‘Project Management Made Practical’: The Beginner’s Blueprint for Leading with Confidence

Book Review – Project Management Made Practical: A Hands-On Guide for New Project Managers

By Zach Herman

Project Management Made Practical is the essential guide for first-time project managers, career changers, and anyone seeking to bring structure and clarity to complex work. Written in a clear, conversational tone by seasoned project leader Zach Herman, this concise yet rich resource breaks down the core principles, tools, and strategies for successful project delivery. (Amazon, 2025)

Whether you’re in business, healthcare, education, or tech, this book offers practical frameworks and ready-to-use templates to help you get organized, stay on track, and deliver real results.

What’s Inside

I. Introduction to Project Management
II. Project Phases
III. Final Thoughts About Agile and Hybrid
IV. Final Thoughts

Highlights

Project Management 101: The Pulse of the Project

Herman introduces the Five Process Groups—Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closing—emphasizing that Monitoring & Controlling is where the action happens, and Planning is where success begins.

Project Planning – Blueprint for Success

The book identifies planning as the most critical phase: defining scope, building schedules and budgets, managing stakeholders, and preparing for risks, procurement, and change.

Why It Works for New Project Managers

Herman’s definition of project management—“a structured application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to meet project requirements”—sets the tone for a practical approach. He focuses on real-world challenges, avoiding theory-heavy explanations.

From stakeholder management to risk assessment and communication strategies, the guidance is direct, actionable, and paired with templates, checklists, and relatable scenarios. Readers also get step-by-step instructions for writing a project charter, building a work breakdown structure, and running effective meetings. The illustrations make the material easy to understand and accessible to anyone.

The book also explains predictive, agile, and hybrid methodologies, showing when and how to apply each. Most importantly, Herman highlights leadership, ethics, and communication as equally vital to technical skills, reminding us:

“Projects are temporary, but reputation and lives are not.”

About the Author

Zach Herman brings over 20 years of experience in portfolio, program, and project management, along with a decade of leadership expertise. Holding a Master’s in Business Administration and certifications including PMP, DASM, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, he is dedicated to mentoring emerging leaders and helping them navigate their new responsibilities with confidence.

If you’re a career changer or aspiring project manager looking for a solid foundation and fast, practical insights, Project Management Made Practical is a must-read.

“Effective project management is not about checking boxes or completing templates; it’s about delivering outcomes through planning, strategic foresight, and adaptive execution.”

*Thank you to Zach Herman for my gifted copy for review consideration. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

National Tell a Joke Day Just Got Sweeter Thanks to Damon Wayans Jr. and Laffy Taffy

Got jokes? Here’s your chance to get them printed on Laffy Taffy’s iconic wrapper … if you can make Damon Wayans Jr. laugh. Photo: Laffy Taffy, used with permission.

Make Damon Wayans Jr. Laugh—Your Joke Could End Up on a Laffy Taffy® Wrapper!

CHICAGO – Why did the candy fan call the Laff Line?
For the chance to make comedian, actor, and producer Damon Wayans Jr. laugh—and maybe see their joke printed on a Laffy Taffy® candy wrapper. (Laffy Taffy, 2025)

The beloved candy brand, famous for its classic dad jokes, has teamed up with Wayans to launch its first-ever Laffy Taffy Laff Line—a hilarious hotline for fans to share their punniest original jokes. Winning jokes could land a spot on Laffy Taffy’s new, easier-to-open wrappers.

How to Call the Laffy Taffy Laff Line

📅 When: August 16, National Tell a Joke Day
📞 Number: 1-844-LOL-HOUR (1-844-565-4687)
🕒 Time: 3p.m. – 7p.m. Eastern Time (aka “Laffy Hour”)

During Laffy Hour, select callers will get the chance to tell their joke directly to Wayans and his “Laff Squad”—a team of comedians from Zanies Chicago—hoping to make them laff out loud.

