Top 10 Episodes of 'The Sopranos'

The Sopranos is often regarded as being one of the greatest television shows of all time, predating the likes of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. The Emmy award winning series ran from 1999 to 2007 and followed New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) as he attempted to balance his life at home and his criminal organisations while also struggling with frequent panic attacks. The series was renowned for its clever writing, its superb acting and its ability to blend harrowing drama and dark comedy so perfectly, ever since I finished it last year it has become one of my all time favourite shows. The Sopranos ran for 6 seasons, 86 episodes in total, which made it quite hard for me to narrow it all down to just 10 favourite episodes, but after much thought and consideration I have managed to do just that. So I now present to you my top ten episodes of The Sopranos, needless to say there are spoilers ahead.

10. Pilot

The episode that started it all. In this brilliant pilot episode we are introduced to Tony who is presented as a well respected yet troubled mobster, we see his family life and his 'family' life giving us a great insight into the character while also introducing his family members and colleagues. We also see Tony begin his therapy sessions with Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), a very risky move for such a high ranking member of the mafia. The episode shows us many sides to Tony, the brutal criminal, the hard working father and husband and the troubled man beneath it all, in one episode the show has given us a fantastic and captivating antihero. The pilot did a very nice job of setting up the universe of The Sopranos, we meet Tony, his wife Carmella (Edie Falco), his vicious mother Lyvia (Nancy Marchand), his aging uncle Corrado 'Junior' Soprano (Dominic Chianese) and a number of his fellow mobsters, opening up a world of possibilities for every character and their respective stories. It was certainly a brilliant way to kickstart the series.

9. College

As I already mentioned, a big part of early episodes of The Sopranos was Tony's balancing between his family and the family, especially when it came to hiding his operations from his children. In this episode we see that balance disrupted during a college road trip with Tony and his daughter Meadow (Jamie-Lynn Sigler) who begins to question her father on his criminal activities. To make matters worse, Tony discovers a former FBI informant in the witness protection programme during the trip and attempts to take care of some unfinished business. This episode was one of the first to further Tony's relationship with Meadow, he begins to realise that she is not a little girl anymore and that he can't hide his business from her forever. It has some great scenes between Sigler and Gandolfini and the two share a very convincing father-daughter relationship onscreen, some of my favourite Tony scenes were those where he connects with his kids. The episode also has an interesting subplot involving Carmella and Father Philip Intintola (Paul Schulz) where she finds herself almost cheating with him on Tony. There is this immense sexual tension between the two throughout the episodes and it acts as the first of Carmella's many temptations and moral dilemmas.

8. Employee of the Month

As it is a show about the mafia, The Sopranos is bound to get very dark from time to time, and the fourth episode from season 3 is a prime example of this. This harrowing episode focuses on Dr. Melfi after she is brutally raped on her way to her car after work, she is then faced with a moral dilemma when she contemplates asking Tony for help when the justice system fails. This is by far one of the most disturbing episodes of the show and the scene where Melfi is assaulted is horrible to watch, things don't get much better for her though as not only does her rapist get away but she also spots him later on in his workplace. The episode really highlighted Lorraine Bracco's acting talents, she gives a truly powerful and convincing performance in this episode that makes it much more emotional to watch. By the end of it however, Melfi decides to not get Tony involved and I'll admit I was a bit disappointed by this as I really would have loved to see him beat the eponymous employee of the month to death, then again that would've been a bit out of character for the good doctor who tends to stay away from that sort of thing. Still though, the episode gave Bracco a chance to show off the true extent of her talents as an actress, it even got her an Emmy nomination.

7. Kennedy and Heidi

From the beginning of the show it looked as though Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli) was set to become Tony's successor, Tony had taken him under his wing and offered him guidance since the beginning and the two shared a very close bond. However, Christopher's drug problems became a big problem and despite Tony's desperate attempts to get him clean, Christopher just could not escape his addiction. But it was not the drugs that got Chris in the end, instead it was Tony. After crashing his car while driving Tony home, a heavily injured Christopher confesses that he will not pass the drug test when he is found, this prompts Tony to abandon his 911 call and kill Chris himself. This was a shocking and rather unexpected scene yet I can't say I didn't see Christopher making it out of season 6 alive. The tension between him and Tony had risen too much as the series progressed that it seemed almost obvious that one would eventually kill the other, but the scene just came out of nowhere making it incredibly surprising. The rest of the episode sees Tony coping with his death and eventually accepting what he did, collapsing to the floor in a fit of laughter in the middle of a Vegas casino. The lesson here, don't do drugs kids.

6. Whoever Did This

Ralphie Cifaretto (Joe Pantoliano) was never the most popular character on the show, he had gotten on Tony's bad side one too many times but his status as a made man prevented anyone from taking him out. His abusive nature, horrible personality and excessive Gladiator references had gotten on everybody's last nerve and it was only a matter of time before Ralph said farewell once and for all. However, this episode initially presented another side to Ralphie after his 12 year old son falls into a coma, he shows genuine emotion for his child which prompts him to make things right with many of those he once wronged. For a second it looked as though he was turning over a new leaf and that he truly redeemed himself, but things are never so simple in The Sopranos. When Tony concludes that Ralph started a fire to kill their racehorse in order to collect the insurance he confronts Ralph, attempting to get a confession from him. Tony eventually loses it and strangles Ralph to death, slamming his head on the floor as he does so. This was a big moment in the shows fourth season, Tony had built up such rage and hatred towards Ralph over the course of the third and fourth seasons and this was his breaking point, this was the last straw. Many believe that when Tony screams to Ralph about killing a 'beautiful innocent creature' he is not referring to the horse but instead a stripper who Ralphie beat to death in the previous season. It was a very powerful episode that brought about one of the most anticipated deaths of the series.

5. Sopranos Home Movies

The beginning of the second half of season six saw Tony and Carmella head to Bobby (Steven Schirripa) and Tony's sister Janice's (Aida Turturro) lake house to celebrate the latters birthday. What begins as a friendly vacation soon turns sour during a game of Monopoly however as a drunken Tony proceeds to mock Janice repeatedly. This prompts her husband and fellow mobster Bobby to punch Tony which results in a fight between the two. We really fear for Bobby in this episode as Tony has killed many a man for much smaller offences than punching him, along with the fact that Bobby's loyalty and innocence made him one of the shows most likeable characters. There was such tension waiting to see what Tony would do to punish Bobby, it soon became a case of not would Bobby die but when would he die. Thankfully Tony decided against killing his brother in law but he wasn't letting him off that easily, instead Tony went for a much more psychological punishment and forced Bobby to commit his first hit. This was much more important than you may think, like I said Bobby was much more innocent compared to some of the other characters so making him kill a man for the first time tainted that innocence in a way. It was a very dark moment for a generally lighthearted character and set the dark tone for the series' end.

4. Long Term Parking

In the beginning of the show, Adriana La Cerva was merely Christopher's love interest, but as the show progressed her role expanded and she became much more integral to the plot. After being blackmailed by the FBI, Adriana was continually pressured into becoming an informant which she resisted as much as she could, in this episode the pressure became too much and she found herself telling Christopher everything. I always felt sorry for Adriana, she was harmless and Christopher was never exactly the worlds greatest boyfriend, being targeted by the feds was just the icing on the cake. Telling Christopher was a very risky move but it looked as if he would cooperate with her and that the two would run away together and start anew, unfortunately this just did not happen. Under the impression that Chris attempted suicide, Adriana finds herself being escorted by Silvio (Steven Van Zandt) to the hospital, but as they drive through the woods it soon becomes clear that Adriana isn't going to get her happy ending. In what is one of the shows most shocking death scenes ever, Adriana is dragged from her car into the woods where she is killed by Silvio offscreen. This was incredibly unsettling to watch even though we don't actually see poor Adriana die, nevertheless the acting and mere sound of her screams make the scene very effective, along with the fact that it's Silvio of all people who carries out the hit. To me this is by far one of the most shocking and tense episodes of the series.

3. Funhouse

If it isn't obvious from the last entry, getting involved with the FBI is never a good move in The Sopranos, something that Pussy Bonpensiero (Vincent Pastore) would learn in the finale of season 2. Unbeknownst to his friends Pussy had been an informant for quite a while, they knew there was an rat just not that it was him. Tony was suspicious however, deep down inside he may have known all along, but his strong friendship with Pussy led him to a state of denial where he just didn't want to believe it to be true. In this episode Tony suffers with a case of severe food poisoning that causes him to have a number of bizarre dreams and hallucinations including one where he sets himself on fire and one where Pussy is a talking fish. Eventually these surreal dreams lead Tony to confront his suspicions, taking Silvio, Paulie (Tony Sirico) and Pussy out on his yacht to set things straight. Aboard the boat Tony pressures his friend into admitting his involvement with the feds which, as expected, results in him getting shot to death and dumped in the sea. This was a very emotional moment for Tony as Pussy was one of his closest friends, there was definitely a reluctance in him but at the same time he could not risk having a rat in the mob. In the following season, Tony would continue to dream about Pussy which shows that he still felt guilty long after this episode.

