#madison baines

[moviemosaics]

The Sacrifice Game

directed by Jenn Wexler, 2023

[letterboxd-loggd]

The Sacrifice Game (2023) Jenn Wexler

December 1st 2024

[fearsmagazine]

THE SACRIFICE GAME - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: SHUDDER

SYNOPSIS: It's 1971 and at the Blackvale School for Girls, students Samantha and Clara have different circumstances as to why they will not be heading home for the holidays. As the “holdovers” at the school are settling into their holiday “festivities” a gang of cult killers arrives at their doorstep. Apparently, the school houses ancient texts that figures into the gang’s plan to raise hell, literally. Just in time for Christmas things turn deadly and Clara and Samantha bond over one horror filled night.

REVIEW: Filmmakers Jenn Wexler and Sean Redltz weave cinematic magic together for a holiday horror tale that embraces themes and tones from “Die Hard” to “Home Alone,” and “Violent Night” to “Black Christmas.” THE SACRIFICE GAME is an atmospheric contemporary female driven hybrid genre film that embraces a variety of horror concepts from the “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” to “Anna and the Apocalypse” with a charming cast.

I loved the narrative. Wexler and Raditz interwork twists and turns into an engaging tale. They grab the viewer right by the throat with an “in your face” opening sequence that is shocking and extreme. Their nightmare begins to fade as they introduce us to the Blackvale School for Girls, but just as the last emotional vestiges of the opening sequence seem to be fading, things ratchet up as the gang shows up at the school and mayhem ensues. The duo are experts at building up expectations and then shifting perspectives. They create organic characters in Samantha and Clara that hook the viewer. They even add traits to their villains that make them identifiable and at times somewhat likable. Some of the humor can seem a bit dated and flat, but it might be as it is more a homage to the comedy of the 70’s. I enjoyed the dialogue as they created unique character voices and a feel for the period.

The film has excellent production values and an amazing location. It is a stately manor that feels it possesses the history that ecompasses the foundation for their tale. It feels like another character in the film. Wexler artistically frames her shots, and along with the cinematography, adds a lot of ambience to the film and also is reminiscent of the look of the films of the 70s. Likewise, the costumes and production designs invoke the period while adding this dark fairy tale feel. There are some wonderful visual and special effects that add to the shock and awe, and the sequences are skillfully edited for effect and not distract from the story or performances. Part of the glue bringing this all together is a great score by Mario Sévigny and the sound design. By the end, you get a sense that a large percentage of the budget went into the film’s production values and the exceptional talent that went into pulling it all together.

THE SACRIFICE GAME has a great ensemble cast. From the minor characters to the central roles, everyone feels like they brought their “A” game. While I was sad to see some of the secondary characters murdered-out of the tale, Madison Baines as Samantha and Georgia Acken as Clara do an enchanting job of creating this complex relationship that is nicely choreographed in a way that leaves that at a place in their relationship that feels like the genre equivalent of “Thelma & Louise.” These are two talented actors who I'd love to see in a follow up tale about these two characters, it could even make for an excellent series/limited series… just saying.

Other than Diciken’s “A Christmas Carol,” for years there have been few genre films that combine the perfect blend of Christmas and horror/Halloween. Jenn Wexler’s THE SACRIFICE GAME is a hybrid holiday film that earns its place in your holiday film rotation alongside, some of my personal favorites, such films as “Krampus,” “Anna and the Apocalypse,” “Nightmare Before Christmas,” and “Violent Night,” to name a few. Wexler demonstrates passion and artistry for the medium. Along with her film “The Ranger,” her name should be on your list of filmmakers to stay on the lookout for. Jenn Wexler’s THE SACRIFICE GAME is a new holiday horror event that will add some chills and thrills to your holiday season.

