Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 277

Final ALIEN: ROMULUS Trailer Features a Facehugger Free-for-all

In space no one can hear you scream. But your cries of anguish definitely reverberate through a spaceship. That is if you’re even capable of screaming. That’s hard to do while a facehugger is using your throat to make you a human incubator. And that’s why so many unfortunate scavengers in Alien: Romulus won’t be able to call out for help when the meet the galaxy’s greatest terror. At least they won’t be able to until it’s too late. The horror-action film’s final trailer features a plethora of those iconic parasitic creatures running wild.

20th Century Studios describes Alien: Romulus as a film that takes the franchise “back to its roots.” Everything we’ve seen from it so far more than confirms that. This entry from writer-director Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe), which takes place between the first and second film, looks and feels like those two entries.

But there also seems to be more going on here than just an “unlucky” encounter for some colonizers “scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.” They come “face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.” Literally and often. Those facehuggers are everywhere. Why are there so many onboard in the first place? And what does that mean for this group’s already low survival chances? Probably not high considering what baby Xenomorphs grow into.

20th Century Studios

Alien: Romulus also comes from co-writer Rodo Sayagues (Don’t Breathe 2), with Ridley Scott serving as a producer. It stars: Cailee Spaeny (Civil War), David Jonsson (Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy), Archie Renaux (Shadow and Bone), Isabela Merced (The Last of Us), Spike Fearn (Aftersun), and newcomer Aileen Wu.

How many of them will escape with their lives and how many of them will see a baby Xenomorph escape from their chest? We’ll find out when we hear their screams later this summer. Alien: Romulus flies into theaters on August 16, 2024.

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DC Comics Announces DC All-In Initiative, Including New “Absolute DC” Universe

Twelve years ago, DC Comics made the boldest publishing move in its history with the New 52 relaunch. That relaunch/reboot, while initially successful, ended up as a missed opportunity. Now, DC Comics is looking to start a new publishing initiative again with DC All In, only this time, they’ve seemingly learned from the mistakes of the past. The classic DC universe will remain, with a new universe existing alongside it. This was all announced by DC writers Joshua Williamson (Superman) and Scott Snyder (Batman, Dark Nights Metal).

Snyder is part of what they are calling “Absolute DC.” This will be an adjacent universe featuring reimagined takes on DC’s biggest characters, starting with Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. This resembles Marvel’s Ultimate Comics line from the early 2000s. Snyder himself will write Absolute Batman, which looks to feature the most jacked-up Dark Knight we’ve ever seen. Unlike the New 52, this new universe will coexist alongside the current DC Universe, which will continue with new creative teams or new storylines for their existing titles. The classic universe will not get a reboot again.

DC Comics

Another difference from Marvel’s Ultimate line is that while the DC Absolute titles will be their own universe, they will tie-in to a greater storyline connected back to the classic DCU involving Darkseid. As Snyder explained, the main DC Universe is a world predicated on “Superman energy.” This was something made explicit in the mini-series Doomsday Clock. Meanwhile, the Absolute Universe is a “wild world” composed of “Darkseid energy.” Certainly, the looks of the Absolute versions of the DC trinity look much darker and edgier. The heroes of this new universe will be underdogs. They’ll have to be “tougher and more resourceful” than their counterparts, according to Snyder.

-Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder & Nick Dragotta
-Absolute Superman by Jason Aaron & Rafa Sandoval
-Absolute Wonder Woman by Kelly Thompson & Hayden Sherman pic.twitter.com/NFykW6W2Pl

— Dcu Updates (@dcuworld) July 17, 2024

All of this begins in October, with the DC All-In Special. The special will be an 80-page flip book. It contains one side drawn by Wonder Woman artist Daniel Sampere, and the other by artist Wes Craig. The other side of the book will be from the point of view of Darkseid. The seeds for all of this will begin in DC’s current summer crossover event, Absolute Power. The special will reintroduce Darkseid “As he should be, the greatest villain of the DC Universe,” according to Snyder. This will culminate in the much-anticipated return of a new Justice League, formed by Superman.

Joshua Williamson announced he will be staying on the monthly Superman title, joined now by World’s Finest artist Dan Mora. A teaser image showed a mysterious new Superwoman, who looks a lot like Lois Lane. She even wears a variation of the Superwoman outfit Lois wore in All-Star Superman. Expect more announcements for new creative teams for the classic titles at Comic-Con, as well as for the new Absolute series.

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THE ACOLYTE’s Ending Brings One More Brutal Finale Death

The Acolyte has been dealing in death since its very first episode. So we weren’t that surprised to see that its ending had one more major death in store for fans. And even though many may have guessed The Acolyte‘s finale death was coming, the brutal manner in which it was delivered was still fairly shocking. At the end of the day, The Acolyte‘s other deaths were more shock than substance, but this last death served the story in a major way.

