGj66PhEKomqKrYutp4EoTP8Bam7QOQtHa9Y4qnbHTwJkRjeiXbDVnicxnT0fD7SxuBPMEICzEVOT0KfpSBf3AVKpN464PSQDlqZE0yU9B4JLaoA/s320/rebecca_walters.webp" width="272" /></a></div><br /><div>But at least Alison Brie did a stellar performance as the hilariously catty Rebecca.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRrS2BWdI-Bs2VIrsPuG0pU7X5ICCC4wx-p4xTb8VRCFioliVRBMPBJS6Lap1QciEjnLDO_Cmh8ZdG4XJMsy7qwktjZS5K6YG_yECnlZ4T-N2oyqlODGTQ3YtZszHaNQJ-x3d19UpTsyTQ5yaWb7QgsSf-2138nlXehyNCRmTQvrLAqjjyu9bAPgoSw/s1800/Scream-4-Kirby-Reed-Featured-Image-1.original.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1800" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRrS2BWdI-Bs2VIrsPuG0pU7X5ICCC4wx-p4xTb8VRCFioliVRBMPBJS6Lap1QciEjnLDO_Cmh8ZdG4XJMsy7qwktjZS5K6YG_yECnlZ4T-N2oyqlODGTQ3YtZszHaNQJ-x3d19UpTsyTQ5yaWb7QgsSf-2138nlXehyNCRmTQvrLAqjjyu9bAPgoSw/s320/Scream-4-Kirby-Reed-Featured-Image-1.original.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Last but not least, we have the honorary scene stealer Hayden Panettiere in the breakout role of Kirby Reed. She's sort of like a mashup of Randy and Tatum but it's done to great effect. I'll even go so far as to say she is the best thing about this movie. What's appealing about Kirby is that she has this too-cool-for-school attitude but is also an avid film buff with a keen knowledge of classic horror films. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d5e1DfWQ4DP81dYHivGAf_X4pOTHeUo4QXZoa_-wT3MPQU-0Cd575qaAadzXf4RlQ28xJktVNWfvTgVktyxENwANWwttVyrJ7_D8aE2SbGIzjUtHJQytg5upJKNAEGvljKjGBs2nGtXpt-2CVV4778JTQBfCGZ_4Lxt5v17ujbtpui3ql2rNQHpMlw/s2270/MCDSCRE_EC022-e1652312751565.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2270" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9d5e1DfWQ4DP81dYHivGAf_X4pOTHeUo4QXZoa_-wT3MPQU-0Cd575qaAadzXf4RlQ28xJktVNWfvTgVktyxENwANWwttVyrJ7_D8aE2SbGIzjUtHJQytg5upJKNAEGvljKjGBs2nGtXpt-2CVV4778JTQBfCGZ_4Lxt5v17ujbtpui3ql2rNQHpMlw/s320/MCDSCRE_EC022-e1652312751565.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I have to say, Hayden Panettiere killed it in this role. Her snarkiness and comic delivery are so spot on and I was here for it. But there is this one particular scene where she really shows off her acting chops but, unfortunately, this scene involves a major spoiler. So, I'll save it for later. </div><div>Now let's catch up with the triumphant trio, shall we?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6N4WFI8K133y1QeAMD4vvk0nJklNOWIkzkmRenjOJPyk1ooHTKnp__NoK2EKaek5OF1tJbu9PB49wWaD5K3qd7ZJXbWlGTAEjw-Y6U_dkbPPyYb7wtjTTDJ_Qv4thmMP5or17U-WsH-2lxmvi0GQx16X8TO7KMFSGHN1Si0LqPnX59H9RYIiG4I_KQ/s317/300px-COURTENEY_COX_AS_GALE_RILEY_IN_SCREAM.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="300" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs6N4WFI8K133y1QeAMD4vvk0nJklNOWIkzkmRenjOJPyk1ooHTKnp__NoK2EKaek5OF1tJbu9PB49wWaD5K3qd7ZJXbWlGTAEjw-Y6U_dkbPPyYb7wtjTTDJ_Qv4thmMP5or17U-WsH-2lxmvi0GQx16X8TO7KMFSGHN1Si0LqPnX59H9RYIiG4I_KQ/s1600/300px-COURTENEY_COX_AS_GALE_RILEY_IN_SCREAM.webp" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>First, we have Gale Weathers, now living the simple quiet life in the suburbs in a "seemingly" happy marriage to Dewey but there's something missing. And that's her sense of excitement. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr6xb_aZfA0SKgfLoajEFduSZwi-dR4i_dv19ojmfSSSMabqA6yWZu-Vf-KBIyfUUj-nZqdbM7nGjtLWiXooqySU8AaJwYRmOnXvSeldrwjLv0V4bbiC_C2vPFtipkNb7TiyqPUTCds81_izjiZlLM-lqDEbNVT4IQwKyDVQnzY-QGeXbdYqcGuu-UQ/s500/tumblr_mdrncsjY211qdm9llo1_r1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="208" data-original-width="500" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggr6xb_aZfA0SKgfLoajEFduSZwi-dR4i_dv19ojmfSSSMabqA6yWZu-Vf-KBIyfUUj-nZqdbM7nGjtLWiXooqySU8AaJwYRmOnXvSeldrwjLv0V4bbiC_C2vPFtipkNb7TiyqPUTCds81_izjiZlLM-lqDEbNVT4IQwKyDVQnzY-QGeXbdYqcGuu-UQ/s320/tumblr_mdrncsjY211qdm9llo1_r1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Not only is she jealous of Sidney's success as an author but Gale also suspects that Dewey might have the hots for, none other than, Deputy Judy Hicks, his female counterpart. How ironic. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhjbKE8du423rgyNt__ker_2lV23UEaoW8u1VIOyqVwokU-VPjTxetq55cXBLCwNnN7IdEvVf7axOvYTw4aCY6bLoeGoiR2cHngTS5058Awd6OiQaPbKCFako1pPurqIbf2blJjPcIKxvYgAbV_H_WH11hoItavqCXNVavGbjE2bJMR4sDkp_4ZuR5g/s1503/mv5bmja4odu1otc1of5bml5banbnxkftztcwnzqwmtgzna._v1_sy1000_cr0015031000_al_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1503" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhjbKE8du423rgyNt__ker_2lV23UEaoW8u1VIOyqVwokU-VPjTxetq55cXBLCwNnN7IdEvVf7axOvYTw4aCY6bLoeGoiR2cHngTS5058Awd6OiQaPbKCFako1pPurqIbf2blJjPcIKxvYgAbV_H_WH11hoItavqCXNVavGbjE2bJMR4sDkp_4ZuR5g/s320/mv5bmja4odu1otc1of5bml5banbnxkftztcwnzqwmtgzna._v1_sy1000_cr0015031000_al_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But that's not the only problem in the Riley-Weathers clan. Now that Dewey is the town sheriff that sort of leaves Gale as the sheriff's wife and not <i>The</i> Gale Weathers. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiu24IhF2FXFMFVI3OVOqzBH8pg7Y5KdG3A3Ram78ptbpjRi1woYkajPDCZ5IP8yo58CK79iK3ASDe2d_bcmk2hgseBi-3roLUbgedQjwD4cuewWIbDmB8QPm9Q_71k4x7IoQYmbgpizJ43FFyKn8Rzl5rdrS0YPOvMvFmTiQ6varqOVmBZV8WOgnmg/s1097/347933-1610850012.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="1097" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEiu24IhF2FXFMFVI3OVOqzBH8pg7Y5KdG3A3Ram78ptbpjRi1woYkajPDCZ5IP8yo58CK79iK3ASDe2d_bcmk2hgseBi-3roLUbgedQjwD4cuewWIbDmB8QPm9Q_71k4x7IoQYmbgpizJ43FFyKn8Rzl5rdrS0YPOvMvFmTiQ6varqOVmBZV8WOgnmg/s320/347933-1610850012.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>She finds herself writing mystery novels but they're nowhere near as successful as <i>The Woodsboro Murders</i> series, which causes Gale to have a serious case of writer's block.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhMHRD5adO4jf_6psxmy9QUGi28wtsJtK7kM-H0c2_Xw_w42m5MfYK5Fc3_iG1VKCHqg8oQyKLSHriwo5BwfqnF9JkoDvx607p1uR_DPTPCgIY0-iGLppqPWcQKHNcf2Skk7XUKrGlL353d__vs36zAeEuqY1hvxsUNC43ytTEJMtUjdCqZ3gHWfT0Q/s1920/scream4.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1920" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhMHRD5adO4jf_6psxmy9QUGi28wtsJtK7kM-H0c2_Xw_w42m5MfYK5Fc3_iG1VKCHqg8oQyKLSHriwo5BwfqnF9JkoDvx607p1uR_DPTPCgIY0-iGLppqPWcQKHNcf2Skk7XUKrGlL353d__vs36zAeEuqY1hvxsUNC43ytTEJMtUjdCqZ3gHWfT0Q/s320/scream4.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When the murders start to happen again, it reignites her flame. Gale Weathers is back on the call! However, her independent nature almost gets her killed such as sneaking into Charlie's screening party where she gets attacked by the killer. But she gets better eventually. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dy0HVLhs6gWTTHfWkZVKqE-_mEhsaZXrVCLWyClG9F3pyiDjzdQX1B-Lgv7-QMJXA1BfgKB57NPca4koJ_CEZBd2TIGsflQDHsl4dBq86kMFyb2ecQkjN97Tot12VeFwPeg9IkeIa16c36QMiurmpTEla5Pjns4SexM4ZWezsC0iU727oAC3YRt7vQ/s284/DefiniteBriskJoey-size_restricted.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="242" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dy0HVLhs6gWTTHfWkZVKqE-_mEhsaZXrVCLWyClG9F3pyiDjzdQX1B-Lgv7-QMJXA1BfgKB57NPca4koJ_CEZBd2TIGsflQDHsl4dBq86kMFyb2ecQkjN97Tot12VeFwPeg9IkeIa16c36QMiurmpTEla5Pjns4SexM4ZWezsC0iU727oAC3YRt7vQ/s1600/DefiniteBriskJoey-size_restricted.gif" width="242" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mPCjOxpyprv5-Q5jjgzl1IK0EEIZLNDL-lnwBgvsCJy9N-TMZeI-J7JmBTNqHodSyohdE8b96Plj3G9ULDq8fGOFKPWXko_PpJGX5SZj2hr482JAqjMyP-OcTpxAZw22-6MlYTKU1d9slzZ0W-kqjWKEY6uohThAlHPk8X-TaJMutD-knncFt4DyzQ/s289/OptimisticPointedGrayreefshark-size_restricted.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="250" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mPCjOxpyprv5-Q5jjgzl1IK0EEIZLNDL-lnwBgvsCJy9N-TMZeI-J7JmBTNqHodSyohdE8b96Plj3G9ULDq8fGOFKPWXko_PpJGX5SZj2hr482JAqjMyP-OcTpxAZw22-6MlYTKU1d9slzZ0W-kqjWKEY6uohThAlHPk8X-TaJMutD-knncFt4DyzQ/s1600/OptimisticPointedGrayreefshark-size_restricted.gif" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>After Gale's close call brings Dewey back to his senses and the Riley-Weathers clan has come to a rejoicing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lOGoKS9cm_WrLPtPT_enLzq69cy3LmJDXz_-F4SqxAqH9MUsEH1Hoqd4whrnTTVKcF8hT4ndz7j_6LY4PAP4Zb9pgNseP_GC8YmYEpiXoscHOj498qFL-sp3ImVeKTRyKTwxNXHSj1PfBrjrBwn5cAaHrJ9ItSB4CqPQNFJMAtYo_JAmwAvzDpPxuA/s600/ef266621c1ba9e8dd1a5a1f0227b434c--scream-film-scream-.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lOGoKS9cm_WrLPtPT_enLzq69cy3LmJDXz_-F4SqxAqH9MUsEH1Hoqd4whrnTTVKcF8hT4ndz7j_6LY4PAP4Zb9pgNseP_GC8YmYEpiXoscHOj498qFL-sp3ImVeKTRyKTwxNXHSj1PfBrjrBwn5cAaHrJ9ItSB4CqPQNFJMAtYo_JAmwAvzDpPxuA/s320/ef266621c1ba9e8dd1a5a1f0227b434c--scream-film-scream-.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div>Courtney Cox is a force to be reckoned with. She has fully embodied this character and then some. This will go down as one of her most iconic roles ever and that is a worthy achievement. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOXWf4gE8Uc7zFzdqNKthM8VLas7P0KQ0Pphhb6tbU9MFtN2vKoItiTTeOLLup2u_XajUWELiwOIzJ7lSeqJPByYv2G3dfSWlWk9bT42-pQv46-eTFEGllNqc-CAaz1CCNzMYjFeXnR-wNXQwVz1Xro8UFng1JQyx-4f5rWNjdUlUuaFOKvfRwNVrQw/s426/300px-Dewey02.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOXWf4gE8Uc7zFzdqNKthM8VLas7P0KQ0Pphhb6tbU9MFtN2vKoItiTTeOLLup2u_XajUWELiwOIzJ7lSeqJPByYv2G3dfSWlWk9bT42-pQv46-eTFEGllNqc-CAaz1CCNzMYjFeXnR-wNXQwVz1Xro8UFng1JQyx-4f5rWNjdUlUuaFOKvfRwNVrQw/s320/300px-Dewey02.webp" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div>Next, we have Dewey Riley who has upgraded to become the sheriff of Woodsboro. Dewey has come a long way from being the put-upon dogged nice guy, and eventually, being praised and rewarded to become the <b>Protector</b> of Woodsboro. And that is truly awe-inspiring. Now that Dewey is enjoying the perks of his career path, Gale finds herself shoved into the background. We all know that their dynamic together is papable but now that they're living the married life, there seems to be trouble in paradise (which sadly bleeds into real life as David Arquette and Courtney Cox were going through a divorce at the time). On top of that, Gale begins to suspect that Dewey has a 'thing' for Deputy Hicks since they have such strong similarities to each other. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLViZcOgHu6LE2tlVi6WoFufy15pZE95rygTcOaRcDE2DOsxAoQAegSMFLiEdVkEp3r83NZRskrcaFJSEbGOBJC71T7Yp2tBc074UDw3P9rcJ0Q_Oj9kNgNM-MxWTOezRhrs6BlVplOEk86ZWw1ICeC6qdvjQHq2ZOy3XIKRFixSOeD5Urw37pnkL9Yg/s306/03db6212465180be72f94c4910bedbcb--scream--scream-movie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="306" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLViZcOgHu6LE2tlVi6WoFufy15pZE95rygTcOaRcDE2DOsxAoQAegSMFLiEdVkEp3r83NZRskrcaFJSEbGOBJC71T7Yp2tBc074UDw3P9rcJ0Q_Oj9kNgNM-MxWTOezRhrs6BlVplOEk86ZWw1ICeC6qdvjQHq2ZOy3XIKRFixSOeD5Urw37pnkL9Yg/s1600/03db6212465180be72f94c4910bedbcb--scream--scream-movie.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br /><div>Though eventually, when Gale gets injured at the screening party, here comes Dewey to the rescue to defend her honor. And therefore, the ballad of Dewey and Gale lives on again. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EuYMxcwAqhbuY8TrG6V6Xk922WqSnnyTRPDfq8mTYwgpCesyD0elitKxMv-ON68SzW5mRt88fKQwsJoiklxR52OZ6jwLniJJyurXmYy-vJan3CrM6ctR4hMvv92sH70UthGSaXMQ5ydKf-P2rHTdgwreyL5TalfWE5X4G4Xvb0zBcuhNPRhIvdK3GA/s4256/scream-4-movie-image1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2832" data-original-width="4256" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EuYMxcwAqhbuY8TrG6V6Xk922WqSnnyTRPDfq8mTYwgpCesyD0elitKxMv-ON68SzW5mRt88fKQwsJoiklxR52OZ6jwLniJJyurXmYy-vJan3CrM6ctR4hMvv92sH70UthGSaXMQ5ydKf-P2rHTdgwreyL5TalfWE5X4G4Xvb0zBcuhNPRhIvdK3GA/s320/scream-4-movie-image1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>David Arquette is a one in million. Throughout the series, he has explored many facets to this character. From being the put-upon, clumsy goof to a respectable town hero, which makes him an interesting subversion of the Cops are Useless trope. He still has the loveable, affable traits that he's known for but he can definitely hold his own as a competent leader. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAujSVksOep8DrSOAHMUUy4Xw7qI0qCcPv9gzYUGykBadZShJLDu_EdeCHjj8UuGXHkUSSvAg0cViMtcAODK5Y7I5pxGuc_RDc0Z6T71tnG90KKtJjsP4HHHyUkWYX-xt6vjzmGxggXthPzUcEKZCK-EF7wtjr1U_CfBDAv4XFNUEMyUxRbT02PQNHQ/s879/Sidney_Scream_4_Deleted_Scene_.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="785" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAujSVksOep8DrSOAHMUUy4Xw7qI0qCcPv9gzYUGykBadZShJLDu_EdeCHjj8UuGXHkUSSvAg0cViMtcAODK5Y7I5pxGuc_RDc0Z6T71tnG90KKtJjsP4HHHyUkWYX-xt6vjzmGxggXthPzUcEKZCK-EF7wtjr1U_CfBDAv4XFNUEMyUxRbT02PQNHQ/s320/Sidney_Scream_4_Deleted_Scene_.webp" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div>Last but not least we have our all-time favorite final girl Sidney Prescott. Sidney's transformation has now been completed. From Lost Little Girl/Tortured Victim to full-on Zen Survivor. Sidney has finally overcome her demons, transmuting them into a creative endeavor. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmXbyLkPLYYSn-1MgCtFxyqv_PupqUeSzZLNJgcC3t8Vjxsdciu37Fv17anVbmIZfeY1Jb5LLxn7QsE-8Mx2tVb4snFZDQjm_N-OGG3ZmfLYRKBSgM93PjJ9DZmyxYGuTq8I8i3ucb132MffLLeL7LjMT1ea4RPxetQ7QpYlRkRbAcwpAk6bP7ScOPA/s320/JDYR6okmSfrU4hPoEjLdkc-320-80.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="320" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmXbyLkPLYYSn-1MgCtFxyqv_PupqUeSzZLNJgcC3t8Vjxsdciu37Fv17anVbmIZfeY1Jb5LLxn7QsE-8Mx2tVb4snFZDQjm_N-OGG3ZmfLYRKBSgM93PjJ9DZmyxYGuTq8I8i3ucb132MffLLeL7LjMT1ea4RPxetQ7QpYlRkRbAcwpAk6bP7ScOPA/s1600/JDYR6okmSfrU4hPoEjLdkc-320-80.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>She is now the best-selling author of her self-help book, <i>Out of Darkness. </i>In contrast to Gale Weathers' sensational <i>The Woodsboro Murders</i>, Sidney incorporates her actual experiences and uses that to help others, which is a true testament to her character. Sidney has completed her final stages of trauma: acceptance and re-evaluation.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnorYEcEBejQ3WU7WYBgS2J7cxnN-7Zol_O-QCi_YSUdw6h-e4rql0iThW744wcZRDYwoT_vdtJOQmNZbzeyKSWigP7_xGF7xl4fyHqbJwHJ1DKu4DsdfeTkQGDjAibu55WjMCJMfSGz6E0k1clvBjgWZO3ijruq6vjBf-cTIib5mbwuWAMDU5oM1jwA/s780/spyglass-media-group-is-currently-developing-the-new-scream-film-1574115283.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="780" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnorYEcEBejQ3WU7WYBgS2J7cxnN-7Zol_O-QCi_YSUdw6h-e4rql0iThW744wcZRDYwoT_vdtJOQmNZbzeyKSWigP7_xGF7xl4fyHqbJwHJ1DKu4DsdfeTkQGDjAibu55WjMCJMfSGz6E0k1clvBjgWZO3ijruq6vjBf-cTIib5mbwuWAMDU5oM1jwA/s320/spyglass-media-group-is-currently-developing-the-new-scream-film-1574115283.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Both Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven have reconstructed the Final Girl into a three-dimensional character, making her less interchangeable than usual. One of the earlier examples was Nancy Thompson in Wes Craven's <i>A Nightmare on Elm Street</i>. She's introduced as the typical, goody-two-shoes Final Girl but as we look deep into her home life, it's not as perfect as it seems. Then we move on to Sidney Prescott who has become quintessential in her role as the Final Girl. Sidney will always be the glue that holds this series together. With the exceptional writing of Kevin Williamson and the amazing performance by Neve Campbell, Sidney Prescott has made her mark as one of the most definitive final girls of all time. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZKdoZsezyyrEdBT9rzumTmrr0aLPv6c6kluXXzzvKVoApoISvQHldHircPE6V72zfSAA5AHbmRzNOhJcDeph_THFVoy2uS-qynRnRx7s7xw6RDRhTKOZkoBB9D1-lcSuvo7moec7MLggBVpA9x88j70joRnQJzHEt6bVorWWLCVsAiCcazcxuINJAA/s600/ROUNDUP-2-articleLarge.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZKdoZsezyyrEdBT9rzumTmrr0aLPv6c6kluXXzzvKVoApoISvQHldHircPE6V72zfSAA5AHbmRzNOhJcDeph_THFVoy2uS-qynRnRx7s7xw6RDRhTKOZkoBB9D1-lcSuvo7moec7MLggBVpA9x88j70joRnQJzHEt6bVorWWLCVsAiCcazcxuINJAA/s320/ROUNDUP-2-articleLarge.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>She has become clever, crafty, and can <b>easily</b> outsmart the killer. And in this sequel, she puts those skills to good use. Sidney Prescott is a prime A warrior woman, solidifying her status as a Zen Survivor and she sums it all up in this kickass one-liner...which I will save for later in the review. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wgEYGgUXJOkag6njvHa8pu2tX9NyfNjK1DcC0y8Mw-N4vxoosJaBz9zWEh5LsdPGzIDkSkXeQwd_qGj90purMaJVedSLHNVieW4FUfigCj5fIGFJ7uUQb5tP4WB4I8sbd4dwNC55c2RALfZRRBq-9Ksyw-LcIkxmWRiAAVNp8wGANCb-YyI_oaqtNQ/s1609/Scream4+comparison+04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wgEYGgUXJOkag6njvHa8pu2tX9NyfNjK1DcC0y8Mw-N4vxoosJaBz9zWEh5LsdPGzIDkSkXeQwd_qGj90purMaJVedSLHNVieW4FUfigCj5fIGFJ7uUQb5tP4WB4I8sbd4dwNC55c2RALfZRRBq-9Ksyw-LcIkxmWRiAAVNp8wGANCb-YyI_oaqtNQ/s320/Scream4+comparison+04.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDq8Mvbi7eTArfTuxA0vYm0XvpmnMYFY7E7rYyyVhNyA8m_s9G4Z1M9dp4Oph1eZJdQUPByOSPINftMKC3bFHAxO0Zzxz89coqu3wXIsroGAyF4TLxWz9GKn8j7c_WtvdME0EQVW2W6kNC1LLhoiwFezwhLYiUeTY9DO2lr0KsXxZpTTKD_0hFUx2hQ/s650/scream4-video-wes-craven-on-nightline.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="650" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDq8Mvbi7eTArfTuxA0vYm0XvpmnMYFY7E7rYyyVhNyA8m_s9G4Z1M9dp4Oph1eZJdQUPByOSPINftMKC3bFHAxO0Zzxz89coqu3wXIsroGAyF4TLxWz9GKn8j7c_WtvdME0EQVW2W6kNC1LLhoiwFezwhLYiUeTY9DO2lr0KsXxZpTTKD_0hFUx2hQ/s320/scream4-video-wes-craven-on-nightline.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-acBPdhRPiGIvIaRvZUlBTW8iRHZRiIuuNUCiOboYm3XaL3egxBOU43ge8R2aTrR7fA_JxXwBsS-oPIgUistkuZpUSL0DPeh3E6t1DwZlMQ_Ad13Cq3DP6FY4cjhHNBq2ahl_t4yuKpFeT1HVs3fIGkTA25Q3JelB-0cq0BkXA87JQHN748QrYhnIw/s500/MV5BMTU1ODc4MjM3NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjY2MTUyMzE@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-acBPdhRPiGIvIaRvZUlBTW8iRHZRiIuuNUCiOboYm3XaL3egxBOU43ge8R2aTrR7fA_JxXwBsS-oPIgUistkuZpUSL0DPeh3E6t1DwZlMQ_Ad13Cq3DP6FY4cjhHNBq2ahl_t4yuKpFeT1HVs3fIGkTA25Q3JelB-0cq0BkXA87JQHN748QrYhnIw/s320/MV5BMTU1ODc4MjM3NV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMjY2MTUyMzE@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,0,500,281_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The directing this time is...okay. It just looks very glossy looking and it feels like I'm watching a TV movie. Don't get me wrong, Wes Craven is still a master at his craft here but I just didn't think the directing was as strong as in the previous films. However, The deaths in this movie are hella brutal, specifically Oliva's, which I can't show because it's really that graphic. I mean the girl's guts were literally hanging out. Good Lord! </div><div>Kevin Williamson's writing is still in its top form here. Although there are a couple of humorous moments that didn't work for me, the sharp dialogue and witty banter still have their perks. Also, mixing in the old and new characters elevates the film's commentary on horror remakes, however, the new characters are just as interesting as the legacy characters and the mystery is just as palpable. It adds to this mirror effect that keeps me invested throughout in which the who-done-it aspect of the story still works here and keeps you guessing about who's behind the Ghostface mask.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV69JCOYyDHK9kmH6T-F8bO1OcV0o1jf_7aEJ2wv0y4W1LAwNzNEwAJxPIQsrAUaCBDlJIcwdp9ox1DfG5HlnPuOmtKjqNfqorJIqi_6jnb-I6h-IVruZGwwxsvV-C65HK16LWDwLSTedzXgrAdiPpaSE8RmzAJEO9eUVs5YQbUFqtDQAa1TD2poDy5A/s800/MV5BNjE2MWM1YjQtZWVjZS00OWI2LWIzZTMtMjg4NjJkMDdhYzU2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTEyMjM2NDc2.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV69JCOYyDHK9kmH6T-F8bO1OcV0o1jf_7aEJ2wv0y4W1LAwNzNEwAJxPIQsrAUaCBDlJIcwdp9ox1DfG5HlnPuOmtKjqNfqorJIqi_6jnb-I6h-IVruZGwwxsvV-C65HK16LWDwLSTedzXgrAdiPpaSE8RmzAJEO9eUVs5YQbUFqtDQAa1TD2poDy5A/s320/MV5BNjE2MWM1YjQtZWVjZS00OWI2LWIzZTMtMjg4NjJkMDdhYzU2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTEyMjM2NDc2.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Speaking of, this leads to the main antagonist. Who's behind the mask you may ask? Well, let me start by telling you about the <b>insane</b> climax. Spoiler Alert!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdY4pdFifgUb5gWEm2M9Eg7hevFjVkJZ7K4B5dBbgKSlSpzh8xbc4Eqy-lkYlNkHNfwKnowxT6QOS-rYbWZsnE_2WWkdtXbKFmfpqJPyGdHueuHp6VtcylrV7FW8l6LIrbLVDL_COYYjw72X8UrDVg2ZvVjuEj9lOIo-07mpXIOcmz5y7_lOit6D9ZiQ/s1920/Kirby.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1920" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdY4pdFifgUb5gWEm2M9Eg7hevFjVkJZ7K4B5dBbgKSlSpzh8xbc4Eqy-lkYlNkHNfwKnowxT6QOS-rYbWZsnE_2WWkdtXbKFmfpqJPyGdHueuHp6VtcylrV7FW8l6LIrbLVDL_COYYjw72X8UrDVg2ZvVjuEj9lOIo-07mpXIOcmz5y7_lOit6D9ZiQ/s320/Kirby.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So, the killer has trapped Kirby into their web, in a recreation of the Casey Becker opening scene where her new boyfriend Charlie is tied up in a chair. The killer gives her the horror movie challenge but this time, Kirby gets every single answer right. Not to mention, Hayden Panettiere acts her ass off in this scene, which adds to the intensity of the situation. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLupllrTegHwrmcip7N8J_zygRgZyyD7WqXBWsw5W9DnqdIqI-j-2O7pSBSbFl-KnPUr0p0iAeVayLNN6bLnb71UdaHH8Va1eqa3jfLi7wWf0ZWG0Lxg_E-gGQYqOkFIt2N_5Tj7cPXGJU7CCsKZ-80QF2j2gAlBl7_u7tcbhQ-f02AnQH_H3YEZ4a2A/s1200/kirby-reed-scream-4-1652465755713.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLupllrTegHwrmcip7N8J_zygRgZyyD7WqXBWsw5W9DnqdIqI-j-2O7pSBSbFl-KnPUr0p0iAeVayLNN6bLnb71UdaHH8Va1eqa3jfLi7wWf0ZWG0Lxg_E-gGQYqOkFIt2N_5Tj7cPXGJU7CCsKZ-80QF2j2gAlBl7_u7tcbhQ-f02AnQH_H3YEZ4a2A/s320/kirby-reed-scream-4-1652465755713.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When Kirby rushes to save Charlie, in a sadistically cruel twist, he <b>stabs</b> Kirby. I knew there was something off about Charlie but oh no, it doesn't end there (by the way, Kirby is still alive and kicking when Charlie leaves her).</div><div>As Sidney goes to look for Jill, out of nowhere, the Ghostface Killer stabs her in the stomach. And then, the second killer unveils their mask...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3F-ySn0r-2NhPXwVlx0WJlzch3O1FISyZ6BSMTg_Ur33_Kht9lSLYcBEk6jv9hM6eYtjlH-DZ5c16dWw8QFCMtQwI3mbAnTdg3IYuOy5U2RBWoZePXzyeedawF_0G0HoOykXelZItZQ7ya7kzCnsvg73-6HZKqwNqkl5Vzp7cHPRv2Pb_PvHyslUBw/s640/1588wmg569l81.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP3F-ySn0r-2NhPXwVlx0WJlzch3O1FISyZ6BSMTg_Ur33_Kht9lSLYcBEk6jv9hM6eYtjlH-DZ5c16dWw8QFCMtQwI3mbAnTdg3IYuOy5U2RBWoZePXzyeedawF_0G0HoOykXelZItZQ7ya7kzCnsvg73-6HZKqwNqkl5Vzp7cHPRv2Pb_PvHyslUBw/s320/1588wmg569l81.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>It's none other than Jill herself. Holy cow! So, Jill starts gloating to Sidney about her big grand plan: she wants to be the Final Girl that Sidney is and she just <i>hates </i>being overshadowed. So, she goes out of her way to get her friends killed, including her own mother, seduces Charlie to join in her plan, frame her boyfriend, and to become victorious in the end. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACu7bDD9BeNJ2qfYgXfy6zKjwEP00fLqMtnq8YanzpjitiTzm0wXFEqP44CyqQVHhfO9ikwZtbIgT99BVLp-X1ptEDUlEu7fLq64w725gl_W_j4MRIrGtY_j66EDn34ny1_1r_lQ2SYoJL9TPgBkPXxwXj4G8fGn_epv-D0QVjGuzFjWYCIAZLLF2sw/s1024/ElYrWTtXEAM_dsk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="1024" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACu7bDD9BeNJ2qfYgXfy6zKjwEP00fLqMtnq8YanzpjitiTzm0wXFEqP44CyqQVHhfO9ikwZtbIgT99BVLp-X1ptEDUlEu7fLq64w725gl_W_j4MRIrGtY_j66EDn34ny1_1r_lQ2SYoJL9TPgBkPXxwXj4G8fGn_epv-D0QVjGuzFjWYCIAZLLF2sw/s320/ElYrWTtXEAM_dsk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>She pulls out a bound and gagged Trevor, shoots him right in the ballsack and straight to the head, execution style. Woah boy! this girl is brutal!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjginpbt10Ss7dN_wMf4RPfPQk4dIdRQvUGl9omwFiTepcsU_XxUNZduqLw4WKkI_7_Y-1wpph_iO7ePA92nFaPA4wa3kAKRHWuYwcaoPi3xhzJRV1cNGCF7ZYASDvtDySWoY8jkzAD4pb5K--r63ch1TPCr1Z0ho5Gl9utBe3ZBs2of6rpl5ZzmbSM9A/s1280/maxresdefault%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjginpbt10Ss7dN_wMf4RPfPQk4dIdRQvUGl9omwFiTepcsU_XxUNZduqLw4WKkI_7_Y-1wpph_iO7ePA92nFaPA4wa3kAKRHWuYwcaoPi3xhzJRV1cNGCF7ZYASDvtDySWoY8jkzAD4pb5K--r63ch1TPCr1Z0ho5Gl9utBe3ZBs2of6rpl5ZzmbSM9A/s320/maxresdefault%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then she turns over to Charlie and says, "Sorry Charlie, there's only one survivor in this story and that's <b>me</b>!" and proceeds to stab him to death. This girl does not play!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3RhJHjdncrgjsvUO2aGtQxrEqnn9IyAVNGeg9pDkN4H4tZIQYE_gzzWa-oo10JVr-f_nmvTrdYAqwGcVX6UHurYxRe_IvXUhPD0_ZKm8hEhCX1L5fMjthv_oOVZ_qGEMNIMjl_6RaoiQEGiDmmHYHWPhxfs9TlcS1HES37NYegABoqXvrxKCeIPnmQ/s1067/ttbt7intrly71.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="1067" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3RhJHjdncrgjsvUO2aGtQxrEqnn9IyAVNGeg9pDkN4H4tZIQYE_gzzWa-oo10JVr-f_nmvTrdYAqwGcVX6UHurYxRe_IvXUhPD0_ZKm8hEhCX1L5fMjthv_oOVZ_qGEMNIMjl_6RaoiQEGiDmmHYHWPhxfs9TlcS1HES37NYegABoqXvrxKCeIPnmQ/s320/ttbt7intrly71.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Last but not least: Jill faces off with her competition, Sidney Prescott, and gives her one good final stab in the stomach. She falls down to the ground and slowly bleeds out...Could this be the end of Sidney Prescott? Well...let's talk about Jill for a moment. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG43G3r82Mr2yRQOm596qEyJlQD22DdPQeUuUvi3I21-oyp6Vj5lNiwbmFuuCSAA6y2A9GkXX65tc5qsWd1kjy65Sgs2zNN_mqOGLTlr3ZG9EvySIEf4qt3_LsDohbqSGGEHgaB_dFATlKKE9J5dbE6tez1m7_MIiUHjB8jeWnf4PNUg-rGIJGwCMXw/s1200/Scream-Jill-Roberts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG43G3r82Mr2yRQOm596qEyJlQD22DdPQeUuUvi3I21-oyp6Vj5lNiwbmFuuCSAA6y2A9GkXX65tc5qsWd1kjy65Sgs2zNN_mqOGLTlr3ZG9EvySIEf4qt3_LsDohbqSGGEHgaB_dFATlKKE9J5dbE6tez1m7_MIiUHjB8jeWnf4PNUg-rGIJGwCMXw/s320/Scream-Jill-Roberts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Out of all the Ghostface Killers, Jill Roberts is a bonafide Sociopathic Narracist. Now the previous Ghostface Killers had shades of narcism but not on the same level as Jill. Her whole entire plan is about her jealousy of Sidney and how she gets all this press for being a victim. The truth is, Jill wants a piece of that fame pie, too. First of all, who the hell would want to be in Sidney's shoes. Time and time again, this woman has been hunted by psychos, had to change her name, and eventually go into a security hideout to avoid danger. That is not an easy life to live and Jill must be seriously off her rocker if that's her whole entire goal in life. So yeah, Jill is the definition of a narcissistic sociopath, casting <b>anyone </b>aside so she can have the spotlight herself.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfE7xruOCUXKO-9VrEOYLD6TfyRpbyrCb9mAFfmTArApRty4rxZNPykG0bGFyKMCZW0ZQEpg8Vkz7s2YH-zs8e6KOGBt0xzCzMPwhH3pjYmsM2nZylN3rNBRTepWASZ3YX3UqdhYRVVr-NbhYDTqFXOeFxM8e5WjGgReDSEanuFQDWFIeq_97bNoQCQ/s620/Jill_injuring_herself.GIF.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="620" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfE7xruOCUXKO-9VrEOYLD6TfyRpbyrCb9mAFfmTArApRty4rxZNPykG0bGFyKMCZW0ZQEpg8Vkz7s2YH-zs8e6KOGBt0xzCzMPwhH3pjYmsM2nZylN3rNBRTepWASZ3YX3UqdhYRVVr-NbhYDTqFXOeFxM8e5WjGgReDSEanuFQDWFIeq_97bNoQCQ/s320/Jill_injuring_herself.GIF.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>To demonstrate this, Jill has to make herself look injured. This leads to one of the most darkly comedic scenes of the movie. This girl scratches herself, gets her dead ex-boyfriend to pull out her hair, stabs herself, runs into a wall, and finally crashes on top of a glass table. Holy moly! This girl is committed!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOslul6yr54Tej0M3DovMndL0_tWM8amoIDWPzQB8vJbc6KJpl6OtPUXBMlE_DVe0NmXj8VgRco2VFiNJtBM_xPavFqVmVxdK2xcMG0DD4vdzn20SUDR25D-3KQ845LUSP2hR5SM0l5sWlEvPZchHdQa2zlSZUiDQ4K_qLGhSBVnMiLKQz3wTqVdRgPw/s600/803c72a990f5356d-600x338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOslul6yr54Tej0M3DovMndL0_tWM8amoIDWPzQB8vJbc6KJpl6OtPUXBMlE_DVe0NmXj8VgRco2VFiNJtBM_xPavFqVmVxdK2xcMG0DD4vdzn20SUDR25D-3KQ845LUSP2hR5SM0l5sWlEvPZchHdQa2zlSZUiDQ4K_qLGhSBVnMiLKQz3wTqVdRgPw/s320/803c72a990f5356d-600x338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When the police rush in at the scene of the crime and the paramedics cart off Jill to the hospital, a stampede of news reporters and cameramen horde around Jill, giving her the attention she oh so craves for. While at the hospital, Gale and Dewey pay Jill a visit. She makes a wry comment about sharing matching scars with Gale, to which Gale lets it sink in for a moment. But when Jill hears that Sidney is still alive, she is not having it. She quickly gets out of her hospital bed like a woman on a mission. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2wpeql27GDRVvGDiUsJKNZxzJ8iR0MA_xRsM-EXRVs2H_0VWF4T7u3I51rg9Qn4oeIw3xYZFFjdq0btyo1NG6cybUBIosh4FjaB4RysxS6ENPTalkSMXHhAVCYvUm4lVhlrqqNLdMlDeCLhUyQe4lGcevYjYMTIVnKF8FkCSLsWLxn9hnX4eWjdqAQ/s540/4AXO.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="540" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2wpeql27GDRVvGDiUsJKNZxzJ8iR0MA_xRsM-EXRVs2H_0VWF4T7u3I51rg9Qn4oeIw3xYZFFjdq0btyo1NG6cybUBIosh4FjaB4RysxS6ENPTalkSMXHhAVCYvUm4lVhlrqqNLdMlDeCLhUyQe4lGcevYjYMTIVnKF8FkCSLsWLxn9hnX4eWjdqAQ/s320/4AXO.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When Jill breaks into Sidney's room, she's like, "Fuck it!" and starts to choke her out. But Sidney gets the best of her and puts up a good fight. Once Gale realizes that her and Jill has the same exact "scars," she tags Dewey along to save Sidney. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3UumPi8rDEW5DYIK_Fz2rDZhw8sVQclZ0C6UuTXteUgfCHvwnGtZUNDSZx9IMJNfqBPG7jyd2uSD2HuswF-XEEnXP9q-u9FKyjQcuuBJ2k4vOgJ_B5Xq1ifeprgaW45QShaZQ8wGF5hWQjUXxSWgT1WoC77TCTnxwBQDhN-OM7AkVKci1Y19fioSNA/s853/tumblr_1c7aac8c4dbc8aefd2059b9c5259c129_33244d94_1280.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="853" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3UumPi8rDEW5DYIK_Fz2rDZhw8sVQclZ0C6UuTXteUgfCHvwnGtZUNDSZx9IMJNfqBPG7jyd2uSD2HuswF-XEEnXP9q-u9FKyjQcuuBJ2k4vOgJ_B5Xq1ifeprgaW45QShaZQ8wGF5hWQjUXxSWgT1WoC77TCTnxwBQDhN-OM7AkVKci1Y19fioSNA/s320/tumblr_1c7aac8c4dbc8aefd2059b9c5259c129_33244d94_1280.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Deputy Hicks comes in just in time but Jill swoops in, grabs the gun, and shoots her. Dewey is no match for Jill either and she quickly subdues him. She holds Gale at gunpoint, ready to make her aim but Sidney incapacitates Jill with a defibrillator. And with this, gives her a word of advice:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03UxJsYZgVP2BV1RlbT5hg4Ah2xWcNfHKWzTLwaW12TC2SNuIquf7gZ2mVtcQ-T_OqyJ3J5UoUIxVjJsvTkx4C9IIoXBvKNiN1MNHsutQr3S9ZvAQn-J6AYZZA81skjZSAzEg_Y8sRr3_XBsKcyQH-3anejjFYMMyu_rSPGnIppgRvazJJLErNCbYwA/s490/RdOV.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="490" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03UxJsYZgVP2BV1RlbT5hg4Ah2xWcNfHKWzTLwaW12TC2SNuIquf7gZ2mVtcQ-T_OqyJ3J5UoUIxVjJsvTkx4C9IIoXBvKNiN1MNHsutQr3S9ZvAQn-J6AYZZA81skjZSAzEg_Y8sRr3_XBsKcyQH-3anejjFYMMyu_rSPGnIppgRvazJJLErNCbYwA/s320/RdOV.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Hell yeah! Sidney has never said any better. Deputy Hicks pops out of nowhere, revealing her bulletproof vest and she seems to be doing fine. As for our fearless trio, they may be a bit battered and bruised but they're still triumphant, living to see another day. But that pesky little Jill just keeps going and going and going. I'm telling you, this girl is made of steel! I mean she's like the freakin' terminator at this point.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMo3HMbSECBzVsStOrpPXS6RW-jDGmEdgvJ4xLwfknmPdF6tQ3jZWrafWMTBkZFe_x_lS4-1LhVYCKOCP0BBkTQdbuyTOJTHXakXETMs7iTkNTLOQ6GqyArr_a-RSGrXFi7YlQbXiZjYQlFDsBbUqIzzza6-ReVoKG3k9iDW-dlGu5yJQv_HdUS_kAfg/s640/Chest_gunshot.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="640" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMo3HMbSECBzVsStOrpPXS6RW-jDGmEdgvJ4xLwfknmPdF6tQ3jZWrafWMTBkZFe_x_lS4-1LhVYCKOCP0BBkTQdbuyTOJTHXakXETMs7iTkNTLOQ6GqyArr_a-RSGrXFi7YlQbXiZjYQlFDsBbUqIzzza6-ReVoKG3k9iDW-dlGu5yJQv_HdUS_kAfg/s320/Chest_gunshot.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0dHg6GldxT3v3BLPtqKpegMajEQCILaQlbYa4-ZWqH7ze86uukKm0vitv7nplJnh81Y7AqDfrQbIPK3ESNR47izF5FLwpq9zv-R2PzQJ9qwI4PiWMnNGYAwbwUoEt3D3w_oCxwDuZMO5XvQ2LqbpuSpbBc52e8_zRJ1QIRNDUUlK-28JzSZCiuI8Xw/s640/Jill%2527s_dead-end.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="640" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0dHg6GldxT3v3BLPtqKpegMajEQCILaQlbYa4-ZWqH7ze86uukKm0vitv7nplJnh81Y7AqDfrQbIPK3ESNR47izF5FLwpq9zv-R2PzQJ9qwI4PiWMnNGYAwbwUoEt3D3w_oCxwDuZMO5XvQ2LqbpuSpbBc52e8_zRJ1QIRNDUUlK-28JzSZCiuI8Xw/s320/Jill%2527s_dead-end.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>But Sidney swiftly turns around and shoots her dead. Just like that. Therefore, Jill lies there lifeless, succeeding in her life's goal of being admired, even through death. </div><div>Oh boy! What a sequel! I never thought I would enjoy it as much as I do now. Again, it may not be as good as the first two movies but it's a total step up from <i>Scream</i> 3 and the writing is still top-notch. This is by far one of the better sequels in the franchise. </div><div>My last word: give it a go. it's totally worth your time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B9068ZF6GQQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="B9068ZF6GQQ"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div><p><br /></p><br /></div></div></div></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-36039697923915084192023-02-14T20:23:00.002-08:002023-02-14T20:32:17.898-08:00The Long Road Ahead Exclusively on Wattpad
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDZdHPXFDfqfO9PvO5WONMVb9o_lsEKVrU40LD8tyJAxf3rYeJlUdLFC1zMjZhxABy_r5eQDidclMPkodhR-ST2qm-y60axDnLmbshb4TMPOU0Ws-GouecYlNY47EtOUFskzv2qrrrUIDLcNCZUpIi-HKmk3KppuZ2xp6RAiZAG6vBHCCXIcQ-NFC6A/s320/jdfitzgerald825-FO2165F416C08-V_6x9_ebook-Cover.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDZdHPXFDfqfO9PvO5WONMVb9o_lsEKVrU40LD8tyJAxf3rYeJlUdLFC1zMjZhxABy_r5eQDidclMPkodhR-ST2qm-y60axDnLmbshb4TMPOU0Ws-GouecYlNY47EtOUFskzv2qrrrUIDLcNCZUpIi-HKmk3KppuZ2xp6RAiZAG6vBHCCXIcQ-NFC6A/s320/jdfitzgerald825-FO2165F416C08-V_6x9_ebook-Cover.jpg" /></a>Yes! I have finally finished my novella, The Long Road Ahead, just in time for Valentine's Day. It is a rough draft mind you, it's not exactly official. But you can check out the link down below if you want to give it a read: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.wattpad.com/story/314502737-the-long-road-ahead">https://www.wattpad.com/story/314502737-the-long-road-ahead</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">P.S. I'll keep you posted on the Scream 4 Review coming soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-30067056883057453192022-12-16T11:20:00.000-08:002022-12-16T11:20:20.454-08:00Halloween Ends (2022)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoP8b0fddJJaqw81vuGAtV9OqCp6PaEmlFPI-MWhqM5pW8JAlDSWPRVgKLKKSOxMPbSk9U_MB6oxyzKMF1VFAM11jMngYMnad0EAYYnxCRVr5pVcaEVO7Y0E1a0P8Zso0I09bO-DZAblDOciDeJumWDqOA1frSq_pjCXw4HlNJeZOWtyPMJNFqBRvL3w/s1451/halloween%20ends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoP8b0fddJJaqw81vuGAtV9OqCp6PaEmlFPI-MWhqM5pW8JAlDSWPRVgKLKKSOxMPbSk9U_MB6oxyzKMF1VFAM11jMngYMnad0EAYYnxCRVr5pVcaEVO7Y0E1a0P8Zso0I09bO-DZAblDOciDeJumWDqOA1frSq_pjCXw4HlNJeZOWtyPMJNFqBRvL3w/s320/halloween%20ends.jpg" width="258" /></a>\</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, it has come to this. The final film in the Haloween franchise. I know it's been a while, so I thought I could squeeze this around the Halloween season.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since this is the last Halloween film, I've decided to actually go to the theaters and PAY eight dollars to see this. Was it worth it? no, no it wasn't. I really wasn't expecting much to begin with...well, kind of. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just so you know, Halloween Kills is a really stupid movie and it's up there as one of the worst Halloween sequels but I can see why certain people like it. It's a dumb popcorn slasher movie and you're along for the ride. But Halloween Ends is mostly story-driven, which I <i>appreciate, </i>but the writing is not good at all. I was left bored, unsatisfied, and indifferent. Like I said in my Halloween Kills review, this franchise is a mess, and Halloween Ends is a reminder of that. This movie could've had a lot of potential but most of it felt rushed and incoherent. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, let's start with the story firsthand. Though, I must warn you, the story itself is a major spoiler that features a new main character. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWMnOFAImKUQcDth4Pq9fVh8eXcCHBKYu_ocVQRy1_x2DECdTEtPMlaUFUvOIuFdem5k7b70XrWWGa2Zy0tj2M60a5qa9eALa-g7IDxPILcZsihyFBTICdvIKClOjhDi6xFvtRkwWZQL6fPhorf6dOOMV9-YB2Dq8tLXWQsojLu2JyNVhRBWz4rLRfw/s550/halloween-ends-corey-cunningham-550x332.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="550" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWMnOFAImKUQcDth4Pq9fVh8eXcCHBKYu_ocVQRy1_x2DECdTEtPMlaUFUvOIuFdem5k7b70XrWWGa2Zy0tj2M60a5qa9eALa-g7IDxPILcZsihyFBTICdvIKClOjhDi6xFvtRkwWZQL6fPhorf6dOOMV9-YB2Dq8tLXWQsojLu2JyNVhRBWz4rLRfw/s320/halloween-ends-corey-cunningham-550x332.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The story follows Corey Cunningham, a well-to-do young man who works odd jobs while studying to be an engineer. This time he takes a job babysitting for a wealthy couple. His charge is this mischievous little brat of a kid who likes to cause trouble. As a way to get revenge, the brat locks Corey in an attic. In a rage of fury, Corey kicks down the door and...SLAM! The kid falls off the stairway. I have to say, this was a ballsy way to start this movie. I thought Michael would pop out and terrorize Corey any minute, but this caught me by surprise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10Em2t-ANP0iMliWdHfTCcBL_fCKK56We4T9Zwg96g0r2GCqkjAIbAawiNWxS5C1I5pB_YlHABs3nBCopu3OGYsRMHilEJoY9hdigTwEPsUJ8XsgMV8_YSLBVc_10ilXH3Ng0bz7WC020-9LNG00mO5m0Yhq6dl_V_w_UQOLWfcq_IEmwjj8mv9FLBg/s1600/l-intro-1666043187.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10Em2t-ANP0iMliWdHfTCcBL_fCKK56We4T9Zwg96g0r2GCqkjAIbAawiNWxS5C1I5pB_YlHABs3nBCopu3OGYsRMHilEJoY9hdigTwEPsUJ8XsgMV8_YSLBVc_10ilXH3Ng0bz7WC020-9LNG00mO5m0Yhq6dl_V_w_UQOLWfcq_IEmwjj8mv9FLBg/s320/l-intro-1666043187.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> So that's when the parents come in and see their son's bloody body on the floor. When Corey steps out of the attic, he has a knife in his hand...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Flash forward to four years later...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nC1ieuoAc2sEfmrjlHde4zgdQCEp-J8vcGTfyE6QPAJy_IXovK4_f8wiUW8LOc4K7H4nRqRKR2Tf8QZvhxz0vyDNR1KTe7YZq8NUORxIBbQeu3c_a7G7S2frdsDUgltS5Bn3mID48yH7Jf2bdCpgOKUxAI3yGaQ6uAbiQpPYedKY-wzUzofunWrl1A/s980/halloween-ends-rohan-campbell-plays-corey-cunningham.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="980" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nC1ieuoAc2sEfmrjlHde4zgdQCEp-J8vcGTfyE6QPAJy_IXovK4_f8wiUW8LOc4K7H4nRqRKR2Tf8QZvhxz0vyDNR1KTe7YZq8NUORxIBbQeu3c_a7G7S2frdsDUgltS5Bn3mID48yH7Jf2bdCpgOKUxAI3yGaQ6uAbiQpPYedKY-wzUzofunWrl1A/s320/halloween-ends-rohan-campbell-plays-corey-cunningham.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8qhfsyeBMYTDN2NY2DXM32UlzND5ENwwkYfXoECLqPVSU9gIZ__IqB-HvBuu4Faw3u6atoBs5HITxAj15ltySYefGLLGsF3TTtmKss9M7MmZSSeg5x4g__BZVMGEGbG3uke2wZU4USKMVLPWeickvyl7im9cUHoNVGeiWJ1BXxLWqYX4V4aHfy_DZg/s681/rohan-campbell-halloween-ends.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="681" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8qhfsyeBMYTDN2NY2DXM32UlzND5ENwwkYfXoECLqPVSU9gIZ__IqB-HvBuu4Faw3u6atoBs5HITxAj15ltySYefGLLGsF3TTtmKss9M7MmZSSeg5x4g__BZVMGEGbG3uke2wZU4USKMVLPWeickvyl7im9cUHoNVGeiWJ1BXxLWqYX4V4aHfy_DZg/s320/rohan-campbell-halloween-ends.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Corey has served his time and now he's completely ostracized from the whole town...well, except for Laurie's granddaughter Allyson who sees a kindred spirit in him. This is, by far, one of the worst aspects of the film. The romance between Corey and Allyson was like something out of a shitty teen Netflix movie and they're not even teenagers. Moving on...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PkM5SEPHGZ_m7AhbhIUl-oGACYnTZDeaQDibVvsPF_c0TBJXKyTgsaH61LBhMwkKQNRnawmKCsMRXXG_Gf-m2I3Oh9Jj82J9kAgWEdJJZE7BuUkYfmw9_oaYs0dXiSzZnQxAqSwkJER99C2MGKRoMzY4lyoD5ca4cJEwo_HmDZ_KHCQmsevWL-vchg/s2000/halloween%20ends%20bullies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PkM5SEPHGZ_m7AhbhIUl-oGACYnTZDeaQDibVvsPF_c0TBJXKyTgsaH61LBhMwkKQNRnawmKCsMRXXG_Gf-m2I3Oh9Jj82J9kAgWEdJJZE7BuUkYfmw9_oaYs0dXiSzZnQxAqSwkJER99C2MGKRoMzY4lyoD5ca4cJEwo_HmDZ_KHCQmsevWL-vchg/s320/halloween%20ends%20bullies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Corey has a night out with Allyson at the bar, the boy's dead mother suddenly appears out of nowhere and goes after Corey in a seething rage. The pressure is too much for Corey, so runs out into the empty streets and gets into ANOTHER scuffle with a group of teen bullies.... who are also in a marching band. Um, is that supposed to be clever? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclgYT6IiFcr7qb6API310GX-3wvs1vsTDWEzywRSkEYZ1BO2JtMKRLmhkiHO2cA-7D-Zt8-2biJQbRNuVuAdpJ1uIKBJBqavnEfzwfK9ivzEvbdpkmLSsXEOqAcHcILzxEV1BAqYpmfwdLzrJ1x0vF2srEfqgd5qArrqq4nU6zui_tCBhEWVUSvHO2w/s800/Untitled-design-13-800x400.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclgYT6IiFcr7qb6API310GX-3wvs1vsTDWEzywRSkEYZ1BO2JtMKRLmhkiHO2cA-7D-Zt8-2biJQbRNuVuAdpJ1uIKBJBqavnEfzwfK9ivzEvbdpkmLSsXEOqAcHcILzxEV1BAqYpmfwdLzrJ1x0vF2srEfqgd5qArrqq4nU6zui_tCBhEWVUSvHO2w/s320/Untitled-design-13-800x400.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH46RtJ7TfFFkfqwtO5vzyi0OvSyd1sD6reIHFAvmfR0c2dvEMf547IAyzxuaEC_ssSXpQ9jTsQ_aAMdKgRDAk4UGPsTPwqRUkquJyTKYfDDh4ACHZ5NFLWXyKZPKq0uMMT_fm40X7NsyB0lGUH7bvgR759a_w3u-AS5Wp44qpBdJhgZ7pM3L23UZAw/s498/halloween-ends-michael-myers.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="498" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNH46RtJ7TfFFkfqwtO5vzyi0OvSyd1sD6reIHFAvmfR0c2dvEMf547IAyzxuaEC_ssSXpQ9jTsQ_aAMdKgRDAk4UGPsTPwqRUkquJyTKYfDDh4ACHZ5NFLWXyKZPKq0uMMT_fm40X7NsyB0lGUH7bvgR759a_w3u-AS5Wp44qpBdJhgZ7pM3L23UZAw/s320/halloween-ends-michael-myers.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then before you know it, Corey gets thrown off the railing, knocking him out unconsciously. When he comes to, Corey discovers a hidden tunnel where he has an encounter with the one and only Michael Myers. But oh no, Michael doesn't kill Corey, he TRANSFERS his energy into him. O...kay? Let me explain this further...Michael puts Corey in a chokehold and then all of sudden, Corey looks into his eyes and he just... lets him go. May I remind you, this is the same guy who took down 10 firefighters in one night. I guess Michael Myers has really grown old and tired over the past four years. I'll get to him later. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So when Corey escapes from Michael's grip, he gets into ANOTHER scuffle with a homeless man and accidentally kills him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnHt2Qt2XUyJJyuoCGk6WmvjJm8rAg_FgdH3ZZGytGXMryjk62e_SoF0Off_ZVA39ltqJ3d4pWR6Xnz5jnpRhARDFl4XrwtIrRO3ab-nMpwr0SVrqJyCKU_WvOXl0_1Ou1aivUUuydPbCD16M4LjAHhx5xO1i5yS2t3mxOUxO0J3CHzDxC2R7ny-QxA/s720/corey-cunningham-halloween-ends.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnHt2Qt2XUyJJyuoCGk6WmvjJm8rAg_FgdH3ZZGytGXMryjk62e_SoF0Off_ZVA39ltqJ3d4pWR6Xnz5jnpRhARDFl4XrwtIrRO3ab-nMpwr0SVrqJyCKU_WvOXl0_1Ou1aivUUuydPbCD16M4LjAHhx5xO1i5yS2t3mxOUxO0J3CHzDxC2R7ny-QxA/s320/corey-cunningham-halloween-ends.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF24hjIigUCJPR2mHYmdq3hskzMm2TOsGo6E7VALH-Piwe4H8dz9KBh1kHqM3B6XGB7M63gp3n1E_IjG6JV7jEXZXf-1wvehrIB1HUkaqj33fJvTxwNICAil1WsgeCzu8mZNMrsx6pnxtfyhtsuOceQWKZKkjsV2B8C3P4fKPJFyvk0AfjEF8IFGcWg/s984/corey-cunningham-halloween-ends-1666019293213.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="984" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFF24hjIigUCJPR2mHYmdq3hskzMm2TOsGo6E7VALH-Piwe4H8dz9KBh1kHqM3B6XGB7M63gp3n1E_IjG6JV7jEXZXf-1wvehrIB1HUkaqj33fJvTxwNICAil1WsgeCzu8mZNMrsx6pnxtfyhtsuOceQWKZKkjsV2B8C3P4fKPJFyvk0AfjEF8IFGcWg/s320/corey-cunningham-halloween-ends-1666019293213.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzepG8VXszZqys7isz7_xHJWtCVB3DdWgXj9K6YUZc6tRKNIq636v0D7WcAgtoZCuJYrB0C7ZbdUHupj4eGSI9ESpWDjMUjNrKr2h2llE4Ap6O-2ktl_2-xMwgN_DvUIxGrz7-YzycNb2ROXCCvCu8m2cPKONoRkZNkE-SfOnRyrJFGKDzN3LkrGfKrA/s1200/halloween-cory.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzepG8VXszZqys7isz7_xHJWtCVB3DdWgXj9K6YUZc6tRKNIq636v0D7WcAgtoZCuJYrB0C7ZbdUHupj4eGSI9ESpWDjMUjNrKr2h2llE4Ap6O-2ktl_2-xMwgN_DvUIxGrz7-YzycNb2ROXCCvCu8m2cPKONoRkZNkE-SfOnRyrJFGKDzN3LkrGfKrA/s320/halloween-cory.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div> When Corey gets home, he suddenly becomes infected with Michael's evil juju. Not soon after, Corey teams up with Michael for a night of bloodletting. <div>You wanna know why Corey takes most of this review? He's basically the main character of the movie. Not to mention, Corey gets more kills than Michael. So yes, Corey has officially taken the spotlight from both Laurie and Michael, which makes him the main focus of this film. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPadmwLnhDjZcPJet-Vp2VvewBsMSzf8igiTwSPLLXkEEMFVdXpuUMq6cseAWXBma8fK01_3fg0WGbjrd6UpVxoyGWvACSDCc9SLuxJhIIy3KuN9VejOH9O4GUdsRtACYmwjd_ceYlHXnynCgwcbVa0hcCpoouvX6jj95KpnaWl6v2hyDPxUZJIa3oVQ/s285/download%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="285" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPadmwLnhDjZcPJet-Vp2VvewBsMSzf8igiTwSPLLXkEEMFVdXpuUMq6cseAWXBma8fK01_3fg0WGbjrd6UpVxoyGWvACSDCc9SLuxJhIIy3KuN9VejOH9O4GUdsRtACYmwjd_ceYlHXnynCgwcbVa0hcCpoouvX6jj95KpnaWl6v2hyDPxUZJIa3oVQ/s1600/download%20(3).jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div>In conclusion, Corey gets a little big-headed and decides to take on Michael. This is probably one of the silliest moments of the movie. You have Michael Myers, who's about 6'3 or 6'4, tackling a guy less his size. You think that after being a non-stop killing machine, Michael wouldn't have a problem putting him down. But...he doesn't. I guess Michael is really showing his age, who knows?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWQLaEQR9KeTK6bsbCHh8ffqs7iQmluFDoMuduzQRAzFwd1uNg6r0Bm20VRLxBjzS9W5jyZWKOWbxYvRW29BDEJH-MgjKRhJoEpCpU1TYtAvUz7d4q015ytg_0IeHRzBaalqBDXwtLyDbvlVxiqeKUL0ZLd5Wr451uhBKrlk_edPlf8Z--uxGPAt6mQ/s999/halloween-ends-junkyard%20(1).webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="999" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWQLaEQR9KeTK6bsbCHh8ffqs7iQmluFDoMuduzQRAzFwd1uNg6r0Bm20VRLxBjzS9W5jyZWKOWbxYvRW29BDEJH-MgjKRhJoEpCpU1TYtAvUz7d4q015ytg_0IeHRzBaalqBDXwtLyDbvlVxiqeKUL0ZLd5Wr451uhBKrlk_edPlf8Z--uxGPAt6mQ/s320/halloween-ends-junkyard%20(1).webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So Corey steals Michael's mask and gets his revenge on his bullies and blah, blah, blah. It's all very typical and formulaic from then on. I also want to point out that when Corey puts the mask on it somehow gives him superpowers? What?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDUtpHhlJ3fhzLZ-3NzJBtK3MT7qzNuEXTtN0KjyNSmXNk5zfayHEKc8EXF3WImiiAMLBjCB-tIHfeAs5l1nMTDJk_t3hFlGwbiDRr2ALaBnnoxnvnIfMcFEG8HLKqiYUzuRXiy31GiBpqv7_LpDPwy3KZsRD5no2Y4kCzKko-IqkgajYb6TuOGFCAA/s1280/pnr8NZQBaxeByCkZwNwHCG.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDUtpHhlJ3fhzLZ-3NzJBtK3MT7qzNuEXTtN0KjyNSmXNk5zfayHEKc8EXF3WImiiAMLBjCB-tIHfeAs5l1nMTDJk_t3hFlGwbiDRr2ALaBnnoxnvnIfMcFEG8HLKqiYUzuRXiy31GiBpqv7_LpDPwy3KZsRD5no2Y4kCzKko-IqkgajYb6TuOGFCAA/s320/pnr8NZQBaxeByCkZwNwHCG.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Besides the point, I think Corey is a really interesting character on his own. His backstory in particular feels like something out of an early eighties slasher: a misunderstood loner who is ostracized and bullied in his hometown and gets revenge on his tormenters. But the problem is, his story arc takes up most of the movie and it's a pretty slow build-up. It would've been more interesting if Corey was already an established character in the first film. What if he was already a boyfriend of Allyson's? Her parents like him, Laurie likes him, and he's an all-around well-to-do guy but the events of Halloween 2018 and Halloween Kills traumatized him a bit in this movie. He still is his normal self but then the accidental murder of his charge happened and he's completely ostracized by the townspeople. Before you know it, he gets "touched" by Michael's evil, therefore, becoming the new boogeyman of Haddonfield. That would be a hell of a lot better than what they got here.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYXpWnf_REfDAJLR2UFliuGlgq3GkQIScKkf-N3J0b7JABs6l1c-5VY56mhPurCglIZ-dYjAdowWzjzeka-OTlJpATGYcxZtgk1vPIfAl_oIka91-iwBkF_gIDEGduCVUHi5T5HrrYDV-6ZSl9sDqtTvtgmy1GFqVtYLBWT-1K0PNgv_M2ilU6nG4NQ/s1698/Corey_Cunningham_2019_Flashback_in_Halloween_Ends.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1698" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYXpWnf_REfDAJLR2UFliuGlgq3GkQIScKkf-N3J0b7JABs6l1c-5VY56mhPurCglIZ-dYjAdowWzjzeka-OTlJpATGYcxZtgk1vPIfAl_oIka91-iwBkF_gIDEGduCVUHi5T5HrrYDV-6ZSl9sDqtTvtgmy1GFqVtYLBWT-1K0PNgv_M2ilU6nG4NQ/s320/Corey_Cunningham_2019_Flashback_in_Halloween_Ends.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Overall, Corey is an alright character and I thought the actor did a decent enough job but the story and the pacing could have gelled better with what's supposed the final film of the franchise. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaLbiFweOPeoV0M5QaOyacj3pglom6Y0XGMW6T0Qd-JEsEbZ5iKoBDOw9FiTXXLH-8RUCjZvoa4mKrZoQL119ItahqB2G0JGKNEU3ERpSmWHdV4Cj_kcNSgoiNry3p_mUNIR9-GxVzEJfjJmXITnVMV4qc0sHSHk9YKWZ-F7KIqYl7xUqhgBWGJVmWA/s1200/fee295fc61e639c67504192920258a622315f465-4x3-x0y42w3000h2250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCaLbiFweOPeoV0M5QaOyacj3pglom6Y0XGMW6T0Qd-JEsEbZ5iKoBDOw9FiTXXLH-8RUCjZvoa4mKrZoQL119ItahqB2G0JGKNEU3ERpSmWHdV4Cj_kcNSgoiNry3p_mUNIR9-GxVzEJfjJmXITnVMV4qc0sHSHk9YKWZ-F7KIqYl7xUqhgBWGJVmWA/s320/fee295fc61e639c67504192920258a622315f465-4x3-x0y42w3000h2250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Once again, Laurie Strode is relegated to a supporting character in her own movie. It's a damn shame because this is actually Jamie Lee Curtis' final appearance in a Halloween film. Her story arc does have a good headstart but the film never takes the time to utilize that.</div><div>Okay, here's how it goes:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeWKd0XrQMbvJJJXRzA3TnVkgyE4BmQoneAhqOO--ABq9j_mA4BFygaa-AOkD4k5X-RhN2EgqykggMZ0XvxapSif5-ib2Ds2Ny7_t6M1-WQrLN6OyJhABmeKUUZGBqbtrDbd-QEXQH5QSKFphet3LkL9m5WJN2eLxN3DPcXOKjLNDKbUUffjYwmeVUA/s2872/Halloween-Ends-Cast-Peacock-Jamie-Lee-Curtis-Laurie-Strode%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2872" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeWKd0XrQMbvJJJXRzA3TnVkgyE4BmQoneAhqOO--ABq9j_mA4BFygaa-AOkD4k5X-RhN2EgqykggMZ0XvxapSif5-ib2Ds2Ny7_t6M1-WQrLN6OyJhABmeKUUZGBqbtrDbd-QEXQH5QSKFphet3LkL9m5WJN2eLxN3DPcXOKjLNDKbUUffjYwmeVUA/w400-h165/Halloween-Ends-Cast-Peacock-Jamie-Lee-Curtis-Laurie-Strode%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Four years after the events of Halloween Kills, Laurie decides to cut out of the survivalist shtick and tries to live a normal life. This kind of works because this is what her daughter wanted: a normal, stable home life. That's good and all but why on earth would Laurie stay in a town that's riddled with devastation, bloodshed, and grief? I'm still surprised she stayed in Haddonfield after the first film's carnage. However, there's another positive addition to Laurie's story arc: she's writing a novel about her experiences. If H20 did this, it would be the perfect cherry on top. <div>Okay, enough with the positives, let's talk about the negatives. First of all, the townspeople are blaming <b>Laurie </b>for the murders. I just don't get it. In this one particular scene, a lady at the store confronts Laurie. For some odd reason, the lady blames Laurie for her sister's disability because somehow she provoked Michael Myers into a killing spree? What? Just to let you know, Michael Myers can kill anybody in his way. Why the hell would he even think about Laurie when there are more people to kill? It's ludicrous for this woman to think that Laurie is the cause of her sister's injury. Maybe this scene could've worked better if Laurie was Michael's sister. I know I keep saying that but that would be way more effective than what they got here. It's a lame attempt at drama. For instance, in the scene where the dead boy's mother just so <b>happens </b>to be at the same bar as Corey and Allyson. It just feels forced and contrived. Oh, but it gets much stupider. <b>Allyson</b>, of all people, blames Laurie for her parents' death just because she's not on board with Allyson dating Corey. What? this is soap-opera levels of bad. And trust me, I'll get to Allyson later. </div><div>However, I did like the chemistry between Laurie and Deputy Hawkins. Speaking of, let's focus on him for a bit. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALdsZPDQkrGOSOsyCoDlUD_btzFQbGbhni6f3Y7lfHHZuQ5OhAefKAUG6tzXaIZimRNsdhvl7v28pDG4k3LTRNQ2qz5ejD9QvVAAftGDGXgxtgXZ2u3dV9Z5_aIcYkDnNDV9pFViMfQh4-qS7ZeYjS1qqgpJh7Py2MML84F74Ws6VnWFGaJjLc9wo9g/s2880/Halloween-Ends-Cast-Peacock-Will-Patton-Frank-Hawkins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2880" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjALdsZPDQkrGOSOsyCoDlUD_btzFQbGbhni6f3Y7lfHHZuQ5OhAefKAUG6tzXaIZimRNsdhvl7v28pDG4k3LTRNQ2qz5ejD9QvVAAftGDGXgxtgXZ2u3dV9Z5_aIcYkDnNDV9pFViMfQh4-qS7ZeYjS1qqgpJh7Py2MML84F74Ws6VnWFGaJjLc9wo9g/w400-h165/Halloween-Ends-Cast-Peacock-Will-Patton-Frank-Hawkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Remember in the last movie where there was this big hoopla about Hawkins never getting the chance to kill Michael and once he heals from his wounds, he'll finally finish the job? Given that this <i>is </i>the final film, Hawkins should have a much more important role. Unfortunately, that never came to be. Hawkins has basically been downgraded to a minor supporting role. He doesn't even face Michael in the climactic scene. Another gripe I have with this is his relationship with Laurie. Their love story was way more interesting than Corey and Allyson's and it's treated like an afterthought. Other than that, Hawkins isn't given much to do. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TXPqBVq_-VtCAN9XXHXJD62QTKCDxtMffTFRlu9PflHBoAP9kzxEkqcrN4bo2IilFcaZq6quVkE9o5JRSVXoBAZBFeumUeSdI4utWZ8JraORfc9TH-q93VFnPbFHdNu1SwwNvpSJe-mJ56jhQ0xqwS95eAM15FG4eOJBEiKFVB7HOtdiWdFDj2lk7A/s700/6346b20b39a9f1001232bfb0.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TXPqBVq_-VtCAN9XXHXJD62QTKCDxtMffTFRlu9PflHBoAP9kzxEkqcrN4bo2IilFcaZq6quVkE9o5JRSVXoBAZBFeumUeSdI4utWZ8JraORfc9TH-q93VFnPbFHdNu1SwwNvpSJe-mJ56jhQ0xqwS95eAM15FG4eOJBEiKFVB7HOtdiWdFDj2lk7A/s320/6346b20b39a9f1001232bfb0.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Now back to Laurie. I feel like her story arc is such wasted potential. She was pretty much the driving force of Halloween 2018 but in the next two movies, it seems like the filmmakers needed to figure out what to do with her story. After all, Laurie is essentially the main character of the whole series, so what's next on the list? She's not related to Michael, so what's the connection between them? More on that later. </div><div>Overall, Jamie Lee Curtis did a great job with what little she was given. Jamie will always be the best part of these movies.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHfyFHDZTQ9YCbIDVwFfMjXlybkwnEbImuSym9zhKXnrTRn9c8CUrL4Xylsy6VkLP8Qkkdoub8V2S55DwmtP6Z7owJO4D2RMvl6w9j2dEvkc93a-UK29OeN2oOwvU0jkSiPuD2PWUcMHrsYneFZ3b2d0jkrArCsrUhcubkoWYp4F2gwrXOD5uYisthA/s2874/Halloween-Ends-Cast-Peacock-Andi-Matichak-Allyson-Nelson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="2874" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHfyFHDZTQ9YCbIDVwFfMjXlybkwnEbImuSym9zhKXnrTRn9c8CUrL4Xylsy6VkLP8Qkkdoub8V2S55DwmtP6Z7owJO4D2RMvl6w9j2dEvkc93a-UK29OeN2oOwvU0jkSiPuD2PWUcMHrsYneFZ3b2d0jkrArCsrUhcubkoWYp4F2gwrXOD5uYisthA/w400-h164/Halloween-Ends-Cast-Peacock-Andi-Matichak-Allyson-Nelson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Allyson. Oh boy, Allyson. I have to admit, she did have some potential as a well-thought-out character given that she is the granddaughter of Laurie Strode and mirroring her characteristics. Slowly but surely, Allyson has become the victim of the idiot plot. So in the beginning, she is still traumatized by the death of her parents and friends. Not only that, it seems as though she's suffering from small-town boredom. She has an obnoxious ex-boyfriend who can't take no for an answer, a shitty boss who disregards her and has become a shell of her former self. The one thing I noticed about Allyson is that she now works as a nurse and I was like, "Oh cool, she might get a suspenseful chase like Laurie did in Halloween 2 but...that never happens. Yet another missed opportunity.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8KIB8pXtmBzftvBl_pHk30Hl3xQQL5AZwSFsPzN3kRCOCVf9pTdDFaPNpC28x6uCFkNiK1WTmjZouYwUu04BDbQpRO1dJl-u6d6SlAd7qCYyJRchQLowfEwdw3oztMZBOBpIK1RXM7vU_Cw5r5dKWyDNwfC7VSQi53zUpXH-BaEvMR_eEOP9jYNfoQ/s768/halloween_ends_2022_corey_allyson_photo_booth.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="768" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN8KIB8pXtmBzftvBl_pHk30Hl3xQQL5AZwSFsPzN3kRCOCVf9pTdDFaPNpC28x6uCFkNiK1WTmjZouYwUu04BDbQpRO1dJl-u6d6SlAd7qCYyJRchQLowfEwdw3oztMZBOBpIK1RXM7vU_Cw5r5dKWyDNwfC7VSQi53zUpXH-BaEvMR_eEOP9jYNfoQ/w400-h166/halloween_ends_2022_corey_allyson_photo_booth.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Anywho, she meets up with Corey and it's love at first sight. As I mentioned before, most of this subplot takes up half of the movie and I was so disengaged. Did the movie just change genres all of sudden? I thought the tone was so uneven and the horror was nonexistent.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_6rC_fiWllPMNBLJfPexCnz8QO5EL0uTnaxi_jJNqKDVICPvMARRhJ6eCJE_jKYs97gDFclar87rMX66UeNAdmPBzVBwsmIgp4V1ZgyNAoSm5qyKBMi6HE61aNzfM5EvRKAag95EolgD3fjmvreSNHmTO40y9jRmcnV0tSxmWEuJxO3mzTY7H7fQoQ/s1542/Allyson_in_Halloween_Ends.