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Contrary to what many people believe, I’m not a huge collector of Funko POPs! I have a few [Deadpool, Spider-Man, and Beetlejuice] but I only really pick up the ones that I like the character they are based on.. Unlike some people on the Internet [some people have thousands!] However, there is one that I’m planning on getting, and conveniently – it’s coming out soon! Want a hint? READ ON!

When you hear the name Elvira, only one person should come to mind.. the Halloween icon and symbol of all things spooky: the one and only Mistress Of The Dark! Oh yes, just in time for Halloween and perfect timing to celebrate her 35th Anniversary; the Mistress Of The Dark is getting her very own Funko POP! Looking at the figure, I am about 99.9% sure that this is the first Funko creation with cleavage! I’m still bitter over the fact that I didn’t get a picture with the Mistress herself when she came to comic con, but in a way to defend myself; she had a massive line up, and I wouldn’t have gotten to see the rest of the “con” if I had waited! [I will meet you, someday!] Check out the one, the only, POP! figure based on Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark below!

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Naturally, as a huge fan of her’s, both in sense of style, and film; I definitely am excited by this news. It’s been a long time coming for both horror fans and POP! collectors, as it was just a matter of time! Be sure to pick yours up in October when they hit shelves! But the real question is: are you going to pick up an Elvira figure? Why or Why Not? Let me know in the comments! I know for a fact that I will be, and worst case scenario and I don’t get a chance to pick one up; Christmas comes shortly after! As always, if you find yourself to enjoy what I do on here, then please take a minute and follow me over on my Facebook page [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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THANKS FOR READING.

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Clik here to view.There’s no point in going into detail about just how great Alien was, and still is in the eyes of horror and sci-fi fans alike. With it’s stylistic direction, the feeling of loneliness in space, and the fear of the “perfect” being stalking it’s prey; it’s still pretty damn scary in it’s own right. But of course, among Alien‘s perfect and dynamic cast [Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, and Ian Holm – just to name a few] giving life to the script, it was none other than the late artist H.R. Giger, and his animal-humanoid monsters: the Xenomorph who gave Alien that edge: their design and their dripping world that the species calls home really struck a chord with audiences in the early 1980s.

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Clik here to view.THE DEADLY SPAWN:

Now I turn to you, do You like the Alien franchise? Are You excited for Alien: Covenant? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this list; go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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[wrong XENOMORPH..]

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Well, it’s official: the book-to-film adaptation of Stephen King’s It has wrapped,and it’s safe to say that Andres Muschietti‘s impending remake is one of the most eagerly anticipated horror movies of 2017. Which, as terrified of clowns as I am, is understandable considering that it’s an adaptation of Stephen King‘s fan favorite 1986 novel of the same name. Need further evidence that this film might terrify you? Well pretty much everything that’s been released regarding 2017’s It has, rather helpfully, been terrifying. Which now includes this Jack In The Box toy to celebrate the end of its production that is set to sink into your brain and into your nightmares; just so it can haunt you for weeks. This weathered jack-in-the-box with Pennywise – as the clown – popped out shares the same design as the photograph that came out earlier this year. [The jack-in-the-box picture will be posted below!]

It opens upon with the murder of a child by the name of George Denbrough in the fall of 1988, who is killed inside the storm drain of a small town. Close to a year later, in the summer of 1989, George Denbrough‘s older brother Bill gathers together a group of his friend to try and find the murderer. What they don’t know is that the murder was actually committed by an evil entity known as Pennywise, who awakens every three decades as an ageless, shapeshifting demon..

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For those interested, Barbara Muscietti‘s Instagram is packed full of images from It’s shoot. So those of you that are looking to devour every little bit of information that you can regarding this horror remake should immediately head over to her page to increase your excitement for the film. I’m trying to avoid it, both because of spoilers and that fear of clowns keeps looming over my shoulder!

Now I turn to You – the reader. Are You excited for It? Why or why not? Maybe you’re a huge fan of Stephen King and are curious about this “version” of Pennywise; or maybe – like myself – you’re afraid of clowns and morbidly curious.. Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this list; go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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THANKS FOR READING.

ALSO, on a quick note: seeing as it’s almost October, I have been in the slow process of starting the plans for this year’s Weirdo’ween, so keep an eye open for more on that – it may not be as extravagant as last year’s one movie a day [I’m super busy with two jobs, and my college prep!] but there definitely will be something! STAY TUNED

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When you visit warrenisweird, what do you enjoy reading the most? Upcoming horror news? Maybe the occasional movie review? Well this post is going to be a little different than usual because today, while we are talking something horror/Halloween related – we are talking food..specifically, Doritos. From Japan. [wait, what?]

Yes. Leave it to Japan to – once again – give us food and snacks that we didn’t know we needed in our lives: in this case, it is a vampire defense system and packaged as a brand-new type of a chip that I used to eat all the time during my childhood. But this is not the friendly Cool Ranch or Nacho Cheese flavors that came before; no, this new flavor  is all powerful garlic, and because Halloween, they are stained an charcoal black to give it that “scary factor.” Hopefully I am not getting you too excited, because unfortunately, there’s no word of this product being sold outside of Japan. But they are available to be ordered on napaJapan – though quanities might be limited! Or, if you want to track down someone in Japan to send you some, there’s actually an app that does just that; though use this method at your own risk! I guess you also want to see the chip bag in all its glory, don’t you? As expected, the bag has imagery of a vampire, a spooky castle and some bats.

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Naturally, like any other garlic product, after eating these, your breath should ward off any and all vampires who come your way.. and probably everyone else around you, though don’t worry: Refinery29 has a quick remedy for that.

Naturally, like all things obscure and weird, I would love to try these chips – I’m strongly considering ordering some from napaJapan in order to try and possibly review them on here! I know this post was fairly short and to the point, especially considering the length of some of the other posts I write, but I have been busy with work, [For those that do not know/are new to my blog] and college 2017 prep. I am applying to College this upcoming week, and have been working a lot to prepare for that. Between two jobs and that, I have not had much time to sit and write. [most of my “sit down and relax” time is spent sleeping or watching Netflix actually] For the ones who are waiting for Weirdo’ween 2016, I am not going to be writing a review a day [like last year] but instead only a few reviews over the span of October – with one coming up tonight! [STAY TUNED] But let’s back up, where were we?

Now I turn to You – the reader. Are You interested in Black Doritos? Why or why not? Maybe you’re a huge fan of Garlic and are curious about this “version” of a classic type of chip; or maybe – like myself – you like new things, and find yourself curious.. Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this list; go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

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THANKS FOR READING.

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Today, I am working on a new series I call “Saw-Tober“. It’s a simple premise, really, I will be reviewing each of the SAW films; one at a time. This is both in part because of my love for the films, but also because it’s October. I’ve always had a love for these films, even if they did get progressively bad with their “torture-porn” ways. So let us begin, with the infamous first film that started one of the most successful horror franchises of all time and play a game called: SAW.

SAW is not for everyone, but for those who have seen it, remembers the first time they watched it. I remember sitting in my house and watching this on our “big” – 32 inch – screen TV. I also remember being confused, and amazed by just how crazy the whole scenario was: I mean for someone my age back then, [about 14 years old] this was pretty extreme, even for someone who grew up watching “younger horror.” Of all the “real” horror films I had seen prior to this one, SAW was something different: it felt – at least to me – real.

And it was quite a revolution back in 2004. Back then, the only thing I can remember seeing is remakes of Asian horror films, like The Ring or The Grudge, but SAW was different: it was like a big breath of fresh air. Looking back with the knowledge I have about the horror genre now, I think this was a good thing – especially for the genre as a whole. Before SAW, horror was a dying genre, and without it, I don’t think the genre would have lasted as strongly as it has.

But does it hold up now? Let’s find out.

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We start off with two guys waking up in a dingy, dirty old bathroom [see above] because all good horror stories start off as a drunken trip through the backwoods of Europe. [I’m looking at you, Hostel..] Our story follows Doctor Lawrence Gordon and Adam who are chained by the ankle to pipes at opposite ends of the room and have no apparent memory of how they got there or of who the other is. Naturally, the two look around. Between them lies a man in a pool of blood; with a gun in one hand and a tape recorder in the other. As the two men begin to question the scenario they have to face, Gordon, quickly realizes that they may be the next victims of a notorious serial killer known only as Jigsaw.

