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[TV Review] “The Returned” Episode 1.09: ‘Helen’

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Returned

We’re in the home stretch of The Returned’s first season, and I have to say I’m actually really into it now. There are still some similarities with Les Revenants (mostly with Camille’s story), but the show has slowly been deviating from its source material that it has nearly formed it’s own identity separate from the original. It would not be surprising if the second season (should we get one) no longer has anything to do with the French original (especially since that show’s second season hasn’t even aired yet). Let’s check in on our returned citizens, shall we?

Helen

So Helen is a bit of an activist. 29 years ago, she was in a mental institution for burning down City Hall. This is of course when the dam bursts and she is killed by the oncoming debris (which looks suspiciously like that black goo that has been erupting from the sinks all over town).

Like so many of the other episodes this season, we don’t get to spend that much time with the character that the episode is named after. Other than receiving a bit of her backstory, Helen’s scenes serve primarily to set up the finale, as she seduced a dam worker to find out the location of the TNT. Helen seems to be going back to her old ways, as she feels the need to cleanse the town. No doubt the big event next week will be the dam bursting again.

Simon

We finally got some closure with Simon, as he kidnapped Chloe and then faced Rowan in the church he abandoned her at. It was a sweet moment between Simon and Rowan, as she finally forgave him and he came to terms with the fact that she will never want him.

I know that answers, closure and finality are traits of American television. I’m not supposed to say that I like this turn of events more than I did what happened in Les Revenants, but honestly I really do. We get a catharsis watching The Returned that we didn’t get with Les Revenants. I enjoy both shows, but for entirely different reasons. I loved this resolution to Simon’s story. I have absolutely no idea where it will go from here, but that’s a good thing.

Returned

Victor

Victor has slowly become the little Damian of the season, but that has made him all the more interesting. We get more of his backstory as Nikki finds out that he has appeared a few times over the past few decades, with each of his finders dying a few weeks later. Victor uses his power to produce hallucinations again as he produces one of Julie so that she may push Nikki down the stairs before she is able to warn Julie about Victor.

It’s an interesting turn of events, and it’s nice to see the series take an official stance on Victor, which is something Les Revenants never got around to doing. I’m a little worried his scenes will devolve into the standard “evil child” trope, but it’s a little early to tell. For now, it’s definitely intriguing. Also, it’s good to see Nikki wise up to Victor’s shit. Hopefully with her accident(?), Julie will wise up too.

Camille

Honestly, nothing in Camille’s scenes matters more than Peters big revelation in the final moments of the episode. He is one of the returned, and he died 29 years ago when the dam burst. I’m hesitant to believe that this is the truth, since he could just be doing this to help Camille, but it was a surprise nonetheless.

Not to sound like a broken record, but this is a huge departure from the French series. This breaks every rule The Returned has set up. If Peter didn’t come back with the rest of the returned in the pilot, there’s no telling how many others there could be. This is a well of twists that the original never dipped in to and it will be interesting to see here the series goes next week with the finale.

Random Notes

  • I don’t really have any this week, but this exchange between Helen and her suitor made me laugh: “Damn girl, you screw like the world’s gonna end.” “Yeah well, you never know.”
  • Lucy and Jack have sex, she hears voices and sees more black goo coming out of the sink. It’s very mysterious.
  • I just can’t get into Tommy. I don’t think it’s Kevin Alejandro’s fault, Tommy is just kind of a dick.
  • Next week’s finale is named after Peter, and after his big revelation at the end of the episode I’m not surprised!

A journalist for Bloody Disgusting since 2015, Trace writes film reviews and editorials, as well as co-hosts Bloody Disgusting's Horror Queers podcast, which looks at horror films through a queer lens. He has since become dedicated to amplifying queer voices in the horror community, while also injecting his own personal flair into film discourse. Trace lives in Austin, TX with his husband and their two dogs. Find him on Twitter @TracedThurman

Books

‘In Search of Darkness’ Book Review: A Must-Have for ’80s Horror Fans

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In 2019, the documentary of 80s horror In Search of Darkness became an instant hit with horror fans. Now, a beautiful coffee table style companion book is available and is a must-own for all fans of one of horror’s greatest eras. The book is a walk down the horror aisle of the best mom and pop video store in the heyday of VHS, featuring full color photos, poster art, insightful essays and more. More than just a nostalgic throwback, In Search of Darkness is the kind of book I wish I’d had back in my years as a burgeoning horror fan but is also satisfying for the film fanatic I have become in the years since.

