Foresight
Book
To Isabella, life is anything but carefree. She has a secret... Aged ten, Isabella and her twin...
Supernatural Thriller Suspense
House of Madness
6.0
Rate It
Book
Can You Ever Truly Put the Past Behind You? Tim and Adelaide Smithfield are haunted by memories...
horror supernatural thriller ghosts ghost story
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) in Movies
Feb 1, 2020
Stan the Awakening: A Struggle Between Good vs. Evil
5.5
Rate It
Book
Stan is the story of the fall and rise of a controversial artist. Stan Foster wakes up after a...
romance paranormal religion supernatural thriller
Mirrors (2008)
6.2
Rate It
Movie Watch
Kiefer Sutherland stars in this supernatural thriller as Ben Carson, an ex-cop who quit his job...
The Coronation
Book
It is 1761. Prussia is at war with Russia and Austria. As the Russian army occupies East Prus-sia,...
Historical Fantasy Supernatural Thriller
Whickering Place (Legacy of Darkness #2)
9.0
Rate It
Book Watch
A woman trapped by her own fears inherits a house haunted by a legacy of darkness and a history of...
supernatural vampires suspense
Dean (6927 KP) rated The Black Phone (2022) in Movies
Jun 23, 2022
Well it definitely exceeded expectations. Set in 1978 the whole look and feel of the film is great. It visually looks like it was made around that time with a strong retro vibe to it. Story wise it felt like a Stephen King adaptation. There is a strong element to the likes of Stand by me or even Stranger Things in terms of growing up and friendship while over coming a difficult time. Along with a supernatural twist and ideas from the genre, it has a great combination which together make it a really enjoyable watch. Check it out if you are a Stephen King fan especially.
DaveySmithy (107 KP) rated The Dead Zone (1983) in Movies
Dec 3, 2024
The story follows Johnny Smith (Walken), an ordinary schoolteacher whose life is upended when a car accident leaves him in a coma for five years. When he awakens, he discovers he has gained the ability to see people’s pasts and futures through physical contact—a gift that feels more like a curse. What begins as an attempt to understand and use this newfound power for good spirals into a dark moral dilemma when Johnny foresees a catastrophic future involving a rising politician, Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen).
Christopher Walken is the emotional core of the film, delivering one of his most human and vulnerable performances. He masterfully conveys Johnny’s pain, loneliness, and reluctant heroism, making his character deeply sympathetic. Walken’s portrayal grounds the supernatural elements of the story, ensuring they never feel far-fetched. Martin Sheen is equally compelling as the menacing and unhinged Stillson, a character whose ambition and ruthlessness are frighteningly plausible.
Cronenberg, known for his visceral body horror, takes a restrained approach here, focusing on mood and atmosphere over gore. This subtlety works to the film’s advantage, allowing the tension to simmer until its gripping climax. The muted color palette and moody score by Michael Kamen add to the sense of dread, perfectly capturing the eerie small-town setting.
However, The Dead Zone isn’t without its flaws. The pacing occasionally drags, and some of the supporting characters feel underdeveloped. Additionally, the episodic structure—though true to the novel—can make the narrative feel uneven.
Despite these minor issues, The Dead Zone is an intelligent and emotionally resonant thriller that explores heavy themes with nuance. It may not be as flashy as other Stephen King adaptations, but its quiet power and moral complexity make it a standout. A solid 8/10.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated The Whisper Man in Books
Aug 31, 2019 (Updated Aug 31, 2019)
In The Whisper Man, recently widowed Tom Kennedy moves to Featherbank for a fresh start. What he does not realize is the town has a dark history and, as the old saying goes, history always repeats itself. Twenty years ago, a serial killer abducted and killed people whom he lured out of their house by whispering at their windows at night. Kennedy quickly becomes too familiar with this because his son hears whispering at his window.
The Whisper Man is a dark, suspenseful thriller by Alex North. According to his bio, North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name. This is his first book published under Alex North. Betterreading.com sums up the mystery by saying "So, who is Alex North? Time will probably tell, but in the meantime, the biggest thriller of 2019 has been written by the Whisper Man himself."
The short chapters move the story at a fast pace. I had a hard time finding an appropriate place to stop reading because each chapter ended with me wanting more. There is a supernatural element but it is not the main focus.
I am looking forward to more by Alex North, whomever he is.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 8/30/19.