For those out of the know, The Jigsaw killer never directly kills his victims. He instead places them in elaborate [and] gruesome traps that he claims gives each victim a valuable life lesson – if you can survive, you’ll appreciate your life just a little bit more than you did before. However, chances of survival are usually small, with only one victim having survived so far. Gordon talks about how he knows of Jigsaw: it turns out this is because he was once a prime suspect in the case. Thankfully, he was released after his alibi for one of the murders checked out.

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What makes SAW so great is that there is no melodramatic lead-in: it quite literally throws you straight into the middle of the story and doesn’t let go until the final frame. Most of the movie plays out in the bathroom “cell” with all the other exciting parts, other than the final act, being told through flashbacks of various characters. This can and sometimes does make SAW seem stage-like, especially in the extended edition’s opening scene, but for an unusual approach; it works well as the movie never once drags.

Surprisingly, Director James Wan handles everything really well in this debut picture. He doesn’t give anything away too soon, leaving the viewer just confused enough to stay interested without letting them know everything, even if they might think they do. And just when it looks like SAW is going down a road of clichés, it pulls a fast one and leaves you surprised! If there’s anything can be criticized, it’s Wan’s use of hyper fast-cut scenes set to hard rock music to add a sense of urgency to what is going on. These are effective, particularly during the trap sequences; but over the course of seven SAW films it became tiresome and almost overused.

In all seriousness though, SAW is is not for everyone. It can [and later does] be gruesome and extreme, but that makes up a very small part of what can otherwise be considered an interesting psychological thriller. It’s not perfect; but for what it is – and what the franchise became – it is an important piece of horror cinema that has the heart of many.

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Now I turn to You – the reader. Are You a fan of the SAW franchise? Or are they “more gore, less story” in your opinion? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this review, and are looking for more, go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

JOIN ME TOMORROW WHEN I REVIEW MY LEAST FAVORITE OF THE SERIES: SAW II.

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

THANKS FOR READING.

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Welcome back for a the second entry in SAW-TOBER with my least favorite of the entire franchise: SAW II. Now, by “least favorite” I don’t mean it is a bad movie, but rather that I have seen it far too many times. Hell, when late night cable plays a SAW film around Halloween, it tends to be this one. Like most sequels, the writers/creators feel that they have to “up the ante” in order to feel/stay relevant, and does the gore step up in this one – at least, in contrast to the first film. We also get more victims this time around – eight instead of two – and the setting is in what appears to be an abandoned house.. Will this game be more fun than the first? Let’s find out, and dive head first into the needle pit that is SAW II.

Right off the top, you can expect Jigsaw, the serial killer who tormented Doctor Gordon [and Adam] to be back in full swing in SAW  II, armed with trickier traps and games for everyone. As Jigsaw himself even tells the audience, “Oh yes, there will be blood.” However, that “audience” isn’t just us – the movie goer – but is also made up of police detectives who have captured him and have him for questioning. That’s right – Jigsaw, or – as we learn from this film [his real name] – John is now in custody within the first ten to fifteen minutes of the movie’s opening. [wait, what?] Let’s get one thing straight, since the Jigsaw’s secret identity was revealed at the end of the first film, this sequel doesn’t attempt to play dumb with that, we get reminded that this older man is the one behind these “games.” [and thus becomes relevant for the remainder of the franchise] We also get this opportunity to put the killer front and center camera with some some spectacular scenes between Jigsaw and Detective Eric Mason that for some, could very well rival the conversations in Silence Of The Lambs between criminal and cop. Mason, it turns out, may very well be a new target of Jigsaw’s game – a game of life and death the detective gets to watch live on video monitors as Jigsaw’s victims, including the detective’s son Daniel, struggle for survival.

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Like I mentioned above, this time around, the setting is different than the first film. Instead of just two people in a bathroom, we now have half a dozen people in a house where they are breathing in a toxic gas that will kill them in two hours. The “players” are a wide spread variety of people, including the aforementioned Daniel and Amanda, a woman who has been “tested” by Jigsaw before. The game this time is simple: find antidotes to the toxin and work together to find a way out. It’s nothing special, and I’m sure other movies have done this before [I’m looking at you, Cube!] but it’s SAW so I’m not overly surprised at this plot.

In this house, each room contains a puzzle intended for a specific “player” of Jigsaw’s grand scheme, complete with a classic cassette tape that explains for whom and why each trap exists. The tape also explains that character’s particular “crime” [why Jigsaw felt that particular person needed to be tested] which I thought was a great way for the viewer to get more engrossed in the victims, telling us each character’s flaws without going into tons of exposition. However, there is one major problem I have with this movie: the convenience of there being no puzzle rooms for characters who end up being killed off before finding their room – meaning, Jigsaw is either the best fortune-teller ever, able to predict which characters will die, [and when] or it means the writers got sloppy and put a few characters in with their only purpose being to serve as “red shirts.” I think it would have been far more interesting for the brute of the group, Xavier – this guy for people bad with names – to have killed one member of the group, only to find that character’s trap and not know how to deal with it..

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Speaking of, I should probably also mention the traps that come along in the film. In SAW II, they’ve been created by Jigsaw, a mentally disturbed serial killer. When I first saw the movie, the very idea and concept for some of these traps are can be seen as sickening and more then one made me wince just at the thought of what was going to happen, and then it finally appeared on screen to make me cringe. Yeah, at first, I was not a fan. [can you say ‘needle pit?’] The traps as a whole though are smart and cunning, they’re willing to make you act first and think later [like the image above] only to be left to bleed and die. It really shows the kind of people these characters are, and for that – I’ll give them the benefit.

As with most horror movies these days, SAW II does have that one disappointing aspect, the same issue I had with the first SAW film: the fast-paced and flashing editing style that ensues when the action kicks in. Seriously. Every time Jigsaw’s puzzles even prepare to go off, we see quick – and increasingly faster – strobe light like shots of the trap before, during, and after it “goes off.” Some of these shots are so fast I’m surprised there isn’t a warning for epileptics, that flashing [and blinding] lights are used. It does create an extremely tense atmosphere though, which I cannot argue. I always felt this type fast paced cut shows their mind racing at the speed of the shot. I will say though, if you can make it through the first five minutes of the movie, which is a eye-wrenching trap that references the first film, then you’ll be fine. But, if you’re having a panic attack by then, chances are, you won’t make it through the rest of the movie. It only gets more intense as it goes on.

Also like the typical horror movie, at least the ones that have come out since the early 2000s, there is a necessary surprise twist. That’s not really spoiling much since the concept of a twist was such a big element for the first SAW, and besides; these movies are over ten years old. Thankfully, the ending of SAW II is well done. It makes complete and total sense and, more importantly, doesn’t feel plastered on just to get a rise out of the audience. It’s the kind of plot that was clearly determined early in the writing process, therefore making it an essential part of the movie. That ending scene with Xavier will always make me grind my teeth.

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With a stronger story, sicker and more disturbing traps, and better acting then the original, SAW II is one of those rare sequels that builds and even surpasses the foundation it was built on. Even though I consider this film to be my least favorite of the series, it’s still a solid addition to the SAW series, and while the movie does, yet again, leave things open for a potential sequel – or three – they got the SAW concept [and story] down by this sequel. There was really no need to delve further and possibly steer the franchise in the wrong direction..right? right?

JOIN ME TOMORROW WHEN I REVISIT AND REVIEW THE ENDING OF WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ENDING OF THIS SERIES: SAW III.

Now I turn to You – the reader. What were Your thoughts on SAW II ? Was it a better film than the first? Or are you waiting for a certain sequel to be reviewed – and if so, which one? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this review, and are looking for more, go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

THANKS FOR READING.

