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LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated It Follows (2015) in Movies
Oct 9, 2020
There are plenty of positive aspects to It Follows. The concept for one is decent and an original idea for a horror film. A sexually transmitted disease that causes an entity to relentlessly hunt you down at the pace of a Romero era zombie, never giving up until you're dead, unless you pass it on to someone new.
It's a very modern take on horror, acting as an age old cautionary tale about casual sex, masquerading as a creepy stalker flick.
The image of a person slowly walking towards you, staring at you the whole time is unsettling enough, but the entity's appearance will frequently change. This allows even people in the background shots to carry a weight of danger in the times where the audience is unaware of its whereabouts. It's a simple yet clever trick that gives It Follows a steady undercurrent of dread.
There's some really nice cinematography on display as well. Lingering shots of empty spaces are intimidating (I found myself constantly scanning for the entity, and got caught out more than once) It also has a phenomenal synth soundtrack courtesy of Disasterpiece. It will switch from ethereal to jarring in a flash and contributes greatly to the dark tone this film carries.
I wasn't a huge fan of the constant frame dissolves and screen wipes. It's kept taking me out of the narrative a bit, and the film suffers greatly with it's characters constantly making silly decisions. Although Maika Monroe is a solid lead.
Overall, It Follows is a genuinely unsettling horror-thriller with some truly chilling moments. It's just a little frustrating that the great concept isn't explored as much as it could have been.
It's a very modern take on horror, acting as an age old cautionary tale about casual sex, masquerading as a creepy stalker flick.
The image of a person slowly walking towards you, staring at you the whole time is unsettling enough, but the entity's appearance will frequently change. This allows even people in the background shots to carry a weight of danger in the times where the audience is unaware of its whereabouts. It's a simple yet clever trick that gives It Follows a steady undercurrent of dread.
There's some really nice cinematography on display as well. Lingering shots of empty spaces are intimidating (I found myself constantly scanning for the entity, and got caught out more than once) It also has a phenomenal synth soundtrack courtesy of Disasterpiece. It will switch from ethereal to jarring in a flash and contributes greatly to the dark tone this film carries.
I wasn't a huge fan of the constant frame dissolves and screen wipes. It's kept taking me out of the narrative a bit, and the film suffers greatly with it's characters constantly making silly decisions. Although Maika Monroe is a solid lead.
Overall, It Follows is a genuinely unsettling horror-thriller with some truly chilling moments. It's just a little frustrating that the great concept isn't explored as much as it could have been.
Writing on the Road: Campervan Love and the Joy of Solitude
Book
This book is not just funny (or sad) stories of campervan trips in Scotland; it is not just 'Zen and...
Corey Richard Bennett (10 KP) rated The Lost Symbol: (Robert Langdon Book 3) in Books
Jul 19, 2019
Drags on after action ends (1 more)
Unsatisfactory ending
Contains spoilers, click to show
Okay, so the third book in the Robert Langdon takes Robert through Washington D.C. as he tries to save a friend, who has been taken hostage. With help from the hostage's sister, Robert unravels a secret path by the Freemasons. Long story short, Robert saves his friend gets the girl and learns truths of the Freemasons no else has.
So overall the story is typical Dan Brown. Twists and turns at every turn, switching views from each chapter. Robert does Robert stuff with figuring everything out in due time. (By the way, I can't read these without thinking of Tom Hanks being Langdon anymore).
But the one thing I want to focus on is the villain. He is by far the most compelling part of this whole book. Spoiler is he dies about 3/4ths of the book in and once he is gone, that dragging on feeling sets in. There is no trouble, no sense of urgency and the book dies off after that for me. But back to our villain. He is revealed to be Mr. Hostage's son who was once thought dead, but more like transformed into a whole different person. You learn that he came from money, went to prison, is left there by his father, fakes his death, and then tries to steal a family heirloom he feels will help him unlock the secrets of Freemasonry and being the perfect human. My one gripe is Dan Brown pretty much tells you it's not the son, and then says oh yeah it is the son. There's a difference from being sneaky, and just lying to create suspense. Oh well, but before his death, the son is cunning, stealthy, and barbaric (drowning an assistant for a key card). He is a very interesting character and you do miss him once he is killed.
Overall its an okay book, but Inferno or Da Vinci Code were better stories, but if you like U.S. History, it should kill some time for you and keep you enthralled for most the book.