Joke Guidelines:

100 characters or less
Must follow the classic Laffy Taffy format: setup + punchline (up to 50 characters each)

Wayans will also share some of his own one-liners back to callers.

“I like to consider myself a dad joke expert, so I’m excited to hear some fresh material,” said Wayans. “Do you have what it takes to make me laugh? If so, give me a ring!”

New Wrappers, Same Sweet Laughs

Laffy Taffy Mini Bars now feature a smooth, easy-open wrapper—no more sticky or shredded packaging—while still serving up that signature creamy candy. With the new look, the brand is also refreshing its jokes, inviting fans themselves to help write the next batch.

“These moments of connection bring joy to our fans every day,” said Ashley Incarnato, Senior Marketing Director at Ferrara Candy Company. “With Damon Wayans Jr., the Laffy Taffy Laff Line is the perfect way to connect with our community, give them the chance to test their comedic chops, and bring more laughter to families of all generations.”

Win a Spot on a Laffy Taffy Wrapper

All callers can submit their original joke for a chance to be printed on Laffy Taffy wrappers sold nationwide. Jokes will be judged on humor, originality, creativity, and brand fit.

Prizes:

Top 100 jokes printed on wrappers
Winners receive a custom bag of Laffy Taffy Mini Bars with an exclusive preview of fellow winners’ jokes

About Laffy Taffy®

Since 1971, Laffy Taffy® has been bringing little bites of delight to families everywhere. Its lineup includes classic mini bars, Stretchy and Tangy bars, and Laffy Taffy Ropes, available in flavors like Cherry, Strawberry, Grape, Watermelon, Sour Apple, Banana, and Blue Raspberry.

Contest Details:
No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & D.C., 18+. Void where prohibited. Begins 3p.m. ET August 16, 2025, ends 7p.m. ET August 16, 2025. Full contest rules

From Festival Favorite to VOD: The Compatriots Launches Nationwide This September

The heartfelt comedy will be released digitally starting in the US and Canada on September 16. Photo: Blue Harbor Entertainment, used with permission.

The Compatriots Brings Heartfelt Humor and Immigration Stories to VOD This September

Release Date: September 16, 2025 (U.S. & Canada)
Platform: VOD Nationwide (with international releases to follow)

Blue Harbor Entertainment has announced that its award-winning festival favorite The Compatriots will be available on Video on Demand across the U.S. and Canada beginning September 16, 2025. Additional VOD releases in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and other territories are coming soon. (EG-PR, 2025)

The film’s release aligns with Citizen Day in the United States (Sept. 17), making its themes of immigration, identity, and belonging especially timely.

A Story of Friendship, Belonging, and Resilience

Marking the narrative feature directorial debut of Spencer Cohen, The Compatriots is a nuanced comedy-drama starring Rafael Silva (Javi) and Denis Shepherd (Hunter), alongside Dakota Lustic, Caroline Portu, Jaison Hunter, and Brandon Grimes.

The story follows Javi, an undocumented immigrant facing deportation, who unexpectedly reconnects with his estranged best friend Hunter, a charming bachelor yearning for deeper connections. Together, they embark on a heartfelt mission to keep Javi in the only country he has ever known.

Inspired by Cohen’s childhood best friend Alberto Sayan, a Dreamer from Peru, the film offers an intimate look at the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants—especially those brought to the U.S. as children and now facing deportation to countries they barely remember.

Festival Accolades

Since its premiere, The Compatriots has made an impressive run on the festival circuit, earning:

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature – Woods Hole Film Festival
Emerging New England Filmmaker Award – Woods Hole Film Festival
Best LGBTQ Feature – Poppy Jasper Film Festival
Best Narrative Feature – San Antonio Film Festival

It has also been featured at the Maui, Ojai, Chelsea, and Fort Lauderdale Film Festivals.

