tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56793515938581663082024-03-18T22:45:11.048-04:00Goth Mom (Lite)Half the parenting, all the spooky.Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-41268714668416157932024-02-20T15:07:00.003-05:002024-02-20T21:17:19.604-05:00Review: The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste<p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/176443819-the-haunting-of-velkwood" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Haunting of Velkwood" border="0" height="320" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1687106136l/176443819._SX98_.jpg" width="211" /></a></p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/176443819-the-haunting-of-velkwood">The Haunting of Velkwood</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8388449.Gwendolyn_Kiste">Gwendolyn Kiste</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6241790801">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br /><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">About the book:</span></i><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><br /></span></i></div><div><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">From Bram Stoker Award–winning author Gwendolyn Kiste comes a chilling novel about three childhood friends who miraculously survive the night everyone in their suburban neighborhood turned into ghosts—perfect for fans of Yellowjackets.</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">The Velkwood Vicinity was the topic of occult theorists, tabloid one-hour documentaries, and even some pseudo-scientific investigations as the block of homes disappeared behind a near-impenetrable veil that only three survivors could enter—and only one has in the past twenty years, until now.</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Talitha Velkwood has avoided anything to do with the tragedy that took her mother and eight-year-old sister, drifting from one job to another, never settling anywhere or with anyone, feeling as trapped by her past as if she was still there in the small town she so desperately wanted to escape from. When a new researcher tracks her down and offers to pay her to come back to enter the vicinity, Talitha claims she’s just doing it for the money. Of all the crackpot theories over the years, no one has discovered what happened the night Talitha, her estranged, former best friend Brett, and Grace, escaped their homes twenty years ago. Will she finally get the answers she’s been looking for all these years, or is this just another dead end?</span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><br /></span></i></div><div><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Award-winning author Gwendolyn Kiste has created a suburban ghost story about a small town that trapped three young women who must confront the past if they’re going to have a future.</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div>*<span> *<span> *</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>
I won an uncorrected Advance Reader Copy of this book from Saga Press, via Goodreads Giveaway--thanks so much! Here are my thoughts:<br /><br />I congratulate Kiste on conjuring a unique type of haunting--not a house, not a thing, but a whole dang neighborhood! And I don't know whether "Talitha" has ever been a common given name but I suspect that its appearance here, when it was famously used in the gospel passage in which Jesus brings a dead girl back to life and says, "Talitha koum," (“Little girl, I say to you, arise!”), is not coincidental. (Please note, however, that this is not a religious story.)<br /><br />From page one I was engrossed and creeped out. The build-up toward the protagonist's return to her abandoned phantom block was suitably worrisome and nerve-wracking. Her arrival there is heartbreaking and utterly chilling, as are the consequences of that and repeated visits. The mood is somber throughout which, coupled with how difficult things become for the protagonist the more time she spends in the shadowy realm, ratchets the tension up exponentially.<br /><br />I felt the pacing was somewhat sluggish in the second act. As well, I found the writing style a bit immature in places--I know this is an uncorrected copy but I think the author uses a certain kind of repetition for emphasis, or to snare the reader emotionally, and this not likely to be "corrected." (And maybe it's not something requiring correction but just something not to my taste--whatever the case, those moments took me out of the narrative.) I will say this, though: the climax of the story is so violently satisfying that I cried, and I honestly can't remember the last time a book affected me that way.<br /><br />"The Haunting of Velkwood" engaged me so strongly that I practically inhaled it over the course of four days, and I'm definitely interested in reading more by this author. Recommended for fans of the Channel Zero series (which, if it hadn't been cancelled, would've been an excellent adapter of this story.)</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Haunting of Velkwood</i> is due to come out on March 5, 2024.</div><div><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4811439-mina-lobo">View all my reviews</a>
</div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-33373220312665926382020-12-04T00:30:00.003-05:002020-12-04T00:33:37.213-05:00A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)*<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz8irT9u54gCEHmFDnrKyehAJm6n0d70rH11zXYzUR5Mzyhyphenhyphen3gr1DCEUm7qRLPBlkrEWGJXCUIR3Rqh64NFqQzzGMX2U-5urrcwTa6vnTr-ZJIoZCCCeK-ZK2AGFHxICH81lwarfJWWM/s500/CB+Christmas.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz8irT9u54gCEHmFDnrKyehAJm6n0d70rH11zXYzUR5Mzyhyphenhyphen3gr1DCEUm7qRLPBlkrEWGJXCUIR3Rqh64NFqQzzGMX2U-5urrcwTa6vnTr-ZJIoZCCCeK-ZK2AGFHxICH81lwarfJWWM/s320/CB+Christmas.jpg" /></a></div>One frigid December night, about three years ago, I exited the office I worked in at the time, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was waaaaay past quitting time, and I was wiped out and starving, and I just wanted to get my commute over with so I could get home and collapse with copious quantities of comfort foods, already. But across the way, something caught my eye. I went toward the colorful motion and about a long block later found myself in front of the <a href="https://abc.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ABC</a> building. The ground level lights were all off. In one glass wall was mounted a monitor and speakers so passersby could enjoy whatever ABC was currently airing--and in that moment, it was about ten minutes into <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Charlie_Brown_Christmas" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Charlie Brown Christmas</a>. For the next twenty minutes I stood outside in the freezing cold, smiling through the program and the memories of when I was a kid watching it on <a href="https://www.cbs.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CBS</a>. (OK, and maybe I sniffled a little during Linus' monologue near the end.) The only thing that could’ve made that night better would’ve been the right man’s hand holding mine as we shared those chilly twenty minutes...and maybe some spiked hot chocolate.<p></p><p>Well, there probably isn’t a “right man” for me, and ABC no longer holds the rights to the special, so it won't be airing on network TV this year. But I can make myself a spiked hot chocolate whenever I want (I've concocted a <i>fabulous</i> recipe), and <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/charlie-brown-specials-to-air-on-tv-after-all-in-pbs-deal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">you can click here to learn where you <i><b>can</b></i> tune into the magic of Christmas</a> (spoiler alert--<a href="https://www.pbs.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PBS</a> for the win!).</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/34POOFRtHHc" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">*<i>This is a slightly expanded crosspost from <a href="https://gothmomlite.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my tumblr blog</a>.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-2898486617437053342020-11-02T00:00:00.050-05:002020-11-02T02:25:09.453-05:00Spook Out! Day 31-ish ~ Stayin' Spooked<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiMeIftnIfQ-fOgBj_8JKPtz_b_koxlqauUTmrxlkyknUv1mnUYcDWcOLSbyxPejYzdAWfvyOTze3mWLG_Lh9wmJOb6ff2hDHZ_tOiV0iza21ir572KibYLdg0iIffYNpcOzduR14lGk/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiMeIftnIfQ-fOgBj_8JKPtz_b_koxlqauUTmrxlkyknUv1mnUYcDWcOLSbyxPejYzdAWfvyOTze3mWLG_Lh9wmJOb6ff2hDHZ_tOiV0iza21ir572KibYLdg0iIffYNpcOzduR14lGk/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Youse guys, I had a blasty-blast doing the blogfest this year--I hope you enjoyed exploring the new, the old, and the outright bizarre with me.<p></p><div>But I just hate saying goodbye to Spook Out! So long, have a nice year, maybe see you next October, if I survive till then. Wham, bam, spook off, ma'am. So callous, so cruel. Can't bear it. So here are a few other fun things that can help keep you feeling spooky after all the Halloween candy's gone...</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b>On the Netflix</b></span></div><div>I wasn't too impressed with Netflix's <i>movie</i> offerings, but they've got some great <i>series</i> for horror fans. In no particular order, I highly recommend:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/70241956" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/70241956" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWiWqXWz9V5YIpaPeABYqNfhyhBUN746QmINNKotg_JHKofNFmgSiS6VdeypgKcydwzcnEAPePbTWfvjo7x9-fY3QxnRSLI8u0S4BDHhhMIwZhrt9YFk2lsb_kA6maEnFu_K4TvXDe3w/s1440/01+-+hannibal.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUWiWqXWz9V5YIpaPeABYqNfhyhBUN746QmINNKotg_JHKofNFmgSiS6VdeypgKcydwzcnEAPePbTWfvjo7x9-fY3QxnRSLI8u0S4BDHhhMIwZhrt9YFk2lsb_kA6maEnFu_K4TvXDe3w/w133-h200/01+-+hannibal.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/70241956" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hannibal</a> (2013 - 2015) ~ <i>"This drama series focuses on the early years of the relationship between FBI criminal profiler Will Graham and homicidal cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter."</i> Among the prestigious of prestige TV, this 3 season series is a masterpiece and veritable feast for the eyes. But some images may prove disturbing to more sensitive types.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80997687" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80997687" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzfQGpcwgrgLAt3MG9RScHsZPGqmWfuOiPRVFhEqmmyWnWlyteFnvlJT-wMEK2CwukYRAQLZqpkh1Vmm-qNgZaaKv_3Mcqd0rKj_eWKkdQvAX0xJC_8GORI5fpbdUPMGamsFcGxs0OOA/s1200/02+-+Dracula.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="630" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzfQGpcwgrgLAt3MG9RScHsZPGqmWfuOiPRVFhEqmmyWnWlyteFnvlJT-wMEK2CwukYRAQLZqpkh1Vmm-qNgZaaKv_3Mcqd0rKj_eWKkdQvAX0xJC_8GORI5fpbdUPMGamsFcGxs0OOA/w105-h200/02+-+Dracula.jpg" width="105" /></a></div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80997687" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dracula</a> (2020) ~ <i>"An unconventional nun helps a tormented lawyer piece together the details of his doomed business trip to Count Dracula's castle." </i>Brought to you by the same twisted minds responsible for the Sherlock reboot, this is not your dad's Dracula. With three feature-length episodes, this cheeky adaptation goes in some interesting directions. It's been a while since I've watched it, though, so I'm not sure how gory it is...although, vamps, so there's likely to be a good amount of blood!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80238357" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80238357" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAIDPfyxJztZC2yneYIttEvPNi0LX5e7dWekiCrBbvvGpu0_DSnA3ME1cepA7SD0wW6CZoPOJElL_yHbRc5Kos3iLqrDIsx-LsuTH2aKSXiH_jj1xJu4EnoAbV816ZRJOIAPJznYUqpA/s1200/03+-+the+order.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="630" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAIDPfyxJztZC2yneYIttEvPNi0LX5e7dWekiCrBbvvGpu0_DSnA3ME1cepA7SD0wW6CZoPOJElL_yHbRc5Kos3iLqrDIsx-LsuTH2aKSXiH_jj1xJu4EnoAbV816ZRJOIAPJznYUqpA/w105-h200/03+-+the+order.jpg" width="105" /></a></div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80238357" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Order</a> (2019-2020) ~ <i>"Out to avenge his mother's death, a college student pledges a secret order and lands in a war between werewolves and practitioners of dark magic."</i> With rule-lovin' snarky witches and hard-drinkin' wiseass werewolves, two seasons of <i>The Order</i> make for a fun supernatural romp. Yes, I said romp!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80104983" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80104983" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pX9qK3auF5qkMEa2bIxj-ABts8xMmr195NridCFDoWWy_51OW27zId3Xx68JvZPUmaERcVlXOzrRtkFDvn7mJWxrri0x4Xujy8O0m5yuB8l59LyjPl7WqqtzY1o87n36ScMWBG2O2A4/s597/04+-+crazyhead.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="426" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pX9qK3auF5qkMEa2bIxj-ABts8xMmr195NridCFDoWWy_51OW27zId3Xx68JvZPUmaERcVlXOzrRtkFDvn7mJWxrri0x4Xujy8O0m5yuB8l59LyjPl7WqqtzY1o87n36ScMWBG2O2A4/w143-h200/04+-+crazyhead.jpg" width="143" /></a></div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80104983" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crazyhead</a> (2016) ~ <i>"Bowling alley worker Amy and nonconformist Raquel kick some serious demon butt while also facing their inner demons as they navigate their early 20s."</i> There is, alas, but one season of this horror comedy, but don't let that stop you from watching it! Girl powah!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b>On Hulu</b></span></div><div>The <a href="https://www.hulu.com/hub/huluween-nav" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Huluween</a> collection provides hours and hours of frightful fun, including my following faves:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-0b10c46a-12f0-4357-8a00-547057b49bac" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-0b10c46a-12f0-4357-8a00-547057b49bac" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN9RGG_xTM1y1S_rHXkcBv3g0mUdhYjZaw4i6Za0yBt7BsbHZMyjWmJ4uxbpQA9-iPsdsg8Ba1plpDitAfPEBGUBx_bRqh4klOj1_wGJLpOb8eDdNh92GDi7qYW-i01fK19GQ0J_Q0YI/s1440/05+-+wwdits.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRN9RGG_xTM1y1S_rHXkcBv3g0mUdhYjZaw4i6Za0yBt7BsbHZMyjWmJ4uxbpQA9-iPsdsg8Ba1plpDitAfPEBGUBx_bRqh4klOj1_wGJLpOb8eDdNh92GDi7qYW-i01fK19GQ0J_Q0YI/w133-h200/05+-+wwdits.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/what-we-do-in-the-shadows-0b10c46a-12f0-4357-8a00-547057b49bac?&cmp=12772&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BM_Search_FXonHulu_Google&utm_term=what%20we%20do%20in%20the%20shadows%20series&ds_rl=1263136&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvpecldXi7AIVFa_ICh28WQEOEAAYASAAEgK2DPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">What We Do in the Shadows</a> (2019-2020) ~ <i>"A look into the daily lives of four vampires who've been together for hundreds of years; after a visit from their dark lord and leader, they're reminded of their purpose in coming to New York City over a century ago."