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1542" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_6rC_fiWllPMNBLJfPexCnz8QO5EL0uTnaxi_jJNqKDVICPvMARRhJ6eCJE_jKYs97gDFclar87rMX66UeNAdmPBzVBwsmIgp4V1ZgyNAoSm5qyKBMi6HE61aNzfM5EvRKAag95EolgD3fjmvreSNHmTO40y9jRmcnV0tSxmWEuJxO3mzTY7H7fQoQ/s320/Allyson_in_Halloween_Ends.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>From then on, Allyson loses all of her senses, putting a wedge between her and Laurie. Like I said before, what if Corey was Allyson's long-lost love, rekindling their high school romance? Therefore, the fight between her and Laurie would be more effective. Allyson would say something like, "Corey is the only person in my life and now you're taking him away from me too!" in which Allyson would come off as way more sympathetic than she does here.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eG6tgaQmYnDmx45Brsnn4YVL-8AV8wZB24KwT3Olkes47uV8pIWYH3-uCwQ2QMcRby3nrJPUuAOXhb_Oc5lclY0b0H7_yj-gIaTmJq87KiEeJU49NxplkeEclL55T5dahR592joyfw5FdLcbxm3gwsIe0H0z8RP1fRWnwvvu45OZ6IcFr6z_tbPI_g/s788/FXvzPh8VEAAJ5Ic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eG6tgaQmYnDmx45Brsnn4YVL-8AV8wZB24KwT3Olkes47uV8pIWYH3-uCwQ2QMcRby3nrJPUuAOXhb_Oc5lclY0b0H7_yj-gIaTmJq87KiEeJU49NxplkeEclL55T5dahR592joyfw5FdLcbxm3gwsIe0H0z8RP1fRWnwvvu45OZ6IcFr6z_tbPI_g/s320/FXvzPh8VEAAJ5Ic.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Nothing against the actress. She does a good job with what she's given, it's just the writing of this character is totally backwards.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu4DrZewuT1iTMSeYgk6IkrDRTP13eAaFEEUbtfp-RLU6m32DcLfQVw8kaVSABSK83DpkBULSv9e9TLAu7_psgUfprGJjBFfh10y4cEVJsc1Qa3vNMc6IpWOFrDRkhTUqTU3BHwcE--B85cg1lSzIxRCYdrUnbPNyMGPu3sNTgPAbBvB6VALI76L0GQ/s1200/4198_d005_00206r.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPu4DrZewuT1iTMSeYgk6IkrDRTP13eAaFEEUbtfp-RLU6m32DcLfQVw8kaVSABSK83DpkBULSv9e9TLAu7_psgUfprGJjBFfh10y4cEVJsc1Qa3vNMc6IpWOFrDRkhTUqTU3BHwcE--B85cg1lSzIxRCYdrUnbPNyMGPu3sNTgPAbBvB6VALI76L0GQ/s320/4198_d005_00206r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Lindsay Wallace, one of the surviving original cast members of Halloween Kills, has been relegated to a mere cameo. All that we know about her is that she owns a bar and becomes the local tarot card reader. One and done.<div>As far as the rest of the cast, they're <b>incredibly</b> unpleasant <i>and </i>obnoxious. It's one of those scenarios in horror films where you're rooting for the villain to them off. You have the spoiled brat from the prologue, Allyson's douchey ex, Allyson's annoying co-worker, Allyson's shitty boss, the band geek bullies, and the asshole disc jokey. They're all disposable and unlikeable. End of story.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOVKA52JQ61HYd0TePuaeqSO4i_iMUBlIoMgjkRNTuVnDH-0iyxg1x3bowUosho0ZlkP7wsXUYCMIhPUzhjDr_K9UhykbYdhkD2Al_oGnjgx7B4CzacI--iGsSo9lixVQx0mACdnzv859ykNtsdbBTGvKUYtZqyBUKqIi2KM8ska_UpaOh0wgQUVaWA/s1046/halloweenends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1046" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOVKA52JQ61HYd0TePuaeqSO4i_iMUBlIoMgjkRNTuVnDH-0iyxg1x3bowUosho0ZlkP7wsXUYCMIhPUzhjDr_K9UhykbYdhkD2Al_oGnjgx7B4CzacI--iGsSo9lixVQx0mACdnzv859ykNtsdbBTGvKUYtZqyBUKqIi2KM8ska_UpaOh0wgQUVaWA/s320/halloweenends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Now let's talk about the man himself, Michael Myers. He's horribly underused in this movie, appearing 40 minutes too late. So you mean to tell me, after causing a roaring rampage in Halloween Kills, that he spent all this time hanging out with homeless men in tunnels? What? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0Cu17Sqyvg0Jajqb6CWtzKuU2jedOHh8A0u_8rHmYNX97wizQWJAiZdqR47-8gcHeuWlYrk1DSvvf38DH7WsC4asH8XRoRai0dLRXzvHDq0E-sZCdM1_HJTKvub8v312C67d4ywWE6IKytaitkcXyeKPFgUEHXqDeyxfbCNkCwtT16KKoyrS1eREIA/s1250/halloween-ends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1250" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0Cu17Sqyvg0Jajqb6CWtzKuU2jedOHh8A0u_8rHmYNX97wizQWJAiZdqR47-8gcHeuWlYrk1DSvvf38DH7WsC4asH8XRoRai0dLRXzvHDq0E-sZCdM1_HJTKvub8v312C67d4ywWE6IKytaitkcXyeKPFgUEHXqDeyxfbCNkCwtT16KKoyrS1eREIA/s320/halloween-ends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You see that's my issue with this whole trilogy. The filmmakers just don't know what to do with Michael. Is he this impeccable killing machine or is he a tired old man suffering from villain decay? I can see why the fans are upset because Michael Myers is barely in this movie. It's like the filmmakers forgot about him. Every time he's onscreen, he just has less and less impact. He doesn't even have that many kills this time around.</div><div>That's when the filmmakers realize their mistake towards the end.</div><div>Speaking of the ending, let's get this over with. </div><div>With everyone turning on her, Laurie finally loses her grip on life and picks up a gun. Corey is rearing towards her with a knife, waiting for her to pull the trigger...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGOf9WOa3_gpbpACaeJhEjhncI-sIOmyrQgdpqwp6jn9vxgiagtTZeBwypYu9QSsimkuXwpP-Dc-heA61MSj4he5Zk79gnjZRKE5cgKG4iM0UCAke9E7cIIR9RK32r0HmhUbAuFHa7_EBZ314iXVKXvECo3UQK96Y4PYZFeG09ES_oh1nkDrRyyYUZA/s2520/Screenshot_2022-09-27_at_16.49.49.original.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="2520" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGOf9WOa3_gpbpACaeJhEjhncI-sIOmyrQgdpqwp6jn9vxgiagtTZeBwypYu9QSsimkuXwpP-Dc-heA61MSj4he5Zk79gnjZRKE5cgKG4iM0UCAke9E7cIIR9RK32r0HmhUbAuFHa7_EBZ314iXVKXvECo3UQK96Y4PYZFeG09ES_oh1nkDrRyyYUZA/s320/Screenshot_2022-09-27_at_16.49.49.original.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sike! Laurie shoots Corey five times and he goes down without a fight. As Laurie inches her gun to him, Corey gloats that if he can't have Allyson...then Corey stabs himself in the neck! Laurie goes in and pulls out the knife. Coincidently, Allyson comes to the door. Again, it's a lame attempt at drama. I don't know why they keep doing this. </div><div>So a distraught Allyson runs out of the house and just when Laurie tries to explain herself, Michael burst through the door. First, he finishes off Corey, and then he makes his way toward Laurie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5Oig2B5zh6ydS-5ffMtZByGVuWMEbrDUf9INam2kI07CQUlY_zD7ruziUh6v9zlX4MYLyFI60YrWLfyXVfWJeJ8rwtWUSPHK0Oh81wp54jF9noKM_VouEA32zjZPppj1VxYVR3GmnSdYieJGWRWpvxqjDJFiWgNdgquEMvyO4cYUvYMOO2IBC4C_4w/s1200/0x0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5Oig2B5zh6ydS-5ffMtZByGVuWMEbrDUf9INam2kI07CQUlY_zD7ruziUh6v9zlX4MYLyFI60YrWLfyXVfWJeJ8rwtWUSPHK0Oh81wp54jF9noKM_VouEA32zjZPppj1VxYVR3GmnSdYieJGWRWpvxqjDJFiWgNdgquEMvyO4cYUvYMOO2IBC4C_4w/s320/0x0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>They get into a knocked-out, dragged-out brawl, in which Laurie pins down Michael with a refrigerator. He grabs her on a chokehold, squeezing out her last breath but then, out of the blue, Allyson swoops in and breaks Michael's arm. Together, the two women impale Michael on the kitchen table with every single knife they can find. Laurie takes the final blow by draining the last of Michael's blood.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyvjRD4Vr3jZjtGbYyCexWR2MNAZlNhhcNniX8B0OAniCweEohS_AH4VZScvrF_fSRnVqqK6c8uBs2UvgmoLfZDn_YkSEtOUa-9JIIk6UHV19hwvV1x1tKF-wkHccp7CmP1WeT0cI1FAqkYZRI3yihE8RFB9iMGDWkHl8XipssZCnvOVJ2pTuEjNNWg/s1611/ends-final.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1611" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyvjRD4Vr3jZjtGbYyCexWR2MNAZlNhhcNniX8B0OAniCweEohS_AH4VZScvrF_fSRnVqqK6c8uBs2UvgmoLfZDn_YkSEtOUa-9JIIk6UHV19hwvV1x1tKF-wkHccp7CmP1WeT0cI1FAqkYZRI3yihE8RFB9iMGDWkHl8XipssZCnvOVJ2pTuEjNNWg/s320/ends-final.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Afterwards, Deputy Hawkins leads a group of townspeople where they carry Michael's body and throws it in the car shredder. Haddonfield is finally cleansed of Michael's evil. Allyson leaves town, Laurie and Deputy Hawkins rekindle their relationship, and everything is back to normal. </div><div>Now here's my take: What if Laurie was the town hero instead? And it could probably contrast with Corey being the town pariah. He resents Laurie and the rest of the town and that's when he begins his path to the Darkside, therefore becoming Michael's accomplice while rekindling his romance with Allyson. And if the filmmakers went with this, it would be a far more cohesive story. But this is what we got.</div><div>What do I think of this movie? I just don't care for it. As I said, the idea is interesting but the writing is horrible. I feel like the filmmakers were writing in a corner, trying to figure out how to end the trilogy.</div><div>But now I've heard that Blumhouse is making yet another series of Halloween films. Really? It's overkill at this point. This whole entire franchise is a mess. </div><div>I hate that I have to say this but...I'm just not the biggest Halloween fan. Don't get me wrong, I love the first film, appreciate the second, and value the seventh. But as far as the rest of the movies go, they just don't do it for me. People are decrying that there should be a reshoot and they need to change the entire story but no amount of reshoots is gonna change my mind. I think 13 films is enough. I just don't see how they can make more of these, they're milking it dry at this point. H20 felt like the perfect ending for me and the series should've ended there. </div><div>What more can they do? It's been retconned, rebooted, remade, requelized. What can I say? I'm just sick of these movies. There has to be stopping point and this is the end of the road for me. </div><div>Last word: Final film. Final Straw.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s0vtbxLa-N8" width="320" youtube-src-id="s0vtbxLa-N8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> <div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-79032108210453286582022-06-15T23:42:00.003-07:002023-12-12T17:36:20.255-08:00Candyman: Day Of The Dead (1999)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHzfgjgt42y-ZeEXmP8Gp-pdM7ZszigkwNpy8ixy69ojtyYSaKqxszk3sEb8JxmGN6HKYVuaEkemDVxgLkJyLQvpbUMRe4Jda3JoYKsKwpjD5jDTfJDXrKBkwu7iMqldycC2VjHC8ULKW9XV1ypVutgXMzPJhy8d0ckezfkawNOAMA5-SGz9NI5hDnQ/s384/Candyman_3_Poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHzfgjgt42y-ZeEXmP8Gp-pdM7ZszigkwNpy8ixy69ojtyYSaKqxszk3sEb8JxmGN6HKYVuaEkemDVxgLkJyLQvpbUMRe4Jda3JoYKsKwpjD5jDTfJDXrKBkwu7iMqldycC2VjHC8ULKW9XV1ypVutgXMzPJhy8d0ckezfkawNOAMA5-SGz9NI5hDnQ/s320/Candyman_3_Poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><p>Wow, this movie was a total turkey and it's a shame because this series could've had a lot of potential. I think the concept of the main characters being descendants of Candyman is a neat idea, it's just the execution is really terrible. I was trying to figure out where this movie went wrong and why it was released on straight-to-video in the first place. For instance, the budget is significantly lower than the previous two movies and it...<b>shows</b>. What makes this even more strange is that it premiered on Cinemax, a network mostly known for its softcore porn. Speaking of which, this is the only Candyman movie to have explicit nudity and it's kind of jarring. To be quite honest with you, most of it was pretty unnecessary. When it comes to the plot, it's nothing more than a later-rinse-repeat of the first and second movies. Oh, I guess this is the part where I talk about the paper-thin plot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUp3X7ZGyrRk4BBNlyeytjJdrYd0TmBkFyiCgtUgzAizYYv3st0psfoAfIK0sziBn9_EP3D5_yJsY3SvAvNa-LRwqPhoiJv1jRFmYFrLL9ti0dsmefrfmHrp0GESfdhCC3lbwgv7SelpL-vud8c3UjpAxi3B7G7WYWMBGFas5TMllgVl6n342RRRtyQ/s720/0_OgLOPe8_kycFTIYd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVUp3X7ZGyrRk4BBNlyeytjJdrYd0TmBkFyiCgtUgzAizYYv3st0psfoAfIK0sziBn9_EP3D5_yJsY3SvAvNa-LRwqPhoiJv1jRFmYFrLL9ti0dsmefrfmHrp0GESfdhCC3lbwgv7SelpL-vud8c3UjpAxi3B7G7WYWMBGFas5TMllgVl6n342RRRtyQ/s320/0_OgLOPe8_kycFTIYd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GbUoFulsbNDatJzvRgcrFiGbJqxzhSN-3eyJXaa6MBa38WbMu4iyc0-IMWoatsXooG4wyo5nU10UoqCATy17cqj8xk46RBD30OtgpFjZa0t4Cplkz0BNuxCVaoCB_aENGYdY-jvYct9IUdu0bXq8kat7aWe2PUA9RKeFG-otyiRZPl2MNMJ9toQrmw/s500/candyman-day-of-the-dead-lg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_GbUoFulsbNDatJzvRgcrFiGbJqxzhSN-3eyJXaa6MBa38WbMu4iyc0-IMWoatsXooG4wyo5nU10UoqCATy17cqj8xk46RBD30OtgpFjZa0t4Cplkz0BNuxCVaoCB_aENGYdY-jvYct9IUdu0bXq8kat7aWe2PUA9RKeFG-otyiRZPl2MNMJ9toQrmw/s320/candyman-day-of-the-dead-lg.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br /><p>Do you remember that line in Scream where Sidney jokes about how horror movies starts off with a buxom blonde who gets killed in the first five minutes? Well, that's exactly how Day of the Dead starts. How trite.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdzBpLiuEQI56R1x2s97LLpleDq9SN-U2M6hqVSVSElA8zvuErJf1EsRpOqCcMrzi8pCTyIf0h0Lb1-z3lZlafwMk4BhBFk4tiB65JzIYJHixH1ueOBL92eyGV8h82tZp1iolsUK9rkNe8HG8xhlH-XSUDC31gs9SNTyEDjpi1Q100UFtiG74S1rtnA/s321/23923.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="241" data-original-width="321" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdzBpLiuEQI56R1x2s97LLpleDq9SN-U2M6hqVSVSElA8zvuErJf1EsRpOqCcMrzi8pCTyIf0h0Lb1-z3lZlafwMk4BhBFk4tiB65JzIYJHixH1ueOBL92eyGV8h82tZp1iolsUK9rkNe8HG8xhlH-XSUDC31gs9SNTyEDjpi1Q100UFtiG74S1rtnA/s320/23923.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Just after the opening credits, it turns out to be a dream and the buxom blonde is our main lead. Okay, I'll give you a hint. Remember the little girl from the end of the movie? Annie Tarrant's daughter? Yes, you got it. This is Caroline McKeever, the last living family member of Candyman's bloodline.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81zZ6a8oO7X7OPgJZqn_XseUSfFZ3mVjw6TQHGC1kIHX7zgyDw7KGgvgR-wsPzvWQuOYHsHEi8wO5FJJF0yKGIBs4lud9cVbDCJgfQEDHersQ52EugKBFnvKoTOfzfVxjj-Nr8AiTLoLoW_4rQNwamoIWJSnXRqBsFr1xnMALXhIAbqOP2BtFdrZEbQ/s800/candyman-3-day-of-the-dead-reviewphp0XKpbf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81zZ6a8oO7X7OPgJZqn_XseUSfFZ3mVjw6TQHGC1kIHX7zgyDw7KGgvgR-wsPzvWQuOYHsHEi8wO5FJJF0yKGIBs4lud9cVbDCJgfQEDHersQ52EugKBFnvKoTOfzfVxjj-Nr8AiTLoLoW_4rQNwamoIWJSnXRqBsFr1xnMALXhIAbqOP2BtFdrZEbQ/s320/candyman-3-day-of-the-dead-reviewphp0XKpbf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Now living as an art gallery owner in Los Angeles, Caroline is the shareholder of Candyman's paintings which she plans to showcase at an upcoming art exhibit. During the art exhibit, the guests is much more fascinated by the killings of Candyman than his paintings. Caroline is quick to defend her great-great-great-great grandfather's honor and debunks the urban legend by saying his name five times in the mirror....and you know what happens. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, people die around Caroline. Yada, Yada, Yada, she gets framed for the murders. Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, Caroline has her final confrontation with Candyman, and you know the drill. I wish I could tell the story in much detail but I really don't see the point. <div>Though there are at least two subplots in the movie. First, there is the mystery surrounding *spoilers* Annie's supposed suicide. You see, after the events of Farewell to the Flesh, Annie has since suffered from early dementia. So Caroline was her mother's main caretaker from then on. But suddenly, she finds Annie in the bathtub with her throat slit, thinking all this time it was a suicide but in fact, it was Candyman who did the deed. This means that this wasn't really a mystery at all. It was obvious from the start that there was no need to stretch out this subplot.</div><div>But then there's another stupid subplot about a mysterious gang who steals Candyman's paintings. And again, this goes nowhere. There are at least three plots going on in this movie and nothing can keep me invested. Anywho, let's get on with the cast, shall we?</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFbOWpOHrxCTHFJReoO7k66QfwVWGFEfewP59x5_lnYdSq_IDzAuMpWA3cpP70Vd617Wac0KsamkO4_qVpzkTYn-PWjeaw0WhXbwdMhxaB64y7XlihqxyAzpcP-tIpvzFLOq-Vgjxbiq2ErfVnBIVgYLdh7mWeowFHOgj9V6Kgjyeynxn3xFMMfBiQA/s450/Candyman3donna_consti.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFbOWpOHrxCTHFJReoO7k66QfwVWGFEfewP59x5_lnYdSq_IDzAuMpWA3cpP70Vd617Wac0KsamkO4_qVpzkTYn-PWjeaw0WhXbwdMhxaB64y7XlihqxyAzpcP-tIpvzFLOq-Vgjxbiq2ErfVnBIVgYLdh7mWeowFHOgj9V6Kgjyeynxn3xFMMfBiQA/s320/Candyman3donna_consti.webp" width="256" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Okay, let's get the elephant out of the room. Donna D'Errico is not a great actress. I've even seen her on episodes of <i>Baywatch</i> and all she does on that show is just stand there and look pretty like she's posing for the camera or something. Nothing against her or anything, I just don't get why the filmmakers cast her as the lead. Alright, here's where I make comparisons from the first movie to the third one here. First, you have Virginia Madsen who really sold it with her performance, then you have Kelly Rowan who also did a decent job. Donna, on the other hand....basically acts like the stereotypical hysterical woman in a horror film. All she does is SCREAM. Scream. Scream. Scream. I mean there's nothing wrong with that, per se, but there is no nuance to this character. She could be interesting if the script would let her, however, Donna D'Errico is given nothing to do. I can see that she tries but her acting just comes off really weak. Sadly, Caroline as a character isn't that compelling to me.</div><div>Okay, now it's time to streamline through the rest of the characters. Trust me, It'll be quick.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLlcnax7wxemGfWlS8rUzwwNuLkNmzFTCah1pS1JAeQe6a7D0krKvO9P7YKEI2250UTT_h65UNBBwX-4Oj3gy8SULHMtvvdHkXM9u4wqX90mIvVwTkv3uEFUZ00a8olo2Pt9IbIiFMsf2bfqz8gEGGEHQQxZ5WduSE8rNd0wg8UZW9h_tFHFBsTFWkg/s285/image-w240.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="240" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLlcnax7wxemGfWlS8rUzwwNuLkNmzFTCah1pS1JAeQe6a7D0krKvO9P7YKEI2250UTT_h65UNBBwX-4Oj3gy8SULHMtvvdHkXM9u4wqX90mIvVwTkv3uEFUZ00a8olo2Pt9IbIiFMsf2bfqz8gEGGEHQQxZ5WduSE8rNd0wg8UZW9h_tFHFBsTFWkg/s1600/image-w240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>We have David played by Jsu Garcia. Even though David is no more than a love interest for Caroline, I thought Jsu Garica was one of the better actors with the exception of Tony Todd. Not only is he incredibly handsome, but he's also impeccably charismatic, which makes his performance come off more natural and organic.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-icGEsq2irwOzRscSITj1TttM4bQD1lY-qIOZPE-Nx8SDrE1L8a9gVmlKt81t8CRfueHzAO7OeTzc4UblCABSVtxjh4fjU8Sm1D20sErfrataCLJYrFfFPvXgi8YmD5089Dx15qBcJ_bqCzGlBAO50ELWG2H42ce85OPBB-meWiocvsvvfcygW0r-uw/s1848/Candyman-Day-of-the-Dead-movie-film-horror-reviews-1999-Tony-Todd-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1848" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-icGEsq2irwOzRscSITj1TttM4bQD1lY-qIOZPE-Nx8SDrE1L8a9gVmlKt81t8CRfueHzAO7OeTzc4UblCABSVtxjh4fjU8Sm1D20sErfrataCLJYrFfFPvXgi8YmD5089Dx15qBcJ_bqCzGlBAO50ELWG2H42ce85OPBB-meWiocvsvvfcygW0r-uw/s320/Candyman-Day-of-the-Dead-movie-film-horror-reviews-1999-Tony-Todd-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Even if the movie is trash, Tony Todd still rocks as Candyman. He could've easily been a wise-cracking joker like most slasher villains at this time, but Mr. Todd really kept the mystique of Candyman and has been consistent throughout. Besides this being the worst Candyman sequel, Tony Todd is the best part of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>We actually have two sets of good cops and two sets of bad cops in this movie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gb9WjDG0nSty1fmkZuWCvIiXjPnfQZbQQt7-e5J0PdYylphpvGB5mI5-YgTHqak5ns0F6y4z0DieyAzMJgtzfa8jV7r_Ibqqx9N7eZ3NvTdnA7ZGQcZQREiaqbo1bHU3EwixO094SHwCjN3r2iCVOzUm6SbfyjyLu5hnYKsCDKRDVczK9SGL-aduRg/s950/image-w856.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Gb9WjDG0nSty1fmkZuWCvIiXjPnfQZbQQt7-e5J0PdYylphpvGB5mI5-YgTHqak5ns0F6y4z0DieyAzMJgtzfa8jV7r_Ibqqx9N7eZ3NvTdnA7ZGQcZQREiaqbo1bHU3EwixO094SHwCjN3r2iCVOzUm6SbfyjyLu5hnYKsCDKRDVczK9SGL-aduRg/s320/image-w856.webp" width="269" /></a></div><div><br /></div>There's Jamal played by Ernie Hudson Jr. (yes, that's Ernie Hudson's son) alongside his female partner Jamie, who holds the moral ground and is rather fed up with their obnoxious co-workers. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb8bQBhvxqEJ_-FrPUpoWLK7izlaMzBAo61nc2X2BQmu_JomUN2AcS14P2QgorTpSj9HxkbQL5kLvSSUbWsYxSeSHzL3eYju69vy2XjRtVM_mXyhM7dUSou4GIyD0qEhd7aYigAx4l5b84QrBz-slZUCGWluEDF9VtyEm4m0nrRk2rJ235LOZhtmLfQ/s1024/candyman3-7.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb8bQBhvxqEJ_-FrPUpoWLK7izlaMzBAo61nc2X2BQmu_JomUN2AcS14P2QgorTpSj9HxkbQL5kLvSSUbWsYxSeSHzL3eYju69vy2XjRtVM_mXyhM7dUSou4GIyD0qEhd7aYigAx4l5b84QrBz-slZUCGWluEDF9VtyEm4m0nrRk2rJ235LOZhtmLfQ/s320/candyman3-7.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then we have bad cop Sam Craft, played by Wade Williams, and his partner L.V. Sam is a blatant caricature of a racist cop. Sure, this was a way to bring back the social commentary of the first movie, but it's done in the worst way and the writing of the character is just pure cringe. He's nothing more than a parody of Detective Levesque from the second movie. </div><div>Okay, I'm just gonna power on through here but the rest of the characters are just...there with not much screentime. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAdnBRYyk-xkLQTM0iZs7WacBCUUH6-7HP934sn1-f5KZFJqbu_u09Bm5r6TgxeIy4RQ5OwpBpJT3cKwFsCOcpiOSyQPZXFHztXYE8pIgsFbnyb-U_nqbLrRc5-_RQKLeMufn45K_us1tTTgf2dowS5_S38OpSeJ4J0yDVur2GAhjJPuSnwEvwjSX5w/s1918/MV5BNDhjOTE5MmUtMTY3ZC00ZjZlLWJmNjMtZDZmOGM5ZDA2ZGFiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1918" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAdnBRYyk-xkLQTM0iZs7WacBCUUH6-7HP934sn1-f5KZFJqbu_u09Bm5r6TgxeIy4RQ5OwpBpJT3cKwFsCOcpiOSyQPZXFHztXYE8pIgsFbnyb-U_nqbLrRc5-_RQKLeMufn45K_us1tTTgf2dowS5_S38OpSeJ4J0yDVur2GAhjJPuSnwEvwjSX5w/s320/MV5BNDhjOTE5MmUtMTY3ZC00ZjZlLWJmNjMtZDZmOGM5ZDA2ZGFiXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We have cocky art dealer Miguel and his main squeeze Lena...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS8NRAfY29Ei-q5aP43MvYCUpJM4QlEDYKodpYAfTj8cvDVx186qpz6ruMAn_l0vjM8y5AFsQLa19GMk4Kccmnbaq59FenwpvW__4cBSE48pPikrqe3aIhNGr94N-jrbeABpUloHuMnHDQVtFd4K1oRjTyRkbfelbU6luvgjicKRzHQfUeSfLjd425g/s1242/1_3H17kcxVPZjzOnlgKVp7tg@2x.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="1242" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitS8NRAfY29Ei-q5aP43MvYCUpJM4QlEDYKodpYAfTj8cvDVx186qpz6ruMAn_l0vjM8y5AFsQLa19GMk4Kccmnbaq59FenwpvW__4cBSE48pPikrqe3aIhNGr94N-jrbeABpUloHuMnHDQVtFd4K1oRjTyRkbfelbU6luvgjicKRzHQfUeSfLjd425g/s320/1_3H17kcxVPZjzOnlgKVp7tg@2x.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86z8Wv19840z1JYuTSRQYhsYfcToQ16Xu3TOdb8ThUGczd6Sepk3mVlKVbDmB4nqeIg7xS3CN-DEgkH0PoHyt1n2iClXevDc2o5RDu9NJeN4_HyhhzsaxUWh9egllMIuPf01LwHVC6beqgzzrLA9aVENWf70mKUnTuPbazlPQ4HpUVMfjuZ8K4JcEow/s480/candyman-3-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="480" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86z8Wv19840z1JYuTSRQYhsYfcToQ16Xu3TOdb8ThUGczd6Sepk3mVlKVbDmB4nqeIg7xS3CN-DEgkH0PoHyt1n2iClXevDc2o5RDu9NJeN4_HyhhzsaxUWh9egllMIuPf01LwHVC6beqgzzrLA9aVENWf70mKUnTuPbazlPQ4HpUVMfjuZ8K4JcEow/s320/candyman-3-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Who gets killed off as soon as they're introduced.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8Yy_uaXYayMIyiqYo-3oZNfQld88-PpaZ-mjhk2MHnOfmXKmFiF8SdJktVNzzzKR_ePQk7pqAbXYq_GkF_UQLBtsV55UhfyHon-BhTVENX4yhdAKVoNy_-ya73nuX-UGwG69kcQKiQHaphBLEfwbjdh0xSU7Tl_RymWHWwCNTYcMxtxtO0h3N6h9Qg/s308/images%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="308" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8Yy_uaXYayMIyiqYo-3oZNfQld88-PpaZ-mjhk2MHnOfmXKmFiF8SdJktVNzzzKR_ePQk7pqAbXYq_GkF_UQLBtsV55UhfyHon-BhTVENX4yhdAKVoNy_-ya73nuX-UGwG69kcQKiQHaphBLEfwbjdh0xSU7Tl_RymWHWwCNTYcMxtxtO0h3N6h9Qg/s1600/images%20(2).jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then there's Caroline's roommate and aspiring actress Tamara who declares Candyman isn't real but unfortunately for her...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR-zhUoAHU7HJc13fSCWGiaUKUXUNQBciSwb_1U1JwTU-AT7YqaMLnETiszExmkxln10PFnP32Vl_d-vBDDxOJwvEYAuXLG7VmfouWqLzwshJ04l-0nAX6HokjhjU0W6oFi8dQJiOIsrYhO3L7D-W9dCfn76IsOKZSMkxiHjOe5FADP0hnnASe1WDAg/s335/276767.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="232" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkR-zhUoAHU7HJc13fSCWGiaUKUXUNQBciSwb_1U1JwTU-AT7YqaMLnETiszExmkxln10PFnP32Vl_d-vBDDxOJwvEYAuXLG7VmfouWqLzwshJ04l-0nAX6HokjhjU0W6oFi8dQJiOIsrYhO3L7D-W9dCfn76IsOKZSMkxiHjOe5FADP0hnnASe1WDAg/s320/276767.png" width="222" /></a></div><br /><div>Candyman pays her a visit.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1BD2XqpAImAbD96pSuTuI2np-Nrlj1PP_ze6AD2MzIYAseOYQzmxMyYwSo9W91yGlO4390RuosC8eGSTFUIp7dBvvY0BrhYpABwDDGrZZ8gQBqzxzYsZ_O1N8vMCUTrb6UhaScW_ColB32VsOhQWDNeSnfSbSq082NNwLeWMmu93j9hVy08AQ0IqMA/s1841/MV5BZmQ5MDBhMjUtNjY0Yi00YWJlLTgyMjMtOGNjYTljZTdiNjIyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1841" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1BD2XqpAImAbD96pSuTuI2np-Nrlj1PP_ze6AD2MzIYAseOYQzmxMyYwSo9W91yGlO4390RuosC8eGSTFUIp7dBvvY0BrhYpABwDDGrZZ8gQBqzxzYsZ_O1N8vMCUTrb6UhaScW_ColB32VsOhQWDNeSnfSbSq082NNwLeWMmu93j9hVy08AQ0IqMA/s320/MV5BZmQ5MDBhMjUtNjY0Yi00YWJlLTgyMjMtOGNjYTljZTdiNjIyXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Next, we have Detective L.V., who's part of the bad cop duo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTN0OMeER5s-u4_35mNcYHTIbtDKllyb0OgWRhexIGaljtHxAA2GXY4faJoz9UU1w_exqKjdsvVogg6nfrV3kHrqq3IcCBcOGHGuiNc7HsOJ_wG5Ol0gnaX6OjqjhhF8I4P2qFFZbCoHGbEQvaULgdbPiMsHLWV0MVER66affadzMLs7B_IRi7fOHhQ/s540/tumblr_4d168fd9ac628a0308e8b365fffef8be_546cfa88_540.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="540" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTN0OMeER5s-u4_35mNcYHTIbtDKllyb0OgWRhexIGaljtHxAA2GXY4faJoz9UU1w_exqKjdsvVogg6nfrV3kHrqq3IcCBcOGHGuiNc7HsOJ_wG5Ol0gnaX6OjqjhhF8I4P2qFFZbCoHGbEQvaULgdbPiMsHLWV0MVER66affadzMLs7B_IRi7fOHhQ/s320/tumblr_4d168fd9ac628a0308e8b365fffef8be_546cfa88_540.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>He rightfully gets a hook shoved down his throat.</div><div>There are more characters to come but it involves the supposed plot twist. So let's just get to the ending, shall we?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOLHEHC0106NZ2ZjrTn2X4PCMhUi50b-57ehdXiEZmKf6l_wsO9PAPMW0j11A3NKstOTbDcEMS6Cm3UPoe72Lu9rl5hYqMqoPWr3yHzLucCxmdncTVTx7tJE4RR69VqLkkZ21XpmeMlszXmo6F5SXkwqoIjjVvAu-V65AgDZCQ4gdfd-UP0hFyLUB6w/s1875/MV5BNDVmOGYyMmQtZTUxZi00NmIxLTk2OGQtNTcxMTE3YzVlNWViXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1875" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOLHEHC0106NZ2ZjrTn2X4PCMhUi50b-57ehdXiEZmKf6l_wsO9PAPMW0j11A3NKstOTbDcEMS6Cm3UPoe72Lu9rl5hYqMqoPWr3yHzLucCxmdncTVTx7tJE4RR69VqLkkZ21XpmeMlszXmo6F5SXkwqoIjjVvAu-V65AgDZCQ4gdfd-UP0hFyLUB6w/s320/MV5BNDVmOGYyMmQtZTUxZi00NmIxLTk2OGQtNTcxMTE3YzVlNWViXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyOTc5MDI5NjE@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So it turns out that this group of street goths, who pride themselves as Candyman enthusiasts, stole the paintings. And I gotta tell you, these are one of the worst actors in the movie. HANDS DOWN. Good lord, I get the feeling that this was intentional on the filmmaker's part. Are they supposed to be over-the-top? Ugh, freakin' awful! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ndqYL-fCEsq4cKkFUrsTjdRmEXIoeFsvyRF17Sj3vjlOKp3C7tCKFEEjyn2K_e56IvDz_Jw8m8UCIovjkG5ci7oIKG3x3H-7dzvYVrTEpLD0MSIDrUU85qgL6o_mqMuur5IXP_bPr2wxn4JR4rDLY1XcBl-iJvlgo1ezmcZm0-gqC9E_SnmRhwijAw/s1024/nis7vnwmnfsfrl9gzunv.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="1024" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ndqYL-fCEsq4cKkFUrsTjdRmEXIoeFsvyRF17Sj3vjlOKp3C7tCKFEEjyn2K_e56IvDz_Jw8m8UCIovjkG5ci7oIKG3x3H-7dzvYVrTEpLD0MSIDrUU85qgL6o_mqMuur5IXP_bPr2wxn4JR4rDLY1XcBl-iJvlgo1ezmcZm0-gqC9E_SnmRhwijAw/s320/nis7vnwmnfsfrl9gzunv.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>So while they hold Caroline captive, the street goths conjures up Candyman and, of course, he brutally murders them one by one. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30fqNyRYRvd1G4y3BFefCjkagggBgek0sUHhTjGJtfyijRCwdAJiFnF6uKwHp_Nt4T2XQ8kadK-gUDnejPufpCbdSVrRaSyN3wPiPGqw6WMAjjGT1XLKQjf79u7dHNueIdGWb43ZK4o4ycTRLw_dcHlsBphCYLkqzJjTf1iS1LTMAWGHjIy4sRmys_w/s300/images%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30fqNyRYRvd1G4y3BFefCjkagggBgek0sUHhTjGJtfyijRCwdAJiFnF6uKwHp_Nt4T2XQ8kadK-gUDnejPufpCbdSVrRaSyN3wPiPGqw6WMAjjGT1XLKQjf79u7dHNueIdGWb43ZK4o4ycTRLw_dcHlsBphCYLkqzJjTf1iS1LTMAWGHjIy4sRmys_w/s1600/images%20(3).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtfVnkS7q9UKTTMh4CGcoFQn4Q30bcd8NfskjKyJbJMW-9pc9dUxTmTxKt7UgKZZLauB2Un5-SIVCRRHqQe-uIMAv0Xe722Ks4ztNLrBjcPJYdHOKV5sMNT7B1WYnm8iHU62LqHx7Budx3RLgUYV8nAY4GYGzTxWb4VCU6gY2KrANnB1FUGSgZS350g/s1920/candyman-day-of-the-dead-screen-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="1920" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtfVnkS7q9UKTTMh4CGcoFQn4Q30bcd8NfskjKyJbJMW-9pc9dUxTmTxKt7UgKZZLauB2Un5-SIVCRRHqQe-uIMAv0Xe722Ks4ztNLrBjcPJYdHOKV5sMNT7B1WYnm8iHU62LqHx7Budx3RLgUYV8nAY4GYGzTxWb4VCU6gY2KrANnB1FUGSgZS350g/s320/candyman-day-of-the-dead-screen-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Now Caroline faces off with Candyman while this time, instead of saving a missing child, she has to save a missing adult in the form of David. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9sERTWoK-n0DdqDx889Mn579MscgNsJlOqXgBEHVTBS9bKuuBr2eM4L-WnsLNnh-BskuQz5SS0KpW1ghUkq1nHwAS3KVD8pdOGvUMKFkdU_nTmFqIhLvhCxeA-DwkWFLHpccEKKzC7lJY3uiBnvjkn_k7wdfPJTD93dUMR074CMIEt__0kKelmgGPA/s960/Candyman-3-Pic-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9sERTWoK-n0DdqDx889Mn579MscgNsJlOqXgBEHVTBS9bKuuBr2eM4L-WnsLNnh-BskuQz5SS0KpW1ghUkq1nHwAS3KVD8pdOGvUMKFkdU_nTmFqIhLvhCxeA-DwkWFLHpccEKKzC7lJY3uiBnvjkn_k7wdfPJTD93dUMR074CMIEt__0kKelmgGPA/s320/Candyman-3-Pic-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>In order to vanquish Candyman, Caroline has to destroy his most valuable painting: His portrait. Even though there's a bunch of bees filing around, she gets to it fairly easily. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSArZETop3aSg_M4sePJBIi8cESwgC6WjqOiM18tssctJbCDvkc-iR7bBTGQ7y5Hp57-58d7Zt5MOablW397QB5BlhGKYUgVYL7AfYRM93eOy_pFmWmLZpG3LiwQXWPcH8Gpw_VIJAsQpt4inyzx8Gxgetlg2fFaJbieAAuJ9cL6nmb9D8BpZ-MWKLQ/s1242/1_s-9twUOO6G7pN0lVKrmWtA@2x.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1242" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSArZETop3aSg_M4sePJBIi8cESwgC6WjqOiM18tssctJbCDvkc-iR7bBTGQ7y5Hp57-58d7Zt5MOablW397QB5BlhGKYUgVYL7AfYRM93eOy_pFmWmLZpG3LiwQXWPcH8Gpw_VIJAsQpt4inyzx8Gxgetlg2fFaJbieAAuJ9cL6nmb9D8BpZ-MWKLQ/s320/1_s-9twUOO6G7pN0lVKrmWtA@2x.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And just like that, as soon as the painting is destroyed, Candyman bursts into flames. Poof! Gone! No more! he's easily defeated. What a cheap move! Oh but that's not where the movie ends.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESeOL-CoeQiIgBJkeoZaoyFgpC11BEVtobG-BjUIsUrt_PXJWYDaLi5w6xo2RNlDHxLVq_2pT-ZZeTagTxhzgdQv_126SVWZiFJOH2m_lD-AykIcMV5VPSroH1XXHrON5ynprVF15rgpOt1NDDHeky-rsJXvtgAWC6jaFeB9hK1WJ7KZJWD9oZHJPjA/s1280/maxresdefault%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESeOL-CoeQiIgBJkeoZaoyFgpC11BEVtobG-BjUIsUrt_PXJWYDaLi5w6xo2RNlDHxLVq_2pT-ZZeTagTxhzgdQv_126SVWZiFJOH2m_lD-AykIcMV5VPSroH1XXHrON5ynprVF15rgpOt1NDDHeky-rsJXvtgAWC6jaFeB9hK1WJ7KZJWD9oZHJPjA/s320/maxresdefault%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Out of nowhere, Detective Craft goes a little nutty, attempting to kill Caroline and David but, in the nick of time, Jamal comes in and shoots him in the back of the head. That's when Caroline has to break the Candyman curse once and for all by pinning the murders on Detective Craft (again, rightfully so, as we soon find out that he'd always had psychotic breaks, which in my opinion, is very dangerous for the police department to keep this lunatic on their team).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hgXVyg2BO8QlSakNoHbGdDl5V_L77HKwNBcDX4A7d7culkRHfanVe4DWjG42KNWORU5Lh5TzniggQaJBVEhJaXj2Rg92ERREF1RRdE-dg6dlzkecfK8SD-R_jCa8uuc3HEfvk8UoLKdZxzZZGfZFkEjtyeJmHS-QmEibOM-Sy6phHFndYE3kwQZ6cw/s810/Candyman%20DotD%20still%204%20e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="810" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hgXVyg2BO8QlSakNoHbGdDl5V_L77HKwNBcDX4A7d7culkRHfanVe4DWjG42KNWORU5Lh5TzniggQaJBVEhJaXj2Rg92ERREF1RRdE-dg6dlzkecfK8SD-R_jCa8uuc3HEfvk8UoLKdZxzZZGfZFkEjtyeJmHS-QmEibOM-Sy6phHFndYE3kwQZ6cw/s320/Candyman%20DotD%20still%204%20e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So all is well, Caroline, David, and his daughter have a little picnic at the park and they all live happily ever after... Barf!</div><div>You may notice I didn't put much energy into this review and there's a reason why. There could've been ways for this sequel to not end up the way it did. I mean this is a Candyman sequel of all things! Okay, Okay, Okay. Let me explain myself. You see the first movie had a sort of sophistication to it. I even consider the second movie to be sophisticated as well. But this sequel has an overall cheap feel to it. Nothing feels natural. The acting, the writing, the directing. It's like it sucked out all of the intelligence that the first movie had. I mean at least the second movie tried! I don't know, this is probably one of the worst horror sequels ever. Hands down! Some might look at it as a fun b-movie or whatever but that's not what I want in a Candyman movie. Candyman is more than that, dammit. It's a concept with substance and the filmmakers should've respected that. At least, Nia DaCosta understood this and thankfully she came to save the day with the fourth sequel, initially ignoring this mess of a movie.</div><div>My last word: If you're curious, sure. But I say skip it, it's a waste of your time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pja4T5V7CqU" width="320" youtube-src-id="Pja4T5V7CqU"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /> <br /></div><div><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-20827219140915552322022-05-29T14:10:00.002-07:002022-05-29T14:10:55.904-07:00Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprGztWI0fYfzTUol-jf1AyuC50jpVJ5mk4GokBEH0suI-LlwS0x_I_ZgS8HBvIgGWcSLb5GV8OAFfap9kA9LQH_KBWrQUWz2M-ZFWG1l5vPDJceAokcbqwZ9I8IV9o4gZtqw5C-cKcTS4Wa_ylWo0UIZ1B1AzN-nXjv93Z9G5TzC8VRwVRGkvqr0X2w/s1500/farewell%20to%20the%20flesh%20poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprGztWI0fYfzTUol-jf1AyuC50jpVJ5mk4GokBEH0suI-LlwS0x_I_ZgS8HBvIgGWcSLb5GV8OAFfap9kA9LQH_KBWrQUWz2M-ZFWG1l5vPDJceAokcbqwZ9I8IV9o4gZtqw5C-cKcTS4Wa_ylWo0UIZ1B1AzN-nXjv93Z9G5TzC8VRwVRGkvqr0X2w/s320/farewell%20to%20the%20flesh%20poster.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p>After the success of Candyman, Benard Rose had some fresh new ideas for the eventual sequel. According to Virginia Madsen, Benard Rose wanted to do a prequel where Candyman and Helen fall in love, which ties into the subplot of Helen as a descendent of Candyman's lost love, Caroline. But for some reason, the studio heads thought that an interracial love story was still controversial. Are you freakin' serious? We are now in the years 1994-1995, people. Can you at least try to be a little open-minded? Oh yeah, and these are the same people who mistaken Candyman as a <b>slave </b>when, in fact, he was a free and educated man. Did they even watch the first movie? Frustrated with the lack of support from the studio, Benard Rose backed down on the project, which is a real shame because he is the sole reason why the first one is a cult classic to this day.</p><p>So the studio hired Bill Condon to fill in Benard's shoes along with writers Rand Ravich and Mark Kruger to work on the screenplay. And the result is...a very lackluster and rather boring horror sequel. Now there are elements of the movie that I do like. The New Orleans setting gives off this spooky southern gothic vibe and I thought the plot twist was <i>sort of</i> engaging but the overall film is quite forgettable. The opening scene is fine, which ties into the subplot of the Candyman killings. However, the first act and the first half of the second act were a drag to get through. I was actually falling asleep in some parts. Now, I don't think Farewell To The Flesh is a <i>totally</i> awful movie, It has some things going for it, though, unfortunately, it's incredibly unmemorable. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSrjenPSMMfPc88YNvmevKLCcVRTU_mYv1E9W_-5Z4nOnWOyFWf2mzLzIzgiLwIuy3zp1S2Fc8QImlfzi60C4Gpr7Hs6LXDr9X8BPUUVFOF4rRou_JuWgniUk-8HsUA7djw2xHFdsDbFLLZa2Vnyzzlu3RIcpZp_0zMq3oLQfFXwL3qT06aOib5HAnQ/s1024/candyman2-7.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKSrjenPSMMfPc88YNvmevKLCcVRTU_mYv1E9W_-5Z4nOnWOyFWf2mzLzIzgiLwIuy3zp1S2Fc8QImlfzi60C4Gpr7Hs6LXDr9X8BPUUVFOF4rRou_JuWgniUk-8HsUA7djw2xHFdsDbFLLZa2Vnyzzlu3RIcpZp_0zMq3oLQfFXwL3qT06aOib5HAnQ/s320/candyman2-7.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The Story: When her brother is arrested for the murder of Phillip Parcell, Annie Tarrant goes headfirst into the investigation. But unbeknownst to her, the investigation soon opens up a pandora's box of family secrets. As Annie digs deep into the recent murder of her father, a notorious urban legend, known as Candyman, begins to take over her life. In order to break the family curse, Annie must confront the vengeful ghost of Candyman...</p><p>Most of the acting is decent for the most part and the only bad actor out of the bunch is William O'Leary as Ethan...more on that later. But before I break down the characters and performances, I want to talk about the inciting incident, which is probably one of the more interesting things about this movie.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYvbk50BRlEDXNwKE3zVx5AvyeTowJ9tZughOanc5NNt6O9gq5w5mM35_vvk0du0QAB9NVO70PegiIW3UwxbIc_7Av2kYUTXGZEyhqEaacz-l7-t__qaAWOP5WobAia0NlOPkxrw5rGb_61dxfHGxk8DzkyZ_krMyRKn5mrAjbEjn80YsJUKAazErNA/s306/the%20lecture%20candyman%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="306" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYvbk50BRlEDXNwKE3zVx5AvyeTowJ9tZughOanc5NNt6O9gq5w5mM35_vvk0du0QAB9NVO70PegiIW3UwxbIc_7Av2kYUTXGZEyhqEaacz-l7-t__qaAWOP5WobAia0NlOPkxrw5rGb_61dxfHGxk8DzkyZ_krMyRKn5mrAjbEjn80YsJUKAazErNA/s1600/the%20lecture%20candyman%202.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><p>So it starts with Phillip Purcell, the snotty professor from the first movie, hosting a lecture on his latest book about the legend of Candyman. It is revealed that there have been some changes to his backstory. Remember when Phillip Purcell told Helen that Candyman died in Chicago? Well, according to his book, Candyman died in New Orleans. Either Phillip got his facts wrong or he was just plain trolling Helen for shits and giggles. Who knows? Phillip seems to make a profit out of the events of the first film and openly mocks the Candyman legend by staging a "horror show" for his attendees. This doesn't sit well with Ethan Tarrant whose father was possibly murdered by Candyman.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iR6_gNXDUJsrzp_8T82HeSyXhLoegCVFTQGb9qMkGwfrRc2DuOefAJHFPcWTu0mM4_cnkGDduoZUl8v_HDhuWa-wZGgis_geFeL_0_zvMaZHu9YyHq8ZMnxulTPyiHbkPbP6bSdrUrgi8RTqywQWPn5F0ORzMFgt9MDby1Q9DsGq_JwqaTaKzznFow/s1920/phillip%20confronted.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5iR6_gNXDUJsrzp_8T82HeSyXhLoegCVFTQGb9qMkGwfrRc2DuOefAJHFPcWTu0mM4_cnkGDduoZUl8v_HDhuWa-wZGgis_geFeL_0_zvMaZHu9YyHq8ZMnxulTPyiHbkPbP6bSdrUrgi8RTqywQWPn5F0ORzMFgt9MDby1Q9DsGq_JwqaTaKzznFow/s320/phillip%20confronted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Ethan confronts Purcell about his exploiting the Candyman myth that possibly caused his father's death, however, Purcell scoffs at this and ignores him. Let's just say that Ethan doesn't handle this well and, immediately, he attacks Purcell at a nearby bar.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0kU40K0kWh7xTRI3Lsju5I91GfanD8i27TcRmCNnj2QjmfACNOuvQCPU4MMFtG0u_tZW6gX_mi4XuhWZ2Lum17RTtsRsErzyB584lPCKEgK-X173JOc-54svRA9QhlwhVTo_cxIKyFtru4SZkVAQogDGYqosFzB1LUvopSCBUATas6d3qwB5XbzK8g/s1000/phillip%20parcell%20death.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="1000" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0kU40K0kWh7xTRI3Lsju5I91GfanD8i27TcRmCNnj2QjmfACNOuvQCPU4MMFtG0u_tZW6gX_mi4XuhWZ2Lum17RTtsRsErzyB584lPCKEgK-X173JOc-54svRA9QhlwhVTo_cxIKyFtru4SZkVAQogDGYqosFzB1LUvopSCBUATas6d3qwB5XbzK8g/s320/phillip%20parcell%20death.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRE7AxZGkmYoc7HxkFnGEwC8TY5wBBKtE1h-m3qAhJHi_a9jpBPKS0qPx3W6Okg6fqmKyWVS3BNV1AdVJ4yZEMIrcUR9KH1JUbtb7cQ9EFmctYq5CQmm-RY13HbaSsp24d2uOazc1y2VT4kBRxE19sEd3yNtlk7bk228JnUMqafkpS17jUiarEf-PTg/s400/candyman2%20book%20offering.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="400" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRE7AxZGkmYoc7HxkFnGEwC8TY5wBBKtE1h-m3qAhJHi_a9jpBPKS0qPx3W6Okg6fqmKyWVS3BNV1AdVJ4yZEMIrcUR9KH1JUbtb7cQ9EFmctYq5CQmm-RY13HbaSsp24d2uOazc1y2VT4kBRxE19sEd3yNtlk7bk228JnUMqafkpS17jUiarEf-PTg/s320/candyman2%20book%20offering.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>After Ethan is thrown out, Purcell hides out in the bathroom...Before you know it, Candyman appears and brutally guts Purcell from behind. Thus begins the unraveling of the Tarrant family curse courtesy of Candyman.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1kl46qojf88MNk-nbRsOvi4549XdUh3Y75UqbGNkv0SJ0wbC-KzY5M3MHezgeYzncMn_TaPo4eEIUNfRSaJjX8BEn_6Ved_Ndfwx365NK_KA3WpMsKCXzyoLG0UxpEu32XlZtW94darrWKxGaVWKrzwC5M7DCuwwvFPPAXtCH8gWYEux4Z26ExStrg/s660/farewell-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="660" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1kl46qojf88MNk-nbRsOvi4549XdUh3Y75UqbGNkv0SJ0wbC-KzY5M3MHezgeYzncMn_TaPo4eEIUNfRSaJjX8BEn_6Ved_Ndfwx365NK_KA3WpMsKCXzyoLG0UxpEu32XlZtW94darrWKxGaVWKrzwC5M7DCuwwvFPPAXtCH8gWYEux4Z26ExStrg/s320/farewell-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We are soon introduced to Ethan's sister, Annie Tarrant, an art teacher who chose to live a simple life with her husband, Paul, who is the owner of a local restaurant. Annie for the most part is...an <i>okay</i> character. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sm5DqfV7OUzI2Oiu7rYvKrezWNCN09Ws7K5wS_61zIgPa67UmjziUyym5inCKSjl3FAEyJI8TmB-Wt6eRQZ2pSULyEkclIqiaEIiugihHpKRt-frYh6HfPeLDDC_odJXjQSi5PFBddnCRdSCBj2Ywbr7ZCS0XdsGxWmOrDzwatDZL9Kd4YoloDxmzg/s728/Annie%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="728" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Sm5DqfV7OUzI2Oiu7rYvKrezWNCN09Ws7K5wS_61zIgPa67UmjziUyym5inCKSjl3FAEyJI8TmB-Wt6eRQZ2pSULyEkclIqiaEIiugihHpKRt-frYh6HfPeLDDC_odJXjQSi5PFBddnCRdSCBj2Ywbr7ZCS0XdsGxWmOrDzwatDZL9Kd4YoloDxmzg/s320/Annie%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>You see what made Helen so interesting in the first movie is that she was a much more proactive character than her literary counterpart. In the second movie, however, Annie is very much a reactionary character. The only character development she has is her possibly being related to Candyman. Oh and there's also her witnessing and grieving over the death of her husband Paul and carrying his unborn child but...that's it. There's really not much to her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42bx5BX4-3onWeIpZfZI2mT3fbfVwScnBmMI39syp1kKHueYriq8IB9SCv9MoGmXKKvQgVbXpiJ2BMN6GWzTyiF6X6vBvRu_Trskfk8E9bAfdjovwU2oG1hsO2lsQucs9yr2YSQjQ2YmvGOvKDNb35hdKEH6PQUZ17KimJp6b36FKscFVXHRHccn5zA/s450/annie.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42bx5BX4-3onWeIpZfZI2mT3fbfVwScnBmMI39syp1kKHueYriq8IB9SCv9MoGmXKKvQgVbXpiJ2BMN6GWzTyiF6X6vBvRu_Trskfk8E9bAfdjovwU2oG1hsO2lsQucs9yr2YSQjQ2YmvGOvKDNb35hdKEH6PQUZ17KimJp6b36FKscFVXHRHccn5zA/s320/annie.webp" width="256" /></a></div><p>And it's a shame because at least Kelly Rowan does a serviceable job in the role. I mostly know her on the show <i>The O.C.</i> and a couple of episodes on <i>Melrose Place</i>, but I think she did a perfectly fine job here, even though the script doesn't give her much justice. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYdGSqBV3ooJ34Y1ASa8Pd4Y1X_9IptCkG2aQ-LrJgjheW5IaZOdrHtOGPLYIsxnB_6OGLMn_tV232YJy32BD0WJ-71fQ21ELnd8iYV88Iq9zJhz9-cZYCSG8kev69hWJf-MTsSiDIpteUst4T1u9YDxY8d8kG0g_gc-1moCRPg4kghKDnV2Tu9EPFQ/s482/Paul_McKeever.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYdGSqBV3ooJ34Y1ASa8Pd4Y1X_9IptCkG2aQ-LrJgjheW5IaZOdrHtOGPLYIsxnB_6OGLMn_tV232YJy32BD0WJ-71fQ21ELnd8iYV88Iq9zJhz9-cZYCSG8kev69hWJf-MTsSiDIpteUst4T1u9YDxY8d8kG0g_gc-1moCRPg4kghKDnV2Tu9EPFQ/s320/Paul_McKeever.webp" width="206" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuMY4EayB7xOVoHpTVZqbmvCiNQcciVVRoDH-JM-mBoNYiVwIUjnq9KTDTOfeQ9hH7W0gesNewdwYrhBFCQ1kgaXvKewkffOszo1kFSinAFs5_cbMr3s-gqvLj0E7dgE4Rp98Q_ywjhYH0P_O5wKerDLBa0Lf6ZSl8PQr9DhmQQEjhmJ1qKRDFawPzA/s320/candyman-screenshot-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuMY4EayB7xOVoHpTVZqbmvCiNQcciVVRoDH-JM-mBoNYiVwIUjnq9KTDTOfeQ9hH7W0gesNewdwYrhBFCQ1kgaXvKewkffOszo1kFSinAFs5_cbMr3s-gqvLj0E7dgE4Rp98Q_ywjhYH0P_O5wKerDLBa0Lf6ZSl8PQr9DhmQQEjhmJ1qKRDFawPzA/s1600/candyman-screenshot-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Paul doesn't fare much better in the character department either but at least actor Timothy Carhart gives him some much-needed charisma. Not to mention, Paul is a saint compared to Trevor but, unfortunately, as the second act begins, he is unceremoniously killed off. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz75Bx6LnU1x6WLlJ8Y3aVKwXXJfdDn1otecgG_MO8oH5_kmYvDU6RDgeVDfXcTwXyOKJb8BP_NoBEzwG3Wsi4oeUEF5Hkh9Zx6dGGbIW27_voMMWJhzSQAuclv0cYeGyskJMAki9gVoGXV4QtCveSgiULkF-pU9IdvEJbVBx68H6PfOe4cfrkWfm8_w/s1920/candyman-farewell-to-the-flesh-screen-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1920" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz75Bx6LnU1x6WLlJ8Y3aVKwXXJfdDn1otecgG_MO8oH5_kmYvDU6RDgeVDfXcTwXyOKJb8BP_NoBEzwG3Wsi4oeUEF5Hkh9Zx6dGGbIW27_voMMWJhzSQAuclv0cYeGyskJMAki9gVoGXV4QtCveSgiULkF-pU9IdvEJbVBx68H6PfOe4cfrkWfm8_w/s320/candyman-farewell-to-the-flesh-screen-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Veteran actor Bill Nunn is good with what he's given, even though, his role as Reverend Ellis comes off as more of an expository-type of character. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihjQ-2QxWd_a1AcMA9VKO6tr6A6pwU63o2jT-RSZRDwd-ymXFgeFctAJtZqm-5mgFp7bFUKaRydfHlzohiih7Lt5a8xQWqzyP1OiQL0ZuvT5UViw9ycJvbTnJx1V4R12NgKvvvs_ndWdoLf6362BfSrY1IdZXl65tnYld5yrhVyh6vLVx57gp-vDoYQ/s320/matthew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihjQ-2QxWd_a1AcMA9VKO6tr6A6pwU63o2jT-RSZRDwd-ymXFgeFctAJtZqm-5mgFp7bFUKaRydfHlzohiih7Lt5a8xQWqzyP1OiQL0ZuvT5UViw9ycJvbTnJx1V4R12NgKvvvs_ndWdoLf6362BfSrY1IdZXl65tnYld5yrhVyh6vLVx57gp-vDoYQ/s1600/matthew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>However, there is a subplot with his son Matthew, who happens to be one of the students in Annie's art class, getting possibly kidnapped by Candyman but it doesn't go anywhere. Turns out, that Matthew ran away so Candyman won't get him...Okay. Well, that was a waste of a subplot. The movie does sort of hint that Matthew might have a psychic connection to Candyman but it doesn't go anywhere. To be honest, this would've made the movie a hell of a lot more interesting. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmZPYgsosILRZQJzgfkVRNUMKSbk4z63BzW4n7QlR1ngpQ7bqimxAHfNAT2NQtmXL6QM4AgrrM2IY_8wFnbNLuYv7Ds_XrRaevgMK_YOyXgAGa7eaNfOIHHGSBBGHRzWkinY-4CmrUP48LWbK_A7B3oFky6c5Vk1qzephgEfLZO5bLgzJqucrPBYnDg/s1920/pam%20and%20ray.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1920" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmZPYgsosILRZQJzgfkVRNUMKSbk4z63BzW4n7QlR1ngpQ7bqimxAHfNAT2NQtmXL6QM4AgrrM2IY_8wFnbNLuYv7Ds_XrRaevgMK_YOyXgAGa7eaNfOIHHGSBBGHRzWkinY-4CmrUP48LWbK_A7B3oFky6c5Vk1qzephgEfLZO5bLgzJqucrPBYnDg/s320/pam%20and%20ray.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then we have the good cop/bad cop duo Pam Carver and Ray Levesque.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIWmHl83_IDWmig_e79kKI0StzuK4c8DOEm12l7U6DPNbnkxYeSLdAZiIk-_S_96_l0-hwl96nNstWXiUEmYA5AqHHw7sID718AmtYAYbF9rWTjJw33D5fRIognA3WsHfCnaiOt57dNLKG55XBNtt-esWa6XRKHvOhMg2EPIGMjcuAXmS_e1_0Z5IIA/s259/pam%20carver.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIWmHl83_IDWmig_e79kKI0StzuK4c8DOEm12l7U6DPNbnkxYeSLdAZiIk-_S_96_l0-hwl96nNstWXiUEmYA5AqHHw7sID718AmtYAYbF9rWTjJw33D5fRIognA3WsHfCnaiOt57dNLKG55XBNtt-esWa6XRKHvOhMg2EPIGMjcuAXmS_e1_0Z5IIA/s1600/pam%20carver.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br /><div>Pam Carver, the good cop, is intuitive, open to understanding things, and goes by the book.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v4QXuekyvD4xVgIHtvRPo350QhdADEJRkBeEubEwFZhGfKPGx6fs4iQW0WSae5MiZCIgwaumGAZyjOmPtUTRggwai-kfzHLioOZRjcynuJzhq4LgmUp9BBBQN6olRVb9iU_H8pUSazntdIE27m_U3Ze4i0JFCvcIULmvpdVNB4TtzbVtlPTuXoUMHw/s999/Det._Ray_Levesque.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="999" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0v4QXuekyvD4xVgIHtvRPo350QhdADEJRkBeEubEwFZhGfKPGx6fs4iQW0WSae5MiZCIgwaumGAZyjOmPtUTRggwai-kfzHLioOZRjcynuJzhq4LgmUp9BBBQN6olRVb9iU_H8pUSazntdIE27m_U3Ze4i0JFCvcIULmvpdVNB4TtzbVtlPTuXoUMHw/s320/Det._Ray_Levesque.webp" width="231" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Ray Levesque, the bad cop, is impulsive, high-tempered, and willing to break the rules. Guess who bites it?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlY31rNJwzS3SY6wraTLLwfvGAllOL8IZchuexm0DLs1WCqs3q8fL0NnYW9Qi-DR0ektgfY8fBSN3eBQvW_gboo8IpGwsrJshDJ8R8UuzwoCzSLQX2-oe8jCcul3SR5V6pLNupp2SQjxeA-YnEVp5Jy9xmUMeG8oeYnQXKiWflC7ztQfWNC4zi2HK4g/s320/mqdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlY31rNJwzS3SY6wraTLLwfvGAllOL8IZchuexm0DLs1WCqs3q8fL0NnYW9Qi-DR0ektgfY8fBSN3eBQvW_gboo8IpGwsrJshDJ8R8UuzwoCzSLQX2-oe8jCcul3SR5V6pLNupp2SQjxeA-YnEVp5Jy9xmUMeG8oeYnQXKiWflC7ztQfWNC4zi2HK4g/s1600/mqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Ray's downfall (no pun intended) is that he discredits Candyman and uses his cowboy tactics to scare Ethan, screaming Candyman's name to mock him. Of course, this doesn't end well and Ray is flung out of the interrogation room after being gutted. Ethan tries to escape but is gunned down by the cops. When Pam witnesses this, she lets Annie off the hook.</div><div>Now I want to talk about that annoying radio announcer, Kingfish. My god, was this guy annoying! This would've worked <i>only</i> in the opening scene but the movie constantly shoehorns this guy's narration in each segway, ruining the tone and flow throughout.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8c49fM0_oHneuC_r0fvYm80FovRbtVmpELLXhClj6PWCM7Zjq0Wlh_BtX5uOdGeO76fA2tV45ILrvcJbITitmVQiQBS7fqG7S39cMjTlI9qeGVeK_-GdV6eSbdy1ys3apvLVTkiSV8tSzx3XdGnz4O0m1BR_qr2Xbp17KrIAH94ZA60XBbe9_-a57Q/s1280/ethan%20candyman2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1280" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8c49fM0_oHneuC_r0fvYm80FovRbtVmpELLXhClj6PWCM7Zjq0Wlh_BtX5uOdGeO76fA2tV45ILrvcJbITitmVQiQBS7fqG7S39cMjTlI9qeGVeK_-GdV6eSbdy1ys3apvLVTkiSV8tSzx3XdGnz4O0m1BR_qr2Xbp17KrIAH94ZA60XBbe9_-a57Q/s320/ethan%20candyman2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>But the worst performer comes from William O'Leary as Ethan. Nothing against the actor or anything, he just has a hard time emoting and when he does emote, it becomes a tad bit over-the-top. The character of Ethan is nothing special either. He doesn't get much screentime for me to really get invested in him, and overall, Ethan is nothing more than just a plot device. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vT7GbzPtaUlTdOTYrVdGTfTxsW4YoN1YS90W6i8n5AmmV31A8qoSDkV84OxCu4aE-tTAsDd-m1pO4qHEUQAc8bPKkDMTn0RvsAtkwmNClbBpFgVwt38ienyMX6ph235ODzjrQHaQR63KAl2fNgrxYhtWWuFGZbs4Am-evR__OxX5bDZ--dpRMyeJMg/s320/veronica%20cartwright.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vT7GbzPtaUlTdOTYrVdGTfTxsW4YoN1YS90W6i8n5AmmV31A8qoSDkV84OxCu4aE-tTAsDd-m1pO4qHEUQAc8bPKkDMTn0RvsAtkwmNClbBpFgVwt38ienyMX6ph235ODzjrQHaQR63KAl2fNgrxYhtWWuFGZbs4Am-evR__OxX5bDZ--dpRMyeJMg/s1600/veronica%20cartwright.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWxplf_V3wtjSwpcrqusoyAfdA-g_-l99xM9DW1bzffjeXoc7iXDEQAqmITjm5mDYIkwcx3jvkTLLBnXem9RbDu0vovnYMeoK_0yihQsCHPlYF8dcq92fGq5zZJ3DRYGpRgJhbY1-2USayHxaUhFNLSY5DD8XDL-a1AGvBe3jy9j8CuAx13w6MJuTZA/s719/annie's%20mother.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="719" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWxplf_V3wtjSwpcrqusoyAfdA-g_-l99xM9DW1bzffjeXoc7iXDEQAqmITjm5mDYIkwcx3jvkTLLBnXem9RbDu0vovnYMeoK_0yihQsCHPlYF8dcq92fGq5zZJ3DRYGpRgJhbY1-2USayHxaUhFNLSY5DD8XDL-a1AGvBe3jy9j8CuAx13w6MJuTZA/s320/annie's%20mother.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then we have the legendary scream queen Veronica Cartwright as Annie's mother Octavia. I think Veronica Cartwright is a very underrated actress and should have a lot more credit than she deserves. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrFADAsxQlLRv3PRCuN8xTRwpQO4pDdwyLshduXz0aWTr37HRuPm3pVKb3D_mT6l06QBcbD7eXeKd8jEn0pPxs-oEFpUehI1HhM3JSBtdawnmJAimYAM4IH4RmPZHZxqOqNnU_Neu-VEZgIKobKH9iaO4HwcmGBw9Re9HO3FgfTXudXSdwcvDxr70sA/s1200/candyman-2-farewell-to-the-flesh-1995-a-buzzing-movie-review.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrFADAsxQlLRv3PRCuN8xTRwpQO4pDdwyLshduXz0aWTr37HRuPm3pVKb3D_mT6l06QBcbD7eXeKd8jEn0pPxs-oEFpUehI1HhM3JSBtdawnmJAimYAM4IH4RmPZHZxqOqNnU_Neu-VEZgIKobKH9iaO4HwcmGBw9Re9HO3FgfTXudXSdwcvDxr70sA/s320/candyman-2-farewell-to-the-flesh-1995-a-buzzing-movie-review.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>There is actually one good scene that I like to point out is when Annie confronts Octavia about her relations to Candyman. Kelly Rowan and Veronica Cartwright are acting their butts off in this scene even with the subpar writing. The thing with Octavia is that she is a woman with a lot of secrets and a lot of baggage. Number 1, her husband is brutally murdered. Number 2, she's suffering from cancer. And number 3, she is a total alcoholic. This lady is really going through the wringer. On top of that, she holds back a family secret that would soon be a part of her disintegration.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKWgG9h9GH17h9iS4sXHKPNjo0IB-ImZGtYncuwtgLN3WxCM0tF0BYS6lzVweAVjDwGUUZgrPatsPHReEqD_jYmh8qDK5qgRkEcGiI4bopcLNAB3SRs-vdKbgW5_v0WafjWgwRMcJBSep5H_0w3zlkiin2IWVY6JpuimjWcn6jbUNVHa-wF0gT7SgCA/s345/candyman-2-farewell-to-the-flesh-06.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="345" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaKWgG9h9GH17h9iS4sXHKPNjo0IB-ImZGtYncuwtgLN3WxCM0tF0BYS6lzVweAVjDwGUUZgrPatsPHReEqD_jYmh8qDK5qgRkEcGiI4bopcLNAB3SRs-vdKbgW5_v0WafjWgwRMcJBSep5H_0w3zlkiin2IWVY6JpuimjWcn6jbUNVHa-wF0gT7SgCA/s320/candyman-2-farewell-to-the-flesh-06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Veronica Cartwright did what she does best and the character of Octavia was somewhat intriguing for the most part. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-h5RdGU8aaK7Nvd7XEYDeLrjuTvFgFavCmjvtV0aXjpARkB0mNsl2tBz5GcrKzHgBu2oaUqds1EKJcCT1u2NU6wV2CBN4LNFIXEiGO7vn43PS-SCYDzLnV-EpKb5eq1ebXSc8p7m3Q_-nLx4_fbQTAAwcbPqDOAwsD7Nv7O2NzzfSUrpg7BSTcRKog/s1920/candyman2-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-h5RdGU8aaK7Nvd7XEYDeLrjuTvFgFavCmjvtV0aXjpARkB0mNsl2tBz5GcrKzHgBu2oaUqds1EKJcCT1u2NU6wV2CBN4LNFIXEiGO7vn43PS-SCYDzLnV-EpKb5eq1ebXSc8p7m3Q_-nLx4_fbQTAAwcbPqDOAwsD7Nv7O2NzzfSUrpg7BSTcRKog/s320/candyman2-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Last but not least, we have the incomparable Tony Todd as Candyman. He is the sole reason why this movie is watchable and he never misses a beat. There's an interesting retrospective about Benard Rose's plan to make Candyman the next Dracula and you can see some of those aspects in the movie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithcALE9yC9fwA9mHduDy9lUkOOfYLdsqjWVg1X02mGepl3hdROFl8HJVuEjJ6O3WUQRFKtJ-VpDrJN6HMsAtg5Agv44dwtVRIqecGBmTWJ3t-kwrHJlOA1cEsrd56Udyr0O-ucIypDkpmxwRORwDY2bZ3OnzT_g-b59PdFBsCfrlpCZw7YCWWFhCZZQ/s1000/Candyman-Farewell-to-the-Flesh.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithcALE9yC9fwA9mHduDy9lUkOOfYLdsqjWVg1X02mGepl3hdROFl8HJVuEjJ6O3WUQRFKtJ-VpDrJN6HMsAtg5Agv44dwtVRIqecGBmTWJ3t-kwrHJlOA1cEsrd56Udyr0O-ucIypDkpmxwRORwDY2bZ3OnzT_g-b59PdFBsCfrlpCZw7YCWWFhCZZQ/s320/Candyman-Farewell-to-the-Flesh.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>He now has a slick new look, sporting a mysterious black longcoat in contrast to the brown fur coat in the first movie. His backstory is more explored, which is one of the more engaging plot points of the movie. The main focus of this is the expansion of Candyman's family heritage. This time his soul is tethered to a mirror once owned by his lost love, Caroline. Now centuries later, his family heritage has passed on to the Tarrants. I think this was an interesting story that could've been explored more with Benard's prequel. But the downside is that it loses its focus as the movie proceeds. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQZypu5hXZdShOUYMg3958PJPxIvu3liUSDPc6FUG3u9PMg-QFINTuuC9WG7oLXm02XgLq2pEnHzBQnPWtPFcpKs0YmoQgSSvXInSTjtXM0iGzE-G4kcJOgxNiOYklGvEwcp1GFlqd8S9sLMHcZOSiR1MW-VtkrNQoyi8C1Yr3mHjrsblp1DzhmyNOA/s1068/candyman-farewell-flesh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="1068" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQZypu5hXZdShOUYMg3958PJPxIvu3liUSDPc6FUG3u9PMg-QFINTuuC9WG7oLXm02XgLq2pEnHzBQnPWtPFcpKs0YmoQgSSvXInSTjtXM0iGzE-G4kcJOgxNiOYklGvEwcp1GFlqd8S9sLMHcZOSiR1MW-VtkrNQoyi8C1Yr3mHjrsblp1DzhmyNOA/s320/candyman-farewell-flesh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But I have to break it down to this, Tony Todd really truly <b>embodies</b> this character. Even with the misdirection of the movie and little emphasis on Candyman's origin, Tony Todd still kills it as this character. He is, hands down, the best part of this movie. