Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 191

NOSFERATU Is a Horny and Horrific Take on a Horror Classic

Let it never be said writer-director Robert Eggers does anything half-assed. Through his first three feature films, all three period pieces with strict period accuracy, he’s explored folk lore, isolation, and revenge. Each movie grew, both in scale and as an expression of style. For his fourth outing, Eggers is not only bringing all of that to screen once again, but is doing it reimagining one of the pillars of horror cinema, itself an adaptation of arguably the most important texts in horror literature. Nosferatu has many enormous shoes to fill and does it nearly flawlessly.

Focus Features

The Witch and The Lighthouse forced audiences to get on board with language and accents they might not have heard before. Both of those were small cast affairs dealing with growing madness that may or may not have supernatural influence. Those movies are frightening in small ways and employ hallucinatory imagery. The Northman, while ultimately a straight forward revenge yarn, is by far the largest production Eggers ever attempted. I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Northman. I thought it lost some of the weird darkness I loved from the earlier ones. Nosferatu, is a big huge production that has all the weird darkness.

A passion project of Eggers’ for years, Nosferatu is a reimagining of F.W. Murnau’s German expressionist classic from 1922. While not the first silent horror film by any means, it’s arguably the most important. It’s at least up there with The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Phantom of the Opera. So remaking that in 2024, 102 years after initial release, is a big swing. The original was also, infamously, an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. In 1922, that book was only 25 years old. Now, it’s 127 years old and has been adapted a billion times. So even if you don’t know Nosferatu, you know Dracula.

Focus Features

I’m belaboring the point that this adaptation is tough so that I can say that Eggers and company succeed in ways I had not fully expected. The movie is simultaneously a perfectly period-accurate depiction of German society and Slavic folklore, an updating of the essence of German Expressionist cinema for the 21st century (more on that in a bit), and, chiefly, a damn scary vampire movie to boot.

The story follows Ellen Hutter (Lily-Rose Depp), a newlywed with a history of “hysteria,” stemming from an accidental communion with an evil entity in her youth. Her husband, Thomas (Nicholas Hoult), a solicitor, has a positive effect on her mental state. This, unfortunately, starts to slip when Thomas’ boss, Herr Knock (Simon McBurney) sends him deep into the Carpathian Mountains to deliver paperwork to an important client, the reclusive aristocrat, Count Orlok (Bill Skarsgård).

Focus Features

While Thomas is away, Ellen stays with her best friend Anna (Emma Corrin), Anna’s shipping magnate husband Friedrich (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and their young daughters. The closer Thomas gets to Orlok’s house, the more Ellen’s sanity begins to slip. This necessitates Dr. Sievers (Ralph Ineson) to call upon his mentor, the eccentric but brilliant Professor Von Franz (Willem Dafoe), for assistance. All the while, Orlok gets closer, both physically and psychically, with Ellen, leading to plague and decay in his wake.

You can certainly feel the bones of Dracula, pun intended, in the story. Eggers makes sure to keep enough different so as to make it interesting. Orlok is not a Hollywood vampire and instead a repugnant creature of death and destruction borne out of Romani folklore and historical accounts. I won’t spoil Orlok’s look, but it’s unlike any version we’ve seen on film before. To add to the grotesqueries of the character, the otherworldly nature, Eggers makes his constant wheezing breathing omnipresent and every line of Orlok’s dialogue fills every channel of the sound mix. It’s supremely effective in building the terrible majesty befitting such a monster.

Focus Features

Additionally, Eggers has managed to keep the essence of German Expressionism without making it a parody or pastiche. The color palette is grey and dreary while the lighting is stark and distinct. Often, we’ll also get full close-ups, an especially central technique to silent-era cinema. Much harder to pull off, I think is a style of acting that features heightened emotions and slightly more exaggerated facial expressions. Again not enough to distract, but enough to pay respect to Murnau and that entire performance technique.

Some of the cast pull this off better than others. Depp has by far the hardest job, essentially acting as the focal point for all of the story’s many ups and downs. She pulls this off masterfully, allowing Ellen to be a raw nerve without ever grating or losing credulity. Hoult, also, has to remain pretty resolutely terrified throughout the movie and never once feels over the top. Dafoe also deserves applause, of course. As the Van Helsing analog, he has to be both stern and knowledgeable and weird and goofy. Much the same way McBurney’s Knock has to go slowly madder and madder through the course of the film. Great stuff.

Focus Features

I would be remiss if I didn’t call out the lone duff performance of the bunch. Taylor-Johnson’s rich gentleman never feels like more than dashing rogue stereotype, which is not what the character actually is. Friedrich has the unenviable position in such a movie to be the sole immovable skeptic who has to endure the consequences for that arrogance. He ought to be a tragic figure and I just never bought Taylor-Johnson’s pantomime schtick for a minute.

