Paranormal Pop Culture

'Snow White and the Huntsman' on a quest for female franchise

2012-05-31T09:26:00.001-04:00

BY AARON SAGERS

Give me a band of heroes on a quest any day. Wielding swords, axes and a bow with a quill full of arrows, this fellowship must make a trek through forbidden lands to do epic battle against enemy forces and overthrow an unjust ruler or magician who has enslaved a kingdom. Along the way, stronger loyalties are forged, romance emerges, heroes die - some are resurrected - and much blood is shed in battles filled with brutality and badassery.

These are the staples of the fantasy genre and, when done right, a rousing movie or story can be even more invigorating than a fun night at Medieval Times. But what elevates the best of the genre to truly great levels is the awareness of human behavior. In a world of magic, the exploration of humanity – in both its selfless acts and depraved depths – is what makes these stories more than just swords-and-orcs tales. J.R.R. Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling and many other fantasy authors knows this.

But it is also why the new film Snow White and the Huntsman never moves beyond a superficial attempt to be a Lord of the Rings (Lady of the rings?) for a female demographic. There are women in the lead, but they never feel like believable leaders...(read more after the jump)

Directed by Rupert Sanders and starring Kristen Stewart (Twilight), Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers), Charlize Theron (Prometheus) and seven recognizable dwarves, the movie is loosely based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. But instead of a family-friendly animated Disney film, this outing aims for dark.

After she marries/murders a benevolent king, the evil sorceress queen Ravenna (Theron) unleashes magic that kills the lands and locks up the king’s daughter Snow (Stewart). Her peculiar decision to simply not bump off Snow – who everyone already assumes is dead – comes back to haunt the youth-obsessed Ravenna when her magic mirror reveals the princess is the “fairest of them all,” and will be her undoing. Snow White does escape and wanders into the wraith-infested Dark Forest. She eventually engages in some troll-whispering, and befriends her would-be assassin, the Huntsman (Hemsworth). Following a few pit stops to make nice with a clan of women and meet up with the aforementioned dwarves, Snow sets out to build an army as a warrior princess and take down her evil stepmother.

Milky Theron. Courtesy Universal

Over the course of a too-long 127 minutes, the film unleashes all manner of fantasy tropes randomly thrown at the audience to prove its genre bona fides. Elements of light magic, such as stags with branches for antlers and fairies, guide the princess – because, after all, Snow White is “The One” - and protect her from dark magic monsters and Ravenna’s creeper brother with a blonde bowl cut, Finn (Sam Spruell).

Also, as has become something of a go-to effect to build tension, there are a lot of slowed-down action moments and thundering sound effects. And the magic of Snow’s world seems to rely on objects’ tiresome tendency to melt into gooey sludge or shatter into shrapnel made of butterflies, crows or obsidian. That's not to suggest these don't look cool. The troll design is impressive, and the Sanctuary fairy land has some really nice touches like a tortoise covered in moss and flowers, and the little mushrooms with eyes. And there is no ignoring the stark, sexy impact of Theron emerging from a magical milk bath, completely coated in the thick stuff.

Visually impressive, if a tad repetitive, it’s not the effects that rob Snow White and the Huntsman from being a female film fantasy; it is the lack of substance to complement the style.

Warrior Princess Stewart, courtesy Universal

Stewart’s performance here is defined by either her signature perma-grimace or a wild-eyed, mouth agape expression of bewilderment. Instead of portraying Snow White as an innocent princess transformed into a warrior, Stewart goes through the motions as one until she flips the switch and becomes the other. She is not a strong female so much as she is every other movie princess who just accidentally finds herself in a fight wearing armor and leading a band of very cooperative merry men.

For her part, Charlize Theron opts for an over-the-top villainess role where shouting is her de factor line delivery (think Gary Oldman-level of shouting, minus the gusto). Her Ravenna clearly has issues with aging, but it is only in one scene early in the film that the brilliant actress hints at a compelling character. Most of the time, however, the amazing actress downshifts her performance to be about at layered as the computer generated Eye of Sauron in Peter Jackson’s LOTR series. As her performance becomes more unhinged, her wardrobe becomes more eee-vil.

It is only Hemsworth’s grief-stricken, drunk Huntsman that keeps the movie afloat here, but not even Thor is a mighty enough Avenger to keep the weak plot plodding along. Speaking of Hemsworth, the romantic connection he has with Snow is too ambiguous to make much of an impact later on in the film when it matters. And the romantic triangle Snow has with him and Prince William (Sam Claflin) is such a crass grab at Stewart’s Twilight crowd and is dreadfully tired. The dwarves – played by Ian McShane, Johnny Harris, Bob Hoskins, Toby Jones, Eddie Marsan, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost – are fun to watch but underused.

Snow White and the Huntsman is a weak fantasy where the largest quest seems to be to launch a female-driven magical franchise.

Author Joe Hill geeks out on Comic Book Live

2012-05-30T17:50:00.002-04:00

BY ERIN WOLF

I’m not typically one to sit at the computer and listen to a podcast but when I heard that comic book writer, Eisner winner and novelist Joe Hill was making an appearance on Comic Book Live in NYC last night, I all but had to tune in. Comic Book Live is an interview show that features in-depth discussions with industry professionals along with engaging segments like "The Stack" in which the cast reviews weekly releases and a trivia game that challenges audience members to answer goofy questions, sort of like a “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” for comic book geeks.

Joe Hill sat down to answer a few burning questions from the fellas at Comic Book Live in Fontana’s Bar, somehwere in the heart of Chinatown - and a gaggle of comic book nerds rejoiced. Hill revealed his thoughts on writing, how he broke into the business, his professional “bromance” with Gabriel Rodriguez, why he thinks Chronicle is the best super hero film ever made and what he’s got coming up next.

Upon being asked how he came up with the idea for Locke & Key, Hill weaved the tale of his big break into the comics industry with the dexterity of a rock climber leaping over deep crevices of interview patter and rowdy audience interruptions with the fluidity of a practiced and thoughtful storyteller.

"I had spent three years writing this novel, a big epic fantasy, which became a huge international best seller … in my imagination. But in real life it was turned down by every publisher in New York, it was turned down by every publisher in London and as an extra kick in the pants, it was turned down in Canada. So I had completely washed out as a novelist. I had had some success with short stories and I managed to break through with this one short story that got some best of collections which then attracted the notice of a scout at Marvel."

Joe continued on to describe how he eventually got a chance to do an “audition” piece for Marvel on Spiderman Unlimited, which he quipped was “the worst piece of garbage I had ever written in my life” yet somehow left him inspired to write further and better comic book scripts. Even though his original attempt at penning a successful script was a “failure,” he returned to Marvel and pitched a “weird Haunted House story which was kind of like this house with all these mutant keys.” Interestingly enough, Marvel passed on the idea but Joe said that he couldn’t forget the story.

"Months passed and I would keep thinking up new keys and new ideas about this house. And eventually I had a novel come out called Heart Shaped Box. Around the same time it came out, IDW contacted me and said we’d love to do something with your short stories. We’ve had luck adapting short stories by writers and I said ‘Wait, don’t adapt my short stories, let me pitch you on something else. I’ve got this great idea for a haunted house story that will last exactly six issues.’ So, that’s how Locke & Key got started."

When asked how he found Gabriel Rodriguez, the illustrator of Locke & Key, Hill went on to explain how he was drawn Rodriguez’s innocent approach from the very start:

"What Gabe did was, he drew people who were sort of adorable. And I thought, this is the guy I want. I think a lot of people misunderstand how horror works, I think that they think if you just throw enough entrails at the reader they’ll be scared. I’m all for entrails, ya know, I’ve got no problem with that. But I think that you have to care about the source of the entrails first. You have to identify with a character and love them and care about them and then it really hurts when they’re hanging from a meat hook."

Joe described his relationship with Rodriguez as “an old married couple, where I start a sentence and he finishes it,” claiming that it’s almost as if together they shared a “unibrain” in the creation of Locke & Key. When prompted to discuss the end of the series, all Joe could muster, with the trepidation and excitement of an author near to the end, was that he hoped they can, “stick the landing."

"I don’t want it to be like the wet fart in the bathtub at the end."

On his style of writing, Joe Hill quoted Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin:

"There are two kinds of writers, there are writers who are architects who plan and map and they know everything that’s going to happen and then there are writers who are gardeners who plant things and they kind of know what they’re going to get but they don’t know exactly how it’s going to grow ... That’s always been my philosophy, I always feel like I’m going to create the situation, I’ll have the characters there and then they will organically find their way to the end."

With regards to his female readership, Hill felt quite strongly that Locke & Key has done well not to “slam the door” on the lady readers.

“The female characters have believable proportions, wear believable clothes and make believable decisions. Even though you largely see a lot of nudity in horror films, boobs are not frightening. They’re just not.”

Later in the interview, Joe revealed a few of his upcoming projects which include the release of Locke & Key: Grindhouse, a throwback to the crime comics of the '50s and '60s, a couple of stand-alone comics set in the L&K world, a new novel and tentatively suggested a superhero story in the works with one of the top two publishers but about whom and what he was cautious to reveal.

Listeners also learned that Scott Snyder once performed at Disney World as an Elvis-themed Buzz Lightyear and that Chronicle is the best super hero film ever because of the talent show scene.

“There is nothing that human, that awesome and that smart in any other super hero movie. That which feels so natural.”

