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Robert Eggers recommended Mary Poppins (1964) in Movies (curated)
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated The People Under the Stairs (1991) in Movies
Jan 2, 2021
Often overlooked by Wes Craven's wider known films, The People Under the Stairs is a gem of an early nineties horror in its own right for a few reasons.
First and foremost, it has a great cast. Brandon Quintin Adams heads up the cast. He's a cute kid who is easy to root for. The supporting cast is strong too, including Ving Rhames, A.J. Langer, and Sean Whalen. But the stars of the show are it's horrendous villains. Twin Peaks alumni Wendy Robie and Everett McGill play the antagonists (simply credited as "woman" and "man") and they just relish in how absolutely vile they are, and are the main source of entertainment throughout the runtime. The Hall of Fame of horror villainy isn't easy to get into, being crammed with popular icons and all, but these two deserve a spot for sure.
Other than these positives, it's also boasts some decent practical gore, a few creepy visuals, some moments of well earned tension, and is socially relevant to this day, touching upon subjects such as class difference, unaffordable healthcare, and racism. It's screenplay is an intelligent one in this respect, as well as having a fun side to it.
My only real issue with The People Under the Stairs is it's pacing. It does take a little too long to get going. When everything starts to get chaotic, it really becomes a good time, but it does get a bit repetitive, no matter how entertaining it is to see Everett McGill running around in a gimp suit.
These are minor gripes though, it's definitely worth a watch. It's another solid piece of work from Wes Craven, and deserves it's cult status wholeheartedly.
First and foremost, it has a great cast. Brandon Quintin Adams heads up the cast. He's a cute kid who is easy to root for. The supporting cast is strong too, including Ving Rhames, A.J. Langer, and Sean Whalen. But the stars of the show are it's horrendous villains. Twin Peaks alumni Wendy Robie and Everett McGill play the antagonists (simply credited as "woman" and "man") and they just relish in how absolutely vile they are, and are the main source of entertainment throughout the runtime. The Hall of Fame of horror villainy isn't easy to get into, being crammed with popular icons and all, but these two deserve a spot for sure.
Other than these positives, it's also boasts some decent practical gore, a few creepy visuals, some moments of well earned tension, and is socially relevant to this day, touching upon subjects such as class difference, unaffordable healthcare, and racism. It's screenplay is an intelligent one in this respect, as well as having a fun side to it.
My only real issue with The People Under the Stairs is it's pacing. It does take a little too long to get going. When everything starts to get chaotic, it really becomes a good time, but it does get a bit repetitive, no matter how entertaining it is to see Everett McGill running around in a gimp suit.
These are minor gripes though, it's definitely worth a watch. It's another solid piece of work from Wes Craven, and deserves it's cult status wholeheartedly.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Girls of Brackenhill in Books
Nov 5, 2020
As a kid, Hannah spent several summers at Brackenhill, her aunt and uncle's beautiful mansion in the Catskills. Joined by her older sister, Julia, they enjoyed a peaceful time away from their troubled mother and her boyfriend. But that final summer, Hannah made the journey home alone after Julia disappeared. Now, seventeen years later, Hannah is back at Brackenhill, accompanied by her calm and steady fiance Huck, to deal with the aftermath of her Aunt Fae's death. Her uncle Stuart is quite ill and Hannah must handle the necessary affairs. But once at Brackenhill, long buried memories flood to the surface, along with some undiscovered family secrets.
"She'd escaped Brackenhill once. She could do it again."
I read this completely captivating thriller in one breathless day. It's such a wonderfully eerie and ghostly mystery that excellently captures the spooky atmosphere of Brackenhill. I'm all for a read with a creepy castle, ghostly happenings, and a history of missing girls. Told in a then (Hannah and Julia's summers at Brackenhill) and now format, Moretti sucks you in from the beginning, making the reader feel as if they are a part of the haunted happenings at Brackenhill.
"The Ghost Girls of Brackenhill are an urban legend."
