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Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated Better Homes and Hauntings in Books
Feb 21, 2018
This was a quick, fun read. Deacon Whitney, heir to what remains of the Whitney fortune, assembles a group of people to help him revamp his family's ancestral home, located on its own island off the New England coast. His family has been plagued by bad luck and financial misfortune through the years, but Deacon is a successful software engineer and has the funds available to redo the old family home. Joined by a cousin who wants to find out who really killed their great-great grandmother years ago and hopes to break the family curse, an old friend, a landscaper, and an organizational expert, Deacon and his new found friends encounter ghostly presences and jealous ex-business partners. There are some spooky moments, some humor, and plenty of romance along the way.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2065 KP) rated Last Light (Restoration #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The Branning Family has found themselves stuck in the suburbs with no modern convinces. The entire world has been hit, and nothing electric works. But even worse, there's a killer in their neighborhood. This Christian novel grabbed me, and I loved it. Unfortunately, the characters were a bit shallow.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-last-light-by-terri.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-last-light-by-terri.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Darren (1599 KP) rated Alien Abduction (2014) in Movies
Jun 20, 2019
Story: Alien Abduction starts by informing us this is based on actual footage found, *sigh*. This before going off to show us footage that looks like is being shot through a pair of fingers with screaming in the background. All this and the camera gets dropped out the spacecraft. The film then decides to inform us about The Brown Mountain Lights a location in North Carolina that has a high disappearance rate. Time for the experts and locals to give us their stories about what has been happening and a theory behind what is happening. More reading before we find out who the camera belonged too.
Oh great now the film starts with the Morris family and their camcorder holiday being filmed by autistic 11 year old boy Riley (Polanski). The family which includes Katie (Sigismund), Corey (Eid), Jillian (Clare) and Peter (Holden) are camping out around the The Brown Mountain. On the first night the children see UFOs in the sky and film it but don’t seem to rewind and watch it. The family continues their trip and gets lost while travelling to the next location and the family finds themselves stranded very low on gas. What the family finds next is a string of abandoned cars blocking the road and investigating the tunnel they find themselves under attack from aliens.
We now have to deal with an over panicked family running for their lives against an enemy they can’t imagine beating. The family makes out hiding with generic redneck Sean (Bowser) where they have to survive the night.
Alien Abduction started off by really annoying me for first 5 odd minutes because of the amount of reading on a found footage film is too much. One thing that always annoys me with found footage is bad decision and this is filled with them starting very early on. Let’s list them panicking too much, turning the light on in the dark so the aliens know where you are, not turning around after finding plenty of abandoned cars and finally after the first light sighting why didn’t you just pack up and go home. I know a lot of these found footage films criticise why they carry on filming but I think this one gets away with it by making the kid autistic and needs to film everything to keep him happy. In the end this does have good scares but not original ones and you never really end up feeling truly scared as everything unfolds because you know how it ends thanks to the beginning. (4/10)
Actor Review
Katherine Sigismund: Katie Morris is the mother of the family who is all out to protect her family from the aliens, she tries to stay strong after the early loss of the father. Katherine does a solid job by making us feel like she really is the mother of the house. (6/10)
Corey Eid: Corey Morris is the eldest son who has to become the man after his father sacrifices himself to save the rest of the family. Corey does solid job and like most of the cast we really do believe they are just a family. (6/10)
Riley Polanski: Riley Morris is our autistic cameraman and we see nearly the whole film from his point of view, this helps use try and get into the idea of the fear he would be going through watching his family being picked off one by one. It is hard to rate someone behind the camera. (5/10)
Jillian Clare: Jillian Morris is the only daughter of the family who has to try and help keep Riley safe once the aliens start turning up. Jillian gives a solid performance but never really shines. (6/10)
Jeff Bowser: Sean is the nice redneck who lives in and around the mountains that helps the family try and survive the horror that is out there waiting for them. Jeff does a solid job and his character constantly turning up makes us believe they could survive. (6/10)
Support Cast: Alien Abduction doesn’t really have much of a supporting cast with the only character we actual meet in the father of the family who doesn’t last too long.
