tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82377812516522791052024-03-14T00:27:12.115-04:00Fascination With FearMy obsession with all things horror leads me to wonder about my sanity...Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.comBlogger1131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-71028013845028713162023-06-18T11:21:00.001-04:002023-06-18T11:21:23.574-04:00Film Review: SKINAMARINK<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRAZHaN46lmdXjwtyRV4MMSNtC7MqsJ1o80CXiQCq8bJmK3JTk5QJ4FmLQsEkhLJvfC7KINqs4N_V21qJ7uKM94kewVt6G-KLR8bQakUJ7T6xYyQG65dk72AYBSU7rJljTIGnchyE2I--fNO5exXF26MsPbXTj_f6dSORVGdT3pZyBswHQ5xQQriO/s1479/skinamarink%20poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPRAZHaN46lmdXjwtyRV4MMSNtC7MqsJ1o80CXiQCq8bJmK3JTk5QJ4FmLQsEkhLJvfC7KINqs4N_V21qJ7uKM94kewVt6G-KLR8bQakUJ7T6xYyQG65dk72AYBSU7rJljTIGnchyE2I--fNO5exXF26MsPbXTj_f6dSORVGdT3pZyBswHQ5xQQriO/w270-h400/skinamarink%20poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><p></p><p>So I did a little free trial on YouTube for Shudder, and as I was browsing the titles they had available I saw a film titled Skinamarink. I thought the premise sounded really interesting, I wanted to watch it as soon as I read the simple description of, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.”</p><p></p><p>That’s something that would be terribly frightening and strange, especially for a child, who are the main characters of the film.</p><p></p><p>The film is from 2022 and is directed by Kyle Edward Ball–his first feature film. It takes place in 1995, within a house that is inhabited by two children and possibly their parents, who seem to go suddenly missing, and they aren’t the only thing to go missing.</p><p></p><p>Things in the house start vanishing and the physics and logistics of the house and its objects begin to go topsy-turvy. Any details besides this are vague from the beginning of the film and, perhaps, for the remainder…</p><p></p><p>The rest of my review will encompass the film as a whole, so if you want to go in spoiler-free, stop reading now and go check it out for yourself!</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g3kjb0peH66DUKsiYWNStySqhpS7kItuBRRUsw9i-as6Z1tNSWJUvy8VxIrBmDLSUcYwXwzZKL-lC6iGGUoq9WPf6mU3-9Rk8oCFgpqpriLIy0PfAYq22-ZYuHRjemhah7q5Wk9hGQWFsA8XTFcvWDpDBnPYsprgqoLx7C6E5Ws5Yfy2ZAw4vKKO/s1200/still%201.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5g3kjb0peH66DUKsiYWNStySqhpS7kItuBRRUsw9i-as6Z1tNSWJUvy8VxIrBmDLSUcYwXwzZKL-lC6iGGUoq9WPf6mU3-9Rk8oCFgpqpriLIy0PfAYq22-ZYuHRjemhah7q5Wk9hGQWFsA8XTFcvWDpDBnPYsprgqoLx7C6E5Ws5Yfy2ZAw4vKKO/w400-h210/still%201.png" width="400" /></a></div>The movie is stylized with a very dark, vignetted exposure and a very heavy VHS filter overlay. The VHS quality mimicry might make sense if this were a found footage film, but it isn’t found footage, so why the grainy filter? This types of filter has become exceedingly popular in media, to the point where it has crossed the line into trendy. It’s meant to invoke nostalgia and create a sense that what you are watching comes from a VHS camera, as is authentic to the time period in which the narrative takes place. You know how you can achieve the most authentic VHS film quality? You could just shoot your movie on film!Of course, just putting a filter on is more accessible to those on a budget and without having to gather the resources to shoot and edit on tape. I, too, prefer a little more grit and a little less of the overly polished, high production filters on a film, but this is a bit much. The filter is WAY too heavy and exaggerated.<p></p><p></p><p>Additionally, there are LOTS of still shots, and very few wide shots–most are close-ups. The whole time you are either looking at either the ceiling, the floor, a wall, or a sliver of a hallway or stairway, or just grainy darkness. Characters are not really shown on screen, at least not directly and never a full-body shot. There’s very little dialogue and what does exist is in hushed voices and short sentences. There’s no score; all sound effects are ambient, occurring in the background.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs3rXqDWNyKZndVEC_QPVdB9tByF0AXf-uiBM68Am1yG5ogv6OT_9erRLgVZ-H2cGnKj0u3G3_QcU6T2ICTTyjTSya86oXivREzQ3psdyo6X1nQ6v9nMkaWSKyIqRnqSUkJljRlUeNtwrYHTcKhCfynNL4a7zoDn9XTC16yGEos3oeoriBUQKEpiq/s1920/still%203.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1920" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCs3rXqDWNyKZndVEC_QPVdB9tByF0AXf-uiBM68Am1yG5ogv6OT_9erRLgVZ-H2cGnKj0u3G3_QcU6T2ICTTyjTSya86oXivREzQ3psdyo6X1nQ6v9nMkaWSKyIqRnqSUkJljRlUeNtwrYHTcKhCfynNL4a7zoDn9XTC16yGEos3oeoriBUQKEpiq/w400-h166/still%203.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />I see what they are going for; it’s definitely an abstract style they’ve opted for, and perhaps they did so with the intention of making their audience work for the story without showing it head-on. For me, I think it would have worked as a short film, but for an entire movie, I need a bit more.</span></div><p></p><p>Everything was very minimalist–the shots, the dialogue, the sound effects–and for me it was just too much so and I, personally, found it a bit annoying.</p><p></p><p>I’m not saying a fim has to be a certain way, that movies have to follow rules and conventions. I appreciate the approach they took and I can see the creativity that came from the mind of the filmmaker. Do I need to see the eyes of the character to know that they are looking at something? No, I can glean that from just seeing their feet; but would I like to see the eyes, torso, arms and head of a character occasionally? Yes, I would. I’m not saying characters need to have drawn out monologues, but I did desire a bit more than one word whispers. To me, it just felt like the movie was composed entirely of b-roll, I needed a little more a-roll to be engaged.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtUMZ-_FfShEGC8VLPBM2oLS6hVYc3PIEQRCXemorqt_wtrcSnpJ8v3EIyteEkWIfNjg8ruJ6XonZdZqOJ1CjkWqFhU8bCqvfvj6Z70WOz7eEYEYng2wRFOMvvfTaF-nSv11mHgHLBHGbb6NlivDOEcOHReSIg47AdG7SbYfKtxWuYXzffckSlX_q/s1920/still%204.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1920" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtUMZ-_FfShEGC8VLPBM2oLS6hVYc3PIEQRCXemorqt_wtrcSnpJ8v3EIyteEkWIfNjg8ruJ6XonZdZqOJ1CjkWqFhU8bCqvfvj6Z70WOz7eEYEYng2wRFOMvvfTaF-nSv11mHgHLBHGbb6NlivDOEcOHReSIg47AdG7SbYfKtxWuYXzffckSlX_q/w400-h166/still%204.png" width="400" /></a></div>I was drawn in the by uncanny concept of the film, of the doors and windows vanishing but I found that it didn’t really expand much beyond the initial vagueness that intrigued me. I was hoping it would start vague and build into a bigger story, but it was generally the same tone throughout, kind of a steady (if not flat) heart rate, with maybe one or two spikes of tension and excitement, some attributed to a jumpscare triggered by an abrupt loud noise.<p></p><p></p><p>Maybe I’m being a bit grumpy and nitpicky and being too harsh on Skinamarink. I’m sure not everyone will feel this way about this film; in fact, I’m sure it could potentially cater to a whole audience and a particular generation because of its film style.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmy2MXJGVqLb-CKwEouS6ygWjw9yEc_3o2bFyjCR8Ju-dNDpxrbj1UwZ_OlC4IYftDDW-GRoS_hNCv9xUs3FkBz1j8FBu-5sIpy5RksE7ZYIkfEKzykRvDK3Hrc_XJ0ONFfFhex9_xm0xHjkQmh88hpPANg6Z63IoT-gNOOModbZJ-ouYweUsZn1Q/s1495/thumbnail_backrooms%20by%20kane%20parsons.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1495" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmy2MXJGVqLb-CKwEouS6ygWjw9yEc_3o2bFyjCR8Ju-dNDpxrbj1UwZ_OlC4IYftDDW-GRoS_hNCv9xUs3FkBz1j8FBu-5sIpy5RksE7ZYIkfEKzykRvDK3Hrc_XJ0ONFfFhex9_xm0xHjkQmh88hpPANg6Z63IoT-gNOOModbZJ-ouYweUsZn1Q/s320/thumbnail_backrooms%20by%20kane%20parsons.png" width="320" /></a></div>It’s not lost on me that Skinmarink is definitely trying to evoke the look, feel, and tone (both visually and narratively) of popular short films and videos on YouTube such as “The Backrooms” and the “Mandela Catalogue”. If you aren’t familiar with these videos, they fall into a relatively new subgenre called analog horror, which is a found footage offshoot that “is commonly characterized by low-fidelity graphics, cryptic messages, and visual styles reminiscent of late 20th-century television and analog recordings.” (“Analog horror”, Wikipedia).<p></p><p></p><p>This has become the chosen and established style of horror for Gen Z, and in the examples I listed previously, it works very well–I’m particularly a big fan of the Backrooms video series. However, both of those examples are relatively short. Not as short form as a bite-sized TikTok, and nowhere near as long as an actual film, more around fifteen minutes or less.</p><p></p><p>So, simply because this film is done in the analog horror style (minus the found footage), it could prove to be very creepy, effective, and even inspirational for fans of this genre.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArn16nMEnI4ZmHIfoxW753ehPdPFyByDIVq0AwbyAoCH-G-m6GECmcd0F5ZaAd3QAzkB-O9y-vH-wDCnSgXf45qs4xhUdW_j_L4bCIUoHipSoz-3EO4JxNA4XoGkXCas40l3y71r6TfQSvCa2qiyPqTitffmya2PNTucraZMofTJ-BX49bc_QwrMa/s1920/still%202.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1920" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhArn16nMEnI4ZmHIfoxW753ehPdPFyByDIVq0AwbyAoCH-G-m6GECmcd0F5ZaAd3QAzkB-O9y-vH-wDCnSgXf45qs4xhUdW_j_L4bCIUoHipSoz-3EO4JxNA4XoGkXCas40l3y71r6TfQSvCa2qiyPqTitffmya2PNTucraZMofTJ-BX49bc_QwrMa/w400-h168/still%202.png" width="400" /></a></div>Besides stylistically, this film aIso employs themes recurrent in analog horror and another concept that is very popular recently, known as liminal spaces. The imagery associated with liminal spaces is heavily employed in Skinamarink–there are many shots of doorways, hallways, and stairways. And, of course, the premise of the movie involves the doors and windows. In the current wave of liminal spaces and liminal horror, the passage from childhood to adulthood is heavily focused on, and, in particular, being stuck in the space between the stages of life and the preservation of the comfort and nostalgia of youth. The film stars two children and there are many visuals of toys splayed about the ground; legos, teddy bears, old Fisher Price telephones. The tv is constantly playing old cartoons, and their tinny soundtrack can be heard reverberating softly in the background. The title of the movie is a reference to an old preschool sing-a-long song, so there are many visual and audio themes of childhood. The disappearance of the doors and windows in the house, trapping the children inside, could symbolize their inability or unwillingness to pass through into adulthood.<p></p><p></p><p>I made a video on my YouTube channel where I go into the origins and explanation of liminal space and examine this current trend. If you are interested, check it out here: <a href="https://youtu.be/Xy_DbH7liw8">https://youtu.be/Xy_DbH7liw8</a> </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbaksBvfghI9nbUkDWPeK6ysz9c7qgA7BCuMkH-Ex5Xe8E_W3TMHVjCeolkq72tgB2nkBSelNS4jKIFfc_7UFFVBpyJ5V9f43enIXtl0beJN0LpURuzWkU-oitPcX5eQPM_Ap5i72hzvSfp2Tb-1rEIvnb2pLRt0Kx02HntrfuJx89olaXrmCCWO3/s1920/still%205.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="801" data-original-width="1920" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWbaksBvfghI9nbUkDWPeK6ysz9c7qgA7BCuMkH-Ex5Xe8E_W3TMHVjCeolkq72tgB2nkBSelNS4jKIFfc_7UFFVBpyJ5V9f43enIXtl0beJN0LpURuzWkU-oitPcX5eQPM_Ap5i72hzvSfp2Tb-1rEIvnb2pLRt0Kx02HntrfuJx89olaXrmCCWO3/w400-h168/still%205.png" width="400" /></a></div>Like I said, I am a fan of analog horror and liminal space media and the inspirational sources that I believe this film draws from. However, I think if you are unfamiliar with the source media, Skinamarink might not be your best foray into the subgenre.<p></p><p>I recommend checking out some other ones first and then if you find you really enjoy it, then check out this movie and see how it falls in with the others.</p><p></p><p>I do look forward to seeing what director Kyle Edward Ball has next, as I can tell he has a lot of creativity and a clear vision for his projects. So, whether his next project is a feature or short film, I’ll be keeping an eye out to see what he has in store in the future.</p><p>~~Marie</p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-57535629374231750702023-03-22T21:35:00.002-04:002023-03-22T21:35:32.941-04:00Rapid Review: Weyward by Emilia Hart<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97Xee0e2pPGBSqO-BWGwaTMJPNPcPVHUZs-XUqu9eOCQxz6dx6i8qATUYCUNGyTWl8Kqn71pZ2HRhxB8R_iuQniA2h4O2awuVwlEIX8n2QaLAkTlC-SJ_XPwSyBNinwclC_cr766qHfvXQVcyVYdyF1Yd8-aOEqAK9EDeXJIHYyJIEkZ8dKgJTWLQ/s806/3F97EAE7-8D7B-4111-8C76-BCAB3566DFC3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="645" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97Xee0e2pPGBSqO-BWGwaTMJPNPcPVHUZs-XUqu9eOCQxz6dx6i8qATUYCUNGyTWl8Kqn71pZ2HRhxB8R_iuQniA2h4O2awuVwlEIX8n2QaLAkTlC-SJ_XPwSyBNinwclC_cr766qHfvXQVcyVYdyF1Yd8-aOEqAK9EDeXJIHYyJIEkZ8dKgJTWLQ/w320-h400/3F97EAE7-8D7B-4111-8C76-BCAB3566DFC3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Weyward by Emilia Hart 🕸️</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">This stunning debut features the interwoven stories of three generations of women who must find their inner strength and courage to battle a world of domineering men and difficult times. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">In 1619, Altha is about to face a murder trial for a crime she didn’t commit. Branded a witch, she expects to hang due to the feelings of the townsfolk about her and her late mother, who have helped and healed many with their tinctures and “potions” made from the flowers and herbs in their garden. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">During wartime 1942, sixteen year old Violet has been essentially hidden away in her family’s cold and dank estate by her iron-handed father, who claims Violet’s affection for insects and nature in general hearkens back to her own mother, a strange and mystical woman. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When Violet meets handsome cousin Frederick, things are set in motion to which there is no easy out. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">And in 2019, Kate is pregnant and on the run from an abusive and possessive boyfriend. She makes her escape to a faraway cottage recently bequeathed to her from a long lost aunt. Here at Weyward, she learns the gifts of the earth, and proves to herself that she is worthy and certainly does not need a man to make her life complete. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But will her past catch up to her? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">This book was so wonderful, I couldn’t put it down. I loved all three women and couldn’t wait for them to learn the lessons needed to kick to the curb the men who were making their lives miserable. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Full of feminism and magical realism, Weyward was a captivating treasure, a gift to be discovered and absorbed. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">And can we just give this book the Cover of the Year award right now?? </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Highly recommended!! </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-69445181336327937072023-03-18T20:59:00.001-04:002023-03-18T20:59:46.564-04:00Rapid Review: THE SOULMATE by Sally Hepworth<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTTB3VDz0uCoarx8ZrYbo-jk6K1DuV5gGNpQyU5Dy5HssDS9NKDssEq8bZxox1nCEOL9x6s1v1aUZcy9MMNxDDXlTqeSS23-VYtfBRPt5AYryW38Ez7XN8Tthh0iPBkFnb_9WPkiQv6RVuEW4gmSG3V_B44nss60lD0-HTugnrf54k1FlhVpzwgp2/s3780/2BC0C780-D3E4-465E-9FF4-B92AE37767F3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOTTB3VDz0uCoarx8ZrYbo-jk6K1DuV5gGNpQyU5Dy5HssDS9NKDssEq8bZxox1nCEOL9x6s1v1aUZcy9MMNxDDXlTqeSS23-VYtfBRPt5AYryW38Ez7XN8Tthh0iPBkFnb_9WPkiQv6RVuEW4gmSG3V_B44nss60lD0-HTugnrf54k1FlhVpzwgp2/w320-h400/2BC0C780-D3E4-465E-9FF4-B92AE37767F3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Pippa and Gabe fell in love at first site and are now happily married with two daughters. They move to a beautiful house unfortunately located near a popular suicide location called The Drop—a cliff where the sad and desperate walk off to their imminent death. (Why anyone would move into a location like this when you have young children is beyond me but okay, let’s suspend our disbelief.) </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">When Gabe talks someone on the ledge down and then does it a half dozen more times he’s basically hailed as the suicide whisperer. What a hero!! </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">But one day, he’s unable to help a woman and she jumps (falls?) to her death. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">But when it’s discovered that Gabe knew the woman, the mystery of whether or not she jumped or was pushed begins to unravel Gabe and Pippa’s idyllic marriage—and soon the jumper and her wealthy husband start to figure into the mystery so prominently that the twists coming at the reader are so unpredictable that you’re not sure how the pieces could possibly all fit together for a straightforward ending. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">I really enjoyed this novel or domestic suspense. It’s told from multiple viewpoints and timelines which works exceptionally well here. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not knowing who to trust, what skeletons are in whose closet and just what happened on that cliff make it a fast-paced and intriguing read. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All the secrets and lies are eventually revealed and the ending was a little shocking and yet perfectly revelatory. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Will definitely look for more from Hepworth!! </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-14074888389243160882023-03-12T12:03:00.002-04:002023-03-12T12:04:18.067-04:00Hellraiser 2022 - Review<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGCi7CVoW8XM5p2xDXy2bvRMjU5WNeO8Y822HvDZBfzziRrU5VKpr6Qxdwopr-a5Pm1_NdyHzG2aTu3m8scmEw9OTx1OFi3o-RClLewUKc0aLm0QeUA3c0pXkzVp9h-Rdbpqc834EMb2JzFrsW6XHyyGIHJt6vdvx17s6DGmJJBnwnl_uZA9VR2No/s625/hellraiser%2022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNGCi7CVoW8XM5p2xDXy2bvRMjU5WNeO8Y822HvDZBfzziRrU5VKpr6Qxdwopr-a5Pm1_NdyHzG2aTu3m8scmEw9OTx1OFi3o-RClLewUKc0aLm0QeUA3c0pXkzVp9h-Rdbpqc834EMb2JzFrsW6XHyyGIHJt6vdvx17s6DGmJJBnwnl_uZA9VR2No/s320/hellraiser%2022.jpg" width="256" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Over the last 35 years, Hellraiser has become a household name and a behemoth in the horror
genre. Even if someone doesn't recognize the title of the film, all you have to say is, “the guy
with all the nails in his head”, and they immediately know what you are talking about. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It began as a novella by Clive Barker, an absolutely legendary horror author whose work
combines the grotesque and the horrific with beautiful sensuality, woven seamlessly together.
