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Andy K (10821 KP) created a video about Chronicle (2012) in Movies
Nov 12, 2017 (Updated Nov 13, 2017)
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Witch of Lime Street: Séance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World in Books
Nov 22, 2020
This is a book involving the 'Witch of Lime Street', a 'medium', and notorious hoax-finding Houdini.
The spiritualist movement is an interesting one, that propelled many people to fame that had supposed psychic powers. Most of these were debunked, and Houdini was the main person doing this debunking. A notable believer in this movement was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which I find so completely interesting.
While this book mostly focuses on the woman referenced in the title, it does touch on other female psychics and mediums. There was some weird stuff that happened, and one situation seriously haunts me - ectoplasm being discharged from the vag (EWWWWWWWWWWW). Apparently these ladies hid a lot of things up there, and that's why they tended to be checked.
What is interesting about Houdini, is the fact that he was always trying to connect to the spirit world, and basically got pissed off when these fakes popped up, getting his hopes up. His doubting nature of the psychics, etc, mostly comes from a personal vendetta of being screwed over in the past by phonies.
Anyway, if you're interested in weird history, history of the spiritualist movement, and Houdini, it's a good read.
The spiritualist movement is an interesting one, that propelled many people to fame that had supposed psychic powers. Most of these were debunked, and Houdini was the main person doing this debunking. A notable believer in this movement was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which I find so completely interesting.
While this book mostly focuses on the woman referenced in the title, it does touch on other female psychics and mediums. There was some weird stuff that happened, and one situation seriously haunts me - ectoplasm being discharged from the vag (EWWWWWWWWWWW). Apparently these ladies hid a lot of things up there, and that's why they tended to be checked.
What is interesting about Houdini, is the fact that he was always trying to connect to the spirit world, and basically got pissed off when these fakes popped up, getting his hopes up. His doubting nature of the psychics, etc, mostly comes from a personal vendetta of being screwed over in the past by phonies.
Anyway, if you're interested in weird history, history of the spiritualist movement, and Houdini, it's a good read.
Kasi Lemmons recommended Don't Look Now (1973) in Movies (curated)
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2200 KP) rated Nine Lives and Alibis in Books
Oct 4, 2023
Murder Old and New Haunts This Halloween
This October, Daybreak Island is trying to put on a Halloween festival to extend tourist season, and Maddie James has been roped into helping with it. The main draw is going to be celebrity psychic Balfour, who was raised on the island but hasn't been back since he made it big. Some are hoping he can solve a pair of forty year old cases, but Maddie doesn't put much stock into psychics. Then a murder happens. Are there modern motives for the murder? Or do the past crimes have to do with the modern killing?
Those looking for a quick murder will be disappointed here. Yes, I did feel there were some pacing issues, but for the most part, I found the book did a good job of introducing suspects and motives before the murder happened. I did figure one thing out early, but the rest was still a surprise. I didn't appreciate the emphasis on psychics in the book, but the rest of the Halloween events in the book were fun, making it perfect for this time of year. (And yes, I do realize that issue is all mine.) Fans of the author's Full Moon Mysteries will enjoy seeing a couple of those characters show up here. As a series fan, I definitely enjoyed seeing the characters again, and want to see how some new beginnings impact the next book in the series. There's still time to add this book to your October reading list, and if you enjoy Halloween set cozies, you'll be glad you did.
Those looking for a quick murder will be disappointed here. Yes, I did feel there were some pacing issues, but for the most part, I found the book did a good job of introducing suspects and motives before the murder happened. I did figure one thing out early, but the rest was still a surprise. I didn't appreciate the emphasis on psychics in the book, but the rest of the Halloween events in the book were fun, making it perfect for this time of year. (And yes, I do realize that issue is all mine.) Fans of the author's Full Moon Mysteries will enjoy seeing a couple of those characters show up here. As a series fan, I definitely enjoyed seeing the characters again, and want to see how some new beginnings impact the next book in the series. There's still time to add this book to your October reading list, and if you enjoy Halloween set cozies, you'll be glad you did.