The result is a twisted and dark story--a true Gothic ghost tale. I figured out a few pieces, but still found this impossible to put down. Moretti excels at weaving in the devastation of family secrets and small town mystery. As Hannah unravels the mystery of her family history and her sister's disappearance, we do as well, and you'll share her sense of dread and the overall foreboding that sweeps across the pages.
I wished the ending offered a bit more resolution, but this is an excellent, haunting, and spooky supernatural read. You'll be madly flipping the pages (with the lights on)! 4+ stars.
"She'd escaped Brackenhill once. She could do it again."
I read this completely captivating thriller in one breathless day. It's such a wonderfully eerie and ghostly mystery that excellently captures the spooky atmosphere of Brackenhill. I'm all for a read with a creepy castle, ghostly happenings, and a history of missing girls. Told in a then (Hannah and Julia's summers at Brackenhill) and now format, Moretti sucks you in from the beginning, making the reader feel as if they are a part of the haunted happenings at Brackenhill.
"The Ghost Girls of Brackenhill are an urban legend."
The result is a twisted and dark story--a true Gothic ghost tale. I figured out a few pieces, but still found this impossible to put down. Moretti excels at weaving in the devastation of family secrets and small town mystery. As Hannah unravels the mystery of her family history and her sister's disappearance, we do as well, and you'll share her sense of dread and the overall foreboding that sweeps across the pages.
I wished the ending offered a bit more resolution, but this is an excellent, haunting, and spooky supernatural read. You'll be madly flipping the pages (with the lights on)! 4+ stars.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated the Xbox One version of Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs in Video Games
Nov 14, 2020
Scary and Spooky
Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs- is a terrorfying, horrorfying, spooky, scary, creepy game.
The game features several interlocking storylines. Some take place in the past, some in the present, and some are overtly real while some may be imagined. Set in London on New Year's Eve, 1899, the game's protagonist is Oswald Mandus, a wealthy industrialist and butcher who is implied to be the great grand-nephew of Daniel, the protagonist of Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
The game is a survival horror game played from a first-person perspective.
Players explore the environments using a lantern, with diary entries and notes providing information on the lost memory of the title character. While the core of the game remains the same between the two, some elements of The Dark Descent have been removed for A Machine for Pigs, while new elements have been added, one reason being to provide a fresh gameplay experience to players of The Dark Descent.
Most of the puzzles are based on physically interacting with the environment because of this change. The sanity mechanic of the first game has been removed, meaning that the darkness and looking at the creatures no longer cause any drawbacks. Health lost when Mandus is injured, will regenerate after a certain period of time; thereby eliminating the need to find vials of laudanum to restore health as in The Dark Descent.
The game's level design has been touted as "significantly different" from that of The Dark Descent, with larger areas and outdoor environments included. AI was also adjusted to ensure players are unable to predict enemy behavior based on their experiences with the original game.
Its a excellent survival game.
The game features several interlocking storylines. Some take place in the past, some in the present, and some are overtly real while some may be imagined. Set in London on New Year's Eve, 1899, the game's protagonist is Oswald Mandus, a wealthy industrialist and butcher who is implied to be the great grand-nephew of Daniel, the protagonist of Amnesia: The Dark Descent.
The game is a survival horror game played from a first-person perspective.
Players explore the environments using a lantern, with diary entries and notes providing information on the lost memory of the title character. While the core of the game remains the same between the two, some elements of The Dark Descent have been removed for A Machine for Pigs, while new elements have been added, one reason being to provide a fresh gameplay experience to players of The Dark Descent.
Most of the puzzles are based on physically interacting with the environment because of this change. The sanity mechanic of the first game has been removed, meaning that the darkness and looking at the creatures no longer cause any drawbacks. Health lost when Mandus is injured, will regenerate after a certain period of time; thereby eliminating the need to find vials of laudanum to restore health as in The Dark Descent.
