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Awix (3310 KP) rated Ghost Stories (2018) in Movies
Mar 18, 2019
Loving and very scary update of the classic British anthology horror film. A skeptical parapsychologist is challenged to investigate three cases of the supernatural and prove there was nothing unearthly involved: a security guard, a teenager, and a wealthy businessman all recount their tales of dark forces - but is there something else going on?
Possibly a bit mannered and old fashioned for today's younger generation (mutter, grumble, etc), but a film made with enormous care and attention to detail, with terrific performances from the cast (okay, it's a bit white-male-centric; get your blazing torches out if you really must). The kind of film where, once you've seen the ending, you reflect on the rest of it and recognise all the subtle ways in which the film was tipping you off all along. And, as mentioned, a properly frightening experience when watched in a darkened cinema, but in a good way.
Possibly a bit mannered and old fashioned for today's younger generation (mutter, grumble, etc), but a film made with enormous care and attention to detail, with terrific performances from the cast (okay, it's a bit white-male-centric; get your blazing torches out if you really must). The kind of film where, once you've seen the ending, you reflect on the rest of it and recognise all the subtle ways in which the film was tipping you off all along. And, as mentioned, a properly frightening experience when watched in a darkened cinema, but in a good way.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Saving Mr. Banks (2013) in Movies
Apr 4, 2019 (Updated Apr 4, 2019)
Well-mounted but self-referential (and that's putting it very charitably!) look at the origins of Mary Poppins. Pamela Travers (Thompson), who is very British and starchy, flies to Los Angeles where she meets the avuncular Walt Disney (Hanks), intent on adapting her books about a supernatural dominatrix for the cinema. Colin Farrell appears in flashback as Travers' feckless dad; despite what the soundtrack listing suggests, he does not sing 'Chim Chiminee', so manage your expectations.
Nicely made and played, and quite amusing an' all, but hard to escape the impression this is just a massive piece of self-aggrandisement by the House of Mouse: poor old repressed Travers just needs a bit more Disney in her life in order to become happier and more successful, to say nothing of the various factual inaccuracies. But then it's a Disney film actually about Walt Disney, so what do you expect? Watchable stuff, but take a pinch of salt along with the many spoonfuls of sugar.
Nicely made and played, and quite amusing an' all, but hard to escape the impression this is just a massive piece of self-aggrandisement by the House of Mouse: poor old repressed Travers just needs a bit more Disney in her life in order to become happier and more successful, to say nothing of the various factual inaccuracies. But then it's a Disney film actually about Walt Disney, so what do you expect? Watchable stuff, but take a pinch of salt along with the many spoonfuls of sugar.
ClareR (5879 KP) rated The Outsider in Books
Jun 6, 2018
Another great, suspenseful novel from Stephen King!
I always get excited when a new Stephen King novel comes out, and this was no exception.
A boy is horribly murdered, mutilated and sexually assaulted, and a man is very publicly arrested - it's obvious to the police that he is the perpetrator. Lots of people saw him: from picking up the boy, to being seen after the act, covered in blood. Of course, this is Stephen King, so it's not that simple.
The characters are fantastic - easy to relate to, and Detective Ralph Anderson is especially good (in my opinion). I do like a man who can admit they're wrong and then actually DO something to rectify their mistakes.
What I like about King, is how he can make the supernatural seem so, well, natural. It all seems perfectly plausible, which makes it all the more terrifying.
Another fantastic novel from King, and I would highly recommend it!
A boy is horribly murdered, mutilated and sexually assaulted, and a man is very publicly arrested - it's obvious to the police that he is the perpetrator. Lots of people saw him: from picking up the boy, to being seen after the act, covered in blood. Of course, this is Stephen King, so it's not that simple.
The characters are fantastic - easy to relate to, and Detective Ralph Anderson is especially good (in my opinion). I do like a man who can admit they're wrong and then actually DO something to rectify their mistakes.