The novella was called The Hellbound Heart, and it was published in 1986. A year later Clive
Barker, himself, directed the film adaptation of the story into the iconic picture we have all come
to know as Hellraiser. It became a classic in no time, with the instantly recognizable villain of the
film, Pinhead (aptly named for the nails that jut in all directions from his pasty white skull),
donning the cover of 9 additional sequels (although Clive Barker only directed the original film)
and now, a remake. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5guKujXeMW8_SMSAHscLMD9mRD7Vty7AXfTR5dMTMKivBRMHIeqcRvnYVSgl8UGTeEwJlzDC_IGitn0gJjXWcZB6qIiXyiSAu7LxfqARoHBYd2g55dkeVnGKL4uh7j9H4H2imrS8MYgu8BaafYJYgueElBSM1dbvKGXuQrsK36YHuCmNzMZZ3W7jK/s1280/_puzzle%20box.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="1280" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5guKujXeMW8_SMSAHscLMD9mRD7Vty7AXfTR5dMTMKivBRMHIeqcRvnYVSgl8UGTeEwJlzDC_IGitn0gJjXWcZB6qIiXyiSAu7LxfqARoHBYd2g55dkeVnGKL4uh7j9H4H2imrS8MYgu8BaafYJYgueElBSM1dbvKGXuQrsK36YHuCmNzMZZ3W7jK/w400-h195/_puzzle%20box.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The film begins establishing some loose exposition to introduce the Lament Configuration,
which is the name for the puzzle box featured in all the Hellraiser movies–sort of a main
character, in itself. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">This puzzle box (think of it as a demonic rubix cube) is sought out by those who have attained
every natural high–be it by drugs, sex, or money–and are seeking a new dimension of pleasure.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> In the 2022 Hellraiser, the puzzle box is acquired by Roland Voight: some ultra-wealthy,
mansion-owning, orgy-hosting… guy. We really don't get to know anything about him in the
short pre-title exposition, other than he's super wealthy, he owns a mansion, hosts orgies, and
he has acquired the puzzle box through some mysterious connection. And he has no problem
giving the Lament Configuration exactly what it wants–blood sacrifice. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilERx6icMkR6M8_80SeyFj6vJ4aZhO0OQ-WBoE1Xvysk29hBq3AjOYLu-IOpDIqPULUV8AXTnoHK9ae7Lq3YGClmE5HxnFLKaGrQrTERuqyPlHln8FV-s7qZo_JDH9G79DGH22YvayewJ4wqMgrbBcqK6XZ0pQ6zUKJjfpEK6XiE7ObEE860GwUks6/s1280/thumbnail_riley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilERx6icMkR6M8_80SeyFj6vJ4aZhO0OQ-WBoE1Xvysk29hBq3AjOYLu-IOpDIqPULUV8AXTnoHK9ae7Lq3YGClmE5HxnFLKaGrQrTERuqyPlHln8FV-s7qZo_JDH9G79DGH22YvayewJ4wqMgrbBcqK6XZ0pQ6zUKJjfpEK6XiE7ObEE860GwUks6/w400-h225/thumbnail_riley.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />With that, we now switch to what will become the main characters for the rest of the film:
recovering addict twenty-something Riley, her protective brother and roommate Matt and his
boyfriend Colin, and Riley's sketchy “boyfriend” (this is a loose term), Trevor, who her brother
strongly disapproves of. Mostly because Trevor is an active addict and obvious low-life. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">When Riley complains of being “sick of being broke”, Trevor casually suggests they rob a
warehouse, to which Riley has zero questions or concerns, so off they go. After breaking into a
teeny tiny safe that is the sole item in a walk-in shipping container, they find, within, a wooden
box. And you know what’s in the box, right? Another box! The puzzle box… </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now to the review. Comparisons between the new and original film may be made. How can they
not be? It is a remake, after all, of a classic and near-perfect film. I won’t say I’m wholly against
remakes, but in cases such as these I can’t help but wonder “why”? Is it just a cash grab to
profit off a popular film? Is it a way to gain a new generational audience by “updating” the film to
a current day setting with current vernacular, music, fashion, etc? And if the latter is the case,
then why? Why do films need to be updated? Do we think that the cycles of generations won’t
have an interest or appreciation in older films? And on top of that, by making it so obviously
“modern”, you are just going to age the film down the line. By commercially stylizing it, you are
just putting a timestamp on precisely when the film was made; and with no deeper creative
choices driving that, most likely in a decade from now the film will just look tacky.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSEc8m0AN9tJ7Ud_Mtnq9hRrIGxhSDiI6scj_emSCFUCeqR_riYWxzqFtgxVmDD0MethtHw8jOy6aVj69IMnSyN6xoLZiODpYBh5l261GfVWHkzQfckYllOqbsdI74vpxM6HCOeYveukfSHHmFOVEdL9m1g6NmIfCcfl1WuRKo5qF5OCoBNIujT_Q/s1280/thumbnail_the%20priest.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSEc8m0AN9tJ7Ud_Mtnq9hRrIGxhSDiI6scj_emSCFUCeqR_riYWxzqFtgxVmDD0MethtHw8jOy6aVj69IMnSyN6xoLZiODpYBh5l261GfVWHkzQfckYllOqbsdI74vpxM6HCOeYveukfSHHmFOVEdL9m1g6NmIfCcfl1WuRKo5qF5OCoBNIujT_Q/w400-h225/thumbnail_the%20priest.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /> The runtime is just over two hours. I’m more partial to a cool 90 minute feature, especially since
this film felt extremely drawn out. I actually watched the first hour of the movie sometime in
November and didn’t finish it until nearly 3 months later. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">One of my complaints was that it took WAY too long to get a decent look at the cenobites (the
demons that dole out the punishments and “rewards” of those who solve the puzzle box).
Personally, I’m of the feeling that if I am watching a film with monsters, I don’t want to play the
game of hide and seek, building up with a glimpse here and there. I want to see the fucking
monsters.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I was most excited to see the designs they chose for the cenobites, but most scenes of them
are overly dark and it’s nearly impossible to make them out. Apparently the film chose to use
mostly practical effects over CGI, which is my personal preference when, well, practical–but I
felt it wasn’t really properly showcased due to low lighting and heavy use of filters. The only one
we do get a decent eyeful of is the main cenobite, leader of the pack, she who would be
Pinhead. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa5s1-fc0wxRlUzblflh5_1Hne6YHTTucsGjZTyidIAaoitgMpnC3bplFZVoR3OwlfiA2XUz_CrRNTWg7CH4uzi59wZpvfksxgVnRsw227YPf8YGB-db72iQhhixC6E8fdSuD-LQmfPYwQGPVx36Sz9YwVK8U9uKV6HN3wWKJ66qrRm8YWNLbwMc_/s1280/thumbnail_priest%20make%20up.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBa5s1-fc0wxRlUzblflh5_1Hne6YHTTucsGjZTyidIAaoitgMpnC3bplFZVoR3OwlfiA2XUz_CrRNTWg7CH4uzi59wZpvfksxgVnRsw227YPf8YGB-db72iQhhixC6E8fdSuD-LQmfPYwQGPVx36Sz9YwVK8U9uKV6HN3wWKJ66qrRm8YWNLbwMc_/w400-h225/thumbnail_priest%20make%20up.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Pinhead (who is still clearly donning pins in the head) is now credited as “the Priest”. Up until
this point Pinhead has been played by a man (Doug Bradley in the first 7 films). In 2022
Hellraiser, “the Priest” is now played by Jamie Clayton and appears more feminized, but still
androgynous. I was a little underwhelmed by the portrayal of the priest, I found the character to
be a bit dull and lifeless, and I would have liked to appreciate the full costume she is donning
which required roughly 4 hours of make-up. I don’t place blame on actress Jamie Clayton,
though. She doesn’t run the set lighting and she didn’t write the script, and after watching and
reading several interviews with her she expressed being genuinely excited and honored to have
been given this role and even has the blessing of original Pinhead, Doug Bradley, himself. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I know that the nature of media in this day and age—in this case, movies—is to remake, reboot,
and reimagine; but in my opinion it’d be a lot more interesting to use the time, energy, and
resources to craft an entirely new film, and instead allow people to seek out or revisit the original
film.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>~~Marie </i></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-57299853585878817202023-03-09T21:25:00.000-05:002023-03-09T21:25:45.550-05:00Rapid Review: The Last Party<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQRPcbLBKZbKFHGBvAx0Oug0VxwLdg8pK9T4WI-RLMzwvOJtA0-oy4yIIaaAM_Iy76FmXorq8dOBcAYUsaexw52T3Q898FSxBQq5HVtrS11ETx6RHJqhxEDM2eAH7LSb2R0lvdhjEVM2RbjpBrVpKe5EcWrDquPV93N6hh0VWKe96YhnDTfqcRC3t/s3780/267908A4-8714-4CBF-9F02-4EABF8801502.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQRPcbLBKZbKFHGBvAx0Oug0VxwLdg8pK9T4WI-RLMzwvOJtA0-oy4yIIaaAM_Iy76FmXorq8dOBcAYUsaexw52T3Q898FSxBQq5HVtrS11ETx6RHJqhxEDM2eAH7LSb2R0lvdhjEVM2RbjpBrVpKe5EcWrDquPV93N6hh0VWKe96YhnDTfqcRC3t/w320-h400/267908A4-8714-4CBF-9F02-4EABF8801502.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">THE LAST PARTY by Clare Mackintosh</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Ffion Morgan and Leo Brady are two cops—the former from Wales, the latter from England—who are thrown together to solve a murder on the border of the two countries. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rhys Lloyd, a local celebrity with a partial ownership of a lakeside resort area, has invited both the ritzy and townies alike to his New Year’s Eve party. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It doesn’t turn out to much of a fun party when he ends up dead in the lake, though. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Ffion and Leo are on the task, after having spent a casual, no-strings-attached night together previous to the investigation. This makes for an awkward introduction but the two quickly find a bantering groove whilst they finagle through the boatload of possible suspects, because Lloyd was someone with a lot of enemies.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Part police procedural, part mystery, The Last Party dishes up a lot of drama, from estranged families to secret affairs to a bit of murderous intent. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It took me a while to get comfortable with this one, it’s a lengthy novel with a lot of moving parts. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It seemed like there were just scores of characters and an even longer list of multiple viewpoints. It was a bit much, at least till partway through. But I will admit wholeheartedly that the last third of the book had me riveted, I read late into the night to finish it and was sad when it was over. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Ffion and Leo are really great and well written characters, with believable and sometimes heartbreaking flaws. Both seem to have issues in their private lives and getting to the bottom of those problems together really makes them a strong pairing. I’ll be anxious to see if Mackintosh continues with both characters in her next book in the series, as they do seem stronger as a team. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">This book had a bit of a Scandinavian feel to it, with a lot of story and many twists and turns. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I really enjoyed it and will definitely pick up the next in the series, due in July. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-65311507511843382342023-02-27T07:00:00.001-05:002023-02-27T07:00:00.199-05:00Rapid Review: The Troop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gOX-YdZ9sjayWOLSb4V7KQWztGkP2QKMObl50bbkT_XVp_V1hyx6oH6GEKSvZfnG8oxt3txjOSAMvHf_bdZI3dru0dnv0kFcEDOizQ_q-rJlBduVz6avBO9ip4K1VNOOTOmG4ZZbUiVyDzkt3nMwplO6QViL0VW0Z9skr6EDSapYvongQ2fnVUEI/s3780/92D3E8C1-4F82-4FCC-B85F-8AC63E883301.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gOX-YdZ9sjayWOLSb4V7KQWztGkP2QKMObl50bbkT_XVp_V1hyx6oH6GEKSvZfnG8oxt3txjOSAMvHf_bdZI3dru0dnv0kFcEDOizQ_q-rJlBduVz6avBO9ip4K1VNOOTOmG4ZZbUiVyDzkt3nMwplO6QViL0VW0Z9skr6EDSapYvongQ2fnVUEI/w320-h400/92D3E8C1-4F82-4FCC-B85F-8AC63E883301.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">The Troop by Nick Cutter</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">I was warned. I was told it was true horror. And I will concur that it most certainly is. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Basic premise is: a group of five stereotypical scouts and their scoutmaster head off to an island for a traditional weekend camping trip. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not long after arriving, an unexpected visitor arrives by boat. The man is extremely gaunt, seems completely out of sorts, and is raving on and on about being hungry. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Scoutmaster Tim, whose day job is a town doctor, follows his Hippocrates Oath and sets out to help, which in doing so, opens up a whole great big can of worms. No, really. No….LITERALLY. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Think of the most awful, most horrific scenario you can imagine. Are you picturing it? Now multiply that times ten. Or maybe a hundred. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Cutter spares nothing, digging into the horror and throwing it all over you like projectile vomiting. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You will not be able to tread lightly here. Be brave. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">What I loved most about this book was the depth of descriptions, from the scouts themselves to the abject horror that permeates almost every page. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You truly care about the scouts and their “predicament “. (Well, except one and you will know which one once you read.) You want them to be able to escape their inevitable, terrifying deaths. And I’m not giving anything away by saying there is death—this is a horror novel after all. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">After dealing with a pandemic these last three years perhaps it was the wrong (or maybe totally the right?) time to read this one. But if you think we’re just dealing with some coughs and a few face masks you’re fooling yourself. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-size: 16px;">💥</span><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">A word or two of caution: PLEASE be aware there is some triggering animal abuse described within, and it really put me off. I had to set the book down and decide if I wanted to continue. I did however, finish and enjoy The Troop. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But damn….this is a 100 percent HORROR novel. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Now excuse me while I go take a shower and then look at pictures of kittens for a few days. 😸</span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-90031432651817247042023-02-25T16:31:00.000-05:002023-02-25T16:31:33.312-05:00Rapid Review: We Were Never Here<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyPJRWVp4hawhvrZDuMiKExC7ny_apcKgWlS-rf3GUrTLkBn5UIDy_uEZUWy_6t-yOuq4JgqsdatfLPK35p2y_AHXrKrUC2JWeN8yfZCkK7HvgkkWyXCYontFxKsUaP47rn9S19t8X1cE9Yzd3qlEDciml10gVXukpZRHJQ93Gqu3lGTxX9hQbvwV/s3153/400CE8C0-0438-4F50-9F15-D5C985867E28.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3153" data-original-width="2523" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyPJRWVp4hawhvrZDuMiKExC7ny_apcKgWlS-rf3GUrTLkBn5UIDy_uEZUWy_6t-yOuq4JgqsdatfLPK35p2y_AHXrKrUC2JWeN8yfZCkK7HvgkkWyXCYontFxKsUaP47rn9S19t8X1cE9Yzd3qlEDciml10gVXukpZRHJQ93Gqu3lGTxX9hQbvwV/w320-h400/400CE8C0-0438-4F50-9F15-D5C985867E28.