American Horror Story NYC: The Sentinel

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The killer is caught but the killing continues.

I enjoyed that they finally caught the serial killer and brought him to justice, now hopefully we can tackle the two other major elephants in the room, the supernatural Big Daddy killer and the quickly spreading AIDS epidemic two things which are far more interesting that just a bog standard serial killer narrative.

I thought Russell Tovey’s Patrick is the shining star of this episode and his fiery speech as he leaves his employment at the police force is definitely a fist in the air sort of moment. I am intrigued by the fact that he is seeing visions of Barbara, played by Leslie Grossman, and hope that they further explore his connections to the supernatural killer that took her life.

I again found this episode a little slow at times and do think they are dragging out the season and that it would have been better with fewer episodes.

Overall, a good episode but one that highlights the wider pacing issues with the season as a whole.

Pros.

Finally catching the killer

Tovey

The visions of Barbara

They can now focus on the bigger picture

Cons.

Pacing issues

A fair number of slow moments that indicate padding and filler within both the episode and the season.

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Rick And Morty: Full Meta Jackrick

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

After breaking the fourth wall one too many times Rick and Morty fall into the meta and are imprisoned by Story Lord returning from a past episode.

I would say this is probably the best episode of the season, in some senses that is because structurally it is more like one of the earlier season episode, meaning more of a one off adventure wherein other episodes are mentioned but there is no heavy need to build the story up, also the tone is breezy and silly rather than brooding and depressed. Two keys wins in my book.

I thought the gimmick of the episode was fun and I liked that Rick and Morty had to face off against different story tropes and writing devices, I thought it was clever. The ending felt a little like the writers trying to self-deprecate themselves, which works in the narrative sense but isn’t very funny. It also feels a little Deus Ex Machina for my tastes.

Overall, hopefully we get more episodes like this going forward into the last few episodes of the season so that it can be salvaged.

Pros.

The concept of the episode

Rick and Morty facing off against various different writing tropes and devices

It feels fun and one off

A few good jokes

Cons.

The ending and its convenience

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Wednesday Series Overview: A Family Reunion

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Wednesday Addams, played by Jenna Ortega, is given her own show wherein she is sent off to boarding school.

I think this is the best series Netflix has made in a long time. Yes, there are similarities between it and Riverdale, though this is infinitely better written and less gratuitous, because both are teen shows set primarily with dealing with teen issues and occasionally otherworldly hijinks.

However, where the two differ is that this show has far more going for it than Riverdale ever did and an appeal that vastly goes beyond the teen girls that Cole Sprouse brought in, and is something everyone can enjoy. There is enough member berry goodness, with the returning Christina Ricci and the references to the now classic films that it can bring in old fans whilst also offering something new to bring in fresh crowds.

Tim Burton’s dark sensibilities are but to great use here and the tone for the series feels both very in keeping with his aesthetic whilst also appropriate for the source material. I think the best thing that Wednesday has going for it is its characters and the writing as a whole, the former being instantly memorable and easy to warm to and the latter feeling like a natural continuation that also is devilishly funny.

Overall, this is the sort of teen programming we deserve.

Pros.

Ortega

The characters

Ricci

The ending of the series and the similarities with Harry Potter

It is very funny

Cons.

It could have done with being a few episodes longer

4.5/5

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Witchfinder General: Those Who Claim To Be Holy And Righteous Often Aren’t

2.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A sadistic witchfinder general, played by Vincent Price, makes life hell for residents of one British village.

There are things to like about this film, such as the distinctly British folk horror feeling that permeates almost every frame of the film, to the decidedly gothic and sinister sense of horror that makes us question all we know about witch hunters and also highlights the darker aspects to the witch trials in terms of morality.

However, for me personally I found this film quite slow going. The pace was really quite oppressive at times, and no I am not some TikTok child with a few second attention span I have watched many other longer films than this it is just the way this one is paced that is the issue. Things take a long time to get going and when they do they all follow a fairly predictable and entry level plot pattern that leads to a very obvious ending.

Overall, though I appreciate the folk horror elements, I find the slow pace and the predictability make this film hard for me to get on board with.

Pros.

The gothic sense of horror

The distinctly British folk horror elements

It is watchable

Cons.

The pace

The predictability

The ending

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Disquietude: Getting Through The Day

4.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

An abuse survivor becomes trapped within her PTSD isolation.

