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Film and stuff (30 KP) rated Before I Wake (2016) in Movies
May 15, 2019
....meh
Director: Mike Flanagan
Writers: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard
Stars: Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane and Jacob Tremblay
What's it about?
New foster carers look after a sweet young boy whos dreams and nightmares come to life.
Is it scary?
Well, the first 20 to 30 minutes are really good. It builds slow and has a real confidence about it that is refreshing. sadly after that it devolves into standard horror clichés and is deeply not scary. It switches from tension building to attempted jump scares that simply don't land.
Does it have any redeeming features?
The reveal/twist is rushed and half arsed. Cody (the young boy) is so sweet and struggles with what is happening. Trying everything he can to stay awake because of his ability is so refreshing from the normal "evil child" trope.
How does it compare to other horrors?
It's mainstream. It offers a really nice premise but sadly doesn't do much with it.
Writers: Mike Flanagan, Jeff Howard
Stars: Kate Bosworth, Thomas Jane and Jacob Tremblay
What's it about?
New foster carers look after a sweet young boy whos dreams and nightmares come to life.
Is it scary?
Well, the first 20 to 30 minutes are really good. It builds slow and has a real confidence about it that is refreshing. sadly after that it devolves into standard horror clichés and is deeply not scary. It switches from tension building to attempted jump scares that simply don't land.
Does it have any redeeming features?
The reveal/twist is rushed and half arsed. Cody (the young boy) is so sweet and struggles with what is happening. Trying everything he can to stay awake because of his ability is so refreshing from the normal "evil child" trope.
How does it compare to other horrors?
It's mainstream. It offers a really nice premise but sadly doesn't do much with it.
Creepier than the original (1 more)
Acting
Weird CGI (1 more)
Still not scary
Competes well with the original
I was a fan of the original despite the horror themes being laughable. It's a classic, you know? I had high hopes for this updated version. My biggest expection was that the producers make it actually scary, mainly making Pennywise scarier. I waited to see this because I was skeptical about this being achieved. Because I did wait till it was out on DVD/Blueray, I was influenced by the media's opinion of it. Needless to say, Kate McKinnon as Pennywise was hilarious. My hopes for this movie being scarier than it's original version were squashed, but I was now more motivated to see it. No, it isn't much scarier than the original, but it was really well done aside from some obviously CGIed moments. Superior cinematography did achieve a creepier movie. The acting was great. Overall, this was done much better than the original, actually.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018) in Movies
Oct 20, 2019
Inoffensive and forgettable
When I saw the first Goosebumps film, I'd been pleasantly surprised and loved it a lot more than I'd expected. Sadly the trailer for this follow up didnt look great, and I'm afraid to say the reality is rather disappointing too.
This is basically your run of the mill "scary" kids film. There was nothing particularly scary about it, the laughs were dull and predictable and even the blink and you'll miss it return of Jack Black's RL Stine isnt enough to make this film entertaining. Slappy is a great character and could be quite creepy, but in this they've really missed the mark. The ventriloquist dummies from Toy Story 4 were scarier than him! The CGI was quite dodgy at times too. The blessing with this film is that it's very short, and whilst it's not great it's still entertaining enough to keep you watching for the 90 minutes, it's just a very poor follow up to the surprising hit of the first.
This is basically your run of the mill "scary" kids film. There was nothing particularly scary about it, the laughs were dull and predictable and even the blink and you'll miss it return of Jack Black's RL Stine isnt enough to make this film entertaining. Slappy is a great character and could be quite creepy, but in this they've really missed the mark. The ventriloquist dummies from Toy Story 4 were scarier than him! The CGI was quite dodgy at times too. The blessing with this film is that it's very short, and whilst it's not great it's still entertaining enough to keep you watching for the 90 minutes, it's just a very poor follow up to the surprising hit of the first.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Nun (2018) in Movies
Jul 1, 2019
Another unnecessary origin film
I have to be honest, I've never been a fan of the Conjuring or Annabelle type films so there was no real interest in watching this film other than it's one of the latest releases on Sky Cinema. And to be frank, after seeing it I'm still completely disinterested.
The film really isnt scary, and relies on obvious jump scares that are ridiculously predictable. The story itself is meh and gets so silly in parts that I didnt have a clue what was going on. I mean blood of christ, really? And then theres the effects which are pretty poor in some scenes, to the point where the nun doesn't look scary and instead looks laughable. With many origin/prequel films they're telling us a backstory of a character that we didnt need to know and this is true of the nun. Do we really benefit from a origin story about the nun? I'm afraid the answer is definitely not!
The film really isnt scary, and relies on obvious jump scares that are ridiculously predictable. The story itself is meh and gets so silly in parts that I didnt have a clue what was going on. I mean blood of christ, really? And then theres the effects which are pretty poor in some scenes, to the point where the nun doesn't look scary and instead looks laughable. With many origin/prequel films they're telling us a backstory of a character that we didnt need to know and this is true of the nun. Do we really benefit from a origin story about the nun? I'm afraid the answer is definitely not!
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Communion in Books
Nov 11, 2019
Kidnapped by aliens
This book caused commotion when it came out and created thousands of nightmares and is a seminal book in terms of what "we know" about aliens and the Grey's.
The book was the first where Strieber, classed as a credible Witness and whom has withstanded numerous lie detector tests etc is hypnotized and looks at the events where the aliens take him from his home, experiment on him and return him.