The game's level design has been touted as "significantly different" from that of The Dark Descent, with larger areas and outdoor environments included. AI was also adjusted to ensure players are unable to predict enemy behavior based on their experiences with the original game.
Its a excellent survival game.
Erika (17789 KP) rated Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train (2020) in Movies
May 23, 2021
I will preface this by stating I have not watched the Demon Slayer show, nor did I read a synopsis of what had happened prior to the characters getting onto the Mugan Train. I wanted to see this film for two reasons, 1) It’s the largest grossing Anime of all time apparently, in Japan and 2) My Regal theater opened finally.
So obviously, as the title suggests, this takes place on a train. There are three main characters introduced, and I did look up their names, so I’m not insulting: Tanjirô (kid with a scar), Zenitsu (blond kid), and Inosuke (a kid that wears a boar mask…). They hop on this train, because apparently people keep going missing, and there’s a demon behind it. They come across this other warrior guy, named Kyôjurô (flame dude), and he’s pretty good at slaying these demons.
You can tell there’s something creepy occurring on this train, and it was quite atmospheric and suspenseful. Then, more nightmare fuel appeared, a disembodied hand that had eyeballs and this crazy set of teeth. So, there’s our demon. Our heroes get trapped in dreams and can’t wake. Obviously, our heroes do eventually wake up, but not before Tanjirô’s sister, Nezuko, hops out of the box that he carries on his back to help wake her bro up. Apparently, Nezuko is a demon and has to be kept in a box.
The majority of the time, I was so confused, but I still enjoyed the movie. The final battles are great, and the animation was great. I do plan on watching the anime now. If you are going to choose to watch this film, I recommend either watching the anime series first, or just go with it and enjoy it as much as you can.
So obviously, as the title suggests, this takes place on a train. There are three main characters introduced, and I did look up their names, so I’m not insulting: Tanjirô (kid with a scar), Zenitsu (blond kid), and Inosuke (a kid that wears a boar mask…). They hop on this train, because apparently people keep going missing, and there’s a demon behind it. They come across this other warrior guy, named Kyôjurô (flame dude), and he’s pretty good at slaying these demons.
You can tell there’s something creepy occurring on this train, and it was quite atmospheric and suspenseful. Then, more nightmare fuel appeared, a disembodied hand that had eyeballs and this crazy set of teeth. So, there’s our demon. Our heroes get trapped in dreams and can’t wake. Obviously, our heroes do eventually wake up, but not before Tanjirô’s sister, Nezuko, hops out of the box that he carries on his back to help wake her bro up. Apparently, Nezuko is a demon and has to be kept in a box.
The majority of the time, I was so confused, but I still enjoyed the movie. The final battles are great, and the animation was great. I do plan on watching the anime now. If you are going to choose to watch this film, I recommend either watching the anime series first, or just go with it and enjoy it as much as you can.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) in Movies
Jul 4, 2021
80s horror is its own unique thing, and nothing quite encapsulates the era as well as A Nightmare On Elm Street. Another series that spawned a whole bunch of sequels, the original holds the crown, and still stands the test of time.
For one, iconic slasher villain Freddy Krueger is a scary motherfucker here. There are glimpses of the more comedic elements that would encompass his personality in later entries, but here, for the most part, he's a no nonsense, nasty SOB. Of course Robert Englund relishes in his role, and it's hard to see anyone else effectively filling his shoes.
Opposite Freddy is Nancy Thompson (a fantastic Heather Langenkamp), a well written and hugely likable final girl, a final girl who rivals Laurie Strode in the pantheon of horror protagonists.
The premise of ANOES is wonderfully simple. Don't fall asleep. This film scared the living shit out of me when I was a young teenager. Wes Craven was extremely successful in doing for sleep what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean. As an adult, it's less scary sure, but still makes me feel uneasy. This is thanks to a wonderfully creepy score by Charles Bernstein, and the of course, the incredibly executed, and imaginative kill scenes. The gory moments are paced out nicely, and hit hard when they arrive. The first kill in particular is a solid all timer, and then the infamous scene where Johnny Depp meets his demise is so otherworldly. It really drives home the near impossible odds that the good guys are facing.
