The Cell Ep. 4 | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Psychological Thriller Web Series

2 Swirlies

“We have to be cleansed of our past before we can see our future.”

It’s been a little while since I checked out this series, so I thought I’d see what’s what with it.

The fourth episode of this tense, methodical web series is long - just over 11 minutes. And it seems to meander. The Girl starts off trying to teach Brian about how to be saved, but then gets him talking about his past.

I found myself watching the editing and the framing very closely. I guess I felt the same about that stuff as I do about the story - it is like the creator wants us to forget about the bars holding the characters in. Very intense close ups - cutting back to the same, tight shots… but there’s not really much going on. I’m just not sure what I’m supposed to glean from this episode. The music is as moody as ever, but Brian seems to have accepted his imprisonment as fully as The Girl has. So… what’s next? I’m not feeling like there’s any deep character moments coming. Nor does it seem like some epic battle of wits with his captor, like I guess I expected it to turn into when I started watching. Brian isn’t being tortured, or broken down. He’s just… left there.

I think the Girl is a good actresses, but I’m sorry to say that I don’t think Brian is very convincing. I dunno, maybe it is just the role he’s given. He doesn’t really sell me on his bit about being a drummer, it feels like a line from a script.

What it comes down to is I don’t feel like this show is headed anywhere.

From YouTube Description:

Brian lashes out at his captivity, but at the wrong person, as the connection between the captives grows stronger

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Camera Obscura Ep.4 “The Hollow Mask” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Horror Webseries

3 Swirlies

Episode 4: The Hollow Mask by Camera_Obscura

“As long as this book remains intact…”

Whoops. Clara watches a video tape made by her grandfather… but a little bit too late. You’d think he’s put a big sticker or something on the magic book… “DO NOT BURN.” But he didn’t. And she did.

This episode sets the rest of the series in motion. Most of it is simply explaining to us what the grandfather was up to. There’s no scares or shocks like in the previous ones. I’m also a little worried that it has taken the wind out of the rest of the series by explaining the mystery.

Certainly worth watching if you’re following the series.

From Daily Motion Description:

A message in a bottle from a dead man…

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Camera Obscura Ep.3 “The Tape” | A Webseries Review on The Watch List

A Horror Webseries

4 Swirlies

Episode 3: The Tape by Camera_Obscura

“I guess it all starts with this.”

A short but effectively creepy episode of the demon horror webseries, Camera Obscura.

There’s only two short scenes here, with very little in the way of dialogue. I do like how understated but sharp these scenes are – all signs of a confident director and strong actors. The one strike against this episode is I don’t remember seeing this video tape before. Granted it has been a while for me between episodes, but it kinda seems like it came out of nowhere. And she through out his book but kept this weird video tape without watching it? It feels like a bit of a misstep.

However, the main job of this show is to creep you out, and this episode does that, and teases us with the possibility of some answers.

From Daily Motion Description:

So many questions, and finally… an answer?

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Blood and Bone China Ep.4 “Devil in the Potteries” | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Victorian Vampire Web Series

4 Swirlies

“Their souls were stolen! Stolen away by the very devil himself.”

Whoa! Blood and Bone China pulls this one outta nowhere.

I’ve been a little hard on this series, but this episode, while it still has some rough areas, really makes good on the suspense and atmosphere of a good Victorian horror tale.

To get them out of the way, a few complaints. The lighting was set up to give you that pre-electricity feel, making the scenes on the dark side. The design of the rooms in the mansion were quite ornate and I had a had time making out all the details. I was also confused by the geography of it all, where did Anna go after being propositioned so forwardly? Each location she was in looked like the one before, until she ended up in some hidden tunnel. And the one drawer that she opened had some kind of clue? Way too convenient.

There’s also the matter of the invitation. They had to lie to get inside (in the previous episode) but then the first thing someone says to him is “You’re the new doctor. What’s your name?” It didn’t seem to track, story wise.

There were small things like that that nagged at me, but overall I really enjoyed this episode. Lots of new faces, lots of mystery and suspense. It kept me guessing the whole time. Were all these people vampires? What was going to happen with Anna? And that creepy kid isn’t going to be just a creepy kid, is it? The opening song is still awesome, and the wardrobe is the real star of the series.

I know that some shows need time to get up to speed, especially serialized shows, but I don’t think that’s what happened here. I think that this is the first episode with any real jeopardy, any real stakes or story. It is also the first time we see a vampire since the teaser of episode 1. I hope they can sustain the tension, and we get into some vampire fighting, otherwise I’m worried that the series will return to the type of episode that led up to this one.