CAST: Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, Madison Baines, Derek Johns, Laurent Pitre, Chloë Levine and Georgia Acken. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Producer - Jenn Wexler; Screenplay - Sean Redlitz; Producers - Philip Kalin-Hajdu, Albert I. Melamed, Todd Slater and Heather Buckley; Cinematographer - Alexandre Bussière; Score - Mario Sévigny; Editors - Arthur Tarnowski and Mathieu Bérubé; Production Designer - Ted Samuels; Costume Designer - Stella Creary; Prosthetics & Makeup Effects - Morot FX Studio INC; Special Effects - Blood Brothers Effects; VFX Supervisor - François Bordez; Special Effects Supervisor - Carlo Harrietha. OFFICIAL: www.thesacrificegame.com FACEBOOK: N.A. INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/thesacrificegame/ TRAILER: https://youtu.be/FgUtPsloNxs?si=5spnBmm6b92DJbbO RELEASE DATE: Streams on Shudder December 8th, 2023.

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

[moviesandmania]

THE SACRIFICE GAME (2023) Reviews of Christmas horror

‘This Christmas, raise a little hell.’ The Sacrifice Game is a 2023 American horror film about two female boarding school students stalked by a murderous gang. Directed and co-produced by Jenn Wexler from a screenplay co-written by Sean Redlitz. Also produced by Heather Buckley, Philip Kalin-Hajdu, Albert I Melamed, Yannick Sadler and Todd Slater. Executive produced by Mark S. Berry, Marc Cote,…

[butchnavi]

the line "first I will call up the main thing to see if both our schedules are free" will always make me blush and giggle so much. idc if my ex best friend basically dumped me for a guy this is my dream relationship

[jontheblogcentric]

VIFF 2023 Review: The Sacrifice Game

The Sacrifice Game is a super-bizarre story of a Christmas dinner two private school girls will never forget. Try as they might! Can you mix the horror movie genre with the Christmas season and be able to create a good movie of the mix? The American film The Sacrifice Game makes that brave attempt. The film begins with what appears to be four guests approaching a Christmas party three days…

[deadpresidents]

2023's Best Books

I meant to do this a few days ago so there was more time before the holidays, but here's a quick list of the best books that I read that were released in 2023. Obviously, I didn't read every book that came out this year, and I'm only listing the best books I read that were actually released in the 2023 calendar year.

In my opinion, the two very best books released in 2023 were An Ordinary Man: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford by Richard Norton Smith (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO), and True West: Sam Shepard's Life, Work, and Times by Robert Greenfield (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO).

(The rest of this list is in no particular order)

President Garfield: From Radical to Unifier C.W. Goodyear (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

The World: A Family History of Humanity Simon Sebag Montefiore (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

France On Trial: The Case of Marshal Pétain Julian Jackson (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

The Last Island: Discovery, Defiance, and the Most Elusive Tribe on Earth Adam Goodheart (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World Mary Beard (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

City of Echoes: A New History of Rome, Its Popes, and Its People Jessica Wärnberg (BOOK | KINDLE)

We Are Your Soldiers: How Gamal Abdel Nasser Remade the Arab World Alex Rowell (BOOK | KINDLE)

Edison's Ghosts: The Untold Weirdness of History's Greatest Geniuses Katie Spalding (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America's Modern Militias Kevin Cook (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

The Summer of 1876: Outlaws, Lawmen, and Legends in the Season That Defined the American West Chris Wimmer (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

King: A Life Jonathan Eig (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

LBJ's America: The Life and Legacies of Lyndon Baines Johnson Edited by Mark Atwood Lawrence and Mark K. Updegrove (BOOK | KINDLE)

Who Believes Is Not Alone: My Life Beside Benedict XVI Georg Gänswein with Saverio Gaeta (BOOK | KINDLE)

Eighteen Days in October: The Yom Kippur War and How It Created the Modern Middle East Uri Kaufman (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

The Rough Rider and the Professor: Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and the Friendship That Changed American History Laurence Jurdem (BOOK | KINDLE)

White House Wild Child: How Alice Roosevelt Broke All the Rules and Won the Heart of America Shelley Fraser Mickle (BOOK | KINDLE)

Romney: A Reckoning McKay Coppins (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

Founding Partisans: Hamilton, Madison, Jefferson, Adams and the Brawling Birth of American Politics H.W. Brands (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

The Earth Transformed: An Untold History Peter Frankopan (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

LeBron Jeff Benedict (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America Abraham Riesman (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House Chris Whipple (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO)

[maccreadysbaby]

How do you come up with character names?

