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Kevin Wilson (179 KP) rated The Guest (2014) in Movies
Jul 23, 2018
Dan Stevens is fantastic (4 more)
Unpredictable right until the end
Great cast, great acting
Good music
Great plot
An unpredictable, suspenseful thriller
This was a suprising find for me. I paid £1 for this on blu ray and I have to say I am very very impressed.
The cast are great throughout but it is obviously Dan Stevens that knocks it out of the park as David. He shows sincerity which soons turns into this intense and sinister performance. He is full of suspense and you are constantly asking what his real story is and what his motives are. He plays this character well showing a lot of manipulation when using the families grief for their son to integrate himself into their lives. The performance of every other actor and actress are elevated that much more opposites his character.
The plot is interesting and 1 of those rare movies full of unpredictability. There are many parts I don't see coming and this goes on until the very end. The music is fantastic and the writing is perfect.
I'd love to see Dan Stevens do more action because the action in this was great and intense. There wasnt too much and I'm ok with that. It worked well with the tone of the movie. I loved seeing these little parts because it showed how dangerous this man really is.
I was a little bit disappointed with the ending because of how quickly it suddenly ended. I wanted more, I wanted to know what happened next but I guess that's the point.
Overall a fantastic movie, well worth a watch. Well paced, every scene felt it was building this suspense.
The cast are great throughout but it is obviously Dan Stevens that knocks it out of the park as David. He shows sincerity which soons turns into this intense and sinister performance. He is full of suspense and you are constantly asking what his real story is and what his motives are. He plays this character well showing a lot of manipulation when using the families grief for their son to integrate himself into their lives. The performance of every other actor and actress are elevated that much more opposites his character.
The plot is interesting and 1 of those rare movies full of unpredictability. There are many parts I don't see coming and this goes on until the very end. The music is fantastic and the writing is perfect.
I'd love to see Dan Stevens do more action because the action in this was great and intense. There wasnt too much and I'm ok with that. It worked well with the tone of the movie. I loved seeing these little parts because it showed how dangerous this man really is.
I was a little bit disappointed with the ending because of how quickly it suddenly ended. I wanted more, I wanted to know what happened next but I guess that's the point.
Overall a fantastic movie, well worth a watch. Well paced, every scene felt it was building this suspense.
Carma (21 KP) rated Chasing Eva in Books
Jun 17, 2019
Eva and Clive met long ago at one of the parties their fathers held around the holidays. Their fathers had been friends and business associates for quite some time and at one party Eva and Clive had their first kiss. Fast-forward many years later to a chance meeting in the elevator of their mutual building. Now thrown together as someone is trying to manipulate her company, she relies on Clive to help her navigate this new normal.
Chasing Eva is a romantic suspense read continuing in the next 2 books in the series Loving Eva and Killing Eva. This was a first read for this author and overall I enjoyed her writing style. I felt though a little confused as to how Eva didn’t remember kissing Clive (not the most common name) all those years ago. And if Clive knew so much about Eva through the years, didn’t know she was running her fathers company and just a few floors down from his office.
So that aside, this story was an interesting read for me. I haven’t been reading too much in the romantic suspense genre lately (though at one time it was a mainstay) and this one I would classify as more romantic than suspenseful. It gives a good baseline for where Clive and Eva have grown since that first kiss, and how they can come together now and try a relationship. Eva has some self-doubts after seeing some of the women Clive has dated, but in the end he shows her that he has eyes for only her.
This new to me author gets 4 stars for this introduction to her series. I am almost through with Loving Eva and then on to Killing Eva to see how this triology ends. All opinions expressed are my own, no review expectation was given.
Chasing Eva is a romantic suspense read continuing in the next 2 books in the series Loving Eva and Killing Eva. This was a first read for this author and overall I enjoyed her writing style. I felt though a little confused as to how Eva didn’t remember kissing Clive (not the most common name) all those years ago. And if Clive knew so much about Eva through the years, didn’t know she was running her fathers company and just a few floors down from his office.
So that aside, this story was an interesting read for me. I haven’t been reading too much in the romantic suspense genre lately (though at one time it was a mainstay) and this one I would classify as more romantic than suspenseful. It gives a good baseline for where Clive and Eva have grown since that first kiss, and how they can come together now and try a relationship. Eva has some self-doubts after seeing some of the women Clive has dated, but in the end he shows her that he has eyes for only her.