What I like about King, is how he can make the supernatural seem so, well, natural. It all seems perfectly plausible, which makes it all the more terrifying.
Another fantastic novel from King, and I would highly recommend it!
Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated Smiley (2012) in Movies
Jul 23, 2018
The ending couldn't save the rest of the movie (3 more)
Cliche plot you have seen before
Bad acting
Annoying characters
The internet's bloody mary
This was a terrible movie
Bloody mary meets unfriended? It feels like a typical supernatural slasher you have seen plenty of times.
None of the characters are likeable, if anything they are actually annoying right from the first start especially the main girl. Again there is no logic, it's not creepy or gory and I found it just boring.
Don't get me wrong I love urban legends when it is done right.
The killer was not designed well, not shown enough and not creepy enough. Only a few deaths that were not scary or gory.
I couldn't wait for this movie to end but I'm happy I watched it so that you don't have to. It was paced horribly and even a good twist at the end couldn't save this movie.
Bloody mary meets unfriended? It feels like a typical supernatural slasher you have seen plenty of times.
None of the characters are likeable, if anything they are actually annoying right from the first start especially the main girl. Again there is no logic, it's not creepy or gory and I found it just boring.
Don't get me wrong I love urban legends when it is done right.
The killer was not designed well, not shown enough and not creepy enough. Only a few deaths that were not scary or gory.
I couldn't wait for this movie to end but I'm happy I watched it so that you don't have to. It was paced horribly and even a good twist at the end couldn't save this movie.
Sue (5 KP) rated Curse Breaker (Red-Line, #4) in Books
Aug 13, 2018
I had the opportunity to read a book in a different genre than I usually do (I read cozy mysteries). The first part of the book was romance and suspense with a good plot and an unexpected twist of who done it and why. I was drawn to the characters and hoped that my favorite wasn't going to turn out to be the murderer. I thought the book was complete (at about 70% on my Kindle) and then the story took a turn. I don't want to spoil anything for the reader, but it was a big surprise as to what happens and how our couple survives the plot twist. I have to admit that I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the last half, but all in all, it was a good book for those who enjoy mystery, romance, suspense, and a bit of supernatural.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Atterados (2017) in Movies
Oct 12, 2018
A very unsettling atmosphere (1 more)
A great cast of characters
Some of the special effects are B-Movie level (1 more)
Its a little hard to follow at times
Argentina brings the creepiness
This Shudder exclusive was a very present surprise, featuring some genuinely creepy scenes, and a very interesting take on demons (?) and the lore surrounding them.
The cast are great, chewing scenery when they need to, and playing just the right amount of seriousness to keep the viewer engrossed.
There are some great stand out scenes, and there are moments remind me of movies like 'In the Mouth Of Madness' and 'Insidious', but to draw too many comparisons does this film a discredit.
its great fun, a little weird, but plenty creepy, and it keeps you guessing as to who's story it is, who is our protagonist, and whether you will get a happy ending at all.
I really enjoyed it, and I think fans of supernatural horror, or Lovecraftian madness will find something to like here.
The cast are great, chewing scenery when they need to, and playing just the right amount of seriousness to keep the viewer engrossed.
There are some great stand out scenes, and there are moments remind me of movies like 'In the Mouth Of Madness' and 'Insidious', but to draw too many comparisons does this film a discredit.
its great fun, a little weird, but plenty creepy, and it keeps you guessing as to who's story it is, who is our protagonist, and whether you will get a happy ending at all.
I really enjoyed it, and I think fans of supernatural horror, or Lovecraftian madness will find something to like here.