Finding Names for your Characters

okay, so I know a lot of people are like “google the meaning of the names and find the one that matches their blah blah blah highlights blah blah blah magnifies blah blah blah”

yeah, I don’t do all that. No offense to those who do, I’m just incredibly lazy.

I have a massive list of character names in my notes app. Here’s my process:

1. Decide what the character looks like 2. Decide what kind of personality they’re gonna have (vaguely) 3. Imagine them introducing themselves “I’m [name]” and change the name over and over until I find one that fits best

that’s what I do for my character names.

I’m a weird name kind of gal. Weird names (for me) usually come from random idle words I’ve heard before that have the potential to be a name. (Like, not random words like chair or walk.) For example, August (the month of the year) or Nevada (the state.)

I also find weird names from other media. For example, Tuesday was inspired by FRIDAY from marvel, Mercury was inspired by the use of the liquid element Mercury in a show I used to watch.

The weird name Riot was built completely off of his personality, because I knew how I wanted him beforehand. Which can be slightly easier than trying to find a weird name before you flesh out your dood.

My greatest advice to you is to keep lists of normal names and potential weird names you like, and if nothing else, use my process. It’s always worked for me🤷‍♀️ I have lists of girl names, boy names (these include normal and weird.) Double barrel names (like Hazel-Grace or Riley-James), Royalty names (which are names I find fit for royals.) Names that can go to both girls and boys (Charlie, Sam, Alex,) and a list of names I’ve already used so I don’t double up. Just another pet peeve of mine.

For last names, I usually just pull them right out of my butthole and pick one that I think sounds good. No system there. The one thing I try to avoid are surnames that kind of rhyme with the first name, or sound similar. For example, Dwayne Baine. Madison Wilson. Harry Barrie. See what I mean? I just think it’s kind of silly.

(have gone to cemeteries to scout last names) (only because I lived literally right behind it!)

As for middle names, I don’t usually worry about them. If they come to me, they come to me, but I don’t go out of my way to find them. Again, because I’m lazy. They don’t need a middle name unless they go by it. No one just walks around talking about middle names.

But thats about it, so… happy name hunting, I guess!

[theultimatefan]

Westchester Soccer Club Announces Three Additional Signings For Inaugural Season in USL League One

Westchester Soccer Club today announced their next three roster additions for their inaugural season in USL League One, bringing in a trio of established American players, two with strong local ties, to join their initial signee, Major League Soccer and Jamaican International wing back Kemar Lawrence. The three latest additions are New Jersey native Samory Powder, Queens native Conor McGlynn and USL veteran Stephen Payne. WSC will officially open their first season on March 8 in Greenville, SC against Greenville Triumph SC with their home opener at The Stadium at Memorial Park against Rhode Island SC on April 27.

‘Our goal throughout the signing process is to bring in athletes who have great experience and success on every level, as well as being individuals who are reflective of what we are building year-round in the community, and we think Samory, Stephen and Conor fit that mix perfectly,’ said Simon Baines, Sporting Director of WSC. “They will be key pieces of our club on and off the field as we head towards the season opener.”

The trio includes:

Powder (Edison, NJ), the 2022 USL League Two Player of the Year who has also been a key member of The Trinidad and Tobago national team during his career, returns to the New York area after beginning his career with the New York Red Bulls Academy in 2016. Since then, Powder had perhaps his best season playing with the Hudson Valley Hammers in 2022. The explosive defender led the Hammers in goals from his fullback position and was a key contributor to the Hammers through the end of 2024. He has also spent time with the Portland Timbers U18/19 team and was a second team All Horizon League selection while in college at The University of Detroit-Mercy.

McGlynn (Middle Village, NY) spent all four years of his college soccer career at Siena College between 2016 and 2019, where he made 75 appearances, scored 7 goals and tallied 16 assists. He signed with Hartford Athletic in 2020, playing three seasons before joining Rhode Island FC ahead of their inaugural 2024 season Conor's younger brother is Jack McGlynn, who also plays for Philadelphia Union in MLS.

