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After That Night
After That Night
Karin Slaughter | 2023 | Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Another gripping read to add to the Will Trent/ Dr. Sara Linton series.
Sara is determined to get justice for a patient who dies in A&E on her shift. With her dying breath, Dani Cooper tells Sara she has been raped. Three years later, Sara is testifying as an expert witness at the trial of Tommy McAllister - the man accused of raping Dani, and the child of a couple who Sara knew from her residency days.

Will and his partner Faith, end up re-investigating Sara’s case, along with a number of others, finding links between them. All of this is done without their boss’s knowledge - which is very brave of them. She’s formidable!

There are graphic descriptions of rape, domestic violence and it’s aftermath, and can be quite stomach churning at times - but it’s such a fast-moving read with such excellent characters, that I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a really emotional read, too.

If you’re a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed!
  
The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius (30 for 30)
The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius (30 for 30)
2020 | Documentary, Sport
I love ESPN's 30 for 30 series (the Tonya Harding documentary is one of my favorite sports docs). When I saw that they had done a series about Oscar Pistorius, I was all in.

This series consists of 4 episodes, that are nearly 2 hours each. To clarify, these TV shows with really long eps are not the norm in the USA, like they are elsewhere.

I had watched the Dateline ep on the Pistorious murder a few weeks before I watched this series. Of course, the narrative is of that one was skewed towards the story of domestic violence, and justice for Reeva. This is the story that's peddled all over the world. Not that it's wrong, I'm a supporter of women in domestic situations, but it's always struck me as extremely biased.

This doc did focus on Oscar, his upbringing, and his quest to complete in the able-bodied (sheesh - that's awful) Olympics. His side of the story is highly plausible, and his actions were a product of his upbringing. The documentary films really shed like on the social situation in South Africa at the time. Honestly, I only took one history class that dealt with continent in general, so there wasn't really a focus on the country itself. Seriously, the only things that stood out in my mind regarding South Africa were their incredibly odd accents, Mandela, and District 9. So, I found the additional information extremely interesting.

Overall, I found it to be far more balanced than anything I had seen in the past regarding the case, which was refreshing.
  
Lion (2017)
Lion (2017)
2017 |
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Upon discovering this short film, I was impressed with how well it had performed. During its first year of distribution, it has won 126 awards at a variety of film festivals which is quite the selling point. Walking in to the film, I didn’t know much about it but the air of mystery made my viewing experience even better. The film is set in an isolated cabin, on a snowy night, which creates the perfect backdrop for a horror tale…

From the very first scene you can tell this cabin is not a happy place to be. Straight away we’re created with sounds of domestic violence, making the viewer feel instantly uncomfortable. The father in the film is repulsive and lives in a squalor, with cigarette butts, leftover pizza and empty cans of beer dotted everywhere. Michael Segal really brought this character to life, showing us that not all villains are supernatural or machete wielding psychopaths. Some evil can be found in the average home, behind closed doors, where violence takes over. Sometimes humans can be more terrifying than anything else.

The way Lion deals with domestic violence, particularly against children, was done incredibly well. It’s not an easy topic to cover but this short makes an impact without going too far and making it gratuitous. Part of what makes this film so good is what you don’t see on screen, and how your imagination runs wild. It has a slow burning narrative that builds up the suspense and finally unleashes the climactic moment with only a few minutes to spare, providing closure and satisfaction for the spectator.

I really liked the use of special effects throughout the film, because they blended in nicely with the rest of the scene and weren’t overdone at any point. Cinematically it hits all the right notes for a horror film through it’s use of low-lighting, tense creeping moments, and an excellent use of music. Jump scares and gore weren’t needed in Lion, because it manages to deliver real horror in a much more subtler, but effective way. The presence of the lion throughout was a good motif to use as well, as they’re synonymous with courage and being a fighter. You’ll see what I mean when you watch it.

Lion is an incredibly important short film that I believe is a must watch, even for those who don’t tend to reach for horrors. The final card at the end reiterates the important message that is present throughout the film, and it really resonated with me. It’s a film with fantasy elements, yet still deep rooted within reality that it makes you want to stand up and take action in any way you can.

https://jumpcutonline.co.uk/lion-short/