The Iceman (2012)(2025 Redo)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Unbeknownst to his wife, Deborah (Winona Ryder), and his daughters, Anabel (McKaley Miller) and Betsy (Megan Sherrill), Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) lives a secret double life as a hitman, working exclusively for Roy DeMeo (Ray Liotta). Richard’s relationship with Roy hits a snag, so Richard forms a duo with Robert Pronge (Chris Evans) to fulfill more murder contracts. 

After a botched hit, Richard draws the ire of Leo Merks (Robert Davi), and Richard runs into more problems after threats from an irate Roy Demeo. The arrival of Dominick Provenzano (Eduardo Yanez) further complicates a messy situation, as Richard struggles to keep his family life separate from the seedy underworld of a contract killer and the mafia. 

My Thoughts- Michael Shannon is undoubtedly one of the masters for showing believable rage, and his talents are on full display here, including the tirades, the tantrums, and his facial expressions. Shannon does a phenomenal job of convincing you that Richard Kuklinski is a seemingly normal guy, with a hushed voice on the surface, but he’s also a ticking time bomb, who’s capable of exploding in the blink of an eye. You really get to see how dangerous Richard’s temper is in certain scenes, when his anger slowly reaches a boiling point, because you know something bad is about to happen. 

But there’s another side of Richard. At home, and around his family, Richard is the dedicated husband and a loving father. Michael Shannon nails the family guy side of Richard. Kuklinski was a violent mess of a man, but there’s no denying the fact that he truly loved his family. Shannon also shows a calmer and more normal version of Richard. The first coffee date with Deborah and his speech at Anabel’s birthday party? You won’t see a raging lunatic or The Iceman. No, Richard is socially awkward, and he’s noticeably nervous during both scenes.

Winona Ryder truly delivers a good performance as Deborah. Ryder plays the sweet and innocent wife, but she’s also not afraid to stand up to Richard, to push back, and Deborah calls Richard out on his BS. Shannon and Ryder share believable chemistry together, as a married couple going through their ups and downs. 

The relationship between Deborah and Richard is a strange one. Deborah is the pure and good-hearted woman, who’s married to Richard, the fire-breathing dragon. Richard and Deborah’s marriage adds another emotional layer to the movie, more drama for the good woman, who married a monster with horrible secrets. 

Ray Liotta? He was always a perfect fit for mob or mob related movies. Liotta excelled at playing a jerk, and he delivers as Roy DeMeo, a mean and merciless bastard. John Ventimiglia has a handful of moments as one of DeMeo’s goons. And a thumbs up for David Schwimmer playing the clueless dope, who makes one too many stupid mistakes, as the guy, who just can’t get out of his own way. 

Chris Evans’ Robert Pronge teaming up with Kuklinski adds some dark humor to the movie. Evans’ notable performance as the hitman, who moonlights as an ice cream truck driver is one of the highlights here. Chris Evans knocks it out of the park, because you can easily see Pronge is completely insane. Unlike Richard, Pronge doesn’t have a moral code, none whatsoever. If he has to kill women and children, he will, no questions asked. 

Pronge casually and gleefully talks about freezing dead bodies, how he easily chops up corpses, and Pronge openly brags about the conveniences of murdering people with cyanide. The dynamic between Pronge and Kuklinski adds another sinister layer to the movie, because you’re looking at two extremely dangerous men working together. You could say Pronge is more of a cerebral and crafty assassin, while Richard was a far more direct and brutal killer. As the story progresses, the partnership between the two gets more tense after two botched hits. 

It’s a setup! Dominick Provenzano reveals himself as an undercover agent, and Richard is hauled off to jail for the rest of his life. A surprising ending to Richard’s story? Well, no, it’s not, not at all. Look, even if you don’t know anything about Richard Kuklinski, or his story, hitmen and serial killers don’t have happy endings. SOMETHING bad always happens, when they’re ready to or close to getting out of the life. It’s a tale as old as time itself.

But the big sting operation to end the movie brings the drama. Richard locking eyes with Deborah, as the police car drives off is one moment that sticks out for me. Notice the reactions. Deborah is heartbroken, confused, and she’s completely hysterical. Richard? Stone faced. After he calms down, no tears, he’s not banging on the window, and he doesn’t have any reassuring words for his wife. Why? Well, it’s easy to assume Richard finally accepted his fate. No more hiding, or lies for Deborah, because the truth about who he was, and his second life was going to be exposed soon. 

Fact or fiction? It’s the big question to ask about Richard Kuklinski’s life as a mafia hitman. Did he work for Roy DeMeo? Is Kuklinski’s actual total kill count greatly exaggerated? Did he work for other mafia families? I just finished reading The Ice Man: Confessions Of A Mafia Contract Killer, by Philip Carlo, so I wanted to rewatch The Iceman.

It’s easy to come to the conclusion that Kuklinski was full of shit, or at least mostly full of it. One thing in Carlo’s book that caught my eyes was Kuklinski supposedly being DeMeo’s “secret weapon.” Okay, IF Kuklinski was DeMeo’s big secret, then how is it possible Richard was filling murder contracts with other mafia families, traveling across the US to execute his targets, and his services were requested in Europe and South America? How did other people know about his efficiency, if he shared a tight-lipped relationship with DeMeo? You’re telling me word-of-mouth praises about Kuklinski’s work reached other parts of the world? It doesn’t make any sense. Roy DeMeo and his crew were a pack of vicious and sadistic killers, so why would they need “The Big Guy” to kill people for them? 

And some of the stories about the people Kuklinski allegedly killed are a bit too theatrical and over the top. One good example here is the scene, with James Franco playing a creepy pervert. Marty (Franco) starts begging for God’s help, and Kuklinski tells him he’ll spare his life, if God comes down and intervenes. Well, you could probably guess what happens next, but it’s one of Kuklinski’s more infamous stories about his days as a hitman. 

The hits for high profiled mafia bosses? Kuklinski was supposedly requested to join the hit squads to take out big time mafia bosses. But going by his own words, there was no reason at all for Kuklinski to participate. Why? Because he was a stealthy killer, and they wouldn’t see him coming? Bottom line, his presence wasn’t necessary, and they already had more than enough guns on the scene.

All of the random murders, where Kuklinski killed people to hone his craft, or if someone simply did something to piss him off? Yeah, I have a hard time believing those stories. There’s a story in the book about Kuklinski shooting a hitchhiker, because the guy flipped him off. Kuklinski felt disrespected, so he shot the hitchhiker to death, where anyone could see him.

The funny thing about Philip Carlo’s book is, once you know and start to realize it’s mostly fabricated bullshit, Confessions Of A Mafia Contract Killer reads like a crime fiction novel, or a mafia thriller. I can understand being lucky, but no one is that lucky. The book has numerous stories from Richard about how he killed people, sometimes luring them to their deaths with a flat tire, but over the years, someone would’ve inevitably caught him in the act. 

There’s also a lot to unpack with Richard’s family life. The Iceman definitely leans in the direction of trying to show a more sympathetic tone for Kuklinski. He had a terrible childhood. His father was an abusive asshole, and maybe you could make the argument that Richard never had a chance. 

Well, there’s a lot of truths about Richard’s upbringing. Stanley, his father, was a monster. Kuklinski himself said he should’ve killed him, and he regretted missing the chance to do it. And Richard’s mother, in his own words, was “cancer,” because she was also someone, who could be physically abusive. 

The Iceman tries to paint Richard and Deborah’s marriage as this mushy fairy tale-esque romance, complete with the turmoil and trials and tribulations of any other married couple, but the real story doesn’t fall under the happily ever after tab. 

Richard was violent towards his real wife, Barbara. It didn’t matter if they were in front of their children, or alone in the house, or the same room together, Richard wouldn’t hesitate to fly off the handle and beat Barbara. Also, Kuklinski was a very possessive man. Richard stabbed Barbara with a knife and he threatened to kill her family in the early stages of their relationship, because Barbara was feeling smothered by Richard. His idea of pursuing Barbara revolved around becoming an obsessive stalker, and she couldn’t take it anymore. 

Kuklinski did have two daughters named Merrick and Chris. After everything he did, Merrick still deeply loved her father. But there was a time, where Chris and Barbara plotted to kill Richard together. Chris and Barbara ultimately decided against it, because it was too risky, if they didn’t finish the job. Richard also had a son named Dwayne with Barbara. Only two daughters in The Iceman. No son, no references, or any hints for a third child. It’s no real surprise, but Dwayne was not fond of Richard growing up.

If you’ve ever seen any of the HBO interviews/documentaries, Kuklinski actually comes off as someone that’s possibly credible. Kuklinski calmly sits down, going over the gruesome details of his murders, cracking a sinister grin as he goes every now and then. He was a big guy, and Kuklinski had a cold demeanor. He looked the part, and he played it well. To add to that, Kuklinski was a captivating storyteller. More than capable of having anyone, who listened to him hanging on his every word, Kuklinski’s gory tales checked off all the boxes for true crime lore. 

Of course, there’s always a chance Kuklinski dabbled in mob related activities. Maybe he also filled a handful of murder contracts? Who knows for sure, but everything starts to go off the rails, when Kuklinski’s status as a hitman reaches the levels of an underground legend, with cat-like reflexes, who eluded certain death and law enforcement agencies for years. Tearing off the layers of fiction, Kuklinski was certainly a predator, a serial killer, a crook, and a guy, who also made money from bootlegging porn. And Richard apparently blew a lot of his money, because he was a careless gambling addict. 

But one thing’s for sure, Kuklinski’s story is a perfect fit for a Hollywood movie. What can or what can’t be corroborated, the lies, and all the smoke and mirrors. Sure, you can easily label Richard Kuklinski as a pathological liar. Still, the family man living in the suburbs of New Jersey, while he quietly operates in the shadows as a mafia hitman, is a story that’s capable of raising eyebrows. 

