Search

Search only in certain items:

40x40

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Pretty Baby in Books

Feb 8, 2018  
PB
Pretty Baby
8
9.2 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Heidi lives a busy life, trying to keep up with a busy job in public service, her role as a mom to her distant 12-year-old daughter Zoe, and juggling marriage to her husband Chris, a corporate lawyer. One day on the way to work, Heidi spots a young teen holding a baby-- the two are waiting for the train in the pouring rain. Heidi is haunted by the image and when she spots them again, she reaches out and makes contact with the teen, Willow. Eventually, Heidi's life becomes embroiled with that of Willow's and the baby, Ruby.

This book certainly lives up to its psychological thriller billing. It's a page-turner, even as it gets slightly more bizarre as the plot thickens. It captivated my attention and has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. The plot is definitely a little "out there," and I'd probably rate it as 3.5 stars overall, but still a fun and intriguing read.
  
Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32)
Death of a Ghost (Hamish Macbeth, #32)
M.C. Beaton | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.5 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is good classic Hamish Macbeth. If you are a fan of the series already, then you won't be disappointed. If not, I think you could easily pick this one up and enjoy it as a stand-alone mystery without having read the previous books.

Called to the village of Drim to investigate claims of a "haunted" castle, Hamish and Charlie discover no ghosts, but they do find a dead body. Unfortunately it disappears before CDI Blair arrives on the scene. When the investigation points to local smugglers, the department is quick to wrap up the case. Hamish is not convinced, however, and puts his own life on the line to find the real killer.

Read more on <a href="https://booksthething.com/2017/02/03/review-death-of-a-ghost-by-m-c-beaton/">The Book's the Thing</a>.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.</i>
  
Halloween II (2009)
Halloween II (2009)
2009 | Horror
Haters gotta hate, but I liked it
After another successful "reboot", Rob Zombie tries his hand at a sequel to his version of Michael Myers.

Haunted by the death of his mother, Michael doesn't know what to do with himself other than continue his murderous rampage in pursuit of his sister, Laurie Strode.

Dr. Loomis has capitalized on his Michael encounters in penning a tell-all book which reveals all the "gory" details.

Yeah this movie is extremely violent at times and sometimes goes in various directions, but why all the negative reviews. IMDb has many, many of them. There are certainly lots of crappier horror movies out there. Maybe because expectations were high after the remake and this one went too far off the proven trail.

I was entertained mostly because I have watched all 10 Halloween movies over the last two weeks and this one I could honestly say I didn't know where it was going.

  
40x40

Awix (3310 KP) rated The Stone Tape in TV

Feb 22, 2020  
The Stone Tape
The Stone Tape
1972 | Fantasy, Horror
9
9.0 (3 Ratings)
TV Show Rating
Acclaimed ghost story for TV looks slightly dated now but is still likely to put the wind up the unwary. Scientists investigating a haunted house jump to one conclusion too many. Ghostwatch's only serious rival for the title of spookiest thing ever made on videotape, The Stone Tape is notable for the way in which it manages to combine a genuine science-fiction approach with proper supernatural horror: the characters think they've managed to come up with a testable rationale for residual hauntings, but their inability to fully work out how the 'stone tape' operates leads to a climax quite unlike anything else in TV horror. Interesting subtext about gender politics in the workplace, too.

It is nearly fifty years old, made using quite primitive TV technology, quite talky, etc, etc, all of which probably counts against it for modern audiences. But it is interesting to look back to a time when British TV networks made horror for the brain.
  
Let the Right One In (2008)
Let the Right One In (2008)
2008 | Drama, Horror, Romance
8.7 (10 Ratings)
Movie Favorite

“Very apt for now, because I think it’s just come out on DVD. I’m scared of horror films, and hardly ever see them, but I was just so haunted by the scene at the end at the swimming pool, about which I will say no more because my brain is still trying to work out what happened there. It just shows how, if you’ve got a really low budget, and a really serious intent, you can make people feel uncomfortable. It’s a weird, spooky, melancholy Swedish love story about vampires, which is a big subject at the moment, but it’s hard to imagine a better vampire film. So that would be my number one choice — delightful, strange and disjointing. “That will be the only horror movie on any list of mine. The first time I saw The Exorcist, I had to sleep with the lights on for about four years, so horror is not for me.”

