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Tales of the Lost
Book
Tales of the Lost is a book of short stories for adults, ranging from realms of fantasy to...
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Dracula (English) (1931) in Movies
Jul 6, 2020
It goes without saying that the importance of Dracula cannot be understated. Releasing in 1931, it was Universal Studios first steps into the horror genre, not long after 'talkies' became a thing, and surely paved the way for he mountain of horror titles that have come along since.
Bela Lugosi is Dracula, and though there have been fine portrayals of the titular vampire since, his performance lay the ground work for how a lot of media realise vampires to this day. He cuts a striking figure, he's suave and sinister, and the thick European accent is paramount to how he made Dracula a classic.
I first saw Dracula when I was a kid, and having watched it again recently, it's still a striking experience. While there may not be anything inherently frightening or scary by today's standards, the old black and white style, paired with long moments of uncomfortable silence (Director Tod Browning has exclusively worked on silent films before this), make for a suitably eerie atmosphere.
It's obviously a film that shows it age, but still hasn't lost any of it's charm. The version I watched recently was a Blu Ray restoration, and it's clear how lovingly that restoration has been implemented. Watching a film from the 30s look so crystal clear is something special.
Bela Lugosi is Dracula, and though there have been fine portrayals of the titular vampire since, his performance lay the ground work for how a lot of media realise vampires to this day. He cuts a striking figure, he's suave and sinister, and the thick European accent is paramount to how he made Dracula a classic.
I first saw Dracula when I was a kid, and having watched it again recently, it's still a striking experience. While there may not be anything inherently frightening or scary by today's standards, the old black and white style, paired with long moments of uncomfortable silence (Director Tod Browning has exclusively worked on silent films before this), make for a suitably eerie atmosphere.
It's obviously a film that shows it age, but still hasn't lost any of it's charm. The version I watched recently was a Blu Ray restoration, and it's clear how lovingly that restoration has been implemented. Watching a film from the 30s look so crystal clear is something special.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Exorcist in Opera House Manchester (Manchester, United Kingdom) in Shows
Jul 22, 2020
Brilliant set design
I went to watch The Exorcist at the Opera House in Manchester in October 2019. I've never been a huge fan of The Exorcist film, I think it's a tad overrated but I was intrigued to see how they'd bring a story like this to life on the stage. And they've put together a well produced and atmospheric show. The set design is brilliant and the effects are spot on, producing a chilly and at times scary show, which isn't something you'd usually expect in such a big theatre and a large audience. The show is that well produced that it's a shame it's rather let down by the acting. A lot of the acting seemed very over the top and exaggerated, and some was just plain poor. Which is a shame as there was a standout performance from Tristram Wymark as Burke who was downright hilarious and a welcome relief to the scarier aspects of the show. Also having Ian McKellen voice the demon is a work of genius. Hearing such a seasoned actor voice a horrible character is brilliant and the young girl miming him is impressively good, even if she does seem to overact at times.
Overall definitely worth seeing for the production if nothing else, and I would've marked a little higher had it not been for some of the acting!
Overall definitely worth seeing for the production if nothing else, and I would've marked a little higher had it not been for some of the acting!
Joe Elliott recommended Billion Dollar Babies by Alice Cooper in Music (curated)
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Boylan House in Books
Jun 5, 2021
81 of 250
Kindle
Boylan House
By Ron Ripley
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
For nearly three and a half centuries, the Boylan House has stood at the end of Meeting House Road. And something in that house has been killing boys for centuries.The town of Monson is a quaint and quiet New England town. Yet the house is terrifying and has been for as long as anyone can remember. Adults put the thing out of mind and ignore the fears of their children, admonishing them to stay away.Too many boys have vanished into the swamps behind the house. Bodies never recovered. Nothing ever recovered. The families are left with their memories and the disturbing thought that the Boylan House had something to do with it.Mason Philips knows better than that. He knows that there's something in the house. Something evil. Something hunting children from time to time. And Mason has decided that it's time for the killing to stop.
I am really enjoying reading this author at the minute I’m currently working my way through his Haunted series. This was very creepy and a good horror although reading it in the middle of the night in the dark added to the creepy. Very good author for those that love old fashioned scary.
Kindle
Boylan House
By Ron Ripley
Once read a review will be written via Smashbomb and link posted in comments
For nearly three and a half centuries, the Boylan House has stood at the end of Meeting House Road. And something in that house has been killing boys for centuries.The town of Monson is a quaint and quiet New England town. Yet the house is terrifying and has been for as long as anyone can remember. Adults put the thing out of mind and ignore the fears of their children, admonishing them to stay away.Too many boys have vanished into the swamps behind the house. Bodies never recovered. Nothing ever recovered. The families are left with their memories and the disturbing thought that the Boylan House had something to do with it.Mason Philips knows better than that. He knows that there's something in the house. Something evil. Something hunting children from time to time. And Mason has decided that it's time for the killing to stop.