The Iceman plays out like a predictable true crime drama. It moves from point A to point B and so on. And as soon as Richard realizes the big problem with his cyanide from Dominick, you know what’s about to happen. But the cast is simply excellent from top to bottom, including Robert Davi and Stephen Dorff. During Dorff’s first and only appearance in the movie, you’ll immediately know Joesph Kuklinski is a massive slimeball. Joesph Kuklinski never deserved an ounce of sympathy, and rotting in prison was a justified punishment for him.

Lots of violence and a decent amount of blood for the story about an ice-cold killer. Good acting saves The Iceman from being a complete dud. There’s a lot of potential for a truly great film here, but they weirdly settled for going through the motions from start to finish, the kind of movie, where you’ll know what happens before it actually happens.

Rating- 7/10

The Iceman (2012)(2025 Redo)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Unbeknownst to his wife, Deborah (Winona Ryder), and his daughters, Anabel (McKaley Miller) and Betsy (Megan Sherrill), Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) lives a secret double life as a hitman, working exclusively for Roy DeMeo (Ray Liotta). Richard’s relationship with Roy hits a snag, so Richard forms a duo with Robert Pronge (Chris Evans) to fulfill more murder contracts. 

After a botched hit, Richard draws the ire of Leo Merks (Robert Davi), and Richard runs into more problems after threats from an irate Roy Demeo. The arrival of Dominick Provenzano (Eduardo Yanez) further complicates a messy situation, as Richard struggles to keep his family life separate from the seedy underworld of a contract killer and the mafia. 

My Thoughts- Michael Shannon is undoubtedly one of the masters for showing believable rage, and his talents are on full display here, including the tirades, the tantrums, and his facial expressions. Shannon does a phenomenal job of convincing you that Richard Kuklinski is a seemingly normal guy, with a hushed voice on the surface, but he’s also a ticking time bomb, who’s capable of exploding in the blink of an eye. You really get to see how dangerous Richard’s temper is in certain scenes, when his anger slowly reaches a boiling point, because you know something bad is about to happen. 

But there’s another side of Richard. At home, and around his family, Richard is the dedicated husband and a loving father. Michael Shannon nails the family guy side of Richard. Kuklinski was a violent mess of a man, but there’s no denying the fact that he truly loved his family. Shannon also shows a calmer and more normal version of Richard. The first coffee date with Deborah and his speech at Anabel’s birthday party? You won’t see a raging lunatic or The Iceman. No, Richard is socially awkward, and he’s noticeably nervous during both scenes.

Winona Ryder truly delivers a good performance as Deborah. Ryder plays the sweet and innocent wife, but she’s also not afraid to stand up to Richard, to push back, and Deborah calls Richard out on his BS. Shannon and Ryder share believable chemistry together, as a married couple going through their ups and downs. 

The relationship between Deborah and Richard is a strange one. Deborah is the pure and good-hearted woman, who’s married to Richard, the fire-breathing dragon. Richard and Deborah’s marriage adds another emotional layer to the movie, more drama for the good woman, who married a monster with horrible secrets. 

Ray Liotta? He was always a perfect fit for mob or mob related movies. Liotta excelled at playing a jerk, and he delivers as Roy DeMeo, a mean and merciless bastard. John Ventimiglia has a handful of moments as one of DeMeo’s goons. And a thumbs up for David Schwimmer playing the clueless dope, who makes one too many stupid mistakes, as the guy, who just can’t get out of his own way. 

Chris Evans’ Robert Pronge teaming up with Kuklinski adds some dark humor to the movie. Evans’ notable performance as the hitman, who moonlights as an ice cream truck driver is one of the highlights here. Chris Evans knocks it out of the park, because you can easily see Pronge is completely insane. Unlike Richard, Pronge doesn’t have a moral code, none whatsoever. If he has to kill women and children, he will, no questions asked.

Pronge casually and gleefully talks about freezing dead bodies, how he easily chops up corpses, and Pronge openly brags about the conveniences of murdering people with cyanide. The dynamic between Pronge and Kuklinski adds another sinister layer to the movie, because you’re looking at two extremely dangerous men working together. You could say Pronge is more of a cerebral and crafty assassin, while Richard was a far more direct and brutal killer. As the story progresses, the partnership between the two gets more tense after two botched hits. 

Fact or fiction? It’s the big question to ask about Richard Kuklinski’s life as a mafia hitman. Did he work for Roy DeMeo? Is Kuklinski’s actual total kill count greatly exaggerated? Did he work for other mafia families? I just finished reading The Ice Man: Confessions Of A Mafia Contract Killer, by Philip Carlo, so I wanted to rewatch The Iceman.

It’s easy to come to the conclusion that Kuklinski was full of shit, or at least mostly full of it. One thing in Carlo’s book that caught my eyes was Kuklinski supposedly being DeMeo’s “secret weapon.” Okay, IF Kuklinski was DeMeo’s big secret, then how is it possible Richard was filling murder contracts with other mafia families, traveling across the US to execute his targets, and his services were requested in Europe and South America? How did other people know about his efficiency, if he shared a tight-lipped relationship with DeMeo? You’re telling me word-of-mouth praises about Kuklinski’s work reached other parts of the world? It doesn’t make any sense. Roy DeMeo and his crew were a pack of vicious and sadistic killers, so why would they need “The Big Guy” to kill people for them?

And some of the stories about the people Kuklinski allegedly killed are a bit too theatrical and over the top. One good example here is the scene, with James Franco playing a creepy pervert. Marty (Franco) starts begging for God’s help, and Kuklinski tells him he’ll spare his life, if God comes down and intervenes. Well, you could probably guess what happens next, but it’s one of Kuklinski’s more infamous stories about his days as a hitman. 

The hits for high profiled mafia bosses? Kuklinski was supposedly requested to join the hit squads to take out big time mafia bosses. But going by his own words, there was no reason at all for Kuklinski to participate. Why? Because he was a stealthy killer, and they wouldn’t see him coming? Bottom line, his presence wasn’t necessary, and they already had more than enough guns on the scene.

All of the random murders, where Kuklinski killed people to hone his craft, or if someone simply did something to piss him off? Yeah, I have a hard time believing those stories. There’s a story in the book about Kuklinski shooting a hitchhiker, because the guy flipped him off. Kuklinski felt disrespected, so he shot the hitchhiker to death, where anyone could see him.

The funny thing about Philip Carlo’s book is, once you know and start to realize it’s mostly fabricated bullshit, Confessions Of A Mafia Contract Killer reads like a crime fiction novel, or a mafia thriller. I can understand being lucky, but no one is that lucky. The book has numerous stories from Richard about how he killed people, sometimes luring them to their deaths with a flat tire, but over the years, someone would’ve inevitably caught him in the act. 

There’s also a lot to unpack with Richard’s family life. The Iceman definitely leans in the direction of trying to show a more sympathetic tone for Kuklinski. He had a terrible childhood. His father was an abusive asshole, and maybe you could make the argument that Richard never had a chance. 

Well, there’s a lot of truths about Richard’s upbringing. Stanley, his father, was a monster. Kuklinski himself said he should’ve killed him, and he regretted missing the chance to do it. And Richard’s mother, in his own words, was “cancer,” because she was also someone, who could be physically abusive. 

The Iceman tries to paint Richard and Deborah’s marriage as this mushy fairy tale-esque romance, complete with the turmoil and trials and tribulations of any other married couple, but the real story doesn’t fall under the happily ever after tab. 

Richard was violent towards his real wife, Barbara. It didn’t matter if they were in front of their children, or alone in the house, or the same room together, Richard wouldn’t hesitate to fly off the handle and beat Barbara. Also, Kuklinski was a very possessive man. Richard stabbed Barbara with a knife and he threatened to kill her family in the early stages of their relationship, because Barbara was feeling smothered by Richard. His idea of pursuing Barbara revolved around becoming an obsessive stalker, and she couldn’t take it anymore. 

Kuklinski did have two daughters named Merrick and Chris. After everything he did, Merrick still deeply loved her father. But there was a time, where Chris and Barbara plotted to kill Richard together. Chris and Barbara ultimately decided against it, because it was too risky, if they didn’t finish the job. Richard also had a son named Dwayne with Barbara. Only two daughters in The Iceman. No son, no references, or any hints for a third child. It’s no real surprise, but Dwayne was not fond of Richard growing up.

If you’ve ever seen any of the HBO interviews/documentaries, Kuklinski actually comes off as someone that’s possibly credible. Kuklinski calmly sits down, going over the gruesome details of his murders, cracking a sinister grin as he goes every now and then. He was a big guy, and Kuklinski had a cold demeanor. He looked the part, and he played it well. To add to that, Kuklinski was a captivating storyteller. More than capable of having anyone, who listened to him hanging on his every word, Kuklinski’s gory tales checked off all the boxes for true crime lore. 

Of course, there’s always a chance Kuklinski dabbled in mob related activities. Maybe he also filled a handful of murder contracts? Who knows for sure, but everything starts to go off the rails, when Kuklinski’s status as a hitman reaches the levels of an underground legend, with cat-like reflexes, who eluded certain death and law enforcement agencies for years. Tearing off the layers of fiction, Kuklinski was certainly a predator, a serial killer, a crook, and a guy, who also made money from bootlegging porn. And Richard apparently blew a lot of his money, because he was a careless gambling addict. 

But one thing’s for sure, Kuklinski’s story is a perfect fit for a Hollywood movie. What can or what can’t be corroborated, the lies, and all the smoke and mirrors. Sure, you can easily label Richard Kuklinski as a pathological liar. Still, the family man living in the suburbs of New Jersey, while he quietly operates in the shadows as a mafia hitman, is a story that’s capable of raising eyebrows. 

The Iceman plays out like a predictable true crime drama. It moves from point A to point B and so on. And as soon as Richard realizes the big problem with his cyanide from Dominick, you know what’s about to happen. But the cast is simply excellent from top to bottom, including Robert Davi and Stephen Dorff. During Dorff’s first and only appearance in the movie, you’ll immediately know Joesph Kuklinski is a massive slimeball. Joesph Kuklinski never deserved an ounce of sympathy, and rotting in prison was a justified punishment for him.

