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Dead House
8.7
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This best-selling debut by an award-winning writer is both an eerie contemporary ghost story and a...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Splits in Books
Apr 22, 2023
47 of 235
Kindle
The Splits
By M.V Clark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagine an eerie, parallel London living through a mysterious pandemic…
Two sisters escape a traumatic childhood to build perfect lives. Then one day Anna’s husband starts losing his mind. And Claire’s son becomes so volatile she’s frightened to be around him.
A terrifying disease known as ‘the splits’ lingers on the streets of the city. The science is definitive – the splits is quick, gruesome and fatal. There can be no link to what ails the men in Anna and Claire's families.
Except that nothing about this disease is what it seems. Evidence is emerging of a slow-burn variety, which infects its victims so stealthily it is invisible until the terrible end-stage.
A maverick researcher is touting a risky experimental cure. Anna rejects this as a dangerous fantasy.
But for Claire, it is her only chance to save her disintegrating boy.
What happens next changes the sisters' lives forever, as they fight themselves and each other for one last shot at happiness.
This was totally different to your average zombie infection read. I really enjoyed it. The characters and their lives were so interesting and it was definitely a different take on what makes a “zombie”. Very clever writing.
Kindle
The Splits
By M.V Clark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Imagine an eerie, parallel London living through a mysterious pandemic…
Two sisters escape a traumatic childhood to build perfect lives. Then one day Anna’s husband starts losing his mind. And Claire’s son becomes so volatile she’s frightened to be around him.
A terrifying disease known as ‘the splits’ lingers on the streets of the city. The science is definitive – the splits is quick, gruesome and fatal. There can be no link to what ails the men in Anna and Claire's families.
Except that nothing about this disease is what it seems. Evidence is emerging of a slow-burn variety, which infects its victims so stealthily it is invisible until the terrible end-stage.
A maverick researcher is touting a risky experimental cure. Anna rejects this as a dangerous fantasy.
But for Claire, it is her only chance to save her disintegrating boy.
What happens next changes the sisters' lives forever, as they fight themselves and each other for one last shot at happiness.
This was totally different to your average zombie infection read. I really enjoyed it. The characters and their lives were so interesting and it was definitely a different take on what makes a “zombie”. Very clever writing.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated A Lair of Bones ( Curse of the Cyren Queen book 1) in Books
Jul 12, 2022
119 of 230
Kindle
A Lair of Bones ( Curse of the Cyren Queen book 1)
Helen Scheuerer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A deadly contest. A vaulting ambition. How far will one cyren go to win?
Mighty cyrens have ruled the ancient lair of Saddoriel for centuries. A cavernous fortress, a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and levels, powered by magic and music…
From the moment she was born, Roh, the daughter of an infamous criminal, has been despised by her own kind. Restricted to the Lower Sector and forced to work as a common bone cleaner, she has always believed she belongs above: where lies adventure… and power.
Opportunity arises in the form of the Queen’s Tournament, a treacherous set of trials that could see the victor crowned ruler of the entire lair. Up against the most cunning, dangerous cyrens in all the realms, does Roh stand a chance?
This book was just amazing! I’ve never read a world like this before it was just so eerie, cruel and beautiful all in one. The characters are written well and likeable, the world building and story are so good. I really enjoyed the Oremere series that Helen wrote so I knew this would be good!
Kindle
A Lair of Bones ( Curse of the Cyren Queen book 1)
Helen Scheuerer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A deadly contest. A vaulting ambition. How far will one cyren go to win?
Mighty cyrens have ruled the ancient lair of Saddoriel for centuries. A cavernous fortress, a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and levels, powered by magic and music…
From the moment she was born, Roh, the daughter of an infamous criminal, has been despised by her own kind. Restricted to the Lower Sector and forced to work as a common bone cleaner, she has always believed she belongs above: where lies adventure… and power.
Opportunity arises in the form of the Queen’s Tournament, a treacherous set of trials that could see the victor crowned ruler of the entire lair. Up against the most cunning, dangerous cyrens in all the realms, does Roh stand a chance?
This book was just amazing! I’ve never read a world like this before it was just so eerie, cruel and beautiful all in one. The characters are written well and likeable, the world building and story are so good. I really enjoyed the Oremere series that Helen wrote so I knew this would be good!
Darren Fisher (2454 KP) rated 13 Dolls In Darkness (2017) in Movies
Jul 24, 2022
I have been an obsessive fan of horror films since I was a kid in the 70's. Brought up on Hammer and Universal monster films it wasn't long before I delved into pre-cert exploitation films and that is where my preference has been ever since.