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"> </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">I grabbed this book as one my extra selections for BOTM last month and was immediately immersed in the story of Emily and Kristen, best friends since college and world travelers. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>On a trip to Chile the two BFF’s—admittedly more like sisters—run into trouble when Kristen takes a backpacker to her hotel and he attacks her. Emily comes into the room and sees Paulo dead and Kristen completely out of sorts, spouting out that she had to kill him in self defense. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">What makes the circumstances even more surreal is the fact that last year’s girls trip to Cambodia was eerily similar when Emily was assaulted and her attacker ended up dead too. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How is it possible this could happen twice?? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">After burying the crime (literally), the two head to their separate lives—Kristen in Sydney and Emily thousands of miles away in Milwaukee. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Emily tries to put the crime out of her head and go on with her life, which includes new boyfriend Aaron and her decent job at a pet food upstart, but the tragic last night in Chile keep haunting her. Texts from Kristen are vague and she acts as though all is fine, which bothers Emily even more. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">When information regarding Kristen’s past starts to surface, Emily has to push back thoughts that perhaps she doesn’t know her best friend as well as she thought. And when Kristen suddenly appears on her doorstep and continues to acclimate back into her life—almost relentlessly—the story takes a few twists and turns that kept me guessing! </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">I loved this story of two best friends and a hidden crime (or two!) that they are both trying to deal with. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Emily appears to be the protagonist here but there were times I had to sit back and think…wait a minute….am I sure she’s on the up and up? </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">This was my first book by this author, I’ll definitely check out her others. </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-46341259911472945742023-02-16T07:00:00.005-05:002023-02-16T07:00:00.196-05:00Rapid Review: The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0fpzyoJ4IlNrph5uH5nRQH0AcU-bG2qkBYOdwwO_huQaQyJR2lbdcyR-W1g0WhQwVQP6c9gZdjgTg2NSjqdo9swlUnnhk6Ruu-K1rkTxNixS6N7iiK88qvb33_PPxpzbVew0_5HFvtAqpUrb19OfC4kiz6neG8BGZS1CdYgIIw4CKEc8-cyhst0n/s738/1AF4F079-5542-4E3D-A514-53EE67ED2E2B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="606" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0fpzyoJ4IlNrph5uH5nRQH0AcU-bG2qkBYOdwwO_huQaQyJR2lbdcyR-W1g0WhQwVQP6c9gZdjgTg2NSjqdo9swlUnnhk6Ruu-K1rkTxNixS6N7iiK88qvb33_PPxpzbVew0_5HFvtAqpUrb19OfC4kiz6neG8BGZS1CdYgIIw4CKEc8-cyhst0n/w329-h400/1AF4F079-5542-4E3D-A514-53EE67ED2E2B.jpeg" width="329" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: helvetica;">An intriguing first novel with a premise any rabid reader will find hard to resist.<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 16px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">Alex is a 30 year old who has been down on her luck—a job she is just going through the motions for, a love life that is unsatisfying, and a year long, very spiteful estrangement from her best friend. When connections work miracles and get her a chance to be one of five lucky participants in a writer’s retreat at none other than Alex’s favorite author, she surprises herself by writing her way into the gig. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">Once at the famed home of wildly successful novelist Roza, all is not as it seems, for Blackbriar Estate holds secrets of its own. With <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>gourmet food and wine comes secret passageways and questionable “games”. Most surprising though is when Roza springs a big catch on the five lucky writers: during the month long retreat each of them has to produce an entire novel. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Besides the unlikeliness of that feat, Alex finds herself woefully dismayed to learn her ex-BFF Wren is one of the other four attendees. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">But dealing with Wren and their painful memories is really the least of her problems. When one of the others goes missing and staff at the house are acting odd, Alex and Wren find themselves in a battle for not just publication but for their very lives. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 21px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-size: 16px;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">This entire novel essentially takes place in one location, which is something I love in a good mystery/thriller. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Alex is a likable protagonist and though the book does leak into the outlandish at times, it’s a fun read—and quick read. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I could see this adapted into a movie with strong female leads, would be amazing. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: 16px;">Looking forward to more from this author. </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-69339331230788761192023-02-14T12:08:00.000-05:002023-02-14T12:08:07.046-05:00Dark Arts: Laurie Lipton<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTrAn5UDucc9Blv3hW0LUTBSgwYZ0HvcdpKG5qOyZb1xLxxkDo2wT0hxPNnZ1Ruxc2t0UPT6IRAc9JLCOnmPJnLsr-W27dziyTcCcpbuxKC7rtlgrzjYZ9-0ozrsw_8M_YBx2exvnIpmYsRY24o0HYgrOsmh2PUesNDGeec40kyZsTrDlTZlzpoMa/s2000/last%20night%20i%20dreamt%20i%20murdered%20mommy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2000" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTrAn5UDucc9Blv3hW0LUTBSgwYZ0HvcdpKG5qOyZb1xLxxkDo2wT0hxPNnZ1Ruxc2t0UPT6IRAc9JLCOnmPJnLsr-W27dziyTcCcpbuxKC7rtlgrzjYZ9-0ozrsw_8M_YBx2exvnIpmYsRY24o0HYgrOsmh2PUesNDGeec40kyZsTrDlTZlzpoMa/w320-h250/last%20night%20i%20dreamt%20i%20murdered%20mommy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Last Night I Dreamt I Murdered Mommy</i><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><i>~by Marie Robinson</i></p><p> I’ve been a fan of Laurie Lipton’s artwork for a while now. It all started with her piece entitled, “Last Night I Dreamt I Murdered Mommy”, which instantly struck me (I think you can see why) and stuck with me ever since. In times when I have forgotten her name but sought out her art, I would search for the title of this work.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-cLDU64b7484HYZhaQGIxOoKiKKGmyumNG8QicR7rzLxnpnpv9nEIZn1rsOZKcFF_JsuY_l2woW3BD1NOQYgP0eGRmly9xjn2mHKgivPxeTpLKAEdXQ5S7DWryd9ATfXQhF6x2I8fSThT-ubbm93h0LPR76TPcOl8Wv5lbBCLVLpWFiZEPPlmgXt/s1416/stranger%20in%20the%20woods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-cLDU64b7484HYZhaQGIxOoKiKKGmyumNG8QicR7rzLxnpnpv9nEIZn1rsOZKcFF_JsuY_l2woW3BD1NOQYgP0eGRmly9xjn2mHKgivPxeTpLKAEdXQ5S7DWryd9ATfXQhF6x2I8fSThT-ubbm93h0LPR76TPcOl8Wv5lbBCLVLpWFiZEPPlmgXt/s320/stranger%20in%20the%20woods.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Stranger in the Woods</i></td></tr></tbody></table>However, up until now, I really didn’t know much about her, beyond her drawings which are often very dark and, to some, disturbing. I was revisiting her artwork the other day and I found that a short documentary had been done about her by a filmmaker named James Scott. The film is called Love Bite (which is also the name of one of Lipton’s drawings), and it’s about thirty minutes long and available for free on Vimeo. Watching it, I fell even deeper in love with not only Laurie Lipton’s artwork, but also her, as an artist.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p>Lipton works in one medium, and one medium only: black and white pencil drawings. She says that black and white, “is the color of ghosts [...], old television shows, memories, old family photographs, past, [...] longing, [and] thought.”</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayjBv_Qte842ok6DJWMM3N68rdk3JCUYXMglcEb-bccgyBdujL4U4wBSQgg4PpDG6Aqg40ud56NBlEXbsvhh_KY4PCEgNF65k8_rYDSTMGtTt2rN7zuKwwa7ASs8Swv_WjB8gYqNmdLeloFrzF54kQHMiR_xDODFfGFRSudyrnIqcx-bFuKuuLBcO/s1027/haunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="840" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjayjBv_Qte842ok6DJWMM3N68rdk3JCUYXMglcEb-bccgyBdujL4U4wBSQgg4PpDG6Aqg40ud56NBlEXbsvhh_KY4PCEgNF65k8_rYDSTMGtTt2rN7zuKwwa7ASs8Swv_WjB8gYqNmdLeloFrzF54kQHMiR_xDODFfGFRSudyrnIqcx-bFuKuuLBcO/s320/haunting.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haunting</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />There are many statements in her art about family, technology, and industrial society. Death is widely featured, often as a physical presence.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p> You may find many of her portrayals of children and their parents to be frightening, or maybe even upsetting; but these are not cheap visuals intended only to shock. These images are a reflection of very real trauma personally suffered by the artist. “There’s a very hurt child in all my work,” Lipton says in the documentary.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFtilyzApencqDq2Xewa5VfCqpYVNolGOvAyjXSGxQMF6uA2YKAEb4eycfuTLprz5JRugSbdlTL3dBeUvRo8BipyeZMmiHRIsm6st5ux9GVAV7FqmjxNiN0-CI7HZZz4EDh2dxUzAb68eUZUVh8pAp5hFWxh0jzmsXX51P8O8D9S5OyCHAbbaPLFv/s953/seam%20stress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFtilyzApencqDq2Xewa5VfCqpYVNolGOvAyjXSGxQMF6uA2YKAEb4eycfuTLprz5JRugSbdlTL3dBeUvRo8BipyeZMmiHRIsm6st5ux9GVAV7FqmjxNiN0-CI7HZZz4EDh2dxUzAb68eUZUVh8pAp5hFWxh0jzmsXX51P8O8D9S5OyCHAbbaPLFv/s320/seam%20stress.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Seamstress</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><p>However, she goes on that although she is sorry that her younger self and her mother had to suffer as a result of a traumatic experience, she is now grateful for it, because it has defined her as an artist. “You never know what kind of gift comes out of suffering.”</p><p></p><p>I’ve included below the link to watch the film Love Bite, and to Laurie Lipton’s website.</p><p>Watch Love Bite: <a href="https://vimeo.com/356729842">https://vimeo.com/356729842</a></p><p>Laurie Lipton’s website: <a href="https://www.laurielipton.com/">https://www.laurielipton.com/</a></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-8037868043949510542023-02-07T07:00:00.001-05:002023-02-07T07:00:00.192-05:00Rapid Review: THE HAUNTING OF WILLOW CREEK <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFj197ar7SSWjjmsMofm6HtFcND9cnJ4sOUVAG3qtMwZBPaja98LoCKcciWXpoWjgT3MrVe0O2R6uw4fimV3iU94vZ-tWo-DHF1mrk8YqVbXfZKkfhgmFa8Nrg5iIXloeTJFdrgLpXBip858IMfeaM_9C0YsgDWCEenkwxP7eUjnssEsdb7b9Z-EK/s2458/1039CEB5-D873-46A6-AD1C-3F4FBF1F1AC9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="2458" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFj197ar7SSWjjmsMofm6HtFcND9cnJ4sOUVAG3qtMwZBPaja98LoCKcciWXpoWjgT3MrVe0O2R6uw4fimV3iU94vZ-tWo-DHF1mrk8YqVbXfZKkfhgmFa8Nrg5iIXloeTJFdrgLpXBip858IMfeaM_9C0YsgDWCEenkwxP7eUjnssEsdb7b9Z-EK/w400-h400/1039CEB5-D873-46A6-AD1C-3F4FBF1F1AC9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">The Haunting of Willow Creek by Sara Crocoll Smith</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"> </span><div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></span></span><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">In what can be accurately described as “southern gothic”, The Haunting of Willow Creek is the second book by this author that I’ve read. Her first, The Haunting of Orchard Hill, was one of my favorites that I’d read last year. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">In Willow Creek, we meet Birdie, an aspiring photographer invited to an artist’s retreat’s alongside four other talented artisans.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"> Willow Creek mansion is your typical southern estate but has a particularly unsettling haunting associated with it. Birdie and her new friends come across all manner of sinister occurrences that test their sanity and make them question whether it is worth solving the underlying mystery—for not just their livelihoods but their very lives are at stake under the majestic willows that line the property and hold secrets ghastly enough to scare even the most strong-willed of inhabitants.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Crocoll Smith has such a stylish way with words. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 16px;">Her descriptions of places and characters bring you right inside the story. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>While I did think her first book was a bit more intimate and haunting, this tale of friendship overcoming evil is still right in my wheelhouse. Anyone with a keen interest in malevolent ghosts, southern gothic settings and beautiful prose will find something to enjoy here. </span></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-2898858256804677782023-02-05T07:30:00.001-05:002023-02-05T07:30:00.180-05:00Sunday Bloody Sunday <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxRgYNuXdeF2FRns7UaK2jt8uZiUJuC7z0tcd4QStVIrX0tkPGgMwBVXelf_1VqNKIWlzZFHVCf6MrYW2JPG9ZRZ1kpCS3SxChsn--C6OtoDzMGV2Q5rFgUqHhuraDkcFccP8IhBzkhtH_KXYmsRSvvCaE1S-XrvgP20zxwpISl42wtTWBf739_h2/w400-h225/E5DEC1CA-4C8E-40A9-ABAC-9120D27DBD6D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HALLOWEEN ENDS</td></tr></tbody></table> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JEVxG6rnRKHhBQk5Tw7jsbsD3P93sfyFIbr-hnuddZrvkvYbzS3lpEgodIU3fxtkKUkatWlHxWg1I13PFoNVoDugcLySg9vf1etrP8-IPhVxbIBlL8OIAf5OnC6UtVAV1fjRHaVsvlsqqaOUko2ndIcOIPHVjsbDzyDAO6yJr6N2MJNuUWG0cVWM/s310/9D0CE6E3-352E-444E-90E5-4C698424B64D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JEVxG6rnRKHhBQk5Tw7jsbsD3P93sfyFIbr-hnuddZrvkvYbzS3lpEgodIU3fxtkKUkatWlHxWg1I13PFoNVoDugcLySg9vf1etrP8-IPhVxbIBlL8OIAf5OnC6UtVAV1fjRHaVsvlsqqaOUko2ndIcOIPHVjsbDzyDAO6yJr6N2MJNuUWG0cVWM/w400-h210/9D0CE6E3-352E-444E-90E5-4C698424B64D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFklrQxn-I8ioSiKFAc3hE_FbnCd7Z7OmGMWT0MJ2IcSfGG7sR_ms0r6yJZ9nUKF6LtL8aR7LsC9q6yTOYtqSpYw5KKv6JwFbJKofDOGvBHFaLmkOkxvPVP-8YvNG-aGd69RGObxAOlO5wx2vs4NKibFLksA8r9q6E94wf1sCSjJRUSuzBiul-_0zi/s1920/1E36F545-B2F7-430F-BD1B-67474694EA4F.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFklrQxn-I8ioSiKFAc3hE_FbnCd7Z7OmGMWT0MJ2IcSfGG7sR_ms0r6yJZ9nUKF6LtL8aR7LsC9q6yTOYtqSpYw5KKv6JwFbJKofDOGvBHFaLmkOkxvPVP-8YvNG-aGd69RGObxAOlO5wx2vs4NKibFLksA8r9q6E94wf1sCSjJRUSuzBiul-_0zi/w400-h225/1E36F545-B2F7-430F-BD1B-67474694EA4F.