Lots of violence and a decent amount of blood for the story about an ice-cold killer. Good acting saves The Iceman from being a complete dud. There’s a lot of potential for a truly great film here, but they weirdly settled for going through the motions from start to finish, the kind of movie, where you’ll know what happens before it actually happens.

Rating- 7/10

Underworld: Awakening (2012)

 

**This review contains spoilers**

The Story- Following the events of Underworld: Evolution, a purge carried out by humans threatens to exterminate all vampires and Lycans, after the existence of both species is exposed. With a limited number of options in front of them, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) rushes to escape with Michael Corvin, so they can go into hiding, but the duo is ambushed by soldiers at the docks. 

Twelve years later, Selene is awakened from her cryogenic chamber. Confused and angry, Selene’s quest for the truth leads her to Antigen, a sinister corporation focused on targeting and killing off vampires. Led by Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), Antigen and Lane obsessively pursues Selene’s hybrid daughter, Eve (India Eisley).

David (Theo James), a vampire and the son of an elder, pushes back against his father, Thomas’ (Charles Dance) warnings about trusting Selene. David and Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) fight side by side with Selene during a dangerous rescue mission to save Eve. The battle plunges further into chaos, when Selene is forced to face off against Dr. Lane’s son, Quint (Kris Holden-Ried), who transforms into his Super-Lycan form…..

My Thoughts- Selene is back, and she is PISSED! Awakening starts off with a bang, as Selene pummels the purge soldiers. Fast forward twelve years later, and she immediately tears through everyone in her path, after she bursts out the cryo chamber. From past to present, Awakening instantly jumps into a hot start during Selene’s rampage, continuing Underworld’s streak for opening action sequences filled with chaos and bloody violence. 

Selene is dealing with a lot in Awakening. Michael, the only man Selene has ever loved, is MIA, she was frozen for twelve years, and Selene finds out she has a daughter. Heavy stuff! Selene and Eve have an unusual bonding experience. Selene comes off as being kind of selfish, when she first meets Eve. Selene is clearly more concerned about Michael’s whereabouts, and she’s treating Eve like an afterthought.

But Selene reaches a point, where she realizes she needs to be a mother for Eve. She has to protect her daughter, and there’s more of a continued push towards a vulnerable version of Selene here. The “my heart is not cold…..it’s broken” scene with Eve is a good example for Selene showing more emotions. And the scene, where Selene breaks down from the memories of the purge soldier’s surprise attack at the docks. 

Plus, Selene and Eve can see through each other’s eyes! Eve and Selene share synchronized brainwaves, if they’re close enough to each other, and seeing how things unfolded, it’s clear this is one ability, or superpower that’s exclusively shared between Selene, Eve, and Michael as a family. 

Eve is good addition to the cast. Yes, she has the rarity of being another hybrid character, but Eve is also a child. India Eisely delivers a solid performance, and they took the right approach to the hybrid side of Eve’s character. Eisely smoothly switches gears from the confused and scared little girl, who finds herself in an unprecedented and dangerous situation, to the fierce and powerful hybrid, who’s capable of flipping the switch to tap into her powers, when she’s backed into a corner.

Awakening is the first Underworld film, where Viktor doesn’t play a major role in the current storyline, or through flashbacks related to what’s going on in the movie. Charles Dance fills the role of the prudish and stubborn vampire elder. As the ruler of a coven and a leader, Thomas is determined to preserve what’s left of his coven. He’s the guy, who feels the need to condemn Selene for being the disgraced Death Dealer, who fell in love with a Lycan, and murdered two vampire elders. Because someone has to do it, right?

Theo James’ David is a fighter and a rebel. James’ performance works on two different levels. Yes, you could say David is defiant and reckless, but he also knows he’s fighting the good fight for all the right reasons. He’s not afraid to stand up to his father, and he’s firmly against the vampires turning their backs on Selene. 

I have mixed feelings on the villains. Dr. Jacob Lane? Eh, I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s anything wrong with Stephen Rea’s performance, but there’s no denying Lane is a boring and dull character. I get it. Lane is the obsessive and heartless mad scientist, who wants to create a master race of Lycans. He also doesn’t see Eve as a human being. To Lane, Eve is just a highly valuable test subject, or an asset, who needs to be dissected to further his research. Yeah, he’s a dick, but nothing truly stands out about him. You know he’s the bad guy, you know Selene has to stop him, but that’s about it.

Quint and his SUPER-LYCAN form? So I understand the need to introduce a mighty and powerful adversary for Selene. Remember, this is Selene with the Corvinus strain, after she drank Alexander Corvinus’ blood. She has enhanced powers, and Selene basically tears through the opposition in Awakening with ease, so she needs a real challenge. 

Quint having the ability to transform into his Super-Lycan form, complete with an immunity to silver and accelerated healing, almost solves the problem, but it’s a form that heavily relies on special effects. The difference in sizes between Selene and the Super-Lycan provides a few awe-inspiring visuals, but overall, it’s a form that just doesn’t look good at all. It’s too fake and goofy, especially the close-up shots of the Super-Lycan’s face, and it’s safe to say William’s hulking form as the first-ever werewolf in Awakening was far more intimidating.

Problems with the Super-Lycan form aside, Kris Holden-Ried plays a solid villiain. Good facial expressions, the way he carries himself, and it’s easy to believe Quint is a psycho, who won’t stop until his father’s mission is complete. To take things further, Quint would’ve been better off as the main villain here. I understand Dr. Lane’s role as the brains of the operation, but Holden-Reid was more than capable of holding his own in the leading role as the top villain. 

Selene and Eve’s mother/daughter story gets off to a rocky start, but Awakening also tells the tales of two different father/son relationships. David rebels against Thomas, because Thomas chooses to stay underground. Thomas is more concerned with survival, but David wants to fight back against the humans and the Lycans. He challenges his father to become the man, who used to get his hands dirty, while fighting the tough battles. 

Quint, like a brainwashed zombie, blindly follows his father’s marching orders. Dr. Lane is obviously a very bitter man. Quint’s mother made the decision to avoid turning into a Lycan, and Lane uses her choice as a manipulation tactic against Quint. It’s strange how Quint allows Lane to shoot him up with all kinds of injections, because as a Super-Lycan, he could easily kill him. But Quint is loyal to Lane, so he chooses to be another one of his father’s test subjects. 

Awakening maintains continuity from the previous films. Selene is still an outcast amongst the majority of vampires. Being a hybrid is still frowned upon, and Eve is referred to as a “blight of nature.” Of course, the big one is the world after Alexander Corvinus’ death. Remember, in Evolution, Corvinus led a secret team that was tasked with cleaning up the mess in an attempt to contain the war between vampires and Lycans. With Corvinus gone, the humans launched an ugly cleansing campaign against both species, because no one was around to sweep all the dirt under the rug. 

Selene defeats the Super-Lycan! Selene’s final battle with Quint was a good one. I never believed Selene was in any real danger, but there’s more than enough thrills and tight close calls during the David vs Goliath-esque struggle. Also, two big thumbs up for Selene outsmarting Quint. She couldn’t outmuscle the Super-Lycan, so Selene used Qunit’s size and accelerated healing abilities against him. 

Eve killing Dr. Lane was the right call. Dr. Lane froze Eve’s parents. He destroyed any chances of Eve having a real childhood, while forcing her to live the life of a lab rat, so Eve’s vengeance was justified. Also, I wasn’t fan of the character, but at least Dr. Lane’s werewolf form actually looks good. It’s a cross between Lane simply being an elderly man, and having the look of a wild feral beast. His entire body isn’t covered in hair, and Lane’s bloody and disfigured face (courtesy of a shotgun blast from David), was a nice touch.

The ending shows Selene, Eve, and David on the roof together, after Michael finally escapes his chamber. Antigen, the corporation run by and populated with Lycans, that secretly launched a mission to kill off all vampires, is no more. Going forward, it’s clear the objective is to search for and find Michael, so he can reunite with Selene and Eve as a family. A happy ending for Selene, as she swears to “reclaim” the world for the vampire race, while fighting against the humans and the Lycans. 

The Michael Corvin problem? Scott Speedman only appears in flashbacks from the first two films. A stand-in covers Michael’s brief appearances here, and it’s just not the same. Michael is a crucial character in Selene’s story. I know Michael needs to be here, and they tried to keep things short for his screen time, but it’s an obvious big change that’s impossible to ignore. 

Awakening could’ve benefited from a stronger lead villain, and I really wish they would’ve done more with the targeted “cleansing” of vampires and Lycans. Before the story shifts to focusing on protecting and rescuing Eve, Awakening made some good attempts at realism, with news footage from the purge, including dragging vampires out into the sunlight, and using silver nitrate gas against Lycans. 

Warning signs posted about reporting infected individuals, war in the streets, and burning buildings. You can see the chaos, and the drastic lifestyle changes for vampires and Lycans. Vampires were forced into hiding, while Lycans were pushed to the brink of extinction after a failed uprising. And certain groups of sick, starving, and diseased Lycans live underground like “rats.”

Four films in, and Awakening continues to deliver fast-paced and bloody action sequences. I’ll go as far saying Awakening is the shinning example for the highest levels of action that you’d expect from an Underworld film. It’s an adrenaline rush from start to finish, ending with the mother/daughter duo of Selene and Eve taking on the top two villains.

Underworld’s story adds more layers, and Selene’s character continues to evolve, because she’s a mother now. A handful of welcoming new additions to the cast, including India Eisley, Theo James, and Charles Dance. Michael Ealy brings a solid performance to the cast, as the steely-eyed detective with a heavy heart, because Detective Sebastian was directly affected by a vampire attack. 

Awakening also leans into a more absurd tone. You’ll see more than one of Selene’s signature superhero landings. Authentic teeth from vampires and Lycans are available for purchase, and Selene starts a rusty van with a knife! Selene throwing a poor Antigen scientist (Wes Bentley) out of a window, and calmly landing on the ground next to his mangled corpse on top of a car, also sticks out as a hilarious moment for me. 

And I can’t forget about a stoic Selene calmly walking through the courtyard at Antigen, while the security guards are shooting at her. The courtyard scene towards the end definitely plays into the trope that a lot of bad guys are just terrible at shooting guns, especially when there’s a wide open target in front of them.