So overall the story is typical Dan Brown. Twists and turns at every turn, switching views from each chapter. Robert does Robert stuff with figuring everything out in due time. (By the way, I can't read these without thinking of Tom Hanks being Langdon anymore).
But the one thing I want to focus on is the villain. He is by far the most compelling part of this whole book. Spoiler is he dies about 3/4ths of the book in and once he is gone, that dragging on feeling sets in. There is no trouble, no sense of urgency and the book dies off after that for me. But back to our villain. He is revealed to be Mr. Hostage's son who was once thought dead, but more like transformed into a whole different person. You learn that he came from money, went to prison, is left there by his father, fakes his death, and then tries to steal a family heirloom he feels will help him unlock the secrets of Freemasonry and being the perfect human. My one gripe is Dan Brown pretty much tells you it's not the son, and then says oh yeah it is the son. There's a difference from being sneaky, and just lying to create suspense. Oh well, but before his death, the son is cunning, stealthy, and barbaric (drowning an assistant for a key card). He is a very interesting character and you do miss him once he is killed.
Overall its an okay book, but Inferno or Da Vinci Code were better stories, but if you like U.S. History, it should kill some time for you and keep you enthralled for most the book.
Rayman Fiesta Run
Games
App
***Pocket Gamer - 9/10 - “A spunky, joyous, addictive gem [...] Another giddy and breathless mix...
Darren (1599 KP) rated One Cut of the Dead (Kamera o Tomeru na!) (2017) in Movies
Sep 13, 2019
Characters – Director Higurashi is the man trying to make this movie work, he is getting tired of his performers not showing enough fear, he pushes them to the limits with real zombies, which soon give him his perfect picture. Chinatsu is the star of the movie being made, she struggles to show the fear to start with, until she finds herself in a real zombie film. Nao is the production assistant that teaches the actors about the rumours about the area and joins in the fight against the real zombies. Ko is the lead actor in the film being made, he is meant to be the reluctant hero when the zombie attack.
Performances – This is a movie that has performances that do give the actors a lot to do, with a lot of different angles to be seen, everything is wonderful from the cast, that truly makes sense by the end of the film.
Story – The story here follows the production of the low budget zombie movie until things take a turn, from fiction to reality. This is a story that is a breath of fresh air, because it goes in a direction you won’t see coming and does seem like something we needed for the zombie genre of film. The story does however start by feeling like something we have seen before, until we go in the different direction. We do get some wall breaking moments which adds everything to this story, which will make it one of the most original and smart ideas you will ever see.
Comedy/Horror – The comedy in the film comes from most of the second half of the film, which will be constant laughs, the horror in the film does seem like a routine zombie movie, until things change, it doesn’t get as scary as it could, but then it doesn’t need to be.
Settings – The film uses the settings perfectly to add to the film, we get to see so much from the abandoned warehouse setting, which only grows in the later parts of the film.
Special Effects – The effects in the film are everything you need for a low budget production, it is used to create and add extra comedy to the film too.
Scene of the Movie – The third act.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – There really isn’t one.
Final Thoughts – This is one of the most original and ingenious by turning everything you think you know, leaving you laughing with pure enjoyment of the events of the film.
Overall: Ingenious Zombie Movie.
One Cut for the Dead will get a one-night event in the US on the 17th September.
Performances – This is a movie that has performances that do give the actors a lot to do, with a lot of different angles to be seen, everything is wonderful from the cast, that truly makes sense by the end of the film.
Story – The story here follows the production of the low budget zombie movie until things take a turn, from fiction to reality. This is a story that is a breath of fresh air, because it goes in a direction you won’t see coming and does seem like something we needed for the zombie genre of film. The story does however start by feeling like something we have seen before, until we go in the different direction. We do get some wall breaking moments which adds everything to this story, which will make it one of the most original and smart ideas you will ever see.
Comedy/Horror – The comedy in the film comes from most of the second half of the film, which will be constant laughs, the horror in the film does seem like a routine zombie movie, until things change, it doesn’t get as scary as it could, but then it doesn’t need to be.
Settings – The film uses the settings perfectly to add to the film, we get to see so much from the abandoned warehouse setting, which only grows in the later parts of the film.
Special Effects – The effects in the film are everything you need for a low budget production, it is used to create and add extra comedy to the film too.
Scene of the Movie – The third act.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – There really isn’t one.
Final Thoughts – This is one of the most original and ingenious by turning everything you think you know, leaving you laughing with pure enjoyment of the events of the film.
Overall: Ingenious Zombie Movie.