Director’s Statement

“Dreamers are not an abstract concept; they are our neighbors, nurses, teachers—and in my case, my best friend Alberto,” says director Spencer Cohen. “They are integral parts of our communities, and they deserve to feel safe in the country they call home. I hope audiences will see Javi as their best friend and fight for policies that give permanent protection to millions like him.”

About Blue Harbor Entertainment

Founded in 2023 by Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina, and Seth Needle, Blue Harbor Entertainment is a boutique distributor dedicated to empowering independent filmmakers. With decades of combined industry experience, the company offers full-scale distribution and marketing solutions for theatrical, digital, and television releases—providing a flexible, filmmaker-first approach in today’s evolving entertainment landscape.

Release Date Reminder: The Compatriots premieres on VOD September 16, 2025, in the U.S. and Canada.

Photo: Blue Harbor Entertainment, used with permission.

Jo and MacAdams Shine in Brandy Schillace’s Clever New Mystery

‘The Dead Come to Stay’ is the new murder mystery novel by Brandy Schillace. Photo: Barnes & Noble

**Book Review: The Dead Come to Stay by Brandy Schillace**

Part of Paste Creative Book Tours

An amateur autistic sleuth. A wry English detective. A murder case that thrusts them both into the wealthy world of the rare artifacts trade.

Book Synopsis

Following the death of her mother, Jo Jones leaves the big city for the quiet hills of North Yorkshire after inheriting her family’s estate, Ardemore. She’s hoping for a fresh start, but until her freelance editing career takes off, she needs another source of income.

The property includes the manor (in desperate need of work), a smaller attached cottage (slightly more livable), and expansive gardens. Jo decides to renovate the cottage’s attic and rent it out for extra money.

While exploring the estate, Jo uncovers traces of ancestors she never knew existed—including a mysterious woman in a half-destroyed painting—and suspects her late Uncle Aiden’s belongings may hold answers to her family’s cryptic history.

Her quiet plans change when local detective James MacAdams discovers a body in the nearby woods—one with unexpected ties to Jo. The investigation draws them into the wealthiest corners of Yorkshire: luxury hotels, elite country clubs, and opulent estates.

But beneath the surface lies a darker truth: local teens, many of them refugees, are disappearing, and the case seems linked to a shady architectural firm—one that also employed the murder victim. This path leads Jo and MacAdams deep into the dangerous world of rare artifacts and antique trading.

Review

Brandy Schillace’s The Dead Come to Stay is a clever, atmospheric mystery that pairs an unlikely duo—Jo, a brilliant amateur sleuth, and MacAdams, a dry-witted detective—in a gripping tale of murder, rare artifacts, and buried secrets.

The narrative unfolds through dual points of view (Jo and MacAdams) and they intersect during the murder investigation. Jo is a refreshing protagonist: insightful, observant, and neurodivergent in ways that give her a unique investigative edge. Her dynamic with MacAdams—built on subtle humor, mutual respect, and occasional exasperation—adds warmth to the suspense. Schillace skillfully balances character development with a tightly woven plot, making it easy to invest in both the mystery and the partnership.

Jo’s exploration of her family’s past adds emotional depth, while the artifact-trading subplot offers moral complexity and high stakes. The tension in the murder investigation escalates with every revelation, and just when you think you’ve reached the solution, another twist emerges. With language that is easy to understand and follow, the action flows seamlessly through the pages until the satisfactory ending.

The Dead Come to Stay is as intellectually sharp as it is entertaining. Rich with themes of identity, family, friendship, and justice, it’s a compelling choice for fans of unconventional detectives and smart, layered storytelling. It is recommended for fans of cozy mystery novels such as those by Agatha Christie, Richard Osman (The Thursday Murder Club), and Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen series).

*Thank you to Stephanie Caruso from Paste Creative Book Tours for the gifted ARC. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Author Brandy Schillace. Photo: Brandy Schillace

Gianmarco Soresi’s ‘Drama King’ Tour Hits San Antonio This September

Comedian Gianmarco Soresi brings his comedy tour to the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club. Photo: Jim Cambridge, used with permission.