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Welcome back to SAW-TOBER – the series when I review each and every film in the SAW franchise, in order, and share my thoughts! Today’s edition? SAW III! Was it good? Well, it was certainly better than it’s predecessors, but it still wasn’t “great” by any means.. Remember how SAW II ended on a cliff hanger? [I didn’t mention that yesterday? whoops. It does. Moving on..] This sequel opens up where the second left off – and the first began – we see Detective Matthews chained up in the infamous bathroom with a handsaw and a choice. In a move that could be considered dumb and smart, Matthews cleverly “solves” his problem by breaking his own foot and thus the title screen flashes. The story leaves Matthews in favor of several horrible deaths that aren’t necessary to the plot, until at least 30 minutes into the film. In short, Jigsaw is now on his death bed and apprentice Amanda, remember her?, kidnaps a brain surgeon and forces her to keep Jigsaw alive to watch his latest game. The script then begins to have problems explaining the differences between Jigsaw’s struggle to survive, his latest victim’s progress through a new “game” and [of course] flashbacks; which are there as an attempt to fill in the plot holes of the last two movies.

Let’s stop right there for a minute. The SAW franchise has already become based on creative devices/traps of death and less about the originality of the first film. Because of this, SAW III loses sight of what made the first SAW good: the simplicity of chaining two people in a room with only a handsaw and the tension; created from wondering if they will, in fact, cut through their own legs for “a greater good.” Originally, Jigsaw’s lesson-driven murders were a nice side to the hyperviolence; but as the SAW series continues, the traps become more and more extreme. While they’re visually appealing to a horror fan, it’s the fact that it’s taking away the point of why John does what he does best.. Sorry, had to get that off my chest – let’s continue, shall we?

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SAW III follows Lynn‘s – the brain surgeon – “game” which consists of her trying to keep John alive through a harrowing brain surgery. If she doesn’t, the explosive collar that Amanda has locked around her neck – which is connected to his heart-rate monitor – will go off, causing her to [literally] lose her head. Meanwhile, we also have Jeff, the subject of Jigsaw‘s final test, who has to participate in a series of grotesque challenges in the dark reaches of the killer’s torture-chamber “facility.” But Why? What did Jeff do? Well, according to Jigsaw, it’s in order to give Jeff the opportunity to either get back at or forgive a series of individuals who were involved in his young son’s accidental death [he was hit by a car] years earlier. Because Jigsaw is dying, Amanda oversees Jeff‘s misfortunes on a TV screen.

What I did like about this sequel is that Jigsaw puts a lot of emphasis on forgiveness. Just like he did in the first two movies, he seems to claim that the reason he tortures people and makes them face death is to teach them how to “live again.” He insists that he wants them to forgive those who have wronged them [including himself] in order to regain their joy for living.What he seems to forget, is to mention that most – if not all – these “subjects” die trying. Thanks, Jigsaw. In one of the “challenges”, we see a judge who sacrifices his own life to try to save the life of a stranger. Before he dies though, we hear him instruct Jeff, “Vengeance never solves anything. It only makes the pain greater.” We also see – whether it’s because she desires to do so or she’s afraid for her own life – Lynn is willing to do everything possible to give the medical attention to Jigsaw that he so badly needs. These brief [but important] scenes hint to the fact that the two are wanting to forgive – even if it is difficult.

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In summation, SAW III continues the tradition of nearly every horror sequel in the genre: it attempts to further their [decent] storytelling by increasing the body count; and like any true horror sequel, it – once again – leaves an opening for another follow up featuring a villain who just won’t die.. even though he does die at the end of this film. As the television previews say loud and proud: “If it’s Halloween, it has to be Saw” and coming from a fan of the series as a whole – that doesn’t mean you should keep making them.

Now I turn to You – the reader. Are You a fan of the SAW III? Or should it have ended after the first movie? What other opinions do you have on the series? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this review, and are looking for more, go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

JOIN ME TOMORROW WHEN I REVISIT AND REVIEW ANOTHER SEQUEL IN THIS FRANCHISE: SAW IV. I ACTUALLY ENJOYED SOME ASPECTS OF THIS ONE!

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Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

THANKS FOR READING.

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FINALLY: seeing as I am reviewing each and every SAW film in the franchise, I have been waiting to review today’s sequel: SAW IV and before you ask why, I think you already know – it is probably my favorite in the series. [At least, it is pretty close to the top of the list] Lets start with the obvious, you can expect a few things from a SAW movie: there will be blood [and gore] – and a lot of it. One thing that I have always admired about this franchise is that it definitely does not hold back on that gore factor, which is kind of nice for us horror fans who seems to be living in an era where so many horror films aim for a PG-13 rating, to gather a larger crowd. But with SAW, you can always expect indulgent traps – which usually are planned out mechanisms that are timed perfectly to deliver the final killing blow to the [poor] victim at just the right time. There is almost always those hyper-edited sequences [that I have grown to dislike] during the suspenseful moments, leading into some sort of dizzying wrap up sequence that explains all the twists and turns of the movie by replaying the last hour and a half in just under two minutes. Yet, somehow, the SAW movies are a fun form of horror entertainment. OKAY, with that said, lets get on with the actual movie review!

SAW IV opens with some coroners performing an autopsy on Jigsaw himself [remember, he did end up dying at the end of the last film] To keep you from any lingering doubt of his death, the first gory scene of the movie isn’t during a trap! It actually comes from watching Jigsaw’s skull and chest cavity being opened up in a graphic yet fairly precise sequence. [what makes this scene even cooler is the use of black and whites on his body/the table he’s on/the background, but his blood is a dark red] Eventually this autopsy leads to the beginning of the movie’s plot: a mini-cassette tape is found inside the corpse that proves that, although the killer is dead, the games are not.

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This time around, the action follows [my favorite] Detective Rigg, who has survived through life as a supporting character in the previous two SAW films only to become the newest target of Jigsaw’s game himself. While Rigg is off dealing with a gambit of traps and games, two other FBI agents are on a separate course, attempting to figure out how Jigsaw could possibly be still operating; considering the fact that he currently is not alive and Amanda is also dead. The solution is simple: Jigsaw had more than one helper, which means the [other] remaining “helper” is still out there – on the loose!

Now, this installment will have standard SAW fans a little disappointed because although they are there, the traps and gore seem to take a bit of a back seat. Instead, we get storytelling and exposition. Believe it or not though, that’s what I liked about this sequel. Seriously. Instead of just laying on the traps, and a quick explanation that these traps mirror the moral shortcomings of those involved, SAW IV gives us a glimpse behind the method and madness of Jigsaw and explains how the killer was “created.” What made this so special [and important] was the fact that the story doesn’t take away the mystery of Jigsaw, but rather explains how a brilliant architect named John became the killer he is [was?], thus expanding on the mythology around Jigsaw, as a character.

These flashbacks do a brilliant job of explaining Jigsaw’s complicated past [thanks to the FBI agents who were interrogating his ex-wife Jill – she becomes important in later films!] and they intertwine nearly perfectly with Rigg’s story-line. Instead of being placed in different traps, [like Jigsaw’s usual set of victims] Rigg is shown and exposed to other victims in traps. Sometimes, he is even forced to put them in the traps after seeing the killer’s reasoning behind why he picked certain people. It’s an interesting way to give a look to the audience and the detective, although don’t get me wrong – that doesn’t make some of the traps any less disturbing. Some of the traps made me cringe, but that’s because I have this problem where I imagine myself in that situation..

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If I had to point out one thing that I wasn’t too fond of, it is the way the writers feel the need to point out that Rigg is being lured into learning from Jigsaw’s mentality. I get why they said it but in this particular case, that sort of thing should have been left unsaid; yet the FBI Agents mention it as part of their investigation at nearly every damned crime scene. Again, I understand it, it just gets frustrating. On a more positive note though:

then there is my favorite part – that ending! Remember Detective Matthews from SAW II? Well, as it turns out, he is still alive [granted, only barely] and being kept on an ice block which in itself is a trap – if it melts, Matthews dies – which we cannot have happening, right? well, this happens to our fabled Detective at the end of the film [spoilers, obviously] and thus ends the life of yet another cop. The ending also reveals who the “other Jigsaw helper” is: none other than Detective Hoffman, who stands proud and tall at the end of SAW IV, knowing he is the successor of John Kramer.