I am really enjoying reading this author at the minute I’m currently working my way through his Haunted series. This was very creepy and a good horror although reading it in the middle of the night in the dark added to the creepy. Very good author for those that love old fashioned scary.
Kane Hodder recommended The Exorcist (1973) in Movies (curated)
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated You Are Not Alone (2014) in Movies
Sep 19, 2020
Something my friends and I would have rented from the video store in 2011 on a Friday night after school and loved - and much to my delight this is actually pretty good stuff. One half reasonably fun "day in the life" with a perfect rural small town feel and really likable characters, one half most easily avoidable horror movie situation ever with one creepy motherfucking killer played out at enticing length. Doesn't really get all it can get out of the first-person gimmick but it's done well overall, at times feels like you're watching yourself get stuck in this situation and there's nothing you can do about it - which of course I was fully on board for. Genuinely shocked how stellar the acting is, how many good songs are on the soundtrack, and how little the budget shows all for a Kickstarter film. Has a few damn scary moments but sometimes this can feel a little *too* calculated - a loud, cued score and over-obvious slowed motions where silence and more natural movements would succeed. But I can't complain too much, it looks great and doesn't mess around with any stupidly obvious whodunit twists or predictable jump scares or whatever - routinely wrings the fear out of something as simple as looking around a corner. The biggest reason this isn't rated any higher is because I desperately wanted more of it.
LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Annabelle (2014) in Movies
Oct 14, 2020
Shockingly not terrible. Don't get it twisted, the first 45 minutes still represent the worst of what horror movies can be (sewing machines are not fucking scary no matter how much royalty-free sounding, overloud music cues and ugly CGI blood you put around them) but after that it immediately wakes up and becomes something sort of half-serviceable. Its assets still have to work in service of another one of these shallow husks of horror franchise spin-offs complete with bottom-of-the-barrel acting from its two leads, sloppy editing, amateur-hour dialogue, and zero reason for existing. But that being said, this is actually a more interesting take on motherhood persevering through demonic possession than 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘫𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 - its characters are somewhat better and it introduces some intriguing threads about how religion presents itself in people's personal problems. Granted it doesn't do too much with them buy hey, they're there. Plus that entire elevator/staircase segment (barring the idiotic final jump) is effective as hell and Alfre Woodard is terrific. Kind of fun for a while, but not only am I still wondering why this needed to happen... but if it did, why was it pushed out in such a state? Though hey, at least it went with the R-rating which this easily could have skipped out on.
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated The Walking Dead - Season 9 in TV
Aug 12, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
After watching from the start I jumped ship from 'The Walking Dead' a few episodes into season 8 disillusioned and bored. The show had become a relentlessly pessimistic slog that had no idea where it was going with endless filler episodes and the increasingly tedious Negan storyline.
I had heard good things about season 9 and the good things new showrunner Angela Kang had done so decided to give it another shot and I am seriously glad I did as it turned out to be one of the best seasons and I binged it in a week.
The writing has a new sense of urgency (not to mention a touch of humour and optimism) and has been reinvigorated by the six year time jump and the departure of Rick Grimes. It seems they thought they had to up their game after losing their leading man and I have liked the new characters (particularly the older Judith) they've introduced and seeing a much bigger role for Darryl.
I was surprised to see Negan still around but he was actually put to good use with some interesting unexpected scenes.
This season also showed the show can still be scary and shocking ending in devastating fashion following a confrontation with the new big baddie the psychotic Alpha and her whisperer.
Here's hoping the resurrection continues for season 10 as I am starting that next!
I had heard good things about season 9 and the good things new showrunner Angela Kang had done so decided to give it another shot and I am seriously glad I did as it turned out to be one of the best seasons and I binged it in a week.
The writing has a new sense of urgency (not to mention a touch of humour and optimism) and has been reinvigorated by the six year time jump and the departure of Rick Grimes. It seems they thought they had to up their game after losing their leading man and I have liked the new characters (particularly the older Judith) they've introduced and seeing a much bigger role for Darryl.
I was surprised to see Negan still around but he was actually put to good use with some interesting unexpected scenes.
This season also showed the show can still be scary and shocking ending in devastating fashion following a confrontation with the new big baddie the psychotic Alpha and her whisperer.
Here's hoping the resurrection continues for season 10 as I am starting that next!
The Sacred Art of Stealing
Book
Let us prey … The press tend to talk about bank robberies as being daring, ingenious and...