Overall the interview was a joy to listen to, especially for those of us far from the Big Apple. I so enjoyed my time, that I was even forced to reconsider my previous reservations about tuning in to a dreaded podcast. They aren’t all so bad, you just have to know which ones to follow like Comic Book Live…especially if Joe Hill is in the house.

The full podcast can be found on comicbookclublive.com

Hellish new details about '666 Park Avenue'

2012-05-30T10:03:00.002-04:00

Courtesy ABC

The coming Fall 2012 TV season is looking devilish courtesy ABC's new show, 666 Park Avenue. Based on the book series by Gabriella Pierce, the show stars Terry O'Quinn from Lost (in full-on evil Locke form?) as Gavin Doran, the owner of The Drake, a lux Manhattan apartment building where supernatural occurrences.

What looks to be a bit of The Devil's Advocate meets Needful Things - with a dash of American Horror Story thrown in for good measure - the 80 residents of The Drake enter into Faustian bargains with deadly results. (O'Quinn even says in the trailer, "What I do is fulfill needs," and he apparently uses Vanessa Williams as a helper in the task.)

But the question is, are the residents dealing with the actual devil or just some supernatural stand-in?

(What follows is spoilery)

Based on some inside info about the show, Paranormal Pop Culture has learned that Gavin is likely the devil and The Drake is a gateway to hell. A big marketing push from ABC will focus on asking viewers, "How far would you go to make all your dreams come true?" and "Make a deal with the devil and there will be hell to pay."

Sounds pretty cool, and when the show premieres in late September or October, we look forward to spending some time in hell.

Ask Dr. Spectre: Health tips for paranormal hunters

2012-05-29T13:18:00.000-04:00

Feeling supernaturally sneezy?

BY FRANK CINELLI
Holistic healthcare practitioner and paranormal investigator Frank Cinelli aka "Dr. Spectre" joins us on occasion to offer advice about how to remain in a prime paranormal investigative state for the most healthy hunts. If you've questions for the good doc, send them to askdrspectre@gmail.com and reach out to him on Twitter @DrSpectre.

(*The Fine Print: ParanormalPopCulture.com cannot validate claims made by the columnist. Before taking any advice offered by the columnist, you should consult your physician)

Have you ever been trying to listen to EVP and heard sniffling, honking and wheezing? Instead of being paranormal phenomena, you know it came from you or a member of your team. Or have you been in the woods, and had a feeling that a 'Squatch is near - but when you try to bellow out your best squatchy scream, all you can do is hack and cough because of post-nasal drip?

Well folks, allergy season is upon us, and with as mild as a winter we have had, the experts predict this will be the worst allergy season on record.

There are plenty of over-the-counter allergy meds you can take, and most of them will work. However, most of them also have side effects and some can be serious. For example, some OTC meds can cause anxiety or depression, or perhaps create fatigue or sleeplessness? They can even cause low libido in men and women, as well as infertility and erectile dysfunction.

Now that I have your attention, let me just state the odds are in your favor that this won’t happen to you. But, if you are like me and don’t want to risk it, here are some natural alternatives you can try:

QuercetinA natural plant-derived compound called a bioflavonoid, quercetin helps stabilize mast cells and prevents them from releasing histamine. Citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuce and wine are naturally high in quercetin, but allergy sufferers will most likely need to use supplements to build up enough of this compound to prevent attacks.

Enzymes
Since the 1950s, proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain, papain and protease have been used as anti-inflammatory agents. Even the ancient Mayans used papaya leaves to wrap around wounds. Today, proteolytic enzymes are used for a variety of problems of the ear, nose and throat due to the anti-inflammatory action, the thinning of the mucus and the shrinkage of tissue. This helps to open the natural drainage of the sinuses.

N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC)
An amino acid that is also a natural mucolytic, NAC reduces the viscosity of mucus. Clinical studies have proven oral doses of NAC to be an excellent means to recharge cellular glutathione, a foundational antioxidant.

Also there are combination products such as D-Hist from Ortho Molecular that contain quercetin (see above). And Stinging Nettles Leaf components from this have been shown to block important enzymes within the arachidonic acid cascade, as well as having proven their effectiveness in a single ingredient clinical trial.

'Game of Thrones' recap: 'Blackwater'

2012-05-28T12:03:00.000-04:00

Bronn (Jerome Flynn) lights up the Wildfire
Courtesy HBO/ EW.com

BY LARISSA MRYKALO

This was probably the most anticipated Game of Thrones episode of the season - and it certainly did not disappoint. HBO put up the big bucks to have the battle between Stannis Baratheon’s (Stephen Dillane) 20,000 men versus King’s Landing’s meager 7,000 men look completely breathtaking. It worked! Who were YOU rooting for, though? Stannis technically is the rightful owner of the Iron Throne and Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) is a major douche, and a horrible king, but this is more of a Team Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) situation, isn’t it? Admit it, you were routing for Tyrion because he may be a Halfman but he’s fully awesome.

The entire episode takes place in three settings: Blackwater Bay, the shore of King’s Landing and Maegor’s Hold Fast (which is basically the Red Keep’s panic room). It begins on the stormy Blackwater Bay with Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham), his son Matthos (Kerr Logan) and Stannis’ men preparing for the attack on King’s Landing. Ser Davos has faith that he will be Stannis’s hand soon. Stannis looks on with an odd smirk on his face.

If you didn’t already love Tyrion Lannister, this episode sealed the deal. His first scene is a tender and vulnerable one in bed with Shae (Sibel Kekill). She asks, “Are you afraid my Lion?” and he replies that, of course he is, because if the city falls, Stannis will find and burn every Lannister. By the look on his face, we could see that he has fearful and restless. Shae makes it all better by doing to him what he requested on their “first date”: making love to him like it’s his last day.

In a brief exchange with Cersei (Lena Headey), Grand Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover) provides her with some counsel and a vile of efficacious nightshade. One drop calms the nerves, 3 drops provides dreamless sleep and 10 ... well, Cersei knows what 10 drops can do. Great, give the unstable queen some poison.

At the King’s Landing watering hole, Bronn (Jerome Flynn) and some men-at-arms are singing “The Lannister Song” and celebrating what may be their last night. At least there are naked women for them to look at and tell stories to, right? In walks major buzzkill, The Hound (Rory McCann) and even though Bronn offers to buy him a round, they verbally square off. You could tell that “hard” Bronn just wants to drink some more and hang with his whore anyway. As a knife is about to be drawn ... saved by the bells!

“I’ve always hated the bells. They ring for horror. The dead King. The city under seige...”, says Varys (Conleth Hill). Tyrions replies “...a wedding.” Ha, exactly! Tyrion is being prepared for battle and a map is given to him. It shows the 50 miles of tunnels that the Targaryens built for an escape if there were ever a siege of the city. Varys tells Tyrion that he thinks he is the only man who could stop Stannis and his Lord of Light induced army of men. Tyrion is given a kick-ass ax to help him along. He also shakes hands with his “friend” Bronn and they vow not to get killed.

Tyrion then greets Sansa (Sophie Turner) and Shae (Sheila? He’s so smooth). Sansa is beckoned by Joffrey to “kiss his sword” he calls Hearteater. It’s big and shiny, and she gets to kiss it again when he returns. Paging Dr. Freud! Sansa knows he’ll unfortunately come back because “the worst ones always live."

Stannis’s fleet plays against the bells with their drums. It’s like a medieval Battle of the Bands. Citizens of King’s Landing scurry. Tyrion, Joffrey and Lancel (Eugene Simon) engage in a nervous verbal power-play and Davos is preparing to land. Davos and his men are in for a big green surprise.

Back with the women and children, Cersei introduces Sansa to their “defender," Ser Ilyn Payne (Wilko Johnson). He’s actually the executioner who beheaded Ned Stark and Cersei sends him out to behead some small folk who stole a horse and were trying to flee. Keep drinking that wine, Cersei, it’s making you even more fun to despise. She’d rather be a man out there fighting than cooped up with the hens. Cersei berates Sansa for praying with the other girls and tells her the story of when she was little, and praying after her mother’s death and how she was confused. What it came down to is a little life lesson for Sansa. “The best weapon is between a woman’s legs. Learn how to use it.” Yes. ma’am!

“There they are!”

Davos is curious (and so is everyone else but the knowing Tyrion and the pyromancer) as to where all of the boats are. There’s just one crewless boat with a bad leak. Wildfire! A perfectly shot flaming arrow is sent towards the glowing green water, and ... BOOM! One of the coolest shots ever in a battle sequence. The wildfire explodes and wipes out much of Stannis’ fleet, including Davos (is he really dead?). Stannis is unharmed and he prepares to take on the city. He comes ashore and arrows fly. Major bloodshed ensues in one of the bloodiest GOT episodes to date. It’s so awesomely choreographed. Lancel gets hit by an arrow and retreats.

Lancel enters Cersei’s lair as she is questioning Shae about her background and her inability to properly curtsy. Lancel informs her that the Imp has set the river afire and the fleets have been destroyed but the rest have descended on the city. She orders Lancel to bring Joffey back to his chambers immediately. When he returns again with the news that Stannis is at the gates and Joffrey should keep fighting, she pushes him down right where the arrow hit him. She needs to switch to coffee and lay off the wine.