From YouTube Description:

Watch Chapter 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUY3KKwyDyI

http://www.bloodandbonechina.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bloodandbonechina
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bloodbonechina

Chapter 4 - ‘The Devil In The Potteries’
The fourth episode of the 12 part Victorian Vampire web series, ‘Blood and Bone China’. Filmed and set in Stoke-on-Trent.

Theme music by Birthrite: http://www.birthrite.eu

http://www.chrisstonefilms.com
http://www.stokeyourfires.co.uk
http://www.themonstercompany.co.uk

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Camera Obscura Ep.2 “The Camera” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Horror Web Series

5 Swirlies

Episode 2: The Camera by Camera_Obscura

“Maybe your Grandpa has secrets. Maybe they should stay that way.”

This episode of Camera Obscura is creepy as hell. Bravo.

The first one was good in a setting up back story kinda way. This one, despite the sorta short, mostly “this is what’s happening” scene (Smart! Never assume your audience has seen previous episodes. Drew Dewalt does a nice job of making the scene feel organic while essentially catching up any late comers. The cool/creepy camera helps.) is right into the creepy demons are all around us.

And not to ruin it for you, but that sudden appearance of the demon is super creepy. What really sells it is that first glimpse of it, that first ‘what is that?’ And then it… it sees her watching it. Classic horror movie stuff, but here it doesn’t seem cheesy. It works.

This show is a Daily motion exclusive. I wonder if they paid for it? If so, how much? I imagine that the demons must have been pricey to build.

From Daily Motion Description:

Clara realizes Grandpa Sam’s involvement with the occult was much deeper than she thought.

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Throwing Stones Ep.5 “Pawn Stars” | A Web Series on The Watch List

A Teen Horror Web Series.

3 Swirlies

“Friday night lights. I’m the reason they come.”

Writing for this blog, I have to watch a lot of web series. Like any reviewer, there are times when if I didn’t have to be watching a web series I’d be doing something else. So I think sometimes I can be a little impatient with some episodes. Episodes like this one.

I like this series. I was looking forward to seeing it. I was waiting to see what happened to the girl that got thrown out of the room last episode. Instead, what we got in this episode is a back story to the three remaining characters in the room, back story that could have been delivered with a little less exposition.

I’m beginning to chaff at the fact that I don’t really know what these kids are scared of. What happened to them? Who attacked them? How did it start? I thought that the series would cut between the present and the beginning of the assault, but it hasn’t. At least, not yet. So while I get that they are scared, and I get why they are scared I have a hard time being scared for them. I like them, and I want to see them come out okay - kudos to the script writers - but I don’t feel the jeopardy. Is someone looking for them? Has the killer gone home? Are they being attacked with a knife or a gun or what? All of that matters to make me care if they stay in that room or not.

From YouTube Description:

Throwing Stones is a horror story about a group of high schoolers who have to attend Saturday School and find they must work together to overcome their differences in over to survive when students end up missing. As if, high school wasn’t scary enough! The series stars Lindsay Seidel (Lionsgate hit The Final), Cherami Leigh (The Mist, Fast Food Nation, HBO’s Temple Grandin), Rebekah Kennedy (upcoming horror features Blood is Blood, House Hunting, and Season of the Witch w/ Nic Cage), Chad Cox (Powder, ER, Spin City, The Good Guys), and Kayla Carlyle (From the Dark), Lynn Andrews III (MTV’s: High School Stories). Writers Bart D. Van Bemmel and Jason A. Wheeler have five feature-length screenplays in production including their dark comedies BUTTERSCOTCH, SWISHER, ANGELS AND DUST, their teen comedy RUSHED, and their teen horror THROWING STONES (which this web series if based on).

Watch this web series at KoldKast.TV or Mingle Media TV.

To find out more about “Throwing Stones” visit: http://www.throwingstoneswebseries.com.
Follow on Twitter @StonesWebSeries or LIKE us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/throwingstoneswebseries

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Vampire Zombie Werewolf Ep.7 “The Great Vampsby” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Horror Web Series

3 Swirlies

“Just because some asshole bit me, I gotta like blood?”

This show is picking up nicely.

The main body of the episode had a nice pacing, with the Vampire/Zombie/Werewolf darting in and out of the scene and the producer having a chat with an old buddy. And then the ending had the turn that I was waiting for, that should really push the story through the rest of the series.