</i> These two seasons are a spinoff of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3416742/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the excellent mockumentary film of 2014</a> and funny af.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/zomboat-58f87b3e-dfa9-434d-a2da-668ad724ac03" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/zomboat-58f87b3e-dfa9-434d-a2da-668ad724ac03" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoR7RUr5csdRVwP7uJqeE-nCWT2GVy5P41inQMpLYQJfAUwYE38Q50Vgudrv9Tbmt2LmUbEgY0DyhhZ7CT-6S4TGu-ChUyL_FkumXP3essCs-dDbhL8P_i_hNrMqB1Rk5iniMI4keHOs/s267/06+-+zomboat.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="189" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoR7RUr5csdRVwP7uJqeE-nCWT2GVy5P41inQMpLYQJfAUwYE38Q50Vgudrv9Tbmt2LmUbEgY0DyhhZ7CT-6S4TGu-ChUyL_FkumXP3essCs-dDbhL8P_i_hNrMqB1Rk5iniMI4keHOs/w142-h200/06+-+zomboat.jpeg" width="142" /></a></div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/zomboat-58f87b3e-dfa9-434d-a2da-668ad724ac03" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zomboat!</a> (2019) ~ <i>"Sisters Kat and Jo realise there's a zombie apocalypse in Birmingham, but gamer Kat has a plan: zombies can't swim - water is the safest option, and narrowboats move just marginally faster than zombies."</i> It's utterly ridiculous and a ton of fun! As well, it stars one of the leads from the aforementioned Crazyhead, who seems to keep getting herself into these fixes...Whatevs--more girl powah!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/stan-against-evil-24aa5d27-ad89-4955-92bb-14a6f4729e6e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/stan-against-evil-24aa5d27-ad89-4955-92bb-14a6f4729e6e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQu7oGuIhft3AI-aErg9hljvIWWfbqjPd1o7kqgxGXxOiMy0fADu6_VD9aL35cjLEZPBqr5xTExRvgAoQK0hyphenhyphenj0V4q-sds_0j1LoGT7exRCHRyD21FiaGF8VlZfUXEjWBDggfPpSLQSg8/s1440/07+-+stan+against+evil.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQu7oGuIhft3AI-aErg9hljvIWWfbqjPd1o7kqgxGXxOiMy0fADu6_VD9aL35cjLEZPBqr5xTExRvgAoQK0hyphenhyphenj0V4q-sds_0j1LoGT7exRCHRyD21FiaGF8VlZfUXEjWBDggfPpSLQSg8/w133-h200/07+-+stan+against+evil.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/stan-against-evil-24aa5d27-ad89-4955-92bb-14a6f4729e6e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stan Against Evil</a> (2016-2018) ~ <i>"172 demons have been unleashed on the residents of Williard's Mill as payback for a massive witch-burning hundreds of years ago. Evie, the new sheriff in town, needs to work with the former sheriff, Stan Miller, who was forced to retire."</i> Starring the incomparable, irascible, and irrepressible <strike>Dr. Cox</strike> <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001525/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John C. McGinley</a>, you've got three seasons of wackadoodle demon-killing to dive into, so what're you waiting for, an engraved invitation???</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/bobs-burgers-fdeb1018-4472-442f-ba94-fb087cdea069" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/bobs-burgers-fdeb1018-4472-442f-ba94-fb087cdea069" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry0NeecNQ1nhYAFDgNqM-Y2hE8SJskxULgWdy68uEt0L5hpIXBZn7Fgaf-9VDJxjNvClke14zuGi39s-B-W9QOGsibbxMKytvecaextz3VUB1EodWtlOaFo6FdMDfMBmj6CmFX15Y68Y/s750/08+-+bob%2527s+burgers.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiry0NeecNQ1nhYAFDgNqM-Y2hE8SJskxULgWdy68uEt0L5hpIXBZn7Fgaf-9VDJxjNvClke14zuGi39s-B-W9QOGsibbxMKytvecaextz3VUB1EodWtlOaFo6FdMDfMBmj6CmFX15Y68Y/w133-h200/08+-+bob%2527s+burgers.gif" width="133" /></a></div><a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/bobs-burgers-fdeb1018-4472-442f-ba94-fb087cdea069" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bob's Burgers</a> ~ Given the year we've all had, sometimes you just want jump into your jim-jams, cuddle up with your pillows, and enjoy some very light-hearted scares. And this animated series has about eight Halloween specials for your pleasure (not including this year's, which has yet to air as of my writing this post):</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Full Bars (S3E2)</li><li>Fort Night (S4E2)</li><li>Tina And The Real Ghost (S5E2)</li><li>The Hauntening (S6E3)</li><li>Teen-A-Witch (S7E3)</li><li>The Wolf Of Wharf Street (S8E3)</li><li>Nightmare On Ocean Avenue Street (S9E4)</li><li>Pig Trouble In Little Tina (S10E4)</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>OK, I reckon that's enough to keep you entertained for now. If you've already seen any of these, or if you think there are some shows I might enjoy that aren't mentioned here, please let me know in the comments!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-58878693493097171242020-10-31T00:30:00.001-04:002020-10-31T00:30:04.045-04:00Spook Out! Day 31 ~ Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGhdvpufbetDByl7rksa-_CAa0ZV3V7RBHM3GyY2CGJlzJG9yixYLj-rbURzDJHqTMBGeZT3mBX0-LJZQRNivtxDnQQfgOF4w0LpCJOis6UmGpmpyZmnx6DIKmQ3DJ2P7lT-zX3FzyZo/s330/31+-+Zombieland_Double_Tap_teaser_poster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGhdvpufbetDByl7rksa-_CAa0ZV3V7RBHM3GyY2CGJlzJG9yixYLj-rbURzDJHqTMBGeZT3mBX0-LJZQRNivtxDnQQfgOF4w0LpCJOis6UmGpmpyZmnx6DIKmQ3DJ2P7lT-zX3FzyZo/s320/31+-+Zombieland_Double_Tap_teaser_poster.jpg" /></a></div>Amazon Says...</span><div><span><i>"Through comic mayhem from the White House to the heartland, four slayers face off against new kinds of evolved zombies and new human survivors."</i><br /></span>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>And how!!!!!<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Zombies, Horror Comedy, Post-Apocalyptic<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000437/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Woody Harrelson</a> as Tallahassee <i>(Gnarly Elvis Lover)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0251986/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jesse Eisenberg</a> as Columbus <i>(Puppy Dog Rule-Maker)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1297015/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emma Stone</a> as Wichita <i>(Bad-Note-Leaver)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1113550/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Abigail Breslin</a> as Little Rock <i>(Restless Teen)</i><br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...<br /></span><br /></div><div><b>***<span style="color: red;">S</span>O <span style="color: #b4a7d6;">F</span>R<span style="color: red;">I</span>G<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">G</span>I<span style="color: red;">N</span>G <span style="color: #b4a7d6;">M</span>U<span style="color: red;">C</span>H***</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the shoot-em-up opening credits, that really set the tone for the rest of the movie</li><li>the laughs, the gags, the bits, the throwaways, the visual jokes--man, this mfr was even funnier than <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m9EVP8X7N8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the first Z-land flick</a>, but also,</li><li>the zombie scares, which are played straight and, in some scenes, legit scary</li><li>the new zombie classifications</li><li>how relationships, both romantic and familial, are explored and developed</li><li>the doppelgängers! (so to speak)</li><li>the specTACular zombie battle in the third act, DANG!</li></ul></div><div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...<br /></span>The only "meh" for me is that I don't know if we're getting another movie in this franchise. PLEASE OH PLEASE LET THERE BE ANOTHER ONE!!!!!<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
HECK to the YEAH! Lah-lah-lah-LOVE THIS MOOOVEEEEEEE! For me, it's the perfect combination of action, romance, comedy, and horror, with exactly the right amount of violence and gore to give it some Halloween bite (pun intended!). Not sure if sensitives will mind the aforementioned violence and gore--IMO, it's not gratuitous (for the kind of movie this is) and while it has scary moments, they're not terrifying, just...pleasantly chilling. (That's a thing, right? Pleasantly chilling?) (Well, it is for me...)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>
I've gotta shout out <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3614913/?ref_=tt_cl_t5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zoey Deutch</a> (Madison), <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0206257/?ref_=tt_cl_t7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rosario Dawson</a> (Nevada), and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005561/?ref_=tt_cl_t8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Luke Wilson</a> (Albuquerque) for their work here--bravi, y'all!</li><li>Watch the end credits all the way through. Trust me on this.</li></ul></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zombieland_double_tap" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=68%, Audience Score=88%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zombieland-Double-Tap-Woody-Harrelson/dp/B07Z7T9J8F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zombieland: Double Tap on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560220/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombieland:_Double_Tap" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div>
<div>
<br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZlW9yhUKlkQ" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 31</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">(and indeed, the blogfest!)</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks to all who joined me</span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">on this year's journey,</span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">and please do come back next year...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-79586378466005105402020-10-30T00:00:00.188-04:002020-10-30T21:38:36.944-04:00Spook Out! Day 30 ~ The Wretched (2020)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP-oHcLmJozkMNshmI40WlZPYHoJkspP9P0_Phhw7ZxY9ErmiipXyKw1ytE2NK3SQ1T1nAOW7v7O0mLCtDk0-I6C0-v00bOx2a0kHErihfLI90bHNah-3m7Jp44arTpEiQW9MfWRDv3w/s268/30+-+the+wretched.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyP-oHcLmJozkMNshmI40WlZPYHoJkspP9P0_Phhw7ZxY9ErmiipXyKw1ytE2NK3SQ1T1nAOW7v7O0mLCtDk0-I6C0-v00bOx2a0kHErihfLI90bHNah-3m7Jp44arTpEiQW9MfWRDv3w/s0/30+-+the+wretched.jpg" /></a></div>Hulu Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"A rebellious teenage boy embarks on a gutsy crusade to stop the terrifying evil he suspects has possessed his neighbor in this bone-chilling occult thriller."</i></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>That's about right.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Supernatural Horror, Creature Feature<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2934406/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">John-Paul Howard</a> as Ben Shaw<i> (Troubled Teen)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4552582/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Piper Curda</a> as Mallory<i> (Sassy Teen)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1748600/?ref_=tt_cl_t5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zarah Mahler</a> as Abbie<i> (Neighbor From Hell)</i></div></div><div><br /></div><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>how the scares start coming from the <i>jump</i>, and <i>keep on coming</i></span></li><li><span>the artfully articulated Wretch in all her gory </span>glory</li><li><span>how some character-types who are traditionally left unharmed in other horror movies enjoy no special protections here (which is to say, I didn't enjoy what happened to them, but I was impressed by how the directors dared to break through established conventions)</span></li><li><span>that the dad of the piece eventually listened to his son, though Ben gave every indication of being a very unreliable narrator indeed</span></li><li><span>the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sixth_Sense" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sixth Sense</a>-like twist in the third act. Nicely done, youse guys--I suppose I should've seen it coming, but I totally didn't...</span></li></ul></span><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I'd have liked more intel/background on what, exactly, that Wretch-beastie is (she's referred to as a witch, but she strikes me as something different, something...<i>more</i>)</li><li>It's got some '80s brat-pack movie tropes (a hot girl who's kind of a bitch, rich guys who're dicks to the protagonist, an embarrassing moment in a swimming pool, etc.) which contrast weirdly with the heavier themes of the film and detract from its intensity </li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Yeah, it's got loads of great scares with gruesome effects for Halloween, takes some risks, and does some things I haven't seen horror movies dare to do, of late. <b><u>It's not for the faint of heart</u></b>. Trigger Warnings for: babies, kids, and animals in peril, lotsa violence, and did I mention the gore?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
<i>The Wretched</i> was released to VOD and drive-in theaters during the Covid 19 pandemic and has been <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2020/05/31/wretched-box-office-record-titanic-avatar-black-panther/#65626ac23a32" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"...the closest thing to a box office hit this summer."</a> Bravo, y'all!</div><div><br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wretched_2019" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=74%, Audience Score=45%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/the-wretched-7c4e9846-27b9-451c-8145-b193ec667086" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Wretched on Hulu</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8305806/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wretched_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div>
<div>