The bloody battle rages on and Bronn saves The Hound from certain death. The Hound has pretty much had it, though, and wants some wine and a rest. Meanwhile, Stannis brings in the ladders, the battering ram (stag) and climbs up the wall and kicks some ass. We need to give him credit, he’s fighting for himself, unlike wimpy Joffrey who probably has a load in his pants by now. Joff is relieved to hear that mommy has ordered him back to his room. The men see that Joffrey orders a replacement and become complacent. Why should they risk their lives when their king isn’t there to fight by their side? Tyrion rallies the troops with an awesome speech to fight for their city, not the king. They come back to life and continue to fight.

Sansa is urged by Shae to run to her chamber and lock the door. She is certain that Ser Ilyn will hurt her (yes, he will). She listens and returns to her room but only to find The Hound cowering there. In a clear case of PTSD, he wants to flee the burning city. As a child, he was burned badly by his brother and this just isn’t sitting well with him. He offers to take Sansa back to Winterfell but she is sure that if Stannis wins, he won’t hurt her. She really can’t win here. The Hound reminds her that they’re all killers but he won’t hurt her.

Meanwhile, the battle continues and Tyrion sees that it’s getting worse and utters “Oh f*** me.” His squire saves his life (from a Lannister bannerman/assassin!) but Tyrion is then sliced across the face and collapses. Is he dead? He better not be ... he has all the best lines! A huge army and a white horse charge forward and we find Stannis being captured. What’s going on?

Leave it to GOT to leave us with an epic final scene. Cersei is sitting on the Iron Throne with her little son, Tommen (Callum Wharry) on her lap. She is holding back tears and telling him a proverbial tale about a lion cub and a mama lion and how she won’t allow anyone to hurt him. She is holding the vial of nightshade and gives it to him as she hears the battle raging on. Oh please, no! Put that down, Tommen! The doors burst open, and it’s Loras Tyrell (Finn Jones). Huh? She stands up when she sees that her daddy, Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) has saved the day! He and Renly’s massive army assembled and instead of going after Robb Stark, he came to King’s Landing. He proclaims that “we have won!” and the vial of nightshade drops to the ground.

We’re happy about this right? This is good? Next week’s final episode of the season should leave us with not only some clarification but also some major cliffhangers.

Don’t miss the season finale “Valar Morghulis” next Sunday at 9pm ET/PT on HBO.

The legacy of 'men' in black

2012-05-26T12:04:00.000-04:00

BY AARON SAGERS

They are super-secret agents who sacrifice their identities and dedicate themselves to safeguarding humanity from extraterrestrial activity, all while operating undetected in the background of a society they are sworn to protect.

Starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin, Men In Black 3 is the new installment of the science-fiction film franchise in which “MIB” agents routinely save the planet from alien threats. In the latest entry, which is heavy on time travel, agents J (Smith) and K (Jones, and Brolin as the younger incarnation of the character) rely on shiny weapons to get the job done. And to keep the average citizen from freaking out about aliens, they occasionally have to erase memories using their handy gadget, the neuralyzer.

But don’t confuse the heroes of the Men In Black movies with the nefarious men in black suits that occupy a far larger space in the consciousness of people who believe in aliens and UFOs.

The source material for the Men in Black movies was Lowell Cunningham’s early '90s comic book. The comic portrays MIB as agents who track paranormal happenings and murder witnesses to contain a situation - obviously the funny good guys of the movies are a departure from the original.

The comic's treatment hews closer to other MIB theories found in popular culture (and we’re not talking about Johnny Cash or Jacob’s brother from Lost).

The MIB were popularized in Gray Barker’s 1956 book They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers. Barker's MIB emerge in 1947 after a UFO crash in Maury Island, Washington, which coincides with the “Roswell Incident” in New Mexico. These MIB would collect data about UFOs and alien activity and threaten witnesses to keep quiet about what they saw.

Thanks to their uniform of dark suits with ties, sunglasses and hats, American folklore has proliferated the belief that MIB were federal agents. Some stories claim people encountered MIB that were also extremely pale, lacked eyebrows, and used odd speech patterns (in a very Fringe kind of way).

Even the descriptions of not-quite-right MIB - like the diminutive one with the cackle who may have appeared in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, around the time of the Mothman sightings in 1966-67 – convinced believers that if they weren’t feds investigating extraterrestrials, the MIB were aliens themselves.

Other theories within the UFO subculture posit that MIB are time-traveling or inter-dimensional beings popping in to observe (or warn, or control) us. The supernaturally inclined even speculate MIB could be demonic manifestations or Shadow People entities that have appeared to humans throughout history.

Whether they are identified as evil agents, aliens, demons or G-men, the MIB are a recurring archetype within entertainment, and are rarely portrayed as benevolent. As a character trope, they resonate with pop culture junkies because they are the personification of shadowy forces at work. Moreover, they represent a mysterious, yet powerful, “Them.”

Dressed in funereal fashion, with dark sunglasses that prevents eye contact – and thus human connection – they are never like “Us.” It makes sense, then, that some of the best MIBs in pop culture are either alien or inhuman. And when they are human, they are operating outside the law.

If the MIB do exist, they are hiding in the shadows. Still, they can be found everywhere in pop culture, and these are their 10 best appearances.

Click the link and read our list (which redirects to CNN.com's Geek Out!)

Horror Pop Culture: May 25

2012-05-25T13:49:00.000-04:00

BY ANDREW PETERS
(Editor's Note: Horror Pop Culture is a weekly round-up of horror genre news, reviews and rumors)

Lin Shaye Cast in Hell Hunters Pilot
Cinema fans should know the name Lin Shaye (left) since she has had a role in about everything from Nightmare on Elm Street, Kingpin, Detroit Rock City and, most recently, Insidious. I could go on and on, but I’d rather get to the exciting news that Lin has been cast in the Hell Hunters genre series pilot, starring Bill Moseley and Michael Berryman. Hell Hunters is an action/horror breed about two childhood friends who become murderous vigilante crime fighters after reading a horror comic. Lin Shaye will be playing Gramma Ethel, the horrible grandmother of young Hazard, in what a press release called, "her most terrifying and grotesque role yet."
(via Dread Central)

Official Release Date for Aliens: Colonial Marines
A video game acting as a direct sequel to James Cameron’s 1986 Aliens, Colonial Marines has finally settled on a release date… but, you’ll be waiting awhile. On Feb. 13, 2013, you’ll be loading up your Pulse Rifles and going on a bug hunt! From IGN.com, “In Aliens: Colonial Marines, players are part of a United States Colonial Marine squad and must prepare to face an Aliens assault more intense and horrific than ever before. Players must destroy the enemy with classic Aliens weaponry ranging from pulse rifles to flamethrowers as well as brand-new equipment. Aliens: Colonial Marines features a story driven single-player mode and a four player co-op mode allowing players to share the chilling experience with three friends. In co-op mode, each player assumes the persona of a United States Colonial Marine and have a distinct role to play in the completion of every mission.” I know it’s a long wait, but stay frosty!
(via IGN)

Gary Oldman to Create Robocop
Gary Oldman has always been one of my favorite actors. He has an impressive resume and now he can add the Robocop remake to that list. Oldman will be playing Norton, the man who is responsible for creating the one and only Robocop! Surely, this news will turn some haters into believers. Joel Kinnaman is playing Alex Murphy with Jose Padilha directing. Expect to see Robocop on Aug. 9, 2013.
(via Screen Rant)

Jason Gedrick Cast for Dexter Season 7

Iron Eagle fans may get a kick out of TV’s Dexter’s latest casting news. Seems like Jason Gedrick (right) will be playing a gentleman’s club owner who is linked to a murder case. Aside from that, not too many details, so you’ll have to wait until Sept. 30 for the seventh season to air.
(via Collider)

Hatchet 3: Cast and Ready to Shoot!
Adam Green and team are in Louisiana and all set to start shooting the new Hatchet sequel! We all know Kane Hodder and Danielle Harris are reprising their roles as Marybeth and Victor Crowley… I’ll let you figure out who is who, but some fresh blood includes Caroline Williams (best known as her role of Stretch from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) as a journalist, Derek Mears (who played Jason in the Friday the 13th remake), Zach Galligan (Gremlins), Sean Whalen, Diane Goldner and Jason Trost. BJ McDonnell is directing the third installment; while Adam Green is producing (he also wrote the script). The story centers around Marybeth (Harris) as she tries to find an end to the voodoo curse that left Crowley’s ghost to terrorize the swamp.
(via Hollywood Reporter)

'American Horror Story' house gets treated like 'Hollywood Treasure'

2012-05-25T10:05:00.000-04:00

Hollywood Treasure, Syfy's pop-culture memorabilia show, is about to get into the real estate business.

Having just premiered its second season, the show follows Joe Maddalena and his Profiles in History auction team as they scour the country hunting down (and authenticating) the coolest props/costumes/vehicles/etc that we love from movies, TV and more. But their newest acquisition, the house from American Horror Story, isn't hard to find.

The first season of the bizarro FX network cult hit centered around the house, and became as much of a character on the show as the actors. Now on the market, the episode of Hollywood Treasure featuring the house will air Tuesday, May 29 at 10 PM ET/PT on Syfy.

Profiles in History says that construction of the house began in 1904 and was completed in 1908 befoe the Catholic Church added a chapel addition in 1954. The house sits on approximately 3/4 an acre and is around 12,000 square feet. The home was built by renowned architect Alfred Rosenheim and is currently a designated historic monument. The house will be going on the market for $12 million. Maddalena and his Profiles staff will help market the property around the world with Brad Downs of Rodeo Realty Inc. of Beverly Hills, California.

