PLOT: Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story chronicles the case of the real-life brothers convicted in 1996 for the murders of their parents, José and Kitty Menéndez. While the prosecution argued they were seeking to inherit their family fortune, the brothers claimed – and remain adamant to this day, as they serve life sentences without the possibility of parole – that their actions stemmed out of fear from a lifetime of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse

REVIEW: The ever-expanding anthology series credited to super-producer Ryan Murphy continues to expand. Earlier this week, we shared our review for the newest American Story series, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. While that series did not have Murphy directly involved as a writer or director, he does boast direct credits alongside longtime collaborator Ian Brennan on the second entry of Monster; this time focused on the tantalizing crimes of Lyle and Erik Menendez. One of several cases dubbed the Trial of the Century, the story of the Menendez siblings and the heinous murder of their parents has been adapted many times across multiple formats. Murphy and Brennan know the public may be familiar with the sordid details. Still, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story aims to outline the events for a new generation and shed multiple angles on the conflicting theories as to what really happened.

Told over nine episodes, Monsters is very similar to the Dahmer entry in the anthology but completely different simultaneously. Both series look at the inner psyche of people who committed atrocious acts of murder, but Dahmer felt almost nihilistic and brutally dark. Monsters paints Lyle and Erik Menendez in a comical light, giving this season a tone that is almost campy. There are multiple scenes in Monsters that I chuckled at. I immediately felt guilty laughing at a crime that is among the most disgusting in modern history. The bizarre series of events that led to the murders in Monsters are too strange to be true, and yet here we are watching a tale that is somehow weirder than Jeffrey Dahmer eating people. Nevertheless, had the Menendez brothers been fictional, they would have been right at home on American Horror Story. Since they actually exist, Monsters works as a forum to chronicle every seedy and odd aspect of the siblings’ crimes in a way that goes beyond the boundaries of the similarly-themed American Crime Story.

Taking the story from Lyle (Nicholas Alexander Chavez) and Erik (Cooper Koch) planning the shotgun deaths of Jose Menendez (Javier Bardem) and Kitty (Chloe Sevigny) to executing their parents through their failed first trial and subsequent second trial that led to life in prison, Monsters posits the claim that the two brothers committed their crimes because their father was sexually abusing them. Rather than claiming the truth of the accusation, Monsters shows us the various holes in the Menendez brother’s claims while allowing both Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny to play Jose and Kitty in various styles. In one claim, Bardem is over-the-top evil as an abusive and overbearing father, while Kitty is useless in a drug and alcohol-induced stupor. In other alibis, there are tweaks and changes to how Jose and Kitty actually were in public versus private situations, each altered by testimony from family and friends that assert and deny Lyle and Erik’s claims. Both Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch play their roles as pathological and sociological, leaving the audience unsure of whether they are telling the truth or not.

Spanning 1989 through 1996, the majority of Monsters is presented in a linear fashion with flashbacks, some true and some lies, that illustrate the calculating nature of Lyle and Erik. While the brothers command the screen the majority of the time with solid supporting performances from Bardem and Sevigny, there are also key roles for Nathan Lane as journalist Dominick Dunne, who chronicled the brothers for a Vanity Fair article, as well as Ari Graynor as defense attorney Leslie Abramson. Dallas Roberts and Leslie Grossman have key roles as Dr. Jerome Oziel and Judalon Smyth, along with several minor ensemble players from prior Murphy productions. The 1990s are encapsulated perfectly through pop culture cues like songs from Milli Vanilli and the parallel occurrence of the O.J. Simpson trial. As a look at a specific period in the late twentieth century, Monsters boasts better production values than it does engaging and consistent writing.

Monsters features eight writing credits from Ian Brennan and two from Ryan Murphy. Brennan has been a professional partner with Murphy, dating to Glee in 2009, followed by Scream Queens, The Politician, Hollywood, Ratched, Halston, and The Watcher. While Brennan scripted nine of the ten episodes of Dahmer (four with Murphy and four with David McMillan), his heavier presence on season two without Murphy seems to indicate the tonal shift this season. Brennan also directed an episode this season alongside returning helmers from Dahmer, including Paris Barclay and Carl Franklin, with new helmers Michael Uppenahl and Max Winkler. The writing and directing team this season are very focused on showcasing the different angles on the true events of how and why Lyle and Erik murdered their parents. Still, it wavers between a steadfast approach to telling the truth and the fabricated and overindulgent excess that comes across as blatantly trying to dramatize an already dramatic story for no reason other than sensationalism. Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan have always been good at using sensationalism to drive a more layered story, but that does not work with the Monsters anthology as it does with American Crime Story.

