chaplaindad Reviews

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Dead in the Water (2024) Season 5, Episode 3

Terrible

[1/10 · 9 May 2024]

The producers of this ridiculous farce need to remember the maxim "if everything is mysterious, then nothing is mysterious." And truly, the mind-numbingly repetitious protestations that everything these people see violates unnamed laws of physics and nature reveals an ugly truth: the ranch is nothing more than a ranch. And the owners are making a killing in advertising dollars under the pretense that the ranch is something special. However, anyone can drop names of scientific equipment, launch any number of rockets, find a few dead animals, and record fuzzy images of so called "inexplicable phenomena" from afar and concoct a narrative to tell any story they want viewers to absorb. Oh, that we had with us the real scientists of past documentaries, like Jaques Cousteau, to bring us fascinating understanding of our world. Too bad greed has won out over reality.

When the Walls Talk: The Whispers Estate Documentary (2017)

Much Ado About Getting Your Money

[1/10 · 8 May 2024]

"When the Walls Talk" is another hopelessly awful pretense of a documentary rife with interviews with staff and "true believers" whose incomes depend on a place being "haunted." Problem is, there are loads of scary stories, a few videos offered as proof, and some grainy pictures of nothing unusual. There are no objective perspectives making this mess laughable. My favorite video is of the "self-moving table" that supposedly traps a man in his chair. Unfortunately, everybody has their hands on the table and it is very clear pressure is being applied. Add to this, one of the supposedly frightened people laughing after they fall down (leaning into the table). If you want to believe, then believe, but this is nothing more than vintage house owners advertising their $150.00+/night (night mind you, when the brain imagines what the eyes cannot see) opportunities to investigate it yourself.

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)

An Amalgum of Other Great films, done just OK

[5/10 · 25 April 2024]

Did you hear the one about the film makers that didn't have an original idea for a sci-fi action movie? No? Well, it's called "Rebel Moon." One can't help seeing ripoffs from a lot of good movies and shows: GOTs, Star Wars, Conan the Barbarian, the Mandalorian, Lord of the Rings and the WWII German-esque uniforms from Starship Troopers, just to name a few. That, and throw in some plain folk Mennonite farmers for flavor. It's an ok movie, but as Yogi Bera said, "it's like deja vu all over again," and that makes "Rebel Moon" predictable and forgettable. Moreover, the acting, which is often over-emotive, is at times laughable instead of what it is attempting to be, and that is stirring. If you have nothing better to watch and like SciFi, you can find things to like In "Rebel Moon." Otherwise, this film gets a "meh" and a huge yawn.

Between (2015–2016)

Good enough to keep you watching

[7/10 · 24 April 2024]

Back in 2015-2016 when "Between" first debuted on Netflix, Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 22% and critics slammed it. Fast-forward to 2024 and a Netflix swamped in really awful productions, "Between" becomes a stand-out series that tragically, was ended before it could reach its full potential. The post-COVID crowd will connect with the 21 and under survivors of the deadly epidemic, who duke it out over cans of peaches, and hoarders who collect up any essentials they can lay their hands on. The realism of the episodes shines through Lord of the Flies-esque power groups forming to survive, and compete for control over resources. Conspiracy theorists will resonate with the kids at Pretty Lake as they try desperately to unravel how and why they are stuck. It's good fun.

The Outsider (2020)

One of the Better King Screen Plays

[9/10 · 20 April 2024]

Screen plays of Stephen King's novels are a mixed bag of good and bad (Salem's Lot, the original TV version of IT, etc). However, "The Outsider" is a very well written, well-acted, supernatural thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end. Unlike the funky spider creature in the TV version of "IT" or the Nosferatu Vampire rip-off in the TV version of "'Salem's Lot," the doppelganger premise of the evil entity in "The Outsider" isn't a distraction, but is genuinely disconcerting and a critical plus for the film. Believable characters and solid acting build the suspense and communicate the fear, confusion, and struggles of belief, faith and the conflict between science and the metaphysical. This is a refreshing change from all too many films of this genre that rely too much on special effects to try to draw and keep audiences engaged. There are some differences with the novel, such as Ralph's son Derek being dead, which is not in the novel. However, the screen play is able to stand on its own as a great story told well. One caution, the gore is significant, which includes violence against children. If this bugs you, "The Outsider" may not be for you.

Bodies (2023)

Starts Well But Then...

