Invasion

*Invasion* is the eighth episode of Chapters. second season, subtitled **Atrocity Exhibitions**. Written and directed by Mike Barkhoff, as well as all other episodes of the season, it is a shortened narrative of the cancelled 2019 film "Twisted Sibling" that Barking Vans planned on creating. It stars Barkhoff and Jarrod Van Hauen.

## Opening Poetry

",punishment is justifiable to the correct party at times,"

## Plot

A nervous wreck writer is paranoid following an accident a year prior. At night, while making food, a murderer enters his house. The two enter a shuffle before the man retrieves his shotgun and tries to kill the murderer.

The fight further ensues in a drawn out bloodbath, leaving the murderer with a gunshot wound, the man with a knife wound, and both playing tug-of-war over a knife in a near dance battle, before the murderer dies as the man, near death himself, kicks him to make sure he's done for, and laughs as blood spills from his lips.

## Conception

The episode was initially going to be the second feature film from Barking Vans, entitled "Twisted Sibling" with directing from Ashtun O'Rourke and Sydney See, based off a script by Shelbey Coy.

Though it was based on a short story from Shelbey Coy, this section was written by Barkhoff, intending "Twisted Sibling" to be like the 1978 and 2018 versions of "Halloween" played back-to-back.

Barkhoff has admitted the inspiration from the NBC series "Hannibal" and stated he wanted it to almost be like a passionate love story between a man and his near murderer who is striking again.

Barkhoff chose the end of a Gambino song for the finale, which begins it's last line with "Because it's hard for me to love myself without you here..." as the man looks at the deceased murderer, to further mark this point.

## Marketing

Invasion is styled sometimes as "INVASION". It received a poster and trailer in the month of September, while it premiered in October, making it the only installment of Season 2 to get either forms of marketing material prior to release. It's trailer features the opening of Eminem's "We As Americans". In the film, Barkhoff soundtracked the six minute song that plays throughout. It is exclusive to the film, with no other release having occured yet, as of May 21st, 2021. It is also the only episode of the season to receive Bloopers.

## Themes

The episode features an oddity in it's form of addiction, using reliance and over-reliance on people in life. It is a sarcastic flip and examination of the narrative.

"Invasion" features themes of paranoia, insomnia, doubt, survival, and having faith that negativity will eventually be overcome.

## Trivia

- Only a few more scenes were shot beyond what is seen here for "Twisted Sibling".

- This is the last film to feature Barkhoff's childhood dog. Barkhoff's childhood dog was only in it because she was so old that she felt the need to be by Barkhoff.

- During filming of the climatic ending, Jarrod Van Hauen accidentally stabbed himself in the finger and had to rush to the hospital.

- Barkhoff hadn't bit a fake blood capsule until this film, on camera, and his reaction of how disgusting it tasted is caught.

- The time shifting scenes were inspired by the 2018 film *Hereditary*.

## Continuity

- The shot of the apartment door mimicks "Room 4" from the next season.

## Reception

Reviews of the trailer were positive, especially noting the Eminem song. The episode, itself, however, received lukewarm reviews. It has been considered one of the worst episodes of the second season. This is due to the camera quality and the fast pace, as it comes from the source of an unfinished film.