Search
Search results
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Dead and the Dark in Books
Aug 19, 2021
Captivating look at the supernatural and the pull of family
In Snakebite, Oregon, teenagers keep disappearing or turning up dead. Things just seem off. The locals blame Brandon and Alejo Ortiz-Woodley, two former Snakebite residents who are back in town. They now host a popular ghost hunting show and travel the country with their daughter Logan. Wanting to clear the family name, Logan winds up joining forces with Ashley Barton, whose boyfriend was the first to go missing. Ashley is sure she can feel his presence guiding her around Snakebite. But as the two team up, they discover some pretty terrifying and dangerous things about Snakebite.
I loved this book so much. Sometimes it feels like I read similar books over and over. Not this time. Gould’s book is original and spellbinding. This is such a dark and ominous read. Gould truly brings you into Snakebite, the supernatural, creepy, and quite unwelcoming small town. It’s atmospheric and spooky. I could not put this book down!
DARK is filled with LGBTQIA representation, between Logan’s dads, the fact that she’s an out lesbian, and her own burgeoning friendship (and more) with Ashley. I loved everything about all of it.
This book is part horror story, part exploration of the meaning and depths of darkness, and part look at family dynamics. It’s an extremely well written ghost story with a sapphic love interest. It really doesn’t get much better than that! (It’s so good, read it—and it’s a debut!)
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
I loved this book so much. Sometimes it feels like I read similar books over and over. Not this time. Gould’s book is original and spellbinding. This is such a dark and ominous read. Gould truly brings you into Snakebite, the supernatural, creepy, and quite unwelcoming small town. It’s atmospheric and spooky. I could not put this book down!
DARK is filled with LGBTQIA representation, between Logan’s dads, the fact that she’s an out lesbian, and her own burgeoning friendship (and more) with Ashley. I loved everything about all of it.
This book is part horror story, part exploration of the meaning and depths of darkness, and part look at family dynamics. It’s an extremely well written ghost story with a sapphic love interest. It really doesn’t get much better than that! (It’s so good, read it—and it’s a debut!)
I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Mr Harrigan's Phone (2022) in Movies
Oct 10, 2022
Contains spoilers, click to show
Mr Harringan's phone is a film based on a short story by Stephen King. Like a lot of Kings work the film is a slow burn but one without much of a pay off.
Mr Harringan's phone follows Craig, a young boy who is hired by the reclusive Mr Harringan. After working for him for a few years Mr Harringan dies. During his period of grief Craig phones Mr Harringan's old phone and tells him about the problems he is having with a bully, the bully dies soon after and Craig is sure the dead Mr Harringan has something to do with it.
Mr Harringan's phone has the potential to be a great ghost film but it doesn't manage to pull it off. The first 40 to 50 minutes of the film builds up the relationship between Craig and Mr Harringan leaving around an hour for the spooky stuff. However there is little actual horror, there are only 2 deaths due to the ghost and you don't see either of them. The film give what could be natural reasons for the deaths and tries to focuse on the effect they have on Craig as he thinks that he caused them but even this seems lacking.
The film feels like it's trying to be a 'classic' set in the modern day, like a Charles Dickens novel set in the naughties and it does pull this off but still seems to be lacking something.
If you are looking for something like the ring then this probably isn't for you but if you want a slow burn in the gothic/Dickens vain then it may be worth a watch.
Mr Harringan's phone follows Craig, a young boy who is hired by the reclusive Mr Harringan. After working for him for a few years Mr Harringan dies. During his period of grief Craig phones Mr Harringan's old phone and tells him about the problems he is having with a bully, the bully dies soon after and Craig is sure the dead Mr Harringan has something to do with it.
Mr Harringan's phone has the potential to be a great ghost film but it doesn't manage to pull it off. The first 40 to 50 minutes of the film builds up the relationship between Craig and Mr Harringan leaving around an hour for the spooky stuff. However there is little actual horror, there are only 2 deaths due to the ghost and you don't see either of them. The film give what could be natural reasons for the deaths and tries to focuse on the effect they have on Craig as he thinks that he caused them but even this seems lacking.
The film feels like it's trying to be a 'classic' set in the modern day, like a Charles Dickens novel set in the naughties and it does pull this off but still seems to be lacking something.
If you are looking for something like the ring then this probably isn't for you but if you want a slow burn in the gothic/Dickens vain then it may be worth a watch.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Trick 'r Treat (2007) in Movies
Oct 31, 2017
Great anthology stories that overlap (3 more)
Great characters
Good make-up effects
Good cast
A new Halloween classic
A great collection of Halloween tales that overlap each other on one Halloween night in a small town. It has some great moments in the 4 main stories, mixing up an urban ghost story, scary creatures, slasher and just the plain weird. It has a good cast including Brian Cox looking a little John Carpenter like and Anna Paquin of True Blood. The film also reminds the viewers of the reasons behind some of the traditions. A bit short at 80mins but very enjoyable, one of the best horror anthologies around! This could become a cult film taking into account it didn't get a cinema release....who knows why!? Plenty of extras on the DVD as well.
Maddie (37 KP) rated Oxenfree in Video Games
Nov 16, 2017
Actions have consequences (2 more)
Great characters
Art was beautiful
Short to play, but incredibly fun
Oxenfree was a beautifully styled coming-of-age story that pulled the player into the relationships between characters as much as into the drama of the ghost story. At times intense and a little scary (I'm a baby about stuff like that though), but also sweet and compelling. I really wanted everyone to be okay, although I fudged a bunch and not everyone made it out alive.
The actions have consequences aspect is great. The choices felt like realistic situations for the teenagers and each bad/good decision was believable.