[2/10 · 17 April 2024]

Quantum physics, parallel realities, 1984-esque totalitarianism, and time bending sci-fi. What could possibly go wrong? Over the top social-engineering messaging with a good smattering of socialism added for flavor, that's what. When will the entertainment industry figure out that society as a whole has had enough preachy messaging? What was a promising premise was drowned out with irrelevant relational side stories that bring nothing to the film except distraction. The failure of huge entertainment companies like Disney, which made messaging a priority over entertainment, should have been a blinding warning light to the makers of this mess. Best to let these "Bodies" lay where they fell and walk on by.

Blade: Trinity (2004)

Terrible

[4/10 · 6 April 2024]

This movie has it all...that is, all that it takes to make a really awful film. The plot is uninteresting. The prosthetic vampire teeth are too big for the actors' mouths, making them resemble kiddie Halloween vampires. The martial arts scenes are shot so poorly, you can see the hits and kicks clearly missing their targets. The dialogue is cheesy and the movie predictable. One saving grace is a young Ryan Reynolds doing what he does best: being a cheeky Ryan Reynolds. Despite these laughs, on the whole this forgettable sequel is best relegated to late night cable when the real "creatures of the night" desparetly seek television trash like "Blade Trinity" as a last refuge against the real horror of infomercials.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)

Good, except for the ridiculous CGI Dracula

[6/10 · 1 April 2024]

Anyone who has read the original book, or seen a reasonably true-to-the-novel film of Bram Stoker's infamous undead fellow already knows "The Demeter" arrives devoid of its crew, for obvious reasons. How it all unfolds is left largely to the imagination of the reader of the novel, making this movie a wonderful story-telling opportunity. And, "The Last Voyage of The Demeter" is, in regards to the story, not a disappointment. The acting is good, and convincing, and the sets exceptional for creating a claustrophobic and hopeless feel to the ship and crew. There is a big "however" though in this movie in the form of a terrible CGI conception of Dracula. Sometimes CGI just isn't the way to go in a movie like this. Instead of a truly dynamic and disconcerting Dracula like that presented in the film "Bram Stoker's Dracula," we get a computer generated "thing" that looks like the ugly love-child of the 1922 Nosferatu vampyr and Golum from the exceptional "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. This film's Dracula is not scary, not intimidating, not jarring, nor creepy by any stretch of the imagination. The CGI simply detracts from what is otherwise very good story-telling. Being as Dracula is the key antagonist in the film, a less than stellar representation truly drops the quality of the film. You should watch it, but enjoy the story and ignore the awful digi-drac.

M (1931)

M is for Must-See Early German Film Noir

[10/10 · 20 March 2024]

Coming at the beginning of the sound-era of film, Fritz Lang's "M" is a profound work of art with depth and breadth rarely seen in modern filmography. This film's power draws from the skills of silent-film actors that were bathed in the ability to create atmosphere, emotion, and story without the benefit of dialogue or sound of any kind. For fans of Peter Lorre, his creation of the despicable "M" is without peer. The self-loathing he exudes in his confession before the league of beggars and criminals who captured him draws the viewer into the mind of a psychopath who is both worthy of disgust but also compassion - a near impossible feat for an actor portraying a child killer. It is sad this great movie was shuttered in darkness for so long by an anti-semetic and despotic Nazi Germany. It is a gem in the history of film.

Masters of the Air (2024)

Spot on Docudrama

[10/10 · 18 March 2024]

This review is different for one significant reason: my father trained as a radio operator for heavy bombers in WWII. My mom's first husband flew "The Hump" in the China-Burma-India theater during WWII. I myself am a combat veteran of the Gulf War and Iraqi Freedom. Throughout my life, and prior to their passing, my parents faithfully shared the realities of that war to make me understand the depth of sacrifice of the men who flew in combat against the Axis powers. Yes, artistically any movie can be compared to any other, and given a "score" by amateur reviewers. But from the realism and historical perspective, Masters of the Air" is as close as any film has ever gotten to expressing the extremes of daylight bombing over the ETO. The actors do an exceptional job in delivering to us the raw emotions of flyers, from compartmentalization to uncontrolled acute traumatic stress and moral injury. The graphics, which recreate B-17s and their claustrophobic environs, are unmatched in their realism (my dad had claustrophobia, and it reappeared whenever he took me to an airshow with vintage B-17s on display). Say what you will, but I encourage you to watch and rewatch this amazing production. As best as anyone can, the producers, directors, writers, and actors have given us the very best recollection of the mighty 8th since "Twelve o'clock High."