This new to me author gets 4 stars for this introduction to her series. I am almost through with Loving Eva and then on to Killing Eva to see how this triology ends. All opinions expressed are my own, no review expectation was given.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated Now and Forever (Wild at Heart, #2) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Romance and suspense in the mountains of Idaho Territory, 1866.
Shannon Wilde, the middle sister, has a soft spot for animals. She cares for her flock of sheep on her homestead. When her life takes a dramatic turn off of a cliff with Matthew Tucker, she finds herself married to the rugged mountain man. Shannon is a strong independent woman who is not used to being protected by a man. But as attacks begin to try and drive her off her land, maybe she needs that protection after all. The attacker picked the wrong family to mess with, Tucker's fury is not something to trifle with. But will he be able to protect the wife that he is falling in love with? Will her past drive a wedge between them? Find out on another adventure with the Wilde family!
Mary Connealy is quickly becoming one of my favorite western authors. Her romantic comedy has a side of action and terror, which makes her books well balanced. Now & Forever is not for squeamish stomachs however. I found myself grimacing as I read through a couple of the scenes. I was hooked from the start though, and I couldn't put it down through all of the action and suspense. It really felt like Criminal Minds meets the Old West as they try to find out who is behind the attacks. I enjoyed watching as Shannon and Tucker's relationship developed, turning into love and respect for one another. After experiencing unbelievable horrors in he Civil War, Shannon's faith is on shaky ground. Tucker helps her through her journey of reestablishing that faith in God. Even with their challenging upbringings and pasts, they learn to work through their differences, becoming a team that is inseparable.
I received a free copy of Now & Forever from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
Shannon Wilde, the middle sister, has a soft spot for animals. She cares for her flock of sheep on her homestead. When her life takes a dramatic turn off of a cliff with Matthew Tucker, she finds herself married to the rugged mountain man. Shannon is a strong independent woman who is not used to being protected by a man. But as attacks begin to try and drive her off her land, maybe she needs that protection after all. The attacker picked the wrong family to mess with, Tucker's fury is not something to trifle with. But will he be able to protect the wife that he is falling in love with? Will her past drive a wedge between them? Find out on another adventure with the Wilde family!
Mary Connealy is quickly becoming one of my favorite western authors. Her romantic comedy has a side of action and terror, which makes her books well balanced. Now & Forever is not for squeamish stomachs however. I found myself grimacing as I read through a couple of the scenes. I was hooked from the start though, and I couldn't put it down through all of the action and suspense. It really felt like Criminal Minds meets the Old West as they try to find out who is behind the attacks. I enjoyed watching as Shannon and Tucker's relationship developed, turning into love and respect for one another. After experiencing unbelievable horrors in he Civil War, Shannon's faith is on shaky ground. Tucker helps her through her journey of reestablishing that faith in God. Even with their challenging upbringings and pasts, they learn to work through their differences, becoming a team that is inseparable.
I received a free copy of Now & Forever from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.
JT (287 KP) rated The Ward (2010) in Movies
Mar 16, 2020
Poor acting (2 more)
Laughable twist
Not scary
Carpenter must have been having an off day
his is a massive disappointment and there is no place to hide here for John Carpenter who making a return to directing since 2001′s Ghosts of Mars has delivered us a real ‘dog’ of a film.
I’m a big fan of his work, but that is his early work with the likes of Halloween and The Thing as my personal favourites, but here Carpenter’s trademark suspense is all but lost in a story that is as predictable as it is stupid.
After setting fire to a barn Kristen (Amber Heard) is sent to a mental hospital, where she is terrorised by a ghost, a hidden past his reflected upon but never fully delved into. There is of course more to it than that, and Heard spends a vast majority of the time either locked in her room or trying to escape while at the same time piecing the puzzle together with the help of some of her fellow inmates.
Carpenter’s use of the wide camera angle is effective in places, and the long cold corridors of the ward are enough to give anyone the chills. However, it is not built on in any way and all the suspense is somewhat lost by the poor acting and monotonous build-up to the next potential terrifying scene. When the ghost is revealed it is, to be honest laughable and not in the least bit frightening which is probably one of the main downfalls of the film.
The twist ending is anything but predictable and you could have spotted it a mile off, it’s a poor effort this perhaps not helped in the writing department, but Carpenter is one of the masters of horror but here he hasn’t even bothered to turn up.