ANOES is obviously a genre classic, and I personally think it just gets better with age. One of the all time greats, from one of the all time greats.
For one, iconic slasher villain Freddy Krueger is a scary motherfucker here. There are glimpses of the more comedic elements that would encompass his personality in later entries, but here, for the most part, he's a no nonsense, nasty SOB. Of course Robert Englund relishes in his role, and it's hard to see anyone else effectively filling his shoes.
Opposite Freddy is Nancy Thompson (a fantastic Heather Langenkamp), a well written and hugely likable final girl, a final girl who rivals Laurie Strode in the pantheon of horror protagonists.
The premise of ANOES is wonderfully simple. Don't fall asleep. This film scared the living shit out of me when I was a young teenager. Wes Craven was extremely successful in doing for sleep what Jaws did for swimming in the ocean. As an adult, it's less scary sure, but still makes me feel uneasy. This is thanks to a wonderfully creepy score by Charles Bernstein, and the of course, the incredibly executed, and imaginative kill scenes. The gory moments are paced out nicely, and hit hard when they arrive. The first kill in particular is a solid all timer, and then the infamous scene where Johnny Depp meets his demise is so otherworldly. It really drives home the near impossible odds that the good guys are facing.
ANOES is obviously a genre classic, and I personally think it just gets better with age. One of the all time greats, from one of the all time greats.
Joe Goodhart (27 KP) rated X-Necrosha in Books
Nov 30, 2020
So, it looks like I have come to the end of my X-Force reading tour. One more book to go, SECOND COMING, but it's an X-Men book, not specifically an X-Force one. And, while I am sad to see it come to an end, it also feels like a good time to get off this train.
This volume left feeling very unsatisfied at it's conclusion. I skipped over everything else, as I wanted to read the X-Force parts, as it was essential to the story. The other stuff, like NEW MUTANTS and X-MEN: LEGACY, were kinda meh, a lot of fluff, but not nutrients within.
As for the main story itself, it was okay. There were some genuinely creepy parts, but overall, by the end, it felt like there should have more to it. Instead, we had *a lot* of X-characters (living and deceased/reanimated), and after a while, it become hard to keep track of them all.
Laura Kinney/X-23 was one of the pluses to this volume, as Clayton Crain appeared to do a good job of not over-sexualizing her form. And dialogue? So good. She had some of the most fun dialogue ever (well, at least since her ANW issues).
Selene, on the other hand, looked ridiculous. I remembered her appearances from issues past, and while she wore a black leather bikini (bra and panties?), it was still not as "in yer face" as she was in NECROSHA. My wife is not a comic reader by any means, but I asked her opinion, as I wanted to know what she thought. You know what she said? She asked me who the slutty dominatrix character was. Yup.
I dunno. Now that I read it, I think I could have done without reading. And you can, too. There are better options. Promise.
This volume left feeling very unsatisfied at it's conclusion. I skipped over everything else, as I wanted to read the X-Force parts, as it was essential to the story. The other stuff, like NEW MUTANTS and X-MEN: LEGACY, were kinda meh, a lot of fluff, but not nutrients within.
As for the main story itself, it was okay. There were some genuinely creepy parts, but overall, by the end, it felt like there should have more to it. Instead, we had *a lot* of X-characters (living and deceased/reanimated), and after a while, it become hard to keep track of them all.
Laura Kinney/X-23 was one of the pluses to this volume, as Clayton Crain appeared to do a good job of not over-sexualizing her form. And dialogue? So good. She had some of the most fun dialogue ever (well, at least since her ANW issues).