761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers (2023 TV Special)

Inspiring Courage of Men who Returned to Hate

[10/10 · 25 January 2024]

Freedom is never free, and it is, with a few exceptions, America's collective ethic to express exceptional thanksgiving to those who served and still serve to protect that freedom, sometimes at an asteonomical cost. In the case of the men of the 761st Tank Battalion, that ethic was suppressed, repressed, and directly denied by many, to include the War Department, to these people who fought so gallantly with superior results, only to return home to a still-segregated and largely hostile nation. This documentary is a personal journey for Actor/Director Morgan Freeman, to not only tell a story no one believed or listened to, but to also discover the history of service of his own uncle who served in the gallant 761st. It records the accomplishments and experiences of remarkable men thrust into an unprecedented 180-plus days of combat, and the shameful treatment they received upon their return home. This truth, now forever a part of American history, exists to inspire past, present & future members of the US Armed Forces, to gather long overdue thanks from a grateful nation, and to defeat the weakness of mind and thought that believes people of color, or any fellow human is of less value or quality than any other.

Society of the Snow (2023)

Stark and Moving Remembrance

[9/10 · 11 January 2024]

The 1972 crash and rescue of the Uruguayan sports team hit the media outlets of the time like a firestorm. Since that time, many books and movies have been made which try to capture the enormity of the human will to survive, the moral and ethical implications, and the brutality of the inner struggle of each surviving member of the aircraft disaster. "The Society of the Snow" concentrates on the human dimension, and does it exceptionally well. In the English language version, the depth of grief for the loss of friends and loved ones, the horror of breaking the taboo of consuming not just human flesh for survival, but of those well known to the survivors, is palpable to the point of drawing the viewer into the cold, stark dilemmas they must face. This is not a movie for young children or the sensitive. But it is a great film for examining one's own moral edge, and how far a person can go to survive, even beyond his/her deepest beliefs.

Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)

He's Back!

[10/10 · 28 December 2023]

The quirky, OCD, germaphopic & now-retired detective, Monk is back in this very special "last case" movie. While the final episode of the series left us with a Monk that was on the road to normalcy after finally solving his wife's murder, we find him back to his old ways as he is asked to solve the murder of his step-daughter's fiancé. All of the ingredients that made the series great are here (funny OCD behaviors, mystified family and collaborators, serious investigative moments) and especially all (minus Sharona) of Monk's most important friends. Viewers should be aware that a strong theme of suicidal ideation runs the length of the film, fueled by Monk's continuing grief at the absence of his wife and his strong desire to be with her (in death). Rest assured, Monk's hand is staid by regular appearance of his wife, pleading with him not to go through with his plans. In the end, after the crime is solved, and as Monk prepares to overdose in a public park, both his wife and the fiancé appear to show him how his presence in the world gave a voice to those that could not speak for themselves. The film ends with dozens of apparitions walking with him in recognition of the peace he brought to so many families through the homicides he solved, as Monk heads toward the precinct to again, offer his services in solving cold cases. Monk's Final Case is by no means riveting drama. But it's fun, touching, meaningful, and a great capstone to a wonderfully different detective series.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

Terrible

[3/10 · 21 December 2023]

It's hard to find anything good about this lousy remake of Boris Karloff's beloved take on Dr. Suess' Grinch. Jim Carrey's over-acting and near duplication of his character in "The Mask" is painful to watch. The make-up used to create the Whos is simply grotesque and conjurs nothing of the whimsy of Dr. Suess' imagination stimulating artwork. Rather, it is more reminiscent of plastic surgery gone horribly wrong. The plot takes a decidedly political turn by ignoring the original innocence and moral steadfastness of Suess' Whos. Instead, the story is turned on end with the Whos presented as self-serving capitalists drowning in their over-consumption. Bottom line: this version of The Grinch is a far cry from the original, and more the stuff of nightmares than visions of sugar plums. Bag the remake and enjoy the original for a warm Christmastide tale of love and redemption.

King Charles: Episode 1. (2023) Season 1, Episode 1

Why? Just Why?

