STARBUCKS CUP ALSO APPEARS IN HORROR MOVIES!

If you’ve been watching the final season of Game of Thrones, then you might know about the scene where a Starbucks cup made a surprise appearance. It was a shock to many, as obviously someone didn’t remove the cup. HBO had fun with it, so I decided to have some fun with it as well. I found some other places a Starbucks cup could have been left in popular horror movies. Enjoy…

 Doesn't look like it did her much good!

 She better wake up before Jason comes for her coffee (or probably her)!

Starbucks cup is making sure Michael stays off the lawn!

Looks like Pennywise is keeping at least one of the losers awake!

Who knew the Starbucks cup floats too!

Wonder if they are eating the Uber Eats driver with the coffee!

Don't think Chucky can reach the Starbucks cup from there!

Hopefully it's not after midnight!

 Did the Starbucks upset his stomach?

 If she saw the cup she would know he's outside!

 Wonder if that's a bad Starbucks cup!

 She's going to have to spin her head around to drink that! 

She can't sleep because she's drinking too much coffee!

PET SEMATARY REVIEW

Dr. Louis Creed and his wife, Rachel, relocate from Boston to rural Maine with their two young children. The couple soon discover a mysterious burial ground hidden deep in the woods near their new home.

Starring: Jason Clarke, Amy Seimetz, Jete Laurence, and John Lithgow

Directed by: Kevin Kolsch, and Dennis Widmyer

Written by: Matt Greenberg, Jeff Buhler, and Stephen King

  We continue to be in the new era of Stephen King. This time comes the remake of “Pet Sematary.” Not a bad choice, but do we need another remake…probably not. Regardless, it’s here so lets talk about it!

  Maybe it’s knowing what’s coming, but the first half of the movie seems to drag. The family moves to the new town, and settles into their new home. Curiosity gets the best of Ellie (Jete Laurence), as she investigates the pet sematary. Before she can get into any big trouble, she meets the nice yet odd neighbor Jud (John Lithgow.) John seemed like a great choice to play this role, but something just didn’t click there. He’s still good, but just didn’t come off in the same way Fred Gwynn did. 

  The movie picks up once the truck comes barreling down the street, and takes aim at (hopefully the trailer ruined it for you and not me)… both kids? Yes, the trailer gives away the twist, which is terrible, but the way they shoot the scene is really good. Both kids are in danger, but one ultimately pays the price. The scene still pays a little bit of tribute to the original, yet finds a way to be its own. 

  Besides the truck scene, they also had to decide how they wanted this to end. Again, a little of the same, but then they take it in an even darker direction. Using an older child this time around allows for Ellie to be more physically and verbally abusive to her parents than Gage. As creepy as the Gage was, this approach holds its own. Call the final scene dramatic, ridiculous, freaky or whatever, but it will leave audiences wondering what’s next.

  So here’s another remake that is what it is…another remake. The beginning is slow probably because most already know the story. The twist is the biggest thing in the movie, and should have been nice to witness in theaters with how the scene plays out. However the marketing department, who should be fired, ruins it by showing audiences the twist in the trailers. They kind of make up for it by making the ending their own, but it’s not enough to “wow” the masses. With that, I give “Pet Sematary” 2 pools of blood.

  HorrO

US REVIEW

A family’s serenity turns to chaos when a group of doppelgängers begins to terrorize them.

Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright, Evan Alex, and Elisabeth Moss

Directed and written by: Jordan Peele

  Coming off of “Get Out,” it appears like Jordan Peele has been anointed the new king of horror. It would be nice to see a few more movies before handing him the crown, but that’s all fine and good. All that really means is that “Us” better be pretty good, which it turns out to be. However, is it better than “Get Out?”

  Lets start with giving credit to the cast of the Wilson family for their performances. They’re great in their roles as the average family, but even better when playing their sinister selves. The story really centers on Adelaide Wilson, which really puts the pressure on actress Lupita Nyong’o. She is asked to cover so much ground, and does it perfectly. If you raved about Toni Collette's performance in “Hereditary,” you should be raving about Lupita’s performance as well.

  Obviously the doppelgängers put the true horror in this movie. Standing in the shadows, making freaky movements, and especially the creepy looks on their faces is where it all begins. There is plenty of tension, but nothing like when the families sit face-to-face. The audience, like the Wilsons, will be dying to know what they want, and why are they so strange even though they look so similar. Then the movie kicks it into high gear as the worst version of themselves try to take their place in life.

  A lot of this movie is going to ride on what the audience thinks of the twist, and the ultimate reason for what happens. Being a true horror fan, shamefully I feel like I should have gotten the main twist a lot sooner. Once again, I was paying attention to other things, and overlooked the obvious. With that, I’ll give Jordan credit for fooling me there. Now as to the reason for it all, that didn’t do much for me. It kind of made me think of some of the strange endings to some M. Knight movies that didn’t turn out so well.

