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Creepy California: Strange and Gothic Tales from the Golden State
Book
Beneath California's scenic landscape lies a strange and dark side, full of spine-tingling tales and...

Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated 1st To Die (Women’s Murder Club #1) in Books
May 9, 2021
51 of 250
Audio
1st to die ( Women’s murder club book 1)
By James Patterson
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
As the only woman homicide inspector in San Francisco, Lindsay Boxer has to be tough. But nothing has prepared her for the honeymoon murders. A brutal maniac begins a killing spree, slaughtering newlywed couples, and Lindsay takes on the case. She is sickened by the deaths, but her determination to bring the murderer to justice is threatened by a personal tragedy. So she turns to Claire, a coroner, Cindy, a journalist, and Jill, an attorney, for help with both crises: and the Women's Murder Club is born.
I actually listened to this on audio and found some parts very 70s porn video! The narrators were ok. As for the book I gave a very generous 3 I like Patterson and his writing style I did find some of it a little wooden and predictable but over all I enjoyed the book. He is one of those writers who has a formula and sticks to it!
Audio
1st to die ( Women’s murder club book 1)
By James Patterson
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
As the only woman homicide inspector in San Francisco, Lindsay Boxer has to be tough. But nothing has prepared her for the honeymoon murders. A brutal maniac begins a killing spree, slaughtering newlywed couples, and Lindsay takes on the case. She is sickened by the deaths, but her determination to bring the murderer to justice is threatened by a personal tragedy. So she turns to Claire, a coroner, Cindy, a journalist, and Jill, an attorney, for help with both crises: and the Women's Murder Club is born.
I actually listened to this on audio and found some parts very 70s porn video! The narrators were ok. As for the book I gave a very generous 3 I like Patterson and his writing style I did find some of it a little wooden and predictable but over all I enjoyed the book. He is one of those writers who has a formula and sticks to it!

LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Hogzilla (2014) in Movies
Sep 9, 2020
Just so there is no confusion, Hogzilla is a massive pile of wank.
However, the episode of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs (who himself 'stars' in Hogzilla) is thoroughly entertaining, and the only medium available where I could even half recommend giving it a view.
Watching Joe Bob and Darcy tear it apart is pretty damn funny.
The actual film is just balls awful. The dialogue, the acting, the sound mixing - even the poster is shitty.
Above all else though, it's just plain boring. I appreciate that it was made on a tiny budget, but this means that the titular monster's screentime clocks in at around 10-12 seconds (and you don't really see it properly then either). It also means that 98% of the run time is a group of insufferable characters walking aimlessly around a forest, constantly being dicks to each other, and never being funny.
Even their unavoidable deaths are unsatisfying - The limited blood effects look they were done on Microsoft Paint.
I guess seeing Joe Bob aka John Bloom on screen is sort of comforting, but it really doesn't do much to elevate Hogzilla above being a garbage fire of a film.
However, the episode of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs (who himself 'stars' in Hogzilla) is thoroughly entertaining, and the only medium available where I could even half recommend giving it a view.
Watching Joe Bob and Darcy tear it apart is pretty damn funny.
The actual film is just balls awful. The dialogue, the acting, the sound mixing - even the poster is shitty.
Above all else though, it's just plain boring. I appreciate that it was made on a tiny budget, but this means that the titular monster's screentime clocks in at around 10-12 seconds (and you don't really see it properly then either). It also means that 98% of the run time is a group of insufferable characters walking aimlessly around a forest, constantly being dicks to each other, and never being funny.
Even their unavoidable deaths are unsatisfying - The limited blood effects look they were done on Microsoft Paint.
I guess seeing Joe Bob aka John Bloom on screen is sort of comforting, but it really doesn't do much to elevate Hogzilla above being a garbage fire of a film.