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wymtojFIAxhP6JBIzHgHaST5tyRuB3gAWlU-pc59JOyg48pFA_i59manHeA7DmP1DQqB49K13xuW1rFSnd5xYFOlBoxsI-5vyVvfHnPUaP0snmv5B-Ipi_cAQ0Zpux4KfmSEiY5irEKkGaBYaQD2Qu8RpZaqe225SLQZ2QTdaNUuOAbORxPIlEKS3w/s450/Candyman-Farewell-to-the-Flesh-1995-movie-Bill-Condon-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="255" data-original-width="450" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wymtojFIAxhP6JBIzHgHaST5tyRuB3gAWlU-pc59JOyg48pFA_i59manHeA7DmP1DQqB49K13xuW1rFSnd5xYFOlBoxsI-5vyVvfHnPUaP0snmv5B-Ipi_cAQ0Zpux4KfmSEiY5irEKkGaBYaQD2Qu8RpZaqe225SLQZ2QTdaNUuOAbORxPIlEKS3w/s320/Candyman-Farewell-to-the-Flesh-1995-movie-Bill-Condon-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The directing this time around...isn't as great. It's missing that <b>oomph</b>, that artistic flair that Benard Rose brought to the table. The writing pretty much blends in with the directing cause, honestly, it seems like I'm watching a Dark Shadows TV movie. I mean nothing against Dark Shadows but that's not what I want in a Candyman film. It has none of the DRAMA of the first movie and not enough high stakes. And there is this odd trend in horror movies, especially in '90s horror movies, where there is a jump scare. Every. Single. Time. Sure, there were jump scares in the first movie, but it was done subtly. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrXWKeJkA1K4IN9H_vndMiaLbvI9K-xbBEVf_zWanRBPvVde6pXqhjyHWJ3HGP7xRYzPDQ7RIq4o0-8U5W-kYnIM1wRS30wV0fjFWsO-rR2rBjhNMjXZ2HpYJrlKPj_OzSS-fU4ELS4f6aiQ_zrF2wBdAR488pU5XY0TixpA2W5yBxVs0iYlXTqhy1g/s1300/candyman2bkgd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1300" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrXWKeJkA1K4IN9H_vndMiaLbvI9K-xbBEVf_zWanRBPvVde6pXqhjyHWJ3HGP7xRYzPDQ7RIq4o0-8U5W-kYnIM1wRS30wV0fjFWsO-rR2rBjhNMjXZ2HpYJrlKPj_OzSS-fU4ELS4f6aiQ_zrF2wBdAR488pU5XY0TixpA2W5yBxVs0iYlXTqhy1g/s320/candyman2bkgd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDVPqRmT-elstz9sr_LMK-BbyZ1lQ15zE-qbdNrJNzArDjx3DYEBvfCKExbBWXksCTDMSikDBB4ZgkXStr-L__dNX7lRfAdrmEIhKgVANVuRFUbZvRozM0g5y19sYz0fJq_jm8UbyF4TGmxmvIzYwK-bWzBBD8gJjGERF-gJaY1l6rn7MFvMT9FPIGw/s1280/candyman2%20the%20home.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1280" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwDVPqRmT-elstz9sr_LMK-BbyZ1lQ15zE-qbdNrJNzArDjx3DYEBvfCKExbBWXksCTDMSikDBB4ZgkXStr-L__dNX7lRfAdrmEIhKgVANVuRFUbZvRozM0g5y19sYz0fJq_jm8UbyF4TGmxmvIzYwK-bWzBBD8gJjGERF-gJaY1l6rn7MFvMT9FPIGw/s320/candyman2%20the%20home.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMCm9g9M-nIMnYvmheF_E-WSqpHKYx5dGx-Nuxe9DQYreuTymJyoC9pgbYV0l_vFmOQcx6wl2TYbFLZpW8IoaEpmFfyXt8H88URqKft1BOXm9KTpNLI8arvur-9luJOFj5GhyMWQY6OX0ivMZJxklG6AcWunOf7U5d_d4vSGGUXQ3ulBczswT8HPITQ/s345/candyman-2-farewell-to-the-flesh-08.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="345" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMCm9g9M-nIMnYvmheF_E-WSqpHKYx5dGx-Nuxe9DQYreuTymJyoC9pgbYV0l_vFmOQcx6wl2TYbFLZpW8IoaEpmFfyXt8H88URqKft1BOXm9KTpNLI8arvur-9luJOFj5GhyMWQY6OX0ivMZJxklG6AcWunOf7U5d_d4vSGGUXQ3ulBczswT8HPITQ/s320/candyman-2-farewell-to-the-flesh-08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXwy3FH6aHTM5-gpMNC0M3kKQJoYmm3D9P23AjHmP47EMA1cn_ybO7zoXOQyRovscVrkTIGzaYoUmHGpQJ9pTjFlHV3yGLFR72fLa7tBmZNVX-3v_EKPzJfZIWJNlLIFKEoseMXJYwWl0ZfhXo2RQCTvWHT9BwjV4pnu_iffhA5aVadBUKLdhKWWCVg/s1042/0_Ll8xWUD6jHypPG7j.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="1042" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXwy3FH6aHTM5-gpMNC0M3kKQJoYmm3D9P23AjHmP47EMA1cn_ybO7zoXOQyRovscVrkTIGzaYoUmHGpQJ9pTjFlHV3yGLFR72fLa7tBmZNVX-3v_EKPzJfZIWJNlLIFKEoseMXJYwWl0ZfhXo2RQCTvWHT9BwjV4pnu_iffhA5aVadBUKLdhKWWCVg/s320/0_Ll8xWUD6jHypPG7j.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Most egregiously, the first and second act feels like a lather, rinse, and repeat of the first movie: the main character exploring Candyman's lair, Candyman framing a character of murder, a missing child, all that jazz. It's so uninspired. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-FGNw4u1I58K3rmPA3SsQPi9wHZEVvJcotNXEHO2vlcYR3yEXYeKG0leva_3Ag_dZPiXN_DAb7G3Q0Fk-vDw9Mk4NIXoCjgf_wtBHooThCDx2c3yriDKkMERNcTg3DDNsA2NXw1VP3Vm0mJQwVkBGkZNmg6gNA4qK2_p3NZnsEJAi4O4ppPQ2tg53A/s1456/candyman-farewell-to-the-flesh-88-films-04%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="1456" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ-FGNw4u1I58K3rmPA3SsQPi9wHZEVvJcotNXEHO2vlcYR3yEXYeKG0leva_3Ag_dZPiXN_DAb7G3Q0Fk-vDw9Mk4NIXoCjgf_wtBHooThCDx2c3yriDKkMERNcTg3DDNsA2NXw1VP3Vm0mJQwVkBGkZNmg6gNA4qK2_p3NZnsEJAi4O4ppPQ2tg53A/s320/candyman-farewell-to-the-flesh-88-films-04%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Kf2ET0IesDI43IR2bP4wCXBEp89yymSjujKBTG5oHPBGuwpAiZxH-coqeXRSXy9OQ5VDXc5250DrVLDwWaQeJK_a6acTY0gJ5Y5myI6pRUPnTa-qTI3uxsKJqQxfgY-US3EHpyIoMSHYYNlJ3pbteisp4EHTxCKxafc3IUSgpsSqUEbSk8QVKPTXw/s1000/D0vu8c7WoAIAe7H.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="1000" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Kf2ET0IesDI43IR2bP4wCXBEp89yymSjujKBTG5oHPBGuwpAiZxH-coqeXRSXy9OQ5VDXc5250DrVLDwWaQeJK_a6acTY0gJ5Y5myI6pRUPnTa-qTI3uxsKJqQxfgY-US3EHpyIoMSHYYNlJ3pbteisp4EHTxCKxafc3IUSgpsSqUEbSk8QVKPTXw/s320/D0vu8c7WoAIAe7H.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZPhVFWnT0DOFf-eYlZeAWtaNOF0mgyxv4L7cY3T6zw-XZZWdppfnZcxDc9hkbiWNy9_wdxJiex7hiNvLte8zpRZ6Qa1BukOoGwj5zx2CBuNpjN2w9hBtiR7Dl3CFLPLHNtzksVUoDdJ22HX5Qb4F4opUv9-zJrmkh1tcCURJUFGXma4yqWN7Y9fB0Q/s307/images%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="164" data-original-width="307" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZPhVFWnT0DOFf-eYlZeAWtaNOF0mgyxv4L7cY3T6zw-XZZWdppfnZcxDc9hkbiWNy9_wdxJiex7hiNvLte8zpRZ6Qa1BukOoGwj5zx2CBuNpjN2w9hBtiR7Dl3CFLPLHNtzksVUoDdJ22HX5Qb4F4opUv9-zJrmkh1tcCURJUFGXma4yqWN7Y9fB0Q/s1600/images%20(1).jpg" width="307" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>But there is this really effective chase scene at the Mardi Gras festival that was handled pretty well and....that's all I can say about the directing. But what I really want to talk about is the climax, which really lost me:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ztVyOGTgkFSI5cwCbPdOquplzuRznA39ysRQh5Mbf1C0XKc1dhALvmmeph7WPVVSV6OxzeDiPzfwHCkoA9za1Z7vOQwA6B6GA_dlxuV8Js_2h1pFyK61lOe_RqB9hth-HyILJ5ddMRj6Sej2P1l7ElnBYgkle7wWEr4MbJFNInNguqyoN8EbWz7tkQ/s1200/candyman-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ztVyOGTgkFSI5cwCbPdOquplzuRznA39ysRQh5Mbf1C0XKc1dhALvmmeph7WPVVSV6OxzeDiPzfwHCkoA9za1Z7vOQwA6B6GA_dlxuV8Js_2h1pFyK61lOe_RqB9hth-HyILJ5ddMRj6Sej2P1l7ElnBYgkle7wWEr4MbJFNInNguqyoN8EbWz7tkQ/s320/candyman-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Okay, so Annie has her final confrontation with Candyman, and all of a sudden...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzecc4mu4k2WbYRvytvz5YVFdTT7el7Lp8uglus2DxhrRIjFF1rPwRUqbeb0FhiLeWN19EWvnYYK8ky-E2OWs8Eaniil5cX9vmZys1B3Z1X1RG77jHCl0CICpJwxJ8cUhC6z_2wlGoUwrTafAXXPKYI1NdENv2ywLsK13toF-oQnlam-uuCvB_pQn4dg/s717/Candyman-2-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="717" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzecc4mu4k2WbYRvytvz5YVFdTT7el7Lp8uglus2DxhrRIjFF1rPwRUqbeb0FhiLeWN19EWvnYYK8ky-E2OWs8Eaniil5cX9vmZys1B3Z1X1RG77jHCl0CICpJwxJ8cUhC6z_2wlGoUwrTafAXXPKYI1NdENv2ywLsK13toF-oQnlam-uuCvB_pQn4dg/s320/Candyman-2-a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The movie goes into a flashback about Candyman's demise. Putting a flashback smack-dab in the middle of a climax just kills the flow for me. Why didn't they have this in the opening scene when Phillip Purcell presented his lecture? I think that would've been more effective.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB68jDrUsjcJbAO2WQAV4MzF3qtgXEgzBUXzLUUoHQHsPU3xiKt-lQ_YKwovX5zGLlzMb9tMTo_7loJ5Qs6oQM-A2_mhyDKiNyoO3DlBinqeGJ4G52PfNRlATR-sXmc698wEv5o-KI7z6qfXsHqE54uzytDT_UJdqhxqTZFkj1whdCfyTziZaHU7Wjdg/s1077/Farewell-Annie-in-mirror-1-18-32.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1077" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB68jDrUsjcJbAO2WQAV4MzF3qtgXEgzBUXzLUUoHQHsPU3xiKt-lQ_YKwovX5zGLlzMb9tMTo_7loJ5Qs6oQM-A2_mhyDKiNyoO3DlBinqeGJ4G52PfNRlATR-sXmc698wEv5o-KI7z6qfXsHqE54uzytDT_UJdqhxqTZFkj1whdCfyTziZaHU7Wjdg/s320/Farewell-Annie-in-mirror-1-18-32.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Anywho, Annie breaks Caroline's mirror, vanquishing Candyman's soul, she and Matthew get baptized, and it has lead us to the ending. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyISupl5JQwUM3k1Q747V7zsF17zBj51hvFccZMPBO92JIASYbBFVSj971PMvbEGKJxO2GRFS7JGSJ35lL75BAzsQ20QPO-T02kCJSHlvGNsvDvRSQDkpxKnNl4o87EzcKv8pV12cnb3iag_QKNYailS90IHG4e_MYZmxYE_rGpVL0xNhkDHP8RPuPvQ/s500/Candyman_II_062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="271" data-original-width="500" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyISupl5JQwUM3k1Q747V7zsF17zBj51hvFccZMPBO92JIASYbBFVSj971PMvbEGKJxO2GRFS7JGSJ35lL75BAzsQ20QPO-T02kCJSHlvGNsvDvRSQDkpxKnNl4o87EzcKv8pV12cnb3iag_QKNYailS90IHG4e_MYZmxYE_rGpVL0xNhkDHP8RPuPvQ/s320/Candyman_II_062.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's apparently five years later. There's no more of the family curse and Annie and her daughter get to live a quiet, peaceful life.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtq-4lbzxooq3dupNclf33cJROZ6ODSL40WJ8TqXEe2HUKYZZ3Eg58B8kRj9g6eg0Ozt07Pa5c7RzhIGmECgbo3iOT74VkhtqW4Lve482C46lI6TlzUdnoR_hogzhZt-FupJptvl6XponHlH4RdlhbjEPLeiY1g6D9FXoG1qWbfOUiRTtKuMLUnAijA/s480/sequel%20bait%20candyman2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtq-4lbzxooq3dupNclf33cJROZ6ODSL40WJ8TqXEe2HUKYZZ3Eg58B8kRj9g6eg0Ozt07Pa5c7RzhIGmECgbo3iOT74VkhtqW4Lve482C46lI6TlzUdnoR_hogzhZt-FupJptvl6XponHlH4RdlhbjEPLeiY1g6D9FXoG1qWbfOUiRTtKuMLUnAijA/s320/sequel%20bait%20candyman2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once Annie tucks her into bed, Caroline gets a little curious. She holds the mirror dangling above her bed, chanting Candyman's name. Just before she finishes, her mother stops her and then...the movie just ends...Okay? Was this an attempt at sequel bait? I'm not sure. Unfortunately, this will lead us to the god-awful third movie Day of the Dead. Oh boy, I am not prepared but goddamn it, I am a completist and I'm willing to do it. </div><div>As with this movie, it's just underwhelming. There's nothing much more I can say about it.</div><div>My Final Word: Not terrible but not great either. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bywM6XkX0yI" width="320" youtube-src-id="bywM6XkX0yI"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-72302885212186804552022-04-19T22:45:00.000-07:002022-04-19T22:45:24.661-07:00Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vMMhVAE1vwfylOirjX0WHJRYOy9VMj1tzp4aECORioU6A9PZsV5xcYkGfIMOPkDfnXcJF6opFHh16t1JcCphOYNNHk72xEAOZ8C-ALj8NPCmu2pF5PJvLcWdxKQZcOkBrsKZ7YEF0e1ywcsC5jmPkYB8An93beQO6EOG5Xs7wUOx7h47_DTL2SyuwA/s2000/poster-1-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vMMhVAE1vwfylOirjX0WHJRYOy9VMj1tzp4aECORioU6A9PZsV5xcYkGfIMOPkDfnXcJF6opFHh16t1JcCphOYNNHk72xEAOZ8C-ALj8NPCmu2pF5PJvLcWdxKQZcOkBrsKZ7YEF0e1ywcsC5jmPkYB8An93beQO6EOG5Xs7wUOx7h47_DTL2SyuwA/s320/poster-1-1.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /></div>Wow, this movie was pretty bad. Though, I would like to take a moment to discuss the production history, which was a mess from the start. But first, I want to talk about <i>Leatherface</i>, the 2017 prequel to both the original 1974 film <i>and</i> Texas Chainsaw 3D, which is another unnecessary "prequel" that came out back in 2013. Let me say this off the bat. I never saw this film and I don't attend to. The only clips I saw of this film were through movie reviews on YouTube. It seems like a run-of-the-mill cash-grab and, overall, pointless prequel. But the real meat of it was Lionsgate was planning on making FIVE films in this dried-up franchise after the release of <i>Leatherface</i>. Are you kidding me? What more can you do with a chainsaw-wielding maniac? Did they want Leatherface to become some sort of superhuman, somehow? Thankfully, due to the poor timing when it was released, Lionsgate's scrapped the five movies. <div>With Fede Alvarez (the director of<i> Don't Breathe</i> and <i>The Evil Dead</i> Remake) and...Kim Henkel. May I remind you that Kim Henkel wrote <i>The Next Generation. </i>So how would expect this one would turn out? And then comes first-time screenwriter Chris Thomas Delvin and after that, Ryan and Andy Tohill as the directors. But somehow, the Tohill brothers mysteriously stepped out. Creative differences, I suppose? So that's when cinematographer David Blue Garcia stepped in as a replacement. Just like the last movie, this is mostly filmed in Bulgaria. They couldn't afford to film this in Texas? Really?</div><div>Was this movie worth saving? Fuck, no. The test screening was so bad that they decided to dump this on the Netflix bargain bin. And rightfully so.</div><div>This overall movie just has a cheap feel to it. Sure, it's shot nicely in some parts and the cinematography is well done but other than that, this is still a terribly-made film. I can see why certain people can enjoy this. It's a dumb, goofy, gory slasher that friends could enjoy on a Saturday night but as a Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel, it fails miserably. </div><div>The plot itself is completely asinine:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniLHe3oze9smpNbh65GNV0ubIw9xFRoQoBzD-wW8JFVhyHSsZ7nrOOgGhkjYJZjHYhapdtujoqnsTIoezlGVyQvKiLIyeHc5ExGrncjB9BqgOw5MqONt48tc0F0-pQ9fhRT-hw7nmGqAWho5ObFz488o9SDqSJwLeShWDM2yNjkAA2VcSUZRqX4bHFA/s2048/merlin_201892017_9a71c7f6-b613-4b98-a26a-0c089e5596b5-superJumbo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniLHe3oze9smpNbh65GNV0ubIw9xFRoQoBzD-wW8JFVhyHSsZ7nrOOgGhkjYJZjHYhapdtujoqnsTIoezlGVyQvKiLIyeHc5ExGrncjB9BqgOw5MqONt48tc0F0-pQ9fhRT-hw7nmGqAWho5ObFz488o9SDqSJwLeShWDM2yNjkAA2VcSUZRqX4bHFA/s320/merlin_201892017_9a71c7f6-b613-4b98-a26a-0c089e5596b5-superJumbo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When a group of narcissistic social media influencers gentrify a small town in Texas, they unknowingly evict the owner of an orphanage who turns out to be the foster mother of none other than Leatherface himself. When the woman falls into cardiac arrest and dies on the way to the hospital, Leatherface is thirsting for revenge. Little does he know, someone from the past is preparing for a final showdown. </div><div>Okay, let's try to dissect this. Why would a group of twenty-somethings, let alone, a group of social media influencers, gentrify a whole town? Although it didn't really add anything to the plot, the subplot about the main character, Lila, surviving a school shooting would've been interesting. What if, instead, her sister and her friends were activists on their to protest against gun laws in Texas, and suddenly, their car breaks down and they encounter Leatherface. See. Plain and simple, cut and dry. The plot doesn't have to be that complicated. After all, a Texas Chainsaw plot should be simplistic at best. But I guess social media influencers are part of the algorithm, so they went with that instead. I mean, I really don't get the purpose of this plot. Were the filmmakers trying to convey a message somehow? Are we supposed to <i>like </i>these characters? Speaking of, let's break them down one by one. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ1vLKhLG9MYFHunsKhs7Rq-GdURygGuf0B5y2TqrrWDcX7WV15eKLoffW9grUgLcggtFMxEJMhgF4wu8y5k_i5yqMYO-tcT3MappJ3eYPZg9j78r9jTE8E6tyZjZebxNsLQprgJNHTQNZI6k0K5OdnH3SIWtpO6woxjxt0E7t7Fhi9YlhVxn9GbQsw/s1045/AAAAQcXZhaEXPWH636rj9_wkD17QPrnA2yHYc5Tbose8CDWNjUeod_dNliJN4ZcuZzXkEr-KhiwvsdKmduCh9T0jnhLnY6lTftwwfptUmtkTeq8w8_imE2JiqltIHvqcis08Eu6KvhV6nnRjWw5AFfPypUrS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1045" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZ1vLKhLG9MYFHunsKhs7Rq-GdURygGuf0B5y2TqrrWDcX7WV15eKLoffW9grUgLcggtFMxEJMhgF4wu8y5k_i5yqMYO-tcT3MappJ3eYPZg9j78r9jTE8E6tyZjZebxNsLQprgJNHTQNZI6k0K5OdnH3SIWtpO6woxjxt0E7t7Fhi9YlhVxn9GbQsw/s320/AAAAQcXZhaEXPWH636rj9_wkD17QPrnA2yHYc5Tbose8CDWNjUeod_dNliJN4ZcuZzXkEr-KhiwvsdKmduCh9T0jnhLnY6lTftwwfptUmtkTeq8w8_imE2JiqltIHvqcis08Eu6KvhV6nnRjWw5AFfPypUrS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I want to say this off the bat. I think Melody is the most irritating character of them all. She seems like the type of girl that would smile in your face but talk shit behind her back when you're not looking. For example, when she confronts Ms. McCumber about the expired deed of the orphanage, just listen to the tone of her voice: "um, you don't belong here..." She sounds so snotty. And not to mention, the scene where she insults the local mechanic, Kitcher, for carrying a gun. He is at <b>ear length </b>when she criticizes his penis size. What the fuck?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH5WDbqdLlxEqG9YZmBFVNbeEWWSP1G5tSZPAGVVZu3sIQkydYQmWZhwwoITFAOy1p1pMSKajq1bTW-9u6dPAVcWotcErfdmmsiU82RMH7k8yr7G_kwerrzNM1zLqd5jLFZMXVRFlQ4STWyQaI0-0CqAKhJPRbuV2-iEZ_6CDLaBzqiqR1BQ9k0Ct4Q/s1600/melody's%20redemption.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH5WDbqdLlxEqG9YZmBFVNbeEWWSP1G5tSZPAGVVZu3sIQkydYQmWZhwwoITFAOy1p1pMSKajq1bTW-9u6dPAVcWotcErfdmmsiU82RMH7k8yr7G_kwerrzNM1zLqd5jLFZMXVRFlQ4STWyQaI0-0CqAKhJPRbuV2-iEZ_6CDLaBzqiqR1BQ9k0Ct4Q/s320/melody's%20redemption.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After Ms. McCumber is sent to the hospital, the movie at least <b>tries </b>to redeem Melody, but I just don't care whether she lives or dies. She is still a terribly written character who recklessly puts her sister and her friends in danger for her own personal gain. Am I supposed to get by that? Though I would say the actress does a decent enough job even if her character sucks. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0D6uv0FB5mkvDyuMpivKmPhD0_jl3AVa0YRP6Zi_EVrgsODcZJquHpmgMTcP3wKV8dEFus2NQMa8vznVaaq6kODiyzy-sJ8QUURzcvp9eNHtbUgopTFeBVZcTanwQQsmV_UjH-paVKoflkrYZ5QObcFpNqW0-NpxBrqQTwEYMixmdVnrDbiuJD4wpA/s1045/lattimore.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1045" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0D6uv0FB5mkvDyuMpivKmPhD0_jl3AVa0YRP6Zi_EVrgsODcZJquHpmgMTcP3wKV8dEFus2NQMa8vznVaaq6kODiyzy-sJ8QUURzcvp9eNHtbUgopTFeBVZcTanwQQsmV_UjH-paVKoflkrYZ5QObcFpNqW0-NpxBrqQTwEYMixmdVnrDbiuJD4wpA/s320/lattimore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Dante is equally obnoxious. He is supposed to be some sort of chef who cranks out cooking tutorials on his Instagram. And...that's it. That's all I know about him. I mostly want to focus on why I find this character obnoxious. Now, when he and the group scout around the town, he notices a confederate flag by the window of Ms. Mccumber's house. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotCvvQI1jyBYiN7fD1wI0EFZbaygNlT-dtFhvtZyhk9LTZYXgL7fiAfPlUprRT0ntydGuPERfWnjPlsMjdD8Rs8fGjFaltf_F2VlfGpqAYMz0u94TbNFwjSy7UgpA9nnboHiyNs9rLgHF7OAjHSMc7I6uS8bMo8DCeRFTswZGtX-TNMce2syqYF3sww/s640/67563-1643705139.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotCvvQI1jyBYiN7fD1wI0EFZbaygNlT-dtFhvtZyhk9LTZYXgL7fiAfPlUprRT0ntydGuPERfWnjPlsMjdD8Rs8fGjFaltf_F2VlfGpqAYMz0u94TbNFwjSy7UgpA9nnboHiyNs9rLgHF7OAjHSMc7I6uS8bMo8DCeRFTswZGtX-TNMce2syqYF3sww/s320/67563-1643705139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>This "triggers" Dante, prompting him and Melody to BREAK inside this woman's house to confront her.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMdl-rAx4eKJ7nQ3OCFQRHExQj2epNWY0olaELTG14blkHu4vsnOPjuzb77Qj4z5R3V37ZTdINxyoNZhfZO3XnyDddgr03EDBB1cVyHjCoPxr1lU8SZUO7Spi2P_Ey8iXYeqSU6AyUNinSfOmY0kwuKPucUDkqbvIrr4KvRQru9EAYivDQNFDdCwhcg/s768/texas_chainsaw_massacre_2022_ginny.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="768" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMdl-rAx4eKJ7nQ3OCFQRHExQj2epNWY0olaELTG14blkHu4vsnOPjuzb77Qj4z5R3V37ZTdINxyoNZhfZO3XnyDddgr03EDBB1cVyHjCoPxr1lU8SZUO7Spi2P_Ey8iXYeqSU6AyUNinSfOmY0kwuKPucUDkqbvIrr4KvRQru9EAYivDQNFDdCwhcg/s320/texas_chainsaw_massacre_2022_ginny.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As you can see Ms. McCumber is rather polite about this and even offers some tea. Oh and uh, shout out to underrated actress Alice Krige who's recently been relegated to creepy old woman roles and should have much more credit than she deserves. Now, Ms. McCumber seems like a well-adjusted elderly woman but the problem is, she seems to be from another time and casually uses the N-word. Not with the hard R but with an O. But this still pisses Dante off and he agrees with Melody to kick this woman out. Yes, he is so eager to kick this sickly old woman out for being innocently ignorant. I hate to bring up the subject of race when it comes to this movie because it didn't need to be here at all. And quite frankly, I find myself being offended when the writers decided to attach the subject of race to the only lone black guy in the group.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSM2QnBf0Ss1E4KN9n3YDKb_Hpymb_ZxaOjIjWEmIujenL_umr3How78Qnnz76TAWG8Dn40Bv78n-pAm5WrgLs5UWXvmD8jAX3_hD7Kk7MWG4k8A5CcRs0inWDcqVIzrvh9FrueyB6RftfZLbitaMERHz92q4fgHjoR3Li9hDHrkpFNCERBROg74Nrg/s1200/texas-chainsaw-massacre-jacob-latimore%20(1).webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSM2QnBf0Ss1E4KN9n3YDKb_Hpymb_ZxaOjIjWEmIujenL_umr3How78Qnnz76TAWG8Dn40Bv78n-pAm5WrgLs5UWXvmD8jAX3_hD7Kk7MWG4k8A5CcRs0inWDcqVIzrvh9FrueyB6RftfZLbitaMERHz92q4fgHjoR3Li9hDHrkpFNCERBROg74Nrg/s320/texas-chainsaw-massacre-jacob-latimore%20(1).webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But besides all that, Dante really didn't do much for me, however, he does get a really gruesome death scene. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz3VdyVVUvyGVNbwTj6IpbpEYhpsBgbJmszdo5mlKML17njg3GPJYA1oLPiTe2X_qjJahz64Ds8Xy2qEzopQTozm73Jo5HOJnqtcctoQt0j3ccS5KqI-kFgYq3GfRnu436tn70g6W2ikUxAZsCTYP-FU4hDqPOjq1Lxo5fRMvPbDRSy8_7HTu9UDUEQ/s1600/designated%20blonde.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz3VdyVVUvyGVNbwTj6IpbpEYhpsBgbJmszdo5mlKML17njg3GPJYA1oLPiTe2X_qjJahz64Ds8Xy2qEzopQTozm73Jo5HOJnqtcctoQt0j3ccS5KqI-kFgYq3GfRnu436tn70g6W2ikUxAZsCTYP-FU4hDqPOjq1Lxo5fRMvPbDRSy8_7HTu9UDUEQ/s320/designated%20blonde.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>His girlfriend Ruth seems to be the nicest character of the bunch. She even joins in to check on Ms. McCumber when she has her heart attack.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijY2M4RnyjjMWkgLdOL3m0haDd1vszv1eSD91Gs2wMl0hybEi_WUlutIPo-Ir2DlRWEBf_4j-j1zcQqalgE4zn_jDYpQKJ7M5reJ7yj0hxuEUT79aLJs-HOwYhNPQE6hbLAAIKfhegiuElUQOaLJ3JliQZXpHcWyrIg38yAWErHBzxU4EZFis-Nf3MtQ/s300/designated%20blonde%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijY2M4RnyjjMWkgLdOL3m0haDd1vszv1eSD91Gs2wMl0hybEi_WUlutIPo-Ir2DlRWEBf_4j-j1zcQqalgE4zn_jDYpQKJ7M5reJ7yj0hxuEUT79aLJs-HOwYhNPQE6hbLAAIKfhegiuElUQOaLJ3JliQZXpHcWyrIg38yAWErHBzxU4EZFis-Nf3MtQ/s1600/designated%20blonde%202.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>But her kindness doesn't save her in the end and Ruth gets killed off rather quickly without us getting to know her at all. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1ClN4LyGUSN8xpQuPVTsWWs-XwEU7NOBLs4_UNNqjrvIeP2RNeyP0ES_I12hyMGGfY_8RZCHk_n8kO3KfHJ57WBxLRKn9kHuRG9R7oiYDETwj573mDLqgEycdCdpxRs9_gVrrikxS_kDDqM8zg0-JGYq6JnWWpLPGtf0tLv3a5kDgogYkh2de6mzoQ/s1045/sexy%20mechnanic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1045" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1ClN4LyGUSN8xpQuPVTsWWs-XwEU7NOBLs4_UNNqjrvIeP2RNeyP0ES_I12hyMGGfY_8RZCHk_n8kO3KfHJ57WBxLRKn9kHuRG9R7oiYDETwj573mDLqgEycdCdpxRs9_gVrrikxS_kDDqM8zg0-JGYq6JnWWpLPGtf0tLv3a5kDgogYkh2de6mzoQ/s320/sexy%20mechnanic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then we have Ritcher, who seems to be the only character with any common sense at all and he's pretty hot to boot. The dude's got muscles for days. He's referred to as a "nihilist" but in actuality, he's just a guy that's getting by. He might not be the most approachable guy in the world but at least he has some morals unlike the obnoxious social media influencers invading his hometown.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eRIG-jJa_h7L5Cg6kObldpeHuOKTFCFL4PKsOSJtjcKLzq1-Lf-Q-8RCDKLOzskVaEfuOC0TqJkYkujp4HI4ZHRqioTqowiTtRFG9v0G9SWron0sDmwa8-tej_jctkrKUlkaRPNkK2SGbMfgkH2t_diDST7EAz5IRunZYnE0O8MSg5jRABf_E7OGfQ/s963/Richter-battling-Leatherface-in-the-window-in-Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-2022.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="963" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9eRIG-jJa_h7L5Cg6kObldpeHuOKTFCFL4PKsOSJtjcKLzq1-Lf-Q-8RCDKLOzskVaEfuOC0TqJkYkujp4HI4ZHRqioTqowiTtRFG9v0G9SWron0sDmwa8-tej_jctkrKUlkaRPNkK2SGbMfgkH2t_diDST7EAz5IRunZYnE0O8MSg5jRABf_E7OGfQ/s320/Richter-battling-Leatherface-in-the-window-in-Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-2022.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Just when does the right thing by helping Melody, he gets smashed in the head quite brutally by Leatherface. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk-SVOJkxQuuogEd0-ifhPHVpOpG0TaC2G-5dqS_et2J3qXPpg510Buv1jxXj-u2kLNP6pqqzReqJRt6LyzWCV3MZ5LgxaI1P7sVwsUnFnVKQtXcvk1Pa3ilntkNnaqx7lLF9X_hg-i8PpAJ8gLJcWhlNl5o4ljCQIVKfyZmn_fdsswa09rQszMrCGg/s327/lila.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="327" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggk-SVOJkxQuuogEd0-ifhPHVpOpG0TaC2G-5dqS_et2J3qXPpg510Buv1jxXj-u2kLNP6pqqzReqJRt6LyzWCV3MZ5LgxaI1P7sVwsUnFnVKQtXcvk1Pa3ilntkNnaqx7lLF9X_hg-i8PpAJ8gLJcWhlNl5o4ljCQIVKfyZmn_fdsswa09rQszMrCGg/s320/lila.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Here we have Lila played by the very talented Elsie Fisher who did an incredible performance in Bo Burnham's Eighth Grade. I can see that Elsie Fisher tried her best here, but unfortunately, she has to work with a really shitty script. The worst dialogue she gets is: "Hey, Leatherfuck!" are you serious? How would she know his name is Leatherface? However, I think "Welcome to Texas, Motherfucker!" from Texas 3D is still the worst lines ever.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvRHWsVk8x66_6vvcvdi_LO06MD4HswSsIo37RUZUkOAomiYvp1_5M6kpHeLqsMdeadmgs8agv1NV70sFDRHitkLyVh4tOvHRdH5bfwJ_vyzUuMvoVYrN8kI7aZD2RW2Vcckmv9-rdtbbWdQf4m0gaHy_QzFr85y2mGKlEes8sW5FG2Fh7FaG0ax-Cw/s2509/elsie-fisher-as-lila-texas-chainsaw-massacre-1645010564.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1413" data-original-width="2509" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvRHWsVk8x66_6vvcvdi_LO06MD4HswSsIo37RUZUkOAomiYvp1_5M6kpHeLqsMdeadmgs8agv1NV70sFDRHitkLyVh4tOvHRdH5bfwJ_vyzUuMvoVYrN8kI7aZD2RW2Vcckmv9-rdtbbWdQf4m0gaHy_QzFr85y2mGKlEes8sW5FG2Fh7FaG0ax-Cw/s320/elsie-fisher-as-lila-texas-chainsaw-massacre-1645010564.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, the thing about Lila is that she survived a traumatic school shooting. Like I said, a subject like this should've been explained more. Gun laws is a real-world issue and if the plot could've got a tad bit more subtle, the characters would've been less obnoxious. If the movie focused more on Lila's trauma and less on the idiotic shenanigans of the social media influencers, the movie would have a decently, if not competently, written screenplay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2tcHmy1VwdcgR2bJjkKH2vC2Y1F8Qy4HBcSqZdJLaqQnvl68xOHAH8Ilmv7ETyG497CrBzOmV2xpTI6Cu4WmhAclzCoBTFA2D7_uWlieMujTqQ2_L9G97TGxM1z9eTWAAkXw9TkHcEM2PecXUCqTKo0BTs0-wkBtMNo6_Re6P3m5lgGLmZ3pLJx9Rg/s1400/texas-chainsaw-massacre.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2tcHmy1VwdcgR2bJjkKH2vC2Y1F8Qy4HBcSqZdJLaqQnvl68xOHAH8Ilmv7ETyG497CrBzOmV2xpTI6Cu4WmhAclzCoBTFA2D7_uWlieMujTqQ2_L9G97TGxM1z9eTWAAkXw9TkHcEM2PecXUCqTKo0BTs0-wkBtMNo6_Re6P3m5lgGLmZ3pLJx9Rg/s320/texas-chainsaw-massacre.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But what the filmmakers do in the "actual" movie is use this as a <i>minor </i>in the midst of Leatherface's killing spree. Worst of all, that's the only character development Lila gets without any nuance at all. And I guess, in the end, Lila overcomes her fear of guns and shoots at Leatherface, which leads to the really cringy Leatherfuck line. Ugh. I just felt that Lila was such a wasted character. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT6aY0RCcYnvjSZbtxaQie0sPISEeHac8mmyWw6-XcA8Z_FPUsjJzQjAzaLpgbeve7vgaq1-cof20m50Tte4FLGAoPx6TWM-OErWvcF33B-m4E_jxyBQ0v7AF8EaRVlA5wfY-i4L_YHxyxVjg5bjFCpa_dA7l8eEkr2W4m1CU9F-mLAuc1kZCgD5HLQ/s1280/new-texas-chain-saw-massacre-movie-coming-to-netflix-in-february-2022-sally.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT6aY0RCcYnvjSZbtxaQie0sPISEeHac8mmyWw6-XcA8Z_FPUsjJzQjAzaLpgbeve7vgaq1-cof20m50Tte4FLGAoPx6TWM-OErWvcF33B-m4E_jxyBQ0v7AF8EaRVlA5wfY-i4L_YHxyxVjg5bjFCpa_dA7l8eEkr2W4m1CU9F-mLAuc1kZCgD5HLQ/s320/new-texas-chain-saw-massacre-movie-coming-to-netflix-in-february-2022-sally.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Speaking of wasted character, we have the terribly misused Olwen Fouere as none-other-than Sally freakin' Hardesty. Okay, I just have to get the elephant out of the room. I don't know why the filmmakers decided to cast a <i>different </i>actress in this role. This is the prime example of forced fanservice because this didn't have to exist at all. I mean this really needs to be talked about. Now there is a trend going on with these "requels," which is bringing back an iconic actress that played a popular final girl character in a horror franchise. I'm trying to figure out why the filmmakers would even consider bringing back Sally Hardesty knowing full well that the original actress, Marilyn Burns, died about seven years ago. For instance, whenever I think of Laurie Strode, I think of Jamie Lee Curtis. Whenever I think of Nancy Thompson, I think of Heather Langenkamp. And whenever I think of Sidney Prescott, I think of Neve Campbell. To have another actress replace Marilyn Burns in this role, I find to be disrespectful of her legacy, especially with the lengths she went through while filming the original.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwc0_xULcUIJAmDvQu5b-fKEinNOrmmTI8L2KFIlCzQDACkWoFkqmYNYu2k9Z0HCQ08APIhJlSJowVs5STinIUf_H1o1n-B5-OA9St5K7uCBRUE-Pu5aSj92zS37LnqVuD33qVrqlLHIUnFdt5835GC66eWaZs8p5ZuFNJOHB_c8ipYDJGSJHD-F5yg/s300/discount%20sally.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwc0_xULcUIJAmDvQu5b-fKEinNOrmmTI8L2KFIlCzQDACkWoFkqmYNYu2k9Z0HCQ08APIhJlSJowVs5STinIUf_H1o1n-B5-OA9St5K7uCBRUE-Pu5aSj92zS37LnqVuD33qVrqlLHIUnFdt5835GC66eWaZs8p5ZuFNJOHB_c8ipYDJGSJHD-F5yg/s1600/discount%20sally.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Now I can see that this actress tries and she <i>kind of </i>resembles Marilyn Burns, but Sally Hardesty serves no purpose to the plot. If she was the actual main character, it would make sense...But she's not for some reason. Hell, she's barely even a supporting character, it's basically a cameo. Okay, so almost fifty years have passed since the original film and Sally Hardesty has transformed herself into this badass ranger but she's still traumatized by the events of 1973. Now how the film keeps beating us over the head that is the <b>real</b> Sally Hardesty is that she constantly stares at a photo of her and her friends. It's been almost fifty years now! Does she have any new friends or surviving family members to keep her company? Do you mean to tell me that this woman has been a hermit with absolutely no human interaction? And now all of sudden, she waited all this time to get revenge on Leatherface? None of this makes any sense. And it gets more convoluted as the movie progresses.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL14xNcDaDmEqddSy2zzRkda58lVVpT5n3WO-7gig3IhWcChE2t3Kw-nydyBjG_V3_ZBd4TQbHm6STZwzPruaqAZRbsISGLzGQIjV905kXZuiKn1nxTtLNu74zk7qhinCz9xN30rYYArFd_JVzgDV5vJKBkMZ17duy9bBPW5TEy_d0tnTzaCA-H7XIQ/s1400/Sally-in-Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUL14xNcDaDmEqddSy2zzRkda58lVVpT5n3WO-7gig3IhWcChE2t3Kw-nydyBjG_V3_ZBd4TQbHm6STZwzPruaqAZRbsISGLzGQIjV905kXZuiKn1nxTtLNu74zk7qhinCz9xN30rYYArFd_JVzgDV5vJKBkMZ17duy9bBPW5TEy_d0tnTzaCA-H7XIQ/s320/Sally-in-Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>As with any horror film, the writer chose to make Sally stupid for the movie to press on. Case in point, when she saves Lila and Melody from Leatherface and just when she's about to pull off in the car, she...STOPS the car and LOCKS them inside. This is all because the writers wanted to give Sally and Leatherface this epic when, in actuality, it feels very forced and unnecessary. So when she finally confronts him, Sally has her gun pointed right at him. It seems like she's ready to shoot him but...she won't kill him until she wants Leatherface to say her name. What kind of dumbshit is this? Lady, it's been almost fifty fucking years. Do you really expect him to remember your name? I mean she has every opprotunity to kill him right then and there and she's the only one with a goddamn shotgun. Yet, she won't give herself to do the deed because Leatherface doesn't know her name? Bullshit. Of course, Leatherface just stares at her dumbfounded and walks away. Wow, even Leatherface is over this shit. So Sally suddenly has a light bulb blink her in head and she lets out Lila and Melody from the car as Leatherface prey on them. And that's when Sally finally <b>shoots</b> her shotgun. Are you kidding me? Fuck off, movie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmHl9Dzbkw_I4auLvLooFsdrlGIcPTLxJqW4r8-Xa_xJX6RQQa-G-XmvylTAfQgt-Omtk3rU4xPknrkkuvbBMw31Nqqr5Eh6L0n9diE5ZOCuOP3ZDmqdqvq_1RnZE4-LywKYUbbjXdPGhtpYsDgZBoH15lGZa19CgUkuXk_k851dGrfJghr1rf8ZLpw/s963/Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-2022-Sally-death.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="963" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmHl9Dzbkw_I4auLvLooFsdrlGIcPTLxJqW4r8-Xa_xJX6RQQa-G-XmvylTAfQgt-Omtk3rU4xPknrkkuvbBMw31Nqqr5Eh6L0n9diE5ZOCuOP3ZDmqdqvq_1RnZE4-LywKYUbbjXdPGhtpYsDgZBoH15lGZa19CgUkuXk_k851dGrfJghr1rf8ZLpw/s320/Texas-Chainsaw-Massacre-2022-Sally-death.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But when her and Leatherface face off...Sally loses <b>instantly. </b>She is literally chainsawed up in the air and flung over to the trash pile. Some seconds later, she is able to use her shotgun one last time and has a whole conversation with Lila before dies. How is that possible? Her innards should be torn to shreds there's no way she could've been alive for that long. This movie is a goddamn cartoon. There I said it. This movie is beyond logic and physics at this point. There's just no way I can buy this movie as a requel to the classic 1974 film, which was lauded for its bleak realism.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLysIBGcz6PoAJ0m3BRueG7RDp-tVCNXjxnSzeuqO3Wdxno4IL1Sux5wG4Jf5vs7idqISOyTThMWAMRurZFtvw621vgAVUavKhMd5hTFA2ByqoaiS0HNeb_YH0ZDR1Tr6runuSHmnCt-2aYB3B-u20jg_qF4a6Uf_XMx9jzIB2yTr0OOXyb_EmxWfG6Q/s480/texas-chainsaw-massacre-trailer-1643654676.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLysIBGcz6PoAJ0m3BRueG7RDp-tVCNXjxnSzeuqO3Wdxno4IL1Sux5wG4Jf5vs7idqISOyTThMWAMRurZFtvw621vgAVUavKhMd5hTFA2ByqoaiS0HNeb_YH0ZDR1Tr6runuSHmnCt-2aYB3B-u20jg_qF4a6Uf_XMx9jzIB2yTr0OOXyb_EmxWfG6Q/s320/texas-chainsaw-massacre-trailer-1643654676.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So yeah, they totally killed off Sally Hardesty, who was on screen for approximently five minutes with no character development whatsoever. Wow, what a complete waste of a character. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0o1yorfwpRIt57eTLXana7oCCEkfZlWs0AtE7yFc_hszyNsBC-IHF7JxLn7YCxhcCqrSJVgjV8mlFVfkh_7MpbtR-1iW8KyRKQKDDq4Zl-ziLBAsbJS3QOl8UoYWbC9k9gXHhFgrKB5RcvznZxC7QtFothTJA5_h-HTw8kPL-d3yzcfixh70rlgb-w/s2400/texas-chainsaw-massacre-review.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="2400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0o1yorfwpRIt57eTLXana7oCCEkfZlWs0AtE7yFc_hszyNsBC-IHF7JxLn7YCxhcCqrSJVgjV8mlFVfkh_7MpbtR-1iW8KyRKQKDDq4Zl-ziLBAsbJS3QOl8UoYWbC9k9gXHhFgrKB5RcvznZxC7QtFothTJA5_h-HTw8kPL-d3yzcfixh70rlgb-w/s320/texas-chainsaw-massacre-review.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last but not least, we have Leatherface who, I think, is the best part of the movie. This Leatherface is more brutal and straight to the point, which is what this movie needed. But, and it's a big but, I can't help but compare him to Jason Voorhees. I know that it's beginning to be a habit. Comparing other slasher villains to Jason Voorhees but that's how I feel. Case in point, Leatherface has the biggest body count of any of the previous films. He is very no-holds-barred and far apart from the whimpering manchild who is forced to do terrible things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_s59KhuWNLmA37Kj4JSHBF-No_2PbY5h5OoV6kdPMKT0jQznJPFsCl9EdGQpK4EoZXzIiQBGMh2cdj2zArsZyDyR0wbSK7YfNRcSzGG0wmCdAvdi-9qf_MMHDXIkrPQtsnn5qmWzf6NjcdzjhE5e2U5pU_Bn3djteXpBCM25N1KSEzJ031SGlEtQLQ/s681/texas-chainsaw-netflix.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="681" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_s59KhuWNLmA37Kj4JSHBF-No_2PbY5h5OoV6kdPMKT0jQznJPFsCl9EdGQpK4EoZXzIiQBGMh2cdj2zArsZyDyR0wbSK7YfNRcSzGG0wmCdAvdi-9qf_MMHDXIkrPQtsnn5qmWzf6NjcdzjhE5e2U5pU_Bn3djteXpBCM25N1KSEzJ031SGlEtQLQ/s320/texas-chainsaw-netflix.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Furthermore, I'm trying to figure out what's Leatherface's actual age here. I'm assuming he's probably in his mid-to-late sixties, early seventies in the least. I'm guessing he was a teenager during the events of the first film. Okay, I'll buy that. But what really happened during the events of the first film? Were the brothers caught for their crimes and Leatherface was the only one that got away? It's never really entirely explained. But at least Mark Burnham turned Leatherface into this destructive force of nature, much similar to Andrew Bryniarski's portrayal in the remake. So that's probably the only good thing I could say about this movie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEox214s1karxx1RdxkmStFmVx8ClTUTsJ_VpHRTpM3dSz5efbx3dXhHSauXvN0TbcBM1YLj4md-RABuU8Be9ThXd37iH0TbX6FqS8Mg8xezbM5EwzkjYHJmHaaeYTSOXPJVs_1f70cIbPK70DakZC4AazRjJ88QN7poS8WSfT2J-XtUYfjz6AcDG4Q/s1000/Texas_main%20influencers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="1000" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLEox214s1karxx1RdxkmStFmVx8ClTUTsJ_VpHRTpM3dSz5efbx3dXhHSauXvN0TbcBM1YLj4md-RABuU8Be9ThXd37iH0TbX6FqS8Mg8xezbM5EwzkjYHJmHaaeYTSOXPJVs_1f70cIbPK70DakZC4AazRjJ88QN7poS8WSfT2J-XtUYfjz6AcDG4Q/s320/Texas_main%20influencers.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The so-called investors are nothing but chainsaw fodder and not the sharpest tools in the shed. For example, when one of them sees a dead body and quickly runs inside the bus, Lila wants to know what's happening. For some reason, she ordered Lila to stay on the bus without simply telling her that there is dead body outside and they might be in danger. Do these people have any common sense at all? But then there is the incredibly cringy scene where Leatherface ambushes them on the party bus. Okay, so you have a chainsaw-wielding, face-wearing maniac standing in front of them. Do they freak out? Do they panic? NO. They just stand there like complete idiots and then one guy lifts up his phone and says, "Make one move and you're canceled, bro." What? Like I said before, this movie is a freakin' cartoon and it just go to show that these people are nothing but props to be killed off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wajdtdfyLlWJGZxNDcCozDX5Yh5BhaVvTNSRp4nF3W6PONTYW9UGjYAQJaO7j-mmL5_8jErIyvS-iL4gX2FzeyhM2iqdiY4D8GWO4cAHrojQATpnQp4ruLLECroWJ7UjUmiWOv2pLZdeIhAnoG1ZrGp631STnbLfaaJrJPpjb3r7TJdlFA56ECDUnA/s736/ie_83727-850x560.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="736" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wajdtdfyLlWJGZxNDcCozDX5Yh5BhaVvTNSRp4nF3W6PONTYW9UGjYAQJaO7j-mmL5_8jErIyvS-iL4gX2FzeyhM2iqdiY4D8GWO4cAHrojQATpnQp4ruLLECroWJ7UjUmiWOv2pLZdeIhAnoG1ZrGp631STnbLfaaJrJPpjb3r7TJdlFA56ECDUnA/s320/ie_83727-850x560.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, the bus party bloodbath was the only scene that kept me interested, just in terms of how ballsy it is. It sort of reminded me of the boiler room scene in Hellraiser 3, which makes me wonder if they took inspiration from that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, this is the part where I spoil the movie for a bit but if you don't care that's fine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's start with the climax and oh my gosh it's so hilarious to me:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHwHvlOteNs6XP9rQ6UO0hoSmwfWd9dx-hg42WZaS6TnEYggF2bngDODCxnPBts-usLDu_DRcUJTwASMK45JzyXBH13Hi1kKlAC4qMs_EiWW_xWw9OOPr2um_Oo5BQ4C3cI32w8QcATy0Gw2x-RoE3PNwJIvugOyz5f5WOmgvxv-b6zAsYxLkxjl5xA/s480/hqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHwHvlOteNs6XP9rQ6UO0hoSmwfWd9dx-hg42WZaS6TnEYggF2bngDODCxnPBts-usLDu_DRcUJTwASMK45JzyXBH13Hi1kKlAC4qMs_EiWW_xWw9OOPr2um_Oo5BQ4C3cI32w8QcATy0Gw2x-RoE3PNwJIvugOyz5f5WOmgvxv-b6zAsYxLkxjl5xA/s320/hqdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's the part where Melody UPCHUCKS Leatherface with a battle cry. L-O-Freakin-L! It's so damn cheesy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the ending is the real kicker:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorsEhO-YsDqLGJLaIlMD7gq3FKJuPd3IbBZacoS2x92zV8OKTs_5dVBAVyW6_t4gjVqN03eWugo7IkImv0SDQi1zGd78UJmdiS7DdyQDRwv3zG7U4GJ57ip_FUrJwE9GegLzYTUZWwVtLUWYrVvgz1ZOjTp1R0YNhLX_duGCNrUU5Oo03Td54pvKq7Q/s480/hqdefault%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorsEhO-YsDqLGJLaIlMD7gq3FKJuPd3IbBZacoS2x92zV8OKTs_5dVBAVyW6_t4gjVqN03eWugo7IkImv0SDQi1zGd78UJmdiS7DdyQDRwv3zG7U4GJ57ip_FUrJwE9GegLzYTUZWwVtLUWYrVvgz1ZOjTp1R0YNhLX_duGCNrUU5Oo03Td54pvKq7Q/s320/hqdefault%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dun! Dun! Dun! Melody gets beheaded by Leatherface. I know this is supposed to be a shocking ending but the thing is...I don't give a fuck about Melody. I know the movie tries to redeem her but she's the reason why she and Lila are in this situation in the first place. Sorry, I don't feel bad for her. Now, I could feel bad for Lila because she's the only sympathetic character but the moment is ruined by Leatherface's triumphant chainsaw dance as Lila screams while being charted off in a tesla that drives by itself. It has to be seen to be believed. So freakin' hilarious.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tone of the movie is all over the place. It's this weird juxtaposition between the over-the-top zaniness of TCM II and the gritty realism of the original and the 2003 remake. This film literally has no identity and I'm trying to decipher whether this movie is a lazy cash grab at best. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The script is the worst of all and I pretty much broke down every single reason why none of the movie's plot points doesn't work. Now, I'm not going to knock Chris Thomas Devlin. He's living every screenwriter's dream by having his first screenplay produced into a movie. But I just have to say this, the first try isn't always the best, especially if it's a sequel from a horror movie franchise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Honestly, when I look into the Texas Chainsaw franchise as a whole, it's a complete and utter mess. I just feel that the 1974 film works as a stand-alone film. Sure, TCM II has its fans, I mean it's not my favorite horror sequel ever, but I can see why people consider that to be the "true" sequel to the original. However, the rest of the series are basically reboots that have no connection with one another. And there's not much after that. This franchise is beyond done at this point and this particular film is the final nail-in-the-coffin. No more films please, we've had enough.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Final Word: You can watch it out of curiosity, but this movie is overall trash. Period. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ROCY56PuNl8" width="320" youtube-src-id="ROCY56PuNl8"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-88610210525438915222022-03-28T05:02:00.000-07:002022-03-28T05:02:41.748-07:00Candyman (1992)<p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3QAVSxTK1J7CtzDZTmxo4SosMA7ZH7WQHYKMBqa5CMUBGotgcRSmXlu7Kg7C9MSUAyybzE3lIGmpuf4HttIscCB6WpRs63CQAq9328--ow4MzH7EFc0mtLR8JbljamzfN8wdcp-7GyTB4-1A5-OcKQFPfObutoOLqF4TrGafBTKG6FyTXExRkE9fsQA=s475" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj3QAVSxTK1J7CtzDZTmxo4SosMA7ZH7WQHYKMBqa5CMUBGotgcRSmXlu7Kg7C9MSUAyybzE3lIGmpuf4HttIscCB6WpRs63CQAq9328--ow4MzH7EFc0mtLR8JbljamzfN8wdcp-7GyTB4-1A5-OcKQFPfObutoOLqF4TrGafBTKG6FyTXExRkE9fsQA=s320" width="221" /></a></div><br /><p>In 1985, horror writer Clive Barker released Books of Blood Vol. 5, a collection of short stories which featured his most important piece, <i>The Forbidden</i>. But it wasn't until his success of <i>The Hellbound Heart</i> where American audiences start to take notice. Then the film offers came. Clive thought that if anybody was going to direct the film version of his book, it would be him. This resulted in the cult hit <i>Hellraiser, </i>which is now regarded as one of the most innovative horror movies during the tail end of the 80s. In 1990, He followed this up with his passion project: an adaptation of his novel <i>Cabal</i>, titled <i>Nightbreed</i>. But studio interference got in the way and it was riddled with production issues that contribute to the movie's failure at the box office. As a horror novelist-turned-director, Clive Barker became disillusioned with the film industry and often had doubts if the bighead execs would ever have a clear view of his vision. But on the bright side of things, Clive gets a chance to meet with film director Benard Rose who was interested in bringing <i>The Forbidden</i> on screen. Seeing how the subject matter can bring new meaning to his artistic vision, Clive Barker agreed to sell the film rights and this soon evolved into the creation of a new horror classic. </p><p>The visuals in this are divine! I think the movie beautifully captures Clive Barker's vision, tapping into the surrealism of its source material. I definitely like how the movie contrasts between the mundane urban setting and the psychological mindscrew of Candyman's machinations. I think Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd were very compelling in their roles. Their dynamic is really powerful, which is horrifying yet tender at the same time. However, the strongest aspect of Candyman is its themes. During the early part of the decade, The Beating of Rodney King and The L.A. Riots brought on the heavy topic of racism in the forefront. Candyman, in particular, is a response to the gentrification of black Americans living in low-income housing during the 1970s and 1980s. The book leans more towards classism but the topic of race adds a lot more context to the Candyman mythos and it's handled quite tastefully, even at the time it was made. Speaking of the book, the movie is pretty faithful to the source material, a few changes here and there, but faithful nonetheless. It's hard to categorize Candyman as a slasher film, I mean it is in a way, but it doesn't have that slasher feel if you get what I'm saying. It's much more on the psychological spectrum, Just like how most people mistake <i>Hellraiser</i> as a slasher but it's really more on the fantastical side. I would describe Candyman as a sophisticated slasher where it keeps its focus on story and atmosphere, well crafted in its set up, build-up, and payoff. It's no wonder why most horror fans helmed this as a modern classic. I would say wholeheartedly that the adaptation is better than the source material and it's by far one of the most memorable horror movies of the 90s.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiamHvKElabKHA9v46Z5BqRkzNuBWfolrXdknu_n175MHAC6HyzD9bIWjOADfRLbhw4yrTxVzFH0O_JfQer2IIznxtch9jdSoBCjmpeURbETD5_aF8_eavL-F1mC0RM4grzjtslXmnxIoHLydssAc2U1fJ-cc3kc7krLmDcq3NRIWIoSNbTb5U3srnHoA=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiamHvKElabKHA9v46Z5BqRkzNuBWfolrXdknu_n175MHAC6HyzD9bIWjOADfRLbhw4yrTxVzFH0O_JfQer2IIznxtch9jdSoBCjmpeURbETD5_aF8_eavL-F1mC0RM4grzjtslXmnxIoHLydssAc2U1fJ-cc3kc7krLmDcq3NRIWIoSNbTb5U3srnHoA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The Story: While writing a thesis on urban legends, Graduate Student Helen Lyle investigates the cavernous decay of Cabrini Green. She hears about the story of the vengeful spirit of Candyman aka Daniel Robitaille, a son of a slave who rose to prominence as a gifted artist. When he paints a portrait for a wealthy landowner's daughter, Daniel suddenly falls in love in with her. But the landowner is against this interracial romance and he soon sends out a vicious lynch mob to punish Daniel for impregnating his daughter. As they brutally maim and torture Daniel, through his last breath, he behests that he will soon get his revenge beyond his death. At first, Helen doesn't believe that this mythical being exists but, as she goes deep into the history and readings about the recent murder of a Cabrini Green resident, the ghostly spirit of Candyman clouds her judgment. When she's framed for possibly kidnapping a baby, Helen must find a way to save the infant and clear her name. But Candyman has other plans...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC0pxqxIggjY6vmf1sidmYOWmJ2QHI9AeF6iWlbP6NBm6YTevkEkANSkyZFYPhFj8kwd51a_Mt6QfYxQQvs3ehS7o7oKum_3I35Kl1NYGXitmvSPnNZnrio3vlXd2QTboAj_18dFxZtgtKWt6wtUinNXW7G5-Kw_EykKwrAb7DeO38uVWeFuwZhAnvMw=s600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="600" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiC0pxqxIggjY6vmf1sidmYOWmJ2QHI9AeF6iWlbP6NBm6YTevkEkANSkyZFYPhFj8kwd51a_Mt6QfYxQQvs3ehS7o7oKum_3I35Kl1NYGXitmvSPnNZnrio3vlXd2QTboAj_18dFxZtgtKWt6wtUinNXW7G5-Kw_EykKwrAb7DeO38uVWeFuwZhAnvMw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>The cast is extremely solid, featuring actors that I've seen periodically in films and tv. Most notably, Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd were the ones who really stole the show.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilR3_YEcV4vTNVkfL62LrZC3PgBmbE92c_4lqZkNTJTW2ZCjTEszvQNwltpTceaqiE81GIa7-QjsvzwQxRa5DilFJU9xo4FUk8dzlp6cO7UnCKgcyFGKqjVbngSycoe5pypUtFpt9WikbHgaZEQYEByrJPDPPBHHCCRNyzAjNT94oHLZVd4ase-9g_EQ=s900" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilR3_YEcV4vTNVkfL62LrZC3PgBmbE92c_4lqZkNTJTW2ZCjTEszvQNwltpTceaqiE81GIa7-QjsvzwQxRa5DilFJU9xo4FUk8dzlp6cO7UnCKgcyFGKqjVbngSycoe5pypUtFpt9WikbHgaZEQYEByrJPDPPBHHCCRNyzAjNT94oHLZVd4ase-9g_EQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Especially Virginia Madsen, who carries this movie on her shoulders. But she wasn't the first choice to play Helen.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD5IJtxPR_iSo_jQKIxYfoy8uP-oGK5oOLhxshlTc5Aa00-DN8rm8sx2rFAUxCdNNGnBQ_MNL438SkxpXsiwX7IDD1h4HMV0fq_ZSKAwdBXPAzgCiaq3W5mbWFtskB-9fXpGYgoSpOjGgTKDCPU5XzLBz8wMKf8M6EmRNCJlMx_lFee9-Bbj8_RgljBg=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="690" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD5IJtxPR_iSo_jQKIxYfoy8uP-oGK5oOLhxshlTc5Aa00-DN8rm8sx2rFAUxCdNNGnBQ_MNL438SkxpXsiwX7IDD1h4HMV0fq_ZSKAwdBXPAzgCiaq3W5mbWFtskB-9fXpGYgoSpOjGgTKDCPU5XzLBz8wMKf8M6EmRNCJlMx_lFee9-Bbj8_RgljBg=s320" width="221" /></a></div><p>Sandra Bullock was suggested by producer Alan Poul and I do see her as an ideal choice. She has that fair balance of down-to-earth reliability yet she has this powerful presence that makes you believe in the characters she portrays. Had she played Helen, she would have made this an interesting performance. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhILhO5Zui3ChOBEdT7zsuwVbDwjwoOMNP76dByG2k5i9DVl5mhCkkCoky9pS7fSCe6nnXxPASoT1Lfh9zGAmDprTV3SqkZDzweO_1o9G6zHz5dAjsOoK6MQkjukcReCtFeT3L7uT1ZLxh6t8TB9c6XEU0-uehv165y4KEYRRxwcbXZDs7DyBH8xQFxEg=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhILhO5Zui3ChOBEdT7zsuwVbDwjwoOMNP76dByG2k5i9DVl5mhCkkCoky9pS7fSCe6nnXxPASoT1Lfh9zGAmDprTV3SqkZDzweO_1o9G6zHz5dAjsOoK6MQkjukcReCtFeT3L7uT1ZLxh6t8TB9c6XEU0-uehv165y4KEYRRxwcbXZDs7DyBH8xQFxEg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Though eventually, the filmmakers chose Alexandra Pigg, Benard Rose's wife at the time, as the lead. Virginia Madsen was almost cast as Bernadette but the filmmakers wanted the character to be played by a black actress instead. As luck would have it, Alexandra suddenly became pregnant during the production, making it hard for the filmmakers to do the more elaborate stunts that were required. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigd0RI3unnRa1F3zM41IHbwfY7Up-oz8UPJ-Gd1eT7xKRzRFrCqEgZgjFYJHeK_IbANMEi6N-O8A7Hs2DQ8h_wpflzHr0HSxdP5y1ideMa3OBnc90-PV3iXGLf-F7lY1iDR4xx3TmGKfA-0WBZT1r_CxMlS8lbMO1ZPqaz5qmLFlHxZYC9GBaRFyrUuA=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigd0RI3unnRa1F3zM41IHbwfY7Up-oz8UPJ-Gd1eT7xKRzRFrCqEgZgjFYJHeK_IbANMEi6N-O8A7Hs2DQ8h_wpflzHr0HSxdP5y1ideMa3OBnc90-PV3iXGLf-F7lY1iDR4xx3TmGKfA-0WBZT1r_CxMlS8lbMO1ZPqaz5qmLFlHxZYC9GBaRFyrUuA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>So that's when Virginia Madsen steps in and, boy, she gives it her all. But before I praise the acting prowess of Mrs. Madsen, let's dive deep into the character of Helen Lyle. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR8Tb0FJkOSDwUkaMSiUehRXoQBxNmkYisH_xKFDJqqYYoEjyFbgocsYDcY81eXomJ3SV2NP2dxcwpKyeaFY5EFwstxYgZA-u7o7Ip3p8eStnsJh_QyuSqq1KC6wQyJ5WO6xFKXU-O8hsG0XkiI_KkjvI65pS6wUbktZ7mfezyvJSYbz4YMVQPhh7rMg=s728" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="728" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR8Tb0FJkOSDwUkaMSiUehRXoQBxNmkYisH_xKFDJqqYYoEjyFbgocsYDcY81eXomJ3SV2NP2dxcwpKyeaFY5EFwstxYgZA-u7o7Ip3p8eStnsJh_QyuSqq1KC6wQyJ5WO6xFKXU-O8hsG0XkiI_KkjvI65pS6wUbktZ7mfezyvJSYbz4YMVQPhh7rMg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Her literary counterpart is Helen Buchanan and she's more a reactionary character but it does work in a way because the whole point of the short story is to build up the mystery surrounding Candyman, however, along with her estranged marriage to Trevor, she doesn't have much character development beyond that. But the film gives her more nuance. In the guise of the movie's social commentary, Helen's thesis is less about the myth of Candyman and more about the hardships of improvised black communities on the east side of Chicago. Helen wants to be seen as this beacon of truth, to show her white colleagues what these people are going through. This is something that is deeply important to her and she doesn't go down without a fight.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigtysSTMkqS6AJUgjeLTCYGaQ9f0a318D12zrxrROWK-F4Jt3sjSu3kAJ0fr2sIR1tTuCCv4pVNqJTPUIJeoCHbieHnIGsadjZSodzLhjq3xbKqUsdc9gwbih4xAzozh2IjoPvVE5JquOhpwHkfczvz6nbj3iVb-9y-CNZmdUUTFl7SihBCNbLfOkrbA=s500" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="356" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigtysSTMkqS6AJUgjeLTCYGaQ9f0a318D12zrxrROWK-F4Jt3sjSu3kAJ0fr2sIR1tTuCCv4pVNqJTPUIJeoCHbieHnIGsadjZSodzLhjq3xbKqUsdc9gwbih4xAzozh2IjoPvVE5JquOhpwHkfczvz6nbj3iVb-9y-CNZmdUUTFl7SihBCNbLfOkrbA=s320" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Her husband Trevor, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be on the same page. It seems as though she's competing with Trevor for theoretical recognition.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgicoXrx6z71qMNgxU8ZYCoiUQVQwDBG5AxmjPu-eN-HRkWJ-59HPCNuF3YXGj_djSILKVv3BQf0vCik--55XmOea3Pd8Di1AeSUj6LmrT2VybKwuX4dsnBNKfsu56MNVG-aIi6zXSzDdSdawV-dz5cm0f9lai4S0qGiR5lHs6F4VX6a5bkgT4DuqhPEQ=s990" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="990" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgicoXrx6z71qMNgxU8ZYCoiUQVQwDBG5AxmjPu-eN-HRkWJ-59HPCNuF3YXGj_djSILKVv3BQf0vCik--55XmOea3Pd8Di1AeSUj6LmrT2VybKwuX4dsnBNKfsu56MNVG-aIi6zXSzDdSdawV-dz5cm0f9lai4S0qGiR5lHs6F4VX6a5bkgT4DuqhPEQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFVIrkzPhkmJLeJULIM5H6oKPI5sY-nMq_Q8I9mmsh4qoT2Dmj5js5s1-QifIa2pbyZBeDJWwIdp423Kt6YXnvEftBD0r1vk5JLwn_Rj_No61uSsK7fi1sGD7HUgvIxYf2OTcY2Ja0-tKdT7BO0ouNkb6Bs62LCyoFQTNoXNd_CzdcKUOgdDzOmga1g/s720/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFVIrkzPhkmJLeJULIM5H6oKPI5sY-nMq_Q8I9mmsh4qoT2Dmj5js5s1-QifIa2pbyZBeDJWwIdp423Kt6YXnvEftBD0r1vk5JLwn_Rj_No61uSsK7fi1sGD7HUgvIxYf2OTcY2Ja0-tKdT7BO0ouNkb6Bs62LCyoFQTNoXNd_CzdcKUOgdDzOmga1g/s320/13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This is further demonstrated in the dinner scene. On one side, you have Helen and her best friend Bernadette and on the other side, you have Trevor and his colleague Phillip Purcell. It looks to be a battle of the sexes on who's the expert on the Candyman myth but Helen wants to gain the upper hand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidlVdUGvt3b8jiyo4NHO-5gHPxcivpAp7W0lHp1qYPm0WMJbP68cR65TYhy_5Z8_dNoOHb31YU2Uc4NjO3n_K5B6M4uFsik2rPiowEFtPL4Ne-abdKf4uGnMaOWn_quo0HlkyusNNbK-k5OYa0T7gF__mzZKI5BpUUZn8DvSh_e2stDK6IhpoRfGP2qA=s450" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidlVdUGvt3b8jiyo4NHO-5gHPxcivpAp7W0lHp1qYPm0WMJbP68cR65TYhy_5Z8_dNoOHb31YU2Uc4NjO3n_K5B6M4uFsik2rPiowEFtPL4Ne-abdKf4uGnMaOWn_quo0HlkyusNNbK-k5OYa0T7gF__mzZKI5BpUUZn8DvSh_e2stDK6IhpoRfGP2qA=s320" width="256" /></a></div><p>But when Phillip narrates the origin of Candyman, Helen delves deep into her research where she explores the ruins of Cabrini-Green.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidjc1RkH6uwsm7dKu05oIkXnxJR2IPy-j8f_-2db-JhSS3oBxbZ7Wm3bYVBBVqV6itleeEAJkpSeavfrv45BOUMVNEHznAzL9-2-kcGhYSZ1NxkOKW5OG5xXE63azbadfm8vc3hO-cCpoR9__uA-ptt8qlvigrbRWFEZNfp3PadD6PdZrGA_NnN1dW-w=s1400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1400" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidjc1RkH6uwsm7dKu05oIkXnxJR2IPy-j8f_-2db-JhSS3oBxbZ7Wm3bYVBBVqV6itleeEAJkpSeavfrv45BOUMVNEHznAzL9-2-kcGhYSZ1NxkOKW5OG5xXE63azbadfm8vc3hO-cCpoR9__uA-ptt8qlvigrbRWFEZNfp3PadD6PdZrGA_NnN1dW-w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>Unfortunately, she runs into a gang that is led by "The Candyman" and ends up brutally mugged, leaving her with a gnarly black eye. Helen soon becomes an informant for the police and the supposed "Candyman" is arrested. Therefore, the myth of Candyman is finally debunked...or so it seems.</p><p>A few months roll by, and Helen is over the moon when her thesis is accepted by the university. But just as she walks towards her car, here comes the boogeyman himself, Candyman. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmukxIDb6EwWmERZ6yqypaaaU24kan0BmulbJB_yCXK-cQ4KBG699zf8BUrejUCVHxIPXH3GQ6-rlZxEqAMAj2COknmHNKanOBBY374ZbK_rD4wO9PrXNgdI-vK9j9a7zbV1OB0Jyt_CGh8tVPTngiNTS5uF13df9M2uS02jBP3Ab7WYqyxREzP-mfEQ=s1919" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1919" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmukxIDb6EwWmERZ6yqypaaaU24kan0BmulbJB_yCXK-cQ4KBG699zf8BUrejUCVHxIPXH3GQ6-rlZxEqAMAj2COknmHNKanOBBY374ZbK_rD4wO9PrXNgdI-vK9j9a7zbV1OB0Jyt_CGh8tVPTngiNTS5uF13df9M2uS02jBP3Ab7WYqyxREzP-mfEQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It turns out, he's not too happy about Helen's skepticism of him to which he must shed innocent blood.