Maddalena showing off his ruby
slippers, courtesy Syfy

Says Maddalena about the house:

“We’re trying to expand our reach into all areas of things that have to do with television and motion pictures and this opportunity came along. We got a phone call from a guy, and he said, ‘Hey, I have some things from American Horror Story.’ I’m like, ‘Well great. It’d be cool to get some props.’ And lo and behold, we met this man and we ended up at the American Horror Story house. The actual house is here in Los Angeles and it was surreal because I had no idea. And I’m walking up to it and it was really eerie, because you’re in the house. You’re in the rooms. You’re in the basement. You’re thinking of people hanging themselves and all this crazy stuff going on. And it’s really cool because this was like a 17,000 square foot mansion. It’s just another side of our business that we’re pursuing, is we’re going after these properties now, because they have such a value besides being a house. So for an American Horror Story fan, it was the coolest thing I’ve ever walked through in my entire life, to go through that house. And it was scary. Being in the basement, they turned the lights off. You wanted to run out of there!”

Scariest haunted highways of summer travel

2012-05-24T16:06:00.001-04:00

The impending Memorial Day weekend is traditionally considered the kick-off to summer. That means a few sunny months of cookouts, movies, beaches - and road trips. Millions of drivers (AAA says about 35 million this weekend, in fact) pack up their jalopies during the summer season to hit the open road and drive off to exciting destinations.

But as those drivers rack up mileage on their cars, they might also have a run-in with the paranormal. All across the country, and even the world, there are dozens of haunted highways, spooky streets and possessed pavement.

Kelly Robbins of TravelInsurance.org has compiled just a few of the scariest, which we've listed here. And remember, if you find yourself on any of these late at night during your summer travels, whatever you do, don't stop for hitchhikers ...

Dead Man's Curve, Ohio
Nearly a 90-degree turn on Interstate 90, Dead Man’s Curve is the most dangerous turning intersection in Clermont County. Built in 1831, it has a long list of victims, and only one survivor named Rick. Rick claims that he has seen on many occasions, a pitch black silhouette of a man, who has been nicknamed “The Faceless Hitchhiker.” Other people have claimed that there is just an eerie feeling about Dead Man’s Curve, and they tend to avoid it at night, if possible. Today, the actual location of Dead Man’s Curve is a bit grey and less specific, but as you head east on 125 and the 222 intersection, take even more caution with your driving.

Witches Hollow Road, New Jersey
Fittingly named Witches Hollow Road, this road is adjacent to a place called Witches Hollow, which also happens to be a cemetery. The images you see while on this road are enough to scare the living daylights out of you: grey tombstones, grassy hills, dark swaying trees, and even brooding vultures that are commonly found in countryside of New Jersey. It doesn’t get any creepier than that.

U.S. Route 491 (formerly U.S. Route 666), Colorado & New Mexico
The number “666″ suggests that U.S. Route 491, nicknamed “The Devil’s Highway,” is filled with bad luck. The high fatality rate along the New Mexico border has convinced many people that this highway is cursed. Since improvement projects were made, the fatality rate has lowered, but even renumbering the highway cannot shed its negative reputation for being cursed.

Kelly Road, Pennsylvania
There have been many strange occurrences reported on Kelly Road, which connects Engle Road with Route 68 in Ohioville, Pennsylvania. Some people claim to see animals that have turned rabid upon entering into the fog, bizarre apparitions, and noises that simply cannot be explained. No one can say for sure what the cause of all the paranormal activity is, but according to history, the area was near cult activity, and curses may have been placed on the land.

Bloods Point Road, Illinois
Full of terrifying legends, Bloods Point Road owes its name to Arthur Blood, one of the first settlers to lay his roots in Boone County, Illinois. Local hauntings have been given nicknames – Wheeler, Flora Church, Sweeney, Pearl, and Pool are just a few examples. A number of past tragic events, including a fatal school bus crash, could be connected to all these bizarre happenings. Though residents who live along Bloods Point Road don’t like the tales that portray their town as a Halloween hot spot, visitors in the area can’t help but slow down to attempt to experience the unexplainable.

A75 Kinmont Straight, Scotland
Numerous hauntings have occurred on this road during the past 50 years, giving it the nickname “The Ghost Road.” It’s thought to be Scotland’s most haunted road, after receiving hundreds of reports of simple, unexplainable sightings and apparitions.

M6 Motorway, England
Sometimes, size does matter when it comes to creepy roads. In England, many people will agree that the longest road in the country, the M6 Motorway, is also the most haunted. Not only are singular apparitions known to appear out of thin air, but entire parades of Roman soldiers have supposedly appeared as well. Hitchhiking ghosts along the side of the road and ghost cars that look like they’ve just been in a serious collision have also been reported.

Tuen Mun Road, Honk Kong
Hong Kong’s most heavily used road just so happens to be notorious for its frequent traffic jam collisions. Many people have claimed that while stuck in traffic, they have seen ghosts that appear in the middle of the road, causing drivers to avoid hitting the “person” before them and crashing into surrounding vehicles. Surprisingly, legend of this road being haunted goes back hundreds of years, and even in its modern state, renovations have not been made to improve the driving conditions.

'The Apparition' trailer summons ghost of the Philip Experiment

2012-05-24T13:05:00.000-04:00

The new trailer for Aug. 24 film The Apparition centers around a group of young researchers who set out to create a supernatural entity. Starring Tom Felton (Malfoy from the Harry Potter flicks), Sebastian Stan (Bucky from Captain America: The First Avenger), Ashley Greene (Alice from the Twilight movies), the trio postulate that ghosts only exist because humans believe in them - and that those beliefs and thoughts can actually create thought-form "hauntings."

Based on what we see in the short clip, the film doesn't look very original. With the tagline, "Once you believe, you die," there seems to be a lot of leaning on The Ring, The Grudge (good to see the Yurei is still getting jobs) and Paranormal Activity. And there's a weird paranormal fungus that looks kind of out of place - and is it threatening New York City and the world, as well?

But what makes The Apparition interesting is that it looks to be (very) loosely based on a true story, which we'll explore after the jump...

In the 1970s, a group called Toronto Society for Psychical Research (TSPR) gathered eight of its members and set out to create a ghost. Led by Dr. A.R.G. Owen and his wife (a former MENSA chairperson), the group crafted a fake biography for a 17th century nobleman they named Philip Aylesford. They sketched a portrait of Philip (right), surrounded themselves with images of castles a noble man from that time might have live in, and set out to summon Philip in the manner of an old-school Spiritualist seance.

By visualizing Philip, they would ask him questions and received answers in the form of raps on a table. Philip seemed to have a personality in his communications, and the team experienced a mist forming over them and reported that the table would move a significant amount on its own. Philip could also supposedly control a breeze in the room and dim lights on command. Interestingly, none of Philip's "answers" revealed substantial facts about himself or his time that the team wouldn't have already known - which suggests the answers were emerging from the team's subconscious minds.

Eventually, the so-called "Philip Experiment" was performed in front of an audience of 50 people and filmed by a television crew, and the rappings were caught on tape (some of which you can watch here).

The experiment was recreated using new ghostly creations. And while some point to it as evidence of the mind's power - and the power of suggestions - others say the groups unwittingly summoned a real entity who just answered when they were trying to conjure Philip.

However, there were no reported encounters with evil mold, ghostly Ring girls or citywide threats. So The Apparition might have just slightly tweaked the story!

For more info on the Philip Experiment, check out Stephen Wagner's story on About.com.

-Aaron Sagers

New 'Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter' trailer earns its red-band

2012-05-24T13:03:00.000-04:00

Courtesy of IGN, we get a new peek at Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter and if you were just somewhat excited about this film before, you can reset your anticipation levels to "stoked." In the gory, appropriately named red-band trailer for the June 22 movie, Honest Abe honestly kicks bloodsucking ass.

First look at Michonne of 'Walking Dead'

2012-05-23T13:49:00.000-04:00

Gurira as Michonne, courtesy EW

Now this is just badass. Entertainment Weekly has unveiled a first look at Michonne, the katana-wielding fan favorite from The Walking Dead comic, who was unofficially introduced in the AMC show's Season Two finale.

Played by Danai Gurira, the essence of Michonne's character will remain intact, says comic creator (and exec-producer on the show) Robert Kirkman. But Kirkman tells EW "there will be little tweaks and differences here and there" in Michonne's TV character.

"We saw that her introduction is slightly different from how it was in the comic, and her interaction with Andrea is really going to be a really cool addition to the character that I think will get television viewers up to speed, and they’ll get to know her a lot faster than comic book readers did," he adds.

Kirkman also mentions that her physicality and spark makes Gurira perfect for the role. In other Walking Dead news, Kirkman told EW that the prison turned zombie-proof HQ of Season Three - also teased in the S2 finale - is "really creepy, really moody and it’s just gonna be really awesome."

And in an AMC behind-the-scenes video of Season Three (embedded below), Andrew Lincoln promises a "darker, harder, faster, deeper" season.

On the comics front, to celebrate issue #100 - hitting stands July 11 - Image Comics and Kirkman's Skybound imprint will be holding a zombie obstacle course during San Diego Comic Con. Called The Walking Dead Escape, Kirkman says, "We are literally transforming Petco Park into the early days of society’s collapse and San Diego is just the first city to fall." Participants will receive a special edition of issue #100 and can register to run as a Survivor (that has to climb, crawl, hide and slide their way to safety), be a Walker or just act as a spectator.