With exceptional performances from Javier Bardem and Chloe Sevigny alongside decent lead turns by Nicholas Alexander Chavez and Cooper Koch, Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is a mixed bag of true crime and untrue crime, with the blurred line separating them hard to distinguish. Like Dahmer before it, Monsters feels overlong and overindulgent, and it should have been more focused on insights we did not already know. For a generation unfamiliar with the Menendez Murders, this series may be a shockingly new story. Still, for those who witnessed the media circus in the Nineties, it does not bring much new to the table. Like the brutal and graphic recreation of the murders themselves, Monsters succumbs to being too callous with the horrible crimes it is warning us about.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is now streaming on Netflix.

Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story

AVERAGE

6

The post Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story TV Review appeared first on JoBlo.

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.

Beetlejuice by Matt Ryan Tobin

Darth Vader by Don Child

Death Proof by Forsaken Folklore Peter Harper

Drive by Huan Do

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off by Alex Fellows

The Justice League by Jerry Gaylord

No Country For Old Men by Şahin Düzgün

Spirited Away by Salvador Pombo

They Live by David Müller

X-Men by Bill Walko

The post Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net: Beetlejuice, Drive, No Country For Old Men, X-Men appeared first on JoBlo.

The much-anticipated Terrifier 3 had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest today, and during a Q&A following the movie, director Damien Leone was asked what’s next for the franchise. “I love that you’re still thinking about the next one after [watching all] that,” Leone said. “So — yes, there will be a Terrifier 4.“

Leone wouldn’t spill any details on what’s to come in Terrifier 4, but it’s a good bet that audiences will be in store for more over-the-top gruesome kills. As for Terrifier 3, the sequel takes place five years after the events of the last movie during the Christmas season. Many classic Christmas horror movies serve as inspiration, including Tales from the Crypt installment All Through the House and Black Christmas. “That’s one of my favorite subgenres of horror — Christmas horror,” Leone said. “I just love that tone. It’s the perfect marriage of horror and Christmas. So that was a big inspiration. And then obviously there’s a lot of Black Christmas homages in this movie. Just that combination of being terrified and cozy at the same time — I mean, there’s nothing cozier than Christmas […] And then [you] just [take as much advantage of] that as possible, and add as much sacrilege.“

“After surviving Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives,” reads the description for Terrifier 3. “As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. But just when they think they’re safe, Art the Clown returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare. The festive season quickly unravels as Art unleashes his twisted brand of terror, proving that no holiday is safe.“

The film features David Howard Thornton reprising the role of Art the Clown alongside Lauren LaVera as Sienna, Elliot Fullam as Jonathan, Samantha Scaffidi as Victoria, Chris Jericho as Burke, and Daniel Roebuck as Santa. Tom Savini, Jason Patric, Antonella Rose, Krsy Fox, Jon Abrahams, and Clint Howard are also set to appear in the film. Terrifier 3 will debut in theaters on October 11th.

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James McAvoy is a big Star Trek fan, and although he hasn’t appeared in the long-running sci-fi franchise, he did once come very close. While speaking with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McAvoy revealed he was actually offered a role in J.J. Abrams’ first Star Trek movie, but ultimately turned it down because he didn’t think he was right for the part.

“I got offered something. I didn’t want to do that. I suggested I can do something else,” McAvoy said. “They wanted to camera test me and I was like, ‘Do you know what, it’s alright, don’t worry about it.’  Not because I wouldn’t, because I just didn’t think I was right.“

McAvoy didn’t reveal which role he was offered (although Horowitz guessed McCoy, and there were rumblings he was up for Scotty back in the day), but he added that Abrams did end up choosing the right actor for the part. “What I said to J.J. about what I thought the role should be and the kind of actor that should be, they absolutely got. I’m not saying that he got that because I said that,” McAvoy said. “But the kind of person I thought that I’m not, is exactly the person who got it. And it’s brilliant. And I love the new ones. I love J.J.’s films. They are excellent.“

Perhaps one day, James McAvoy will appear in a Star Trek project. He once said he would love to play a young Jean-Luc Picard.

McAvoy can currently be seen in Speak No Evil, a psychological horror thriller which follows an American family who are invited to spend the weekend at the idyllic country estate of a charming British family they befriended on vacation. But what begins as a dream holiday soon warps into a snarled psychological nightmare. Our own Tyler Nichols was a fan, particularly of McAvoy’s performance. “James McAvoy is absolutely the star of the show and gives a riveting performance as Paddy. He’s electric from one moment to the next and brings such a chaotic energy,” Nichols wrote. “This is an all-time performance from McAvoy and will likely stand out as a career-best. As evil as the trailers make him out to be, the performance is much more nuanced and he draws you in. He’s like a dog playing with a new toy, just testing how best to tear it apart.” You can check out the rest of Nichols’ review right here.