As far as SAW movies go, SAW IV is probably one of the better in the series, hence why I consider it one of my favorites. Although the plot-heavy story arc might turn those who look to the franchise just for the interesting slayings away, I have always been interested by the justification given by Jigsaw and what he offers for his killing[s]. I like to believe that it’s great to see his background expanded without giving away too much about the character to a point where there’s no surprises anymore. What I personally liked about SAW IV is that now the franchise is evolving and not just giving us – the viewer – the exact same formula/movie every year..

Now I turn to You – the reader. Did You like SAW IV? Or did the storytelling get too boring for you? What other opinions do you have on the series? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this review, and are looking for more, go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

JOIN ME TOMORROW WHEN I SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT IN THE SAW SERIES: WITH SAW-TOBER #05: SAW V.

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Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review coming the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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Another day, another SAW movie. If you were not aware or are just joining me, there are seven of them – with an eighth coming next year – and I intend on reviewing each one. Why? Because I feel like, for the most part, they’re enjoyable films. With yesterday’s post being about one of my favorites in the franchise, lets talk about it’s specific sequel: SAW V and while its not terrible, it is certainly not “good.”

Like the other films before, SAW V begins with a slighter more “extreme” trap, killing one of Jigsaw’s victims in one of his more elaborate traps, although there is one major difference.. this time, the victim of the trap actually does what is required to free himself, which was crushing his own hands into a crippled and broken state. But for some reason, the trap doesn’t stop! The victim is still executed, and the message is made clear: this isn’t the same Jigsaw killer we’ve been exposed to in previous SAW movies.. why should it be, though? Don’t forget, the “real” Jigsaw was killed two movies ago, and while SAW IV managed to tell a pretty good story, SAW V doesn’t do it quite as well.

Beginning with SAW III, each chapter of the franchise has given us more insight, exposing more about the Jigsaw killer, giving a pretty decent backstory on Tobin Bell’s popular character within the last movie. With the initial killer pretty much fully explored [and explained] at this point, it’s time for some new blood/someone new. The story of SAW V gives us Detective Hoffman, the only surviving character from the previous movies, into the role of yet another of Jigsaw’s helpers. You read that correctly – the one remaining cop was playing for the bad guys all along. [Because of course he was..] In order to prove this to us, the movie begins to show a flash course history lessons in the previous story lines that try, but don’t really “fit” very well and feels more like it’s cheating; we are basically seeing the stories we’ve already seen before, with Hoffman squeezed in, instead of developing something new entirely..

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It’s just that the whole thing just isn’t given to the viewer very well. In the case of the other SAW movies, I had no trouble following the overall story arc. [How each one fits as a whole] And even though I’ve seen SAW IV, I had trouble figuring out just how SAW V tied into the franchise through the movie. Sure we see Hoffman, and where he has been during the last films, but then why does SAW V feel like a piece of a completely different puzzle? It’s convoluted and sloppy story-telling, and by superimposing Hoffman into previous scenes, it feels almost lazy. Surely I am not alone in feeling this way, right? [Maybe this is why I never liked Detective Hoffman as a character!]

Looking at SAW V as it’s own thing, it doesn’t really work well within itself. Granted, the movie does return to it’s proven formula of given us a group of people trapped inside a series of rooms, each with one of Jigsaw’s traps designed to play off their weaknesses. As the victims proceed [and y’know, die] inside, the police and FBI go through a dangerous hunt on the outside. Only this time, the two story-lines are completely unrelated.[wait, what?] Nobody is searching for these missing people, and they really aren’t linked to the other characters outside of the chamber. Hell, as far as I am aware, nobody even seems to know the five victims are even missing. That isn’t just bad story-telling, it’s a vital piece of information. This ongoing investigation in the outside world is all about Hoffman, not about any missing person cases. Because the stories are separate and barely even connect, it never manages to form a cohesive story for the movie as a whole.

Unfortunately, by the end of SAW V, it started to feel like the SAW franchise has run its course, and is now officially out of ideas of where to go next with the movie’s world. Between the broken history lessons, the disconnected story-lines, and traps that really don’t feel up to the same creative level of the previous chapters, SAW V is a disappointing addition to a franchise I used to love. Either that, or I am just bored with these films which – to a 17 year old me – sounds like blasphemy. I didn’t even mention Agent Strahm, who was the main cop chasing Hoffman. Quick adlib: he [unsurprisingly] dies at the end of this film, in the worst way you can imagine.

WHAT WILL FOLLOW FOR DETECTIVE HOFFMAN? JOIN ME TOMORROW WHEN I REVISIT THE CONTINUATION WITH: SAW-TOBER #06: SAW VI.

Now I turn to You – the reader. How did you take SAW V? What about Hoffman? Is he a worthy successor, or just a murderer? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this review, and are looking for more, go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

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This is it everyone, the beginning of the end. With the second last SAW film we have more traps, more choices, and more death. I mean, what else could you expect with this series? Thankfully, today’s sequel – SAW VI – isn’t all that bad. It does dive a bit further/continues John Kramer‘s background story though, so expect more flashbacks. In this sixth installment, the series gets political, decidedly pointing a finger at the health care system. As the movie shows us, Insurance Companies aren’t always fair, especially to those that cannot afford it. So are you ready to play a game? Let’s look at the “beginning of the end” in SAW VI – which starts right after SAW V.

John/Jigsaw’s latest “game” focuses on a man named William, a guy who seems to be a big deal at an Insurance Company. He is also the man who personally declined John the coverage necessary to try and find a cure for his cancer. [bad move there, William!] Before you jump to conclusions, this is not a personal attack; because it turns out that John isn’t the only individual William denied the chance to live. The way William sees it is by following a “formula” that takes into account a person’s health, age, history and everything.. except their will to live. [coincidentally, isn’t that what John looks for?] Not finding himself in line with Jigsaw’s “way of things”, and William suddenly finds himself at the center of a series of traps requiring him to decide whether someone else will survive or die.What makes this sequel interesting is that logically, William can hide behind his desk when it comes to Insurance, but in the world of SAW, William is forced to suffer the consequences of his actions by watching the denied die.. Damn Jigsaw, that’s pretty extreme, even for you!

Now before you ask how this is all possible, seeing as John died three movies ago, keep in mind that John is still the man with the [big] plan, but he isn’t the one putting it into motion. That job went to Detective Hoffman. Carrying out John’s dying wishes is a big deal, but Hoffman also has to keep an eye on the FBI agents who are getting dangerously close to uncovering his secret. [He still “works” for them at this point]

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What makes SAW VI better than the last group of films is that also holds plenty of references to the previous films that will go completely over the unfamiliar watcher’s head, so if you fall under the “I haven’t watched many SAW films” category, your primary source of entertainment is what is going on with William, and holy damn can it get suspenseful.. Not only are the blood and guts flowing – as usual – but the traps that unleash the carnage will make you cringe. [just look at that breathing trap above!] The violence and brutality shown in the SAW movies is nothing new, but what makes the franchise stand out from the rest is the mind-boggling mental aspect. What would you do if you were in that situation? SAW is not about catching the audience off guard, it’s about knowing what is coming, which makes the circumstances of the “game” far more terrifying.

Now, it’s important to note that while I’m very familiar with the SAW movies – I’ve seen them all a multiple amount of times – in no sense do I consider myself a franchise expert. My knowledge of the smaller details are few and far between and my devotion to the series only comes with the fact that I tend to watch one [or more] SAW film during Halloween. I’m sure many would agree that none of the SAW movies compare to the genius of the first, so watching SAW has slowly become more of a leisure activity than a meaningful movie-going experience. However, with that being said, I do enjoy SAW VI very much. Without spoiling too much, fans will be glad to know that Tobin Bell is back as Jigsaw, as so is Shawnee Smith, as Amanda, who has a major secret to share. This is refreshing after Jigsaw being almost entirely absent in the fifth film.