-Aaron Sagers

'Game of Thrones' recap: 'The Prince of Winterfell'

2012-05-21T16:02:00.000-04:00

Bronn: Not a fan of gold cloaks.
Courtesy HBO

BY LARISSA MRYKALO

Who else thinks this episode should have been titled “The Calm Before the Storm” or “Love is in the Air,” instead of paying homage to the evil Theon? With only two episodes of GOT left, epic developments are on the horizon so brace yourselves!

In chilly Winterfell, we discover Theon has made sure there are no ravens to deliver news to Robb Stark (Richard Madden) about Theon’s (Alfie Allen) takeover. Little does he know that Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter) may be old but he’s a step ahead in the game and already sent that message. Theon’s sister, Yara Greyjoy (Gemma Whelan), pays him a visit but it’s not to assist him with the 500 men he wanted; it’s to bring him safely back to the Iron Islands where he belongs. Boy, is she good at snarky condescension, right? Ironically, Yara shows her softer side and they share a tender sibling scene which sets the mood for this lovefest episode. Theon refuses to run home to daddy and makes it clear that he has taken Winterfell and intends to keep it. Yara pleads with him “Don’t die so far from the sea.” A Greyjoy with a heart? Really?

In the even chillier Frost Fangs, Jon Snow (Kit Harington) is being dragged across a frozen lake to meet Skeletor ... I mean, Lord of Bones (Edward Dogliani), and he wants him gutted since he already has fellow crow, Qhorin Halfhand (Simon Armstrong) as his hostage. Ygritte (Rose Leslie) conveys to him that Jon Snow could have killed her several times and that this bastard son of Ned Stark could be a valuable source of information for wildling leader, Mance Rayder (who is planning on marching on The Wall). Damn, that redhead is convincing! This man adorned in bones listened to a woman? Later, Sam (John Bradley-West) and his fellow crows are doing some shoveling in the snow and come across an exceedingly old Night Watch’s cloak filled with “dragon glass” aka obsidian. Why is it there? Because someone wanted them to find it ... duh! I’m sure we’ll find out eventually.

Robb Stark is crushing big time on sexy nurse Talisa (Oona Chaplin) ... if that indeed is her real name. They’re walking and talking about Papa Stark and how much he would have liked her and how he’s bethrothed to some Frey girl because of a bridge and how he just wants to go home to Winterfell, and that no one will be safe until the Lannisters are defeated. Heavy stuff! It figures that news of Jaime’s (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) escape would interrupt their date and that it’s all the fault of Mama Catelyn (Michelle Fairley). She let Jaime escape to save her girls. Robb wanted him as a playing piece in his game. He’s super pissed and now mom is under constant guard. Can’t blame him at all. Catelyn ordered her gal pal, Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie), to take Jaime back to King’s Landing. He tries to challenge her to a fight so she can unchain him but she ain’t no dumb blonde! They get into a painfully small row boat and row away. That should be a fun little cruise.

Over at haunted Harrenhal, Tywin (Charles Dance) is discussing how Stannis (Stephen Dillane) will be taking over King’s Landing and will execute his kin but he seems more concerned right now about defeating Rob Stark. Arya (Maisie Williams) overhears this plan whilst performing her duties and she panics. She learns that Tywin will ride that evening so she runs to find wishmaster, Jaqen H’ghar (Tom Wlaschiha). Eventually, he turns up but for some reason, a man cannot kill Tywin, the girl needs to choose another name. Can we agree that this dude can pull off speaking in the third person? Must be his cool hair. So we sit and wonder which name Arya will blurt out and, uh oh, she chooses Jaqen H’ghar! Smart girl. We watch as Jaqen squirms and pleads with her to unname him but she has a plan. She’ll unname him if she, Gendry (Joseph Dempsie) and Hot Pie (Ben Hawkey) can escape Harrenhal. This means more than one kill, but when a man is faced with his own death, I guess genie rules could be broken? He manages to kill the guards and make them look like they’re still alive. Arya and the gang walk effortlessly out of Harrenhal. This should go smoothly, right?

Back in King’s Landing, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) is studying “The Great Sieges of Westeros” whilst Commander of the City Watch, Bronn (Jerome Flynn) cleans his nails and talks fashion with him. He doesn’t want to wear a goldcloak ... apparently it’s too flashy for him. Gossipy Varys the eunuch (Conleth Hill) comes in and compliments him on the drop in thievery since he’s taken over. However, Tyrion is quite concerned about Stannis’s knowledge about the weak spots in the city and assumes that he’ll attack at Mudgate. Over a family dinner, Cersei (Lena Headey) expresses her motherly concern to Tyrion. She is worried about her too-young son Joffrey’s (Jack Gleeson) plan to fight side-by-side with the other soldiers. Tyrion tries to show her the benefits of his plan but she’s having nothing of it. She is not happy with Tyrion trying to take her children away but IS smirking about having captured Tyrion’s secret whore. The expression on Tyrion’s face told the whole story (Dinklage is amazing). Cersei gets annoyingly cocky and when she presents Tyrion with the evidence that it’s the wrong whore, we secretly cheer that it’s not Shae (Sibel Kekill). Poor Ros (Esme Bianco) will be in quite a bit of pain if Joffrey is harmed though and if he is killed, well, she’s pretty much going to be screwed harder than she’s ever been. In a later scene overlooking the sea, Joff gets all cocky about meeting his Uncle Stannis and giving him a big, red smile. Such an ass!

If the scene when Tyrion runs frantically to Shae to proclaim that he would kill for her doesn’t touch you in some way, you have no soul. The vulnerability Tyrion shows here was heart-breaking as he begs Shae to proclaim that she is his and how they need to be more careful with their relationship. He earlier proclaimed that you don’t buy whores, you rent them. I think this one is a rent-to-own!

MORE romance? The ladies got a bonus in this episode. Robb is discussing with one of his men how he hasn’t heard back from the ravens he’s sent to Winterfell (Theon had them destroyed) when Talisa walks in and asks how he’s doing. Really? How about, “things are really quite sucky right now, I could use a good screw”? Anyway, we get Talisa’s backstory about why this highborn girl came to want to chop the feet off of the wounded. As a 12 year-old girl, she watched as a slave saved her little brother from drowning and vowed that she would dedicate her life to healing, not throwing stupid parties. This was Robb’s breaking point and he proclaimed that he doesn’t want to marry the Frey girl and takes her right there. Damn medieval garb takes too long to get off! This was actually a great “love” scene in that we know they genuinely like each other. Plus, did you notice that she was on top? He’s the King in the North but she’s the Queen in the bed (or on the floor).

In a brief scene on Stannis’s ship as it’s sailing to conquer King’s Landing, we learn another backstory. Ser Davos Seaworth’s (Liam Cunningham) story about being the Onion Knight and how he doesn’t hide from this menial title. Stannis is impressed with him and proclaims “I am the rightful king and when I sit on the throne, you’ll be my Hand.” Can we agree that Ser Davos is a cross between Obi Wan Kenobi (looks) and Sean Connery (voice)?

We briefly go back to Qarth where worried dragon mommy, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) wants her babies back. Her faithful protector, Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen), tells her that he has found a ship and captain so that they could get the hell out of there and be safe. She stands firm and will not leave the only children she’ll ever have. This scene gets touching too when she places her hand on Jorah’s face lovingly. Don’t you just wish they’d kiss and get is over with already?

The episode ends where it began: in Winterfell. Theon suggests to his First Mate that the BBQ’d boys be cut down and buried and that the point has been made. We’re still unsure if these are actually the Stark boys but Maester Luwin spies Osha the wildling (Natalia Tena) smuggling some bread around a corner. Deep breath! He enters the hiding place that is right under Theon’s nose, and we learn that those boys were probably the farmer’s children because Theon didn’t want to come back empty-handed. Poor little Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) overhears them talking and by the look in his eyes, realizes that two friends were sacrificed. Little Rickon (Art Parkinson) is safely sleeping in giant Hodor’s (Kristian Nairn) arms. We all knew those weren’t the Stark boys hanging there, right?

War is coming so prepare yourselves for “Blackwater”, next Sunday at 9pm ET/PT on HBO.

'True Blood' promo brings tears to our eyes

2012-05-21T15:47:00.003-04:00

Backed by some guitar strumming that sounds a tad bit familiar, the clever folks at HBO released a promo using the vampire soaps many, many crying scenes to letting fans know not to shed tears over True Blood - because it's almost time for Season Five.

And if you're disappointed that the promo doesn't reveal anything new about the season, remember it's no use crying over spilt plasma. - Aaron Sagers

Peter Weir to helm 'The Keep' haunted castle movie

2012-05-21T14:44:00.000-04:00

According to Variety, Peter Weir (Master and Commander, The Truman Show) will direct the film adaptation of Jennifer Egan's 2006 book "set in a mysterious medieval castle somewhere in Central Europe."

Set to shoot next spring, the film is Weir's first since 2010's The Way Back and will have a relatively modest budget of $30 million through Paris-based SBS Productions. Says Variety, The Keep "turns on two estranged American cousins who reunite to set up an alternative resort, stirring childhood traumas and phobias in a haunted castle."

The Australian-born Weir is one of those directors who doesn't work very often, but when he does, the result is always a memorable character study of unique individuals. So the thought of him applying those talents to a spooky movie is promising indeed.