2. The Blue Comet

The penultimate episode of The Sopranos is by far the most intense and most nerve-racking episode ever as tensions rise between the New York and New Jersey crime families. Phil Leotardo (Frank Vincent) of the New York family puts hits on Tony, Silvio and Bobby due to their high ranking statuses and after hearing this they put a hit on Leotardo himself. Things go wrong after a case of mistaken identity however and Phil makes the first move, having Bobby killed in a model train shop. Much like Adriana's death in the previous season Bobby's was very surprising and upsetting, of all people who deserved to die in the show Bobby was not one of them. To make things worse an attempt was also made on Silvio's life which resulted in him going into a coma, things were not looking well for the DiMeo crime family in this episode and the sheer sense of tension throughout is almost too much. Along with all of this, the episode also marks the final appearance of Dr. Melfi who sternly ends her sessions with Tony, believing him to be a sociopath. I felt this was a strange way for the duo to part and I would've loved to have seen more from Melfi but I suppose there was just so much going on in this episode and not much left for her to do. This was by far the most suspenseful episode in the shows history and its emotional ending set things up for what turned out to be a very divisive finale.

1. Pine Barrens

Amidst all the death and despair seen in The Sopranos, the show maintains a certain sense of dark humour that makes it a lot more enjoyable to watch. There is no better example of this than in my favourite episode, Pine Barrens. The episode begins like any other with Paulie and Christopher making a collection for Tony from a member of the Russian mafia, however things go awry and the duo wind up on a wild goose chase in the New Jersey Pine Barrens in pursuit of the Russians. The two then become lost and the tension and paranoia between them increases, making for comedy gold. The duo's relationship was already strained as it is so when they both become paranoid they begin to suspect that the other is going to kill them. There are so many memorable quotes and moments from this episode and it was refreshing to see such a humorous episode, the writing is clever and the acting is fantastic making Pine Barrens one of the strongest episodes ever. Every scene with Paulie and Christopher is so rich with humour that you sometimes forget that the show isn't a comedy, their dialogue is brilliant throughout. The episode was directed by future cast member Steve Buscemi who was responsible for throwing that steak at Tony in the scene where he leaves Gloria's (Annabella Sciorra) house, just an interesting piece of trivia there. It has no major deaths or plot developments but it has some of the shows best writing and to me it is the greatest episode.

So those are my choices for the top 10 episodes of The Sopranos, there are loads of brilliant episodes over the shows six seasons so if you've got favourites that I've left out let me know in the comments. In my next post I will finally be taking the time to discuss The Room, the best worst film ever made...

Thoughts on 'Game of Thrones' season 6

And so another season of Game of Thrones has come to an end, and what a damn fine season it was. Questions were answered, many new questions were asked and so many people died, as the season came to an end it is clear that things are falling into place for the final stretch towards what promises to be an epic finish. But of course, this season did have its flaws and in this post I will be going through each story arc from this season, discussing what I liked and disliked about them. Needless to say this post is VERY spoiler heavy for those who are not yet up to date so unless you've finished season 6 I suggest turn back now.

Kings Landing

Once upon a time a lot of the shows action took place here, but this season things were been pretty quiet in King's Landing as Cersei (Lena Headey) continued in her struggle with the High Sparrow's (Jonathan Pryce) Faith Militant. It was interesting seeing Cersei being portrayed as more sympathetic, between the events of last seasons finale, grieving for her recently deceased daughter and losing her grip on her son King Tommen (Dean Charles Chapman) to the Faith, it was clear that she was a broken woman. At her side were her brother Jaime (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), the mad Maester Qyburn (Anton Lesser) and the zombified Mountain (Thor Bjornsson), the latter feeling very underplayed this season barr tearing the head off a Faith Militant member.

Things seemed to be building up to something there on Margery's (Natalie Dormer) atonement day, but they didn't as Tommen began to side with the faith. Tommen began to annoy me almost more than Joffrey this season, I mean come on lay down the law boy. Even Margery seemed to be manipulated by the faith but this was proven to be an act which she confirmed to her grandmother Olenna (Diana Rigg). It seemed as though the Tyrell's were planning something against the faith, unfortunately they didn't exactly get to complete their plan as in the finale they were all blown up. That's right, Margery, her brother and father, The High Sparrow and the entire Faith Militant were blown to smithereens inside the Sept of Baelor when Cersei decided to exact revenge on them using Aerys Targaryen's remaining wildfire. It was a truly explosive finale but it didn't stop there for the mad Queen in the making, she also had meddling Maester Pycelle (Julian Glover) stabbed to death and let the Mountain take care of Septa Unella (Hannah Waddingham) while cheekily chanting shame, how the tables had turned. 

To top things off, Tommen decided to off himself and took the term 'Kings Landing' a bit too literally, but there was no time for grieving for Cersei as she was busy taking the Iron Throne for herself, becoming the new Queen of Westeros. Yikes. While things in Kings Landing got off to a slow start it's safe to say its events were the true highlight of the finale, with the faith storyline well and truly wrapped up and Cersei on the throne it's safe to say things will get a lot more interesting there come next season.

The Iron Islands

After many seasons of brutal torture and misery, Theon Greyjoy (Alfie Allen) finally made it home to Pyke where his family were a bit less than excited to see him. However, after his father was murdered by his newly arrived uncle Euron Greyjoy (Pilou Asbeak), Theon and his sister Yara (Gemma Whelan) formed an alliance against him in hope to claim the Salt Throne for themselves. I was glad to see Theon finally back on the mend and moving on to greener pastures, the chemistry between him and his sister this season was great and I look forward to seeing more from them. As for Euron..well we'll see how many of those ships he gets built on an island with no trees.

Braavos

If this season confirmed anything its that once you cross the narrow sea, your storyline truly does go to shit. This is most evident in Arya's (Maisie Williams) Braavos storyline this season where she goes back to her training with the faceless men after being cured of her blindness. I enjoyed this story initially, I liked Jaquen (Tom Wlaschiha) initially, but by the end of it I was left with a sour taste in my mouth. Basically Arya was given another chance to prove herself by killing an actress, after forming a bond of sorts with her target Arya decided to abandon this mission prompting Jaquen to send that annoying Waif (Faye Marsay) after her. In a shocking scene, Arya was stabbed repeatedly by her before falling into a river and narrowly escaping. This was a moment where fan theories were actually better than what the writers came up with, there were talks of Arya faking her death to get the faceless men off her back, even a Fight Club-esque theory about her and the Waif, but no, what you saw onscreen actually did happen. How Arya survived those wounds I'll never know, it was an instant of lazy writing that really hit the Braavos plot hard. After taking her revenge on the Waif, Arya confronted Jaquen before deciding to leave the House of Black and White and return to Westeros. That's right, she spent two seasons in Braavos for nothing, it was a bit frustrating and anticlimactic seeing how that storyline unfolded, it was like they needed to give her something to do for two seasons before whisking her back to Westeros. On the plus side, her training and newfound abilities would come in handy later on..

Meereen and Vaes Dothrak

Like Arya, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), one of the shows most interesting and likeable characters also fell victim to what I like to call 'The Essos Curse' and was severely underplayed. Still stationed in Meereen, he attempted to keep things in order after Daenerys fled last season by trying to reason with the former slave masters. However, things don't go so well as the slavers launch a full on assault on Meereen leaving Tyrion and the Dany crew to be rescued by their Khaleesi and her dragons. He did have some memorable lines along with the entertaining joke scene, but I feel like Tyrion could have accomplished so much more this season. With the way things ended however, it looks as though he'll have a bigger role in the next one.

Meanwhile, Daario (Michael Huisman) and Ser Jorah (Iain Glen) attempt to rescue Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) from not Khal Drogo as she was taken hostage by the Dothraki and held captive in the temple of the Dosh Khaleen. Burning her captors and emerging from the flames unscathed, Daenerys reunited with her two favourite men and forgave Ser Jorah as he confessed his love for her. Touching eh? Don't get used to it as she then sent him off to find a cure for his greyscale, PLEASE don't let him become the next Gendry. 

After this, Dany and Daario returned to Meereen, rescued the city from the slaver fleets and the Sons of the Harpy before forming an alliance with Theon and Yara Greyjoy. Yes ladies and gentlemen, after six seasons wandering aimlessly around Essos, Daenerys in finally on her way across the narrow sea along with her companions, her dragons, the Dothraki, fleets of Ironborn, Dornish, Tyrell men and what was left of those slave ships. I was glad to finally see some development in Daenerys' story and Emilia Clarke gave one of her best performances ever this season, her chemistry with Yara is also an interesting one that I look forward to see developing. Looks like the Essos curse has finally been broken.