Underworld: Awakening’s one hour and twenty-eight minutes runtime flys by. Another good mindless fun action/horror flick in the series, with a little more meat on the bones for emotional depth. I didn’t care too much for all the scenes with tons of CGI blood (Quint’s death is a big one for me), but Awakening still features some cool visuals. Selene storming Antigen’s headquarters, and blasting away at Lycans in the dark, while particles from the silver nitrate bombs are floating around in the air, is easily one of my favorites. 

But the Michael Corvin situation is a glaring issue. I said it before, but Michael is a big part of Selene’s story and her journey. The solution for this problem in Blood Wars? Well, it’s a disappointment, but I guess you could say it’s still a solution, that definitively slams the door shut on Michael’s future. 

Rating- 7/10

Underworld: Awakening (2012)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This review contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- Following the events of Underworld: Evolution, a purge carried out by humans threatens to exterminate all vampires and Lycans, after the existence of both species is exposed. With a limited number of options in front of them, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) rushes to escape with Michael Corvin, so they can go into hiding, but the duo is ambushed by soldiers at the docks. 

Twelve years later, Selene is awakened from her cryogenic chamber. Confused and angry, Selene’s quest for the truth leads her to Antigen, a sinister corporation focused on targeting and killing off vampires. Led by Dr. Jacob Lane (Stephen Rea), Antigen and Lane obsessively pursues Selene’s hybrid daughter, Eve (India Eisley).

David (Theo James), a vampire and the son of an elder, pushes back against his father, Thomas’ (Charles Dance) warnings about trusting Selene. David and Detective Sebastian (Michael Ealy) fight side by side with Selene during a dangerous rescue mission to save Eve. The battle plunges further into chaos, when Selene is forced to face off against Dr. Lane’s son, Quint (Kris Holden-Ried), who transforms into his Super-Lycan form……

My Thoughts- Selene is back, and she is PISSED! Awakening starts off with a bang, as Selene pummels the purge soldiers. Fast forward twelve years later, and she immediately tears through everyone in her path, after she bursts out the cryo chamber. From past to present, Awakening instantly jumps into a hot start during Selene’s rampage, continuing Underworld’s streak for opening action sequences filled with chaos and bloody violence. 

Selene is dealing with a lot in Awakening. Michael, the only man Selene has ever loved, is MIA, she was frozen for twelve years, and Selene finds out she has a daughter. Heavy stuff! Selene and Eve have an unusual bonding experience. Selene comes off as being kind of selfish, when she first meets Eve. Selene is clearly more concerned about Michael’s whereabouts, and she’s treating Eve like an afterthought.

But Selene reaches a point, where she realizes she needs to be a mother for Eve. She has to protect her daughter, and there’s more of a continued push towards a vulnerable version of Selene here. The “my heart is not cold…..it’s broken” scene with Eve is a good example for Selene showing more emotions. And the scene, where Selene breaks down from the memories of the purge soldier’s surprise attack at the docks. 

Plus, Selene and Eve can see through each other’s eyes! Eve and Selene share synchronized brainwaves, if they’re close enough to each other, and seeing how things unfolded, it’s clear this is one ability, or superpower that’s exclusively shared between Selene, Eve, and Michael as a family. 

Eve is good addition to the cast. Yes, she has the rarity of being another hybrid character, but Eve is also a child. India Eisely delivers a solid performance, and they took the right approach to the hybrid side of Eve’s character. Eisely smoothly switches gears from the confused and scared little girl, who finds herself in an unprecedented and dangerous situation, to the fierce and powerful hybrid, who’s capable of flipping the switch to tap into her powers, when she’s backed into a corner.

Awakening is the first Underworld film, where Viktor doesn’t play a major role in the current storyline, or through flashbacks related to what’s going on in the movie. Charles Dance fills the role of the prudish and stubborn vampire elder. As the ruler of a coven and a leader, Thomas is determined to preserve what’s left of his coven. He’s the guy, who feels the need to condemn Selene for being the disgraced Death Dealer, who fell in love with a Lycan, and murdered two vampire elders. Because someone has to do it, right?

Theo James’ David is a fighter and a rebel. James’ performance works on two different levels. Yes, you could say David is defiant and reckless, but he also knows he’s fighting the good fight for all the right reasons. He’s not afraid to stand up to his father, and he’s firmly against the vampires turning their backs on Selene. 

I have mixed feelings on the villains. Dr. Jacob Lane? Eh, I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s anything wrong with Stephen Rea’s performance, but there’s no denying Lane is a boring and dull character. I get it. Lane is the obsessive and heartless mad scientist, who wants to create a master race of Lycans. He also doesn’t see Eve as a human being. To Lane, Eve is just a highly valuable test subject, or an asset, who needs to be dissected to further his research. Yeah, he’s a dick, but nothing truly stands out about him. You know he’s the bad guy, you know Selene has to stop him, but that’s about it.

Quint and his SUPER-LYCAN form? So I understand the need to introduce a mighty and powerful adversary for Selene. Remember, this is Selene with the Corvinus strain, after she drank Alexander Corvinus’ blood. She has enhanced powers, and Selene basically tears through the opposition in Awakening with ease, so she needs a real challenge. 

Quint having the ability to transform into his Super-Lycan form, complete with an immunity to silver and accelerated healing, almost solves the problem, but it’s a form that heavily relies on special effects. The difference in sizes between Selene and the Super-Lycan provides a few awe-inspiring visuals, but overall, it’s a form that just doesn’t look good at all. It’s too fake and goofy, especially the close-up shots of the Super-Lycan’s face, and it’s safe to say William’s hulking form as the first-ever werewolf in Awakening was far more intimidating.

Problems with the Super-Lycan form aside, Kris Holden-Ried plays a solid villiain. Good facial expressions, the way he carries himself, and it’s easy to believe Quint is a psycho, who won’t stop until his father’s mission is complete. To take things further, Quint would’ve been better off as the main villain here. I understand Dr. Lane’s role as the brains of the operation, but Holden-Reid was more than capable of holding his own in the leading role as the top villain. 

Selene and Eve’s mother/daughter story gets off to a rocky start, but Awakening also tells the tales of two different father/son relationships. David rebels against Thomas, because Thomas chooses to stay underground. Thomas is more concerned with survival, but David wants to fight back against the humans and the Lycans. He challenges his father to become the man, who used to get his hands dirty, while fighting the tough battles. 

Quint, like a brainwashed zombie, blindly follows his father’s marching orders. Dr. Lane is obviously a very bitter man. Quint’s mother made the decision to avoid turning into a Lycan, and Lane uses her choice as a manipulation tactic against Quint. It’s strange how Quint allows Lane to shoot him up with all kinds of injections, because as a Super-Lycan, he could easily kill him. But Quint is loyal to Lane, so he chooses to be another one of his father’s test subjects.

Awakening maintains continuity from the previous films. Selene is still an outcast amongst the majority of vampires. Being a hybrid is still frowned upon, and Eve is referred to as a “blight of nature.” Of course, the big one is the world after Alexander Corvinus’ death. Remember, in Evolution, Corvinus led a secret team that was tasked with cleaning up the mess in an attempt to contain the war between vampires and Lycans. With Corvinus gone, the humans launched an ugly cleansing campaign against both species, because no one was around to sweep all the dirt under the rug. 

The Michael Corvin problem? Scott Speedman only appears in flashbacks from the first two films. A stand-in covers Michael’s brief appearances here, and it’s just not the same. Michael is a crucial character in Selene’s story. I know Michael needs to be here, and they tried to keep things short for his screen time, but it’s an obvious big change that’s impossible to ignore. 

Awakening could’ve benefited from a stronger lead villain, and I really wish they would’ve done more with the targeted “cleansing” of vampires and Lycans. Before the story shifts to focusing on protecting and rescuing Eve, Awakening made some good attempts at realism, with news footage from the purge, including dragging vampires out into the sunlight, and using silver nitrate gas against Lycans. 

Warning signs posted about reporting infected individuals, war in the streets, and burning buildings. You can see the chaos, and the drastic lifestyle changes for vampires and Lycans. Vampires were forced into hiding, while Lycans were pushed to the brink of extinction after a failed uprising. And certain groups of sick, starving, and diseased Lycans live underground like “rats.”

Four films in, and Awakening continues to deliver fast-paced and bloody action sequences. I’ll go as far saying Awakening is the shinning example for the highest levels of action that you’d expect from an Underworld film. It’s an adrenaline rush from start to finish, ending with the mother/daughter duo of Selene and Eve taking on the top two villains.

Underworld’s story adds more layers, and Selene’s character continues to evolve, because she’s a mother now. A handful of welcoming new additions to the cast, including India Eisley, Theo James, and Charles Dance. Michael Ealy brings a solid performance to the cast, as the steely-eyed detective with a heavy heart, because Detective Sebastian was directly affected by a vampire attack. 

Awakening also leans into a more absurd tone. You’ll see more than one of Selene’s signature superhero landings. Authentic teeth from vampires and Lycans are available for purchase, and Selene starts a rusty van with a knife! Selene throwing a poor Antigen scientist (Wes Bentley) out of a window, and calmly landing on the ground next to his mangled corpse on top of a car, also sticks out as a hilarious moment for me. 

And I can’t forget about a stoic Selene calmly walking through the courtyard at Antigen, while the security guards are shooting at her. The courtyard scene towards the end definitely plays into the trope that a lot of bad guys are just terrible at shooting guns, especially when there’s a wide open target in front of them.

Underworld: Awakening’s one hour and twenty-eight minutes runtime flys by. Another good mindless fun action/horror flick in the series, with a little more meat on the bones for emotional depth. I didn’t care too much for all the scenes with tons of CGI blood, but Awakening still features some cool visuals. Selene storming Antigen’s headquarters, and blasting away at Lycans in the dark, while particles from the silver nitrate bombs are floating around in the air, is easily one of my favorites. 

