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Gisell Middleton (189 KP) rated After the Fire in Books
Mar 18, 2019
This novel was amazing! I might venture to say it is one of my favorites this year. The setting and plot are very original and interesting. The characters are very well thought out and written realistically from a teenage girl, to a charismatic cult leader to a sympathetic FBI agent. While the alternating timeline is popular, it seems entirely necessary in this context since we would not get the full force of the trauma endured without the current sense of relief and uncertainty and damage. While it is a harrowing story, it is not as gruesome or graphic as it could have been which is a good thing for readers who might not have picked up this novel since it is a must read!
Richard Granger (4 KP) rated Shazam! (2019) in Movies
May 4, 2019
Just what DC needed
Contains spoilers, click to show
I myself am a huge DC fan boy and over the past couple of years I have seen ups and downs with DC. Finally after Wonder Woman and Aquaman, DC has started to get back into the grove. I have always wanted DC films to be dark and gruesome but Shazam is something of a charmer. It's funny fresh and doesn't try to hard to be something it's not. The characters are brilliant and the Easter eggs throughout the film are brilliant and would make any DC fan scream with delight. It's a great story of an orphan child and the difficulties faced but seeing what a true hero can be is great to see!
Jemma Walsh (81 KP) rated Looking Good Dead (Roy Grace, #2) in Books
Sep 9, 2018
Addicted to Roy grace
Contains spoilers, click to show
After reading the first book I was hooked and left needing to read the next as soon as!!
Love the darkeness of this book, tom finds a cd on the tube and curiosity make him play the cd where he witnesses something gruesome!
Which then leaves him and his shopaholic wife in danger!
These books are so easy to ready they are so descriptive making it easy to imagine what’s going on.
Not only have you got crime solving going on in the book but you also get snippets of Roy graces life, what happened to sandy who one day just vanishes, will he ever get over it and accept that she is gone? Can he ever have a happy relationship with Cleo ?
Love the darkeness of this book, tom finds a cd on the tube and curiosity make him play the cd where he witnesses something gruesome!
Which then leaves him and his shopaholic wife in danger!
These books are so easy to ready they are so descriptive making it easy to imagine what’s going on.
Not only have you got crime solving going on in the book but you also get snippets of Roy graces life, what happened to sandy who one day just vanishes, will he ever get over it and accept that she is gone? Can he ever have a happy relationship with Cleo ?
Andy K (10821 KP) rated The Fog (1980) in Movies
Oct 20, 2018
Classic Carpenter!
Director John Carpenter had a lot to live up to and deliver after his striking masterpiece Halloween. He decided to tell an old school ghost story about a coastal town in northern California which is cursed and subject to a mysterious "Fog" which rolls into town and carries ghoulies within its misty depths.
Not as well known or remembered as some other Carpenter works, The Fog still delivers some creepy scares and gruesome death scenes reminiscent of other Carpenter films.
Great cast of vintage horror icons like Janie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh and Adrienne Barbeau make the story more enjoyable and believable.
The film shows its age in parts, but is still an enjoyable horror classic.
Not as well known or remembered as some other Carpenter works, The Fog still delivers some creepy scares and gruesome death scenes reminiscent of other Carpenter films.
Great cast of vintage horror icons like Janie Lee Curtis, Janet Leigh and Adrienne Barbeau make the story more enjoyable and believable.
The film shows its age in parts, but is still an enjoyable horror classic.
Fayce McRobbie (19 KP) rated Out in Books
Aug 24, 2019
An exciting read (1 more)
An insight into another culture
A strong writing style and gripping story
Even though the story itself may seem far fetched, Kirino writes in a way that captures the bleakness and monotony of the women's lives and makes everything they feel, say and do seem so relatable and real that you don't question their motives or seemingly unrealistic decisions.
One of my favourite things about this book was portrayal of uncomfortable family dynamics and the odd state of limbo these women lived in, professionally and personally - something like looking into a window on another culture and generation.
It's a story that manages to be shocking, gruesome, almost inhuman but still somehow so comparable to our own world.
One of my favourite things about this book was portrayal of uncomfortable family dynamics and the odd state of limbo these women lived in, professionally and personally - something like looking into a window on another culture and generation.
It's a story that manages to be shocking, gruesome, almost inhuman but still somehow so comparable to our own world.
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Cage of Bones ( Brennan & Esposito book 3) in Books
Apr 17, 2022
67 of 230
Book
Cage of Bones ( Brennan & Esposito book 3)
By Tania Carver
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Workers demolishing a building in Colchester make a horrifying discovery in the basement: a cage made of human bones ...with a feral child inside. As Phil Brennan and Marina Esposito investigate, they expose the trail of a serial killer who has been operating undetected for thirty years - a killer with a disturbing connection to Brennan's father.
I absolutely love this author duo! You know it’s a good book when you get that itchy feeling towards the end! This was a gruesome idea for a book but then they never disappoint. Just brilliant I just have no more words I highly recommend.