Obama talks aliens with Will Smith, son Jaden

2012-05-21T14:19:00.000-04:00

Smith alongside MIB3 costars Josh Brolin,
Tommy Lee Jones. Courtesy Sony Pictures

Last week, during a routine publicity stop at the BBC for his upcoming movie Men In Black 3, Will Smith opened up about perhaps the closest thing to an admission about aliens we'll likely ever get from a president.

In the interview, Smith tells of a visit he had with President Obama and a tour the Smith family took of the Situation Room. Smith said 13-year-old son Jaden (The Karate Kid 2010) - who is a lover of all conspiracy theories - planned on asking the prez about the existence of aliens, despite his fatherly warning not to do so. So what did Obama say when Jaden asked?

"He said, 'OK, I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of extraterrestrials, but I can tell you, if there had been a top secret meeting - and if there would have had to been a discussion about it - it would have taken place in this room."

Smith joked that his son was floored by the response - and that he still has eight or nine more months of being grounded for "embarrassing me in front of the president."

-Aaron Sagers

Shedding light on my 'Total Blackout' experience

2012-05-17T15:27:00.000-04:00

Jaleel White, courtesy Syfy

I am quite the fan of Syfy's competition series Total Blackout, hosted by Jaleel White (Family Matters, Dancing with the Stars). The half-hour show, which premiered April 25, involves contestants tackling their anxieties in a series of challenges - all of which take place in complete, impenetrable darkness.

So far the show, which airs each Wednesday at 10 p.m., has been garnering some great responses (including 1.4 million viewers for the May 9 telecast). I genuinely enjoy watching people get freaked out (and love the YouTube vids when a monster pops out of nowhere). It's cathartic to let your fears take over within a controlled environment, and just plain funny to watch others get scared by the same things that scare us.

But my fondness for Total Blackout might also be slightly subjective. Back in October 2011, I was selected as a member of the press to take part in a special dry-run of the show concept in front of an audience of reporters watching via closed-circuit TV in another room. Along with a couple other reporters, Colin Ferguson of Eureka took part in the segment right before me. None of us had ever heard the name of the show before and didn't know what we were getting into. We had no contact with other contestants after they took part, and weren't even warned that we'd be thrust into the darkness. In fact, it wasn't until I went into the light that all was reveled.

Anyhow, I wanted to share Colin's and my experience as part of Total Blackout. Perhaps after you watch, you'll understand why one Syfy executive humorously said that watching me was "disturbing" and that I'd "never be a contestant on this show."

-Aaron Sagers

And here's a clip from the May 23 episode of Total Blackout:

Paranormal Pop Comics May 16

2012-05-16T12:20:00.000-04:00

BY ERIN WOLF

Kids are makin’ trouble in the neighborhood of Lovecraft in Clockworks #6 but there is no Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil to come to the rescue, little bunny foo-foos are hopping through the universe in Saucer Country #3 with their little beady eyes set on invading American politics and Truman finally learns how to change his own Free Mason diaper in The Manhattan Projects #3 while FDR undergoes a Frankenstein treatment and learns to stop worrying and love the bomb in this week’s Paranormal Pop Comics rundown:

Clockworks: Locke & Key #6 (of 6)
IDW
Written by Joe Hill; Art and Cover Art by Gabriel Rodriguez

In this stunning conclusion of Clockworks, we find Joe Hill’s gang of misfit teens at it again and this time there will be blood. There is civil unrest amongst the adolescents of Lovecraft as the hunt for the Omega Key continues…and ends. Powers from previously discovered keys come into play resulting in a gender bending, bone crushing, deliciously murderous good time as the final good kid vs. bad kid showdown unravels in the bowels of The Drowning Cave. Not to be missed, Joe Hill should hang up another key on his magical chain…the key to my heart. Okay, that was corny but this storyline is great, “key”-ep reading!

Saucer Country #3
Vertigo
Written by Paul Cornell; Art and cover by Ryan Kelly

As if it weren’t bad enough that books like It have made us afraid of Clowns and movies like Child’s Play have instilled a fear of dolls into the American psyche, but now we are being attacked by a malicious gang of bunnies? BUNNIES? Well, that’s what Governor Alvarado’s ex-husband claims the aliens that abducted him and his ex-wife/Governor looked during one of his hypno-regression therapy sessions. As for Presidential hopeful Arcadia Alvarado? Well, she’s employed her cracker jack team of advisers to figure out what the hell is going on in outer space these days and finally answer the question of whether or not Earth is about to be invaded. The team in turn employs Harvard professor Joshua Kidd who, coincidentally, is having his own visions of alien life-forms. Little glowing people and green men with oversized craniums I can handle…but please Paul Cornell, say it ain’t so, anything but bunnies!

The Manhattan Projects: The Bomb! #3
Image
Written by Jonathan Hickman; Art by Nick Pitarra and Cris Peter

I hate history but I love twisted historical fiction. FDR is dead and therefore so are the Manhattan Projects, right? RIGHT? Nope, in this “what if” series Jonathan Hickman explores several scenarios in which the alternately devious and righteous progression of technology can either improve or destroy the human race. Was there a third bomb developed by Oppenheimer, and if so, when launched will it be ridden by a rodeo cowboy who will whoop and holler waving his hat toward impact? I resent the implication that Truman ever wore a diaper to Free Mason meetings but don’t doubt for a second that a dead body can be brought back to life in some capacity. I’m still waiting for the day when MCA can be brought back in a head jar like on Futurama, RIP Adam Yauch and long live the brain of FDR.

Also released this week:
Avengers vs. X-Men #4
Marvel
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth – Devil’s Engine #1 (of 3)
Darkhorse
The Darkness #103
Top Cow
Saga #3
Image

Dark Horse Presents #12 - To be released May 23
Dark Horse is releasing the twelfth installment of the critically acclaimed Dark Horse Presents series on May 23rd. This most recent issue of DH's anthology of comics greatness will feature a brand-new Aliens story by Chew’s John Layman and legendary artist Sam Kieth, Dean Motter’s Mister X, and last but not least, the reemergence of Mike Baron and Steve Rude’s intergalactic fighting force, Nexus. I am also happy to mention there will be a Steve Niles favorite Criminal Macabre making an appearance along with the popular Black Beetle series and L.A. Book Prize awardee Carla Speed McNeil’s Finder.

'Ghostbusters' NYC tour: Better than Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947

2012-05-15T16:34:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wanted to hop in Ecto-1 and leave the firehouse headquarters in TriBeCa to check out paranormal activity in the New York Public Library in Midtown and at an Upper West Side apartment - and perhaps pop into Columbia University in Washington Heights to harass Dean Yeager?

If you're a) A fan of one of the best movies ever, and b) a paranormal pop culture junkie, then clearly the answer is yes, and you already knew I was talking about locations from the classic 1984 movie Ghostbusters.

Well, as it happens, a lot of Big Apple ground is covered in the movie, and the boys over at Bleeding Cool have put together a pretty awesome video tour guide (and with electric guitar accompaniment) which includes location, according to appearance in the movie, that allows you to relive the best lines all in one day.

This is super cool, and as a fellow New Yorker, I'm pleased to say it's also accurate. Although, since you won't likely have a 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor combo car to drive around in, you'll have to settle for a Metrocard and a subway line - but anyone who lives in NYC knows a ride on the trains can sometimes be a more haunting experienc more frightening than the Tunguska blast of 1909. And we think Dr. Raymond Stantz would approve.

-Aaron Sagers

(Via BuzzFeed)

Syfy announces dates for a paranormal summer

2012-05-15T14:52:00.000-04:00

Looks like Syfy can't get enough of the unexplained this summer. According to a new press release, the network is rolling out a slew of paranormal-themed movies and shows - including two new ones - to give you chills during the warmer months. Let's dive in and see what they are so you can mark your calendars and set your DVRs now.

JUNE

HAUNTED COLLECTOR
(Season two premiere)
Wednesday, June 6, 9 p.m.
Haunted Collector features eminent paranormal collector John Zaffis, who searches for objects that have become home to paranormal spirits and/or energy. Each week Zaffis and his family help someone who’s terrorized by something strange in their own home, using the latest technology to identify the source of the paranormal activity. On the season 2 premiere of Haunted Collector, the team heads to Warsaw, Kentucky, where a woman’s home is suffering hauntings, possibly from two steamboats which crashed in a fiery collision, killing more than 60 people in 1868. Next, they travel to Huron, Ohio, in a race against the clock to remove the dangerous energy from an abandoned silo, scheduled to be destroyed in 48 hours.

SCHOOL SPIRITS
Wednesday, June 20 at 10 p.m.
From executive producer Mark Burnett, School Spirits travels to schools and universities all across the country to recount the true ghost stories experienced on these academic campuses. The stories will be told in first person narratives through the testimonials of real students, teachers, parents and staff that have encountered the paranormal activity, blended with bone-chilling cinematic reenactments to further bring the haunting experiences to life. Executive producers: Mark Burnett (Survivor, The Voice) and Seth Jarrett & Julie Insogna Jarrett (Celebrity Ghost Stories).

JERSEY SHORE SHARK ATTACK
Saturday, June 9 at 9 p.m.
Led by an all-star cast of Tony Sirico (The Sopranos), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas), Jack Scalia (Dallas), Joey Fatone (‘N Sync), William Atherton (Die Hard) and Vinny Guadagnino (Jersey Shore) the movie unfolds during the July Fourth weekend at the Jersey Shore, where angry sharks are on a rampage, devouring residents, leaving it to the local Guidos to save the day. The movie also stars Jeremy Luke as The Complication, Melissa Molinaro as Nooki, Joey Russo as Donnie, Daniel Booko as Balzac, Audi Resendez as B.J., and Alex Mauriello as J-Moni.