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoHO4n5QRxeHsrnEH53wq4OMGiZZT_tEdVhD9BmtoQ82R7rUeF0rOalYu9dwyJbdqkeDbafnz8VrdlmKRduFfStfYCVuRnlXNWtpPB7doZxk2BbInc38tCwz1x4hdzOnBqp9gi72d15f5ovG57YsacnGTFSwD1pYZNL4Yjl-ThJKJZf6o7miQoEn9p_Q=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhoHO4n5QRxeHsrnEH53wq4OMGiZZT_tEdVhD9BmtoQ82R7rUeF0rOalYu9dwyJbdqkeDbafnz8VrdlmKRduFfStfYCVuRnlXNWtpPB7doZxk2BbInc38tCwz1x4hdzOnBqp9gi72d15f5ovG57YsacnGTFSwD1pYZNL4Yjl-ThJKJZf6o7miQoEn9p_Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Eventually, Candyman enchants Helen into a trance-like state and renders her unconscious. Okay, I'm gonna squeeze in a fun fact here. Virginia Madsen was actually hypnotized for this scene. That must've taken a lot of commitment! Virginia refused to go under any more hypnosis since she became a bit disoriented from the experience. Hell, I don't blame her. <div>Now, let's get back to the character breakdown. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe4hsra4EUOou17htgurBetoRhw7t1WefkUkuimkKAMQlxT3NNusLS9qaivJk5NROBCQ3TzXWspcOk7QayfZGEJyBYO8XuwsLNuMi4kM965NGtCarVv4JandDUuMFy4WMahlCepxUFHn6Y8CQNOB9dgLopKWnSP8fhmG5xTtcSy8w2cMqrhPZIoejQog=s728" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="728" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe4hsra4EUOou17htgurBetoRhw7t1WefkUkuimkKAMQlxT3NNusLS9qaivJk5NROBCQ3TzXWspcOk7QayfZGEJyBYO8XuwsLNuMi4kM965NGtCarVv4JandDUuMFy4WMahlCepxUFHn6Y8CQNOB9dgLopKWnSP8fhmG5xTtcSy8w2cMqrhPZIoejQog=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When she comes to, Helen finds herself in a bloody apartment, discovering a severed dog's head, and is attacked by a frantic Anne-Marie. Okay, let's stop here for a moment. Helen is a level-headed character for the most part, but she's not without her stupid moments either. So when Helen wakes up in the apartment, the first thing she does is...pick up the <b>bloody</b> meat cleaver. I'll give her a pass for this one since she hears screaming and she's so freaked out she's probably not thinking straight. Distraught over her missing baby, a frantic Anne-Marie attacks Helen and you know what she does? Helen <b>stabs</b> her in the shoulder with a meat cleaver! Why would she do that? And as I predicted, here come the cops ready to arrest Helen. Dammit, Helen!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQHK2M0PQwTY3e8_g0U1VU0vbH_VGwSAo2I26nuO8XULJ7hs4GGq_IA6vVEhJh9ukCZGvMWD3GpRJwswSLT4-gLdtzuNu08RkogN9xzJ809R6FRHWy976-bl2l7nH2kV7BXVhBZ-BWhz6wFfKHkIBonoLMhu8KFls6JMn1nhPT28Fg6tRwF2ytgqDxvQ=s320" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQHK2M0PQwTY3e8_g0U1VU0vbH_VGwSAo2I26nuO8XULJ7hs4GGq_IA6vVEhJh9ukCZGvMWD3GpRJwswSLT4-gLdtzuNu08RkogN9xzJ809R6FRHWy976-bl2l7nH2kV7BXVhBZ-BWhz6wFfKHkIBonoLMhu8KFls6JMn1nhPT28Fg6tRwF2ytgqDxvQ" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When Helen is taken into custody, the cops that once aided her are now against her, along with the media scrutinizing her for possibly kidnapping a baby.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQcDfGTZKAVeUj5vC1p1Edlf8zNkQj0o_4YOKaZL2I5FDUJDMRV_0-9iTs19MTQspzyM27hlAh6_0Qzbl0y3o9DSv99AMeTl3vfHoQcpSe6UUmyjJSA6kRNrU6gavesbh564GjocURXb77jSB3j2XXomMnRj24hgXut2UH2yPoqE_RXXNMyR_dE758kA=s963" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="963" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQcDfGTZKAVeUj5vC1p1Edlf8zNkQj0o_4YOKaZL2I5FDUJDMRV_0-9iTs19MTQspzyM27hlAh6_0Qzbl0y3o9DSv99AMeTl3vfHoQcpSe6UUmyjJSA6kRNrU6gavesbh564GjocURXb77jSB3j2XXomMnRj24hgXut2UH2yPoqE_RXXNMyR_dE758kA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>As she tries to figure out where her life went wrong, here comes Candyman catching her right from under his hook. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRh75r7scPQM9jRI60pGBziA9AeC_015TgyH7PhjoRmfBgZnMYzM3fg1S0j6s8f7i1luhTis4PHFdQqQNM6jlFUYKu9_rlIrj7gBBYBxNyRikvd0fbSvMeo-uXRLEy_0iRfZusbfLw82nX0w9xCBfKXA6FgHP1Md94zJkudnkdD12doaWHK88-FL1Cqg=s1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1024" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjRh75r7scPQM9jRI60pGBziA9AeC_015TgyH7PhjoRmfBgZnMYzM3fg1S0j6s8f7i1luhTis4PHFdQqQNM6jlFUYKu9_rlIrj7gBBYBxNyRikvd0fbSvMeo-uXRLEy_0iRfZusbfLw82nX0w9xCBfKXA6FgHP1Md94zJkudnkdD12doaWHK88-FL1Cqg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Weakened by his presence, Helen tries to warn Bernadette, who comes over to visit, from opening the door. But it's too late and Candyman brutally kills her with her corpse almost torn into shreds!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4AMMJQyCEe1hA3253_zoQ5Fd5uXo8pzG4AzKl89FKMD_zpt-joRUYAML3gQY-Q_74LA1UPM73bTbmLtJ4YK33c46K_Tmm11rbB6TGlERZr5V0hKOzscmRBTJPrV28tKyWJKRXd_7GMNk9qEqqaO-4XSUFBBbXEVE6TsGLLglT7BZGnWXRbv2zucZZtQ=s758" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="758" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4AMMJQyCEe1hA3253_zoQ5Fd5uXo8pzG4AzKl89FKMD_zpt-joRUYAML3gQY-Q_74LA1UPM73bTbmLtJ4YK33c46K_Tmm11rbB6TGlERZr5V0hKOzscmRBTJPrV28tKyWJKRXd_7GMNk9qEqqaO-4XSUFBBbXEVE6TsGLLglT7BZGnWXRbv2zucZZtQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>With so many strikes against her, Helen is placed in a psychiatric ward while Candyman psychologically tortures her.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlG-o4qSjrSttXY-gA3dXcnfQ-sTHRv9BUgwaWg99iAUqnWssZL4efCUERbWwgBfSUbvwvzYelDyutTVdzwV_rtRY_rMDsPfkGxZnE8M9p8JwqGZoy7DOPF0qxYXXC0Tc3QwqhhnCgaVejz6nBSG6FpcmDdTYkm8hlsCHZvBDR3EYl1KnXoAf7hTCQ5w=s2866" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1522" data-original-width="2866" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlG-o4qSjrSttXY-gA3dXcnfQ-sTHRv9BUgwaWg99iAUqnWssZL4efCUERbWwgBfSUbvwvzYelDyutTVdzwV_rtRY_rMDsPfkGxZnE8M9p8JwqGZoy7DOPF0qxYXXC0Tc3QwqhhnCgaVejz6nBSG6FpcmDdTYkm8hlsCHZvBDR3EYl1KnXoAf7hTCQ5w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When she goes to visit the doctor, Helen tries to prove her sanity. However, the doctor has evidence that Candyman may not be real but Helen vehemently denies that she would ever be that capable of doing the things that she's accused of. Therefore, Helen begins to recite the incantation of Candyman to prove her point.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlangWLoU3GW9pXRD_w1eV5I1KKESIDnHWP9IHe2MyDjG6PbbH5p_oF71iNnTaV-zRetqPC1o-aQ81G7ykl1Tu2pzvd4hkbSgkR9fLNhz1Yd2fGREsMqrnCKZsORgDeNp2LFj6VXc-CjnfXnYoTe1-Ogi4NcQKmqc9G9h9oFjyfIokxmOAdhA-95exYQ=s1919" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1919" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlangWLoU3GW9pXRD_w1eV5I1KKESIDnHWP9IHe2MyDjG6PbbH5p_oF71iNnTaV-zRetqPC1o-aQ81G7ykl1Tu2pzvd4hkbSgkR9fLNhz1Yd2fGREsMqrnCKZsORgDeNp2LFj6VXc-CjnfXnYoTe1-Ogi4NcQKmqc9G9h9oFjyfIokxmOAdhA-95exYQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The doctor, of course, gets a rude awakening as Candyman hooks him right from behind. Ouch!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXcPq4j3vJFHu0kTBNfCE3tFzDBbImN6gkU41HiijEKn1WOzF0cSrvjpgIi9yPAcEt7OVmi_yZnAebGL_xPOjyhPPca4j3kNG72GIr8f0PYiy9bMDT4tof2Md3Qxyc1mbOWOk3xaYP_DkBBqTta71OOyXBkl9C1PZ0wQ09NtfM5lNYbJtLya4kZn8AtQ=s450" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="450" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhXcPq4j3vJFHu0kTBNfCE3tFzDBbImN6gkU41HiijEKn1WOzF0cSrvjpgIi9yPAcEt7OVmi_yZnAebGL_xPOjyhPPca4j3kNG72GIr8f0PYiy9bMDT4tof2Md3Qxyc1mbOWOk3xaYP_DkBBqTta71OOyXBkl9C1PZ0wQ09NtfM5lNYbJtLya4kZn8AtQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>To show Helen his gratitude for believing in him, Candyman releases her from her straps and she escapes. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTuxDrQBmGOzlb6d6JO9480bTVaArv2inCT8NrPOGtlQT0r51-X_IX38NYLXqoi3MMNgSfcgkEhbVbY-cVwxYJUTr2rm0-qRqOA3q4ICsLqhgxkzAhZ-QRI1jdWLn5NqgHJbLM1EYXbWyRDa6z_UDIn420_N4AelrelirwUkfzA-1k_Jstwhc89kEv3w=s1200" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1200" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTuxDrQBmGOzlb6d6JO9480bTVaArv2inCT8NrPOGtlQT0r51-X_IX38NYLXqoi3MMNgSfcgkEhbVbY-cVwxYJUTr2rm0-qRqOA3q4ICsLqhgxkzAhZ-QRI1jdWLn5NqgHJbLM1EYXbWyRDa6z_UDIn420_N4AelrelirwUkfzA-1k_Jstwhc89kEv3w=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpuq5SMzf3z3i_ZxcoXrVyXvl1mALcrPTCAjGYu55RWWTe8GDGSLu1lAycb6wQtftXYdy81n9Hph9Qs7FafxsZ-fhMhr9d318HPMUAxSHOsAQcch-GHCO6x-V4gQTYnFF0fPfbgI7zXlgL3MO7eE1gQRoTXpf_-Jkoq1VpW5OxsAXtF8i11VXQX3uw9Q=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1280" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpuq5SMzf3z3i_ZxcoXrVyXvl1mALcrPTCAjGYu55RWWTe8GDGSLu1lAycb6wQtftXYdy81n9Hph9Qs7FafxsZ-fhMhr9d318HPMUAxSHOsAQcch-GHCO6x-V4gQTYnFF0fPfbgI7zXlgL3MO7eE1gQRoTXpf_-Jkoq1VpW5OxsAXtF8i11VXQX3uw9Q=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Hoping to embrace the loving arms of her husband, Helen goes home to find that somebody has already been occupied. It turns out that Trevor has been having an affair with one of his students and was leaving Helen to rot in the psych ward.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG52tKx6fIbciNRn0sZyf4iZmCCVujQVY3j_AH0VR4KD6_W5OPe7PpDP_MEnggscjf1DelW1UfLS19Vst41pcPYk35OvfXD9FLNdv0narPCB28t6wvCl4a1GVrjrkTeZD-BvYbfPhLSShC20AIrvaRL98GlXtyu21Ozq55CxzTr58mzgVAOvY8r48nUw=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1280" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgG52tKx6fIbciNRn0sZyf4iZmCCVujQVY3j_AH0VR4KD6_W5OPe7PpDP_MEnggscjf1DelW1UfLS19Vst41pcPYk35OvfXD9FLNdv0narPCB28t6wvCl4a1GVrjrkTeZD-BvYbfPhLSShC20AIrvaRL98GlXtyu21Ozq55CxzTr58mzgVAOvY8r48nUw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Now Helen is all alone but, deep down, this is what Candyman wanted. In order for Candyman to claim her as his "victim," they must be one in the same; two souls tethered to the binds of tragedy. This prompts Helen to continue her mission of saving Anne Marie's baby...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi37sj47mahVI3BsiYa_DvMhib3A4K43h_CjT1xAQRwmgn2nl6dtgeWH1MQyRDcnhXCqS-NxV0wvg5TZ4kV7XDRaXJ7JaWAC0vt2Bvbk_ulWvFU7x8o1qjBbE88WJk-zEtoDaxW_OKsm5riMB31Ml-zN8dzg63AOUSJD6PY79pQDBhUXtA6u3bBNoU7Ng=s1600" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi37sj47mahVI3BsiYa_DvMhib3A4K43h_CjT1xAQRwmgn2nl6dtgeWH1MQyRDcnhXCqS-NxV0wvg5TZ4kV7XDRaXJ7JaWAC0vt2Bvbk_ulWvFU7x8o1qjBbE88WJk-zEtoDaxW_OKsm5riMB31Ml-zN8dzg63AOUSJD6PY79pQDBhUXtA6u3bBNoU7Ng=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDAu6SmXQQCaFRsrcJYgCoA7bChPxQ0UK4OzTnVyNqgUPbv9kR3hxucFohHvgKOh3-PC_rE8dx3kH_oLjP4bvEHM-zj6owxLuGsc0jI5vjLOV95WzqF-t0QPrhB8xaMXrC5hovcXzfxs7AfE8sF9Ip7ND1rw0v9ZWb3XjU-Fi7KPUjDk5kifZLmbTKg/s710/1595977650_10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="710" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDAu6SmXQQCaFRsrcJYgCoA7bChPxQ0UK4OzTnVyNqgUPbv9kR3hxucFohHvgKOh3-PC_rE8dx3kH_oLjP4bvEHM-zj6owxLuGsc0jI5vjLOV95WzqF-t0QPrhB8xaMXrC5hovcXzfxs7AfE8sF9Ip7ND1rw0v9ZWb3XjU-Fi7KPUjDk5kifZLmbTKg/s320/1595977650_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">When she enters Candyman's lair, Helen discovers a painting that has a striking resemblance to her...and that's when the movie really gets interesting. It's revealed that Helen is the long-lost </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">descendant of Candyman's lover. This will actually be a continuing plot thread in the next two sequels, in which the female leads are the direct descendants of Candyman. What do I think of this plot twist overall? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I think this elevates the movie from the source material, bringing in this ancestral connection between Helen and Candyman that organically flows into the story. </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoqOlWqgPJpyrpUJQq4xO4G8IMNAJrMmwE4zfcmtj4uCxjkfDDnztzPtIsIPJMdFUB6G-DacOyrvciPLYzYW3AtM4QNhG1fHC7wZVY6PlvD93RwuyldTAz4MzvCU5zNWrrVsjyzbY1CB-c8XJwFtm4Ijy7hGuiHfCmHN666BEKn39csB6-En7BhnXz7g=s480" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjoqOlWqgPJpyrpUJQq4xO4G8IMNAJrMmwE4zfcmtj4uCxjkfDDnztzPtIsIPJMdFUB6G-DacOyrvciPLYzYW3AtM4QNhG1fHC7wZVY6PlvD93RwuyldTAz4MzvCU5zNWrrVsjyzbY1CB-c8XJwFtm4Ijy7hGuiHfCmHN666BEKn39csB6-En7BhnXz7g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But enough about Helen, let's talk about the extremely talented Mrs. Virginia Madsen. Man, what a performance. She really nailed the confusion and anguish of Helen's detriment. Virginia Madsen was <i>very</i> committed to this role. From being hypnotized in real life to overcoming her fear of bees, she went through it and I appreciate her for it. This is a tour-de-force performance and her ability to convey the subtle emotions of Helen's internal torture is grandiose. It would've been awesome if she had a golden globe for this performance because she truly deserves it. Bravo, Mrs. Madsen! Bravo!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqJGkwe9oCsXlwZv3MJSpcXNJby1gP0sCrOiqRGOrz8VY4zbkq_u27RWp0nehTv-kflRQgG5q9DnFX04H1fAOBuRd1xpA3z3Iuyd8WJD0F4WIwan82pgITdOfls7o9s9E7b8EauDbMfMTKEy5tOYNT9kEdTxT79rN3h47I29bGyJ-JdrgafXqXmaB6Q/s700/EWKA_Candyman2_Helen%20Lyle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="700" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqJGkwe9oCsXlwZv3MJSpcXNJby1gP0sCrOiqRGOrz8VY4zbkq_u27RWp0nehTv-kflRQgG5q9DnFX04H1fAOBuRd1xpA3z3Iuyd8WJD0F4WIwan82pgITdOfls7o9s9E7b8EauDbMfMTKEy5tOYNT9kEdTxT79rN3h47I29bGyJ-JdrgafXqXmaB6Q/s320/EWKA_Candyman2_Helen%20Lyle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And I must say, she has a very stunning presence. She kind of reminds me of one of those movie stars of the Hollywood Golden Age. No wonder Candyman is obsessed with her. All in all, Mrs. Madsen shines through the movie with her magnetic performance. </div><div>Before I get to Trevor and Bernadette, I feel like the most important characters are Anne-Marie and Jake as they are the driving force for most of the movie. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Es-CW20T5pn-omeIzXoX23MjuVVtD8A0cZf2lPwpW4UAGkUyOancmbNsDuWQG8aES-9rKR7HIt6xxoSpXH88U1ZuWtgIp03AdGVF3E-fW8zPAFyB00fSnnoSfS8G6GDoaltuwJdkFMv3irqEQi_ZR2T2Rla6bzY1TY8Fr-hJQSl92ZKwRSpIp-UMzg/s960/candyman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="960" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Es-CW20T5pn-omeIzXoX23MjuVVtD8A0cZf2lPwpW4UAGkUyOancmbNsDuWQG8aES-9rKR7HIt6xxoSpXH88U1ZuWtgIp03AdGVF3E-fW8zPAFyB00fSnnoSfS8G6GDoaltuwJdkFMv3irqEQi_ZR2T2Rla6bzY1TY8Fr-hJQSl92ZKwRSpIp-UMzg/s320/candyman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>First, we have Anne-Marie played by the stunningly beautiful and amazingly talented Vanessa A. Williams. The Anne-Marie in the short story is widely different from the film version. In <i>The Forbidden, </i>she comes off as very self-absorbed and annoyed by her child's need for attention. But here's the real kicker: it turns out she sacrificed Kerry (her child) willingly to The Candyman. But Benard Rose wanted to have a more sympathetic portrayal of the character as Anne-Marie represents the struggles of single black mothers. Therefore, we see a side of her that's more protective and nurturing, which makes her situation all the more heartbreaking when her baby is kidnapped.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzil1AwRPCPWH6IM1WQJKAmlNYZrRoi375ckKTx94rf-3mH7t2z0UroQxr0qpUmEz0WMtE1Bqx4Ewd98Xb7j6lbMia_sxERl-LPRdlFcQIW3UUAFmXUWsp1Iqm720WTLtdGUOjCrHSG53-F8w-ArgYmf3LtFvPSQ-1MuRgasfQH8hK7FCx0hAnuaq6eQ/s1199/Candyman-Cast-1992-Vanessa-Estelle-Williams-Anne-Marie-McCoy.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1199" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzil1AwRPCPWH6IM1WQJKAmlNYZrRoi375ckKTx94rf-3mH7t2z0UroQxr0qpUmEz0WMtE1Bqx4Ewd98Xb7j6lbMia_sxERl-LPRdlFcQIW3UUAFmXUWsp1Iqm720WTLtdGUOjCrHSG53-F8w-ArgYmf3LtFvPSQ-1MuRgasfQH8hK7FCx0hAnuaq6eQ/s320/Candyman-Cast-1992-Vanessa-Estelle-Williams-Anne-Marie-McCoy.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Vanessa A. Williams did a splendid job with her performance. Although she has a minor supporting role, she leaves a huge impact. When she gives the monologue about Candyman, her emotions are spot on and you believe in her vulnerability. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBlWPpSpKP-0gT7ER6j9sqUF2m8sQl85y_ibRhu79LC2kSEX7bEfhSQr0xmcPFQywPtCSzd3fZvSPdMAeYDJh-34UoGHsi2Mq-0kZpPpEp2zG-WuVOxgeSm5uUXUrJ_fA3uJf9udl5eZoAtN2iFEyZBMw1nMYCdhxjZaPpaG_f1HdJtlxON64grW5yA/s824/jake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="824" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUBlWPpSpKP-0gT7ER6j9sqUF2m8sQl85y_ibRhu79LC2kSEX7bEfhSQr0xmcPFQywPtCSzd3fZvSPdMAeYDJh-34UoGHsi2Mq-0kZpPpEp2zG-WuVOxgeSm5uUXUrJ_fA3uJf9udl5eZoAtN2iFEyZBMw1nMYCdhxjZaPpaG_f1HdJtlxON64grW5yA/s320/jake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And then there's Jake played by child actor Dejaun Guy. From my observation, I think Jake is supposed to be a latch-key kid because there's really no mention of his parents and he would usually wander around the buildings unsupervised. From my personal childhood experience, this was a common thing, especially kids from improvised project housings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYUc1kLNZbTHHI-0m3z0WPC3IINsaO8FnNjQyVqqVQOD0gAknwqzBq28f0tuHF5dvWBShNcqqVddXjFjDfn3o3YSl3zOuWeR-Ab1dwnMtgacP108LcBARKz4P575bwP4bCSlnX6eK6FgatAE8GQCo5VCmbEepe-JIrW7KuGgBtBrdxdHktIpJk7i85g/s1600/candyman13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYUc1kLNZbTHHI-0m3z0WPC3IINsaO8FnNjQyVqqVQOD0gAknwqzBq28f0tuHF5dvWBShNcqqVddXjFjDfn3o3YSl3zOuWeR-Ab1dwnMtgacP108LcBARKz4P575bwP4bCSlnX6eK6FgatAE8GQCo5VCmbEepe-JIrW7KuGgBtBrdxdHktIpJk7i85g/s320/candyman13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">To squeeze in some behind-the-scenes trivia, the cast and crew nicknamed Dejaun Guy as "One-Take Jake," as he finished his takes flawlessly, which is a high-level achievement for a child actor. His performance was very believable and, not to mention, he has a natural talent for storytelling.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkNOsW3Gtvsv0ASiJmidgHVoPjC4skir_IJXumHcgF_GngAf2Bt8GFVkfl4EwOjSgy4XJo61aEn0Kyc_dNZ1ZODsbOH6ojxzgiG_jDiT7j3wA7EjPbRj68XIprrAZSZpsFtNCYul2oVVg6DNJdSKi8WhnrV8d2FM7_Pp1XzjPe-lHrWh29FTtn0tosg/s1080/Candyman_Kasi%20Lemmons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMkNOsW3Gtvsv0ASiJmidgHVoPjC4skir_IJXumHcgF_GngAf2Bt8GFVkfl4EwOjSgy4XJo61aEn0Kyc_dNZ1ZODsbOH6ojxzgiG_jDiT7j3wA7EjPbRj68XIprrAZSZpsFtNCYul2oVVg6DNJdSKi8WhnrV8d2FM7_Pp1XzjPe-lHrWh29FTtn0tosg/s320/Candyman_Kasi%20Lemmons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Bernadette Walsh played by Kasi Lemmons was only a minor character in the short story. She was no more than a temporary assistant to Helen. But Benard Rose felt that the role should be expanded, so she was rewritten as a friend of Helen's.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TNAKWcPA7ab7TJxK2a9WqnZcR0ANuA2SWjYACcMs4XP-3mkqIRGNacpzRcrrNiIYj09iPkppDGW-ntLUcbNhx9lalBzPBYHV37F0miM90je09sFXnunAfUMm2f7B9EBH28R4WKirVqwN3Ns1wUdW_B3NO0Dc-wNdruRaR6Yx29XjWqOA8IWwDh5XMw/s1600/candyman4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TNAKWcPA7ab7TJxK2a9WqnZcR0ANuA2SWjYACcMs4XP-3mkqIRGNacpzRcrrNiIYj09iPkppDGW-ntLUcbNhx9lalBzPBYHV37F0miM90je09sFXnunAfUMm2f7B9EBH28R4WKirVqwN3Ns1wUdW_B3NO0Dc-wNdruRaR6Yx29XjWqOA8IWwDh5XMw/s320/candyman4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The chemistry between Virginia Madsen and Kasi Lemmons seemed genuine and they're actually believable as friends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFIAVf3-h4HpX4_SyQuTcz04z_PgVPJsxA2cDbFm_Qkd6I2oPIgtxr4B_24UrSfvZlVUR1YHnek5mOkeDkuQtF5odFtetyxg7-4mfSoOqJvrmMPnsqlAlyAUP_Oypu0LVUSc_rhGU9-QY7ySHBM4k6ekaom-WgmUORoNDxg1Ef_ZYyZuj1sooxy9rFA/s480/3640228-candyman4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFIAVf3-h4HpX4_SyQuTcz04z_PgVPJsxA2cDbFm_Qkd6I2oPIgtxr4B_24UrSfvZlVUR1YHnek5mOkeDkuQtF5odFtetyxg7-4mfSoOqJvrmMPnsqlAlyAUP_Oypu0LVUSc_rhGU9-QY7ySHBM4k6ekaom-WgmUORoNDxg1Ef_ZYyZuj1sooxy9rFA/s320/3640228-candyman4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgW_r7Z30AGXlW0UNW00Lw7AXzkyhNobnHZu5sIErLY8Tx3MG1BXOqE5dFW8c5NmBPTlbMPXLvMh8UbFtW0eGcXmUAwNFQFlhcrhllFtCsePWzTB6zEQhjNGiaBPIDpTZitSuYRtlftsZfrbq2qsTOT_H47RYrhypvWZA-HK8vEMDIVTedWIsDmSaiw/s2870/Candyman-Cast-1992-Kasi-Lemmons-Bernie-Walsh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1532" data-original-width="2870" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgW_r7Z30AGXlW0UNW00Lw7AXzkyhNobnHZu5sIErLY8Tx3MG1BXOqE5dFW8c5NmBPTlbMPXLvMh8UbFtW0eGcXmUAwNFQFlhcrhllFtCsePWzTB6zEQhjNGiaBPIDpTZitSuYRtlftsZfrbq2qsTOT_H47RYrhypvWZA-HK8vEMDIVTedWIsDmSaiw/s320/Candyman-Cast-1992-Kasi-Lemmons-Bernie-Walsh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Kasi, in particular, gave such a natural and relatable performance that you actually feel sad when Candyman brutally guts her.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNhFlBZxfsevt6_RRH26F0otB5PD-e_x3gqfrh7GPjq56cOXdzW_jMdl0L6emJjtgO0HWQVo3gvhcZpcXfBSZ1E4r56_auqKOkLy5Wd2Ni6vFW4BFIT4oQyxAYERyd3dGpYDm03_2Vur5mipi1UMCn3DsdEsam2WHoPnlGVdJxUlhCof8NyfkA0DQ_Q/s1200/Helen%20and%20Trevor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1095" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsNhFlBZxfsevt6_RRH26F0otB5PD-e_x3gqfrh7GPjq56cOXdzW_jMdl0L6emJjtgO0HWQVo3gvhcZpcXfBSZ1E4r56_auqKOkLy5Wd2Ni6vFW4BFIT4oQyxAYERyd3dGpYDm03_2Vur5mipi1UMCn3DsdEsam2WHoPnlGVdJxUlhCof8NyfkA0DQ_Q/s320/Helen%20and%20Trevor.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br /><p>Lastly, we have Helen's two-timing husband Trevor played by Xander Berkely. There's not really much to elaborate on Trevor in the short story, he's cold and distant for the most part but I think he's way worse in the film version.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxhIGujBa0pdOWT0d3Wf9D438AN4KeZIMT4kyUQx6UA-I8IV7ZXf3OfJjkH4dNAcObDMxefnjj_qDoQ1UF6lS6KhSu0sghx6LpOPur6Pbgq9-3OaSoXEhTnjuuZosaObU9_HWv8d3Uo051vrTuqAAmwJErbFQ9P_V2b6OQXsLUboHgGm9zP4k0z5p7g/s320/Trevor%20caught%20cheating.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxhIGujBa0pdOWT0d3Wf9D438AN4KeZIMT4kyUQx6UA-I8IV7ZXf3OfJjkH4dNAcObDMxefnjj_qDoQ1UF6lS6KhSu0sghx6LpOPur6Pbgq9-3OaSoXEhTnjuuZosaObU9_HWv8d3Uo051vrTuqAAmwJErbFQ9P_V2b6OQXsLUboHgGm9zP4k0z5p7g/s1600/Trevor%20caught%20cheating.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>How I would describe Trevor is that he is a total snake. He tries to come off as this concerned, caring husband but, in actuality, he's screwing his wife over in terms of marriage and career. I do have at least <i>one</i> positive thing to say about him, though. I thought the filmmakers did a good job at making him realistic. He could've easily been a major asshole, which he is, but he doesn't act accordingly. It's a fairly subtle characterization. Thankfully, Trevor gets the comeuppance he deserves...more on that later.</p><p>Now it has come to this, the eponymous boogeyman himself...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrit4ADICtlj0K3f2r5SS1N6xK0lhi-eZ6OqC3tw3gvvVDSkrqYScSVB4pNW5upQcORUwW0ARw2qNKmavW7BzQfdMeB5_1GtrmhwT2wV-4zY8qafb_d1FZJQmylugIvywGdAvgifvF1B3XdTcyx-HBmEvLy3lsm195GB3zeXxs2dqbF5lAQIPTunlUg/s900/tony-todd-as-candyman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="900" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrit4ADICtlj0K3f2r5SS1N6xK0lhi-eZ6OqC3tw3gvvVDSkrqYScSVB4pNW5upQcORUwW0ARw2qNKmavW7BzQfdMeB5_1GtrmhwT2wV-4zY8qafb_d1FZJQmylugIvywGdAvgifvF1B3XdTcyx-HBmEvLy3lsm195GB3zeXxs2dqbF5lAQIPTunlUg/s320/tony-todd-as-candyman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Candyman aka Daniel Robitaille.</div><p>For those of you who don't know, Tony Todd wasn't the first choice to play Candyman.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8e5SSa3eFNZp_YuLXu1dAa_udoX8CV7EUP4haxJgKKURK_b9TAa-4rhGp7OX7aEmcqqCC5oMki-RyDRDDGFiLrTRjLM0f2lkgnaI4azkCWasTTpFXSwL_3jIIeBJaxlG8PG8KjeLTe_zNYN4AWdX4XVdf-4tsM3YV-mMjZnfzhUwAIXlIGRsFftQyvQ/s625/eddie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8e5SSa3eFNZp_YuLXu1dAa_udoX8CV7EUP4haxJgKKURK_b9TAa-4rhGp7OX7aEmcqqCC5oMki-RyDRDDGFiLrTRjLM0f2lkgnaI4azkCWasTTpFXSwL_3jIIeBJaxlG8PG8KjeLTe_zNYN4AWdX4XVdf-4tsM3YV-mMjZnfzhUwAIXlIGRsFftQyvQ/s320/eddie.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Eddie Murphy, of all people, was considered for the role. Just imagine him with a hook in this picture. Pretty cosmic, right? Maybe in a couple of years, Eddie Murphy might be good in this, because, to be honest with you, he scared the shit of me when I watched <i>Vampire in Brooklyn</i> as a kid. But Eddie was known for his comedies at the time plus he was too expensive for the studio. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH2Q1CHANCxid4PezMYeGt-gynAnaPwsDGRi4vq7H1caJm5X9SvOrepdtQ8YwRNExzVl81Mbjc3Ng975LtKu0wwnbqGmg21Zxn8Mb5lV15_isrZKDzQTuf4-d4U68q2uwFsAcruicWxVYGweauVNaBcD3CjlzEr-pecbx0RqkczgoCOsnl96WIASlLw/s2380/Screen-Shot-2018-09-24-at-11.22.51-AM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1190" data-original-width="2380" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH2Q1CHANCxid4PezMYeGt-gynAnaPwsDGRi4vq7H1caJm5X9SvOrepdtQ8YwRNExzVl81Mbjc3Ng975LtKu0wwnbqGmg21Zxn8Mb5lV15_isrZKDzQTuf4-d4U68q2uwFsAcruicWxVYGweauVNaBcD3CjlzEr-pecbx0RqkczgoCOsnl96WIASlLw/s320/Screen-Shot-2018-09-24-at-11.22.51-AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And here comes...lo and behold, Tony Todd. I just can't imagine any other actor playing this role. Tony Todd <b>embodies </b>this character from head to toe. However, The Candyman's appearance in the short story is vastly different. He is described as a scruffy man with a stringy beard and yellow skin with an aura of "sweet honey". To keep the mystery of the character, The Candyman is given no backstory. Therefore, in the film version, it was Tony Todd's idea to add more lure to the Candyman mythos. Speaking of which, we'll jump into that.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09hUGpfcPu17f0FNoE9ioN18V3RwstIKIggp2J-Vaw_P4zg1RmwjSqi4uatejfRMVTUd69haoBioT0VOKNLsWHFM_UN310RZoal_tRbw0B_5c9tlsMw-TrdiR_PoyPdeaTM2ms-zYsNsbBVWoLiGnmfcTe6Bq-YZFsi3k1levARAAphGNfKKOyka-9g/s1574/MV5BNWYzOWE1NTEtYjM4Ni00OTM3LWIwNGQtYjE0MTA3MDU3NWZlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyNDk2ODc@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="939" data-original-width="1574" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09hUGpfcPu17f0FNoE9ioN18V3RwstIKIggp2J-Vaw_P4zg1RmwjSqi4uatejfRMVTUd69haoBioT0VOKNLsWHFM_UN310RZoal_tRbw0B_5c9tlsMw-TrdiR_PoyPdeaTM2ms-zYsNsbBVWoLiGnmfcTe6Bq-YZFsi3k1levARAAphGNfKKOyka-9g/s320/MV5BNWYzOWE1NTEtYjM4Ni00OTM3LWIwNGQtYjE0MTA3MDU3NWZlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjUyNDk2ODc@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Now, most people would often get this wrong. Daniel Robitaille was NOT a slave. He was a <b>son </b>of a slave. You see, Candyman's backstory is similar to many of the black influencers at the time like Fredrick Douglas, Madame C.J. Walker, and George Washington Carver. Soon, Daniel went to the finest private schools, eventually gaining prominence as an inventor and a painter. At the peak of his success, Daniel suddenly fell in love. While painting a portrait for a landowner's daughter, Caroline Sullivan, Daniel is enraptured by her beauty. They begin to have an affair, which produces an unborn child. When Caroline's father hears word of this, he is <i>pissed </i>and sends out a lynch mob to maim Daniel. The tragic part of Daniel's backstory is that this once respected and successful black man is treated less like a human being and more like a wounded deer hunted by its prey. This is all because he fell in love with a woman of a different race. </div><div>Daniel, now known as Candyman, has held his power over Chicago ever since. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjyqea2Kp8yjV77DsQJn6PoKta6VeamWvqw9oT2Y5GNZEgv7hx2oao49eMZLVoX96ewVlubphMVqVQ39D4idP9T1Ceo1-nZNc9E9I-rzI1z7xzm2Z37aWsRmZEzZw9o-97wdInkTD_BAvjW0ZC7rlWbGAYAf0kIV4Q-qvtiwjc2DL662tiWC94HEvWA/s480/tony-todd-candyman-1552322256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjyqea2Kp8yjV77DsQJn6PoKta6VeamWvqw9oT2Y5GNZEgv7hx2oao49eMZLVoX96ewVlubphMVqVQ39D4idP9T1Ceo1-nZNc9E9I-rzI1z7xzm2Z37aWsRmZEzZw9o-97wdInkTD_BAvjW0ZC7rlWbGAYAf0kIV4Q-qvtiwjc2DL662tiWC94HEvWA/s320/tony-todd-candyman-1552322256.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When it comes to Candyman's appearance, most people would often compare him to a pimp from an exploration movie. But I think the fur coat is supposed to symbolize Candyman's territory over Chicago. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z-08Z1tWs_VDFxhkMIhI5NpECT-s4gmnjLj25sXozAVQSyQyXTwxuwxEpu1MiB-HKH10SEx-nzlyzDJuP4a9x5NAXWklfomQFHLPOLk44WcEozCahbdMCNQGVyiEJljS00oFzQYMUS-BbVsrBmYSZu3i4pPj3ZAe5XxMQT1SvByKeFrpQTkxeBb9fg/s475/mancandy11.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="475" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2z-08Z1tWs_VDFxhkMIhI5NpECT-s4gmnjLj25sXozAVQSyQyXTwxuwxEpu1MiB-HKH10SEx-nzlyzDJuP4a9x5NAXWklfomQFHLPOLk44WcEozCahbdMCNQGVyiEJljS00oFzQYMUS-BbVsrBmYSZu3i4pPj3ZAe5XxMQT1SvByKeFrpQTkxeBb9fg/s320/mancandy11.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I think what really pushed him over the edge is when one of the townspeople cut off his hand, his <i>artist's</i> hand, in which he now uses as his <i>killing</i> hand, the hook of vengeance.</div><div>However, Candyman's main motive is to reclaim the family that he's lost long ago. This desire will come to fruition in the climax.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81_ujayF4yZe0BQqjoX0aLvI6E72M5b3CwurhsLSLjMIQOla_AGzumraeEgsxp1fd0rXzlGixYr7rQLKNkMUrxwCGdFnlZNVqfd4i91QXXwRhFMxeH2uHtgo-1CEcPiXO0ThfThtlrhIAjI9_NeFCxamcAd66sm-QbEE7vDhsAiaI5-_OoF58yDs91w/s700/candyman-3-700x388.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="700" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81_ujayF4yZe0BQqjoX0aLvI6E72M5b3CwurhsLSLjMIQOla_AGzumraeEgsxp1fd0rXzlGixYr7rQLKNkMUrxwCGdFnlZNVqfd4i91QXXwRhFMxeH2uHtgo-1CEcPiXO0ThfThtlrhIAjI9_NeFCxamcAd66sm-QbEE7vDhsAiaI5-_OoF58yDs91w/s320/candyman-3-700x388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Before I continue, I want to squeeze in an important and frustrating trivia fact. In the scene where Candyman enchants Helen when she confronts him in his lair, there was supposed to be an interracial kiss between them. But somehow one of the executives thought it was "too controversial." Okay, let me reiterate this. Candyman's backstory is about him literally falling in love with a white woman. Let me remind you, this is decades after the <i>Star Trek </i>episode, "Plato's Stepchildren", which features an interracial kiss between William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols. And not only that, there's the movie <i>Jungle Fever</i>, which featured love scenes between a black man and a white woman. Yet and still, an interracial kiss was still considered taboo to these people in the early 90s. Really? Make it make sense.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGvsIG_Vy2EbhufY0gWbYa8-b5emqIcPEq3RByr-h1gxVDs3vTuc7PneV6GD7hRzxdTVvHGIigWHot6u7_U3coi6N-GKBfUjBZheetMqeBh2XUh0Y3j_NTBKjXVgZtlicamJjkDxZMS1hu3qDUiTSIGHvrJK6rJ9vdp3RqEC_TcEODaEQfYsF_Yiu6g/s1500/Tony-Todd-as-Candyman-in-Candyman-1992.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="1500" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGvsIG_Vy2EbhufY0gWbYa8-b5emqIcPEq3RByr-h1gxVDs3vTuc7PneV6GD7hRzxdTVvHGIigWHot6u7_U3coi6N-GKBfUjBZheetMqeBh2XUh0Y3j_NTBKjXVgZtlicamJjkDxZMS1hu3qDUiTSIGHvrJK6rJ9vdp3RqEC_TcEODaEQfYsF_Yiu6g/s320/Tony-Todd-as-Candyman-in-Candyman-1992.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Anywho, this instead leads us to one of the grossest moments of the film when Candyman reveals what's <b>really</b> inside his fur coat.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedUk3jJ_NPLi1vtR2icf07flD63HloZDehHeEftj-nROHPpfdZmNNK_QR4CAFAhDmbqgBKP-dV8asF5fetLQMf-p6PQZgtkQBK60iSqePTzm_TZruG93AiQbA-jUyXlquu_4RWPDdeH7TKXiKBySXnEN40lzr_0t9FW9T66FKBIHYP6egARYdL6SRXg/s700/helen-and-candyman-700x525.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedUk3jJ_NPLi1vtR2icf07flD63HloZDehHeEftj-nROHPpfdZmNNK_QR4CAFAhDmbqgBKP-dV8asF5fetLQMf-p6PQZgtkQBK60iSqePTzm_TZruG93AiQbA-jUyXlquu_4RWPDdeH7TKXiKBySXnEN40lzr_0t9FW9T66FKBIHYP6egARYdL6SRXg/s320/helen-and-candyman-700x525.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJQoPVCw3NhEeiMpBv82Awu3CQX231g-uqV8-12AdvZGcejAIpW7gPO7IbsPJ5vmT3XqrKt8Qg81TmYs_zTVLAL4CFm-ZEjZDb3evBTulo5PgoFk3oVDVI_PPgoMTRpQy1NNSur9SZci8OqZJjKXNi4A7diARaOMZWq8W-sbsWrXPlv1-Ec0M-6Znxw/s1280/Candyman_Bees.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJQoPVCw3NhEeiMpBv82Awu3CQX231g-uqV8-12AdvZGcejAIpW7gPO7IbsPJ5vmT3XqrKt8Qg81TmYs_zTVLAL4CFm-ZEjZDb3evBTulo5PgoFk3oVDVI_PPgoMTRpQy1NNSur9SZci8OqZJjKXNi4A7diARaOMZWq8W-sbsWrXPlv1-Ec0M-6Znxw/s320/Candyman_Bees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>They used actual bees for this scene and it's truly remarkable. Plus, Tony Todd was able to hold copious amount of <b>real</b> bees in his mouth. What a trooper!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV78QqPxUMDgYA7k-qn58e8vV00myN9DOssmtZ9N9oQY04kv6qIGSikYF1fCmQK8lmczJH-nGwi-KfL2YyRW_ZzjOeJSHzRDVOBpj_qM9IT-N1gxR3dXipDuPguvt5dL4-y60hrOD0j83T-X23o-qmMmogN4hXiAqhS9FGuBykbq5YCOT3eMozZ9fOAA/s328/Candyman_Tony_Todd.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="328" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV78QqPxUMDgYA7k-qn58e8vV00myN9DOssmtZ9N9oQY04kv6qIGSikYF1fCmQK8lmczJH-nGwi-KfL2YyRW_ZzjOeJSHzRDVOBpj_qM9IT-N1gxR3dXipDuPguvt5dL4-y60hrOD0j83T-X23o-qmMmogN4hXiAqhS9FGuBykbq5YCOT3eMozZ9fOAA/s320/Candyman_Tony_Todd.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Speaking of, let's get to the one and only, Tony Todd. His portrayal of Candyman is unforgettable, eluding this tragic Shakespearian flair to the character. He brings in a certain softness and brutality to his performance, channeling Candyman's complex morality. From his tall, opposing appearance, deep, ethereal voice, and delicate but dangerous grace, Tony Todd was made for this role and he is the sole reason why Candyman is so iconic.</div><div>The visuals in this movie are out of this world! it's sort of like a mix of Giallo with a side dish of David Lynch surrealism.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuXsbQgoIUsf5Z9jO_Oe97BXrJ4VE8A0CbLIrVMqwgDmM1zvuFF1-4pJ74KA_4eWtwrBv4jlJBhdUNTLbjlTuWCDvJYIUbiA6gMAR-4hDnLTiAVYKb_1HObKZw_vTFjNcOuU3ZYSt3lbp5QXJ5siQpxg_cFa97niJZRO2OJ9vtFqIyaVMNlcdnvj4AA/s2048/MV5BMTMyNzc4NTQ0OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjE0NTgwMw@@._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="2048" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuXsbQgoIUsf5Z9jO_Oe97BXrJ4VE8A0CbLIrVMqwgDmM1zvuFF1-4pJ74KA_4eWtwrBv4jlJBhdUNTLbjlTuWCDvJYIUbiA6gMAR-4hDnLTiAVYKb_1HObKZw_vTFjNcOuU3ZYSt3lbp5QXJ5siQpxg_cFa97niJZRO2OJ9vtFqIyaVMNlcdnvj4AA/s320/MV5BMTMyNzc4NTQ0OV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjE0NTgwMw@@._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I have heard of Benard Rose when he directed the criminally underrated 1988 film <i>Paperhouse</i>. He has a very distinct eye, balancing the worlds between reality and dream logic. He definitely brought in this creepy, foreboding feel to the urban setting of Chicago. The artistic touches of dread and gothic intrigue poured into the improvised slums of Cabrini Green where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Now there are at least three scenes that stuck out to me:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYujBp_Ow3YZ2ouTWPtOKevT72RdDkvCAcVXow0Sy4kqK13_RGyug6vqiE84bdcL58XOXQWkF5bQlkPfopxuO4g0g7Lvj7Q-LW5tIsO-4fMi_SwvEyYjs8CZi1LF5tvWlk2VQEBsv29b5YmShgUSk1SLnsFCmDET8SLytnMjN0iwTobRfv3K-72lfXDA/s1080/candyman-still-titlecard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="1080" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYujBp_Ow3YZ2ouTWPtOKevT72RdDkvCAcVXow0Sy4kqK13_RGyug6vqiE84bdcL58XOXQWkF5bQlkPfopxuO4g0g7Lvj7Q-LW5tIsO-4fMi_SwvEyYjs8CZi1LF5tvWlk2VQEBsv29b5YmShgUSk1SLnsFCmDET8SLytnMjN0iwTobRfv3K-72lfXDA/s320/candyman-still-titlecard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>There is the amazing opening title sequence with a bird's eye view of the streets of Chicago as the fantastical operatic instrumental chorus of Phillip Glass' "Music Box" plays bombastically.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhbxxG5UEuK-4VZF1DMbFf73qGxiTk8ipgeOVVrEsZOVlKkz8SZg8GjRQuj_c6_yhrCLPgjzF1g0M2rDgeJqCgPTeJJRcnKj_zCKkvUFTznG3Jx1osUOxwmAMKNNnfflz8Kupk1GX86k4fInqD_oTOcWmItnw916DJQGRshSLEP4v9RwQ5DXRUHMgQ/s870/candyman-still-overlay-0-870-0-0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="870" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhbxxG5UEuK-4VZF1DMbFf73qGxiTk8ipgeOVVrEsZOVlKkz8SZg8GjRQuj_c6_yhrCLPgjzF1g0M2rDgeJqCgPTeJJRcnKj_zCKkvUFTznG3Jx1osUOxwmAMKNNnfflz8Kupk1GX86k4fInqD_oTOcWmItnw916DJQGRshSLEP4v9RwQ5DXRUHMgQ/s320/candyman-still-overlay-0-870-0-0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>This is followed by Candyman's narration with a swarm of bees invading the city of Chicago. Perfect, perfect, perfect. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmjW4qsBz1GkL746A4zvbBIcDsc2YlNbU1udWQLrsjd1dFTm0sxxj2gr4jSKJM4KgbdQjBRlbpzepIkRuV4G0qB_2t898JuaF5NQ4nrUMfDaxszeYzx0ZiZ-eHpPn-od1wvB5sobZQ-tKpRFNiKsavKjyK37V88fL6flnchvNVgKYAfLoDpI4IMRFvQ/s740/Candyman-toilet.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="740" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmjW4qsBz1GkL746A4zvbBIcDsc2YlNbU1udWQLrsjd1dFTm0sxxj2gr4jSKJM4KgbdQjBRlbpzepIkRuV4G0qB_2t898JuaF5NQ4nrUMfDaxszeYzx0ZiZ-eHpPn-od1wvB5sobZQ-tKpRFNiKsavKjyK37V88fL6flnchvNVgKYAfLoDpI4IMRFvQ/s320/Candyman-toilet.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The second scene is a really disturbing one in my opinion. While wandering around the cavernous surroundings of Cabrini Green, Jake tells Helen the story about a mentally challenged kid who supposedly got attacked by Candyman in the bathroom. In the short story, this was told by two elderly women and the victim in question was a 20-year-old man. But Benard Rose decided to de-age the character to give the scene more of an emotional punch. The image of the blood trailing down from the toilet while the boy is screaming in pain sent chills down my spine. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGrP4EQlUKWCpH87jAUn9SS0Zmok0OrBY9T6yMetM6GllG6PARUksJpLW5raIXQDL2hQOfK--WZfcuUep0TPYxBefw0NR02Qr0vxB9zCW5Zmft84Az6Jk35-0TFythQ5x5gUeMc-iBGMXAEXlGHyxHvuwNu_Bo0G8TySzUy7KAqvFeRDQSfeaiqbbXA/s491/IwUP.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="491" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGrP4EQlUKWCpH87jAUn9SS0Zmok0OrBY9T6yMetM6GllG6PARUksJpLW5raIXQDL2hQOfK--WZfcuUep0TPYxBefw0NR02Qr0vxB9zCW5Zmft84Az6Jk35-0TFythQ5x5gUeMc-iBGMXAEXlGHyxHvuwNu_Bo0G8TySzUy7KAqvFeRDQSfeaiqbbXA/s320/IwUP.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The third scene is when Helen gets arrested. The flashing police lights give off this sort of disorienting effect while Helen is dazed and confused. This symbolizes Helen's world crumbling before her eyes to which Candyman takes over her subconscious state. I swear Benard Rose is an underrated genius!</div><div>The violence in this movie goes <b>hard</b>. There is a whole lot of bloodletting, let me tell ya. Just like in <i>Hellraiser</i>, The movie has this way of making you <i>feel</i> the pain. As you hear the sound of Candyman's hook ripping into someone's organs, it's the stuff of nightmares.</div><div>The film's soundtrack produced by legendary film composer Phillip Glass is by far one of the best horror soundtracks of all time. From "Music Box" to "Helen's Theme," the instrumentals are haunting yet beautiful. Take a listen and hear for yourself:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D4_NI5x_gcE" width="320" youtube-src-id="D4_NI5x_gcE"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div>Bernard Rose's ultimate goal for the film was to telegraph the social commentary. More specifically in the short story, the main crust of the social commentary came from the classism of 1980s UK. But since racial issues were becoming more prevalent around the time Candyman was being developed, Benard Rose decided to incorporate these topical issues into the finished film. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64fHWkEomMpynpfzilDlE-FgMKsnLt3IpF3ymx5YCWL5CbGlxd57Iz_D9F_unaEqfX4w7E5OSLyFKWZSGBNY3MaN3TbFRuDMz8c616gC0wYb0VYMovNqCSk8XzlO4sfEv-EwNK2elJz4QldoJaGoLMe7gQQos8Ki2F7XdXHk_AUNUWf6ferAnCuoqjQ/s1500/CANDYMAN%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh64fHWkEomMpynpfzilDlE-FgMKsnLt3IpF3ymx5YCWL5CbGlxd57Iz_D9F_unaEqfX4w7E5OSLyFKWZSGBNY3MaN3TbFRuDMz8c616gC0wYb0VYMovNqCSk8XzlO4sfEv-EwNK2elJz4QldoJaGoLMe7gQQos8Ki2F7XdXHk_AUNUWf6ferAnCuoqjQ/s320/CANDYMAN%20(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But it was the real-life case of Ruthie Jean that really piqued Rose's interest. Just like in the movie, she was killed through the mirror by unknown robbers. Her case is yet to be unsolved. So Rose added this element to the film's message as crimes against black women and women of color gets sadly ignored to this day. </div><div>Benard Rose handled the subject matter with subtly and nuance, which is why most horror fans see Candyman as a landmark in Black Horror Cinema. </div><div>Last but not least, let's discuss the exceptional screenplay written by Benard Rose himself. As a way to expand on the short story, Rose found new and inventive ways to drive the film forward. The continuation of the second and third acts is like a grand operatic tragedy. It really gets you enthralled into the meat of the film. Rose added additional subplots such as Trevor's Affair and The Framing of Helen. </div><div> For Trevor's Affair, it starts with one of Trevor's students making razor-sharp glances at Helen, which indicates that he's less than faithful. This all accumulates to Helen finding out about the affair in the midst of her despair. With baby Anthony missing, the stakes are raised and the tension is rising for the baby to be found alive. This turns Helen into a much more proactive character with a clear goal. These additional subplots add more suspense and heightens the horror as well as the drama. Bernard Rose's writing is just...perfect. I can't say it any other way. The screenplay goes above and beyond in terms of a faithful adaptation.</div><div>Now let's talk about the ending. I think I've already spoiled half of the movie, so there's no need for a warning. </div><div><i>The Forbidden</i> ended on a rather downbeat note. Helen failed to save the baby and gets trapped in the burning heap, becoming one of Candyman's latest victims. Though there is mention that Helen might haunt Trevor in the afterlife. </div><div>The film version, on the other hand, ends on a bittersweet note.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPayCW2wkzngk_tqIpnU5uxGVjioKwkClg9Fq7E2T7W9nDso8aozFxFw-h3Vsz6HdGWCvuwE2TIDxRk_WjfNN9Fhi2U_-yFr5d_fQwaV0NzmAgw_1M8uq4tQTFdULqo-n53rlaO5WFc51OF7kLddklNb9mK1x9rCqVwS1sYKv8UKR1ns6vgsF35mgeSw/s940/Screen-Shot-2019-12-15-at-11.27.28-PM.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="483" data-original-width="940" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPayCW2wkzngk_tqIpnU5uxGVjioKwkClg9Fq7E2T7W9nDso8aozFxFw-h3Vsz6HdGWCvuwE2TIDxRk_WjfNN9Fhi2U_-yFr5d_fQwaV0NzmAgw_1M8uq4tQTFdULqo-n53rlaO5WFc51OF7kLddklNb9mK1x9rCqVwS1sYKv8UKR1ns6vgsF35mgeSw/s320/Screen-Shot-2019-12-15-at-11.27.28-PM.webp" width="320" /></a></div>When Helen tries to rescue baby Anthony from the pile heap, Candyman grabs her from behind while the Cabrini Green residents prepare for the bonfire.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vY1_cKXnxAggjqa6tp4o2IbMDyDDKS940l3Eusewgva2OAtQey1l2jsR8URqKHQnqR6HVZe2Rol8noe1uVnBnHN1GW1flQuuRZKBIGhh68_oRUvz6yoAzREHrHBN4NFPH4lX_yjhRU4MQim0W3E5ARgOeoGMVY8Fxi6WlDchUOTgi4O7yeeutzFzIA/s1800/candyman%20bonfire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vY1_cKXnxAggjqa6tp4o2IbMDyDDKS940l3Eusewgva2OAtQey1l2jsR8URqKHQnqR6HVZe2Rol8noe1uVnBnHN1GW1flQuuRZKBIGhh68_oRUvz6yoAzREHrHBN4NFPH4lX_yjhRU4MQim0W3E5ARgOeoGMVY8Fxi6WlDchUOTgi4O7yeeutzFzIA/s320/candyman%20bonfire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>As the fire erupts, Helen breaks free from Candyman's grip and stabs him with a burning stake. Candyman pleads for Helen to come back but she takes the baby, barely struggling to escape the burning pile heap. The Cabrini Green residents notice Helen crawling out from the heap, her hair, and dress torched in flames.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-lUq618oX8DQP2CQ7MHZT0D6G5UrPWho_sviVMHxfCj87w05q3kasu_ggi06WcwwJ65DYNzJkbtbm7BRowqLkbYcAGkR3PpoQ2MX0c7Z_OPkqJfKWVECzppQ3KETW0EyYXLH64WBlPL5CMJcuLALiPwSkVovZYJ-6D1QuF8LvkxSnc5qEYJcTW7CqA/s614/Helen%20saves%20the%20baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="614" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-lUq618oX8DQP2CQ7MHZT0D6G5UrPWho_sviVMHxfCj87w05q3kasu_ggi06WcwwJ65DYNzJkbtbm7BRowqLkbYcAGkR3PpoQ2MX0c7Z_OPkqJfKWVECzppQ3KETW0EyYXLH64WBlPL5CMJcuLALiPwSkVovZYJ-6D1QuF8LvkxSnc5qEYJcTW7CqA/s320/Helen%20saves%20the%20baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>When they pull her out of the fire, with every last bit of her strength, Helen gives baby Anthony to Anne-Marie.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX9cStiGHBlyKP7UM6ec2btWKXvNGXHw5bV1VfL_BuzaX-YdxMefTcq_SsSTzCz6-RpVi4sw9EWKqEgyBIEavKoENVZEaH6kgSqyow4ebBsauhI3roTL2z0qW9vi1PsAjT01JBaO8frYQx0cEzPdQ4fRVVYzC2omYriyov2ytRmo8ED1e15q-PZKtLg/s500/MV5BNjNjY2VhMmQtMjI2Zi00OGJkLTgyZGItNWU0YTU1M2Y2MjUxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzU1NzE3NTg@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,59,500,281_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiX9cStiGHBlyKP7UM6ec2btWKXvNGXHw5bV1VfL_BuzaX-YdxMefTcq_SsSTzCz6-RpVi4sw9EWKqEgyBIEavKoENVZEaH6kgSqyow4ebBsauhI3roTL2z0qW9vi1PsAjT01JBaO8frYQx0cEzPdQ4fRVVYzC2omYriyov2ytRmo8ED1e15q-PZKtLg/s320/MV5BNjNjY2VhMmQtMjI2Zi00OGJkLTgyZGItNWU0YTU1M2Y2MjUxXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzU1NzE3NTg@._V1_QL75_UX500_CR0,59,500,281_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Candyman's body is completely demolished, his energy source bursting into the night sky. Although baby Anthony is saved, Helen succumbs to her wounds...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqK8GRD10bpxQ5WKE8ZYxYDTP1y_W1OGM_7L3Q2CXPko1l_hwwW-Z6GIpRmKi_QnucSFe4QNcy8OsofjyrIQYy_iSR7TlUQOJB7b2XbRYy51qWitQ_t5Eifn6Slz811MBVPZulu8HCfjUr2R6JuJYgZtbh-kbblTPPBV9ysYJmAKHyLn4w-Pk8h5mGw/s1280/Trevor%20and%20his%20mistress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="696" data-original-width="1280" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqK8GRD10bpxQ5WKE8ZYxYDTP1y_W1OGM_7L3Q2CXPko1l_hwwW-Z6GIpRmKi_QnucSFe4QNcy8OsofjyrIQYy_iSR7TlUQOJB7b2XbRYy51qWitQ_t5Eifn6Slz811MBVPZulu8HCfjUr2R6JuJYgZtbh-kbblTPPBV9ysYJmAKHyLn4w-Pk8h5mGw/s320/Trevor%20and%20his%20mistress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">On the day of Helen's funeral, Trevor has the gall to invite his lovely, young mistress along with the smarmy Phillip Purcell to join him at his side. Hmm.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT46A99VB3mPRpAEiae0kP12O-y2-0Rbdchoh6fDUG43kQnJCzIVmh_oe4xIn87ZAKzme1MtKbEGovVeiljgagOSaefzMSOUNBEqJhE0IFGd5_Q3RLEmBNUWrCEb99dPgtx-UbmeT1GvvQDZ8-EjOxxm93kv_E8JOWhDMGwDdZH7bk7t7DjJep0DrrxA/s700/Candyman-1992-Vanessa-Williams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="700" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT46A99VB3mPRpAEiae0kP12O-y2-0Rbdchoh6fDUG43kQnJCzIVmh_oe4xIn87ZAKzme1MtKbEGovVeiljgagOSaefzMSOUNBEqJhE0IFGd5_Q3RLEmBNUWrCEb99dPgtx-UbmeT1GvvQDZ8-EjOxxm93kv_E8JOWhDMGwDdZH7bk7t7DjJep0DrrxA/s320/Candyman-1992-Vanessa-Williams.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But on the bright side, in what I think is the most powerful scene in film, Anne-Marie, Jake, and the other Cabrini Green residents arrive at the funeral to honor their fallen heroine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI4KnXaA4hpss74YBewpT5vrvad6aJRcgDlPidwCYMPDjlsZsCu7dJzhDn7I-lXFlz11A1yVm_kDVkL9-raCc8i6u7dWC1iI809o2NgfWmToezJoybEaIRHW0ctGbsOlbbIYzux5QQ-05d1jm74FDlC6DNxIL6Y_8RLv0aOzUu5xuD8VOhzEYt00Zpg/s1200/44f690be733843a38e2ade360579ae66_xl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI4KnXaA4hpss74YBewpT5vrvad6aJRcgDlPidwCYMPDjlsZsCu7dJzhDn7I-lXFlz11A1yVm_kDVkL9-raCc8i6u7dWC1iI809o2NgfWmToezJoybEaIRHW0ctGbsOlbbIYzux5QQ-05d1jm74FDlC6DNxIL6Y_8RLv0aOzUu5xuD8VOhzEYt00Zpg/s320/44f690be733843a38e2ade360579ae66_xl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ectts0E_7ZwosFQfrfbzVrdJ-58yhSDIIvpaLu_QhZ88jwiGQmZVBz8Ns3lE3Zf2jd0JZwJC4tpGqDuxjqgLHdoHCEl2GOcLlTeRs9ZGFYjNaZD4Zoib62dY2Pmp4jjZzI1pZqhbnFw6Jq9O79Fod7UboezhdS5KTYKmq97KsWOdn1sJbf8vqA9kKg/s250/HelenLyle08.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="250" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Ectts0E_7ZwosFQfrfbzVrdJ-58yhSDIIvpaLu_QhZ88jwiGQmZVBz8Ns3lE3Zf2jd0JZwJC4tpGqDuxjqgLHdoHCEl2GOcLlTeRs9ZGFYjNaZD4Zoib62dY2Pmp4jjZzI1pZqhbnFw6Jq9O79Fod7UboezhdS5KTYKmq97KsWOdn1sJbf8vqA9kKg/s1600/HelenLyle08.webp" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV-UaAsV6ms8inBRTrjtWU_hpj-CguMmSIBHsGApaSRXMEQlAN_ZSIXmBnjoC63hpWcm84Msr6OM2m5UJlkE1j_l0JGmVdCsYEJ4rQzn8UTwZ-tvNfyYRIBb5UG4oITX9sTf9Mx2e5Qi8AeRV9ZjWA65TXVZJdafh7hdGmQppX71_Mpcf4Oj0PYnVhQ/s736/c4e1aff7d4cdaa8e21c4cd9686e3d4f8--funeral-humor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="736" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlV-UaAsV6ms8inBRTrjtWU_hpj-CguMmSIBHsGApaSRXMEQlAN_ZSIXmBnjoC63hpWcm84Msr6OM2m5UJlkE1j_l0JGmVdCsYEJ4rQzn8UTwZ-tvNfyYRIBb5UG4oITX9sTf9Mx2e5Qi8AeRV9ZjWA65TXVZJdafh7hdGmQppX71_Mpcf4Oj0PYnVhQ/s320/c4e1aff7d4cdaa8e21c4cd9686e3d4f8--funeral-humor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As gratitude, Jake drops Candyman's hook into Helen's casket...<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some weeks later, Trevor is still grieving over his wife's death. You care now, asshole? Yeah, sure. Meanwhile, his darling mistress is playing the role of housewife and she doesn't seem happy about it. </div><div style="text-align: left;">As Trevor clicks off the light in the bathroom, he chants Helen's name to the mirror five times....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwSPMWBhJiVx2KV8HEMWPgYRs7RpxDzs9wC2_AO1jUVwwI0L4JUUkV5RwspJ13g0Q-n1C6HG20qcJKWX1zBY_TWjS0LEREVNqGBgFor9oBViJJ6mWis6fvlF1dxiNpg-VthAJoxVPWHD2uWcRPWY5ATlUo3SESmwHrLUaPzijRQejtWcjJe58VOuP8w/s843/Helen%20Lyle%20The%20Urban%20Legend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="843" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwSPMWBhJiVx2KV8HEMWPgYRs7RpxDzs9wC2_AO1jUVwwI0L4JUUkV5RwspJ13g0Q-n1C6HG20qcJKWX1zBY_TWjS0LEREVNqGBgFor9oBViJJ6mWis6fvlF1dxiNpg-VthAJoxVPWHD2uWcRPWY5ATlUo3SESmwHrLUaPzijRQejtWcjJe58VOuP8w/s320/Helen%20Lyle%20The%20Urban%20Legend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And guess who appears from the darkness? Why if it isn't Helen who is hellbent on revenge. Oh no, Mr. Lyle, you're not gonna get off so easy. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZStb4xii7D9w6IRw384Z3MedaXEsoP6ZyUvTG1illQOJJnUPpM6atSwqyFoL0xdirTmzNG3XmrJ3wtU_ZZ1sTPjhBBAgyhZrlf0AjjVZB3XhS2Dio5g1kOm9to8T_5ZlRLMAHBQVQ_-Yb93C3RKP82eHEA4KMbylOQd1ey-_d9FKOUR_CZj5tUAAjw/s1280/xander-berkeley-candyman-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1280" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZStb4xii7D9w6IRw384Z3MedaXEsoP6ZyUvTG1illQOJJnUPpM6atSwqyFoL0xdirTmzNG3XmrJ3wtU_ZZ1sTPjhBBAgyhZrlf0AjjVZB3XhS2Dio5g1kOm9to8T_5ZlRLMAHBQVQ_-Yb93C3RKP82eHEA4KMbylOQd1ey-_d9FKOUR_CZj5tUAAjw/s320/xander-berkeley-candyman-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21YYNNuuDQmhWGgVsASt-2DJMm4Qxlr3tA2DjnHEOxkVCwURZkOAV6DYKwwhCF5hpc4sY881PEtO2GhGPpDkPGw1u9jPNGpYtq0KCTnancCgdU197OnNR8Go6bq8esAn0_1UWjk35lKvgKRfywX8xRyr-q3FgL1V7xTm8R7__GEwnxIj4ftAswYA-mw/s540/tumblr_61eda79adc630b5804d3c8b202e65497_fb24333f_540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="540" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21YYNNuuDQmhWGgVsASt-2DJMm4Qxlr3tA2DjnHEOxkVCwURZkOAV6DYKwwhCF5hpc4sY881PEtO2GhGPpDkPGw1u9jPNGpYtq0KCTnancCgdU197OnNR8Go6bq8esAn0_1UWjk35lKvgKRfywX8xRyr-q3FgL1V7xTm8R7__GEwnxIj4ftAswYA-mw/s320/tumblr_61eda79adc630b5804d3c8b202e65497_fb24333f_540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Helen tears him a new one, leaving his corpse sprawled out for his lovely little mistress to see. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvd3N75xtCwAeVNLZcMCWPa0MqrEZR_ptaREYbpcRDQYVd6fGWeW5HYcHVDIijVkUZtvWR4R4KM7Z4N2RQFL-omJx6tInq1OujWcs0I3DvcYGtajbsQ6wCk3-GI-qvRmy5iFbxfhUm_eixCNSZOkwEMdK9FCOk2zNOlHD0W0pP6ZQJYFW5v4rXAYWMg/s475/mancandycloseb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="475" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMvd3N75xtCwAeVNLZcMCWPa0MqrEZR_ptaREYbpcRDQYVd6fGWeW5HYcHVDIijVkUZtvWR4R4KM7Z4N2RQFL-omJx6tInq1OujWcs0I3DvcYGtajbsQ6wCk3-GI-qvRmy5iFbxfhUm_eixCNSZOkwEMdK9FCOk2zNOlHD0W0pP6ZQJYFW5v4rXAYWMg/s320/mancandycloseb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">And thus, Helen is crowned the new urban legend of Chicago. Given what Helen has went through, I see it as an honorary achievement. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Wow, what a journey. That was a lot to unpack but I'm happy to re-examine what made this movie the cult hit that it was. It's a total rollercoaster ride, though not in a fun sense, moreso on the intense and emotional sense. </div><div style="text-align: left;">I think I've said what I've been saying all this time. It's a classic to be treasured. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Final Word: Yes, go see it! It's a very important film of it's time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3rcKtxMDYPo" width="320" youtube-src-id="3rcKtxMDYPo"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-23932883549907979762022-01-02T17:53:00.003-08:002022-01-02T17:53:36.520-08:00The Long Road Ahead Book Cover Reveal<div><br /></div><div>Ladies and Gentlemen,</div><div><br /></div><div>I present to you my new year's gift...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8eiUkNz4gugM8XiPu_ZH5GxB64Zk6g2kqzYivz4Beq2MTyj9-WZj6D8XtlgBJn0zcIbOPK2JwjRQK5uPc7lIK5cN1U9BuqxLBdNch77kVqfaRHoxVMWkugRT0M3kgHrsTbTcICSgRgjW9QU-S9AeffRQq2GFaY0gjA5ub8oewY19v35rbu2vvUs55ww=s2700" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8eiUkNz4gugM8XiPu_ZH5GxB64Zk6g2kqzYivz4Beq2MTyj9-WZj6D8XtlgBJn0zcIbOPK2JwjRQK5uPc7lIK5cN1U9BuqxLBdNch77kVqfaRHoxVMWkugRT0M3kgHrsTbTcICSgRgjW9QU-S9AeffRQq2GFaY0gjA5ub8oewY19v35rbu2vvUs55ww=s320" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div>For the Cover Reveal of my new upcoming book!</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll keep you posted on the release soon...</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy New Year!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-91591470550904109362021-12-31T00:41:00.001-08:002021-12-31T00:46:18.434-08:00The Long Road Ahead Blurb<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgooRmFnduJynhUISCBDo-FXNbYfbsygOCtja_0BgZjWEUUE5i-Uic3rQJ3325UUxrN6aGGGyxYPRLUcPVv57zASFhUI-GEsNt8ar9L9fiiJIqFzCj9oBU85VCU2bji6qp5GcOQOMsnbYgmSvyZ5t_UJ9nAY-Z3eluc0--2ybTZkLRrSDDIzXTU5M_GzQ=s6720" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4480" data-original-width="6720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgooRmFnduJynhUISCBDo-FXNbYfbsygOCtja_0BgZjWEUUE5i-Uic3rQJ3325UUxrN6aGGGyxYPRLUcPVv57zASFhUI-GEsNt8ar9L9fiiJIqFzCj9oBU85VCU2bji6qp5GcOQOMsnbYgmSvyZ5t_UJ9nAY-Z3eluc0--2ybTZkLRrSDDIzXTU5M_GzQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p>Here's a blurb from my upcoming novella, The Long Road Ahead. I'll launch the Cover Reveal sometime next week as a New Years Gift, so take a lookout. In the meantime, I present to you, The Long Road Ahead:</p><p><i>When your eyes meet, that's not love at first sight. It's when you can't bring yourself to look away, for you've captured the loving soul embodied through their eyes. </i></p><p>Javon Norton, fresh off from his hometown in Linclon, Ohio, attends his first year at The Toronto State University. With a major in Visual Arts and a $10,000 scholarship under his belt, Javon plans to achieve his goal of becoming a comic book artist. But there's one slight issue...The scholarship is not quite ready. To prepare for the full grant, Javon must register for a scholarship program. </p><p>As he enters the doors of Mr. Harrison's Art History class, a certain someone catches his eye...</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Photography Student Mick Richardson
is looking for a purpose in life. Thirsting for a sense of adventure, he
applies for the 10,000-scholarship grant to explore the island of Oahu, Hawaii,
his birthplace. To elevate his mind’s eye, Mick wants to discover the hidden
beauty of his homeland and capture the glistening waves of the faraway ocean as
a photo kept in his memory. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Coincidently, Javon and Mick are at
the top of the scholarship list, matching them into a tie. To break it even,
Mr. Harrison puts them up to task. In order to receive the 10,000-scholarship
grant, they must each come up with an original project by the end of the week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As a friendly gesture, Mick invites
Javon to a weekend getaway across central Canada to ease the tension between
them. Javon is skeptical but seeing that this is an offer he can't refuse, he
accepts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What starts as a mild curiosity soon
develops into something more… <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, Javon is caught in a friction,
embracing the tenderness of Mick’s affections while holding on to what he’s
worked so hard for. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Which begs the question: Is love
more valuable than success?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-70891208841102861722021-12-25T00:49:00.003-08:002021-12-25T00:54:20.154-08:00Anne Rice Tribute <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKihkYBmMJhQWe0jrdhOlWsGfeEiLhn_nUho-2RW-lz1SelA_LO0tcfD6s34JFAgEVr-5TwFBd6q8Xr6JorAx3GcE_BNs0TGIhQVBPKsznPGsCFWfrAAK7oQSDdsHJvkYB3zHr7EHt_T2tag1zaIae9XgALFgpTfE3aN4Mx8de2IvwviNSMAF8O_n5hA=s1526" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjKihkYBmMJhQWe0jrdhOlWsGfeEiLhn_nUho-2RW-lz1SelA_LO0tcfD6s34JFAgEVr-5TwFBd6q8Xr6JorAx3GcE_BNs0TGIhQVBPKsznPGsCFWfrAAK7oQSDdsHJvkYB3zHr7EHt_T2tag1zaIae9XgALFgpTfE3aN4Mx8de2IvwviNSMAF8O_n5hA=s320" width="268" /></a></div><br /><p>I know I'm a little late on this but I would like to pay tribute to the one and only Anne Rice. Through her writing, she is one of those writers that taught me to be a better writer and to give her the utmost gratitude I present to you my review of her best work of fiction</p><p>Rest In Peace, Anne Rice:</p><p><a href="https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/2020/06/interview-with-vampire-1994.html">https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/2020/06/interview-with-vampire-1994.html</a></p><p><a href="https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/2020/07/queen-of-damned-2002.html">https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/2020/07/queen-of-damned-2002.html</a></p>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-41891730297280536782021-12-07T13:32:00.003-08:002021-12-12T13:55:15.542-08:00Scream 3 (2000)<p> </p>
<p><br /></p>
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</div>
<br />
<p>
After the juggernaut successes of Scream and Scream 2, Kevin Williamson was
ready to hit the last installment until...scheduling conflicts got in the way.