[1/10 · 14 December 2023]

In the broadcast news and opinion world, across the vast landscape of existing networks, shows and hosts, it was clear that a huge gap existed due to the absence of the views and insights of Charles Barkley....said no one, ever. One can only speculate as to why CNN decided this show was a good idea. It is a truly painful watch, as a well-known, retired professional athlete awkwardly asks questions, makes comments, and opines well outside his area of expertise. Sadly, it's as bad as watching him try to become a professional golfer. King Charles was King...in basketball. This CNN offering is nothing more than the use of an athlete-celebrity to push forward a biased viewpoint as unbiased news.

Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire (2021– )

As Many Disturbing Questions as Potential Answers

[6/10 · 7 December 2023]

Up front, "Exposed" is good story-telling. Well organized, professionally presented, intriguing and emotionally evocative, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and its investigative reporters make a compelling argument the the Luna Park fire of 1979 was a criminal act by a mob boss who wanted the prime Sydney real estate for his own. Allegations of police corruption and purposeful ignorance of standard investigative procedures make for edge-of-your-seat viewing. That's the good.

The bad is what is not included: discussion of fire safety inspection documentation that proves there is validity to the accidental nature of the fire. On public record is the 1977 government safety inspection of the Ghost Train attraction and the legally required upgrades that the park owners failed to make. Built in the 1930's, the 40+ year old ride was made with highly flammable materials. The roof was found to be in such poor repair, walking on it was forbidden. It was covered by asphalt soaked tar paper with a further coating of asphalt tar, clearly a fire danger. Safety officials had ordered numerous safety upgrades including added emergency lighting, adding another emergency exit, and the addition of fire watchers to the attraction staff until the place was made safe. Most damning is the fact that the false fireplace where witnesses reported seeing real flames early in the fire was not original to the ride, but added at some point reasonably close to the time of the disaster. When the 1979 fire occurred, the owners had made few of the legally required safety upgrades including the fire watchers. Of course, if your contention as investigative reporters is that hirelings of a mob boss engineered the fire as an act of arson, the idea the place was a death-trap coupled with the failures of the owners don't do much to help that theory.

Further, ABC took heavy criticism for its corruption allegations against the NSW premier serving at the time of the fire. ABC itself commissioned an independent review of its evidence by investigative journalist Chris Masters and academic Rodney Tiffen. When the independent review yielded positive comments about the police corruption and crime organization involvement, but criticism of its treatment of the NSW premier, ABC accepted the positives and rejected their own investigators' negative conclusions.

Finally in 2021, the NSW coroner called for ABC to turn over its tapes as evidence to support a new coroner's inquiry into the Luna Park fire. ABC unbelievably refused, raising allegations that the ABC investigative reporters fudged the data in their favor, including reports they coached at least some of their sources in order to give credence to their corruption theory.

Bottom line: a good story but sadly, burdened with questions of veracity that take wind out of the sails for this tragic tale of loss, human suffering, and a call for justice to be done.

The Nun II (2023)

Meh....

[3/10 · 5 December 2023]

"The Nun II" is about as frightening as having a wart removed, but with a less satisfying ending. The story picks up where the original left off, with Maurice being the vector for the demon, which is now on the hunt for an ancient relic that will give it unspeakable powers. It's the same formula used for the first movie, with nothing new to add to the story. Instead of solid acting which plays with your mind and evokes real fright, we are subjected to endless jump scares and CGI, a laziness now so prolific in so many movies, purposed to make money rather than to entertain audiences. As for the unspeakable power? Just a pair of glowing demon eyes, with the evil entity easily defeated by a flood of Cabernet. If you expect to be rewarded with a satisfying ending, brace yourself for disappointment.

Devotion (II) (2022)

Good but Not Great

[7/10 · 2 December 2023]

With a fairly powerful story as a solid foundation for a great movie, "Devotion" simply misses the mark. Instead of a coherent plot with a point, this movie seems more like a jumble of vignettes culminating in about 15 minutes of the real story at the very end of the movie. Characters are introduced but are only loosely connected to the main characters. Especially distracting is the interaction of a racist Marine with Ensign Brown. Several early encounters make it clear the Marine and his buddies have little regard for Ensign Brown because he is black. However, in the Korean War segment of the movie, we are shown Ensign Brown saving the Marines from invading Chinese, with the Marines recognizing Brown as he flies past on a close air support mission (factually implausible due to the actual speeds, angles of attack of CAS missions, and the ferocity of enemy fires). We anxiously await the Marine infantrymen to reverse hus moral/ethical course and appreciate Brown. But that doesn't happen. So why the vignette? It's just one of many disconnected moments in the movie that seem to be headed somewhere but disappointingly dead end before reaching an understandable conclusion. Even though "Devotion" is not on the same artistic and emotionally evocative planet as "Red Tails," it is still a good movie and worth a watch.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Another Sequel for Cash not Viewers