One Cut for the Dead will get a one-night event in the US on the 17th September.
KatieLouCreate (162 KP) rated Pushing Daisies - Season 1 in TV
Jan 9, 2018
Favourite TV Series
This has to be one of my all time favourite television series. The story follows Ned, a man who can bring the dead back to life. But only for a minute. Any longer and something else has to die in their place. If he touches thelay person/thing again, they will die again. Forever.
This is all well for the private investigator, Emerson Cod who accidently discovered Ned's abilities. The two of them solve crime and split the earnings between them.
However, one day Emerson and Ned are given the task to find out who murdered a woman on a cruise. The women just so happens to be Ned's childhood sweetheart Charlotte Charles. Can he keep her alive for only a minute? Or will he succumb to his selfish want of needed company and love.
The series appears to be light hearted and playful. However, this contrasts with the darkness of what is actually happening. Two men solving murder mysteries.
It is humorous and playful, often using metaphors and quirky language in the characters dialogue. Overall, it is a refreshing watch compared to other television series. I highly reccomend if you like lighthearted romance, murder mysteries with laugh out loud humour.
This is all well for the private investigator, Emerson Cod who accidently discovered Ned's abilities. The two of them solve crime and split the earnings between them.
However, one day Emerson and Ned are given the task to find out who murdered a woman on a cruise. The women just so happens to be Ned's childhood sweetheart Charlotte Charles. Can he keep her alive for only a minute? Or will he succumb to his selfish want of needed company and love.
The series appears to be light hearted and playful. However, this contrasts with the darkness of what is actually happening. Two men solving murder mysteries.
It is humorous and playful, often using metaphors and quirky language in the characters dialogue. Overall, it is a refreshing watch compared to other television series. I highly reccomend if you like lighthearted romance, murder mysteries with laugh out loud humour.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2165 KP) rated Too Big to Die (An Odelia Grey Mystery, #12) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Too Big to Die by Sue Ann Jaffarian (Odelia Grey #12) – 5
One Saturday, Odelia and Greg’s errands are interrupted when they see a dog trapped in a car on a hot day. They rescue the dog, but the dog’s owner is less than happy with them. She turns out to be former reality TV star Marla Kingston, and her husband is a client of the law firm where Odelia works. While he makes Odelia’s work life difficult, the man who stopped to help them winds up dead. What have Odelia and Greg gotten into now?
Any fan of this long running series will tell you to expect a fast-moving case, and that’s exactly what we find here as well. One of the complications that arises here involves a series regular; that part of the book will appeal most to fans of the series. Zee is a strong character in this book, and I always love seeing her, although all the series regulars get a scene or two to shine. A suspenseful climax caps another fantastic book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-to-big-to-die-by-sue-ann.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
One Saturday, Odelia and Greg’s errands are interrupted when they see a dog trapped in a car on a hot day. They rescue the dog, but the dog’s owner is less than happy with them. She turns out to be former reality TV star Marla Kingston, and her husband is a client of the law firm where Odelia works. While he makes Odelia’s work life difficult, the man who stopped to help them winds up dead. What have Odelia and Greg gotten into now?
Any fan of this long running series will tell you to expect a fast-moving case, and that’s exactly what we find here as well. One of the complications that arises here involves a series regular; that part of the book will appeal most to fans of the series. Zee is a strong character in this book, and I always love seeing her, although all the series regulars get a scene or two to shine. A suspenseful climax caps another fantastic book.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2018/02/book-review-to-big-to-die-by-sue-ann.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Frank Black recommended Le Noise by Neil Young in Music (curated)
Sammeh Lowry (15 KP) rated Love Letters to the Dead in Books
Jul 13, 2019
The last 100 pages saved this book from a 3 star! Laurel is given an assignment in school which is to write a letter to someone who is dead. She chooses Kurt Cobain, who she feels as a lot in common with her sister May who died young just like she did. Soon she begins writing to lots of other famous people who have died too, through her letters to get to know about her life and her thoughts and feelings. I found Laurel to be very dislikeable at the start, she lives in her sisters shadow but it so caught up in trying to be her she becomes completely wrapped up in it. After finishing this book I can understand why she was portrayed this way to begin with, as the story developed I gained more of an understanding into who she is away from her sister. I loved her relationship with Sky and I love the friendships she also gained (I wasn't too sure of them at first) I felt at times it dragged but the last 100 pages really did it for me and I ended up loving how it all came together. Its definitely worth a read stick with it you won't be disappointed.