Book
Cage of Bones ( Brennan & Esposito book 3)
By Tania Carver
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Workers demolishing a building in Colchester make a horrifying discovery in the basement: a cage made of human bones ...with a feral child inside. As Phil Brennan and Marina Esposito investigate, they expose the trail of a serial killer who has been operating undetected for thirty years - a killer with a disturbing connection to Brennan's father.
I absolutely love this author duo! You know it’s a good book when you get that itchy feeling towards the end! This was a gruesome idea for a book but then they never disappoint. Just brilliant I just have no more words I highly recommend.
Marylegs (44 KP) rated The Walking Dead: v. 1: Days Gone Bye in Books
Aug 14, 2019
So I have finally got started on reading these graphic novels. I have been an avid fan of the TV remake and am fully aware that the series and graphic novels do not run exactly scene for scene. Some characters have had longer roles or shorter roles, other characters added or omitted. That is not what I am concerning myself with whilst reading this novel.
What I am concerned with is how the book felt as I read it. I thought the frames were well drawn, if you take the time to look over each picture you really feel the emotions of each of the characters. At no point does it feel lacking from the sole use of greyscale, colour is unnecessary in this story. Considering there is limited writing used, the conversations between characters have been orchestrated to portray all the information and emotions needed.
It always takes me a few pages to get into a graphic novel, the switch to reading pictures and not written descriptions takes some getting used to, but this story is so gripping that it isn’t hard to get lost in it. Nothing is too gruesome or overdone (not that I mind gruesome) but some people may be put off as it is a tale set in a zombie ridden world, but actually this is a story about the effect on the people left standing. How they cope in this new harsh existence, and how they decide to make a new future for themselves. This is a great start to a series and I will be carrying on gladly and with a great deal of enthusiasm.
What I am concerned with is how the book felt as I read it. I thought the frames were well drawn, if you take the time to look over each picture you really feel the emotions of each of the characters. At no point does it feel lacking from the sole use of greyscale, colour is unnecessary in this story. Considering there is limited writing used, the conversations between characters have been orchestrated to portray all the information and emotions needed.
It always takes me a few pages to get into a graphic novel, the switch to reading pictures and not written descriptions takes some getting used to, but this story is so gripping that it isn’t hard to get lost in it. Nothing is too gruesome or overdone (not that I mind gruesome) but some people may be put off as it is a tale set in a zombie ridden world, but actually this is a story about the effect on the people left standing. How they cope in this new harsh existence, and how they decide to make a new future for themselves. This is a great start to a series and I will be carrying on gladly and with a great deal of enthusiasm.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Urban Legend (1998) in Movies
May 8, 2021 (Updated May 8, 2021)
The Legends Come True
Urban Legend- is a really good movie. I love the concept/plot of the film. The cast is really good plus it has cameoes from horror icons: Robert Englund, Brad Dourif and Danielle Harris.
The plot; A university is beset by a rash of gruesome murders that resemble old urban legends. When her friend Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner) is killed by someone hiding in her car, Natalie (Alicia Witt) begins to notice the pattern. Her suspicions grow stronger when her own roommate is strangled to death. Soon the quiet college campus is transformed into hunting grounds for a maniac, and Natalie struggles to find the killer and stop the bloodshed before she becomes the next victim.
Its a really good film and highly recordmend it.
The plot; A university is beset by a rash of gruesome murders that resemble old urban legends. When her friend Michelle (Natasha Gregson Wagner) is killed by someone hiding in her car, Natalie (Alicia Witt) begins to notice the pattern. Her suspicions grow stronger when her own roommate is strangled to death. Soon the quiet college campus is transformed into hunting grounds for a maniac, and Natalie struggles to find the killer and stop the bloodshed before she becomes the next victim.
Its a really good film and highly recordmend it.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Brightburn (2019) in Movies
Oct 19, 2019
I like the idea of a horror superhero genre but...
Brightburn is a classic modern example of a great idea, with mediocre execution.
The classic "Superman" story is turned on its head in a way when a spaceship falls to Earth with a baby within. The young couple who live on a farm decide to adopt the infant as their own. Now 12 years old, young Brandon starts to feel differently. He is compelled to seek out his mother ship now locked inside the depths of a barn where he seems to receive unknown demonic instruction.
Things aren't going well at school either. He injures a young girl's hand after an incident where she fails to catch his fall while playing a game of trust during their physical education class. Afterwards, the girl's mother has some distasteful words to say about Brandon which he overhears and his lust for retribution emerges.
The lack of specific direction or even which genre this movie wanted to inhabit is its biggest flaw (which means bad screenplay). At some points it was underdog outcast teen drama and at others darkened house jump scare or even some scenes involving gruesome gory horror. The first half of the short 90 minutes was devoted to establishing Brandon's status at school and with his family and wasn't terribly interesting while the 2nd half was just the standard gruesome kill after gruesome kill which were cool I guess, but won't stay with me.
