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AT (1676 KP) rated Kaijumax, Season One in Books
Jun 5, 2020
Kaijumax is about huge monsters that are in prison. Humans round them up to contain them so that they don't destroy their cities. It's a funny, violent story about the monsters trying to survive inside of their maximum-security prison. Reading the words that they use for curse words took some getting used to, but they're repeated often enough that you remember fairly quickly. There is a lot of actual drama going on in the story from all angles. The illustrations are cute and brightly colored, so it's definitely fun to look at, but the story, itself, is funny, gory, and sometimes intense. It's definitely not a series for young children!
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated The Sick House in Books
Jun 8, 2018 (Updated Jan 18, 2019)
Last month, the #spookyfriendsbookclub voted on Jeff Strand’s Sick House as our selection and though I’m a month behind on reading it, I am so glad I did. This book is amazing–or rather, it is if you’re a fan of snarky, gory horror.
The Gardner family moves into a house that turns out to be haunted. Readers find out what happened there fairly early, which is unusual in most haunted house tales that I’ve read. Despite that, Strand manages to keep me hooked with his fast-paced, delightfully dark prose. The family of four, comprised of husband, wife, and two daughters, show readers just how strong the bond between family members can be while simultaneously exploring the darker regions of the teenage mind–as seen with the older of the two girls. This provides a nice depth to the family, which thankfully isn’t comprised of a bunch of Mary Sues (though the wife is debatable).
Fast-paced, gory, and definitely not for the squeamish, Sick House progresses quickly with non-stop action. The terror begins from the first few pages and lasts throughout the entire novel, which elevates it above the many I’ve read where the first eighty percent is a snooze fest with all the excitement at the end. I definitely recommend this book to horror fans and will be reading more of Strand’s work. I have Dweller sitting on my shelf!
The Gardner family moves into a house that turns out to be haunted. Readers find out what happened there fairly early, which is unusual in most haunted house tales that I’ve read. Despite that, Strand manages to keep me hooked with his fast-paced, delightfully dark prose. The family of four, comprised of husband, wife, and two daughters, show readers just how strong the bond between family members can be while simultaneously exploring the darker regions of the teenage mind–as seen with the older of the two girls. This provides a nice depth to the family, which thankfully isn’t comprised of a bunch of Mary Sues (though the wife is debatable).
Fast-paced, gory, and definitely not for the squeamish, Sick House progresses quickly with non-stop action. The terror begins from the first few pages and lasts throughout the entire novel, which elevates it above the many I’ve read where the first eighty percent is a snooze fest with all the excitement at the end. I definitely recommend this book to horror fans and will be reading more of Strand’s work. I have Dweller sitting on my shelf!
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Fortitude - Season 1 in TV
Dec 9, 2018
A genre-spanning atmospheric thriller
I watched Fortitude when it first aired a few years ago, and have decided to give it another watch now to refresh my memory now the final series has aired.
Fortitude is set in a beautiful location in the arctic, and the show really makes the most of showing off this location as often as possible. The plot itself is intriguing and bonkers, but yet doesn't quite go too far. It spans a verify of genres, from murder mystery and crime to drama and gory horror, and it does this really well. Some of the gory horror parts are actually quite disturbing (in an good). This is also a very character driven story, and most of the characters in this are well rounded and developed. It has a fantastic cast including some very well known faces like Stanley Tucci and Michael Gambon. However for me it's Richard Dormer that truly shines in this. He gives Dan a lot of depth and despite his errant and sometime psychotic ways, you do still feel sorry for him. I find it difficult to accept that this is the same person who plays Beric Dondarrion in GoT, he's that good an actor.
If you're looking for something that's well acted, doesn't stick to a specific genre and is honestly a little bizarre and unusual, then this is definitely worth a watch.