The movie was slated for a 1999 December release but it was pushed due to the
controversy surrounding the Columbine shootings, so some changes had to be
made. First and foremost, the violence had to be scaled down, focusing more on
the comedic aspects of the script, to the detriment of the filmmakers. On top
of that, Kevin Williamson, who was attached to writing the film, had to back
out of the project because of his busy schedule. During this time, Williamson
was very in-demand, getting involved in various projects like
<i>Dawson's Creek</i>, <i>Wasteland</i>, and the film,
<i>Teaching Mrs. Tingle</i>, a script that was since lifted from development
hell. Instead, he wrote a 20-30 page outline draft where the plot involves a
film within a film scenario. That's when the infamous Weinstein brothers hired
Ehren Kruger to write the full script. For some reason, the Weinsteins
scrapped most of Kevin Willamson's notes, changing most of the film entirely.
Kruger insisted that the characters should be moving to bigger places,
transitioning from a small town to a college campus, and finally to the big
city lights of Hollywood, Los Angeles, which, in my opinion, takes away the
claustrophobic atmosphere of the first two movies. When it came to the
casting, it was inevitable that the triumphant trio of Sidney, Dewey, and Gale
would return, once again, for the third entry. But the film series' leading
lady, Neve Campbell, had to back out due to her <i>own</i> scheduling
conflicts. During this period, Neve Campbell went from TV star to bonafide
movie star in a span of four years. Just like Williamson, Neve Campbell was
very in-demand, and to keep up with her schedule on Party of Five's final
season, she only had 20 days of filming. So you had both the creator and the
lead star take a backseat to what is perceived to be the "last" entry of the
Scream series. Not to mention, countless rewrites that somehow morphed the
final project into another movie. Yeah, that's not a good sign.
</p>
<p>
The final result? It's a pretty mixed bag. The comedy overlaps the suspense
and the movie is less scary because of that. From what I feel, there isn't a
sense of urgency, mainly from the new supporting characters. They're just not
likable or interesting enough for me to care whether they live or die.
Although I found the mystery surrounding Maureen Prescott intriguing, the
third act of the movie feels more like a Saturday morning cartoon than a
highly intense horror/thriller. I know that's a bit of a stretch but some of
the scenes in this movie come off as unintentionally goofy. Whatever potential
Scream 3 did have, was ruined by an underwhelming plot twist. But before we
dive into that, let's solve the puzzle that is Scream 3.
</p>
<p></p>
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</div>
<br />The Story: During the filming of the third Stab movie, two of its main
cast have been brutally slaughtered, one of them being Cotton Weary, the man
Gale Weathers defended when he was accused of Maureen Prescott's murder. When Gale gets word of this, she is quick on her feet and starts to crack in
the clues. While snooping around on the Stab set, she runs into her old flame,
Dewey Riley, who is now working as a personal bodyguard for actress Jennifer
Jolie, who ironically portrays Gale in the new Stab movie. As the killer weighs
in on his targets, Mark Kincaid, one of the detectives on the case, discovers
that the killer is connected to former actress Rena Reynolds. As it turns out,
Rena Reynolds just so happens to be Maureen Prescott, which opens up the
killer's <b>true</b> target: Sidney Prescott. After the events of the Windsor
College murders, Sidney Prescott has completely secluded herself as an isolated
hermit. But when she gets a call from Dewey about the recent Stab murders,
Sidney, once again, is prepared to face what has been haunting her for all these
years...this time, it's very, very personal...
<div><br /></div>
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</div>
<div>
<p>
It's time to analyze the opening scene. The setting takes place at a busy
traffic jam way across the hill from the Hollywood sign. Cotton Weary, now
polished and primed with an impressive physique, waits impatiently in his
state-of-the-art SUV. Recently, he has used his notoriety to become a
syndicated talk show host. It was back then when sensational talk shows were
at their prime. Cotton, in this case, would be a Donahue-Geraldo type. Then
the phone rings...When Cotton answers it, we all know how this goes. From
two movies on, we should know that Ghostface is on the other line. But as it
turns out, it's a flirty fangirl of Cotton's, who just so "happens" to have
the wrong phone number. <i>Right. </i>The flirting goes on for quite a while
until she mentions that he actually has a girlfriend and that's when the
suspense kicks in. It might not be as subtle as the first two movies, but
I'll take it. Cotton thinks the caller is joking but then she switches to
the sinister voice of the Ghostface killer saying that he knows he has a
girlfriend and that he's looking right at her. The killer demands to know
where Sidney is and when Cotton responds with a threat, the killer bluffs at
him and makes his move.
</p>
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</div>
<div><br /></div>
Cut to a blonde getting ready for a shower while the killer lurks by. Cotton's
girlfriend, Christine, is played by Kelly Rutherford who I will recognize as
Lily Van Der Woodsen on <i>Gossip Girl</i>. Cotton races down across the freeway and
through the streets of L.A. before it's too late.
</div>
<div>
Back at the mansion, the radio plays. Now, I'm going to stop here for a
moment. The rock song playing on the radio is Creed's "What If" which is
featured on the movie soundtrack. Self-promotion, much? Nor do I find this
part of the scene scary. Do you think rock music is creepy? Anywho, the music
lures Christine out of the bathroom. She gets dressed and slowly walks towards
the banister. She hears that it's Cotton and she is instantly relieved. But
what's so off about this is that Cotton is calm, all of sudden? Shouldn't he
be in panic mode?
</div>
<div><br /></div>
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</div>
<br />
<div>
And just when Christine heads down the stairs, the killer strikes! He chases
Christine through the hallway and into the study where she locks the door. Then, she hears Cotton's voice again...Could it be Cotton? This is one
aspect of the opening scene that I do like but unfortunately, the effects of
the voice translator gets a little nonsensical later on in the movie.
</div>
<div>
Cotton's voice becomes more menacing and the killer starts to stab through the
door.
</div>
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</div>
<div><br /></div><div>
Cotton has finally arrived at the house. The house has an uneasy quietness and
Cotton is prepared to take action. He quickly takes off his suit jacket and
arms himself with a weapon. He sees that door is full of stab holes. A dreaded
feeling comes over him. When Cotton breaks in the door, he is relieved to see
that Christine is still alive.
</div>
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</div>
<br />
<div>
But she is totally freaking out and swings a golf club at him. When
Christine questions Cotton's sanity, he tries his best to calm her. But
then...
</div>
<div><br /></div>
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</div>
<br />
<div>
The killer stabs Christine in the back. When Cotton dodges away, the
killer slices him in the arm but he doesn't back down.
</div>
<div><br /></div>
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<div><br /></div>
<div>
And just when Cotton gets the upper hand and throws a bookcase on him, The
killer kicks him over the desk and stabs him in the chest. The killer
gloats at Cotton before he gives him one final stab in the head which
immediately cuts to the title card. Now, there are some pros and cons to this
opening scene.
</div><div>How the killer tricks Christine into thinking he's Cotton was a nice touch. It adds in a bit of tension since the killer is able to confuse the victim and catch her off-guard. But here comes the con. I just don't feel that sense of <i>urgency</i>. Sure, Cotton is a character that is well-established in the series, but I really don't feel scared <i>for</i> him. What I liked about the opening scenes in the first two movies is that the characters in that felt like real people. Cotton and Christine aren't relatable in my opinion. Cotton is this hot-shot talk show host living on the coast of Hollywood while Christine isn't really developed enough for me to care what happens to her. And lastly, The Ghostface Killer talks a wee bit too much. I know this is a pet peeve, but it takes away the mystique of Ghostface, and from then on, he turns into this hammy supervillain. The entity of Ghostface is at its scariest when it's on the phone but, then again, this killer has different methods.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhJOKnL7VoCauLs1vUkJ_PgbPM18dj4qJsgFp-o93MStJfOFj-tBiGNA2FWC6zU3EdeG5J6zBfVkqLN0BS0IzgvWHFldCr6E6kemRcFyW6IhS8zihUf76bdK5FMS6SxMQS15RkUa1QZTv/s650/Scream_3-297010625-large.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="650" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhJOKnL7VoCauLs1vUkJ_PgbPM18dj4qJsgFp-o93MStJfOFj-tBiGNA2FWC6zU3EdeG5J6zBfVkqLN0BS0IzgvWHFldCr6E6kemRcFyW6IhS8zihUf76bdK5FMS6SxMQS15RkUa1QZTv/s320/Scream_3-297010625-large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Let's move on to the characters. The supporting cast from this go-round is misanthropic, jaded, and aggressively snide to each other. I guess this is part of the movie's commentary on Hollywood Cynicism, especially of how it was present at the time. Let's just say that the overall commentary of Scream 3 is a very subtle F-you to the Weinstein Brothers, particularly Harvey Weinstein. We'll expand on that further into the review.</div><div>However, there is one thing that Scream 3 gets right, and that is the consistency of the three main leads. Wes Craven actually stepped in to set things right. You gotta give it to Wes Craven, this is a man that <i>knows</i> his characters. </div><div>But let's focus on over to the supporting cast and it's sad to say that they're not really all that interesting. Though I do have one exception with Parker Posey as Jennifer Jolie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmTqyDdtc9vZwAgeG-4yw2vwbXJKUb3vKxXo5gJ-pTcQ2o-rZJjHEba_mCbh0Ym-lK5xuqRjdxdaBI4_2-uDr367Ui13mYfYT8mMfVdu_4fPcOsn6w1iihE6biGU1OvKJgQXdVHVmS0dd/s1280/sarah+darling+close+up.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmTqyDdtc9vZwAgeG-4yw2vwbXJKUb3vKxXo5gJ-pTcQ2o-rZJjHEba_mCbh0Ym-lK5xuqRjdxdaBI4_2-uDr367Ui13mYfYT8mMfVdu_4fPcOsn6w1iihE6biGU1OvKJgQXdVHVmS0dd/s320/sarah+darling+close+up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>First, we have Sarah Darling. There's not really much to say about Sarah, other than, according to her words, she's a thirty-five-year-old playing twenty-one-year-old and she's not particularly happy about being a disposable blonde in a slasher film. But that would be Sarah's unfortunate fate in real life. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH7i5L9YsIahM8Moo8UI9H86J6SYey9KLtAo6v85-IIMRSUEWHlBky7Z2fItZ7ajJGDoJZMDd0RuHjbbr2IZAf2BsGIdFYUsLpQGtn6yDkw7eERRgcxYxJVqWM2W4a50FXCQsVPGimle_/s1200/sarah+darling+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRH7i5L9YsIahM8Moo8UI9H86J6SYey9KLtAo6v85-IIMRSUEWHlBky7Z2fItZ7ajJGDoJZMDd0RuHjbbr2IZAf2BsGIdFYUsLpQGtn6yDkw7eERRgcxYxJVqWM2W4a50FXCQsVPGimle_/s320/sarah+darling+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> I've heard rumors that the character of Sarah Darling was supposed to be a dig at Sarah Michelle Gellar hence the first name of <i>Sarah</i>. Let's just say that she and Wes Craven didn't see eye to eye while filming Scream 2. I thought Jenny McCarthy was really funny in the role and carries on her quippy dialogue with what little material she has. I especially liked the bit where she confuses the movie<i> Psycho</i> with <i>Vertigo</i>. However, there's not much screentime for us to get attached to the character but oh well. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bLAc2IYX9cMQv34u1DUJ0kfVnlqultux8528-TWKHV7tKGFw7whxYIWZGK7Zx9rBQTaMQcSTgif7_wC-ilgwg_a4Ga6ly3_aOpkr3tQaWiA3ZoVVADJbi4sdmAPnqoBtLBeAYJBu3x9f/s345/faux+sidney+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="345" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bLAc2IYX9cMQv34u1DUJ0kfVnlqultux8528-TWKHV7tKGFw7whxYIWZGK7Zx9rBQTaMQcSTgif7_wC-ilgwg_a4Ga6ly3_aOpkr3tQaWiA3ZoVVADJbi4sdmAPnqoBtLBeAYJBu3x9f/s320/faux+sidney+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next, we have Angelina Tyler, the actress portraying Sidney in <i>Stab</i> 3. It's mentioned that Tori Spelling got weirded out by the real-life events surrounding the film series, so that's when Angelina Tyler, an ingenue newcomer, steps in.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTXlVwVVB_paD2h_DQ_NpMiOyJjhNqAghXqOD6Yl_LP20U4SRYi_8ltpomiyhQAG_iwBSEu6xotoZgclMOYQG4GkwS-KfJH8Iw0P1xQ-Lw8LDxLXTwZ-H7rv2skY84JGXFiqRRS_IfNPh/s600/faux+sidney.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTXlVwVVB_paD2h_DQ_NpMiOyJjhNqAghXqOD6Yl_LP20U4SRYi_8ltpomiyhQAG_iwBSEu6xotoZgclMOYQG4GkwS-KfJH8Iw0P1xQ-Lw8LDxLXTwZ-H7rv2skY84JGXFiqRRS_IfNPh/s320/faux+sidney.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> Her name is supposed to be a combination of Angelina Jolie and Liv Tyler, who were rising stars in their own right. Angelina is sort of a red herring at first. There are times where she comes off really suspicious and may not be as innocent as she seems. The movie also hints that Angelina might be a little obsessed with Sidney along with "borrowing" the film's props as souvenirs. But it turns out that this is one of Angelina's quirks. It's kind of weird but harmless. Though, it's later revealed that she did some not-so-innocent methods to get the lead role. Let's just say she had a casting couch session with the producer John Milton. In a metaphorical sense, once Agenlina drops her good girl act, the killer strikes. </div><div>I thought Emily Mortimer gave an interesting performance, adding a bit of charm to her offbeat mannerisms and elevated above what was expected of her character. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SN27tua7Tf2qMOPlJUz8UaXat5SO_vKdc1QzR4jCglKIeLbYqrUtrMqXcqQ0xKG9FnG_pGREbENk4S3y9Y131xiAY1iPZH2r43IQ-h84v09_0voDc-zNQnluArEYmd1AQlR8pQZbCO9F/s862/patrick+dempsey+scream+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="862" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SN27tua7Tf2qMOPlJUz8UaXat5SO_vKdc1QzR4jCglKIeLbYqrUtrMqXcqQ0xKG9FnG_pGREbENk4S3y9Y131xiAY1iPZH2r43IQ-h84v09_0voDc-zNQnluArEYmd1AQlR8pQZbCO9F/s320/patrick+dempsey+scream+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Next, we have Detective Mark Kincaid played by Dr. McDreamy himself, Patrick Dempsey. For the most part, Mark Kincaid is an okay character, though unlike the detectives in the last movie, he and his partner aren't completely useless. But in comparison to Dewey, Mark is terrible at self-preservation. Unintentional or not, the part where he accidentally smashes his own face against the fireplace while fighting the killer was hilarious. I just couldn't help but chuckle. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHeYP8P1D5TYuStxgGuV7eIuFG9JmAazM3bAAR3qPDOqKCLDzGU_kCBe2-iYcEjrsQOPPKBBDWo_PhsEoJRtl584f1kuonrSNbwgbRTznIxZQtGux50clszePJ8pTN4f7KjUZoTIjeALK/s1920/mark+and+sidney+scream+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1920" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHeYP8P1D5TYuStxgGuV7eIuFG9JmAazM3bAAR3qPDOqKCLDzGU_kCBe2-iYcEjrsQOPPKBBDWo_PhsEoJRtl584f1kuonrSNbwgbRTznIxZQtGux50clszePJ8pTN4f7KjUZoTIjeALK/s320/mark+and+sidney+scream+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I think Mark was implied to be a love interest for Sidney, but it never went anywhere. Sure, it might've been interesting but, realistically, Sidney is still trying to process her damaged love life. One boyfriend betrayed her and the other was killed right before her eyes. If the filmmakers went along with having Mark as Sidney's new love interest, sure, fine, I take that. But Sidney would still have to deal with her trust issues and coming from me, it's not easy to deal with. So, Mark not appearing in the fourth movie adds a lot more context than it should. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0HCHR50w_XcmBUsozAoQjoZLhl5PzNggtG6BDR2lDppJskNYIn9h3fV_Vnice7a14fiaeULYVXErRUS-4G-ABL45DhPhtYKZTwBiztNzMSehbIrASa9MHBJ8Bc4zV-8C4v5d2W02fKkb/s572/Tom_Prize.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0HCHR50w_XcmBUsozAoQjoZLhl5PzNggtG6BDR2lDppJskNYIn9h3fV_Vnice7a14fiaeULYVXErRUS-4G-ABL45DhPhtYKZTwBiztNzMSehbIrASa9MHBJ8Bc4zV-8C4v5d2W02fKkb/s320/Tom_Prize.png" width="234" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here we have Tom Prinze played Matt Kessler. He's supposed to be one of those manufactured, ultra-handsome, cookie-cutter Hollywood actors. His name in particular is a jab at Tom Crusie and Freddie Prinze Jr. who was at the height of their popularity. Inevitably, Tom has a tendency to be full of himself. He's also kind of dumb, considering how his death could've been totally preventable. But all in all, Tom is just sort of...there. Nothing much to that, really.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG0vHuFCO2EFND-RUWxPMeAELgTaz3xFuffchKh0ZNtk-nMR3F6IHyJdJJ9C_HhRL07elKSJ8thFKr1ZBa4Nsw9DWDCPJHck6ZxOtVt3oGd2n5tdFM76LBUFq-6_dk8QmLWkC5dOWG4Li/s1242/8krfmbdq75w51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="1242" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG0vHuFCO2EFND-RUWxPMeAELgTaz3xFuffchKh0ZNtk-nMR3F6IHyJdJJ9C_HhRL07elKSJ8thFKr1ZBa4Nsw9DWDCPJHck6ZxOtVt3oGd2n5tdFM76LBUFq-6_dk8QmLWkC5dOWG4Li/s320/8krfmbdq75w51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Next, we have Tyson Fox (which is probably a pseudonym for Tyson Beckford and Jamie Fox) is, unfortunately, just the comic relief. Given that he is the <b>only</b> black guy in the main cast, it's a major step down from the representation of the second movie, which had more than one black character that wasn't relegated to comic relief. Deon Richmond does okay with what little has to work with. I mean the guy is funny and he carries a lot with the minor role he's given.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEAFUQ9tYLRh6ZxyJ7ROXxQVbX3GvuXDrLVCSm45fiPeH8iMaFtYWoVIhM3baFBiOv8f5LQ7RF5xoNxF34KVLtSogBu54NBHWXHByWC0TUn939f3c8zFNzhafubroXm2iphBBC4XzPFCL/s1024/D4jb1ZMUEAUZ3RS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEAFUQ9tYLRh6ZxyJ7ROXxQVbX3GvuXDrLVCSm45fiPeH8iMaFtYWoVIhM3baFBiOv8f5LQ7RF5xoNxF34KVLtSogBu54NBHWXHByWC0TUn939f3c8zFNzhafubroXm2iphBBC4XzPFCL/s320/D4jb1ZMUEAUZ3RS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e91c24MIEe5ml6PqehfghA1CHDuExcQOaO32GtPFAVoQAmWfqmZQ7bf7s9pc9IahVhP3jZQtA7SFs3VPMMGstOT2EK5FhLTxOYq76vaa8YvpRbXjzDzsWV3Bs450yZAPWBUHLSpOMqKD/s499/MV5BYjFlMzI0ZjMtNzdlMS00Y2U1LTkzNTAtZDBmNjU4NGY0Y2NmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="499" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6e91c24MIEe5ml6PqehfghA1CHDuExcQOaO32GtPFAVoQAmWfqmZQ7bf7s9pc9IahVhP3jZQtA7SFs3VPMMGstOT2EK5FhLTxOYq76vaa8YvpRbXjzDzsWV3Bs450yZAPWBUHLSpOMqKD/s320/MV5BYjFlMzI0ZjMtNzdlMS00Y2U1LTkzNTAtZDBmNjU4NGY0Y2NmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Lastly, we have the amazingly memorable performance of Parker Posey as Jennifer Jolie, who is definitely the highlight of the movie. Her name is actually based on Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie...how fetching. LOL. Jennifer, in particular, is a parody of those eccentric, overly-pretentious Hollywood actresses who takes their roles WAY too seriously, and although Jennifer is <i>supposed </i>to be unlikable, Parker Posey's impeccable charm makes it hard not to like her.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iyeREQIcaC4WsyFzoC-JVJPDWANFk_8Csl5ACqV5MdVKXaYHHU-6mwcyIcYEyKrIukAkUGERMuaTWWdIZa7s652UhgVhD1jQq3NbLUdG1ck8k4ZMGBzJWWbR0CMmZZ0keL-WLLdbFNdX/s1031/scream-3-.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1031" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iyeREQIcaC4WsyFzoC-JVJPDWANFk_8Csl5ACqV5MdVKXaYHHU-6mwcyIcYEyKrIukAkUGERMuaTWWdIZa7s652UhgVhD1jQq3NbLUdG1ck8k4ZMGBzJWWbR0CMmZZ0keL-WLLdbFNdX/s320/scream-3-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I especially like her dynamic with Gale where most of the comedy actually works. Here, you have this egocentric actress who goes out of her way to step into the shoes of Gale, which includes hiring her ex-boyfriend where it's implied that her relationship with Dewey is more than professional. Gale, right off the bat, is annoyed with her but reluctantly agrees to tag her along in her investigation since Jennifer is one of the killer's targets. Though what Gale doesn't realize is that, metaphorically, Jennifer is basically a mirror of herself. She must find a way to accept her flaws and make amends with her shadow side, to which Jennifer serves as the physical representation. I must say, Parker Posey and Courtney Cox have great chemistry and I found them to be incredibly hilarious together. You have the drama queen antics of Jennifer and the sardonic snarkiness of Gale. I would love to see Parker Posey and Courtney Cox in a buddy comedy one day. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFBx3qoHeQF8zR49ON8oKmQ-B10eNbOlvpfwLmzqqe2DVTzSAou-6YrM6QcwfZVQt47g1c1l-pPy4GsSvSjGNSq6pc44ZCH83DSwSEaKuWCjH8xeqKD2btZWyDdYSTbceIpyjtkIczxh7/s493/JenniferJolie.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="405" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFBx3qoHeQF8zR49ON8oKmQ-B10eNbOlvpfwLmzqqe2DVTzSAou-6YrM6QcwfZVQt47g1c1l-pPy4GsSvSjGNSq6pc44ZCH83DSwSEaKuWCjH8xeqKD2btZWyDdYSTbceIpyjtkIczxh7/s320/JenniferJolie.png" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Overall, Parker Posey was entertaining as Jennifer and was the shining beacon amongst the mostly mediocre supporting cast.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllje0bdCNTN-DCJfpwrZDeoKRD5AaSyMD4oEui0-oenuivW8KK3cV4AzFtABK18ElCasidDjGB0RIrRjWT7e3tbKOgo8BXunQzqQmL9WMURpUIh7YvTwJSvYEC5uj02mxZfZp9CXleJfw/s837/StevenStone.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="837" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllje0bdCNTN-DCJfpwrZDeoKRD5AaSyMD4oEui0-oenuivW8KK3cV4AzFtABK18ElCasidDjGB0RIrRjWT7e3tbKOgo8BXunQzqQmL9WMURpUIh7YvTwJSvYEC5uj02mxZfZp9CXleJfw/s320/StevenStone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh yeah, I forgot to mention Steven Stone played by the very sexy Patrick Warburton. Steven is mostly there to be a foil to Dewey. The animosity he feels towards Dewey mostly stems from jealously. He seems to be Jennifer's number 1 and it begs the question of whether his relationship with her is more personal than professional. Therefore, Steven is a total asshole, going so far as to crack jokes about Tatum's death at Dewey's expense. After making the crude joke, the killer strikes...and kills him in the most unclimatic way. More on that later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just like the previous movie, we have some special cameos:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFzv3FpF87ouwDry9vVVE6KaiAuKsQ8s7fsJSttHFc88uuBn7uyT08vM4Xvnr3KHr9zGcCnGFsD2Hz0bfEf9_Ksp64DEN7uAxyO9P7UZ7J3u0TvtmI4bnQlek14qJCJES5pxztQT77elU/s320/bianca+brunette.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFzv3FpF87ouwDry9vVVE6KaiAuKsQ8s7fsJSttHFc88uuBn7uyT08vM4Xvnr3KHr9zGcCnGFsD2Hz0bfEf9_Ksp64DEN7uAxyO9P7UZ7J3u0TvtmI4bnQlek14qJCJES5pxztQT77elU/s0/bianca+brunette.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the first go-round, we got the one and only Carrie Fisher gracing us with her incomparable wit. She plays Bianca Brunette, a would-be actress now working as a file clerk for Sunrise Archives. She'd almost got the part of Princess Leia if it wasn't for a certain actress who had to sleep with the director. Carrie Fisher actually improvised her lines and, I have to say, Mrs. Fisher has great comedic timing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhANPNHiPK0dl8vi9918qzsgIudGBQ9deR8mN459L0mUE333KITWQRkNhytNdK5rTBEc-9erLRNmko0YS2RMyFpqJznTHppBp0aArHOHTxX6JxCBhyphenhyphen5wk2hkCrnaD-V7lNGEYaMNNxR3j/s838/J%2526SB_Scream_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="838" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhANPNHiPK0dl8vi9918qzsgIudGBQ9deR8mN459L0mUE333KITWQRkNhytNdK5rTBEc-9erLRNmko0YS2RMyFpqJznTHppBp0aArHOHTxX6JxCBhyphenhyphen5wk2hkCrnaD-V7lNGEYaMNNxR3j/s320/J%2526SB_Scream_3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We have another cameo by Jay and Silent Bob, who seems out of place in a Scream movie. So does this mean the View Askew films and the Scream series are in the same universe? I'm confused.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, Randy gives his last bow. But the way he's introduced is kind of contrived.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaXZDixgYVmG2UKkeGuadxLut77mZzkPLbIzLaT7yNds7dqMkNPiJdf4dBuCSGUNhfBJQT5taa4FXm_ejMbtj2wOjWLBvPTi6q8C2OFti4cZXh7vG6zsVYgAjmNgtIH8cB-eFWqM6ETG9/s500/martha+meeks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="500" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaXZDixgYVmG2UKkeGuadxLut77mZzkPLbIzLaT7yNds7dqMkNPiJdf4dBuCSGUNhfBJQT5taa4FXm_ejMbtj2wOjWLBvPTi6q8C2OFti4cZXh7vG6zsVYgAjmNgtIH8cB-eFWqM6ETG9/s320/martha+meeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Martha Meeks, Randy's never-before-mentioned little sister, just shows up on the film set and just so happens to have a videotape of Randy during his last days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJvJzUPiVJDEVuBRDTs5aJcp-vRnRCY6PXZ0A9XEOD6xInYXmKNsibTNBXa30I_iTk7r5emCZgmv0YayCKDwZxqsoXfOkdTTAM4OAWyN8rF-GMn10cYgXrApZF-MoACrAmPem34rQWuir/s250/Randy_Meeks3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="250" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJvJzUPiVJDEVuBRDTs5aJcp-vRnRCY6PXZ0A9XEOD6xInYXmKNsibTNBXa30I_iTk7r5emCZgmv0YayCKDwZxqsoXfOkdTTAM4OAWyN8rF-GMn10cYgXrApZF-MoACrAmPem34rQWuir/s0/Randy_Meeks3.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Randy explains the elements found in a horror trilogy. The most prominent element is when the main character from a previous film is killed off. For example, Nancy Thompson was brought back in <i>Dream Warriors</i> (which is the third nightmare movie by the way) only to get killed off at the end of the film. Randy makes a warning to Sidney, Dewey, and Gale that one of them might not come out of this alive. The purpose of Randy recording the video is that he knows what <i>his</i> fate will be and that one of them might join him in the afterlife. Although I find the execution of his cameo a bit clunky, it was good to see Jamie Kennedy as Randy one last time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cz4nCIiFejI-YGE7sNjbUudFgN7Qqt7tM7MomSwlUjA7MLvDI1aoMgMTFJCnXJEQDSYSvVzzBN_Kph9nKAtBXC72iev575P93saONikUyKot3wNrHcOuS9VVcncj0BU-SyJSjwqzEY42/s320/Jm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cz4nCIiFejI-YGE7sNjbUudFgN7Qqt7tM7MomSwlUjA7MLvDI1aoMgMTFJCnXJEQDSYSvVzzBN_Kph9nKAtBXC72iev575P93saONikUyKot3wNrHcOuS9VVcncj0BU-SyJSjwqzEY42/s0/Jm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Lastly, we have genre legend, Lance Henriksen as the slimly John Milton, which is more of a guest star role than a cameo. John Milton is the representation of the corrupt Hollywood system. As you can see, the character of John Milton is based on Harvey Weinstein who was known for ruining horror films such as <i>The Curse of Michael Myers</i> and<i> Hellraiser: Bloodline</i>. He almost <i>almost</i> ruined Scream but Wes Craven put the kibosh on that. However, that's not the only reputation Mr. Weinstein has. Just recently, this particular reputation was the most talked-about scandal in Hollywood. You see, Mr. Weinstien was known to be a bit of a perv towards women. So the basis of John Milton is that he lures in young, up-and-coming actresses to sleep with him, including a young Maureen Prescott. Yeah, more on that later. In conclusion, John Milton is a sleazy asshole with no redeemable qualities.<div>Now, let's get to the triumphant trio known as Sidney, Dewey, and Gale.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6slR3gjJG0Dkr9DS34vCtGbfIeLNIG9DaVkoLFS0b1AEoPTMppd9n47Ru4cPfLp4HJK5Z3B6k2TBWkKh9bKa-cJNJvC8GzYnDFrLRIfbSStODdlzvakOwFgz3_a8TYMCIqdsrv6rxm25V/s556/GaleWeathersScream3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="556" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6slR3gjJG0Dkr9DS34vCtGbfIeLNIG9DaVkoLFS0b1AEoPTMppd9n47Ru4cPfLp4HJK5Z3B6k2TBWkKh9bKa-cJNJvC8GzYnDFrLRIfbSStODdlzvakOwFgz3_a8TYMCIqdsrv6rxm25V/s320/GaleWeathersScream3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>The character development of Gale Weathers is now in full completion, although her personality hasn't changed that much. She is still the headstrong, overly-ambitious spitfire that we know and love but with a softer, kinder touch and a striking new hairstyle. Not her best but it's fine with me. After the events of Windsor College, Gale's popularity seems to be dimming low. She now makes appearances at college lectures doing those "If I can do it, you can do it" speeches but the students ain't buying it. Gale's brand has basically sold out. Nobody goes for that 'if it bleeds, it leads' moniker anymore and since Gale's brand involves real-life murders, realistically, that wouldn't sit well with most people. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsq0GCkAv9ktdXJymNyXGFCJBaGnE_LWn0UWaXtRm8RUBBIeOSd2-o6fA6qR0lpmHiQ9LQwXLAONFfeU1jI77h0jaMT3U4g7uMcYQiPMxPzECOfPU7q-4sxpOkL59KCT_HpfOHQ5xxx1a/s800/618fb546-3879-4c6f-b89d-c67b0bfd43bc-screenshot-250.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="523" data-original-width="800" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWsq0GCkAv9ktdXJymNyXGFCJBaGnE_LWn0UWaXtRm8RUBBIeOSd2-o6fA6qR0lpmHiQ9LQwXLAONFfeU1jI77h0jaMT3U4g7uMcYQiPMxPzECOfPU7q-4sxpOkL59KCT_HpfOHQ5xxx1a/s320/618fb546-3879-4c6f-b89d-c67b0bfd43bc-screenshot-250.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>After hearing the news of Cotton's death, Gale takes the time to really humble herself and reflect how The Woodsboro Murders was the flame that ignited her career. With the torchlight fading out, Gale does what she does best and plays detective.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibulZeAhQGrjFiUVbbe-9SATHDnMrvvOSulK03sW_DRNRYMT4FQq__rajCwOKylE9VkkF9IjdeEedjq3e-kEp7NCcPF_84qhdA7YDyZquK60XTm4wnhE213d_J9ovTDC1NL1SxgRlZGu_i/s640/1_ySu1BItYRwsBTgmpkZ3Ivw.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibulZeAhQGrjFiUVbbe-9SATHDnMrvvOSulK03sW_DRNRYMT4FQq__rajCwOKylE9VkkF9IjdeEedjq3e-kEp7NCcPF_84qhdA7YDyZquK60XTm4wnhE213d_J9ovTDC1NL1SxgRlZGu_i/s320/1_ySu1BItYRwsBTgmpkZ3Ivw.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When she hears about the killer possibly stalking the cast of the new Stab film, Gale goes on set to investigate. Right around the corner, here comes Jennifer Jolie, the actress portraying her. Gale is immediately annoyed by Jennifer's presence and when she sneaks away from her, she runs into...Dewey Riley, her ex-boyfriend. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jOTz8TSHYD2DN8QmFLjUFI5cn_ifbO4yi45HgCzgvPmYyURjU1Breu_F-gLLxStRSRpnxuoU0Vd2BBGys1ccZ2cQunCbRhaDKjcwjhag0Vh_1cs9C7zph8WRfArX3PjeTcFZt6BHVBBZ/s1920/image-asset.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jOTz8TSHYD2DN8QmFLjUFI5cn_ifbO4yi45HgCzgvPmYyURjU1Breu_F-gLLxStRSRpnxuoU0Vd2BBGys1ccZ2cQunCbRhaDKjcwjhag0Vh_1cs9C7zph8WRfArX3PjeTcFZt6BHVBBZ/s320/image-asset.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Turns out, Dewey is Jennifer's "personal" bodyguard. Seeing this woman playing her, let alone hiring her ex-boyfriend, gives Gale the implication that Jennifer might be taking her role too seriously. And to add insult to injury, Jennifer's relationship with Dewey might be more than just professional.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlXc1Bu8Cc0cpiFc43wwN_07gF4sgAUh1iLl3IhiHi0JTd6P_0tPfbm2plXZBpcjDcHYwm-pRiQVUEFcHy_g9bS8ubk9N3-b9hSw6M7YPtdCYo0m0eG9vTOx02euMIF3Nmg1mKU_bJ7dw/s500/replaycafe-galedewey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="500" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlXc1Bu8Cc0cpiFc43wwN_07gF4sgAUh1iLl3IhiHi0JTd6P_0tPfbm2plXZBpcjDcHYwm-pRiQVUEFcHy_g9bS8ubk9N3-b9hSw6M7YPtdCYo0m0eG9vTOx02euMIF3Nmg1mKU_bJ7dw/s320/replaycafe-galedewey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So, Gale tries her best to mend her relationship with Dewey even if her globe-trodding career disrupted their courtship. But serendipity brings them back into the sleuthing game and Gale and Dewey are on the case.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRGXoHPNPJ8IHJ4hV78kKb43tgr_XkGzj-4aoDHx587vR0LI6ezHGvB4rPDbEN5NOvIPRxwRgnDWh9ZSKgBGweT3Eel_l4dsekWtI3FMgCICtH8Tv8nWNXLU-ppdlNGHJF7l4PYuq3ALB/s481/Scream-3-scream-18092116-852-480-e1301815245811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="481" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRGXoHPNPJ8IHJ4hV78kKb43tgr_XkGzj-4aoDHx587vR0LI6ezHGvB4rPDbEN5NOvIPRxwRgnDWh9ZSKgBGweT3Eel_l4dsekWtI3FMgCICtH8Tv8nWNXLU-ppdlNGHJF7l4PYuq3ALB/s320/Scream-3-scream-18092116-852-480-e1301815245811.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>On a special note, art imitates life when Dewey proposes to Gale, and around that same time, David Arquette and Courtney Cox married in real life, which wrapped up the relationship nicely (well, if you count the next movie and the real-life divorce but that's beside the point).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yw4ZH4icycCM8E1AYvX23SozvG4jBlN2uCA-5InunbCsETsczj4NxGaPuhWlxsvC1tQqSITTwvnEmJUbYLhuQkBkkOmORZjVBsg4t4vmSEhD2h3v9RtD0h_gyxGZYQFixoHYnYTXnv3S/s2000/courtney+cox+gale+weathers+scream+3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yw4ZH4icycCM8E1AYvX23SozvG4jBlN2uCA-5InunbCsETsczj4NxGaPuhWlxsvC1tQqSITTwvnEmJUbYLhuQkBkkOmORZjVBsg4t4vmSEhD2h3v9RtD0h_gyxGZYQFixoHYnYTXnv3S/s320/courtney+cox+gale+weathers+scream+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Anywho, Courtney Cox <b>embodies</b> this character. She possesses Gale's usual quick-witted sharpness but underneath that, she radiates this spirit of warmth and integrity that makes her endearingly likable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0-FIiSTv5-ZHG7jPm3t-Art3XWu9fxy2h-MYbuLoo5b1aJlUSbsvtvTQzdSXrfbHxJ2gP1PRLDm9_y0SFchwhEldYVX_gotMkGnHenzDGIM1jzPxWa621DGl3nmbTshwlPOVBr5OLQdr/s580/david-arquette-scream-3-bangs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="580" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0-FIiSTv5-ZHG7jPm3t-Art3XWu9fxy2h-MYbuLoo5b1aJlUSbsvtvTQzdSXrfbHxJ2gP1PRLDm9_y0SFchwhEldYVX_gotMkGnHenzDGIM1jzPxWa621DGl3nmbTshwlPOVBr5OLQdr/s320/david-arquette-scream-3-bangs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Although Dewey is adorable as always, he's become a lot more confident this time around. Since Gale is able to eat off the success of The Woodsboro Murders and the subsequent Stab films, Dewey gets a little taste of the good life for being a real-life hero. As he enjoys the perks of being Jennifer Jolie's bodyguard, he runs into his old flame Gale Weathers and he's not afraid to show off his new lifestyle to her face since she literally ghosted him due to her hectic schedule. Once he realizes that Gale's intentions are less selfish and she really <i>does </i>in fact care, Dewey steps into a more active role and takes over...somewhat. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDajuPyc9Gf6RO_QBxL8Y3sxEKNfYMau-LoeeCmU83MjpNhw35QL2hHCpH_2hLhsRmVK4ogALjT7bu38TgTwb1G9noGAQNsaBbi6ZmK0exhSULw65QiBkfqUi3MlcplszIMYkC5aTyhSa/s580/scream-3-pelicula-2000-imagen6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="580" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDajuPyc9Gf6RO_QBxL8Y3sxEKNfYMau-LoeeCmU83MjpNhw35QL2hHCpH_2hLhsRmVK4ogALjT7bu38TgTwb1G9noGAQNsaBbi6ZmK0exhSULw65QiBkfqUi3MlcplszIMYkC5aTyhSa/s320/scream-3-pelicula-2000-imagen6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Jennifer and Gale do most of the sleuthing and Dewey is sort of like the third wheel but I guess it makes sense that Dewey would be the middle ground between Gale and Jennifer, considering that he is kind of in a love triangle.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQqsh-7Z6cNvL_xHsb6NjMZPvNGdVVA660enMeItZyYeUEaB-rlwuZmZXu03-Pv6ANZMEnAmuxlP_aomJF3aF8I9OAfji695flRh8yJ-eju4_RuWLcOroOQh319R-MXje4_d5v8ulQNEZ/s245/EasyWavyEland-size_restricted.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="245" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSQqsh-7Z6cNvL_xHsb6NjMZPvNGdVVA660enMeItZyYeUEaB-rlwuZmZXu03-Pv6ANZMEnAmuxlP_aomJF3aF8I9OAfji695flRh8yJ-eju4_RuWLcOroOQh319R-MXje4_d5v8ulQNEZ/w320-h170/EasyWavyEland-size_restricted.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But as fate would have it, Dewey chooses Gale, which seals the deal of their complicated yet very sweet courtship.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxog2iEqy4qxiA07Fn9sxEWG8Aww7LWELtrBCOyrCUC1LPiILKSmLC9AjIUpJ5NtFbDBN9czPOMqbPQ4Melf5976vYoSzL8GbXPl5xnNq6uCaOS92G0PEFUQMdvZMBA5YqkqWUf7XosreO/s1148/002+David+Arquette+as+Dewey+Riley++M00040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="1148" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxog2iEqy4qxiA07Fn9sxEWG8Aww7LWELtrBCOyrCUC1LPiILKSmLC9AjIUpJ5NtFbDBN9czPOMqbPQ4Melf5976vYoSzL8GbXPl5xnNq6uCaOS92G0PEFUQMdvZMBA5YqkqWUf7XosreO/w320-h137/002+David+Arquette+as+Dewey+Riley++M00040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>David Arquette is all the more lovable as Dewey and gives the character likability and awareness that is rarely shown in a slasher movie cop character.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsQaBiLRyIfmwzLIJqyb-rcFXakzd48PbkYwoak7QmA7IBc8ZBmQRIBMt8bigDmGIZMQe1RNV-je_PNEQlXDdVcKyJJs_k0z2NorO2wvKvdr2BfqgU-sNmnPMkr6rh8ZyoSwSIp43RVU_/s540/Scream-3-Sidney-Prescott-540x305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="540" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsQaBiLRyIfmwzLIJqyb-rcFXakzd48PbkYwoak7QmA7IBc8ZBmQRIBMt8bigDmGIZMQe1RNV-je_PNEQlXDdVcKyJJs_k0z2NorO2wvKvdr2BfqgU-sNmnPMkr6rh8ZyoSwSIp43RVU_/s320/Scream-3-Sidney-Prescott-540x305.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Lastly, we have the best of the best and that is our lovely leading lady, Sidney Prescott. Sidney has taken a backseat for most of the film but considering what she's been through in the previous movies, her story arc is very believable. Sidney is now a hermit, living in an undisclosed part of the California desert. Originally, Ehren Kruger wanted Sidney to be this Sarah Connor Clone but Wes Craven felt that wouldn't fit with Sidney's character and made her into a recluse instead. Though there are some elements of Sidney's inner action girl when she carries a gun for safekeeping.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYmIBSFQsc4qnjjsxmTed0JAEfikZWQZHIrYeUOgTiPQlc_G3So0Va5beHET4EPKPBvJBNhrpoD7FEY4e8Pf-pmjhdr8m1FhHRJ2BbPMZTsg0zTXGFVpM9JZ9IMeeQF6I1QZLVvlrkOqO/s1361/Sidney_Talking_To_Ghostface.PNG.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="1361" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYmIBSFQsc4qnjjsxmTed0JAEfikZWQZHIrYeUOgTiPQlc_G3So0Va5beHET4EPKPBvJBNhrpoD7FEY4e8Pf-pmjhdr8m1FhHRJ2BbPMZTsg0zTXGFVpM9JZ9IMeeQF6I1QZLVvlrkOqO/s320/Sidney_Talking_To_Ghostface.PNG.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The final stage of trauma has caused Sidney to cut off any and every source of human contact unless it's the people that are close to her. It's a very sad existence for Sidney to constantly look over her shoulder and deal with her trauma alone but there's a bright side to this. She now works as a crisis counselor for an abused women's hotline. It just shows how incredibly awesome this character is because the way she copes with her trauma is by helping others who suffer the same thing. You just can't help but love her. However, a certain someone brings her back to the past that she so desperately wants to escape.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlJIOnCK9x1NBkRvtMjp_RPgW0Xbd68OKs5KC7-XOovSZ6Buc5sCMZZUTopx_ceXZofR3OkoE_Y3eku_iJxgtAtyJ65j0LknYRdVEym7WQUzHWubL9SHIpKaiHSL5gQqIzS3anP69CS2M/s1280/sidney+on+the+film+set.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlJIOnCK9x1NBkRvtMjp_RPgW0Xbd68OKs5KC7-XOovSZ6Buc5sCMZZUTopx_ceXZofR3OkoE_Y3eku_iJxgtAtyJ65j0LknYRdVEym7WQUzHWubL9SHIpKaiHSL5gQqIzS3anP69CS2M/s320/sidney+on+the+film+set.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV3-WnV9SakVz5q87i1VqsA4eeLZWc2W_CGswYeUzoNjqdHTW6m1UHg7hgCNcJw7H_pLhbtzKdFi2vvx1U1a76LV7tD0lzkwkFD5r-B7yVuVBzegivKpt6YueVHJSI37qachFFSQnlNaz/s1024/scream-33.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1024" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhV3-WnV9SakVz5q87i1VqsA4eeLZWc2W_CGswYeUzoNjqdHTW6m1UHg7hgCNcJw7H_pLhbtzKdFi2vvx1U1a76LV7tD0lzkwkFD5r-B7yVuVBzegivKpt6YueVHJSI37qachFFSQnlNaz/s320/scream-33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Although she has a heartfelt reunion with Dewey and Gale, the bloodshed surrounding Sidney's life is a constant reminder of her turbulent teenage years. This really hits home when Sidney arrives at the Stab 3 film set. The built-in house is an <i>exact </i>replica of her childhood home. There are good memories but there are bad memories as well. From joking around with her late friend Tatum to her romance with Billy and his sudden turn on the dark side, and finally, the brutal death of her mother. The killer takes advantage of this and scares her for his own sick amusement. This was actually a tough scene to watch, not that it was scary, per se, but mostly on how it affects Sidney and realizing that this particular killer is a reprehensible piece of you-know-what.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPgZ9ubA5gB6aA-ryH2EfpfqLwpMTTM2SzCtK8K5lY7u5ObNROaH5zSEfZTiTJKg7GvlKFDBgFvyjJwPr75F-pvr2ZLtVei1C88PdWReXHFFoH5YsMxC-cg76LcGbp4_ATTx6qqAjia9M/s1366/scream-3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="1366" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPgZ9ubA5gB6aA-ryH2EfpfqLwpMTTM2SzCtK8K5lY7u5ObNROaH5zSEfZTiTJKg7GvlKFDBgFvyjJwPr75F-pvr2ZLtVei1C88PdWReXHFFoH5YsMxC-cg76LcGbp4_ATTx6qqAjia9M/s320/scream-3.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc7S2Aw-fHLJLm10aaJvIjHbsBHD2mJpQfJdZCaG-5ggTwFodwyM_KNywUn6cJCmMrmeXUpwhGbE-uV8Yh1tWGqAemfX6izOs0zyCMbp0XFaVht1UVIi3X1MNgPte13JpYEoCOQ2DriN1/s413/sidney+triumphant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="413" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihc7S2Aw-fHLJLm10aaJvIjHbsBHD2mJpQfJdZCaG-5ggTwFodwyM_KNywUn6cJCmMrmeXUpwhGbE-uV8Yh1tWGqAemfX6izOs0zyCMbp0XFaVht1UVIi3X1MNgPte13JpYEoCOQ2DriN1/s320/sidney+triumphant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But Sidney doesn't back down. She is geared up and ready to kick some ass. Thus, the ballad of Sidney Prescott lives on again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMO24IdcJeQLwfov0FrWBJQmhTL8GAAV_do0rLVwk3EE5I8OHUtGeiuoiirSYoK2htT9Crg8Ykf9AXT2tWGvYe5KJIIsx-rfnktwhR1B4aagDAUwWJZbH4L7Rkk9hGWS16cPgdIiBSgmV/s1200/shutterstock-editorial-5882547o.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMO24IdcJeQLwfov0FrWBJQmhTL8GAAV_do0rLVwk3EE5I8OHUtGeiuoiirSYoK2htT9Crg8Ykf9AXT2tWGvYe5KJIIsx-rfnktwhR1B4aagDAUwWJZbH4L7Rkk9hGWS16cPgdIiBSgmV/s320/shutterstock-editorial-5882547o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Neve Campbell's portrayal of Sidney Prescott is undeniably unforgettable. She is now the top tier of final girls amongst the horror zeitgeist. Even in the worst Scream film, Neve Campbell and her character of Sidney will <b>always</b> be the best part of it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-4drpVe4_2bmF0FDg6OtKxUw1jcqRfj8okp4rF3JgcEfMUAfK8AuPTJvPpIShTZdH_2UV5raP0woEmd3YOZjcgCQHMxpujpo_TYo1hmqxP3ZUZRBpBYeyJ8aapw3kWoRM3X74xWNucFm/s1920/Ghostface3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1920" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-4drpVe4_2bmF0FDg6OtKxUw1jcqRfj8okp4rF3JgcEfMUAfK8AuPTJvPpIShTZdH_2UV5raP0woEmd3YOZjcgCQHMxpujpo_TYo1hmqxP3ZUZRBpBYeyJ8aapw3kWoRM3X74xWNucFm/s320/Ghostface3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, we have the Ghostface Killer who has a personal vendetta against Sidney. So what's the method behind this killer's madness? What is the actual connection between Sidney and this particular person?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXULaUOdP2WDV_8nN6n64dqf8-HpAHBMt0G0v44uzjKC7iJGLDiYkztbCl8a0qAAH0N5JmUi7BKFR7j-jHR-7wYSPuWs5TcrI1ye3CJIWwq1htTd8EU38JS8hGJiGonK7zY-BEDb8odEd1/s780/roman+2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="780" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXULaUOdP2WDV_8nN6n64dqf8-HpAHBMt0G0v44uzjKC7iJGLDiYkztbCl8a0qAAH0N5JmUi7BKFR7j-jHR-7wYSPuWs5TcrI1ye3CJIWwq1htTd8EU38JS8hGJiGonK7zY-BEDb8odEd1/s320/roman+2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now introducing Roman Bridger and boy, I have a lot to say about this guy. This might be a rant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's dive into Roman's backstory for a moment. The most important piece of his backstory is how he was conceived. Some decades ago, maybe around the late 60s to early 70s, Maureen Prescott was a promising young actress going by the alias of Rina Reynolds. When she meets powerful Hollywood producer John Milton, he invites her to a party, and, unfortunately, she ends up suddenly pregnant. This doesn't go well for Maureen's career, so she gives up the baby for adoption and leaves Hollywood for good. Years later, Roman Bridger, the son she left behind, arrives at her doorstep but Maureen coldly rejects him. This leaves Roman in a fury. He's so pissed in fact that he sets up a plan to have his mother killed. Okay, this is when things get a tad bit confusing. Apparently, Roman coerced Billy and Stu to kill his mother by showing videos of Maureen sneaking off with Billy's father. Oookay. I get that the filmmakers are making Roman into the end-all-be-all of the Ghostface Killers but it's done in a very contrived way. It would feel more organic if Billy discovered the affair himself. After all, he was the mastermind behind all of the machinations of the first movie and I feel that Billy being coerced to kill, takes away his mystique.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJPZ4LlAOfEmtQXHcClQn11w8yrvv-TOtrc37pP6SjUsbjjZyJjKV9jaBuucliKHsUCc0Adkzd51rfJBg9PD4-GdDfJ85M1SIn5dAa3Qp0cBKsIwn5N8wSBoC-ibaPmjHEODnGYoOHY1o/s250/RomanBridger.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="250" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjJPZ4LlAOfEmtQXHcClQn11w8yrvv-TOtrc37pP6SjUsbjjZyJjKV9jaBuucliKHsUCc0Adkzd51rfJBg9PD4-GdDfJ85M1SIn5dAa3Qp0cBKsIwn5N8wSBoC-ibaPmjHEODnGYoOHY1o/s0/RomanBridger.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But the ultimate elaborate plot of this movie stems from the fact that Roman was rejected and Sidney had the life that he never had. Okay, let's backtrack here. This might be a theory, but I think the <b>real </b>reason behind Roman killing half his cast members and causing a shakeup on the film set is to spite his father John Milton. Retroactively, that would make more sense to the narrative. Now let's get into the topic of this situation: Roman's jealously. This is one of the reasons why I genuinely dislike this character. He is incredibly petty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to compare the livelihoods between Roman and Sidney.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sure, you can say that Roman didn't have it easy at first, being a Hollywood "love" child, but he is the son of a powerful Hollywood producer, and not to mention, he has become a successful director himself. I get the feeling that some nepotism was involved. On top of that, Roman takes on the habit of exploring the tricks of the Casting Couch. Like father, like son, I guess. He even blows up the home of one of the actresses he's slept with! What a dick move! Meanwhile, Sidney suffers from PTSD and is still is reeling over the death of her mother and friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Far as I can see, Roman has it WAY much better than Sidney and, yet still, he's bitter. God, what an asshole.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here comes the contrivances. The voice translator is one of the most confusing plot holes of the movie. It was used well in the opening scene but then I start to scratch my head, wondering how the voices were even recorded on the voice modifier. Just how in the hell did Maureen's voice (who's been dead for almost 4 years by the way) get recorded in the translator? How can Roman record any and every voice on the translator? It's mind-boggling. Furthermore, how can this man stop his pulse? Roman has apparently has gained superpowers at this point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0JkRlEJQ_viEtyJqmvVgKenSaiXkZIaXZkGRFVqgfbmt2g-yM8yqKR6dpcz21a3gXzdbmUoshoZfq1MFg74mz114-fwjXpq0WJQlYeHx2_zvQ7cY4ivAoUVXsm3X6EdUuwx4g7Iyf0yW/s1200/RB.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1200" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0JkRlEJQ_viEtyJqmvVgKenSaiXkZIaXZkGRFVqgfbmt2g-yM8yqKR6dpcz21a3gXzdbmUoshoZfq1MFg74mz114-fwjXpq0WJQlYeHx2_zvQ7cY4ivAoUVXsm3X6EdUuwx4g7Iyf0yW/s320/RB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So Roman goes off on his evil speech and it's very grating to listen to. He sounds less like a maniacal villain and more like a spoiled brat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVQDS-I3hDanh16s8ASzjmYQjfvzkXsQDqMB1-6MVGVJzNXW46WMzmBOc1ryBLj5zRcFOgrbzkq7wzvGYAQz3fwTQor6BhgkCEhovyzqtfnLCW40qYZy-ZNCe-ZMITt6xFnDd7w6L1qjs/s344/roman+defeated.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="146" data-original-width="344" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVQDS-I3hDanh16s8ASzjmYQjfvzkXsQDqMB1-6MVGVJzNXW46WMzmBOc1ryBLj5zRcFOgrbzkq7wzvGYAQz3fwTQor6BhgkCEhovyzqtfnLCW40qYZy-ZNCe-ZMITt6xFnDd7w6L1qjs/s320/roman+defeated.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even our girl Sidney has had enough, she's already been through this song and dance before. She says to him what I've been thinking all this time and tells Roman the reason he kills is that he <b>likes</b> it. Who cares if you didn't have the best childhood. In life, you make choices and Roman made his choice. This is a case of nature, not nurture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG7RnnNn5K0rfAGH12tmGL4UcY2S3jhFLQvoBA66y0sibRt0NDsGAJyXA0OLx4qi56qVy-TL91z344xbnTYGEx2FBWJXVB94z7iLC-khV67ZkH_ymtPE-v0tHxjEWhhdcv3VUo7TJizUY/s575/Roman.PNG.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHG7RnnNn5K0rfAGH12tmGL4UcY2S3jhFLQvoBA66y0sibRt0NDsGAJyXA0OLx4qi56qVy-TL91z344xbnTYGEx2FBWJXVB94z7iLC-khV67ZkH_ymtPE-v0tHxjEWhhdcv3VUo7TJizUY/s320/Roman.PNG.png" width="215" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got nothing against actor Scott Foley. He's good with what he's given and I get why he was cast: Oh no! The nice guy from Felicity is the killer! But unfortunately, his character sucks and the script doesn't do him any favors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I consider Roman Bridger to be one of the worst aspects of this movie. Period.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Qk8vnzSOiJaLNQzzyoJ54DZCc55mGfrV857k7GERQmgYqdr_xNtiz-wBqVpZm1QOWbvLpa73t34RGAdzo1iy5XAv4Ja2OENiOCg1_y8TuURewT5M2uIxyNMA7qiEhwKyttBsGRyGFmo5JDR1szkUz4z57Hgg1sVVJ9pCljnGZ6_Wyg2_XtOlAhk52A=s625" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="625" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2Qk8vnzSOiJaLNQzzyoJ54DZCc55mGfrV857k7GERQmgYqdr_xNtiz-wBqVpZm1QOWbvLpa73t34RGAdzo1iy5XAv4Ja2OENiOCg1_y8TuURewT5M2uIxyNMA7qiEhwKyttBsGRyGFmo5JDR1szkUz4z57Hgg1sVVJ9pCljnGZ6_Wyg2_XtOlAhk52A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Wes Craven's directing is always top-notch but it's bogged down by the slapstick nature of the script. One scene I thought was really well done is Sarah's chase sequence, especially when she hides in the costume rack is really creepy and suspenseful until...its gets comical.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGEci2LT_OnPHe9jsWO5-nAFyoCVJF4pt7ihPeABBmHIeZjCsjZRhk8CoIEn_On0OLv0S7VQN8l8IusyL9tEs_PTDgtlcfm48cbzVJts5P9DQ6KLpf-IAGkwwPISLvBB0y7iQvcWWhOPV65Oj_-GpgJSGIXyXQzmvAP1PX_dpoDahC7IV-Vtld6ULAhg=s400" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="400" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgGEci2LT_OnPHe9jsWO5-nAFyoCVJF4pt7ihPeABBmHIeZjCsjZRhk8CoIEn_On0OLv0S7VQN8l8IusyL9tEs_PTDgtlcfm48cbzVJts5P9DQ6KLpf-IAGkwwPISLvBB0y7iQvcWWhOPV65Oj_-GpgJSGIXyXQzmvAP1PX_dpoDahC7IV-Vtld6ULAhg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is painstakingly obvious when Sarah uses one of the film props as a weapon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXfAl3iBVUoHTEo8Z9-xCDSzGuNo7kskdADOLEc7UabJxB8jtWn1bQtYk-6g5bxmpji5L7dKenfX7RhfMOcb8CIBuzpAxxbMDh4FQTKg6oelMWDPXyGudPbDREqXbA-uwD4cjKHXLwmnT7qJuQJjBG8mT7p7sGY51UFvvyU0bnQFheskU97eI8HEaqgA=s721" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="721" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiXfAl3iBVUoHTEo8Z9-xCDSzGuNo7kskdADOLEc7UabJxB8jtWn1bQtYk-6g5bxmpji5L7dKenfX7RhfMOcb8CIBuzpAxxbMDh4FQTKg6oelMWDPXyGudPbDREqXbA-uwD4cjKHXLwmnT7qJuQJjBG8mT7p7sGY51UFvvyU0bnQFheskU97eI8HEaqgA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another instance is when the Ghostface Killer knocks out Steven with a frying pan. What is this, Looney Toons?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9-gOKHlHodAHANYxp3Fo882NyYR-dZCStugUh_gOCKKrUVyRlsRHcKpKTGypylpf21nKmEL7jM7OazdTcwNHRt5iTu7PiL71z-M_INs1aJjBYDLJ5jFdKej6fsEOP96oOEG-bGASfuJ2garIPw4PjTD5G-yzPs63iIZb8QGpLgT-SOTNw989thVJVrg=s620" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="620" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9-gOKHlHodAHANYxp3Fo882NyYR-dZCStugUh_gOCKKrUVyRlsRHcKpKTGypylpf21nKmEL7jM7OazdTcwNHRt5iTu7PiL71z-M_INs1aJjBYDLJ5jFdKej6fsEOP96oOEG-bGASfuJ2garIPw4PjTD5G-yzPs63iIZb8QGpLgT-SOTNw989thVJVrg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh but I'm not done yet. When he goes after Tyson, the killer trips him by pulling a rug from under him. Wiley E. Coyote style. It's ludicrous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, most of the comedy in the first two movies was subtle and leaned more towards meta-humor while this movie is outright slapstick in some places. It's not a major issue but it takes away the intensely creepy and spine-tingling atmosphere that made the previous two movies stand out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBd9rDMj-Ui31_uzQzjc3uYuoeCxeYzTcG1lF9-jPqyybnCU4Mas8Uat0JoVGLp4hdqpFdXAOyJQdv2iw_BK7D95JS80Qro4EZCdLSXstT01fA0xGR_ptNr0Q0EnFkfhbHviQMdmkD_BZtwE2GDu_oYb4tIylVrctScO0m0T-bXa9zpTrqBGSm2iheQQ=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1000" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBd9rDMj-Ui31_uzQzjc3uYuoeCxeYzTcG1lF9-jPqyybnCU4Mas8Uat0JoVGLp4hdqpFdXAOyJQdv2iw_BK7D95JS80Qro4EZCdLSXstT01fA0xGR_ptNr0Q0EnFkfhbHviQMdmkD_BZtwE2GDu_oYb4tIylVrctScO0m0T-bXa9zpTrqBGSm2iheQQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did like the setting of the climax: a lavish mansion with hidden rooms that sort of reminiscent of the movie <i>Clue</i>. But unfortunately, most of the climax feels like a Scooby-doo episode.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipmM6Dg7i4oFn764Zd3fXxyKBE72A2mgz_ZhL5EP_p2cmbPbRer44aNGHpJ0AfxkCRJZeu--moFcVDZFqO5yWDHedn0wtdjgKItbakpVG6cDJmHQpbOdfdPxDryqWdEafO8wVj6dN8Zzf40miXKxLNJNfhfinzzFFBJySy-4XWPkgTYtvfbplrGkgQoQ=s700" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="700" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipmM6Dg7i4oFn764Zd3fXxyKBE72A2mgz_ZhL5EP_p2cmbPbRer44aNGHpJ0AfxkCRJZeu--moFcVDZFqO5yWDHedn0wtdjgKItbakpVG6cDJmHQpbOdfdPxDryqWdEafO8wVj6dN8Zzf40miXKxLNJNfhfinzzFFBJySy-4XWPkgTYtvfbplrGkgQoQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, when the movie <i>tries</i> to be scary, it fails miserably. Sidney's nightmare sequence, for example, was really forced and cheesy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1lyGgo4oZ-hLUyd5mD9I2THqNhn8FUJ-N5m3q7AXoy0UN4FmVdZAg7aukRlHjmNdZm4cXPdQhmaOO2DlGVK8qzRzHQFOBiQcQYFU5IWofdMbJsMYeTD0iYUooP6ANnK7kDasSLoXAdL5jhxhOG1nAZK0tpGICq1N04J1w2Fjg5uI9i2fDHhF-u9TXig=s800" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg1lyGgo4oZ-hLUyd5mD9I2THqNhn8FUJ-N5m3q7AXoy0UN4FmVdZAg7aukRlHjmNdZm4cXPdQhmaOO2DlGVK8qzRzHQFOBiQcQYFU5IWofdMbJsMYeTD0iYUooP6ANnK7kDasSLoXAdL5jhxhOG1nAZK0tpGICq1N04J1w2Fjg5uI9i2fDHhF-u9TXig=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK57HAExGMp5bQu5Ar4HJxZudZXNrEaMyQ8Rzl1KyVosuf4JXwtBHTus6ZkggK1MS83eL6T2MYph_ihzNMbgW-I9fOvwESClHvno7jRAR88F7L3Ma8itxZpKTV9o_JN9qI2xFijISeflAGa7yBGdflKmoLnVAjnyJWmXEAHpxObuUCsDNOz6jszXTdlg=s1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjK57HAExGMp5bQu5Ar4HJxZudZXNrEaMyQ8Rzl1KyVosuf4JXwtBHTus6ZkggK1MS83eL6T2MYph_ihzNMbgW-I9fOvwESClHvno7jRAR88F7L3Ma8itxZpKTV9o_JN9qI2xFijISeflAGa7yBGdflKmoLnVAjnyJWmXEAHpxObuUCsDNOz6jszXTdlg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The writing is mostly okay. The mystery surrounding Maureen Prescott was handled really well but the revelation of Roman really killed the vibe for me. Ehren Kruger just wasn't right for this material. It would've helped the movie a tad bit if the filmmakers followed through with Kevin Willaimson's notes but seeing how Kruger wanted the film to be bigger and grander than the last movie, Harvey Weinstein and his entourage went on with the deal. Therefore, what Kruger and Weinstein created was a less-than-stellar horror sequel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Scream 3 isn't a terrible movie, though it is often viewed as the weakest link of the franchise and not as visceral.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Scream 3 <i>is </i>entertaining to watch but it's just not at the top of my list of favorite Scream films.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My last word: not bad but not great either.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbP-AJyhgXU" width="320" youtube-src-id="QbP-AJyhgXU"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-6782802463307661792021-10-31T20:18:00.001-07:002021-10-31T20:18:27.638-07:00Sweet to the Sweets for a Halloween Treat<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gb4M6qCuPrqWvVCiiNKEHGeotSVHsndGNkB7C2KhHOyvttNJ5ZMiLO-xfEyxUA6nmTpnBVoTmw_vjZbbW1jZwg7rPd8ykj-zBKK32da7x3-aSZmhVlxEqg1EFDQDny58RtpTnI7pwRTN/s475/candyman+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gb4M6qCuPrqWvVCiiNKEHGeotSVHsndGNkB7C2KhHOyvttNJ5ZMiLO-xfEyxUA6nmTpnBVoTmw_vjZbbW1jZwg7rPd8ykj-zBKK32da7x3-aSZmhVlxEqg1EFDQDny58RtpTnI7pwRTN/s320/candyman+poster.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUso6-JTJp2IvCvqLKJ7wKlMnxK1ArGWX_hhus0bqHqR4WSqAMGx0gNkXAkfXpSb8q4cvXLd6MoRDURItYQQ6p64DqUfO0uaoUfhugLLIAytO9F89ae0AAYZ64s5tIHlkG68MQNixoEae/s1500/farewell+to+the+flesh+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyUso6-JTJp2IvCvqLKJ7wKlMnxK1ArGWX_hhus0bqHqR4WSqAMGx0gNkXAkfXpSb8q4cvXLd6MoRDURItYQQ6p64DqUfO0uaoUfhugLLIAytO9F89ae0AAYZ64s5tIHlkG68MQNixoEae/s320/farewell+to+the+flesh+poster.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlI-jxwz2SSxh0ZrMS-zD3VeQQI5g3xwfYPko_xg3hwAsieK-T8A4TnnX0LQV97idJS8fWLABjOXnjFxUKl28VmVmYDnIpuzeq7hFypuoFvbywBniEtMV517RuMEU2IO5Md04ra6uyeEn8/s384/Candyman_3_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlI-jxwz2SSxh0ZrMS-zD3VeQQI5g3xwfYPko_xg3hwAsieK-T8A4TnnX0LQV97idJS8fWLABjOXnjFxUKl28VmVmYDnIpuzeq7hFypuoFvbywBniEtMV517RuMEU2IO5Md04ra6uyeEn8/s320/Candyman_3_Poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04poYINVAvzNwsW6aSac3CxqGM5wj9yWQudl9zNGu4hdMZL5jb4gk12Bg1CSEYZXFfz9NcS82xT15JPCJ_GwXVxW0GnrqVL6YFBLy6Tk1drZadC9_3AGuaoBwiQmiVlB0c0WyyTpS3SQ0/s283/candyman+2021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="178" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj04poYINVAvzNwsW6aSac3CxqGM5wj9yWQudl9zNGu4hdMZL5jb4gk12Bg1CSEYZXFfz9NcS82xT15JPCJ_GwXVxW0GnrqVL6YFBLy6Tk1drZadC9_3AGuaoBwiQmiVlB0c0WyyTpS3SQ0/s0/candyman+2021.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><br /><p>I know I'm a little late to the party but, as a kid, I always had a habit of celebrating Halloween past October. However, I do believe that Halloween has a 6-day aftereffect, maybe until around mid-November, so it's no big deal. This month I will be covering the Candyman series. Back in the day, I only ever heard of the first Candyman but I never got to watch it. I remember watching snippets of Farewell To The Flesh on TV one time and Day of The Dead late at night but only just a little because I didn't get into horror movies until I was older. Finally, I was brave enough to watch Candyman in its entirety...at the tender age of 17. Yes, I said it. 17 years old. Let me remind you that I didn't watch four of the Friday the 13th films and the first Nightmare on Elm Street until I was 10 years old, The Hellraiser films, maybe around 11 to 12 years old. But it seems that Candyman was so scary, in fact, that I had to wait till I was <i>17 </i>to watch it. And let me tell you, I was scared shitless. Every time a character would say his name five times, I would cover my ears. It was that intense. I also found Tony Todd to be extremely terrifying in the role with his deep voice and imposing appearance matched with a bloody, gory-looking hook. It gave me the creeps. Worst of all, I had to sleep in my grandmother's basement the same night. I had my eyes open the whole time. Yeah, it totally got me. But come to my surprise that the movie was adapted by a short story Clive Barker. It's no secret that I am a huge Clive Barker fan. so, I did a little research, purchased the Books of Blood Vol. 5, and now I'm ready to dissect this project. I am hella excited to cover this! Just to compare how the movie captures the essence of Clive Barker's imagination. And I have to say, that it captures it pretty well. Now for the other movies, there's not much to really say, though I would like to add that Farwell to the Flesh is a decent-enough sequel where Day of the Dead...is not. For the 2021 reboot, I thought It was a very competently made film, however, there's one little issue that I would like to discuss full length. Anywho, I am totally siked to get this off the ground. So wish me luck and Happy Halloween!</p>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com1Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-27011795167036486902021-10-29T18:24:00.011-07:002021-10-29T20:33:24.299-07:00Halloween Kills (2021)<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljkIsJBstzf3eLyUldrgg7asRO3POVTgLwD3pV4jbsYlEx6iD9bvaClIXY-Ocqw4wSQoE9-w15pMM-REAcI9jdoUvk2AH0pdZXSjGaSKJfpt1PSEc4DSyypXrnMD4SUHNCdaNlrum-4qr/s1583/halloween+kills+sucks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljkIsJBstzf3eLyUldrgg7asRO3POVTgLwD3pV4jbsYlEx6iD9bvaClIXY-Ocqw4wSQoE9-w15pMM-REAcI9jdoUvk2AH0pdZXSjGaSKJfpt1PSEc4DSyypXrnMD4SUHNCdaNlrum-4qr/s320/halloween+kills+sucks.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I just want to get this out of the way because this movie was so incredibly pointless. When looking back at Halloween 2018, I thought it was...okay. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. Though I would say that it was a proper continuation of the original with Jamie Lee Curtis' amazing performance as one of the standouts. Come to my surprise the filmmakers were going to do a trilogy, which was kind of baffling because I thought Halloween 2018 was going to be the end-all-be-all of the franchise. Now that I've seen the second entry of this revamped franchise, I was very, very underwhelmed. I felt like I wasted an hour and forty minutes watching this dreck. It's just Michael Myers killing random people. Sure, that's what the fans want but it adds nothing to the story. This whole movie was nothing. I wish there was more to say but...what is there to say. It's a piece of shit movie.<div>Do you want to know the plot? What plot? I mean sure there's a story here somewhere, however, it feels like a filler episode from a television show than an actual movie. All I have is that the townspeople of Haddonfield, including some recurring characters, plan to take out Micheal Myers, the man who wreaked havoc those forty years ago. There. That's all I have. </div><div>The characters in this don't really have much of a focus. Most of them are props for Michael to kill off. I honestly can't tell you who's story it is because it's certainly not Laurie's or Officer Hawkins'. They literally fade into the background for the rest of the movie. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3krDVkB10iTBUW4N8jOZE6UNift-YZuKMcY9qe0GmxqJewZ5NOY1zGn2eCVEWKgzOg7ppQuPRceyecQfWPeVW8jMfqG0loTxxcKHwlzSrOMldPHONxWVgbktAkdOlrF2Rlxqu0hGqg0s/s1600/l-intro-1634573973.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3krDVkB10iTBUW4N8jOZE6UNift-YZuKMcY9qe0GmxqJewZ5NOY1zGn2eCVEWKgzOg7ppQuPRceyecQfWPeVW8jMfqG0loTxxcKHwlzSrOMldPHONxWVgbktAkdOlrF2Rlxqu0hGqg0s/s320/l-intro-1634573973.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>The only character that has some semblance of being a protagonist is Tommy Doyle. He's the one that takes on the leader role and follows most of the movie's narrative or whatever narrative it's attempting to have. But there is just something about Tommy that feels a little...off. Case in point, let's take his introduction as an example. Okay, just imagine, sitting at a bar with your friends, minding your own business, and then some random weirdo steps on stage and talks about a killing spree that happened forty years ago then introducing the people who had brief, I put emphasis on <i>brief, </i>encounters with the killer. This is exactly what Tommy Doyle does. It feels so out of place and unnecessary. And if you take Halloween 2018 as a direct sequel to the 1978 original, you start to wonder how Tommy could be so traumatized from what happened forty years ago that he would rally up a lynch mob to take Michael down. Sure, any kid his age would be affected by the image of Micheal Myers but when you look at it in retrospect, his arc doesn't really make sense. What is Tommy's purpose in all this? Why is he making weird announcements and rallying up lynch mobs? He was just a normal kid who had a close encounter with Michael Myers. I start to wonder how he functions in the story at all. Why is he still in the hometown that gave him memories of a killing spree some ions ago? A person with some common sense would leave the town as soon as possible. But whatever, this movie has no logic at all, so why should I give it any thought. By the way, Anthony Michael Hall was kind of forgettable and didn't leave an impression on me. </div><div>Now let's get to other unnecessary recurring characters:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2aG7GKqytEGfHm6VyuycDrNrlV8FjLBKHqJ3KHGikSPfvEfsWEByCSkZL9B3QWMldzQgA8urDPVsEXo-rGBrz_2aLIV3vi_jRBqXgrAv5dhsgwlSY2ND_8fizBnEIkBgxE357PaF8gxk/s433/AdultLonnie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="433" data-original-width="230" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2aG7GKqytEGfHm6VyuycDrNrlV8FjLBKHqJ3KHGikSPfvEfsWEByCSkZL9B3QWMldzQgA8urDPVsEXo-rGBrz_2aLIV3vi_jRBqXgrAv5dhsgwlSY2ND_8fizBnEIkBgxE357PaF8gxk/s320/AdultLonnie.