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“The Walking Dead” Just Evolved into Something Different. Something Fresh. Something Better.

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Needless to say, November 4th’s “What Comes After” promised a bold new direction for “The Walking Dead, not only because it was the show’s final hour for Rick Grimes but also because its final moments jumped six years into the future. But with the series’ main character gone and a whole lot of time in the rear view, how different is the show truly going to be?

If last night’s “Who Are You Now?” was any indication, the reinvention we’ve been waiting for has arrived. And for the first time in a while, “The Walking Dead” feels new again.

There was a great little moment in the opening sequence of “Who Are You Now?” wherein Daryl came upon a zombie that was fused into a tree. At first, Daryl planned on putting the zombie out of its misery, but then something oddly beautiful happened. Screen-capped above, a bird flew onto the hideous zombie and removed a worm from its rotten flesh, bringing it back to a nest and feeding it to its young. Out of death, quite literally, comes a new source of life, and I can’t help but think that the image is one that reflects episode 9.6 as a whole.

“The Walking Dead,” even this 8-years-loyal viewer can admit, has grown incredibly stale in recent years, so much so that it has felt, well, dead. But “What Comes After,” with its sendoff for Rick and subsequent time jump, offered up the promise of new life for the series, and “Who Are You Now?” embraced that the show is no longer beholden to its familiar old ways.

The episode’s biggest water cooler moment perfectly drove home the show’s new direction. After some remaining Saviors popped back up and stole Carol’s wedding ring, she got her revenge by sneaking into their camp site under the cover of night and literally setting fire to the whole damn place, burning the whole crew alive. It was almost as if the show, along with Carol, was burning down its own past, reviving a tired story for the sole purpose of erasing it altogether. The Saviors are finally gone. And the years damn sure haven’t softened Carol.

(Can we take a moment to appreciate the evolution of Carol these past 8 years? From an abused wife to the show’s biggest badass, and now a literal Queen. All hail Queen Carol.)

Speaking of badass, Danai Gurira’s Michonne has now officially begun her tenure as the leading character on “The Walking Dead,” taking over from Rick Grimes as the new horse-riding leader and protector of Alexandria and its citizens. Michonne, in the past six years, has also become a mother, not only to Judith Grimes but also to her own child. As revealed last night, Rick and Michonne’s attempt to get pregnant was successful, and Michonne gave birth to Rick’s child in the time between “What Comes After” and “Who Are You Now?”.

Yes, there are now two Grimes children running around, and Judith sure is living up to her “little ass kicker” moniker. Carrying a mini katana on her back and wearing Rick’s sheriff’s hat, Judith is a pint-sized mix of Rick, Michonne and Carl, calling her own shots and making both daddy and brother proud. Of course, while we know that Rick is very much still alive, both Judith and Michonne are convinced he’s dead, and the episode’s most emotional moments were beautifully played by the veteran Gurira and young newcomer Cailey Fleming.

Rick’s absence played heavily into the proceedings, gone but certainly not forgotten. Early on, Michonne gifted Judith with a small figurine of a sheriff that looked a whole lot like her dad, found while on a scavenging mission, and there probably weren’t too many dry eyes watching when Judith told Michonne that she’s beginning to forget what Carl and her dad’s voices sounded like. Meanwhile, Judith has struck up an unlikely friendship with Negan, with the still imprisoned Negan now serving as something of a father figure to Rick’s daughter.

How far we’ve come, eh?

The episode’s main storyline centered on that brand new group of characters Judith saved at the very end of the previous week’s episode, including comic book character Magna, played by Nadia Hilker. A former truck stop waitress with a troubling past, Magna put her group’s chances of sanctuary in danger when she smuggled a knife into Alexandria, leading Michonne to question whether or not the group was worth taking in. Magna, meanwhile, contemplated taking out Michonne in an attempt to take over Alexandria, but she ultimately decided against the plan when she realized that Michonne was a mother. In the end, Michonne banished the group from Alexandria but offered them a potential home inside the walls of Hilltop.

Nadia Hilker’s Magna is sure to become a new favorite character going forward, and her pals Yumiko, Luke, Connie and Kelly all proved to be interesting new blood for a show that has unquestionably needed strong new characters. Connie and Kelly, in particular, have a compelling dynamic, with Kelly serving as the deaf Connie’s translator and protector.

What else has happened in the past six years of unseen storylines? Well, it’s interesting to note, Gabriel and Rosita are now a couple, which is a nothing if not unlikely pairing. Eugene isn’t too happy about the relationship, as he’s long been in love with Rosita, but she and the one-eyed Father seem quite in love. Personally speaking, I’ve never much cared for Gabriel as a character, but there’s something about the evolution he’s undergone that now makes him perfect for the show’s world. Especially within the walls of the almost Western-like town that Alexandria has become, Father Gabriel’s Lee Van Cleef hat and milky white eyeball have made him one of the most visually cool characters on the show. Again, how far we’ve come, eh?

What does a post-Rick “Walking Dead” look like? It looks like a brand new show, set in a new world and filled with both new characters as well as new paths for old ones. Life after Rick, perhaps, was precisely the story “The Walking Dead” needed to tell in order to feel fresh again. For the first time in a while, I feel like I’m watching a show I haven’t seen before. And with the arrival of those creepy ass Whisperers on the horizon, I’m thinking it’s only gonna get better.

If you had given up on the show, maybe it’s time to give it one more chance.

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has four awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

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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