Selene, on the other hand, looked ridiculous. I remembered her appearances from issues past, and while she wore a black leather bikini (bra and panties?), it was still not as "in yer face" as she was in NECROSHA. My wife is not a comic reader by any means, but I asked her opinion, as I wanted to know what she thought. You know what she said? She asked me who the slutty dominatrix character was. Yup.
I dunno. Now that I read it, I think I could have done without reading. And you can, too. There are better options. Promise.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated It Follows (2015) in Movies
Oct 9, 2020
There are plenty of positive aspects to It Follows. The concept for one is decent and an original idea for a horror film. A sexually transmitted disease that causes an entity to relentlessly hunt you down at the pace of a Romero era zombie, never giving up until you're dead, unless you pass it on to someone new.
It's a very modern take on horror, acting as an age old cautionary tale about casual sex, masquerading as a creepy stalker flick.
The image of a person slowly walking towards you, staring at you the whole time is unsettling enough, but the entity's appearance will frequently change. This allows even people in the background shots to carry a weight of danger in the times where the audience is unaware of its whereabouts. It's a simple yet clever trick that gives It Follows a steady undercurrent of dread.
There's some really nice cinematography on display as well. Lingering shots of empty spaces are intimidating (I found myself constantly scanning for the entity, and got caught out more than once) It also has a phenomenal synth soundtrack courtesy of Disasterpiece. It will switch from ethereal to jarring in a flash and contributes greatly to the dark tone this film carries.
I wasn't a huge fan of the constant frame dissolves and screen wipes. It's kept taking me out of the narrative a bit, and the film suffers greatly with it's characters constantly making silly decisions. Although Maika Monroe is a solid lead.
Overall, It Follows is a genuinely unsettling horror-thriller with some truly chilling moments. It's just a little frustrating that the great concept isn't explored as much as it could have been.
It's a very modern take on horror, acting as an age old cautionary tale about casual sex, masquerading as a creepy stalker flick.
The image of a person slowly walking towards you, staring at you the whole time is unsettling enough, but the entity's appearance will frequently change. This allows even people in the background shots to carry a weight of danger in the times where the audience is unaware of its whereabouts. It's a simple yet clever trick that gives It Follows a steady undercurrent of dread.
There's some really nice cinematography on display as well. Lingering shots of empty spaces are intimidating (I found myself constantly scanning for the entity, and got caught out more than once) It also has a phenomenal synth soundtrack courtesy of Disasterpiece. It will switch from ethereal to jarring in a flash and contributes greatly to the dark tone this film carries.
I wasn't a huge fan of the constant frame dissolves and screen wipes. It's kept taking me out of the narrative a bit, and the film suffers greatly with it's characters constantly making silly decisions. Although Maika Monroe is a solid lead.
Overall, It Follows is a genuinely unsettling horror-thriller with some truly chilling moments. It's just a little frustrating that the great concept isn't explored as much as it could have been.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Dear Child in Books
Oct 29, 2020
Lena Beck disappeared fourteen years ago--a carefree student who simply vanished without a trace. Since then, her father, Matthias, and her mother have waited for any news about their daughter's whereabouts. Then, they receive a call: a woman has been found after an accident. She's in the hospital and a young girl, Hannah, presumably her daughter, is with her. From Hannah, we learn that Lena and Hannah were living in a cabin, basically unknown and cutoff from the outside world.
"He creates day and night. Like God."
This book was quite the ride! I couldn't put this one down. It was eerily reminiscent of Wendy Walker's Don't Look For Me, which I just read, and of course, Room, as everyone has mentioned. It's utterly captivating; I read it over the course of about 24 hours. The story is told from the perspective of Hannah, who has her own unique voice (that's putting it mildly); the woman known as Lena; and Matthias. Together, they tell us a creepy and often heartbreaking tale, going back in time to the cabin, as well as present day in the hospital.
I won't go too in-depth, because it's best to go in to this one blind. I will say that it's easy to get caught up in the characters, particularly Lena, and Hannah, in a sort of spellbinding way. I was mesmerized by their stories and totally enjoyed that I didn't guess the outcome. I thought this was going to be a 4.5-star read, but the ending wound up being a little crazy. It came on suddenly and just seemed a bit jarring.