That aside, what truly makes Nosferatu one of the year’s best films is the sheer scale and detail behind every single aspect. The costumes, the makeup, Robin Carolan’s score, Jarin Blaschke’s cinematography, the gorgeous practical sets and locations only heightened through CGI not detracted. It’s a testament to the artistry of a team of filmmakers when the creative vision is so strong.

Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu sits apart as not merely a remake or reimagining but a wholly singular interpretation of a book and film baked into the very fabric of popular culture. You know the story, you might even know the film, but you don’t know them this way. Count Orlok is at once the most repulsive and most seductive version of the vampire we’ve ever seen. The movie is austere and refined as well as horny and animalistic. It’s a triumph, and I have faith it will scare you plenty. The perfect chiller for the chilliest time of year.

⭐ (4.5 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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Walton Goggins Goggle Glasses Are a Real Thing You Can Really Buy

“Walton Goggins Goggle Glasses” is a really fun tongue twister. It’s also an amazing premise for an April Fool’s Day gag. It sounds like a hilarious fake product you might see a commercial for on Saturday Night Live when the actor hosts. But the one thing you would never expect from something called Walton Goggins Google Glasses is that they would be a real product you can really buy. But he is really selling them.

Really.

Fallout‘s Walton Goggins is hoping fans will go gaga for his new line of eyewear. And despite the collection’s appearances, Goggin’s own absurdly intense promotional video, and the eyewear’s highly entertaining moniker, they are not a joke. They are very real and very much for sale.

The collection features five color schemes to pick from: neon yellow, blue, black, white, and tortoise shell. Outside of Blue they also have fun names like Mama’s Skillet, Limoncello, Cumulonimbus, and La Tortuga. They are also really what they claim to be. Each pair features “a modular 10-in-1 customization system, complete with adjustable strap, foam inserts, and interchangeable arms to fit every face.” That allows wearers to use change them to be either goggles or sunglasses. You know, like in the name. The name Walter Goggins Goggle Glasses, a real thing that is really for sale.

Walton Goggins

If you want to look like the villain in an ’80s ski movie, a pair can be yours for $150 each. (And, once again because we feel the need to convince ourselves as much as we need to convince you, we swear that’s true.) You can head to the line’s official site and put them in your digital shopping basket and everything. And if you still don’t believe this is a real product, Walton Goggins told People about the inspiration behind them.

If this is really an elaborate bit and/or fundraiser he did not let People in on the joke! This is a hard sell for the glasses. Apparently he’s already received lots of compliments while wearing them. People seem to love Walter Goggins Goggle Glasses, a real thing you can really buy.

Really. We think.

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Vin Diesel Claims FAST X: PART II Sequel Coming By March 2026, Wants Dwayne Johnson to Return as Hobbs

There are some TV shows and films that simply refuse to unhand us. Several series, including Grey’s Anatomy and The Young & the Restless, will surely outlive us all. And, when it comes to action movies, there are few franchises with the baffling events and longevity of The Fast and the Furious. Somehow, it went from a street racing saga to people literally taking cars to space in the span of ten movies. Now, there’s yet another one coming, tentatively titled Fast X: Part 2, and Vin Diesel claims on Instagram it is coming by March 2026 with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson returning as Hobbs. (Thanks to Deadline for bringing this to our attention!)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vin Diesel (@vindiesel)

Right now, there’s no confirmation about any of the above from Universal Pictures. The film isn’t currently on its release schedule. So we will see if that happens. Vin Diesel also said on IG that Comcast wants two more movies to wrap up the franchise. We truly believe that there will be a Fast 20 one day but, even if it does end with thirteen movies, spinoffs are surely going to happen. As far as Dwayne Johnson reprising his role as Hobbs in the Fast X sequel… well, that would be interesting.

Universal Pictures

Johnson and Diesel had an ongoing feud for years that they claim to have squashed for the sake of fans. Others have expressed concerns over Vin’s alleged disruptive behavior on set as well. Johnson is set to star in a Fast & Furious spinoff film as Hobbs but that would be separate from anything involving the main franchise and presumably Vin Diesel. According to Johnson, that Hobbs spinoff film is supposed to set up Fast X: Part 2 and if what Diesel says is true, it would need to release sometime in 2025.

Hope you’ve got your funderwear on…

HOBBS IS BACK.
And he just got lei’d 🌺😈

Luke Hobbs will be returning to the Fast & Furious franchise.

Your reactions around the world to Hobbs’ return in Fast X have blown us away 🤯🙏🏾🌍

The next Fast & Furious film you’ll see the… pic.twitter.com/vvtBgTBOnl

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) June 1, 2023

Speedy movies aside, The Rock is cooking plenty of other roles on his own so it is unlikely that he’d return to a messy situation if he doesn’t need to. But maybe the pair will squash their real life drama so their characters can have more onscreen fun. Time—and perhaps a PR statement—will confirm if Vin Diesel is just talking for the heck of it or if there’s any truth to his statements.