The Riverlands

Things began to kick off in the Riverlands this season as Jaime and Bronn (Jerome Flynn) aided the Frey's in the siege of Riverrun. Just when I was beginning to like Jaime, this story arc acted as a reminder that no matter how much good the Kingslayer has done, he is still a Lannister, a loyal one at that. Even his friendship with Brienne (Gwendoline Christie) became strained due to his loyalty to his family, but considering Cersei's recent development it's interesting to see how much longer this loyalty will last. I was pretty sad to see The Blackfish (Clive Russell) die as he was great this season and I would've loved to see him possibly join the Starks in the North in the impending winter, RIP Brynden. 

The highlight of the Riverlands this season however, was the return of the beloved Sandor Clegane aka The Hound (Rory McCann). After being left for dead in season 4 we thought we'd never see the chicken loving brute again, but thankfully he survived his wounds and was back in full force. Initially living in peace, The Hound went on full rampage mode after his peaceful new friends were murdered and this was extremely entertaining to watch. Seeing the hulking man slaughter various men in the Riverland forests was very reminiscent of a Friday the 13th movie, with The Hound as Jason Voorhees. He eventually exacted revenge before joining the Brotherhood without banners and going for a piss in a nearby river. Classic Hound, how we missed you.

The big thing in the Riverlands this season however, was the speculation of whether or not a certain Lady Stoneheart would return. In the books she is the ressurrected Catelyn Stark who came back thanks to the Brotherhood, to exact revenge on those who betrayed her. It seems odd that the show never brought her in but this season there were a number of hints that she would make an appearance, the frequent conversations about Catelyn, the Riverlands plots, the reintroduction of the Frey's and the Brotherhood and a number of returns led many fans to believe she would return. Long story short, she didn't which was really disappointing, I have no idea why the writers would neglect such an interesting plot that even writer George RR Martin wants in the show, but sure look. Instead it was Arya seeking vengeance in the finale, using her skills as a faceless assassin to sneak into Walder Frey's (David Bradley) home before baking his sons in a pie, feeding it to him and slitting his throat. It was a bit strange how Arya got to Westeros so fast but nevertheless it was a glorious moment and the look of madness in her eyes as she let Walder bleed out was wonderful to see, I look forward to seeing Maisie Williams cross more names off her list next season.

Beyond The Wall

We last saw Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) in season 4 when he came to the home of the Three Eyed Raven (Max Von Sydow), this season saw him continue his training with the Raven in what was one of the most intriguing story arcs this season. Through some sort of vision questing (possibly time travel?), Bran caught glimpses into the past and saw things such as young Hodor, a certain Tower of Joy and the origins of the White Walkers themselves. I found their origins quite interesting as it gave them some sort of motivation, created by the Children of the Forest to protect their land from the humans, it gave some death to the dreaded ice zombies. Speaking of which, the White Walkers cut Bran's training short in the midseason episode where they attacked the home of the Three Eyed Raven, killing him, Brans direwolf and a number of Children of the Forest. But the most heartbreaking death of that episode, and the entire season, was Hodor's (Kristian Nairn). Yes the loveable giant sacrificed himself to save his friends at the very moment when we learned the origin of his name, for me it was the saddest GOT death scene since the Red Wedding and knowing it came from George RR Martin himself shows, yet again, how talented he is as a writer.

After that epic midseason, things got pretty quiet on the Bran scene. We finally saw the return of Benjen Stark (Joseph Mawle) who had been missing since season one and is now in some sort of state where he's half human, half whitewalker, it's cool as hell. After saving his nephew and Meera (Ellie Kendrick) from a group of wights, Benjen helped to escort them further south where Bran went on one last vision quest for this season, and it was a big one. We Finally got the end of that Tower of Joy flashback and the confirmation of one of the most popular fan theories: Jon Snow (Kit Harrington) is the son of Lyanna Stark and (possibly) Rheagar Targaryen. That's right, Ned took him in after his sister died in childbirth, pretending that he was his bastard son when in reality the new King of the North could have Targaryen blood running through his veins. It was a satisfying moment, especially for those longterm fans of the books.

Sam and Gilly

I was a bit disappointed to see that the loveable duo of Sam (John Bradley) and Gilly (Hannah Murray) only appeared in two episodes this season as I quite like the comic relief they provide and think the actors bring excellent chemistry to the characters. This season saw Sam heading to Oldtown in order to begin his maester training, but not before he made a trip to his home. I enjoyed getting a deeper look into Sam's world and where he was before coming to the wall, the dinner scene also helped to develop his relationship with Gilly as her wildling heritage was revealed. Her strong defense of Sam shows how much love she has for him and his willingness to take her and her baby to Oldtown with him shows that he feels the same way, sometimes it's nice to take a break from all the death and destruction. Sam, Gilly and Little Sam finally did arrive in Oltown where Sam marvelled at the gigantic library inside the citadel in a simple yet fulfilling scene. 

The North

My favourite story arc this season, by far, was that in the North and things were certainly eventful up there. Firstly, as many suspected, Jon Snow was ressurected by the red witch Melisandre (Carice Van Houten) after his shocking death last season. Although it was predictable by a mile, it was satisfying seeing him return and even more satisfying watching him hang those wankers who stabbed him to death in the first place before resigning as Lord Commander. Soon after he was reunited with his half sister Sansa (Sophie Turner) who escaped the maniacal Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) last season, it was a heartwarming moment for fans and characters alike and marked the beginning of the Stark's return to prominence.

Meanwhile Ramsay too came to prominence, killing his father, his stepmother and newborn half brother in order to become Lord of Winterfell. If that wasn't bad enough, he also had in his possession the youngest Stark child Rickon (Art Parkinson) who he would use as a bargaining chip against the Starks. Iwan Rheon's performance as Ramsay was one of the highlights of this season for me, I never thought somebody could be nastier than Joffery but Rheon manages to be just that and takes the cake as the shows greatest villain. As he began to threaten the Stark siblings, Jon gathered many forces of the North including the stern pre-teen Lady Mormont (Bella Ramsay), a new fan favourite.

All of this built up to the shows most astonishing battle sequence, the Battle of the Bastards. It was Ramsay's men vs Jon and his army that included the likes of Ser Davos (Liam Cunningham) and the wildling Tormund (Kristofer Hivju), and oh boy was it intense. It was so brutal and bloody yet so gripping and brilliantly directed, it's up there with the likes of Helms Deep and the Battle of Hoth and had me on the edge of my seat for its entirety. If that episode doesn't win an Emmy then there's no justice in the world. It was by far the most impressive scene I've ever seen in a TV show. While Jon's forces seemed outnumbered they were saved by Lord Baelish (Aiden Gillen) and the Knights of the Vale before Jon and his pals stormed Winterfell.

Our heroes came out victorious, though suffered many losses including Rickon and the giant Wun Wun (Ian Whyte), but seeing those Stark banners hanging over Winterfell made it all feel worth it. The episodes end also saw the long awaited death of the villainous Ramsay at the hands (or jaws) of his beloved hounds, it was a satisfying moment especially for Sansa who slyly grins as she walks away.

With Winterfell back, Jon and his forces turned their attention to winter's arrival and the impending White Walker invasion. After banishing Melisandre for burning Shireen last season, Jon gathers all of the remaining Northern houses, seeking their aid in the coming winter. After more stern words from Lady Mormont, Jon was then crowned King in the North at long last. It was certainly a great season for Stark's and with winter finally here I cannot wait to see Jon and his army face the White Walkers at long last, the dead are coming as Ser Davos said.

Dorne

...Let's not.

The Verdict

Season 6 was, in my opinion, one of the best so far. It had some really gripping storylines and one of the greatest battle sequences ever making for a really intense season. The cast were all outstanding in their respective roles as some said farewell while others were welcomed back, the show certainly boasts some fantastic talent. It did have some flaws such as the Braavos plot and the lack of Lady Stoneheart but in its entirety I feel it was a pretty fantastic season. Above all, however, it set things up for the end game, Cersei on the throne, Dany heading to Westeros, winter finally arriving, the end is near for Game of Thrones and by the looks of things it's going to be a big one. 

Thoughts on 'Ratchet and Clank' (PS4)

It's hard to believe that it's been fourteen years since Ratchet the Lombax and his robotic partner Clank blasted on to consoles for the first time. Since then they've been on a number of other adventures, saving the galaxy time and time again from the forces of evil. The games have become renowned for their imaginative weapons and gadgets, the talented voice cast and the hilarious, sometimes offbeat humour that the series is known for. This year the duo finally got their own film and while that didn't exactly gain as much acclaim as expected, it's companion game for the PlayStation 4 certainly did. The game is essentially a reimagining of the first installment, taking elements from games in the rest of the series as well and follows the duo on a quest to save the Solana Galaxy from Chairman Alonso Drek and his army of evil warbots. As a big fan of the original trilogy I was very excited to play this game and just last week I managed to finish it so I thought I would do a little evaluation of the game. I'll be looking at what I felt work, what I felt didn't really work and how exactly I felt about this game and how it compares to its predecessors.