  There are reminders of other movies like that “The Strangers” feel when the doppelgängers show up at the house. Lupita’s role also reminded me in some ways of James McAvoy in “Split.” Like in “Get Out,” Jordan continues to use well timed comedy to break the tension. Also, this movie makes a statement, but it might not be as obvious. Is “Us” better than “Get Out”…that will be a great debate, and matter of opinion. What’s true about “Us” is that it’s first and foremost a horror movie that is driven by fabulous performances, plenty of creepiness and tension, and definitely a weird reason behind it all. That is why I might lean towards “Us” in this great debate, and give it 3.5 pools of blood.

  HorrO

HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U REVIEW

Tree Gelbman discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead.

Starring: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, and Phi Vu

Directed by: Christopher Landon

Written by: Christopher Landon, and Scott Lobdell

  With low expectations, “Happy Death Day” actually turned out to be an alright movie. While it ended up with a pretty good twist, it was still bothersome that there wasn’t a better explanation as to why Tree (Jessica Rothe) lived the same day over and over. Well with a little patience enter “Happy Death Day 2U,” and the explanation. A nice little science fiction explanation that takes this sequel into a new dimension.

  Yes, the audience still gets to see Tree die over and over again. Like the original, she dies at the hands of the killer a few times, but there also some changes. There’s a really funny sequence where Tree gets to pick how she dies, and does so repeatedly. Because she ends up in another dimension, she’s not the only one who takes a turn at dying, which is also refreshing. Repeating the same day also means much of the same cast returns, but some play different roles in this new dimension. 

  “Happy Death Day 2U” successfully takes on the task of taking the same day, and making it feel new. It answers a key question left open in the original, and does so in an entertaining science fiction way. They have a little more fun with the deaths, while still keeping the mystery killer around. The same characters are back, and some are given new roles, which again helps give the movie a new feel. I must also be in another dimension because I’ll do something rare and give this sequel 3 pools of blood, which is higher than I gave the original, just because they met a bigger challenge this time around.

  HorrO 

**There is an extra credit scene**

GLASS REVIEW

***Spoiler Alert***

Security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.

Starring: James McAvoy, Bruce Willis, and Samuel L. Jackson

Directed and written by: M. Night Shyamalan

  No question that M. Night has made some really good movies, and some really bad ones. Some easily stand out as good, and some as bad with a few in the middle. We can argue which one goes where, but it might be fair to say many people are fans of “Unbreakable,” and “Split.” Now the question is can he finish off this trilogy on a high note, or will it fizzle out like many of his not so great movies?

  Speaking of high notes, “Glass” starts off on one. The audience is quickly updated on the life of David Dunn (Bruce Willis), and even gets to see him in action. On the flip side, the audience also gets to see what the Horde (James McAvoy) has been up to since the end of “Split.” And what can be better than seeing them apart…lets bring them together! Soon enough, David and the Beast have their first face-off! What a great start to the movie!

  And then Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) comes into the picture, and ruins things. She has the two taken to facility, where she also has Elijah (Samuel L. Jackson) captive. She has built their rooms, and even parts of the facility in order to hold the three of them. The best is how she has a machine that when triggered can change the personality of the Horde with the flash of a light. It’s fun because it’s like spinning the wheel of personalities never knowing who you’re going to get. 

  Dr. Ellie has them there to try to convince them that they aren’t superheroes. David and the Beast are still eager to go another round while Elijah is basically a zombie. It’s a great shot when she sits face-to-face with all three of them, but ultimately her plan seems to not be going anywhere. She even brings in Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) to appeal to Kevin. Just when the audience might start to worry about how this is all going to end Elijah finally snaps out of it in time to make friends with the Horde. He makes promises of an epic showdown between the Beast and David, as the two make their escape. 

  The final act is here and it’s make it or break it time for the movie. Does the audience get an epic fight…not really! The fight doesn’t reach Elijah’s planned location, as it takes place on the front lawn of the facility. Instead of being witnessed by the world, it’s witnessed by Dr. Ellie, David’s son, Casey, and some staff. David’s son injects a small twist in the story, while Casey is there to comfort Kevin. How the two even know to be there at that moment might need revisiting, but continuing on. This is where M. Night has to make his statement and prove this is different than other superhero movies by killing off all three of his main characters. Let the disappointment set in! 

  Dr. Ellie works for some secret organization (because there has to be a secret organization) to basically keep superheroes out of the spotlight. Just as she thought she won, Elijah happened to have a plan of his own to prove to the world superheroes do exist. So back and forth they go on the existence of superheroes. M. Night is brave enough to kill off his main characters, but had to try to keep a twist in there with what Elijah did. So who cares if the world gets to see there are people with powers out there when you just killed three of them! 

  In the end, “Glass” starts off great mostly because the audience is getting that superhero vibe of the hero searching for and facing off with the villain. But if the audience came to see a typical superhero movie this isn’t it, and they might be as bored as Bruce Willis seems to be. The only thing that really holds up the movie when Dr. Ellie gives a weak effort to reform the three is James McAvoy's fantastic performance that carries over from “Split.” The movie ultimate dies just as the main characters die. M. Night just has to continue his commentary on superhero movies/comics until the very end. This movie is definitely the weakest of the trilogy, probably landing in the middle of the pack of M. Night movies, and deserving of only 2 pools of blood!

  HorrO