[3/10 · 27 November 2023]

Terrible writing and a ridiculous plot are just the beginning of the badness behind this stinker sequel. The filmakers try to cover horrible acting and silly lines with an overwhelming amount of CGI but CGI can never overcome terrible dialogue delivered terribly. Not even top named talent (Helen Miren) can save this very apparent surrender to the newest sequel craze: mindless drivel that will make studios enough money to deliver a positive cost to profit ratio. Further proof is the poorly executed attempt to cater to certain demographics to win audience numbers. For example, one character blurts out that they are gay for no apparent reason. This utterly out-of-place non sequitur has no bearing on the immediate scene nor the plot as a whole. Unfortunately, the weirdness does not end there. Do yourself a favor and when given this movie as a choice among others and go elsewhere, unless you value wasting nearly 2 hours wondering what you were thinking.

History's Greatest Mysteries: Roswell: The First Witness Part 3 - The Writer (2020) Season 1, Episode 7

The Math Just Doesn't Add Up

[1/10 · 20 November 2023]

This 3 part series on the so-called Roswell Incident, purporting that an extraterrestrial craft crashed, there was a conflicted eye witness forced to keep quiet, and a government cover-up is the standard, same-old, same-old conspiracy theory garbage. Here's the formula: Witness saw what he thinks is evidence "A." The show then presents, well, if "A" is true then maybe "B," which supports "A" may be true as well. And if "B" is true, then maybe "C", which supports "B" is true. Then there is "D", which supports "C" and "E" that supports "D" and so on until we have "Z" supporting "Y." Thus, Z proves A is true. Except hypotheses cannot prove other hypotheses without independent proof they are factually true. This hideous mathematical house of cards comes crashing down with just the slightest application of critical thinking. So, save yourself hours of agony and go read a book.

History's Greatest Mysteries: Roswell: The First Witness Part 1 - The Journal (2020) Season 1, Episode 5

Awful, just plain awful

[1/10 · 20 November 2023]

This 3 part series on Roswell is advertised as a real investigation into the so-called Roswell Incident from 1947. Heck, we are even led by a former CIA investigator (whatever that is). Surely, this will be new information, peer reviewed, and established in scientific journals. Nope, this travesty is solely meant to manipulate the ignorant and those addicted to confirmation bias. A close listen to what is said, and more critically, what is not said, reveals this is less about history and more about stringing viewers along for the sake of ratings. For example, anyone with military experience with classified materials knows it is against the law to reveal that information. Officers and enlisted sign documents in advance of receiving that clearance acknowledging their understanding of the consequences of endangering national security. In 1947, national security was paramount as the Cold War was beginning. However, "History's Greatest Mysteries" repeats ad nauseum how terrible it is that an intelligence officer (let me repeat that...an INTELLIGENCE officer) had to keep silent about what he saw, under threat of penalty. Filled with may-bes, could-bes, and a host of absolute arguments made in the absence of any real, verifiable facts, the writers of this disaster use this absence of information to fill that empty space with one fantasy after another. For instance, we are presented with a journal filled with someones musings and quotes, that was found in some documents of the individual who is the focus of the series. No matter how many times the investigator is told it is nothing, the show continues to try to make it filled with secret codes that MAY reveal the truth about the Roswell incident. Gads. So, turn to a live sports program where you can believe what you see and toss this dreck into the commode, where it belongs.

Ahsoka (2023– )

Ignore the Star Wars Wackadoodles, Ahsoka is Good

[10/10 · 20 October 2023]

Wading through the deluge of impossible-to-please self-appointed Star Wars gurus and their vitriolic reviews can be daunting and certainly misleading. The Ahsoka series is good, fun, and engaging. The plotline continues the story told in "Star Wars: Rebels," which makes for fun binge-watching in prep for "Ahsoka." The CGI is great, the acting good and characters believable, the villains are sinister, and the protagonists worthy of our loyal following through the episodes. Compared to the low quality of other network TV viewing fare, "Ahsoka" is quality story-telling that will entertain the entire family.