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PADDINGTON IN PERU Trailer Promises a Bearrific Adventure, US Release Date Delayed

We’re all overdue for a blessing. And we could definitely use some additional joy. Frankly, we’ll take any ounce of happiness we can get. Thankfully StudioCanal, a French film production and distribution company, gave us the best possible entertainment news when they confirmed Paddington 3 was officially in the works. What. A. Gift.

The movie will continue the utterly charming story of Paddington the bear. The StudioCanal representative specifically told Variety: “We can confirm StudioCanal is working very hard on film 3 with the utmost craft and care—as with film 1 and 2.” That’s tremendous news since the first two Paddington movies are so lovely. Since we first received this exciting confirmation, we’ve learned more about Paddington 3‘s title (Paddington in Peru), team, and release date along with a trailer.

Here’s what we know about the bearrific movie.

StudioCanalPaddington in Peru‘s Release Date

Paddington in Peru was set to release in the US on January 17, 2025. However, it was recently pushed back to a Valentine’s Day release. Now Paddington in Peru will release in the US on February 14, 2025, instead. In the UK, meanwhile, it will release two months earlier, on November 8, 2024, according to Deadline. It doesn’t seem fair to have to wait the extra months for new Paddington adventures, but we guess we’ll take more of the franchise whenever we can get it.

Adventure awaits! #PaddingtonInPeru is coming exclusively to theaters in 2025. pic.twitter.com/ycjO4lfyew

— Paddington Movie (@PaddingtonMovie) October 23, 2023

Paddington 3‘s Title, Team, and Cast

Recently we learned who will direct the third Paddington film. Dougal Wilson will direct the movie. And the title? As mentioned, Paddington in Peru. We like how dramatic this sounds. Wilson takes over the lovable bear movies from director Paul King. King directed the first two installments. And as for Wilson, he comes from a background of music videos and commercials. Paddington in Peru marks his theatrical feature debut. The movie filmed in London and Peru. Production was slated to begin production on July 24.

Additionally, Deadline notes that the cast consists of “Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Antonio Banderas, Olivia Colman, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Jim Broadbent, and Carla Tous with both Ben Whishaw and Imelda Staunton returning as the respective voices of Paddington and Aunt Lucy.”

In case you aren’t familiar, the popular Paddington Bear stories by author Michael Bond and artists including Peggy Fortnum inspire the Paddington movies. The first live-action film debuted in 2014, with a sequel following in 2017. Both films made bank and warmed hearts as audiences watched Paddington make a home with the Brown family in London. Ben Whishaw voices the titular bear; actors such as Hugh Bonneville, Julie Walters, and Sally Hawkins star in the movies alongside him. At the end of Paddington 2, the bear reunited with his adoptive aunt Lucy.

Originally published on February 27, 2021.

Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of The Jedi Mind, available now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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FREAKIER FRIDAY Sets 2025 Release Date, Plus Manny Jacinto’s Role Revealed

Freaky Friday 2 is officially happening, with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan back for more body-swapping fun. The highly anticipated sequel movie certainly seemed like it was gaining traction, but there’s nothing we love more than an official announcement. In addition to Curtis and Lohan, Freaky Friday 2 has gained some excellent new cast members, and it has a slated release window of 2025. That’s some freakishly exciting stuff. We also have the official title. At D23, we learned Freaky Friday 2 will be called Freakier Friday. Here’s what we’ve learned about Freakier Friday since it was first announced.

The title of #FreakyFriday2 is Freakier Friday. #D23 https://t.co/o3cP8Fx6oQ pic.twitter.com/yxDP9dz2vZ

— Nerdist (@nerdist) August 10, 2024

Freakier Friday Wraps Filming

It feels like we just heard that Freaky Friday 2, no known as Freakier Friday was happening. But now, filming on the sequel movie has all but wrapped. Curtis shared a tribute to the film and Lohan on Instagram.

Manny Jacinto in Freakier Friday

Curtis recently revealed Manny Jacinto’s role in Freakier Friday. She shared with Entertainment Weekly, “Manny plays Lindsay’s husband, but that’s as much as we can say. Manny is lovely, so funny.” Looks like it’s Rom-Com leading man land next for Jacinto and we love it!

Freaky Friday 2, Freakier Friday, PlotDisney

In a release, Disney describes the plot of Freaky Friday 2 as follows:

A sequel to the beloved 2003 film with a multigenerational twist, the film picks up years after Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) endured an identity crisis. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.

More body swapping, ahoy!

Freaky Friday 2, Freakier Friday, Cast and Creators

@disneystudios

The band’s back together and coming to theaters in 2025 🤘. The sequel to Freaky Friday is now in production!