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLdLI7Bdbm2osXn97vjBk3LKrqpRVJEgUAVlOGHdL_NMwXO94fRaluSf9b5_hZjbk1kVeItkTLlQ_vb3iSPxrDL0faRkRervVXZfOfFa0g1xOEqllSQPKudT-SMtSpVTGuif4qDDNVGSCTtDCWoD_f6Pl7jwaaAnLL_D9G3faH4Rn1LaMVIRopxTR/s728/A791DD59-2ADE-43A3-A2D8-7533BF58B56D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="728" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLdLI7Bdbm2osXn97vjBk3LKrqpRVJEgUAVlOGHdL_NMwXO94fRaluSf9b5_hZjbk1kVeItkTLlQ_vb3iSPxrDL0faRkRervVXZfOfFa0g1xOEqllSQPKudT-SMtSpVTGuif4qDDNVGSCTtDCWoD_f6Pl7jwaaAnLL_D9G3faH4Rn1LaMVIRopxTR/w400-h225/A791DD59-2ADE-43A3-A2D8-7533BF58B56D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SOCIETY </td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Zyltc_u_zk3_vOP4pXhhvJB8UKkN2Kgcj7a2Yfh0_xrbPgLts8-Qws7abLJ4PGl1bKa9q5iCNYBgOVrCISgd3ukV9LONhz6VtKm3Ru_kHbpQlgTH5-xAy-s1Zb1b0DkgdxxW0xHT50Oss8-5ilMaDqBBKOTWZ85Uej2miJnhqf4GrnMvuujt_rP_/s321/0818869D-05B1-44E6-9AA2-9EF9CC4FB264.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="157" data-original-width="321" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Zyltc_u_zk3_vOP4pXhhvJB8UKkN2Kgcj7a2Yfh0_xrbPgLts8-Qws7abLJ4PGl1bKa9q5iCNYBgOVrCISgd3ukV9LONhz6VtKm3Ru_kHbpQlgTH5-xAy-s1Zb1b0DkgdxxW0xHT50Oss8-5ilMaDqBBKOTWZ85Uej2miJnhqf4GrnMvuujt_rP_/w400-h196/0818869D-05B1-44E6-9AA2-9EF9CC4FB264.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DEVIL FETUS</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-43545601295939140902023-01-22T15:17:00.001-05:002023-01-22T15:17:53.120-05:00Sunday Bloody Sunday<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9M9Rjo0eBUWzEbY623kpOjsjRMinWZlCS3pLzRRd-eimtFMo4OZCt3pF7E5XXduDVXFg0JipS82J5KRgMVtOhgrdHxAzIzBqN3H9mVKUOEk8e9LKhOP4yXXZLENwU0P48us_BA9GpPY3XHCx6LXkh0mORsqIXeUPGRLWFhplKk99fX7FL62kcY6sU/s2000/64E9A56D-5180-4AEE-B73E-1DCA63C4BEA5.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="2000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9M9Rjo0eBUWzEbY623kpOjsjRMinWZlCS3pLzRRd-eimtFMo4OZCt3pF7E5XXduDVXFg0JipS82J5KRgMVtOhgrdHxAzIzBqN3H9mVKUOEk8e9LKhOP4yXXZLENwU0P48us_BA9GpPY3XHCx6LXkh0mORsqIXeUPGRLWFhplKk99fX7FL62kcY6sU/w400-h300/64E9A56D-5180-4AEE-B73E-1DCA63C4BEA5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deep Red</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J_vCepUxmNO9Llw3EYp9ULxinZqCExPvJc61d8NSAThyyYjEwYOfFuRIs2InxzunWq9c9M-YOUKfegcDf4lX_nX3sAws9dyntAkiI0kaGTp7pCAn8FcAruGNQ2hC6cfvfEjQXkkBd7200GxVTjQ8vTY7Q_UL7gn0Q6gwWTCsWYaR7-Jqqc2fluUP/s600/65058647-3AC1-4AFB-9FF0-8FDCC5687E91.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="600" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_J_vCepUxmNO9Llw3EYp9ULxinZqCExPvJc61d8NSAThyyYjEwYOfFuRIs2InxzunWq9c9M-YOUKfegcDf4lX_nX3sAws9dyntAkiI0kaGTp7pCAn8FcAruGNQ2hC6cfvfEjQXkkBd7200GxVTjQ8vTY7Q_UL7gn0Q6gwWTCsWYaR7-Jqqc2fluUP/w400-h204/65058647-3AC1-4AFB-9FF0-8FDCC5687E91.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alien</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEj-4sSnG8cTnvPNoqP0oP6vIsECDlYu6rWt8mG9EOv68s_pB1fml_GFTZvcS6-eKCiJcafYRj3HUGVaE3vORryFp_AfvB4pukRrBH8Gn2emIFHkZsDdFaQtlH1MNy1xUaawO_3KGVXYKliCFFV3Lt5-DSerWPSnnKi0FsRIoX-2Irv8DdAH2A6OQd/s522/DE2B3EAC-407E-47EA-8920-55B8CDEA905C.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="522" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEj-4sSnG8cTnvPNoqP0oP6vIsECDlYu6rWt8mG9EOv68s_pB1fml_GFTZvcS6-eKCiJcafYRj3HUGVaE3vORryFp_AfvB4pukRrBH8Gn2emIFHkZsDdFaQtlH1MNy1xUaawO_3KGVXYKliCFFV3Lt5-DSerWPSnnKi0FsRIoX-2Irv8DdAH2A6OQd/w400-h216/DE2B3EAC-407E-47EA-8920-55B8CDEA905C.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Nightmare On Elm Street</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmPFkid6cKRQNF8zJ8fhBXo1DUdkwM9IR22T3ue-qVD9heVBGw86IFTIGYtg6HKnGUMk24-ZcPxdpI9oyLFJ2aHzp87xWvsjHmlXzX-xmK9BY9UBglsasn3RBwtdwJSujZn-PkwxREWn_ofFfRbV5YOe1lNatvj5pESWcrdCtfZ9NaA7laClFHALs/s900/429D9192-716E-4856-A6B0-54EC4D92904F.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="900" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZmPFkid6cKRQNF8zJ8fhBXo1DUdkwM9IR22T3ue-qVD9heVBGw86IFTIGYtg6HKnGUMk24-ZcPxdpI9oyLFJ2aHzp87xWvsjHmlXzX-xmK9BY9UBglsasn3RBwtdwJSujZn-PkwxREWn_ofFfRbV5YOe1lNatvj5pESWcrdCtfZ9NaA7laClFHALs/w400-h221/429D9192-716E-4856-A6B0-54EC4D92904F.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tenebrae</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5bpc3F8RVSLgyUQLD4C1mvqwXvY60rjNB2OjdrOj8Wkh4RWCKd1wWvqRiEIQ6T2CnBtmvl6zh2NBpgkC327ArFuqlzo3bBWjsoiCUv8JWQGwqjfkZo3ZGR7Onx9UpfqPgiRhFFsaHKmv18oUvSHQJggBDEaUnIWsgRhqSDhoDsRtHjFboMb0l2R2/s1366/4CB6E782-352A-4D1C-9394-7F096F46C79A.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1366" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5bpc3F8RVSLgyUQLD4C1mvqwXvY60rjNB2OjdrOj8Wkh4RWCKd1wWvqRiEIQ6T2CnBtmvl6zh2NBpgkC327ArFuqlzo3bBWjsoiCUv8JWQGwqjfkZo3ZGR7Onx9UpfqPgiRhFFsaHKmv18oUvSHQJggBDEaUnIWsgRhqSDhoDsRtHjFboMb0l2R2/w400-h216/4CB6E782-352A-4D1C-9394-7F096F46C79A.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hellraiser</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-89497123425986948442023-01-15T07:30:00.001-05:002023-01-15T07:30:00.216-05:00Sunday Bloody Sunday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmmJd2Ox8rMC8lHtniZfsPP2EN1iD3udk6cS9NHvpGOZ24kveirgEoh0apLGZpUnMYXBiiTkurmgR9OclB8Injs19H9YAlvMylcEGxvupXZ3W6RHJtvsH8pcQEdl9D1JkGG0y88YoUATX0H2hoOiV1V5j73ibW1BYgBIRCZkzgTbYqh7ddHVlUF7o/s1024/0D53A85E-42A0-4854-B7A4-532EDC001F1A.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1024" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmmJd2Ox8rMC8lHtniZfsPP2EN1iD3udk6cS9NHvpGOZ24kveirgEoh0apLGZpUnMYXBiiTkurmgR9OclB8Injs19H9YAlvMylcEGxvupXZ3W6RHJtvsH8pcQEdl9D1JkGG0y88YoUATX0H2hoOiV1V5j73ibW1BYgBIRCZkzgTbYqh7ddHVlUF7o/w400-h226/0D53A85E-42A0-4854-B7A4-532EDC001F1A.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piranha</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIlDcRKozBO-LxkMh0bc42rCZtsvTGl_AmMkP577k4Ty9C_LIwU7HMRGV6Cc_y7yFRWOQZHLV-aOeWRuuHA-RhZV3OWfiWxZRtynzLUFpzPg-WGybg4drEyeI1UzUHF17AF-31oOk1n41Vtmo782kJPk1R53eSWWJokE1KMFzsg-LXv-0K1Em58WM/s720/A6AF4908-D674-4651-88A2-7F6FB08C3A18.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIlDcRKozBO-LxkMh0bc42rCZtsvTGl_AmMkP577k4Ty9C_LIwU7HMRGV6Cc_y7yFRWOQZHLV-aOeWRuuHA-RhZV3OWfiWxZRtynzLUFpzPg-WGybg4drEyeI1UzUHF17AF-31oOk1n41Vtmo782kJPk1R53eSWWJokE1KMFzsg-LXv-0K1Em58WM/w400-h225/A6AF4908-D674-4651-88A2-7F6FB08C3A18.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graveyard Shift </td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNZObazaCn2WUF_D1RXKj-PpufOm5Do1XaUpMDLO83Jmvrmt6F-7OqhCJqkwzmYknxYFNRrB6s0q4RptSVhGWaiUd3LqrCbedOD_v2QccDfYkdU4T_eJl__HrStikKX6TkcKMRCBl4RX7AxlZLR_k7gMWFg-EQAb25Q-cBsL1sx8zXxdKIrUXDIPy/s750/85905E83-3310-47D9-80AE-C58F0774FA06.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="750" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNZObazaCn2WUF_D1RXKj-PpufOm5Do1XaUpMDLO83Jmvrmt6F-7OqhCJqkwzmYknxYFNRrB6s0q4RptSVhGWaiUd3LqrCbedOD_v2QccDfYkdU4T_eJl__HrStikKX6TkcKMRCBl4RX7AxlZLR_k7gMWFg-EQAb25Q-cBsL1sx8zXxdKIrUXDIPy/w400-h214/85905E83-3310-47D9-80AE-C58F0774FA06.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feast<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOITvJJaIklIIlUhO83yD-_uFAOwreC1tixrxQxVU1qSmzaS3QuF8pulOolPIKSHALU17_sUpa55qvVOAKnokF-4jifzpx9u8InOEnoB58RSoSgsH8fr6AovpnlByj2WC9UcX0tEa8R2ZUSojigFte7A-f239f4cJ6xMIeiNingYfNsFGzV4gpiWCD/s856/DA11EDC8-22B9-4093-9A84-719A70E2FF96.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="482" data-original-width="856" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOITvJJaIklIIlUhO83yD-_uFAOwreC1tixrxQxVU1qSmzaS3QuF8pulOolPIKSHALU17_sUpa55qvVOAKnokF-4jifzpx9u8InOEnoB58RSoSgsH8fr6AovpnlByj2WC9UcX0tEa8R2ZUSojigFte7A-f239f4cJ6xMIeiNingYfNsFGzV4gpiWCD/w400-h225/DA11EDC8-22B9-4093-9A84-719A70E2FF96.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day of the Dead 2: Contagium<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz74cZJF34tIXgtSfa_POTvxEEBDGMa8NE1iFJjWLIyyxSuVTbImOqpMtM6ZHQz-12Z6TXuvgoXkKVUrR1y4qh1i4wZij5qy7qWv5J9hkh8mPw3bPQLCbDBU_ipQrdr9MYQfOu3NC8dkj3oLTjvR4yaDPJ41GHPfwQ4FiHVSKNWgnlnDOPo-X4MVhA/s1280/A1A6E71B-ECAF-497A-B306-4C02FD550FEB.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz74cZJF34tIXgtSfa_POTvxEEBDGMa8NE1iFJjWLIyyxSuVTbImOqpMtM6ZHQz-12Z6TXuvgoXkKVUrR1y4qh1i4wZij5qy7qWv5J9hkh8mPw3bPQLCbDBU_ipQrdr9MYQfOu3NC8dkj3oLTjvR4yaDPJ41GHPfwQ4FiHVSKNWgnlnDOPo-X4MVhA/w400-h225/A1A6E71B-ECAF-497A-B306-4C02FD550FEB.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bed of the Dead </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-74060796201175171662023-01-13T18:37:00.000-05:002023-01-13T18:37:02.993-05:00Rapid Review: THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKCAIMw9YmNfKU6SLbeQ5t_YNEwIry22IiT0GH5dOEa4d8FHnj1bbK_1Z33ewK72Vr3vw5IYHIb8G4ABspdyiA9OWI54_39a3lQ8FZZHurAVd31CfYZ4DrqrjSlCJQSn8wd2_YZVGGVx3NqCDtII0Xj1V81kIAcQPDXLDnH4O66vgh6S__RUuuY7B/s4032/02C2210B-1B8C-4080-88DF-AB0205795ABF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKCAIMw9YmNfKU6SLbeQ5t_YNEwIry22IiT0GH5dOEa4d8FHnj1bbK_1Z33ewK72Vr3vw5IYHIb8G4ABspdyiA9OWI54_39a3lQ8FZZHurAVd31CfYZ4DrqrjSlCJQSn8wd2_YZVGGVx3NqCDtII0Xj1V81kIAcQPDXLDnH4O66vgh6S__RUuuY7B/s320/02C2210B-1B8C-4080-88DF-AB0205795ABF.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">I love a good gothic ghost story and John Boyne mostly delivers in this tale of foreboding doom.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eliza Caine is living a simple life as a school teacher in London. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her mother lost during the birth (and subsequent death) of her little sister, Eliza has known nothing but her father’s love so it comes as a great shock when he succumbs to sudden illness. Unable to stay where she has put down roots, she accepts a position as a governess in the countryside in Norfolk. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">But almost immediately, things start to occur that make Eliza think of reconsidering the choice. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even the trip to Gaudlin Hall is rife with trouble when she is nearly pushed in front of a train by an unseen presence. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her arrival at the stately but crumbling old manor home has her unable to meet or even locate the parents of the charges she is to care for, and the children themselves are bright but seemingly unusual. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">As the next few days and even weeks go by, Eliza not only is still never introduced to Isabella and Eustace’s parents but no one on the property or even in the nearby town wants to discuss them. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The family lawyer does his best to evade her queries and the housekeeper as well as the carriage driver keep to themselves and outright avoid bumping into her. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">But some of the townsfolk eventually begin to open up and she learns of some of the depressing history of the home, including the fact that she is sixth in a line of governesses just in the last year—since an apparent tragedy struck the family. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Even more alarming is that four of the five women hired have died mysteriously. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Eliza’s stay continues to be fraught with terrifying instances of violence, to the point that she knows for a fact that there is a presence in the house, and what’s worse is that there may actually be two. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I’ve had this novel sitting on my TBR pile for quite a while, and thought it was time to get to it! Set in the time of Charles Dickens, it brought everything you’d expect from a gothic tale of ghosts and mystery—from dense fog, strange children, and a creepy old mansion to a young woman trying to escape the wrath of a vengeful spirit. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">That said, it did take an inordinate amount of time for the story to get going. I love a slow build up but I was halfway through before anything remotely scary happened. And scary is perhaps not the proper word, in fact. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nothing here was terribly frightening but I did still enjoy the well-written story. It had obvious shades of The Turn of the Screw and Jane Eyre, that much was blatant yet welcome. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">All in all it was still able to purvey a lingering sense of dread throughout, and though I did guess where the ending was headed I still enjoyed the ride. </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-88238862990138538282023-01-08T08:00:00.003-05:002023-01-08T08:00:00.223-05:00Sunday Bloody Sunday<p><br /> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLXXxGkQbr9_fTKxiNwafFdsf8Oo8OYIcBcVDqio8pRVJSQJKzgyXMb3EgK1O7t7Pum7Miktiq8eHsKq11vCAQByTd8qyir8tnMcVZe35E3RpQibFUBIHeX2gym1aXwUmmsNLnbHshtw-qDyZ1FbOQEi-swM-c6D8OeN8G3DnRfY1sVjbQUTX0qPg/s826/carrie%20sbs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="826" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLXXxGkQbr9_fTKxiNwafFdsf8Oo8OYIcBcVDqio8pRVJSQJKzgyXMb3EgK1O7t7Pum7Miktiq8eHsKq11vCAQByTd8qyir8tnMcVZe35E3RpQibFUBIHeX2gym1aXwUmmsNLnbHshtw-qDyZ1FbOQEi-swM-c6D8OeN8G3DnRfY1sVjbQUTX0qPg/w640-h418/carrie%20sbs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Carrie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWxezruXxJrZBmTG77ph-LDHBcwomOXLOMG9pc5mSmzKibLhy2zHAL3nenkl6ndyUOS9QFH36kC4ceIwhGntTta-3kmOXKv_AKmTelXxfHXyhSA_Xu8tE553qyFOUfZNAnN8rPGxOgo4yacyJnwP4jpJmzH1Rcl8_hMkG2k6IhjaaUPzDr6mV2OaQ/s613/the%20children%20sbs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="613" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWxezruXxJrZBmTG77ph-LDHBcwomOXLOMG9pc5mSmzKibLhy2zHAL3nenkl6ndyUOS9QFH36kC4ceIwhGntTta-3kmOXKv_AKmTelXxfHXyhSA_Xu8tE553qyFOUfZNAnN8rPGxOgo4yacyJnwP4jpJmzH1Rcl8_hMkG2k6IhjaaUPzDr6mV2OaQ/w640-h334/the%20children%20sbs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Children (2008)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzzxofxQvhE_WYc2F5px9wa678FEeGyLogQlE3k_qYiNGGiK6joi5QUE2Eg1-D-gXNLBvjY3cLTacz8ENcLhpUToIEqzTwutzb_UODVSSXq1hrHPdcruBRGFHdUpiVvg0IXFO8Vyq2fbDK8UOIEavQcsTol5z_Qlk5SJiI1b-w7GYbwFwa-YHkHz8/s750/Ghost-Killers-vs-Bloody-Mary-Banner-sbs.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzzxofxQvhE_WYc2F5px9wa678FEeGyLogQlE3k_qYiNGGiK6joi5QUE2Eg1-D-gXNLBvjY3cLTacz8ENcLhpUToIEqzTwutzb_UODVSSXq1hrHPdcruBRGFHdUpiVvg0IXFO8Vyq2fbDK8UOIEavQcsTol5z_Qlk5SJiI1b-w7GYbwFwa-YHkHz8/w640-h360/Ghost-Killers-vs-Bloody-Mary-Banner-sbs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Ghost Killers vs Bloody Mary </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c779RhjGIiPJnR4hNXzkigkZPF73t-ja454QMzBjkQyhqFbrKJP4kz3XTQKwheOL-2wbLnej99eeyzBTLEqTsvvNp2YhtIEBVm3h8hQgq4iqmw6VnbbTfUu3Gj7GayR-ECK3i1Ml0npG_f-aoaKcn0DoQ7NlodPmlHXOxYC3MIi7pnevoujfwBYM/s1050/terrifier%20sbs.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1050" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0c779RhjGIiPJnR4hNXzkigkZPF73t-ja454QMzBjkQyhqFbrKJP4kz3XTQKwheOL-2wbLnej99eeyzBTLEqTsvvNp2YhtIEBVm3h8hQgq4iqmw6VnbbTfUu3Gj7GayR-ECK3i1Ml0npG_f-aoaKcn0DoQ7NlodPmlHXOxYC3MIi7pnevoujfwBYM/w640-h426/terrifier%20sbs.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Terrifier </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eyXkl4jYpZvzz0AsUQjSehoaTUIPBqNi6pVVhVOu77BgiN0QfmF17ym5eEPYH6cE1QDJ9H6-0OiKxbOtpgI8CQkPb79rywV9PtjXcfPXhLY2tf47DXdRfUQb1u-xJ66yGOW-f0UVL1c1vo-fgyRYmHfylRpggxg1_L1E3LyQl4uAKAtQ0Rc9DpMg/s1125/it%20chapter%202%20sbs.