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><br /><div>The movie's attempt to expand on Lonnie Elam's character failed miserably. Just to let you know, he's the kid that bullied Tommy in the first movie and now, due to their shared experiences, they're really good friends. But he isn't given much to do. For some reason, he's shown in the 1978 flashbacks where it's revealed that not only did he run into Michael once but twice...And that's it. He just becomes irrelevant from then on. He's so irrelevant, in fact, that he gets killed OFF SCREEN. Though how he gets killed is just as stupid. When he goes inside the Myers house, he tells Cameron and Allyson to stay in the car. To reiterate, we witnessed Michael killing a group of firefighters and three people at the SAME TIME. What makes you think Lonnie is going to make it out alive? And as anyone predicted, Lonnie's dead body is hoisted in the ceiling. How quaint.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nzm1nrqivwgvBLMTxpZypq8B4vC9vrUWbqRMrnLKDK43pzlPF8jdcRoynwNOR_HGwZHkt0w4cAObx4EgkfDrHSBl3DuTqj96ZYxBN1S6BKj-UK_VZJbr9Njbmg0zZBDAyjigLegGYSk9/s1280/iwokQYZmVdwxtgswFqWqeh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nzm1nrqivwgvBLMTxpZypq8B4vC9vrUWbqRMrnLKDK43pzlPF8jdcRoynwNOR_HGwZHkt0w4cAObx4EgkfDrHSBl3DuTqj96ZYxBN1S6BKj-UK_VZJbr9Njbmg0zZBDAyjigLegGYSk9/s320/iwokQYZmVdwxtgswFqWqeh.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then we have Lindsey Wallace played by Paris Hilton's aunt Kyle Richards. Her part is basically a cameo and nothing else. She is given nothing to do and although she faces off with Michael, she fails miserably. The last that we see of her is being wheeled away at the hospital, never to be seen again. Unfortunately, Mrs. Richards was very one-note but it's not her fault once you realize how shitty her dialogue is. Either or, Lindsey's inclusion was poorly handled.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIsjfZ88rPioIj9uu0UxffYeQu-A97Xy0JJPNYoFg27-uLtxc3ybFqX0lFAGjS0Xcd33oV6WMKCI7_Tuwhu89sLTJHBsfrLvXgGvt2PfzMP1M6KjWsTnS3Mc9HqrhQtENnH2SLbBtnVbm/s740/Halloween-Kills-Trailer-Marion-Chambers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="740" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIsjfZ88rPioIj9uu0UxffYeQu-A97Xy0JJPNYoFg27-uLtxc3ybFqX0lFAGjS0Xcd33oV6WMKCI7_Tuwhu89sLTJHBsfrLvXgGvt2PfzMP1M6KjWsTnS3Mc9HqrhQtENnH2SLbBtnVbm/s320/Halloween-Kills-Trailer-Marion-Chambers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Marion Chamber is more irrelevant than Lindsey and Lonnie combined. You would think that she would be a substitute for Dr. Loomis but there's no such luck. Marion Chambers is brought back again just to be killed off...again. Geez, this woman never gets a break. But what did you think was going to happen. You have this elderly woman against a two-ton man that could overpower her. And overpower her he does. Okay, sure, she has a gun but she misses every shot and this is where I'm gonna get a little off-topic here. one of my biggest pet peeves of the movie(though there is plenty of them, trust me) is that whenever somebody shoots at Michael Myers, they MISS. Sure, it makes sense for a young Officer Hawkins in the flashbacks because he's a rookie, and sure nurse Marion doesn't know anything about fire guns, however, there is no reason for them to keep missing shots. Especially if he walks slowly enough for them to aim at the head or leg. It's ludicrous! But let me tell you what's really ludicrous. This black couple named Marcus and Vanessa joins Marion...and gets killed along with her. What's supposed to be an intense and scary scene was pure comedy. I never laughed so hard. When Marcus tries to lunge at him with a knife, Michael pushes him back, causing Marcus to stab himself in the eye. And then, when Vanessa shoots at him (and of course, she misses), Michael pushes the car door, causing her to shoot herself in the head. I'm telling you, it has to be seen to be believed. Ha-larious!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUm_sl02W7TovVfa3grNau8xO3C85jchlmeXHXbJAZI2-xUaY7zgI8Jjbx-u3TJnx1gXEM0Y54DUoVPRX2mrGMCTPd5E2Ej3uPH3O1ldQUhTS6VvOz9Wo0dd-PV9IjHRN2_9_RjNZSwyys/s1000/6169b46838c1960018301f1d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUm_sl02W7TovVfa3grNau8xO3C85jchlmeXHXbJAZI2-xUaY7zgI8Jjbx-u3TJnx1gXEM0Y54DUoVPRX2mrGMCTPd5E2Ej3uPH3O1ldQUhTS6VvOz9Wo0dd-PV9IjHRN2_9_RjNZSwyys/s320/6169b46838c1960018301f1d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Sheriff Brackett has an even lesser role than either of these characters. It's a shame because his character arc has a lot of promise. His inclusion in the movie makes sense because he actually has a purpose of going after Michael Myers. As you may know, Michael did kill his only daughter, Annie, in the original, So now that Michael is on the loose again, he's determined to stop him...Well, the movie doesn't take the time to put much focus on him and he's sort of put on the back burner, making you wonder why he was in this movie at all. </div><div>I really want to get these people out of the way. And although they're just typical horror movie victims that are insignificant to the plot, I at least want to point out the sheer stupidity of these characters:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGLOTczEhIGLvl4T8RdWf7JU45eIgm5WCcqTgK3aM5clHqzLJsLR4fGeFNcj3__D7m-akuyaGpDV056vWIpR3vDsuKD7i_7W2jWio5z_SS_0Xk5ZS2xWzEGUXk8svTkTq165KmigqczhO/s963/Older-Drone-Couple-in-Halloween-Kills.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="963" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGLOTczEhIGLvl4T8RdWf7JU45eIgm5WCcqTgK3aM5clHqzLJsLR4fGeFNcj3__D7m-akuyaGpDV056vWIpR3vDsuKD7i_7W2jWio5z_SS_0Xk5ZS2xWzEGUXk8svTkTq165KmigqczhO/s320/Older-Drone-Couple-in-Halloween-Kills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We have this one scene where this elderly couple is playing around with a drone. I...don't get it. But then Michael crashes in and attacks the husband and as the woman runs to unlock the door...she just stands there and <i>screams. </i>She's right at the door, she has every opportunity to escape. It's baffling to me that the people in this movie can be this inept. But they're not as stupid as our next couple.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZmxu7fK1TZcHtiaT4_NuaJ3-6vEZDBrAD9pguuQvxIKVdONtosx3kIDHqx7w7i4N_X5hJnwn8CVAnFGoxklLWqkbV9nSH9HNQScxOyY-71puaLduW0RJFcwOFNMWd8kYU39FYOzg5nMq/s737/Big-John-and-Little-John-in-Halloween-Kills.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="737" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZmxu7fK1TZcHtiaT4_NuaJ3-6vEZDBrAD9pguuQvxIKVdONtosx3kIDHqx7w7i4N_X5hJnwn8CVAnFGoxklLWqkbV9nSH9HNQScxOyY-71puaLduW0RJFcwOFNMWd8kYU39FYOzg5nMq/s320/Big-John-and-Little-John-in-Halloween-Kills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We have a gay couple named Big John and Little John (we don't really know their names) who coincidently live in the Myers home. You would think that this might be an important plot device where one of the characters warns them that Michael Myers might terrorize their home but it doesn't lead anywhere. We spend a little more time with them when these obnoxious kids throw a prank on them. And let me just add by saying that the child actors in this film are <i>terrible </i>and it's not even their fault. They have to work with a shitty script and shitty directing. Anywho, as anyone can predict, Michael crashes their party. Big John decides to grab an incy wincy teeny weeny little knife to defend himself with. Again, judging how big and powerful Michael is, there is no way in hell that he could even<i> feel </i>that knife stabbing him. Let's not forget that Michael Myers has fought off bullets for christ's sake. It's unbelievable how incompetent these people are. Then when Little John discovers his husband's dead body and Michael appears at the door, he just <i>stands </i>there and says dramatically, "Michael, you've come home," while he's waiting to be killed. There are no words to describe how nonsensical this is. After watching these two scenes, I was slowly losing my patience.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now let's get to our <i>main </i>Characters if you would call them that:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosvA4AYTvZJsMLJrDkP0ze1i3sgt5MTQj14KYqsTxt3BfV78-VK4YgsWiQoT_4B5i2pJfbNY1tzkN7GYfHUYiXRHs0aiD7NBJA7d-9QSyhloRKV27GHwc1phw1Gs7mRSWBI5nm_OaC6vm/s700/halloweenkills-trailerbreakdown-laurie-hospital-700x288.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="700" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosvA4AYTvZJsMLJrDkP0ze1i3sgt5MTQj14KYqsTxt3BfV78-VK4YgsWiQoT_4B5i2pJfbNY1tzkN7GYfHUYiXRHs0aiD7NBJA7d-9QSyhloRKV27GHwc1phw1Gs7mRSWBI5nm_OaC6vm/s320/halloweenkills-trailerbreakdown-laurie-hospital-700x288.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Poor, poor Jamie Lee Curtis is wasted in this movie, even more, wasted in the original<i> Halloween 2</i>. She is once again relegated to stay in a hospital bed the <i>entire</i> time. Sure, she has more lines to work with this time around but it's usually these long speeches about how Michael is evil and Michael must be stopped. And in between that, she would have these heart-to-heart talks with Sheriff Hawkins, apparently revealing about their previous romantic relationship and how he may or may not be Karen's actual father. Sure, I'll take it, I don't care. But there is a moment in the film where Laurie says, "fuck it!" gets up from the hospital bed, and jabs an adrenaline needle in her leg. Just when you think there's going to be a Laurie vs. Michael Round 2, the fresh stitches in Laurie's stomach, bring her down a notch and she is back to where she started...in the hospital bed. Bummer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc23KZR8GfI5nfHlKZHZX3ImzwTEbgWacaDLWxPqT7_E4AQqbWwF0p_neKkwWSirqqhETaNfIy0-5FXoMqJcXJjZilQERMkIOk5-KRwvofCqLy7tzioOCSXApvZ78KET64pvQvgoEN5pB5/s640/19ea09d20600841946e5939d076e9b6d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc23KZR8GfI5nfHlKZHZX3ImzwTEbgWacaDLWxPqT7_E4AQqbWwF0p_neKkwWSirqqhETaNfIy0-5FXoMqJcXJjZilQERMkIOk5-KRwvofCqLy7tzioOCSXApvZ78KET64pvQvgoEN5pB5/s320/19ea09d20600841946e5939d076e9b6d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Laurie's not the only character trapped in the hospital. We have Sheriff Hawkins, who somehow survived his knife attack from Dr. Sartain. When he's discovered by Lonnie's son Cameron, he makes this declaration that he'll do everything in vain to kill Michael Myers, thinking that he'll take most of the action this time around...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDxfTPBFV15qY0QDP4OEjySmCSRYHaGuzO9lqpBBMitGXX_8p217lIkA1PbjJtIWr502d8w_B7pVfqaK-63eg69bNFnPYX9ShaZ_jpQZmxtqpKl0j-dvmu7895FUH1DH6TXXObGe-HndL/s2759/Halloween-Kills-Cast-Thomas-Mann-Young-Frank-Hawkins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1140" data-original-width="2759" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDxfTPBFV15qY0QDP4OEjySmCSRYHaGuzO9lqpBBMitGXX_8p217lIkA1PbjJtIWr502d8w_B7pVfqaK-63eg69bNFnPYX9ShaZ_jpQZmxtqpKl0j-dvmu7895FUH1DH6TXXObGe-HndL/s320/Halloween-Kills-Cast-Thomas-Mann-Young-Frank-Hawkins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But the only action he takes is in the flashbacks. Speaking of which, it's disappointing to say that the flashbacks are irrelevant to the movie and there is nothing to work with here. Sure, the effects behind it are well done. The look and feel definitely make it<i> seems</i> like it's 1978 Halloween. But the stupid writing and the stupid acting ruins that. Seriously, what were they trying to do here? Okay, I appreciate the <i>attempt, </i>But I'm telling you, it's inconsequential to the film. If they made this the opening of Halloween 2018, this idea would've been way much better than it is, but it never came to be. Young Hawkins has nothing to work with here and through the duration of the present day, he is <i>still </i>useless as he was in the last film. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lmv_KJ6sHjjkAOHmPZK9H9C_scFt7mEsAMbcb9AGEeiKgSpN6Uwud_yY1GT0cn6_cBGTV1gRDH8Ls-rk_BBDvRcYcR7QF5W7LRe7ZqQmS3RDiu_Ixl1jbNRc0ZqRca03FxCOGrK63oOs/s1200/Halloween-Kills-2021-Andi-Matichak-as-Allyson-Corduroy-Jacket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lmv_KJ6sHjjkAOHmPZK9H9C_scFt7mEsAMbcb9AGEeiKgSpN6Uwud_yY1GT0cn6_cBGTV1gRDH8Ls-rk_BBDvRcYcR7QF5W7LRe7ZqQmS3RDiu_Ixl1jbNRc0ZqRca03FxCOGrK63oOs/s320/Halloween-Kills-2021-Andi-Matichak-as-Allyson-Corduroy-Jacket.jpg" width="267" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim46WRHanMEm0G6VIMpCc2gfHC2Y0s_tFWaVawq_JG-MIW7i90tubfzlkpvzdzNKNwick9OgxW8GUR5VqszbDcVovwUL2mOEIOlO6_1dSUss-BjWEeC6g4ymNZwyON1JKQ0vhv3e7yEWMI/s890/Halloween-Kills-Cast-Dylan-Arnold-Cameron-Elam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="890" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim46WRHanMEm0G6VIMpCc2gfHC2Y0s_tFWaVawq_JG-MIW7i90tubfzlkpvzdzNKNwick9OgxW8GUR5VqszbDcVovwUL2mOEIOlO6_1dSUss-BjWEeC6g4ymNZwyON1JKQ0vhv3e7yEWMI/s320/Halloween-Kills-Cast-Dylan-Arnold-Cameron-Elam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Now we have Laurie's stupid granddaughter Allyson and her equally stupid ex-boyfriend Cameron. These two characters do nothing of value other than to get themselves put in danger.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PnmuWwXCy1KInSaiAjCd-jNblQFChp6RnNj3E08NQg4HZVDZ9H4MgOC_9DT1dYMVkyB23_qUbgGbCrqRiDaMtajEA1M_k7_HgOoazCAe8n0a3C2b-y5nhngr1NlJHbG71WA4uUaiZSR7/s2048/61674b1e2cb14.hires.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PnmuWwXCy1KInSaiAjCd-jNblQFChp6RnNj3E08NQg4HZVDZ9H4MgOC_9DT1dYMVkyB23_qUbgGbCrqRiDaMtajEA1M_k7_HgOoazCAe8n0a3C2b-y5nhngr1NlJHbG71WA4uUaiZSR7/s320/61674b1e2cb14.hires.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Cameron appears in the first few moments of the film when he finds Sheriff Hawkins, still alive but critically injured, and...that's all we have of him. He's pretty much a tag-along kid for the rest of the movie. I ceased to wonder why he was kept alive this long when he's not even a serviceable main character. Hell, I could barely call him a <i>supporting </i>character, he's just so forgettable. For some reason, he wants to join Tommy's lynch mob to stop Michael Myers, which just feels forced and out of nowhere. Seriously, who is he trying to kid? And there is no pick between who wins or loses because Cameron is the loser either way. Right off the bat, he screams and tries to run away but then BOOM! Michael takes him down and takes him down quite brutally. So was Cameron ever important to the plot? Fuck, no.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xVW5RCiXN3dTZNh_ZrMS96jsJNJFqoIy-WXpVL4gZgvXTMD-DPcN_HKb39k1lb_592g9ojHzlcLkAJ3jTO-rZpLwlXbownCem7HmyjOEsmB9kiidlpReQbfC95rEB0A2pT9gRpfccySa/s1284/halloween-kills-ending-explained.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1284" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xVW5RCiXN3dTZNh_ZrMS96jsJNJFqoIy-WXpVL4gZgvXTMD-DPcN_HKb39k1lb_592g9ojHzlcLkAJ3jTO-rZpLwlXbownCem7HmyjOEsmB9kiidlpReQbfC95rEB0A2pT9gRpfccySa/s320/halloween-kills-ending-explained.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then we have Allyson who I find incredibly tepid and useless. She decides to join in on Tommy's lynch mob because Michael killed her father. Sure, sure, you might understand her grief but I reiterate that Michael Myers is this big hulking giant and she's the petite teenage girl. How can she stand a chance? And of course, she doesn't. Michael even comes close to killing her. Okay, so Michael gains the upper hand and beats her to a pulp, throwing her down the stairs. With an injured leg, Allyson crawls up and crawls up at the front door, leans back, and just...<b>screams</b>. Not once does she struggle out the door, she just sits there and SCREAMS. Christ, what an idiot! And when Michael aims his knife down on Allyson, she literally barks at him to do it and I'm like, "Yes, please do it!" because I was just so done at this point. How should I care if Allyson lives or dies when she does nothing to contribute to the story? She is just an extension of Laurie and Karen. That's it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYhyTt5M9dmyMXnw2oyC1ZQrM5Xd5DSCKGXrId36adn3ksrqcnvMBrL4azpB5o8mdjn1jTWqoH9qcOIR91JzM5T_dnfkCJDVnMyBQ_knncBeBX9a_PiVD7bChvYCKX7n9Zr2Kg3GEoXKT/s1000/Halloween-2018-Karen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggYhyTt5M9dmyMXnw2oyC1ZQrM5Xd5DSCKGXrId36adn3ksrqcnvMBrL4azpB5o8mdjn1jTWqoH9qcOIR91JzM5T_dnfkCJDVnMyBQ_knncBeBX9a_PiVD7bChvYCKX7n9Zr2Kg3GEoXKT/s320/Halloween-2018-Karen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Speaking of Karen, she's the only one who acts like a normal human being and Judy Greer actually gave a shit, doing the best of what little she's given. But Karen's not let off the hook too easily, she has her stupid moments, too. Just wait till I spoil the ending because there's not much to spoil, trust me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2yYx3V055pBQUpVhapZJ-u9HHcwfT4-4tfKai2WTrI-69oKvVXTcV9RNSlu2O6ouVi5Puca6NxD8S9A2O4zl4YTSfMf-BI8Jl7uxpdSs1Tax57DPGd0kgZ4e2H4oYyNm9oCDSYB7PnVu/s1400/Halloween-Kills-Michael-Myers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2yYx3V055pBQUpVhapZJ-u9HHcwfT4-4tfKai2WTrI-69oKvVXTcV9RNSlu2O6ouVi5Puca6NxD8S9A2O4zl4YTSfMf-BI8Jl7uxpdSs1Tax57DPGd0kgZ4e2H4oYyNm9oCDSYB7PnVu/s320/Halloween-Kills-Michael-Myers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lastly, we have Michael Myers...and there's not much to say about him either. He's a never-ending killing machine, a two-ton brute who brutalizes and massacres anyone in his way. Sure, this is what some of the fans wanted but it turns Michael into a generic slasher villain. It irks me to make comparisons but Michael comes off like a Jason Vorhees ripoff. It's the same problem I had with the later sequels and the Rob Zombie version. I just can't buy Michael as this gigantic beast-man, overpowering people and ripping them apart like ragdolls. It takes away from what made him unique in the original movie. What these filmmakers keep forgetting is that Michael moves like a ninja, like a military soldier staking out for his next kill. He's slow, methodical, and robotic. He's nothing more than an average-sized human man devoid of any empathy or emotion. That's what makes Michael Myers scary and the people behind these films just don't get that. Say what you will about the original Halloween 2 and Halloween: H20, but at least they got the mystique of Michael Myers right. Quite frankly, I prefer those films to the rest of them. But sadly, I have nothing to add here. The filmmakers have nothing new to offer to the character of Michael Myers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You all know how I feel about the writing. It's trash, plain and simple. Along with some truly awful dialogue with almost every character sounding like a mouthpiece for Dr. Loomis to constantly remind us about what happened forty years ago. If they're not showing it, then somebody's talking about it. It's like the filmmakers are constantly hitting us over and over with a sledgehammer, along with the cheesy catchphrase, "Evil Dies Tonight!" Not to mention the obnoxious humor bits that seem out of place in what seems to be this ultra-serious Halloween film. I was laughing more at the unintentional than the intentional. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't get me started on the directing. It's equally as awful as the writing. The zoom-in shots in the 2018 film were used well in some parts but it's getting kind of obnoxious here. Not to mention, every recurring character gets an archive footage flashback every time they appear onscreen. It's like okay we get it, we know who these characters are. It's incredibly lazy and I think the filmmakers were trying to tug at the audience's nostalgia strings for checkpoints. Again what are the odds? And, case in point, the gory deaths scenes in this movie are just as meaningless. If you like blood and gore, then it's for you. But mainly, what makes a horror movie work is the build-up, the anticipation, the lore before the impact. Not so much the impact itself but I feel, in my opinion, it loses its touch when there's too much impact. And there is a lot of it here. I was not scared once in this movie, but was I supposed to? Are the filmmakers just making this movie to make a fun, dumb, slasher with some over-the-top gory kills? Who knows because I for one was not entertained in the slightest. And to be completely, completely honest, I was bored out of my mind the entire time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay now, let's get these spoilers out of the way, so I can stop talking about this piece of shit film.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So just as Michael is right close to stabbing Allyson with his knife, here comes Karen to save the day. When she fights him off, she grabs his mask and lures him out to the middle of the street where Tommy and his lynch mob start to pummel Michael. They kick him, beat him, stab him, and one person even pulls out a gun to shoot him but for some reason never think to aim in the head. When Michael reaches for his knife, Karen takes it from him and gives one final stab on his back. So you sit there and think that all is well right? WRONG. Michael takes down the entire mob, which includes Sheriff Bracket by slitting his throat and Tommy Doyle by bashing his head in. How stupid and redundant can this be? But it's not as stupid as in the final moments of the film. For some reason, Karen is compelled to go back inside the Myer's house, (you see what I mean here?) not knowing that Michael is standing behind her. And just like that, he stabs Karen to death...and that's how the movie ends. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I. Felt. Nothing. Hell, this whole movie was nothing. The next movie is called Halloween Ends and I hope it ends permanently. I am just so over this crap franchise. And I know you guys are going to have my head for saying that, but it's true. There are more bad sequels than good sequels and it doesn't get any better after that. I might have to agree with John Carpenter for making this an anthology series instead because what more can you do with the Michael Myers character other than just turning him into a generic slasher villain? There's literally nothing else to work with here. Although I'm not a huge fan of Season of the Witch, I still appreciate its efforts. For all I know, it would've been a solid second entry in terms of keeping the essence of its Halloween premise just like the first one did. Speaking of the first one, that is the truly good movie of the series, a beacon of hope amongst a pile of crap, though with a few exceptions. The biggest letdown, in my opinion, is that it has no REALISM. That's what made the original so palpable because of the simplicity and normalcy of its surroundings. It wasn't this big grand horror with insanely gory kills. It was a skin-crawling, spine-tingling slow burner. You cannot convince me that this movie, in particular, shares the same universe as the 1978 film. It's nearly impossible. Nobody acts like a normal human being, the blood and gore is so excessive that it becomes ludicrous, and the screenplay is far from subtle. Yeah, I think I've gone on a rant here. But my final say is that this franchise is one and done. There should be no more retcons, no more sequels, and no more reboots. I think it's time for the filmmakers to put this franchise out of its misery.</div><div><p><br /></p></div></div><br />J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com1Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-4041883608761065482021-10-24T01:52:00.002-07:002021-10-24T01:52:59.330-07:00Scream 2 (1997)<p> </p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjY3JQUxVz7c4yS0JpTBV88V6wjdgOoPN0gxP2LtxpJNa1W9cZHRHnafoT_14HsEpgJ8K1S_qm7LGi0QBjr-bLBesMbo_Q1aOlwxHOcRwhbUCkDyOpbOfkOnjvsqeSUkkWEExP9zQNHn6X/s1500/Scream2_1997_original_film_art_1200x.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjY3JQUxVz7c4yS0JpTBV88V6wjdgOoPN0gxP2LtxpJNa1W9cZHRHnafoT_14HsEpgJ8K1S_qm7LGi0QBjr-bLBesMbo_Q1aOlwxHOcRwhbUCkDyOpbOfkOnjvsqeSUkkWEExP9zQNHn6X/s320/Scream2_1997_original_film_art_1200x.jpg" width="218" /></a>
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<p>
While writing the script for <i>Scream,</i> Kevin Williamson actually had
two sequels in mind. You would think after the first film that everything
wraps up neatly with no sequels attached, but Scream 2 proved to be a much
competent successor to the original. This came out a year after the 1996 film,
which gave the audience a bit of hesitation, considering how quickly rushed
the production was and a leaked script on the internet almost delayed the film. Though as luck would have it, Scream 2 turned out to be a pretty solid
sequel. What Scream 2 does best is expanding upon what was established in the
first film, which continues the thread of Sidney's haunted past.
When I look at the series as a whole, it's sort of like this dark
coming-of-age tale about the cycles of trauma. But as with most Hollywood
sequels, Scream 2 is broader and grandiose than the first one. Of course, when
the filmmakers decided to recruit legendary film composers Danny Elfman and
Hans Zimmer, It's bound to be an epic sequel. There are so many memorable
scenes in this that, dare I say it, exceeds the first one. But enough small
talk, let's explore the ingenuity of Scream 2.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4cofE8-aDGq7mJLCrX__3NVuQtoAq1dqX23S_kaTNSOBhkko5HpH00AzIMOZ0L86v9-HbFHw3JOh4WbO9Me9syywA39_QwuloAS7kxHuuLIPHfBiB3J1BgkZIgQk7KWOQ4YWFU99TRRF/s2048/MV5BMTgxNjkzNzkwMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjgzNDU0NQ%2540%2540._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4cofE8-aDGq7mJLCrX__3NVuQtoAq1dqX23S_kaTNSOBhkko5HpH00AzIMOZ0L86v9-HbFHw3JOh4WbO9Me9syywA39_QwuloAS7kxHuuLIPHfBiB3J1BgkZIgQk7KWOQ4YWFU99TRRF/s320/MV5BMTgxNjkzNzkwMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwNjgzNDU0NQ%2540%2540._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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The Story: A year after the Woodsboro murders, Sidney Prescott has finally
moved on from her terrifying ordeal, making a new life for herself in Windsor
College. But little does she know, that a certain someone is copying the Woodsboro
murders, and Sidney, yet again, is the target of the killer's wrath. Not only
that, Cotton Weary, the man who was once accused of Maureen Prescott's murder
has come back to make amends, however, Sidney's distrust of Cotton grows as
the bodies pile up. So with the help of tabloid reporter Gale Weathers and
police officer Dewey Riley, Sidney goes out of her way to unlock the mystery
behind the madness.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5RtGmecExHNdH9-G-CaIyJvWpYUhmpcGv7zsqUuK0T4zbhDmPHLSRN9R0vD8CzpCxi82e9Ih9Cdaf_CCB1dDYIElGE0jt5rk2VOMcrZZH1vKDLqkrFt4tXbs1e8xV7LBra7F2V8D9SgK/s1024/Scream+2+Screenshot-002991.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="1024" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5RtGmecExHNdH9-G-CaIyJvWpYUhmpcGv7zsqUuK0T4zbhDmPHLSRN9R0vD8CzpCxi82e9Ih9Cdaf_CCB1dDYIElGE0jt5rk2VOMcrZZH1vKDLqkrFt4tXbs1e8xV7LBra7F2V8D9SgK/w320-h139/Scream+2+Screenshot-002991.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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As always, I would like to discuss the amazing opening scene. Instead of a
quaint suburban California home, the new setting is located at a very elaborate
movie theater with heavy promotion of the movie, "Stab", which is seemingly
based on Gale Weathers' penned novel, <i>The Woodsboro Murders</i>.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Now our focus is on a young couple going on a movie date, who is ironically
named Maureen and Phil played by the exceptional Jada Pickett-Smith and an
incredibly charming Omar Epps. Like with most young couples on a movie
night, Maureen and Phil have a bit of debacle on which movie to see. Maureen
would rather watch a romantic comedy while Phil leans more to the highly
anticipated <i>Stab</i> movie. Although Maureen hates horror films, she goes along
with Phil.</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6UdpRTYVGBecbaBh1xe3Asl4j79S4N2aZIrXZomkErfWTtBbdjO-4BuuK2BEklTNzcGjg7bIYemJLAGpHfBcg9MUxpoadIz_whmTAM4a5xVv5ef86HF32x5lvBNTvWA0EXNHa5OEiHji/s1920/heather+graham+scream+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1920" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6UdpRTYVGBecbaBh1xe3Asl4j79S4N2aZIrXZomkErfWTtBbdjO-4BuuK2BEklTNzcGjg7bIYemJLAGpHfBcg9MUxpoadIz_whmTAM4a5xVv5ef86HF32x5lvBNTvWA0EXNHa5OEiHji/s320/heather+graham+scream+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<p>
When the movie starts, the opening scene is a reenactment of Casey's murder
but this time a much-comely actress (played by Heather Graham) fills in her
role and as with any other horror movie, she has the inevitable shower scene.
Maureen rolls her eyes in disgust, annoyed at how horror films tend to
showcase gratuitous female nudity, to which many people, including myself,
share the same sentiments. I have nothing against nudity in a film, I'm not a
prude, it's in a matter of taste that's all.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ01TCrkky5a9TFAo2Jq1vAPntst8mwJKOWOyx4P40Ww_EAHPXkA6nngNLCHtkG-XgmT00w6h5596ZVy8js5TNZpG2MXJK-OoYGNYDjnqtV0b7P5DnX1QLETMKkGqnZSxJkkqPeggxQZqc/s480/3648578-sc2-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ01TCrkky5a9TFAo2Jq1vAPntst8mwJKOWOyx4P40Ww_EAHPXkA6nngNLCHtkG-XgmT00w6h5596ZVy8js5TNZpG2MXJK-OoYGNYDjnqtV0b7P5DnX1QLETMKkGqnZSxJkkqPeggxQZqc/s320/3648578-sc2-3.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<p>
Though for someone who isn't into horror films, Maureen becomes more
emotionally invested in the scene, loudly calling out the character's
stupidity which is, again, something we can relate to.
</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsfGZ-gj6J9Vpf5viiN6kslurquIpIfiNRqKNgm4J8_HjbMsf1CmkNezM_3-sOMCPISbnl5MvtzJa9y6cMjIMhW0tCIKCgmD93FEx4xzcgnBJa-Cu8XGYvk9PSdhfd0-RVBiOy3UFBq8Z/s1200/Scream-2-Crowd-e1538517448825-1200x720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1200" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsfGZ-gj6J9Vpf5viiN6kslurquIpIfiNRqKNgm4J8_HjbMsf1CmkNezM_3-sOMCPISbnl5MvtzJa9y6cMjIMhW0tCIKCgmD93FEx4xzcgnBJa-Cu8XGYvk9PSdhfd0-RVBiOy3UFBq8Z/s320/Scream-2-Crowd-e1538517448825-1200x720.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<p>
But then you start to realize that half of the audience is dressed in similar
Ghostface costumes, though there's nothing really suspicious
going on...yet.
</p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBZolAEEA9Kc99ZOOlWRr331YT5nlI2PTHirz4CfuRs84O-ZBNPeDNxJtu4jz135_gd8-gEM6RQZA9YT9Xgv03COmYXc4FCcGUOK2WtV_l3ZAsy-UaXlHvxfPO5hQVwjidbdgXvZmhghY/s800/scream-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBZolAEEA9Kc99ZOOlWRr331YT5nlI2PTHirz4CfuRs84O-ZBNPeDNxJtu4jz135_gd8-gEM6RQZA9YT9Xgv03COmYXc4FCcGUOK2WtV_l3ZAsy-UaXlHvxfPO5hQVwjidbdgXvZmhghY/s320/scream-2.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs90Hvf-wvHPa-lFvqpIdWXIwamNw53zY4mXJichcWVhooqDiaXIIc22t8syX12UyD1XQs2Ncn4xC25OVu-aL8kh7FXvF-3twjGPM0JTA86EfCaw3pI_6KpEgpsd_TV58a4K8TtT5qiOR1/s800/Screen-Shot-2015-05-21-at-1.45.50-PM-1432230369.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="800" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs90Hvf-wvHPa-lFvqpIdWXIwamNw53zY4mXJichcWVhooqDiaXIIc22t8syX12UyD1XQs2Ncn4xC25OVu-aL8kh7FXvF-3twjGPM0JTA86EfCaw3pI_6KpEgpsd_TV58a4K8TtT5qiOR1/s320/Screen-Shot-2015-05-21-at-1.45.50-PM-1432230369.png" width="320" /></a>
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<p><br /></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8NzH7NArmRwrOW8U5GBPLlzLne7l3AoEZgRnhpgdr1FiLULhpjY3YOmE6Q7vpS45ad6xBrTCxNt8fl6zIdqY9Fo2KVUy85UDuUCjaj_QJes-aWeXAhnVoX2oKV9p5ODuWXUiAVifmOQv/s1088/1006957968.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="1088" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8NzH7NArmRwrOW8U5GBPLlzLne7l3AoEZgRnhpgdr1FiLULhpjY3YOmE6Q7vpS45ad6xBrTCxNt8fl6zIdqY9Fo2KVUy85UDuUCjaj_QJes-aWeXAhnVoX2oKV9p5ODuWXUiAVifmOQv/s320/1006957968.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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Although the scene starts off comically at first, the horror kicks in hard when Phil is quickly and unexpectedly dispatched by the killer in the bathroom
stall and Maureen's safety is at risk...
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cYqiXoNSQsAgVkmgBnhyphenhyphennBdpmH_2RQO-zx0ZOq4Wgy0EvtJ4Z2yBBiJaeeBWQ3s-ohOaDJ99Qhg9UhF7SBs56fZQNWkfcSps75jfzwaHGCTuB00vUr8JqZab0VRFpvK6TWAkHXWKuELS/s700/scream+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="522" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1cYqiXoNSQsAgVkmgBnhyphenhyphennBdpmH_2RQO-zx0ZOq4Wgy0EvtJ4Z2yBBiJaeeBWQ3s-ohOaDJ99Qhg9UhF7SBs56fZQNWkfcSps75jfzwaHGCTuB00vUr8JqZab0VRFpvK6TWAkHXWKuELS/s320/scream+2.jpg" width="239" /></a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDW5i4eNG2JsnkkpwIig_jZ-wE7Qshvp1-L8BF-J_pbcYRy2eSSo8hrNj7Rxr4wCGm9DwKsn_luK5-heasv4O7hom4IbcdCPU80zHyOmd5QfmWPd077_MZwY8n3A1CRmuwwOCwTNbbREC/s2000/Scream+2+image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="2000" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDW5i4eNG2JsnkkpwIig_jZ-wE7Qshvp1-L8BF-J_pbcYRy2eSSo8hrNj7Rxr4wCGm9DwKsn_luK5-heasv4O7hom4IbcdCPU80zHyOmd5QfmWPd077_MZwY8n3A1CRmuwwOCwTNbbREC/s320/Scream+2+image.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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What makes this scene so suspenseful is how the killer can easily blend in
with the crowd. The chaotic climax of Maureen helplessly limping through the
cheering crowd as the killer continues to stab her is so brutal and
disorienting. Just to mention, the crowd is completely unaware of Maureen's
distress, thinking it's part of the show.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXziNfi_GGsKFFP7ixyGylQUODuFaxuqmk5ElbIq58KFysFka_GQgkKwb_176GCS3ekEKZp0XnWmgAZHgeInHguTblph0osWB_7CBQqo7xPt9ral67P4h0ngaIzMQ8ChToceWr1ubA0cv/s1920/Maureen_Scream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1920" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXziNfi_GGsKFFP7ixyGylQUODuFaxuqmk5ElbIq58KFysFka_GQgkKwb_176GCS3ekEKZp0XnWmgAZHgeInHguTblph0osWB_7CBQqo7xPt9ral67P4h0ngaIzMQ8ChToceWr1ubA0cv/s320/Maureen_Scream.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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But as she steps on the stage, Maureen lets out an agonizing death cry. That's
when the audience comes to realize...it's no laughing matter...
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What I like about this scene is that Maureen and Phil are actually developed
as characters by showcasing the natural chemistry of Jada Pickett-Smith and Omar
Epps. The one part that really stuck with me is how Maureen gets repeatedly
stabbed by the killer as the crowd cheers on. It's like she's fodder for their
entertainment. And although some fans think Maureen's death cry is a bit too
much, I still think it's very effective.
</div>
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Now let's talk about my next favorite scene, which introduces all of the
characters in one setting.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwWsOzZ_pAc6D7rBlZ9NyZvSFiswJZ7q_7CSSGLRycJ5ljxsijbsqA_Wd3Ryu2wkbTBk45p5iKWvjgiolzZGlqj0ww6WtZQjIh6GqXJSHh5tMyqXwN69gK-ZxcuWJBDyu2_E7WRLXdf-p/s610/Sidney+gets+a+wake+up+call.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="610" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwWsOzZ_pAc6D7rBlZ9NyZvSFiswJZ7q_7CSSGLRycJ5ljxsijbsqA_Wd3Ryu2wkbTBk45p5iKWvjgiolzZGlqj0ww6WtZQjIh6GqXJSHh5tMyqXwN69gK-ZxcuWJBDyu2_E7WRLXdf-p/s320/Sidney+gets+a+wake+up+call.jpg" width="320" /></a>
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After the opening title, we open with our favorite horror heroine Sidney
Prescott as a phone call wakes her up. It seems like Sidney is, yet again, a
target of a deranged psycho who has a knife to grind. But it turns out to be a pesky
prank caller since Sidney was crafty enough to own caller ID, which was a
pretty useful thing to use during the mid-late nineties.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4iS0Av7cCazyh-77BD88g1tPVQAWHRpSi50ZBulYOU4uig1cH-pjBbgI5xvQ2Z_vJp-q8Ic1Ur-6J-kPcEBpl-nU4ZgYeVHEEchozT3pV6BfVFLXzTwq7EiCQk_pYuaNDdfZUxVydHez/s250/Hallie_sid1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="121" data-original-width="250" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4iS0Av7cCazyh-77BD88g1tPVQAWHRpSi50ZBulYOU4uig1cH-pjBbgI5xvQ2Z_vJp-q8Ic1Ur-6J-kPcEBpl-nU4ZgYeVHEEchozT3pV6BfVFLXzTwq7EiCQk_pYuaNDdfZUxVydHez/s0/Hallie_sid1.jpg" width="250" /></a>
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As she begins her usual morning routine, Sidney is greeted by her trusty
friend and college roommate Hallie who is concerned about her emotional state.
Considering what Sidney has been through in the last movie, you couldn't put
it past her. Though Sidney insists that she is fine and the past is behind
her. But when she turns on the news and hears about the double
murder of two Windsor College students during the screening of Stab, the eruption of Sidney's past begins to jeopardize the normalcy she yearns for.
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRUK3APCvQKVXtn1etb7el2ryQLcEmU1wjpgsVtV2wXXNe_bTDLHjenS4upUU2f7DXJFzq5v_1rAPfkgCP4KLEIibvY9bUg9qMcLGPYLV99ExaaH5lLiyMqWZgZqwxIYFGEVQ2EWJ0h8I/s1024/Scream+2+classroom+scene.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="1024" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRUK3APCvQKVXtn1etb7el2ryQLcEmU1wjpgsVtV2wXXNe_bTDLHjenS4upUU2f7DXJFzq5v_1rAPfkgCP4KLEIibvY9bUg9qMcLGPYLV99ExaaH5lLiyMqWZgZqwxIYFGEVQ2EWJ0h8I/s320/Scream+2+classroom+scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOEukKVfpFJ2SQ_fz2RuYEL8BEjQBtF58PeLP4r-r5pt-pOSR9YTMVC54fFuzW7G6tcysv3M1nc-OTJW6VAMRX-ZM-7-M7udrK06uuXPx1pjhKtSN9MHdF8hNp9OXuNw7NjPX-hkwf0wI/s1280/Randy+in+Film+class.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOEukKVfpFJ2SQ_fz2RuYEL8BEjQBtF58PeLP4r-r5pt-pOSR9YTMVC54fFuzW7G6tcysv3M1nc-OTJW6VAMRX-ZM-7-M7udrK06uuXPx1pjhKtSN9MHdF8hNp9OXuNw7NjPX-hkwf0wI/s320/Randy+in+Film+class.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The scene shifts to Randy in film studies class, looking new and improved. while finessing his film knowledge to the other pupils. Let's just say that Randy has much more of a bravado this time around. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPksWyAoF1dnopwMMBAlBf5RB-Krf75ykuTns_Lf0yJ9TMyg-jLqjCBaq9iKXp1ugtX3trtCbe-l3hbhPgFQO07Y-TeuG4nzb-FCKZXZwsQENigOiKped698SYZrs9D1_nyXOiCtax6Uk/s728/4057_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="728" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPksWyAoF1dnopwMMBAlBf5RB-Krf75ykuTns_Lf0yJ9TMyg-jLqjCBaq9iKXp1ugtX3trtCbe-l3hbhPgFQO07Y-TeuG4nzb-FCKZXZwsQENigOiKped698SYZrs9D1_nyXOiCtax6Uk/s320/4057_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When Sidney goes to fetch him, you think they might be a couple by now, due to their shared experiences...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0up7Mhvzr9KxUvUJPgpshhLitBZRQG9Ed4J9pxhvMwc8AL-lRNGsFhXxLhWtU-aSWzzlKC8hStvqwtNWr0ZsfjYiaPLIotYr6HwFELepZPPKIqMSwZUsx6zd2HLySVSBMJhbyqNZrNl2/s245/tumblr_me9xu28Q6d1qij1mgo4_250.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="245" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0up7Mhvzr9KxUvUJPgpshhLitBZRQG9Ed4J9pxhvMwc8AL-lRNGsFhXxLhWtU-aSWzzlKC8hStvqwtNWr0ZsfjYiaPLIotYr6HwFELepZPPKIqMSwZUsx6zd2HLySVSBMJhbyqNZrNl2/s0/tumblr_me9xu28Q6d1qij1mgo4_250.gif" width="245" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nope! Just as they walk around the campus, here comes Derek, Sidney's strapping and handsome new beau, lovingly wrapping his arms around her protectively to Randy's dismay. It's a perfect "d'oh" moment that adds to the movie's subtle humor. This leads us to the aforementioned scene.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSRY0zE8MCjQMr-4U8buK00JEUut71aTQ20DssMrRaBpb5fl22Ube3l8CMffE_VtVqVHPk7Wg4haly2crtuOL_07wD6uEVQ34ezkv7uJ4i8a0iJwzxCiMThSbrMDThUrVvddksV1bgUVw/s996/scream-2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="996" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglSRY0zE8MCjQMr-4U8buK00JEUut71aTQ20DssMrRaBpb5fl22Ube3l8CMffE_VtVqVHPk7Wg4haly2crtuOL_07wD6uEVQ34ezkv7uJ4i8a0iJwzxCiMThSbrMDThUrVvddksV1bgUVw/s320/scream-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0QAUy01KQeb-hD_Z_-P5MIhit9legFESYElD5fjq_WeSLzWLiTPA1rKHWq88HGHRrfvUgR2j5_tzVtQuhXiFrVhcps_aKVJ2gkiyKdJUuUbKkZIeaSoywQxQrLtMnLmS5XMJsEm6fiWM/s480/hqdefault+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0QAUy01KQeb-hD_Z_-P5MIhit9legFESYElD5fjq_WeSLzWLiTPA1rKHWq88HGHRrfvUgR2j5_tzVtQuhXiFrVhcps_aKVJ2gkiyKdJUuUbKkZIeaSoywQxQrLtMnLmS5XMJsEm6fiWM/s320/hqdefault+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Sidney and the gang are suddenly ambushed by a swarm of reporters, which is led by the one and only Gale Weathers, looking quite new and improved herself, trading in her frosty blond highlights for a more appropriate firey red. Once Sidney goes over to confront Gale about the commotion, a certain someone from Sidney's past steps out from the crowd...Cotton Weary, the man accused of Maureen Prescott's murder. Sidney puts two and two together. Along with her scathing description of Sidney's testimony regarding Cotton, Gale also rallied up all of the media press so that Sidney could make a public apology to Cotton. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sidney. Is. Not. Having it. And that's when she gives Gale an EPIC bitch slap. This is the moment where the movie really begins...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH4NSsbH8UauVSY7Hg2y2FEjVxiQgaByBp3Y8nWtXhJngtwb34etw0vfocqN5dKJIt1sIsTCJJg_T13eSFRF7m452fCjCzraD2gqZarUoPxfnf3u2hvpGmx7GmU5xzcdNxb984n_zGRtW/s615/Gang_120817-615x261.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="615" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUH4NSsbH8UauVSY7Hg2y2FEjVxiQgaByBp3Y8nWtXhJngtwb34etw0vfocqN5dKJIt1sIsTCJJg_T13eSFRF7m452fCjCzraD2gqZarUoPxfnf3u2hvpGmx7GmU5xzcdNxb984n_zGRtW/s320/Gang_120817-615x261.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that we have all the characters at play. Let's introduce them, one by one. As always, I will save the best for last. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxCJymqwNtQ5wKA843yEW6Hdgt1mtXMh_9drNLqLQaWxKlhbZteGSDGi_xfQpP8V5ac8Q9NAU0hZG_oq0L0-7BMmEd7aPDkRvHR3DdQJyIxCyXxGKraIU_qWSXozO2lalErrLBbm4ErUB/s512/randy+scream+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="512" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxCJymqwNtQ5wKA843yEW6Hdgt1mtXMh_9drNLqLQaWxKlhbZteGSDGi_xfQpP8V5ac8Q9NAU0hZG_oq0L0-7BMmEd7aPDkRvHR3DdQJyIxCyXxGKraIU_qWSXozO2lalErrLBbm4ErUB/s320/randy+scream+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, let's start with Randy. No longer is he the awkward, gangly geek from his high school years. Now, living life as a college man, he has filled out a little more, got a cool haircut, a sexy goatee, and some stylish new clothes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfzesxYyTTxP4p5C8pTptmbTdS-tVLVlqgqzceynBW11rRuQUeFf3M7tIXkOeDGPq0VBfoY7SnXchu4XBTKJEZHcZMc95pmkfAYwZwjCq3UYxmDAF8byO_MVc_rS7vCDMG4fzMclEIZhh/s1280/scream-2-randy-quad-1280x640.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfzesxYyTTxP4p5C8pTptmbTdS-tVLVlqgqzceynBW11rRuQUeFf3M7tIXkOeDGPq0VBfoY7SnXchu4XBTKJEZHcZMc95pmkfAYwZwjCq3UYxmDAF8byO_MVc_rS7vCDMG4fzMclEIZhh/s320/scream-2-randy-quad-1280x640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
Though for some reason, Randy just doesn't seem to have any luck with the ladies. What he does have, however, is full knowledge of horror films, which is essentially a part of his character. Though unfortunately, our time with Randy is shockingly cut short. You would think it would be a solid quartet but sadly only Sidney, Dewey, and Gale are left to defend themselves. Sure, this might count as a spoiler but considering how Randy doesn't show up in the next movie, it's pretty obvious that he doesn't last that long in this one.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2Sz0BZL4lMfrPycSTPq00U0dCEFojkmmxXh5OcrC__zxDMsR8d-hqwvAGaUMoaXOTt5r1TL4NH9L57ni6JWwsMqzB2pFW-IFG3_H8wL3sFARuV3dNfoGm-OJ1ESRN41sRA0kDy7VW7-W/s480/Randy%2527s+death.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2Sz0BZL4lMfrPycSTPq00U0dCEFojkmmxXh5OcrC__zxDMsR8d-hqwvAGaUMoaXOTt5r1TL4NH9L57ni6JWwsMqzB2pFW-IFG3_H8wL3sFARuV3dNfoGm-OJ1ESRN41sRA0kDy7VW7-W/s320/Randy%2527s+death.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><br /><div>For the main character to survive so long near the midpoint of the movie, Randy's death was truly shocking and just came out of nowhere. This is where the movie subverts the audience's expectations. If Randy dies, who would be the next in line?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpG05cw_E2v_w8_iAvKpo_ZMaFlUnZvPIJ6FUsWXsrPbfR_OqoTjxVGgwJi-GCQZ9Bz9j7WX5xNP7pqfXA12sMUrYBC5n2MHPz8GbVd-nwZNRh63xX6hmLuwInJT_MS_Z-h0-reIM0TPL/s600/best-supporting-characters-in-movies-137665342949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpG05cw_E2v_w8_iAvKpo_ZMaFlUnZvPIJ6FUsWXsrPbfR_OqoTjxVGgwJi-GCQZ9Bz9j7WX5xNP7pqfXA12sMUrYBC5n2MHPz8GbVd-nwZNRh63xX6hmLuwInJT_MS_Z-h0-reIM0TPL/s320/best-supporting-characters-in-movies-137665342949.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But through the character's last moments, Jamie Kennedy takes it in stride, going off on an epic rant before his demise. It just shows how Jamie is so committed to the character that he's willing to go down with the whip of his tongue. The scene is funny but sort of tragic at the same time, too.</div><div>So here's a salute to one of the most memorable characters of the franchise. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu-7ZadmfFig5pdtDjgxUwu_ctwUPI_p68_-XPjmW8rCR_iaOnzlhhhzW4g87_qi1WSjMhXdido5kdy6DNTKJy-JLDGbE8kzpmFxmDpfXCDpg1mpVUbb2e4pj89UttayT6caqH-Ny2-0I/s250/Hallie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="250" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu-7ZadmfFig5pdtDjgxUwu_ctwUPI_p68_-XPjmW8rCR_iaOnzlhhhzW4g87_qi1WSjMhXdido5kdy6DNTKJy-JLDGbE8kzpmFxmDpfXCDpg1mpVUbb2e4pj89UttayT6caqH-Ny2-0I/s0/Hallie.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div>Hallie McDaniel played by Elise Neal is something of an audience surrogate. She's the voice of reason and, dare I say it, much more level-headed than Tatum.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZny2Ypdgi-HzivVpG5oYaV17kkWg3dzcn_-dLY4fHWefF1HbEUx8ifMiBJpA4I0M0vFZ5v9pott5N40UZ7xY0v7fvt0Jg0oftBy9hhetmpLA75f_uTTj2A7uIK0hs_rjhrsINMTSIyOvM/s940/mhablv1ccuw51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="940" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZny2Ypdgi-HzivVpG5oYaV17kkWg3dzcn_-dLY4fHWefF1HbEUx8ifMiBJpA4I0M0vFZ5v9pott5N40UZ7xY0v7fvt0Jg0oftBy9hhetmpLA75f_uTTj2A7uIK0hs_rjhrsINMTSIyOvM/s320/mhablv1ccuw51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Elise Neal was infectiously charismatic, giving Hallie a personality that was bubbly and relatable. Now I don't have a lot of detail of how Hallie was originally portrayed in the script but seeing how she's handled in the final take of the movie, she comes off as a much more likable character.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2aSPV1LxGqBqgY2TswfxfvhZjp0BYt4bHhFNPFL80Y5OP6aApSWF1sntb6OxbvBtOWcTdZTfaMWFuVxRC8a3mIRUl0xNB5_lrhvCLgdW_5EQn7OsMMI6gQHsPxK7uyDXY6zfJY9zlf7g/s320/Derek_%2528Scream_2%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF2aSPV1LxGqBqgY2TswfxfvhZjp0BYt4bHhFNPFL80Y5OP6aApSWF1sntb6OxbvBtOWcTdZTfaMWFuVxRC8a3mIRUl0xNB5_lrhvCLgdW_5EQn7OsMMI6gQHsPxK7uyDXY6zfJY9zlf7g/s0/Derek_%2528Scream_2%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And then there's Derek Feldman, Sidney's handsome, suave new boyfriend. He's everything a girl could ask for. He's clean-cut, funny, nice, helpful, and a good singer.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRcbuX7GBrK8cR5_mBu3oK9bnVO3oRxA0IVKkHYnRiPyJ7FuFAZ0P3_qdwZ6f5Ad87JKuN8ZqdaWk_6WE-akRlbT82GiCaJ1n47BPucIcDhxiQMWjDe7rHa2IXqNF0ZLAZkV4cDfEnkvM/s316/Derek%252526Sid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="250" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRcbuX7GBrK8cR5_mBu3oK9bnVO3oRxA0IVKkHYnRiPyJ7FuFAZ0P3_qdwZ6f5Ad87JKuN8ZqdaWk_6WE-akRlbT82GiCaJ1n47BPucIcDhxiQMWjDe7rHa2IXqNF0ZLAZkV4cDfEnkvM/s0/Derek%252526Sid.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div>He seems like he could be the perfect match for Sidney. Or is he too perfect? This makes Sidney wonder if she's having Deja vu. But in actuality, Derek turns out to be a pretty good guy.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7Cb6CUItqqq2XcGRUxiCltERKiQ77YIaSs1npw8_aZAKUj9DiIM8tLt6YnfUDM-yM0fqPstvOVe-SmId9QB5pq73O7zZf6FMxMGWRtItHZZB8hEm7JwpodomtRi5uU9FnN1IIsIXaPaR/s500/tumblr_mj23a19UaO1qij1mgo1_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7Cb6CUItqqq2XcGRUxiCltERKiQ77YIaSs1npw8_aZAKUj9DiIM8tLt6YnfUDM-yM0fqPstvOVe-SmId9QB5pq73O7zZf6FMxMGWRtItHZZB8hEm7JwpodomtRi5uU9FnN1IIsIXaPaR/s320/tumblr_mj23a19UaO1qij1mgo1_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Though, I have to point out the really cringy scene where Derek serenades "I Think I Love You" to Sidney. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CLAZijxbISc" width="320" youtube-src-id="CLAZijxbISc"></iframe></div><br /><div>Fun Fact! Actors who auditioned for the part were asked to perform "I Think I Love You" in Acapella style. And yes, this scene is actually in the script. Eventually, Jerry O'Connell won the role, and even though I think this scene seems out of place in a bloody, gory slasher film, I do think Jerry O'Connell was the perfect choice for Derek. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aTfmMcCRzqcXCJCSrg90DKzn9PVf_T0TVQJULEW2ziFbsZ4XjgBqbAUfT5UYLZEdJHbm2nnnXKO35DbosjTg8M9K8TXnCjWqI2WnDIiyXSpjlQ1ySz2RneyZ_5gjw1rSUwe6G5pUIKFG/s1364/I_think_I_love_you.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1364" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_aTfmMcCRzqcXCJCSrg90DKzn9PVf_T0TVQJULEW2ziFbsZ4XjgBqbAUfT5UYLZEdJHbm2nnnXKO35DbosjTg8M9K8TXnCjWqI2WnDIiyXSpjlQ1ySz2RneyZ_5gjw1rSUwe6G5pUIKFG/s320/I_think_I_love_you.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Just by looking at him, he would be the type of guy that would break out in a song to profess his love and I do think it's the sweetest thing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QVTMCsgKB5PMv2P9YY9SpeDKa9WVeT5EujubUGjnnttzYq98uaXo1UKclKMbyfRww39lU6nlOYRvGx4oGHisZohFD1Xs19_OHKO36wyrG5V9jb0buCig0nEih0tszEzHtM5Wk-J35wx-/s535/5f0f0aeda2ff6849b942cf62a2bd4be3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="395" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QVTMCsgKB5PMv2P9YY9SpeDKa9WVeT5EujubUGjnnttzYq98uaXo1UKclKMbyfRww39lU6nlOYRvGx4oGHisZohFD1Xs19_OHKO36wyrG5V9jb0buCig0nEih0tszEzHtM5Wk-J35wx-/s320/5f0f0aeda2ff6849b942cf62a2bd4be3.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><div>Jerry O'Connell was really earnest in his performance, turning Derek (a role that could've been dull and uninteresting) into a rather lovable and endearing character. </div><div><br /></div><div>Just to squeeze this in here, I have some special mentions:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjws6fIWUv8Lef3_23TYdWCHhV9iBh-zZ8QNmEiHMFhPqRneaTlHpJqRF3nXY9FOxkr1VMqdtj94Gv2kM3Hw7sJHh-PWvDcgdkPft4jQMQj6SNa0gn1-e-HycB0dsstoXLijVu1a6l7_L/s480/p2ov5mkrf7y51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="480" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnjws6fIWUv8Lef3_23TYdWCHhV9iBh-zZ8QNmEiHMFhPqRneaTlHpJqRF3nXY9FOxkr1VMqdtj94Gv2kM3Hw7sJHh-PWvDcgdkPft4jQMQj6SNa0gn1-e-HycB0dsstoXLijVu1a6l7_L/s320/p2ov5mkrf7y51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>We have Joel, Gale's newly hired cameraman who is rightfully cautious about the going-on's at Windsor College. Okay before I continue with Joel, I would like to mention Kenny the Cameraman from the first movie. I never really got a chance to focus on him because he really wasn't that much to focus on. He was just...there and unceremoniously killed without a moment's thought. Though, unlike Kenny, Joel actually has personality and is not much of a pushover either. Eventually, Joel leaves Gale high and dry once he sees Randy's dead body in his van, a decision that ultimately saves his life. Good for him.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5qXrsN0kWfcZEXMEBLOOOgQ90IpMesiccAlxU0SSn24pqIi5g4Z0-VuXWagbgRkbgMnC8kBgw_2WYg2PySkc_LJxvAc5nvtbNvTbdtPZkpS0cqXRrFqQT-eyKTvDu05vLETAPEV9CyY8/s320/25722-23968.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5qXrsN0kWfcZEXMEBLOOOgQ90IpMesiccAlxU0SSn24pqIi5g4Z0-VuXWagbgRkbgMnC8kBgw_2WYg2PySkc_LJxvAc5nvtbNvTbdtPZkpS0cqXRrFqQT-eyKTvDu05vLETAPEV9CyY8/s0/25722-23968.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Duane Martin was quite hilarious as Joel and added a certain spunk that made the character pop out. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTQu1YlWgtjumtH6CzhFBzcooMgDUZJJTiAQX32k7gcFlqSj9Xl7TwpfslM2iK_QAXOTPzwOLWZrqPBVCMjm1mrIZJSnCg5XfK_7qMadHils17qj6Jpt7kuYiWebD3EXJsVelc1FA1aq7/s1280/Sarah.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTQu1YlWgtjumtH6CzhFBzcooMgDUZJJTiAQX32k7gcFlqSj9Xl7TwpfslM2iK_QAXOTPzwOLWZrqPBVCMjm1mrIZJSnCg5XfK_7qMadHils17qj6Jpt7kuYiWebD3EXJsVelc1FA1aq7/s320/Sarah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Cici Cooper played by Sarah Michelle Gellar is not your typical sorority house ditz. She's actually very responsible, thoughtful, and intelligent. She's also very loyal to her sorority sisters where she stays at home and housesits while the rest of the girls go to a party nearby.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzhBiP-aT8Vy2dwjv-s_WWg8b7mkNw_RwAVGnGX0L_b7ofB-kVKA-95SOMvMxiMqrVAuMXt_0hRZaHUsg75hqgcalOBhJWUryYukvXR2feGovV2i-H2SXcVhd_juQKyMewcDKe1Vooi8L/s576/12985-576a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="576" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzhBiP-aT8Vy2dwjv-s_WWg8b7mkNw_RwAVGnGX0L_b7ofB-kVKA-95SOMvMxiMqrVAuMXt_0hRZaHUsg75hqgcalOBhJWUryYukvXR2feGovV2i-H2SXcVhd_juQKyMewcDKe1Vooi8L/s320/12985-576a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But unfortunately, this doesn't save her in the end and she is, quite brutally, dispatched by Ghostface.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjwbSUfcrBRn6reloMWXgqOld4wQaK2zgGCIqbVPfzCNzI6d1fdJIipbQ2_CMIFRL-pS8D9CXr07fjVMky11eqC04SUXZnmeAgWJB4DqbYPsFlmJOm2eDg0nlFEKUDCVSGZUxvzfIn59j/s400/Ek0lWppXEAEn0pN.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjwbSUfcrBRn6reloMWXgqOld4wQaK2zgGCIqbVPfzCNzI6d1fdJIipbQ2_CMIFRL-pS8D9CXr07fjVMky11eqC04SUXZnmeAgWJB4DqbYPsFlmJOm2eDg0nlFEKUDCVSGZUxvzfIn59j/s320/Ek0lWppXEAEn0pN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Sarah Michelle Gellar would play a similar role in <i>I Know What You Did Last Summer</i>, as the typically vain beauty queen, who in the course of the movie, turns out to be a likable character that we've come to root for. This correlates to her iconic role of Buffy Summers, the subversion of the blond horror victim, although Sarah's characters in these two movies play it straight. However, it's not without saying that Sarah Michelle Gellar was the go-to girl for subverting horror stereotypes. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyx5EGGuCDnUoQM7Su0xQJ6bOp8WTEmT0Duiog-bGHnvaaUcN8zC22mISI8Xe69n-mKVYv-2Mvjxp9aDYaLxWjbtdSqhBzRMeaYe8_0Omejc_noe2W-f2Z0LZ-_FcZYUbYW7Ky9x_PTCs/s666/scream+2+joshua+jackson+cameo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyx5EGGuCDnUoQM7Su0xQJ6bOp8WTEmT0Duiog-bGHnvaaUcN8zC22mISI8Xe69n-mKVYv-2Mvjxp9aDYaLxWjbtdSqhBzRMeaYe8_0Omejc_noe2W-f2Z0LZ-_FcZYUbYW7Ky9x_PTCs/s320/scream+2+joshua+jackson+cameo.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><br /><div>And here we have Joshua Jackson in a cameo just one month prior to Dawson's Creek series premiere. During this time, he was known as that kid from <i>The Mighty Ducks</i> films. So in retrospect, you have two stars from the WB in the same classroom. How fetching!</div><div>Speaking of Cameos...</div><div>Fun fact! When Tatum asks who would play her in a movie, Sidney jokes that Tori Spelling might be a candidate. Guess what happens here...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4MyzFWtduPPDCXhYUNRNEg7XhLOx1hn3nIJfUHlacdBswHxS16oKzRVn5JxcXJwURQ77eD3njij3Up4xbqvqaWrRb6U-1ZgkugEWbfHs1AZGxeBl6cdyPGifg_04s20YMvaG3SUzsdjw/s1280/MV5BYmRlZWQ2M2QtYTVmNC00YjVjLThmNTUtOGM4ZmI5ZWJjNTE0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4MyzFWtduPPDCXhYUNRNEg7XhLOx1hn3nIJfUHlacdBswHxS16oKzRVn5JxcXJwURQ77eD3njij3Up4xbqvqaWrRb6U-1ZgkugEWbfHs1AZGxeBl6cdyPGifg_04s20YMvaG3SUzsdjw/s320/MV5BYmRlZWQ2M2QtYTVmNC00YjVjLThmNTUtOGM4ZmI5ZWJjNTE0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjQ4ODE4MzQ%2540._V1_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD9ekXmEL0CkLebGpAw4d_hJqBIjK49iKllMnmR43GJI5UChg1DyVQocmjhmrAxVT9AgAJXUxb5eDY5soeVPorV9I4BDBx6zzPwT1pO2D4aqx5Inx8zFvPHiDlR3U37b6BudZFQv2TAEt/s666/sub-buzz-23921-1498758510-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="566" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnD9ekXmEL0CkLebGpAw4d_hJqBIjK49iKllMnmR43GJI5UChg1DyVQocmjhmrAxVT9AgAJXUxb5eDY5soeVPorV9I4BDBx6zzPwT1pO2D4aqx5Inx8zFvPHiDlR3U37b6BudZFQv2TAEt/s320/sub-buzz-23921-1498758510-1.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaB-TrWKP3I_hCitYWSk8ck8KAYRewFmYu-F68ERbQu6EvS_Wqp0-czsiJFH2imAlebwvOgiOcusuYWvMVKYJvdeN8hycj99Y38mFXVo3Kb_XC-KQb1KHsjjVYQacg5EjUrsYRTZyNkLa/s666/sub-buzz-23398-1498758290-14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="619" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaB-TrWKP3I_hCitYWSk8ck8KAYRewFmYu-F68ERbQu6EvS_Wqp0-czsiJFH2imAlebwvOgiOcusuYWvMVKYJvdeN8hycj99Y38mFXVo3Kb_XC-KQb1KHsjjVYQacg5EjUrsYRTZyNkLa/s320/sub-buzz-23398-1498758290-14.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Shout out to Tori Spelling and Luke Wilson for nailing spot-on impressions of Sidney and Billy.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdghbVUyWNhM-bREDMdKHp-9BVmxi_9wqeRQftgiqTX5MKAkwFerD5ngsKfdniuCpm16iC65FbRz30W6wtDui4QvQUwpXckwVjj1e1VqAr4l4Uu968FmPfUmgmZbOcJeznuyFnGZ4BSb97/s961/scream2-pdrrg01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="961" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdghbVUyWNhM-bREDMdKHp-9BVmxi_9wqeRQftgiqTX5MKAkwFerD5ngsKfdniuCpm16iC65FbRz30W6wtDui4QvQUwpXckwVjj1e1VqAr4l4Uu968FmPfUmgmZbOcJeznuyFnGZ4BSb97/s320/scream2-pdrrg01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Lastly, we have Lois and Murphy, the overly chipper sorority girls who are portrayed as comic reliefs. Special shout out to Rebecca Gayheart who auditioned TWICE for Scream and Scream 2, one for Tatum, and one for Hallie. Although Rebecca lost out on both roles, the filmmakers gave her the minor role of Lois. Another special mention is Portia De Rossi who would later star in Arrested Development, which is now a cult favorite.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDG8b7-VmrQAC4_0ub5czVJw4Kymoi7F-v6xlQ9bLK-as3-uGKApObIUhzzHBiOTP-KYyCHvPCCMW_MIquCvuijHgyUz0hCjUpynlrUUFdWZzcIteMm8sxdXg1Wd5l2rJM7Ol9k1KGrnQ/s688/66bc48ed6ab93e1370264088b6bb221f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="688" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDG8b7-VmrQAC4_0ub5czVJw4Kymoi7F-v6xlQ9bLK-as3-uGKApObIUhzzHBiOTP-KYyCHvPCCMW_MIquCvuijHgyUz0hCjUpynlrUUFdWZzcIteMm8sxdXg1Wd5l2rJM7Ol9k1KGrnQ/s320/66bc48ed6ab93e1370264088b6bb221f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>So are Lois and Murphy relevant in the movie? well...yes and no. On paper, they seem like shallow throwaway characters but Rebecca Gayheart and Portia De Rossi added some much-needed charisma that was required for the roles. </div><div>Now let's get to the main characters:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7Td3GNSScJenIcwaoq4WQ7yS9meTaWau76Q5ahqeSpOl5YZU2VEsaaFPz682bWYHCNe4R4c1js0QckF-lUJvAWrgifInZvHd4P3VmE93bsQjd5L1Sa-IwN2GDa5NQClko5ptJ6WMjrm7/s666/sub-buzz-23194-1498757618-13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC7Td3GNSScJenIcwaoq4WQ7yS9meTaWau76Q5ahqeSpOl5YZU2VEsaaFPz682bWYHCNe4R4c1js0QckF-lUJvAWrgifInZvHd4P3VmE93bsQjd5L1Sa-IwN2GDa5NQClko5ptJ6WMjrm7/s320/sub-buzz-23194-1498757618-13.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Gale Weathers is at her most badass. She's more passionate, hard-edged, and with a healthy dose of character development. Her character arc starts with the publicity surrounding the screen adaptation of her novel, <i>The Woodsboro Murders</i>. Since Gale is the catalyst for controversy, she teams up with the formerly accused Cotton Weary to sustain more media press. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5fiV7yy1URcKZbsc905n-A29ZXYpgtJdyWklEmXE6BuSC8wHHIHM94mCC9oDlcbmQ_4LA6u7DrdllO9HHuOhQvvI5TCtkqUBlq2C4CqfWK6ppxVx48o89jQKG8QNddsixWHPjM-LFh-K/s400/IMG_4080.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="400" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5fiV7yy1URcKZbsc905n-A29ZXYpgtJdyWklEmXE6BuSC8wHHIHM94mCC9oDlcbmQ_4LA6u7DrdllO9HHuOhQvvI5TCtkqUBlq2C4CqfWK6ppxVx48o89jQKG8QNddsixWHPjM-LFh-K/s320/IMG_4080.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>But as the murders start to happen, Gale begins to feel actual, genuine remorse. Though the best part of her character development is her relationship with Dewey, who seems to bring out the best in her.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJrtmB254jpWKfiikVvWvvjQk7nOCQGTDpqszvsokWk4x-9sloAzAup0jVW6CVPUZAHdStrf0JxZ_y0kno8yfIJllelyRy1ZKyitybhD-038scrHbzh0pEL5XUdxHxMYDv3l549xDGFBY/s475/Scream_g_amd_d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="475" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJrtmB254jpWKfiikVvWvvjQk7nOCQGTDpqszvsokWk4x-9sloAzAup0jVW6CVPUZAHdStrf0JxZ_y0kno8yfIJllelyRy1ZKyitybhD-038scrHbzh0pEL5XUdxHxMYDv3l549xDGFBY/s320/Scream_g_amd_d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Besides being the best horror couple ever, Gale and Dewey are quite crafty with their investigative skills, making them a much more formidable team than the detectives on the case. Gale continues the thread of character development where she is affected by the sensationalism she caused surrounding the recent murders. This is proof, that deep down, Gale has some semblance of humanity, unlike the typical tabloid reporter who goes by the analogy of If It Bleed, It Leads. This is why I find Gale to be one of the most fascinating female characters in horror. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyhRJXABdCUxCzuLHmEUH00GBYBPPUYkvRCBzjjVytR6kQ67wZdE-lnkGXrZPQA1JdUUAgkjUxpeAkskgPFhqgVA72_oYK_H7QJ2s9C8XR2_EeS0B30Wp0Q0EK7SrPRydXZ6s5RHFZYDV/s339/GaleWS2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="339" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAyhRJXABdCUxCzuLHmEUH00GBYBPPUYkvRCBzjjVytR6kQ67wZdE-lnkGXrZPQA1JdUUAgkjUxpeAkskgPFhqgVA72_oYK_H7QJ2s9C8XR2_EeS0B30Wp0Q0EK7SrPRydXZ6s5RHFZYDV/s320/GaleWS2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Courtney Cox rocks as always. She really puts in her all by, exploring the layers of Gale's personality balancing between her iciness and softness, bringing in this air of likability that makes the character admirable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMPCiSWFX5TKkh90ivTkvBtkeirPI_y5zwd1ZG9LtYVnrWVYqfuDnaSD2izvApsf5LjluW6LmB0SV8swWRElZ3nQsbboQPTI0VoKccW24AM9PpchbB7qWxePCikHEkdX5XcpHg8yF8HhD/s2048/david-arquette-scream-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMPCiSWFX5TKkh90ivTkvBtkeirPI_y5zwd1ZG9LtYVnrWVYqfuDnaSD2izvApsf5LjluW6LmB0SV8swWRElZ3nQsbboQPTI0VoKccW24AM9PpchbB7qWxePCikHEkdX5XcpHg8yF8HhD/s320/david-arquette-scream-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Dewey is back and he's adorable as ever. It's just something about David Arquette's performance that makes the character so earnest. But there is probably one issue I have with the writing of this character: the film didn't take much time to dwell on Dewey's grief over Tatum. It could've added more towards Dewey's determination to stop the killings but to each its own.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNq8iYweAd3gHfaPwxgWu21mBi5W8DcBP7yvsV3qRgWqDfqYmIbfNkj95wzgh9LZO50JrTPs1Xhy3FcgYj79xNnsJvfSx3QVjlOqDiyQU9fxHPiMqW5UHGUEdh6efiQX7y6e1DPN0Bpy/s740/dewey-stabbed-ghostface-scream-2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="740" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNNq8iYweAd3gHfaPwxgWu21mBi5W8DcBP7yvsV3qRgWqDfqYmIbfNkj95wzgh9LZO50JrTPs1Xhy3FcgYj79xNnsJvfSx3QVjlOqDiyQU9fxHPiMqW5UHGUEdh6efiQX7y6e1DPN0Bpy/s320/dewey-stabbed-ghostface-scream-2.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Although he's not an expert on self-preservation skills, you have to give it to the guy because he gets beaten up and stabbed pretty badly yet he's still a trooper through and through. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE4lY1Ttv4-1xwn6wfTb7JBqa2DzCx8SHV7e1gejqL687cul3H7xx3LDmL4GU56NBvCgOrdO0vOq5uFKYnyvvPmQIE591Ms6ubzFiwIXoyfUL8MSQgxVxOLfMkLIBJ0TWiZ4EffNBw7_o/s740/DD3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="740" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixE4lY1Ttv4-1xwn6wfTb7JBqa2DzCx8SHV7e1gejqL687cul3H7xx3LDmL4GU56NBvCgOrdO0vOq5uFKYnyvvPmQIE591Ms6ubzFiwIXoyfUL8MSQgxVxOLfMkLIBJ0TWiZ4EffNBw7_o/s320/DD3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Once again, David Arquette adds that layer of benign sincerity that makes this character so loveable.