Search
Search results
Kristy H (1252 KP) rated The Last Time I Lied in Books
Mar 6, 2019
Enjoyable, foreboding thriller
Fifteen years ago at Camp Nightingale, three of Emma's fellow campers disappeared, never to be found again. Ever since then, Emma has felt guilt about the incident and her actions that night. She idolized the three girls, especially beautiful Vivian, the leader of the pack, who bossed around Emma and the other two campers, Allison and Natalie. Since then, Emma--now a painter--has been painting huge canvases of landscapes, where she (secretly) paints the girls within each scene. She holds a successful show of her works, but now she's stuck, unable to paint anything else but "the girls," as she calls them. So when the owner of Camp Nightingale, Francesca Harris-White, turns up at Emma's show and tells her she's reopening the camp and she wants Emma to come back as an painting instructor, Emma agrees. Perhaps this will give her the closure she has always lacked and a chance to move on, to begin painting something else. But once back at the Camp--in the same cabin where her friends disappeared-Emma feels watched. Strange things begin happening and Emma starts to wonder more and more about what really happened fifteen years ago.
Well, this was just a fun thriller and a completely engaging read. I'm so glad I gave it a chance, as--unlike most of the reading population, I actually wasn't a huge fan of Sager's FINAL GIRLS and I wasn't entirely sure I was going to read this one. But it was definitely worth the read! This is a quick read and really enjoyable.
Sager populates the novel with a bunch of mysterious pieces that begin to add up across the story--clues, if you will--but you are left constantly wondering as you read. I personally was guessing up until the end, which I really liked. I am always a fan of a thriller that isn't utterly predictable. The novel is told from Emma's perspective, but flips between the present and the past (fifteen years ago, when the three girls went missing initially). This turns out to be an amazingly effective and compelling storytelling format: I read the entire book in about 24 hours and the first half in one setting. You can't quite pinpoint what draws you in, but you find yourself compulsively turning the pages.
Emma is a wonderful unreliable narrator. I enjoyed that she wasn't the requisite annoying unreliable narrator that we seem to see so often: she's tough, engaging, and just happens to be fairly untrustworthy at times to boot. Just when you start to get a bit frustrated and ready to truly know what Emma lied about, Sager spills the beans and the saga continues, with more crazy reveals.
The scene setting in this one is great; while I've never actually been to camp, Sager sets the stage so perfectly: you can just picture everything. The entire novel has this wonderful layer of creepy and mysterious on top of it all. So much of it seems foreboding, which adds to the suspense. And, as many have mentioned, there is a great twist to the ending, which I personally liked.
Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller. It's foreboding, quite readable, and features a main character who draws you in. Between not enjoying FINAL GIRLS and then seeing so much hype for this one, I was ready to be disappointed, but THE LAST TIME I LIED proved me wrong: it was a really engaging and suspenseful read. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
Well, this was just a fun thriller and a completely engaging read. I'm so glad I gave it a chance, as--unlike most of the reading population, I actually wasn't a huge fan of Sager's FINAL GIRLS and I wasn't entirely sure I was going to read this one. But it was definitely worth the read! This is a quick read and really enjoyable.
Sager populates the novel with a bunch of mysterious pieces that begin to add up across the story--clues, if you will--but you are left constantly wondering as you read. I personally was guessing up until the end, which I really liked. I am always a fan of a thriller that isn't utterly predictable. The novel is told from Emma's perspective, but flips between the present and the past (fifteen years ago, when the three girls went missing initially). This turns out to be an amazingly effective and compelling storytelling format: I read the entire book in about 24 hours and the first half in one setting. You can't quite pinpoint what draws you in, but you find yourself compulsively turning the pages.
Emma is a wonderful unreliable narrator. I enjoyed that she wasn't the requisite annoying unreliable narrator that we seem to see so often: she's tough, engaging, and just happens to be fairly untrustworthy at times to boot. Just when you start to get a bit frustrated and ready to truly know what Emma lied about, Sager spills the beans and the saga continues, with more crazy reveals.
The scene setting in this one is great; while I've never actually been to camp, Sager sets the stage so perfectly: you can just picture everything. The entire novel has this wonderful layer of creepy and mysterious on top of it all. So much of it seems foreboding, which adds to the suspense. And, as many have mentioned, there is a great twist to the ending, which I personally liked.
Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller. It's foreboding, quite readable, and features a main character who draws you in. Between not enjoying FINAL GIRLS and then seeing so much hype for this one, I was ready to be disappointed, but THE LAST TIME I LIED proved me wrong: it was a really engaging and suspenseful read. 4+ stars.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review (thank you!).