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SAW VI is far from perfect and not nearly as good as the first film, but writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton put together a tight script, especially compared to their work on the fourth and fifth films. The story is wonderfully written into the overall story, the traps [like the carousal trap above] are unique again, [finally!] and Hoffman is still a badass – though I still dislike him. These elements will help pull in the fans led astray by the “not so good” films from before, and also bring in new recruits to join in on the bloody fun that is SAW. The flashbacks and other elements from the series are enough to impress the devoted fans but they also don’t detract from the general pace of the film. This is nice because it allows novices to the franchise to get a satisfying horror film as well. So basically, watch this if you enjoy the series as a whole, because if you don’t have a desire to see victims ripped limb-from-limb, cut in half and watch their insides spill out onto the floor, you should probably avoid SAW VI at all costs.. The other real complaint I have is that once again, you can expect a HUGE cliffhanger.

HOW WILL THIS FRANCHISE “END” ? JOIN ME TOMORROW WHEN WE COMPLETE SAW-TOBER WITH #07: SAW VII: THE FINAL CHAPTER!

Now I turn to You – the reader. Are you like me and enjoy SAW VI? What about Hoffman? Is he a worthy successor to John, or just a regular murderer? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this review, and are looking for more, go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

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Well, we knew it was coming, and now it’s here: the final SAW movie. After this post, I will be back to regular posts, but I feel like we accomplished something: seven days, seven SAW films. Was it worth the time? Were some of the movies better than other ones? For sure, but with this being the last one, [at least until the new one comes out] It’s time to see if it was all worth it – at least to wrap things up..

SAW VII, or SAW 3D: The Final Chapter as it was marketed, was like each of its predecessors, so consumed with its inventive, big idea judgment scenes  that it moves away from actual mechanics and story telling in order for a story to work. Because of this, what we ended up left with is a extremely broken movie that attempted to weave violence/gore with awkward/meaningless dialogue which ultimately, gave us a less than mediocre movie. It sounds fitting, but at the same time, it’s sad in a way; the supposed final installment tries to work overtime trying to tie a cohesive string [“storyline”] through all the previous movies.

So who are we following this time? Enter Bobby: a Jigsaw survivor turned motivational speaker and book writer who is touring the country in support of his new book which details his near-death escape from the trials and traps he had to endure. Meanwhile, Jigsaw’s widow Jill [I told you she’d come back as an important character!] has turned to Detective Gibson in a final attempt to save her own life. As we came to expect, her husband’s former partner Hoffman has turned against her, and she’s willing to spill details of the entire Jigsaw operation in exchange for immunity. It’s a request Detective Gibson quickly accepts, but that’s possibly because of a new Jigsaw murder and the untimely promise of a new game.

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As you may have probably already guessed, the latest victim turns out to be Bobby, and what follows is a complicated story-line that somehow managed to tie all six of the previous films. Yes, the SAW universe is brought full circle. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as appealing as more hardcore fans of the series would have suspected. The inclusion of a ‘full circle’ lies solely on a Jigsaw support group that’s been formed. [if you look at the group, you can see other survivors from previous movies!] The group is filmed publicly as publicity for Bobby’s book, and this breach in confidentially provides the setup for one final Jigsaw game. [Also, Doctor Gordon shows up!] I won’t go into extreme details about the trials and tribulations that Bobby has to endure, but I will say it does feature arguably, the most mechanically-complicated torture chambers. SERIOUSLY. It would have taken the entire Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team at least two weeks working around the clock to put all these traps together, which is why the SAW franchise really needs to stop. No one could do all this in a matter of days, I don’t care who you say could. It’s impossible.

The important thing to note about SAW 3D: The Final Chapter is that it is more a commentary on itself and its place in popular film culture rather than another addition. As expected, Bobby is punished – not for cheating on his girlfriend or killing some hookers, but for lying about being in a trap before and leading a Jigsaw support group. These sins and reasons for being punished are actually smart, and they’re sins that come from Jigsaw’s very existence as a killer. It could actually be seen as very clever and the concept itself is thought through, but sadly; that doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a commentary on itself. Therefore, when something grows comfortable enough to comment on itself, it’s fair grounds to say it should just stop. The ending of this film is pretty decent too, seeing that we see that [SPOILERS*] Doctor Gordon has been helping all along since SAW II, and that he is the one who has been the one who has been doing the medical procedures on the victims, in exchange for living a life now deserved – at least according to Jigsaw..

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Suffice it to say, SAW VII is the type of film I would recommend for reasons of interest rather than quality. There’s actually a lot going on in this film: Cops chasing Hoffman, Bobby and the traps, Jill talking with the cops, and flashbacks galore. I like to believe that a lot of enthusiasm went into this idea when it was first pitched, but like in most of the other SAW movies, this final product has a fundamental disconnect between the one major idea: the death traps and the actual screen time that links those two [puzzle] pieces together. Far too often does SAW 3D resort to standard horror movie dialogue and convenient quick fixes to try and bridge gaps in the story. It constantly begs for a rewrite; yet, it never happens because everyone on the team were probably too impressed with the film’s simple premise: match everything up..somehow. After seven Halloweens and seven films, the SAW franchise is finally put to rest. [or is it?] Overall, it goes out applauding itself for it’s efforts, but something tells me Jigsaw wouldn’t have had it any other way.. Also, for those that have been wondering since SAW I, we also get to see the Reverse Bear Trap in action! [watch it happen here: NSFW]

And with that, we conclude SAW-TOBER: seven days, seven movies. As always, now I turn to You – the reader. What SAW film was your favorite? Are you looking forward to another SAW film? Let me know in a comment below, and if you enjoyed this review, and are looking for more, go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 150+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

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NOTE: Major spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t watched The Walking Dead season 7 premiere yet, but you probably knew that already..

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Still here? Okay, if you are; that implies you’ve watched the premiere or you’re okay with [massive] spoilers. Ready? Here goes – Well, Walking Dead fans, we made it through the long and annoying wait from the Season 6 finale to the Season 7 premiere, and while the Negan cliffhanger of the previous season received its fair share of fan backlash, everyone involved with the show kept promising [continuously] that it would all be worth it when the premiere for Season 7 came around.. and indeed, “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be” lived up to a lot of the hype, dropping the [now dead] bodies of not just one major [and loved] character, but two. As revealed during Rick‘s mental torture session, Negan used his beloved Lucille to kill both Abraham Ford and Glenn Rhee, and although I would usually say I saw this coming.. I didn’t! So let’s talk about it – with spoilers of course – So, just what in the hell happened on the premiere?

While The Walking Dead TV show will be giving us a toned down Negan in the sense of  how over the top he is/can be, this scaled back version obviously doesn’t affect the brutality of his actions. We had to wait a while to actually get an answer to one of the biggest TV questions of the summer, and Negan got to show off some of his vicious savagery before “the big scene” by testing Rick‘s abilities by sticking him out in the walker filled wild. [Seriously, what a badass] But no amount of physical abuse to Rick could prepare us for how heavy the impact of the big moment, and the episode overall, drew out the appropriate amount of heart pounding pain we [probably] all felt on the way to Abraham dying through getting his skull busted..

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As you no doubt felt too, seeing the result was an absolutely chilling scene to behold, almost more so than in the source material, and when Abraham‘s face was shown to be “the death,” I can only imagine so many viewers’ hearts were on the way to leaping out of their chests. But, because of course it did, it only got worse – way worse. In the moments afterward, as Negan completely destroyed all that was recognizable about everything above Abraham‘s neck, Daryl felt the need to be the big man by rising up to deck Negan square in the face. This led to a small speech [from Negan] about the group’s behavior, followed by an abrupt and sudden swing of Lucille down onto Glenn‘s unfortunately unprepared head.. Glenn‘s death was a much more heartbreaking one, as it followed pretty close to the comics, where he got to [at least] call for Maggie before he succumbed to his death. Plus, his eye did that popping out thing which is what happened in the comics, which looked absolutely sickening.

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We’re two days away from Halloween and I have to say: I still haven’t figured out a costume! I know, but between re-watching The Walking Dead series with Steph [we just started season 3!] and work, we’ve been kind of busy. However, none of that matters because someone just won best costume of the year – and it’s arguably the grooviest costume I’ve ever seen..oh, did I forget to mention that this costume is on a cat?

Before we get into the details, I want to start by saying I don’t mean to ruin the fun for all you fellow cat parents out there – Steph and I have two – but I’m pretty confident in saying that cats most likely hate being dressed up for Halloween. Of course, don’t get me wrong, we pet owners find it adorable when we put shark fins on their heads or put little coats on them, but the scratches and bite marks I’ve received over the years that have turned into scars seem to give reason that they’re not having as much fun as we are – contrary to what we may tell ourselves..

