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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Daybreakers (2009) in Movies
Nov 15, 2019
A great take on a vampire film
I can't believe I've never seen this film before. Not only do I love vampire films, I also have a soft spot for Sam Neill and Ethan Hawke, so I should've watched this a long time ago!
This is a very refreshing and original take on a vampire film. It's not an idea I've seen before, and it works really well. The background to the story and vampires is flashed over so quickly during the opening scenes and credits, and at a 1hr40 runtime this film really doesn't mess around. The vampire world looks great and I loved the grayscale and darker camera shots whenever the vampires were on screen, it made a stark contrast to the scenes set in daylight. This is such a different version of vampires to what we're used to and there are parts of this where you almost feel sorry for them.
Ethan Hawke is wonderful as Ed, and Sam Neill is deliciously wicked as he has been in other films, despite the fact I cant stop seeing him as Alan Grant! I think Willem Dafoe was a tad underused thought. The best thing I loved about this film was the gore and physical effects. It's an 18 for a reason and I loved all of the blood and guts. Admittedly some of the gore seemed a little over the top and ridiculous towards the end, but this just made it all the more hilariously enjoyable.
This film isn't perfect. I think some of the CGI is dodgy in parts which is a shame as the rest of the effects are rather good. And the sub plot about Sam Neill's daughter seemed a little flimsy. But aside from this, I think Daybreakers is a great underrated vampire film with a unique story, that seems to have gone without the recognition it deserves.
This is a very refreshing and original take on a vampire film. It's not an idea I've seen before, and it works really well. The background to the story and vampires is flashed over so quickly during the opening scenes and credits, and at a 1hr40 runtime this film really doesn't mess around. The vampire world looks great and I loved the grayscale and darker camera shots whenever the vampires were on screen, it made a stark contrast to the scenes set in daylight. This is such a different version of vampires to what we're used to and there are parts of this where you almost feel sorry for them.
Ethan Hawke is wonderful as Ed, and Sam Neill is deliciously wicked as he has been in other films, despite the fact I cant stop seeing him as Alan Grant! I think Willem Dafoe was a tad underused thought. The best thing I loved about this film was the gore and physical effects. It's an 18 for a reason and I loved all of the blood and guts. Admittedly some of the gore seemed a little over the top and ridiculous towards the end, but this just made it all the more hilariously enjoyable.
This film isn't perfect. I think some of the CGI is dodgy in parts which is a shame as the rest of the effects are rather good. And the sub plot about Sam Neill's daughter seemed a little flimsy. But aside from this, I think Daybreakers is a great underrated vampire film with a unique story, that seems to have gone without the recognition it deserves.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Viper in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This book was engaging from the very first page. I was left guessing right up to the very end! Some books in the crime/suspense genre leave a bitter taste in your mouth when you finish, but this one did not.
I was intrigued from page one because right off the bat one of the main characters is in the hospital in a semi-coma. Fredrik is lying there & his detective partner is talking to him while his wife looks on. Then suddenly they are in the middle of the investigation into a billionaire's death. The plot bounces back & forth between the present time & the past few months when the investigation was taking place. It wasn't hard to follow at all despite the jumps in time frame. In fact, I think that part was a big reason why the book was so engaging.
There was also plenty of blood & gore, but it wasn't to the point that I was grossed out. It fit seamlessly in with the plot. The characters are well written & believable, not too out in left field. The plot was suspenseful & there was a lot of great police work mixed in with a healthy dose of luck, just like a real investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I was intrigued from page one because right off the bat one of the main characters is in the hospital in a semi-coma. Fredrik is lying there & his detective partner is talking to him while his wife looks on. Then suddenly they are in the middle of the investigation into a billionaire's death. The plot bounces back & forth between the present time & the past few months when the investigation was taking place. It wasn't hard to follow at all despite the jumps in time frame. In fact, I think that part was a big reason why the book was so engaging.
There was also plenty of blood & gore, but it wasn't to the point that I was grossed out. It fit seamlessly in with the plot. The characters are well written & believable, not too out in left field. The plot was suspenseful & there was a lot of great police work mixed in with a healthy dose of luck, just like a real investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Upgrade (2018) in Movies
May 20, 2019
Unexpectedly good
Well I have to say that this film was rather a pleasant surprise. I’d been expecting a rather low budget trashy sci-fi but instead I got an action packed, gory and strangely humorous film - which was a complete surprise until I saw it had been directed by Leigh Whannell, then it all made a little more sense.