Cyn Armistead (14 KP) rated Kitty's House of Horrors (Kitty Norville, #7) in Books
Mar 1, 2018
At some point, while watching any episode of a TV show like Buffy or a scary movie, you know that you have spoken to the characters on the screen, despite the fact that they can't hear you. "Don't split up! That's when he'll get you!" or "NO! No sex! The ones who have sex DIE you idiots!" And you've wondered how it is NONE of the characters have ever SEEN a horror movie in their lives, right?
Well, Kitty and friends find themselves in the middle of a snuff film being made by people who hate were-beings/vampires/psychics/etc. Kitty, at least, is smarter than your average scream queen. What ensures isn't exactly hilarity, but this being a Kitty Norville book there are a few bright spots here and there (although far fewer than usual).
Well, Kitty and friends find themselves in the middle of a snuff film being made by people who hate were-beings/vampires/psychics/etc. Kitty, at least, is smarter than your average scream queen. What ensures isn't exactly hilarity, but this being a Kitty Norville book there are a few bright spots here and there (although far fewer than usual).
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Dark Tower (2017) in Movies
Feb 13, 2018
Should've Dreamed a Little Bigger
If brevity is the soul of wit, then at only 95 minutes The Dark Tower should have a few clever things to say for itself; not many of them seem to reach the screen, though. Very reminiscent of many other movies in which troubled young boys tumble into fantasy world which it proves to be their destiny to save.
Given it sets out to adapt a 4000+ page novel series with a devoted following, The Dark Tower was probably always on a hiding to nothing as a single movie aimed at a standalone audience. The disappointing thing is, really, that given it's about a vast multiversal setting filled with elementals and psychics and wizards and gunslingers and suchlike, it feels so timidly safe and familiar. The actual story is competently told, but at the end you really wonder what all the fuss was in aid of. Probably too weird for most newcomers and too short for fans of the books; good soundtrack, though.
Given it sets out to adapt a 4000+ page novel series with a devoted following, The Dark Tower was probably always on a hiding to nothing as a single movie aimed at a standalone audience. The disappointing thing is, really, that given it's about a vast multiversal setting filled with elementals and psychics and wizards and gunslingers and suchlike, it feels so timidly safe and familiar. The actual story is competently told, but at the end you really wonder what all the fuss was in aid of. Probably too weird for most newcomers and too short for fans of the books; good soundtrack, though.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Trollenberg Terror (1958) in Movies
Jun 22, 2019 (Updated Jun 22, 2019)
Independent sci-fi movie has the inevitable hokeyness of films of its period but shows flashes of intelligence, until the climax at least. Vaguely Lovecraftian alien creatures take up residence atop a Swiss mountain, rip the heads off passing mountaineers, turn other people into zombies to eliminate nosey psychics, and so on. Fearing the world supply of cuckoo clocks, cheese with holes in it, and multi-purpose knives may be in peril, a group of assorted boffins attempt to sort things out.
Well, at least it's original, if not always in the best of ways. Things proceed in a relatively effective way until the aliens decide to come down the mountain and attack in person, at which point they are revealed to be tentacled monocular blobs entirely beyond the budget of the film to convincingly realise. The same could be said of many alien invasion and monster movies of the 50s and 60s and this is neither the best nor the worst example of the genre from that period.
Well, at least it's original, if not always in the best of ways. Things proceed in a relatively effective way until the aliens decide to come down the mountain and attack in person, at which point they are revealed to be tentacled monocular blobs entirely beyond the budget of the film to convincingly realise. The same could be said of many alien invasion and monster movies of the 50s and 60s and this is neither the best nor the worst example of the genre from that period.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Supernatural - Season 2 in TV
Oct 7, 2019
Another great series
I have to admit that this is a second series that actually surpasses the original, and that's fairly unusual although I'm intrigued to see if it can hold out over the 14+ seasons there's been so far.
