'Haven' recap: 'Last Goodbyes'

Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY


We're one week out from the season finale of Haven and Audrey's possible departure, and now one of the group will be revealed to be the Bolt Gun Killer! Even with all that, the troubles never cease in Haven. At least, this week's trouble comes with a cool guest star.

The Trouble

Audrey's heading for the office, when the car in front of her decides it doesn't feel like driving when the light is green. She gets out to check on the driver, and finds him slumped over the steering wheel, out cold. When she calls 911, no one answers. She looks around and notices bodies all over the ground. The town of Haven has instituted nap time.

'Haven' recap: 'Sarah'

Sarah/Audrey and Nathan in the past. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

After two weeks of Bolt Gun Killer and Colorado Kid mythos, Haven is back with nothing but Trouble!

Onboard the S.S. Minnow, or whatever the boat's called, Duke Crocker wishes his late father a happy birthday, then spends a little time thumbing through the family's journal o' troubled-people murdering. It seems that Audrey's past life #1, Sarah, killed Duke's grandfather, and Duke's father was hell-bent on returning the favor. His last wish was for Duke to finish the job, but he doesn't seem too interested. He sees an incomplete entry for one Stuart Mosely, and decides to pay old Stu a visit.

'Haven' recap: 'Magic Hour, Part 2'

Audrey's got Nathan's Back. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY


Previously on Haven: Two sisters have been killing rich people and resurrecting them for ransom. Nathan's dead because Tommy's the Bolt Gun Killer, and the sister who can bring people back is nowhere to be found. That pretty much covers it.

The Trouble

Audrey and Duke go looking for Noel the reviver, and discover blood, signifying that she's been shot, too. They know Tommy shot after her, but Tommy says he was only shooting at her because she's the one who shot Nathan. I don't think either of them are buying that story, but they don't have time to quibble. They need to find Noel before the sun sets. Tommy is absolutely no help (obviously), and says they should keep Nathan's death between the three of them for now.

'Haven' recap: 'Magic Hour, Part 1'

Dan mourns over his soon to return wife. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

This week on Haven cleared up a few questions - and created even more. Welcome to part one of the most mean-spirited episode of Pushing Daisies ever, where the Pie Maker starts charging for his resurrection services.

The Trouble

A little girl, Lizzie, lies dead on a kitchen table, while her very anxious parents watch for the sun to go down. They argue over whether to keep waiting for nightfall or call an ambulance. It was an accident, Dad says, as he finally snaps from the tension and grabs a phone to dial. Mom turns to stop him, and in the two seconds their gaze is not on their child's body, they hear a crash. When they look back at the table, a vase is broken, and Lizzie is gone. The terrified parents run to an open door, expecting to see ... what? An intruder? Someone running off with their broken daughter? There's a small voice. "Hi, Daddy," it says, and they look to find Lizzie, alive and smiling in a porch swing. I think we have our trouble.

'Haven' recap: 'Real Estate'

Tina Bo Peep has a nightmarish Halloween
Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

This week on Haven, we have a haunted house with a twist. Happy Halloween!

The Trouble

A pot farmer and Little Bo Peep walk into an abandoned house. No, that's not the beginning of a horrible joke, but the beginning a pretty darn good Halloween episode of Haven. The coeds have been at a Halloween party, and thought it might be fun to go make out in the town haunted house, because that always goes so well. While pot farmer Chad thinks that his random switch flipping is causing the fireplace to spontaneously ignite and the radio to play easy listening, his date has figured out that there is something definitely not right with the house. The couch tried to eat her; that's neither normal nor romantic. Finally, the door to the room slams shut, effectively killing the mood for both of them.

'Haven' recap: 'Double Jeopardy'

Callahan has girl talk with Audrey, courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

Welcome to Haven, where the population keeps decreasing, and there's a possible Franken-Audrey in the works! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

The Trouble

A guy who could not look more suspicious if he tried uses a hidden camera to get some up-skirt shots at a pep rally. As he starts to upload the footage onto his computer, an unseen attacker jumps him from behind, spilling the creeper's blood all over his barely touched Peanut Buster Parfait (which only moments earlier I'd been coveting hard, since my local Dairy Queen closed in the 1990s. Now ... he can keep it, thanks).

'Haven' recap: 'Over My Head'

The Teagues hash out details, courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

This week, we had a quirky trouble, a tension-filled trio of leading characters, and fun touches of show mythology. What a fun trip to Haven!