Payne (Birmingham, Ala.) played five seasons professionally in Portugal before returning to the U.S. for the past three seasons, first with the Richmond Kickers and then in 2023 and 2024 with Forward Madison.

The signings are pending league and federation approval.

The club will be announcing several more signings in the coming weeks, as they ready for their initial season this coming April. The full schedule is at https://www.westchestersc.com/

[vracimages]

Barbie blonde, maillot de bain rose fixe. début des années 2000. code 253QI.

Poupée Simba Toys Steffi Love avec un bas de maillot et un top blanc.

Madison, poupée mannequin My Scene avec vêtements.

Poupée mannequin aux yeux vert, robe bustier rose et blanche à pois rose

[loudgentlemenfire]

Mario Sevigny - The Sacrifice Game Original Soundtrack (OST)

Christmas, 1971. Two students and their young teacher, stuck at their remote boarding school for the holidays, are terrorized by a gang of cult killers hellbent on raising a demon.THE SACRIFICE GAME is directed by Jenn Wexler and stars Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, Madison Baines, Derek Johns, and Laurent Pitre, with Chloë Levine and introducing Georgia Acken. Shot in Quebec’s…

[williammason1]

William Mason: Investment Potential and Risks of the S&P/ASX 200 from an M&A Perspective

Recently, there has been a surge in M&A activity within the S&P/ASX 200 index. In just the past week, we witnessed several significant deals. Bapcor (ASX: BAP) received a takeover bid from Bain Capital, Alcoa completed a series of milestones in its acquisition of Alumina (ASX: AWC), and the corporate social responsibility (ASX: CSR) of Saint-Gobain secured approval from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board. William Mason believes that these M&A activities will have a profound impact on the composition and performance of the ASX 200 index.

Current Market Analysis of M&A Activity

The recent increase in M&A activity reflects a reevaluation of company values and a demand for restructuring. For instance, APM Human Services (ASX: APM) received a buyout offer from Madison Dearborn Partners at $1.45 per share, which is still under negotiation but shows strong investor interest in the human services sector. Similarly, Altium (ASX: ALU) received a takeover bid from Japanese semiconductor company Renesas Electronics at $68.50 per share, 33.6% higher than its last closing price. These deals not only indicate confidence in the future development of the target companies but may also lead to short-term stock price fluctuations.

Among these M&A transactions, the case of Alumina is particularly noteworthy. Alumina is set to be acquired by long-term partner Alcoa in an all-script deal expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024. William Mason points out that this transaction signifies further integration between the two companies in the global aluminum market and may significantly impact the composition of both the ASX 200 and 300 indices.

Future M&A Trends and Their Impact

William Mason states that more acquisition announcements are expected in the coming months, which will further affect the performance of the ASX indices. For example, MMA Offshore (ASX: MRM) is currently awaiting shareholder and regulatory approval for a $1 billion takeover bid from Cyan Renewables. If successful, this would be a major restructuring in the energy sector.

Additionally, several candidate companies may join the ASX 200 index, including Mader Group (ASX: MAD), Nick Scali (ASX: NCK), Regis Healthcare (ASX: REG), and Clarity Pharmaceuticals (ASX: CU6). William Mason believes that the potential and current market performance of these companies make them the focus of investor attention. Entering the ASX 200 index not only increases the visibility and market influence of a company but also attracts more institutional investors, driving up stock prices.

Investment Advice and Risk Warnings

William Mason emphasizes that while M&A activity is often seen as a positive signal of market growth, investors should remain cautious when making decisions. M&A transactions often come with uncertainties and risks, including the possibility of deals falling through, operational challenges during integration, and changes in market conditions. Therefore, investors should thoroughly understand the fundamentals of target companies and the specific terms of M&A transactions, and reasonably assess potential returns and risks.

To better seize market opportunities, investors can register and download a stock trading app to get the latest market news and professional investment advice. The app is dedicated to providing comprehensive financial services to help investors achieve better results in the stock market.