PIRANHACONDA
Saturday, June 16 at 9 p.m.
Part fish! Part snake! All killer! In B-movie icon Roger Corman’s latest, a hybrid creature – half piranha and half anaconda - attacks a movie crew on location near her nest when her egg is stolen. Now they must outrun and kill the deadly piranhaconda as well as stop the mad scientist who stole the egg - before they all become dinner. Stars Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill: I & II) and Rachel Hunter (The Benchwarmers).

ARACHNOQUAKE
Saturday, June 23 at 9 p.m.
In Arachnoquake, starring Tracey Gold (Growing Pains), massive earthquakes unleash giant albino spiders. Freed from their ancient subterranean prison, the spiders go on a murderous rampage through New Orleans. Joining Gold will be Bug Hall (The Little Rascals), Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager) and Edward Furlong (Terminator 2: Judgment Day).

BIGFOOT
Saturday, June 30 at 9 p.m.
Television legends Danny Bonaduce (The Partridge Family) and Barry Williams (The Brady Bunch) star as life-long rivals battling over Bigfoot. Howard Hesseman (Head of the Class), Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks), Andre Royo (The Wire) and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alice Cooper (School’s Out) co-star in the movie, which is directed by Oscar and Emmy nominee Bruce Davison (X-Men).

JULY

DESTINATION TRUTH
(Season 5 premiere)
Tuesday, July 10 at 8 p.m.
Season 5 opens with two special back-to-back episodes, as Josh Gates and his team lead viewers on a chase into one of the world’s biggest caves in the jungles of Vietnam to search for Bigfoot. Then, at the overwhelming request of fans, they’ll travel to Romania for a return visit to the haunted Hoia Bachu Forest, the site of their most terrifying investigation to date, and then explore the reportedly haunted Mayan ruins of Tikal in pursuit of a monster known as the Belize Goblin. They'll also lead viewers into a remote Transylvanian village on a hunt for vampires and journey to Kazakhstan (a Destination Truth first) to search for the legendary Kazakh monster. Josh Gates and Erin Ryder serve as co-executive producers.

PARANORMAL HIGHWAY
Premieres Tuesday, July 10 at 10 p.m.
Paranormal Highway puts the pedal to the metal as Jack Osbourne and his friend Dana Workman do their own first-person investigations of the most frightening claims of paranormal activity along America’s remote back roads. Fueled by eyewitness interviews and evidence collected by Jack’s state-of-the-art equipment, he and Dana will travel alone, self-documenting their harrowing face-to-face encounters with the paranormal.

AUGUST

PARANORMAL WITNESS
(Season two premiere)
Premieres Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 10 p.m.
Using a mixture of intimate first-hand testimony, actual home video and gritty realistic drama, the hit series Paranormal Witness returns to transport viewers into a world turned upside-down by extraordinary, terrifying and sometimes life-threatening paranormal events.

-Aaron Sagers

'Battleship' dead in the water, doesn't stay afloat

2012-05-15T12:03:00.000-04:00

An alien ship emerges. Courtesy Universal

BY AARON SAGERS

It is fitting that the new alien invasion movie Battleship is based on a popular Hasbro game since it follows so many rules.

The “not living up to his potential” likable protagonist, outgunned soldiers, demolished cities, enormous explosions, fast-moving action sequences, montages and even AC/DC songs. The tropes in the Peter Berg-directed sci-fi effort are so familiar to Michael Bay's work that Battleship could just as easily be titled Transformers on the Water - starring robots with less personality.

Starring Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna and Liam Neeson, the movie adapts the naval guessing-game on a grid (which existed long before toy company Milton Bradley introduced its version in the 1940s) into an alien vs. humans flick. The premise is that NASA has been trying to make a phone call to outer space from a Hawaiian satellite post, and Earth gets a rather nasty return call from humanoid E.T.s at the same time an international “war games” is taking place off Hawaii’s coast. After the aliens put a force field around the islands and start trashing the joint, it’s up to a small band of sailors – led by Kitsch’s character Hopper - sealed off from the rest of the Navy to fight back and save the day. There’s also a subplot about Hopper’s hot girlfriend Sam (Brooklyn Decker) - conveniently the daughter of the gruff, Hopper-hating Admiral Shane (Liam Neeson) – who must disable a communications array, along with a scientist and a soldier with prosthetic legs.

Before the aliens ever show up, there’s a too-long sequence highlighting the character failings of Hopper. Once they do, however, a lot of stuff blows up, people die, characters mature and audiences are treated to a few Easter Eggs from the board game.

But over the course of 131 minutes, the movie is never exciting enough to make you care.

Sure, the plot is pretty weak, as is the dialogue, but that is sometimes excusable if a filmmaker can convince the viewer the villains are really “eee-vil” evil and the stakes are high. The best viewers can hope for here is a key death and a wide-eyed little kid watching the destruction (but this kid does it so well he must have a future in other disaster flicks - watching an asteroid hurtle to the Earth, watching a monster emerge from the oceans, etc.)

There are other attempts to make us feel like puny humans about to lose our planet, but since most of the action takes place on the seas against alien ships - and against exo-suited humanoids - we never get a sense of them as bad guys. Through the wizardy of CGI effects (cool but no more impressive than even the last Transformers movie), we learn they are obviously technologically superior, but who are they? For all the characters know, they may just be pissed off that Earth has been crank calling their planet. Even though their ships are very cool and I'd like to purchase one of their suits with Trap Jaw accessories, there is never a showdown where one alien strokes his mustache (or, in this case, porcupine goatee), reveals his plan and makes us really, really fear them.

The movie also leans so heavily on the proud tradition of armed service and troop support that it sometimes feels like a very long, big budget Navy recruitment video. While there is certainly nothing wrong with honoring service in movies, it smacks of a cheap, heavy-handed shortcut for character development and emotional reaction here. The greatest generation is reduced to a great Hollywood cop out. There is even a sequence (and montage) towards the end of the movie so schmaltzy with its attempt to get viewers rooting for sailors and alien ass-kicking that it elicited an audible laughter in the theater.

Battleship also significantly suffers by being released just a couple weeks after The Avengers. Audiences have already seen aliens destroy a city this summer movie season, and those guys were led by a convincingly evil demi-god and repelled by a better set of developed heroes - and the spectacle was more fun. Even though Kitsch played Gambit once, he's no Hulk.

The appropriate movie critical kicker for this movie would be to suggest Battleship should be sunk, or that it likely won’t stay afloat at the box office. But instead, it is enough to say the movie is so weighed down with formulas that it’s dead in the water and rudderless; it takes a long time to get out to sea and then goes nowhere.

So you say you want a 'Revolution'?

2012-05-15T11:36:00.000-04:00

Who turned out the lights? Apparently NBC and Iron Man director Jon Favreau will, along with help from J.J. Abrams, this fall when the new show Revolution debuts. Set in a world 15 years after humanity loses electricity and power, the show is a post-apocalyptic saga where rebels must fight against martial law and ... well, you get the idea.

As our colleague, CNN.com's Henry Hanks put it, it's The Walking Dead, Terra Nova and Falling Skies without zombies, dinos or aliens.

What do you think of the first look? The swordplay looks sweet, and it's always a pleasure to see Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), but will you tune in to see a world thrust into the dark?

James Franco blogs about haunted New Orleans tour

2012-05-14T13:42:00.003-04:00

Franco in 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes'

Over at Huffington Post, actor James Franco goes into detail about a nighttime field trip on a haunted New Orleans tour while taking a break from filming The End of the World (the Seth Rogen-directed meta movie where celebs Franco, Rogen, Emma Watson, Jason Segel, Mindy Kaling play themselves when the apocalypse happens).

After hearing some real facts about the city ("the dead buried in New Orleans outnumber the living 10-to-1") and likely less-real ("the French Quarter is cursed because it was built on top of a Native burial ground"), Franco compares New Orleans to "amusement park where you can get killed."

Of the few ghost stories Franco heard about on his tour, there was the haunting of the Andrew Jackson Hotel, a few vampire legends and the tale of the LaLaurie Mansion - previously owned by Nicolas Cage. Perhaps the most infamous (and supposedly most famous) location in New Orleans, the LaLaurie Mansion was the site of slave torture, although some of the more gory details Franco relates (a [secret chamber held "living and dead victims of a variety of mutilations: amputations, limbs exchanged between people, sexes switched ... skin flayed in designs to turn the victims into 'human caterpillars' and other grotesque monstrosities") is the stuff of folklore and fiction.

However, while Franco does not explicitly admit to a belief in ghosts, he does relay a ghostly story that took place in New Orleans while filming Sonny (which was, interestingly, directed by Cage):

Bourbon Orleans Hotel

"Nic Cage and I purposely took the two haunted rooms in the Bourbon Orleans Hotel, itself a former convent. My room was said to house the spirit of a nun who had leapt from the window. After unpacking my bags, I heard the sound of rushing water and realized that the sink in the bathroom was running full blast. It hadn't been on when I entered the room, and its knob wasn't the least bit loose. I spoke to the empty room and assured whatever spirits resided there that I was on their side. At first I thought it was a gag for tourists, but when I asked the maid, she knew nothing about it. Instead, she told me about the ghost of a Confederate soldier who chased female guests with blond hair. People in New Orleans believe in ghosts."