The one thing that does lack a little in this series is the spirits/demons themselves. They don't seem quite so inventive as the first series, however this is only because there is a much bigger wider plot going on with the psychics and yellow eyed demon. This makes it a lot more serious and darker, but that's not to say it doesn't have it's lighter moments. The episode with the Trickster is downright hilarious, and there are some wickedly funny one liners and interactions between the brothers. It is looking a bit dated now, unsurprising seen as it first aired over a decade ago, but it's still good and also has a killer soundtrack. My only other criticism is the beyond irritating opening credits and recap scenes that plague every single episode. I really hope they don't carry these on across every season...
The one thing that does lack a little in this series is the spirits/demons themselves. They don't seem quite so inventive as the first series, however this is only because there is a much bigger wider plot going on with the psychics and yellow eyed demon. This makes it a lot more serious and darker, but that's not to say it doesn't have it's lighter moments. The episode with the Trickster is downright hilarious, and there are some wickedly funny one liners and interactions between the brothers. It is looking a bit dated now, unsurprising seen as it first aired over a decade ago, but it's still good and also has a killer soundtrack. My only other criticism is the beyond irritating opening credits and recap scenes that plague every single episode. I really hope they don't carry these on across every season...
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated The Gift: The Story of an Ordinary Women's Extraordinary Power in Books
Sep 20, 2021
I picked this book up and instantly felt drawn to read the blurb. After that I had to read the prologue and from there I couldn’t put it down.
Mia’s paranormal and spiritual experience is amazing to read about, she doesn’t try to prove to anyone what she can do and to start with thought she was going crazy. You can tell it took her a lot of time to accept her gifts and went through a lot of hardships throughout her life which have knocked her confidence in both her life and her spirituality.
She writes with such clarity that I could feel the emotions of each of her life events as if I was there experiencing it along with her.
The one thing that I think will stay with me is when she spoke about souls and why people have a harder life than others, the answer? An older spirit who has been on earth a number of times has the ability to deal with the harder lessons of life.
This was a beautifully written memoir and something I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in spirituality and psychics.
Mia’s paranormal and spiritual experience is amazing to read about, she doesn’t try to prove to anyone what she can do and to start with thought she was going crazy. You can tell it took her a lot of time to accept her gifts and went through a lot of hardships throughout her life which have knocked her confidence in both her life and her spirituality.
She writes with such clarity that I could feel the emotions of each of her life events as if I was there experiencing it along with her.
The one thing that I think will stay with me is when she spoke about souls and why people have a harder life than others, the answer? An older spirit who has been on earth a number of times has the ability to deal with the harder lessons of life.
This was a beautifully written memoir and something I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in spirituality and psychics.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Doctor Sleep (2019) in Movies
Nov 1, 2019
What-time-d'you-call-this-then Shining sequel/follow-up doesn't have the magisterial formal brilliance of Kubrick, but scores consistently for solid storytelling and simple entertainment value. Many years on from the nastiness in the snow, Dan Torrance has tried to put his special faculties to good use, working in a hospice. However, a gifted young girl he has befriended becomes the target of a pack of inhuman killers who feed on the souls of psychics, and he finds himself compelled to intervene. Faced with a terrifying enemy, he finds he may have to make a reservation at a certain hotel.
The prospect of a two-and-a-half-hour sequel to a Kubrick movie, made by someone I hadn't really heard of gave me pause, to be honest, but Doctor Sleep rapidly develops into an engrossing and satisfying dark fantasy, with mostly good performances and impressive set piece sequences. Most impressive is the way it works hard to stand on its own merits, saving all the crowd-pleasing Shining references until late on, by which time it feels like it's earned them - almost. It's still probably self-indulgently overlong, and the climax likewise feels a bit overcooked, but this is still a cut above the majority of Stephen King movies.
The prospect of a two-and-a-half-hour sequel to a Kubrick movie, made by someone I hadn't really heard of gave me pause, to be honest, but Doctor Sleep rapidly develops into an engrossing and satisfying dark fantasy, with mostly good performances and impressive set piece sequences. Most impressive is the way it works hard to stand on its own merits, saving all the crowd-pleasing Shining references until late on, by which time it feels like it's earned them - almost. It's still probably self-indulgently overlong, and the climax likewise feels a bit overcooked, but this is still a cut above the majority of Stephen King movies.