<br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/erLjdjq-37U" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 30 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-24618638712596463562020-10-29T00:00:00.268-04:002020-10-29T00:00:00.405-04:00Spook Out! Day 29 ~ Silver Bullet (1985)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KTtiBcxgHZH6qwKdrmnln8pNxdz7b52P1qDNpVrWSJh_jo2cUcjCW8vO2reqGV41KrS78P-udpT-Hx-XTfxBcUfpZPMwxX_Doec8ylnRt3ZlPEPTS1BjebZ6Nn04dPpmzfoObPAmjS0/s268/29+-+silver+bullet.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KTtiBcxgHZH6qwKdrmnln8pNxdz7b52P1qDNpVrWSJh_jo2cUcjCW8vO2reqGV41KrS78P-udpT-Hx-XTfxBcUfpZPMwxX_Doec8ylnRt3ZlPEPTS1BjebZ6Nn04dPpmzfoObPAmjS0/s0/29+-+silver+bullet.jpg" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"In a small town, brutal killings start to plague the close knit community. Marty Coslaw, a paraplegic boy, is convinced the murders are the doings of a werewolf."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>Yes. And he's not wrong!<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Werewolves<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000433/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Corey Haim</a> as Marty Coslaw<i> (Sweet Lil Bro)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001227/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Megan Follows</a> as Jane Coslaw<i> (Brave Big Sis)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000997/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gary Busey</a> as Uncle Red<i> (Best Uncle in the Friggin World)</i></div></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the work done by Haim (<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/04/corey.haim.autopsy/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RIP</a>), Follows, and Busey--all three were <b style="font-style: italic;">fabulous</b>, and also,</li><li>the relationships: Janie and Marty (which echoes Uncle Red and their mom's relationship), and Uncle Red's relationship to the kids--their chemistry was especially excellent, and I found them really believable as a close family</li><li>how Uncle Red encourages Marty to take risks and be as active and rascally as he can (the apple doesn't fall far from the uncle)</li><li>the hints as to the werewolf's true identity (and then how the identity is revealed) (and then someone's immediate reaction to that revelation--that face=priceless!)</li><li>the tense scene in the bar between a forming vigilante mob, the town's sheriff, and a grieving father</li><li>the practical effects of the werewolf's change--sure, they're a little cheesy but comparable, IMO, to the big change scene in the iconic <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfz9AhPnM8c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An American Werewolf in London</a> (I liked the <b><i>change</i></b> scenes but, as some others have noted, the "finished werewolf"--as it were--resembles a bear more than he does a wolf, alas.)</li><li>a crazy scene in which nearly the entire town wolfs out</li><li>that Janie, and later Uncle Red, takes logical steps to either prove or disprove Marty's claims</li><li>how this isn't really a horror comedy but does have some hilarious bits here and there</li></ul></span><div><div><br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Though the three leads are well written and acted, some of the victims are decidedly <b><i>not</i></b></li><li>How/why the werewolf attacks start isn't ever explained, which can work for something set in a big city, but not in a small town environment</li><li>Y'all got <i>only one silver bullet</i> made to defeat a werewolf? C'mon! Dudes, go to a thrift shop, get some silverware, have your smelter work on those, and fill up those chambers in that revolver! (Do I have to think of everything, here? Sheesh!)</li><li>The resolution of the main story problem is excellent, BUT the very ending voice-over bit is weirdly abrupt and anticlimactic...</li><li>The soundtrack is <i>le major suck</i>.</li></ul></span></div><div></div><div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>You bet! <i>Silver Bullet</i> is one of my fave horror movies, and a perfect little Halloween treat. The nostalgia factor's strong for me here--this scared the stuffin out of me when I was a kid and, tbh, the jump scares still get to me decades later, no matter how many times I see it (the werewolf breaks into two houses to get to his prey, wtf?!). The scares, coupled with some bloody violence and gore, ain't for the very sensitive, though they're probably not rough enough for fans of hardcore horror. But they're enough to chill me! 😎</div>
<div>
</div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>This movie's based on the Stephen King novella <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_of_the_Werewolf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cycle of the Werewolf</a> (which I look forward to reading!).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A- (though I admit to having a love for <i>Silver Bullet</i> that boosts the score up from a B+)</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stephen_kings_silver_bullet" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=45%, Audience Score=56%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B00BZC06QU/ref=atv_merch_mmoHuM_brws_1_23" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Silver Bullet on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090021/?ref_=tt_mv_close" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Bullet_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2d5LjAZqp1s" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 29 of</span></i></b></div></b><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-74493858815169967282020-10-28T00:00:00.153-04:002020-10-28T00:00:09.745-04:00Spook Out! Day 28 ~ Session 9 (2001)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7JMf0DcMpVO_p2SYbLt7BP6HLblT8c3HHJMsIN_t0X0wWN8RG2gkJqk5uSM7TIGgqQvLi7UR-D25-fOOScg0hHtAtvjEtyyP-AS4wBrOWh6bKqGLEYh_JjxYK9tD3JG-jIMCv3dPzBo/s362/28+-+Session_nine.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="253" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7JMf0DcMpVO_p2SYbLt7BP6HLblT8c3HHJMsIN_t0X0wWN8RG2gkJqk5uSM7TIGgqQvLi7UR-D25-fOOScg0hHtAtvjEtyyP-AS4wBrOWh6bKqGLEYh_JjxYK9tD3JG-jIMCv3dPzBo/s320/28+-+Session_nine.jpg" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"Tensions rise within an asbestos cleaning crew as they work in an abandoned mental hospital with a horrific past that seems to be coming back."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>Not just "seems"...<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Psychological Horror, Thriller<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0611932/?ref_=tt_cl_t5" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter Mullan</a> as Gordon Fleming <i>(The Boss)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000325/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Caruso</a> as Phil <i>(Second in Command)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0315342/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stephen Gevedon</a> as Mike <i>(Curious Cat)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the writing, acting, use of space, and lighting--excellent</li><li>that, even though it's a bit of a slow burn, it's engrossing and well-paced, and kept me eager/anxious for the big reveal</li><li>how it masterfully builds the dread, creepiness, and suspense factors</li><li>the intricacies of, and tensions within, the men's relationships with one another</li><li>that it's hard to know whom to trust/believe, and</li><li>that it's hard to know what's real</li><li>the nephew character, what a sweetie (I heart Oreos too, kid!)</li></ul></span><div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...<br /></span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>The motivating force behind...<i>things</i> is left somewhat ambiguous. I <i>hate</i> ambiguity, boo!</span></li><li>Though the creep factor was high, the scare factor was not. A few jumps would've seasoned the movie nicely.</li></ul></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Yes, it's a clever little thriller for the Halloween season! Sensitives will enjoy that the violence is more implied than shown (mostly) and that there's not much gore, really.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Session 9</i> was filmed on location at the former <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danvers_State_Hospital" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Danvers Lunatic Asylum</a> in Massachusetts.</li><li>Peter Mullan (Gordon) also co-stars in this wonderful Britcom called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mum_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mum</a> and plays just about the sweetest gruff guy you can imagine. The show's about loss, grief, picking up the pieces of your life, and finding love when you thought it impossible to love again. Oh, it's also about annoying relatives. It may not stream for free right now (I watched it on an Amazon channel to which I subscribe, BritBox) but <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mum-Season-1/dp/B07D19JN9F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">can be rented or purchased outright</a>--and it's so totally worth it! Highly recommend.</li></ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/session_9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=64%, Audience Score=63%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/60021401" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Session 9 on Netflix</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0261983/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4s-5eJq47bY" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 28 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-66123953512029328302020-10-27T00:00:00.003-04:002020-10-27T00:00:06.718-04:00Spook Out! Day 27 ~ A Serial Killer's Guide to Life (2019)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1BgbyiWxb2p5-ffJCJUJ0eBt2_CWLJjYGs80qH6X17qYmUozJC4m9nEG6aRUcXE2DYPR2cJsHt8ZNK1c21jBoYbhvfwxH3pJ2UT9xrfl-vQGIDWQLF5OdI4w_hd9fFxOEJ6jhK0rnhY/s600/26+-+skgtl.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1BgbyiWxb2p5-ffJCJUJ0eBt2_CWLJjYGs80qH6X17qYmUozJC4m9nEG6aRUcXE2DYPR2cJsHt8ZNK1c21jBoYbhvfwxH3pJ2UT9xrfl-vQGIDWQLF5OdI4w_hd9fFxOEJ6jhK0rnhY/s320/26+-+skgtl.jpg" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"A self-help addict unwittingly finds herself on a killing spree with her unhinged life coach."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>"Unhinged" or "Justifiably Put Out?" I can't quite decide...<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Serial Killers, Black Comedy<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5040782/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katie Brayben</a> as Lou Farnt <i>(Doormat)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1099719/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Poppy Roe</a> as Val Stone <i>(Stylish Killer)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2050075/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ben Lloyd-Hughes</a> as Chuck Knoah <i>(Smug Guru)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the contrasting color and wardrobe choices that revealed so much about Lou and Val's characters</li><li>how masterfully Roe (the striking, forbiddingly fashionable <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ffSkJcIt4A" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Siouxsie Sioux</a> of serial killers) and Brayben (the mousey, no presence wannabe self-help seeker) embody their roles</li><li>the dark, dry British wit</li><li>seeing the ironic rise of the meek, even if it was a bit murder-y</li><li>the great pacing with no waste, just one hour and twenty minutes of fine storytelling</li><li>that some of the ridiculous "self-help therapies" were good for a snort or two</li><li>how some characters repeated their self-help courses (bc they clearly didn't help, bc they're bunkum)</li></ul></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span>This one's spoilery, click/highlight the text between the double red colons to read <b><span style="color: red;">::</span> </b><span style="color: #1c1c1c;">One stop on the self-help tour was with a couple promoting self-realization through sound therapy. Lou and Val spent the night with them and learned that the wine they shared with the gurus had been doped with some sort of "herbal relaxer"--after which you see the screen go kind of fuzzy and the female of the pair dancing around with a dildo, the implication clearly that the couple intended to sexually violate their clients</span> </span><b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b></li><li><span>Something happens here that always gets up my nose: they've got non-Americans playing Americans but there's something off about the accent that utterly smashes one's suspension of disbelief. One of the most telling words is "anything." Someone with a "standard" US accent would pronounce it "EHN-<b><span style="color: red;">ee</span></b>-thing," whereas the "standard" British pronunciation treats the "y" differently: "EHN-<b><span style="color: red;">uh</span></b>-thing." One of the gurus falls into this error and it just took me right out of the movie, at a critical juncture. ("Standard" bc there're regional differences in both countries, obvs.)</span></li></ul></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Yes, but with managed expectations. It's not really a horror movie (Amazon's Showtime channel categorized it as such, which is how I came across it) and it's not really LOL comedy, more like a "I watched the entire thing with an amused smirk and snorted a bunch of times, but it was a little sick here and there" kinda flick. It's a worthy indie, for sure, and I am totally looking forward to more from <a href="https://www.forwardmotionpictures.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these cats</a>!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><span><ul><li>I feel there was a missed opportunity here, to have Val <i>actually</i> coach Lou on how to commit murder, asking her open-ended questions about how she felt she was growing through their spree, etc.. You know, play the "self-help for budding serial killers" thing straight, as it were.</li><li>This film was financed via a <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1603333709/self-help-a-serial-killers-guide-to-life-feature-f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kickstarter campaign</a>!</li></ul><br /></span></div></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A- as a tightly knit Black Comedy, score for horror N/A</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_serial_killers_guide_to_life" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=92%, Audience Score=58%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Serial-Killers-Guide-Life/dp/B083STP96D/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+serial+killers+guide+to+life&qid=1602348646&s=instant-video&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Serial Killer's Guide to Life on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7310440/?ref_=tt_mv_close" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><br /></div><div>There doesn't seem to be Wikipedia page for the movie, so I'll link some articles about it here (Beware, Thar Be Spoilers!):</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/how-we-made-a-serial-killers-guide-to-life/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How we made A Serial Killer’s Guide To Life</a></li><li><a href="https://www.rue-morgue.com/movie-review-a-serial-killers-guide-to-life-is-worth-following/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MOVIE REVIEW: “A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE” IS WORTH FOLLOWING (from Rue Morgue)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2020/01/movie-review-a-serial-killers-guide-to-life-2019/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Movie Review – A Serial Killer’s Guide to Life (2019) (from flickeringmyth.com)</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/395fp-nEkoU" width="560"></iframe></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 27 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-32939828701364478242020-10-26T00:00:00.299-04:002020-10-26T00:00:04.438-04:00Spook Out! Day 26 ~ Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvnTXO7gUxVjrb3K-ihBj8a4DbPBHkzYz8p3eZJpMk6Zda8W6gqBKl1GFPDjVGFQkV2iIrCCk6DC1EeC5Mi_M1eMs7HkcCthmiSgG2q4tTYAroffYuPQil6RTx0ruUGuBViDcwFPLQBI/s384/26+-+Only_Lovers_Left_Alive_English_film_poster.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvnTXO7gUxVjrb3K-ihBj8a4DbPBHkzYz8p3eZJpMk6Zda8W6gqBKl1GFPDjVGFQkV2iIrCCk6DC1EeC5Mi_M1eMs7HkcCthmiSgG2q4tTYAroffYuPQil6RTx0ruUGuBViDcwFPLQBI/s320/26+-+Only_Lovers_Left_Alive_English_film_poster.png" /></a></div>Rotten Tomatoes Says...<br /></span><i>"Artistic, sophisticated and centuries old, two vampire lovers...ponder their ultimate place in modern society."</i><br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>I mean, #same.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Vampires, Horror Comedy, Dark Fantasy<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842770/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tilda Swinton</a> as Eve <i>(Not </i><b>That</b><i> Eve)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1089991/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tom Hiddleston</a> as Adam <i>(</i><i>Not </i><b>That </b><i>Adam)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1985859/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mia Wasikowska</a> as Ava <i>(Enfant Terrible)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>some of the deeply profound thoughts expressed by the vamps, like suicidal Adam's poignant, "I needed a reflection, to see if it would echo back before..." Here, "reflection" is not the kind one seeks from a mirror, and the "before" implies his anticipated demise. Gave me chills, bc don't we all, on some level, seek to have something of ourselves reflected back from the world, to know we've made our mark, to know we'll be remembered?</li><li>Eve and Adam's relationship. They're so easy with one another, as folks who've known one another intimately for so long should be. They visibly cherish one another's company (the way they smoldered at one another when first reunited after a lengthy separation, W00F) and really appreciate the simple things they can do together, like play chess and dance in their living room. So lovely. 💜</li><li>Adam's relationship with his blood "dealer"--some fun moments in their interactions</li><li>how each vamp we meet has an innate, distinct skill</li><li>Adam's/Hiddleston's dreamy voice (though his hair's a fright)</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmBIzjN9th9fpR17vBVxAUnVypW-v1MCL" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the groovy soundtrack</a>, which featured one of my faves:</li></ul><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EZ627r9OZZM" width="560"></iframe></div></span><div><br />