What Worked

Surprisingly for a remake, a lot about this game worked and it was hard for me to fault it. First of all, the graphics are stunning and a big improvement from those of the original games. Every lush environment, every spacecraft, every hair on Ratchet's body is so detailed that its almost like a Pixar film, there was evidently a lot of hard work put into this games visuals and they certainly do pay off. 

The game includes some of the elements that made the first game so great, swingshots, hoverboards, Blargian Snagglebeasts, they're all brought back to remind us what made us fall in love with Ratchet and Clank in the first place. It also felt great being reunited with such great characters like the evil Dr. Nefarious in his pre-robotic form and the hilarious Captain Qwark, one of my personal favourite characters. At the same time however, it is not a mere carbon copy of the first game and there are many surprises in store for both longtime fans and newcomers. And that's the real beauty of this game, it issues in a new era of fans to the series while offering the hardcore fans one of the greatest nostalgia trips ever.

Like the original, the game contains some brilliant humour and does not rely on recycling old jokes from the original games. One of the best lines comes from the plumber on Novalis, 'see you in the next reboot' he exclaims after fixing our heroes ship, reminding us of that clever, almost self-aware humour that made the original trilogy so memorable. Along with the games sense of humour is its sense of imagination that manifests itself in the wide arsenal of weapons and gadgets at Ratchets disposal. Some of my personal favourites are the groovitron that causes your enemies to dance, allowing you to easily dispose of them, and Mr. Zurkon, a killer robot that can be dispatched to shoot enemies while spouting out some gold one-liners. 

It is because of all this that the game never feels boring, there are always new weapons and upgrades to try out, more gold bolts to find and more extras to unlock, it always keeps you occupied even after story mode is finished. Along with that, it's no walk in the park either and some levels are particularly challenging, especially towards the end of the game. It's got enough material to entice new fans while at the same time pleasing the old.

What Didn't Work

Well, nothings perfect, and this game does have a its flaws. For starters everything feels a bit rushed, from the introduction of our protagonists to some of the objectives, it all moves so fast at times that it's hard to take everything in. Now I don't know if that's to keep in line with the film or because the developers only had a limited amount of time to complete this game but at times the rushed plot makes it hard for characters to develop. 

That's another thing that bothered me about the game, it introduced a number of new and colourful characters without giving them a lot of time to develop. We see a number of new characters like Brax and Cora of the Galactic Rangers, but we know little about them and little time is given to see them in action, all they get is a few cutscenes and throwaway lines that leave us wanting to know more about them. Who knows, maybe a sequel could expand their roles.

Another problem with the game being rushed is that it felt like it was over too quick. The game omitted a number of planets from the original game such as the ice planet Hoven and the stormy Olantis and it was a shame as they had some real potential. Meanwhile other planets that were omitted were merged into others, elements of Orxon can be seen on Gaspar. Now I know the games development was rushed and perhaps some planets were omitted in exchange for better graphics but still, it could have done no harm to slow things down at times.

The pacing was the only issue I really had with it and perhaps if the game had more time to develop then the story could have had more depth and maybe could have been a bit longer.

What Now?

So with the series officially rebooted, does this mean there will be a sequel? Will we be fighting off protopets and Tyhrannoids or will it be an entirely new story? Well the truth is, the developers at Insomniac don't really know and that's fair enough, they have other projects in the works so it's best to get those out of the way first before returning to this franchise. Elsewhere there is a Sly Cooper film in the works so perhaps the success of this game could inspire a tie in game for that as well? Maybe it will inspire other franchises like Crash Bandicoot or Jak and Daxter to reboot or revive themselves, could you imagine that? While the future is unclear, the success of Ratchet and Clank proves that people still have a place in their hearts and on their shelves for action platformers.

The Verdict

While it does suffer from some pacing issues, Ratchet and Clank is a reboot worthy of its predecessor that captures the spirit of the original games while bringing new elements to the universe as well. The distinctive humour and imagination is still there, enticing newcomers to the franchise while welcoming back longtime fans.

'The Conjuring 2' Review

Three years ago director James Wan gave us what was arguably his scariest film to date, The Conjuring. That same year he also gave us Insidious 2, the rather lackluster sequel to his chilling supernatural horror Insidious, so when it was announced that he would be bringing us a sequel to The Conjuring, horror fans were rightly skeptical. Thankfully however, Wan does not disappoint as The Conjuring 2 manages to surpass its predecessor in both scares and emotional depth making for a really chilling film that also has heart. The Conjuring 2 continues the story of real life demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively) and takes the action from New England to, well, England, as the duo combat the dark forces that reside within a North London council house. Mild spoilers ahead.

Like its predecessor, The Conjuring 2 is not exactly something we haven't seen before and harks back to those classic supernatural horrors like Poltergeist and The Exorcist. The subject matter and its many tropes are all too familiar at this stage, however this film somehow manages to retain a certain sense originality and unpredictability mainly due to Wan's direction (no, not the boy band). Once again, the director utilises his signature tracking shots that sweep through the halls of the gloomy council house, leaving viewers in anticipation of what will be around the next corner. He uses his swift camerawork and sometimes lingering shots and combines them with Joseph Bishara's chilling score (or lack thereof) to build a nailbiting sense of suspense that often climaxes in clever little jumpscares. While there are a fair few jumpscares, it is evident that Wan puts a great effort into building suspense before delivering them, and when he does he often throws a curveball. Just when you think he's going to turn left, he turns right, using every dark corner and every shadowy hall to help scare the audience stiff. Wan only provides explicit scares when necessary, making sure they're effective when he does, and I think this is one reason why they are often so unpredictable.

Along with the soundtrack and direction, the film has a number of ghoulish spirits that deliver some really solid scares throughout. The Enfield poltergeist himself (Bob Adrian) is merely the tip of the iceberg as the real star of the show is that demonic nun plastered all over the promotional material. The nuns physical appearance is so unsettling that her mere onscreen presence is enough to scare one stiff, it is her that brings some of the films most frightening moments such as an eerie scene in the Warren's home. She is portrayed by Bonnie Aarons who some will recognise as the dumpster bum from David Lynches Mulholland Drive, is you thought that was scary then you're in for a real treat here. Another sinister creation from this film is the spindly crooked man played wonderfully by Javier Botet of Mama fame. Botet's lanky appearance and jittery movements give the Crooked Man an almost animated appearance, however it is all too real which makes it even more unsettling to watch him.

Returning from the original film are Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, not only do the two excel in their respective roles yet again but they have a great onscreen chemistry that feels so sincere. The two work incredibly well together onscreen and their sheer compassion for eachother adds a layer of emotional depth to the film. Maison Wolfe who plays the young Janet Hodgson shows off some immense talent in this film, managing to play both possessed Janet and regular Janet perfectly. There are echoes of Regan MacNeil in her performance which is very entertaining at times, however she also succeeds in portraying the scared child beneath it all and like the two leads she too forms a convincing bond, only with her onscreen mother Peggy (Frances O'Connor). I can see a promising career for the young actress. Even the films comic relief Maurice Gross (Simon McBurney) has a sense of emotional depth to him and I think that's what makes these characters feel so relatable and real (along with them actually being real people). Like I said, it is a horror film with heart and the real heart in The Conjuring 2 lies within the idea of family, it is a strong theme in this film even moreso than the first.

Topping its predecessor in more ways than one, The Conjuring 2 is a breath of fresh air into a seemingly dying subgenre. James Wan proves yet again that he has mastered the genre and provides some truly unsettling sequences that will undoubtedly stick with you long after you've left the cinema. The cast all exhibit immense talent, bringing to life these characters and providing them with a profound sense of depth that makes the audience care for them dearly. While it does suffer from a sense of familiarity, The Conjuring 2  has both a talented director and cast by its side, making for a memorable and truly horrifying film, Wan's greatest work so far.

David Lynch, The Greatest (almost) Horror Filmmaker

When you think of some of the most iconic horror filmmakers, names like John Carpenter, Dario Argento and George Romero are among those who come to mind. A name that may not come to mind at first however, is David Lynch and this is because his films aren't usually regarded as being of the horror genre. The American director is best known for films like Blue Velvet and Eraserhead along with his cult television series Twin Peaks, his films all have a distinct, surreal style that makes them memorable and sometimes unsettling. Lynches talent for atmosphere and his bizarre imagination act as the perfect combination for horror and while his films aren't explicitly horror films, they are much more terrifying than a lot of films that are.