-Aaron Sagers

'True Blood' Season 5: Bad times in Bon Temps?

2012-05-14T11:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, HBO unveiled a trailer for the June 10 return of True Blood (less than a month away!) and it looks like all-out war is coming to Bon Temps.

The Season 5 peek shows Christopher Meloni of Law & Order fame (as well as Oz and Wet Hot American Summer) settling in nicely as vampire Roman of The Authority. As if he isn't threatening enough, a vamped Rev. Steve Newlin (Michael McMillian) and Russell Edgington (the excellent Denis O'Hare) are back as well. We also get glimpses of demonoid Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) and a teamed-up Eric (Alexander Skarsgård) and Bill (Stephen Moyer).

Other hints suggest at more of a look at the hierarchy (and religion?) of the vampire world. And we can guess that we've not seen the last of Tara (Rutina Wesley), but the season appears to pick up right where we left off, with Tara taking a bullet from Debbie and bleeding out on Sookie's (Anna Paquin) floor.

What else did you notice from the teaser? Any other characters or supernatural elements you hope to see show up in Bon Temps? Are you even excited for Season 5 or are you over TB?

-Aaron Sagers

'Games of Thrones' recap: 'A Man Without Honor'

2012-05-14T09:27:00.000-04:00

Bran & Hodor on the move, courtesy HBO

BY LARISSA MRYKALO

With only three more episodes remaining of Season Two of Game of Thrones, the building tension is becoming as uncomfortable as Jon Snow is when he’s discussing his private parts with Ygritte. This episode brought us even more twists and surprises, and we could just sense that a large battle is brewing in the near future.

Theon wakes alone in his bed and goes to find that his guard has been murdered and imprisoned brothers Bran (Isaac Hempstead-Wright) and Rickon Stark (Art Parkinson) have escaped with their wildling protector Osha (Natalia Tena) and gentle giant Hodor (Kristian Nairn). Theon is super pissed and beats the crap out of a man for accusing him of being at fault because of his evening romp with Osha. He assembles a search party, including Maester Luwin (Donald Sumpter), to whom he promises that he will hurt but not kill Bran and Rickon. The escapees come upon a familiar farm house but Bran is concerned that the family will be tortured for information if they are discovered to have been there. Theon later comes upon the farm and finds evidence that they were there. He is furious and sends Maester Luwin back to Winterfell.

Back in the Frost Fangs, Ygritte (Rose Leslie) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) wake from their slumber and Jon finds his hand on her breast prompting him to speculate about what may have gone on during the night. Ygritte goes on to harass Jon about being a virgin and wonders how the men of the Night Watch handle their sexual urges. Damn, she’s persistent and is hell-bent on getting Jon to get savage with her. Jon defends himself and the oath he has taken regarding sex and even shows anger towards her queries. He claims to know what to do during sex but Ygritte utters the well-known line from the book: “You know nothing, Jon Snow.”

Ygritte also questions why they are fighting against her and her people and makes it clear that they are free and were the original settlers of the lands. She even proposes that she join the tribe and play house with her or even another, “You’re a pretty lad. Girls would claw each other’s eyes out to get naked with you.” Way to sound civil, Ygritte! She continues to be sexually relentless and also reminds him of how far from his men he probably is. She then escapes and Jon finds himself surrounded by wildlings. Good thing he didn’t accept her warm and wet invitation ... he would have had quite an audience!

The scenes between Tywin Lannister (Charles Dance) and Arya (Maisie Williams) in Harrenhal are short, but so engaging. Don’t you agree? Tywin believed that the poisoned dart that killed Ary’s second victim was intended for him and he watches as suspects are executed on the grounds below. Tywin offers Arya his dinner because clearly he’s not a big fan of mutton. Or is he starting to feel fatherly towards her and thinks she needs nourishment? He tells her that, “This will be my last war, win or lose.” and that this is the war he’ll be remembered for. Arya continues to try to keep up her game but impresses him with her knowledge of history and even prompts him to compare her to his daughter, Cersei (Lena Headey). Methinks that Tywin is starting to suspect that Arya is not a stone mason’s daughter, especially when she makes the medieval “m’lord” versus “my lord” error. No doubt, Arya has smarts, but she’s still a naive young girl who needs to keep quiet or else her life with be in danger.

In a brief scene between Lady Sansa (Sophie Turner) and The Hound (Rory McCann), she thanks him for saving her from being raped. He proclaims that “killing is the sweetest thing there is” and portends that one day, she’ll be thankful for his penchant for killing. Later, Sansa wakes from a nightmare where she is about to be raped and stabbed. Her nightmare doesn’t end when she discovers that she has started bleeding. This means she is ready to bear King Joffrey’s (Jack Gleeson) evil baby princes or princesses. Her handmaiden - and Tyrion's gal pal - Shae (Sibel Kekill) walks in and tries to help her cover it up but is discovered by another girl. Shae chases her down and threatens her not to tell. It’s too late though ... apparently the Hound picked up the scent.

In a strangely touching scene with Cersei, Sansa is reminded how she is a woman now and how painful and long her labor with Joffrey was. She also mentions how King Robert (Mark Addy) used to go out hunting when she bore his children, but her dear brother Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) remained by her side. Cersei gets all sentimental and tells Sansa that Joffrey won’t be as devoted as Jaime was. Sansa proclaims that she loves Joffey with all her heart which prompts an epic quote of season two, “The more people you love, the weaker you are” and “Love no one but your children.”

Perfect for an episode that aired on Mother’s Day, right?

Cersei later has a hug-worthy scene with brother, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) when they discuss how Stannis Baratheon’s (Stephen Dillane) ships will be arriving soon. Tyrion feels that Joffrey needs to “step-up” but Cersei feels shame that he doesn’t listen to her and that she wished he would have turned out like his uncle/father, Jaime. Tyrion actually compliments her on how well her other two children turned out and shows his softer side. Did we almost feel sorry for Cersei tonight?

Poor Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) is still missing her three baby dragons and even though Xaro Xhoan Daxos (Nonso Anozie) offers her his help because he made a pledge to her, she doesn’t seem to want his intervention. She dubs the dragons “the most valuable thing in the world” and as we see later on, Xaro is very well aware of this fact.

Jorah Mormont (Iain Glen) returns to Dany when he hears of the slaughter of “her people” and they have a nice chat about trust. Dany appears vulnerable and defeated and frankly, she’s kind of acting like a brat. Jorah reminds her that “no one can survive without help” and all Dany wants is for him to “find my dragons.” Jorah then gets some insider info at the “Masked Lady Naked Body Painting Emporium” when she reveals not only that she knows he is in love with Dany but that Dany is currently with the dragon thief. He rushes to find her but, oh well, she’s with the entire “Thirteen”!

Fancy Spice Merchant dude reminds Dany that her dragons will only bring death and she is better off without them but then, Qarth’s Sexiest Warlock Alive, Pyat Pree (Ian Hanmore), reveals his and Xaro’s arrangement. So clever! Pyat Pree magically appears behind 11 of the 13 and slits their throats, turning the Thirteen into the two power-hungry Qarthians. Pree wants Dany to come with he and Xaro to the House of the Undying to help raise the dragons and they could all be in power together. Never trust a warlock with blue lips.

Back at Camp Stark in the Riverlands, Alton Lannister (Karl Davies) delivers news to Robb Stark (Richard Madden) that even though Cersei “admired your spirit,” she tore up the “peace” treaty he sent her. Robb puts Alton up for the night with his cousin Jaime while new lodgings are built for him. Then Robb’s nurse-crush Talisa (Oona Chaplin), informs him that she needs more medical supplies to tend to his men. He walks up nice and close to her and offers his help. She wants to go to the Crag with him when he goes to negotiate a surrender ... the Maester keeps a nice first aid kit there apparently. That should be a fun road trip!

Alton seems to enjoy his time with cousin Jaime (whose handsome face is hardly recognizable) and they talk about the good old days and how Alton once squired for Jaime. It’s actually kind of nice but since Jaime is an a-hole, we suspect he has an ulterior motive. He inches closer to his enamoured kin and reveals that he is not good at being constrained and to be free, Alton must die. He beats him to death and then strangles the guard who comes upon the scene. Jaime briefly escapes but is retrieved and brought to Lady Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley). Poor Catelyn wants nothing more than to have the angered father of the strangled guard kill Jaime but she knows that he is the key to getting her daughters back from the Lannisters in King’s Landing. Jaime is put in the stockade and Catelyn and her loyal sidekick, Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) pay him a visit. Jaime is detestable when he brings up her late husband’s whoring around days and how much Catelyn must have hated having Jon Snow around as a reminder. She demands Brienne’s sword and ...

In a heart-wrenching final scene, Theon says to the people of Winterfell that he warned them what would happen if they were not loyal to him. Maester Luwin is dragged out and it is revealed to him and the townsfolk, what appears to be two charred and hanged children. It is implied that it is the Stark boys when the Maester lets out a blood-curdling “noooo!”

Is Theon bluffing? Will Jon Snow regret not knocking Uggs with Ygritte? Will Tyrion and Cersei finally get along and maybe even hug it out? Will Dany align for Xaro and Pyat Pree and become one big happy family?

Watch episode 8 of Season 2, “The Prince of Winterfell”, next Sunday at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.