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Pet Sematary (2019)
Pet Sematary (2019)
2019 | Horror
New take on the story John Lithgow Fairly paced (0 more)
Spoilers Spoilers Spoilers (I won't post here read review) (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
I'm 33 and I saw the original pet semetary when I was about 10 on some cable channel like nbc or abc. Back in the 90's, tv was heavily edited. Even then it scared the shit out of me!

The 2019 just didn't give me that same vibe. Yes, I'm older and don't scare as easy. But I also get creeped out pretty easily when a movie does something right. And this movie didn't do to much right to chill me to my core.

Now that's not to say this movie was bad or awful in anyway. The pacing was very good. The twist that they showed us in the trailers was great and added to the later plot device. And even having Gage running towards the road as the truck came barreling towards Ellie made me think they were about to lose two kids. Hell even Lithgow was pretty stellar in his role. But this movie just tried too hard to top the original.

The wife's back story about Zelda should have stopped after she told what had happened to Zelda. They drug it out by giving her some PTSD bullshit that I didn't feel really fit into the story.

The guy that gets hit by a car (victor) and warns Louis about the dangers that are about to unfold was rushed and not as fleshed out as the character in the 90's film. And I don't mean to compare this to that film because it is it's own thing, but they could have tried to humanize him a little more that just a device plot.

Ellie being self aware that she had died and turning evil because of it was fucking creepy. And Everytime this girl had screen time you felt like she was back from the dead and completely changed. The scene where Ellie terrorizes Jud was pretty close to the original but with some twists and I thought that made it more enjoyable. especially since these characters seemed to think situations out better than typical horror movies.

The last twist was fantastic and I'm not going to spoil it. I didn't care for the ending. I thought it was very bleak and bland. And really didn't lead to what was going to happen now as a whole, not just Gage potentially dying.

Overall I really enjoyed the movie for what it was, a fun popcorn horror flick.

Have you seen it? What did you think of the movie?
  
Antebellum (2020)
Antebellum (2020)
2020 | Thriller
Janelle Monáe stars as Eden who at the start of the new film “Antebellum” is brought back to a Southern Plantation against her will by Union Soldiers. The consequences of her escape attempt are brutally taken out against two others as the rest of the plantation looks on in submissive silence.

Weeks later more slaves arrive and are given the rules by the brutal Overseer who demands silence and utter obedience at all times.

The slaves are made to work the fields and serve the plantation including the women being assigned to whichever soldier desires them.

Their plight grabs you from the start in its brutality as they have no rights, live in fear daily, and are subject to whatever whims those in charge desire and they are required to obey and suffer in silence.

One night after the General falls asleep after having his way with her; Eden awakens to a different reality. One set in the modern day where she is a wife, mother, and very successful author and activist. The film follows her life in the modern world before springing the twist which makes doing an in-depth review difficult without spoiling things. While I was able to predict the twist coming; it was still effective and chilling in how it was carried out.

The film does get a bit lax in the final act as it relies on too many Hollywood clichés which while highly entertaining for me undermined the messages of the film and the situation.

Gerard Bush and Christopher Rend both wrote and directed the film and there are some powerful and highly gripping moments to the film but it grabs you from the start and is compelling and deeply disturbing.

The cast is very strong and the film is unforgettable. My biggest issue with the film was the final act as I alluded to prior. The film tries to tie things up a bit too neatly yet fails to adequately explain key aspects of the story. The audience is given some information and forced to fill in the gaps for themselves which in many ways makes the film even more disturbing.

In the time of deep division in our country it is very upsetting to see how little has changed for many who do not see equality and justice applied equally and still live day to day with fear and uncertainty.

“Antebellum” is the rare film that entertains, informs, and makes you think and will remain with you after the movie ends.

4 stars out of 5
  
    Road Not Taken

    Road Not Taken

    Games

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    "It looks like a cute fairy tale, but this is a turn-based game that's thorny with challenge and...

Good as Hell
Good as Hell
Clancy Nacht, Thursday Euclid | 2020 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
BLOODY LOVED THIS BOOK, so read the damn book, people!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.

At first, I wasn't sure I would like this! It's a bit random, what with flying mattresses and flocks of blue jays in New York, but I'm so bloody glad that I kept going, cos let me tell ya, this book sucked me in, good and proper!

I don't think I've read anything quite like, in a long ass time, and I LOVED this book.

I mean this book twists and turns all over the place. It drags you kicking and screaming along, and then dumps you unceremoniously on your behind, letting you catch up a bit. It throws things at you, and you have the think "what the actual chuffing eck" and then, pages down the line, it explains it all away, and you "chuffing eck" all over again! (I said say, I do believe I swore, profusely, a time or two reading this book, but some sites don't like you to, so chuffing eck will have to do! But it's not a strong enough swear word, you hear me?!?!?!)

And, just as you get over THAT little hissy fit, another comes along and you are reading faster and faster and the next thing, that MASTERPIECE of a plot twist is thrown at you and you just....sit....and...WOW.