Lynches first feature length film was Eraserhead, a surrealistic science fiction film that followed Henry (Jack Nance) as he struggled to raise his mutated newborn child. A very strange concept for a film and not something that a lot of directors could pull off, but Lynch knew exactly what he was doing with this one and managed to use it to kick start his career. Lynch uses his two greatest assets in this weird little film, his talent for creating atmosphere and his wild imagination which he uses to create some outlandish imagery. The atmosphere is evident throughout, from the very subtle soundtrack to the dark tone, Lynch creates this very bleak and at times, unnerving atmosphere that is consistent from start to finish. The use of shadowing and the fact that the film is shot in black and white are nice touches that act as the finishing touch on this atmosphere. However, it is the imagery that makes Eraserhead so memorably unsettling, in particular Henry's mutant baby that looks like some sort of skinless turtle and the Lady in the Radiator (Laurel Near) who breaks into song every now and again. Lynch exhibits some truly peculiar creations in Eraserhead, not only showcasing his brilliant imagination but contributing to making the film the unsettling work of art that it is. It was a great start for Lynch, but is it horror? Well it's not the most terrifying of Lynches films in my opinion, but Eraserhead is definitely a horror film and a subtle one at that. It does not aim to make the audience jump, instead it aims to freak them out with its uniquely bizarre style and story and in that it certainly succeeds.

It feels odd calling David Lynches films subtle when they are full of so much wild imagery and colourful characters, but in their scares they incredibly subtle. This takes me to another one of my favourite David Lynch films, Blue Velvet. Set in a seemingly normal suburban town, the film follows Jeffery Beaumont (Kyle MacLachlan) as he discovers the towns dark underbelly while taking interest in a strange case involving singer Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini). It's more grounded in reality than some of his earlier films like Dune and the aforementioned Eraserhead but because of Lynches distinct style, it is a very dreamlike reality. Initially the small town of Lumberton feels like your average, all American town, the people are ordinary, have ordinary jobs and do ordinary things, but as the film progresses we realise that it is anything but an ordinary town. Again, Lynch uses his subtle soundtrack and direction to build his signature unsettling atmosphere, the camera often lingers on certain people or places which is very effective in building tension, especially when combined with the soundtrack. One of the most terrifying things about Blue Velvet however is Dennis Hopper as the unhinged criminal Frank Booth, the films antagonist who inhales mysterious gas before going ape on whoever he feels like. Booth is a very complex character, his motives and his background are quite ambiguous which gives him this layer of mystery, making his violent actions much more unpredictable. Hopper is flawless in this role, he really captures this relentless figure while still making him feel somewhat human, Frank Booth is a lot more imposing that many horror movie monsters. It's more of a thriller than a horror but Blue Velvet is undeniably unsettling, Lynch utilises his skill for creating atmosphere once again while Dennis Hopper brings his insane antagonist to life in all his glory. The juxtaposition between what's normal and what's abnormal in this film helps to blur the lines between dreams and reality, something that Lynch would incorporate heavily in some of his later films.

What Lynch did so well in Blue Velvet he perfected in his television show Twin Peaks. Once again there is an ordinary town that holds extraordinary secrets, only this time the story involves FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) as he investigates the murder of a girl named Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). It is very much like Blue Velvet only much more expansive, there are more characters, more subplots and things are much more abnormal beneath the towns surface. It wasn't as grounded in reality as Blue Velvet either as many supernatural forces turn up throughout the course of the show, many of these residing in the mythical black lodge. It saw many instances of fantasy and reality intersecting which, again, blurred the lines between what's real and what isn't. Each episode begins relatively simply but as it progresses, that Lynchian atmosphere builds up and by its end things become much darker and more surreal and a lot more like a David Lynch project. The show is full of some highly unsettling scenes, one of the creepiest is when the camera lingers on an empty sitting room as the sinister BOB (Frank Silva) crawls across the room, gradually coming closer as the tension builds. It gave me chills when I first watched it and remains as one of the scariest things I've ever watched. The series was followed up by a prequel film, and while it left out many popular characters it was a lot more darker than the show and had the freedom to go full on psychological horror. What resulted was a bizarre Lynchian nightmare, taking everything scary from Twin Peaks and amplifying them to their greatest extent. The scene where Laura's face suddenly turns white genuinely made me jump the first time I watched it and Lynch continues to bring that subtle eerieness to the floor. Due to its more supernatural elements, Twin Peaks was much more dreamlike than some of Lynches previous works and at times, much more terrifying.

I consider many of David Lynches films to be the closest things to dreaming while being awake, and while I touched on this earlier I think it's about time I discussed it while looking at one of his best films, Mulholland Drive. Now this was initially supposed to be a pilot for a television series and at first it was left open ended for potential future episodes, however when the pilot was rejected, Lynch decided to complete it himself as a feature film. The result is a strange tale involving budding actress Betty (Naomi Watts) and amnesiac Rita (Laura Elena Harring) as they search for the true identity of the latter. There are a number of other subplots and mysterious characters, however none of that really matters as halfway through the film things get completely flipped over and we begin to question everything we thought we knew about it. Characters change in more than just name and the whole world established in the films first half feels like it was a mere hallucination. This is a prime example of Lynches ability to create a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere and how effective it can be. It's more of a nightmare than a dream however as Mulholland Drive is full of signature Lynchian elements such as suspense, ambiguity and downright bizarre imagery. The infamous scene behind the dumpster is enough to make you remember this film as one of the scariest things you've ever watched. If you haven't seen this film, the best way I can describe it is this: It's like a dream that gradually turns bad, a slow burning nightmare that as much as you want to wake up from, you can't. I don't think any director has captured the feeling of dreaming as accurately as David Lynch has.

So, David Lynch, are his films horror films? Well yes and no. While many of his films are undeniably unsettling, from their freakish imagery to their dark atmospheres, their purpose is more to provoke thought than to scare. While it is sometimes obvious that Lynch is trying to scare the audience, it is more evident that he wants them to think about his story and his characters, that he wants to play with their minds. Lynches imagination is incomparable and it is his surreal style that sets his films apart from others, when someone refers to a film as 'Lynchian' or 'very David Lynch', if you've seen his films you'll know exactly what they mean. Lynch makes scary films, that goes without saying, but are they explicit horrors that solely aim to frighten the audience? Absolutely not, Lynches films are unique and they often take elements from many different genres, but they cannot be confined to one distinct one. They are simply David Lynch films, and David Lynch is a man with talents for writing, direction and acting, a man who knows that atmosphere is more effective than jumpscares, and a man whose imagination is as wild and unique as his hair. They are films that can make us laugh, make us jump or make us feel sad, but one thing they all have in common is that they all can have a profound effect on us long after we're done watching, and that makes David Lynch a true master of his craft.

Top 10 Horror Themed Music Videos

Music and horror often find themselves intertwined, from horrific musicals such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show to music-centric horrors such as The Phantom of the Paradise, the two sometimes find themselves coming together to create something really special. One of the best examples of this is in music videos, many music videos are full of bizarre, disturbing imagery and horrific themes as they have the freedom to do so. Be they subtle references to horror or full on homages, there are some really terrific horror themed music videos out there, and here is my pick for the top 10.

10. Backstreet Boys- Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

When I started this blog I never thought I'd be talking about the Backstreet Boys, but there you go. This funky track of the boy bands second album may not seem so horrific upon listening, but its video is a full on gothic horror homage that sees the band transform into a variety of movie monsters while spending the night in a spooky mansion. The band members dress as Dracula, The Mummy, The Phantom of the Opera, Mr. Hyde and The Wolfman, mixing these classic monsters with their own signature style to create a ghoulishly campy music video. It's an entertaining video as the boys sing and dance around the gothic manor and because of it the song has been on the playlist of every Halloween party since 1997. Along with an appearance from Starsky and Hutch's Antonio Fargas, Backstreet were certainly back and this video reminds us of that.

9. The White Stripes- Blue Orchid

This American garage rock duo have had a history of outlandish music videos, but their first track from their album Get Behind Me Satan had a particularly ghoulish one. The video sees both Jack and Meg White rocking out inside a grimy looking house dressed like something from a Tim Burton film while model Karen Elson struggles to walk around in her high heels. It's a very gloomy video and the White Stripes look as pale as ever dressed in their gothic garments, Jack White is particularly bizarre in this one, pounding away on his piano and moving in a very exaggerated manor around the old house. It's a very fun video with bizarre visuals to add a sense of atmosphere, it all builds up to a rather grim climax where Elson is presumably trampled by a white horse. You can witness the madness here.

8. Marilyn Manson- Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)

The controversial shock rocker has some pretty disturbing stuff in all of his videos, but I just think this one is particularly dark. It sees the ghoulish looking Manson and his bandmates inside an abandoned building and is full of distorted and blurred visuals to give the video a very surreal vibe. It's almost like if David Lynch directed a snuff film. There are shots of Manson in a wedding dress and even riding a pig as he roams around his demented playground, his appearance alone in this video is enough to give you goosebumps. Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, the band who originally performed the song, said the video was one of the scariest things he's ever seen. If you're ready to let Marilyn Manson give you nightmare after nightmare, you can watch that video here.