The Trouble

Frank is afraid of the water. Alice, his instructor, is having a heck of a time coaxing him to the water. Just as she's starting to lose it with Frank, something unseen yanks Alice under the water, and only her blood resurfaces. When Audrey arrives and questions Frank about the death, he explains that his wife made him take the classes to get over his fear of water. No one else in his family was afraid of water - quite the opposite, actually - which rules him out as a troubled person. Frank goes on to explain that Alice wasn't his usual teacher. She was just subbing for Daphne, who hadn't shown up for work that morning. One thing we do know: Whatever killed Alice was big and vicious.

'Haven' recap: 'The Farmer'

Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

From last week's "Next week on Haven ..." teaser, I was expecting an invisible killer who took out his victims from within; a Freddy Krueger-esque style murderer, if you will. But, as I think we've all come to know and love from this show, you can never "expect" anything.

The Trouble

The episode opens on a wooded jogging trail, and one runner who exercises like I do, by standing in place while everyone else whisks by her. We learn that she's a blushing bride-to-be, anxious to get to the caterer and held up by a fiancee with a tiny bladder. Eventually, she heads off into the woods to find her beloved face-down on the ground, dead as a doornail, with his lungs now outside of his body. I guess she doesn't need to worry about fitting in that dress anymore.

'Haven' recap: 'Stay'

Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY
I was positive that Haven was finally getting that zombie infestation that's been going around. Instead, we ended up with a socially-conscious trouble, a lot of exposition and a brand new towns-person to get to know. Let's take a look back at this "very special" episode of Haven.

'Haven' recap: '301'

Read all about Haven happenings in the Herald.
Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

The hit Syfy series Haven returned Friday night, and picked up exactly where we left off last season. FBI Agent-turned-small town cop Audrey Parker is missing, and her partner (and now, sort-of boyfriend) Nathan, has loveable ne'er-do-well, Duke, at gunpoint aboard Duke's boat.

Big troubles in little 'Haven': Emily Rose, Eric Balfour, Lucas Bryant on season three

From left: Balfour, Rose, Bryant. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

After nearly a year since new episodes aired, it's time to return to Haven. But don't let the name of the fictional town from the Syfy supernatural series fool you, there are more troubles than ever in store for season three, which begins tonight, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.

Based loosely on Stephen King's novella, The Colorado Kid, the series focuses on FBI Agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) as she discovers the idyllic small town she's stumbled into is plagued by "troubles," various super-powered afflictions with often deadly, or at the very least, dangerous effects. Adding to the mystery, Audrey finds that this may not be the first time - or even the first lifetime - she's visited Haven. Aiding Audrey's investigation, for the most part, are Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant), the chief of police, and Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour), an ethically-challenged boatrunner.

After debuting July 2010, the show saw a five percent rise in viewership over the second season and became a hit for the network. Both seasons are now available on DVD/Blu-ray, and the third season of the mythology-driven show marks a new chapter of Haven as the summer series moves to the fall schedule. Although that ups the pressure on the show, cast and crew feel a sense of validation and say the move signals confidence from Syfy.

Rose, Bryant and Balfour and executive producer Lloyd Segan joined us for an interview to discuss the show's movie, as well as a third season that they promise will answer long-standing questions (including last season's cliffhanger "Where is Audrey Parker") as well as offering new mysteries to unravel, new faces, romance, haunted houses - and time travel? As if that's not enough, the cast even opens up about ghosts, and throws a challenge down to Kris Williams of Ghost Hunters International.

Creature Features: Wendigo

Marvel Comics' Wendigo, courtesy
Wikimedia

Editor's note: Erin Lilley is a filmmaker and producer with Fighting Owl Films, a production company that has produced the paranormal comedy The Night Shift and is in pre-production for the horror, The Jersey Devil Expeditions. She has joined us to discuss some of her favorite monster movies, and the stories behind them with the Creature Features column.

BY ERIN LILLEY

When you think "creature," your mind probably jumps to the iconic images of the Frankenstein monster, Bigfoot, or maybe even that funky Metaluna Mutant dude from This Island Earth. For me, though, one of the scariest creatures has to be the Wendigo because it can look human, and if it doesn't eat you, it can possess you.