I’m a big fan of his work, but that is his early work with the likes of Halloween and The Thing as my personal favourites, but here Carpenter’s trademark suspense is all but lost in a story that is as predictable as it is stupid.
After setting fire to a barn Kristen (Amber Heard) is sent to a mental hospital, where she is terrorised by a ghost, a hidden past his reflected upon but never fully delved into. There is of course more to it than that, and Heard spends a vast majority of the time either locked in her room or trying to escape while at the same time piecing the puzzle together with the help of some of her fellow inmates.
Carpenter’s use of the wide camera angle is effective in places, and the long cold corridors of the ward are enough to give anyone the chills. However, it is not built on in any way and all the suspense is somewhat lost by the poor acting and monotonous build-up to the next potential terrifying scene. When the ghost is revealed it is, to be honest laughable and not in the least bit frightening which is probably one of the main downfalls of the film.
The twist ending is anything but predictable and you could have spotted it a mile off, it’s a poor effort this perhaps not helped in the writing department, but Carpenter is one of the masters of horror but here he hasn’t even bothered to turn up.
HIS Fantasy (HIS #8)
9.0
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From Romantic Suspense BEST-SELLING and AWARD-Winning Author • Can one man capture the heart of...
romance military dudes it had to end somewhere
Blood Sisters: The Next Addictive Thriller from the Bestselling Author of My Husband's Wife
8.0
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THREE LITTLE GIRLS SET OFF TO SCHOOL ONE SUNNY MORNING. WITHIN AN HOUR, ONE OF THEM IS DEAD. 'So...
contemporary mystery psychological thriller
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Happy Death Day (2017) in Movies
Jul 11, 2019
Using familiar themes can be a risk. What we have seen in previous films that define a style, becomes cliché and bores the audience. Then there are times when movies turn the trope on its head and gives us a clever take on the familiar. Christopher Landon (Scout’s Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse) has directed a fun romp in suspense and horror. Yes, there is the blatant reference to Groundhog Day, but this film is definitely a homage to John Carpenter, the master of the genre.
We know from the trailer that this is a horror/suspense loop and there are expectations set in this type of film. The young, attractive, woman, stalked by an unknown, masked assailant with a penchant for cutlery. As we know, Tree (Jessica Rothe) gets killed repeatedly on her birthday. We know it’s a slasher flick, expecting to see lots of blood and gore. Putting the main character in a time loop is definitely a twist in the storytelling.
Using repetition in film can be a tricky, stalling the momentum of the film. There was a moment during where I wondered when the loop would end, creating the feeling of hopelessness. It is at that time where Tree’s through process shifts and we travel with her in this never ending day. It takes a few times in the loop for Tree’s character to become enlightened She does figure out that each return is a do-over, an opportunity to make different choices.
The film also tips it’s hat to the college/high school, mean girl movies and definitely a nod to John Hughes Sixteen Candles. It had humor, wit and clever character development, I certainly did not expect to enjoy the film as much as I did. I would definitely watch it again to catch all of the references.
We know from the trailer that this is a horror/suspense loop and there are expectations set in this type of film. The young, attractive, woman, stalked by an unknown, masked assailant with a penchant for cutlery. As we know, Tree (Jessica Rothe) gets killed repeatedly on her birthday. We know it’s a slasher flick, expecting to see lots of blood and gore. Putting the main character in a time loop is definitely a twist in the storytelling.
Using repetition in film can be a tricky, stalling the momentum of the film. There was a moment during where I wondered when the loop would end, creating the feeling of hopelessness. It is at that time where Tree’s through process shifts and we travel with her in this never ending day. It takes a few times in the loop for Tree’s character to become enlightened She does figure out that each return is a do-over, an opportunity to make different choices.
The film also tips it’s hat to the college/high school, mean girl movies and definitely a nod to John Hughes Sixteen Candles. It had humor, wit and clever character development, I certainly did not expect to enjoy the film as much as I did. I would definitely watch it again to catch all of the references.
A Hamiton Christmas (HIS #9)
8.0
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While some may try, no one ruins a Hamilton family Christmas. From Romantic Suspense BEST-SELLING...
Of Lilies and Lies (Stirling Harbor #1)
10.0
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When the past refuses to stay buried, can I trust him enough to protect me? Kit After my...
Contemporary Romance Suspense
Signs and Wonders (Witchbane #7)
Book
When a coven of dark warlocks killed Seth Tanner’s brother, Seth became a man driven by vengeance,...
Paranormal MM Romantic Suspense