Over the last 20 years I have felt that the horror genre hasn't really offered it's fans anything new (bar a few exceptions). Having been left despondent, disappointed and bored senseless by the over-saturation of remakes, reboots and just plain dull horror fare, it comes with great surprise that a black and white silent film from Australia would be the breath of fresh air that the horror genre desperately needs.
The plot of 13 Dolls is pretty straightforward. Marjorie receives a letter from her ailing mother to return home after a 13 year absence. On her return home Marjorie realises that things are not what they seem...
Written and directed by the talented Zeda Müller, this is a film that demands your attention from the start. With its eerie score and moody camerawork it sets a very atmospheric and claustrophobic feel to proceedings. It's a great take on the 'old dark house' horrors of a bygone era, Robert Wiene and Tod Brownings early work springs to mind... yet draws on influences from the likes of Dario Argento, Mario Bava's gothic horrors, giallo and slasher films (there are some nicely placed references for the sharp-eyed viewer). The fact that this is a silent film (I'll get to the score in a bit) actually works in its favour. Gone are the usual mundane dialogue pieces that fill out most horror films these days and the viewer is reintroduced to dialogue cards when required to move the story along. This also means that the actors are given room to act through expression and emotion and they all do a sterling job.
The masterstroke of 13 Dolls though is the excellent use of camerawork and soundtrack. The soundtrack is interspliced with sound effects (church bells, howling wind, dripping taps etc) and moody piano/tension building synths, all used to full sensory effect. The footage and score intertwine brilliantly together and I found some scenes genuinely eerie and creepy (a rare feeling for me whilst watching a new film these days).
Overall 13 Dolls is a mesmerising experience, interspersed with some cleverly executed gore scenes, and at a scant 75 minutes long, it motors along at a cracking pace.
So, you have probably guessed that I liked this film a lot. I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you are looking for something different. It's a great film and I for one am looking forward to Zeda Müller & Co's next venture...!
Over the last 20 years I have felt that the horror genre hasn't really offered it's fans anything new (bar a few exceptions). Having been left despondent, disappointed and bored senseless by the over-saturation of remakes, reboots and just plain dull horror fare, it comes with great surprise that a black and white silent film from Australia would be the breath of fresh air that the horror genre desperately needs.
The plot of 13 Dolls is pretty straightforward. Marjorie receives a letter from her ailing mother to return home after a 13 year absence. On her return home Marjorie realises that things are not what they seem...
Written and directed by the talented Zeda Müller, this is a film that demands your attention from the start. With its eerie score and moody camerawork it sets a very atmospheric and claustrophobic feel to proceedings. It's a great take on the 'old dark house' horrors of a bygone era, Robert Wiene and Tod Brownings early work springs to mind... yet draws on influences from the likes of Dario Argento, Mario Bava's gothic horrors, giallo and slasher films (there are some nicely placed references for the sharp-eyed viewer). The fact that this is a silent film (I'll get to the score in a bit) actually works in its favour. Gone are the usual mundane dialogue pieces that fill out most horror films these days and the viewer is reintroduced to dialogue cards when required to move the story along. This also means that the actors are given room to act through expression and emotion and they all do a sterling job.
The masterstroke of 13 Dolls though is the excellent use of camerawork and soundtrack. The soundtrack is interspliced with sound effects (church bells, howling wind, dripping taps etc) and moody piano/tension building synths, all used to full sensory effect. The footage and score intertwine brilliantly together and I found some scenes genuinely eerie and creepy (a rare feeling for me whilst watching a new film these days).
Overall 13 Dolls is a mesmerising experience, interspersed with some cleverly executed gore scenes, and at a scant 75 minutes long, it motors along at a cracking pace.
So, you have probably guessed that I liked this film a lot. I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you are looking for something different. It's a great film and I for one am looking forward to Zeda Müller & Co's next venture...!
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Addams Family (2019) in Movies
Oct 15, 2019
Creepy, Kooky, Mysterious, Spooky and Ooky
"They're creepy and they're kooky
Mysterious and spooky
They're all together ooky
The Addams family
Their house is a museum
Where people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams family
Neat
Sweet
Petite
So get a witches shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We're gonna pay a call on
The Addams family"
A song that everybody knows or should know. If you have seen the 1964 tv show or the 1991 movie or the 1993 sequel movie. The addams family is loved by all. And this movie is really good.
It takes elements from the oringal tv show and the movies and mixs it up.
The Plot: Members of the mysterious and spooky Addams family -- Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Uncle Fester and Grandma -- are readily preparing for a visit from their even creepier relatives. But trouble soon arises when shady TV personality Margaux Needler realizes that the Addams' eerie hilltop mansion is standing in the way of her dream to sell all the houses in the neighborhood.