Sure, that sounds similar to a zombie, but where a zombie is a dead person brought back to stumbling, groaning life, a person afflicted by the Wendigo curse retains motor functions, so you might not know anything is even wrong with them until it's too late. If that's not scary enough, the Wendigo can also come at you in the form of an enormous, emaciated giant, desperately searching for the meal that can end its eternal starvation and suffering.

Pop culture is full of references to the Wendigo, although many diverge from the Native American legends. He emerged in Algernon Blackwood's 1910 story, "The Wendigo," and has been name checked in Stephen King's Pet Sematary and appeared on The X-Files, Charmed and Supernatural. He's shown up or been referenced in movies  (Wendigo, Ravenous), and made cameos in Dungeons & Dragons, Final Fantasy and Warcraft games. Within comics, Marvel heroes Wolverine and The Hulk have faced off against The Wendigo (shown here), and he was the focus of a storyline in the Hellboy-universe B.P.R.D. comic series by Dark Horse.

For my purposes, I've pulled two of my favorite television appearances - from Syfy's Haven and the short-lived Fear Itself anthology series - that I think well represent the different facets of the mythology...

Jersey Devil Expeditions: Not Necessarily Non-Fiction

Be careful, or you might run into this guy.
Photo Credit: Pinelands Preservation Alliance

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

In our film, Jersey Devil Expeditions, a group of tourists, along with their guides from a local roadside attraction, set off on an overnight hunt for the Jersey Devil. They expected campfires and marshmallows, but ended up with a whole lot of trouble.

In reality, these kinds of hunts really do exist! The Pinelands Preservation Alliance hosts Friday Night Jersey Devil Hunts, where brave souls (ages 10 and up) meet up for a mile and a half hike into the heart of the Pine Barrens.

Before the adventure - just to make sure it's dark and scary enough - the hunters gather around the campfire for a sing-along and "BYOHD" (Bring Your Own Hot Dog) weenie roast. Throughout the hunt, an intrepid guide regales the group with tales of the Jersey Devil and other creatures that are rumored to roam the woods. As for spotting the Devil ... well, it's a distinct possibility!

Obviously, this is a family-friendly, educational activity to support wildlife preservation in a fun way. If you find yourself in the Southampton area and would like more information, you can contact the PPA at (609) 859-8860 or check the PPA website.

We're still searching for our own Jersey Devil, here at Fighting Owl Films. We're making headway, as far as fundraising is concerned, but, as with any creature hunt, it's a lot of hurry up and wait. There have been rustlings and fleeting glimpses, though. We're now working with a producer consultant to find investors, and have received some very positive feedback on the script. With a little luck, maybe we'll catch something on film soon.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: Roadside Attractions

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

Photo Credit: Cryptomundo

Flying is nice - and definitely the most time-effective way to travel - but in my family, it wasn't a vacation unless you woke up around two in the morning and spent the better part of the next 24 hours trapped in the backseat, surrounded by snacks, batted to death by hanging clothes, and praying Dad wouldn't hit the brakes too hard, or that cooler in the back was going to slam into your head.

About the only difference between our vacations and the Griswold's was a dead aunt tied to the roof of the truckster. As it turns out, nurture won out over my comfort-creature nature, and Thomas and I have found ourselves following in my parents' tire treads. We have officially become "road-trippers."

I can't lay all the blame on my parents, though. A good portion can also go to the time I spent on the road as a touring musical theatre performer. We didn't have much to do off-stage, so the actors and crew stayed on the look-out for silly roadside attractions to kill the boredom. I've worn a Cheesehead in the Wisconsin Dells (and burned the photographic evidence), visited two competing Judy Garland museums in Minnesota, and blindly screamed my way through a corny haunted house at Niagara Falls. Heck, I've even "Seen Rock City," and if Thomas has his way, our next trip to Florida will include the famous Skunk Ape Research Headquarters. My bucket list truly includes seeing the world's largest ball of twine. I just need to figure out where it is.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: As Seen On TV, Part III

Photo Credit: IMDb

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

Here we are, with the last five filmed mentions of the Jersey Devil, and this time all feature-length movies!

Wait, did I say five? I meant three. Whoops. You see, when I first sat down to research this, I found what appeared to be five feature films. However, when I went to vet them, I realized one was a student short, and the other was still in production with no set release date. Apparently, there are even fewer Jersey Devil-centric films than even the Internet wants to admit.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: As seen on TV, Part II

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film. 