[movienized-com]

The Sacrifice Game

The Sacrifice Game (2023) #JennWexler #MenaMassoud #OliviaScottWelch #ChloëLevine #GusKenworthy #MadisonBaines Mehr auf:

Jahr: 2024 (Dezember) Genre: Horror Regie: Jenn Wexler Hauptrollen: Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Chloë Levine, Gus Kenworthy, Madison Baines, Georgia Acken, Derek Johns, Laurent Pitre, Isabelle Boulton, Patrick Kerton, Douglas Kidd, Fadi Malo, Sophie McIntosh … Filmbeschreibung: Die stillen Nächte der Internatsschülerinnen Samantha (Madison Baines) und Clara (Georgia Acken), die über die…

[twittercomfrnklin2001-blog]

The Sacrifice Game

Has there been a home invasion film worth watching since ILS (2006) and THE STRANGERS (2008)? Maybe DON’T BREATHE (2016), which I haven’t seen? They seem to fall into two types. Either the home invaders are successful, in which case the film is monstrous because the only people we really get to know are the victims, and they all get offed. Or they invade a home not knowing the occupants are serial killers or satanists or Nazi war criminals or something, which can get predictable, though there’s a certain satisfaction in watching criminals pay for their stupidity. In Jenn Wexler’s THE SACRIFICE GAME (2023, Shudder) the home invaders are such a pathetic lot you know where the story’s going, though there are some intriguing twists at the end. After taking out a family at Christmas and a priest with an odd tattoo, a four-person group led by dropout Olivia Scott Welch and psychopath Mena Massoud (yes, Aladdin has gone bad on us.) go to the Blackwood Academy for Girls, planning to sacrifice one of the young innocents stuck there over Christmas break so they can summon a demon to do their bidding. Wexler knows how to use the camera. The film opens with a great tracking shot, following the killers to the door of a suburban home and then moving around the building so we see the mayhem through picture windows at the front and back. The limited view keeps the gore to a minimum, which puts the focus on plot. Pity Wexler didn’t maintain that restraint throughout. Though the film has two good younger actors (Madison Baines as the girl left there at the last minute and Georgia Acken as a withdrawn child who seems to always just be there), the two lead criminals aren’t up to the same level. Massoud does a lot of empty posturing, which may fit the character to an extent, but you can’t really see what’s behind it. And Welch doesn’t have the kind of manic joy in violence Shari Moon Zombie plays so well. Gus Kenworthy is on hand as an employee dating the teacher stuck chaperoning the two students. He never takes his clothes off, which is a pity, but he sure looks cute in a pair of wire-rimmed glasses. His acting seems to have improved since AMERICAN HORROR STORY, or maybe it was just the glasses.

[andersonvision]

Get ready for an exhilarating holiday season with "The Sacrifice Game," directed by the talented Jenn Wexler. This gripping thriller, featuring a star-studded cast including Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Chloë Levine, Madison Baines, Georgia Acken, and Gus Kenworthy, is set to stream on Shudder starting December 8th. Don't miss the captivating new trailer available now. https://youtu.be/FgUtPsloNxs?feature=shared The film takes us back to 1971 at the Blackvale School for Girls, where students Samantha (played by Madison Baines) and Clara (Georgia Acken) are stranded during the holidays. Their festive season turns sinister with the arrival of a menacing gang of cult killers, ensuring a Christmas filled with suspense and terror. Jenn Wexler, celebrated for her unique storytelling in horror and thriller genres, sits at the helm of this project. Her directorial debut, "The Ranger," premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and screened at the Museum of Modern Art. Wexler has also made a mark in television, directing episodes for The CW's "Pandora" and TruTV's "Late Night Snack." Her production credits include genre-defining films like "Depraved," "Darling," "Like Me," and "Most Beautiful Island," the latter earning accolades at SXSW and an Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award nomination. "The Sacrifice Game" is a creative collaboration between Jenn Wexler and screenwriter Sean Redlitz. The film showcases a blend of emerging talent and established actors, including Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, Derek Johns, Laurent Pitre, Chloë Levine, and Georgia Acken, promising a dynamic and engaging viewing experience. With a runtime of 90 minutes, the film is a perfect blend of horror and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat. Be sure to mark your calendars for December 8th and prepare for a chilling holiday season with "The Sacrifice Game" on Shudder.