You got to love the charcters, you got to love their personalty, you got to love that their mysterious, spooky, creppy, kooky and ooky.
This is a good film, despite what the critics have said. Kids and their family should see this film.
Mysterious and spooky
They're all together ooky
The Addams family
Their house is a museum
Where people come to see 'em
They really are a scream
The Addams family
Neat
Sweet
Petite
So get a witches shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We're gonna pay a call on
The Addams family"
A song that everybody knows or should know. If you have seen the 1964 tv show or the 1991 movie or the 1993 sequel movie. The addams family is loved by all. And this movie is really good.
It takes elements from the oringal tv show and the movies and mixs it up.
The Plot: Members of the mysterious and spooky Addams family -- Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Wednesday, Uncle Fester and Grandma -- are readily preparing for a visit from their even creepier relatives. But trouble soon arises when shady TV personality Margaux Needler realizes that the Addams' eerie hilltop mansion is standing in the way of her dream to sell all the houses in the neighborhood.
You got to love the charcters, you got to love their personalty, you got to love that their mysterious, spooky, creppy, kooky and ooky.
This is a good film, despite what the critics have said. Kids and their family should see this film.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated The Pillars of the Earth in Books
Aug 3, 2019
Very good read
Contains spoilers, click to show
Against this richly imagined and intricately interwoven backdrop, filled with the ravages of war and the rhythms of daily life, the master storyteller draws the reader irresistibly into the intertwined lives of his characters into their dreams, their labors, and their loves: Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the ravishingly beautiful noblewoman; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the artist in stone; and Ellen, the woman of the forest who casts a terrifying curse. From humble stonemason to imperious monarch, each character is brought vividly to life.
The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king.
I don't really know where to start. This book brought so much suspense ,fear ,love ,hate ,romance ,death and heartache! I loved it! I waited all 900+ pages for William to get what he deserved and it was worth it! This book showed how harsh life can be aswell as how amazingly strong people can be.
Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't yet read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king.
I don't really know where to start. This book brought so much suspense ,fear ,love ,hate ,romance ,death and heartache! I loved it! I waited all 900+ pages for William to get what he deserved and it was worth it! This book showed how harsh life can be aswell as how amazingly strong people can be.
Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't yet read!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Guide to the Buffyverse
8.0
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Book
A comprehensive, authorized compendium of all things Buffy the Vampire Slayer, published in...
Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction
Book
From Berlin to Boston, and St Petersburg to Sydney, ancient Egyptian art fills the galleries of some...
Seventyseven Clocks
Book
'The newspapers referred to it as the case of the seventy-seven clocks. There was quite a fuss at...
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Dracula (English) (1931) in Movies
Jul 6, 2020
It goes without saying that the importance of Dracula cannot be understated. Releasing in 1931, it was Universal Studios first steps into the horror genre, not long after 'talkies' became a thing, and surely paved the way for he mountain of horror titles that have come along since.
Bela Lugosi is Dracula, and though there have been fine portrayals of the titular vampire since, his performance lay the ground work for how a lot of media realise vampires to this day. He cuts a striking figure, he's suave and sinister, and the thick European accent is paramount to how he made Dracula a classic.
I first saw Dracula when I was a kid, and having watched it again recently, it's still a striking experience. While there may not be anything inherently frightening or scary by today's standards, the old black and white style, paired with long moments of uncomfortable silence (Director Tod Browning has exclusively worked on silent films before this), make for a suitably eerie atmosphere.
It's obviously a film that shows it age, but still hasn't lost any of it's charm. The version I watched recently was a Blu Ray restoration, and it's clear how lovingly that restoration has been implemented. Watching a film from the 30s look so crystal clear is something special.
Bela Lugosi is Dracula, and though there have been fine portrayals of the titular vampire since, his performance lay the ground work for how a lot of media realise vampires to this day. He cuts a striking figure, he's suave and sinister, and the thick European accent is paramount to how he made Dracula a classic.
I first saw Dracula when I was a kid, and having watched it again recently, it's still a striking experience. While there may not be anything inherently frightening or scary by today's standards, the old black and white style, paired with long moments of uncomfortable silence (Director Tod Browning has exclusively worked on silent films before this), make for a suitably eerie atmosphere.
It's obviously a film that shows it age, but still hasn't lost any of it's charm. The version I watched recently was a Blu Ray restoration, and it's clear how lovingly that restoration has been implemented. Watching a film from the 30s look so crystal clear is something special.