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="1125" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eyXkl4jYpZvzz0AsUQjSehoaTUIPBqNi6pVVhVOu77BgiN0QfmF17ym5eEPYH6cE1QDJ9H6-0OiKxbOtpgI8CQkPb79rywV9PtjXcfPXhLY2tf47DXdRfUQb1u-xJ66yGOW-f0UVL1c1vo-fgyRYmHfylRpggxg1_L1E3LyQl4uAKAtQ0Rc9DpMg/w640-h262/it%20chapter%202%20sbs.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">IT Chapter 2</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-51958276579090781082023-01-04T08:00:00.001-05:002023-01-04T08:00:00.199-05:00The Children (2008) - Just One More Reason I Don't Have Kids<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcIlM2QEQXmu1mAgmRUrcgCk3EkxxLio1SP9fRC6yGIjAFOBBKqWHVxlvR_OLXhCDG9sUTYTsSFHLmPe_uk4eR5PdAUGpbteAT3Ko3RAHmBEc7JBXmfA9zU0b9RnzI8UV37GSfI-VdpZ5ooYa1rIGamAsqiOxNSb-MGIIQ4mbYI9todLUvWGLzYzo/s365/Children_film_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="365" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcIlM2QEQXmu1mAgmRUrcgCk3EkxxLio1SP9fRC6yGIjAFOBBKqWHVxlvR_OLXhCDG9sUTYTsSFHLmPe_uk4eR5PdAUGpbteAT3Ko3RAHmBEc7JBXmfA9zU0b9RnzI8UV37GSfI-VdpZ5ooYa1rIGamAsqiOxNSb-MGIIQ4mbYI9todLUvWGLzYzo/w400-h299/Children_film_poster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I've long admitted that I don't want kids. And once I saw this movie I was so pleased with my decision I almost threw a party for my good sense of self and genuine honesty. <p></p><p>The Children, a British horror film from some years back, is an effective yet low budget flick that gives new meaning to the phrase "bad kids", albeit was not the childrens' fault that they turned into little psychopaths.</p><p><br />Elaine and Jonah are traveling to her sister Chloe and her husband Robbie's to visit for the holidays. The two couples have five kids between them - one being teenager Casey from Elaine's previous relationship who isn't exactly happy to be there as she is missing a party. Notably, upon arrival one of Elaine's kids, Paulie, vomits....which his parents attribute to car sickness. Their other child Miranda seems very uneasy to be there, and makes her feelings known. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXy5gXld4maXJsEY0HM3K7dVfy4KS0_CodVjAKCLvjSbzK02R4XXpL8mvrm_Mh2C0aWFwCaPSL85iZkCkea-UUne5eh6ng7F1V16ihxeWeVaAslBTa8x0hlqDT3Ag_pdOzV0ir_7rAp5wzQLqMwkFSdRfjyvH9DWmfTrb4GNdje7SSD86x6-0XfxB/s630/Children%20The%202008%20movie%20pic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="630" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXy5gXld4maXJsEY0HM3K7dVfy4KS0_CodVjAKCLvjSbzK02R4XXpL8mvrm_Mh2C0aWFwCaPSL85iZkCkea-UUne5eh6ng7F1V16ihxeWeVaAslBTa8x0hlqDT3Ag_pdOzV0ir_7rAp5wzQLqMwkFSdRfjyvH9DWmfTrb4GNdje7SSD86x6-0XfxB/s320/Children%20The%202008%20movie%20pic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Chloe and Robbie live out in the country and after the other family's arrival and greetings are given all around, the adult conversation revolves around environmental opportunities and who is doing the planet good, etc. They also put several bottles of wine to rest. Meanwhile, the kids get reacquainted and do the usual kid stuff - running, screaming, picking fights, etc. <p></p><p>As the day rolls into evening, Chloe and Robbie's kids - Nicky and Leah - also complain of not feeling well. As Leah rolls over to sleep, she coughs up some gunk that she wipes on her pillow and we are shown that some kind of virus is quickly multiplying in the goo. </p><p>The next day, all the young children seem to be getting sick. The family cat goes missing, which of course does not bode well. At dinner the following day, Miranda suddenly has a complete hissy fit which escalates into pure mayhem and has Jonah taking her upstairs to clam her down. The rest of the kids head outside to play in the snow with Robbie. Also outside is Casey, who has spoken to her friends on the phone and has made plans for one of them to come pick her up so she can sneak off to the aforementioned party. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQv_z2Zgd0WLRDsLQaOLZ8UMamiYCansAWGJBynNTDrI7h8m0bs1BGSV224SL7kV9wco5UqQBxU0Vpouo1o3NACkYNjrUVxgXPoBDHh-izfP1eKHl1fnYAap_LWUemsdTeHr4NJ4ofaRKD9Cw-og1KENHnL93XA4JQcVU3Y88Zv-Dn9-1eWdqTpXwj/s475/childrenuk1.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="475" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQv_z2Zgd0WLRDsLQaOLZ8UMamiYCansAWGJBynNTDrI7h8m0bs1BGSV224SL7kV9wco5UqQBxU0Vpouo1o3NACkYNjrUVxgXPoBDHh-izfP1eKHl1fnYAap_LWUemsdTeHr4NJ4ofaRKD9Cw-og1KENHnL93XA4JQcVU3Y88Zv-Dn9-1eWdqTpXwj/s320/childrenuk1.webp" width="320" /></a></div>All the sudden there is a lot of screaming and Casey runs back to discover Robbie has had a graphic and deadly incident involving downhill sledding and a garden rake. As he lies bleeding out into the snow, the kids run into the woods . Jonah, Elaine and Chloe rush out to see the bloody scene and try to call emergency services which are tied up due to weather. <p></p><p>Things escalate tenfold from there, with the kids completely out of control and their minds apparently. There are a series of horrific events that the kids initiate, with no regard for human life let alone the fact that it is their parents that they are out to harm. It becomes a free-for-all situation in which everyone is out for themselves. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyOkqSkyBIa4RmT6B_Hf-YwQYUOiKtRfix2AwKSkP6JgkCOsWSlETXUg21V07MNUEvqnp_icFHzTBh9YdvCHYgTAKLzs5OgfqUS0MmI81Xe9zXIyrE4pZ-0rVBS7BdqsOUBw3EIIoQF6cTkbctTKThcnWGVtAw1sKwqY8Kw3LQXj78fNAWe4xvuMS/s1920/children%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyOkqSkyBIa4RmT6B_Hf-YwQYUOiKtRfix2AwKSkP6JgkCOsWSlETXUg21V07MNUEvqnp_icFHzTBh9YdvCHYgTAKLzs5OgfqUS0MmI81Xe9zXIyrE4pZ-0rVBS7BdqsOUBw3EIIoQF6cTkbctTKThcnWGVtAw1sKwqY8Kw3LQXj78fNAWe4xvuMS/s320/children%204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Do we ever discover what the vomit goo is made of or what disease it is? No. Do the children come to their senses? No. Do the adults give those bratty kids a time out? No. Does emergency services ever get there? What do you think?!<br /><br />But there <i>are </i>copious amounts of blood and a whole lot of children screaming and running amok throughout, which was at times rather off-putting. But despite the relatively simple plot, the execution of the scenes is great and the story moves along at a rocket's pace once things get going. <p></p><p>I love to pull this one out of my personal collection around the holidays. It's a fun killer-kids flick that has good performances from adults and kids alike. But don't ask me about the cat, okay? </p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-55278161971038680232023-01-02T14:41:00.001-05:002023-01-02T14:41:40.869-05:00The Eternal Daughter (2022) - A Quiet Gothic Chiller<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0wRKek6hxdKDLcw2FnwcWiQ3Kq1BkyjT-a2MpbUN0n-WsQkl16k0CIs46g4fPnX8hh63xKe1Kkse6kj2VBHjlon4ogPZ9PG-gbcJzW7B4I8fZsw2UeQPlEPmmJnwm0Scf8FujWWMaIv7CjwXYH-exbcOOlU--ExtsLvW3iVlInjvZzMWUCQ63vMb/s872/eternal-daughter-p-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="872" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0wRKek6hxdKDLcw2FnwcWiQ3Kq1BkyjT-a2MpbUN0n-WsQkl16k0CIs46g4fPnX8hh63xKe1Kkse6kj2VBHjlon4ogPZ9PG-gbcJzW7B4I8fZsw2UeQPlEPmmJnwm0Scf8FujWWMaIv7CjwXYH-exbcOOlU--ExtsLvW3iVlInjvZzMWUCQ63vMb/w400-h225/eternal-daughter-p-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I love movies. I spend much more time seeing films than I do reading books, but perhaps that is due to my hubby not being a reader. It is a little harder to find some quiet time to read rather than watching a movie. <p></p><p>My favorite film of 2022 was The Eternal Daughter, which incidentally I only just saw on December 31st! Written, produced and directed by Joanna Hogg, it is the intimate story of Julie Hart and her mother Rosalind. Both parts are played by the always exceptional Tilda Swinton—which may seem hard to imagine but works very effectively here. <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsmriGgAfk8V9ka2ny5NKhwRjEOyXW4OeGmkra388JJv3FVeUMROQY5OlX9baz4FheANyrdmMn0r2l9HW4nplUlTYEiV76q4ylD03iSiNch1_AZC3BYlIq-no_u2KfO8RKLwXpjBY6c55ErVMoR-7TeN_rvlprNPxjJi6lVkWmK2AwUPvMxjfAYeg/s1920/eternal%204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRsmriGgAfk8V9ka2ny5NKhwRjEOyXW4OeGmkra388JJv3FVeUMROQY5OlX9baz4FheANyrdmMn0r2l9HW4nplUlTYEiV76q4ylD03iSiNch1_AZC3BYlIq-no_u2KfO8RKLwXpjBY6c55ErVMoR-7TeN_rvlprNPxjJi6lVkWmK2AwUPvMxjfAYeg/w400-h225/eternal%204.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>We find the two women and their dog, Louis, traveling by taxi to a large estate house that has been remodeled into a hotel, of which the taxi driver speaks of with some trepidation, claiming he has been spooked by it in the past after seeing an apparition in one of the windows. The house itself has some history with the elder Hart, having stayed there when she was younger and it was owned by a family member. <br /><br />Upon check-in, the young receptionist seems to have an attitude problem and is quite curt with Julie about the status of the reservation and the room they are to occupy. After negotiating that situation they settle into their room. We learn that Julie is a filmmaker, and has the intention of writing a film about her mother, and bringing her to this place is part of her thought process in retrieving Rosalind’s fond memories of her time there. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaYpKytdjtBMeQ_YRIS3r6FbMeJsAOG9vAGF_1otmrDPKWWkc8CAkv6pFxnPpGbpEeqcNJhJmr7FPNiDg8FBNxWSaNBLE47nAcEzkE8QYbfWqXAPwv9CG0_F0FB1Pa19B8hbMqciEcKcTTm6TMt0D37I3noLdNp96m03yqJ9kiLsCkFqM3hqL0Y3u/s2270/eternal%20daughter%20rosalind.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="2270" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaYpKytdjtBMeQ_YRIS3r6FbMeJsAOG9vAGF_1otmrDPKWWkc8CAkv6pFxnPpGbpEeqcNJhJmr7FPNiDg8FBNxWSaNBLE47nAcEzkE8QYbfWqXAPwv9CG0_F0FB1Pa19B8hbMqciEcKcTTm6TMt0D37I3noLdNp96m03yqJ9kiLsCkFqM3hqL0Y3u/w400-h224/eternal%20daughter%20rosalind.webp" width="400" /></a></div>Soon though, odd things begin to present themselves. Dinners in the dining room are very quiet affairs in which it is just the two women seen eating, noises from the rooms upstairs above theirs keeps Julie awake much of the night, the dog seems very unsettled at times, and each evening the receptionist leaves the hotel when her boyfriend picks her up—making it appear that there may not be any other guests there (or anyone at all for that matter). Rosalind recounts some painful memories of her past there, making Julie feel incredibly sad and regretful that she has brought her there, even when her mother counters that she has had many joyful memories too. <p></p><p>Innkeeper Bill makes an appearance one evening as Julie is walking the dark, lonely hallways during a bout of insomnia. He offers some comfort and later, when Louis disappears he helps search for him. Turns out Louis is back in the room on Rosalind’s bed when Julie returns to the room. Bill and Julie have a chat in the drawing room, discussing both Rosalind and Bill’s wife, with whom he worked many years with at the hotel. Bill is reluctant to move on because he feels close to his wife by staying there. This helps Julie with her feelings of gloom about bringing Rosalind there. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeihbATPYqyvv58HIBdyQTR2FhihKf8J0khUWVJlh7QdOcUggEARVqhRSeUBEhauDXMug88-mvOnHHfkHquTl3J7In-FPQmtTxpU_uIwatuLyuU2lwm6SjtPGtX6t0rcmS8qQM-TajkcuyUXvqJ66r3BMwdLo3EJLsarTNYym-Fh68BAzSUqfNo0p/s1000/eternal%20house.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeihbATPYqyvv58HIBdyQTR2FhihKf8J0khUWVJlh7QdOcUggEARVqhRSeUBEhauDXMug88-mvOnHHfkHquTl3J7In-FPQmtTxpU_uIwatuLyuU2lwm6SjtPGtX6t0rcmS8qQM-TajkcuyUXvqJ66r3BMwdLo3EJLsarTNYym-Fh68BAzSUqfNo0p/w400-h266/eternal%20house.webp" width="400" /></a></div>Unfavorable cell reception takes Julie outside in the evenings to make calls to her husband to let him know how things are going. The almost ever-present fog at the estate, along with a small cemetery seen multiple times give a true gothic feel to the atmosphere. On more than one occasion, Julie sees what appears to be the ghost of a woman, albeit quite subtle and fleeting, in the same window of the house. This is not one of those films that shows you the ghosts in plain view—or even explains whether or not they are even there. In fact the ghosts of the past are in much more prominence but still don’t thoroughly reveal themselves. <p></p><p>The denouement of the film—if we can assume that the ending is actually a resolution—is like the rest of the film, a quiet but affecting act in which Swinton really does prove her acting chops are no joke. Rosalind’s birthday celebration is a deeply affecting scene, but I won’t spoil anything here. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EtEDaoBFwGqW39m8C-irtWr3tSU9ZCLuMSHYZWOmi_GW6bLQpCFqwIcqAROOVJLDx0pMgIqDfZ5rbGJc9BENbOQ5nOvY1qKqCjrfy3xejGOLVV2UaIjM3B68YoLWTJ7C3gnpcD_Dw0Ts77FNliu8Wq3pDtoeNbEYssK3Cn7OwDFUGSgnaPEefjLO/s1169/eternal%20daughter%20julie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="769" data-original-width="1169" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8EtEDaoBFwGqW39m8C-irtWr3tSU9ZCLuMSHYZWOmi_GW6bLQpCFqwIcqAROOVJLDx0pMgIqDfZ5rbGJc9BENbOQ5nOvY1qKqCjrfy3xejGOLVV2UaIjM3B68YoLWTJ7C3gnpcD_Dw0Ts77FNliu8Wq3pDtoeNbEYssK3Cn7OwDFUGSgnaPEefjLO/w400-h264/eternal%20daughter%20julie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It feels important to mention that the music in the film is also very sporadic and scarce. But the recurrent theme is rightfully haunting. Bela Bartok’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, BB 114 may sound somewhat familiar, and that would be because one of his other pieces was used in The Shining, which feels so appropriate for the mood they are trying to project here. <p></p><p>Suffice it to say that if you’re looking for something akin The Conjuring you won’t find it here. The Eternal Daughter is a reserved and hushed piece of filmmaking, not alluding to much. The storyline is extremely sparse and Swinton carries the entire movie on her own, with just a few touches of outside influence to this tightly woven story. It has an art-house feel without being too standoffish or out of touch. I really recommend it to anyone who loves a slow-burn, impeccably acted gothic chiller. </p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-52726186251384167272023-01-01T08:00:00.001-05:002023-01-01T08:00:00.190-05:00Sunday Bloody Sunday<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcDAjYgKYjuw93kDKIx41OXEXHO9qWPdIgMoVrbDoxNzkrE4AROpZg1LtQqAKZ-qpu6FaH3qa7s8Iqo0WhpeIxQQrqs-W9qX9kfRJIlRKYsnGop6UBVKsxY93SV5v7-LQIwBl1iDByl1o2J2B3JdhPpJ2dErlvKW6waBsMhN231pfK69R__hK0nSC/s2265/3D47599A-753E-414D-A893-127F9E150BE8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1192" data-original-width="2265" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcDAjYgKYjuw93kDKIx41OXEXHO9qWPdIgMoVrbDoxNzkrE4AROpZg1LtQqAKZ-qpu6FaH3qa7s8Iqo0WhpeIxQQrqs-W9qX9kfRJIlRKYsnGop6UBVKsxY93SV5v7-LQIwBl1iDByl1o2J2B3JdhPpJ2dErlvKW6waBsMhN231pfK69R__hK0nSC/w400-h210/3D47599A-753E-414D-A893-127F9E150BE8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hellbender</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeYnn8vaciiRpv-h6zqXLvH2_kiyHpFaldsANJ7Pvw-Wch5jcyIeXATyiy_TRoD3A1aa3Lj657Ywd9m4o52fL1Gm7V2QJ1Y6wCBB5HmiZPlknGqfUgS80p22nax0yz98GxOAL9jX1JjTfxt7QrE-MonlkFPEJhwwCZ2qEYaRP5Rqu9pzMOGdwaR9I/s1024/64A40C70-7EC9-4C3D-88F9-FA78D516D26D.