SummerLGrant (185 KP) rated The Limehouse Golem (2016) in Movies
Sep 10, 2017
Fantastic Victorian thriller
If you go in wanting to be blindsided about who did it then you're going to be disappointed, it's pretty obvious straight away who the Limehouse Golem is. Other than that this is a gripping film exploring the dregs of society in Victorian London as two cases come together for Scotland Yard's John Kildare (Bill Nighy) and George Flood (Daniel Mays). The story is constantly bubbling beneath the surface and as it rushes towards its conclusion the violence and gore gets more and more graphic, a lot of it doesn't add anything to the story but the dramatics of it does put the state of mind of the murderer into context.
Olivia Cooke, who plays Lizzie Cree a woman on trial for the murder of her husband, is fantastic in the role and has really put on display how good an actress she is.
Olivia Cooke, who plays Lizzie Cree a woman on trial for the murder of her husband, is fantastic in the role and has really put on display how good an actress she is.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Sometimes I Lie in Books
Feb 7, 2019
Better than expected
I was very much expecting this book to be your average by the book predictable thriller, and as it started out, that was exactly how it appeared to be going. However towards the final third, there were some twists I didn't see coming which made this a much better read.
The plot itself was intriguing and entertaining, and I think the whole story was very well written and worked well jumping between different periods in time. It was different to read a book from the point of view of a very unreliable narrator and a character who wasn't entirely likeable. It's not without its flaws - the final ending was a bit like overkill - but overall it was a surprisingly good and absorbing read. Makes a change for me to read something and not be able to predict the ending, which was very refreshing.
The plot itself was intriguing and entertaining, and I think the whole story was very well written and worked well jumping between different periods in time. It was different to read a book from the point of view of a very unreliable narrator and a character who wasn't entirely likeable. It's not without its flaws - the final ending was a bit like overkill - but overall it was a surprisingly good and absorbing read. Makes a change for me to read something and not be able to predict the ending, which was very refreshing.
Awix (3310 KP) rated BlacKkKlansman (2018) in Movies
Mar 12, 2019
Based-on-truth joint from Spike Lee is one part comedy, one part thriller, and one part consciousness-raising polemic. The first African-American to join the Colorado Springs PD has to deal with racism from his own colleagues even before he embarks upon the seemingly insane mission of infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan, assisted by his Jewish partner.
Not quite the absurd comedy the trailer suggests it will be, although anyone familiar with Lee's work could probably have guessed as much; the material dealing with the civil rights movement and the political realities of the time is seriously presented and clearly deeply felt. Still involving and entertaining stuff - the decision to dispense with a conventional ending in favour of a diatribe against those provoking the Charlottesville riots and their cheerleader in Washington may not be great storytelling, but it feels entirely understandable and appropriate.
Not quite the absurd comedy the trailer suggests it will be, although anyone familiar with Lee's work could probably have guessed as much; the material dealing with the civil rights movement and the political realities of the time is seriously presented and clearly deeply felt. Still involving and entertaining stuff - the decision to dispense with a conventional ending in favour of a diatribe against those provoking the Charlottesville riots and their cheerleader in Washington may not be great storytelling, but it feels entirely understandable and appropriate.
Awix (3310 KP) rated John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019) in Movies
May 15, 2019 (Updated May 16, 2019)
Astoundingly violent, wholly absurd thriller sequel. Short-fused hitman Wick (Reeves) goes on the run from the authorities of the underworld, demonstrating his mastery of gun-fu, knife-fu, horse-fu and library-book-fu along the way. The plot is almost entirely secondary to Reeves committing bloody slaughter on a mind-boggling scale.
Essentially a fantasy film in every way that matters, and the middle section flags noticeably, but once again it gets the tricky balance between taking itself too seriously and just being silly about right, although the film has a hard, sadistic edge that feels new. Helped by terrific action choreography and some outrageous overacting from most of the cast. The decision to keep the door flapping open for Chapter 4 may test the goodwill of some viewers, but this is another good bad movie, up to the standards of the last one.
Essentially a fantasy film in every way that matters, and the middle section flags noticeably, but once again it gets the tricky balance between taking itself too seriously and just being silly about right, although the film has a hard, sadistic edge that feels new. Helped by terrific action choreography and some outrageous overacting from most of the cast. The decision to keep the door flapping open for Chapter 4 may test the goodwill of some viewers, but this is another good bad movie, up to the standards of the last one.
Mothergamer (1568 KP) rated Counterpart - Season 1 in TV
Mar 5, 2018
Great Dramatic Science Fiction Thriller
I like J.K. Simmons so I was intrigued by this new show and decided to check it out. It is quite interesting in the fact that it tells you right away that there is a parallel Earth that is similar to ours and everyone has an other that looks just like them with the same name similar memories to a point, but certain paths in their lives diverge so there are slight differences between the prime person and their other. J.K. Simmons really shines in this playing the main characters Howard Silk and Other Howard Silk. There are differences in the parallel world compared to the prime world as well. The story is great with interesting characters, intense drama, and the cast is great as well. It always keeps you guessing and it's really well done.