[image error]The Acolyte‘s Finale Brought Us Master Sol’s Death Lucasfilm

And then there were none. The Acolyte systematically brought about the deaths of the four Jedi that were present on Brendok during the destruction of the Force witch’s coven. Mae killed the first three as she tried to prove herself to her mysterious Sith Lord Master, “The Stranger,” who we learned was Qimir in disguise. Qimir encouraged Mae to channel her anger over the terrible events of her childhood and wanted her to bring about the deaths of the Jedi responsible. Qimir, we have learned, has his own reasons to rage at the Jedi.

By The Acolyte‘s final episode, the only Jedi standing who had been a part of the Brendok mission gone wrong was Master Sol. But the writing was on the wall. The Acolyte‘s ending brought Master Sol’s death. But this time, it wasn’t Mae that killed him.

Osha Kills Sol Without a WeaponLucasfilm

All along, Qimir has been trying to get Mae to kill a Jedi without a weapon. In the very first episode of the series, he notes, “The Jedi live in a dream, a dream they believe everyone shares; if you attack a Jedi with a weapon, you will fail; steel or laser are no threat to them, but an Acolyte, an Acolyte kills without a weapon. An Acolyte kills the dream.”

But it wasn’t Mae who was supposed to be his true Acolyte, but Osha. Although Osha stepped away from her Jedi training because she couldn’t stop her hurt and rage from bubbling to the surface, it still exists inside of her. And she is incredibly strong in the Force. When she found out the truth about Master Sol, that he was the one responsible for the death of her mother and her hate for her sister, those two truths collided.

Osha killed Master Sol without a weapon. Sol’s death came solely from Osha’s use of the Force as she force choked the life out of him on The Acolyte‘s final episode. (Arguably the Force is a weapon, but Qimir is probably willing to let that one slide.)

Causing Sol’s Death Turns Osha to the Dark SideLucasfilm

Of course, to every action there is a reaction. Whether we choose to view Osha killing Sol as justice served or a terrible soul-severing act, the fact is that with Sol’s death comes a change in Osha that cannot be easily undone. In that moment, Osha gives herself over to the dark side and the lightsaber she clutches bleeds from blue to red. Of course, Qimir’s vision of the dark side is all about freedom, about the beauty of embracing one’s potential without restriction. It’s a sharp contrast to the Jedi’s emotionless grip on control, and a tempting one. But in the end, we’d have to say neither way is fully right. And that feels like what The Acolyte‘s message is also about.

Still, now that Sol’s death has come to pass, with Osha the responsible party, Osha’s ties from the Jedi and the light have well and truly severed. Osha wants to proceed as Qimir’s pupil now. And we just don’t yet know enough to know where that road will lead her.

The Acolyte Really Racked Up an Unexpected Death Count From Its Beginning to Its EndingLucasfilm

One thing we do know is that from Master Indara to Master Sol and everyone in between, The Acolyte racked up an impressive death count. We can’t say we expected it from the series.

Lucasfilm

And we hope that should The Acolyte get a season two, some of its characters get to stick around just a little longer. Incredibly, many of The Acolyte‘s short-lived figures garnered a huge fan base in a very brief time. Maybe we’ll see some of the slain again in some other incarnation across Star Wars‘ properties.

Lucasfilm

But whether or not we do, we salute all the fans of Jecki, Yord, Sol, and the rest who had to watch their favorites meet their deaths.

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Who Is Qimir’s Old Jedi Master? THE ACOLYTE’s Ending Reveals the Answer

In episode five of The Acolyte, we learn that its evil Sith-esque villain, Qimir, once trained to be a Jedi “a really long time ago.” But as Qimir tells Osha, his Jedi Master “threw him away,” abandoning him, failing him, and leaving him with a scar. (At least the way he tells it.) Of course, The Acolyte was a series that thrived on its mysteries, so it let the identity of Qimir’s one-time Jedi Master hang in the air. But finally, during the ending of the show, The Acolyte revealed just who helped Qimir get further along on his path toward darkness and Jedi-killing. So, just who is Qimir’s old Jedi Master on The Acolyte? Here’s what we learned in The Acolyte‘s finale.

[image error]Vernestra Rwoh Is Qimir’s Old Jedi MasterLucasfilm

The character of Vernestra Rwoh, played by Rebecca Henderson, was an exciting inclusion in The Acolyte. Vernestra Rwoh hails from the Star Wars High Republic books and was one of the only familiar faces to appear in this live-action series. But it turns out that Rwoh’s story is about to become even more complicated than it was before. The Acolyte reveals that Vernestra Rwoh has been Qimir’s old Jedi Master all along.

Although there were hints and teases throughout The Acolyte, which we’ll detail below, this reveal was offered to the audience in a pretty straightforward manner. In the final sequences of The Acolyte‘s ending, Vernestra Rwoh tells a now mind-wiped Mae, “I need you to help me find someone, a pupil of mine before he turned to evil.” And there you have it. It was Vernestra Rwoh who once taught Qimir the ways of the Jedi and the Force as his Master. But clearly, their relationship went very sour along the way.