Grizzly II: Revenge (1983)

Awful, Horrible Travesty of a Film

[1/10 · 11 October 2023]

I saw the the first Grizzly movie in a theater the year it was originally released. I was a teen and it scared the you-know-what out of me. Grizzly II: Revenge is a far (emphasize FAR) cry from the original. Despite a lot of big name talent (George Clooney, John Rhys-Davis and more), nothing can save this mess. The movie plot is implausibly based around a huge outdoor music concert which is held in a National Forest with Grizzly bears roaming free. 18 foot tall grizzly bears. Gee, no bear would ever think of going near 100's of rubbish cans filled with half-eaten food. The top actors are eaten in the first 10 minutes of the movie by an 18 foot tall momma Grizzly on the rampage because her cub has been killed. Rhys-Davis plays a tracker who dresses like Daniel Boone, has an indecipherable accent, and darkens his eyes at night to look like a raccoon. A sizeable portion of the movie inexplicably features the music acts (unknowns) both rehearsing for and performing in the aforesaid concert. And they are bad....very bad, like Human League and the Solid Gold Dancers had an ugly love-child. It's no plot + poor acting + hideous music. But that's not all. The special effects, particularly the Grizzly, are atrocious...maybe part dog, part wookie, and part stuffed animal. The only moment that made this stinker worth the torturous watch was the Grizzly's attack on the protagonist park ranger (driving a palet-laden fork lift). Clearly, someone pulled a rope on the large stuffed bear torso and had it run into the forklift which tipped over. My watch group actually died laughing, it was so fake but so hilarious. Best to avoid this at all costs. Life is already to short to waste precious time on celluloid rubbish.

A Haunting in Venice (2023)

You Just Shouldn't Mess with a Beloved Character

[6/10 · 9 October 2023]

Unlike the recent remakes of "Death on the Nile" and "Murder on the Orient Express," "A Haunting in Venice" ranges far and wide from the Poirot we have come to know and love through Agatha Christie's short stories and novels. In fact, if Kenneth Branaugh did not talk with a Belgian accent and have the mustaches on his face, the character he portrays is unrecognizeable as Poirot. The plot is plodding and lacks the deft 'who-dunnit' depth fans of Poirot demand. The loss of faith in God of this Poirot is distracting at best, and seems a shallow gimmick intended to add intrigue to the lackluster writing of the spiritualist plot line. Nor does it due justice to the authenticity of Christie's Catholic character whose faith is critically tested in the last Poirot novel, "Curtain." There are certain aspects of the film that are the stuff of good mysteries: the hallucinogenic honey from Rhododendron visiting honeybees, the creepy son of the doctor who ends up being a grade-school aged blackmailer, and the real identity of the murderer or murderers (left unidentified here for the sake of those yet to see the film). It's worth a watch but if you are a dedicated Agatha Christie's fan, leave your high expectations for one of her masterpieces behind. This ain't it.

Psycho: The Lost Tapes of Ed Gein (2023)

Avoid at All Costs!

[1/10 · 26 September 2023]

There are truly no words to adequately chastise those responsible for this series. It is one thing to create a documentary that reveals Ed Gein through his own words. But that is not what this film series is about. Instead it is a vehicle intended to shock viewers and to dehumanize Gein's victims by showing graphic crime scene photos and starkly realistic recreations of disemboweled, beheaded, dismembered loved ones. Only an inhuman sickness of the mind and heart could compel anyone to create or want to display before others such craven sadism. The creators could have given us a truly intriguing dive into the mind and motivations of Gein by sticking to historical facts and professional insights. The gore is totally unnecessary. It clearly is added to shock and to deeply disturb. While the discussions by the researchers and psychologists are meaningful (the only part that has merit), the glibness of the podcast members, authors, and others (including, no kidding laughter at Gein's crimes) is almost as diabolical as Gein's utter disregard for those he so violently victimized. Yes, there are warnings to viewers that may be sensitive to such material. However, there isn't anyone that wouldn't be traumatized to some degree by the abominations that are shown. Tellingly, the end of the first episode offers crisis hotline information for those who may need to talk after viewing the film. In so many words, the creators are acknowledging their purposeful intent to traumatize viewers by offering the "help" after the damage has been done: they are both cause and cure, except it will be nearly impossible to unsee and wash clean from one's humanity the devastation the filmmakers have wrought. Steer clear of this series.