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>For a horror comedy, it was light on both horror and comedy.</li><li>Plot? We don't need no stinking plot, bc...</li><li>...this film busies itself packing in allusion after allusion instead. That can be fun, but here I found it masturbatory and shallow (shallow, bc none of it advances the story, nor does it reveal character, as far as I could tell). I mean, I just don't reckon sophisticated vampires who've been married to one another for centuries need to name drop so much with one another. All the references come off, to me, like the droopy winks your soused uncle aims at you over the Thanksgiving turkey after he's told That Joke (yes, again).</li><li>All the unanswered questions (why were Eve and Adam living apart, anyway? What's with the glove wearing? Why do all the vamps have such bad hair???)</li></ul></span><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
It's a gorgeous mood piece with great music but as a horror movie, it's an anemic navel-gazer with no bite. (Puns fully intended.) Only at the very end, when Eve and Adam are desperate, do they frighten even a little bit. Those of sensitive dispositions are perfectly safe with this film. For a vampire love story with some actual scares, I'd recommend <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/let_the_right_one_in" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Let the Right One In</a> or <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/let_me_in" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Let Me In</a>. For a vampy love story with laughs, for my money you can't beat <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09ftYlFaWPw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Love at First Bite</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
This is another <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000464/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jim Jarmusch</a> movie, the second one I've ever seen. The first, <i><a href="https://www.minalobo.com/2020/10/spook-out-day-8-dead-dont-die-2019.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Dead Don't Die</a></i>, I reviewed earlier this month and I honestly can't understand how so many folks panned <i><b>it</b></i> but fawn all over <i>Only Lovers Left Alive</i>. Whatever, wank-boys'n'girls--up is down, day is night, vanilla is chocolate. You're all nuts. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlsiiWlt35s" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">N.V.T.S. nuts.</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B as an art piece & vampire love story/C as a horror comedy</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/only_lovers_left_alive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=85%, Audience Score=75%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>You can watch <i>Only Lovers Left Alive</i> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.9ca9f756-b336-1752-8165-9189ca82d9fe?autoplay=1&ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (among other places offering Starz)</div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714915/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Only_Lovers_Left_Alive" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ycOKvWrwYFo" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 26 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-18545962156497984012020-10-25T00:00:00.327-04:002020-10-25T00:00:00.144-04:00Spook Out! Day 25 ~ Nina Forever (2015)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgt8Hqg3pE4jgtSwQaYpP3OXk-VRlaSDVicr-qD1T7E835RIhfDfsXnQDENmPCHYhkdewe17c0sZlXO5S-3xvmXR8xpK1gHZ0kxia0-CULSVBsGGbJpA4UWMVe-WD6l48jVDrom2VfAM/s384/25+-+Nina_Forever.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgt8Hqg3pE4jgtSwQaYpP3OXk-VRlaSDVicr-qD1T7E835RIhfDfsXnQDENmPCHYhkdewe17c0sZlXO5S-3xvmXR8xpK1gHZ0kxia0-CULSVBsGGbJpA4UWMVe-WD6l48jVDrom2VfAM/s320/25+-+Nina_Forever.png" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"Suicidal Rob starts dating a colleague at the supermarket. But whenever they have sex, his dead girlfriend, Nina, pops up."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>And how!<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Supernatural Horror, Horror Comedy<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1152495/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cian Barry</a> as Rob <i>(Grieving Boyfriend)</i><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4092854/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Abigail Hardingham</a> as Holly <i>(Definitely Not Vanilla)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0642605/?ref_=tt_cl_t9" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fiona O'Shaughnessy</a> as Nina <i>(Definitely Not an "Ex")</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>how this movie doesn't content itself with simply pushing the envelope, but shreds that mfr to <i>bits</i></li><li>the dark, <b><i>dark</i></b> humor</li><li>how Nina, the titular revenant, is rendered here: she's corporeal but rotting, she can speak intelligently (and oh, so sarcastically) but has difficulty moving under her own steam, she leaves everything (and everyone) that comes into contact with her coated by blood and <i>ooze</i>, and her movements are often accompanied by squishy sounds (which 🤢 but also 😂)</li><li>how Rob stays in touch with Nina's parents (though perhaps more than was healthy for any of them)</li><li>how Holly completes her course and becomes a BAMF paramedic (much is made of how young she is by Nina and, later, Nina's parents, so I really appreciate that Holly is shown to be capable and brave in a professional capacity), and</li><li>that this BAMF paramedic scene has therapeutic value for Holly, as well as for the person she helps in it</li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The plot's a bit thin--the main action (when sex isn't happening), is Holly and Rob trying to figure out how to keep Nina from reappearing...and that's it. Perhaps that's enough but I wanted a little something more.</li><li>Throughout all of the sexy-times, Holly's breasts are shown quite often, whereas not once are we shown Rob's wang--not when they're having sex (Holly's body's in the way), not when they're interrupted having sex (the sheet covers him), not when he enters a room while he's naked (the camera grazes over the tip of his pubic hair for a second but quickly rises up to his torso), and not when Holly's <i>freaking bathing him</i>, ffs! Meanwhile, the directors--male-gazey mfrs--waste no opportunity to show us Holly's tits (when she's undressing for sex, when she's having sex, when she's getting up after sex, when she's dressing after sex, <i>ad nauseam</i>). Look, I get it--nudity often accompanies sex, and bodies are beautiful to gaze upon, sure. SO FREAKING SHOW US ROB'S DICK, THEN!!!!! *Ahem*</li><li>I'd like some clarity on that ending.</li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Um...<i>Well</i>...I liked the movie, got a lot of chuckles from it, and enjoyed the thinking material it provides regarding grief and how we manage the baggage we accrue from previous relationships. But it's not for everyone. You need a strong stomach to handle the fact that some of the sexy-sex is borderline necrophilia, kinda. Sorta. It's hard to classify. It's more gory than scary, although the ending horrifies in its own way. Trigger warning for: the aforementioned sorta-kinda-necrophilia, a suicide attempt (aftermath shown), and gore-galore.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
<i>Nina Forever</i> came to my attention years ago because of Fiona O'Shaughnessy, whom I'd seen in Brit series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.daad6cc1-2365-30ba-471b-237b4f31cf61?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_pvc_acorn&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_pvc_acorn-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Striking Out</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.16ae60a8-4449-945a-99fd-9e31e8e6c929?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_pvs_piv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_pvs_piv-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">My Mother and Other Strangers</a>. I loved her unique voice, which is a bit beefier, or guttural here (I guess that's the kind of thing one might expect of a reanimated corpse). It's been a while since I've seen these but, if memory serves, her roles on these shows were on the smaller side--but they're still great programs (and <i>My Mother...</i> is currently free for Prime members).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/nina_forever" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=94%, Audience Score=54%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>Watch <i>Nina Forever</i> on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nina-Forever-Abigail-Hardingham/dp/B01BD6AUYA/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Nina+Forever&qid=1603324047&s=instant-video&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (and/or <a href="https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/nina-forever/946177255b309883" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shudder</a>)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2885628/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Forever" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m_0BnS7oy_o" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 25 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-82278504858091403312020-10-24T00:00:00.231-04:002020-10-24T00:00:07.231-04:00Spook Out! Day 24 ~ Midsommar (2019)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPJrSbvpQ1N_ToE5kri63lNmr8YnavmPK9-Q341_M0Mo0apfBCtkaHmUjsENm8MrMG5gzb6Tgqi8YlKaQah3yq-y4kUe_ejTjk9RVGwiUI0zFeopKb3LGBArJ3enYZJBVo1vKw8ETnQE/s354/24+-+Midsommar_%25282019_film_poster%2529.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="239" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPJrSbvpQ1N_ToE5kri63lNmr8YnavmPK9-Q341_M0Mo0apfBCtkaHmUjsENm8MrMG5gzb6Tgqi8YlKaQah3yq-y4kUe_ejTjk9RVGwiUI0zFeopKb3LGBArJ3enYZJBVo1vKw8ETnQE/s320/24+-+Midsommar_%25282019_film_poster%2529.png" /></a></div>Amazon Says...<br /></span><i>"An American couple, their relationship foundering, travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival where they become trapped in a sinister nightmare."</i><br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>"Nightmare" is an apt descriptor, as there's a strong dreamlike quality to this film.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Folk Horror, Arthouse Horror<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6073955/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Florence Pugh</a> as Dani Ardor <i>(Grief-Stricken Gal)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2930503/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jack Reynor</a> as Christian Hughes <i>(Kind-of-a-Jerk)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9859585/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vilhelm Blomgren</a> as Pelle <i>(Strangely Alluring MFR)</i></div></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>a filming technique in which Christian's initially visible in a scene via his reflection (in a mirror, or in a turned-off TV monitor, for instance--there may've been more, but these two occurrences happened early-on in the film and caught my attention). In the two examples I give, he's having what you might call challenging conversations, and I think it's really interesting that the heart of his side of these moments are shown in his reflection, and not really him...or maybe it <i>is</i> really him...??? (Nice.)</li><li>that there are some great little jokes snuck in here and there</li><li>how the villagers express delight (they literally wave their hands in the air like they just don't care, sort of like "jazz hands")</li><li>Florence Pugh's work, which is just phenomenal. <i>Brava!</i></li><li>a really great moment (which, OK, has a dark edge to it, but bear with me) in which we're provided with <b><i>the best</i></b> yardstick for measuring a person's claims of love for you (this scene is sandwiched between some really messed up stuff, but SWOON)</li><li>the way Dani gets kissed after a momentous event in the third act (even though I know it's by a hugely problematic person, but DOUBLE SWOON)</li><li>that there was equal-opportunity nudity (we've got dongs, ladies and gents!)</li></ul></span><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...<br /></span>At two hours and twenty minutes, this film's a bit of an exercise in patience. On the one hand, I've sat through other longish films this Spook Out! season and complained about it--although I didn't feel the time passing quite so slowly in Midsommar, which is a testament to how the movie makes you care about Dani and what's going to happen to her. On the other hand, I do feel they could've trimmed down twenty or so minutes by eliminating repetitive scenes of trippy responses to drug use and stillness, and the like.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