The Clues to Vernestra Rwoh and Qimir’s Jedi Connection Were There All Along

The connection between Qimir and Vernestra Rwoh did not come as a huge surprise to many The Acolyte viewers, although we are happy to receive confirmation of its existence. Fans had theorized that Vernestra Rwoh was indeed Qimir’s old Jedi Master since the question came up in episode six. The best kinds of mysteries leave clues to their solutions, after all. And The Acolyte did leave a certain trail between Master and pupil.

Vernestra Rwoh, Her Lightwhip, and Qimir’s ScarLucasfilm

The biggest clue to Vernestra Rwoh’s identity as Qimir’s teacher on The Acolyte was the juxtaposition of Qimir’s scar with Rwoh’s lightsaber whip in episode six. Those who knew Rwoh from the High Republic books eagerly anticipated her unique weapon making it into live-action. Rwoh herself modified her lightsaber and was the first in canon to wield a lightwhip. The crystals in her lightwhip have internal fixings that make the blade flexible and allow it to flow out of the hilt; the lightwhip blade is also thinner than that of a traditional lightsaber. Interestingly, Rwoh’s lightwhip did not make many appearances in The Acolyte, appearing only once when Rwoh killed an umbramoth in episode six.

Lucasfilm

It seems like Rwoh really did not need to use her lightwhip to kill the moth, but the appearance of the weapon came just in time for viewers to see it in action just as they first witnessed Qimir’s scar. Qimir confirms to Osha that his old Jedi Master gave him his scar. Osha notes that it looks like Qimir was stabbed, but it really looks much more like he was whipped. And who was that character just wielding a Jedi whip? Oh yes, Vernestra Rwoh. At that point, it seemed highly likely that Vernestra Rwoh was indeed the person who gave Qimir his scar and, thus, his Jedi Master on The Acolyte.

Qimir and Vernestra Rwoh Have Both Been Around a Long TimeLucasfilm

If that weren’t enough, The Acolyte also ensured we knew that Qimir has been around for a long time, so long that the only other character who could have trained him as a Jedi is Vernestra Rwoh. Qimir reveals that he was a Jedi “a really long time ago.” He makes it sound as though he’s lived an unnaturally long life. (And now that we know he’s been hanging out with Darth Plagueis, we might assume he’s been living an unnaturally long life extended by dark side dealings.) If that’s the case, we know quite a bit of time has passed since Qimir has trained to be a Jedi. Since, of course, the Jedi are very particular about training Padawans from a young age.

Lucasfilm

No other major character on The Acolyte could bridge that span of time in order to be Qimir’s Jedi Master except Vernestra Rwoh. As a Mirialan, Vernestra Rwoh lives a much longer life than a human. And we know from the High Republic books that she’s been in the Jedi Order for a very long time.

The Tension Between Them

As The Acolyte neared its season one ending, Vernestra Rwoh and Qimir found themselves on Brendok together. Rwoh seemed to sense Qimir immediately upon arriving on the planet, noting, “You, you’re alive,” as the camera flashes between the pair of them. Qimir, of course, immediately dons his cortosis helmet to escape being sensed by her further and block her Force powers. Despite that, the two of them seem keenly aware of one another. Qimir watches Vernestra from a distance, and though he disappears before she notes him, she seems to be able to tell he was there. These moments of recognition tease a lot of history between the pair.

The Relationship Between Qimir and His Old Jedi Master Will Likely Be a Season 2 Story on The AcolyteLucasfilm

Ultimately though, the real story of Jedi Master Vernestra Rwoh and Padawan Qimir is yet to be told on The Acolyte. Though we now know the history the pair shares in broad strokes, we really don’t know any more about their relationship than we did in episode six. We know more or less that Qimir felt Vernestra threw him aside. And that Vernestra seems to think she’d killed Qimir, or at the very least that he was dead. But the true story between them is likely incredibly complex.

The Acolyte‘s ending teases that in season two, Vernestra Rwoh will be searching for Qimir. So we’ll have to wait for a potential season two in order to see the two of them meet face-to-face again. But we’re sure when we finally do see this meeting, it will be explosive.

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THE ACOLYTE Brought a Major Piece of STAR WARS Lightsaber Lore to Live-Action

The “heart” of a lightsaber, the very thing that gives laser swords power, is a kyber crystal. They are special, extremely rare Force-sensitive gems inherently full of light side energy only found on a few planets in the galaxy far, far away. They even have their own kind of mystical sentience. Despite the weapons they create, though, kyber crystals have no color. They are naturally clear and only take on a specific hue when “first attuned and connected to a Jedi.” Star Wars fans know that while a Jedi’s lightsaber can be anything from blue green, orange, purple, or yellow, every dark side users’ turns red.

That’s because Sith and Ren alike bend kyber crystals to their sinister side of the Force. That process is known as “bleeding.” And The Acolyte‘s season finale finally let us see a bleeding lightsaber happen in live-action.