Fortitude is set in a beautiful location in the arctic, and the show really makes the most of showing off this location as often as possible. The plot itself is intriguing and bonkers, but yet doesn't quite go too far. It spans a verify of genres, from murder mystery and crime to drama and gory horror, and it does this really well. Some of the gory horror parts are actually quite disturbing (in an good). This is also a very character driven story, and most of the characters in this are well rounded and developed. It has a fantastic cast including some very well known faces like Stanley Tucci and Michael Gambon. However for me it's Richard Dormer that truly shines in this. He gives Dan a lot of depth and despite his errant and sometime psychotic ways, you do still feel sorry for him. I find it difficult to accept that this is the same person who plays Beric Dondarrion in GoT, he's that good an actor.
If you're looking for something that's well acted, doesn't stick to a specific genre and is honestly a little bizarre and unusual, then this is definitely worth a watch.
Vegas (725 KP) rated Ready or Not (2019) in Movies
Feb 20, 2020
Very strong cast (1 more)
The black humour
A fun horror rather than a gory horror
I really enjoy horrors, thrillers and dramas set predominantly in mansions, stately homes castles, chateaux etc so it gets off to a good start. The setting has a feel of a cross between Clue and the original Sleuth... Both of which are among my favourite films...
Marrying into a family who made their money through games all new family members have to play a random game, most harmless but draw one card and you are in for a bumpy ride, and might not see the night through...
An oddball bunch of family members make this a fun horror movie rather than a gory or suspenseful one, even though there is a lot of blood and gore it doesn't feel like it, it's certainly not like watching the Saw franchise, the black humour works brilliantly alongside the serious moments and you can really get behind Samara Weavings character, trying to remain alive in a cat and mouse chase around the Mansion with her portrayal of newlywed Grace who instead of spending her wedding night with her husband ends up playing a scary and dangerous game of hide and seek with her new family...
A well made film that delights with its humour, made stronger by the cast and not a stereotypical usage of the usual, lone girl (potential) victim/survivor seen in other horror films.
Marrying into a family who made their money through games all new family members have to play a random game, most harmless but draw one card and you are in for a bumpy ride, and might not see the night through...
An oddball bunch of family members make this a fun horror movie rather than a gory or suspenseful one, even though there is a lot of blood and gore it doesn't feel like it, it's certainly not like watching the Saw franchise, the black humour works brilliantly alongside the serious moments and you can really get behind Samara Weavings character, trying to remain alive in a cat and mouse chase around the Mansion with her portrayal of newlywed Grace who instead of spending her wedding night with her husband ends up playing a scary and dangerous game of hide and seek with her new family...
A well made film that delights with its humour, made stronger by the cast and not a stereotypical usage of the usual, lone girl (potential) victim/survivor seen in other horror films.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Spontaneous (2020) in Movies
Mar 7, 2021
I'm not someone who typically ventures into Romance territory (although I will quietly admit to quite liking The Notebook...) but the promise of people exploding at random intervals drew me in... I have simple needs.
Turns out that Spontaneous is a wonderfully heartfelt (and gory) tale of two college kids who fall in love.
The two leads played by Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer are some of the most likable characters I've seen in ages. Their chemistry is top tier, and their relationship feels real and relatable and is the glue that holds the whole narrative together.
The gory side of things is quite something. It's nicely spaced out so it doesn't steal the spotlight, but Jesus Christ it's anxiety inducing. I was just on edge for the whole runtime wondering when someone else would violently explode. Would it be mid sentence? Would it be one of the characters I liked? "No one has blown up in a while, and I'm so nervous" is a thought that kept popping (pun fully intended) into my head. Somehow, it's a cute enough love story that is just tense as fuck. Hats off to everyone involved!
Watching Spontaneous is a ride. It's uplifting, suitably visceral, wonderfully acted, and feels meaningful.... definitely nearly(...) cried on more than one occasion. It's all backed by a great soundtrack, and has some lovely cinematography and inspired style choices. Absolutely recommend this one, for romance and horror fans alike.
Turns out that Spontaneous is a wonderfully heartfelt (and gory) tale of two college kids who fall in love.
The two leads played by Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer are some of the most likable characters I've seen in ages. Their chemistry is top tier, and their relationship feels real and relatable and is the glue that holds the whole narrative together.