The post James McAvoy was offered Star Trek role but turned it down appeared first on JoBlo.

PLOT: A struggling dancer finds herself drawn into dark forces by a peculiar couple promising her fame.

REVIEW: I would consider Rosemary’s Baby to be one of the greatest films of all time, horror or otherwise. Mia Farrow’s performance is absolutely sublime and paranoia can be felt in nearly every frame of celluloid. There’s plenty of intrigue with the cult of Satan that is deadset on birthing the Antichrist. It’s such a descent into madness and shows the extremes of gaslighting (to say the least). So it’s easy to be a bit nervous about a prequel coming along for such a beloved film. But then you add Julia Garner in the lead role and they seem to be on the right path. If only they’d kept on that path…

Rather than following a couple desperate for a baby, Apartment 7A follows a single lady, Terry (Garner), as she struggles to be a dancer in New York City. She meets a mysterious older couple and suddenly all of her dreams are coming true. She just has to follow their guidance. You can probably guess where this is going but I appreciated that it focuses on how someone would be susceptible to this situation. She’s had her world taken from her and is just looking for a way out. It’s easy to shout at the screen, imploring her to run but the stakes are properly ramped up subtlety. Though I do wish her back was more against the wall. Instead, her issues come entirely through ego.

Julia Garner is great in everything she does and here is no different. Her eyes say so much that the camera can just linger on her and so much is conveyed. Pretty sure this woman could play a stick and make it interesting. But the Terry character is ego driven and not nearly endearing enough. She also doesn’t cross over into paranoid mode until further into the story than I’d have liked. There’s a lot of setup and it can be a bit meandering. Terry also doesn’t feel nearly as isolated as Rosemary was, even being able to leave the apartment with little to no problem. She’s a single lady in New York City yet they never take advantage of the fear and isolation that can cause.

Ruth Gordon’s performance as Minnie Castevet in the original is so deliciously evil that made the role no cakewalk to replicate. And while there are elements that carry over, Dianne Wiest makes it her own. There’s something off about her from the beginning, and she only gets more and more controlling as the film progresses. Kevin McNally has such a jovial “dadness” to him that it’s all the more terrifying when he makes the switch. The cult itself doesn’t get as much screentime as you’d expect, with the story taking a similar path to the original.

The biggest issue I have with Apartment 7A is that it simply looks cheap. Everything about this feels like a streaming movie which clashes with everything about the original. Polanski’s film is so old school in its approach so it’s baffling as to why director Natalie Erika James took such a modern approach with the material. There are two different designs for Satan and one of them is this bejeweled monstrosity that gets far too much screentime. The other design looks better but we hardly even get a proper look at it.

In the end, Apartment 7A is a mixed bag. While Garner and Weist are absolutely fantastic, there’s little else to latch onto. Sturgess is severely underutilized and anyone who’s seen the original is going to know where this film ends up. While that can work (see: The First Omen) it’s hard to get invested here. This is another one of those films that feels like it would have been better served to just be entirely separate from the film it’s trying to connect itself to. I was desperate for them to try something different, though when they did, it came off as awkward. It’s a Catch-22 and results in a unsatisfying viewing experience.

APARTMENT 7A IS STREAMING ON PARAMOUNT PLUS ON SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2024.

Apartment 7A

AVERAGE

6

The post Apartment 7A Review: A Dull Rosemary’s Baby Prequel? appeared first on JoBlo.

It’s been announced that Pretty Little Liars has been cancelled after two seasons on Max. The show was the fourth TV series in the Pretty Little Liars franchise, all based on or inspired by Sara Shepard’s novel series.

“While Max will not be moving forward with a third season of ‘Pretty Little Liars,’ we are so grateful to our co-creators, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring, as well as the team at Warner Bros. Television, for reintroducing fans to this new iteration of liars who band together to fight the latest creepy villain terrifying Millwood,” Max said in a statement. “Their unique and modern creative vision – combined with the immense talent of our cast and crew – gave the series a fun, horror-filled point of view that paid tribute to its original Rosewood roots.“

The first season of Pretty Little Liars went under the subtitle Original Sin, while the second was subtitled Summer School. The original Pretty Little Liars series gathered a passionate following over its seven-season run. It spawned two other spin-offs, Ravenswood and The Perfectionists, but both were cancelled after a single season.