Lucasfilm

Osha fell to the dark side during The Acolyte‘s eighth episode. She finally learned the truth about what the Jedi did to her coven on Brendok long ago. Full of rage and pain, Osha responded by Force choking Sol, her former Master who had lied about killing her mother. As she murdered him Osha held the Jedi’s lightsaber hilt. As the life drained from Sol’s body we saw one of the most notorious moments in the entire franchise. His blue kyber began to bleed. Osha was dominating it, turning the crystal red as she turned to the dark side.

Lucasfilm

After he died Osha turned to attack Qimir who had had put a hand on her shoulder. She turned Sol’s lightsaber on. It was blue at first, but it’s light changed to the signature red of evil. It did not do so without a fight though. The crystal tried to maintain its hold to the light side of the Force. In the end Osha’s new allegiance won out, as Sol’s lightsaber turned for good. When it did his former Padawan had left the light side of the Force completely.

It was a powerful, shocking moment, an incredible piece of Star Wars lore come to life. It’s something no Star Wars fan has ever seen happen on screen. Before The Acolyte, the process of bleeding a kyber crysta was only ever shown in Star Wars comics. The bleeding of a lightsaber happened in both Charles Soule stories about Darth Vader and Kylo Ren. Yet, for as cool as it was it was also terrible to watch. It was the physical embodiment of darkness corrupting a soul.

Lucasfilm

Kyber crystals aren’t just special rocks. Neither are they just a power source for a weapon. They’re an important part of the Force, both to themselves and as a tangible representation of the person who bonded with it. One that turned red are sad reminders of the fate that can befall even great heroes. Actually seeing that happen was an unforgettable reminder of the line thin between good and evil.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who spent decades waiting for Darth Plagueis to show up. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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The Russo Brothers Are in Talks to Direct AVENGERS 5 and SECRET WARS

As Marvel Studios continues to move through Phase 5 with Deadpool & Wolverine and look towards Phase 6 (which we will hopefully get news about at SDCC 2024), the studio is tapping into familiar creative sources for future projects. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Joe and Anthony Russo—also known as The Russo Brothers—are in talks to come back to Marvel and direct the next two Avengers movies. 

Marvel Studios

The fifth Avenger movie was under the title of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, but that will almost certainly change following Jonathan Majors firing in December 2023. For now, everyone is calling it Avengers 5. The sixth film, Avengers: Secret Wars, will be a game-changing epic that will shift the multiverses (and probably destroy them, too.) The films are expected to hit theaters on May 1, 2026 and May 7, 2027.

It’s no secret that the Russo Brothers know what to do with complex storylines and an ensemble cast in the Marvel universe. The duo even hinted at possibly being involved with a Secret Wars storyline a few years ago. The Russo Brothers directed four of the franchise’s biggest films: Captain America: Civil War (2016), Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Those movies made literally billions of dollars, so no wonder Kevin Feige gave them a call. Welcome back to the chaos, Joe and Anthony.

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THE ACOLYTE’s Surprise STAR WARS Cameo Raises Major Questions About the Jedi

[image error]

Master Vernestra used her dead friend Sol as a scapegoat to avoid accountability in The Acolyte‘s season finale. She claimed the compassionate Jedi Knight had gone rogue. Vernestra told the Galactic Senate Sol killed everyone who helped him hide the dark truth about Brendok before ending his own life. Vernestra thought it was a lie worth telling for a greater good, just as Sol had with Osha. But her deception not only dishonors Sol, it dishonors the entire Jedi Order. In keeping the truth about Qimir, Mae, and Osha from getting out, the guardians of peace and justice are only protecting their own position in the galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars fans know Vernestra’s lies about this existential threat will contribute to her Order’s eventual downfall. Yet her final moment raised the possibility a more famous Master will also play a big part in their near annihilation. She visited one of the most important Jedi in all of Star Wars, someone who will still be on the High Council when Palpatine rises to power, Master Yoda.

Lucasfilm

Throughout The Acolyte Jedi Master Vernestra worked to avoid Galactic Senate oversight. Even as she investigated the murder of her colleagues, she tried to keep their deaths as quiet as possible. Not just from politicians, either. She conspired with fellow Jedi to keep the truth from their own High Council.

During the High Republic Era of the show, the Jedi Order had a High Council. That governing body responsible for guiding the Order is the same structure seen during the Skywalker Saga era. But The Acolyte also revealed that a different group of Jedi led by Vernestra also wielded immense power. It operated outside the Council in secrecy, because the High Council needed to report directly to the Senate. The only way to keep secrets from political oversight—especially a terrible secret about a dark side Force user clearly trained by a Jedi—was to keep the truth from the most important, wisest members of the Order.

Lucasfilm

That became impossible by episode eight after Vernestra visited Brendok herself. Her powerful connection with the Force allowed her to learn what had happened there long ago. While she recognized her dead colleagues had meant well, she used the revelation of their deception to create an even bigger lie. Rather than tell anyone about her former student she once tried to kill because he turned to the dark side, she blamed Sol for the murders committed by Qimir, Mae, and Osha.