Aurora (9 KP) rated The Keeper Of Lost Things in Books
Nov 7, 2018
Heartwarming (3 more)
Interwoven storylines
Emotional
Flawed, but lovable characters
Great Read
Contains spoilers, click to show
The Keeper of Lost Things intrigued me from the very start. I absolutely love interweaving storylines and the sense of mystery the author instills in everyday objects. The characters, even the most minor ones, are very well-written and flawed in really believable ways. I was impressed by the different struggles that characters had, as well as how relatable the author made their pain. The reader can really feel the despair of grief, pain of watching family members age, and awkwardness of a date gone horribly wrong. What disappointed me, however, was that this poignant realism was often followed by fairly generic ghost-story spirit antics. In my opinion, the author could have stopped with Sunshine's unique empathetic abilities and left out the angry ghosts to keep from going a step too far. Still, I was engrossed in this book and do recommend it, particularly to those who enjoy a bit of the supernatural.
Skwchance (13 KP) rated The Afterlife of Walter Augustus in Books
Nov 12, 2019
Theory of afterlife (4 more)
Comedy
Love
Uplifting
Supernatural
Ghosts, love and cake
Walter is stick in limbo in the interim, a period of afterlife where you remain until everyone who knew him dies. All his loved ones have moved to yhe final stage of afterlife and he wants to go with them but a book of poems he wrote has been found by a stranger. Now she knows his name he is stuck for longer.
The story follows him and the women who found the book, Letty. She is a sad character who you want things to turn out good for.
The theory of the afterlife is fabulous and made me question whether I would want to stay there forever and be remembered or if I would want to risk moving into the final afterlife.
The characters made me want to shake them into being braver at times but are endearing. The plot is a bit crazy but there are lots of laughs and it is very creative.
The story follows him and the women who found the book, Letty. She is a sad character who you want things to turn out good for.
The theory of the afterlife is fabulous and made me question whether I would want to stay there forever and be remembered or if I would want to risk moving into the final afterlife.
The characters made me want to shake them into being braver at times but are endearing. The plot is a bit crazy but there are lots of laughs and it is very creative.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Stone Tape in TV
Feb 22, 2020
Acclaimed ghost story for TV looks slightly dated now but is still likely to put the wind up the unwary. Scientists investigating a haunted house jump to one conclusion too many. Ghostwatch's only serious rival for the title of spookiest thing ever made on videotape, The Stone Tape is notable for the way in which it manages to combine a genuine science-fiction approach with proper supernatural horror: the characters think they've managed to come up with a testable rationale for residual hauntings, but their inability to fully work out how the 'stone tape' operates leads to a climax quite unlike anything else in TV horror. Interesting subtext about gender politics in the workplace, too.
It is nearly fifty years old, made using quite primitive TV technology, quite talky, etc, etc, all of which probably counts against it for modern audiences. But it is interesting to look back to a time when British TV networks made horror for the brain.
It is nearly fifty years old, made using quite primitive TV technology, quite talky, etc, etc, all of which probably counts against it for modern audiences. But it is interesting to look back to a time when British TV networks made horror for the brain.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Curse of La Llorona (2019) in Movies
Feb 22, 2020
As bad as The Nun
After watching this I almost want to copy and paste the majority of my review of The Nun, as I feel the same way about La Llorona as I did about that.
I hate these types of films, especially all of these created within this whole Conjuring universe. They're not scary, rely on pretty poor jump scares and the more of these films they make, the more predictable and dull they are. And I felt that La Llorona is almost on par with The Nun, even the Annabelle films are better than this. La Llorona herself is a terrible spirit, looks ridiculous and the whole plot is just far too similar to many other films that have gone before it. There's an episode of Supernatural similar to this plot that is miles better!
I really need to stop watching these films, as much as they need to stop making them.
I hate these types of films, especially all of these created within this whole Conjuring universe. They're not scary, rely on pretty poor jump scares and the more of these films they make, the more predictable and dull they are. And I felt that La Llorona is almost on par with The Nun, even the Annabelle films are better than this. La Llorona herself is a terrible spirit, looks ridiculous and the whole plot is just far too similar to many other films that have gone before it. There's an episode of Supernatural similar to this plot that is miles better!
I really need to stop watching these films, as much as they need to stop making them.
Stephen (210 KP) Mar 18, 2019
Awix (3310 KP) Mar 18, 2019