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Dean (6924 KP) rated Harper's Island - Season 1 in TV
Aug 14, 2020 (Updated Aug 14, 2020)
Good cast (2 more)
Great remote location
Good gore effects
A good slasher series
I finally got round to checking out this series from 2009, currently available on BBC iplayer. Not sure why it's taken so long to be available again?
It's a good horror/thriller series that mixes the kills of a slasher film with the mystery of a good whodunit? Quite similar to the Slasher series and other related items.
A wedding party retreat to a small island for a week of events leading up to the big day. The island was the location of a serial killer and some murders 7 years before. With some people returning to the island for the first time since it's not long before guests start to meet a grisly end.
It's good fun if you like slasher films or a murder mystery with a decent cast. The overall reason for the killings was a little weak at the end. However the location really adds to the feel of the series. Only 13 episodes around 38 minutes long, you'll whizz through it in no time.
It's a good horror/thriller series that mixes the kills of a slasher film with the mystery of a good whodunit? Quite similar to the Slasher series and other related items.
A wedding party retreat to a small island for a week of events leading up to the big day. The island was the location of a serial killer and some murders 7 years before. With some people returning to the island for the first time since it's not long before guests start to meet a grisly end.
It's good fun if you like slasher films or a murder mystery with a decent cast. The overall reason for the killings was a little weak at the end. However the location really adds to the feel of the series. Only 13 episodes around 38 minutes long, you'll whizz through it in no time.
Dean (6924 KP) rated I Know What You Did Last Summer in TV
Nov 14, 2021
Few differences to the film (1 more)
Good production
Annoying characters (1 more)
Weak ending
Decent Slasher series but with a poor ending
Quite excited when I saw a TV series on one of the my fave Slasher films. Only a few ties to the film in terms of the incident that leads to the I know what you did last summer message. But otherwise it's quite different.
There is a twin element key to the main story and it's set on Hawaii. There are a lot of characters to start with, some are quite weak and annoying. The production does feel good quality overall though.
The first few episodes are pretty good and with a fare few kills and gore. The last few episodes start to focus on the Whodunit side more.. But the ending was a surprise and didn't sit right really with the rest of the series.
Overall decent to start with if running out of momentum towards the end, and an ending I don't think many will like. Worth checking out if you liked the Scream series.
There is a twin element key to the main story and it's set on Hawaii. There are a lot of characters to start with, some are quite weak and annoying. The production does feel good quality overall though.
The first few episodes are pretty good and with a fare few kills and gore. The last few episodes start to focus on the Whodunit side more.. But the ending was a surprise and didn't sit right really with the rest of the series.
Overall decent to start with if running out of momentum towards the end, and an ending I don't think many will like. Worth checking out if you liked the Scream series.
BookblogbyCari (345 KP) rated If I Die Before I Wake in Books
Jul 31, 2018
This book is part whodunit and part thriller– but not in equal measures.
The central character, Alex, wakes up to find he has been in coma for over a year – but everyone still thinks he is in the coma – he cannot move a finger. He gathers from his visitors that he had an accident while rock climbing but he has no recollection of what happened. Half way through the book Alex finds out that he was a victim of attempted murder, and tries his utmost to work out who would want to do it and how it could have happened. Simultaneously he tries desperately to show everyone that he’s awake.
I found the author’s storytelling a little jumpy. The book is written as a stream of consciousness from the protagonist. A protagonist who is often sleepy at vital times, often delirious, and although he is often looking back at his personal life, he also manages to block out important memories.
It was a long wait before Alex found out about the attempted murder, but I knew it was coming from the book description I had read. And the author did have plenty to write about up to that point, and this was deliberately void of focus. One minute Alex is describing how he met his girlfriend, and soon after it swings to overhearing discussions about stopping his food. The author paints a good picture of Alex and his life before the accident.
Telling a story where the main character can’t so much as chew his own food must be no mean feat, but the author pulls it off expertly. There are several characters and sub plots, with past mistakes, an aggravated police officer, moody relatives, a hidden crush, a strange threatening letter, a possible pregnancy, and a proposal that never went ahead. Koch draws you in to Alex’s world, with characters you love to hate and hidden agendas to question.
Of course we do find out whodunit (no spoilers!) but this is done with more of the story to come.
That said I would have preferred more overheard dialogue at this part, though I did find the ending particularly fitting for the character.
You can check out more of my book reviews on Wordpress or Facebook:
https://bookblogbycari.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bookblogbycari/
The central character, Alex, wakes up to find he has been in coma for over a year – but everyone still thinks he is in the coma – he cannot move a finger. He gathers from his visitors that he had an accident while rock climbing but he has no recollection of what happened. Half way through the book Alex finds out that he was a victim of attempted murder, and tries his utmost to work out who would want to do it and how it could have happened. Simultaneously he tries desperately to show everyone that he’s awake.
I found the author’s storytelling a little jumpy. The book is written as a stream of consciousness from the protagonist. A protagonist who is often sleepy at vital times, often delirious, and although he is often looking back at his personal life, he also manages to block out important memories.