That lie confirmed everything Senator Rayencourt feared. He worried eventually a Jedi, a member of a group he believes already has too much unchecked power, would turn against the Order and the Republic. That concern drove his desire for an external investigation into the Jedi. But Vernestra saying that’s exactly what happened with Sol was a lie far more convenient than the truth. She would have otherwise had to admit the Jedi lost control of a former Padawan and then let him get away. She also would have had to admit he now had a powerful new apprentice with a personal vendetta against the Jedi. And the she would have had to tell everyone how Mother Aniseya created her twins. Forget an investigation into the Jedi, that shocking revelation would have threatened the Order’s position and power in the galaxy.

Lucasfilm

Everything Vernestra did in the season finale she did to protect the Jedi and herself. Her lie is better than frightening truths that could lead to panic. Her story also made it seem as though the Jedi had nothing to hide. Why would the Senate need to investigate a group being so truthful about their failures? But that kind of oversight is exactly what the Jedi needed.

Everything Senator Rayencourt and Aniseya both said will come true more than a century after The Acolyte. The Jedi’s “noble intentions” will destroy them. Their actions, well-intentioned they may be, along with their hubris, will blind them to the growing evil around them. That evil will ultimately engulf the galaxy in darkness. An outside perspective might have helped them see what was coming. Instead Sheev Palpatine will take over the very Republic Vernestra worked so hard to keep in the dark.

Lucasfilm

Star Wars fans know why Vernestra’s deception will prove fatal. But her final moment during the episode raises monumental questions about whether or not she also kept Master Yoda in the dark. He’s the only member of the High Council to appear on the show. She visited him after her meeting with the Chancellor and Senators.

What did she “need” to talk about with him? Did she let him in on the truth about Sol, Qimir, Mae, Osha, and Brendok? Did she trust Yoda would support her lies and not inform the Senate? And did she seek advice on how to stop the Order’s greatest threat in millennia?

Or did Vernestra only tell Yoda part of the truth or different lie altogether? Did Vernestra merely go to him for advice on how to deal with the guilt and burden of her lies without naming them, just as Anakin will do one day? Even if she was okay with what she had done, she sullied a good man’s memory to do that. Even a Jedi Master would struggle with that burden.

Lucasfilm

On The Acolyte Jedi Ki-Adi-Mundi agreed with Venestra they should not tell the High Council about their secret enemies. In The Phantom Menace he is a member of that same High Council alongside Yoda. When presented with Qui-Gon’s report of a Sith Lord, Mundi (believably) says no one has seen a Sith for thousands of years. The camera then turns to Master Yoda, who gives a curious look to Mace Windu.

What did that look mean? Vernestra went to Yoda for a reason. If we find out why we’ll finally know just how much Yoda knew about the darkness that brought down the Jedi Order.

Did Yoda know about Qimir, Mae, and Osha at that moment? Did he help Vernestra bring them down? And did that “victory” blind Yoda to the fact an actual Sith Lord was (literally) lurking in the shadows and the Jedi were in even greater peril all along? Or will we discover Vernestra never told him the truth and Yoda always remained ignorant about happened on Brendok. Will her failures be hers alone? It seems likely Yoda, a good and noble Jedi, didn’t know everything Vernestra did. If that’s the case, a single hard truth could have prevented so much eventual suffering.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist who spent decades waiting for Darth Plagueis to show up. You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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LONGLEGS Director Oz Perkins Has a Horror Movie History Worth Exploring

Longlegs, the new Nicolas Cage-starring horror film from Neon, is a hit. Thanks in large part to a beguiling guerilla marketing campaign, the film grossed $22.6 million its opening weekend—the best opening ever for an independent horror movie. It’s exciting when any horror film breaks through, both at the box office and in the discourse cycle. Love it or hate it, Longlegs has people talking. And luckily, they’re not just arguing about the plot and ending, but also taking note of the filmmaker behind the movie: Osgood “Oz” Perkins.

NEON

For certain horror fans, it’s exciting to see Perkins finally getting his due. The man was pretty much born to create in the horror genre. He’s the son of Anthony Perkins, the actor who portrayed Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Sadly, the senior Perkins, a closeted gay man, succumbed to AIDS in 1992. Oz’s mother, actress and photographer Berry Berenson, was on American Airlines Flight 11 on September 11, 2001. She died when the hijacked plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. 

These tragedies seemed to drive Oz right to horror storytelling. As he told the AV Club back in 2017, the genre is a “Trojan horse” way to convey stories of grief and anguish and familial pain to the masses. It hooks the audience and locks them into a story that might otherwise be hard to access emotionally. Perkins’ directing filmography—confirmed in interviews—makes it clear that he uses movies to explore the traumas nestled in his family.

If you’re new to Perkins and curious about the other horror films in his oeuvre after seeing Longlegs, here’s a breakdown of each one, why you should watch them, and why together they make Oz Perkins the underrated horror auteur with his finger on the pulse of our collective generational fears. 

