Another horror movie review and this one has a supernatural element to it. Every year there seems to be a new movie about someone being possessed by an evil spirit. It usually involves a priest, a worried family and a child or teen being the target of the ghost. A little bit cookie-cutter but I gave the film a shot; besides a good horror movie is a reminder that Halloween is coming. This mini review is for the supernatural thriller: The Possession.
The Premise: Based on a "true story" and a classic urban legend, The Possession tells the tale of one family being tormented by a mysterious wooden box. Upon visiting a yard sale, one of the daughters becomes entranced and convinces her father (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) to bring the box home. Soon Em (Natasha Calis) becomes possessed and her father is left to figure out how to save her before losing her to the spirit like so many people before.
The Results: 3/5!
The Possession has everything you'll need to enjoy a quick popcorn flick. There are scares, special effects, an evil spirit and alright acting for a movie under two hours. Don't expect anything innovative because you've probably watched a similar film in the past: a story about a possession and a family trying to save their love one. The real gem of the movie is the story behind the film and the tale. The tagline "true story" has been thrown around a lot but the tale of the box has actually been featured in the media (not quite exact as the film) and is an actual urban legend. Halloween isn't for a few weeks and if you're in the mood for something scary then The Possession may be for you.
The Possession has everything you'll need to enjoy a quick popcorn flick. There are scares, special effects, an evil spirit and alright acting for a movie under two hours. Don't expect anything innovative because you've probably watched a similar film in the past: a story about a possession and a family trying to save their love one. The real gem of the movie is the story behind the film and the tale. The tagline "true story" has been thrown around a lot but the tale of the box has actually been featured in the media (not quite exact as the film) and is an actual urban legend. Halloween isn't for a few weeks and if you're in the mood for something scary then The Possession may be for you.
This player will be the fourth jury member and will help Ashley, Britney and Frank determine which player will win on Finale Night. Until then, the next player evicted from the game is Joe, the 41 year old chef from Indiana.
Let's Meet Joe...
Joe was the house chef who had a penchant for yelling in the diary room. On Day 1, he was selected by Big Brother 6 veteran and coach Janelle to join her team, along with Wil and Ashley. Joe never won a single competition or was given safety by Janelle. He was nominated plenty of times but was never the target; he was always the pawn. During the second double eviction of the summer, he survived the first eviction against Frank but he was nominated against Ian by Head of Household (HOH) Dan. Unfortunately for Joe, Ian won Power of Veto (POV) and saved himself. On Day 62, Joe was evicted by a vote of 3-0.
Why Did He Lose?
Joe could never find footing in the house. Sure, he coasted and provided competitors with an extra vote they needed to evict a threat. The problem was that no one took him serious enough to want to work with him beyond a voting stance. Being a floater is a great way to survive the early weeks and stay under-the-radar but the strategy can't win the game. Joe tried to convince those around him to work in powerful alliances but his appeal didn't lead to any true partnerships; he was no strategist and he definitely wasn't an athlete. Once the teams were dissolved, his "alliance" of Janelle, Ashley and Wil imploded when Janelle was evicted and neither Ashley or Wil warned him ahead of time. He was left in the game on his own and it was only a matter of time before Joe was finally evicted.
How Could He Stay?
Joe needed to improve his image. He couldn't win any challenges which meant that his social game and alliances were all that he could offer (he didn't really do well). After Janelle was evicted, he played it smart by laying low and letting the bigger threats target each other, but he didn't use that time to create new alliances with players that he didn't connect with before. If he had sided in saving Britney, he could have become a member of another powerful alliance against Dan, Frank and Jenn (Danielle would have been evicted at that point). Actually making a moving when he was presented with the opportunity could have helped Joe.
Last Thoughts...
Did I think Joe could win Big Brother 14? No. He wasn't one of the powerful players nor could he convince the others to actually give him a vote. He did make it far and I have to applaud him because most players could never make it to September, let alone a jury spot. Chances are this will be the last we'll see of him and I hope he had some fun playing. I will say that after Joe and also Hayden from Big Brother 12, houseguests really need to stop screaming in the diary room! There are 98 microphones... we can hear you just fine.
The second double eviction of the season has sent another two houseguests packing. What may have been a surprise to a few, one of the biggest threats this season was finally eliminated. The first houseguest eliminated in the night has been on the block almost every week (except when he won Head of Household) and the players have kicked themselves for not taking the opportunity to get rid of him sooner.
Since this houseguest has been evicted in the later half of the season, he will return on finale night to help decide which finalist will win Big Brother 14. The third jury member is Frank, the 28 year old from Naples, Florida.
Let's Meet Frank...
Frank Eudy is unemployed and the son of former professional wrestler Sid Vicious. Known throughout this season as an honorary member of Chilltown, he is the man with nine lives and played the game as a bully. On Day 1, Big Brother All-Stars winner and coach Boogie selected Frank, Ian and Jenn to be on his team. Frank spent most of Big Brother 14 as either Head of Household (HOH) , Power of Veto winner (POV) or as a nominee. He joined several powerful alliances such as Chilltown and the Silent Six. After his closest allies Boogie and Ashley were evicted during the first double eviction, Frank won HOH and decided to target those he believed blindsided and eliminated his friends. Dan and Danielle were nominated for eviction but in a last minute decision, Frank formed another powerful alliance of Dan/Danielle/Frank/Jenn and saved Dan to evict Britney as a replacement nominee. The decision proved to be his downfall when Dan and Danielle betrayed Frank and helped Ian to organize his eviction. On Day 62, he was evicted by a vote of 3-1.
Why Did He Lose?