Gianmarco Soresi Brings His “Drama King” Tour to San Antonio

📅 September 12–14, 2025
📍 Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club – San Antonio, TX

Comedy fans in San Antonio, get ready—Gianmarco Soresi, the quick-witted comedian, actor, and viral social media sensation, is bringing his Drama King Tour to the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club for three nights of sharp, high-energy stand-up. (Shark Party Media, 2025)

A Comedian on the Rise

Fresh off being named one of Vulture’s “Comedians You Should and Will Know” and Deadline’s “Comedians Ready to Break Out in 2025,” Soresi is making waves in the comedy world. He recently hit 1 million YouTube subscribers and taped his first hour-long comedy special at Los Angeles’ Elysian Theater—release details coming later this year.

The Gianmarco Style

Known for his razor-sharp societal observations and animated, upbeat-yet-dark comedic style, Soresi has earned praise from NPR, Esquire, The Atlantic, Buzzfeed, ABC News, and more. He’s performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Comedy Central, Don’t Tell Comedy, and even The Real Housewives of New York.

His acting credits include Billy Crystal’s Here Today, Netflix’s Bonding, Hustlers, and The Last OG. In 2022, he was selected as a JFL New Face, cementing his spot as one of comedy’s must-watch performers.

Beyond the Stage

When he’s not touring, Soresi keeps busy in NYC with:

The Silver Lining – his recurring new-material showcase with guest comics
The Downside with Gianmarco Soresi – a live podcast with co-host Russell Daniels and special guests
A set on Netflix’s Verified Stand-Up

🎟 Show Details

Venue: Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club
📍 618 Northwest Loop 410 #312, San Antonio, TX 78216

Dates & Times:

Sept 12: 7:30p.m. & 9:45p.m.
Sept 13: 7p.m. & 9:30p.m.
Sept 14: 7:30p.m.

Tickets: Get them here

If you like comedy that’s fast, fearless, and a little bit dark, you won’t want to miss Gianmarco Soresi live in San Antonio.

Hannah Delynn’s Trust Fall: A Vulnerable and Soulful Debut Album

Finding freedom through vulnerability, Delynn writes heartfelt songs of hope and healing. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Hannah Delynn Releases Debut Album Trust Fall — Out September 5

NASHVILLE — Nashville-based vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Hannah Delynn will independently release her debut full-length album, Trust Fall, on September 5. Known for her ability to view life through many perspectives, Hannah crafts songs that are emotionally engaging, compelling, and rooted in vulnerability. (Dreamspider Publicity, 2025)

This record is a heartfelt exploration of self-responsibility and the tangled web of emotions that come with it—a journey toward finding freedom by embracing one’s true self.

“I write about matters of the heart and hope my words and songs bring you hope and healing and connect you with the beauty that is all around us—even when it feels difficult to see.” — Hannah Delynn

A Spotlight on “Jealousy”

Hannah recently released “Jealousy,” the album’s third single, which premiered on The Bluegrass Situation. They described it as “anchored by emotive piano, exploring the depths and catacombs of often squashed emotions.”

The track leans toward a raw, almost pop sound, offering complete vulnerability by shining a light on a difficult emotion.

“Instead of being a shameful thing, jealousy can be an insight into what one really wants by seeing others as mirrors to oneself.” — Hannah Delynn

A Journey Across Continents

Originally from Florida, Hannah’s path to Nashville in 2013 took her through New Zealand, British Columbia, and Australia, collecting life stories along the way. Many of these experiences now live in the songs of Trust Fall, which reflects a season of profound grief, loss, betrayal, heartbreak, but also love, generosity, friendship, and beauty.