But the Michael Corvin situation is a glaring issue. I said it before, but Michael is a big part of Selene’s story and her journey. The solution for this problem in Blood Wars? Well, it’s a disappointment, but I guess you could say it’s still a solution, that definitively slams the door shut on Michael’s future. 

Rating- 7/10

Amber Alert (2012)

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- In 2009, Samantha Green (Summer Bellessa) and Nathan Riley’s (Chris Hill) audition tapes for a reality show are interrupted in Arizona, when Nate notices a grey Honda Accord that fits the description for a recent Amber Alert involving a kidnapped young girl. Samantha’s little brother, Caleb (Caleb Thompson) records everything, while Samantha urges Nate to follow the car. 

The driver, Michael Randolph Muller (Jasen Wade), tries to reassure the trio the Amber Alert is nothing more than one big misunderstanding. Brooke Layton (Brooke Thompson) is supposedly his daughter. Muller, dealing with custody problems and his ex-wife, apparently wanted more time with Brooke, but Samantha suspects something is fishy. Is Muller telling the truth? Or, is it possible he’s hiding dark secrets? 

My Thoughts- I have a lot of mixed feelings for Caleb recording. On one hand, yeah, you could say they need to document everything for proof, BUT when a police officer finally gets involved, the footage is basically useless. What’s the point of recording, if law enforcement already has the necessary information (the description of the car, license plate number), and on top of that, Samantha is giving out details for Muller’s exact location?

It’s strange, because you could possibly make an argument for Nate and Samantha really needing the camera during the finale for definitive proof, and the light as a guide to see through the darkness. Still, more often than not, it’s hard to come up with legitimate reasons for Caleb recording. Why? So we can see Nate and Samantha constantly arguing, and Samantha giving Nate stern lectures about morality? Outside of the need to show the viewers what’s going on, you can point to more than one scene, where’s there no need for recording. That’s a problem, because the logic behind found-footage just falls apart during long stretches of the movie.

The police? I have to believe they were aiming for some kind of social commentary about how law enforcement responds and reacts to Amber Alerts. When Officer Murray (Tom Murray) makes an appearance, there’s a sense of relief. FINALLY! Someone, who’s in a position to help, to actually do something, is here. But guess what? Nothing happens. Officer Murray gives instructions to go to a police station. He drives off, and that’s it?

I sincerely hope a message about cops and how they handle Amber Alerts was the main goal here. Otherwise, Amber Alert is basically about two friends and a young kid becoming vigilantes and risking their lives, because the police are too slow and too inept to help and do their jobs. 

The ending completely caught me off guard. I’m not talking about the reveal for Muller being a disgusting and sadistic creep, who lied to Nate and Samantha on the side of the road. It was obvious Muller was lying. Too many holes in the story about his “ex-wife.” And Nate wanted to do everything he possibly could to avoid a confrontation or a fight with Muller, so they just accepted his story.

The truly shocking parts for me happened, when the insides of Muller’s house were revealed. It’s dark, the guns on the counter, everything is covered up, the house looks like a dungeon, and Muller keeps personal items as trophies from his victims. Sexual abuse is a topic that comes up a lot throughout the movie, but when you actually see what Muller’s been up to, and what he plans to do to Brooke Layton (his latest victim), it’s enough to bring a grossed out reaction out of you. And to make matters worse, Muller keeps Brooke locked in a cage.

Caleb is wounded, Muller kills Samantha and Nate, and Nate dies in a shootout against Muller, but Brooke survives. A truly tense finale and a bleak ending. Some good horror elements, featuring Nate, Samantha, and Brooke quietly sneaking around in the dark, hoping to escape, while Muller waits in the shadows. And the screams for help from Brooke before the scene ends are truly horrifying, when you realize there’s a kid alone in a house with three dead bodies.

Amber Alert puts a lot of effort into a dedicated approach for realism. Blurred out license plates, bleeping out phone numbers and addresses, and at some point, everyone has experienced an Amber Alert, when you get that notification on your phone. It’s an unsettling feeling to have, if the alert is close enough.

The home stretch takes a dark and disturbing turn, leading to a finale that’s a real nail-biter. But the problems for Amber Alert are hard to ignore. Yes, you could say they needed the camera and they needed to record in the house, but everything else? There’s still no reason Caleb should’ve been recording. 

Samantha and Nate’s constant bickering? Oh, boy. Way too much of the tiresome and continuous shouting matches between Samantha and Nate, and it gets worse, when you realize all the yelling eats up a good sixty to seventy percent of the movie. It’s also easy to notice a tedious and repetitive pattern for storytelling. Slow down! Don’t get too close to Muller! No, no speed up, you’re gonna lose him! Or, let’s keep a safe distance, so we can see what he’s going to do next. 

Amber Alert is another one of those films, where they have great material to work with, especially if you’re doing a found-footage film, and you want to make things feel more realistic. A strong effort for a low budget film using limited resources, with a spirited cast. Good horror elements mixed in with the ending, but the overall execution just didn’t work for me.

Rating- 3/10 

Amber Alert (2012)(Minor Spoilers)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- In 2009, Samantha Green (Summer Bellessa) and Nathan Riley’s (Chris Hill) audition tapes for a reality show are interrupted in Arizona, when Nate notices a grey Honda Accord that fits the description for a recent Amber Alert involving a kidnapped young girl. Samantha’s little brother, Caleb (Caleb Thompson) records everything, while Samantha urges Nate to follow the car. 

The driver, Michael Randolph Muller (Jasen Wade), tries to reassure the trio the Amber Alert is nothing more than one big misunderstanding. Brooke Layton (Brooke Thompson) is supposedly his daughter. Muller, dealing with custody problems and his ex-wife, apparently wanted more time with Brooke, but Samantha suspects something is fishy. Is Muller telling the truth? Or, is it possible he’s hiding dark secrets? 

My Thoughts- I have a lot of mixed feelings for Caleb recording. On one hand, yeah, you could say they need to document everything for proof, BUT when a police officer finally gets involved, the footage is basically useless. What’s the point of recording, if law enforcement already has the necessary information (the description of the car, license plate number), and on top of that, Samantha is giving out details for Muller’s exact location?

It’s strange, because you could possibly make an argument for Nate and Samantha really needing the camera during the finale for definitive proof, and the light as a guide to see through the darkness. Still, more often than not, it’s hard to come up with legitimate reasons for Caleb recording. Why? So we can see Nate and Samantha constantly arguing, and Samantha giving Nate stern lectures about morality? Outside of the need to show the viewers what’s going on, you can point to more than one scene, where’s there no need for recording. That’s a problem, because the logic behind found-footage just falls apart during long stretches of the movie.

The police? I have to believe they were aiming for some kind of social commentary about how law enforcement responds and reacts to Amber Alerts. When Officer Murray (Tom Murray) makes an appearance, there’s a sense of relief. FINALLY! Someone, who’s in a position to help, to actually do something, is here. But guess what? Nothing happens. Officer Murray gives instructions to go to a police station. He drives off, and that’s it?

I sincerely hope a message about cops and how they handle Amber Alerts was the main goal here. Otherwise, Amber Alert is basically about two friends and a young kid becoming vigilantes and risking their lives, because the police are too slow and too inept to help and do their jobs. 

Amber Alert puts a lot of effort into a dedicated approach for realism. Blurred out license plates, bleeping out phone numbers and addresses, and at some point, everyone has experienced an Amber Alert, when you get that notification on your phone. It’s an unsettling feeling to have, if the alert is close enough.

The home stretch takes a dark and disturbing turn, leading to a finale that’s a real nail-biter. But the problems for Amber Alert are hard to ignore. Yes, you could say they needed the camera and they needed to record in the house, but everything else? There’s still no reason Caleb should’ve been recording. 

Samantha and Nate’s constant bickering? Oh, boy. Way too much of the tiresome and continuous shouting matches between Samantha and Nate, and it gets worse, when you realize all the yelling eats up a good sixty to seventy percent of the movie. It’s also easy to notice a tedious and repetitive pattern for storytelling. Slow down! Don’t get too close to Muller! No, no speed up, you’re gonna lose him! Or, let’s keep a safe distance, so we can see what he’s going to do next. 

Amber Alert is another one of those films, where they have great material to work with, especially if you’re doing a found-footage film, and you want to make things feel more realistic. A strong effort for a low budget film using limited resources, with a spirited cast. Good horror elements mixed in with the ending, but the overall execution just didn’t work for me.

Rating- 3/10 

Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)(Minor Spoilers Review)

 

**This post contains MINOR spoilers**

The Story- In 2011, Tobi returns, targeting Alex Nelson (Kathryn Newton), her father, Doug (Stephen Dunham), her mother, Holly (Alexondra Lee), and her adopted brother, Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp) in their home in Henderson, Nevada. The paranormal attacks escalate, when a neighborhood boy named Robbie (Brady Allen) stays with Alex’s family, while his sick mother recovers in the hospital.

Secrets about Wyatt’s past are revealed, and the identity of Robbie’s mother and her connection to Wyatt. Piecing together a series of strange clues, Alex’s boyfriend, Ben (Matt Shively) helps her solve the dark mystery. Can Alex save Wyatt before it’s too late? 

My Thoughts- Paranormal Activity 4 starts off with footage from Paranormal Activity 2. A lot of similarities for how both stories unfold. Alex is the big sister trying to protect Wyatt. The research with Brad, the risks, and Alex pleading with her father to believe her about supernatural forces. Ali and her boyfriend, Brad worked together to find answers in PA 2 to try and save Kristi and Hunter. Ali’s father, Dan dismissed the chances of any paranormal interference as foolish nonsense. The big difference is, when you compare him to Brad, Ben is far more involved and hands on with helping Alex (and he pays for it). 

Alex, similar to Ali, is a happy teenage girl. Holly and Dan are going through some marital problems, but they both deeply care about Wyatt and Alex. The Nelsons are a likable family. But it’s hard to shake this feeling that they’re just disposable characters, with Wyatt being the lone exception, when his true identity is revealed. Ben is the goofy and persistent teenage boy, with raging hormones, and Brady Allen delivers most of the humor here.