Frank was the most powerful physical threat. Whenever he was the supposed target, chances are he could win the POV that week and/or the HOH competition the following week. He needed to win challenges to survive and most likely he would; if not, Frank could have been evicted weeks ago. He was on the block a lot and many houseguests were evicted instead due to a last minute campaign, alliance or challenge win (i.e. Kara, Janelle, Boogie, Ashley and Britney). With only a few houseguests left, this was the only chance they had to get rid of him.
This is quite surprising in a game like this but Frank was TOO trusting. He placed his faith in alliances and depended on people to stick to their word. Let's be real... this is Big Brother - no one is trustworthy! Many of them wholeheartedly worked with him (i.e. Boogie, Ashley and Jenn) while the rest were plotting for his downfall. I'm not sure if Frank watched Big Brother 10 (he's a fan so I'm guessing maybe), but he completely trusted Dan and didn't expect that he would be backstabbed. Everything Dan has done this season should have raised red flags for Frank and Jenn, though it was too late. Frank's trusting nature finally led to his eviction.
How Could He Stay?
Unfortunately for Frank, he was a goner. His eviction was set in stone and there was nothing he could say or do that could have changed anyone's mind. His elimination stemmed from the decision he made the previous week. If he and Jenn had not chosen to side with Dan and Danielle in evicting Britney, Dan would have been evicted and his alliance would have been fractured. Britney's eviction angered this week's HOH Ian and Frank was subsequently nominated and targeted. Had Frank followed through with the original Dan plan, he would have stayed longer.
Last Thoughts...
Frank changed my opinion. For the longest time, I considered him a bully and a person that needed to be evicted as the "enemy" of the house. The was true while Boogie was around (together they were annoying). However, I have to give Frank the respect he deserved. He never stopped fighting because if he did, he would be evicted at any point. Frank's trusting nature and athleticism led to his eviction and now we'll have to see what happens when he comes back at a later season. After everything he's won and done this season, he'll definitely be invited back at some point in the future.
Three down and only one coach is left. Would it be surprising to say that only a few weeks ago, the same veterans had chosen to revoke their coach status to become players? Ironically, this evicted veteran was the first to press the reset button. She was an underdog in her true right and played the game aggressively to redeem the embarrassment from her previous season.
Blindsided and bitter, she has earned her place as the second jury member. Along with Ashley, she will return on finale night to determine which player will win Big Brother 14. The second jury member is Britney, the 24 year old from Pharmaceutical Sales Representative from Tulsa.
Let's Meet Britney...
Britney is the sarcastic and witty veteran from Big Brother 12. On Day 1, she selected Shane, Willie and JoJo to mentor and join her team. Her team successfully won the first Head of Household (HOH) competition and she selected Willie to be HOH. Prior to Kara's eviction, Britney and her team had formed a solid alliance with fellow coach Janelle. The tides soon turned against Britney: Willie was expelled for head-butting Joe and JoJo was evicted in week two. When Shane (her last player) won HOH, they both formed a foursome with Dan and his last remaining player Danielle. Due to an "unexpected" twist, the four veterans rejoined the game as fellow houseguests and Britney set her sights on winning the grand prize. She joined two powerful alliances (the Silent Six and the Quack Pack), back-stabbed Janelle and Boogie, and tried to finish Dan. Unfortunately for her, Dan plotted his escape and successfully convinced Frank (HOH) and Jenn (Power of Veto holder) to save himself and blindside Britney instead. On Day 55, Britney was evicted by a vote of 4-1.
Why Did She Lose?
From the minute she set foot in the house, Britney had something to prove. The stigma and notoriety (with the Big Brother fans) that she obtained from being deceived by The Brigade in season 12 made her want to show that she's a real competitor. She had a real paranoia complex. Every little conversation she overheard made her believe that a potential alliance was brewing and she quickly plotted to throw allies under the bus. Trust was fleeting and Britney could only rely on herself, except when she played emotionally. She blindsided allies in pursuit of her "anyone-but-her" tactic and by the time of her eviction, she was backed into a corner that she couldn't escape.
Britney had a talent for making deals but she couldn't manipulate people. Sure, some houseguests can create plans or lies to plant the seeds, though only a few have successfully changed the game with a conversation. After Frank had won HOH, the target had been placed squarely on Dan. The house had the votes to evict him and he was the top choice for leaving on Thursday night. However, Britney got too comfortable in thinking that Frank and Jenn were following the same plan. Dan got to work in creating an alliance with the duo and got them to blindside Britney with a replacement nomination. Prior to the week before, Britney helped blindside Boogie and Frank didn't mind getting revenge against Britney instead of Dan, who was also responsible
How Could She Stay?
Britney may have been out-manipulated by Dan but she was not evicted yet. Danielle was sitting on the block against her and while she was sitting pretty with the alliance of Dan/Danielle/Jenn/Frank, Britney needed to reaffirm her connections with the remaining players. If she had pulled the others together (Shane, Joe and Ian), they would have had the votes to get Danielle out. While Britney did try this tactic and it seemed like it was working until the final day, she had to put some sense into Frank and Jenn that Dan was not to be trusted. She would still be in the house if Frank/Jenn or the outsiders agreed.
Last Thoughts...
Britney tried to shed her image and it somewhat worked. Big Brother 14 was a roller coaster and at a point in this game, she could have left had Shane been evicted. She helped form three powerful alliances and plotted the demise of several notable houseguests. While I didn't peg her to win and she did play emotional at times, Britney didn't rely on a floater tactic. Unfortunately for her, once you remove the role of floater and become a competitor, the other powerful targets in the house start to pick each other off one-by-one. She thought she had Dan's eviction in the bag but things changed and she was sent packing.