I did like it but have to admit, it's hard to classify. It's quite disturbing, at times gruesome and sickening, and there's quite a bit of tension and worry for Dani but I think there was only one moment when I felt a chill, and it wasn't all that intense. So I'm not sure it's a proper "horror" movie, but at the same time feel that sensitive folks would be adversely affected by watching it. At the very least, I can say that if you were ever curious about this movie, I can't think of a better time to watch it than around Halloween! Trigger warnings for: a murder/suicide (aftermath shown), other suicides (shown as they occur), live human sacrifice (shown as it happens), cruelty to animals (aftermath shown in vivid color!), a possibly coerced (certainly drugged) ritualistic sex scene, gaslighting, and moments of gore that really pack a punch!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
The film's director, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4170048/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ari Aster</a>, has famously called <i>Midsommar</i> <a href="https://www.esquire.com/uk/latest-news/a28586904/midsommar-is-the-wizard-of-oz-for-perverts-ari-aster/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">"The Wizard of Oz for perverts."</a> (I mean...kinda!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/midsommar" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=83%, Audience Score=63%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07TCMZHFN/ref=atv_hm_hom_1_c_D4dtpS_4_8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Midsommar on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8772262/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsommar_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div>
<div>
<br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Vnghdsjmd0" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 24 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-71641985407123502692020-10-23T00:00:00.207-04:002020-10-23T00:00:04.471-04:00Spook Out! Day 23 ~ Lovecraft Country (HBO Series, One Season, 2020)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Sw_ldwtCEZVINzGPFUoJVbnpgNk8qnsfwlxfVRlIH0FLWXA2wuL_Zh35lNwh-I19NcHaVjY7RryKgBJp9PE2fU4xBMdzL8lNQ5zRuKhXxhNsqTcKx39eb884GNh2vqpvoVrhjxXEapI/s1440/23-+Lovecraft+Country.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Sw_ldwtCEZVINzGPFUoJVbnpgNk8qnsfwlxfVRlIH0FLWXA2wuL_Zh35lNwh-I19NcHaVjY7RryKgBJp9PE2fU4xBMdzL8lNQ5zRuKhXxhNsqTcKx39eb884GNh2vqpvoVrhjxXEapI/s320/23-+Lovecraft+Country.jpeg" /></a></div>Amazon Says...<br /></span><i>"A man's journey in search of his missing father becomes a struggle to survive racist terrors and terrifying monsters."</i><br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>And that's only the beginning...<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Supernatural Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3718007/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jonathan Majors</a> as Atticus Freeman <i>(Soldier)</i></div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0810619/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jurnee Smollett</a> as Letitia 'Leti' Lewis <i>(Fighter)</i><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0254712/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aunjanue Ellis</a> as Hippolyta Freeman <i>(Queen)</i></div><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>how I was completely engrossed, caught up, swept away, and wrung tf out by this <i><b>epic</b></i> tale</li><li>the strength, energy, imagination, fortitude, and just all-around BAMF-ness of all the women: Letitia-Fucking-Lewis, Hippolyta Freeman, Ruby Baptiste, Ji-Ah, Diana Freeman--WHOO! So much to admire and emulate in all of them...</li><li>the acting, across the board, amazing work by all</li><li>the intricate storylines and details--it's got a kind of "monster-of-the-week" feel, in that there are episodes that seem distinctly unrelated to one another, or the story arc, but then it all comes together and your mind is blown by the creativity of the writers (I mean, DANG!)</li><li>the way the fantastical elements are seamlessly woven into "the real world" of the story</li><li>how, in my mind, this story is fundamentally about the love of, and love for, family</li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...<br /></span>The most horrifying aspects of this are the violence dealt out in the name of white supremacy and racism. It's brutal, sickening. It's real. <b><i>And it's still happening--there's nothing more terrifying than this.</i></b></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
YES. It's a wonderful work of art, a fine drama, an engrossing tribute to those who've gone before and fought the hard fight, and a guiding light for all who still fight. Amplify black voices and show Hollywood that WE WANT TO HEAR THEM!</div><div><br /></div><div>NB: <i>Lovecraft Country</i> isn't a walk in the park, barefoot. There's a lot of suffering here. Some laughs, yes, and a few lighter moments, as well as some soaring triumphs. But there's savagery in it, make no mistake. Trigger warnings for: gore (and some of the most inventive gore I've ever seen in my life--hooo, boy!), extreme violence, rape (I hate to say that this was also inventive, given what it is, but it was...different in a way I'd never have expected), and children in peril.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
<i>Lovecraft Country</i> is based on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovecraft_Country_(novel)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the book by the same title</a>, written by Matt Ruff (and which <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lovecraft-Country-Novel-Matt-Ruff/dp/0062292072" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I have just ordered</a>).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/lovecraft_country/s01" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=87%, Audience Score=71%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.24b8e91b-f2e5-a615-26a4-24d57cbdae1c?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_pvc_hbo&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_pvc_hbo-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lovecraft Country on Amazon's HBO channel</a></div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6905686/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovecraft_Country_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEvK1Zwi9XY" width="560"></iframe></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 23 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-72069470929282348052020-10-22T00:00:00.217-04:002020-10-22T10:40:06.903-04:00Spook Out! Day 22 ~ The Lodge (2019)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlSrXaZRWsRrLYAk-jfPWwkAYynsrc6G8nBMqcTJYqGckVn6_r-Z6cgCZK_effgP108BAKZxJIyHqdOsab1joHlijH1MxBDgMlcZbEfomCglP9AH0Pm_08CGWIB2CSs7XO9h0Bkro0dc/s326/22+-+The_Lodge_poster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlSrXaZRWsRrLYAk-jfPWwkAYynsrc6G8nBMqcTJYqGckVn6_r-Z6cgCZK_effgP108BAKZxJIyHqdOsab1joHlijH1MxBDgMlcZbEfomCglP9AH0Pm_08CGWIB2CSs7XO9h0Bkro0dc/s320/22+-+The_Lodge_poster.jpg" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span><i>"A soon-to-be stepmom is snowed in with her fiancé's two children at a remote holiday village. Just as relations begin to thaw between the trio, some strange and frightening events take place."</i><br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>"Village" implies there are other folks nearby--there aren't. And as far as I could tell, relations never really thawed or perhaps things might've gone a bit differently...<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Psychological Horror, Thriller<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2142336/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Riley Keough</a> as Grace <i>(Childhood Trauma Survivor)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5897057/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jaeden Martell</a> as Aiden Hall <i>(Tech-Savvy Big Bro)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7186321/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lia McHugh</a> as Mia Hall <i>(Sweet Lil Sis)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the acting, which was <b><i>phenomenal</i></b>--really excellent work done by all (including <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000224/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alicia Silverstone</a> in an all-too-brief cameo)</li><li>how the tension's at an "11" from the jump and doesn't let up and,</li><li>that, though this is a slow-burn, I was engrossed straight away and throughout</li><li>the atmospheric setting of the titular lodge</li></ul></span><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The dad is a self-absorbed, unethical, thoughtless, irresponsible, selfish prick, and a disgrace to fatherhood. His fate was too good for him. <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0035514/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Richard Armitage</a> did such a great job in this role that he's almost put me off him completely.</li><li>At one point we see Grace emerge from the shower, and she wraps a towel around her waist but leaves her breasts exposed. Gratuitous much? There was absolutely no need for that kind of exploitive bs.</li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>I've lost count of how many podcasts I've had to listen to in order to process the ick <i>The Lodge</i> dredged up. This movie is bleak, y'all. Buh-LEAK. Abandon all hope if you choose to watch it, or prepare to be robbed of it. I found this film utterly unnerving; my shoulders were constantly up around my ears and arriving at the end did not lower them. I was left with a sick feeling in my gut that's not yet dissipated fully.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is an excellent movie. It's a study of PTSD, the need for present parents who are active in their children's lives, and a dire warning of what happens when people aren't given access to the care they require. As a horror movie, it ably did its job without any of the trappings expected of the genre--and yet here I am, thoroughly horrified by it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Horror fans into jump scares and gore may find this a bit toothless. The faint-of-heart should exercise extreme caution in approaching it. Trigger warnings for: a suicide (shown as it happens), footage of mass suicide victims (after the fact), children in peril, an animal death (after the fact), cults, and gaslighting.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
Riley Keough (Grace) is the daughter of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_Marie_Presley" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lisa Marie Presley</a>, and the eldest granddaughter of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elvis</a>. Like her ma and grandpa, Keough is not only attractive but has a lovely singing voice (which she displays in the movie, to chilling effect).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A-</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_lodge" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=74%, Audience Score=51%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/the-lodge-049fb7d0-c41c-46ef-8b5c-ccecdc2c1357" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Lodge on Hulu</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7347846/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lodge_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XYUI97qAa_k" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 22 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-23353516597993822962020-10-21T00:00:00.156-04:002020-10-21T00:00:00.379-04:00Spook Out! Day 21 ~ Lights Out (2016)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxLthYZAMAPZ505v_G0a0wvRmM02seHUXemJO1Eqn51bEkbh42yrUavblljeP5PGUi7gxjQzLbfrsRp0AdeLR9GU26zD68QGXoCByTwJ-LemXv1i_tPsrYrtosoCNrHN4Nf9MPhEFm-k/s326/21+-+Lights_Out_2016_poster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsxLthYZAMAPZ505v_G0a0wvRmM02seHUXemJO1Eqn51bEkbh42yrUavblljeP5PGUi7gxjQzLbfrsRp0AdeLR9GU26zD68QGXoCByTwJ-LemXv1i_tPsrYrtosoCNrHN4Nf9MPhEFm-k/s320/21+-+Lights_Out_2016_poster.jpg" /></a></div>Amazon Says...<br /></span><i>"A young woman and her step-brother are terrorized by a malevolent spirit that only appears when the lights go out."<br /></i>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>Perfect summary.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Supernatural Horror<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1954240/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Teresa Palmer</a> as Rebecca, aka Becca <i>(Super Big Sis)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5145655/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gabriel Bateman</a> as Martin <i>(Brave Lil Bro)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2856658/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alexander DiPersia</a> as Bret <i>(Loyal Wanna-be-Boyfriend)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>that the "rules" regarding the creature are quickly established, and they're pretty simple (though we later learn of a big one that's a real doozy)</li><li>the relationship btw Becca and Bret; it doesn't overwhelm the story but provides a lovely little subplot of sweetness. I also enjoyed that it was the gal in the dynamic who was the commitment-phobe, for a change</li><li>that gorgeous freaking house! Me want-y!</li><li>that it was a brisk, well-paced one hour and twenty-odd minutes of steadily and evenly unraveling yarn</li><li>the unique (IMO) "monster" idea</li></ul></span><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The prejudice shown against someone into a rock'n'roll-kinda lifestyle got up my nose. Really, someone's irresponsible bc she's got heavy metal rock posters on her wall? Give me a freaking break...</li><li>Spoilers and Trigger Warning for suicide ahead; click and highlight between the red colons to read <b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b> <span style="color: #1c1c1c;">A mentally ill character winds up completing suicide as a method of eliminating the creature plaguing them all. This development fills me with all sorts of squick and I wish they'd stuck with the plan of trying to get the character back on the prescribed medication that wasn't being taken. On the other hand, it is a true-to-life development, in some cases, and can serve as a reminder for us to keep checking in on loved ones and friends, to make sure they're caring for themselves appropriately.</span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"> </span><b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b></li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Sure! It's (mostly) a fun little nightmare for your Halloween season, with low-level scares throughout and a handful of big jumps strategically placed. I doubt it goes hard enough for hardcore horror fans, though it might be a bit much for the super sensitive.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>