This was a moving film in many ways. I think it says a lot about trauma and how we process it and in some cases carry it around with us for the rest of our lives and struggle everyday under the weight of it. I think this film needs to be seen as it gives us a window into the suffering of our fellow humans and helps us to be better and to think more about the trials of other people.

This film made me cry several times over its short runtime, it is very powerful. It is hard not to care about the characters and care about what is happening to them, over the course of the short you become sucked into their dark world and see things through their eyes and trust me when I say it will stay with you.

Overall, this film is powerful and a must see for many reasons, but the darkness of it can be a little overwhelming at times however despite that I think this is a great film.

Pros.

The emotion

The message

The performances

The character journey

The ending

Cons.

The darkness can be a little overwhelming at times

Disquietude will be released early next year on veck_gems_productions YouTube channel, keep an eye out for it over there.

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The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special: Family Is The Reason For The Season

4.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

In order to try and cheer up Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt, Mantis, played by Pom Klementieff, and Drax, played by Dave Bautista, head to Earth in order to kidnap the great hero Kevin Bacon.

This special works for one reason and one reason only Pom Klementieff. She gives one of the best most heart warming performances I have ever seen in a Marvel movie, she is the heart and soul of this piece and if she is even half as good in Guardians Of The Galaxy 3 then she is going to steal every scene she is in and probably the whole film. I really liked the decision to have Mantis be Quills half-sister, I thought it added a whole new emotional layer not just to the film but to the wider team that is really appreciated.

Something I didn’t personally mind but might bother some is the fact that the wider Guardians team are mostly absent, yes they get a look in every now and again but these basically amount to cameo roles this is Mantis and Drax’s film. They do introduce Cosmo the Spacedog, voiced by Maria Bakalova, who has a few funny lines and will clearly be a foil for Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper come the next movie, but for the most part her introduction is only brief.

There are some animated sequences at the start and the end of the special that talk more about the Quill/ Yondu, played by Michael Rooker, relationship that also add to the wider theme of emotion, love and family in this feature and really help to nicely book end the bittersweet feeling of the special more broadly.

Kevin Bacon is Kevin Bacon which to me is a good thing as the man is an icon, but to others the bit might be annoying.

Overall, a sweet memorable Christmas Special, give Klementieff a bigger part and more money for the sequel she deserves it.

Pros.

Mantis being Peter’s half-sister

The emotion

It feels like Christmas

Gunn’s understanding of these characters

Cosmo

Cons.

The wider Guardians team isn’t given much to do

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American Horror Story NYC: The Body

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

The killer is finally tracked down.

When I realised that this episode was going to have the main characters find out who the killer is I was somewhat surprised as there is still a ways left to go in terms of the number of episodes still left in this season, however, despite finding out who the killer is this episode they don’t catch him really quite the opposite.

I liked the fact that the world keeps being broadened and new facets like this idea of the mob working within the gay community are being explored. I thought bringing back Henry, played by AHS veteran Denis O‘Hare, was a really smart move as this new angle gave him a lot more to do and he really shined in this episode as did Zachary Quinto’s Sam.

My one issue with the episode and also this mid part of the season more generally is that there seems to be some filler being placed in to pad things out. Like there is no need for this episode to stretch on in the way that it does, it is possible for them to find out who the killer is and have the show down in one episode it doesn’t need to be spread across two, but I suppose that is the curse of cable TV.

Overall, a good episode that really sets up an interesting conflict for the next episode.

Pros.

O’Hare

Quinto

The killer’s identity is finally revealed

The ending and the set up

Cons.

A little bit of padding for time

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Nightfall: In Service Of A Scream

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

Whilst working from home James, played by Michael Lake, hears a scream that changes his life forever and sets him off down a twisting course of mystery.

For the most part I really enjoyed this film, I thought the central mystery was good and it kept me guessing right up until the end. However, the ending for me felt a little obvious and I would have liked it more if they had gone with something a little more out of left field, in which case I would have given the film higher and the mystery would have been great all the way through.

In terms of tension I think the film manages to keep a pretty good tone, the tension slowly ramps over the first act and then really sets into going into act two. In this sense the film is quite compelling to watch and can at times be hard to look away from.

The performances are all good, however, I would single Lake out for praise here as he really does take his character on a journey over the course of the film and isn’t afraid of showing both the highs and lows of the human condition.

Overall, a mostly good mystery film that is a little undone by the ending.

Pros.

Lake

The tension

It kept me guessing

Cons.

The ending is a little obvious and that then derails the whole mystery

Some slight pacing issues

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