That being said, thanks to the people over on Twitter under the account name Cat Cosplay, who work with [as they put it] “trained cat models”, we get to see many cats pull off some of the craziest cat photoshoots you’ve ever seen – or thought of – and for Halloween this year, they’re going all out: including dressing up one of those “furbabies” [as Steph calls them] up as one of the most popular horror icons of all: The Evil Dead franchise’s very own Deadite-slayer, Ash Williams [but if you clicked on this, then you knew that already] and yes, thanks to a well crafted fake arm, they even gave this little cutie his own chainsaw hand! HOLY HELL. I cannot get over the cleverness of this costume, and it makes me want to makeshift the same kind of costume for my cats, though I can only take so many “cat-attacks..”

HAIL TO THE CAT as they say, and check out the remaining four photos from the photo shoot below.

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You really have to hand it to the cat for being so calm and collected during these photoshoots, I know for a fact that if I even tried, I would get attacked. Be sure to follow Cat_Cosplay on Twitter for more cat photos, and let me know in a comment below which one was your favorite! Be sure to also go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 170+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review [usually] posted the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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[well actually Ash, it’s a cat in those pictures..]

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Remember back in March of 2016 when I wrote about how we’re getting a Slender Man documentary? [full post here] For those that don’t remember, “Beware The Slender Man” is an HBO film that follows two twelve year old girls who stabbed their friend in 2014. The catch here is, they didn’t stab her once, but 19 times. Their reasoning? Slender Man made them do it. The stories and the interviews caught my attention so much, that I even shared my thoughts, talking about how it’s insane that he has gained such a fan base that actual attempted murders are happening in “His name.” I mean, this is truly evil stuff.. I want to talk about that documentary again today, and how Irene Taylor Brodsky uses this real life event – which I’ll get more into in a minute – and the [fictional] disturbing creepypasta character in order to explore the effect that Internet lore has on real-life actions. Sit and get comfortable, cause this won’t be pretty.

I’m sure we’ve all been made aware in our lives on several different occasions that the Internet can be an extremely scary place when it wants to be. Between things like “The Dark Web” and “The SCP Foundation,” the most notorious – and probably the most well known – of all fictional online entities is the distorted and featureless “Boogyman” known only as “The Slender Man,” who happens to be the star of the upcoming documentary; at least by name.

But let’s get into some back story, just what the hell happened back in 2014? It all started in May, in the town of Waukesha, Wisconsin when a bloodied teenage girl was found; with 19 stab wounds. The ones responsible were two schoolmates, one of which was her best friend, and the motivation behind this heinous attempt at murder was their shared belief that killing this younger girl would please The Slender Man. I won’t get too much into it, as doing so might dull the effect of the documentary itself, but the basic concept – where an online myth inspires [two] misled children to stab another child – is actually quite scary all on its own; add in those interrogation scenes and you’ve got a chilling [yet compelling] story.

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Beware The Slender Man made its debut at South by Southwest earlier this year, with HBO Documentary Films stepping in to distribute over its network, HBO Go and HBO Now, with critical response being largely positive. This is a good thing, as it more or less forces viewers to put a lot more consideration into how often they [and their kids] are tapped into the online virtual world of the Internet. Beware The Slender Man will make its debut on HBO on Tuesday, January 17 2017. Now, for the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the actual trailer. I will warn however, that due to it’s true story content, it can be very difficult to watch/hear what the two girls say. Otherwise, enjoy!

What are Your thoughts on Beware The Slender Man? Are You planning on watching this documentary, or would you rather stick to another movie? [let me know which one in the comments!] Be sure to also go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 170+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review [usually] posted the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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THANKS FOR READING.

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Are you looking for a GROOVY early Christmas gift for yourself? I can help you with that in today’s post!

Many people dread the idea of Black Friday: stores/malls are jammed packed with people, nearly everyone is grumpy [both employee and customer], and everything worth buying is usually sold out by the time you get there. However, if you’re not feeling very brave this year, have no fear – many horror companies are celebrating Black Friday with special deals that won’t require you to leave the comfort and warmth of your couch, and one of those companies is offering up an exclusive toy that you will most definitely want to be home to grab; at least I do. As you can tell by the title, Mezco is releasing a variant of their recently released Ash Williams Living Dead Doll:

“This variant captures Ash’s unique look from the scene where he is possessed by the Deadites. With a trio of facial scars and dead milky-white eyes, this Living Dead Doll perfectly captures the moment before Ash violently cuts off his possessed hand.

Ash comes complete with The Necronomicon. He stands ten inches tall, features five points of articulation, and comes packaged in a collector-friendly, specially die-cut window box.”

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Good morning Boils and Ghouls. I have a special treat for you today that does not deal in horror movies, but rather horror books. Reading horror has always been a medium in the genre that I took a while to get into, but as soon as I met friends like Stephen King or R.L. Stine, horror took a new turn in my life: it became almost educational. After a crazy work week involving staying slightly later than being scheduled and finishing my application to school; [September 2017] I received an email from a fellow reader about something that he and his friend are doing. It is something I had never heard of and I am definitely backing them..as soon as I get paid next week.

Introducing The Road Virus: a mobile [fringe] bookstore with a specialty in horror. [now you’re talking!] Meet Em and Sade, two best friends who love books. It makes sense, as the two spent their childhood[s] in bookstores and libraries. With Sade being an author, and Em being a former librarian, the two set out on a course – a lifelong dream to own their very own bookstore[s]. However, due to their location, it became almost too difficult to do from scratch; especially for two people. So they came up with an idea: buy an ex-bookmobile and convert it into a full time living space and bookstore, which would in effect get rid of the need for pricey rent of space. The chance to combine the ideas of running their own bookstore as well as living in a self-sustainable manner is exceptional, and a really fantastic way of looking at things. Focusing on mainly horror, the duo also carry other genres such as sci-fi, fantasy, crime/thrillers, true crime, queer studies/lit, and more.There is, however, a catch. [isn’t there always?]

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The simple fact is that owning such a vehicle [bookmobile] is no cheap task: in their Kickstarter, Sade and Em explain that they put a lot of money into their [lifelong] project, and I don’t mean just buying the bookmobile itself; we are talking about vehicle fixes, as well as stocking up on books themselves. [because they are bound to sell out fast!] They know exactly what they are planning, as well as having the massive drive – no pun intended, but doing something like this is no easy task. The biggest risk is a single point of failure; their home, business, and vehicle will all be in one place. Because of this, we fully intend on sharpening our personal mechanical and general home-repair skills. Not to mention that one of, if not the biggest challenges facing independent bookstores these days, is the constant growth of online stores like Amazon which has books are available almost immediately; not to mention they are shipped right to you at home!

So here’s my request: help out The Road Virus. I am not asking you to donate your life savings or even $100, but even just ten dollars [or anything you can offer] is plenty. The two involved, Sade and Em, are great people who deserve everything that they have planned. It is a great idea that needs to recognized, it will be an adventure that is for sure, but they understand the risks involved. Again, I will be helping them out as soon as I get paid [next Friday] and if you could help out as well, I – as well as The Road Virus – would be eternally grateful. Be sure to check out their Kickstarter as well as their Website for more information on the project. And if you are reading this Sade and Em, keep fighting the good fight – there is not enough of us horror/sci-fi fans who appreciate good literature. Thank you for everything you are doing/continue to do.

Be sure to also go and follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 170+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too!

Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends! I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review [usually] posted the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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[this is pretty relevant actually!]

THANKS FOR READING.

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Christmas, the holiday of cheer, joy and over-commercialization. Family and friends share gifts and meals and enjoy each others company, and Pine trees spread with tinsel and Christmas lists from anxious and over excited children! But behind all of the gifts and shining stars, is a dark and sinister world where Christmas can be a terrifying holiday. During the colder months of the year, this holiday brings about sinister elves, a naughty list, and, most of all: a large man in a red suit climbing down your chimney and into your home! Oh yes, Whether you like it or not, St. Nick is a terrifying figure himself! With Christmas being less than a week away, I’m here to show you not one, but seven Santa Claus‘ that show that a seemingly cheerful holiday is right around the corner from a fearful one! Here are my picks for the scariest Santa Claus’ in horror movies in no particular order! Be warned – as expected, some spoilers may or may not be in each description!