Director Review: Matty Beckerman – Matty does a solid job with the scares, but gave away too much information about the location because there was no reason or chance for the characters to learn about the history. (5/10)
Horror: Alien Abduction enters the found footage horror genre nicely but will end up going down as a standard one. (7/10)
Sci-Fi: Alien Abduction uses the alien abduction well but never really makes us see more than we need to about the ship. (6/10)
Thriller: Alien Abduction never lets you care about the characters because you know what happens at the end, not all found footage films need everyone to die. (6/10)
Settings: Alien Abduction puts us in a location that could very well have unexplained experiences happening there but surely people would suggest not going there on a camping trip. (8/10)
Suggestion: Alien Abduction is one for the found footage fans out there to try it isn’t special but does have its good moments. (Found Footage Fans Try)
Best Part: Not holding back with the first alien encounter.
Worst Part: Too much given away early on with the reading.
Kill Of The Film: Katie
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: Yes there are two.
Similar Too: VHS 2 Alien Abduction part.
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Tagline: Fear The Lights
Overall: Found Footage falls from the sky here, literally.
https://moviesreview101.com/2016/01/22/movie-reviews-101-halloween-midnight-horror-alien-abduction-2014/
Oh great now the film starts with the Morris family and their camcorder holiday being filmed by autistic 11 year old boy Riley (Polanski). The family which includes Katie (Sigismund), Corey (Eid), Jillian (Clare) and Peter (Holden) are camping out around the The Brown Mountain. On the first night the children see UFOs in the sky and film it but don’t seem to rewind and watch it. The family continues their trip and gets lost while travelling to the next location and the family finds themselves stranded very low on gas. What the family finds next is a string of abandoned cars blocking the road and investigating the tunnel they find themselves under attack from aliens.
We now have to deal with an over panicked family running for their lives against an enemy they can’t imagine beating. The family makes out hiding with generic redneck Sean (Bowser) where they have to survive the night.
Alien Abduction started off by really annoying me for first 5 odd minutes because of the amount of reading on a found footage film is too much. One thing that always annoys me with found footage is bad decision and this is filled with them starting very early on. Let’s list them panicking too much, turning the light on in the dark so the aliens know where you are, not turning around after finding plenty of abandoned cars and finally after the first light sighting why didn’t you just pack up and go home. I know a lot of these found footage films criticise why they carry on filming but I think this one gets away with it by making the kid autistic and needs to film everything to keep him happy. In the end this does have good scares but not original ones and you never really end up feeling truly scared as everything unfolds because you know how it ends thanks to the beginning. (4/10)
Actor Review
Katherine Sigismund: Katie Morris is the mother of the family who is all out to protect her family from the aliens, she tries to stay strong after the early loss of the father. Katherine does a solid job by making us feel like she really is the mother of the house. (6/10)
Corey Eid: Corey Morris is the eldest son who has to become the man after his father sacrifices himself to save the rest of the family. Corey does solid job and like most of the cast we really do believe they are just a family. (6/10)
Riley Polanski: Riley Morris is our autistic cameraman and we see nearly the whole film from his point of view, this helps use try and get into the idea of the fear he would be going through watching his family being picked off one by one. It is hard to rate someone behind the camera. (5/10)
Jillian Clare: Jillian Morris is the only daughter of the family who has to try and help keep Riley safe once the aliens start turning up. Jillian gives a solid performance but never really shines. (6/10)
Jeff Bowser: Sean is the nice redneck who lives in and around the mountains that helps the family try and survive the horror that is out there waiting for them. Jeff does a solid job and his character constantly turning up makes us believe they could survive. (6/10)
Support Cast: Alien Abduction doesn’t really have much of a supporting cast with the only character we actual meet in the father of the family who doesn’t last too long.
Director Review: Matty Beckerman – Matty does a solid job with the scares, but gave away too much information about the location because there was no reason or chance for the characters to learn about the history. (5/10)
Horror: Alien Abduction enters the found footage horror genre nicely but will end up going down as a standard one. (7/10)
Sci-Fi: Alien Abduction uses the alien abduction well but never really makes us see more than we need to about the ship. (6/10)
Thriller: Alien Abduction never lets you care about the characters because you know what happens at the end, not all found footage films need everyone to die. (6/10)
Settings: Alien Abduction puts us in a location that could very well have unexplained experiences happening there but surely people would suggest not going there on a camping trip. (8/10)
Suggestion: Alien Abduction is one for the found footage fans out there to try it isn’t special but does have its good moments. (Found Footage Fans Try)
Best Part: Not holding back with the first alien encounter.
Worst Part: Too much given away early on with the reading.
Kill Of The Film: Katie
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: Yes there are two.