♬ original sound – Disney Studios

Of course, Curtis and Lohan reprise their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman. But other Freaky Friday actors will be back for more fun. These returning original cast members include Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Christina Vidal Mitchell, Haley Hudson, Lucille Soong, Stephen Tobolowsky, and Rosalind Chao. But Freaky Friday 2 will also see some new faces, including Julia Butters, Sophia Hammons, Manny Jacinto, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. We are very excited to hear Manny Jacinto is Freaky Friday 2 official, especially after his excellent recent turn on The Acolyte. As mentioned above, he will play Anna’s husband.

In addition to the above looks, we also have a glimpse at Chad Michael Murray’s return as Jake. Lohan says of the return, “It’s exciting. Chad comes into the movie full force, as Jake does, in ‘Freakier Friday’ on the motorcycle. It’s just a really fun movie. I feel like people are gonna laugh a lot. Along with a lot of heart, there’s other stories in it to tell. I’m really excited to share it with everyone.”

Finally, Freaky Friday 2 will be directed by Nisha Ganatra.

Freaky Friday 2‘s Release Date

Production on the Freaky Friday sequel began in June 2024. And now, we have Freaky Friday 2‘s official release date. Freakier Friday will arrive on August 8, 2025.

While we wait for Freaky Friday 2 to release, you can catch the original movie streaming on Disney+.

Originally published on July 18, 2024.

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DUNE: PROPHECY Episode 3 Recap: Flashbacks, Fueds, and Sisterhood Above All

Dune: Prophecy‘s third episode is here, and that means it’s time for some backstory for our favorite characters, Valya and Tula Harkonnen. We get only a few glimpses of the present-day in episode three of Dune: Prophecy, and mostly, the episode, titled “Sisterhood Above All,” is devoted to flashbacks that help us better understand our main duo of sisters. Of course, as the Sisterhood will tell you, the past is never very far away from the present. And our understanding of what has come before is critical for us to understand what is happening now. Of course, it’s not all flashbacks in Dune: Prophecy episode three. One very important development happens at the end of the episode, and it takes place in real-time. Let’s dive into our recap of Dune: Prophecy episode three “Sisterhood Above All,” our parsing of Valya and Tula’s, and as ever, that ending explained.

Dune: Prophecy Episode Three Flashes Back to a Deepening of the Harkonnen vs. Atreides FeudMax

In Dune: Prophecy episode three, we head back to spend some time with young Valya and Tula in flashbacks. We begin before Valya headed off to the Sisterhood. It turns out that Valya and Tula had a brother, Griffin. Griffin was on a quest to bring honor back to the family name and turn their tides. But Valya convinces him to do one better; she tells him to find Vorian Atreides, who first declared the Harkonnens traitors and cowards and convinces him to recant what she believes are lies.

Griffin is majorly team Valya, so he does exactly that. But it seems that Vorian Atreides kills him for his efforts. This sharpens Valya’s resolve to get revenge on the Atreides for first besmirching her whole House and now making it personal by killing Griffin. But for now, Valya is heading off to the Sisterhood.

The First Use Ever of Dune‘s The Voice Happens on Dune: Prophecy

In this Dune: Prophecy episode three flashback, we also hear about the very first use of Dune‘s “The Voice.” At least, that we know of. Before his death, Griffin and Valya speak of a time when he fell into icy waters. Wanting to save him, Valya commanded him to swim to her. He was forced to obey. Fearing for her brother’s life unleashed “The Voice” in Valya, a true act of Sisterhood. Valya saving Griffin from drowning is the first known instance of “The Voice” we see in Dune and Dune: Prophecy. A fitting act of Sisterhood in “Sisterhood Above All.”

Valya Meets Mother Raquella and Makes a Choice Between the Sisterhood and Her Great HouseMax

After Griffin’s death, Valya heads to the Sisterhood. But she can’t quite let go of what happened to House Harkonnen at the hands of House Atreides. As such, she cannot put “Sisterhood Above All.” Despite this, she gains the trust of the Sisterhood’s leader, Mother Superior Raquella, who trains her to be her successor. Raquella reveals the genetic archive to Valya in this Dune: Prophecy episode and shares that this is how she and the Sisterhood, “identify the best pairing, bolster the right unions,” and find leaders “less prone to corruption and tyranny” that will not drive humanity “to the edge of extinction.” This appeals to Valya, who loves to meddle and control things. The genetic archive, of course, functions on forbidden technology. Valya is also shown to be perfecting “The Voice” and teaching it to the sisters that support her.

However, there is a problem. There is a growing rift in the Sisterhood between Valya and her followers and Dorotea and her followers, leaving a division in the organization. Mother Superior Raquella orders Dorotea and Valya to find a way to proceed together and wants them to undergo Dune‘s “The Agony” and unlock their genetic memories to become reverend mothers. It seems Raquella hopes this increased wisdom will assist the pair in finding the best way.

Max

However, at the last minute, Valya refuses the ritual. She has unfinished business with her House and family.

