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Story – The Box is a very interesting horror, it poses a question that would leave the audience much like Susan wondering what changed everything in her family’s life, it has a shock moment, while the rest is filled with the psychological side of horror. The Birthday Party plays out more like a dark comedy that a horror, it does work very well watching how hard the it is to cover up a death. Don’t Fall does seem to be the weakest of the stories here, mostly because it is way too short, it seems to take us to the location, hit night and everything happens and it is over way too quickly. Her Only Living Son does play out a lot like ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ only having a supernatural side to the outcome, it is one that could easily be a longer film too. Overall the stories are different enough, we have little sparks for each sub-genre of horror too which only means if you didn’t like one, you can skip to the next with ease.
Horror – The horror in the film gives us something different in each little story, we have psychological, dark humour, creature feature and satanic, which will give the audience something to enjoy between them.
Settings – The film does use each setting to make us feel like we are in different stories with Happy Birthday using the environment the best through the film.
Special Effects – The effects are strong when needed, we don’t turn to them very often which is nice for a horror film at times.
Scene of the Movie – Dinner with a difference.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Don’t Fall feels too short.
Final Thoughts – This is a nice little horror anthology which highlights the female film makers in the genre, each story will have something for each type of horror fan to enjoy.
Overall: Horror Anthology 101
Horror – The horror in the film gives us something different in each little story, we have psychological, dark humour, creature feature and satanic, which will give the audience something to enjoy between them.
Settings – The film does use each setting to make us feel like we are in different stories with Happy Birthday using the environment the best through the film.
Special Effects – The effects are strong when needed, we don’t turn to them very often which is nice for a horror film at times.
Scene of the Movie – Dinner with a difference.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – Don’t Fall feels too short.
Final Thoughts – This is a nice little horror anthology which highlights the female film makers in the genre, each story will have something for each type of horror fan to enjoy.
Overall: Horror Anthology 101
The Oxford Book of English Verse
Book
Here is a treasure-house of over seven centuries of English poetry, chosen and introduced by...
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.
ClareR (5726 KP) rated Mouthful of Birds in Books
Apr 11, 2019
An interesting collection of stories.
When I read an anthology of short stories, I don’t expect to like all of them, and I did have my favourites in this collection, with titles such as: ‘Headlights’, ‘Mouthful of Birds’ and ‘Preserves’. These, and the rest of the stories in this collection, all start off as being quite ‘normal’, nothing overly startling, but they’re lulling you in to a false sense of security. They are all decidedly quirky, uncomfortable, menacing stories.
I think collections of stories like this are generally better as books that are dipped in and out of, and used as a palate cleanser every now and again. To read them all one after the other doesn’t do them the justice that they deserve.
I am very interested to see where Schweblin goes with her next novel, she has a very interesting imagination!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Oneworld Publications, for my copy of this book.
I think collections of stories like this are generally better as books that are dipped in and out of, and used as a palate cleanser every now and again. To read them all one after the other doesn’t do them the justice that they deserve.
I am very interested to see where Schweblin goes with her next novel, she has a very interesting imagination!
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Oneworld Publications, for my copy of this book.
Sean Farrell (9 KP) rated Artifice in Books
Mar 15, 2018
I had been meaning to read this graphic novel for a while, having heard good things about how it used a sci-fi / action story to talk about homophobia, racism, free will, first love, and self-acceptance; and in light of recent current events, it seemed like the perfect time. The artwork is absolutely wonderful, and perfectly captures all the nuances of the story, which is pretty great in itself. While it can occasionally feel a little predictable, the tale of Deacon and Jeff was sweetly romantic and contained many moments that I found very relatable, in spite of the science fiction setting and sporadic bursts of violence. In a way, this story is similar to recent British hit anthology show "Black Mirror", in that it uses its sci-fi setting to tell a deeply human story to great effect. While it may fall a little short of being a masterpiece, it is a great comic, and one I would love to see continued.
