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Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
2019 | Action, Comedy, Horror
Funny (0 more)
Zombie blasting fun
So after a good 10 years we finally have a sequel to what turned out to be a great Horror Comedy. Good to see the same cast back together again. It's very much more of the same as the first time but not surprising after how well it did. Funny through out and with plenty of zombie kills. It can't quite reach the heights of the first but is still very enjoyable. Watch after the credits as well!
  
Initiation (2020)
Initiation (2020)
2020 | Horror, Mystery
5
5.7 (3 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Good locations (1 more)
Modern approach
Very slow pacing (0 more)
Average Slasher
Available on Amazon Prime at present. Starts fairly well as some partying on campus gets a bit out of hand. After this though the films trundles along in first gear and takes quite a well to get to the first kill.
Tries to be more modern with the use of text messages and phone displays being shown on screen. Overall though it barely gets going before it's all over. One more for Slasher fans.
  
The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy
2018 | Action, Fantasy
Right from the start this series grabs your attention with an interesting premise and well thought out characters. I never knew what to expect because the story always kept me guessing and the reveals in each plot point were great. The entire cast is fantastic and I kept watching because I wanted to see what happened next. The music soundtrack for the show is great too and fits really well with the vibe of the scenes that have music. I really enjoyed it.
  
The Golden Child (1986)
The Golden Child (1986)
1986 | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Well, that hasn't aged very well.

Mid 80s Eddie Murphy vehicle, with Eddie playing the part of an investigator who specialises in finding lost children and who is hired to find the mystical 'Golden Child', who has been kidnapped from a remote Tibetan monastery and who is supposed to save mankind from themselves.

What follows is a strange blend of (mild) horror, oriental mysticism and crime movie as Murphy is in the case.

Definitely an 80s movie in soundtrack, attitude and fashion.
  
Wrong Turn (2021)
Wrong Turn (2021)
2021 | Horror
8
7.0 (11 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Well now, I watched this reboot of the semi popular Wrong Turn series with absolutely no knowledge of what was going to happen, expecting it to be more of the same, and was gobsmacked when it turned out to be a genuinely excellent slice of modern horror.

Firstly, the usual body count teenagers are all very well written. There's enough character building to care when they start to die, their reactions to said deaths are believable and human, and they are a set of protagonists who want to survive, not just cannon fodder. Lead actress Charlotte Vega has a huge part in this positive.
The regular set of cannibals are nowhere to be seen, and the antagonists this time around are a secluded community of mountain hunters known as The Foundation. They live off the natural earth and become entangled with the main characters after one of their ranks is killed in self defence. The narrative explores these two groups, and how both make decisions based on assumption of character and class. It's an interesting notion that elevates this movie beyond your standard slasher.
The leader of The Foundation, named Venable, is a genuinely imposing character. He has some great monologues, and actor Bill Sage really leans into the role. I'm hoping a sequel gets made just to see more of this dude as well as Charlotte Vega.
The gore on display is pretty damn impactful, only showing what it needs to, but making sure it sticks in your head. The whole runtime boasts some gorgeous cinematography as well, the filming location of the Ohio trail providing some breathtaking scenery.

I don't know what else to say. I was expecting the same old shit, and was instead presented with a great looking, well paced, and powerful horror feature that had me glued to the screen until the credits finished (the credit scene is a fantastic way to end things by the way so be sure to stick around.)

Well played Wrong Turn, well played.
  
Slenderman, Slenderman, Take this Child
Slenderman, Slenderman, Take this Child
Lee McGeorge | 2016 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Amazing read!!!!! I could not put the book down. I was unsure how this horror story was going to play out as I am not familiar with the myth but can say that it was very well written and not in the slightest gory. This story is very chilling, creepy, fast paced, and above all nail biting exciting. The writer has created characters that drew me in from the beginning, from Jemima, her Great Uncle Tomaz, crazy Mary (homeless lady), the kids at school (bullies/school crushes), to the hateful school governess. These characters were beautifully crafted and well written.

NOTE: A few may find the sexual element of this book unsettling; however, I think the author was tactful in writing about the taboo subject in this horror novel and handled it very well.
  
Battleship (2012)
Battleship (2012)
2012 | Action, Sci-Fi
Hit
I was pleasantly surprised at this, fearing another alien film closer to Skyline, this was a lot more like Independence Day at sea!! The SFX are really great and certainly has a impressive feel to it. There is plenty of action and a mix of humour as well with a well chosen cast. Yep it seems to skip a bit of the story early on in the film, unless I missed a 1 year later text pop up? At times it could almost be an advert for the American Navy, past and present. It manages to pay homage to the Battleship game as well in one scene, and Brooklyn Decker is great eye candy. If you enjoy a no-brainer, fun action film....like Independence day, then you'll have a blast!
  
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers
Mary Roach | 2003 | Education
8
8.3 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
What to say... What to say...

I read this book for my book club. Mary Roach is an interesting writer that has always intrigued me. I was excited to read one of her books, but I will admit this is the one book that held no interest to me. The information in this book was fascinating but unfortunately it was a subject line that didn't hold my interest well.

With all of that said, I did rate this book high. It was extremely well researched and I enjoyed it for the most part. Mary Roach has a way to drag you (kick & screaming) into the book even when it is a subject line that you don't like.

All in all, this was well researched, with a lot of not so pretty details.
  
Love, Simon (2018)
Love, Simon (2018)
2018 | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A teen angst rom-com for the modern age. It follows formula plot points well trodden except that Simon (played charmingly by Nick Robinson) is gay. This was a big step forward for a major studio such as 20th Century Fox to give it the mainstream film treatment it deserves.
There's some great music and a likeable cast, and plenty of humour.
On first watch you're kept guessing on who the mystery love interest Blue is and end up just as relieved/pleased as Simon when the truth is revealed.
Jennifer Garner as Simon's Mum gives a perfect speech at one point that makes me well up each time I see it. It stands up well to repeat viewings. A recommendation for anyone to watch, not just for teens.

Thanks to Smashbomb for the dvd!