The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015)A24

Though this was technically Oz Perkins’ second film release-date wise, The Blackcoat’s Daughter is the first movie he wrote, directed, and filmed. It came out in 2017 without much fanfare. A24 changed the horror game the very next year with Hereditary, so The Blackcoat’s Daughter just missed the wave that might have carried it to more recognition. But it all works out, because instead it’s something of a hidden gem, a movie horror fans can find on their own. That’s one of the best ways to engage with the genre.

And that’s an especially great way to experience The Blackcoat’s Daughter. It’s not exactly a scare-a-minute type of film. It probably wouldn’t play too excitingly in a big theater on a Friday night. But damn is it an effective slow-burn horror story, full of twists and one final shocker that reframes the entire movie and ties up its various timelines in a Gothically deranged bow. 

The film stars Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Boynton, and Emma Roberts as three young women in interspersed storylines. Shipka and Boynton are schoolgirls at a Catholic academy waiting for their parents to pick them up for winter break. Roberts plays an escapee from a mental institution. If you’ve seen Longlegs, The Blackcoat’s Daughter will feel immediately familiar. It plays out with the same cold stoicism. Characters drained of energy, indebted to an unnameable melancholy. It’s also a spiritual twin to Longlegs, in how it plays with identity and family trauma through the lens of Satanic activity. 

The great thing about the film is how boldly it announces Perkins’ sensibilities. Each film since plays in the same somber playbox. There are palettes drained of color and characters teetering on the brink of insanity. It conveys something about this moment we’re living in. How life can feel so absolutely hopeless that the instinct to cling to evil is understandable. Still awful, but not unrelatable. Giving into darkness is the easy route, but Perkins shows with detached accuracy how it creeps in, and the cost of letting it. 

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)Netflix

This gothic haunted house film—the first of Perkins’ to see release—is a great entry in a subgenre that’s mostly gone dusty. Yes, we have the Mike Flanagan Haunting series or the underseen The Little Stranger, but largely, it seems we’ve lost touch with this kind of horror vehicle. That’s a shame, because there’s nothing quite like a good haunted house movie. 

Perkins knows this and uses the genre effectively. The film centers on Iris Blum (Paula Prentiss), a retired novelist who lives in a remote Massachusetts manor. Her estate manager hires a live-in nurse, Lily (Ruth Wilson), to tend to her. Almost immediately, Lily is ill at ease. She spots a female ghost wandering the halls. Mysterious mold appears on the walls. Unseen forces wrench objects from her hands. As she grows closer to the house, she begins to unravel its mysterious past, and Iris’s personal connection to it. 

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is another example of Perkins reconciling his own family demons. According to interviews, the film was an attempt to connect with his deceased father. Interesting, in that the film is about the complicated relationship between two women. Though the genders don’t correspond, it’s easy to see how Perkins used the movie to explore the tension that exists between the living and the dead. There’s the need for answers that will never come clearly and the acceptance that even the answers won’t save us in the end.

This movie is probably Oz Perkins’ least successful. It’s a moody chamber piece, but one that’s frustratingly slow. He obviously hadn’t quite mastered pacing by this point, and so the movie drags unnecessarily in key moments. Still, it’s a fascinating entry in his filmography, another film drenched in his trademark chilly atmosphere. There are ghostly visuals that cut through the droll. It’s a horror filmmaker exploring dark corners of the genre and sharpening his tools while preparing for what comes next.

Gretel & Hansel (2020)Orion Pictures

The only film that Perkins didn’t write himself, Gretel & Hansel manages that personal feel all the same. It’s his most elegant film, and painfully underrated. Especially given its aesthetic similarities to movies like Midsommar and The Witch, which more easily punctured pop culture. Perhaps it was its smaller release or its production company (Orion Pictures), but it never quite got the audience it deserved. Especially given how fully formed and visually haunting it is.

An inversion of the famous Hansel and Gretel fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, the movie is a coming-of-age fable for Gretel (Sophia Lillis). Equipped with her own magical abilities, she and her younger brother Hansel (Sam Leakey) flee to the woods, where they’re taken in by an elderly witch named Holda (Alice Krige). From there, the story plays out much like the original tale. Holda is a cannibalistic witch intent on eating Hansel. But in this version, she also has a tragic backstory and uses witchcraft to hone Gretel’s inherent powers. 

Despite his lack of script involvement, it’s apparent why the story drew in Perkins. It’s another film about parental abandonment and abuse—and what that does to children. It explores how it becomes both a tool for empathy and a pathway to their own sinister interiority. And it captures that same trademark and topical dread. The ever-encroaching horror on the other side of the fence. How the systems of power—Satanic witches and cruel mothers, in this case—wield their personal fury as weapons of control. Gretel & Hansel does it all with astute visual flair. Holda’s triangle house and blackened fingers, fiery amber hues, the contrast of light and dark—all haunting and evocative. And all laying the foundation for his next, and most successful, film: Longlegs. 

