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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Jigsaw Man in Books
Feb 21, 2021
This is a gruesome and dark thriller and it's great!!
I must say though that if you're a bit squeamish and don't like graphic descriptions of murder, then don't read this. If you do or don't mind a bit of gore, then crack on.
The characters are great, the plot is absorbing and complex and the ability of the author to capture the feelings of the various protagonists is excellent.
I absolutely love a good "baddie" and Nadine Matheson has created one such character in Peter Olivier; he is deliciously evil, extremely charming, highly intelligent, an excellent manipulator and everything you would want in a (fictitious) serial killer ... think Ted Bundy crossed with Jeffrey Dahmer and you have a pretty good picture.
This is a gripping read which although starts a little slow, it builds in tension and action as you turn the pages culminating in an exciting finale which definitely leaves the door open for a sequel and the intriguing backstory lends itself to a prequel ... well I would certainly read either or both!
Thank you to HQ (an imprint of HarperCollins UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I must say though that if you're a bit squeamish and don't like graphic descriptions of murder, then don't read this. If you do or don't mind a bit of gore, then crack on.
The characters are great, the plot is absorbing and complex and the ability of the author to capture the feelings of the various protagonists is excellent.
I absolutely love a good "baddie" and Nadine Matheson has created one such character in Peter Olivier; he is deliciously evil, extremely charming, highly intelligent, an excellent manipulator and everything you would want in a (fictitious) serial killer ... think Ted Bundy crossed with Jeffrey Dahmer and you have a pretty good picture.
This is a gripping read which although starts a little slow, it builds in tension and action as you turn the pages culminating in an exciting finale which definitely leaves the door open for a sequel and the intriguing backstory lends itself to a prequel ... well I would certainly read either or both!
Thank you to HQ (an imprint of HarperCollins UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Straight On Till Morning (1972) in Movies
Mar 8, 2021
Rather atypical Hammer psycho-horror is much stronger on dour naturalism than the usual gothic fantasy. A slightly unstable young woman moves to present-day London in search of her dreams and winds up moving in with a handsome serial killer (late-period Hammer star Shane Briant, in his first film for the company). Things eventually get a bit fraught.
It would be nice to think the change in style was the result of a decision by Hammer to experiment, but the fact the film was clearly made on a punishingly low budget suggests otherwise: the reason it's largely a two-hander, mostly taking place in a single flat, is presumably simply to keep production costs down. The atmosphere throughout is dingy and a bit grim; appalling early-70s fashion doesn't help much. There's a conceit about Peter Pan which is never really resolved (hence the title); the film's most distinctive feature is the editing, which is jarring, almost subliminal, and gets rather annoying very quickly. Good performances from the leads, I suppose, but this doesn't make up for the fact the story is implausible, uninvolving, and doesn't really go anywhere.
It would be nice to think the change in style was the result of a decision by Hammer to experiment, but the fact the film was clearly made on a punishingly low budget suggests otherwise: the reason it's largely a two-hander, mostly taking place in a single flat, is presumably simply to keep production costs down. The atmosphere throughout is dingy and a bit grim; appalling early-70s fashion doesn't help much. There's a conceit about Peter Pan which is never really resolved (hence the title); the film's most distinctive feature is the editing, which is jarring, almost subliminal, and gets rather annoying very quickly. Good performances from the leads, I suppose, but this doesn't make up for the fact the story is implausible, uninvolving, and doesn't really go anywhere.
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated My Sister, the Serial Killer in Books
Mar 16, 2021
This is a very different novel to what I usually read.
A book about a sister who covers up her own sisters murders, before realising that her sister has hit the number of murders to make her a serial killer. And still she doesn’t report her to the police or try to do much to stop her. At one point, someone tells her she’s worse than her sister and I think that is very true. Her sister might be the murderess but she is standing by and letting it happen time and time again.
The style of the writing was very different to most books, with the short chapters and each chapter name being taken from something that happened in the chapter. It was also quite a short book, so something that can be read in an evening.
I didn’t find myself particularly sad that it was coming to an end, and that we didn’t find out if either sister ever had a happy ending or not. The book was ok, but not really one that I found myself looking forward to a bit of free time to continue reading or picking up for half an hour before bed.
A book about a sister who covers up her own sisters murders, before realising that her sister has hit the number of murders to make her a serial killer. And still she doesn’t report her to the police or try to do much to stop her. At one point, someone tells her she’s worse than her sister and I think that is very true. Her sister might be the murderess but she is standing by and letting it happen time and time again.
The style of the writing was very different to most books, with the short chapters and each chapter name being taken from something that happened in the chapter. It was also quite a short book, so something that can be read in an evening.
I didn’t find myself particularly sad that it was coming to an end, and that we didn’t find out if either sister ever had a happy ending or not. The book was ok, but not really one that I found myself looking forward to a bit of free time to continue reading or picking up for half an hour before bed.
Edgar Wright recommended This Is Spinal Tap (1984) in Movies (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated This Is the End (2013) in Movies
Apr 7, 2021
"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘺, 𝘨𝘶𝘺𝘴."