I haven’t had a chance to watch this series in a while, and what struck me was how well lit it is. It has always been a well produced series; the opening and closing titles are nicely done. My favourite character so far was the vampire hating vampire that the producer meets. He comes across as earthy, but he’s still talking about vampire myths - debunking them with total disdain.

Oh, I’m starting to think they had me fooled - the character Balthazane the vampire has his own blog reviewing vampire web series. I thought he was a real reviewer who focused on vampire shows, and they hired him to be in their show. Now I’m starting to think that he was a character and they made his blog up as a promotional platform for the show. If that’s true, it is kinda brilliant. Not only to help increase the show’s discoverability, but as a marketing gimmick. I’ve written about it twice now. It’s Lonely Girl 15 all over again!

From YouTube Description:

Watch ALL of our Episodes HERE: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E259CBF1BECE072A

With the vampire-impressing party in full swing, Tad and Bunny learn that people can change when you least expect them to.

Watch Vampire Zombie Werewolf at http://www.vampirezombiewerewolf.com/

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31: The Series Ep.12 “Transmission 12″ | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Horror Web Series

3 Swirlies

“They’ll come anyway.”

Looks like we’re getting somewhere.

The two trapped people finally make some sort of real attempt to get themselves out.

Having good thumbnails for your episodes is very important, and for a show like this that can be a problem. Most of the thumbnails are just largely black screens. It an be tough to construct your video to capture the best possible thumbnails. YouTube picks three at more or less random parts from the beginning, middle and end of your episodes, to avoid people placing a misleading image at the one frame they know YouTube grabs the thumbnail from. But it means that legitimate users have a harder time getting a thumbnail that best promotes their show.

It can be especially tough for a web series like this one, where every episode looks pretty much like the one before. I’m not sure that is in and of itself a bad thing, but it does make it difficult to convince someone who sees your thumbnails in the “related videos” sidebar to click on your video and watch it. Especially if more than one of your video shows up but they all look the same.

This series relied heavily on the audio - there’s almost no visual information. We’re still inside that box.

This isn’t actually a poorly done web series. My biggest complaint is that the format, the 31 second length, seems to be a drag on the story. I mentioned earlier, I feel like the same creative team telling the same story, but in five minute chucks instead of 31 second chunks, more would happen in the same time.

Or maybe it wouldn’t.

From YouTube Description:

31 the series: 31 episodes. 31 seconds. 31 days. Transmissions begin 3/31 3:31pm ET.
31 web series: 1st daily Internet Horror Serial combining best of film, tv, and the Internet.
Follow at www.twitter.com/31theseries
Subscribe at www.youtube.com/user/31webseries

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31: The Series Ep.11 “Transmission 11″ | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Horror Web Series

2 Swirlies

“Is it gone?”

I’m not entirely sure what is happening in the first half of this episode. But I think that Mr. Voice knows more than he’s letting on.

I’m also a little disappointed that the kidnapper, or whatever “it” was, was only around for two episodes, and now we’re back to just a girl in the box with a voice. After 10 episodes, they could have made more of a meal out of “it’s” appearance. I think this series undercuts itself by deflating the tension when it should be raising it.

From YouTube Description:

31 the series: 31 episodes. 31 seconds. 31 days. Transmissions begin 3/31 3:31pm ET.
31 web series: 1st daily Internet Horror Serial combining best of film, tv, and the Internet.
Follow at www.twitter.com/31theseries
Subscribe at www.youtube.com/user/31webseries

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31: The Series Ep.10 “Transmission 10″ | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Horror Web Series

2 Swirlies

“They’re coming”

This is the second of three back to back postings of 31: The Series for today.

This is the choppiest of all the episodes s far - it really feels like it cuts out in the middle of a moment at the 31 second mark. Was that intentional on the part of the creators?

We get our first glimpse of the people who are behind the kidnapping (or at least we assume they are behind the kidnapping. And seeing how few surprises this series has had thus far, I’m guessing we’re right).

We are now almost precisely one third into the run of this series. It is interesting how knowing how many episodes are left colours how I feel about what has happened. I wonder if we’re at the end of “Act 1?”

From YouTube Description:

31 the series: 31 episodes. 31 seconds. 31 days. Transmissions begin 3/31 3:31pm ET.
31 web series: 1st daily Internet Horror Serial combining best of film, tv, and the Internet.
Follow at www.twitter.com/31theseries
Subscribe at www.youtube.com/user/31webseries

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