The Paranormal State PRS Team.
Photo Credit: A&E

In my last post, I mentioned that the Jersey Devil myth is one that hasn't seen a whole lot of action in movies or on television, but that's not to say it hasn't seen any! I've already listed five scripted television programs that featured either the creature or the legend. Here are five un-scripted, reality programs that attempted to shed some light on our favorite cryptid. As before, I've tried to stay out of spoiler country in the post, but be careful clicking on any of the links if you haven't seen the episodes and want to be surprised when they don't find him. (What?! If they had, don't you think you'd have heard by now?!)

These are shows that Thomas and I have checked out for research purposes, since you can't write or produce a movie on a subject you know nothing about. Also, we're huge Destination Truth fans, and were really hoping for an up close and personal encounter between Josh Gates and the creature. Personally, my money'd be on Josh Gates.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: As seen on TV

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film. 

From 'American Dragon: Jake Long'
Photo Credit: Wikia

One of the biggest reasons Thomas, Fighting Owl Films' founder and director, wanted to tackle the Jersey Devil mythos was that it hadn't been explored all that deeply, or nearly as often as, say, Bigfoot or Nessie. That's not to suggest the subject had never been broached before.

In fact, I've compiled a list of 15 movies and television shows that have dealt with the creature ... more or less. I've tried to keep my comments out of spoiler territory, but beware of clicking any links if you haven't seen the shows.

Here are the first five: scripted television programs.

Jersey Devil Expeditions

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film. 

Fighting Owl Films now has its very own green screen. We'd borrowed a screen for The Night Shift (see if you can spot it!), so it was time for the company to have its own. In case you're wondering, a green screen (sometimes called a blue screen, or Chroma Key screen) is a solid-colored background that can be digitally altered. It's the same thing television meteorologists use for their animated maps.

Our screen is a crayon-green muslin photographer's background on a metal stand. It's nowhere near fully extended, and still takes up one entire wall of our office. It also requires two umbrella lights (like you'd see at a portrait photographer's studio) to make sure that there are no shadows to mess up the computer imaging. Basically, this thing is a monster, which is kind of appropriate, considering why we have it. See, we've got to make a devil fly.

Jersey Devil Expeditions: The unholy beginning

The Jersey Devil Expeditions is the movie diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent monster movie of the same name. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

Last October, just before Halloween, indie production company Fighting Owl Films released to DVD its first feature-length movie, The Night Shift. The film centered around an undead caretaker, Rue Morgan, and the "lively" cemetery he oversaw. The little lower-than-micro-budget picture made it into a handful of festivals (including the Paranormal Pop Culture Film Festival), winning Best Fantasy Feature at Shockerfest International, as well as the praise of critics and viewers alike as a "potential cult classic" that all ages could enjoy. Personally, I thought it was a ground-breaking, thought-provoking, phenomenal piece of cinema - not to be missed - but then again, I could be a little biased. Afterall, I did produce and co-star in the film.

With TNS under our belts, Fighting Owl Films founder and director Thomas Smith decided it was time to branch out. "While The Night Shift was a family-friendly paranormal adventure, [the next feature] Jersey Devil Expeditions (JDE) shifts its tone to a more adult nature; a horrific creature feature that maintains a sense of fun, excitement and adventure."

The Night Shift: It's out!

Night Shift is the diary of Fighting Owl Film's new independent supernatural-adventure-comedy of the same name currently in distribution in Mobile, AL. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you'll get an insider's peek at what it's like for filmmakers to craft a new entry of paranormal pop culture from Erin Lilley, a producer and actress on the film.

It's out!

Last night, Thomas and I toasted the DVD release of The Night Shift. This morning, I got up early and made a quart of fake blood. To borrow a line from a very appropriate Disney song, it's the circle of life, folks.

To be fair, the fake blood wasn't actually for filming. My kid brother's middle school is putting on a haunted house this weekend, so this was for him. Still, it was good practice for the fake blood I get to make next week for the filming of our Jersey Devil promo video. This is the trailer-esque short that we'll show potential backers/producers who might be interested in funding our next feature. It won't be a long video, but it's definitely not a small undertaking. We've cast five talented actors (and me), and, furthering the circle, I guess, they're having their costume fittings the same day that our Night Shift actors are scheduled to pick up their copies of the film. There's something poetic about that; just as we finish one chapter, we begin another. Poetic, or possibly, just insane. Anyway, we've also created a temporary logo for the film, scouted locations, figured out the lighting design, and even composed a song for the promo. As my brother would say, this thing is "beast". I think that means awesome.