The first season of Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin takes place twenty years after a series of tragic events almost ripped apart the blue-collar town of Millwood. “A disparate group of teen girls — a brand-new set of Little Liars — find themselves tormented by an unknown Assailant and made to pay for the secret sin committed by their parents two decades ago…as well as their own,” reads the official synopsis. “In the dark, coming-of-age, horror-tinged drama Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, we find ourselves miles away from Rosewood, but within the existing Pretty Little Liars universe — in a brand-new town, with a new generation of Little Liars.“

Upon the second season renewal, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin creators Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa and Lindsay Calhoon Bring said, “We are beyond excited to continue telling stories with our amazing group of little liars—exploring their friendships, their romances, their secrets, and their status as scream queens supreme! Eternal thanks to the fans who have embraced this new, horror-version of “Pretty Little Liars”—which we’ll be continuing, of course—as well as our partners at HBO Max, Warner Bros. Television, and Alloy Entertainment. As Tabby would say, ‘There’s a sequel in the offing!’” Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content at Max, added, “We are so proud of the incredible response both critically and from fans that PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: ORIGINAL SIN has received. Viewers have embraced our new generation of Liars, and Roberto and Lindsay’s brilliantly dark, horror-fueled take on this iconic franchise. Along with Alloy and Warner Bros. Television, we are thrilled to continue the ‘Pretty Little Liars’ legacy.”

The post Pretty Little Liars cancelled after two seasons at Max appeared first on JoBlo.

Are you prepared for a third helping of blood and sand? It may have taken Ridley Scott twenty years to get the ball rolling on Gladiator II, but a third movie might arrive before we know it. While speaking with THR, Scott was asked about a different potential new project, but he pivoted back to Gladiator. “I’d rather get on into Gladiator III,” Scott said. “There’s already an idea.” Scott echoed similar comments to Premiere, but I’m going to put a SPOILER WARNING here before we get into them, as they may give a pretty big hint as to the ending of Gladiator II.

Scott mentioned that he would be taking inspiration from The Godfather for the next sequel. “I’m already playing with the idea of Gladiator 3,” Scott said. “No, seriously. The end of Gladiator II evokes that of the Godfather, with Michael Corleone who ends up with a job he didn’t want, and who wonders, ‘And now, Father, what am I doing? ‘The next film will therefore speak of a man who does not want to be where he is.”

Whether a third Gladiator movie actually happens will depend on how Gladiator II performs, but Ridley Scott feels as though he’s made a damn good movie. The director said last month that Gladiator II is “the best thing I’ve ever made,” before correcting himself. “One of the best things,” he said. “I’ve made a few good ‘uns.“

“From legendary director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome,” reads the official Gladiator II synopsis. “Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.” The film is set to hit theaters on November 11th.

We haven’t seen Gladiator II yet, but would you be down for Gladiator III?

The post Ridley Scott already has an idea for Gladiator III appeared first on JoBlo.

Winning Emmys for a series you conceived, wrote, produced, directed, and starred in is just about the highest achievement you could imagine. But when that series is wrapped in controversy, it’s hard to avoid it even amid the celebration. Richard Gadd, the man behind Baby Reindeer, tried his best, however, on the night that the Netflix drama took home four Emmys.

In the press room at Sunday night’s Emmys, Richard Gadd was posed with a question about Fiona Harvey – the supposed inspiration for Martha Scott – who has launched a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix for the harmful depiction in Baby Reindeer, chiefly tied to defamation and emotional distress. But Gadd wouldn’t take the bait, redirecting with, “This is a night of celebration. I really don’t want to talk about any of that stuff. It’s easy in this day and age to focus on the negatives. This has touched the lives of so many people.” Here, Gadd is referring to a reported uptick in abuse reports since Baby Reindeer started streaming in April. “Nobody seems to be talking about that enough.”

That attention has been lured away from the positive outcomes of Baby Reindeer – even amid its multiple Emmy wins – is terribly unfortunate. Even still, we shouldn’t be surprised that the ongoing claims and lawsuit have drawn the most attention. As it stands, the lawsuit claims, “As a result of Defendants’ lies, malfeasance and utterly reckless misconduct, Harvey’s life had been ruined. Simply, Netflix and Gadd destroyed her reputation, her character and her life.” Gadd has denied all of this and says he will testify if it comes to that point.

Baby Reindeer was one of the top winners at Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards, taking home Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, as well as Outstanding Lead Actor, Supporting Actress and Writing in that same category. With these, it stood alongside The Bear and Shōgun for most wins in the major categories. A few nights prior, Baby Reindeer won Outstanding Casting and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series at the Creative Arts Emmys.