Still, if you're looking for an eerie and compelling read--told by some original and haunting voices--you'll enjoy DEAR CHILD. 4 stars.
"He creates day and night. Like God."
This book was quite the ride! I couldn't put this one down. It was eerily reminiscent of Wendy Walker's Don't Look For Me, which I just read, and of course, Room, as everyone has mentioned. It's utterly captivating; I read it over the course of about 24 hours. The story is told from the perspective of Hannah, who has her own unique voice (that's putting it mildly); the woman known as Lena; and Matthias. Together, they tell us a creepy and often heartbreaking tale, going back in time to the cabin, as well as present day in the hospital.
I won't go too in-depth, because it's best to go in to this one blind. I will say that it's easy to get caught up in the characters, particularly Lena, and Hannah, in a sort of spellbinding way. I was mesmerized by their stories and totally enjoyed that I didn't guess the outcome. I thought this was going to be a 4.5-star read, but the ending wound up being a little crazy. It came on suddenly and just seemed a bit jarring.
Still, if you're looking for an eerie and compelling read--told by some original and haunting voices--you'll enjoy DEAR CHILD. 4 stars.
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated A Brutal Tenderness (A Terrible Love, #2) in Books
Jan 11, 2021
3.5 stars.
I think this is the first time I have ever read the second book in a series that tells it from another’s POV. If you don’t know what I mean here’s an example: Hopeless (girl’s POV) and Losing Hope (guy’s POV) by Colleen Hoover… but I have to asmit it was very interesting seeing everything from Cas’ POV.
Well, there’s something about a guy who talks dirty when your in bed with him that I like. And Cas with Jess/Jewell is no exception. I think it’s his dominance that I like so much. He wont take no crap, at all, and he uses his body as a weapon in this; both in a seductive and a fighting way.
The bits we read from the crazy psychopath also know as Jess’/Jewell’s step-brother are weirdly creepy but insightful. We never saw anything from his POV in the first book so that was an interesting change between the two stories.
As was reading about the FBI team who were sent out to keep a watchful eye on her. Seeing the interaction between them when they were at FBI headquarters and how they acted when in close confines with Jess was quite fun. Friends one minute, beating each other up the next.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever read another duet like this, if I’m honest, because it is basically just another version of the first book but from another’s POV (although I do have Walking Disaster in paperback, yet-to-read) with added bits when they disappear from the pages of the other.
But if you like New Adult books then this duet are not to be missed. Sure they’re a little darker compared to others but they are compelling reading. I highly recommend them.
I think this is the first time I have ever read the second book in a series that tells it from another’s POV. If you don’t know what I mean here’s an example: Hopeless (girl’s POV) and Losing Hope (guy’s POV) by Colleen Hoover… but I have to asmit it was very interesting seeing everything from Cas’ POV.
Well, there’s something about a guy who talks dirty when your in bed with him that I like. And Cas with Jess/Jewell is no exception. I think it’s his dominance that I like so much. He wont take no crap, at all, and he uses his body as a weapon in this; both in a seductive and a fighting way.
The bits we read from the crazy psychopath also know as Jess’/Jewell’s step-brother are weirdly creepy but insightful. We never saw anything from his POV in the first book so that was an interesting change between the two stories.
As was reading about the FBI team who were sent out to keep a watchful eye on her. Seeing the interaction between them when they were at FBI headquarters and how they acted when in close confines with Jess was quite fun. Friends one minute, beating each other up the next.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever read another duet like this, if I’m honest, because it is basically just another version of the first book but from another’s POV (although I do have Walking Disaster in paperback, yet-to-read) with added bits when they disappear from the pages of the other.
But if you like New Adult books then this duet are not to be missed. Sure they’re a little darker compared to others but they are compelling reading. I highly recommend them.