First time since the theater and - as everyone else has already pointed out - it still remains as infectiously fun as ever. Also as everyone else has pointed out psychopathic, windbreaker-ed Michael Cera in full-on boss mode is some of the greatest comedic offerings of the 21st century. Honestly I've always loved this entire lightning-in-a-bottle idea where Rogen and his friends (all playing self-deprecating caricatures of themselves) are just hanging out at James Franco's place and then the apocalypse happens - where it gets used as little more than an analog to peddle their usual jocular, caustic brand of comedy. These are probably the only people in Hollywood who could even pull off this premise let alone without it coming out as some sort of pretentious vanity project. Wish we had more of the opening party stuff before it gets into the doomsday plot, and it treads in its last act - maybe about 10 or so minutes too long as a whole. But it still rules, and what killer demon design + effectwork. Hill and McBride walk away with it (after being bodied by Cera, of course).
First time since the theater and - as everyone else has already pointed out - it still remains as infectiously fun as ever. Also as everyone else has pointed out psychopathic, windbreaker-ed Michael Cera in full-on boss mode is some of the greatest comedic offerings of the 21st century. Honestly I've always loved this entire lightning-in-a-bottle idea where Rogen and his friends (all playing self-deprecating caricatures of themselves) are just hanging out at James Franco's place and then the apocalypse happens - where it gets used as little more than an analog to peddle their usual jocular, caustic brand of comedy. These are probably the only people in Hollywood who could even pull off this premise let alone without it coming out as some sort of pretentious vanity project. Wish we had more of the opening party stuff before it gets into the doomsday plot, and it treads in its last act - maybe about 10 or so minutes too long as a whole. But it still rules, and what killer demon design + effectwork. Hill and McBride walk away with it (after being bodied by Cera, of course).
Method Man recommended Frailty (2002) in Movies (curated)
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post
Feb 17, 2021
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Snowman (2017) in Movies
Sep 25, 2019
When Harry Hole, an elite crime squad’s lead detective, investigates the disappearance of a victim on the first snow of winter, he fears an elusive serial killer nicknamed "The Snowman" may be active again. With the help of a brilliant recruit, the detective must connect decades-old cold cases to the brutal new one if he hopes to outwit this unthinkable evil before the next snowfall.
Another adaptation of a popular book. this one by Jo Nesbø in the Harry Hole series. As is becoming tradition (as I can only read so many books in a year) I haven't read it, but I was aware of it being very popular when it came out. So it wasn't really surprising that this one was made.
I can't work out if it would have been better if it hadn't been a book first. Serial killers are right up my alley so at some point I would have watched this one, but while I enjoyed it, it was somewhat predictable. I will definitely go and read the book, as consensus seems to be that it was much better. I was just left feeling a bit... meh... at the end of it.
Another adaptation of a popular book. this one by Jo Nesbø in the Harry Hole series. As is becoming tradition (as I can only read so many books in a year) I haven't read it, but I was aware of it being very popular when it came out. So it wasn't really surprising that this one was made.
I can't work out if it would have been better if it hadn't been a book first. Serial killers are right up my alley so at some point I would have watched this one, but while I enjoyed it, it was somewhat predictable. I will definitely go and read the book, as consensus seems to be that it was much better. I was just left feeling a bit... meh... at the end of it.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Supernatural - Season 2 in TV
Oct 7, 2019
Another great series
I have to admit that this is a second series that actually surpasses the original, and that's fairly unusual although I'm intrigued to see if it can hold out over the 14+ seasons there's been so far.
The one thing that does lack a little in this series is the spirits/demons themselves. They don't seem quite so inventive as the first series, however this is only because there is a much bigger wider plot going on with the psychics and yellow eyed demon. This makes it a lot more serious and darker, but that's not to say it doesn't have it's lighter moments. The episode with the Trickster is downright hilarious, and there are some wickedly funny one liners and interactions between the brothers. It is looking a bit dated now, unsurprising seen as it first aired over a decade ago, but it's still good and also has a killer soundtrack. My only other criticism is the beyond irritating opening credits and recap scenes that plague every single episode. I really hope they don't carry these on across every season...
The one thing that does lack a little in this series is the spirits/demons themselves. They don't seem quite so inventive as the first series, however this is only because there is a much bigger wider plot going on with the psychics and yellow eyed demon. This makes it a lot more serious and darker, but that's not to say it doesn't have it's lighter moments. The episode with the Trickster is downright hilarious, and there are some wickedly funny one liners and interactions between the brothers. It is looking a bit dated now, unsurprising seen as it first aired over a decade ago, but it's still good and also has a killer soundtrack. My only other criticism is the beyond irritating opening credits and recap scenes that plague every single episode. I really hope they don't carry these on across every season...
Lenard (726 KP) rated 47 Meters Down: Uncaged (2019) in Movies
Aug 19, 2019
In the first "47 Meters Down," two friends went cage-diving in shark-infested waters and became trapped on the bottom after the line is tragically severed. The sequel takes place in Mexico with four teenagers who are not exactly friends at the beginning cave-diving in an ancient Mayan city that became submerged. One of the girls secretly rendevouses with an underwater explorer who showed her a secret dock where diving gear was being hidden for archaelogists. She then takes her friends to the secret spot one Saturday when two of the girls who are stepsisters are supposed to take a glass-bottom boat to shark-infested waters. The girls then explore the Mayan cave where they find a shark who has become trapped in the caves. The rest of the movie is the friends attempting to escape these blood-thirsty monsters and bonding. Unfortunately, after Florida alligators and a series of killer shark movies, 47 Meters Down Uncaged does not satisfy in any way (both story or camp-wise). The filmmakers and studio knew this or they would not released the film in the middle of August against four other wide releases.