Tula’s Journey of Harkonnen Revenge in Dune: Prophecy Episode 3Max

Meanwhile, we catch up with Tula Harknonnen in a different Dune: Prophecy episode three flashback. Tula seemed initially less inclined toward revenge than Valya, but we quickly find out that is not the case. In this Dune: Prophecy flashback, Tula has begun a relationship with a man under the guise of a fake name. We soon learn that this isn’t just any man, but an Atreides. At first, we aren’t totally sure if Tula is trying to move on from her past or not. But it all becomes perfectly clear as the episode unfolds.

Tula essentially lured in Orry Atreides and got him to fall in love with her as part of exacting revenge for her brother Griffin and the Harkonnen family. With everyone’s guards dropped at a family reunion of sorts, Tula poisons Orry and all members of the Atreides clan who are present. This Atreides massacre is done in the name of House Harkonnen. Tula only allows one small child to live.

Is the Atreides Child that Tula on Dune: Prophecy Lets Live Keiran Atreides?Max

That begs the question who is the Atreides child that Tula let live in Dune: Prophecy episode three? Well, there’s only one Atreides currently in the series, and it’s Keiran Atreides. Could Tula meet the child whose family she murdered in future episodes of the series? It feels likely.

MaxTula Saves Valya’s Life After She Undergoes “The Agony” in “Sisterhood Above All”

In the wake of Tula’s Atreides massacre, Valya tells Reverend Mother Superior that she needs to head home. The Reverend Mother agrees to let her go, but tells her that she needs to undergo “The Agony” on her own and become a Reverend Mother if she is to return to the Sisterhood at all.

After fighting with her family, Valya decides it is time to commit to the Sisterhood. She takes the poison of “The Agony” and almost dies, but Tula leads her back to life. Another true act of sisterhood on “Sisterhood Above All.”

Valya in the Present Day of Dune: Prophecy Episode 3Max

We see very little of Valya in the present day in Dune: Prophecy episode three. But we do see that she is set on maintaining Sisterhood control amount the Great Houses. She orders the Truthsayers to quell any doubt and says she will reclaim control over the Emperor, Imperium, and House Corrino, though she has been banished thanks to Desmond Hart.

Valya learns of the new aspects of the prophecy that Tula and Sister Lila gleaned from Lila’s genetic memory. Valya immediately connects Desmond to these new parts of the prophecy.

At the end of the episode, she goes to visit Harrow Harkonnen, who calls her Aunt Valya, for reasons still unknown.

Is Sister Lila Dead on Dune: Prophecy? Episode 3’s Ending ExplainedHBO

And so we arrive at the “ending explained” of our Dune: Prophecy episode three “Sisterhood Above All” recap. After undergoing The Agony, Sister Lila is not dead yet on Dune: Prophecy, but instead basically in a coma. We learn that no one has ever returned from the state that Sister Lila is in, but Tula is not ready to let her die.

Defying the wishes of Valya, Tula pretends to allow Lila to die and instead secrets her into the mysterious chamber of the genetic archive. Using some of that forbidden technology, Tula aims to save Lila’s life. Tula orders the A.I. thinking machine to keep Lila alive. She reveals, “Spice can rejuvenate the mind” and that Lila “still has a chance if you administer the correct dosage.”

Sister Lila isn’t dead yet on Dune: Prophecy. But we wonder how much her life will cost Tula and the Sisterhood.

Join us next week as we recap Dune: Prophecy episode four. Dune: Prophecy airs Sundays on Max.

Check out: our Dune: Prophecy Episode One Recap, Dune: Prophecy Episode Two Recap

All Dune: Prophecy recaps can be found here.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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FIENDSGIVING Crowdfunding Campaign Promises Backers Will Learn Filmmaking

Time was, back in the early heyday of crowdfunding campaigns, that independent films looking to raise their budget through fan donations was unique and unprecedented. Nowadays, it’s relatively commonplace. For a project to really standout, it would need to offer something truly special for backers, not merely the usual digital copies, t-shirts, and posters. With Fiendsgiving, a holiday-themed slasher movie from writer-director Clarke Wolfe (Malum, late of this parish) and producer-star Samm Levine (Freaks & Geeks, Inglourious Basterds), backers will get, in effect, a crash course in making their own movie.

Clarke Wolfe

Participants in the Fiendsgiving IndieGoGo campaign will be able to join livestreams from production meetings, special effects tests and from physical production on set, plus post sessions in the edit bay. The filmmakers will also release sample documents including budget breakdowns and production check lists, giving contributors an unfiltered look at the highs and lows of independent filmmaking.

“It’s no secret to anyone that our industry is at an inflection point and securing financing, even at a micro-budget level with filmmakers that have years of experience feels incredibly challenging,” says writer/ director Clarke Wolfe. “We see an opportunity with this campaign to provide access and information cinephiles don’t normally get while also making a holiday horror movie that genre audiences will love.”