Robbie is a smart ass, and to quote Alex, he is a bit “weird.” Robbie is an important character, a crucial lynchpin for the story. One Robbie scene that sticks out for me happens, when Alex is trying to play along with Wyatt and Robbie in Wyatt’s playhouse. Alex tells them she can see their imaginary friend (Tobi), but Robbie won’t stop giving her a hard time, because he knows she’s lying. It’s hilarious, when you stop and think about the whole scenario. Robbie is telling the truth, and Alex is unaware of the fact that she’s in the presence of a literal demon.

The scares and the spooky side for Paranormal Activity 4 really didn’t work for me. Sure, there’s the one creepy scene, where Tobi uses his powers to levitate Alex, while Wyatt watches in the background. Some decent comedy from the fake-out jump scares, but they’re also kind of predictable. 

Everything else? We’re at a point in the series, where we’ve already seen creaky doors slowly opening and closing. Brief moments of Tobi appearing or flashing across the screen, and what was the point of the kitchen knife fiasco? Kind of odd to tease something that could possibly happen with the kitchen knife for so long, only for it to drop down in the middle of night to startle Doug. The chandelier falling and almost hitting Alex? Eh, it’s another problem with everything leading up to it being too predictable. And now that we’re four films in, it’s safe to say Tobi really hates chandeliers and light fixtures. 

They relied on the XBox Kinect night vision with the tracking dots POV too much here. It’s a cool visual, when Ben first introduces it, but the Kinect trick slowly loses its wow factor throughout the movie. I can understand using it as a means to show ghostly figures and glimpses of what Tobi might look like, but I’ve always believed it should’ve been limited to maybe one or two scenes.

The story finally moves out of California, shifting to Nevada, but it’ll be hard to notice a real difference, or a change of scenery. Alex lives in a quiet and peaceful suburban neighborhood, similar to Katie and Kristi’s neighborhoods in the previous three films. Honestly, if they didn’t put Henderson, Nevada on the screen during the opening, it’s easy to assume everything is still happening in California. 

Paranormal Activity 4 stays consistent with reasons for recording everything, or the need to record everything. Wyatt’s soccer game, the picnic afterwards, and you can also understand Alex and Ben are just two kids just having fun. There’s a logical transition for taking things more seriously, catching strange events around the house through Alex’s laptop and other cameras, because it’s clear Wyatt is in danger, and Tobi won’t stop until he gets what he wants.

Two brutal deaths here, but that’s not enough to save this one. There’s no denying Paranormal Activity 4 hits a low point in the series. It’s the first film, where the formula for storytelling feels stale, because it’s easy to pick up on the usual patterns from start to finish. 

The big return had to be expected, and it’s an easy catch, if you pay close attention to the footage from PA 2. The reveal for Wyatt’s true identity is a nice surprise, but Paranormal Activity 4 lacks any real tension, and the scare tactics are too redundant. The unseen force (Tobi) dragging someone (Alex) across the floor or down a hallway is a horror movie scare tactic that’s been run into the ground. After four consecutive films, it’s safe to say Paranormal Activity relied on it too much. 

To make matters, the story is just going in circles. Paranormal Activity 2 was largely a prequel, so it gets a pass, and Paranormal Activity 3 was entirely a prequel. Why are they still doing all these slight teases for revealing Tobi? There’s the one scene, where Wyatt and Robbie are playing a boxing game. Ben hints at the possibility of Tobi being used as an avatar in the game, a ghostly, pale white male. But that’s only an idea of what Tobi might look like.

Paranormal Activity 4 just feels dull overall. We already know about the witches, we’ve seen the symbol representing The Midwives, and we know what’s going to happen, when Tobi gets serious. PUSH the story forward. All the teasing, the hints, and the seemingly never ending cycle of setting up the story for the next film, four movies into any kind of series, just kills whatever kind of momentum you’re trying to build.

Look at the ending to PA 2. Then consider how Paranormal Activity 4 ends. Too much time passes between both movies. For some odd reason, they’re still only taking baby steps to the point, where it feels like they’re just milking the story to justify another sequel. 

Rating- 3/10

Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)(Spoiler Review)

 **This post contains spoilers, including thoughts on the extended version**

The Story- In 2011, Tobi returns, targeting Alex Nelson (Kathryn Newton), her father, Doug (Stephen Dunham), her mother, Holly (Alexondra Lee), and her adopted brother, Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp) in their home in Henderson, Nevada. The paranormal attacks escalate, when a neighborhood boy named Robbie (Brady Allen) stays with Alex’s family, while his sick mother recovers in the hospital.

Secrets about Wyatt’s past are revealed, and the identity of Robbie’s mother and her connection to Wyatt. Piecing together a series of strange clues, Alex’s boyfriend, Ben (Matt Shively) helps her solve the dark mystery. Can Alex save Wyatt before it’s too late? 

My Thoughts- Paranormal Activity 4 starts off with footage from Paranormal Activity 2. A lot of similarities for how both stories unfold. Alex is the big sister trying to protect Wyatt. The research with Brad, the risks, and Alex pleading with her father to believe her about supernatural forces. Ali and her boyfriend, Brad worked together to find answers in PA 2 to try and save Kristi and Hunter. Ali’s father, Dan dismissed the chances of any paranormal interference as foolish nonsense. The big difference is, when you compare him to Brad, Ben is far more involved and hands on with helping Alex (and he pays for it). 

Alex, similar to Ali, is a happy teenage girl. Holly and Dan are going through some marital problems, but they both deeply care about Wyatt and Alex. The Nelsons are a likable family. But it’s hard to shake this feeling that they’re just disposable characters, with Wyatt being the lone exception, when his true identity is revealed. Ben is the goofy and persistent teenage boy, with raging hormones, and Brady Allen delivers most of the humor here.

Robbie is a smart ass, and to quote Alex, he is a bit “weird.” Robbie is an important character, a crucial lynchpin for the story. One Robbie scene that sticks out for me happens, when Alex is trying to play along with Wyatt and Robbie in Wyatt’s playhouse. Alex tells them she can see their imaginary friend (Tobi), but Robbie won’t stop giving her a hard time, because he knows she’s lying. It’s hilarious, when you stop and think about the whole scenario. Robbie is telling the truth, and Alex is unaware of the fact that she’s in the presence of a literal demon.

The scares and the spooky side for Paranormal Activity 4 really didn’t work for me. Sure, there’s the one creepy scene, where Tobi uses his powers to levitate Alex, while Wyatt watches in the background. Some decent comedy from the fake-out jump scares, but they’re also kind of predictable. 

Everything else? We’re at a point in the series, where we’ve already seen creaky doors slowly opening and closing. Brief moments of Tobi appearing or flashing across the screen, and what was the point of the kitchen knife fiasco? Kind of odd to tease something that could possibly happen with the kitchen knife for so long, only for it to drop down in the middle of night to startle Doug. The chandelier falling and almost hitting Alex? Eh, it’s another problem with everything leading up to it being too predictable. And now that we’re four films in, it’s safe to say Tobi really hates chandeliers and light fixtures. 

They relied on the XBox Kinect night vision with the tracking dots POV too much here. It’s a cool visual, when Ben first introduces it, but the Kinect trick slowly loses its wow factor throughout the movie. I can understand using it as a means to show ghostly figures and glimpses of what Tobi might look like, but I’ve always believed it should’ve been limited to maybe one or two scenes.

The story finally moves out of California, shifting to Nevada, but it’ll be hard to notice a real difference, or a change of scenery. Alex lives in a quiet and peaceful suburban neighborhood, similar to Katie and Kristi’s neighborhoods in the previous three films. Honestly, if they didn’t put Henderson, Nevada on the screen during the opening, it’s easy to assume everything is still happening in California. 

Paranormal Activity 4 stays consistent with reasons for recording everything, or the need to record everything. Wyatt’s soccer game, the picnic afterwards, and you can also understand Alex and Ben are just two kids just having fun. There’s a logical transition for taking things more seriously, catching strange events around the house through Alex’s laptop and other cameras, because it’s clear Wyatt is in danger, and Tobi won’t stop until he gets what he wants.

So Wyatt is actually Hunter, and of course, Katie is his aunt. A surprising reveal for Wyatt’s true identity. Katie’s return towards the end? Remember, the movie starts off with footage from PA 2 showing Katie and Hunter as a baby, and Paranormal Activity 4 is a sequel to that film. At some point, you had to know Katie would resurface somehow here. 

Some questions are answered. Now we know what happened to Hunter after PA 2, and obviously Katie was always lurking in the shadows to keep a close eye on him, continuing her purpose to eliminate anyone, who tries to disrupt Tobi’s plans. And Robbie’s house is clearly another base of operations for The Midwives.

Robbie? There’s a number of theories for him. There’s no definitive proof that Robbie is actually a real boy, or that he exists. When Alex spotted him at Wyatt/Hunter’s soccer game, he mysteriously disappeared in an instant. He couldn’t have gotten out of sight THAT fast. Katie, his “mother” gets sick. She’s rushed to the hospital, and Robbie doesn’t go with her? The police don’t intervene to look after him, so he just stays at the neighbor’s house? Robbie is unpacking, and his stuffed doll is one hundred years old? And let’s not forget about the special fork! None of that adds up.

Is it possible Robbie is a demon, who was either created by or sent by Tobi to befriend Hunter? A young child finding out he’s an important piece of a big puzzle involving the blood sacrifice of a virgin? That’s a heavy and traumatizing situation to deal with. Sending a boy his age to befriend Hunter helps ease him into the whole process, coupled with his aunt Katie, a family member he can trust.

There’s also the scene, where Hunter is talking to Tobi at night. Tobi is obviously trying to tell him his real name is Hunter, and well, he doesn’t want to accept that (“MY NAME’S NOT HUNTER!!”). If you look behind Hunter, you’ll notice the ghostly figure of a child following him. It has to be Robbie, right there with him, after Robbie lead him downstairs. Robbie completely disappears during the home stretch. The only answer I can think of is, Robbie served his purpose. He explained why Hunter was important, and introduced him to Tobi.