This feature's an expanded version of a short film by director <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2497546/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David F. Sandberg</a>. The short stars Sandberg's wife, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5519415/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lk4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lotta Losten</a>, who also has a cameo in the opening scenes of the feature film (I love that she was in it, using some of what she did in the short also in the feature). I have to admit that I find the short, which I first watched some years ago, utterly terrifying (in a way that the feature film isn't, for me). Never thought something under 3 minutes in length could have such a big bite, but that bad boy legit made me lose a night of sleep. I've embedded the short at the very end of this post but urge the sensitive to exercise caution--at the very least, don't watch it around bedtime!</li><li>I freely admit that, for years, I have slept with a dimmable lamp on its lowest setting, and I don't care who knows it. 😎</li></ul></div><div><br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lights_out_2016" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=76%, Audience Score=61%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B01IUN3MQC/ref=atv_3p_hbo_c_VBo2mI_brws_3_10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lights Out on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786282/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lights_Out_(2016_film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6LiKKFZyhRU" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 21 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's the short film upon which the feature film is based.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">PLEASE DO NOT WATCH IF YOU'RE SENSITIVE TO SCARY STUFF!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>(Yea, verily, for I am <b>not kidding</b>!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-fDzdDfviLI" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-23387470318034923472020-10-20T00:00:00.280-04:002020-10-20T00:00:00.877-04:00Spook Out! Day 20 ~ Light as a Feather (Hulu Series, Two Seasons, 2018 - 2019)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_MCZOzBVL5vxDmR9jP_t3qnEksmn7_AnpkSNUBsbj4Ty8KscEuyXBSc9kyD6yamp47kZZDVXOIoxsTccBNEr-htkmmgS7i0SMvXAiWO5zAVH70F9R_jLT5GznC2cXf-O63t2fr_CFvY/s810/20+-+light+as+a+feather.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_MCZOzBVL5vxDmR9jP_t3qnEksmn7_AnpkSNUBsbj4Ty8KscEuyXBSc9kyD6yamp47kZZDVXOIoxsTccBNEr-htkmmgS7i0SMvXAiWO5zAVH70F9R_jLT5GznC2cXf-O63t2fr_CFvY/s320/20+-+light+as+a+feather.jpeg" /></a></div>Hulu Says...<br /></span><i>"An innocent game of “Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board” goes wrong when the five teen girls who played start dying off in the exact way that was predicted, forcing the survivors to figure out why they’re being targeted - and whether the evil force hunting them down is one of their own."<br /></i>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>That's about the size of it.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Teen-Horror-Drama, Supernatural, Body Horror, Thriller<div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1882929/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Liana Liberato</a> as McKenna Brady (21st C. Nancy Drew-Type)<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1391252/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Haley Ramm</a> as Violet Simmons (Shy New-Girl You Love to Hate)</div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2769343/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Brianne Tju</a> as Alex Portnoy (True-Blue BFF Who Shoots First & Asks Questions Later)<br />
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the strong female characters--good, bad, and whoo-boy-hella-bad--who drove the plot along by taking action every step of the way (even when they made bad choices, they were still actively choosing, which I really enjoyed)</li><li>that the male characters were sensitive and supportive of the gals while still being active players</li><li>the series' creativity and imagination--it went places I wouldn't have thought to go in a million years</li><li>that good and evil were in a battle, yes, but were presented as nuanced and not so easy to pigeon-hole</li><li>that each episode spanked along at a brisk 22-25 minutes, delivering a tightly-plotted tale that kept me hungry for more</li><li>that the horror was played for genuine scares and the show didn't degrade into smarmy camp like some TV-horror shows do</li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>as a parent it does make me roll my eyes at how most adults in the series are either pretty useless or just not around (but, to be fair, it <b><i>is</i></b> written for teens, which I knew going into it, and the adults have to be lame so that the kids can be active protagonists, I geddit, I geddit)</li><li>some episodes were a little <i>too</i> brisk in the first season and would've benefitted from a slightly longer format (or maybe just more episodes, as we get in season 2)</li><li>now and again, there's some lazy writing. For instance, in one episode, the old "you have to wait 48 hours to report a missing person" nonsense reared its ugly head--<a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-report-a-missing-person-1827291793#:~:text=You%20Don't%20Have%20to,office%20in%20the%20real%20world." rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this simply isn't true</a> and I really wish writers would stop trotting out this irresponsible twaddle. Please, if you seriously suspect someone's missing, <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-to-report-a-missing-person-1827291793" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY</a>!</li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>Totes! I found <b><i>Light as a Feather</i></b> a unique, engaging horror series, in the vein of Stephen King's It or Netflix's Stranger Things, only these kids are old enough to drive cars, instead of having to ride bikes. As <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/2018/10/light-as-a-feather-review-hulu-horror-ending-spoilers-peyton-list-1202011788/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this excellent IndieWire review</a> says of the first season, "<i><b>Light as a Feather</b> is Hulu’s teen horror adventure with a mystery as engrossing as it is grotesque, and just creepy enough to scratch that Halloween itch without keeping you up at night.</i>" If you're of an <i>extremely</i> delicate disposition, you may wish to look away from the body-horror elements when they arise (I seem to recall there always being a sign that it was coming and that there was ample time to avert my gaze, when I needed to). (Yes, OK, even <i>I</i> needed to, toward the very end of season 2. I'm watching this stuff all by my lonesome, gimme a break.) (Sheesh!)</div><div><br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the second season finale may also have to serve as a <b><i>series</i></b> finale (some websites report that the show has been cancelled). It did wrap things up in a satisfying way, but also left a few threads that could easily be woven into another season. Hulu, if you're reading this, PLEASE GIVE US A THIRD SEASON! (I'll be your best friend!)</li><li>the series is based on the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17413361-light-as-a-feather-stiff-as-a-board" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">book by the same title</a> by <a href="https://zoeaarsen.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zoe Aarsen</a></li></ul></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/light_as_a_feather" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=50%, Audience Score=81%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/light-as-a-feather-faded4ba-099c-41f3-a84c-300a7ff526ba" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Light As A Feather on Hulu</a> (it's also available for purchase on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stiff-as-a-Board/dp/B07T2P5S91/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MD97QPV93GU0&dchild=1&keywords=light+as+a+feather&qid=1600054309&s=instant-video&sprefix=light+as+a+%2Cinstant-video%2C159&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8619822/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_as_a_Feather_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QmC1_a-gwQY" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 20 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><b>IF YOU DARE</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-3376622827107036662020-10-19T00:00:00.148-04:002020-10-19T00:00:00.902-04:00Spook Out! Day 19 ~ The Invisible Man (2020)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0EhcW4ByPFEG2RsTxE94XIhtc5541anrCYLd3pW_-157OHUX1FR6YNKcTMWnh0GXTnFMDkhQ_qI-VwNVVklYukTC7piE0TnFF7cW5Yzfa3IHGdfY27y15X6ZrkbjigtvUVrGZ52WStU/s383/19+-+The_Invisible_Man_%25282020_film%2529_-_release_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0EhcW4ByPFEG2RsTxE94XIhtc5541anrCYLd3pW_-157OHUX1FR6YNKcTMWnh0GXTnFMDkhQ_qI-VwNVVklYukTC7piE0TnFF7cW5Yzfa3IHGdfY27y15X6ZrkbjigtvUVrGZ52WStU/s320/19+-+The_Invisible_Man_%25282020_film%2529_-_release_poster.jpg" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>I listened to part of a podcast where one of the hosts complained that the movie was about a battered woman, not the invisible man, and to some extent he's got a point--I agree that this movie's more "about" her than it is "about" him. But, to paraphrase one of his co-hosts (a woman), the invisible man made himself felt in every frame of this movie--and I agree with her as well. Anyway, it's a reimagining, not a remake, of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Man_(1933_film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the 1933 film by Universal Pictures</a>.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Psychological Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005253/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elisabeth Moss</a> as Cecilia Kass <i>(She Gets Knocked Down but BOY, Does She Get Back Up Again!)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2719825/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oliver Jackson-Cohen</a> as Adrian Griffin <i>(The Titular Prick-Weasel)</i></div></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0388038/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aldis Hodge</a> as James Lanier <i>(Hunky AF SFPD Detective)</i></div><div><br /></div><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Elisabeth Moss' award-meriting work. DANG, GIRL!!!!! We're not shown what her character's boyfriend did to make her <i>drug him so she could leave him in the dead of night</i>, but she conveys PTSD so successfully that we don't need to see the abuse to believe it was brutal</li><li>how the movie starts with off-the-charts tension and doesn't let up till...well, it just doesn't let up!</li><li>that, though there's not really a lot of humor in this, there's one memorable line that made me bark a laugh, for which I was grateful</li><li>how cleverly Cecilia went about proving the improbable, even during moments of great duress</li><li>that they don't try to make a romance happen btw a woman recovering from an abusive relationship and the fella whose home's currently serving as her safehouse. They're good friends, and nothing else--well done!</li><li><a href="https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/47332470/image/47332502/See-Below-For-Footage-Me-Feeling-Overwhelmed-by-Aldis-Arms" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aldis Hodge's arms</a>--they should *totally* get their own credits...</li></ul></span><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...<br /></span>This sucker's, like, two hours long and--with respect--though there was tension throughout, after Cecilia left Adrian at the start of the movie, it kind of dragged for about an hour...till a *very* memorable restaurant scene (gave me chills!), after which the paced picked up and spanked along till the end. Still, that first hour!<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>It's a great thriller (after that first hour!) with a satisfying ending, but probably extremely triggering for anyone who's been stalked and/or in an abusive relationship. There are a few bloody bits, but they're quick. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
...but did I mention <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/47332470/image/47332506/This-Moment-SENT-Me" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aldis Hodge's arms</a>???</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+ (the + is for <a href="https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/photo-gallery/47332470/image/47332500/Thank-You-to-Movie-Costume-Designer-For-Picking-This-Tight-Fitting-Top" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aldis Hodge's arms</a>)</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_invisible_man_2020" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=91%, Audience Score=88%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B084SDJ2ST/ref=atv_dp_sign_suc_3P" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Invisible Man on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1051906/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Man_(2020_film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dSBsNeYqh-k" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 19 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-90988812991695111842020-10-18T00:00:00.191-04:002020-10-18T00:00:04.181-04:00Spook Out! Day 18 ~ Happy Death Day (2017)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OrrTxt48P-rYLz3mKTiAK2lSa0Y3PEjHw8GkgM9PgopGSQ5Rx_dX5fed-xqWhb6YOknNmsamdOJGWWf_0P3nHZDqGvfXinUHbfhFl6LXXkaMQxZb9_EjfzrPEJ06ZwW6OAvnQerKFd4/s375/18+-+Happy_Death_Day_poster.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OrrTxt48P-rYLz3mKTiAK2lSa0Y3PEjHw8GkgM9PgopGSQ5Rx_dX5fed-xqWhb6YOknNmsamdOJGWWf_0P3nHZDqGvfXinUHbfhFl6LXXkaMQxZb9_EjfzrPEJ06ZwW6OAvnQerKFd4/s320/18+-+Happy_Death_Day_poster.png" /></a></div>Amazon Says...<br /></span><i>"A woman relives the day of her murder over and over in this slasher twist on 'Groundhog Day'."<br /></i>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...</span><div>^Nailed it!<br /><div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Slasher, Horror Comedy<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1557329/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jessica Rothe</a> as Theresa "Tree" Gelbman <i>(<strike>Birth</strike>Deathday Girl)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3441152/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Israel Broussard</a> as Carter Davis <i>(Stand-Up Guy)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4384329/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ruby Modine</a> as Lori Spengler <i>(Baker Roommate)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Jessica Rothe's work in this--she carried the whole thing like a BOSS and seemed to have a really great time doing it. Go on with your bad self, girl!</li><li>how the humor played out, without cheesing things up</li><li>how Tree starts off as unlikable but we grow to care about as she grows (even if she has to die a few times to do it)</li><li>the puzzling aspect of trying to identify the killer(s???)</li><li>that, unlike in <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/groundhog_day" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Groundhog Day</a>, each re-lived day (specifically, being murdered each day) took a physical toll on Tree, which lent some urgency to the need to solve the time-loop problem</li><li>how grief was explored, without being heavy-handed</li></ul><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...<br /></span>The Who was interesting but the Why was kinda flimsy--it meant earlier bits didn't make too much sense, but then, it's not that heady a movie, if you know what I mean.</div><div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Yeah, man, this comedy-mystery-horror-romp is loads of fun! You can sink right into it for your Halloween kicks and still get to sleep easily. (Probably.) Mild jump scares only, and the death-scenes aren't really gory (or even shown in great detail, from what I recall). It may be a bit too light on the scares for hardcore horror fans, tho.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