Do you think Baby Reindeer will ever escape the controversy surrounding it or will it always be tied to it?

The post Richard Gadd wants people to celebrate Baby Reindeer – not dwell on controversies – after Emmy wins appeared first on JoBlo.

Winning Emmys for a series you conceived, wrote, produced, directed, and starred in is just about the highest achievement you could imagine. But when that series is wrapped in controversy, it’s hard to avoid it even amid the celebration. Richard Gadd, the man behind Baby Reindeer, tried his best, however, on the night that the Netflix drama took home four Emmys.

In the press room at Sunday night’s Emmys, Richard Gadd was posed with a question about Fiona Harvey – the supposed inspiration for Martha Scott – who has launched a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix for the harmful depiction in Baby Reindeer, chiefly tied to defamation and emotional distress. But Gadd wouldn’t take the bait, redirecting with, “This is a night of celebration. I really don’t want to talk about any of that stuff. It’s easy in this day and age to focus on the negatives. This has touched the lives of so many people.” Here, Gadd is referring to a reported uptick in abuse reports since Baby Reindeer started streaming in April. “Nobody seems to be talking about that enough.”

That attention has been lured away from the positive outcomes of Baby Reindeer – even amid its multiple Emmy wins – is terribly unfortunate. Even still, we shouldn’t be surprised that the ongoing claims and lawsuit have drawn the most attention. As it stands, the lawsuit claims, “As a result of Defendants’ lies, malfeasance and utterly reckless misconduct, Harvey’s life had been ruined. Simply, Netflix and Gadd destroyed her reputation, her character and her life.” Gadd has denied all of this and says he will testify if it comes to that point.

Baby Reindeer was one of the top winners at Sunday’s Primetime Emmy Awards, taking home Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, as well as Outstanding Lead Actor, Supporting Actress and Writing in that same category. With these, it stood alongside The Bear and Shōgun for most wins in the major categories. A few nights prior, Baby Reindeer won Outstanding Casting and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Limited or Anthology Series at the Creative Arts Emmys.

Do you think Baby Reindeer will ever escape the controversy surrounding it or will it always be tied to it?

The post Richard Gadd wants people to celebrate Baby Reindeer – not dwell on controversies – after Emmy wins appeared first on JoBlo.

Netflix has cast Miya Cech (Surfside Girls, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, Always Be My Maybe) as the best character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, the earth bender Toph Beifong. What? I said what I said. Production for Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2 is underway, with the show already renewed for a third and final season. Netflix revealed Cech’s casting on Thursday as part of Netflix’s Geeked Week live event with a teaser featuring Cech as the beloved badass.

As the classic Avatar theme swells, the camera slowly pans along the ground in the Avatar: The Last Airbender production teaser. When the song’s intensity increases, we see Toph’s signature green-colored wrapping around Cech’s bare feet. Before the teaser ends, Cech draws a line in the dirt, daring enemies to cross it before stomping the earth, sending debris flying into the air. After that, the hairs on my arms stood on end, and I might have let out a little squeal of delight. I don’t know. Who can say? You can’t prove anything.

In Avatar: The Last Airbender, Toph Beifong is a blind teenager who (eventually) agrees to train Aang in the ancient art of earth-bending. According to the Casting Call: “She is sassy, confident and unfiltered. For most of her life her strength and formidable earthbending skills have been suppressed, but now on the run as the Avatar’s earthbending master she is uninhibited to become the fierce warrior she believes she is inside.”

“Water. Earth. Fire. Air. The four nations once lived in harmony, with the Avatar, master of all four elements, keeping peace between them. But everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked and wiped out the Air Nomads, the first step taken by the firebenders towards conquering the world,” reads the official description. “With the current incarnation of the Avatar yet to emerge, the world has lost hope. But like a light in the darkness, hope springs forth when Aang, a young Air Nomad — and the last of his kind — reawakens to take his rightful place as the next Avatar. Alongside his newfound friends Sokka and Katara, siblings and members of the Southern Water Tribe, Aang embarks on a fantastical, action-packed quest to save the world and fight back against the fearsome onslaught of Fire Lord Ozai. But with a driven Crown Prince Zuko determined to capture them, it won’t be an easy task. They’ll need the help of the many allies and colorful characters they meet along the way.”

Miya Cech’s casting for Avatar: The Last Airbender is giving me life this Friday afternoon. Not only is Toph my favorite character in the series, but Miya Cech is a brilliant actress who will undoubtedly crush the role. Let’s go!

The post Avatar: The Last Airbender casts Miya Cech as its earth-bending badass Toph Beifong for Season 2 appeared first on JoBlo.