Wolfe—a former contributor to Nerdist, who will always be one at heart—is a horror aficionado who has parlayed that into a successful career as host, writer, director, and actor. Listen to Clarke on a recent episode of Laser Focus, talking with me about adapting horror to the screen. She said Fiendsgiving will take inspiration from modern slashers like You’re Next and The Strangers as well as seminal holiday horror, Bob Clark’s Black Christmas.

The campaign seeks to raise $50,000 to shoot the opening sequence starring Levine as Xander, a douchey tech bro on his way to a Thanksgiving meal with his mother, estranged sister and long term, long distance, low commitment, casual girlfriend Taylor. Unfortunately for Xander, he crosses paths with a masked assailant…and The Gobbler is born!

Wolfe and Levine are veterans of movie sets and will offer backers an unprecedently look behind the scenes, as well as the ability to attend virtual interviews and watch livestreams of days on set. It’s basically like a Masterclass in indie filmmaking that will also result in the opening scene of a slasher movie.

To support the Fiendsgiving campaign, or for more info, visit the official IndieGoGo page. As of this writing, the project is 8% funded with a little over a month left.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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What Is DUNE’s ‘The Agony’ Ritual and How Does Genetic Memory Work on DUNE: PROPHECY

Genetic memory, the idea our ancestors’ wisdom and lived experiences get passed to us through our cells, has been a pillar of Dune since Frank Herbert’s original novel. It’s what makes Reverend Mothers among the most formidable, knowledgable figures in the galaxy. Paul Atreides only became the Kwisatz Haderach when he became the first man to unlock his genetic memory. Now Dune: Prophecy‘s second episode has shown just how dangerous and terrifying accessing that power truly is. The show brought “The Agony” to screens, and that nightmarish experience showed that great power always comes at a great cost. But what is Dune‘s “The Agony” exactly, and how does genetic memory function in the franchise? Here’s what we know about it and what Dune: Prophecy adds to the lore.

What is Genetic Memory in Dune?HBO

In Dune, genetic memory is the concept that we inherit our ancestors’ memories via our cells. Their lived knowledge literally gets imprinted in the genes we inherit from them. But genetic memory is inaccessible without an awareness spectrum narcotic like spice melange. With that and extensive training, it becomes possible, though still not easy, to access genetic memory in Dune‘s world.

Who Can Access Genetic Memory in Dune?Warner Bros. / Legendary Pictures

There are not many people who can access their genetic memories in the Dune universe. But who can? Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit unlock the genetic memory of their female ancestors and previous Reverend Mothers when they use their physical training to survive a fatal mind-altering poison on a molecular level. On Arrakis, this occurs when they change the Water of Life (an intense poison) inside their body to prevent it from killing them. Dune: Prophecy reveals to us more about how the unlocking of genetic memory works, but more on that below.

Meanwhile, Dune: Part Two showed us this process when Lady Jessica drank the mystical blue liquid taken from young sandworms. She used her Bene Gesserit training and counteracted the poisonous Water of Life. When she did, like every other Mother Reverend, she gained access to the genetic memories imprinted on her at a cellular level.

In Dune, Paul Atreides becomes the Kwisatz Haderach after he becomes the first man to drink the Water of Life. He also became the first person to ever access both his male and female ancestors’ memories, giving him more knowledge than any Reverend Mother.

(Note: There are also those known as Pre-Born like Alia Atreides. The Pre-Born are those in Dune‘s world who are born with their genetic memory unlocked. But they aren’t a concern until 10,000 years after Dune: Prophecy.)

Who Was the First Person to Unlock Genetic Memory in Dune?HBO

The founder and original Reverend Mother Superior of Dune: Prophecy‘s Sisterhood was the first person to unlock genetic memory. In episode two, Tula tells Lila about how her (secret) great-great-grandmother Raquella Berto-Anirul learned about this ability. She says of Mother Raquella discovering genetic memory on Dune: Prophecy:

Crisis, survival, advancement. Our founder, Mother Raquella, was poisoned. To survive, she harnessed her body’s own chemistry, transmuting the toxins on a cellular level. In doing so, she awakened something deeper. The voices of her mother, her mother’s mother, back and back… until all of the women who had come before her opened their minds to her and spoke.

Why Did Valya Want Lila to Unlock Her Genetic Memory on Dune: Prophecy?Max

In her desperation to stop Tiran-Arafel, “a tyrannical force” that threatens the Sisterhood, Valya Harkonnen pushed her sister Tula to get young Lila to unlock her genetic memory on Dune: Prophecy. That was no easy ask. Lila was not fully ready to unlock her genetic memory. The physical and emotional training she needed to survive the experience was still woefully incomplete. But in her desire to serve the Sisterhood she loved, Lila agreed. While she was able to speak to her famous ancestor and learn more about Raquella’s deathbed prophecy, Lila did not survive “The Agony” of meeting a vengeful ancestor.