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K-e_sJX4MQccQNwWR-DkWTTQrDGheo1ICgmPZUjjygx_-Vobq8EoTNRvF4xePhFlZ_yL5srLNqqtbym1hABuuRSYmYvU7HK9MT15vsQ5muZiOG4aWsJlCa-sw53wqs8mbU5lkIZH-fXk/s250/Cotton_weary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3K-e_sJX4MQccQNwWR-DkWTTQrDGheo1ICgmPZUjjygx_-Vobq8EoTNRvF4xePhFlZ_yL5srLNqqtbym1hABuuRSYmYvU7HK9MT15vsQ5muZiOG4aWsJlCa-sw53wqs8mbU5lkIZH-fXk/s0/Cotton_weary.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>We have the notorious Cotton Weary, who was previously a minor but important character in the first film. Cotton is built up as a red herring, which makes sense because he really does have a bone to pick with Sidney. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP26HQxifvBXUx16ynl2KPyaD6PVdaC8-OIOLK4tzAT_7KkIp0_93aOE-WP3nllwWbEm2VjQDKH25uHf7K6GvPsI_c5u4UEoyq9-JR4zlzAMqm21_v3T43FVZ95JOVf5IVc4NKtix6sKkv/s2048/Scream-2_4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="2048" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP26HQxifvBXUx16ynl2KPyaD6PVdaC8-OIOLK4tzAT_7KkIp0_93aOE-WP3nllwWbEm2VjQDKH25uHf7K6GvPsI_c5u4UEoyq9-JR4zlzAMqm21_v3T43FVZ95JOVf5IVc4NKtix6sKkv/s320/Scream-2_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When you think about it, he does have his reasons. Yes, Sidney did wrongfully accused Cotton of murdering her mother, which of course served him a couple of months in prison just as well as the media scrutinizing him. But Sidney was a confused and scared teenage girl who was trying to figure things out herself and seeing that Cotton was having an affair with her mother, who was a married woman by the way with no intention of leaving her husband, Cotton was undoubtedly the only suspect she could point out to.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMcu25LIr2dieeGbBM4OJHdIRjo3OS2VRM07Xo8tnDJOKMB9jrdB2GZD95ruchzeNxpZDs29uoIruRX1blkGhW2cNPr2EBRlSesNczKM6StErDZ4XXVMyIYIzl9Z0SkX402cTNvmINSdA/s2048/courteney-cox-gale-weathers-scream-2-cotton-weary-liev-schreiber.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="2048" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMcu25LIr2dieeGbBM4OJHdIRjo3OS2VRM07Xo8tnDJOKMB9jrdB2GZD95ruchzeNxpZDs29uoIruRX1blkGhW2cNPr2EBRlSesNczKM6StErDZ4XXVMyIYIzl9Z0SkX402cTNvmINSdA/s320/courteney-cox-gale-weathers-scream-2-cotton-weary-liev-schreiber.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Now that Cotton is a free man, he's cleaned up his image. No longer is he the long-haired, grungy-looking guy from the first film. He's now slick and clean-cut, thanks to the promotion and publicity Gale Weathers have given him. This time around, the media press changes its tune on Cotton, turning him into a tabloid superstar. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtHNoaHAtjU9bYfOU_UQhNer0DQZWsrPlyyb8iLksMWsc59uyIjjWQB812nNbRa5Pl1FUKQdZ4AcSdrY3TU3XkFYpwebcCYIhPvkjuM-mDbBPQ8iBdaEO6anSMPuUAoQlO2kPEoXa5k60/s540/tumblr_pkgfmr5HD31s95dj0_540.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="540" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUtHNoaHAtjU9bYfOU_UQhNer0DQZWsrPlyyb8iLksMWsc59uyIjjWQB812nNbRa5Pl1FUKQdZ4AcSdrY3TU3XkFYpwebcCYIhPvkjuM-mDbBPQ8iBdaEO6anSMPuUAoQlO2kPEoXa5k60/s320/tumblr_pkgfmr5HD31s95dj0_540.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Cotton's personality is kind of ambiguous. Sometimes he would come off affable and charming but, on the second go-round, he's threatening and menacing. Since he is set up as a red herring and ties into the film's theme of revenge, Cotton could easily be the killer but as it turns out...he's not. And from then on, he becomes an unlikely hero by the end of the movie. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIlq4e9tC3_OU0TIfD7Pb3uN_4AKmIti7-gJ61uqzjtVeZNnfUdHbrlGc6ezjU_JkjV1dtDJU0zZ25H-HAGgTeM4tdlFAAqcpyvdJeWmKcfcwsB8aaRh7uISWVF3v25XQR2hgOY_oqYgX/s226/c93b566af75b6b7ce33b675f0b45ed4e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="226" data-original-width="223" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIlq4e9tC3_OU0TIfD7Pb3uN_4AKmIti7-gJ61uqzjtVeZNnfUdHbrlGc6ezjU_JkjV1dtDJU0zZ25H-HAGgTeM4tdlFAAqcpyvdJeWmKcfcwsB8aaRh7uISWVF3v25XQR2hgOY_oqYgX/s0/c93b566af75b6b7ce33b675f0b45ed4e.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><br /><div>Liev Schreiber was very engaging as Cotton. He steps between the line of infectiously charismatic to dangerously intimidating at the same time. Even if Cotton wasn't accused of murder, he would seem like a pretty cool guy to hang around. But when he's pissed, he is PISSED. With that cold glare in his eye that makes you wonder...And that's why I think Liev Schreiber is so perfectly cast in this role. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp8xt3vbK2j3Bnvxzu0WjxVyqxYWerRWRsoZV6y0O-7ksP969b51h7Lp13zEZP7vUzUuSpuUuY2U7tHWmJ_mXKvpZVvCO30rQJ_n1rrrSUnKZIRCZMvsNGf3CUm-4usoHW84KYd3trYMz/s1024/scream-2-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp8xt3vbK2j3Bnvxzu0WjxVyqxYWerRWRsoZV6y0O-7ksP969b51h7Lp13zEZP7vUzUuSpuUuY2U7tHWmJ_mXKvpZVvCO30rQJ_n1rrrSUnKZIRCZMvsNGf3CUm-4usoHW84KYd3trYMz/s320/scream-2-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Last but not least, we have our signature heroine of the series, Sidney Prescott. Surviving the events of the first movie, Sidney still suffers from the emotional scars of her high school years. She's always looking over her shoulder, not knowing who to trust. Her desire for a normal life is shattered by the constant paranoia of her past.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D7Zv_ioRlJg95Y26Be57-jqrOjfJzGouYraO9hAu8BDKHAt8Eudp_RaiKKXRhgQEWZ3HXEgtzZNoRunYD5cUcyvn5NkpBNdv5o-9kjueKiZI0ToehfukC4Wx0rXtkgfaLZ8iEwklvx1_/s1080/d17b7daee5723c29855c76fe4bce9a80.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D7Zv_ioRlJg95Y26Be57-jqrOjfJzGouYraO9hAu8BDKHAt8Eudp_RaiKKXRhgQEWZ3HXEgtzZNoRunYD5cUcyvn5NkpBNdv5o-9kjueKiZI0ToehfukC4Wx0rXtkgfaLZ8iEwklvx1_/s320/d17b7daee5723c29855c76fe4bce9a80.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>But Sidney refuses to be a victim, using every trick of the trade from the Final Girl handbook. She is much more resourceful and intuitive than before and not above kicking some ass either. In this go-round, she refuses to let her past define her. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9BI8nE_BeRfDiU4bdB_Sv5_YkrFrDNPbZqydNtDRMrbZC0ajJ9SxSIgXEGsaSRIFqJLBcPm5WyLK1Ys1FDFT8xba24E3vmzYo4xCGvlYnZHDCzV5KO2yHs9ZmSutnx0knYQJq4wLgd2H/s2000/Neve-Campbell-sidney-Prescott-Scream.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="2000" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9BI8nE_BeRfDiU4bdB_Sv5_YkrFrDNPbZqydNtDRMrbZC0ajJ9SxSIgXEGsaSRIFqJLBcPm5WyLK1Ys1FDFT8xba24E3vmzYo4xCGvlYnZHDCzV5KO2yHs9ZmSutnx0knYQJq4wLgd2H/s320/Neve-Campbell-sidney-Prescott-Scream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>She tries to have some semblance of a normal life, but there is a certain ghost (Ghostface in particular) that seems to follow her every move. Like most horror sequels, the killer in question has a personal vendetta against the main heroine. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtRJ5irAFAWNbmdyj-Oc3fD-tADK6c1te0fuA9xjX3aagUvKijqi46JPwS6PmUCJ7jzmfbV5tLsq4N9y5rxJOqtAccVcBzLcCEZyNHkN9LhF8nlgI1s7JCAz1PqStC4gjPhNldFyGWlr7/s400/891cd047d43bc784a3ec28f3c21ab69e.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtRJ5irAFAWNbmdyj-Oc3fD-tADK6c1te0fuA9xjX3aagUvKijqi46JPwS6PmUCJ7jzmfbV5tLsq4N9y5rxJOqtAccVcBzLcCEZyNHkN9LhF8nlgI1s7JCAz1PqStC4gjPhNldFyGWlr7/s320/891cd047d43bc784a3ec28f3c21ab69e.png" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>But the heroine of <b>this </b>story doesn't go down without a fight. She is tired of hiding, and charges head-on to confront the demons from her past. This is the movie where Sidney Prescott finds her awakening...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKjRxMrzH6F-Qr0LiD1jT7gd2i4Xka_KOgwbCtU2WIPibVsO6WyK6ZSeIEoZRc1cPtU9rW7kvkHC2JWMfG5EwbD-c7YkptKdft67GbirqDdXlhllY5jRjuxhH8UetpuXAaTsqmfBowwR8/s228/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="181" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQKjRxMrzH6F-Qr0LiD1jT7gd2i4Xka_KOgwbCtU2WIPibVsO6WyK6ZSeIEoZRc1cPtU9rW7kvkHC2JWMfG5EwbD-c7YkptKdft67GbirqDdXlhllY5jRjuxhH8UetpuXAaTsqmfBowwR8/s0/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. Need I say more? Neve Campbell is a testament to this character's strengths.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpleo064P9TfRYQQFdPzHiKQRbX5sgFzipEyLJci4AZEDQsfG3JygnQWL10K6lCAkpD0_s5KoYveMU1-IP6YYrkM82i86rFIbZJyOh-CioCDRnVScawp1VJC7pTLl9ttUItcQ9JOfXbzl/s818/tumblr_02e980590acee0d0b9a37ed84a7cdb1f_526b9ebe_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="817" data-original-width="818" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpleo064P9TfRYQQFdPzHiKQRbX5sgFzipEyLJci4AZEDQsfG3JygnQWL10K6lCAkpD0_s5KoYveMU1-IP6YYrkM82i86rFIbZJyOh-CioCDRnVScawp1VJC7pTLl9ttUItcQ9JOfXbzl/s320/tumblr_02e980590acee0d0b9a37ed84a7cdb1f_526b9ebe_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Vulnerable but fierce, doubtful but determined. Neve Campbell conveyed every emotion Sidney is going through and her performance was glorious from start to finish. Not anyone can play Sidney Prescott like Neve Campbell does.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOeORCyvb6DmXtkgdao6pIgbawyoGqgbl_ULewXbZn8jwMEFn7Utv1oo-bGlQC5acYsEsp1hdPU9tB3X0vQYeX4y8Lc9x2ogL7idOZx9bQAoFNmfy2-GasXy8747aOrJ2W_n3cISSGzyU/s512/ghostface.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="512" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOeORCyvb6DmXtkgdao6pIgbawyoGqgbl_ULewXbZn8jwMEFn7Utv1oo-bGlQC5acYsEsp1hdPU9tB3X0vQYeX4y8Lc9x2ogL7idOZx9bQAoFNmfy2-GasXy8747aOrJ2W_n3cISSGzyU/s320/ghostface.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now we have moved on to the legacy character known as Ghostface. Though in all accounts, Ghostface is not entity, he is simply a man (or men in this case) behind a mask. So let's take a peek at who's underneath it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeCBPotzVRICpveCc5clzEM0StMuZ3iSAfR3iXPpEY4k-Mjky5ylAEcfazRBPdd5Q2tod_7-56MLgxoGgGgRlr2OcGe0yNUJygggrlgLbIynsZ5FOeZ3vskripdU9WGkArk-xojYq1cZ7/s466/Mickey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="466" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfeCBPotzVRICpveCc5clzEM0StMuZ3iSAfR3iXPpEY4k-Mjky5ylAEcfazRBPdd5Q2tod_7-56MLgxoGgGgRlr2OcGe0yNUJygggrlgLbIynsZ5FOeZ3vskripdU9WGkArk-xojYq1cZ7/s320/Mickey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lo and behold, it's...Mickey! You know, Mickey, Derek's friend, who is a major film buff?.... Yeah, that's all I know about him. Not that I want to make a comparison here, but Matthew Lillard brought a unique zaniness to his performance that made the character of Stu quite memorable. He was the type of character that wanted your attention and didn't fade into the background. Mickey, on the other hand, fades into the background. There is just nothing interesting about the guy other than being a film buff, so he's basically Randy 2.0. but a lot less funny and not much engaging. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDNc7WDnQrVcvot4klMDd4pUCNpupLboHN2uJU0CoEhSEndmGSF30h94W3p6DHyVEKey1qMaN80tAlgIjoWmPeP33Lo6JHwCPn-iieUprT78u-29T5Hv0kpvPOaMc7ruIiqtFROlwOqsC/s956/5f2c28984e52b72f0d792436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="956" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDNc7WDnQrVcvot4klMDd4pUCNpupLboHN2uJU0CoEhSEndmGSF30h94W3p6DHyVEKey1qMaN80tAlgIjoWmPeP33Lo6JHwCPn-iieUprT78u-29T5Hv0kpvPOaMc7ruIiqtFROlwOqsC/s320/5f2c28984e52b72f0d792436.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nothing against Timothy Olyphant, I think he's a good actor and all but he doesn't have much to work with here. Maybe it was intentional for the character to be less focused as it soon turns out that he's the killer, but his motive is just as underwhelming. Earlier in the film, there was this subplot about how the killer would target people who coincidently have the same names as the murder victims from the first film. Somehow I believe that this was Mickey's doing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-vyPnAGeKS5cZyoUqa7qB4rB-S02jC7BwbtL5orMAoe2ZmmMlFLDsGcyksQmctINzvaQQn5fH6O975LLWWRaQmCDMWRK7T1edqJIr052c02P5PlMvJc84xr_Sg5OeFJT95nKi21JABWH/s720/tumblr_dd6723a85dd1ca820181ada63b9cb9a4_a35b3b61_1280.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-vyPnAGeKS5cZyoUqa7qB4rB-S02jC7BwbtL5orMAoe2ZmmMlFLDsGcyksQmctINzvaQQn5fH6O975LLWWRaQmCDMWRK7T1edqJIr052c02P5PlMvJc84xr_Sg5OeFJT95nKi21JABWH/s320/tumblr_dd6723a85dd1ca820181ada63b9cb9a4_a35b3b61_1280.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">However, his plan is about actually getting caught, but the catch is once he gets caught and has all of this new press surrounding him, Mickey would blame his mental illness on violence in the media...It's just not interesting. And on top of that, it's very predictable coming from a character like this. Judging from how Billy and Stu were obsessed with horror movies, It would be too obvious for one of the characters to take their love of horror movies too far and who it be but the guy (besides Randy) who would point out the most obvious movie references. That's all I have to say really. Mickey just wasn't that memorable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But fortunately, in the tradition of the first movie, there are two killers and unlike Mickey, this one leaves a lasting impression...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmUPVGdus9JSw3y3zmsCNXqEC5IDtZhIpGSAsznnZ_-zNvvOgNef3KoTBZbzoWWdN11tYqPMqoFUDq7pcFuqdHer3L33R5-A4MqihMybutwcuoaUo4K7e1xEwo6E1yK-vTK42e02rztbc/s360/DL_.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmUPVGdus9JSw3y3zmsCNXqEC5IDtZhIpGSAsznnZ_-zNvvOgNef3KoTBZbzoWWdN11tYqPMqoFUDq7pcFuqdHer3L33R5-A4MqihMybutwcuoaUo4K7e1xEwo6E1yK-vTK42e02rztbc/s320/DL_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Enter Mrs. Loomis, played by the phenomenal Laurie Metcalf. But before we praise the legendary Mrs. Metcalf, let's step into the psyche of Mrs. Loomis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZp9uxt59ClWwFAXr_zcXwCVjGBgsdAR1sxfkdS3Yh9whG8WvNMVXRCCJdrARon_u25pIzWg3JMO1WyDblZn-ZeEjlfPsi8WzNT6ctr62Yasi1vUNLGO7UZEz_UxvdOuFc3G6lgLoZ7Jy/s992/Debbie_Salt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="992" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZp9uxt59ClWwFAXr_zcXwCVjGBgsdAR1sxfkdS3Yh9whG8WvNMVXRCCJdrARon_u25pIzWg3JMO1WyDblZn-ZeEjlfPsi8WzNT6ctr62Yasi1vUNLGO7UZEz_UxvdOuFc3G6lgLoZ7Jy/s320/Debbie_Salt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've come to notice that fans don't really care for this character and I can see why. She starts off as this overly chipper reporter with the alias of Debbie Salt who seem to constantly gush over Gale's presence but once her true identity is revealed, the characters are surprised by her transformation. Sure, after leaving her husband and abandoning her only son, it would be likely that she would focus on her looks, though, I would call this a selfish endeavor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYDgqEEHmHkJDBzicSbWOozbSa_W6zt0wlM4vakBGbea5gF6n53l6hk4EmqcBeQkPJHdd9jyfceaSKykU0OrqtURoyIUsEs07_SJ14ua68uIa56bqs9WPNkZyVSlSWsrItkY8Ogy2PPLo/s993/5f2c3b09f34d055c0d03b7c6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="993" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYDgqEEHmHkJDBzicSbWOozbSa_W6zt0wlM4vakBGbea5gF6n53l6hk4EmqcBeQkPJHdd9jyfceaSKykU0OrqtURoyIUsEs07_SJ14ua68uIa56bqs9WPNkZyVSlSWsrItkY8Ogy2PPLo/s320/5f2c3b09f34d055c0d03b7c6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mrs. Loomis would seem like a sympathetic character at first, considering how her husband had an affair behind her back. But when you look past that, she deliberately abandoned her son Billy, which probably left him so emotionally scarred that he would go on a killing spree. Not that I'm excusing Billy's actions but it's pretty apparent that Mrs. Loomis played some part in her son's psychotic breakdown. Though it's obvious this family suffers from mental illness to the point when something goes wrong in their life, they just sit there and go, "Welp, it's time to go kill somebody," which basically shows how they have no regard for human life. If anything, this woman seems to make excuses for killing people, particularly using the death of her son as a crutch for her unrelenting bloodlust. I don't know if I'm the one to diagnose somebody but Mrs. Loomis might be on the tipping scale of a sociopathic psychopath. Though in all honesty, I do see her as the ultimate big bad of the series and a much better villain than the one in the next movie.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpYZhg9deD-7jNnasgAduHefLUnaVy7z_ln01qwOpy4DgtCmNRv-FH_DasP2Uhin6Vi1lT6vWVLEHl5gD_ryuyWLoSn5HxRRx56Wj5vY6MdYIAaQDbwkqzYowY9fWCweYgvBTYHzu8Xwt/s495/Mrs._loomis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="495" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpYZhg9deD-7jNnasgAduHefLUnaVy7z_ln01qwOpy4DgtCmNRv-FH_DasP2Uhin6Vi1lT6vWVLEHl5gD_ryuyWLoSn5HxRRx56Wj5vY6MdYIAaQDbwkqzYowY9fWCweYgvBTYHzu8Xwt/s320/Mrs._loomis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2g0sIdnaWsQywB5p_g9Nr5C1Io6YFpKET21wq0KHKzEj4GW3N678DrH_kgYDkuJEG8FEkGaBcNDNJhm6P6LgwaEFnXiP4ao3Z281Kk3XFR4Clg6NTVilXgtuXUWTUt91Pnx5scZhJFE5/s740/Laurie-Metcalf-as-Mrs-Loomis-in-Scream-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="370" data-original-width="740" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK2g0sIdnaWsQywB5p_g9Nr5C1Io6YFpKET21wq0KHKzEj4GW3N678DrH_kgYDkuJEG8FEkGaBcNDNJhm6P6LgwaEFnXiP4ao3Z281Kk3XFR4Clg6NTVilXgtuXUWTUt91Pnx5scZhJFE5/s320/Laurie-Metcalf-as-Mrs-Loomis-in-Scream-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZts_chZ5JK57ZH6KLpJZphRWPb2KntCB3kcACQi-GlZhHsN3j5Ou20bxtjBY34TkEmtX19b3paslSen2ORo62__fw6Oy7xTW1TCgUw0RdembDoIcJxb41uQkPDO-rEDJ-P9_Hh_Gjicha/s1600/scream-2-1997.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZts_chZ5JK57ZH6KLpJZphRWPb2KntCB3kcACQi-GlZhHsN3j5Ou20bxtjBY34TkEmtX19b3paslSen2ORo62__fw6Oy7xTW1TCgUw0RdembDoIcJxb41uQkPDO-rEDJ-P9_Hh_Gjicha/s320/scream-2-1997.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Laurie Metcalf is outstanding! For the little screentime she has, she definitely left a big impact. The way she raises her eyes in a chilling fashion while charging in with this animalistic ferocity catapulted into this extraordinary performance. Though I can't help but say that she reminds me of an evil version of Jackie Harris, where Metcalf can channel the neuroticism of that character and expand it to a homicidally unhinged level. It is truly, truly awesome. And for that, I'll give Mrs. Metcalf a gracious bow to her achievements.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The writing and directing are fan-freakin-tasti!. Of course, when you combine the writing prowess of Kevin Williamson and the mastery of Wes Craven, it's a match made for perfection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP71UxX8Ah33din0ymFT3gyETD7fPFNE3qh9RNr4GqxHK_CVpHV7-IxX32_oB_s8uydCe4iENh7IQQZTMPjly3ZRX_ulqSicQlILNHDXvRXYGbYukCg2waQustexYFZWFYx9QX7bKTm2hu/s1200/EbPClCcXYAE5kIR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="1200" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP71UxX8Ah33din0ymFT3gyETD7fPFNE3qh9RNr4GqxHK_CVpHV7-IxX32_oB_s8uydCe4iENh7IQQZTMPjly3ZRX_ulqSicQlILNHDXvRXYGbYukCg2waQustexYFZWFYx9QX7bKTm2hu/s320/EbPClCcXYAE5kIR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtgCr-qnYYGZVWzr2cCinhATUg7EGn_70LT1EdI_wG5DfpTWI17HECxR4GQTzsXH9OFuv-r_KcpFBKc_caQA6CS64cPyTvANY1XCZvYOCu6fCRMrsoL44BxbFd0p_XhEcPk-QWadK3t4c/s265/images+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="265" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtgCr-qnYYGZVWzr2cCinhATUg7EGn_70LT1EdI_wG5DfpTWI17HECxR4GQTzsXH9OFuv-r_KcpFBKc_caQA6CS64cPyTvANY1XCZvYOCu6fCRMrsoL44BxbFd0p_XhEcPk-QWadK3t4c/s0/images+%25283%2529.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRKCcFzKWHErPl8ex2X5lOt4sohwOUUGjYy6j75k2dL8PrzkLOvmpr6JQAvxgOIBLlTo6zJPXGIfLdTjIk8t61tjJTLGqDT9yBMDBVEIe9_ctFYAuE3QdCIkbnpAZCIWjo82ny6CZNoH1/s620/Officer-Richards.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="620" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRKCcFzKWHErPl8ex2X5lOt4sohwOUUGjYy6j75k2dL8PrzkLOvmpr6JQAvxgOIBLlTo6zJPXGIfLdTjIk8t61tjJTLGqDT9yBMDBVEIe9_ctFYAuE3QdCIkbnpAZCIWjo82ny6CZNoH1/s320/Officer-Richards.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And in the tradition of most horror sequels, the deaths are bound to be bloodier and gorier than the first film. The most brutal of deaths in my opinion are Cici Cooper's and Officer Richards.</div><div>Though my main focus is on these three specific scenes that are now considered to be my most favorite of the franchise:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyR3QOxH8EZ5bHVXRLT2sT0EX4a611P6k8PUtOKiPeZVdHjUXSdlMnXMo8o_qWk3bOze0PDJVMYewoRJhqn9ELnDSsPpKeG5jGVNWrd2rCjKTnljhAtFnq8Y6Gx4UVOzw0pzwb0ksTNSn/s791/flatten.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="791" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyR3QOxH8EZ5bHVXRLT2sT0EX4a611P6k8PUtOKiPeZVdHjUXSdlMnXMo8o_qWk3bOze0PDJVMYewoRJhqn9ELnDSsPpKeG5jGVNWrd2rCjKTnljhAtFnq8Y6Gx4UVOzw0pzwb0ksTNSn/s320/flatten.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUtqqnwPhv4yVBRHvaKmGvj4CpjbWRL18OQwbjZveI43f5G6QrCoqQAWa4b1vpNn6FFM4I6VTRmmZrCPwa2xEwBtsTH79A01qy59BrUYAhMXlle9FODsZNHdU3pDhI9rZCK5NaxwErpyK/s853/Scream_2_casandra.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKUtqqnwPhv4yVBRHvaKmGvj4CpjbWRL18OQwbjZveI43f5G6QrCoqQAWa4b1vpNn6FFM4I6VTRmmZrCPwa2xEwBtsTH79A01qy59BrUYAhMXlle9FODsZNHdU3pDhI9rZCK5NaxwErpyK/s320/Scream_2_casandra.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>First and foremost, we have Sidney's rehearsal scene. I swear it's like something out of another movie. It's just so incredibly EPIC! The setting, the costumes, the choreography, the bombastic score orchestrated by the one and only Danny Elfman. It comes off less like a standard community college stage play and more like an elaborate Broadway show with high production values. It is simply glorious. Not only that, it's highly suspenseful as one of the killers might be hiding underneath the costumes to which Sidney wonders if it's real or an illusion. Ah-mazing!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul9Bq7RSTVt_0Ji3cYS2zRjm5zioquu3nia_WVffgn5PgRYIAoQQA509kdH-brmKtOX4jQ1V9gX5abrJxSoj_lVxrCPpMGYi43ueEEND5DStvckc-q6US5WC6RgMYZ3xn-0GpXZ-dchYz/s1200/Ghostface-and-Gale-e1578932242252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="1200" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiul9Bq7RSTVt_0Ji3cYS2zRjm5zioquu3nia_WVffgn5PgRYIAoQQA509kdH-brmKtOX4jQ1V9gX5abrJxSoj_lVxrCPpMGYi43ueEEND5DStvckc-q6US5WC6RgMYZ3xn-0GpXZ-dchYz/s320/Ghostface-and-Gale-e1578932242252.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then there's the scene where Gale gets her first and only chase sequence. Its dripped with high tension but was also very heartwrenching when Gale, trapped in the sound, is forced to witness Dewey's supposed "death" (he gets better).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdXOzg9kQhdwFgPJFT6S_5nnPsS0kznur9wV3-g3JJSTV7L8LW6D0P9qjdGs6VTpjezosp5Yqt5zSM1vl9Z3OGhjQSGf0KwJyXzO5gO_RO9U8L772f56IMcnkfqZEqGnxnHa6v9v27Pa3/s1200/scream-throwbacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOdXOzg9kQhdwFgPJFT6S_5nnPsS0kznur9wV3-g3JJSTV7L8LW6D0P9qjdGs6VTpjezosp5Yqt5zSM1vl9Z3OGhjQSGf0KwJyXzO5gO_RO9U8L772f56IMcnkfqZEqGnxnHa6v9v27Pa3/s320/scream-throwbacks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEYPDN_o3etPQdcbk2fuSWXgpQsmSNfH97wh5Af5Fxj_okLq8I7XpG8fIlP_ACStnKItIg8RZMvqjl5wUdnXPF-DTwZlgywM4wfmmiXXTNxFvP-IaRnK6-GI1CGrctDk3NZkGzq0Z0l1R/s1502/scream-2-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1502" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEYPDN_o3etPQdcbk2fuSWXgpQsmSNfH97wh5Af5Fxj_okLq8I7XpG8fIlP_ACStnKItIg8RZMvqjl5wUdnXPF-DTwZlgywM4wfmmiXXTNxFvP-IaRnK6-GI1CGrctDk3NZkGzq0Z0l1R/s320/scream-2-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, there is a scene that might be close to a tie-breaker with Sidney's Rehearsal and it's the one where Sidney and Hallie get trapped in the cop car with the killer. Oh man, this scene was intense! It starts off with a bang when the killer slits Officer Andrews' throat and throws Officer Richards from the car. When the killer starts the engine, in a state of urgency, Officer Richards jumps on top of the car as the killer takes off and then...CRASH! Officer Richards is impaled by steel pipes in a very gory fashion. This leaves Sidney and Hallie, who are trapped in the backseat, to escape the police car before the unconscious killer wakes up. INTENSE. Hands down, the most chilling moments of the film.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXK5tQfPnPtoqJTi_0GbkgrbMQuVn4FHM6ho6XD_QgVWWpIYt1GTwx9SMv6x_5RL34VgwACfnXExeoxFJLWJP0CrhtXGgHRUj5P37IFFqBBBkMIuYc4t_G5lq424DmBRh5M_1xdhcn4b0/s225/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinXK5tQfPnPtoqJTi_0GbkgrbMQuVn4FHM6ho6XD_QgVWWpIYt1GTwx9SMv6x_5RL34VgwACfnXExeoxFJLWJP0CrhtXGgHRUj5P37IFFqBBBkMIuYc4t_G5lq424DmBRh5M_1xdhcn4b0/s0/download.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Now let's discuss a little bit about the leaked script. This may contain spoilers but who cares at this point? It was twenty-odd years old since this script was leaked and everybody pretty much knows about the big twist ending that was originally planned. It's revealed that Derek and Hallie were the killers and that Mrs. Loomis was the mastermind behind it. To be honest, I haven't read the script but I think the re-writes were, in fact, necessary. Hallie's friendship with Sidney turns out to be genuine and Derek turns out to be the love of Sidney's life. So by making these changes, their relationship with Sidney is built on sincerity and shows how she has a lot more to lose when they become the target of the killer. Plus, the filmmakers did a good job of not replicating the original because from what I can tell, the twist felt like a complete rehash of the first movie.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtp6LMyod4ZhDOXjB5qNMxhoA2eK4E9WdURIr1jiJ3JZ1UdruppLQrXCG6PgKZs4399oDihLp81256pIiibrobnCOLkf0i2xBK98Tuvj-jbomiayzPT0jdJvzxMYp4c99BtwH0muC9iNi/s1400/Scream-2-Neve-Campbell-Courteney-Cox-and-Liev-Schreiber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgtp6LMyod4ZhDOXjB5qNMxhoA2eK4E9WdURIr1jiJ3JZ1UdruppLQrXCG6PgKZs4399oDihLp81256pIiibrobnCOLkf0i2xBK98Tuvj-jbomiayzPT0jdJvzxMYp4c99BtwH0muC9iNi/s320/Scream-2-Neve-Campbell-Courteney-Cox-and-Liev-Schreiber.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>I feel what came out of the script re-writes was a much better movie than it was intended to be. Therefore, Scream 2 turns out to be one of my favorite horror sequels. It just goes to show that fate has a funny way of turning lead into gold. </div><div>My final word: It's a definite Yes. It's the best!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div></div><br />J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-47833830813888119062021-07-01T01:51:00.000-07:002021-07-01T01:51:44.181-07:00The Anatomy of Riverdale: Season 2<p> </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfBriMJlcq99q0LDJr1XXfjgGh9tzDTYM5w4JaU3T2SrLTq2Wyz9TfIilyEBZD2wCKc-cr_AzYp8cFWyK4PO_Ne9n2oA3HZOD0mERCP7dXosZgt6spyP6IrOoCIgYQ1yVwogF3Pd9WB9P/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfBriMJlcq99q0LDJr1XXfjgGh9tzDTYM5w4JaU3T2SrLTq2Wyz9TfIilyEBZD2wCKc-cr_AzYp8cFWyK4PO_Ne9n2oA3HZOD0mERCP7dXosZgt6spyP6IrOoCIgYQ1yVwogF3Pd9WB9P/w213-h320/image.png" width="213" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p>Okay, we have now entered the second season of Riverdale and there is a lot to unpack. The show's directing style this time around is more avant-garde, usually when the characters have these abstract dream sequences. Sure, there were scenes like this in the first season but it's more prominent to where the show leans further into the surreal that escalates through the third season. This sort of directing style would make the show interesting if it focused more on the character aspect. By all means, Riverdale is more of a plot-based show and much of the character development isn't really handled well in my opinion. I can see <i>some </i>of the writers trying to add layers to the main characters but it doesn't go anywhere. </p><p>For the most part, I thought this season was...okay. Not bad but not great either. But I will say this, I think, in this season, the show finally found its identity...well, somewhat. It tries to go for that neo-noir mystery style with a healthy dose of teen melodrama. There are its good points and its bad points. The plotting was okay. I did find the whole storyline with the Black Hood intriguing and it turned out to be a compelling story arc. And furthermore, I think the actors did a good job with what they were given. Not all of the actors were great but most of the performances are passable at best. Now here comes the bad points: The writing and execution are very poor and the character development is all over the place. And don't get me started on the dialogue. It seems that the show forces the characters to make hasty decisions for the plot's sake. It makes them look flaky and impulsive at best. This wasn't a TERRIBLE season. Sure, it has its cringy moments here and there but I think this is the season where the show finds its footing and at least gets you <i>somewhat </i>interested. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pFIcBoOG3T49oPsXN5Wq5tVCgaJBk-LndGGwlELOTFxnhZC-kX5w-A8wCu0N6aa1IsKOP_PA__3oHnIWsx4Sha2-FtBa32wDyj7-STR0N7eoedl2Ne9zIdk1cziYTUIzv87w-UmcTbiP/s1024/riverdale+season+2+opener.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9pFIcBoOG3T49oPsXN5Wq5tVCgaJBk-LndGGwlELOTFxnhZC-kX5w-A8wCu0N6aa1IsKOP_PA__3oHnIWsx4Sha2-FtBa32wDyj7-STR0N7eoedl2Ne9zIdk1cziYTUIzv87w-UmcTbiP/s320/riverdale+season+2+opener.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The season opener begins after the cliffhanger with Archie in a rush to get his dad to the hospital. While Fred is recovering, most of the characters are dealing with the aftereffects of the last season, which causes the quartet of Archie, Jughead, Betty, and Veronica to change drastically. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgfGVCC9iZPTG3MRmZeKkOF8qu7KfoqUqVM0MDclkOJ-0ZoEJCm4ttm-C_H_DClhrPIo6mxCCrDPyv67RYS1Vc854SnOJmaDm5cwvsVZBCSeS_IbfcBSBmRuZ6qfnB264rBl_WfcYnpER/s1045/riverdale+archie+and+the+gang.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgfGVCC9iZPTG3MRmZeKkOF8qu7KfoqUqVM0MDclkOJ-0ZoEJCm4ttm-C_H_DClhrPIo6mxCCrDPyv67RYS1Vc854SnOJmaDm5cwvsVZBCSeS_IbfcBSBmRuZ6qfnB264rBl_WfcYnpER/s320/riverdale+archie+and+the+gang.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>You have Archie as a vigilante and later working for the mob, Jughead as the leader of a biker gang, Betty, who might be related to a serial killer, and Veronica, a mob princess. The characters are so unrecognizable to the point where you forget that they're based on the Archie comics. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qGStHLaxxf9-XBRTLNxmFUWuMsG0IoxpIHCDh6uXGK9WYjwwR2hBZm8mbP1kFcd5xzXRAs1J9lFQLvLPrZLH7YJfqDvTNuy8aqMpstrJ_Un5fAoCK2y0rj0NC3zljlGIykTs0MeCuJDD/s1200/archie-1526391465.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qGStHLaxxf9-XBRTLNxmFUWuMsG0IoxpIHCDh6uXGK9WYjwwR2hBZm8mbP1kFcd5xzXRAs1J9lFQLvLPrZLH7YJfqDvTNuy8aqMpstrJ_Un5fAoCK2y0rj0NC3zljlGIykTs0MeCuJDD/s320/archie-1526391465.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Let's start with Archie Andrews. His arc starts off as promising as he's traumatized by the events of the cliffhanger. It shows how paranoid he is, constantly guarding the door while his dad is recovering. But then, Archie goes <i>slightly</i> overboard after hearing the news about the murder of Ms. Grundy, his former lover and music teacher.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkguL97A8GQo0yHoWJ1aEIMLSwifVaZ9Rc1MNPWj9pxVinW4VS-o9LHDH-VyaTCY06ipthczAHHJEePUv5C4nKMmYUFC-_BBlmi_qF8To3NarusGfHZ0jktX1LnE6aNAuDp6qyx5EBmkg/s1920/archie+and+dilton.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkguL97A8GQo0yHoWJ1aEIMLSwifVaZ9Rc1MNPWj9pxVinW4VS-o9LHDH-VyaTCY06ipthczAHHJEePUv5C4nKMmYUFC-_BBlmi_qF8To3NarusGfHZ0jktX1LnE6aNAuDp6qyx5EBmkg/s320/archie+and+dilton.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAREksaxgwAotNyV4Rv2U1r2CfsDIxkY1Rw0Joj211l0X1BEv2ZxrLvrQHDuHpiXVStbokLX8VnyjaY41mjeydzdVdoYpbbwyoCAoIdmIX0l-vRAAYtrgdGFOBHlgt4MZpZxCGhIsNzlYu/s1080/Riverdale+Archie%2527s+Vigilante+gang.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAREksaxgwAotNyV4Rv2U1r2CfsDIxkY1Rw0Joj211l0X1BEv2ZxrLvrQHDuHpiXVStbokLX8VnyjaY41mjeydzdVdoYpbbwyoCAoIdmIX0l-vRAAYtrgdGFOBHlgt4MZpZxCGhIsNzlYu/s320/Riverdale+Archie%2527s+Vigilante+gang.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>He first purchases a gun from Dilton Doiley of all people and when Moose and Midge are attacked by the Black Hood, he rallies up Reggie and the rest of the school's football team to form a vigilante group. By the way, Archie's idea of forming a vigilante group comes from the basis of a comic book...<i>okay</i>. But it doesn't stop there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb_U5fAXd7BFE0cYH4a04cwfagzycQDnFwWvoEVL5kNR3vF0713D6EjMfahlZQu0aVKKolRWK_GGIXu5vTp5m0mgDkUeJ9nl3WrzYcyON1034F4F_eI_bnCjfOp-co9_NHzwVMamt5yLt/s600/Riverdale-212-8-600x400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkb_U5fAXd7BFE0cYH4a04cwfagzycQDnFwWvoEVL5kNR3vF0713D6EjMfahlZQu0aVKKolRWK_GGIXu5vTp5m0mgDkUeJ9nl3WrzYcyON1034F4F_eI_bnCjfOp-co9_NHzwVMamt5yLt/s320/Riverdale-212-8-600x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>In the midst of it all, Archie gets caught up in some intrigue, mainly with Veronica's dad, Hiram. It all starts after Plot A where Archie gets into a bit of entanglement with an FBI agent who wants to crack down on Hiram's mob dealings. And so, Archie is put to the test becoming a mole for the FBI. But this turns out to be a ploy from Hermonie, of all people, as a way to test Archie's loyalty. This was all too confusing and it was a good plot wasted. And trust me, I'll get to Hermonie later. </p><p>So with the continuation of Archie's storyline, he basically becomes Hiram's right-hand man. Even to the point where he favors him over his father, which I thought was pointless drama. But to no one's surprise, Hiram betrays Archie and sends him to jail in the season's cliffhanger. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRXhqoHctRmnC2djaR-XNw5hObIquzMGQOngJbi5UwuQTrkDCQJet1aQs0ojutBcf50kJ7ZgLM3kcDAoqw3VvyYf39UDaIF0zwJkJczGzGSs2iVeYMiGYRD2abX8uAz53ny122oJyFF1P/s620/riverdale-season-2-finale-archie-kj-apa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRXhqoHctRmnC2djaR-XNw5hObIquzMGQOngJbi5UwuQTrkDCQJet1aQs0ojutBcf50kJ7ZgLM3kcDAoqw3VvyYf39UDaIF0zwJkJczGzGSs2iVeYMiGYRD2abX8uAz53ny122oJyFF1P/s320/riverdale-season-2-finale-archie-kj-apa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Okay, I would say that Archie is more of a pro-active character this time around, however, the decisions he makes comes off as irrational and impulsive, which is far from Archie's character. He sort of just thrust into situations he's not in control of and it's in favor of someone else's storyline. Archie continues to bounce off plot after plot until he gets caught in Hiram's web. Speaking of, what is his deal with Hiram? At first, it seems that he's trying to impress Hiram through Veronica. This is pretty accurate to the comics but it gets much deeper than that. Archie begins to have some weird obligation to him to the point he gets involved with the mob.</p><p>Archie can be best described as a reactionary character. Whenever something happens, he reacts. But at least he's not a supporting character in his own show, however, it's hard for me to find Archie engaging as the main character. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyS1k75JSbxW7Rfw08S3wtwyi1mSRbfEa0CykvpUDnm83fGKNW47S5SzgNgkHvG9ceYQlUMzQCe9hqaXaBRhNf-99Ql252ep1lsxUi2gj2YJ9l9y8RNICA_OsvyHHx-IPXWSMPhFmjCpz/s1100/kj+apa+riverdale+season+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyS1k75JSbxW7Rfw08S3wtwyi1mSRbfEa0CykvpUDnm83fGKNW47S5SzgNgkHvG9ceYQlUMzQCe9hqaXaBRhNf-99Ql252ep1lsxUi2gj2YJ9l9y8RNICA_OsvyHHx-IPXWSMPhFmjCpz/s320/kj+apa+riverdale+season+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Like I said the last time, KJ Apa isn't a bad actor. I mean he does have more to work with and he isn't as bland as he was in the last season but the poor dialogue and flimsy scriptwriting sort of falters whatever potential he has. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUMD_D-0eopuZTg07vfapUGu1TsJlx3PLWJeqVcCbgIeIoAlGztDNcCIn9P6sLKkVU76B_bg_kOtXn0SPEojQoB02kywbdLvyaiEJ2oAqHkzA13npd-7XgwTYOpl3FwmUqvMi0oK2sMdX/s800/lili-reinhart-riverdale-betty-cooper-horizontal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUMD_D-0eopuZTg07vfapUGu1TsJlx3PLWJeqVcCbgIeIoAlGztDNcCIn9P6sLKkVU76B_bg_kOtXn0SPEojQoB02kywbdLvyaiEJ2oAqHkzA13npd-7XgwTYOpl3FwmUqvMi0oK2sMdX/s320/lili-reinhart-riverdale-betty-cooper-horizontal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Now let's talk about Betty Copper, and oh boy, Betty has a lot of baggage. From where we left off, Alice has revealed to Betty that she may have had an older brother. In true Betty fashion, she puts on her Nancy Drew cap on, follows her nose wherever she goes, and lo and behold...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vU_tVGdrAqLVOKLxC546EoeCMiR-cPbyVLojOxRZqVMp5bxa9gkLH6NcFbLm3Wneac2LzMTBFIYym4ZPhpvpNbA49JFykGfH52obD678W-w-iMK6XiLJtElpxykxk4Fe3CHE8UnJNd8i/s310/chic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vU_tVGdrAqLVOKLxC546EoeCMiR-cPbyVLojOxRZqVMp5bxa9gkLH6NcFbLm3Wneac2LzMTBFIYym4ZPhpvpNbA49JFykGfH52obD678W-w-iMK6XiLJtElpxykxk4Fe3CHE8UnJNd8i/s0/chic.jpg" /></a></div><p>Betty's long-lost brother Chic. He seems to be some type of Rent boy, performing as a gay cam model. Chic seems innocent enough but, from a blind's eye, he starts to become a rather shady character later on. Let me get this out first and say that Chic's acting isn't the best and the actor isn't all the convincing in the role. Even though I find Chic to be quite annoying at times, his addition to Betty's story arc does bring a flow to the narrative. The most meat he gets from his storyline is when Betty finds Alice cleaning up the blood of Chic's drug dealer. After they dispose the body with the help of Jughead and F.P., Betty begins to suspect that Chic may be an imposter. This gets a little confusing the next season, so I'll just leave it at that. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQN_FGlO9iPW7UtEuW1SNPnqQ9GByElMpWykZKt5yDvg8FzLuBYJH7ya08PAiXaao-4xDwAxYocap9AMiaF5LQJHczsnZtR3hhf4NrGjKdQ_IEX3BFiiQOG0jNXLHD_B3kc4-8DutE_L0h/s300/Season_1_Episode_8_The_Outsiders_Polly_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQN_FGlO9iPW7UtEuW1SNPnqQ9GByElMpWykZKt5yDvg8FzLuBYJH7ya08PAiXaao-4xDwAxYocap9AMiaF5LQJHczsnZtR3hhf4NrGjKdQ_IEX3BFiiQOG0jNXLHD_B3kc4-8DutE_L0h/s0/Season_1_Episode_8_The_Outsiders_Polly_3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Speaking of siblings, Betty's sister Polly is taking a back seat this season. She shows up briefly in episode five but then decides to ship off with the twins when she becomes the target of the Black Hood. She stays at a retreat called "The Farm", which would be explained more in the third season.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8ONwIY_vsd-6t2EHj-APkgnz0Mbo-9jTH0eGekzWkh2say1GPeLFKj4jUeZp_3LlzxzH66YDkAxCLcex05utdmZn9bUgjHOdQ-6Rz5QjSWX2hMmyExOrMiq78LAFG2qhdaPFLqtuTpuh/s480/betty-1510750496+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8ONwIY_vsd-6t2EHj-APkgnz0Mbo-9jTH0eGekzWkh2say1GPeLFKj4jUeZp_3LlzxzH66YDkAxCLcex05utdmZn9bUgjHOdQ-6Rz5QjSWX2hMmyExOrMiq78LAFG2qhdaPFLqtuTpuh/s320/betty-1510750496+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>What I really want to discuss is the writing of Betty's character and do things get dark. One of the first offenses is when Betty blackmails Cheryl Blossom into testifying on F.P.'s behalf. Cheryl is a bit stubborn about this and still can't get over the fact that F.P. cleaned up her brother's crime scene, but Betty figures out a way to knock her down a peg. She makes a threat to Chery that if she doesn't testify, she'll show the image of her father killing her brother in front of the whole school. <i>Woah</i>. Seeing how mentally fragile Cheryl is, this was a little extreme on Betty's part. I mean how far is too far.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdnKSxJ3I-UgkQiJZ_j6vgILQ_PhCcZkdswexcwyTpgBJvKjgY3B8W9xo9vtmB3CMMlni75f2KEO2KX9vFgN_hm8DVOr_sYWItdtLrrRl3njEPCbdEJR8ZKfbKh_NZl6pSF30eMFQkM4x/s750/betty+and+the+black+hood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdnKSxJ3I-UgkQiJZ_j6vgILQ_PhCcZkdswexcwyTpgBJvKjgY3B8W9xo9vtmB3CMMlni75f2KEO2KX9vFgN_hm8DVOr_sYWItdtLrrRl3njEPCbdEJR8ZKfbKh_NZl6pSF30eMFQkM4x/s320/betty+and+the+black+hood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Betty soon becomes involved with the Black Hood, who wants to bring out more of Betty's ruthless side. In season 1, when she made this speech about how the town is corrupt and there needs to be a change, Betty has been under the Black Hood's radar ever since. I never really understood why the Black Hood was so obsessed with Betty but then I realized it's much deeper than that. You see, there might be some speculation that Betty might be<i> related </i>to the Black Hood. This includes being related to the Blossoms who have their share of mental issues on top of having a killer in the family as well. So there is a lot that Betty has to fight with internally and the show did have enough potential to make Betty a three-dimensional character. But the show does a poor job of tackling the subject of mental illness. Betty's mental illness could've been explored more but the showrunners decided to use this as a minor subplot instead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw-NbzLlEzIJIAkKlveKaTbl_6zViUP6LR-dB8jHxCnJ-KOi29f6KeRlk8RIgvtEjvutPTrYlKVlu5hLNtFeyRPV5HbRM3CJSwwBoqXWGv0yhG7hoBY7QMEzV9ECqTnk6WEF9TptJPDEp/s863/lili-reinhart-hates-bettys-black-wig.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw-NbzLlEzIJIAkKlveKaTbl_6zViUP6LR-dB8jHxCnJ-KOi29f6KeRlk8RIgvtEjvutPTrYlKVlu5hLNtFeyRPV5HbRM3CJSwwBoqXWGv0yhG7hoBY7QMEzV9ECqTnk6WEF9TptJPDEp/s320/lili-reinhart-hates-bettys-black-wig.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>This leads us to Betty's alter ego, Dark Betty. Betty is at a crossroads with her sexuality, so she dons a black wig and creates a split personality where she can express herself freely. At first, the show treated this subplot seriously but somehow, in this season, they turned this into a one-off joke. The first instance of this is when Chic gets her into the webcamming lifestyle. Once Betty and Chic have a falling out, Chic reveals to Alice about Betty's secret rendezvouses, Alice comes off more annoyed than concerned. But then she breaks down about Betty losing her virginity. The tonal whiplash is all too confusing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb3URyDB4baQiG3pFzjyqM2d-As9NNV4_Y8Mbhs9hzvimTk2_390kmPSIOmpFp8q-TznzEcumit8gCuK6f8i8XDxq0I-unAnikz9-nUHMBDKTeL7NNAPlu2YzY_5HSPTpPE6nDNuRd8pT/s750/dark+betty+seduces+jughead.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb3URyDB4baQiG3pFzjyqM2d-As9NNV4_Y8Mbhs9hzvimTk2_390kmPSIOmpFp8q-TznzEcumit8gCuK6f8i8XDxq0I-unAnikz9-nUHMBDKTeL7NNAPlu2YzY_5HSPTpPE6nDNuRd8pT/s320/dark+betty+seduces+jughead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Then there's the episode with Archie and the gang shacking up at Veronica's cabin retreat, and when Betty is alone with Jughead, she puts on her black wig for some kinky fun. It's just so baffling how Riverdale handles the Dark Betty subplot, which is yet another missed opportunity.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_Pcf-jKOPrea3HO25lACW0ixoFEFl2T8lYWryHbUkpthZhk7_qfwrKrnezA2Cr8rPCeVj6qkQSpjuyZDMcVPVvVqnFjTlHQC5JpaQs3v0kItlhdNfHjqhNbeHD_8WC3A0YyV-LX5TBNX/s728/Betty-Singing-Mad-World-Riverdale-Video.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_Pcf-jKOPrea3HO25lACW0ixoFEFl2T8lYWryHbUkpthZhk7_qfwrKrnezA2Cr8rPCeVj6qkQSpjuyZDMcVPVvVqnFjTlHQC5JpaQs3v0kItlhdNfHjqhNbeHD_8WC3A0YyV-LX5TBNX/s320/Betty-Singing-Mad-World-Riverdale-Video.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Even when she isn't wearing the black wig, there is still an essence of Dark Betty in her. This is evident in the show's most notorious scene. When Betty does a striptease for the Southside Serpents( who are men half her age. Betty is supposed to be 15 or 16 in the least), Alice is shocked by this and doesn't have the power to stop her. F.P., on the other hand, is impressed, giving her a round of applause. For further explanation, the striptease is supposed to be an initiation for a Southside Seperent's girlfriend to join in the pack. Betty does this for her devotion to Jughead, who is fully immersed in the biker lifestyle. This scene was just creepy and uncomfortable to watch. Maybe the show was trying to do this for shock value, I don't know, but it just came out of nowhere. </p><p>There was a lot to unpack with Betty in this season, but unfortunately, none of the plot points build up into a satisfying conclusion. The show could've focused on the many facets of her character, expanding upon what she struggled with in the first season. However, the writers instead, wanted to make Betty's hidden dark side into a gimmick.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l_PW2kIYWw2qOR2sA0y7B_ZgHseI0Xv1Oe6DaLz4vmpMJoMuUnlOxbywAAsSLPneKPWfi55XGQyjXnCU6X2FSrMsk7LEp4IuvUYOMEXzpJ4Kv7s0szqMjhNyO70kNRgXkE9mzXRAAjBr/s1450/riverdale+betty.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_l_PW2kIYWw2qOR2sA0y7B_ZgHseI0Xv1Oe6DaLz4vmpMJoMuUnlOxbywAAsSLPneKPWfi55XGQyjXnCU6X2FSrMsk7LEp4IuvUYOMEXzpJ4Kv7s0szqMjhNyO70kNRgXkE9mzXRAAjBr/s320/riverdale+betty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Lili Reinhart really carries the show even with the stupid subplots and bad writing. She is one of those actresses that is way more capable than she gives credit for.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1w2SXtRJsWJ4p1yR6CovzpApKE0z9uKEUtezQchAyVfJ3rNRXjtVSfFz1_3u1pmo5BYiP9tB9fzokhcAhwvKwRxZLeQEIZoQCH6rIc0EPn8WkDu0HSDq3kwDhXnovKVX1hoaggSSkWgy/s300/biker+boy+jughead.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1w2SXtRJsWJ4p1yR6CovzpApKE0z9uKEUtezQchAyVfJ3rNRXjtVSfFz1_3u1pmo5BYiP9tB9fzokhcAhwvKwRxZLeQEIZoQCH6rIc0EPn8WkDu0HSDq3kwDhXnovKVX1hoaggSSkWgy/s0/biker+boy+jughead.jpg" /></a></div><p>And now we have moved on to Jughead Jones, who is now an official member of the Southside Serpents. Jughead's story arc begins when he gets involved with a woman named Penny Peabody, a Southside lawyer who advises him to ask the Blossoms to testify on behalf of F.P., who's facing 20 years in prison for Accessory to Murder.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL0qsmlyPk5vyxSwOPCBb3yL04OQRq6R-ArLq-0TkkWPiGUFVx4WSiK0D7QnJZJ-4xaOcEzn-AQ2xbNQYMf2GMpQYBGbDtd0YX_8VJKX0GQ2CmhABXBJrUQpOF3WQMhvZX9Rhg-bruqmk/s640/Riverdale-Season-2-Episode-7-2-04e9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsL0qsmlyPk5vyxSwOPCBb3yL04OQRq6R-ArLq-0TkkWPiGUFVx4WSiK0D7QnJZJ-4xaOcEzn-AQ2xbNQYMf2GMpQYBGbDtd0YX_8VJKX0GQ2CmhABXBJrUQpOF3WQMhvZX9Rhg-bruqmk/s320/Riverdale-Season-2-Episode-7-2-04e9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Through Betty's help in blackmailing Cheryl, F.P. is scot-free. But this comes at a cost. Penny Peabody wants her end of the deal, too, and thus, Jughead becomes Penny's airing boy. This is when the show goes into "I want to be Twin Peaks" mode where Jughead meets up with some odd characters, including Candyman himself, Tony Todd.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLiIC-S4i6Nci0ynC-z9bw5WwJPAQBEvFA-_KjeGiP-3dxZEGCCq6Macn19RfaoH2MDWeDW3O2PXs1N7nW0K3LDoFVrPAzof7NUtSx3zjSK-j6cV02ugh6uBt5p7_tgj1ppENe5Gmi8eK/s640/rvd207jugscaryguy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLiIC-S4i6Nci0ynC-z9bw5WwJPAQBEvFA-_KjeGiP-3dxZEGCCq6Macn19RfaoH2MDWeDW3O2PXs1N7nW0K3LDoFVrPAzof7NUtSx3zjSK-j6cV02ugh6uBt5p7_tgj1ppENe5Gmi8eK/s320/rvd207jugscaryguy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Their encounter is pretty funny. The show goes out of his way to make him all scary and sinister, at first, but once they stop at a pit stop to grab a bite to eat, Tony Todd refuses to pay for the meal on time. I thought this scene was so comical because the Tony Todd character is never seen or heard from again. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7XwjwMz4LDHw2P_N32-YcVPo6T5v5II4a5g63PBiXVBKR3jffr7sFJz1hMElehTO1sIWeoaTPPGH0SmzJhNDRZisBk-me4sH6F3oMxMLBYEjESeT1ci3AqoOI1rNWwnQj_KLowRmXqFE/s1366/RD-Caps-2x08-House-of-the-Devil-139-FP-Jughead-Tall-Boy-Sweet-Pea.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7XwjwMz4LDHw2P_N32-YcVPo6T5v5II4a5g63PBiXVBKR3jffr7sFJz1hMElehTO1sIWeoaTPPGH0SmzJhNDRZisBk-me4sH6F3oMxMLBYEjESeT1ci3AqoOI1rNWwnQj_KLowRmXqFE/s320/RD-Caps-2x08-House-of-the-Devil-139-FP-Jughead-Tall-Boy-Sweet-Pea.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Anywho, Jughead is wrapped around Penny's finger to the point where F.P. decides to stay in the Serpent lifestyle for Jughead's safety. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOHwpGDvNduiStJ36wahgEaOdcftrpy0wPqKoJILLBqyno1Ii0EWAgQSaWniD4veM2AE0suCQeGFlBRCE2BWzqQEDQwBKp74dXEzWClNFZ__JPJMQEPKiNBIYEd1I1LBVxhlE9eHHbaLo/s1280/Jughead+mad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOHwpGDvNduiStJ36wahgEaOdcftrpy0wPqKoJILLBqyno1Ii0EWAgQSaWniD4veM2AE0suCQeGFlBRCE2BWzqQEDQwBKp74dXEzWClNFZ__JPJMQEPKiNBIYEd1I1LBVxhlE9eHHbaLo/s320/Jughead+mad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJEeRHICLTb2cMyxRA5T7uNRoEhOwRFqwH7h9W0itnQcQvEDZeQOijh2ZNRR-WKnizTAZsgnWzsqE6Hjha2PJ9kOGHQ8pMCtgDn2M_rg6oLU7mtBYURex-cwDSmJKlbfJI2YzSYRWp6ta/s650/tattoo+severed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJEeRHICLTb2cMyxRA5T7uNRoEhOwRFqwH7h9W0itnQcQvEDZeQOijh2ZNRR-WKnizTAZsgnWzsqE6Hjha2PJ9kOGHQ8pMCtgDn2M_rg6oLU7mtBYURex-cwDSmJKlbfJI2YzSYRWp6ta/s320/tattoo+severed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><p>Tired of being Penny's whipping boy, Jughead rallies up the younger serpents to <b>kidnap </b>and <b>torture </b>Penny by cutting off her serpent's tattoo. Again, Archie and the gang are becoming a little more ruthless this season. I mean I would never suspect Jughead, of all people, to pull off something like this. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cb7hlCXr_n_ZB-2_LYxfUXUH3JPBmV2tAti3cMJzyXR5UNs3eCL674Ad57QkqZusFsUM7KMQLXrX-X1D1xIvT9T2HeEkbXy8PHE1uIth7QqpZSo9EEiPXPLLxhDan91Uxm7qTlJSbLiK/s768/rvd210a_0078b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Cb7hlCXr_n_ZB-2_LYxfUXUH3JPBmV2tAti3cMJzyXR5UNs3eCL674Ad57QkqZusFsUM7KMQLXrX-X1D1xIvT9T2HeEkbXy8PHE1uIth7QqpZSo9EEiPXPLLxhDan91Uxm7qTlJSbLiK/s320/rvd210a_0078b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>So up until now, Jughead is following in his dad's footsteps. This happens when Jughead transfers into a new school, which caters to kids who are on the wrong side of the tracks. He even writes for the school newspaper just like he did in Riverdale High. Jughead eventually becomes heavily involved with the Southside Serpents, forming a new gang: Toni, Sweet Pea, and Fangs. When Mayor McCoy cracks down on the Southside school's illegal activities, Jughead and his biker gang are forced to conform in Riverdale by wearing silly school uniforms. Similar to his girlfriend's situation, Jughead is at a crossroads of who's side he's on and it sort of becomes this Preppies Vs. Greasers' situation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFKU510dY18dk7rfgU-qxNVGh4ZvlbRXVtLkZb9fi6Hmk8LK7ejzxYnas0oZQleAIoAncFu-dagHleYpVeM0srF09euRqSW4r1ehPmKr63coHEgOANmaQLdJfGPZZ3mGGhXEtdlI_XBen/s1920/RD-Caps-2x21-Judgment-Night-88-Malachai-Ghoulies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFKU510dY18dk7rfgU-qxNVGh4ZvlbRXVtLkZb9fi6Hmk8LK7ejzxYnas0oZQleAIoAncFu-dagHleYpVeM0srF09euRqSW4r1ehPmKr63coHEgOANmaQLdJfGPZZ3mGGhXEtdlI_XBen/w320-h180/RD-Caps-2x21-Judgment-Night-88-Malachai-Ghoulies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdTaRNMjAALwX8j7oszQ_bWPoQaiJYGcT05BTZxCqjFhRyJ7nLZvX7EfeEXH_xjVHgkBItJHFZoz8sEXFgSS5kD9txO3ZUwDyieJoZDtj4Mmgxl3UqbUio2l-zxBAlRBiqoG3_MWchiut/s590/Jughead%2527s+day+of+reckoning.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbdTaRNMjAALwX8j7oszQ_bWPoQaiJYGcT05BTZxCqjFhRyJ7nLZvX7EfeEXH_xjVHgkBItJHFZoz8sEXFgSS5kD9txO3ZUwDyieJoZDtj4Mmgxl3UqbUio2l-zxBAlRBiqoG3_MWchiut/s320/Jughead%2527s+day+of+reckoning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">But finishing F.P.'s unfinished business eventually catches up to Jughead and a rival gang, The Ghoulies, is on his trail. Penny Peabody uses this as revenge by kidnapping Toni to lure Jughead in. Before you know it, Jughead gets attacked by the Ghoulies and F.P. carries his lifeless body as the episode comes to a close. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But his story doesn't end there...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZM02hoHFLU_EX8PFk9SavWbwqmdy1RXs3cCZyuFApusPydYxVPCx8nOKn_sNrISKs_zaPwtLO9JThyHAK1iW-qUda5GkMN0WEsdib5c1xOjlpQC7rQ3qj8GLK6MzQ4k8R5KbsSw-uN56/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZM02hoHFLU_EX8PFk9SavWbwqmdy1RXs3cCZyuFApusPydYxVPCx8nOKn_sNrISKs_zaPwtLO9JThyHAK1iW-qUda5GkMN0WEsdib5c1xOjlpQC7rQ3qj8GLK6MzQ4k8R5KbsSw-uN56/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Jughead survives his injuries and is crowned as the new king of the Southside Serpents. Let's make sure you heard me correctly. Jughead is now the official king of the Southside Serpents. It's sort of like an allegory of a snake shedding his skin, making this version of Jughead a totally different character from what he was in the last season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh7kDSy8xRCkQFmZc7RehVCnMaINigJyNI3OHSXkXjjIBdgGTr-Pm-QCoElotgRqPEOwWYYUWRoRiWfYEMIawnt9Fp7YxBmzpNJxGi9f3_k2dJg_jdKikt3Cn0NGacww3UhRbVZ7puveC/s644/jughead+season+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="644" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh7kDSy8xRCkQFmZc7RehVCnMaINigJyNI3OHSXkXjjIBdgGTr-Pm-QCoElotgRqPEOwWYYUWRoRiWfYEMIawnt9Fp7YxBmzpNJxGi9f3_k2dJg_jdKikt3Cn0NGacww3UhRbVZ7puveC/s320/jughead+season+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's the thing I really want to discuss. Jughead has that weird juxtaposition between quirky, nerdy best friend and brooding bad boy. It's confusing. One minute, he's making movie references and the next minute, he's roughhousing with biker dudes. Though, Jughead is not the only inconsistent character. We'll get to Cheryl later. But Jughead's character arc falls in between the loops as the show delves into the concept of finding one's own identity. This would've been a great opportunity to look into Jughead's psyche and see the gravity of his situation. But the show cuts it short out of any weight it could've had. This side of Jughead just doesn't work for me. I mean, Jughead the biker dude? Really? There's no way I can take that seriously. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9UazNfURK4Zx7OHd_v0wJsLRHVah445KFc_kxh6wPrqVdw8kEwSl_zldfr0dbnSXVf4BM1lDXGlCNOOh9vsroZNJIjWBcW96YnTSJHabVVLB9TTlGG-d0DE8BgSU6tsaUZgtXp5ES2WN/s1200/jughead-season-2-riverdale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf9UazNfURK4Zx7OHd_v0wJsLRHVah445KFc_kxh6wPrqVdw8kEwSl_zldfr0dbnSXVf4BM1lDXGlCNOOh9vsroZNJIjWBcW96YnTSJHabVVLB9TTlGG-d0DE8BgSU6tsaUZgtXp5ES2WN/s320/jughead-season-2-riverdale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cole Sprouse tries with what he's given. I mean, he does have more of a range this time but he's still just okay. Nothing else. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuk0khorhyphenhyphenVv10U2SmaKZ2XMHQxMIZ2oIKZmSfUsMAY_SjRLH3NRuAgqbEtnMqSuWGqqA_5ljGk7t5Ya0j3KV4xccC2pBtOAr01M_RZm_WyvzZ2C-6CZ_RZ9-QAiW-nm5PLP3juQBYw29/s768/veronicariverdale_season_2_episode_19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuk0khorhyphenhyphenVv10U2SmaKZ2XMHQxMIZ2oIKZmSfUsMAY_SjRLH3NRuAgqbEtnMqSuWGqqA_5ljGk7t5Ya0j3KV4xccC2pBtOAr01M_RZm_WyvzZ2C-6CZ_RZ9-QAiW-nm5PLP3juQBYw29/s320/veronicariverdale_season_2_episode_19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now let's get to the one and only Veronica Lodge. Just like the rest of the gang, Veronica is caught between two worlds: her past and her present. Her story arc begins when her dad arrives from jail. Let's just say that Veronica is not happy about her dad's arrival.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJf2AijKFb0U07RI3Rk3OXQC8msvcu6H5-nVR0DUK1-W9prlWRyJr2vMKD6qbfANgmyXtbDBmGmIzDCKBjWkhTW0tQDRnbpsF-8wnVIEL24-sQhpU7aLOX5boWkuHgZpBY8tg72M6S8GF/s1366/RD-Caps-2x09-Silent-Night-Deadly-Night-96-Hiram-Hermione-Veronica.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJf2AijKFb0U07RI3Rk3OXQC8msvcu6H5-nVR0DUK1-W9prlWRyJr2vMKD6qbfANgmyXtbDBmGmIzDCKBjWkhTW0tQDRnbpsF-8wnVIEL24-sQhpU7aLOX5boWkuHgZpBY8tg72M6S8GF/s320/RD-Caps-2x09-Silent-Night-Deadly-Night-96-Hiram-Hermione-Veronica.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of Veronica's struggles is dealing with her family's shady business deals. But it isn't until an old friend reminds her of the past she wants to escape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYOKhIRgxG4IEZzt0iywLu_A1v5PR1nz1IpiD_q1a0F5efqyAHPdvpK_QpKlMyz7XAbxq-p2JtcyHC3igrECWfvG_upm-jHKLTzNG2jauqaFD5441EHEg4Fz1pD9jNM3VR_VSc9kk8QwU/s1320/Nick-st.-Clair-1320x743.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYOKhIRgxG4IEZzt0iywLu_A1v5PR1nz1IpiD_q1a0F5efqyAHPdvpK_QpKlMyz7XAbxq-p2JtcyHC3igrECWfvG_upm-jHKLTzNG2jauqaFD5441EHEg4Fz1pD9jNM3VR_VSc9kk8QwU/s320/Nick-st.-Clair-1320x743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nick St. Clair comes into the picture and wreaks havoc, coaxing her into the dark side. Nick is a little bit of a creeper and whips his privilege around like a shield. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_xgai0sxt4Z0ySJfEwTCVyz-VZh8ZGSloWIabonriI0FgdUdafzIY4pfXlXZ1YPbxROZq5nfbamlkQRVK5wLoZHXO-8Y69Qsjec1Ls_diz0d1MQ4eGgTtzVu-cubUvwXCfeB1Yj_Nl7-/s1200/veronicas-rage-riverdale-s2e3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn_xgai0sxt4Z0ySJfEwTCVyz-VZh8ZGSloWIabonriI0FgdUdafzIY4pfXlXZ1YPbxROZq5nfbamlkQRVK5wLoZHXO-8Y69Qsjec1Ls_diz0d1MQ4eGgTtzVu-cubUvwXCfeB1Yj_Nl7-/s320/veronicas-rage-riverdale-s2e3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This doesn't sit well with Veronica and she basically puts out a <b>hit </b>with a help of her parents. Now it's official, Veronica is a mob princess. Though her biggest concern is how her boyfriend Archie gets involved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QAcjIgYMiqWhdZ8Ill-YAHqHS9ZcODk7qvl1ws9ZMPCGodmphVO4QhIX_rtqj_jx3zOuIddiae0WwKMRFdv2xFxERkjhXx242n_6Oq9TOHA9ZXgj62JcmGzK6YQ2X4V-QjJu3An_Ud0i/s1200/Riverdale-Mark-Conseulos-Hiram-Lodge-Only-Wants-Whats-Best-Veronica-Promo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QAcjIgYMiqWhdZ8Ill-YAHqHS9ZcODk7qvl1ws9ZMPCGodmphVO4QhIX_rtqj_jx3zOuIddiae0WwKMRFdv2xFxERkjhXx242n_6Oq9TOHA9ZXgj62JcmGzK6YQ2X4V-QjJu3An_Ud0i/s320/Riverdale-Mark-Conseulos-Hiram-Lodge-Only-Wants-Whats-Best-Veronica-Promo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She doesn't particularly agree with her dad manipulating Archie into his schemes. And that's the main gist of her storyline...it's her somewhat dysfunctional relationship with her dad, but also her mom as well. Yes, there's a lot to talk about in Hermonie's case. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG25uOHZjLyVN1Lb33I0bTr78o9UAXmyPOL16WVfJ1JiuCTZEH_LX25jWYhJjbX1HLjMS6r2jSDDjcO2m65_Lewa65Cd1OLQdMTXdifzAhy26o2FBm5HFut1ih1cxZGTYiC1A-RDHyZCaW/s590/Riverdale-hiram-lodge-veronica-lodge-2548400.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG25uOHZjLyVN1Lb33I0bTr78o9UAXmyPOL16WVfJ1JiuCTZEH_LX25jWYhJjbX1HLjMS6r2jSDDjcO2m65_Lewa65Cd1OLQdMTXdifzAhy26o2FBm5HFut1ih1cxZGTYiC1A-RDHyZCaW/s320/Riverdale-hiram-lodge-veronica-lodge-2548400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">During the final moments of the show, she actually makes a business deal with her dad to trade-off Pop's for a bar. Yes, that right. Veronica, at 16 years old, owns a bar. In what world does that happen? Sure, Chuck from <i>Gossip Girl </i>owned a hotel at one point and even back then that was ludicrous. I don't know...It's just weird how the teenagers on this show don't act like <b>real </b>teenagers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_S8VfXR6AXeKn-BW6zS9xhkLMLOzuoi8K1ttocr-ST2WY1_l9fz7SJCHTLcpePCvRUP943llHebc7TcLmdHNLm68a7KFmhobAHfWyd7mb896IcHmW_eJQl3A6DXwY47MO37a8z-5p12L/s350/riverdale+Veronica.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_S8VfXR6AXeKn-BW6zS9xhkLMLOzuoi8K1ttocr-ST2WY1_l9fz7SJCHTLcpePCvRUP943llHebc7TcLmdHNLm68a7KFmhobAHfWyd7mb896IcHmW_eJQl3A6DXwY47MO37a8z-5p12L/s320/riverdale+Veronica.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Camilla Mendes does her best to power through the show's weak writing with her impressive range, but unfortunately, Veronica has the worst dialogue. On top of that, the show's handling of Veronica is a bit mixed. She was actually progressing into a complex character with a good heart but there's never any attempt to make her more nuanced than the rest of the characters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In every story, a protagonist always has an antagonist. This is where our main four have to face the personification of their flaws, where each of them has its own villainous counterparts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRu_t6og3kTGIuhjdp2am87fsR52UDNY1UgBfHQYVqAQq_Vtotb_H6hzrubnrosm_JBgHpQnx7N8IID9oS3X3B0rNcj-QDavg2ztUi5OX_HWPdVIGFBTBIGsK6SxiqtCmYhFKOYRUzmqO/s784/RD-S4-Hiram-Lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivRu_t6og3kTGIuhjdp2am87fsR52UDNY1UgBfHQYVqAQq_Vtotb_H6hzrubnrosm_JBgHpQnx7N8IID9oS3X3B0rNcj-QDavg2ztUi5OX_HWPdVIGFBTBIGsK6SxiqtCmYhFKOYRUzmqO/s320/RD-S4-Hiram-Lodge.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, we have Hiram Lodge played by the very handsome and incredibly fit Mark Consuelos. Hiram is sort of like the Chessmaster of the show, the man behind the curtain. Although he's only a landowner, the show goes out of its way to make him extremely powerful. I'm talkin' Lex Luthor level. He even comes close to being the show's Big Bad right next to the Black Hood, though he's more of an unscrupulous businessman who pulls the strings. Mark Consuelos actually does a good job in the role and plays it ironically. Since he's known for starring in daytime soaps, Mark is naturally organic in his portrayal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm45Jyt4dPPkHE_VCftPfkTeta10-u2SxqwXXmgKFY_Zy0sqMtGNezaxDm3_magZ874ijOG4L012f1AyLTEmHO3E_fqeOm5Ea-rOnImtyhT1nwmW21GmNeqLQZjyOhkWGfQpFZUpkLwKYg/s1920/penny-peabody-riverdale-1508422609.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm45Jyt4dPPkHE_VCftPfkTeta10-u2SxqwXXmgKFY_Zy0sqMtGNezaxDm3_magZ874ijOG4L012f1AyLTEmHO3E_fqeOm5Ea-rOnImtyhT1nwmW21GmNeqLQZjyOhkWGfQpFZUpkLwKYg/s320/penny-peabody-riverdale-1508422609.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's pretty obvious from the get-go that Penny Peabody is an untrustworthy person. The way she exaggerates her eyes is an indication that she might have some tricks up her sleeve. Her character becomes more prominent in the third season, but it's hard to tell which direction that would take her. My guess is it's probably going to be stupid. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwy_6nv2DJdA-YWv-QhctF6j4MAdmqO30G2kXFed_hBJAKtdEATtJxipcoDm1a5nP_WwAFSpDYL42Tosz0_n3Czo9OzeyzhLLcXnZH02Y0fsvfM5cF0C7fgQAMMmZGZE6VG3SPT_7jZsF/s1200/nick+st+clair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="857" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwy_6nv2DJdA-YWv-QhctF6j4MAdmqO30G2kXFed_hBJAKtdEATtJxipcoDm1a5nP_WwAFSpDYL42Tosz0_n3Czo9OzeyzhLLcXnZH02Y0fsvfM5cF0C7fgQAMMmZGZE6VG3SPT_7jZsF/s320/nick+st+clair.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Then there's Nick St. Clair, Veronica's old friend from New York. Nick tries to lure Veronica back into the lifestyle she wants to escape, to drown in a sea of excess, debauchery, and typical rich kid shenanigans. But he really crosses the line when he drugs and almost sexually assaults Cheryl. Josie runs off to catch Veronica once she catches him in the act. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzannKDL5EaRQ8KQbRstQCktH3itlyqjs4s-MgY2hp-OIFaCd5JY_q4VwNgrhzBl8AyoOZZsEo7PuCg6ieVXUxcUgiVIznwz6iE4uLJNk4rKsRtGJJWyDB2jVHINX0NPpf22n6RGnbx2s/s498/tumblr_p9eb25mRx61xuq768o3_500.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyzannKDL5EaRQ8KQbRstQCktH3itlyqjs4s-MgY2hp-OIFaCd5JY_q4VwNgrhzBl8AyoOZZsEo7PuCg6ieVXUxcUgiVIznwz6iE4uLJNk4rKsRtGJJWyDB2jVHINX0NPpf22n6RGnbx2s/s320/tumblr_p9eb25mRx61xuq768o3_500.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And that's when the girls rally up with the Pussycats to kick Nick's ass and this was actually one of my favorite scenes in this season. This leaves Nick with not only a bruised face but a bruised ego. So like most petty rich kids, Nick uses his family money to dodge the charges filed against him by Cheryl. He is certain that he might get away with his misdeeds. But Veronica is not having it. So of course, Veronica and her mafia family put a hit on Nick and his family by causing a car accident. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgRmAn6Dy29zDojPTHsLjWKm0R4D_5onxT8CwbbCm8Dya-Cwoz7Y81yfx2FzLHzpkdMukpm2i_5R6zKo-c09gQAtVGcnjNCioSyX0fhMuGnwGIpQtlJqwO_JeAbyCMESKX7ESTTBWX7TC/s300/nick+st+clair+plotting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgRmAn6Dy29zDojPTHsLjWKm0R4D_5onxT8CwbbCm8Dya-Cwoz7Y81yfx2FzLHzpkdMukpm2i_5R6zKo-c09gQAtVGcnjNCioSyX0fhMuGnwGIpQtlJqwO_JeAbyCMESKX7ESTTBWX7TC/s0/nick+st+clair+plotting.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Though Nick is not quite dead and he isn't finished yet. But at this point, Nick started to get annoying rather quickly. He's just a dime-store version of Chuck Bass in my opinion. A generic rich cad.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sEpDK0LziE4k12Nd_1kjt99ieVu2JcjOOeTEyQ_LESFCvzpppmab9oDX2hWNUDrhpk6FGPZSAE9qbSE4gzKWXFix_dXB1iY8Bpfpqe8j92slzayGGQLFFKZueRbsn8LYj-PRL4kNBOG5/s610/nick+injured.