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SAINT [2010]

In many horror films, the creepy Santas are not the “real Santa”, but rather a guy in a Santa suit. This more sinister Santa though, is the real deal. In Saint – a Norwegian horror film – follows the traditional Dutch and Belgian tradition of St. Nicholas [or Sinterklaas as he’s called]. On his own birthday, December 5th, Sinterklaas awakens from his yearly slumber and rides across rooftops on his white horse dropping presents down good children’s chimneys. However, as we see in this film, Sinterklaas is actually fairly sadistic as we see him kidnap [and terrorizes] children! Forget dropping presents, this Santa wants his revenge for his murder centuries ago, and he is willing to take every naughty child along with him.

[watch the trailer here!]

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AMERICAN HORROR STORY: ASYLUM [2012]

Killer Santas can be real demented, and American Horror Story decided to take the classic serial killer Santa and make him just that much worse. This Santa, played by Ian McShane takes a path of revenge for his poor treatment in the asylum, reclaiming his Santa costume to commit more terror in the name of Father Christmas. With a throat that sounds like it’s full of rocks, McShane feels like the be-all-end-all of evil Santas.

[watch the preview for the episode here!]

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SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT [1984]

You have to almost feel sorry for the guy! In Silent Night, Deadly Night, a young boy [Billy] watches his parents be murdered at the hands of a man in a Santa suit. He is then raised in a orphanage where he is at the constant abuse at the hands of Mother Superior. As an adult, Billy’s job as a video store clerk has him wear a Santa suit for Christmas holidays, and well, so much for his sanity. This teenage Santa takes the award for most-unlikely-to-don-a-Santa-suit in this horror gem filled with plenty of inventive kills. [“strangulation by Christmas lights”]

[watch the trailer here!]

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RARE EXPORTS [2010]

Here’s one you might not have heard of! Rare Exports is full of original, and deep mythology of giant, humanoid creatures buried deep in the Earth. These myths helped to inspire the image of Santa Claus. In this Finnish film, we see Santa as a monster, not a serial killer or a legend, but a legitimate movie monster. A group of archaeologists uncover something they call “the largest burial mound in the world” only to uncover supernatural beings that punish naughty children. The stakes only rise higher when a reindeer herder captures one of the beasts. Rare Exports is a difficult film to put into one genre since it has elements of horror, fantasy, coming-of-age, and dark comedy – all wrapped in one; but it is a special [and terrifying] film that you need to seek out if you haven’t already!

[watch the trailer here!]

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CHRISTMAS EVIL [1980]

Who doesn’t like Christmas? Christmas Evil is a film that is truly terrifying and is often considered the best holiday horror film next to John Carpenter’s Halloween. Christmas Evil offers a complicated psychopath for the sinister Santa. The film follows a young boy who is traumatized when he discovers that Santa is not real.. by catching Santa getting jolly with his Mother on Christmas Eve. [tough break, kid!] Flash forward to when he is an adult, and that boy – now a toy-maker – becomes obsessed with both making toys that children will love and analyzing the way children think. Naturally, society is not kind to grown men who hang around small children, and he is met with stares and angry parents. As expected in these kinds of films, he snaps.

[watch the trailer here!]

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TALES FROM THE CRYPT: AND ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE [1989]

Arguably my favorite Santa on this list comes from an episode of one of my favortie shows: Tales From The Crypt! This episode gives us a woman who murders her husband, only to become the victim of an escaped mental patient dressed as Santa Claus. What makes this episode so great is the fun performance by Larry Drake as Santa. He plays such a gross and gritty Santa in the best way that I cannot stress how great this short is!

[watch the full episode here!]

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A CHRISTMAS STORY [1983]

Okay, while technically this isn’t a horror film, but this movie is no laughing matter – Santa is still pretty damn scary! For many of us, one scene provides recurring nightmares and ruined mall trips forever – the Santa visit. What makes Ralphie’s Santa visit so terrifying is the reality that he will not get what he wants for Christmas, and even the big man in red will make sure you don’t have it! The bleached white beard and too red nose only make the imagery worse. Then his voice, as he bellows “Ho! Ho! Ho!” as he pushes Ralphie down the slide with his filthy boot just makes you scared! Take note people, Santa doesn’t have to hurt you to be scary!

[watch the trailer here!]

As obvious as it may come across as saying, not all Santas are nice. Whether you dig them up from a mound of dirt, or Santa is out for revenge, each one has their motive to stalk and go after kids.. which Santa was Your favorite? [or least favorite] Did he make Your list? Let me know in a comment or two! Be sure to also follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 170+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too! Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends!

I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review [usually] posted the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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THANKS FOR READING.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! ..I know I am a little late, but after all the celebrity deaths in 2016, I think it is safe to say we survived. I want to start this post by saying that I sincerely hope that 2017 is a hell of a lot better than last year, and that I am sorry if I seem M.I.A. again. With my job/work picking up speed [I have been working almost six days a week, as opposed to my regular three] and my application status being approved next month; I have been extremely busy. Even yesterday, I planned on writing this post but didn’t because Steph has school/work almost every day and it was [a rare] one day off that we chose to spend together. HOWEVER, I am not here to make long winded apologies, I am here to write about something I have been wanting to write about for a while; and now I have a reason to because today’s Horror Gaming segment involves….Pokemon?

Before Christmas, Nintendo released two new Pokemon games in their 20+ year old franchise: Sun and Moon. I grew up playing the original two games [Red and Blue] so naturally, they hold a very special place in my heart.  was excited for these two new games, and I, if you know me personally, naturally picked up Pokemon Moon. [I have always been a fan of the fire and dark types!] I do not play video games as much anymore, but when I do, it’s Pokemon Moon. It may handhold the player, and be somewhat simple for veteran Pokemon players, but it is one of [if not] my favorite in the franchise yet! But did you know there was a bootleg Pokemon game called Pokemon Creepy Black – and that it supposedly turned the player into a killer? Today we are talking about the infamous Bootleg cartridge known as: Pokemon Creepy Black Version.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: this game is part of a CREEPYPASTA, meaning it may or may not be based on actual events. Many CREEPYPASTAs are fake.

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When the game starts up, it begins the same way as Pokemon Red and Blue – being a bootleg version of those games – giving the player the same step by step intro of Professor Oak outlining the basics of the game. When the game allows you to choose your starter Pokemon, things feel…different. Where Red and Blue gives the player a choice between three different starters – Squirtle, Charmander or Bulbasaur – Pokemon Creepy Black offers up a fourth: the original three with an additional character referred to only as GHOST. Those who have played Red and Blue will recognize GHOST as one of the spirits from Lavender Town who haunt the Pokemon Tower until revealed by the Silph Scope. If the player chooses GHOST, they will find that the “Pokemon” will start at level one, when normally, starter Pokemon start at level five. To add to this mystery, GHOST only knows a single move: Curse.

GHOST‘s Curse move is devastating, making battles against weaker Pokemon [like Pidgey or Weedle] a simple affair for the trainer in control of GHOST. It becomes even easier when you begin to notice that the opposing Pokemon are ‘too scared to move’ in retaliation, and the actual “attack” on the Pokemon is quite the terrifying as well. According to TinyCartridge, this is how a “typical” battle using GHOST would play out:

“When the move ‘Curse‘ was used in battle, the screen would cut to black. The cry of the defending Pokemon would be heard, but it was distorted, played at a much lower pitch than normal. The battle screen would then reappear, and the defending Pokemon would be gone. If used in a battle against a trainer, when the Pokeballs representing their Pokemon would appear in the corner, they would have one fewer Pokeball.”