Don’t get me wrong, this is quite like a good old B movie and does have a slightly dodgy script at times but the rest of the film more than makes up for it. The whole interaction between Grey and Stem is brilliant, very quick and witty and often pretty funny, and the camera work and robotic style of the fight scenes works really well, especially with the blood and gore thrown in too. The acting too from Logan Marshall Green is very good, and he isn’t an actor I’ve seen much from. My only criticism is the ending, I wouldn’t say it was entirely predictable but it didn’t come as a huge surprise. But then I’ve read far too many books and seen far too many films.
Also, was I the only one wishing Alan Tudyk did the voice of Stem? He’s such a good voiceover actor.
Don’t get me wrong, this is quite like a good old B movie and does have a slightly dodgy script at times but the rest of the film more than makes up for it. The whole interaction between Grey and Stem is brilliant, very quick and witty and often pretty funny, and the camera work and robotic style of the fight scenes works really well, especially with the blood and gore thrown in too. The acting too from Logan Marshall Green is very good, and he isn’t an actor I’ve seen much from. My only criticism is the ending, I wouldn’t say it was entirely predictable but it didn’t come as a huge surprise. But then I’ve read far too many books and seen far too many films.
Also, was I the only one wishing Alan Tudyk did the voice of Stem? He’s such a good voiceover actor.
Not just about the zombies
To be totally honest, I was expecting a cheesy zombie novel especially as it was a free download from Amazon but I was pleasantly surprised; it kept me entertained from start to finish.
I don't need to go into detail about the story itself as it's clearly described in the blurb above but what I will say is that I found it different to the usual zombie books that are around in that it's not just about blood, guts and gore which, I'm not going to lie, there is some graphic scenes of death but this is not the main focus of the book.
The main character, Jack, is an interesting one. He did take time to grow on me because I felt like he was wasting time rather than trying to figure out what the heck was going on but once he did, his police instinct kicked in and that determination to get to the bottom of the dire situation in which he finds himself in came to the fore.
Written at great pace, this is an easy book to read. There are a few grammatical errors but it didn't distract me from enjoying it and I will certainly be reading more by this author.
I don't need to go into detail about the story itself as it's clearly described in the blurb above but what I will say is that I found it different to the usual zombie books that are around in that it's not just about blood, guts and gore which, I'm not going to lie, there is some graphic scenes of death but this is not the main focus of the book.
The main character, Jack, is an interesting one. He did take time to grow on me because I felt like he was wasting time rather than trying to figure out what the heck was going on but once he did, his police instinct kicked in and that determination to get to the bottom of the dire situation in which he finds himself in came to the fore.
Written at great pace, this is an easy book to read. There are a few grammatical errors but it didn't distract me from enjoying it and I will certainly be reading more by this author.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Haunt (2019) in Movies
Jul 24, 2020
Better than expected
I love watching horror films, however the majority of them end up rather poor and lacklustre. Yet I cant say this for Haunt, which was actually a rather pleasant surprise.
This starts off very slowly, almost too slowly and this means it doesn't get off to a good start. However once this actually moves into the haunted house it really starts to come into it's own and actually becomes a rather enthralling film. Storywise it isn't anything particularly new, however it's the execution that makes it stand out. It's creepy and full of blood and gore, without relying on too much CGI or jump scares. Whilst a few of the characters are rather irritating and deserve their comeuppance, it's refreshing to see some of the main protagonists actually act sensibly and don't run around like brainless idiots like most horror film victims do - although they do still make the odd silly decision or action, they are human after all. Even the acting was pretty decent. And the ending was a refreshing change and not what I was expecting at all.
Overall this was such a pleasant surprise and one of the better recent horror films I've seen in quite some time.
This starts off very slowly, almost too slowly and this means it doesn't get off to a good start. However once this actually moves into the haunted house it really starts to come into it's own and actually becomes a rather enthralling film. Storywise it isn't anything particularly new, however it's the execution that makes it stand out. It's creepy and full of blood and gore, without relying on too much CGI or jump scares. Whilst a few of the characters are rather irritating and deserve their comeuppance, it's refreshing to see some of the main protagonists actually act sensibly and don't run around like brainless idiots like most horror film victims do - although they do still make the odd silly decision or action, they are human after all. Even the acting was pretty decent. And the ending was a refreshing change and not what I was expecting at all.
Overall this was such a pleasant surprise and one of the better recent horror films I've seen in quite some time.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Zombie (The Cursed Manuscripts) in Books
Jan 16, 2022
I have loved reading horror books since I was a wee teenager and whilst I don't read as many nowadays, I do enjoy a Zombie-fest every now and again and here we have yet another cracker from Iain Rob Wright, who is quickly becoming one of my go-to authors to satisfy my horror fix.