A Collaborative Creation

Produced by fellow songwriter Maya de Vitry, who also provides harmonies and performs on the record, Trust Fall features a talented cast of Nashville musicians:

Alex Wilder — harmony vocals, piano/Wurlitzer
Ethan Jodziewicz — arco and ukulele bass
John Mailander — fiddle, electronics
Jordan Tice — guitar
Annaliese Kowert — violins
Lizzy Ross — harmony vocals

The Songs of Trust Fall

The album features 11 original tracks by Hannah Delynn, with notable co-writes:

With Maya de Vitry: “Leaf on a River,” “Blood Alone,” “No Small Thing,” and string arrangements on “For the Record”
With Josh Rennie-Hynes: “For the Record”
With Clare Reynolds: “Jealousy”
Chordal arrangements for “Waiting” by Emily Mann

Trust Fall will be available September 5 on all major streaming platforms. It’s available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

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Alternative Nation: Chicago Exhibition Captures the Raw Energy of ’90s Music

Alternative Nation: A Retrospective

A Raw, Unfiltered Look at the Rise of Alternative Music

Behind The Gallery proudly presents its latest exhibition, Alternative Nation: A Retrospective—a visceral journey through the explosion of alternative music and culture from the 1990s to the early 2000s. (Magnum PR, 2025)

Debuting in Chicago and hosted by After, the cocktail bar from Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy, the exhibition features never-before-seen and classic images of Nirvana, Nine Inch Nails, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Meat Puppets, and more.

The Photographers Who Shaped an Era

This unprecedented show brings together the iconic work of five visionary photographers—Joseph Cultice, Jonathan Rach, Chris Cuffaro, Kevin Westenberg, and Scarlet Page—whose lenses helped define the way we remember the era.

“This show isn’t just a trip down memory lane—it’s a time capsule of a moment when music felt dangerous, emotional, and deeply human,” says Behind The Gallery founder and curator Stephen Dallimore.

Each photographer was trusted by the bands, capturing the raw, unfiltered moments that defined a generation. Their work documents the cultural shift when grunge, industrial, and alt-rock went from the fringes to the forefront—changing not only the sound, but the very image of music.

A Time of Creative Rebellion

The 1990s alternative scene gave voice to a generation navigating alienation, identity, and emotional extremes.

Grunge acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam rejected polished mainstream aesthetics, embracing vulnerability and grit.
Industrial pioneers like Nine Inch Nails fused electronics with rock, exploring darker, confrontational themes.

These photographs are more than concert shots—they’re portraits of authenticity, rebellion, and the raw pulse of an era when music was deeply felt.

Not Just for Nostalgia

While many of these artists are now considered legacy acts, the exhibition is curated for both longtime fans and a new generation craving authenticity.

“In a digital age where connection can feel shallow, there’s something powerful about experiencing these raw, analog images,” says Dallimore. “It was a time when music felt fresh, exciting, and dangerous—an era that still carried a sense of mystery.”

Photographer Inclusions by Artist

Chris Cuffaro: Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Screaming Trees, Soundgarden
Joseph Cultice: Aphex Twin, Björk, Danzig, Marilyn Manson, Meat Puppets, Smashing Pumpkins
Jonathan Rach: Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Melvins
Kevin Westenberg: Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, White Stripes
Scarlet Page: Björk, Chris Cornell, Foo Fighters, Marilyn Manson, NIN, Placebo, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins

Event Details

📍 Location:
After – Curtis Duffy’s Cocktail Bar
1338 W Fulton Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607

🗓 Exhibition Hours:

Opening Night: Friday, August 15, 2025 | 6:30–10 p.m.
Saturday, August 16 – Wednesday, August 20 | 4–10 p.m.

🎤 Artist Talk & Q&A:

Saturday, August 16 | 5:00 p.m.
Curtis Duffy hosts a conversation with Jonathan Rach & Joseph Cultice

Sean Murphy on Masculinity, Legacy, and the Cost of Manhood

‘This Kind of Man’ by Sean Murphy. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: This Kind of Man by Sean Murphy

A Stark Portrait of Modern Masculinity

This Kind of Man offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st-century America, unearthing the complicated, tender, and wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships. These stories dig into the pressures and tensions of contemporary life—and the ways men grapple with them, often unsuccessfully.