The gory side of things is quite something. It's nicely spaced out so it doesn't steal the spotlight, but Jesus Christ it's anxiety inducing. I was just on edge for the whole runtime wondering when someone else would violently explode. Would it be mid sentence? Would it be one of the characters I liked? "No one has blown up in a while, and I'm so nervous" is a thought that kept popping (pun fully intended) into my head. Somehow, it's a cute enough love story that is just tense as fuck. Hats off to everyone involved!
Watching Spontaneous is a ride. It's uplifting, suitably visceral, wonderfully acted, and feels meaningful.... definitely nearly(...) cried on more than one occasion. It's all backed by a great soundtrack, and has some lovely cinematography and inspired style choices. Absolutely recommend this one, for romance and horror fans alike.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Elmet in Books
Sep 30, 2017
Grim, intense and brutal
This is a rather disturbing and intense book, written in the point of a view of a young teenage boy, who describes his life and how he has ended up homeless and in search of his sister. It is a rather grim look at some aspects of British gangster culture, a feudal system, with a landowner exploiting the vulnerable through violent means.
It is gory, and grim for the majority of the book, which describes the boy living with a father, a hired thug who has escaped that lifestyle, and a scrappy sister, living off the grid. It is well written, even though I don't think it is Man Booker Prize worthy.
It is gory, and grim for the majority of the book, which describes the boy living with a father, a hired thug who has escaped that lifestyle, and a scrappy sister, living off the grid. It is well written, even though I don't think it is Man Booker Prize worthy.
Pennywise is very creepy (2 more)
Children were fantastic
It was funny
Wow!
I love the original film and was so unsure whether anyone but Tim Curry could play Pennywise, however I was very wrong Bill Skarsgard is amazing and so creepy!! I am a big Stephen King fan and hoped they could do it justice and they so did. I don't think it is as scary as the trailers depict, gory and creepy yes, but scary, no. I laughed, I jumped and I found myself watching the movie with no toilet breaks and thinking surely it can't be over yet! A well made and totally great film, doing justice to both Stephen King and Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
Dean (6925 KP) rated Train (2008) in Movies
Apr 30, 2019
Surprised this isn't better known, although it does seem to have been a straight to DVD release. After seeing a trailer I gave it a whirl. It is extremely gory, bloody, violent and full of torture in the same vein, pardon the pun, as Hostel. The overall story is similar and kinda a mix of that and Turistas. A group of American wrestlers on a trip to Eastern Europe miss the rest of their group and need to take the train to meet up with them in the next city. So this will well and truly keep the gore fans happy. Overall it's an ok horror film if nothing new or different.
Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated The Clovehitch Killer (2018) in Movies
Dec 14, 2018
Well done
This low budget thriller was quite the find. It's a very thought provoking, emotionally stirring tale about a teenage boy who starts to realize that his "all american dad" might be a serial killer. The acting was good and the cinematography was decent enough. The story was the shining glory here. It unfolded beautifully and is a wonderful example of how a movie can be EXTREMELY good even without a big Hollywood budget. Everything fell into place perfectly throughout and it even had a bit of a twist at the end. Nothing too gory or flashy in this one but I highly recommend it. Especially if you're into "true crime" style movies. Worth a watch!
Ross (3284 KP) rated Escape Room (2019) in Movies
Jan 29, 2020
The thinking man's Saw :P
If you thought the Saw films were too gory and scary but you liked the idea, then this film is for you!
A group of individuals are invited to participate in a new escape room and quickly find themselves thrown into it without warning. There is a good mix of characters, the commonality between whom soon becomes clear. The puzzles themselves start well but quickly become quite vague and it becomes hard to accept that the people could solve them in the circumstances they are in. Also some of them just don't make any sense, so anyone solving them just seems ridiculous.
An enjoyable thriller with potential for more films.
A group of individuals are invited to participate in a new escape room and quickly find themselves thrown into it without warning. There is a good mix of characters, the commonality between whom soon becomes clear. The puzzles themselves start well but quickly become quite vague and it becomes hard to accept that the people could solve them in the circumstances they are in. Also some of them just don't make any sense, so anyone solving them just seems ridiculous.
An enjoyable thriller with potential for more films.