Entertainment
Scariest Ghost Movie Of All Time Now Streaming Free
By Brian Myers
| Published
For a horror fan, the genre can seem to be over-saturated with a combination of slasher films, bloody gore fests, and tales of demonic possession. Good old fashioned ghost stories are a far underutilized storyline, but the ones that have been created will often deliver levels of chills that exceed anything that features a hockey masked killer or a zombie horde. One of the greatest ghost story movies ever produced was a Canadian entry from 1980 titled The Changeling, a terrifying feature film that is now reaching a new fan base on Tubi.
The Haunted Mansion Setup
The Changeling is the tragic story of a man who suffers the loss of his wife and daughter in a car accident, and how he moves out of the area to find himself again. But when composer John Russell (George C. Scott) moves into the long-abandoned Seattle mansion, he is immediately made aware that someone (or something) is present alongside him in his new home.
At first, it seems as though he might be going mad from grief. But it becomes apparent that Russell is quite lucid, and could very well be haunted by the spirits of one of his recently deceased family members. As he digs into the home’s history, he discovers that it has been the site of several tragic figures that met their ends while only children.
Digging For Answers
The Changeling sees Russell conduct a seance to communicate with the spirit in his home and discovers that he is being haunted by the ghost of a nine-year-old boy named Joseph Carmichael. Joseph reveals to Russell that he was murdered by his father and replaced by an orphan in what was a scheme to keep the large financial estate of the Carmichael family intact. Russell is directed to property once owned by the Carmichael’s with the instruction to excavate the site of an old well, where the boy’s remains could be found.
Standing in the way of Joseph’s eternal peace is the orphan who replaced him, a powerful United States Senator who bears the name of the dead kid.
Haunted On Multiple Levels
The Changeling is a slow build, its creepy elements slowly giving way to sinister acts committed at the hands of the ghostly Joseph. George C. Scott gives the film his best work between Patton and The Exorcist III, playing Russell as a character that is believably grief-stricken and equally haunted by the paranormal events that unfold around him. Scott takes the movie in directions otherwise not possible, giving a ghost story a sense of realism that works to make the terror all that more believable.
Allegedly Based On True Events
It might seem like it was concocted from the imagination of a Hollywood screenwriter, but The Changeling was, in fact, based on true events. The script was the work of American playwright Russell Hunter, who used his chilling experiences as a guest in a Colorado hotel as the basis for the film. According to Hunter, he was living in a rented room at the Henry Treat Rogers mansion in Denver and began experiencing paranormal phenomena.
While investigating mysterious noises, Hunter stumbled across a journal from the 19th century that he maintained was written by a disabled boy who was shut away from the world by his cruel parents. Like in The Changeling, a seance was held to communicate with the boy’s spirit, leading Hunter to dig until he found the skeletal remains and christening medal belonging to the child.
Whether true or just a figment of the writer’s imagination, the events translated well into Hunter’s screenplay and were brought to life by Peter Medak’s wonderful direction. Canadian composer Rick Wilkins gave the production one of the most chilling cinematic scores, adding layers of both suspense and horror to an already unsettling film.
You can stream The Changeling for free with Tubi.
Entertainment
Suspense Mystery Thriller Based On Hit Novel Will Leave You Breathless
By Nikola Pajtic
| Published
Based on the bestselling novel by Delia Owens, 2022’s Where the Crawdads Sing gave me the same emotional sensations as the book. Directed by Olivia Newman, the film is a visual feast and a remarkable coming-of-age story embroiled in a murder mystery. It follows Kya, a young woman, as she grows up alone in the unforgiving North Carolina marsh.
Where The Crawdads Sings
While in most books, childhoods are as idyllic as they can get, that is not the case here. Where the Crawdads Sing portrays Kya’s childhood as harsh, to say the least. An abusive alcoholic father breaks the family, and Kya is left to take care of herself alone at just seven years old.
Daisy Edgar Jones, of War of the Worlds fame, beautifully portrays a girl who tries to fend for herself but becomes ostracized by the townsfolk of the small North Carolina town Barkley Cove. She is given the nickname ‘Marsh Girl’. Through the years, she has survived by selling mussels at a store owned by people who become Kya’s friends.
A Coming-Of-Age Murder Mystery
Where the Crawdads Sing sees Kya through several stages of her life, jumping from one timeline to another. On this coming-of-age adventure, Kya finds love and gets her heart torn apart by lies and betrayal. Growing up, she becomes close to a kind neighbor, Tate Walker, played by Taylor John Smith, who teaches her to read and write, and their romance blossoms within the limits of the marsh.
Unfortunately, their happiness is short-lived as Tate leaves for college and breaks the promise of returning to her. Fast forward, and Kya has found love again. This time, she found solace with Chase Andrews (Harris Dickinson). Dickinson brings a believable character from the book to the screen with all its charm and darkness underneath. She soon discovers his dark side, which sets in motion a string of events that turn a coming-of-age story into a murder mystery thriller, with Kya sent to jail.