Themes include marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the looming dread of mortality. Far from excusing toxic behavior, Murphy places it in the context of a culture that thrives on false narratives and pits overworked, underpaid people against each other in a zero-sum capitalist game.

A System Built on False Notions of Manhood

Murphy shows how traditional ideas of masculinity are deliberately instilled from the very beginning—ensuring compliance in a system where most are excluded from the start. These dysfunctions are passed down like an inheritance, with every cliché—from fighting and drinking to distrust and intolerance—acting as a carefully built trap that hinders solidarity, empathy, and self-love. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

Standout Essays

The Letter My Father Never Wrote Me
No Tengo A Nadie – Chronicles the life of an undocumented man: “The choices he’s forced himself to make have given him the chance for a real life, but in return have robbed him of his youth. And, above all, he understands this: No tengo a nadie—I have no one.”
Now’s the Time – The narrator is reminiscing about life while on his way to a life changing event. An eye-opening and unexpected point of view (inner dialogue) of a contentious person.
This Kind of Man
Our Vietnam

Review

Sean Murphy delivers an intense, intimate exploration of masculinity—burdened by history, shaped by family, softened by love, and often stumbling through misunderstood expectations. His writing is sharp yet lyrical, capable of both gut-punch realism and tender introspection: “No son truly grows up until he grows out of his old man’s shadow.”

The essays move fluidly across generations, tackling legacies, silences, and the quiet revolutions redefining strength. There are no easy answers—only an honest reckoning with vulnerability and the search for meaning in a disconnected world.

With emotional precision, Murphy captures fleeting moments of clarity, aching regret, and rare connection. This Kind of Man is raw, thoughtful, and beautifully written—a necessary addition to the ongoing conversation about masculinity and identity.

“All these people holding on for the one thing no one was guaranteed, no matter how often they went to church or how many people they managed, no matter how big their houses or small their waistline: time.”

*Thank you to Morgan Ryan/Mark Seferian for the gifted Advanced Reader Copy for review consideration. I have not received any compensation for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Welcoming Words: Souleymane Bachir Diagne on the Hospitality of Translation

Renowned Senegalese philosopher explores the power of translation to bridge cultural divides in ‘From Language to Language.’ Photo: Other Press

From Language to Language: The Hospitality of Translation by Souleymane Bachir Diagne

Renowned Senegalese philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne brings his distinctive multicultural perspective—shaped by African, French, and American influences—to his latest work, From Language to Language: The Hospitality of Translation. (Other Press, 2025)

In this humanist exploration, Diagne examines the practice of translation as a form of bridge-building across cultures. Echoing the intellectual spirit of Jhumpa Lahiri’s Translating Myself and Others and Elena Ferrante’s In the Margins, the book reflects on the ways translation can connect people across divides of language, history, and power.

📅 Release Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
📦 Now Available for Pre-Order

The Power—and Paradox—of Translation

Translation, Diagne notes, often arises in contexts marked by inequality between dominant and marginalized languages. Yet even within these asymmetries—particularly in postcolonial contexts—the act of translation can become a space of dialogue, reciprocity, and cultural mediation.

To praise translation as “the language of languages” is, in Diagne’s words, to celebrate plurality and equality. Translating is not merely a technical act; it is an act of hospitality, of welcoming what has been thought in one language into the home of another. In doing so, translation fosters shared humanity and imagines a hopeful version of the Tower of Babel—one built on understanding rather than division.

About the Author

Souleymane Bachir Diagne is Professor of Philosophy and Francophone Studies and Director of the Institute of African Studies at Columbia University. His books include:

The Ink of the Scholars: Reflections on Philosophy in Africa
Open to Reason: Muslim Philosophers in Conversation with the Western Tradition
Postcolonial Bergson
African Art as Philosophy: Senghor, Bergson, and the Idea of Negritude

About the Translator

Dylan Temel is a translator and English instructor at the University of Nanterre. He currently resides in Paris.