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeYnn8vaciiRpv-h6zqXLvH2_kiyHpFaldsANJ7Pvw-Wch5jcyIeXATyiy_TRoD3A1aa3Lj657Ywd9m4o52fL1Gm7V2QJ1Y6wCBB5HmiZPlknGqfUgS80p22nax0yz98GxOAL9jX1JjTfxt7QrE-MonlkFPEJhwwCZ2qEYaRP5Rqu9pzMOGdwaR9I/w400-h200/64A40C70-7EC9-4C3D-88F9-FA78D516D26D.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blood Quantum </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6qrViMFj4Y_HqKz0ol0rfPoy85_xBtwx0AhQ7aIo3GyB02vKvN7K4Lczo6VlMDd3RAhKL_734zHXMyL-OkE5jJ0fpjJf0VcL5SaxmeT0c_9A9BZyYMypEIQVgZdm5rTfvdzUnsDnwq2XZgzNpKvoyfhxZ4nGeRg29TZlQFXQscYZT77deyzoTxqp/s1024/BCB51EA2-A3CD-4D64-8226-5E9C5CDAA4E3.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6qrViMFj4Y_HqKz0ol0rfPoy85_xBtwx0AhQ7aIo3GyB02vKvN7K4Lczo6VlMDd3RAhKL_734zHXMyL-OkE5jJ0fpjJf0VcL5SaxmeT0c_9A9BZyYMypEIQVgZdm5rTfvdzUnsDnwq2XZgzNpKvoyfhxZ4nGeRg29TZlQFXQscYZT77deyzoTxqp/w400-h225/BCB51EA2-A3CD-4D64-8226-5E9C5CDAA4E3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT86sRHCGSrPXpuxoP3bEgNcALhHmd9JQrq_Cw1_MEUSww2akeD4sE3IMTxj01Ie57WlUp_-gOnyGRwLx9vojJ8Cvu_Otl-IOSszhMRdC-JAr9oISQA3amyW-ra6L2FlT-NFzKNARGAZZ1PoPZ0kaTJLM1p8OGoqM3OyQDzYMsR_8U-fua_6p1_75a/s750/E67C137F-585C-492E-9420-724D06B9FD22.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="750" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT86sRHCGSrPXpuxoP3bEgNcALhHmd9JQrq_Cw1_MEUSww2akeD4sE3IMTxj01Ie57WlUp_-gOnyGRwLx9vojJ8Cvu_Otl-IOSszhMRdC-JAr9oISQA3amyW-ra6L2FlT-NFzKNARGAZZ1PoPZ0kaTJLM1p8OGoqM3OyQDzYMsR_8U-fua_6p1_75a/w400-h240/E67C137F-585C-492E-9420-724D06B9FD22.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flux Gourmet </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgRNEqzLLb-ayL8doLEh1_35mCWRtw1cXcSneAjTlD-VjRSgpvA66dAA5oCkHKy_VTESuKWFyBLQiT7R1ZLlFl8AMB_KbS5e08CEgaPZWlj93RQGgPLaHqEbt4GIQuGxzmf5nJ-StCbZRfCZ4_YVW5B81JDNyxOwyXSLDy9lpP93z0QpOrbsQ7dYR/s1400/EFA89CE0-589C-4A3D-9B9E-9EFDEC41E716.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgRNEqzLLb-ayL8doLEh1_35mCWRtw1cXcSneAjTlD-VjRSgpvA66dAA5oCkHKy_VTESuKWFyBLQiT7R1ZLlFl8AMB_KbS5e08CEgaPZWlj93RQGgPLaHqEbt4GIQuGxzmf5nJ-StCbZRfCZ4_YVW5B81JDNyxOwyXSLDy9lpP93z0QpOrbsQ7dYR/w400-h200/EFA89CE0-589C-4A3D-9B9E-9EFDEC41E716.webp" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cannibal Holocaust </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-399315426442581842022-12-27T08:00:00.002-05:002022-12-27T08:00:00.231-05:00 Ten Reasons: Why THE INVITATION (2022) is not that bad…<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpKVi0YkxK1ZhCFroMCTH_2TjxCFzZ23I7Jhg2wSpllXIHMnD6KELa9cElEN5Q_ycID-P3O3Eu7i5KzcfaLKpHoTOpWj_gQtO6S73yOymHlpT0di-oyTyQWcKWzvjGi-i9O4qypxaFNHiXYpxmYSX4vzublULhTyBeIlGeMjRjaEAU1-W2IJA1q47/s1191/B3010B68-A329-4F34-8BB3-0254137E73B5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1191" data-original-width="1077" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpKVi0YkxK1ZhCFroMCTH_2TjxCFzZ23I7Jhg2wSpllXIHMnD6KELa9cElEN5Q_ycID-P3O3Eu7i5KzcfaLKpHoTOpWj_gQtO6S73yOymHlpT0di-oyTyQWcKWzvjGi-i9O4qypxaFNHiXYpxmYSX4vzublULhTyBeIlGeMjRjaEAU1-W2IJA1q47/s320/B3010B68-A329-4F34-8BB3-0254137E73B5.jpeg" width="289" /></a></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br />The Invitation, not to be confused with the very good 2015 film of the same name, is a new take on the old tropes of the Dracula story. </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2">Several years ago, in the era of True Blood, I couldn’t get enough of vampires…and believe me, they were everywhere—books, movies, television. But like all things presented to us in excess, I grew weary of fanged frights. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2">But along comes a new film that upon seeing the trailer catches my eye with all its gothic glory. And so I had to take a look. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2">Critically panned, The Invitation doesn’t offer anything particularly new to the sub-genre, with uninspiring dialogue and our lead character making one bad decision after another…but I’ve managed to find ten things that make the film salvageable. Here goes: </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5ZLbEaiZo3jTrillTjI8HN2G4ElmeLX9TgCdj-5zfz-MB6tC8s_sUG1ssMI_O3t2T5q5loUftrcuby0qvZ0hYIPanbegWojiX66PNnWyV4fCgrqKN3GWl1PIUfpEa7ENj7-HWejSDCvQdEKw6R1gajeJSv-OXJPXOb2wnBJNd6LScXHBaglDx6ez/s740/FE8F7CD0-47CA-44DF-86D8-506A4B7C8F1E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="740" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5ZLbEaiZo3jTrillTjI8HN2G4ElmeLX9TgCdj-5zfz-MB6tC8s_sUG1ssMI_O3t2T5q5loUftrcuby0qvZ0hYIPanbegWojiX66PNnWyV4fCgrqKN3GWl1PIUfpEa7ENj7-HWejSDCvQdEKw6R1gajeJSv-OXJPXOb2wnBJNd6LScXHBaglDx6ez/w400-h191/FE8F7CD0-47CA-44DF-86D8-506A4B7C8F1E.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="s2"><br />1) “New Carfax Abbey”</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2">More on the use of names from Stoker’s Dracula later. But let’s be serious, can we just talk about this location because it is…simply put…amazing.</span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2">Nadasdy Mansion in Nadasdladany, Hungary is not only an astoundingly beautiful estate, but has ties to Elizabeth Bathory (which if you are unfamiliar with that name I suggest a google that will lead you down a bloody rabbit hole). The fact that this movie was filmed in Hungary lends quite a bit of realism to a new take on an age-old story based in the quiet creepiness of Eastern Europe. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2">2) The score. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Dara Taylor is a composer I knew nothing about and didn’t learn a whole lot after googling. But her intriguing score is part of what drew me to the film in the first place. </span></span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Much of the music is in a minor key, as one would expect, and there are many unsettling cues—perfect for a dark and foreboding tale. Eerie female vocals and ominous synthesized themes really do elevate from being ordinary. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah41s7cJh8hTgZE-m0LO9Yn_dXMHegFi8VOU9NiAohKJeUwsPNVII4DkRB9SrbAuK8yu1bcRlydLjQZXr5Boix6GChT7F5SHKpqlO1rvoH82rin3O6JaS9pLQygztcy0WVDetusEqKHFrJHt54-qOdQxgPI-wvHzb9YMzc_t6nllh9B6jNyYJuLjZ/s1280/C9A2B7B3-978D-4391-98FE-203C7D7035B1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgah41s7cJh8hTgZE-m0LO9Yn_dXMHegFi8VOU9NiAohKJeUwsPNVII4DkRB9SrbAuK8yu1bcRlydLjQZXr5Boix6GChT7F5SHKpqlO1rvoH82rin3O6JaS9pLQygztcy0WVDetusEqKHFrJHt54-qOdQxgPI-wvHzb9YMzc_t6nllh9B6jNyYJuLjZ/w400-h225/C9A2B7B3-978D-4391-98FE-203C7D7035B1.png" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br />3) Nathalie Emmanuel, as our protagonist Evie, is someone else I was unfamiliar with, and at first glance I thought I was looking at Meghan Markle. Besides being beautiful, she was actually quite believable as a poor catering waitress trying to make it in NYC. Though as previously mentioned, she makes exceedingly bad choices, she is an ass-kicker at heart. </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSmTuTHW66T_PSk0SI_0WcLcplBLAJwiekOfLlgUecL7kC0ioChI447SA9UG9xnYBLfVjg57Pz6HnHbW3GMv47p4wKLkpiE_QUbBTub-ZGBbiw4y5OmajIps_ljl4qnGTLYswssdYIK9OPe5SjPsW0S7EVUL2m3oUAxAoJTfRxGGMP5G7CpQ-x4WR/s2000/875AC76B-A933-4CC4-8E7C-573388E05519.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="2000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlSmTuTHW66T_PSk0SI_0WcLcplBLAJwiekOfLlgUecL7kC0ioChI447SA9UG9xnYBLfVjg57Pz6HnHbW3GMv47p4wKLkpiE_QUbBTub-ZGBbiw4y5OmajIps_ljl4qnGTLYswssdYIK9OPe5SjPsW0S7EVUL2m3oUAxAoJTfRxGGMP5G7CpQ-x4WR/w400-h266/875AC76B-A933-4CC4-8E7C-573388E05519.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br />4) While we are discussing casting choices, I do have to say Thomas Doherty as a Walter “Lord of the manor” De Ville, does reek modern vampire deliciousness. He very much feels like the lead in a new CW supernatural show, with tangible finesse and suitable charisma. Any woman thrown in a gorgeous gothic mansion owned by this guy would be sure to throw all logic aside with one wink of those mesmerizing blue eyes. </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">5) The homages to the original Dracula legend, particularly with names, seem obvious but are still fun. Carfax Abbey, Lucy, and Mina and Jonathan Harker are all mentioned here, and the “three brides” is a direct reference to Dracula having three devoted brides. We learn right away that the mansion is named New Carfax Abbey, so it’s not really a secret where the story is going. </span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-m69ifSgSwNI_bUtaQeaB-U0bJKRV8wJwc2rGOLVUyg-INgsh5yBqJAbFg7D3wh2tU5NRCY21KWX54pgCrShMj9qMeQNrmx8tAWIkBCtSnM61XJAFWpWDlL1vKgSofBhuQ-V7CxEGrcFjEXCloJVkXKaI7HzfMUchpK2aN1ngjgvepojxQuXALlM/s1024/693270EC-1D2D-4CFB-94F6-2EA060F8C096.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1024" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-m69ifSgSwNI_bUtaQeaB-U0bJKRV8wJwc2rGOLVUyg-INgsh5yBqJAbFg7D3wh2tU5NRCY21KWX54pgCrShMj9qMeQNrmx8tAWIkBCtSnM61XJAFWpWDlL1vKgSofBhuQ-V7CxEGrcFjEXCloJVkXKaI7HzfMUchpK2aN1ngjgvepojxQuXALlM/w400-h250/693270EC-1D2D-4CFB-94F6-2EA060F8C096.webp" width="400" /></a></span></span></span></div><span class="s2"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br />6) The house. </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">As previously mentioned, the mansion is a stunning estate just from the outside alone. But the inside is just gorgeous, with dark wood everywhere—and with all the rooms one can imagine a house of this size would have, including a library which is unfortunately only shown in darkness or by candlelight. There are statues and grandiose art all over, including dragons (as in “son of the dragon” aka Dracula). Antiques abound, and the grounds are as beautiful as the inside. Definite eye candy. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">7) Set design. </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">What the designers did with the house needs its own mention, as it drips with class and wealth. Ornate architecture is shown off in mirrors and doorways and rooms filled with period furniture and tapestries, rugs and draperies, all very lush and inviting. </span></span><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Even the attention to detail of how a room is lit was so impressive. So that things lurking in the corner would be seen only if they are meant to be seen. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;">Shout out to the amazing costumes as well.</span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPi4aNB7q5jgyaamoJtgnciri8GaxiXrJWHSQAD9Yxf6I5vm7G9NoUrgMLKqF4o5U4W0hsN5qtKSpQgS6mAieZNnuwc_ZVVyedMAg_s0N3xH7wrRdA0rs-WiEKmFjEhtmJRUU86QhlDzUL6aXnVjTDe2NY2hzqmPjW7NByT9DTdb8BZPF6f9fKReB/s1600/5990D83B-7C2B-4A9B-8D0F-8FF25E315F97.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPi4aNB7q5jgyaamoJtgnciri8GaxiXrJWHSQAD9Yxf6I5vm7G9NoUrgMLKqF4o5U4W0hsN5qtKSpQgS6mAieZNnuwc_ZVVyedMAg_s0N3xH7wrRdA0rs-WiEKmFjEhtmJRUU86QhlDzUL6aXnVjTDe2NY2hzqmPjW7NByT9DTdb8BZPF6f9fKReB/w400-h225/5990D83B-7C2B-4A9B-8D0F-8FF25E315F97.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br />8) The romance. </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">Okay here’s where I might lose your interest but wait… while I am a huge fan of scary vampires like the ones from Salem’s Lot and 30 Days of Night, I do believe the vampire lends its history to a romantic side as well, with all the various legends of vampires taking human form and coercing a beautiful young lady to succumb to their every whim. And despite Evie being utterly foolish for not seeing the boatload of clues alluding to the secrets that are so very obvious to the rest of us, it always hits a girl right in the heart to see someone being swept off their feet in a whirlwind romance. If only he wasn’t out for blood. Literally. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3ek8G3BY_dILF1Q78XPjBWyzeiPNEXu7TBD2Z2C3bL6CGAkuu31ZXPTx8vtIjPkp_-_bGLVA_BV2WHkQISZdnNLojnuhBzRM_ZfMRVys9-7LNEVMga7ETLSnOBUsUfkD02qrwzy0OjviEV5eKubOeS-lUinO7A4fpnA8U4zt6fusDBe_Yl-3xD0Q/s1024/AB61166E-1F6A-4241-AEFD-A01A72E922BF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="1024" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT3ek8G3BY_dILF1Q78XPjBWyzeiPNEXu7TBD2Z2C3bL6CGAkuu31ZXPTx8vtIjPkp_-_bGLVA_BV2WHkQISZdnNLojnuhBzRM_ZfMRVys9-7LNEVMga7ETLSnOBUsUfkD02qrwzy0OjviEV5eKubOeS-lUinO7A4fpnA8U4zt6fusDBe_Yl-3xD0Q/w400-h229/AB61166E-1F6A-4241-AEFD-A01A72E922BF.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br />9) The rehearsal dinner. </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">In which all is explained and all is certainly revealed. Amongst a feast of epic proportions in which guests are wearing masks and there is enough food to feed the whole of the armed services. A smorgasbord of food and truths. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpDTy7_QUXxQ_mL6Z2BruojbUqv3QKFRo9N_TLFL8Ciyw7jEjV4120yV-Ryrtfu56yOrHQtj3nOzmCJDw1NHEd6AigupSoVE8exqBQAGBsb7BAoosDiWzMSNSSc-8r5SB3nViaiTINvg4tlKqZSq1pGkG_V-HUWPvN1Xn9bLKwVtpd4gXv0EQCjDx/s1344/ACE7B0A2-4C57-4D47-8DF0-48E464AB06F1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1344" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpDTy7_QUXxQ_mL6Z2BruojbUqv3QKFRo9N_TLFL8Ciyw7jEjV4120yV-Ryrtfu56yOrHQtj3nOzmCJDw1NHEd6AigupSoVE8exqBQAGBsb7BAoosDiWzMSNSSc-8r5SB3nViaiTINvg4tlKqZSq1pGkG_V-HUWPvN1Xn9bLKwVtpd4gXv0EQCjDx/w400-h266/ACE7B0A2-4C57-4D47-8DF0-48E464AB06F1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="s2"><br />10) The bloodletting. </span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2">This is, after all, a vampire film. We wait quite a bit for any real bloody gore, and it probably does seem tame up until nearly the end when there is finally THAT SCENE in which we are treated to a visual explanation of just what’s going on. And the blood continues from there. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"><span face="Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; background-color: #202124; caret-color: rgb(189, 193, 198); color: #bdc1c6; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2"> </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-39898669043289331162022-12-25T08:00:00.002-05:002022-12-25T08:00:00.192-05:00Sunday Bloody Sunday: Bloody Christmas Edition<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGneDri_TxZNiNonOL8uZKA87tCS4WNMIQNl4hD32ZYSvRV_x7dZvHVOm5LF4EhLAf3yzM2WE_mjnA4PmqD3qHftCwc2Rb4I40nvpN_YZUtFpNWAZPKl-9UC6nDahmBVhPSPVIU78o9pxFuAghqVygQGAyIi5bQBf8BayaMGjTIx5szpyzyNJwGjeZ/s1050/violent%20night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1050" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGneDri_TxZNiNonOL8uZKA87tCS4WNMIQNl4hD32ZYSvRV_x7dZvHVOm5LF4EhLAf3yzM2WE_mjnA4PmqD3qHftCwc2Rb4I40nvpN_YZUtFpNWAZPKl-9UC6nDahmBVhPSPVIU78o9pxFuAghqVygQGAyIi5bQBf8BayaMGjTIx5szpyzyNJwGjeZ/w640-h360/violent%20night.