7. Primal Scream- Can't Go Back

If you've read my blog you'll know I'm a big fan of giallo films, which is why I am a big fan of this video from the Scottish indie band Primal Scream. The video is a homage to Italian horror, in particular the works of Dario Argento and Mario Bava and sees a black gloved killer stalking and murdering a group of beautiful women, basically any giallo film shortened down to about 3 minutes. Stylistically the video is a perfect homage to films like Suspiria and Blood and Black Lace, from the colourful lighting to the direction, it really feels like you're watching a giallo film. Not even frontman Bobby Gillespie can escape this black gloved maniac. The video hasn't been on YouTube for ages for whatever reason, but you can watch it in all its gory glory here.

6. Gorillaz- Clint Eastwood

Damon Albarn's animated band have had a variety of memorable videos courtesy of Jamie Hewlett's animation, but their debut single Clint Eastwood has the best. It begins with the band playing against a white backdrop before giant tombstones rise from the ground and the setting soon changes to a gloomy cemetery, as the rain pour down the band soon come under attack by an army of zombified gorillas. Along with its undead primates and ghostly rapper, Del the funky homosapien, the video contains references to a number of zombie films from the Dawn of the Dead quote at the beginning to a crotch grabbing zombie like that in Braindead, this is a love letter to the zombie genre. You can watch this fantastic music video here.

5. Rob Zombie- Living Dead Girl

Rob Zombie's whole career is based around the horror genre, from his songs to his films, so it's only natural that his music videos are especially horrific. I could have chosen literally any of Zombies videos, but I like the one for Living Dead Girl the most as it's essentially a shortened remake of the classic silent horror The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Zombie himself takes on the role of the Doctor while his wife Sheri portrays a female version of somnabulist Caesare called the Living Dead Girl, the two recreate classic moments from the film in this ghoulish vid. What really makes this video stand out is Zombies attention to detail, from the production design to the cinematography, the video stays very true to Weine's classic film while adding a signature Rob Zombie flare to it. You can tell he has a sincere love for the genre. You can watch the video for Living Dead Girl here.

4. Lordi- Hard Rock Hallelujah 

Like the Backstreet Boys, I never thought I'd be writing about the Eurovision, but the demonic looking metal band Lordi won the competition in 2006 with this tune. The video follows a loner goth girl who is rejected by her high school peers, particularly the cheerleaders, but they all get what's coming when the Finnish rock band burst through the gymnasium doors and raise hell upon the school. The video is a weird blend of a satanic monster movie and a high school drama that results in every goth kids dream, commanding an army of zombified cheerleaders through their schools corridors. Lordi are scary enough to look at, their faces caked in realistic looking monster makeup, so watching them invade a high school and turn some unsuspecting students into zombies is pretty horrific yet oddly entertaining. You can watch these fiendish Finnish demons in all their glory here.

3. Slipknot- Spit It Out

Another band who are scary enough to look at, this American metal band paid homage to Stanley Kubrick's acclaimed horror The Shining in this video for their second single off their self titled debut. The video cuts between clips of the band performing and scenes that pay homage to The Shining with the bandmates dressed as different characters around the sinister Overlook Lodge. Joey Jordison takes the wheel behind Danny Torrance's tricycle while frontman Corey Taylor takes on the role of Jack Torrance in this darkly comical Kubrick tribute. The Shining was scary enough as it is but when all the characters are wearing Slipknot masks it becomes very much more disturbing, I just wonder what Stephen King thinks of it. You can check in with Slipknot to the Overlook Lodge here.

2. Aphex Twin- Come To Daddy

This drum and bass classic by British electronic produced Aphex Twin is notorious for its disturbingly bizarre music video that makes a lot of horror films look like Disney. Directed by Chris Cunningham, the video sees an army of children who all look like Aphex Twin as they terrorise the council estate from A Clockwork Orange after a dog pisses on a possessed television. Sounds mad right? Well it is completely bonkers and many will find it terrifying, especially towards the end when an old woman is confronted by a terrifying demon. There is this really chilling atmosphere throughout thanks to a combination of the disturbing imagery and the violent music complete with the eerie chanting of 'I want your souls', it's a full blown assault on the senses. Of course, me describing it doesn't do it justice at all, it's something that has to be seen to truly be believed and you can watch the surreal video here.

1. Michael Jackson- Thriller

You saw this one coming didn't you? Yes the top spot on this list goes to the iconic video for Michael Jackson's Thriller, directed by John Landis of An American Werewolf in London fame. More of a short film thanks to its 13 minute run time, the video begins with Jackson turning into a savage werewolf before we realise that it's actually a film-within-a-film being watched by Jackson and actress Ola Ray. They proceed to leave the cinema only to encounter a horde of rotting zombies who break into dance while terrorising the duo. It's an incredibly entertaining video that has since become iconic both for its memorable dance routine and the monster makeup courtesy of Rick Baker, it's evident that the King of Pop had great fun making this one. To further cement this video in horror history, a part of the song is narrated or 'rapped' by horror legend Vincent Price who adds his own macabre touch to the song. Werewolves, zombies and Vincent Price, this video has them all and remains to be just as frightfully entertaining even 33 years after its release. If you haven't seen it already, you can watch Thriller here.

So there's my list, if you've got any terrifying music videos that aren't on the list (Pitbull doesn't count) let me know in the comments. I'll be doing a post on David Lynch soon along with one on the new Ratchet and Clank game so stay tuned for those, until next time!

'Preacher' Villains That Need to be in the Show

After its second episode on Sunday it is safe to say that AMC's Preacher is off to a brilliant start, from its darkly comical tone to its excessive violence, the show really captures the spirit of its source material. Based on the comics by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Preacher follows troubled reverand Jesse Custer (Dominic Cooper) whose life changes forever after he is possessed by a mysterious entity. We've already been introduced to a number of strange and colourful characters from the comics, from Custer's companions Tulip (Ruth Negga) and Cassidy (Joe Gilgun), to the disfigured but kindhearted Arseface (Ian Colletti), showrunners Seth Rogen , Evan Goldberg and Sam Catlin are already beginning to build the world of Preacher on the small screen. But every great hero has a nemesis and in Jesse Custer's case he's got one hell of a rogues gallery, we've already met the maniacal meat-lover Odin Quinncannon (Jackie Earle Haley) and have got a glimpse at the formidable Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish) in the opening of this weeks episode, but so far we've only scratched the surface. Ennis and Dillon have created a large number of villains in their Preacher comics and as a fan of the comics myself, I'm going to give you a (spoiler free) look at some of the deranged and outlandish baddies that will hopefully turn up in AMC's Preacher.

Allfather D'Aronique

This grotesque man is the leader of a secret organisation known as The Grail whose main goal is to maintain the bloodline of Jesus Christ in order to present a new messiah during the impending apocalypse. Arrogant and gluttonous, D'Aronique has a large number of Grail members waiting on him hand and foot, be it for carrying him around or cooking him vast feasts, this nasty piece of work has an entire army at his command. He also has a habit of sticking a long stick down his throat directly after eating so that he vomits up the remnants of his meal all over himself, it's probably up to one unlucky Grail member to clean him up after. Don't let his appearance fool you though as D'Aronique is a clever man, he has a vast knowledge of every Grail member and their lives as to avoid betrayal, he is not a man to be messed with. It will be interesting to see how D'Aronique is portrayed onscreen, whether his grotesque nature will be toned down or not is yet to be seen but with Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg behind the show it is safe to assume that they will push the limits of television as much as they can.

Jesus DeSade

The only way to describe DeSade is a cross between Jay Gatsby and Christian Gray on crack, this perverted hedonist is by far the most bizarre character from the comics. Having only a short appearance in the Hunters story arc, DeSade is known for throwing lavish parties in his San Francisco mansion where the guests are encouraged to indulge in every sick perversion they can think of, Jesse and the gang run into him while investigating the death of Cassidy's ex-girlfriend. DeSade himself joins his guests in their outlandish sex acts, having a penchant for armadillo's among other things, and at times shoots adult films in one of the bedrooms of his mansion. He's not really a threatening villain, he's more just a sicko who was unfortunate enough to cross paths with Jesse Custer and doesn't really pose a threat in comparison to some of the other people on this list. I can't really imagine such a controversial character appearing on the show, especially since his appearance is often considered unnecessary, but if toned down to a certain extent then he could very well make an appearance somewhere down the line, hopefully giving him a bit more depth than his comic book counterpart. 

Jody and T.C.