Source
  
Pumpkin Pied
Pumpkin Pied
Karen MacInerney | 2015 | Mystery
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Halloween Hijinks
Natalie Barnes has a rare few days off at her bed and breakfast, her only guest being her college roommate Lucy Resnick. The timing is perfect since the annual Cranberry Island Harvest Festival is about to start. However, rumors are swirling that the area is haunted, and Natalie and Lucy witness a few weird things themselves. What is going on?

As a fan, it was fun to pop in to visit these characters in this October set short story. The plot was good and entertaining. It perfectly kept my attention for this short read. This is a short story that took me under an hour to read. Fans of the author will recognize Lucy as the star of her own series, and I enjoyed seeing her first appearance here as well as visiting the residents of Cranberry Island. Throw in a couple of delicious sounding pumpkin recipes, and you’ve got a festive winner.
  
The Conjuring (2013)
The Conjuring (2013)
2013 | Horror
I can't believe it took me 7 years to watch this film.
The story of Ed and Lorraine Warren who are demnologists that investigate supernatural and paranormal phenomena. In an opening we are also introduced to Annabelle (more of her to come) a possessed doll and how the Warren's dealt with her.
The film depicts the events from the Perron family haunting. A family who bought an old farm house only to find they may not be alone.
This is beautifully shot, the dark looks so good, cinematography is amazing as is the use of sound. From the score to the use of voices and creaks that populate the house the feeling of "something " been there is constant.
James Wan shows he is a master of his craft the film delivers on all the ghost story/haunted house/ possession vibe it's going for.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are very likeable leads as the Warren's

Who would think clapping is scary?
  
40x40

Alex Proyas recommended Psycho (1960) in Movies (curated)

 
Psycho (1960)
Psycho (1960)
1960 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller

"I’m actually going into my favorite filmmakers and trying to pick the best of their films. Because it’s really hard, it’s very very hard to pick your five best[-loved] films. And it would change; if you asked me next week, it would be different. Psycho because…the moment where — and it’s a film I saw on television; I can’t imagine how impactful it would have been to have seen it theatrically when it was first released, but even seeing it as a kid on TV — the moment where Hitchcock, about 30 minutes into the film, kills his leading lady, and you go, “We’re in the hands of a complete madman, and all bets are off at this stage,” was such a powerful thing for me. It’s kind of haunted me ever since, and again, you can only dream of making a film that has that level of impact to an audience."

Source
  
Winchester (2018)
Winchester (2018)
2018 | Mystery
4
6.4 (17 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Ensconced in her sprawling California mansion, eccentric firearm heiress Sarah Winchester believes she is haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle.



I find this house really interesting, it's on my list of things to do on a road trip of America. It's bizarre, and I love bizarre. Throw in Helen Mirren and I was going to be all over this film.

I did discover one thing from going to see this though... I really can't watch horror films in the cinema. I generally don't find them to be very good films, but that being said I do easily jump at things even if I know they're coming.

I love the idea behind it, and I thought the story was a good way of doing it, but the end result felt a little lacking to me. It does get some kudos for not being as predictable as some horror movies though.
  
Hell Fest (2018)
Hell Fest (2018)
2018 | Horror
As the movie starts we see a group of friends entering a haunted house at a fairground, they are split up from each other and one is killed by someone in a costume and hung with other bodies like an attraction, this sets the scene for the movie and got me interested straight away.
Next scene we see another group of friends talking about going to hell fest, yeah yeah we know where this is going to end right!? To be fair if hell fest was real, I would want to go too as its right up my street, you know with the murders and all!
Anyway I found the movie very good, you didn't always know if someone was about to be killed or if it was part of the festival which definitely kept you guessing throughout the movie.
The ending is not your typical Slasher movie ending and it did leave me wanting a sequel. Look out for a cameo from candy man's Tony Todd.