Advance Praise for Souleymane Bachir Diagne (From Language to Language):

“In his new book, From Language to Language: The Hospitality of Translation, philosopher Souleymane Bachir Diagne digs deeper into the process of translation to give us a multifaceted perspective on the relationship between translation and colonialism, first of all, but also what happens after decolonization…From Language to Language is a fascinating overview of Diagne’s philosophy of translation and a great instigator for further thought on this subject.”
—PROVINCETOWN MAGAZINE

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‘Flesh of the Unforgiven’ Review: A Dark Descent into Fear and Damnation

Joe Hollow’s ‘Flesh of the Unforgiven.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Flesh of the Unforgiven: Death Is Only the Beginning

Synopsis

In Flesh of the Unforgiven, novelist Jack Russo (Joe Hollow) is suffering from crippling writer’s block. In a last-ditch effort to revive his creativity, he retreats to a secluded cabin in the mountains of Quebec with his estranged wife, Sienna (Debbie Rochon). Under pressure from his agent to deliver a treatment for his next bestseller within 72 hours, Jack is sent a mysterious VHS tape—meant to spark inspiration.

It starts as mere curiosity and quickly devolves into obsession. The disturbing contents of the tape drag Jack into a spiral of paranoia, hallucination, and dread. As he teeters on the edge of madness, Sienna struggles to ground him in reality. But she harbors secrets of her own—ones that blur the lines between the living and the dead. As they’re pulled into the twisted realm of the Death Dealer and his legion of manipulative demons, both Jack and Sienna must confront terrifying truths—about themselves, and about the price of fear.

Written and directed by Joe Hollow, the cast includes Debbie Rochon as Sienna Russo, Joe Hollow as Jack Russo/Death Dealer, August Kyss as Vivienne, and Adriana Uchishiba as Livinia.

It is available for rent/purchase on Amazon Video.

Movie Review: Flesh of the Unforgiven

This independent psychological horror film is a brutal, dreamlike exploration of grief, guilt, and damnation, wrapped in a narrative that feels like a waking nightmare. As psychological unrest spirals into full-blown torment, reality becomes warped, and redemption feels increasingly out of reach.

The film’s atmosphere is suffocatingly dark, enhanced by haunting cinematography and a pulse-pounding score that echoes like a heartbeat from hell. The performances are raw and deeply emotional—especially as the Death Dealer toys with his victims, offering twisted salvation in exchange for them embracing their deepest fears.

While the story sometimes stumbles under the weight of its own symbolism, it never loses momentum. The creature design is grotesque and unforgettable, with each demon representing a unique form of psychological torment. It’s not just a horror movie—it’s a disturbing reflection on punishment, corrupted love, and the monsters that live within us.

⚠️ Content Warning

Flesh of the Unforgiven is not for the faint of heart. The film features graphic nudity, gore, and intense violence throughout, including an explicit opening scene, and as a whole, flirts with softcore horror-porn territory. It’s a bold and boundary-pushing film that won’t appeal to everyone—and it’s definitely not family-friendly.

That said, for fans of indie psychological and supernatural horror, this film offers a darkly imaginative take on fear, deals with the devil, and the unbearable weight of our inner demons. NSFW alert: proceed with caution—but horror lovers may find themselves morbidly transfixed.

“Don’t run from your fears, embrace them.
The words of an ancient evil called…the Death Dealer.
It is said that he exists within a realm that lies between life and death.
Searching for lost souls and using his legion of demons to guide them..
If you’re chosen, he’ll make you a deal.
Granting a new life beyond death.
In return…you must face your fears…and embrace them.
He owns your soul once the deal is made.
But the fate of the soul, depends on your will to survive.”

*Thank you to Joe Williamson for the screener link for review consideration. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions are my own.

SA Examiner

Your Insider Source For Entertainment And Business Headlines

Author: Sandra Cruz