What is “The Agony” Experienced When Unlocking Genetic Memory on Dune?HBO

When you find yourself in the darkness…seek the light. Your foremothers will waken wild, hungry. Do not let them sway you. All that matters is the light.

Tula warned her favorite student, Lila, about what she would encounter after she was given the poison. In Dune, the Sisterhood calls the gut-wrenching, terrifying process “the Agony,” which is actually an understatement of the horrors that await those who try and become Reverend Mothers. The Agony is a scientific process that sends its participant into a supernatural-esque nightmare full of the dead. Some of whom are desperate to reach the living. And in Dune: Prophecy, we actually see The Agony play out.

Accessing your genetic memory is not like going into a room full of filing cabinets with information. It means encountering your actual ancestors. On Dune: Prophecy, they looked like the types of half-living, half-dead figures Odysseus met in the Underworld, only scarier. While Raquella was eager to protect her descendent in that cavernous room of shadows and desperation, one vengeful ancestor refused to let Lila ever leave. Dorotea made sure Lila never found the light and died right there so she could steal the “hope” of Valya and Tula since they stole Dorotea’s life.

HBO

Lila got the Sisterhood more information about the greatest threat they have ever faced. But that brief conversation with Raquella cost them the life of a brave young girl. Hopefully, Lila’s sacrifice was worth it.

Whether it was or not, we know that future Reverend Mothers will learn from this experience. They always do.

Editor’s Note: Dune: Prophecy is a Legendary Entertainment production. Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist at ease without having access to his genetic memory. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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What Is the Actual ‘Prophecy’ of DUNE: PROPHECY? Here’s What the Title Might Mean

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What does the “prophecy” of Dune: Prophecy‘s title refer to? Before the show’s first episode, the answer seemed obvious and easy. The prequel series takes place 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides. That long ago era marked the early days of the Sisterhood that put in motion a grand plan to breed the super being of Frank Herbert’s seminal novel. But—fittingly considering the nature of prophecy—dark visions, conflicting objectives, a fearsome power, and the prescience of what awaits the galaxy makes divining the true meaning of Dune: Prophecy‘s title less clear. As does the presence of a powerful and mysterious figure who was “reborn” amid the sands of Arrakis.

Warner Bros. DiscoveryMother Superior Raquella’s Deathbed Prophecy on Dune: Prophecy

Raquella Berto-Anirul, a hero of the wars against the thinking machines, founded the Sisterhood that will become the Bene Gesserit. She wanted her group to help “govern the future.” To bring about “transformation” she began a secret breeding program with the goal of creating “better leaders” the Sisterhood would covertly guide. We know that plan, carried on at all costs by Valya Harkonnen, will eventually become focused on bringing about the Kwisatz Haderach. Yet, Dune: Prophecy‘s first episode raised serious questions about whether or not its own title specifically refers to that project.

On her deathbed, Mother Raquella saw an ominous vision of the future, a prophecy, as it were. “It’s coming,” she said as she saw red dust, a sandworm on Arrakis devouring buildings from other planets, blood, fire, and lights— maybe eyes? maybe a spaceship?—among the stars. In Dune: Prophecy‘s first episode, Raquella named the ominous forewarning “Tiran-Arafel.” Her most devoted followers called that a “reckoning,” a “holy judgment brought on by a tyrant.” That unimaginable darkness could destroy the Sisterhood and all of humanity completely.

Max

Raquella trusted Valya with ensuring her prophecy did not come to pass on Dune: Prophecy. The dying Mother Superior made Valya her successor. “You will be the one to see the burning and know the truth,” she told Valya. By episode’s end that burning became quite literal.

Kasha’s Nightmare Vision on Dune: Prophecy

Reverend Mother Kasha guided the group’s choice to rule the Corrino Empire, Princess Ynez, from the time she was a child. She was also instrumental in pushing Ynez to agree to marry the young Richese boy, which the Emperor was willing to allow because of his vulnerability on Arrakis. (A position he’s in because the Sisterhood weakened his position on the vital planet full of spice melange specifically to force the royal union.)

Days before their promise ceremony, though, Kasha had her own nightmarish vision. She saw Ynez wearing a gown of blood, the Princess and herself both swallowed by a sandworm, a rotten pomegranate representing a rotten marriage union, and the same lights in space Raquella had seen in her deathbed prophecy. The episode did not explore the full meaning of Kasha’s horrible vision, but it did validate her fears. And her death indicated who might bring about Tiran-Arafel, a vision confirmed during episode two’s most terrifying sequence.

Warner Bros. Discovery/Legendary Television

Desmond Hart sees the Sisterhood for what it is. Thinking machines might be outlawed, but “the witches” are controlling mankind same as machines once had. (And, it turns out, using those very same thinking machines to help them.) More than anyone else alive, he might also be the only person able to stop the Sisterhood.