A book so seminal which has created the entire dialogue on such things we look at today desrerves more than 6 right? Well it would if is wasn't for the musings and ramblings. If Strieber just spoke about the cases then this would be a haunting scary book but he doesn't and it lets it down.. it still went on to sell millions with best selling follow ups do what do I know.
The book was the first where Strieber, classed as a credible Witness and whom has withstanded numerous lie detector tests etc is hypnotized and looks at the events where the aliens take him from his home, experiment on him and return him.
A book so seminal which has created the entire dialogue on such things we look at today desrerves more than 6 right? Well it would if is wasn't for the musings and ramblings. If Strieber just spoke about the cases then this would be a haunting scary book but he doesn't and it lets it down.. it still went on to sell millions with best selling follow ups do what do I know.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) in Movies
Dec 4, 2019
Jane Doe
The Autopsy of Jane Doe- is anethor very good horror movie that hardly no one talks about and knows about. It came in 2016, and i forgot that this movie came out in 2016 cause 2016 was a big year for movies.
The Plot: When father and son coroners investigate the death of a beautiful `Jane Doe', they find increasingly bizarre clues.
It was directed by Andre Overdal, who you may say, well he directed this film called "Trollhunter" in 2010 which was a dark fantasy and was made in the form of a "found footage" mouckumently, highly reccordmend.
Than he went on to direct "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark", which came out early this year and i really liked it.
This film is scary, terrorfying, horrorfying, creepy and overall really good. Also it starred Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox. Their were both really good in it.
This film is a must see.
The Plot: When father and son coroners investigate the death of a beautiful `Jane Doe', they find increasingly bizarre clues.
It was directed by Andre Overdal, who you may say, well he directed this film called "Trollhunter" in 2010 which was a dark fantasy and was made in the form of a "found footage" mouckumently, highly reccordmend.
Than he went on to direct "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark", which came out early this year and i really liked it.
This film is scary, terrorfying, horrorfying, creepy and overall really good. Also it starred Emile Hirsch and Brian Cox. Their were both really good in it.
This film is a must see.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019) in Movies
Aug 26, 2019
A great looking and fun horror film that leans too heavily on jump scares
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - the overall plot of this film is a fun one, and the nature of it revolving around short stories enables the movie to explore different creatures and dangers without having to worry too much about plot connection.
There are some really creepy shots throughout (The Pale Lady in the red corridors will definitely stick with me) but the scares end there. The movie relies on cheap jump scares a bit too much, with many scenes of uncomfortable silence before a SUDDEN SCARY THING! pops out at you. It becomes tiresome fairly quickly.
The designs of the creatures themselves are pretty good, and the darkness of most scenes masks obvious CGI effectively.
I'm fact, the films looks pretty good throughout.
As a horror film, it's pretty tame, but it's fun, and I would recommend a watch if horror is your bag.
There are some really creepy shots throughout (The Pale Lady in the red corridors will definitely stick with me) but the scares end there. The movie relies on cheap jump scares a bit too much, with many scenes of uncomfortable silence before a SUDDEN SCARY THING! pops out at you. It becomes tiresome fairly quickly.
The designs of the creatures themselves are pretty good, and the darkness of most scenes masks obvious CGI effectively.
I'm fact, the films looks pretty good throughout.
As a horror film, it's pretty tame, but it's fun, and I would recommend a watch if horror is your bag.
Debbiereadsbook (1166 KP) rated A Cold Christmas and the Darkest of Winters in Books
Dec 17, 2021
not bedtime reading but very good!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
A collection of 23 different authors come together to bring you short stories set around the winter season or Christmas.
Not a single one of these authors have I read before, and there is a varied bunch of tales here. Some are just sad but some are downright scary!
Loosely, they are "holiday" stories, but more are winter ones, rather than Christmas.
An eclectic bunch of tales that can be read at any time, but I'd recommend NOT at bedtime! You might stop on one of the scary ones, and get some weird dreams as a consequence, like I did!
I didn't read them all, I will be honest, but the ones I read were very good, or excellent. Just on the short side. but 23 stories across 360 odd pages is never going to produce novel length books.
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
A collection of 23 different authors come together to bring you short stories set around the winter season or Christmas.
Not a single one of these authors have I read before, and there is a varied bunch of tales here. Some are just sad but some are downright scary!
Loosely, they are "holiday" stories, but more are winter ones, rather than Christmas.
An eclectic bunch of tales that can be read at any time, but I'd recommend NOT at bedtime! You might stop on one of the scary ones, and get some weird dreams as a consequence, like I did!
I didn't read them all, I will be honest, but the ones I read were very good, or excellent. Just on the short side. but 23 stories across 360 odd pages is never going to produce novel length books.
4 stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Dean (6925 KP) rated Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) in Movies
Dec 17, 2017
Santa Slasher
Hard to see what all the fuss was about by today's standards but suppose it was a bit shocking for '84. The film does look really dated now and is just unintentionally funny rather than scary or gruesome. A very poor film with cheap effects, bad acting and little plot. The good things are the typical 80's slasher feel to it, a few inventive kills. Hard to think it got 4 sequels!
HLD (99 KP) rated Resident Evil 7 biohazard in Video Games
Sep 5, 2017
Very intriguing story. (5 more)
Game play is a lot of fun .
It is a genuinely scary experience.
There's no shortage of things to find, collect, kill, or be killed by.
Wearing a diaper is advisable.
The storyline kept me hooked right up until the end.
Awesome, but could have been called anything...