Similar Too: VHS 2 Alien Abduction part.
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes
Tagline: Fear The Lights
Overall: Found Footage falls from the sky here, literally.
https://moviesreview101.com/2016/01/22/movie-reviews-101-halloween-midnight-horror-alien-abduction-2014/
Kristin (149 KP) rated Forbidden (Arotas Trilogy, #1) in Books
Dec 7, 2018
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
From the very first chapter, I was captured, hook, line, and sinker. The fate of Roseline's family/friends was just so raw, I could picture it in my head, and it made me shudder. I read as fast as I could to find out what happened to her as she started her new life in the U.S. as Rose. Her new-found friends, the strange connection she feels with the star quarterback, and her worries of being found definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how it would all come together for her, and if she could continue to evade her immortal family.
The ending was INCREDIBLY awesome, and I'll definitely be waiting on pins and needles for more of this story. I can't wait to see how it continues from here, and I'm sure it'll be fantastic.
5 stars
From the very first chapter, I was captured, hook, line, and sinker. The fate of Roseline's family/friends was just so raw, I could picture it in my head, and it made me shudder. I read as fast as I could to find out what happened to her as she started her new life in the U.S. as Rose. Her new-found friends, the strange connection she feels with the star quarterback, and her worries of being found definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering how it would all come together for her, and if she could continue to evade her immortal family.
The ending was INCREDIBLY awesome, and I'll definitely be waiting on pins and needles for more of this story. I can't wait to see how it continues from here, and I'm sure it'll be fantastic.
5 stars
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2065 KP) rated Murder in Grub Street (Sir John Fielding, #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Sir John Fielding investigates when a family of printers are brutally murdered in 1760's London. This is the second in the series. I loved the characters as much as in the first, but I found the plot way too slow and predictable, with a second plot taking up way too much time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-murder-in-grub-street-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-murder-in-grub-street-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2065 KP) rated Stuart Little in Books
Mar 9, 2018
This kid's book tells about the adventures of a mouse born to a human family. I remember loving it as a kid, but I didn't really enjoy it this time around. I found Stuart a rather immature character. The story is finally beginning to go somewhere when the book stops.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-stuart-little-by-e-b-white.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-review-stuart-little-by-e-b-white.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2065 KP) rated Mansions of the Dead in Books
Mar 9, 2018
One of Sweeney's students is found murdered with burial jewelry on his body. Because of his connection to a wealthy and powerful family, it becomes a huge case. But can Sweeney figure out what that jewelry means? Another good mystery, but I didn't care for the new character of Timothy Quinn and his sub-plot.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-mansions-of-dead-by-sarah.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-mansions-of-dead-by-sarah.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
MoMoBookDiary (20 KP) rated Rise: How a House Built a Family in Books
Oct 1, 2018
Inspirational. Emotional. This is a powerful 4 star read!
Truly inspirational book which tells of the power of love between a mother and her children.
Reading this you soon realise that Cara Brookins accomplished something so incredible following years of abuse. I found myself laughing, crying and at times biting my nails in horror at each inspiration chapter of this amazing family rise from their ruined old lives.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book.
Truly inspirational book which tells of the power of love between a mother and her children.
Reading this you soon realise that Cara Brookins accomplished something so incredible following years of abuse. I found myself laughing, crying and at times biting my nails in horror at each inspiration chapter of this amazing family rise from their ruined old lives.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book.
Kate (355 KP) rated Time Trap (2017) in Movies
Apr 18, 2020
The trailer is better
Found this on Netflix and the trailer made the film look interesting, so as a family we settled down to watch it. i enjoyed it but my two sons thought it was terrible. Yes it took quite a while for the story to get going and all the action happened in the last quarter of an hour. Expected a few more shocks but they didn’t happen. The big question is was the film lining up for a sequel.
David McK (3185 KP) rated The Silence (2019) in Movies
Sep 2, 2020
Netflix horror drama, that more than owes a debt to the strikingly-familiar 'A Quiet Place': again, we have creatures that hunt by sound (here, of the winged variety that swarm their victim), a strong focus on a family group, and a deaf girl at the centre of it all.
While critics seem to prefer 'A Quiet Place', I actually found this to be the slightly better of the two: only slightly, mind, as neither were great (in my book).
While critics seem to prefer 'A Quiet Place', I actually found this to be the slightly better of the two: only slightly, mind, as neither were great (in my book).