Closely Follows The Novel
As a film, Where the Crawdads Sing is afraid to stand on its own and follows the book to the tiniest details, with some timeline changes that don’t even affect the story. Olivia Newman played it safe here by following the book, which was good to see.
I didn’t expect new twists and turns, as the film doesn’t need them. It required great acting and beautiful scenery. The score, the scenes, and the main story of Where the Crawdads Sing won’t be dull to you for a single moment, despite the film being over two hours long. When the credits rolled, I wondered how fast the time flew by.
Cheering For Kya
I was glued to the screen from the start until the end cheering for Kya, feeling what she felt throughout this magnificent journey. Her independence and innocence hooked me and kept me on her side, a stark contrast to how the people treated her. Yet, I knew there was something more about her than meets the eye, keeping the suspense element alive throughout the entire film.
Reese Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, was pivotal in bringing Delia Owens’ bestselling novel Where the Crawdads Sing to the big screen.
Filmed in Louisiana in early 2021, the movie adaptation arrived in theaters in July 2022. Critical reception was mixed as the film holds just 34 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with some praising the film’s stunning visuals and lead performance by Daisy Edgar-Jones, while others found the story uneven. Despite this, the film became a box office success, grossing over $144 million worldwide against a $24 million budget, and currently boasts a 96 percent approval rating across over 5,000 reviews on the Popcornmeter.
Taylor Swift Contributed An Original Song
The film score also helped set the mood, with Taylor Swift’s original song “Carolina” stealing the show. Swift wanted to create something for the film, having read the book a while back and still taking hold of her. Taylor said she wrote the song before the filming even started, and this effort earned her Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song.
A few plotholes might scare you off, but I recommend you give When the Crawdads Sing a chance. First, because the marsh breathes and exists independently as a character. Then, because of the Oscar-worthy acting of Daisy and the twist that will leave you breathless. This suspense mystery is a must-watch for those who read the book and newcomers alike.
As of this writing, Where the Crawdads Sing is streaming on Hulu.
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING SCORE
Entertainment
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Entertainment
Netflix Sci-Fi Dark Comedy Series Is The Perfect One-Day Binge
By Charlene Badasie
| Published
The 2018 dark comedy-drama Maniac is streaming on Netflix. Created by Patrick Somerville and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the 10-episode series is a reimagining of the Norwegian series of the same name. It stars Jonah Hill and Emma Stone in the lead roles, supported by a stellar ensemble cast including Justin Theroux, Sally Field, Sonoya Mizuno, Gabriel Byrne, and Jemima Kirke.
Maniac Stars Jonah Hill and Emma Stone
Maniac tells the story of two strangers, Owen Milgrim (Jonah Hill) and Annie Landsberg (Emma Stone), who sign up for a mysterious pharmaceutical trial. Owen is a man struggling with schizophrenia, while Annie is dealing with a traumatic past and a strained relationship with her family. Both are looking for an escape from their troubled lives.
The pharmaceutical trial they join promises to solve all their problems with no complications or side effects. Led by Dr. James K. Mantleray (Justin Theroux), it involves a series of mind-bending, immersive experiences induced by experimental drugs. As Owen and Annie undergo treatment, they bond within a series of interconnected and surreal alternate realities.
A Cure For What Ails You
Maniac begins in New York City, where Owen Milgrim hides his schizophrenia symptoms. After losing his job, Owen joins a trial at Neberdine, a pharmaceutical company, for a new drug that promises to cure all disorders. There, he meets Annie Landsberg, who helps him avoid trouble by pretending to know him. Annie, dealing with her own issues, gets into the drug trial by stealing a badge.
After taking the “A” pill, Annie relives her sister Ellie’s death. Annie, Owen, and another test subject are questioned after the “A” pill test, and Owen reveals his past trauma. When the GRTA supercomputer malfunctions, it links Annie and Owen during the “B” pill test. The malfunction leads to complications in the trial, and Dr. Greta Mantleray (Sally Field) is brought in to fix it.
Well-Received By Critics And Audiences Alike
Maniac received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Hill and Stone, as well as the ambitious and imaginative storytelling. The series was lauded for its unique visual style, thought-provoking themes, and eclectic approach. The aesthetic draws on influences from the 1980s and incorporates retro-futuristic elements.
The series premiered at the Southbank Centre in London, England, in September 2018, followed by its American debut two days later at Center 415 in Manhattan, New York. Maniac, described as “wild, audacious, addictive” and a “brilliant piece of world-building,” currently holds an 84 percent critics score on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes alongside an equally impressive 84 percent audience rating.
A Little Too Cold And Calculating
While the overall consensus was largely positive, Maniac was not without its detractors. Some reviewers felt that the show was too calculated and lacked the thrill of the unexpected despite its mind-bending premise. One critic noted that while incredibly fun to watch, the series becomes emptier the more one thinks about it.
Sill, Maniac serves as a bold and unconventional exploration of the human psyche, marked by standout performances and a distinctive visual flair. The Netflix series is a definite must-watch for fans of the black psychological comedy-drama genre.
Panthers extend naming-rights deal, reveal reimagined stadium
Suspense Mystery Thriller Based On Hit Novel Will Leave You Breathless
