nature deity

Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet' is a deciduous shrub that belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is commonly known as Japanese spirea and is native to eastern Asia, including China, Korea, and Japan. This cultivar is especially popular for its showy and colorful foliage. The leaves of Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet' are small, oval-shaped, and come in various vibrant colors, such as red, yellow, and orange. The foliage begins as a bright red in spring, transitioning to yellow-green in summer, and eventually turning a deep red or purple in the fall. This color-changing characteristic adds a stunning visual interest to any garden or landscape.

Violence is where they meet in the middle.

As Nicky exits the car completely unaware that the group of buddies he s been treating like shit over the years are about to murder the ever-loving Christmas out of him, he s struck in the small of his back with an aluminum bat. The mafia member however has the stamina of Raging Bull himself and follows him up the steps like a zombie repeating I ll kill you maniacally over and over again.

This color-changing characteristic adds a stunning visual interest to any garden or landscape. In addition to its attractive foliage, 'Magic Carpet' also produces clusters of pink or purple flowers in early to mid-summer. These flowers are highly attractive to pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, making it a beneficial plant for supporting local wildlife.

‘Amityville Prison’ Is An Amityville Film In Name Only [The Amityville IP]

Over the history of this editorial series, there have been persistent comments that the DTV entries – or at least the ones that follow The Amityville Horror remake – are unworthy of being described as part of the “franchise.” There’s a reason why the very first entry highlighted how Amityville became available for independent filmmakers to use as a free for all marketing gimmick. It’s the same reason why this series was strategically called “The Amityville IP” and the word “franchise” is always in quotations – these films have few ties to each other, there’s barely a “canon” for the mythology, and most of the films are little more than cash grabs.

We all implicitly understand this.

Despite this lengthy preamble, even I don’t completely understand why Against the Night, from writer/director/actor Andrew Cavallaro, is also known as Amityville Prison. Of the eighteen films explored in this column to date, this is by far the film with the least defined connection to Amityville thus far.

The film opens with a bracketing device as Rachel (Hannah Kleeman) is interviewed by Detective Ramsey (Frank Whaley) about the deadly events that befell her and her friends. The film then flashes back to the start of the night as Rachel, her crush Sean (Tim Torre) and seven of their friends party and drink.

Initially it seems as though Cavallaro’s screenplay is setting up a gender divide. Early on, amateur filmmaker and prankster Hank (Luke Persiani) films jock Nick (Erik Kochenberger) having sex with Carrie (Yesenia Linares) without her consent (Nick and Hank share thumbs up during this exchange). Later, when Hank explains that the film industry’s interest is divided between ghost hunting videos and porn, Michelle (Leah Holleran) prudishly disparages the latter option.

This goes nowhere narratively and, more frustratingly, there’s very little work done to distinguish any of the characters in the film. The reality is that Against the Night has too many characters and none of them, including de facto protagonist Rachel, make any kind of impression.

The plot kicks in when the group accepts Hank’s challenge to shoot a ghost hunting video in a nearby abandoned prison. Naturally, the sprawling building isn’t as empty as Hank suggests, nor are Hank’s motives as altruistic as he claims. While the latter development is hardly surprising, at least it introduces an intriguing kernel of conflict, particularly in a film that seems content simply to set its large cast loose in a poorly lit setting and have them wander down long, dark corridors for roughly 75% of its eighty five minute runtime.

Credit is due for the amazing location. The abandoned prison has plenty of cells and labyrinth corridors of peeling paint. It’s a visually evocative setting…or at least it is when the audience can see what’s happening.

Cinematographer Will Barratt gets good mileage of the various “amateur” filmmaking techniques the group uses to record the night’s event. This includes green night vision, infrareds, and the usual shaky cam as characters run in the dark. It’s pretty standard found footage content, and it’s done adequately. Aficionados of the subgenre won’t find anything new or surprising, but overall it works.

Unfortunately, no amount of dark visuals can disguise how slight this film is. The narrative is bare bones, and there’s a high level of predictability in both the deaths, as well as Hank’s ulterior motive. Add in the difficulty of differentiating the characters, particularly the women, and too often when characters are attacked or go missing, the audience’s response is likely “who was that?”

Like most low budget horror films, Cavallaro saves the fireworks for the climax and, in this capacity, Against the Night is both intriguing and frustrating. The payoff sadly doesn’t involve an Amityville haunted object, though the reveal of who is killing these College kids – and why – is unexpected. Revealing the identity or motivation of the killer earlier would have worked better though, particularly since Cavallaro saves one last “twist” for the closing moments that feels like one too many attempts to shock, annoy, or excite audiences.

Regardless, Against the Night, aka Amityville Prison, is a very slight horror film with absolutely no connection to the other Amityville films. The threadbare plot and non-existent characters make even the 85 minute runtime a challenge, and that’s without the too dark visuals and the ridiculous twist ending. Bring back the haunted clowns, lamps, and paintings please!

The Amityville IP Awards

• Everything you need to know about Hank is encapsulated by his hyperbolic excitement over his child ghost hunting video: “it’s my David; my Mona Lisa.” Aim higher, Hank!
• Choice sample dialogue: Nick, surveying the lack of windows in the prison: “I’m just saying, if there were windows in here, it probably wouldn’t be so dark.” Surely this is a joke, right? Right?!
• The Oh-So-2017 Award goes to the exchange between Hank and Dan (Josh Cahn) when the former insists everyone give him their phones. Dan: “What about my snaps?” (meaning Snapchat) Hank: “No snaps, Dan!”
• Gas Mask Murder: There is one genuinely solid moment of subversion late in the film when Sean and Rachel fight back and the outcome is an unexpected reveal. Ignoring the logistics of how it would work, had Cavallaro brought this kind of energy to the whole film, Amityville Prison might have been far more exciting.

Next Time: Let’s leave the prison behind and discuss returning director Mark Polonia’s Amityville Exorcism. Fingers crossed we get more spider hybrids!

Joe is a TV addict with a background in Film Studies. He co-created TV/Film Fest blog QueerHorrorMovies and writes for Bloody Disgusting, Anatomy of a Scream, That Shelf, The Spool and Grim Magazine. He enjoys graphic novels, dark beer and plays multiple sports (adequately, never exceptionally). While he loves all horror, if given a choice, Joe always opts for slashers and creature features.

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This shrub has a compact and mounded growth habit, reaching a height and spread of about 2-3 feet (60-90 cm). It is adaptable to various soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, but prefers well-drained soil. 'Magic Carpet' thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet' is relatively low-maintenance and requires minimal pruning. However, occasional pruning in early spring can help maintain its shape and encourage healthier growth. This shrub is also fairly drought-tolerant once established, making it suitable for gardens with inconsistent watering. Due to its compact size and beautiful foliage, Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet' is often used as a border plant, mass planting, or in mixed shrub beds. It can also be grown in containers or used as a low hedge. Additionally, 'Magic Carpet' is a fantastic choice for adding color and interest to rock gardens or as a focal point in smaller garden spaces. Overall, Spiraea japonica 'Magic Carpet' is a versatile and visually appealing shrub that brings a touch of magic to any garden. Its stunning foliage, attractive flowers, and low maintenance requirements make it a beloved choice for many gardeners..

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nature deity