When Showtime first announced the Masters of Horror series, I was one very excited fellow. Some of the best-known names in the business would be directing all-out horror for the fans on a network that airs an occasional exceptional drama or two. And then, something terrible happened. The series aired. The drama was barely existent. The direction was tepid, at some points utterly bland and surprisingly contrived. The dialogue was horrendous and the effects, at best, were B-rated. I couldn't have been more dissapointed if Stephen King himself had just announced he was now going to write romance novels with Daniele Steele. (Although, letting King have his violent way with the vast majority of Steele's predictable plotlines and characters does resonate on the vengeful fun side. I disgress.) Season two of Masters of Horror has done little in the way of redemption. The thing is: these directors have all done some excellent work. But that's the rub right there: it's been done. One would expect, given the chance, each director would explore new ground. Or at least repair and retread old ground with the knowledge each must have gained through the years. Instead, it seems that the concensus was to ...