I've filed it on my Masterpieces shelf, because of that twist. Cos I did so NOT see that coming, not in a million years!

It's very well told, from both Gem and Sebastian's point of view, in the third person. It's hot and steamy in places, but also sweet as sugar in others. A bit gory in places, but nothing too graffic. Lots of really random stuff that made for an amazing fun read!

I want to rant and rave about this book, but I've deleted most of this review cos of spoilers, and I want YOU to enjoy it as much as I did and I don't think you will, if you see spoilers. So, as much as I wanna rant and rave, you're gonna have to make do with a mini rant.

This is the first book I've read of either of these authors, and I hope it isn't the last, cos, you know, in case you missed it...

I BLOODY LOVED THIS BOOK! So read it, people, read the damn book!

5 full and shiny, totally unexpected, but very much desered, stars

**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
  
The Girl on the Train
The Girl on the Train
Paula Hawkins | 2016 | Mystery, Thriller
7
7.6 (173 Ratings)
Book Rating
Does a great job of creating a creepy atmosphere (1 more)
Gives us someone to root for without making them perfect
The ending felt really rushed (2 more)
Once again, I called the twist halfway through
None of the characters are really likeable
An Interesting Read
The Girl on the Train was a book I was really looking forward to reading. I, unfortunately, hadn't heard much about it until I saw the previews for the movie. It seemed like a solid thriller and picking up the book I can tell you that the first half is. Rachel is an unreliable narrator due to her "drunken blackouts." She's got an ex-husband who has a new, younger wife and a baby, a long suffering roommate, and the people she watches on the train every morning. I felt for Rachel when the wife of the young couple she watched every morning, in a not really creepy way, disappeared. Then every character plunged into completely unlikable territory. Even characters we're supposed to root for have such horrible attitudes and are downright jerks that it's hard to be on anyone's side. Don't get me wrong, I would definitely recommend this book for people to read, I would just warn them that they'll hate everyone by the time they're done.
  
I received a free copy of this short story from www.netgalley.com and the publisher, Randomhouse UK, Cornerstone and I wish to thank them for this.

I am only a little familiar with Temperance Brennan having read only one of the previous books - funnily enough, it's the one that's mentioned in this story - "the case of a body found in a barrel of asphalt at the Charlotte Motor Speedway" but it was a few years ago and I can't remember what it's called but I must have enjoyed it otherwise I wouldn't have remembered it!

Anyway, this short story will only take a couple of hours to read but it packs a lot in and not only is it entertaining but it's educational too - I learnt a lot about pythons! The descriptions of the setting made me feel that I was there - my hair even went frizzy! The characters, not only Temperance herself, but the "extras" were developed just enough to add to the overall interest and made me want to read more.

I enjoyed it. It was well written, had good pace and tension and a twist ... what more do you want from a story even one that is as short as this.

http://haziegaze.blogspot.co.uk/
  
Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)
Perfect Chemistry (Perfect Chemistry, #1)
Simone Elkeles | 2008 | Young Adult (YA)
4
8.1 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Welcome to Sap City!


This book is like Romeo and Juliet with a cute twist. in reality, if i really look at it from an author's perspective, it was pretty cute. the characters were developed instantly, and the sentinces drew me in. the prose was actually pretty good. aside from the sex, it was a good book.

yeah, it's got some sex in it. i mean, c'mon. it's about <i> chemistry </i> between the two most unlikely people. but whatever. it actually wasn't too bad.

though i could tell a lot about the author's morals. or lack therof.

the first paragraph in the book is: "Everyone knows I'm perfect. my life is perfect. my cloths are perfect. even my family is perfect. and although it's a complete lie, I've worked my butt off to keep up the appearance that I have it all." I mean, that pretty much develops a character instantly, doesn't it?

I'd have to go with these ratings:

storyline: 3/5
prose/sentences/grammar etc: 3.5-4ish/5
characters: 5/5

but again, sap city, people.
the weak points of this book:
the sex
the language
the sappy sappy sappy.

I realize this isn't my best review, but i'm trying to keep it honest here.

until next time,
~Haley

haleymathiot.blogspot.com
  
EF
Every Fifteen Minutes
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Dr. Eric Parrish is the chief of psychiatry at HGH. When he receives a patient consult from his friend Dr. Fortunado in the Emergency Department, he is eager to help. Dr. Parrish meets Max who he takes on as his private patient. He is determined to help Max with his OCD. When Max's grandmother dies, Dr. Parrish is worried for his safety. When a girl that Max is fond of ends up murdered, Dr. Parrish gets even more worried. Will Dr. Parrish be able to find out if Max is behind the murder or find the real killer before it is too late?

Lisa Scottoline had me on the edge of my seat again, literally, since I listened to this book on my way back and forth from work. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, a twist is thrown right at me. Twists and turns all over the place. I loved it. Lisa Scottoline is becoming one of my favorites, with her thrillers. I first read one of her books last year and quickly I have tried to read them all. This being my fourth of hers. I highly recommend her books to all who are looking for thrillers with great twists!