It was a long wait before Alex found out about the attempted murder, but I knew it was coming from the book description I had read. And the author did have plenty to write about up to that point, and this was deliberately void of focus. One minute Alex is describing how he met his girlfriend, and soon after it swings to overhearing discussions about stopping his food. The author paints a good picture of Alex and his life before the accident.
Telling a story where the main character can’t so much as chew his own food must be no mean feat, but the author pulls it off expertly. There are several characters and sub plots, with past mistakes, an aggravated police officer, moody relatives, a hidden crush, a strange threatening letter, a possible pregnancy, and a proposal that never went ahead. Koch draws you in to Alex’s world, with characters you love to hate and hidden agendas to question.
Of course we do find out whodunit (no spoilers!) but this is done with more of the story to come.
That said I would have preferred more overheard dialogue at this part, though I did find the ending particularly fitting for the character.
You can check out more of my book reviews on Wordpress or Facebook:
https://bookblogbycari.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bookblogbycari/
Midge (525 KP) rated The Colour of Murder in Books
Feb 11, 2019
Clever And Enjoyable
THE COLOUR OF MURDER is the first book by Julian Symons that I've read and I really enjoyed it. Though it is naturally a book of its time, I found it endearing and charming. The characters were fantastic and the book, for me, is reminiscent of a Patricia Highsmith or a Ruth Rendell mystery.
I thought that the story was captivating and engaging and extremely well structured, both leading up to the murder, as told by the accused, as he relates his account of events to a psychologist and in court, with the cases for the defence and prosecution. I loved that the style of writing was slightly different to the usual types of murder mysteries, although there was still a whodunit theme, as well as a look at the nature of justice. It held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Julian Symons brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
I thought that the story was captivating and engaging and extremely well structured, both leading up to the murder, as told by the accused, as he relates his account of events to a psychologist and in court, with the cases for the defence and prosecution. I loved that the style of writing was slightly different to the usual types of murder mysteries, although there was still a whodunit theme, as well as a look at the nature of justice. It held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Julian Symons brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.
Dean (6924 KP) rated Killer Camp in TV
Nov 3, 2019
Good ideas (1 more)
Mix of genre's
Original Horror reality gameshow
A very short 5 part Horror themed game show. 11 contestants spend 5 days at camp pleasant, which is more like Crystal Lake. They must complete various tasks to win money. What they don't win goes to the Killer fund. They can also compete to win clues to the killers identity and immunity from meeting a grisly end. Will they figure who the Killer is amongst them and win the money?
An original gameshow from the same people behind @Release the Hounds it also feels a bit like an old show called The Mole mixed with Big Brother. In between camp competitions can the contestants work out together who the Killer is? Some of the games are a bit silly and I'm not a fan of Big Brother style reality shows on the whole. However the aim of trying to guess who the Killer is and if they can remain undetected while the others try to figure it out is intriguing. So one for Whodunit fans, who don't remind a slight reality TV angle will enjoy this.
An original gameshow from the same people behind @Release the Hounds it also feels a bit like an old show called The Mole mixed with Big Brother. In between camp competitions can the contestants work out together who the Killer is? Some of the games are a bit silly and I'm not a fan of Big Brother style reality shows on the whole. However the aim of trying to guess who the Killer is and if they can remain undetected while the others try to figure it out is intriguing. So one for Whodunit fans, who don't remind a slight reality TV angle will enjoy this.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Werewolves Within (2021) in Movies
Sep 3, 2021
It took a good minute for Werewolves Within to click with me, but once it did, it was a whole bag of fun.
My initial issues with it is how frantically overwhelming the first act is. This movie is effectively Clue but with a horror twist, and as such, the introduction of a hefty cast of characters, or suspects if you will, feels a little rushed. It didn't help that every one of them felt like comic relief and that the editing style is clearly inspired by Shaun of the Dead, meaning it's choppy, and brisk. Thankfully, this doesn't last too long. Once everyone is introduced and things starts to happen, Werewolves Within slips into a genuinely funny whodunit, that's effective in keeping its secrets close to its chest, and at one point had this viewer questioning if werewolves were even part of it, or whether the unfolding events were just a big misunderstanding.
By the final act, everything has just descended into chaos, and it's hugely entertaining. This is all bolstered by it's two great and likable leads, played by Sam Richardson and Milana Vayntrub.
It's well paced and effective, funny, q little bloody, and ultimately, Werewolves Within is a blast, and well worth checking out.
My initial issues with it is how frantically overwhelming the first act is. This movie is effectively Clue but with a horror twist, and as such, the introduction of a hefty cast of characters, or suspects if you will, feels a little rushed. It didn't help that every one of them felt like comic relief and that the editing style is clearly inspired by Shaun of the Dead, meaning it's choppy, and brisk. Thankfully, this doesn't last too long. Once everyone is introduced and things starts to happen, Werewolves Within slips into a genuinely funny whodunit, that's effective in keeping its secrets close to its chest, and at one point had this viewer questioning if werewolves were even part of it, or whether the unfolding events were just a big misunderstanding.
By the final act, everything has just descended into chaos, and it's hugely entertaining. This is all bolstered by it's two great and likable leads, played by Sam Richardson and Milana Vayntrub.