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Violent Night (2022) </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkou6ILvphkeM8ZZ7_sN3ZZAvq-dvKyg_mpKxl5rWkFou03DgaMYk6h_uF69H7LagOHNgG0ruVCRfH03H760IUB6kl5mqTbqZYimNSKPpHkI8Iqj6Ewv94UDlfIMcWkbQ_0Fsg4DetdVNESlBOZDdakeVu0bRYjdGGiuNCD5dAlgSazgrvUuGiwd_/s275/silent%20night%20bloody%20night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkou6ILvphkeM8ZZ7_sN3ZZAvq-dvKyg_mpKxl5rWkFou03DgaMYk6h_uF69H7LagOHNgG0ruVCRfH03H760IUB6kl5mqTbqZYimNSKPpHkI8Iqj6Ewv94UDlfIMcWkbQ_0Fsg4DetdVNESlBOZDdakeVu0bRYjdGGiuNCD5dAlgSazgrvUuGiwd_/w640-h426/silent%20night%20bloody%20night.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Silent Night Bloody Night (1972)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHfr4qF93zb7yfbytJkEqGYt8E3MFXFSvmf_cTQZ968cZbK2OXt3drJEzVc9rfXup7F_PbdxV7pJ6MqnHB9bkkak-LSvf7Ry8exjoJ9l8_vfcQgQHi9rBGTk20YsPdeSCSaKqFfKK3yj6nWQkycNnJXsxkw73ay1VSCg8w-loM6uS3DI_qMQsvQKD/s275/christmas%20horror%20story%20changeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOHfr4qF93zb7yfbytJkEqGYt8E3MFXFSvmf_cTQZ968cZbK2OXt3drJEzVc9rfXup7F_PbdxV7pJ6MqnHB9bkkak-LSvf7Ry8exjoJ9l8_vfcQgQHi9rBGTk20YsPdeSCSaKqFfKK3yj6nWQkycNnJXsxkw73ay1VSCg8w-loM6uS3DI_qMQsvQKD/w426-h640/christmas%20horror%20story%20changeling.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Christmas Horror Story (2015)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk-zhYVyFStppiguy6TIVuLY9gaI1mdJ4uTh_QE_OxEJndehxIkxyPuk0LpjqaS0VIeukjZTxxqj5PSC8nnum-jDAYU2kVSTOZSx3sGXvl7g-oXOvlq6IqbbSZEaqRAnP5FO15DMgJ7cUqgiy1sMhyqtSlhWw3ZnT_ag7-nHwRQxHcNebGiX6KJ-9/s1000/A-CHRISTMAS-HORROR-STORY-via-Image.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwk-zhYVyFStppiguy6TIVuLY9gaI1mdJ4uTh_QE_OxEJndehxIkxyPuk0LpjqaS0VIeukjZTxxqj5PSC8nnum-jDAYU2kVSTOZSx3sGXvl7g-oXOvlq6IqbbSZEaqRAnP5FO15DMgJ7cUqgiy1sMhyqtSlhWw3ZnT_ag7-nHwRQxHcNebGiX6KJ-9/w640-h384/A-CHRISTMAS-HORROR-STORY-via-Image.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Christmas Horror Story </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9M0uXOtEsmDlIc-RBwgFMExmOkZqnl32rPLccmjY-9DOE0nHdxsLNbWZ98XqA1rZLyloMkKDmC-F8K5xz5DJEAmjipbpmqbkNU9eDANfmiJlq26Id7tWs2rBvtfrd5GGFclw8AVr8JLRLR-FURXbBqPY1rjWiGmB2Das8mpeKlnzEF8dYtvdF4l3/s768/christmas-horror-abortion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi9M0uXOtEsmDlIc-RBwgFMExmOkZqnl32rPLccmjY-9DOE0nHdxsLNbWZ98XqA1rZLyloMkKDmC-F8K5xz5DJEAmjipbpmqbkNU9eDANfmiJlq26Id7tWs2rBvtfrd5GGFclw8AVr8JLRLR-FURXbBqPY1rjWiGmB2Das8mpeKlnzEF8dYtvdF4l3/w640-h360/christmas-horror-abortion.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Christmas Horror Story</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBNgJPETJ_E_dny0rSssd5Z2nbC977N53RCLikK7xPfj0O2z-UX2daIOtZXU-VHchcCJ55Mxr2tYXS9jratSGNeBo1mqN4FYnMoBYdXSUFMHSjaaYssOQ66CbK3yPP08qlfaWfrYgI0CBYVAsk2f9_YEo70Lw_Hzu6LPlPZ3KPgYKWPywa8xPqSCM/s2048/christmas%20horror%20story%20elf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBNgJPETJ_E_dny0rSssd5Z2nbC977N53RCLikK7xPfj0O2z-UX2daIOtZXU-VHchcCJ55Mxr2tYXS9jratSGNeBo1mqN4FYnMoBYdXSUFMHSjaaYssOQ66CbK3yPP08qlfaWfrYgI0CBYVAsk2f9_YEo70Lw_Hzu6LPlPZ3KPgYKWPywa8xPqSCM/w640-h426/christmas%20horror%20story%20elf.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Christmas Horror Story <br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWo6t-GgnvtP8Y1-6k-toeQEjVRkQYQ_AZ7xU9QgWIvfUQQSLmqnndh9-4yQDbz-ruNz-OooL0k8PwGMpA_FJqiT0cnH__q2krb7DHsj5cIKL75fAXUThd8UPfaRu0ugHWSaYKTxYVddwKjqW2ppbnlgSn-Pun44XlmHL0IMaDFkaClPhvC4ZaZq4/s1024/Silent-Night-Deadly-Night-still-10_7dc5f9f8-6fd4-e711-9448-0ad9f5e1f797_lg.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWo6t-GgnvtP8Y1-6k-toeQEjVRkQYQ_AZ7xU9QgWIvfUQQSLmqnndh9-4yQDbz-ruNz-OooL0k8PwGMpA_FJqiT0cnH__q2krb7DHsj5cIKL75fAXUThd8UPfaRu0ugHWSaYKTxYVddwKjqW2ppbnlgSn-Pun44XlmHL0IMaDFkaClPhvC4ZaZq4/w640-h360/Silent-Night-Deadly-Night-still-10_7dc5f9f8-6fd4-e711-9448-0ad9f5e1f797_lg.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Silent Night Deadly Night (1984)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-81045606420967525512022-12-19T08:00:00.001-05:002022-12-19T08:00:00.193-05:00Review: Splinter (2021)<p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFjcPTNirLJWvJdPpreCbnruMxF-aIWTFCyug9jArduggD7UaLnuqDdyYHfyDtGqny6u6buzYdG1u7lwxEdgnoCNye3T6zDyGwbx7d0PyFqnlh8MWRdTRmfzS_q5_3lzxV4sYS7ukb-LfqvBfWVZTAPsZKGdnGWUyAEbr7hoakGoJJQZIJU6XRg_P/s3200/778A1229-2064-4D15-90D6-6494339E2C1E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFjcPTNirLJWvJdPpreCbnruMxF-aIWTFCyug9jArduggD7UaLnuqDdyYHfyDtGqny6u6buzYdG1u7lwxEdgnoCNye3T6zDyGwbx7d0PyFqnlh8MWRdTRmfzS_q5_3lzxV4sYS7ukb-LfqvBfWVZTAPsZKGdnGWUyAEbr7hoakGoJJQZIJU6XRg_P/w250-h400/778A1229-2064-4D15-90D6-6494339E2C1E.jpeg" width="250" /></a></span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"><br />I had originally picked this film to watch because it is rather falsely advertised as a Christmas horror movie. While it does take place—well part of it, anyway—at Christmas, it is really not a horror film but more of a psychological thriller, and I use the word thriller loosely.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;">And it doesn’t involve anyone dressing up like Santa to go out and murder innocent folks.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;"> </span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When Splinter starts, John (Bill Fellows, in a terrific performance) is arriving home with his arms full of Christmas packages. (I will say he is donning a Santa hat but it’s nothing malevolent!). He comes inside and upon stepping into the kitchen, sees his wife and son dead…murdered in cold blood. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Six months later John is a complete recluse. He doesn’t leave his house and in fact doesn’t even open his curtains. The Christmas tree and all the other holiday decorations are still up and out and he is very obviously not able to move on from the tragedy. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He continues with a daily routine overshadowed with melancholy and the inability to process his grief. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiphDibGgIWN4RBjyTMBE7M9ZQhb-5pGfiFIzF86I6lfHRkbjrHdg__1iLFI1juZSoTmLi1f-b-s204E2fux5fmS0gqQRaXiwYhAa36GYWYuao5dIgSyPqjXK0gWEvdvh0GUV1hjvLpwldz18DhsLFmOUzo4f7R-5KFbcpZsG8pr-r-KkQgGeXV_8n/s819/F54C9D3D-D7EA-471B-98EC-8CD198958CDF.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="819" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiphDibGgIWN4RBjyTMBE7M9ZQhb-5pGfiFIzF86I6lfHRkbjrHdg__1iLFI1juZSoTmLi1f-b-s204E2fux5fmS0gqQRaXiwYhAa36GYWYuao5dIgSyPqjXK0gWEvdvh0GUV1hjvLpwldz18DhsLFmOUzo4f7R-5KFbcpZsG8pr-r-KkQgGeXV_8n/w400-h211/F54C9D3D-D7EA-471B-98EC-8CD198958CDF.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br />While we are not sure if John works from home or lost his job or is retired, he doesn’t seem to work. He also struggles with OCD, which we aren’t sure if that is new or if he always had the affliction. He turns the light off and on exactly five times before leaving it on, taps his spoon on his cup four times every time, etc. </span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">John does see a therapist (Jane Archer!), albeit one that is nice enough to come to his house since he won’t go out. She tries to get him to relive the time when his family was killed to try and get past it but he still struggles, as anyone would. He also has a medicine cabinet full of what we can assume are antidepressants and/or anxiety pills. But it is possible John’s other mental health issues are also preventing him from moving on? </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">When John begins to sense someone is watching him, he begins to wonder if it could be his wife and son….or something more sinister. He sees shadows, receives threatening notes under his front door, and just has an altogether sense of unease. </span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsX0q2vGgs4DG7Mi7GKRgM9gSQn-WAvyv_REX6pNj24hQSfuWyxJ059oe34oI7tTPD9SnmMCr7ZLIBfeRroclER2h7jOHNFesfm_FPgeNfpjCmmE21r9X0B9MEd8jhO6iRCLXCEMr1HxM-2GDT6F1cCWSrJ0_qluDOQo-KVT6EbX3uD1m8DEVFFY_/s828/7B0F9EED-9861-4E69-A9A3-7A7C4B64FF9A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="828" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsX0q2vGgs4DG7Mi7GKRgM9gSQn-WAvyv_REX6pNj24hQSfuWyxJ059oe34oI7tTPD9SnmMCr7ZLIBfeRroclER2h7jOHNFesfm_FPgeNfpjCmmE21r9X0B9MEd8jhO6iRCLXCEMr1HxM-2GDT6F1cCWSrJ0_qluDOQo-KVT6EbX3uD1m8DEVFFY_/w400-h183/7B0F9EED-9861-4E69-A9A3-7A7C4B64FF9A.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br />I was actually pretty impressed with this little indie film. The lead performance of Fellows shows incredible range and impressive depth. To pull off a believable struggle with the complexities of mental health issues is no easy task—but in this role he was able to capture so many emotions from mourning to anger to disbelief to confusion. </span><p></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Though Splinter is no fast paced thriller, it does have moments of bloody horror that they don’t really hold back from. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What it does have in droves is a man’s struggle to deal with the worst possible thing one could go through—and how that trauma affects every part of his life…so much so that he isn’t sure what is real and what is imagined. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s2" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I’d recommend this slow burn and will be interested to see what director David Bryant has in store for us going forward. </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-80603644851672356772022-12-18T08:00:00.001-05:002022-12-18T08:00:00.193-05:00Sunday Bloody Sunday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz7inYFy7R7PbRjo2FrwbMgS5z8H2-5qbcNOgcI6-bz4B72QKefylnEncJrU-Z3obB1Pm2rC3iJsDHeb5zFoQOgkPRxSLspjAsl0E4UZPgQ8h7Hr406q3_j_J09FF4PXJW74-xhE729xK4OwWWBcKFadxP6Yi-h_OEjNUn7G0OyGn-8BtZJ47na3k/s1107/The%20Hunt%202020.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1107" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuz7inYFy7R7PbRjo2FrwbMgS5z8H2-5qbcNOgcI6-bz4B72QKefylnEncJrU-Z3obB1Pm2rC3iJsDHeb5zFoQOgkPRxSLspjAsl0E4UZPgQ8h7Hr406q3_j_J09FF4PXJW74-xhE729xK4OwWWBcKFadxP6Yi-h_OEjNUn7G0OyGn-8BtZJ47na3k/w640-h354/The%20Hunt%202020.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Hunt (2020)</span><br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNz6zDSE2mjjMl6PJvOarVZX0odknCmAnyI6FM_390jtLzXauw_s6S-_km0sRXYVVkkPJm83speU49ohedTT5bnIPCcMARhzIfQRH2AbqlfUdXeSgBchg77oSz8Tx8bcRAu9TzLFYx-g-7lSG3xNo7utu5ZxzzmLIUiy-awgB6q7SAR_9zzXDXvCHm/s1200/It%20chapter%202%202019.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNz6zDSE2mjjMl6PJvOarVZX0odknCmAnyI6FM_390jtLzXauw_s6S-_km0sRXYVVkkPJm83speU49ohedTT5bnIPCcMARhzIfQRH2AbqlfUdXeSgBchg77oSz8Tx8bcRAu9TzLFYx-g-7lSG3xNo7utu5ZxzzmLIUiy-awgB6q7SAR_9zzXDXvCHm/w640-h320/It%20chapter%202%202019.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It Chapter 2 (2019)<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3e4AZjlEewPT-wx4Vbu4Rps0xZckJju6inkIdupkj-HfVgmpAMY-Ybn6Nuhkb_Hw09dDDYllfkRWUAesa2p2v8rebqp-iQ_5cqSeJd5zlmtnhnPhuZ1Hlv-M9_RfoaXy003Wm5GC3Gd3qJRwxG43Uj6nh5gF8KavyK3iELa87_aXsWYZc6AGjXjA/s1920/thebrood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb3e4AZjlEewPT-wx4Vbu4Rps0xZckJju6inkIdupkj-HfVgmpAMY-Ybn6Nuhkb_Hw09dDDYllfkRWUAesa2p2v8rebqp-iQ_5cqSeJd5zlmtnhnPhuZ1Hlv-M9_RfoaXy003Wm5GC3Gd3qJRwxG43Uj6nh5gF8KavyK3iELa87_aXsWYZc6AGjXjA/w640-h360/thebrood.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Brood (1979)<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b28vomXuN3H9B-Zn0wWrjV46rQVDr0IlChohLADnYzbZMpiCoMVHVR-ue6kGzUw6kY1rR02ZKCj29NhiaDHY09Ootqb5ZM7g2JmHlyGmXrYN9lOS95YAKHMDBDZN4-Kd1m-qyQPQVBgpxN1g8jN4jog2Cgo57GGdPMtQ8MeSDpBJtc0FPDfKMbca/s1254/run-sweet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="1254" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b28vomXuN3H9B-Zn0wWrjV46rQVDr0IlChohLADnYzbZMpiCoMVHVR-ue6kGzUw6kY1rR02ZKCj29NhiaDHY09Ootqb5ZM7g2JmHlyGmXrYN9lOS95YAKHMDBDZN4-Kd1m-qyQPQVBgpxN1g8jN4jog2Cgo57GGdPMtQ8MeSDpBJtc0FPDfKMbca/w640-h312/run-sweet.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Run Sweetheart Run (2020)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LLLiUa7cm237k5nyejV3ma9fsVdaSI4FE69Io_J4FWy6gie1WMNRU58uYbEja2N0ef1AcRNkOOLEsVc4I1-fs3AVVtEmKjpPJAvVDKU_CAmeP1oFCfduELNSs0SN1lprlwlaB4tMVzg8kSKEOVueyc3LspmNRHOrgbqb9bTpP5rwcc75lum28JM9/s1000/the%20grudge%202020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LLLiUa7cm237k5nyejV3ma9fsVdaSI4FE69Io_J4FWy6gie1WMNRU58uYbEja2N0ef1AcRNkOOLEsVc4I1-fs3AVVtEmKjpPJAvVDKU_CAmeP1oFCfduELNSs0SN1lprlwlaB4tMVzg8kSKEOVueyc3LspmNRHOrgbqb9bTpP5rwcc75lum28JM9/w640-h426/the%20grudge%202020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Grudge (2020)<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZLurbGS3rGiPuNR1Yw_IodXmNfjM-srQ7EVx7EiJKNhY8Be7gblcfvoBNXz580IUuaipI3Dsbw_1qP5N1WugnuE9bzSpapx8Q8oQtdSOWivq-FZWK-KOMC_kOdHxmf-7PcJCtZ9H2tef2FFC_uyeNJlsABThijCTzCiQm0-UWDddwHwnVY33fZeG/s740/mandy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="740" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZLurbGS3rGiPuNR1Yw_IodXmNfjM-srQ7EVx7EiJKNhY8Be7gblcfvoBNXz580IUuaipI3Dsbw_1qP5N1WugnuE9bzSpapx8Q8oQtdSOWivq-FZWK-KOMC_kOdHxmf-7PcJCtZ9H2tef2FFC_uyeNJlsABThijCTzCiQm0-UWDddwHwnVY33fZeG/w640-h328/mandy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mandy (2018)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-29584653323451103582022-12-14T22:40:00.002-05:002022-12-14T22:46:31.361-05:00Rapid Review: The Krampus (non-fiction)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOCKc1BpZuhGFwMEQuzcxQf4-EZTyoIG6tqe6WuLSxwKZ0dDpTrSN28pW_vzxyM6V9BSpXJeOttgnx3PP84Y0QnWDneL-6PIgYd_VXOxdabbSx61_t3cj1d8n2PHRnX4VWLitz3iDeY1aZxBSU89hIQhxViNyguDd-qllxLpFZQNlKz3q5wXHCt9j/s930/E9DBE4CF-CC5E-4005-8675-571E1ED8A5F5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="930" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOCKc1BpZuhGFwMEQuzcxQf4-EZTyoIG6tqe6WuLSxwKZ0dDpTrSN28pW_vzxyM6V9BSpXJeOttgnx3PP84Y0QnWDneL-6PIgYd_VXOxdabbSx61_t3cj1d8n2PHRnX4VWLitz3iDeY1aZxBSU89hIQhxViNyguDd-qllxLpFZQNlKz3q5wXHCt9j/s320/E9DBE4CF-CC5E-4005-8675-571E1ED8A5F5.jpeg" width="233" /></a></div><br />From 2016, Al Ridenour’s beautiful and absorbing book: The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil, is the perfect companion to your evening by the fire during that nasty snowstorm. Wait….is that the wind you hear howling outside or……</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div>I always love to pull this book out this time of year. It’s an extremely fascinating look at Krampus and all the various incarnations, festivals and lore.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbsqAFvOM9EJuzQp0ECOBg6QoHC3WvagGJysjta4I6TA8kutvXtM6A4KhUASCTRcjf6uRAwSnV3sJJ3_yZ-EoojL6vxV9pxduRFAQxSqE6BXZtzmfVVyqFeomaJEqcdFPtWOKGTkQHDD97Ez5fenjAJ6513wtnrBW5D7VHjLjQ5w9XAS7ElVD80On/s3994/45F6E416-2C69-4F18-9AF6-533E7D1D9E11.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3994" data-original-width="2951" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbsqAFvOM9EJuzQp0ECOBg6QoHC3WvagGJysjta4I6TA8kutvXtM6A4KhUASCTRcjf6uRAwSnV3sJJ3_yZ-EoojL6vxV9pxduRFAQxSqE6BXZtzmfVVyqFeomaJEqcdFPtWOKGTkQHDD97Ez5fenjAJ6513wtnrBW5D7VHjLjQ5w9XAS7ElVD80On/s320/45F6E416-2C69-4F18-9AF6-533E7D1D9E11.jpeg" width="236" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> From its roots in Germany and Austria to its recent resurgence in America and beyond, Krampus and Krampusnacht have woven their way into the fabric of the holidays.
