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[Review] “Chapelwaite” Expands Stephen King Story and Sinks Its Teeth into Classic Gothic Tradition

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The fictional town of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine, gets mentioned frequently in author Stephen King‘s works. Most famously, it’s the setting for his vampire novel ‘Salem’s Lot and, to a lesser extent, a stand-alone prequel short story “Jerusalem’s Lot.” The latter channeled Bram Stoker’s The Lair of the White Worm, with an 1850’s tale of terror told in the form of letters. Its series adaptation, EPIX’s Chapelwaite, narratively expands King’s story greatly while perhaps adhering a little too closely to period Gothic tradition and storytelling.

It results in a sometimes bloody and often laborious ten-episode series.

Captain Charles Boone (Adrien Brody) relocates his three children to the small coastal town of Preacher’s Corner, Maine, following the death of his wife and the discovery of an inheritance. That inheritance includes Chapelwaite, a rundown ancestral mansion that harbors disturbing family secrets. Boone’s family name draws ire and suspicion among locals, incurring instant hostility. Boone’s three children more closely resemble their Polynesian mother, further exacerbating the abrasive unwelcome, with their governess Rebecca (Emily Hampshire) the sole exception. That’s before the madness tied to the Boone lineage and a supernatural curse plaguing the area.

The mere mention of children might raise eyebrows for Constant Readers. Executive producers and series co-creators Peter Filardi (The Craft and 1990’s Flatliners) and Jason Filardi padded out the short story by adding more characters and storylines. The most prominent, of course, are the three Boone children and the stakes they inherently provide Charles. It’s the most successful addition by far. Opening with the tragic loss of their mother, the three children, Honor (Jennifer Ens), Loa (Sirena Gulamgaus), and Tane (Ian Ho), then get thrust into a harsh and unkind new home. They engender the most audience sympathy and help to flesh out an otherwise standard archetype character in Charles. The bond between father and child humanizes Charles in a way that nothing else does in the entire series.

The Filardi brothers excel at building a methodically paced Gothic horror story a little too well. The classic Gothic elements are represented, from the dark, decrepit estate with skeletons in the closet to the traditional road to ruination. Chapelwaite is a series that favors atmosphere and slightly ambiguous mystery. It draws out its biggest questions and demands the patience of its viewers, occasionally offering salacious crumbs along the way to keep you hooked. The horror moments hit hard, bringing some Grand Guignol energy between the quieter lulls. But while the finale brings an emotionally satisfying payoff, it simultaneously disappoints by never exploring specific horror threads beneath the surface level.

As a classic story of good versus evil comes into clearer view, so do resemblances to ‘Salem’s Lot. A town divided, paranoia, child vampires, and deeply flawed characters right down to a priest suffering a crisis of faith all bear hallmarks of this setting’s future in the King universe. For the most part, the production value impresses. Not all VFX elements work, and the endless gray skies make sense for the Gothic mood but muddy the vampire rules- it’s not always obvious where night and day end.

Chapelwaite offers a mostly faithful adaptation to King’s original short, at least in premise, right down to its Stoker influences. Its unhurried storytelling causes significant pacing sags, but the Filardi brothers know when to add enough gnarly horror moments to keep you invested. They’re also unafraid to kill their darlings, ensuring the stakes remain high for all and not everyone will come out of this battle unscathed, if at all. The grounded performances add emotional depth where the narrative rarely does; Gulamgaus is tremendous as the conflicted middle child, and her arc helps carry the entire series on her tiny, capable shoulders. Chapelwaite doesn’t forge any new ground, but its faithful brand of Gothic horror and vicious vampires should appease Constant Readers.

Chapelwaite premieres on Epix on August 22, 2021.

Horror journalist, RT Top Critic, and Critics Choice Association member. Co-Host of the Bloody Disgusting Podcast. Has appeared on PBS series' Monstrum, served on the SXSW Midnighter shorts jury, and moderated horror panels for WonderCon and SeriesFest.

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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