Going in, I really thought the film was going to be more epic and concentrate on his emerge and then quest for world domination (which was only shown during the end credits) which I think would have been way more interesting, similar to Chronicle which was done in a much more interesting way than this.
Maybe they were hoping for huge success so the 2nd film could've explained more of the origin story. I guess I don't mind that nothing as to the source of the spaceship or the creatures within were explained. I don't need every plot point spoon fed to me, but it was a wasted opportunity to create a new completely original super villain universe which they could've drawn from indefinitely.
Is Brightburn supposed to be an antihero? Are you supposed to root for him to avenge the wrongs he has had in his ife or are you simply supposed to cringe like you would when Jason or Michael hack into a sex crazed teenager?
The classic "Superman" story is turned on its head in a way when a spaceship falls to Earth with a baby within. The young couple who live on a farm decide to adopt the infant as their own. Now 12 years old, young Brandon starts to feel differently. He is compelled to seek out his mother ship now locked inside the depths of a barn where he seems to receive unknown demonic instruction.
Things aren't going well at school either. He injures a young girl's hand after an incident where she fails to catch his fall while playing a game of trust during their physical education class. Afterwards, the girl's mother has some distasteful words to say about Brandon which he overhears and his lust for retribution emerges.
The lack of specific direction or even which genre this movie wanted to inhabit is its biggest flaw (which means bad screenplay). At some points it was underdog outcast teen drama and at others darkened house jump scare or even some scenes involving gruesome gory horror. The first half of the short 90 minutes was devoted to establishing Brandon's status at school and with his family and wasn't terribly interesting while the 2nd half was just the standard gruesome kill after gruesome kill which were cool I guess, but won't stay with me.
Going in, I really thought the film was going to be more epic and concentrate on his emerge and then quest for world domination (which was only shown during the end credits) which I think would have been way more interesting, similar to Chronicle which was done in a much more interesting way than this.
Maybe they were hoping for huge success so the 2nd film could've explained more of the origin story. I guess I don't mind that nothing as to the source of the spaceship or the creatures within were explained. I don't need every plot point spoon fed to me, but it was a wasted opportunity to create a new completely original super villain universe which they could've drawn from indefinitely.
Is Brightburn supposed to be an antihero? Are you supposed to root for him to avenge the wrongs he has had in his ife or are you simply supposed to cringe like you would when Jason or Michael hack into a sex crazed teenager?
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated The Hairy Hand in Books
May 22, 2019
A gothic adventure for 8 -12 year olds, full of jokes, magical familiars and a gruesome cast of characters. When Septimus inherits a magical, treasure-finding Hairy Hand from his uncle, life suddenly becomes a lot more exciting - and dangerous!
Septimus feels out-of-place in his village where everyone else his age is called Darg or Smerg or Blaarg. Good, honest names that sound like you are have just swallowed something pointy or are sneezing into custard. Even his parents make him feel like a complete stranger. Especially his parents. Then he inherits something strange and frightening from his uncle. A Hairy Hand. It has the magical ability to find buried treasure which suits his parents (thieves by trade) down to the ground. However, instead of making his life better, it suddenly gets a lot more dangerous.
So, it is up to Sept to find out what else the Hand knows and put things right.
I enjoyed this humorous and moderately gruesome read which, I think, will appeal to its target audience.
Theres an amazing cast of ghastly characters, including Septs parents, Plog the Sneaker and Gertrude!
A fun and adventurous fantasy story of good versus bad, determination and resisting temptation.
The Characters and story line are varied and kept me guessing, laughing my way through the book at the antics and mishaps throughout, with a few cleverly woven in messages for those reading it.
If you are looking to introduce your children to Fantasy Adventure or yourselves or just as gift for someone then this truly would make someone very happy!
I highly recommend this fun book!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Monster Books and Robin Bennett for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Septimus feels out-of-place in his village where everyone else his age is called Darg or Smerg or Blaarg. Good, honest names that sound like you are have just swallowed something pointy or are sneezing into custard. Even his parents make him feel like a complete stranger. Especially his parents. Then he inherits something strange and frightening from his uncle. A Hairy Hand. It has the magical ability to find buried treasure which suits his parents (thieves by trade) down to the ground. However, instead of making his life better, it suddenly gets a lot more dangerous.
So, it is up to Sept to find out what else the Hand knows and put things right.
I enjoyed this humorous and moderately gruesome read which, I think, will appeal to its target audience.
Theres an amazing cast of ghastly characters, including Septs parents, Plog the Sneaker and Gertrude!
A fun and adventurous fantasy story of good versus bad, determination and resisting temptation.
The Characters and story line are varied and kept me guessing, laughing my way through the book at the antics and mishaps throughout, with a few cleverly woven in messages for those reading it.
If you are looking to introduce your children to Fantasy Adventure or yourselves or just as gift for someone then this truly would make someone very happy!
I highly recommend this fun book!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Monster Books and Robin Bennett for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.