Ross (3284 KP) rated American Horror Story - Season 2 in TV
Jan 14, 2019
So much gorier and darker than the first series, Asylum chronicles the events of Bloody-face, the twisted fictional serial killer of the 1960s. This is the story underlying all events in the series, but there is so much more going on. We are treated to a glimpse into the abuse and disgust of people suffering mental health problems, and the supposed treatments being dreamt up to deal with their issues.
The series also has aspects of demonic possession, alien abduction and so much more.
While there were some aspects I felt were left open (the alien abduction for one), and others were not explored quite as much as it could have been, I feel this should be seen as more of an anthology series, where a number of stories of mental illness all intertwine to tell one thrilling story.
An exciting, but at times uncomfortable to watch series with some excellent acting and writing.
The series also has aspects of demonic possession, alien abduction and so much more.
While there were some aspects I felt were left open (the alien abduction for one), and others were not explored quite as much as it could have been, I feel this should be seen as more of an anthology series, where a number of stories of mental illness all intertwine to tell one thrilling story.
An exciting, but at times uncomfortable to watch series with some excellent acting and writing.
Merissa (12069 KP) rated Brothers In Arms in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Brothers in Arms Anthology has a military streak running through it, to no ones' surprise! Most of them are in a contemporary setting, but one has a distinctive Science Fiction feel to it. They aren't just M/M either, there are Ménage Moments too.
All of the stories are very well written, considering the scope of a short story. I would love to see some of them expanded into full-length stories! Some of these authors were already known to me, but some were new and I will definitely be reading more.
I enjoyed all the stories, but if I had to pick a favourite, it would be either One Night With You or Would You Wait For Me? Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
All of the stories are very well written, considering the scope of a short story. I would love to see some of them expanded into full-length stories! Some of these authors were already known to me, but some were new and I will definitely be reading more.
I enjoyed all the stories, but if I had to pick a favourite, it would be either One Night With You or Would You Wait For Me? Definitely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and my comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Lottie disney bookworm (1056 KP) rated Wonderland: Alice in Poetry in Books
Nov 27, 2019
Can anybody truly say,
Had you never come our way,
Alice, where we'd be today?
If you love Alice and Wonderland then this is the book for you. Some poems you will know, such as the iconic 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' but there are also some new pieces, inspired by the classic tale, waiting to be discovered.
This collections comprises of 53 poems which was much larger than I was expecting. Obviously, OBVIOUSLY a lot of these are penned by Lewis Carroll: it would be sacrilegious otherwise. However, I was impressed by the inclusion of modern poets in order to appeal to the younger reader: even Facebook gets a mention!
The illustrations by Sir John Tenniel are perfect and I loved the italic additions throughout the book which educate the reader as to the inspiration behind the verses.
An anthology of fantasy; this collection is perfect for our busy lives when we need a quick five minutes of escapism.
Had you never come our way,
Alice, where we'd be today?
If you love Alice and Wonderland then this is the book for you. Some poems you will know, such as the iconic 'The Walrus and the Carpenter' but there are also some new pieces, inspired by the classic tale, waiting to be discovered.
This collections comprises of 53 poems which was much larger than I was expecting. Obviously, OBVIOUSLY a lot of these are penned by Lewis Carroll: it would be sacrilegious otherwise. However, I was impressed by the inclusion of modern poets in order to appeal to the younger reader: even Facebook gets a mention!
The illustrations by Sir John Tenniel are perfect and I loved the italic additions throughout the book which educate the reader as to the inspiration behind the verses.
An anthology of fantasy; this collection is perfect for our busy lives when we need a quick five minutes of escapism.
White Shotgun: The Sicilian Mafia in Their Own Words
Book
Lupara bianca ('White Shotgun') -- an Italian term that refers to a Mafia-style killing, in which no...
Literary Legends of the British Isles: The Lives & Burial Places of 50 Great Writers
Book
Journey into the best of British Isles literati in this comprehensive and concise review of 50 of...