The director, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Landon_(filmmaker)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Landon</a>, is one of (the late) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Landon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael Landon's</a> sons. (Yes, Pa-Ingalls-Michael-Landon!). AND bitch sorority sister, played by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Matthews" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rachel Matthews</a>, is one of Michael Landon's grandchildren!</div><div><br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/happy_death_day" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=71%, Audience Score=66%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Happy-Death-Day-Jessica-Rothe/dp/B076BZVSQ2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Happy Death Day on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5308322/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Death_Day" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1NTaDm3atkc" width="560"></iframe></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 18 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-88410025861146339072020-10-17T00:00:00.264-04:002020-10-17T12:15:42.582-04:00Spook Out! Day 17 ~ I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfcWAgvdPVo4p8aqVkDEtZfxE9pWhPnsaFU_E5UIiKO57O76iN_pQywUwXxUoptKkO7uyw0bRzmSTSzXqNJ-QobGvZmtHfmqUvliZ_8o-yTh_RoN-wKo1Q1dCmK_3ZwUrhF0nq3Er76g/s326/17+-+I%2527m_Thinking_Of_Ending_Things_poster.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfcWAgvdPVo4p8aqVkDEtZfxE9pWhPnsaFU_E5UIiKO57O76iN_pQywUwXxUoptKkO7uyw0bRzmSTSzXqNJ-QobGvZmtHfmqUvliZ_8o-yTh_RoN-wKo1Q1dCmK_3ZwUrhF0nq3Er76g/s320/17+-+I%2527m_Thinking_Of_Ending_Things_poster.jpeg" /></a></div>Netflix Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"Nothing is as it seems when a woman experiencing misgivings about her new boyfriend joins him on a road trip to meet his parents at their remote farm."</i></div><div><br /></div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>Yes. And no.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Psychological Horror<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0687146/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jesse Plemons</a> as Jake <i>(Diligent)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2976580/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jessie Buckley</a> as Young Woman <i>(Cerebral)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001057/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toni Collette</a> as Mother <i>(Manic)</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">About the movie...</span><div>I can't tackle this movie as I have the others I'm reviewing this month, <i>I'm Thinking of Ending Things</i> defies the simplicity of stating things I liked vs things I disliked. This is a new kind of horror movie (to me), although for a good portion of it, you'll find that numerous horror movie conventions play out. After a while you begin to wonder if you've fallen asleep and are in a nightmare, or if someone spiked your drink, bc <i>"WTF did I just see/hear and what does it all mean???"</i>* becomes a common refrain in your mind as you watch. With apparent time shifts, weird coincidences, nonsensical name and wardrobe changes, as well as the dour, uncomfortable mood and creepy vibes, you question the very basis of reality in this movie world. And <i>"What's really happening here?"</i> is a good question. The key to arriving at an answer (that I didn't fully realize I had, until I listened to a few podcasts about the movie) is to ask, not <i>what</i> is this film about, but <i>whom</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>*But, at least, not like a WTF you'd ask watching the movie <i><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mother_2017" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mother!</a></i> <br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Welp...if you like fiction that utterly messes with your mind, sure. If you like working out weird little puzzles, you bet. If you're not a super-sensitive type who cries during, like, long-distance phone service commercials, yeah. BUT if you're a cream puff (as I am) or suffer from any kind of depressive symptoms (as I do), maybe don't watch this, bc the horror here isn't solely psychological but existential, and the bitter end is sad af. If these latter conditions apply, please see if you can watch the movie with a good pal, someone you can go out for dinner/drinks with after, with whom you can dissect what you've just experienced.</div><div><br /></div><div>There aren't any jump scares, and the acting is excellent across the board--but it's hella quiet and over two hours long, so it may have a pronounced soporific effect on you (yes, as it did on me, ngl--had to rewatch about the last 30-ish minutes or so bc Zzzzzz...). In a way, I'm kind of angry at this movie, as I feel the horror aspects are a bit bait and switch. On the other hand, in terms of how the story's told, it's rather <strike>genus</strike> genius.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
Both Jess-es/ies (and David Thewlis, who plays Jake's father) are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargo_(TV_series)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fargo (the TV series)</a> alums; Plemons from season two, Buckley from the current fourth season, and Thewlis from season three. They're all brilliant, as is the show in all its particulars--truly prestige TV. I've yet to meet with a season I haven't loved. <a href="https://www.hulu.com/series/203cda1b-7919-40fb-ab36-1e45b3ed2a50" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Highly recommend!</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/im_thinking_of_ending_things" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=Not Available, Audience Score=Not Available</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div><a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80211559" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watch I'm Thinking of Ending Things on Netflix</a></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7939766/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%27m_Thinking_of_Ending_Things_(film)#Cast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div>I'll also link here the podcasts I listened to, to gain clarity on the movie. Spoilers abound, but these helped me shake off the jittery, uncomfortable vibes I had after I finished the movie.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/04/909586282/were-still-thinking-of-things-in-i-m-thinking-of-ending-things" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">npr pop culture happy hour: We're Still Thinking Of Things In 'I'm Thinking Of Ending Things'</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/spoiler-specials/2020/09/im-thinking-of-ending-things-spoiler" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slate Spoiler Specials: I’m Thinking of Ending Things</a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.filmspotting.net/episodes-archive/2020/9/4/791-tenet-im-thinking-of-ending-things-feels-good-man" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Filmspotting: #791: Tenet / I'm Thinking of Ending Things / Feels Good Man</a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cDTg62vsV4U" width="560"></iframe></div><div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 17 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-20428843174308655622020-10-16T16:03:00.002-04:002020-10-16T21:50:00.126-04:00Spook Out! Day 16 ~ Howl (2015)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDjdsvYzVQ5-XVlCd69v9927ymBsco_-wsJ9rqMGILA94cHRA0K-iWmwG0IjcLydx8kpba-TR7rlSyEN1E11Mx6D2sVr1P_Wd97BKndsK98OrLofR4vyZsdPbFVrjgZRvRtdsBsMmP2g/s385/16+-+Howl_%25282015%2529_film.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDjdsvYzVQ5-XVlCd69v9927ymBsco_-wsJ9rqMGILA94cHRA0K-iWmwG0IjcLydx8kpba-TR7rlSyEN1E11Mx6D2sVr1P_Wd97BKndsK98OrLofR4vyZsdPbFVrjgZRvRtdsBsMmP2g/s320/16+-+Howl_%25282015%2529_film.jpg" /></a></div>Shudder Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"Passengers on a night train are attacked by a vicious creature out of folklore, and must band together in order to survive until morning."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>If only it were just "a" vicious creature...<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Werewolves<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1968873/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t16" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ed Speleers</a> as Joe <i>(Humble Guard)</i><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1530334/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t18" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Holly Weston</a> as Ellen <i>(Love Object)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1259002/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elliot Cowan</a> as Adrian <i>(Treacherous Ass)</i><br />
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>how the basic horror story rule of isolating your characters with The Big Bad was applied--by stranding a train in the woods at night, and</li><li>how they made the most of this atmospheric, though stationary, setting to build dread</li><li>that the eight passengers, and two crew, managed to kill one of the beasties</li><li>that an older couple proved important to the plot--the gentleman stopped an early descent into panicked chaos and got the group to focus on survival, and his lady wife...well...I can't say, but she's something else!</li><li>the pacing, which was pretty good, and the even cycling of action with dialogue</li></ul></span><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The beasties were CGI, which I don't object to in principal, but that can lead to somewhat unlikely looking creatures--I mean, they gave me the heebie-freaking-jeebies, for realz, but I'd have liked some more practical effects, over the slick swiftness of digital. As well, they were peculiarly hairless, for werewolves.</li><li>One of the passengers takes on a difficult and dangerous task in order to get the stalled train moving, and that person's fate just goes to show that no good deed goes rewarded in a horror movie.<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"> </span></li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Sure, it's a perfectly competent creature feature, and werewolf movies have been in short supply of late. But, given the weirdly awful political climate in which we've been living since 2016, it wouldn't surprise me if more appeared on the scene. Anyway, loads of jump scares here, and closeups of the critters (though just seeing their glowing eyes emerge from the dark woods is pretty terrifying), so sensitive types may wish to watch something like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d36MK94POaI&list=PLVwI0P5CSVQU78bX8vu21fDA1rduwFiG-&index=479" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jim & Jamie Dutcher: The Hidden Life of Wolves</a> instead.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>The wonderfully gruff <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675730/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sean Pertwee</a>, alumnus of the most excellently chilling <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX9S3hdgZ5g" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dog Soldiers</a>, has a (brief) cameo here!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/howl_2015" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=67%, Audience Score=36%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/howl/f18158dcd13c403d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Howl on Shudder</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2393827/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howl_(2015_film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've been putting a movie trailer just before</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the closing of the blogpost more or less in this area,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>however,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>as the still shot for this movie's trailer</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>features a close-up</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>of a creature,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I've moved it to after the blogfest badge appears.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>SO</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>if you are of a sensitive nature,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you may wish to stop reading here.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 16 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFmUBiMIBVs" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
</div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-15922134024585481442020-10-15T00:00:00.237-04:002020-10-15T00:00:02.869-04:00Spook Out! Day 15 ~ The House That Jack Built (2018)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslYzCDO8XZa7j6fMlNKgRIrOpZNIflOX9-MN5A18u1m0qgBYAQQ5g-HOhyshumRbGxmmjZoZHCKgx-C4H5E_P-JR5eJmp-BmB179DUPU2j0yYv1FqCgNQfjaEKrCgOqThLvwlEzXz0RU/s386/15+-+The_House_That_Jack_Built.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="386" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslYzCDO8XZa7j6fMlNKgRIrOpZNIflOX9-MN5A18u1m0qgBYAQQ5g-HOhyshumRbGxmmjZoZHCKgx-C4H5E_P-JR5eJmp-BmB179DUPU2j0yYv1FqCgNQfjaEKrCgOqThLvwlEzXz0RU/s320/15+-+The_House_That_Jack_Built.png" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"The story follows Jack, a highly intelligent serial killer, over the course of twelve years, and depicts the murders that really develop his inner madman."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>I'm not sure I buy the "highly intelligent" bit, but otherwise it's an accurate summary.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Psychological Horror, Serial Killer, Art Film<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000369/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matt Dillon</a> as Jack, aka "Mr. Sophistication" <i>(Architect of Destruction)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004486/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bruno Ganz</a> as Verge <i>(Framing Device)</i></div></div><div><br /></div><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>that there were five distinct "incidents" (murders) which Jack discussed with Verge, to explain how he evolved in his "art"</li><li>the dark, mordant humor in the first two incidents, and that it reappeared for the fifth</li><li>the acting, all around, especially Matt Dillon (definitely award-winning work)</li></ul></span><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The framing device of Jack's (unseen) conversation with "Verge" often went off on long-ish tangents on such topics of art, poetry, Nazis,icons, and quite frankly I did not give a carp about any of that--especially since...</li><li>This movie's two and a half hours long! The time-consuming philosophical discourse could've easily been done away with, without injuring the film (but then I guess it wouldn't be a von Trier film? I dunno, this was my first.)</li><li>Spoilers ahead, double-click the dark to read <b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b> <span style="color: #1c1c1c;">It's true that serial killers may have a particular type of victim to which they're drawn, as in Ted Bundy (after whom Jack was largely patterned, it seems) who preyed upon young women with long dark hair. Here, though Jack tells Verge he's also killed men, we're shown more than 4 women being murdered (and, actually, some children) and only one man (in a kind of self-defense, so, not for pleasure). Toward the end, Jack's got about five men awaiting his cold-blooded mercies but their fates are left unknown--we're not shown Jack delighting in their deaths, as he does in those of the women, it's not even clear whether he kills them. So in this particular case, the killer didn't only target women--so why not show us how (if!) he murdered those five men??? I am just so fucking sick of women and children being disposable targets for men's bullshit. von Trier, and other male directors/writers/etc., have never had to worry about their tits being sliced off and made into wallets and it shows.</span> <b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b></li><li>One more spoiler <b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b> <span style="color: #1c1c1c;">During some of Jack's conversations with Verge, we're shown a younger Jack mutilating an animal and some footage from concentration camps. Some other points, we see the horrible things Jack's done to the corpses in his walk-in freezer. There may have been further grotesqueries but I must've blocked them out. Frankly, I can't wait for this flick to evaporate from my memory.</span> <b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b></li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