Longlegs (2024)NEON Films

We won’t get too into Longlegs here, except to say that whether you watch it first or last in your Perkins’ education, it’s really the culmination of all that’s come so far. (Check out our Longlegs review.) Encroaching dread but this time with more bursts of violence to up the pace. Elegant visuals, from Satanic symbology to vast Oregeon landscapes brushed with snow. Themes of troubled parenthood and its lasting effects on children. Perkins said this film was, in some ways, his attempt to wrestle with his complicated relationship with his deceased mother. She was a woman he loved fiercely, but who hid his father’s homosexuality and illness from her children, a decision that marked their family forever. What do our parents do to protect us, and does it ever work? Longlegs wrangles with that thorny idea.

The film jolts us into that reality—and into our own as well. The horror is not just at the surface level, but in the seams. The flaws of our criminal justice system. How sometimes the conduits of true evil are the dumbest possible candidates. How childhood trauma transforms our brains and social skills. All things we wrestle with in this modern world, despite the film’s 1990s setting. But that’s it, too. These things repeat—gruesomely, even.

Oz Perkins tapped into that impenetrable truth and excavated the meat of the horror within to craft a great horror movie. Now that he’s got it, it’s thrilling to think of where he’ll go next. What his career will continue to reveal about him, us, and how personal art can be scariest of all.

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2024 Emmy Nominations Celebrate FALLOUT—Complete List Revealed

2023 was a major year for nerdy Emmy nominations; we saw The Last of Us, Wednesday, and other Nerdist favorites get more than a few nods. But 2024’s full list of nominees is a bit quieter when it comes to genre hits. One major reason for that is that many shows like House of the Dragon, Interview with the Vampire, and The Boys were delayed by the Hollywood strikes to a point where they don’t qualify for the 2024 Emmy nominations. Instead, we’ll see them return to the Emmys race next year in 2025. Still, the 2024 nominees aren’t totally lacking in shows for us to cheer for. One series that we loved this year, Fallout, has made a splash in the 2024 Emmy nominations. We also see Shōgun, 3 Body Problem, What We Do in the Shadows, and True Detective: Night Country making meaningful appearances.

Below, we break down the nods our favorite properties achieved and then share the full list of 2024 Emmy nominations for your reading pleasure.

Prime Video

Walton Goggins stole hearts on Prime Video’s Fallout series adaptation. Fans loved him in his dual role in the series, portraying both the charming Cooper Howard in the time before Fallout‘s Great War and the devilish Ghoul of the Wastelands. Walton Goggins became the true leading man of the year. And that’s why we’re thrilled to see the Emmys honoring his exquisite performance in Fallout. Yes, Walton Goggins is a 2024 Emmy nominee in the category of “Lead Actor in a Drama Series.” He’s up against some tough contenders, including Shōgun‘s Hiroyuki Sanada. But we just have to ask, did any other lead actor have to act without a nose? There should be a category in the Emmys just for that. In addition to Goggins’ nod, Fallout was also nominated in the 2024 Emmy category of “Outstanding Drama Series” overall. And boy, does it deserve that one as well.

FX

Speaking of Shōgun, the stunning historical drama, which will now have a season two, qualifying it to be a series and not a limited series, is also up for “Outstanding Drama Series.” Shōgun received five nominations in four different categories in the 2024 Emmy race, including “Lead Actor in a Drama Series” for Hiroyuki Sanada, “Lead Actress in a Drama Series,” for Anna Sawai, “Outstanding Drama Series,” and “Supporting Actor in a Drama Series” for Tadanobu Asano and Takehiro Hira.

HBO

What We Do in the Shadows meanwhile is up for “Lead Actor in a Comedy Series” for Matt Berry and “Outstanding Comedy Series.” Finally True Detective: Night Country, another show which we truly loved, received 2024 Emmy nominations in the areas of “Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series” for Jodie Foster, “Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series,” “Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series” for Kali Reis, and “Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series” for John Hawkes. That’s four nominations overall for True Detective: Night Country, and we definitely hope it sweeps.

Marvel Animation

Of additional note, X-Men ‘97 was nominated in the category of Outstanding Animated Program.

When Will the 2024 Emmys Take Place?

The 76th Emmy Awards will air on Sunday, September 15, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET/5 p.m. to 8 p.m. PT on ABC. The broadcast also stream on Hulu the next day. You can check out the full list of 2024 Emmy nominations below with more at the Emmy Awards’ site.

The Full List of 2024 Emmy Award Nominees

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Idris Elba (“Hijack”)

Donald Glover (“Mr. & Mrs. Smith”) 

Walton Goggins (“Fallout”)  

Gary Oldman (“Slow Horses”)  

Hiroyuki Sanada (“Shōgun”)

Dominic West (“The Crown”) 

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)

Carrie Coon (“The Gilded Age”)

Maya Erskine (“Mr. and Mrs. Smith”)

Anna Sawai (“Shōgun”)

Imelda Staunton (“The Crown”)

Reese Witherspoon (“The Morning Show”)

Outstanding Drama Series

“The Crown” (Netflix)

“Fallout” (Prime Video)

“The Gilded Age” (Max)

“The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith” (Prime Video)

“Shōgun” (FX)

“Slow Horses” (Apple TV+)

“3 Body Problem” (Netflix)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Matt Berry (“What We Do in the Shadows”)

Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”)  

Steve Martin (“Only Murders in the Building”)  

Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”)  

Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”)

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (“Reservation Dogs”)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Quinta Brunson (“Abbott Elementary”)

Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”)

Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”)

Maya Rudolph (“Loot”)

Jean Smart (“Hacks”)

Kristen Wiig (“Palm Royale”)

Outstanding Comedy Series

“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)

“The Bear” (FX)

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (Max)

“Hacks” (Max)

“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)

“Palm Royale” (Apple TV+)

“Reservation Dogs” (FX)

“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series

Matt Bomer (“Fellow Travelers”)  

Richard Gadd (“Baby Reindeer”)  

Jon Hamm (“Fargo”)  

Tom Hollander — “Feud: Capote vs. the Swans” 

Andrew Scott (“Ripley”)

Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series

Jodie Foster (“True Detective: Night Country”)  

Brie Larson (“Lessons in Chemistry”)  

Juno Temple (“Fargo”)  

Sofia Vergara (“Griselda”) 

Naomi Watts (“Feud: Capote vs. the Swans”)

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

“Baby Reindeer” (Netflix)

“Fargo” (FX)

“Lessons in Chemistry” (Apple TV+)

“Ripley” (Netflix)

“True Detective: Night Country” (Max)

Outstanding Talk Series

“The Daily Show”  

“Jimmy Kimmel Live!”   

“Late Night With Seth Meyers”

“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert”

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

“The Amazing Race”

“RuPaul’s Drag Race”

“Top Chef”

“The Traitors”

“The Voice”

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Christine Baranski (“The Gilded Age”)

Nicole Beharie (“The Morning Show”)

Elizabeth Debicki (“The Crown Netflix”)

Greta Lee (“The Morning Show”)

Lesley Manville (“The Crown”)

Karen Pittman (“The Morning Show”)

Holland Taylor (“The Morning Show”)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Tadanobu Asano (“Shōgun”)

Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”)

Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”)

Jon Hamm (“The Morning Show”)

Takehiro Hira (“Shōgun”)

Jack Lowden (“Slow Horses”)

Jonathan Pryce (“The Crown”)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Carol Burnett (“Palm Royale”)

Liza Colón-Zayas (“The Bear”)

Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”)

Janelle James (“Abbott Elementary”)

Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”)

Meryl Streep (“Only Murders In The Building”)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Lionel Boyce (“The Bear”)

Paul W. Downs (“Hacks”)

Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”)

Paul Rudd (“Only Murders In The Building”)

Tyler James Williams (“Abbott Elementary”)

Bowen Yang (“Saturday Night Live”)

Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series

Dakota Fanning (“Ripley”)

Lily Gladstone (“Under The Bridge”)

Jessica Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”)

Aja Naomi King (“Lessons In Chemistry”)

Diane Lane (“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”)

Nava Mau (“Baby Reindeer”)

Kali Reis (“True Detective: Night Country”)

Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series

Jonathan Bailey “(Fellow Travelers”)

Robert Downey Jr. (“The Sympathizer”)

Tom Goodman-Hill (“Baby Reindeer”)

John Hawkes (“True Detective: Night Country”)

Lamorne Morris (“Fargo”)

Lewis Pullman (“Lessons In Chemistry”)

Treat Williams (“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”)

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Deadpool Designed an Xbox Controller Shaped Like His Perky Butt

Move over, America’s ass. There’s another MCU backside in town that is just as rotund and delightful to see in spandex. The “Merc with a Mouth,” better known as Deadpool, has buns that are so nice that there’s a new Xbox controller made in its image. No, this is not a promotional joke for Deadpool & Wolverine. There is actually an Xbox controller that is shaped like Deadpool’s butt. (Suddenly, I hear Megan Thee Stallion’s “Body” playing.)

Microsoft/Marvel Studios

Microsoft unveiled this odd controller on Xbox Wire, calling it the “Cheeky Controller” with a firm, um, grip to it. We really appreciate Deadpool’s creativity and thought he put into this design. The sad news is that fans can only get it via a competition at this point. If you’re 18+, following Xbox on X (always Twitter in our hearts) and sharing the Xbox sweepstakes tweet gets you an entry. Maybe the Xbox controller with Deadpool’s butt on the back will become available for all at some point. Until then, we are totally jealous of the lucky winner (assuming it will only be one!) 

Make his finest asset yours

Follow & Repost with #XboxCheekyControllerSweepstakes for a chance to win a custom Xbox Series X console & 2 Cheeky Controllers designed by Deadpool.‌

Ages 18+. Ends 8/11/24. Rules: https://t.co/G41n6ykYIU@Marvel Studios' Deadpool and Wolverine, in… pic.twitter.com/hSHZiA3EPb

— Xbox (@Xbox) July 17, 2024

In addition to the controller, the winner will get a sweet custom console that features Deadpool’s katanas. The contest ends on August 11, which is after Deadpool & Wolverine hits theaters on July 26. Let’s see who wins the battle to own Deadpool’s best asset.

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