The Outer Darkness (2015) - Horror Series Review

I've mentioned it before but ALTER is a 'premium horror entertainment brand' that showcases cinematic horror shorts from around the world. It operates on multiple platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and its own website. A few weeks back horror series The Outer Darkness joined its ranks of films and shows. Originally released in 2015 as a short film, directed by Ben Franklin and Anthony Melton, The Outer Darkness has now been split into three parts and released as a series.

Father Jonathan Crowe (Jonny Phillips) runs a support group for people who have experienced bizarre encounters. During one meeting Jenny (Isla Carter) arrives and recounts a haunting story about a game of chance she took part in where winning grants you your wildest dreams, but losing has dire consequences...

Each of the three parts is roughly split into around eight minutes and by the end Jenny's story at least is told. Part one introduces the support group and the various characters within it. while starting off the anthology segment. Part two contains the majority of the gambling storyline, before part three brings it to a close and takes us back to the present day. I found this to be quite captivating with what was going on, there were both unexpected twists and a suspenseful atmosphere. The wraparound story was something that felt like it could really go somewhere, especially with later revelations. I felt if this was made into a proper anthology show there were a lot of places to go to if each of the characters in the meeting got their own segment, that would be something interesting.

As it is, adapted from a film I don't know if there will be more to come, or if this is it. Regardless this had some decent acting, and some nice creature effects. With most this taking place in a dark room it did come across as a bit sparse, though this darkness also focussed the attention on the insular drama whose subject matter occasionally made it feel slightly ridiculous. Still, I have to admit my attention was drawn. There is a lot of good stuff on ALTER, The Outer Darkness is no different. Check it out for yourself below.

SCORE:

Bad Timing: Season 2 (2017) - Zombie Web Series Review

Around a month ago I watched and reviewed the first season of web based zombie romantic comedy Bad Timing. Now that title was apt for many reasons, one being that I saw it just as my personal life got quite dark, and so it has taken me until now to get around to watching season 2. While I felt the 'third wheel' angle was getting a little bit stale by seasons end I was still interested to see where things would head next. Slight spoilers for season 1 to follow.

Bad Timing takes place shortly after zombie apocalypse has swept America. In season 1 awkward I.T guy Andy (Andy Goldenberg) ends up taking refuge in a remote desert house with the love of his life Eve (Aqueela Zoll), this idyllic set-up is ruined when Eve's perfect boyfriend Kevin ( Michael Wayne Foster) turns up. The season ended with the shock arrival of Andy's Mom Phyllis (Lisa Raggio - Monsters, Inc.) who Andy shoots after mistaking her for one of the undead, while Eve and Kevin flee the house. The second season picks up immediately afterwards and changes the group dynamic a lot. Fussy Phyllis brings with her Sam (Becca Leigh Gellman) 'a nice Jewish girl' who Andy's Mom plans to set up with her son. However still obsessed with Eve he sets out to try and catch up with her and Kevin. Unknown to him however while he is on a journey to find them they have themselves returned to the desert house, and finding it empty assume Andy is no longer among the living.

This season is longer coming in at 19 episodes with a combined total of around seventy minutes (again each episode is just a few minutes long). While this never felt as funny as before it had the benefit of meaning there wasn't as many jokes that fell flat either. I don't recall laughing out loud even once, yet still found this whole arc entertaining. I liked how the rom-com aspect changed tracks from Eve and Andy to Andy and Sam. Obsessed with Eve Sam helps him as best she can and soon subtly he unconsciously begins to get feelings for her. It would have been easy just to choose a bland or unattractive girl for the role of Sam but she is not only a nice and patient character but she too is quite easy on the eye.