On Arrakis, during an attack caused by the Sisterhood, a sandworm ate him. Only, somehow, he survived. And when he was “reborn” from the sands of Arrakis he emerged with a fearsome ability and a sacred purpose. Using only his mind, he burned the young Richese boy alive from the inside out. As he committed that murder, across the galaxy on Wallach IX, he also killed Kasha. She suffered the same horrible fate as the child.

MaxEpisode 2 of Dune: Prophecy Reveals More About Raquella’s Prophectic Vision

When Valya found the dying Kasha she had her own vision, which she called “the burning truth,” the one Raquella had spoken of. In episode two, she then had Lila undergo the Agony so she could unlock her genetic memory and speak to her ancestor Raquella. It was the only way to learn more about the Mother Superior’s deathbed warning. Before the memory of Dorotea took Lila, Raquella spoke through her descendant. Raquella offered a continuation of Dune: Prophecy‘s prophecy, revealing, “The key to the reckoning is one born twice. Once in blood, once in spice. A revenant full of skulls. A weapon born of war, on a path too short.”

For now, it seems like the title of Dune: Prophecy and the prophecy itself revolves around Desmon Hart. Desmond Hart, a soldier of the Imperium who survived a sandworm and emerged with enormous powers, is the key. Clearly, he was born twice, once in blood and once in spice. He is also the burning truth Raquella warned against, complete with literal firey powers. Whatever happened in that sandworm changed him and made him a fearsome foe of the Sisterhood. Or so it certainly seems. Prophecy can be fickle and impossible to truly understand until it comes to pass like Shai-Hulud in a sand storm.

MaxWhat Else Could Dune: Prophecy‘s Prophecy Mean?

From what we see now, it seems that Dune: Prophecy‘s titular prophecy means that Desmond Hart will bring doom to the world. But what if Desmond is not destined to be ‘the tyrant” who might bring about a holy judgment? What if he is the only one who will try and stop this prophecy of doom? He did stop a wedding Kasha herself came to view as ruinous for all involved. Is that the “prophecy” of the show’s titles?

Or does the series’ title refer to Kasha’s warning to Valya—that the Sisterhood’s plan to create a supreme leader could “cause the very thing” they seek to prevent? We know that will happen. Ten thousand years later, billions will die because the Kwisatz Haderach the Bene Gesserit created will launch a holy war on the galaxy.

Max

Even if Dune: Prophecy‘s title is as obvious as we thought before the first episode and does refer to the Kwisatz Haderach, it’s not nearly as simple as it seems. Even those responsible for putting mankind on a path that leads to Paul Atreides don’t yet know exactly what prophecy they should fear.

Editor’s Note: Dune: Prophecy is a Legendary Entertainment production. Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

Originally published on November 17, 2024.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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DUNE: PROPHECY Season 1 Recaps: Quick Summary Bites and Full Episode Rundowns

Dune: Prophecy has arrived on HBO and Max. This Dune prequel series takes us back 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides and the events of the Denis Villeneuve movies. As you dive into a franchise with as much lore as Dune has, chances are you’ll have some questions while watching. And happily, we have answers. Below, you can snag quick bite episode recaps and then click into our full recap pieces for all the Dune: Prophecy answers you could want.

HBoDune: Prophecy Episode One: Short Summary and Full Recap Link

Dune: Prophecy‘s first episode introduces us to Valya Harkonnen, who runs the powerful organization, the Sisterhood. In her youth, Valya heard a prophecy of great doom and now seeks to use The Sisterhood’s power to prevent it. To do this, The Sisterhood attempt to influence the political powers of the Imperium and control who rules. In the first episode, we see one of their plans, to get a sister on the throne, begin to fail. A new character by the name of Desmond Hart uses mysterious fiery powers to ruin the royal wedding and also to kill Sister Kasha, a sister close to the Emperor.

Read our dune: Prophecy Episode one recap

DUNE: PROPHECY Series Premiere Recap: DUNE’s Red Wedding and THAT Episode Ending, ExplainedDune: Prophecy Episode Two: Short Summary and Full Recap Link

In episode two of Dune: Prophecy, we see the Sisterhood trying to understand more about the prophecy in the wake of the deaths. The favorite student of Valya’s sister Tula, Sister Lila, decides to undertake “The Agony,” a ritual that will allow her to connect with her female ancestors. She is able to learn more about the prophecy but also puts herself in mortal peril. Meanwhile, in the Imperium, the tides of power are shifting as Desmond Hart turns the throne against the Sisterhood. Rebellion is also brewing.

Read our dune: Prophecy Episode Two recap

DUNE: PROPHECY Episode 2 Recap: The Agony and the Spice (Plus the Ending Showdown, Explained)

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 Dune: Prophecy airs Sundays on Max.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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