Plan on playing this again in the near future to try and better improve my favorite character's chances!
The actions have consequences aspect is great. The choices felt like realistic situations for the teenagers and each bad/good decision was believable.
Plan on playing this again in the near future to try and better improve my favorite character's chances!
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Come In and Cover Me in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This book tells the story of Ren an archeologist who can see ghosts. Her first experience is with her older brother who was killed in a car accident when she was 12. It carries over into her work in the field years later when she sees a young, Native American girl chopping off her hair in a creek. Lynay as the ghost comes to be known leads Ren to various discoveries, both about herself & ancient culture.
The story had absolutely no action to it. It was well written, but I unfortunately found myself getting bored with at multiple points in the plot. The summaries I read prior to reading the book sounded good... an interesting idea, intriguing characters, but the execution was poor. Not worth the time really.
The story had absolutely no action to it. It was well written, but I unfortunately found myself getting bored with at multiple points in the plot. The summaries I read prior to reading the book sounded good... an interesting idea, intriguing characters, but the execution was poor. Not worth the time really.
BobbiesDustyPages (1259 KP) rated Tales From the Hood (1995) in Movies
Aug 28, 2017
Tales From The Hood is a horror anthology made up of four short stories as well as a into and ending sequence.
The stories are:
Welcome to My Mortuary
Rogue Cop Revelation
Boys Do Get Bruised
KKK Comeuppance
Hard-Core Convert
Welcome to My Mortuary (ending)
I grew up watching this movie and even as a kid I always enjoyed it but as the older I got I really grew to understand that it is not just a horror movie in the sense that is deals with zombies, monsters, living dolls, and ghost but that it is a horror movie in the sense that it deals with real life horrors such as police brutality, abuse, racism, and gang violence all of which still hold extreme relevant 22 years after the movie was released.
The stories are:
Welcome to My Mortuary
Rogue Cop Revelation
Boys Do Get Bruised
KKK Comeuppance
Hard-Core Convert
Welcome to My Mortuary (ending)
I grew up watching this movie and even as a kid I always enjoyed it but as the older I got I really grew to understand that it is not just a horror movie in the sense that is deals with zombies, monsters, living dolls, and ghost but that it is a horror movie in the sense that it deals with real life horrors such as police brutality, abuse, racism, and gang violence all of which still hold extreme relevant 22 years after the movie was released.
Lenard (726 KP) rated Brightburn (2019) in Movies
Jun 2, 2019 (Updated Jun 3, 2019)
We need to talk about Brandon
A childless couple in small town Kansas discover a spacecraft in their barn with a baby inside. They raise the child as their own, trying to give him flyover zone morals. So far, the story seems very familiar. However, ten years later, puberty hits Brandon hard. He gains super strength, the power to fly at the speed of light, and glowing red heat vision. He is also obsessed with human anatomy, but not the usual body parts, more like the liver and kidneys. His grey-haired mother and farmer father try to set him straight, but his alien vehicle calls out to him and tells him to destroy the world. What in the name of Caesar's Ghost is going on in Kansas?
Hanz (9 KP) rated Dead Silence (2007) in Movies
Jun 24, 2018
Was better than expected
Contains spoilers, click to show
So Jamie is from a town called Raverns fair and his wife is killed by the ghost of Mary Shaw a ventriloquist who was killed by some people in the town years before Jamie was born.
As the story goes on your looking at people to suspect and up until he died I thought it was the cop, a real paranormal thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, the ending of the film left it open for a sequel as well.
I'd love to see the producers expand more on the back story of Mary Shaw and her dolls and have someone stop her.
It was well worth watching better than the likes of the boy ect and other doll horrors.
As the story goes on your looking at people to suspect and up until he died I thought it was the cop, a real paranormal thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat, the ending of the film left it open for a sequel as well.
I'd love to see the producers expand more on the back story of Mary Shaw and her dolls and have someone stop her.
It was well worth watching better than the likes of the boy ect and other doll horrors.
Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated Hereditary (2018) in Movies
Dec 15, 2018
Creepy
I didn't really know what to expect from this movie- and it's a weird one. The acting/cinematography were fine. The story was a little slow moving, but unfolded well enough. Took some strange turns and had plenty of "creep" factor throughout. It doesn't make much sense at first. Wasn't sure if it was going to be a "ghost/haunting" movie or a "demon/possession" movie. Turned out to be kinda both. As it unfolds it all comes together at the end and is explained. Some of the imagery/effects are probably a bit too much for little kids (decapitated bodies, etc) but you adults should enjoy this one if you're into creepy horror movies. While not the greatest movie out there, I'd say this one is definitely worth a watch.
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Sun Down Motel in Books
Mar 19, 2020
I actually read Simone St. James’ incredibly spooky ghost story—set in a creepy motel—in a rather drab hotel room and boy did it scare me! The tag line: The secrets lurking in a rundown motel ensnare a young woman, just as they did her aunt thirty-five years before...
This was such a great book. It features a hard to put down mystery with excellent characters and some downright terrifying scenes! The book is packed with twists and turns, and it's absolutely captivating.
The parallelism between Viv’s story—set in the 1980s—and her niece, Carly’s, in present-day, is excellent. I was so attached to these tough women and their stories. The 1980s piece really grabbed me; St. James really captures the era so well.
This was such a great book. It features a hard to put down mystery with excellent characters and some downright terrifying scenes! The book is packed with twists and turns, and it's absolutely captivating.
The parallelism between Viv’s story—set in the 1980s—and her niece, Carly’s, in present-day, is excellent. I was so attached to these tough women and their stories. The 1980s piece really grabbed me; St. James really captures the era so well.