It's well paced and effective, funny, q little bloody, and ultimately, Werewolves Within is a blast, and well worth checking out.
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Clean Win (A Sam Quinton Mystery #4) in Books
Apr 28, 2023
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sam Quinton is a retired wrestler, who now owns a gym as well as has the side hustle of being a private investigator. He gets hired for a high-profile case that doesn't seem as straight-cut as it should. Will Sam figure it out before it's too late?
This is the 4th instalment of the Sam Quinton mysteries and, although I haven't read any of the other books in this series, it didn't matter. There were a couple of mentions of previous cases he had worked on but nothing that would confuse you or takes away from this book. I would say it could be read as a stand-alone.
There is a lot of detail given in the story and in this case, which is good as you are able to go along at the same pace as him in discovering the answer to whodunit.
I didn't expect it to be who it was I had bets on another character! There is a lot to keep you hooked and continue reading.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Sam Quinton is a retired wrestler, who now owns a gym as well as has the side hustle of being a private investigator. He gets hired for a high-profile case that doesn't seem as straight-cut as it should. Will Sam figure it out before it's too late?
This is the 4th instalment of the Sam Quinton mysteries and, although I haven't read any of the other books in this series, it didn't matter. There were a couple of mentions of previous cases he had worked on but nothing that would confuse you or takes away from this book. I would say it could be read as a stand-alone.
There is a lot of detail given in the story and in this case, which is good as you are able to go along at the same pace as him in discovering the answer to whodunit.
I didn't expect it to be who it was I had bets on another character! There is a lot to keep you hooked and continue reading.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Bakeries and Buffoonery (Magical Mystery Book Club #4) in Books
Jul 2, 2023
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
The snapdragon inn is the setting of a cozy mystery book club with a difference they get transported into the stories to find out whodunit!
This time they are trying to find out who hates cake so much, in the town of Frosting that they have caused chaos, mayhem, and murder. Can they do it before the next murder happens?
This is such a delightful series they really are a pleasure to read. Elizabeth does such an amazing job at pulling you into the story as if you are one of the characters and I must say I am rather fond of all the characters, I'm sad we've lost one but happy for her circumstances and hope we do find out how she gets on.
Although this is a series I personally think you could read it as a stand-alone, but it's much more fun reading the series as you get to find out more about everyone.
I highly recommend and give 5/5
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
The snapdragon inn is the setting of a cozy mystery book club with a difference they get transported into the stories to find out whodunit!
This time they are trying to find out who hates cake so much, in the town of Frosting that they have caused chaos, mayhem, and murder. Can they do it before the next murder happens?
This is such a delightful series they really are a pleasure to read. Elizabeth does such an amazing job at pulling you into the story as if you are one of the characters and I must say I am rather fond of all the characters, I'm sad we've lost one but happy for her circumstances and hope we do find out how she gets on.
Although this is a series I personally think you could read it as a stand-alone, but it's much more fun reading the series as you get to find out more about everyone.
I highly recommend and give 5/5
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) in Movies
Mar 2, 2021
I Know What You Did Last Summer opens with the Type O Negative cover of Summer Breeze, which is always going to be a winner in my book.
This film is rightly considered a bit of a classic these days, and there's really not a whole bunch to complain about. It has well written characters, a decent cast, a visually creepy villain, an engaging whodunit plot, one of the best chase scenes in slasher movie history (that's right), and still manages to stand on its own two feet in a world where it's constantly compared to Scream.
I find this to be an unfair comparison. Beyond the 90s setting, teen characters, slasher tropes, and shared writer in Kevin Williamson, there's not much else that ties them together. Scream is of course a fantastic horror, but relishes in being satire, whereas IKWYDLS is a straight shooting horror. Its the exact kind of film that Scream takes aim at, but it still manages to be a decent slasher without feeling silly, and delivers some well earned jump scares for good measure. I also really enjoy it's fishing town setting and the hole movie is accompanied by a hilariously epic score courtesy of John Debney. It's great.
I will always have a lot of time for IKWYDLS, overshadowed by some of its contemporaries, but a hugely satisfying and entertaing horror in its own right.
This film is rightly considered a bit of a classic these days, and there's really not a whole bunch to complain about. It has well written characters, a decent cast, a visually creepy villain, an engaging whodunit plot, one of the best chase scenes in slasher movie history (that's right), and still manages to stand on its own two feet in a world where it's constantly compared to Scream.
I find this to be an unfair comparison. Beyond the 90s setting, teen characters, slasher tropes, and shared writer in Kevin Williamson, there's not much else that ties them together. Scream is of course a fantastic horror, but relishes in being satire, whereas IKWYDLS is a straight shooting horror. Its the exact kind of film that Scream takes aim at, but it still manages to be a decent slasher without feeling silly, and delivers some well earned jump scares for good measure. I also really enjoy it's fishing town setting and the hole movie is accompanied by a hilariously epic score courtesy of John Debney. It's great.
I will always have a lot of time for IKWYDLS, overshadowed by some of its contemporaries, but a hugely satisfying and entertaing horror in its own right.
