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Orphan (2009)
Orphan (2009)
2009 | Drama, Horror, Mystery
In the years since it's release, Orphan has earned it's spot as a genre favourite. It's a tense and unsettling drama, with fantastic performances from its cast. Isabelle Fuhrman is a pitch perfect creepy-horror-movie-child and gives us a more than memorable villain. Esther is manipulative, dangerous, and mysterious in equal measure, and Fuhrman cements all of those things, no problem. This is complimented by the delightfully unhinged turn by Vera Farmiga. She has become a bit of a darling in the horror genre and Orphan was one of the film's that propelled that. Her character is troubled and erratic, suspicious of Esther, and someone who we as the audience root for until the very end.
The relatively long runtime, and slow burning first half never gets boring, and the mystery surrounding Esther ticks along nicely, until we're hit with one hell of a batshit twist. It's definitely a payoff that hits its mark. The last 30 minutes are pedal to the floor craziness as everything descends into chaos. It's a satisfying finale to its long build up.
Orphan is a well loved film that deserves that status, and one that is fun to go back to, even knowing the outcome.
  
SW
Snow White, Blood Red
7
7.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
62 of 230
Snow White , Blood Red (Fairy tale anthology book 1)
Edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Exploring the darker side of popular fairy tales, this anthology features dark and erotic tales of trolls and ogres, bewitched princesses, and magical kingdoms.

There were a few I picked out that I liked and I found a few new authors to try.

The Frog Prince by Gahan Wilson - Really enjoyed this it was a strange little story very Alice in Wonderland feel.

Stalking Beans by Nancy Kress - This is definitely a different adult spin on Jack and the beanstalk!

Snow Drop by Tabitha Lee - This was my favourite by far. A dark twisty version of Snow White and her step mother very dark.

Little Red by Wendy Wheeler - This gave me creepy shivers. Very well written unfortunately I can’t find anything by this author!

The Root of the Matter by Gregory Frost - This is a very adult version of Repunzel kinda dark and to the point.

The Changelings by Melanie Tem - Strange little story with some very sad undertones.

Troll Bridge by Neil Gaiman - I love Neil Gaiman he has such a unique storytelling ability and this did not disappoint!

Overall it was a good little anthology!
  
DD
Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Dexter, #1)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
"What can any of us do? Helpless as we all are, in the grip of our own little voices, what indeed van we do?"
I love Dexter! I love Jeff Lindsay! I started watching this series several years ago pretty much by accident and loved it. So, imagine my delight to learn it was based on a book. And not just one book, but a series! And written by a Florida author. Being the book nerd I am, I immediately bought the first one & it was promptly buried in my To Read stack. Here I am 5 years later finally reading it. And I find myself asking, "what the hell took so long?"
The story is fascinating and creepy but just believe able enough that you find yourself looking at people a little differently, wondering if there's a Dark Passenger in there somewhere. Lindsay is a gifted writer with a great ability to write just the right thing at just the right (or wrong time depending on how you feel about dexter and what he is.) Dexter is hands down one of the most fascinating characters in contemporary literature. He's so likable, but at the same time leaves the reader sitting on their couch thinking, "How can I possible like & even *gasp* root for a psychopathic killer!?" Believe me...you can and it is surprisingly easy.