ClareR (5950 KP) rated Elevator Pitch in Books
Oct 4, 2019 (Updated Oct 5, 2019)
Elevator Pitch is a fast paced thriller that will have you taking the stairs for a good while after reading it!
An elevator accident results in the death of four people: a pointless, tragic accident. When a second ‘accident’ occurs and a witness survives, it becomes obvious that these accidents are anything but that.
Two NYPD detectives investigating the murder and terrible disfigurement of the victim don’t immediately see a connection to the elevator deaths, but when they discover that he was an elevator service technician, they begin to become increasingly suspicious.
Well, this well-written thriller had me on the edge of my seat from the start. Honestly, I was as clueless to what was going on as the characters in the book. I really liked the gritty reporter, Barbara, who was determined to hold the city’s mayor to account. She was driven, single minded, with a real sense of justice. As were the two NYPD detectives. The mayor came across as a typically corrupt politician: unlikeable and selfish.
I’d really recommend this if you like tense thrillers - this delivers in spades!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
Two NYPD detectives investigating the murder and terrible disfigurement of the victim don’t immediately see a connection to the elevator deaths, but when they discover that he was an elevator service technician, they begin to become increasingly suspicious.
Well, this well-written thriller had me on the edge of my seat from the start. Honestly, I was as clueless to what was going on as the characters in the book. I really liked the gritty reporter, Barbara, who was determined to hold the city’s mayor to account. She was driven, single minded, with a real sense of justice. As were the two NYPD detectives. The mayor came across as a typically corrupt politician: unlikeable and selfish.
I’d really recommend this if you like tense thrillers - this delivers in spades!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Predator (2018) in Movies
Sep 14, 2019
Wasn't entirely terrible
I'd heard a lot of truly terrible things about this film so hadn't been expecting much, and whilst it isn't great, there are worse ways to spend 90 minutes.
The first part of the film is actually quite good. I like the Predator's arrival on earth and subsequent escape, and some of the nods to the original film. The problem is the second half with the ridiculous super Predator and turns it into even more of a farce. The cast could have been good, and there's a decent amount of names in this, but they've been let down by a very poor script and characterisation. I mean Olivia Munn's biologist who can fight and handle weapons too without any explanation? And Sterling K Brown's ridiculously hammy villain was beyond cheesy. A lot of the deaths in the second half of the film were also farcical but sadly not in an enjoyable way, and unsurprisingly the ending has been set up yet another sequel. Do we really need another Predator film after this?
This wasn't as bad as Alien vs Predator at least...
The first part of the film is actually quite good. I like the Predator's arrival on earth and subsequent escape, and some of the nods to the original film. The problem is the second half with the ridiculous super Predator and turns it into even more of a farce. The cast could have been good, and there's a decent amount of names in this, but they've been let down by a very poor script and characterisation. I mean Olivia Munn's biologist who can fight and handle weapons too without any explanation? And Sterling K Brown's ridiculously hammy villain was beyond cheesy. A lot of the deaths in the second half of the film were also farcical but sadly not in an enjoyable way, and unsurprisingly the ending has been set up yet another sequel. Do we really need another Predator film after this?
This wasn't as bad as Alien vs Predator at least...

Rodney Barnes (472 KP) rated The Transformers - The Movie (1986) in Movies
Sep 23, 2019 (Updated Sep 23, 2019)
G1 is still the best
I was 12 years old when this movie came out. Let me tell you. It still stands up today. This movie had the best Transformers action you have ever seen. It takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Seeing the deaths of some of the Autobots you were accustomed to seeing on the tv show was heart wrenching. Wheeljack, Ironhide, Windcharger and most notably Optimus Prime was hard for a kid my age at the time to see. Even some of the Decepticons. But the ending of this movie will leave you feeling great. The final battle between Prime and Megatron was on for the ages.....UNFORGETTABLE. The voice acting of Leonard Nimoy and Orson Welles was a highlight for me too. Welles voiced Unicorn who was the main planet eating antagonist in the movie, while Nimoy voiced the Decepticon Scourge. With some of the old Autobots from G1 and the newer ones....they overcame the evil of Unicron and Galvatron....who was previously Megatron. I recommend this movie to any Transformer lover

Kim Pook (101 KP) rated Polaroid (2017) in Movies
Jun 5, 2020
As a lover of goosebumps as a teen I was instantly drawn to this as soon as I saw the trailer for it. It has a very similar storyline to the episode say cheese and die but obviously as this is more for adults it's more scary. For those who have seen that episode of goosebumps my job is done, for those who haven't the movie is about a cursed camera, anyone who has their photo taken is killed by a supernatural creature. An antiques dealer named Bird is given an old camera by a friend, she starts taking photos of people with it but it isn't until the second person dies that she realises their deaths are because of the camera. It is then a race against time to find out the origins of the camera and how they can stop this supernatural being from killing her and all of her friends. Can she stop it in time? You'll have to watch to find.
A few jump scares in the movie but nothing too scary and lots of twists and turns, the ending I would have never guessed but it was very well done. Highly recommended.
A few jump scares in the movie but nothing too scary and lots of twists and turns, the ending I would have never guessed but it was very well done. Highly recommended.

Look to Windward
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With unmatched suspense and emotional insight, Harlan Coben explores the big secrets and little lies...
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The Serpent's Shadow (Kane Chronicles #3)
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He's b-a-a-ack! Despite their best efforts, Carter and Sadie Kane can't seem to keep Apophis, the...