This duo of psychotic rednecks worked for Jesse's evil grandmother, making his childhood a living hell from a very young age. Jody is the stronger of the two and he spent years beating and taunting Jesse, ultimately this is what gave Jesse those fighting skills we saw in the pilot but it left the preacher troubled for years. Many consider Jody to be unbeatable, he even killed a gorilla once, his strength is incomparable and there aren't many who would dare get on his bad side. The other half of this dynamic duo is T.C., lacking in both brains and brawn, the only thing this vile man has on his mind is what he'll have sex with next, be it a chicken or a birthday cake, T.C. is attracted to anything. Although not as strong as Jody, T.C. gave Jesse an equal amount of trouble in his childhood, going as far as killing one of his friends for catching him getting it on with a chicken, he's a nasty little man. These two would not only make for great antagonists on the show but they could also help in developing Jesse's backstory, especially with the death of his father, the rivalry between these two and Jesse is definitely one of the most personal, especially with Jody.

Marie L'Angelle

Pulling the strings of Jody and T.C. however is Jesse's wheelchair bound grandmother Marie L'Angelle, she's no sweet old lady though, she's one of the most evil women to ever walk the Earth and has been around for over 100 years. Marie is incredibly religious, forcing her beliefs onto Jesse's mother Christina and eventually Jesse himself, it is because of this that he was forced into becoming a reverand. Despite being devoted to God she is not a loving woman at all, she is cunning and unrelenting and is willing to use her duo of redneck henchmen to murder anybody who gets in her way, her most ruthless action was submerging people underwater in a coffin for long periods of time with only oxygen to keep them alive. L'Angelle plays a crucial role in Jesse's backstory, prompting him to become a man of the lord and making sure he keeps it that way, if she was to come into the show her role would be a big one, perhaps even a big bad for a future season. 

Les Enfants Du Sang

A gang of wannabe vampires who reside beneath New Orleans, Les Enfants Du Sang hold a personal vendetta against Cassidy for killing their former leader, a vampire named Eccarius. Les Enfants worshipped Eccarius and hoped that he would one day turn them into vampires as well, so when Cassidy eventually killed him they vowed revenge. Initially Les Enfants are portrayed as weak and powerless but when Cassidy runs into them years later they have become a lot more threatening, utilising a variety of weapons to take out their enemies. Clad in all black, these vengeful goths aren't exactly major villains but their presence is quite entertaining and they could also help to add depth to Cassidy's television counterpart. I'm sure they'll turn up at some point, looking to take their revenge on the unsuspecting Irish vampire.

Bob Glover and Freddy Allen

A duo of 'sexual investigators' (whatever that means), Glover is an aggressive homosexual from England while Allen is the meeker of the two, they are a strange pair. Initially they are hired by Jesus DeSade to retrieve a supply of heroin for his latest party while they unknowingly lead the trio of heroes to said party. Along the way they encounter the Grail and Glover decides to take out his sexual frustration on a certain Herr Starr (we'll get to him later), before the duo are forced to flee from DeSade's mansion for good. Like DeSade, the appearance of these two seems a bit unnecessary and their controversial nature would make it hard for them to appear in the show, however they do act as comic reliefs of sorts. Their appearance in the comics is cut a bit short and I feel like their stories weren't really wrapped up properly, if they did appear in the series they could be given a better storyline with a more conclusive ending. Maybe Herr Starr could even get his revenge on the television series.

Herr Starr

By far the best villain of the comics and one of the most recurring, Starr is ruthless and self centered, carefully plotting his every action in order to benefit himself. He is a high ranking member of The Grail who disagrees with some of their ideas, he believes Jesse would make a better messiah than the one descended from Christ himself. This stern German man sports a star shaped scar on his eye and sustains a number of other injuries over the course of the comics which only make him increasingly aggressive, although he is a ruthless villain Starr certainly gets as much as he gives. He's the most prominent villain in the Preacher comics and is just as important as the main characters themselves which is why it's only a matter of time before he makes his way to the television adaptation. If he does show up in future season he is bound to go down in history as one of the greatest television bad guys of all time.

God

Yes that's right, God is a pretty big villain in Preacher and is essentially the reason why Jesse embarks on a quest in the first place. When Jesse learns that the deity has abandoned heaven, he decides to pursue him in the hope of gaining answers, but a God is not exactly easy to find and it's quite some time before the two come face to face. God acts as a background villain, making appearances every now and again in the hope that he will convince Jesse to abandon his quest. He often proclaims himself to be a loving God and it is that love given to him by people that feeds his power, he is seen as being a bit of an egomaniac. Now obviously if God were to appear on the show it would cause quite a stir among religious groups, but Rogen and Goldberg have been known to be a bit controversial with their past works so I can see them pushing the envelope on this one too. 

So that's just a taste of some of the violent and outlandish villains in the world of Preacher who will all hopefully get a chance to shine in the television adaptation. I'm curious myself to see how they're all portrayed but I have faith in the writers and the casting that they will be as close to their comic book counterparts as the other characters have been so far. The third episode of Preacher is set to air this weekend so stay tuned for that!

Top 10 Horror Films of the Decade (So Far..)

And here we are readers, the final installment in my series of posts about the top 10 horror films per decade, and what a journey it's been. We've seen the golden age and the atomic age, the rise and decline of gothic horror, the slasher boom and the zombie craze, almost 100 years of scares. Now we find ourselves at the present and although we're only 6 years into the decade it's fair to say there has been a wide number of original and entertaining horror films released within those years. I'm going to get straight to it so here is my pick for the top 10 horror films of the decade so far, also be warned as there may be spoilers.

10. Starry Eyes (2014)

Hollywood is often portrayed as a magical place where dreams come true, but in this dark psychological horror from Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer we get a glimpse at the more horrific side of Hollywood and the extents some will go to achieve their dreams. The plot involves aspiring actress Sarah (Alex Essoe) as she auditions for a film called Silver Scream and how the casting agents and producers push her to every limit, breaking her both physically and emotionally. Now when I say this film is dark I mean it is pitch black, it's an incredibly bleak film with an immense atmosphere of dream all the way through. Alex Essoe's performance as Sarah is both difficult and captivating to watch as she slowly undergoes her gruesome transformation while struggling with both her friends and her mental illness. It's a bit like if Lucio Fulci directed Black Swan. It's certainly a slow burner, Sarah's decline into madness is a gradual one but by the time the film reaches its bloody farce of a climax it's evident how much she's changed. Although there are very little laughs in Starry Eyes it is very much a satirical piece of cinema, highlighting the bad treatment experienced by many young people entering the film industry, sort of like Mulholland Drive meets The Shining. Bursting with atmosphere and cathartic violence, Starry Eyes  is a nightmarish insight into the dark underbelly of Hollywood and the people who run it.

9. Insidious (2011)

Director James Wan made quite an impact in the noughties with horror films such as Saw and Dead Silence, but with the new decade creeping in Wan managed to top those films with an entirely new experience in horror: Insidious. The film begins with the Lambert family experiencing a number of supernatural events upon arriving in their new home, after they decide to leave however, things only turn worse and it is soon revealed that demons are after their comatose son. The film initially comes off like any other supernatural horror film, new house, mysterious hauntings, but this doesn't last long as Wan toys with the conventions of the genre making for an entirely unpredictable experience. For example, the family move out of their supposedly haunted home immediately instead of staying there like some nutcase, Wan knows what we're expecting and counters that in the best ways possible. The jump scares are plentiful but never come across as cheap, they are unexpected yet effective and are balanced out with a fine atmosphere of suspense. The acting is very convincing, particularly from the two leads Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson who play the parents, they feel like real people and not your usual horror movie parents. Above everything else however, this is undoubtedly the best use of a song in a horror film ever and Tiny Tim's 'Tiptoe Through The Tulips' really helped in making this film a lot more disturbing. A fresh film for a fresh decade, Insidious marked the beginning of a new age of supernatural horror.

8. You're Next (2011)

Home invasion movies can often be more terrifying than any other genre, they're something we could all relate to, something that's real and that could possibly happen. You're Next is the perfect example of home invasion done right. Focusing on Erin (Sharni Vinson) as she accompanies her boyfriend to his family reunion, the film sees the unsuspecting family get picked off one by one by a mysterious group of intruders wearing animal masks. It's not exactly something that hasn't been done before, but You're Next executes (heh) the idea perfectly and has this underlying sense of hilarity beneath all of its tension which makes it all the more enjoyable to watch. It's relentless but has a few laughs in there to ease the tension much like films such as Scream. The film has some pretty clever kills with razor wire and crossbows being some of the weapons of choice, it's safe to say that every death in this film is as satisfying as the last and it leaves viewers waiting patiently to see how the next victim will be taken out. It's got a pretty decent plot twist that keeps the story interesting while providing motivation for the antagonists, this is only expanded upon as the film nears its twisted climax and makes for a much more enthralling horror film. By the time You're Next reaches it's devilishly funny ending you'll only be left wanting more, it's definitely up there with some of the best slashers of the modern age and it's protagonist now stands among the ranks of horror cinema's other badass heroines such as Ellen Ripley and Laurie Strode. 