Once the battling is done and all the Pokeballs have been removed from the party, the player is presented with one final option: you can either ‘Run’ or ‘Curse.’ Choosing Run does exactly what would normally happen in a Pokemon game – allowing the player to leave the battle. However, if Curse is chosen, it erases the opposing trainer. Choosing ‘Curse’ makes the screen go black, and when the screen lights up again, the trainer seems to have disappeared; allowing you to continue. But, if you then return to the spot where you first encountered the trainer, He/She will not be there – instead, you will find a tombstone left where they stood, strongly suggesting that you Cursed – or rather – killed the trainer!

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With the power you possess, killing countless Pokemon and even more trainers, you can continue to follow the story the creator of this hack and eventually reach – and kill – the Elite Four. [Which is essentially the end of the original Pokemon games] It is only then that the game suddenly takes a turn.

Finishing the Elite Four presents a black screen with a text box saying ‘Many years later…‘ and we cut to Lavender Tower. [Remember, this is where the GHOSTs originally appeared in Pokemon Red and Blue!] We see an old man standing looking at tombstones. For those who have not caught on yet, this man was your character. The old man moves at only half of the game’s normal walking speed, and you no longer have any Pokemon with you – not even GHOST – who this entire time, has been impossible to remove from your party; even through depositing in the PC.

With the game now finished, you can you step back to Pallet Town, which causes the game to become extremely dark and almost cloudy. The usual and expected happy music that plays, slows down to to almost an almost demonic pace and your character stands before the tombstones. If that is not enough for you, the game can go one step further if you stand your character on the exact tile that you began the game on. For a moment, The dark overtone lifts from the screen and is replaced by a constant stream of moving images. These images are implied to be the souls of all the Pokemon and trainers you have killed throughout the game, reinforcing the fact that you and GHOST have killed everyone..

It is after this revelation that GHOST appears one last time, and it seems that he has turned on his trainer – you. Now, as an old man, the only attack you have is ‘Struggle’ and as you now well know, it does not – and will not – take long for GHOST to wear you down. [you essentially helped give it the strength it now possesses] With your health now gone, GHOST will use one last ‘Curse,’ this time on you, and the screen finally fades to black.. and then the game freezes. The only way to get out of the frozen/blackened screen is to reset the Gameboy/device you are playing on. Once it is successfully rebooted, the entire experience disappears, therefore suggesting that GHOST has killed you too..

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Unfortunately, as I stated above, this is a CREEPYPASTA so there is no real way to tell if this game truly existed. Though there are images [as I shared above] these could easily have been manipulated on Photoshop, but that does not stop us from having wishful thoughts. Video games are a way of escaping the real world, including our real world fears. GHOST seems to be an extremely powerful Pokemon, if you can call it that, so be careful who You choose when starting a new Pokemon game!

What did You think of Pokemon Creepy Black? Had You heard of it before? Would You play the game? Let me know in a comment or two! Be sure to also follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 180+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too! Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends!

I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review [usually] posted the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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THANKS FOR READING.

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Resident Evil is a game series that I have been playing since I was younger, always finding new ways to terrify myself. I only really got into the series when I played Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil 4 on the Nintendo Gamecube – I still strongly enjoy these games to this day! However, I do not have a newer generation console yet – I plan to eventually get a Playstation 4 – and I think it is about time that I pick one up, because the highly anticipated next chapter in the Resident Evil franchise is coming out in a few short weeks: Resident Evil 7.

It gets better though, the Playstation 4 version of the game is [also] being released in VR – Virtual Reality – in order to give the player the feeling that you really are in a creepy New Orleans house surrounded by deadly creatures. While VR gives you the experience of seeing these scares from your couch, there’s one sense it cannot simulate yet: smell. Luckily, there’s now an official Resident Evil 7 candle just for that reason. [wait, what?]

Calling itself the “Resident Evil 7: Blood, Sweat, and Fears 4D VR Candle,” the object in question is designed to give off “the smell of the game,” so that you can be totally immersed in the horrifying world around you. Its creators claim that it smells like “old timber, leather, and maybe some blood..” which sounds pretty damn insane! If you’re a veteran Resident Evil player, the candle should last you through the entire game with approximately 20 hours of burn time. This is a good thing, because in order to have that sense of mental involvement comes at a price: the Resident Evil 7 candle is currently priced at a $18.99 and is available for preorder here. [Shipping January 20th, 2017!]

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Of course, there is a strong chance are that you do not want your house smelling like rust, deteriorating wood, and blood when you are done playing the game, so I am going to suggest that you open a window or two after a play session. Worst case, and that does not work, you could always replace the smell of the undead with Clean Cotton.

Although it goes without saying, if you are planning on picking up both Resident Evil 7 and one of these candles, safety is always of the most importance. The very last thing you need is to accidentally knock over the candle, [while wearing the Virtual Reality] and find yourself in an actual burning house/apartment!

The real question today is if You are planning on picking up one of these “one of a kind” candles? Is it something You can find yourself buying, or was it absolutely unnecessary? Let me know your thoughts in a comment or two! Be sure to also follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 180+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too! Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends!

I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review [usually] posted the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

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THANKS FOR READING.

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The Mortal Kombat films have had quite an interesting history. Between having a massively successful initial first film back in 1995 – which I absolutely love – there was its atrocious sequel from 1997 that and even a TV series in 1998 called Mortal Kombat: Conquest. Because of how badly these were received, MK fans did not get another film/TV show for a long time, probably out of fear of getting even worse reviews, until the gritty and darker toned 2011 webseries called Mortal Kombat: Legacy came along. Legacy took the internet by storm and sparked hope for a newer [and understandably gorier] film, which has since been confirmed with James Wan as one of the Producers. This makes sense, because as horror fans know, Wan is one of the original producers of the SAW franchise.

While we wait for that newer and gorier entry, fans of the series can take solace in the fact that Ghana – of all places – has created their own film adaptation of Mortal Kombat, and it looks like it was created by a small group of fans of the video game series. What I am trying to say is it looks bad..really bad. The quality is abysmal, and the acting is absolutely atrocious. The special/visual effects are about as good as what you could expect to see on PlayStation 1, but it is fairly clear that the “actors” have a lot of heart and after watching this “version” of Mortal Kombat, it became fairly obvious that those involved have a deep and loving appreciation for the game series and its lore. Remember, this is not the Mortal Kombat you know, but it definitely falls into the “so bad it’s good” category of films. For these reasons, I love the fact that so much soul and dedication went into making it. Even if it is a terrible final product.

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It should also be noted that in Ghana there are two different studio approaches: Ghallywood and Kumawood. Ghallywood is the equivalent of Hollywood, and is the more serious of the two – releasing higher budget films that tend to use English as their main language. However Kumawood, almost never has a script written and the actors involved are generally improvising on the spot. There’s other differences, like budget and culture, which you can read about here. Based on this knowledge, it is safe to say that this version of Mortal Kombat was made by Kumawood. Want to get your own feel for Ghana‘s film? Let me enlighten you by checking out the trailer below!

Needless to say, if you are not a fan of terrible movies – especially ones that were already terrible to begin with – you probably will not enjoy watching Ghana‘s Mortal Kombat film. It definitely did not have the largest budget, but until James Wan releases even a tease as to the version of Mortal Kombat that he is part of, we – the viewers – will have to settle for less than appealing versions of the series. As always, now I ask: what are Your thoughts on Ghana‘s version of Mortal Kombat? Was it something that you could see yourself watching? Or would you not be able to take it seriously, especially with its less than small budget? Let me know your thoughts in a comment or two! Be sure to also follow me over on my Facebook page! [we’re at over 180+ likes – let’s get to 200!] By clicking that “like” button, you’ll see every post from warrenisweird the very moment it’s been “gone live” online; and I also share links to articles and pictures/videos that will not be featured here on the blog. So go follow over there too! Every “like” helps me a ton, giving me the ability to write more posts for you to read, so be sure to tell the horror enthusiast in your life to do the same, and share The Facebook Page with your family and friends!

I’ve also been writing way more reviews on my Letterboxd account, this is because I’m trying to review every single movie I watch  – with each review [usually] posted the very next day after viewing! Are you interested yet? Check me out over there and click that “follow” button! I’m just bound to follow you back because I like reading other people’s thoughts on film, as well as writing reviews myself!

Image may be NSFW.
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THANKS FOR READING.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.