The format is beautifully and simply laid out, with at least a dozen (usually more) movies from each year of the decade presented in order of release accompanied by informative and insightful essays by the authors Heather Wixson and Patrick Bromley. Both authors have been mainstays of film journalism, specializing in horror, for many years. Wixson began her career in 2007 with Dread Central and has spent the past ten years as the Managing Editor of Daily Dead, from which she recently retired to focus on books and other projects. She has devoted the past several years to interviewing and writing books about the Make-up and Special Effects wizards that have brought so much to film over the years, specifically the horror genre.

Bromley is a film journalist and critic whose work can be found all over the place including right here on Bloody Disgusting. He recently provided the commentary for the Vinegar Syndrome release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and is known as something of a Tobe Hooper expert. He is also the founder and editor of F this Movie!, an eclectic film website, and host of its accompanying podcast. So, to be clear, the authors know their stuff.

Wixson and Bromley divide writing duties roughly in half and though each has a distinctive voice, their writing styles dovetail beautifully into a cohesive whole. Each author plays to their strengths. Being familiar with both their work I didn’t even have to look at the bylines to know that Heather covered Christine and Terror in the Aisles and Patrick took on The Funhouse and Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers. Wixson’s passion for make-up effects is clear and comes through in many of her contributions. In general, Wixson takes on the “big” titles, the movies that defined the decade the most, and Bromley covers what the more cynical among us might call schlock, but he would likely call pure cinematic bliss. There are exceptions and surprises, of course, as there should be (Patrick covers The Shining for example). Each essay dives into the history behind the film, the major players involved, the reception, and legacy with often surprising aspects drawn from interviews with the filmmakers from various sources and insights from the authors.

For all their in-depth explorations of each film, in general the authors keep their critics’ hats safely stowed, keeping in mind that every entry on the book has its fans. In fact, they may well have sold me on finally hitting play on some of the schlockier offerings of the decade like Evilspeak, Nightbeast, and Blood Diner. Hell, I may even give The Beast Within a spin for shits and giggles. The point is that this book is a celebration through and through. The authors are honest about the critical receptions of the films, which were often unkind, and sometimes let their own opinions shine through, but recognize how beloved even the schlockiest films can become given time and availability. And that is an ongoing theme of In Search of Darkness. What may have been dismissed in its day often becomes revered as the years pass. Variations on the phrase “the years have been kind to…” referring to various maligned projects like The Thing, Halloween III: Season of the Witch, The Blob and many, many others, can be found throughout the book for good reason.

Each chapter of the book also includes a rundown of the top horror movies at the box office for the year as well as the top movies of all genres for context. The final page for each year highlights some of the major news and pop culture events including the top songs, albums, and television shows. There is a large central section that pays tribute to the talent involved with the greatest horror films of the 80s including directors, actors, effects artists, and more. This section includes brief biographies of John Carpenter, Wes Craven, Stephen King, Tom Savini, Barbara Crampton, Robert Englund, and many others presented in a dynamic and engaging fashion.

One of the beauties of the book is that it covers so much ground. Sure, you’ll find Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser, and the Halloween sequels in it, but you’ll also find deeper cuts like The Changeling, The Being, and Tetsuo: The Iron Man. I was happy to find the same love given to Frank Henenlotter and Larry Cohen as to George A. Romero and David Cronenberg. In other words, In Search of Darkness is extraordinarily eclectic, highlighting the diversity that truly defined what is often viewed as a homogenous decade. The authors make the case that the 80s was horror’s greatest decade, and with what they lay out throughout this book, it’s tough to argue against that. I even came across a film or two I hadn’t even heard of before, which has become increasingly rare as the years go by.

At just shy of $85, the cover price may give some horror hounds pause, but believe me, it’s worth every penny. This is a beautiful volume that every fan of 80s horror will want on their shelf or prominently displayed on their coffee table. Filled with favorite titles, hundreds of full color photos, insightful and informative writing, this is simply a must own.

You can order your copy now.

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