Considered the “dark half” of the Santa Claus legend, Krampus supposedly grabbed up naughty children—in contrast to Saint Nicholas showering children with gifts. Forget coal! In old world lore, Krampus would just disembowel bad kids. Yikes! </div><div><br /></div><div> Chapters include everything from the traditional look of Krampus (suits and masks) to where he came from and how he relates to St. Nick and other Christmasy types, to descriptions and folklore of many other Yuletide and winter ghosts, devils, and monsters of olde. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eAENF_rdfERXwuC_26RmetJPzInypM2gHen-8qJCVxSKlKptmFDC2v1lzSee2EVtXM0N8ECZik_NQGwcNHdWPeiqM67R2wgHJwv_5lElQvBw4GncbwTMcdxHOLjYw-SlFfxWz14mouKtFbo9iieYouGnG-L8ls9VB4jtjC2CJoyPHF7WZgyL_e4R/s3341/63E7095D-8BDA-4D78-8B52-13D703AD1604.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3341" data-original-width="2985" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eAENF_rdfERXwuC_26RmetJPzInypM2gHen-8qJCVxSKlKptmFDC2v1lzSee2EVtXM0N8ECZik_NQGwcNHdWPeiqM67R2wgHJwv_5lElQvBw4GncbwTMcdxHOLjYw-SlFfxWz14mouKtFbo9iieYouGnG-L8ls9VB4jtjC2CJoyPHF7WZgyL_e4R/s320/63E7095D-8BDA-4D78-8B52-13D703AD1604.jpeg" width="286" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Exhaustively well researched by someone with an obvious love of the Krampus legend, this book has tons of exceptional photos and drawings as well. Parade and festival pictures abound from all over the world, showing masks and Krampus outfits-detailing how seriously this is all taken, particularly in Germany/Austria. It even includes maps of significant towns and landmarks. </div><div><br /></div><div> Anyone interested in folklore and in particular DARK lore should definitely check this book out and make it part of
your holiday reading. </div>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-64238000420808808092022-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:002022-12-12T08:00:00.209-05:00Troll (2022) -- Norwegian Folklore Meets Monster-Sized Effects<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxuR4P5bnsETWOdGM8QAOq5KwJoANRCn2Dlg3R3VfAEBeXg628woMAM6UJXJlS495lqquI11bVkqhZQ8qA3aIDJyiQZwa_geQtF8iJRYRQ1oIKTB6LY4omh6XO3AGe-s1rXIbLQTVxg0_00Og5X-LFqeBKEu4xVdfak_6rTPrBwhe5mV_l29Yf8VL/s290/troll%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxuR4P5bnsETWOdGM8QAOq5KwJoANRCn2Dlg3R3VfAEBeXg628woMAM6UJXJlS495lqquI11bVkqhZQ8qA3aIDJyiQZwa_geQtF8iJRYRQ1oIKTB6LY4omh6XO3AGe-s1rXIbLQTVxg0_00Og5X-LFqeBKEu4xVdfak_6rTPrBwhe5mV_l29Yf8VL/w400-h240/troll%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">In Norwegian folklore, trolls factor very much into the tapestry of the stunning Scandinavian landscape.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">Nordic mythology describes them as being family oriented but not much of a fan of humans especially those embracing Christianity, and will deliberately</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;">cause harm if disturbed from their mountain homes. There are varying descriptions and characteristics of these beings, but the general consensus is that they are dangerous and shouldn’t be taken lightly.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px; text-size-adjust: auto;"> </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">There have been a few movies about trolls—for adults, that is—with 2010’s Trollhunter leading the pack. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But with the new Netflix film Troll, we get something a little more akin to Godzilla than your average monster-of-the-week flick. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes the language is Norwegian but you won’t even notice it, there’s much more to look at.</span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e-F0AXO1UOGEk7ShCLH7azJ1iTEDSGOE7OXYw9KfR5_q7-zB5iVCiwRMzVWz8fyF0xJTSy66BHGjRoRyjsyWmH-NsYaIMUUqV4Aq8FJen34AlZowWLynTWi-JyHzm-KypW0uJ-hgDjqMEot3xFg7PX0VrG2yvxFdGJxdiDmc22-Be5HlJ7N2Ywdh/s768/Troll-Netflix.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6e-F0AXO1UOGEk7ShCLH7azJ1iTEDSGOE7OXYw9KfR5_q7-zB5iVCiwRMzVWz8fyF0xJTSy66BHGjRoRyjsyWmH-NsYaIMUUqV4Aq8FJen34AlZowWLynTWi-JyHzm-KypW0uJ-hgDjqMEot3xFg7PX0VrG2yvxFdGJxdiDmc22-Be5HlJ7N2Ywdh/w400-h225/Troll-Netflix.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">A project to blast a tunnel into the side of a mountain goes awry when it awakens what we know is a troll (hence the obvious title!) from its ancient slumber. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It begins wreaking havoc in the countryside and begins to raise the eyebrows of the prime minister and her cabinet. </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Nora Tidemman is a paleontologist working out in the field when she is interrupted by the prime minister’s advisor Andreas who directs her to accompany him at the order of the government. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She discovers what has been happening and immediately thinks of her father Tobias, a folklorist who raised Nora alone after her mother’s death. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He instilled not only family values but the notion that you need to believe to see (and not the other way around). <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They were once close but have been estranged for years, yet when Nora shows up at his cabin with Andreas and a military captain, Kris, Tobias is hesitant and even hostile—until he sees the computer footage of what is certainly a troll destroying homes and killing unsuspecting folks. He is 100% of the belief that the government’s plan to pretty much blow up the troll is a massive mistake in judgement. He consults his years of research into trolls (which incidentally got him fired from his past job) and tries to convince the powers that be that using military force will not stop and only aggravate the monster. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCtc4cnapFgJKHBuRZyIIqSBqlHLMwoCzBlIj7C2ymrVuKAwrXMX_iqT6SeoSzULW7JPBfIepKysZpzJHe8j0MhHD4Ys2dGsoFltXEq_b6xNFEQp-WScZ9b5lJeLAXptvPuELkebfJ8f-X0bfsYEJLa2L6I7bXiwzOdn_3SJ32qAs6m8Tjs6Ig4sQ/s1200/troll%205.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCtc4cnapFgJKHBuRZyIIqSBqlHLMwoCzBlIj7C2ymrVuKAwrXMX_iqT6SeoSzULW7JPBfIepKysZpzJHe8j0MhHD4Ys2dGsoFltXEq_b6xNFEQp-WScZ9b5lJeLAXptvPuELkebfJ8f-X0bfsYEJLa2L6I7bXiwzOdn_3SJ32qAs6m8Tjs6Ig4sQ/w400-h200/troll%205.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Alas, as is common in most governments across the world, power and stupidity trump reason and they attempt to take out the troll with heavy artillery. When that doesn't work, they try various other options that are not successful - and the troll is determined to be making his way to the capitol. The prime minister and her cronies finally decide to utilize nuclear weapons which will most certainly cause death, destruction and long-lasting effects for Oslo, but they feel they have no choice. Naturally Nora and her rag-tag team disagree - and the question starts to become not when they should nuke the troll, but IF. </span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzr6rajwS7dXOglU7luCRRSOeGUJ0Kaw9Ly1uQOElWCSzeQYZD19FR_XnF_X96-HTcksM4X-oOVaitXRmJCcEw9nUEq2W9GuCacd3hSrQYuW4OosQmtcTV8LylXKi2fj0KFstoq4VsS0-im2DYw9Bb7AVcMBbDmGuB2elRmwR6hNOy5KsJkfCMMrU/s1280/troll%203.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzr6rajwS7dXOglU7luCRRSOeGUJ0Kaw9Ly1uQOElWCSzeQYZD19FR_XnF_X96-HTcksM4X-oOVaitXRmJCcEw9nUEq2W9GuCacd3hSrQYuW4OosQmtcTV8LylXKi2fj0KFstoq4VsS0-im2DYw9Bb7AVcMBbDmGuB2elRmwR6hNOy5KsJkfCMMrU/w400-h225/troll%203.webp" width="400" /></a></span></div><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">Fans of horror, be aware that this is not particularly a "horror" film. It is much more akin to Godzilla or King Kong, and brings the action in droves. There are a few moments of abject terror, but nothing particularly scary. The monster is spectacular, and that moment when Nora discovers what they are dealing with put me in mind of the scene in Jurassic Park where Dr Grant & Co. first see the Brachiosaurus. Shock, excitement, disbelief....</span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">There is not a whole lot of originality in the base of the plot -- which is basically "Where'd that come from?! Kill it!" --but the troll himself as well as the deep dive into Norse folklore more than make up for it. The sympathy that you express when they are shooting King Kong or trying to bomb Godzilla? It's exactly like that. Your love of the monster has you rooting for him by halfway through the film. </span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;">I feel like they ended it in such a way that a sequel is imminent, particularly because the film has done so well on Netflix. It's a fun popcorn movie that is probably well on its way to being a franchise - and I'm okay with that. </span></p>Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8237781251652279105.post-1145105355514841722022-12-11T08:00:00.009-05:002022-12-11T08:00:00.184-05:00The Return of Sunday Bloody Sunday<p> It's been a long time coming, folks! So here we go........</p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDoZZNkC6fmOCJskt-ZWDmSIZi0aqfu9rCvdHITdMX_Doi3sVxaTNAXioP30RxvNQOmX0OgLikJ5BWlxKocwYt64NMAazZElL8JqXVCQFo3re32UAkF8mF-e-F0ijbWYbCAlSePzdvv3cLVjwub74m9o4k74HgzahEcZEmv2_CJQW3fTYVTp0PFAi/s620/Son%202021.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="620" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggDoZZNkC6fmOCJskt-ZWDmSIZi0aqfu9rCvdHITdMX_Doi3sVxaTNAXioP30RxvNQOmX0OgLikJ5BWlxKocwYt64NMAazZElL8JqXVCQFo3re32UAkF8mF-e-F0ijbWYbCAlSePzdvv3cLVjwub74m9o4k74HgzahEcZEmv2_CJQW3fTYVTp0PFAi/w640-h384/Son%202021.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Son (2021)<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hxE8beXsg_KQh6iSby4x4KEOo9kwqM-YG5cTSTLOBS3wblrNcJ38VKTnPMp7Q5AM0Kvj09JzQehnYp7snQddHwtLInvY54NwOKHUH0GSFVUJrORyCjqV57xrvLOkw92DuXB6wUJrCnJmpmuK-DzPb6SN6_XY-MC8HBjpjz5Oa7wNL2YZk_YjvZM8/s1000/Noroi%20the%20Curse%202005.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hxE8beXsg_KQh6iSby4x4KEOo9kwqM-YG5cTSTLOBS3wblrNcJ38VKTnPMp7Q5AM0Kvj09JzQehnYp7snQddHwtLInvY54NwOKHUH0GSFVUJrORyCjqV57xrvLOkw92DuXB6wUJrCnJmpmuK-DzPb6SN6_XY-MC8HBjpjz5Oa7wNL2YZk_YjvZM8/w640-h480/Noroi%20the%20Curse%202005.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Noroi: The Curse (2005)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNXMdDmh-BGDZ81GG2qM53zJAvWl674jTbOStTaLN69q_GZz7VNCCnbRU8CM9LmN2t7EAwiIMxdEigrTzTLnwjWaJZq_BUK0jQz5rG7ta2kQdQbnBduKJOAO5SCCYlJL0h8oKMcXiSMdANcBgtMXsVQ6AOqE5au_reR9owCqMdg-jXw7OwBU0KJuk/s1024/rabid%201977.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNXMdDmh-BGDZ81GG2qM53zJAvWl674jTbOStTaLN69q_GZz7VNCCnbRU8CM9LmN2t7EAwiIMxdEigrTzTLnwjWaJZq_BUK0jQz5rG7ta2kQdQbnBduKJOAO5SCCYlJL0h8oKMcXiSMdANcBgtMXsVQ6AOqE5au_reR9owCqMdg-jXw7OwBU0KJuk/w640-h360/rabid%201977.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rabid (1977)<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZVUdZc9q8aql_fJt5BQzmeqwD4O7i0a6wwB9bSzuYdCQhDBHmIvOjP3JqCTZIDBr2o3AvbTP-qNOioyT_U7HCRzrEH3H_VO6jrSsy_wtEdNWvgbOGy3O9HKVS0VKQcderaIdw8B86ZlyLo2KSNb1LcRFPblHNVaHzP5YosPmD5eVqvg-9vdVkqpi/s1200/terrifier%202.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZVUdZc9q8aql_fJt5BQzmeqwD4O7i0a6wwB9bSzuYdCQhDBHmIvOjP3JqCTZIDBr2o3AvbTP-qNOioyT_U7HCRzrEH3H_VO6jrSsy_wtEdNWvgbOGy3O9HKVS0VKQcderaIdw8B86ZlyLo2KSNb1LcRFPblHNVaHzP5YosPmD5eVqvg-9vdVkqpi/w640-h480/terrifier%202.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Terrifier 2 (2022)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGlBxmqsiMbX39FlB8FpAxoTeBlO0ttC8ifk4AEcF5T2n3quUyOs5Cw5wyOnoqONB2gzWdwXxv_hwr2CMEWrxS_fxbBUs6Eb9L2LXrhOOX1MjjS59FJxDak9ZVtHwT_RMV5rvU31Gx_4QBYa27N-eX6qn5YDBPyvaCigE_PaRalus0T1H-0f92dEr/s1920/eat%202014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGlBxmqsiMbX39FlB8FpAxoTeBlO0ttC8ifk4AEcF5T2n3quUyOs5Cw5wyOnoqONB2gzWdwXxv_hwr2CMEWrxS_fxbBUs6Eb9L2LXrhOOX1MjjS59FJxDak9ZVtHwT_RMV5rvU31Gx_4QBYa27N-eX6qn5YDBPyvaCigE_PaRalus0T1H-0f92dEr/w640-h360/eat%202014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eat (2014)<br /><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr3evU15T64Fesb_1aqgJr-_0_En8NGokZm_9-e34StObjJ9mihlqNxVu2eFd0z1oy3juycX397udSwPK5-Fb0k4rkEr31GpgGMZe6ay6munl-BMHnWU5ndR3KQO9mU31l1Y04OuOW9l-MYyglWbOEeluK6liCq7DzzdvgbsMKwwSqykFqHnM2foO/s768/ready%20or%20not%202019.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdr3evU15T64Fesb_1aqgJr-_0_En8NGokZm_9-e34StObjJ9mihlqNxVu2eFd0z1oy3juycX397udSwPK5-Fb0k4rkEr31GpgGMZe6ay6munl-BMHnWU5ndR3KQO9mU31l1Y04OuOW9l-MYyglWbOEeluK6liCq7DzzdvgbsMKwwSqykFqHnM2foO/w640-h360/ready%20or%20not%202019.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ready or Not (2019)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><br />Christine Haddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16932508146588027867noreply@blogger.com0