What I like about Iain's books is that it's not just about the blood and gore, there is a good story behind it and interesting and believable characters and although they may not always react logically, it does make things interesting.
Zombie is a quick read but there's a lot packed into it. It's full of tension and heart-in-the-mouth moments as you would expect in this genre and if you don't like violence, I would give this a miss but for me, I am looking forward to more instalments in this story to see where it goes.
Well written and a great pace, this is a book that will appeal to lovers of the Zombie stories and horror books in general.
My thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with an advance copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
What I like about Iain's books is that it's not just about the blood and gore, there is a good story behind it and interesting and believable characters and although they may not always react logically, it does make things interesting.
Zombie is a quick read but there's a lot packed into it. It's full of tension and heart-in-the-mouth moments as you would expect in this genre and if you don't like violence, I would give this a miss but for me, I am looking forward to more instalments in this story to see where it goes.
Well written and a great pace, this is a book that will appeal to lovers of the Zombie stories and horror books in general.
My thanks must go to Iain for accepting me into his "street team" and for providing me with an advance copy in return for comments and an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Drag Me to Hell (2009) in Movies
Oct 14, 2019
“I beg you and you shame me? ” – Mrs. Ganush
Number of Times Seen – Twice (28 Jun 2009 and 2 Oct 2019)
Brief Synopsis – A young ambitious loan officer rejects an extension on a loan form an old woman and has a demonic curse placed on her.
My Take on it – As a film lover who is not a big fan of horror films, this was a hard month for me to choose what movies to watch for this series.
This is actually a movie that I recalled going to see on a date over a decade ago because the girl was a horror fan and I decided to indulge her wishes to see it.
I even recall inquiring why she loves horror genre so much and her response was “because it is so unpredictable and anything can happen at any point in time.”
This film actually has an intriguing plot that works most of the time and stays entertaining.
Unfortunately, it probably could have been a bit more impactful, but still manages to get across what it attempts to.
The story remains unpredictable throughout and finds ways to keep surprising as things move along and the story unfolds.
Allison Lohman is an interesting choice as the lead especially since she feels so miscast in the role yet excels in every scene she is given.
As expected from a Sam Raimi horror film, this movie has a fair amount of blood and gore that might seem a bit excessive yet helps make this even more horrific along the way.
The film has lost of twists and turns along the way that helps keep it feeling fresh and interesting as the story gets more and more intriguing especially given the fact that we never truly know where things are heading.
Bottom Line – Interesting idea that works most of the time, but fails to really be more impactful. The way that the story remains unpredictable is done quite well and keeps things surprising as the story unfolds. Lohman is quite good in the lead because she seems so miscast and that helps keep things intriguing as the plot thickens. The amount of blood and gore is on par with what one should expect from Raimi even if at some points if feels excessive. The story stays full of twists and turns that helps keep it enjoyable throughout. Recommended!
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – In the movie, Shaun San Dena (Adriana Barraza) mentions her late husband Sander, a reference to both Sam Raimi’s older sibling, Sander Raimi, who died in a swimming accident at age fifteen while on a trip to Israel, and his oldest nephew, Sander Rubin. (From IMDB)
Rating – Globe Worthy (7/10)
Number of Times Seen – Twice (28 Jun 2009 and 2 Oct 2019)
Brief Synopsis – A young ambitious loan officer rejects an extension on a loan form an old woman and has a demonic curse placed on her.
My Take on it – As a film lover who is not a big fan of horror films, this was a hard month for me to choose what movies to watch for this series.
This is actually a movie that I recalled going to see on a date over a decade ago because the girl was a horror fan and I decided to indulge her wishes to see it.
I even recall inquiring why she loves horror genre so much and her response was “because it is so unpredictable and anything can happen at any point in time.”
This film actually has an intriguing plot that works most of the time and stays entertaining.
Unfortunately, it probably could have been a bit more impactful, but still manages to get across what it attempts to.
The story remains unpredictable throughout and finds ways to keep surprising as things move along and the story unfolds.
Allison Lohman is an interesting choice as the lead especially since she feels so miscast in the role yet excels in every scene she is given.
As expected from a Sam Raimi horror film, this movie has a fair amount of blood and gore that might seem a bit excessive yet helps make this even more horrific along the way.
The film has lost of twists and turns along the way that helps keep it feeling fresh and interesting as the story gets more and more intriguing especially given the fact that we never truly know where things are heading.
Bottom Line – Interesting idea that works most of the time, but fails to really be more impactful. The way that the story remains unpredictable is done quite well and keeps things surprising as the story unfolds. Lohman is quite good in the lead because she seems so miscast and that helps keep things intriguing as the plot thickens. The amount of blood and gore is on par with what one should expect from Raimi even if at some points if feels excessive. The story stays full of twists and turns that helps keep it enjoyable throughout. Recommended!
MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – In the movie, Shaun San Dena (Adriana Barraza) mentions her late husband Sander, a reference to both Sam Raimi’s older sibling, Sander Raimi, who died in a swimming accident at age fifteen while on a trip to Israel, and his oldest nephew, Sander Rubin. (From IMDB)
Rating – Globe Worthy (7/10)
Sheridan (209 KP) rated Predator (1987) in Movies
Feb 5, 2019
CGI Effects (they're so bad they're good) (1 more)
EXPLOSIONS! I swear, 80s action movies really went all out.
The Predator dies (was I the only one rooting for that alien asshole? I mean come on, he's a highly skilled alien hunter, it hardly seems likely he's going to die...) (1 more)
Covering yourself in mud does not kill your heat signature. It does briefly, but only for like two minutes before your body temp heats it up. Dutch would not have been 'invisible' to Preds for that long. This annoyed me so bad lol
A Cult Classic
It's been a looong time since I've watched the Predator/Alien movies over and they never disappoint me. The perfect mix of action, sci fi and horror elements, this is a gritty movie you can really sink your teeth into (and hell - Arnie in the 80s was some serious eye candy). I love how terrible the CGI is (though back in 87 it would've been on point), it really gives you that 'look how far we've come in technology' feel. It's got explosions, cursing, eye candy, an original alien concept (for the 80s), blood, guts, and gore. I mean, when you're looking for an old school action/sci fi that satisfies your need for grunge, go no further, this is the movie. It's still one of my favourites to this day :)
Sarah (7798 KP) rated CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in TV
Nov 27, 2018
Hugely entertaining, with a bit of artistic license
I’ve just started watching the original series of CSI again from the start, and like the many times I’ve seen it before, I absolutely love it. From the opening title sequence set to The Who’s ‘Who Are You’ and the numerous sweeping panoramas of the bright lights of Vegas, CSI for me was always one of the better crime shows out there. And instead of focusing on dashing detectives, for a change it instead chooses to look at the science behind the crimes. It has engaging and well developed characters, and even the less prominent lab characters are more than just two dimensional extras, even developing into some of the main stars in later series. The crimes are a little bit bonkers, filled with equal parts of blood and gore and humour, and there are some very thrilling multi-episode serial killers thrown in across the many seasons.
It is a little bit far fetched, but you’d be bored if it actual stuck to reality. The forensics are very advanced and not entirely realistic (I studied forensics at uni, not quite as flashy as it appears on screen), but again, it’s nothing more than a bit of artistic license. My only criticism is that I mich preferred this series with the original cast. It was never quite the same after Grissom left.
It is a little bit far fetched, but you’d be bored if it actual stuck to reality. The forensics are very advanced and not entirely realistic (I studied forensics at uni, not quite as flashy as it appears on screen), but again, it’s nothing more than a bit of artistic license. My only criticism is that I mich preferred this series with the original cast. It was never quite the same after Grissom left.
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Saw II (2005) in Movies
Mar 18, 2021
Contains spoilers, click to show
At first glance, Saw 2 is, like most sequels, more of the same but bigger. We have the police looking for Jigsaw's latest victims and we have the victims themselves playing the games. This time, however the scope is much bigger. The victims are not just chained in one room, they have a whole house to explore and the whole game is much more personal for one of the detectives.
The thing is, Saw 2 manages to add to the law put down in the first film. It expands on Jigsaw's motivation, expands his plans and uses two characters from the first film, Amanda and the 'Pig' and reveals that they were/are the same person. It is these additions to the law that help make the Saw franchise stand out from some others. Other franchises have the slashers going around killing their victims and repeating the same few bits of information unless it is important to that film. Of course, a big part of saw 2 are the kills but it does work on furthering the story and laying the ground work for more films.
It goes with out saying that there is blood and gore in this film but it suites the tone and isn't as over the top or as unrealistic as some other films.
The thing is, Saw 2 manages to add to the law put down in the first film. It expands on Jigsaw's motivation, expands his plans and uses two characters from the first film, Amanda and the 'Pig' and reveals that they were/are the same person. It is these additions to the law that help make the Saw franchise stand out from some others. Other franchises have the slashers going around killing their victims and repeating the same few bits of information unless it is important to that film. Of course, a big part of saw 2 are the kills but it does work on furthering the story and laying the ground work for more films.
It goes with out saying that there is blood and gore in this film but it suites the tone and isn't as over the top or as unrealistic as some other films.