Mixed feelings on how the ending played out. Some creepy and tense moments, when Alex is trying to find Hunter in Robbie’s house. Doug is thrown around and rag-dolled through the house, while Alex chases after him. Katie SPRINTING towards Alex, as she transforms into her demon form halfway through was a fantastic shot. And a few genuinely eerie moments, including Hunter standing next to Alex with that blank look on his face, and the horde of Midwives slowly walking towards Alex.

My problem with Paranormal Activity 4’s ending is, looking at the big picture, Katie lunging at Alex (presumably killing her) with Hunter nearby, is a disappointing and predictable cliffhanger. If you leave out Hunter, there’s no reason to believe anyone else from The Nelson Family would survive, and Ben was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. We’re on the fourth film at this point, and they’re still teasing and setting things up that will eventually lead to something big with Tobi? Paranormal Activity 4 could’ve delivered something more concrete to close out the movie. Also, including PA 4, that’s three total films that end with Katie attacking or killing someone. 

Hunter goes trick-or-treating and Holly makes Halloween cookies in the extended version! Hunter, wearing a ninja costume, goes trick-or-treating with Alex and Ben, and there’s a hilarious fake-out jump scare, where a neighbor dressed as a scarecrow spooks Ben. I’ve always wondered why they never included this in the theatrical version. Leaving out Halloween in a horror movie? I just don’t get it. 

More extended footage includes Doug being an overprotective father, because he believes Alex’s costume is too revealing. This leads to Alex and Ben wandering over to Robbie’s house, where there’s an eerie shot of Robbie watching them through the window at night. Footage of Robbie moving in across the street is also exclusive to the extended version. 

Night #8 for recorded footage is exclusive to the extended/unrated version. It’s more taunting from Tobi directed at Alex, and Tobi knocking that pesky book (possibly the Bible?) on floor. 

You’ll see more footage from Halloween night, and Alex’s party with her friends in the extended version. And I’m guessing this was a slip up or an error they didn’t catch, but the location, month, date, and year isn’t shown on the screen at Hunter’s soccer game. Overall, it’s another case, where the extended footage doesn’t have an impact on changing the ending, or the direction of the story at all. 

Two brutal deaths here. Tobi lifting Holly up, choking her in mid air, and that sickening thud of Holly’s body hitting the ground? Yikes! Katie using her signature neck breaker to kill Ben was a grisly sight. The sound of that loud crack, while Ben’s head twists around was something else. Ben’s death is very similar to Dan’s death in PA 2. Ben’s quietly sitting there. He senses something is off, but Katie managed to quietly sneak up behind him before he realized what was going on.

There’s no denying Paranormal Activity 4 hits a low point in the series. It’s the first film, where the formula for storytelling feels stale, because it’s easy to pick up on the usual patterns from start to finish. 

The big return (Katie) had to be expected, and it’s an easy catch, if you pay close attention to the footage from PA 2. The reveal for Wyatt’s true identity is a nice surprise, but Paranormal Activity 4 lacks any real tension, and the scare tactics are too redundant. The unseen force (Tobi) dragging someone (Alex) across the floor or down a hallway is a horror movie scare tactic that’s been run into the ground. After four consecutive films, it’s safe to say Paranormal Activity relied on it too much. 

To make matters, the story is just going in circles. Paranormal Activity 2 was largely a prequel, so it gets a pass, and Paranormal Activity 3 was entirely a prequel. Why are they still doing all these slight teases for revealing Tobi? There’s the one scene, where Wyatt and Robbie are playing a boxing game. Ben hints at the possibility of Tobi being used as an avatar in the game, a ghostly, pale white male. But that’s only an idea of what Tobi might look like. 

Paranormal Activity 4 just feels dull overall. We already know about the witches, we’ve seen the symbol representing The Midwives, and we know what’s going to happen, when Tobi gets serious. PUSH the story forward. All the teasing, the hints, and the seemingly never ending cycle of setting up the story for the next film, four movies into any kind of series, just kills whatever kind of momentum you’re trying to build. 

Look at the ending to PA 2. Then consider how Paranormal Activity 4 ends. Too much time passes between both movies. For some odd reason, they’re still only taking baby steps to the point, where it feels like they’re just milking the story to justify another sequel. 

Rating- 3/10

American Horror Story Asylum- Final Thoughts

 **This post contains spoilers**

So I’ll start with the big mystery first…..aliens! Aliens played a big part in AHS Asylum’s story, and I’ve always had mixed feelings about it. There’s a lot of ambiguity surrounding the extraterrestrial presence here. We never get to actually see too much of the aliens. All we have to go on for the aliens appearances are Grace’s drawings, the brief reflection of the aliens in Kit’s eyes before they took him in the season finale, and the one quick shot of an alien during the nor’easter storm. I did appreciate the less is more approach, because it helped maintain a lot of mystique surrounding the aliens.

Still, there’s always a part of me that felt involving aliens in this season was unnecessary. At times, the aliens just feel out of place. This season had an impeccable cast, and a good story with strong social commentary. Do the aliens completely ruin AHS Asylum? Of course not, but as the story progresses, it just becomes more and more apparent that a supernatural element wasn’t need in season two.

AHS Asylum features one of the strongest casts for the entire series. Evan Peters’ Kit Walker is one of the more memorable and genuinely wholesome protagonists in the series. Lizzie Brochere brought an enigmatic and charismatic presence to Grace. Sarah Paulson suffered as Lana Winters, and Paulson absolutely nailed all the heartaches and hopeless moments of desperation. Lily Rabe and Jessica Lange flawlessly pulled off difficult tasks, with two large character shifts. Sister Jude starts off as this cold and overbearing disciplinarian, but towards the end of the season, you’re actually rooting for Jude to have a happy ending. That’s how good Jessica Lange is. 

Sister Mary Eunice was a sweet and innocent person in the beginning, but evil corrupted her to the point, where she became a vile and menacing threat. Lily Rabe was able to convey the shocking change in personality, where you couldn’t believe you were witnessing this angelic human turning into a vulgar and nasty demonic monster. 

James Cromwell, Zachary Quinto, Ian Mcshane, and Dylan McDermott all brought a terrifying presence as villains in their own unique way. Joesph Fiennes Monsignor/Cardinal Howard wasn’t outwardly evil, but he still wasn’t a good person. Howard was a pompous and phony man, who would do anything to advance his own career. He had his dirty laundry, and Howard didn’t hesitate to silence and destroy Jude, when he thought she might get in his way.

AHS Asylum doesn’t shy away from a lot of issues with a strong thread of social commentary. Kit had to keep things quiet with Alma. Interracial relationships were heavily frowned upon during that era, and to make matters worse, Kit had to keep a close eye on Billy and his gang of loser friends. 

Women fighting against sexism and the patriarchy is a big one here, especially in the 1960s and beyond. Jude lost her battle against Dr. Arden and Monsignor Howard. Mother Superior Claudia was banished to Puerto Rico after she helped Lana, and Shelley lost her life. In the end, Lana was the only true survivor and success story in the pack. Sure, you can raise a lot of questions for how she got to the mountain top. You could say she lost her way, but it doesn’t erase the fact that she made it.

Sexism and misogyny are big issues in AHS Asylum, and Lana’s struggles to live as a gay woman. She had to keep her relationship with Wendy a secret to avoid risking both of their careers. And Wendy was bullied by Sister Jude into helping keep Lana locked away at Briarcliff.

AHS Asylum is near the top of my list for one of the more darker AHS seasons. Asylum has an undeniable nightmarish feel to it, and a dreary and hopeless mood that rarely lets up. I’d have to go back and watch AHS 1984, but Asylum has always been one of my picks for the top three best AHS seasons. And who could forget Dominique, the persistent anthem for the common room? Seriously, it’s basically a guarantee Dominique will be stuck in your head after you watch the entire season of AHS Asylum.

American Horror Story Asylum- Episode 13- Madness Ends

 **This post contains spoilers**

The Story- In the present, Lana, now in a relationship with a woman named Marian (Joan Serverance), prepares for a big interview with April Mayfield (Camille Chen) before she’s set to be honored at the Kennedy Center. Unbeknownst to Lana, Johnny Morgan has infiltrated the film crew, so he can carry out his plan of murdering Lana.

Kit tries to move on after the deaths of Grace and Alma, and Jude might actually have one more chance at a peaceful life after Briarcliff.

My Thoughts- If we’re talking about enduring ups and downs, and going to hell and back during this season, you have to put Kit Walker at the top, or at least near the top of that list. So many highs and lows, including becoming a father, luckily being able to spend time with two women he loved dearly, and unfortunately losing both of them. 

So what did Kit do in attempt to find peace and move on after everything he went through? Kit bonded with Jude by visiting her at Briarcliff, but he didn’t stop there. Kit also decided to take Jude home to live with him and his kids.

Seeing Jude live a normal life was surreal. After she got through the detox phase of her recovery at Kit’s house, Jude was able to just be happy for a while. She enjoyed life, and Jude became a grandmother figure for Kit’s children, something both of them desperately needed. 

There’s a heartwarming scene where Jude has a mental breakdown, reverting back to Sister Jude, as she destroys parts of Kit’s house with a broom, while also trying to harshly discipline the children. Instead of running away in fear, Julia and Thomas go to comfort Jude, leading her into the woods for a walk. It’s a big moment, because maybe THIS is what Jude needed all along to curb all of that anger and resentment inside of her. A simple gesture of care and love, and someone who would be there to genuinely look after her.

Jude’s death scene was executed wonderfully here. This particular visit from the Angel Of Death felt bigger than the other visits. Jude said her farewells to Julia and Thomas, and before the kiss of death, the entire background fades to black. Jude was finally at peace with her decision to let go. She found a family, enjoyed herself, taught Kit and the kids how to swing dance, and she was finally ready to move on.

And what about Cardinal Howard? Well, as Lana put it, Howard’s guilty conscience finally got the best of him. Through flashbacks it’s revealed Lana pressured Cardinal Howard for answers in a parking garage before she released her report on Dr. Arden’s crimes. Howard eventually slit his wrists in a bathtub with a straight edge razor, killing himself quietly. Lana’s explanation for what type of man Howard was hit the nail on the head. He was a delusional and pompous liar, who only cared about advancing his career. 