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sEpDK0LziE4k12Nd_1kjt99ieVu2JcjOOeTEyQ_LESFCvzpppmab9oDX2hWNUDrhpk6FGPZSAE9qbSE4gzKWXFix_dXB1iY8Bpfpqe8j92slzayGGQLFFKZueRbsn8LYj-PRL4kNBOG5/s320/nick+injured.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Okay, let's get this over with. After Archie puts him down a peg, Nick retaliates by abducting him and luring Veronica with ransom money. Veronica plays along until she eventually drugs <i>him</i>. So after that, Veronica and Archie turn the tables and hold Nick for ransom instead. Again, why can't they just turn him in at the police station is my guess, but oh well. This should be the last of Nick St. Clair, though I have a feeling he might become a recurring character in the next season. Who knows.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu54ZRwbwZsovo3GN79mnuTgx39hcSr0XOn94ovmCoi8cfsuvlLIb-fOEkB855pg354bUs4HYILgv0NmKc8W7f47YVFO8Ye8JqAujL3ZvMOXYYw_cOxMOUav926WvSsghzdruQn0WZkGM6/s750/betty+and+the+black+hood.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu54ZRwbwZsovo3GN79mnuTgx39hcSr0XOn94ovmCoi8cfsuvlLIb-fOEkB855pg354bUs4HYILgv0NmKc8W7f47YVFO8Ye8JqAujL3ZvMOXYYw_cOxMOUav926WvSsghzdruQn0WZkGM6/s320/betty+and+the+black+hood.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Last but not least, we have the Black Hood, who has an unhealthy attachment to Betty. It's pretty obvious who the Black Hood is but I rather leave that for the last segment. Instead, we'll focus on the victims.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFLoeJSTB8Q3DMwPytSaamfx2ALE_zj9anfjtZLCp3K6TarLyaPgHM70tCGMWIo2yBuI9-EnYSb7Gd4jsYCK3jgeJPSwOmgtHJ1o5R0b9EaX9neDgb28rsJ08cUGsZj_lOspTUu31CPos/s640/grundy%2527s+death.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFLoeJSTB8Q3DMwPytSaamfx2ALE_zj9anfjtZLCp3K6TarLyaPgHM70tCGMWIo2yBuI9-EnYSb7Gd4jsYCK3jgeJPSwOmgtHJ1o5R0b9EaX9neDgb28rsJ08cUGsZj_lOspTUu31CPos/s320/grundy%2527s+death.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>First, we have Ms. Grundy, whose death is shockingly graphic. Though her death didn't really effect me at all. Let's not forget that she's a high school teacher who has sex with her students. And in the same episode, she is <b>still </b>having sex with students at another school. So no, this woman is an out-and-out predator. No effect at all. But Ms. Grundy's death is what drives Archie to vigilantism, which makes her death meaningful to him in a way, but then again, it makes no sense. Archie was just a conquest, nothing more. It would've been impossible for the show to make Ms. Grundy a relevant character because, in my opinion, killing her off was a good thing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVpy2OARCgnPK71KyrG9gHdfv__ghFVgifMGeop2I5HHaFfuFQ5jV1vlDXvYhOLBkCCY3mMucxS0f7DFEXYHYhkBmsa0w_jO1owMjy-cgKxVfkwLFKKu0n9DsxLdg6EKvOzBkdHFngQEw/s720/riverdale-the+sugarman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVpy2OARCgnPK71KyrG9gHdfv__ghFVgifMGeop2I5HHaFfuFQ5jV1vlDXvYhOLBkCCY3mMucxS0f7DFEXYHYhkBmsa0w_jO1owMjy-cgKxVfkwLFKKu0n9DsxLdg6EKvOzBkdHFngQEw/s320/riverdale-the+sugarman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Next up we have The Sugarman, this mythical drug dealer who turns out to be Southside English teacher, Mr. Phillips. The Black Hood targets sinners and Mr. Phillips had just been exposed for sinful things. But this is where things get a little confusing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5fi-Un4_DJI2TwmOsyptYG_xX8HWWIbzRKUhdLZ_URN2e8ykXFfBkhDy31f48fV_AcLM9VIRHU3BR381enep7PHTutrFZENF1uFZxzpSWrguXmU0dLuqGh_1NMjEFm340Ide4r-UCC4D/s320/RD-Caps-2x06-Death-Proof-142-Robert-Phillips.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5fi-Un4_DJI2TwmOsyptYG_xX8HWWIbzRKUhdLZ_URN2e8ykXFfBkhDy31f48fV_AcLM9VIRHU3BR381enep7PHTutrFZENF1uFZxzpSWrguXmU0dLuqGh_1NMjEFm340Ide4r-UCC4D/s0/RD-Caps-2x06-Death-Proof-142-Robert-Phillips.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How on earth did the Black Hood break into the police station to kill Mr. Phillips in his jail cell? Wouldn't there be a police officer to survey the premises? Oh well, let's move on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd32Qa59Ipb618sFLpGE51vts2j3HhE5v3oxB4zSkNL_avxLcQFJpleiQJSJEjS4v1XSI10cKM3K6zbnc4pPMrcs1QmFWGjJBMudsFdI7w0fMHE5iBhhBMc7iqLEag2WA5goLk_rzMBp9e/s1723/mr.+svenson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1723" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd32Qa59Ipb618sFLpGE51vts2j3HhE5v3oxB4zSkNL_avxLcQFJpleiQJSJEjS4v1XSI10cKM3K6zbnc4pPMrcs1QmFWGjJBMudsFdI7w0fMHE5iBhhBMc7iqLEag2WA5goLk_rzMBp9e/s320/mr.+svenson.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then there's Mr. Svenson, the school janitor. Everyone treats him like the town weirdo and it's later revealed that he was a survivor of a family massacre, making him the prime suspect. Betty and Archie soon catch up with him, prompting Sheriff Keller to shoot him down. But as it turns out, Mr. Svenson was framed and the real killer is still out there.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHUvQLDKnAN31sWiKz4G93v9NS8S1RHUqQ_H-xoPpZHe-IDp9rDhsnvpKc5BZ-G8os_RkZ9DlQu7RtHWiOb2K0pskoumr5Cz6zA6ySS1J3iMNbE8k96uSHQNWH8a5Gt0TNR6BdxSrx-gS/s1070/RD-S2-Midge-Klump.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="993" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHUvQLDKnAN31sWiKz4G93v9NS8S1RHUqQ_H-xoPpZHe-IDp9rDhsnvpKc5BZ-G8os_RkZ9DlQu7RtHWiOb2K0pskoumr5Cz6zA6ySS1J3iMNbE8k96uSHQNWH8a5Gt0TNR6BdxSrx-gS/s320/RD-S2-Midge-Klump.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This leads us to Midge. There's not much focus on her as she is mostly an extension of Moose and kind of pops up when it's convenient to the plot. How I would describe Midge is "the perky nice girl with a wild side," as demonstrated in the episode where she and Moose have a drug-fueled makeout session in their car. They're hooked on jingle-jangle by the way. More on that later. But then suddenly, they're attacked by the Black Hood. Midge comes out unscathed while Moose is badly wounded. Not that the show would've had room to focus on Midge's trauma, but developing Midge's character could've been a solid way for us to care about her as a character. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdAweNVkgA0rqIAz-02NqH1ubndP3vs28Ec7rR6ZQCNjE9f6O8ZWBofvZq2zRneKK9YFsJlV8eOvu6ubCZI9evFPuXkgahJlK0Cy7Yl5F5aF0TjsbbQVqDM3hT0xSVSIYmRzbttq-ewpm/s660/rd-deaths-1556745761.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="660" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIdAweNVkgA0rqIAz-02NqH1ubndP3vs28Ec7rR6ZQCNjE9f6O8ZWBofvZq2zRneKK9YFsJlV8eOvu6ubCZI9evFPuXkgahJlK0Cy7Yl5F5aF0TjsbbQVqDM3hT0xSVSIYmRzbttq-ewpm/s320/rd-deaths-1556745761.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the infamous "Carrie The Musical" episode, Midge's body is discovered, having been impaled by knives, similar to Margret White's death in the 1976 movie. Midge's death is a reminder that the Black Hood is still at large. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO21vPsp6uJOGz2LJ8MgbKAsDh-Hm0r_oNLatkq9CCCsoICnoyg1NfkRYsZ49xuBvKvGoDmaZamODnJriFScJRbTX_xSuz_R1xjw-QRBAOnQBhTzh7ADxQeTd1DPifCeDKbdkIONa9Ie3p/s480/dr-masters-riverdale-death-1544023422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO21vPsp6uJOGz2LJ8MgbKAsDh-Hm0r_oNLatkq9CCCsoICnoyg1NfkRYsZ49xuBvKvGoDmaZamODnJriFScJRbTX_xSuz_R1xjw-QRBAOnQBhTzh7ADxQeTd1DPifCeDKbdkIONa9Ie3p/s320/dr-masters-riverdale-death-1544023422.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our last victim on this list is Dr. Masters, who shows up in the first episode when Fred is shot. Dr. Masters is one of those characters that pop up here and there, and not much is known about him. His death occurs during a massive riot where one of the Southside Serpents, Fangs, is accused of Midge's murder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, now that we got that out of the way, let's focus on the supporting characters. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLIYWtryQ3cIGwIjBN5yeoDiMfimo9M-wiCYYG9zs1RWv1H70T_xmz_tpM9BvgZChyDfHbKdh2SV8otM5oR2AlH2bU7u5UztgRCSPTynY4wiFa0b6ci6bHypn1lJfoHDC4HjqbjbUHlYE/s1366/riverdale-Season-2-Episode-10-kevin-keller.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLIYWtryQ3cIGwIjBN5yeoDiMfimo9M-wiCYYG9zs1RWv1H70T_xmz_tpM9BvgZChyDfHbKdh2SV8otM5oR2AlH2bU7u5UztgRCSPTynY4wiFa0b6ci6bHypn1lJfoHDC4HjqbjbUHlYE/s320/riverdale-Season-2-Episode-10-kevin-keller.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, we have Kevin who basically becomes the show's breakout character. Though most of his plots involve his romantic entanglements. The most prominent storyline he gets this season is when goes out cruising for guys after Joaquin's departure. For some reason, Cheryl is all up in Kevin's grill and forces her way into the situation, telling Betty about his rendezvous. I don't know why Cheryl has to weasel her way into Kevin's problems but I guess it's to suggest Cheryl's own struggles with her sexuality. Since there is a killer on the loose, Betty is worried about Kevin's well-being, and when she confronts him, he goes into a rant about how he's not accepted in his small town. But wait a minute? Wasn't he always making out with Joaquin in public? And also it seems like his dad, the sheriff of the town, is very accepting of Kevin. So I don't know where this even came from? It just shows that the writers have a very clunky way of tackling issues. Why wasn't this addressed in the first season? Anyway, it's not like Betty is judging his cruising lifestyle, she's just worried that he might end up getting murdered by the Black Hood, and quite frankly, Kevin comes off like a whiny idiot.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZuEz-X-Tgmx1LOBau1tJLk94bqz9ZAHzSb-cvVVf0TPZGD801aMSm_UmiwyPEncvKupO9jM1UF6bA42awYN36Tu_PF9E9ySSwDJkihXr8sIARL6Zb6NX37Gtzubgfr6C4JVBNJD5j9vD/s720/18-11-20-kevin-moose-pw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZuEz-X-Tgmx1LOBau1tJLk94bqz9ZAHzSb-cvVVf0TPZGD801aMSm_UmiwyPEncvKupO9jM1UF6bA42awYN36Tu_PF9E9ySSwDJkihXr8sIARL6Zb6NX37Gtzubgfr6C4JVBNJD5j9vD/s320/18-11-20-kevin-moose-pw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u8P0-vLwZi4eA9F0Rl_078XMPxVqkK3OpJxijWA50IyJzvJVu-Z8Fr7FK7jULXYLaVGZ7q21hFHDBN5_kZmShm7waeEPGgJ69ztUxu0t0bPmOB0PP87Zc33Wh1PpAKb235LLSR2KbX3R/s1020/Kevin+and+Fangs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u8P0-vLwZi4eA9F0Rl_078XMPxVqkK3OpJxijWA50IyJzvJVu-Z8Fr7FK7jULXYLaVGZ7q21hFHDBN5_kZmShm7waeEPGgJ69ztUxu0t0bPmOB0PP87Zc33Wh1PpAKb235LLSR2KbX3R/s320/Kevin+and+Fangs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Soon enough, Kevin cuts out the late-night cruising and resumes his role as Betty's sidekick. There's a possible hint he might get back with Moose but he seems to have his eye on Fangs, which escalates in the third season. It's strange how he keeps falling for guys who were involved with Midge, given that the girl was just murdered.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kevin does have much more to do this season but it's not enough to make him an interesting side character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM5meOj0ISyfLJMxwA4UP0LEamSHwJhKHURrteXYvqaAADpjYYYaPy03oVEgPQELHCS2F059AjchSGKqezHb3eUFaC8vVX-TG7te1lnZHyxnTFizP6D_PSWbz4hv5L-66ijn_8pGhNGCa/s640/rvd203toni.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM5meOj0ISyfLJMxwA4UP0LEamSHwJhKHURrteXYvqaAADpjYYYaPy03oVEgPQELHCS2F059AjchSGKqezHb3eUFaC8vVX-TG7te1lnZHyxnTFizP6D_PSWbz4hv5L-66ijn_8pGhNGCa/s320/rvd203toni.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our next supporting character is Toni Topaz, a new addition to the cast. Toni is more of a satellite character, she's only around when other characters are around and doesn't get much screen time on her own. The only storyline she does have involves her grandfather but that's only treated as a subplot. It's a shame because I think Vanessa Morgan is a decent actress. But unfortunately, she's not given much to do unless it involves the main cast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvmyxvlIZE_WXZk-wa6d25TNcIubraVLEzd5GXbF3VAGVBYWCdTx40xBANbq6Mm1GpG652UAnHsr9gE37oi1FmAEPatd5gR3MjdAPoumx9YqHDhAQ1rVHJdQJooKye3my96uuN-4yNJl6/s2048/cheryl-toni.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1257" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvmyxvlIZE_WXZk-wa6d25TNcIubraVLEzd5GXbF3VAGVBYWCdTx40xBANbq6Mm1GpG652UAnHsr9gE37oi1FmAEPatd5gR3MjdAPoumx9YqHDhAQ1rVHJdQJooKye3my96uuN-4yNJl6/s320/cheryl-toni.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The only interesting thing about Toni is her budding romance with Cheryl. Yes, it's sweet, but after that, Toni becomes an extension of Cheryl and nothing else. The actress actually made a complaint against the show about the lack of screentime her character gets and how most black characters on these types of shows are always sidelined. And since I've watched these shows growing up, I do realize that. It's unfortunate because Toni is one of the few characters I liked. However, there are some inconsistencies with her as well. Just how does a sixteen-year-old have a bartending license? But oh well, I guess it's part of the show's weirdness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbAt0HWYPqg1fHVqBUPqmbIm4F8lfLBZMcPMwMqzZnfH3QGpYT_y3znEeQwiXF6mhbY5E5yRtt0IudJx9wFHSs6I-mZTj8-IIBR1JrP1J99BUa1sVRCtKtrdUmiBjeVv8PGOb7dFErTpm/s620/riverdale-josie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbAt0HWYPqg1fHVqBUPqmbIm4F8lfLBZMcPMwMqzZnfH3QGpYT_y3znEeQwiXF6mhbY5E5yRtt0IudJx9wFHSs6I-mZTj8-IIBR1JrP1J99BUa1sVRCtKtrdUmiBjeVv8PGOb7dFErTpm/s320/riverdale-josie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of less screentime, we have Josie McCoy, who also has the potential to lead her own storylines. The ingredients are there: she has an overwhelming stage mom, an emotionally distant dad, and goes through ups and downs with her band, The Pussycats. This all could've been explored in this season but she only gets a segment in the episode <i>Twenty Tales From The Darkside</i>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJob-MkNdbfoAXRYcfuyxq9SuXYYTghmVABCAP-ZXEZQxooThSmi-hhW66GQdp-BJ4eKOy5jNSqgbSzSBvtDFPxgptoj_uRKzzOveWss4k3tuKtF-2XCeHXMC_CfA8i1Lwv5RbdZkVodyQ/s250/Riverdale_2x07_Josie_and_Chuck_dance_at_Pops_%2525282017%252529_HD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="140" data-original-width="250" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJob-MkNdbfoAXRYcfuyxq9SuXYYTghmVABCAP-ZXEZQxooThSmi-hhW66GQdp-BJ4eKOy5jNSqgbSzSBvtDFPxgptoj_uRKzzOveWss4k3tuKtF-2XCeHXMC_CfA8i1Lwv5RbdZkVodyQ/w320-h179/Riverdale_2x07_Josie_and_Chuck_dance_at_Pops_%2525282017%252529_HD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another missed opportunity is her budding relationship with Chuck Clayton. It would've build up to something but it doesn't go anywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokzX0GE6iF0MIdT3ys7eyAS0oxRZO4Z0jIRW9Pk7OVs75JxpZ85X5_NOaw6uEN-kRpciCXjr9ZpJqyPKgLChdNVcMi-q5bonvnABZsIbEwMzHxQFdLtte5LxPaHOg90AQt4_JYCfiFqJm/s620/riverdale-spinoff-cast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokzX0GE6iF0MIdT3ys7eyAS0oxRZO4Z0jIRW9Pk7OVs75JxpZ85X5_NOaw6uEN-kRpciCXjr9ZpJqyPKgLChdNVcMi-q5bonvnABZsIbEwMzHxQFdLtte5LxPaHOg90AQt4_JYCfiFqJm/s320/riverdale-spinoff-cast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I heard somewhere between the third and fourth season that Josie was shipped off to another spin-off show <i>Katy Keene...</i>as a supporting character. I felt that if they were going to transfer Josie to another show, she would most likely be the lead. And now that the show is canceled, the showrunners have to find a way to fit Josie back into the narrative but unfortunately, she's already faded into the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1zq3FmlG9eXA-9e04hzjBpoI23avilP0v9hM8qwe2yhomdFnopCFxbfvwf3vOLBaq_ZX8fV3x14dmvTvPG9I25tkNZiAyzUDwS0kOUBZ-Ua2NE5eSeqq49pKt3r6wrZK8VVgrnIiTfY8/s254/chuck+clayton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="254" data-original-width="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1zq3FmlG9eXA-9e04hzjBpoI23avilP0v9hM8qwe2yhomdFnopCFxbfvwf3vOLBaq_ZX8fV3x14dmvTvPG9I25tkNZiAyzUDwS0kOUBZ-Ua2NE5eSeqq49pKt3r6wrZK8VVgrnIiTfY8/s0/chuck+clayton.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Chuck Clayton is having a bit of a redemption arc after his unfortunate portrayal of being the Jerk Jock. The writers are going back to basics by making him a comic book artist, very much like his comic book counterpart, but there's nothing genuine about it. I think this would benefit Chuck more if he was one of the main characters and maybe have a story arc of his own. I think it was just a bad choice to make him so antagonistic in his first appearance. It was jarring, to be honest, and furthermore, I don't find his redemption arc to be that believable. We don't really explore his growth in any way, other than having a crush on Josie. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcVtg7i2D0NBEk_0pYgRaBWkVDJ_UiejsyHjTwuJBoeGNpgbd1xFxOFSTgwEu-sKDl2pIGHiwQVedp9mo9jQP6-f9uC0PG_B30IFqxOZGilQnYCId7ia0n23toSfpcRfcprf-6GhBcw-m/s738/reggie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcVtg7i2D0NBEk_0pYgRaBWkVDJ_UiejsyHjTwuJBoeGNpgbd1xFxOFSTgwEu-sKDl2pIGHiwQVedp9mo9jQP6-f9uC0PG_B30IFqxOZGilQnYCId7ia0n23toSfpcRfcprf-6GhBcw-m/s320/reggie.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Reggie is now a drug dealer. Yes, I said it. In his first scene, he's selling Jingle-Jangle (silly name for a drug I know) to Moose and Midge and it's wild! But other than that, at least Reggie has more to do and there might a hint of romantic tension between him and Veronica. They might not like each other now, but the next season might show a slight attraction between the two. Like most prime-time soaps, Reggie is now played by a different actor, the very handsome Charles Melton. In terms of his looks and mannerisms, I think he's well fit for the role.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSOmB-RW_V4ML7SgI1md1MtAOmBvWtNhZTGL7FYFq_KlghIV5pTky2i0vn4iMWXKd2DPSSMqouRc65RoIlDdUC0yfwJzlQD1i8C8ma09SDtU2shESJMrs9OkL4SQGs58B77pXwNMmRNHq/s646/riverdale-cheryl-blossom-madelaine-petsch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="646" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSOmB-RW_V4ML7SgI1md1MtAOmBvWtNhZTGL7FYFq_KlghIV5pTky2i0vn4iMWXKd2DPSSMqouRc65RoIlDdUC0yfwJzlQD1i8C8ma09SDtU2shESJMrs9OkL4SQGs58B77pXwNMmRNHq/s320/riverdale-cheryl-blossom-madelaine-petsch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last but certainly not least, we have Cheryl, who is probably one of the most inconsistent characters on the show. Just like Veronica, she has her chances of becoming a more nuanced character but is constantly wasted on outlandish storylines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNRBKSyGq6M_r5-qbrH7vFHR84j2nanyl5RfFuPdE7bAS70nayOztGBBMpmoAIRh2dd40cGSkAW4pXyDrVZd50vC204VTAFMZQO9lP4Xas4g3floe55v2rWUgcWGDplUmJLTcICPO55W9/s851/cheryl+and+her+mother.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="851" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNRBKSyGq6M_r5-qbrH7vFHR84j2nanyl5RfFuPdE7bAS70nayOztGBBMpmoAIRh2dd40cGSkAW4pXyDrVZd50vC204VTAFMZQO9lP4Xas4g3floe55v2rWUgcWGDplUmJLTcICPO55W9/s320/cheryl+and+her+mother.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The center of Cheryl's story arc is the dysfunctional relationship she has with her mother. There are times where she does stand up to Penelope and gains the upper hand but Penelope always finds a way to beat her to the punch, turning into a battle of wits. They have a very <b>weird</b> dynamic. You never understand why Penelope has such hatred towards Cheryl. Is it because she's homophobic to her lifestyle? Or maybe she took attention away from her now-dead husband? But even Cheryl didn't have the best relationship with her father either. So, it's never explained why Penelope has an intense animosity towards her daughter beyond her sexuality. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzq79cFlaP67dzwJJLPZHCx-cV3b72VqUmAf_eJ8d7M0hcLmN1b1eHTKOcMzbLqm4MCQeCnNBnSeDdXYA8eYyWfvaDV6eh9ptyEyeE1j00s4utIj71-riDN8hc54vMIEMvlwhte4cOdxEp/s360/RD-S2-Claudius.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzq79cFlaP67dzwJJLPZHCx-cV3b72VqUmAf_eJ8d7M0hcLmN1b1eHTKOcMzbLqm4MCQeCnNBnSeDdXYA8eYyWfvaDV6eh9ptyEyeE1j00s4utIj71-riDN8hc54vMIEMvlwhte4cOdxEp/s320/RD-S2-Claudius.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYqbC1ODapTKSUioxFBUSQFmqLN5NOJcYugR0L4q5D-pcbIl-6VD9CMpbARzNy40cwTfLCaH1AIQLUAtqjX_nXs0aznq0Zimr-3JYT066Qy6HWt5sxMcq5P27kvDsEu9TUp10zzUeVfew/s1995/riverdale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1995" data-original-width="1710" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYqbC1ODapTKSUioxFBUSQFmqLN5NOJcYugR0L4q5D-pcbIl-6VD9CMpbARzNy40cwTfLCaH1AIQLUAtqjX_nXs0aznq0Zimr-3JYT066Qy6HWt5sxMcq5P27kvDsEu9TUp10zzUeVfew/s320/riverdale.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Out of all the characters' storylines, Cheryl gets the silliest ones. For instance, we get another cliched soap opera trope: The Long Lost Twin. Clifford just so happens to have a long-lost twin brother who plans to take over the family business. The funny thing about this is there's not a sense of irony at all. There's also this really strange subplot involving her stalking Josie. In the episode, <i>Twenty Tales from the Darkside,</i> Josie is receiving weird notes and soon discovers a pig's heart in her locker. It turns out that Cheryl has been the one sending them and...Josie just instantly forgives her. It just comes out of nowhere and it's never mentioned again. It's one of those surreal WTF moments of the show that never really adds to anything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What bugs me the most is how Cheryl is portrayed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzcxoK6QQYxY4OZqnJkq9CNW_TIwRzUNN-RELrDsM5NkO58sBbEVBtCb5gyySgRcoBQgS978N4f3s7jYZKPAtB3y8yqH1sCKLabgWLpA2Dhf1V320yVhCFx9JE4M-uh7hSXsn9WrWugNY/s590/Netflix-nick-st-clair-cheryl-pussycats-2550868.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="590" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzcxoK6QQYxY4OZqnJkq9CNW_TIwRzUNN-RELrDsM5NkO58sBbEVBtCb5gyySgRcoBQgS978N4f3s7jYZKPAtB3y8yqH1sCKLabgWLpA2Dhf1V320yVhCFx9JE4M-uh7hSXsn9WrWugNY/s320/Netflix-nick-st-clair-cheryl-pussycats-2550868.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A lot of traumatic things happen to her. On top of her father killing her brother, she almost gets date-raped, gets locked away in a bedlam house, and is struggling with her sexuality. But she never grows from her experiences, which makes it hard to be emotionally invested in the character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoC-JjpsBLFxJrGwCGKu6ACsFOJKOb83JYIYPB1sS5whl-uWjm0Jm5fKl5EUSKWZtWO6xMu9Nt9ZYAXbeCpZrFNNE_ad2BaSS4aSVdYHuXEyhNTOcQuhVcD69_DqLtjn3Sddv1kSQ4wcL/s2048/cheryl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoC-JjpsBLFxJrGwCGKu6ACsFOJKOb83JYIYPB1sS5whl-uWjm0Jm5fKl5EUSKWZtWO6xMu9Nt9ZYAXbeCpZrFNNE_ad2BaSS4aSVdYHuXEyhNTOcQuhVcD69_DqLtjn3Sddv1kSQ4wcL/s320/cheryl.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think Madelaine Petsch is an <i>okay </i>actress. There are times where she does a good job of handling Cheryl's vulnerability but the show resorts Cheryl back into her usual over-the-top catty persona which does a major disservice to Madelaine's acting. It's like the showrunners are propping Cheryl to be this campy character yet she's always put through the wringer. It's always a back and forth with no middle ground. And in the end, this makes Cheryl one of the least relatable characters on the show.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now let's move on to the parents. They have much a bigger role this season and, strangely, some of their personalities have changed drastically. Hermonie and Alice, in particular, seem to have switched places somehow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHOtYffpp0bhn8JhxC4ViBk3G4VV2XxUFtiOybkJY9q91ERbfyVsmuQKl1nsXgYXkOlwxyIYZv6pcSo2UkFz9B6vcuEPkdkvJ85cnnYjWLAUAK9lajhb8vw8Nn3pe2gvD7uqIc0dAJ8z3/s633/Riverdale11_Main.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="633" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHOtYffpp0bhn8JhxC4ViBk3G4VV2XxUFtiOybkJY9q91ERbfyVsmuQKl1nsXgYXkOlwxyIYZv6pcSo2UkFz9B6vcuEPkdkvJ85cnnYjWLAUAK9lajhb8vw8Nn3pe2gvD7uqIc0dAJ8z3/s320/Riverdale11_Main.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But let's focus on the most normal parents on the show, Fred and Mary Andrews. After Mayor McCoy resigns, The Lodges manipulate Fred into running for Mayor. Their plan is to turn the former Southside high school into a private prison and the housing Fred is building will be for the employees of the prison. Once Fred gets wind of this, he refuses to have anything to do with them. But here's the problem, Archie is wrapped around Hiram's finger, which causes a rift between Fred and Archie. Mary is only there to tell Archie, "Hey, don't forget where you came from" and "Know who your father is" and all that. Yeah, that's pretty much all she does this season. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The purpose of Fred getting involved with the Lodges is because of an 86,000 hospital bill. Now I don't know how a medical bill can be that expensive but I digress. So, Veronica finds a way to pay it off and that's where the cycle between The Lodges and The Andrews begins. Though all is eventually well between Archie and Fred and until then, Archie severs his ties with Hiram. But Hiram isn't finished yet...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2f05GVmfL1iLVJUswJ4O0TaYsaYfX9Qd7oiyqhCWmUuXfKGd5Uz-f4Ki5TJeFaEYQZauA41z1g7ehHhYPXYYMoPXkudYCeX7FFec3V53IBy3ZlTZ8jwIvjUFd-rl7DBqQR2AZUljqtDeL/s1443/fred-andrews.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2f05GVmfL1iLVJUswJ4O0TaYsaYfX9Qd7oiyqhCWmUuXfKGd5Uz-f4Ki5TJeFaEYQZauA41z1g7ehHhYPXYYMoPXkudYCeX7FFec3V53IBy3ZlTZ8jwIvjUFd-rl7DBqQR2AZUljqtDeL/s320/fred-andrews.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnek5gQOGmfrB_J1YHDSIWFfW6v-yPZoHCMcNqRAADVPcCi0WSEUPP1vbQGeZCwTAopgI8gOmaN0bPHAB2chQzweQxocROty2ywiapTia9co68DTc98GJria0jubpGlh6gCIq99qQpr5SH/s480/1498580835-molly-ringwald-riverdale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnek5gQOGmfrB_J1YHDSIWFfW6v-yPZoHCMcNqRAADVPcCi0WSEUPP1vbQGeZCwTAopgI8gOmaN0bPHAB2chQzweQxocROty2ywiapTia9co68DTc98GJria0jubpGlh6gCIq99qQpr5SH/s320/1498580835-molly-ringwald-riverdale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="ZUo4Ze" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, HelveticaNeue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding: 0px;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luke Perry once again gives an earnest performance as Fred and is probably the most sympathetic out of all the parents. Molly Ringwald has a little more to do this time around but she still stuck in the "guest star" mold. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBtHQuzqT926YQxkZFHymjygCyzIHH9jwNrvRIHhHa0JAQZpndwEhdrHSOF3cQVmqm-rUEFk-PPDXZVXU802yXo_pIiUF1GI4CjgNjYiLvw3KLAdGPxcVkrZj6yqkltH_wvM0ZPOBlOrI/s512/F.P.+Jones.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBtHQuzqT926YQxkZFHymjygCyzIHH9jwNrvRIHhHa0JAQZpndwEhdrHSOF3cQVmqm-rUEFk-PPDXZVXU802yXo_pIiUF1GI4CjgNjYiLvw3KLAdGPxcVkrZj6yqkltH_wvM0ZPOBlOrI/s320/F.P.+Jones.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After almost being sent to prison for accessory to murder, F.P. struggles with his atonement as the leader of the serpents. And now that Jughead is involved with the gang's activities, F.P. finds himself getting caught in the crossfire. That's pretty much the gist of F.P.'s storyline, which focuses on the complicated relationship between him and Jughead. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaYBfWNDz1lzTZXK9kSXlfG7uudYVIEvB3o5-42s6yboSPq-PdahRj_gyx0UZo1P3X9s32vfBbhaveYtH0ywB6dctd4bR5K01z2YtMXJphae6Zcl5fE6rJDrkh3vSaFIPuQGJl3n27Rha/s1284/skeet-ulrich-fp-jones-riverdale.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaYBfWNDz1lzTZXK9kSXlfG7uudYVIEvB3o5-42s6yboSPq-PdahRj_gyx0UZo1P3X9s32vfBbhaveYtH0ywB6dctd4bR5K01z2YtMXJphae6Zcl5fE6rJDrkh3vSaFIPuQGJl3n27Rha/s320/skeet-ulrich-fp-jones-riverdale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I show the same love to Luke Perry, I'll give my roses to Skeet Ulrich. He deserves much better than this show and it might take a while for the show to throw him off for a nonsensical dumb story that would make the character less engaging but we'll see. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZ1kaa0fBzm0dXaONPwkFe5hhRT5wOWddgBCDmnpjtA4mMPQGSWYMT0HJqxwpaYkGx6dJr0BySKHXsdRJLScqC_x19XEwqEa5Kc4mHRfzlZn1DRigxvYWYk_mnmzW9npiVQKkzBdz3q1p/s885/Riverdale-season-2-Alice-Cooper-1344580.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="885" data-original-width="590" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZ1kaa0fBzm0dXaONPwkFe5hhRT5wOWddgBCDmnpjtA4mMPQGSWYMT0HJqxwpaYkGx6dJr0BySKHXsdRJLScqC_x19XEwqEa5Kc4mHRfzlZn1DRigxvYWYk_mnmzW9npiVQKkzBdz3q1p/s320/Riverdale-season-2-Alice-Cooper-1344580.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alice is probably one of the most well-written out of all the parents and developed a positive change in character growth. At first, she was a spiteful, controlling woman who held an iron grip on her daughters, to the point of becoming an antagonist. Though as the first season comes to an end, Alice starts to develop a softer side. Now at the start of season 2, She's has reasons for being overprotective over her daughters. She, too, was a Southside Serpent because of her romance with F.P. It seems now that Alice's past is coming back to haunt her since Betty is involved with Jughead, F.P.'s son and the main conflict of her story is that she doesn't want Betty to make the same mistakes that she did. Okay, that's fine and all but I wished the showrunners could've made Alice less severe in the first season. It's like they went out of their way to make her almost a villain. And yet besides the point, this is the best character writing the show has (shocker!). Though I know in the back of my mind, that this will soon lose its momentum as the seasons progress. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae9RA_pia5zSl01YAztEynU403xKkPf2XtUY4njh3GmOPag6fDcKRO35XWgi_344XdNlXyRr6WI7yYIhdQEZ-qX9a1WxestCV5ViJ3EUlxYiIzBpLsUWhv7hbI8rN71QRZjfoZkpE66-8/s460/alice-cooper-riverdale-1494860736-view-0.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhae9RA_pia5zSl01YAztEynU403xKkPf2XtUY4njh3GmOPag6fDcKRO35XWgi_344XdNlXyRr6WI7yYIhdQEZ-qX9a1WxestCV5ViJ3EUlxYiIzBpLsUWhv7hbI8rN71QRZjfoZkpE66-8/s320/alice-cooper-riverdale-1494860736-view-0.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Madchen Amick did a good job of portraying Alice in a more sympathetic light, opening up a vulnerability that brings out layers that this character needed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2Hfk7tC6C0oxfF2SBNTBpIoF8bJhEvLVXWBoUM_P6Xu1vkVvy4DqcX6fIDRJfwnhLyTC8e7TskwdGasuMnSRqRGj3GA-iuy5jTxgA3YfJOg_-JlgUWhcq8wIH-QwR5W14MS7YRG0eatK/s931/HermioneLodgeSeason4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2Hfk7tC6C0oxfF2SBNTBpIoF8bJhEvLVXWBoUM_P6Xu1vkVvy4DqcX6fIDRJfwnhLyTC8e7TskwdGasuMnSRqRGj3GA-iuy5jTxgA3YfJOg_-JlgUWhcq8wIH-QwR5W14MS7YRG0eatK/s320/HermioneLodgeSeason4.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Hermonie has suddenly switched gears and is far and away from how she was portrayed in Season One. Now she has become the quintessential Mobster Wife, gloating at the camera with a wicked snare. Even though she has a subplot surrounding her election as mayor, Hermonie gets less screentime than normal.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ciu5wjfM4Ij7ShnsefuY2NBvYtk1ITCZ3H7eem6zIguCeCW3Bs98yb5n0zqoLuJoglzXVsY_um2ufAXAPsqhBkMlAIsNdU5btPHvz7yU2DgXddntJio6xggdNxL3_gVtZhkEzsRwdTlL/s360/RD-S5-Hermione-Lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ciu5wjfM4Ij7ShnsefuY2NBvYtk1ITCZ3H7eem6zIguCeCW3Bs98yb5n0zqoLuJoglzXVsY_um2ufAXAPsqhBkMlAIsNdU5btPHvz7yU2DgXddntJio6xggdNxL3_gVtZhkEzsRwdTlL/s320/RD-S5-Hermione-Lodge.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>At the beginning of episode one, there is a glimmer of her old personality but once Veronica tells Hermonie off, that's when she suddenly turns cold. And after that, Hermonie has become repetitive ever since. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XN8dndFXCS2jTCdaxJF1JQHf81kAqbr1ju4cK-WNO1ZLli5rLMEPYfmtkma-ixcKfRDvBzNNZHGQL-vFyJG1GCU-ZOGOb3XEmnJkpfxpBdbmiB_T5evNGVAwb2NGpG11YldayfShEKqA/s670/KK-S1-Sierra-McCoy.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="670" data-original-width="484" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XN8dndFXCS2jTCdaxJF1JQHf81kAqbr1ju4cK-WNO1ZLli5rLMEPYfmtkma-ixcKfRDvBzNNZHGQL-vFyJG1GCU-ZOGOb3XEmnJkpfxpBdbmiB_T5evNGVAwb2NGpG11YldayfShEKqA/s320/KK-S1-Sierra-McCoy.png" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div>Sierra McCoy also known as Mayor McCoy is getting a lot more screen time than her daughter. Throughout the season, she would usually get into business schemes with the Lodges but her meatiest storyline is her affair with Sheriff Keller. Speaking of, let's get into Tom Keller.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hTpCwW7-PYT_dCMVPgPErw_YF3A4732ma1OHYFXDJXUOQpjIrGp8niAHBQGIiCI4eUDIK7UAtOIafVkAxD2J7HXs9z95CchbOwDAbLeKAWTrFW3DVziygCSPDclY8CpW5pC4DO7q3aAL/s300/tom+keller.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hTpCwW7-PYT_dCMVPgPErw_YF3A4732ma1OHYFXDJXUOQpjIrGp8niAHBQGIiCI4eUDIK7UAtOIafVkAxD2J7HXs9z95CchbOwDAbLeKAWTrFW3DVziygCSPDclY8CpW5pC4DO7q3aAL/s0/tom+keller.png" /></a></div><br /><div>During the Black Hood arc, Betty suspects that Sheriff Keller may be in on the killings...for some reason.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT8u80Cs3AkbvW9QcjIgK7xssOZwc6cUnMGymwjYsGReN0U73mc0PrF1Lvc9lucsqA1wUef0qX4Cv9VaJqL9eunxM0eqCfR5mTWclSG_7mbvuZ9ju9VHkyHbJGbZthaieXO1OA06fiRfk/s1200/mayor+mccoy+and+sheriff+keller.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXT8u80Cs3AkbvW9QcjIgK7xssOZwc6cUnMGymwjYsGReN0U73mc0PrF1Lvc9lucsqA1wUef0qX4Cv9VaJqL9eunxM0eqCfR5mTWclSG_7mbvuZ9ju9VHkyHbJGbZthaieXO1OA06fiRfk/s320/mayor+mccoy+and+sheriff+keller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>When Betty finds out why Sheriff Keller is acting so evasive, and soon enough, that's when his affair with Mayor McCoy is revealed. Unfortunately, this subplot doesn't go anywhere. Most importantly, we don't see how this impacts Josie and Kevin, which could've possibly given them more screentime. I get the feeling that the writers added on this storyline for kicks. And after that, it's never really mentioned or talk about again...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDQ8AOQ4WI5Qjy2cRem2ugJnr51DpOIyjh56Sep3CDBA64G1BLN05lYzRJ3cz0hGshKz0U4n6e92WATLhg7b12vAiXKDogolwP5VZEI8oj9j8tkCUeQI5AkzYPrO_dIGvBcrVtXhDZofT/s829/rd-caps-2x13-the-tell-tale-heart-69-penelope.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="829" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDQ8AOQ4WI5Qjy2cRem2ugJnr51DpOIyjh56Sep3CDBA64G1BLN05lYzRJ3cz0hGshKz0U4n6e92WATLhg7b12vAiXKDogolwP5VZEI8oj9j8tkCUeQI5AkzYPrO_dIGvBcrVtXhDZofT/s320/rd-caps-2x13-the-tell-tale-heart-69-penelope.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Penelope Blossom is probably the weirdest of the bunch. We never really know what her damage is and why she has a hatred towards Cheryl. There's not much to know about Penelope except for that one strange episode where she becomes the town prostitute. It's implied that Penelope does this to spite Cheryl, but she seems to get a kick out of it. This just comes out of nowhere and it doesn't add to anything. It's just one of those bizarre Blossom family moments that becomes more non-sensical as the show moves on. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH75EBDZZdu__HzDA4wNrGTxg_UxSMAWtGgmJZoDxq2xr25FafdS-Yj1JltaiIs0yo5sSowkLh4ALwnbXHu5Mm4xdjAVg8y-GGR2zAqfF4VjMa1hla9OD56xl7hUc85F_S7iYGNBN_vP5w/s1280/riverdale-hal-penelope-1087447-1280x0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH75EBDZZdu__HzDA4wNrGTxg_UxSMAWtGgmJZoDxq2xr25FafdS-Yj1JltaiIs0yo5sSowkLh4ALwnbXHu5Mm4xdjAVg8y-GGR2zAqfF4VjMa1hla9OD56xl7hUc85F_S7iYGNBN_vP5w/s320/riverdale-hal-penelope-1087447-1280x0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>At the mid-point of the season, Penelope begins an affair with Hal Cooper. This may be a big deal but it's not. It's a small subplot with little thought put into it. It's just something that <b>happens</b> and nothing more. So that's all I have to say about Penelope. From then on out, she becomes a typical hammy villain without any dimension to work with.</div><div>Now the time has come to unveil the mystery surrounding this whole season...Who Is The Black Hood? Well, it's none other than...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOGZmlOMbF4Lq80JwV2PGXOtIZN2sTn3sVB5CLzkYnfY1bxgMNsOFE3gLL4VNW2JsZFAypbALINDcyLo1HCXljOyQprH6od7MJlEDHJnyoQR_hAOP5xNv7M0DSK4V8vl4ogfjp8-N8HsQ/s853/Hal_Cooper.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="699" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOGZmlOMbF4Lq80JwV2PGXOtIZN2sTn3sVB5CLzkYnfY1bxgMNsOFE3gLL4VNW2JsZFAypbALINDcyLo1HCXljOyQprH6od7MJlEDHJnyoQR_hAOP5xNv7M0DSK4V8vl4ogfjp8-N8HsQ/s320/Hal_Cooper.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hal Cooper</div><div style="text-align: left;">It's pretty obvious from the get-go that something was off about Hal. In the first season, he came off like a typical henpecked husband but the cracks begin to show when it's revealed that he was the one who sent Polly away and unjustly fired his own wife from The Paper for merely kicking him out because of that. There were tiny layers of his manipulative side that would seep over into this season, so the reveal wasn't all that shocking to me. But let's get into Hal's motive.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh0bsZRript-ft1SdMzoQx3_aib_1VS9PmC0rvgQzmu1cNI4kCRouLOHwsLbFcWyAhexmzOxKoXOVZivbGS8c9dMPXdM8Ku_CSMPVusRZMvgn43SoVOK4E8IC075Bss8WvKeGW_DpV_eh/s912/hal+cooper+reveal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="912" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh0bsZRript-ft1SdMzoQx3_aib_1VS9PmC0rvgQzmu1cNI4kCRouLOHwsLbFcWyAhexmzOxKoXOVZivbGS8c9dMPXdM8Ku_CSMPVusRZMvgn43SoVOK4E8IC075Bss8WvKeGW_DpV_eh/s320/hal+cooper+reveal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">He is deep-set on targeting sinners but, as it turns out, he's a sinner himself. Okay, let's see here. Hiding secrets from your family. Yeah, that's a sin. And not to mention him having an affair with Penelope Blossom, who, around this stage, is a prostitute. Sure, Alice and Hal are separated at this time, but he is still technically married. </div><div style="text-align: left;">So in the episode, <i>Judgement Night</i>, Hal makes this speech about how the world is corrupted and needs to be cleaned out and all that. But then we see the root of Hal's evil...He's actually the son of the killer who murdered Mr. Svenson's family, with Hal claiming Mr. Svenson as the last victim. I found this kind of interesting and if the show did a better job of handling mental illness, I would probably give the show a good grade for effort. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5nuaJHZS2MZ0TfF0x_B3WYqr7WY8thPoxAB1TL0rfVINVbhcWmgGMiaETAIa6Hla5a0-V5veCQ6r4hyqfx6H89RSbn85Kc4sVaAZK4mJfkNawtoGAYncpuoNczWu49xiLg7m1IQblb7r/s1200/evil+hal+cooper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR5nuaJHZS2MZ0TfF0x_B3WYqr7WY8thPoxAB1TL0rfVINVbhcWmgGMiaETAIa6Hla5a0-V5veCQ6r4hyqfx6H89RSbn85Kc4sVaAZK4mJfkNawtoGAYncpuoNczWu49xiLg7m1IQblb7r/s320/evil+hal+cooper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Does Hal make an interesting villain? I guess...in a way. I'm sort of in the middle because, bottom line, Hal would be less convincing as the show's main antagonist and is best fit for this season and only this season. But I could at least acknowledge some thought put into this idea. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eOi3EcYI7DoTL1Bzdgz3fi3v3s-pse_B-rESaExwiAZ9XZqMRkqekhFC9xLaJvQKzu7iEwzAPD-qPzUEf5TWAwntRY294KzOXA1BMkDIUXgtOTiOQjtY1zV4XoH8xyP36BN0nIm-RIuL/s1200/a+night+to+remember+recap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eOi3EcYI7DoTL1Bzdgz3fi3v3s-pse_B-rESaExwiAZ9XZqMRkqekhFC9xLaJvQKzu7iEwzAPD-qPzUEf5TWAwntRY294KzOXA1BMkDIUXgtOTiOQjtY1zV4XoH8xyP36BN0nIm-RIuL/s320/a+night+to+remember+recap.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73hPlHSW-mmmWnv7nOh3NHfPm9PIjxWEcM9V5jhwx9U9HxhNb2EI6qkFtchON7ESmS10m8satrZC_uFqvueQpgn82yJBRHdy5d8E8mvOFkNHHj7NTlkmAqsk9hYCGV-0ibPoN8RZWS-oB/s1200/riverdale-season-2-photos-129.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh73hPlHSW-mmmWnv7nOh3NHfPm9PIjxWEcM9V5jhwx9U9HxhNb2EI6qkFtchON7ESmS10m8satrZC_uFqvueQpgn82yJBRHdy5d8E8mvOFkNHHj7NTlkmAqsk9hYCGV-0ibPoN8RZWS-oB/s320/riverdale-season-2-photos-129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtGQe7JjdVRRhxLjtk2X_vwuaIEC0AtK2Mj-hxLU2a_o79DgFH64OkvI_lymdOOwNY0Q6_OSYlhlGGAtzKjPpuvia9P9X5xko092_IrQVUVUwcnum1haaUZ_6iI9BbpXedF4gYNCrO0SO/s480/betty-archie-singing-riverdale-1524069857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtGQe7JjdVRRhxLjtk2X_vwuaIEC0AtK2Mj-hxLU2a_o79DgFH64OkvI_lymdOOwNY0Q6_OSYlhlGGAtzKjPpuvia9P9X5xko092_IrQVUVUwcnum1haaUZ_6iI9BbpXedF4gYNCrO0SO/s320/betty-archie-singing-riverdale-1524069857.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Before I get to the writing and directing, I want to fill in my thoughts on the worst-reviewed episode, <i>A Night To Remember. </i>Now I'm not totally against musical episodes. <i>Once With a Feeling </i>is one of my favorite Buffy episodes. But the thing about <i>Once With a Feeling </i>is that it actually has a plot and it fits with the tone of the show. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for<i> A Night To Remember</i>. From what I can tell, Riverdale is supposed to be this ultra-serious neo-noir, and adding a musical episode flips the tone off completely to the point where it becomes unintentionally (or intentionally?) campy. Not to mention the really bad auto-tune used for the actors. At least, <i>Glee </i>had a cast of actors who were actual singers. This was just a terrible idea that adds nothing to the story. Furthermore, it tries to do this thing where the main plot has parallels to the broadway musical and goes nowhere. At the end of the day, it's just a filler episode. Period.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHmqDdpWY_W_h1ir0Cuv6F-xxCcQzn4gpV1haKf-qlXOvSLW1h8SrpXU8mnkAPH5A-KIt00woVuDVQ8VrcGQB56kWsfp4zrRTlRuuEyMD3E1QNxCg8RFSRkEcCLkv9XxStVYnAjUkQ4UM/s728/17649_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="728" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHmqDdpWY_W_h1ir0Cuv6F-xxCcQzn4gpV1haKf-qlXOvSLW1h8SrpXU8mnkAPH5A-KIt00woVuDVQ8VrcGQB56kWsfp4zrRTlRuuEyMD3E1QNxCg8RFSRkEcCLkv9XxStVYnAjUkQ4UM/s320/17649_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycYVXOWmA9mucL6m_gb9W0QoorCzXmxaAxsC2I_OXj6ZVnXFoonFXjkzoK3E_PGTBE-g19ejrZeLTSiprcxCK1jQBADv913mNJPe04pzPywrEWYh26EEcO9LCgnM-TkOZ16DuSxu-Dm-O/s2048/riverdale1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycYVXOWmA9mucL6m_gb9W0QoorCzXmxaAxsC2I_OXj6ZVnXFoonFXjkzoK3E_PGTBE-g19ejrZeLTSiprcxCK1jQBADv913mNJPe04pzPywrEWYh26EEcO9LCgnM-TkOZ16DuSxu-Dm-O/s320/riverdale1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKDnWNigD5Ny5o-mEyVAXS4yQf3W6rIy5RAQ2dDtu9ZH2-a6St7KqEs2W7QhBKrIYe8Ce59lMlJcFNwpAoTGM3CvntblzWJhuFaNwxDJd6Y8um7UTBrJL_9P5aIazG9NHBvPv86yZPpax/s1200/riverdale+visuals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKDnWNigD5Ny5o-mEyVAXS4yQf3W6rIy5RAQ2dDtu9ZH2-a6St7KqEs2W7QhBKrIYe8Ce59lMlJcFNwpAoTGM3CvntblzWJhuFaNwxDJd6Y8um7UTBrJL_9P5aIazG9NHBvPv86yZPpax/s320/riverdale+visuals.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let's talk about the directing. It's probably one of the few positive things about the show. I like the contrast of the reddish-blue visuals and the wide cinematic shots. Though, there are some misses to this as well. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnT2OSqBzw3RF8GX6lmbRX3fH0u65aYfjy6eaZYEH24ExkReeyVqqLPzdA39h7mqfAcxzrJ3X_M1iBSsWCyfGiHdic8GFxWVv6ruxqoGx6XUS3Oi6X-TchyphenhyphenWEaPVBENgfmJXze26_TsGY/s1200/d99e71d7-b1c1-4990-9aa1-a94471f8aee2-hiram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQnT2OSqBzw3RF8GX6lmbRX3fH0u65aYfjy6eaZYEH24ExkReeyVqqLPzdA39h7mqfAcxzrJ3X_M1iBSsWCyfGiHdic8GFxWVv6ruxqoGx6XUS3Oi6X-TchyphenhyphenWEaPVBENgfmJXze26_TsGY/s320/d99e71d7-b1c1-4990-9aa1-a94471f8aee2-hiram.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I get the feeling that Riverdale tries so hard to be like other CW shows. Particularly of their more popular DC superhero shows such as<i> Arrow</i> and <i>The Flash, </i>with Archie as a hood-wearing vigilante and this incredibly cheesy scene where all the antagonists are having a Villains' roundtable discussion. Riverdale can be its own thing if it wanted to, but no, it's just not. It's just a carbon copy of other popular shows. However, at least, the visuals are better to be expected. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjXKflxIqZP0Zdj-J5VytSt3039JUUtMfu7rqHqnAHVBEPU3KkIPxq8YTNmHAGgZkvhprfI9IRlZCeYeJB0badNIKWxqWUVwf9Pk5upJhPQuXUPe-ZoQGyaVbJNSkFRDO_e-fiXGJ5P2S/s1284/riverdale-9-dialouge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="856" data-original-width="1284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjXKflxIqZP0Zdj-J5VytSt3039JUUtMfu7rqHqnAHVBEPU3KkIPxq8YTNmHAGgZkvhprfI9IRlZCeYeJB0badNIKWxqWUVwf9Pk5upJhPQuXUPe-ZoQGyaVbJNSkFRDO_e-fiXGJ5P2S/s320/riverdale-9-dialouge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now let's talk about the dialogue. Oh boy, the dialogue. Sometimes I would sit back and wonder, do teenagers really talk like this? Do they speak in special codes such as wokeisms and internet-speak? I don't know. Half of it consists of pop culture and movie references, which are totally non-sensical, undeniably corny, and incredibly forced. Again, it makes me wonder what goes on in these writers' heads.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The writing is no better either. And I know I keep repeating myself but it's true. It all goes down to execution. The blueprint for a better season is there but it's all jumbled into an inconsistent mess, specifically in matters of the tone the show is<i> trying </i>to emulate. In one take, it's a serious teen soap melodrama, and in the next take, it's a self-aware parody. </div><div style="text-align: left;">In my final words, it's a season with <i>some</i> potential but ends in a messy conclusion. I feel like the biggest flaw this show has is the writing and I have a feeling that it's going to get worse in the next season. So wish me luck!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Whew! This was a long one, you guys. As you can tell it took me a couple of months to write this but I finally got this finished. YES! it's such a relief. This season was a lot to digest and I'm glad to be rid of it. So I might wait till next year to do the third season. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Without further ado, I will continue on with Scream 2.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oM7aCpsYDfE" width="320" youtube-src-id="oM7aCpsYDfE"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-86054094443352525322021-03-29T16:19:00.005-07:002021-03-29T16:19:54.973-07:00The Prince and the Mermaid...<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEyInBeZZAcneMFTxLS1vtMoKdSpXpqHHudAhIxb3rSrzxVAxhwFQnMmHOyHcZJjtGG7vk6XOoqk5AEumP6NMBdzS4L5UcozVUawExVz4k2xifOZSb1aBZI1GM9udGtG9GgITXoU94QJ_/s600/d4f1u1-d20f744d-dbfc-4ea3-b8c4-31673389e844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="444" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEyInBeZZAcneMFTxLS1vtMoKdSpXpqHHudAhIxb3rSrzxVAxhwFQnMmHOyHcZJjtGG7vk6XOoqk5AEumP6NMBdzS4L5UcozVUawExVz4k2xifOZSb1aBZI1GM9udGtG9GgITXoU94QJ_/s320/d4f1u1-d20f744d-dbfc-4ea3-b8c4-31673389e844.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">There once was a handsome
Prince who lived in a castle near the woods. Eager to find a wife, he pondered
for half of his life. He searches high and low for a mate, but heavens know
what would come of his fate. One of the Prince’s handlers tells him of the
ancient sea, but the Prince scoffs at him and replies, “That could never be.
Fairy tales, folklores, all of them silly stories.” Yet the handler is adamant
of his claims, telling The Prince, “that’s where his true love could be.” The
Prince is skeptical, thinking all of this would be a spectacle, though he
obliges. He sails across the ancient seas to a nearby beach, far beyond his
reach. Resting upon the beach, he chants to the moon:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">O’, where O’, where, will
my love, be</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">To now I seek through the
enchanted seas!</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince falls into a
slumber, but a sudden sound wakes him up in wonder. A Maiden comes by, her hair
streaked in white. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince says, “Please come
to me, my queen.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">But, the maiden says, “No
stay away from me.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince pleads, “You’re
all that I need.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden replied, “Oh
please, you don’t even know me.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden runs away. The
prince follows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden says, “What is
your wanting?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince replies, “It’s
your soul that’s haunting.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden still runs away,
but the Prince, still enchanted by her beauty, follows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden relents. “Okay,
but you must keep my secret.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince obliges. “Whatever
it is, I’ll keep it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden is reluctant;
however, she smiles. “Stay with me till sunlight and I’ll love you, forever and
always.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince holds her in his
arms. “Whatever your secret is, I’ll keep it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden tells him, “Only
if you’ll dream it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">So, they lay together from
dusk till dawn where they dream of dreams far beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden whispers to the
Prince, “Keep me forever and always.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince says to her, “I’ll
keep you days upon days.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The ray of sunlight rises,
the Maiden wakes up in a crisis. “Oh I must go, you can’t keep me here.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince says, “Why not,
it’s safe to keep you near.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“You don’t understand,” the
Maiden says. “The sun will dry up the sand.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">“My heart is what will
ascend, for it is my love that will bring you back to me,” The Prince says.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden replied, “Just
pray and I’ll be all you need.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden rushes up to the
sun, whatever path she’ll take shall be done. The Prince looks on, helplessly,
hoping that this could not be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden stops. Her heart
quickens. She spins around, wishing the pain will not fill in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Prince rushes to her aid,
crying to himself that the deed was not made. But then his eyes spark up in
wonder, like lightning meets thunder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The Maiden rises yet not a
woman, but a child. She says, “I must go into the enchanted waters of rebirth,
so I can fulfill the magic of mirth. If you love me, you’ll wait. For that’s
all I can take. I will always love you, my dear prince.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">And as the woman-child swims
off to the enchanted sea, the Prince waited for his Maiden in the castle ever
since.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The moral of the story: True
love comes to those who wait…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5142832130669274570.post-59324581019211849302021-01-15T19:55:00.001-08:002021-01-15T20:01:21.957-08:00I got a press release!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbeSoBvwsdoefmhXEqWa9YvcGQxPBXseZhxaj7NXO7T3pY9ikd1VCZRhKL8TKSrjZVV9jesI2nuektdNWVj_Jqaj_-dNCeu0TC3QuwUij8zvrRATgJkM3qdV8I0RF_T5IUitrOHo5TYQF/s500/51hmK3r%252BeLL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbeSoBvwsdoefmhXEqWa9YvcGQxPBXseZhxaj7NXO7T3pY9ikd1VCZRhKL8TKSrjZVV9jesI2nuektdNWVj_Jqaj_-dNCeu0TC3QuwUij8zvrRATgJkM3qdV8I0RF_T5IUitrOHo5TYQF/s320/51hmK3r%252BeLL.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKSOvAQ8TZlzxvx3uHJUyz1jR_eutiDJERmkMeCBkFBdgBxPuc1-S6B3CQ9SEmRTSvtjaqLD2GMyqLQ_oTvJLNiYppgz3Z8PlpFz2d8WY1J-42FDC-U7w9mXUCAyG0wrIz4AijX961ErW/s2048/A+Change+Would+Do+You+Good+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKSOvAQ8TZlzxvx3uHJUyz1jR_eutiDJERmkMeCBkFBdgBxPuc1-S6B3CQ9SEmRTSvtjaqLD2GMyqLQ_oTvJLNiYppgz3Z8PlpFz2d8WY1J-42FDC-U7w9mXUCAyG0wrIz4AijX961ErW/s320/A+Change+Would+Do+You+Good+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 22pt; line-height: 107%;">For Immediate Release <o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Date: January 15, 2021<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Contact: J.D. Fitzgerald, 336-926-7958, <a href="mailto:mcneairjonathan@gmail.com">mcneairjonathan@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Manhattan
Girls: A YA Coming-of-Age Book Series <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Promotional
Use for Manhattan Girls and A Change Would Do You Good. Books Written by J.D.
Fitzgerald.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Lexington,
North Carolina-J.D. Fitzgerald is the author of an ongoing book series titled <i>Manhattan
Girls</i>. Two Books are now available for release. <i>Manhattan Girls</i>,
which is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Kobo, and various online
retailers, and <i>Manhattan Girls: A Change Would Do You Good</i>, which is
also now available. The series is mainly targeted to the YA audience. It is a
contemporary coming-of-age story focusing on a group of friends going through
the ups and downs of life at a New York City prep school.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“Life is a
journey. Make of that what you will.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">AUTHOR BIO:
J. D. Fitzgerald<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Born and
bred in the Triad of North Carolina, ever since he was a child, Fitzgerald
always had a vivid imagination. Drawings on notebooks became ideas in written
form. By the age of fifteen, he realized his passion. He wrote his first novel,
<i>Christine: The Strawberry Girl</i>, along with two short stories inspired by
singers Tori Amos and P.J. Harvey. <i>Christine: The Strawberry Girl</i>,
unfortunately, never came into development, but elements of it can be found in <i>Manhattan
Girls, </i>his very first fully developed novel during his sophomore year.
Through the end of high school and his adult years, <i>Manhattan Girls </i>had
gone through plenty of revisions to become the novel that is now. Not only does
Fitzgerald focuses his time on novel writing, he also has two screenplays in
development. His other hobbies include studying film and television, learning
the basics of astrology, and practicing the graceful movements of interpretive
dancing. He is an avid fan of late-night ’80s primetime soaps such as <i>Knots
Landing</i> and character-driven teen dramas such as <i>My So-Called Life</i>,
which is an inspiration for <i>Manhattan Girls</i>. Currently, he is taking
classes at The Los Angeles Film School to learn more about the organic flow of
storytelling in film and television. You can check out his blog here: </span><a href="https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Synopses <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Manhattan
Girls</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">WELCOME
TO HAMILTON ACADEMY, THE FINEST OF THE FINEST OF PREP SCHOOLS FROM ALL AROUND,
WHERE OPULENCE DWELLS AND SECRETS ABOUND…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Fifteen-year-old
Gwen Stevenson gets a chance of a lifetime. Escaping from the depths of
small-town boredom, she finally sets her sights of embellishing the wonders of
New York City. While entering the halls of the prestigious Hamilton Academy,
she meets reserved bookworm Kyle, aspiring filmmaker Vera, Valley girl Shawnie,
and gets an unexpected reunion from her two childhood friends, Maxine, a
southern belle who plans to take over the popularity food chain, and Mona, a
reclusive rebel who dreams of becoming a rock star.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Gwen soon
realizes that she is no friend of honor society president Bianca Walworth, who
doesn’t appreciate her longtime boyfriend, Chace, making flirty eyes with Gwen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Having a new
life in the city has never been so complicated but in the end…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Will there
ever be solace in the city?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A Change
Would Do You Good:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A NEW
DAWN AND A NEW DAY BESETS THE CONCRETE STONES OF HAMILTON ACADEMY <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It is the
eve of September and a new student has arrived at Hamilton. Anita Deveraux, an
aspiring singer-songwriter from Louisiana, has set foot in New York City.
Trying to find her place in the world, she joins in with Gwen Stevenson and her
friends. They soon become enraptured by her natural vocal abilities and wistful
tales of her hometown down south. Meanwhile, Gwen is still having an identity
crisis. Worst yet, it’s only a few weeks until her sixteenth birthday. She soon
realizes that life is about taking risks, so she decides to finally fulfill her
transformation by gaining a new sense of style. Gwen’s childhood friends have
other plans. Maxine is organizing a party to impress popular senior Rain
Bosworth while setting her sights on the newly single Chace Fairbanks. Mona
Margulies and her new gal pal suddenly break the barriers of the friend zone,
which brings back what she lost in the past. Kyle Durmsdale is enjoying the
perks of being a newly ordained honor society secretary by wooing the new
president Jared Milton, but, unbeknownst to her, there is a certain someone who
wants to take Bianca Walworth’s empty nest. Upon getting prepared for the
Annual Short Film Contest, Vera Hudgens is confident with her finished project
and her new beau but Vera’s new boyfriend may not be as honest as he seems, and
when the truth comes out, it goes into a suspension of disbelief. Maxine’s new
BFF Shawnie Jenkins faces a dilemma in her love life. Being duped by who she
thought was her Prince Charming, Shawnie vows to take revenge upon Blake
Kingston…by making him jealous, of course. But as she rekindles with an old
flame, those familiar feelings makes the lessons of the past come back to the
present…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">For the
girls at Hamilton Academy, change is a one-way street …<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">A Review
from Chick Lit Café:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">“Manhattan Girls by J. D.
Fitzgerald is a story about growing up, adjusting to change, and the strength
of true friendships. The story starts with Gwen, a teenager growing up in North
Carolina. Her home life is troubled with an alcoholic father, so when her
mother gets a job opportunity in New York City working for the New York Times,
Gwen and her mother move to the big city and a new life. Gwen enrolls at
Hamilton Academy and is nervous about making new friends, having left her two
best friends back in North Carolina, but she needn’t have worried as there is a
grand reunion, and making friends is not as difficult as she anticipated. Soon
there are five firm friends, all with different characters and life stories,
but the girls blend together well as their lives unfold and they evolve and
adapt to city life.<br />
<br />
The author, J. D. Fitzgerald, has crafted a great coming of age story, where
the characters and the situations of the girls help them to cope with their
changing roles. Take Gwen, for example, a shy girl embarrassed by her braces
and dull clothes, who blossoms into her true self with the help of her friends.
Each of them realizes their dreams as life takes them on their journey. The
author has done an excellent job molding the individual styles, home life,
experiences and characters of the girls to turn the story into a mix of Grease
meets Friends in a novel that will excite and empower every young adult reader.<br />
<br />
J. D. Fitzgerald has skillfully written the transition from country girl to
city girl and painted a vivid and candid picture of life at a city academy,
with all the stresses of growing up and relationships, to style and personal
achievements. With a little touch of humor and personalities that will excite
and frustrate, this true to life story will have you engaged from the beginning
and satisfied at the conclusion. There is no doubt that many readers will be
able to relate to the situations the girls find themselves in, from the
makeovers to the stirring of attractions to finding one’s true identity, this
book has it all. Get ready to immerse yourself in life at Hamilton Academy and
New York City and marvel at the resilience of the girls as they set out on
life’s journey. Manhattan Girls is a great read and hopefully, the author will
have more tales to tell of the intrepid five as they continue their adventures.”
–Jewel Hart, chicklitcafe.com</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A word from
J.D. Fitzgerald:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Let me be
honest with you. My chosen path of self-publishing has not been an easy one.
It’s been like two years since I’ve published my first novel and the marketing
of it was a very hard task, indeed. I’ve put my heart, my soul, every bit of my
hard-working money into this project. I’ve scoped out reviewers, promoters, and
websites just to get my work known. It was exhausting. So, I decided to put
more of my time into writing my next novel, which again took me about a good
year to get finished. I haven’t been putting my time into marketing like I should
have, but hopefully, I’ll get back in the game. Like I said in my opening quote,
“Life is a journey. Make of that what you will.” And boy, is it a journey. I’ve
dealt with a lot while focusing on my writing, but I don’t want to get too
personal. It wasn’t all bad, though. I found it exciting, putting my words into
text. Creating stories from my imagination for the world to share. I met a lot
of amazing people during my writing journey and I have no regrets. Right now, I
feel like I’m on the right path. I am getting the resources that I needed for
so, so long and I’m finally looking at the bright side of things. It’s never
too late. I’ve always realized my passion and now I’m looking forward to making
it happen. Just like the characters in my books, my life is going through a
metamorphosis. I have good moments and I have bad moments, but there is always
a balance to things. And I think I found my balance. My life is only just
beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">My first
book, <i>Manhattan Girls</i> is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, and other online <a>retailers</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomanchor" href="file:///C:/Users/jonmc/Downloads/Manhattan%20GIrls%20Press%20Release%20(2).docx#_msocom_1" id="_anchor_1" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_1">[vv1]</a><!--[endif]--> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Girls-J-D-Fitzgerald-ebook/dp/B07FR7FDBF">https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Girls-J-D-Fitzgerald-ebook/dp/B07FR7FDBF</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/manhattan-girls-jd-fitzgerald/1129217282?ean=9781723506529">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/manhattan-girls-jd-fitzgerald/1129217282?ean=9781723506529</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/manhattan-girls-4<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">My Second
Manhattan Girls book, <i>A Change Would Do You Good</i>, is available on Amazon
now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R5P9ZDQ<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s where
you can contact me:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.mcneair.1/">https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.mcneair.1/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mcneairjonathan"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white;">https://www.pinterest.com/mcneairjonathan</span></a></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/d_fitzgearld"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white;">https://twitter.com/jd_fitzgearld</span></a></span><span face=""Segoe UI Historic",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: #050505; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jdfitzgerald22/">https://www.instagram.com/jdfitzgerald22/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I also host
a blog titled J.D. and Ivy’s Domain where I mostly write TV and Movie reviews:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">P.S. I
haven’t exactly got an author’s website, but I will put it up real, real soon,
so keep a look out for that. Thanks!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">-###-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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</div><br /><p></p>J.D.http://www.blogger.com/profile/04037511371378267508noreply@blogger.com0Connecticut, USA41.6032207 -73.08774913.292986863821156 -108.243999 69.913454536178847 -37.931499