7. Evil Dead (2013)

Normally I'm not too fond of remakes, 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' as they say. However there is one remake that I really feel does it's original justice and that is Fede Alvarez' remake of Sam Raimi's classic horror The Evil Dead. It's not a direct remake, there is no new Ash Williams (and there never will be), these are an entirely new group of people entering the cabin and are this time led by recovering addict Mia (Jane Levy). The premise is essentially the same, five friends go to the cabin for a break only to awaken an evil entity by reading the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. One thing I like about this is that it gives its characters more depth and motivation, especially Mia. This is not just some random vacation to the cabin, it is an intervention for Mia in hope that it will help her face her addiction and confront it, unfortunately it's an entirely different type of demon she confronts. It also keeps with that violent tone of the original, using a blend of practical effects and minimal CGI this film is a farce of violence and gore right from the get go and contains everything from burning to decapitation and of course, chainsaw action. One criticism would be that it took away any sort of humour that was present in the original Evil Dead trilogy, this is a much darker version with no one liners or cartoonish monsters but it works all the same. A departure from the original trilogy but in the best way possible, Evil Dead is a worthy remake that lives up to its predecessors and manages to add a new layer of depth to the story of the cabin.

6. The Conjuring (2013)

Another supernatural horror film from James Wan only this time instead of toying with the tropes of the genre he harks back to some of its greatest films such as The Exorcist in this stylish 70's throwback, The Conjuring. Based on real life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga respectively) the film sees them investigate mysterious happenings at an old farm house in Rhode Island in order to save the family living there. Now there is a lot about this film that seems familiar as it does hark back to the supernatural horrors of the 70's, but Wan uses his talent for conjuring (pun intended) up effective scares to make this a thoroughly frightening and atmospheric film. Using imagery, sounds and the lack thereof, Wan presents some pretty horrifying scares that never feel too forced. One bit in particular sees some sort of demon woman sitting on top of a wardrobe and I distinctly remember everybody in the cinema screaming their lungs out, including me. Yes James Wan takes inspiration from a lot of earlier films in The Conjuring while adding his own unique flare. Once again the characters seem real and believable, from the Warrens themselves to the Perron family, we genuinely fear for these people. Aside from the main plot, there is a subplot that involves the possessed doll Annabelle based on one of the Warren's real life artefacts, it's a pretty creepy doll and at the time I hoped little Annabelle would get her own film, but she did and it was shit. The Conjuring is a perfect blend of old and new, combining tropes and conventions from earlier films with James Wan's unique talent for scaring people.

5. Deathgasm (2015)

Horror and heavy metal often find themselves being linked together, the likes of Slipknot and Rob Zombie often incorporate horrific themes into their music and performances. However, this little kiwi splatter flick is about as metal as horror films get. The film focuses on young metal head Brodie (Milo Cawthorne) as he and his band accidentally unleash a horde of violent demons when they play a cursed piece of music, they then go about defeating the creatures and saving their small town. Like many splatter films from New Zealand, Deathgasm is completely outlandish and violent with plenty of humour to even things out, the best example of how this works in this particular film is a scene which involves one of the characters fighting a demon using a sex toy. It sounds pretty bizarre but that's only a mere fraction of what Deathgasm holds, its packed with violence and gore reminiscent of an early Peter Jackson film yet its style  makes it a completely original piece, from the clothes to the music this is Braindead gone metal. The characters are pretty likeable, well Brodie anyway, his 'best friend' Zakk (James Blake) is that arsehole with a penchant for music snobbery, we all know one. Along with these are good girl turned metal head Medina (Kimberley Crossman) and the comedic but rather underused duo of Dion (Sam Berkley) and Giles (Daniel Cresswell) who really did deserve more screentime. It's no artistic masterpiece but it doesn't try to be, it's aware of what type of film it is and it takes great pride in that, Deathgasm is sheer entertainment packed to the brim with extreme violence and pounding metal music.

4. It Follows (2015)

As we have seen, the 80's was a great period for horror films which is why it makes sense that many modern horrors make reference to that glorious decade, one of these being It Follows. Set against the backdrop of a gloomy Detroit, the film sees high school student Jay (Maika Monroe) after a sexual encounter with a boy after which she becomes pursued by a mysterious, shapeshifting entity that follows its victims and ultimately kills them. It's a pretty original story that brings something fresh to the genre, a new terror that we haven't seen before which helps add a sense of mystery and unpredictability to the plot. A figure that can take on any shape it wishes in order to follow its victim is truly the stuff of nightmares. Stylistically however, this is an obvious 80's throwback executed perfectly in a very John Carpenter-esque style. From the synth heavy soundtrack to the simple yet effective cinematography, this feels very much like a Carpenter film and has a similar atmosphere to films like Halloween. It is suspense heavy, every waking moment of the film is packed with tension as the mysterious entity gradually gets closer and closer to our protagonist and there is a sheer sense of dread throughout. Thematically it is also very 80's horror with the entity being a metaphor for STI's, a common trope for many horror films is that sex=bad and It Follows continues that trend. Highly original in its premise but stylistically very familiar, It Follows takes everything great about 80's horror and uses it to create a tense and atmospheric cautionary tale of sorts.

3. The Babadook (2014)

Another completely original take on the genre, this slow burning psychological horror has gained immense acclaim since its release and rightly so as it is incredibly scary. The Babadook involves single mother Amelia (Essie Davis) as she struggles with her hyperactive son Samuel (Noah Wiseman) who is convinced that they are being stalked by the Babadook, a terrifying monster from a children's book. Generally horror films these days rely heavily on either extreme gore or intense jumpscares, The Babadook relies on neither and instead writer/director Jennifer Kent presents a slow burning horror that utilises atmosphere and its performances to make for an utterly frightening piece of cinema. Davis is phenomenal as Amelia, she makes Jack Torrance look tame in comparison as she slowly begins to lose her grasp on reality, meanwhile Wiseman gives an equally strong performance as her son Samuel and the two share an excellent onscreen chemistry. The eponymous creature itself doesn't make many appearances, he subtly crops up now and again in his trench coat and top hat making his presence felt without being too explicit. It gives a feeling of constant peril and that there is truly no escape from the Babadook. One of the most nailbiting scenes involves Amelia hiding under her sheets from the creature as he scuttles up to the ceiling, it's difficult to watch for even the most experienced horror fans. The film exhibits how sometimes less is more, in this case using a more subtle villain who brings with him this incredibly terrifying atmosphere whenever they're onscreen, it's a risky approach in horror but in this case it works perfectly.

2. The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Films like Scream popularised meta-horror, but this 2012 horror comedy is about as meta as you can get. It essentially has two storylines, one is the age old story of a group of teens heading to a remote cabin in the woods only to be terrorised by vicious redneck zombies. The other is set in a facility beneath the cabin where the employees behind the zombie attack attempt to use it as a means to gain sacrifices for an ancient deity. It's a clever take on the classic cabin in the woods story that is packed full of references and homages to the horror genre itself. The facility beneath the cabin holds a number of nightmarish creatures that pay homage to earlier films, from a grotesque merman to a very cenobitey looking bloke with a saw in his head, there are countless references and parodies to be found within the film. The script is clever and is penned by both Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard of Buffy fame, it combines moments of sheer terror with some of the wittiest dialogue in horror cinema, stoner Marty (Fran Kranz) and the duo of Hadley and Sitterson (Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins respectively) deliver some of the most memorable lines of the film. There is never a moment where this feels boring, there is always something happening and always questions to be answered, be they in the cabin or within the facility below, it will have you hooked from start to finish. It is a film for the horror fans but its unique sense of humour will appeal to those not too clued in to the genre as well, making it something accessible to many. The Cabin in the Woods is Whedon and Goddard's show of appreciation for the horror genre and is probably the best homage to horror cinema within horror cinema.

1. The Witch (2016)

The most recent film on this list and, in my opinion, the scariest, The Witch follows a family of 17th century New Englander's as they become the targets of what they believe to be is a witch who lives in the woods and the paranoia that ensues. The Witch, like the aforementioned The Babadook is a much subtler type of horror film that doesn't rely on hardcore violence or jumpscares, instead this film utilises its editing, its gloomy cinematography and its eerie soundtrack by Mark Korven to create a highly unsettling atmosphere. It's a film that can create scares without anything explicitly scary happening. Along with being a horror film it is also a period piece and writer/director Robert Eggers does a great job of presenting this through the clothes and the dialogue. It is an extremely tense film, very reminiscent of films like The Thing, packed full of paranoia that slowly builds up to a cathartic climax. It is a bit of a slow burner but if you can find the time and patience for the old-timey dialogue then you won't be disappointed. The Witch is without a doubt the most unsettling film that I have ever seen, from its chilling score to its disturbing imagery, the film will stay with you for long after the credits have stopped rolling. An excellent debut from Robert Eggers and in my opinion, the best horror film of the decade so far.

Well there you have it, that series of posts has come to an end. You can have a look at the rest of my blog if you're interested in reading more, until next time.