Dying by suicide all alone, and that grisly image of Howard’s corpse sitting in a bathtub full of blood was truly something else. Still, it’s hard to feel sympathy for Howard, especially when you consider how he turned his back on Jude, the one person who was willing to go to hell and back for him.

Kit’s story was filled with so many twists and turns, and high moments of happiness and devastating lows. While other seasons of AHS gave Evan Peters a chance to really show off his acting chops, Kit Walker was still one of his best performances. Kai Anderson from AHS Cult was a more layered character. But Kit was more straightforward and a truly earnest and admirable human being. 

Think about everything Kit had to go through. Grace was brutally murdered in front of him twice, he lost Alma, he was falsely accused and imprisoned, and for a long period, he had to take the fall as Bloody Face. But Kit never once made the decision to turn to the dark side. Kit Walker stayed true to who he was until the very end. He always made sure to do the right thing, and to do right by other people, even if they didn’t necessarily deserve kindness. Out of everyone in the cast, Kit had every reason to succumb to evil temptations, but he always chose happiness instead. Kit got remarried, helped Jude, and he raised his children. Kit was dying of pancreatic cancer, and he refused Julia and Thomas’ offers to care for him, because he wanted them to live their lives.

Grace’s prediction came true, as Kit’s story ends with the aliens coming to take him away for good (presumably) this time. Kit sacrificed so much to help others. You’re lead to believe he’s awaiting bigger plans, and it was nice to see him receive a peaceful and mysterious ending. 

The big confrontation between Johnny Morgan and Lana did not disappoint. It was tense, emotional, and heartbreaking in the end. The flashback showing Lana meeting Johnny as a child and protecting him from bullies at school showed Lana actually did have feelings for him. Johnny revealing he’d always hoped for Lana to return one day to raise him and be his mother was a gut punching moment, because you could tell this is one of the many big setbacks that led him down a dark path.

The back and forth verbal sparring between Lana and Johnny was done well here. There’s a point where Lana tries to tell Johnny she had to give him up, so he could have some kind of a life, but Johnny is quick to call her out on all the lies. Johnny tells Lana she gave him up for selfish reasons, so she could chase her dreams without any problems. And to be honest, it’s hard to disagree with Johnny. As the story progresses and Lana ages, you can see her becoming more and more narcissistic and pretentious. Similar to Monsignor/Cardinal Howard, you can kind of see that relentless urge she has to do whatever it takes to advance her own career.

Did Lana finally expose and shutdown Briarcliff with her documentary? Yes she did, but it’s hard to ignore that one of her motivations to do so was just to put another notch on her belt of accolades. She didn’t solely do it out of the kindness of her heart. Also, remember Lana surprised Kit at his house with a camera crew, because she wanted to document Jude’s life after Briarcliff. But Kit would only speak to her as a friend off camera.

Johnny had Lana right where he wanted her. Alone with no one to help her, and a gun in his hand. Johnny was prepared to kill Lana, but Lana disarmed him. Without using physical force, Lana was able to get Johnny to lower his guard with a mother’s touch and a mother’s love. After all, this is what Johnny was craving for so many years. He just wanted someone, anyone to love him. Lana actually took responsibility for Johnny’s broken life before shooting him in the head and killing him. Lana told Johnny everything was her fault. 

I do believe Lana had to kill Johnny. It wasn’t just a it’s him or me scenario. Johnny definitely had Thredson’s DNA in him, and Lana couldn’t take the chance of letting him go, so he could return to finish what he started, or hurt someone close to Lana. It’s an ironic ending for Morgan, because he died the same way his father did: a gunshot to the head from Lana. Dylan McDermott was fantastic as Johnny Morgan throughout the season. McDermott’s committed performance gave you the impression that Morgan was a deeply disturbed and dangerous man, who you shouldn’t mess around with. 

AHS Asylum ends with a flashback to Lana’s first visit to Briarcliff. Sister Jude gives Lana an ominous warning, when she tells her “if you look in the face of evil, evil’s going to look right back at you.” You can look at and interpret Jude’s warning a lot of different ways. I’ve always thought Jude was simply trying to warn Lana, that she’s too ambitious for her own good. 

And as far as the staring or looking in the face of evil part of the quote goes, think about Lana’s horrible ordeal with Bloody Face/ Thredson. She desperately wanted to report on an “evil” man, because she believed Bloody Face would take her career to the next level. It did happen. Eventually, Lana reached so many high points of success, but look at what she had to go through to get there. Two big examples that stick out are Lana murdering Thredson and her own son, who Lana considered to be a dirty secret for years.

Anyway, I’ve always loved the final moments of AHS Asylum. Lana walks away, unaware of the struggles she’s about to face, and Jude looks at the Virgin Mary statue with admiration as Dominique plays in the background. The scene gives off a strong simpler times vibe, because both women have no idea what’s coming next, nor could they have possibly prepared for it.

With AHS’ anthology style, Madness Ends feels more like a series finale than a season finale, but it’s still a satisfying finale. With the exception of Kit’s mysterious whereabouts, the loose ends are tied up here, and Madness Ends delivers a strong emotional punch. Jude’s path to redemption is one of the big highlights here, and the teased confrontation with Johnny Morgan and Lana finally crossing paths delivered on every level.

Rating-10/10

American Horror Story Asylum- Episode 12- Continuum

 

**This post contains spoilers**

The Story- Kit, Alma, and Grace struggle to adjust to life as a family under one roof, while raising their children Julia and Thomas.

Jude is still stuck at Briarcliff under the alias Betty Drake in an attempt to hide her identity. Monsignor Howard, now preparing to leave for his new position as the Cardinal of New York, promises Jude he will work towards her release. 

While promoting her book, Maniac: One Woman’s Story Of Survival, Lana runs into Kit, but the happy reunion takes an unexpected turn.

My Thoughts- It’s sad, but you can tell early on the polygamous family was never going to work. Too much tension between Grace and Alma, as Grace continues to obsess over the aliens. Grace was constantly drawing pictures from what she remembered from the abductions, and Alma was growing increasingly frustrated with Grace romanticizing what she considered to be a traumatic experience.

On top of that, the trio had to deal with racism, and an attempt to burn their house down, with Billy as the prime suspect. Kit also couldn’t count on help from the police, as the officer scolded him for an illegal polygamous relationship. I mean, the episode starts out with a traumatized Kit covered in blood, while holding an axe. 

It’s soon revealed that Alma, still suffering from PTSD from the abduction, snapped and brutally murdered Grace with the axe. Alma believed she had to protect the children from Grace, who couldn’t let go of the idea of encouraging the aliens return. Alma is sent to Briarcliff for Grace’s murder. Kit does his best to cheer Alma up with visits and stories about the kids, but Alma suddenly dies one day, when her heart stops.

It’s a dismal ending for both Grace and Alma. Alma dies alone at Briarcliff, and Grace ironically suffers the same brutal ending she carried out against her family. And to make matters worse, Kit is all alone again after experiencing a brief period of happiness and peace.

Jude’s problems continue to pile up in this episode. Considering his recent underhanded tactics, it’s no surprise Monsignor/Cardinal Howard lied to Jude about working to secure her release from Briarcliff. Howard left Jude to rot at Briarcliff, and two and a half years passed since the day of his “promise.” And Briarcliff turns into more of a hellhole than it was before, after its donated to the state to help relieve the overflow problem with local prisons.

You can see Jude’s mental state deteriorating in this episode. It’s revealed by Dr. Miranda Crump (Robin Bartlett) that Jude has been hallucinating many things. She hallucinated the majority of her friendship with Pepper, who died a long time ago. Jude also attacked five of her roommates, believing they were all the Angel Of Death, who was coming to take her life. 

Jessica Lange continues to consistently deliver great performances in this season. That scene, where she’s sitting in her old and empty office, while Dr. Crump explains everything to her was a tough one to watch. The frizzled hair, that lost and empty look on her face, and Lange did a great job of showing Jude’s deep descent into madness. 

The biggest surprise here, but not too big, because you could pick up on the little clues in the previous episode, was the change in Lana’s personality. A victim? Yes, of course. There’s no denying Lana suffered through hell, but the selfishness and her desire to become a big time celebrity takes over here. 

You can really see it, when Lana is confronted by the ghosts of Dr. Thredson and Wendy at a book signing. To put all the attention on herself, Lana lied about Thredson in her book, and she also reduced her relationship with Wendy to nothing more than the two being roommates, completely ignoring the romantic side of things.

Lana also shows a snobbish side of herself by scolding her assistant for not having ice for her soda, and instead of fulfilling her promise to shutdown Briarcliff and rescue Jude, Lana is more concerned with the actress who’ll portray her in the movie adaptation of her book. Also, Lana is way too excited to write a book about Leigh Emerson’s escape from Briarcliff, his murders, and the manhunt surrounding him. Kit scolds her for turning her back on her promises, but Lana shows little to no remorse for Jude.

It’s true that Jude wasn’t a good person for a long time. But Lana IS in a position to help, and Jude did make sure to help get Lana out of Briarcliff. Maybe this is finally it for Jude? Kit seems to be the only person, who can help her now. Kit saw Jude with his own eyes, and it’s clear Lana won’t lift a finger to help her.

We see the big jolt to end this episode, when Johnny Morgan bullies a bookstore owner into giving him her mother’s signed copy of Lana’s book. Dylan McDermott delivers a powerful and chilling performance at the end here. His speech to the bookstore owner, where he promises to murder Lana and complete his father’s work was an outstanding cliffhanger. It’s a direct and blunt warning, and we’re lead to believe Lana has no idea what’s coming.

With one episode to go, Continuum closes more chapters, specifically ending Grace and Alma’s stories. We’re now down to three with Kit, Lana, Jude, and who knows how things will end up for Cardinal Howard. Johnny Morgan confronting Lana is the big story going into the season finale. Johnny’s hatred for Lana is so strong, so you can’t rule out the possibility of Johnny doing something completely horrific to complete Thredson’s “work.”

Rating- 6/10