Christi Saunders Fortson (1 KP) rated Morgan (2016) in Movies
Mar 5, 2018
Sometimes science goes a little too far
Morgan is a psychological thriller about a secret program to develop bio-engineered "humans" for use as thinking, problem solving weapons. When things go wrong, they go very wrong, and it's up to the risk management team to determine if the project should continue.
I enjoyed the movie, though I think a longer film would have allowed for more character development. Just as I was really getting drawn into the story, the movie was over. With so many psychological thrillers, the ending is spoiled by being a little too obvious. This movie definately kept me guessing til the very end.
The cast was excellent, they just needed more story to really flesh-out the characters.
Would definately recommend.
I enjoyed the movie, though I think a longer film would have allowed for more character development. Just as I was really getting drawn into the story, the movie was over. With so many psychological thrillers, the ending is spoiled by being a little too obvious. This movie definately kept me guessing til the very end.
The cast was excellent, they just needed more story to really flesh-out the characters.
Would definately recommend.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Murder by Decree (1979) in Movies
Feb 27, 2018 (Updated Feb 27, 2018)
Ah, nothing says 'fun' like a movie based on the activities of a brutal real-life misogynistic serial killer. Classy Sherlock Holmes pastiche is as much a vehicle to disseminate one particular Jack the Ripper theory as it is entertainment; fortunately it works very well as the later.
Not really a very good Sherlock Holmes movie - Holmes and Watson are clearly twenty years apart in age, weirdly, and Holmes' fearsome intellect is not much on display; his main method here seems to be to wander about until he stumbles over the solution to a mystery. But a distinguished cast and nice production values make up for the all-over-the-shop script, and the action at the end of the movie is well-staged. Hardly an ideal Holmes, but an entertaining mystery-thriller in a post-Hammer horror sort of style, issues of taste excepted.
Not really a very good Sherlock Holmes movie - Holmes and Watson are clearly twenty years apart in age, weirdly, and Holmes' fearsome intellect is not much on display; his main method here seems to be to wander about until he stumbles over the solution to a mystery. But a distinguished cast and nice production values make up for the all-over-the-shop script, and the action at the end of the movie is well-staged. Hardly an ideal Holmes, but an entertaining mystery-thriller in a post-Hammer horror sort of style, issues of taste excepted.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Casino Royale (2006) in Movies
Feb 21, 2018 (Updated Feb 21, 2018)
Urbane Legend XXI
Bold hard reboot of the Bond series that took it closer to the novels than it had been in generations. Newly-licensed 007 uncovers terrorist financier, beats him at cards, takes a terrible belting in the gentleman's department (emotionally and physically).
Very refreshing (at least at the time) for blowing the barnacles off Bond and going back to source, more or less; Daniel Craig seems to be the first replacement Bond not to on some level be constantly thinking about Sean Connery. Unusually tough and naturalistic, but with the expected (high quality) fights and chases grafted onto Fleming's story. Even at the time one wondered just where this new take on Bond could possibly go next (not terribly far, as it turned out: at least not while staying interesting), but on its own terms this is a thrilling reinvention and a great, credible thriller.
Very refreshing (at least at the time) for blowing the barnacles off Bond and going back to source, more or less; Daniel Craig seems to be the first replacement Bond not to on some level be constantly thinking about Sean Connery. Unusually tough and naturalistic, but with the expected (high quality) fights and chases grafted onto Fleming's story. Even at the time one wondered just where this new take on Bond could possibly go next (not terribly far, as it turned out: at least not while staying interesting), but on its own terms this is a thrilling reinvention and a great, credible thriller.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Get Out (2017) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018
Like "Black Mirror" does "Cocoon"
This film sees Chris visiting his girlfriend's parents for the first time, on what turns out to be their annual get-together with friends and neighbours. Chris is somewhat taken aback by everyone's positive, curious reaction to his African-American heritage and becomes increasingly unnerved by the odd behaviour of the family's black servants.
I have to admit, I saw the twist coming from very early on but this didn't ruin the journey for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the creepy atmosphere building throughout the film and Chris' increasingly awkward interactions with his few fellow people of colour at the party.
This is not a normal horror film, except for the final half hour, instead it is an intense psychological thriller with the added social awkwardness around people's inherent racism and need to talk/not talk about it.
An excellent film with a brilliant cast.
I have to admit, I saw the twist coming from very early on but this didn't ruin the journey for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the creepy atmosphere building throughout the film and Chris' increasingly awkward interactions with his few fellow people of colour at the party.
This is not a normal horror film, except for the final half hour, instead it is an intense psychological thriller with the added social awkwardness around people's inherent racism and need to talk/not talk about it.
An excellent film with a brilliant cast.