<i>The House That Jack Built</i> is no traditional Hollywood horror movie, but it <i>is</i> filled with gruesome horrors that could probably turn all but the most cast iron of stomachs. It has some funny moments, but the humor is very dark indeed. If you dig the severely twisted, this movie's for you. Otherwise, you may wish to consider viewing the serial-killer mockumentary I reviewed last October: <a href="https://www.minalobo.com/2019/10/spook-out-day-2-behind-mask-rise-of.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Behind the Mask: the Rise of Leslie Vernon</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000235/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uma Thurman</a> was great here, as the first (and most annoying) victim we're shown. I also enjoyed seeing the fabulous <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0266441/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Siobhan Fallon Hogan</a> reunited with Dillon, fellow alumnus from the creepy af <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsQ9Fl0VCkk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wayward Pines</a> series.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: B</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_house_that_jack_built_2018" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=59%, Audience Score=65%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.hulu.com/movie/the-house-that-jack-built-b5bf8de6-67b5-4f5d-8397-9f19ba319f45" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The House That Jack Built on Hulu</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4003440/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_That_Jack_Built_(2018_film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div>
<div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>WARNING:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>This trailer contains disturbing scenes of violence, actual and implied.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;"><b>VIEWER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BYF2tfdD1fA" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 15 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-59455264078870228332020-10-14T00:00:00.216-04:002020-10-14T00:00:03.066-04:00Spook Out! Day 14 ~ The House of the Devil (2009)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXzoGkTCoqslEmtD1CT9E0RewAQ1-VH6PikdyAERlCY5rqW7o6H4mGQoMPQZwmFdjhd8BEQfUskn6bVzgTWxtI0HlHAFUk8sJDyoEalQiAW1mGEqUKN9n_NxdpRHD58JJHbn06YLH0pI/s383/14+-+The_House_of_the_Devil.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXzoGkTCoqslEmtD1CT9E0RewAQ1-VH6PikdyAERlCY5rqW7o6H4mGQoMPQZwmFdjhd8BEQfUskn6bVzgTWxtI0HlHAFUk8sJDyoEalQiAW1mGEqUKN9n_NxdpRHD58JJHbn06YLH0pI/s320/14+-+The_House_of_the_Devil.jpg" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span><i>"In 1983, financially struggling college student Samantha Hughes takes a strange babysitting job that coincides with a full lunar eclipse. She slowly realizes her clients harbor a terrifying secret, putting her life in mortal danger."<br /></i>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>Slowly, indeed. Oh, so very slowly. Also, one little part of this descriptor is a necessary bit of misdirection, but to avoid spoilers, I'll say no more about it.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Occult, Supernatural<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2439994/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jocelin Donahue</a> as Samantha Hughes <i>(Babysitter Who Doesn't Like Kids)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1950086/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Greta Gerwig</a> as Megan <i>(Groovy BFF)</i></div></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006888/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tom Noonan</a> as Mr. Ulman <i>(Creepy MFR)</i></div></div><div><br /></div><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the great acting from Gerwig, Noonan, and Mary Woronov (who played the Creepy MFR's wife). Even Dee Wallace's teeny little cameo was terrific</li><li>being steeped in the early '80s--from hair and makeup, to costume, to props, it all took me back to a time I refuse to believe was 40 years ago</li><li>the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjWd_7OzO84" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">three</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OsZTJ5vfUs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">'80s</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHYIGy1dyd8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tunes</a> they employed--<b><i>great</i></b> choices. (Even <a href="https://youtu.be/dsSZGTeyM_Q?t=69" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the music from the opening credits</a> was pretty groovy--borrowing the riff and mood from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5oPZFDci80" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Cars' "Moving in Stereo"</a>.)</li></ul></span><div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've seen this flick referred to as a slow burn. For me, it was more of an, "Oh, shit, did we forget to pay the gas bill, why isn't the stove lighting???" Dudes. DOOODS. From my notes as I watched:</li><ul><li><i>A bit too slow moving</i></li><li><i>34 mins in, still kinda boring</i></li><li><i>50 mins in, snooze fest</i></li><li><i>1 hour 8 mins I'm sorry, this flick's boring af I'm ready for it to be over</i></li></ul></ul></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;">My lovelies--the movie's an hour and a half-ish long. Having to wait for over an hour to give a shit about what was going on in it was too long. I actually grabbed my phone to check on an expected Verizon withdrawal from my checking account, I was so frickin bored.</div></blockquote><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This bit's spoilery, so I've blocked it out. Double click on the space between the two sets of colons to read it <b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b> <span style="color: #1c1c1c;">Do you seriously expect me to believe some mfkn satanists are so incompetent as to be incapable of tying proper knots to secure their offering to the evil one? Come tf on.</span> <b><span style="color: red;">::</span></b></li></ul></div><div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>Oh, my sweet darlings--I wouldn't do that to you. Unless you're having trouble falling asleep, in which case, by all means do watch it.* Or just watch the trailer, below. It's another film that's done way better with critics and audiences than I can readily comprehend. Unless they were all high or something, when they saw it...? Did we even watch the same movie, wt actual f???</div><div><br /></div><div>*Actually, even using it as a sleep aid is problematic, because the shit doesn't hit the fan till the last 20 minutes or so, but it does so to disturbing effect. Waking to see <i>that</i> portion of the movie would not be conducive to getting <i>back</i> to sleep. Tell you what, listen to some podcasts about this movie instead (to paraphrase one podcaster, I'd rather listen to others talk about this film than watch it again).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
I enjoyed a few moments of recognition with Tom Noonan (Frankenstein's Monster from 1987's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeZs0B0mjXY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Monster Squad</a>) and Mary Woronov (the Channeler from 1989's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrXieml4Mb4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Warlock</a>)--these actors have done way more than just these flicks, but they happen to be among my fave '80s movies. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: D</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_house_of_the_devil_2009" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=85%, Audience Score=63%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/the-house-of-the-devil/2329c6b5d3015ad2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The House of the Devil on Shudder</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172994/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_the_Devil" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div>
<div>
<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oM3NAtGR2qc" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 14 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-75979327328152519862020-10-13T00:00:00.199-04:002020-10-13T00:00:02.234-04:00Spook Out! Day 13 ~ Host (2020)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG5HW5dwpYC1tgDRdb1hkKkhzWN9TSQYTcGF04_uUTxXjpvkHIEHPHAKziqy0qSUTkG1zDzenyElPUHMn3TnwrdtOKmdTH3PvChAPNZkOg0fqe2AllmlXfHPWA6k0j8nzWknQnnHFFBo/s387/13+-+Host_%2528film%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="258" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTG5HW5dwpYC1tgDRdb1hkKkhzWN9TSQYTcGF04_uUTxXjpvkHIEHPHAKziqy0qSUTkG1zDzenyElPUHMn3TnwrdtOKmdTH3PvChAPNZkOg0fqe2AllmlXfHPWA6k0j8nzWknQnnHFFBo/s320/13+-+Host_%2528film%2529.jpg" /></a></div>Rotten Tomatoes Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"Six friends accidentally invite the attention of a demonic presence during an online séance and begin noticing strange occurrences in their homes."</i></div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>That's a tight summary of a lithe little flick. I approve it 100%.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Found Footage, Supernatural<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3749687/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Haley Bishop</a> as Haley <i>(Hopeless Hostess)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6654155/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jemma Moore</a> as Jemma <i>(Intrepid Idiot)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6359236/?ref_=tt_cl_t10" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Seylan Baxter</a> as Seylan <i>(Unprofessional Medium!)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>how this takes place in the real Covid-19 present, and the friends are all Zooming weekly to stay in touch, since they're all locked-down</li><li>their excitement at seeing one another (virtually), and how that contrasts with the eerie vibes building around them</li><li>that little by little my peace was subtly disturbed (like, seeing some of the gals having the doors of the rooms they were in wide open--it made me anxiously anticipate seeing something pass by that oughtn't to do so)</li><li>the moments of humor revolving around the Medium</li><li>the irony of them all, including the Medium, encouraging one another not to be afraid, as though they had any control over anything about to happen</li><li>how, when shit got real, it REALLY GOT REAL</li></ul></span><div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...<br /></span>It did have some of the flaws that typically keep me from watching found-footage movies--shaky camera work that doesn't always give you a clear view, or understanding, of wtf's going on. Ugh, so annoying! But it did a lot better than some other such flicks.<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY--to horror fans. This lean little number (just under an hour long!) scared the stuffin out of me. With tons of foreboding, multiple jump scares, and an uncompromising body count, <i>Host</i> is the stuff of horror fans' bad dreams (hardcore horror fans probs won't be <i>quite</i> as wigged out as I was, but I had chills bubble up on my arms several times, and that last jump scare? Hooo, boy!). Light-horror fans may wish to opt for something else--at the very least, don't watch this just before bedtime (I was going to suggest, "Don't watch if you live alone," but having others around didn't help some of the characters in the movie, so...).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>
This bad boy was <a href="https://deadline.com/2020/07/shudder-host-rob-savage-quarantine-zoom-remotely-filmed-1202978631/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">made during Covid-19 quarantine</a>, directed/filmed remotely, and the actors had to learn how to do their own practical effects and stunts--and it was completed in three months! (I mean, dang!) These folks better be winning ALL THE AWARDS!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A+</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/host_2020" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=100%, Audience Score=77%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div><a href="https://www.shudder.com/movies/watch/host/b89c77f392b1c5e8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Watch Host on Shudder</a> </div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12749596/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Host_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div>
<div>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SNlKbqHqGcY" width="560"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 13 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-5308302313138717302020-10-12T00:00:00.023-04:002020-10-12T00:00:05.473-04:00Spook Out! Day 12 ~ A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (in Farsi w/English subtitles, 2014)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGH8_5bnJchywpa-mEuFLIqFV0BM7iCMyH459hwoE8nn5DLgCQlhXYe23rZvtEZDHnDDgRKLNe8rjTK03dehpKeYkAwkxKWXFfvRavAffw4rXhdmYD3c-SRyTn9R1tZzUYZi4M0NmJKs/s305/3+-+A+Girl+Walks+Home+Alone+at+Night.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGH8_5bnJchywpa-mEuFLIqFV0BM7iCMyH459hwoE8nn5DLgCQlhXYe23rZvtEZDHnDDgRKLNe8rjTK03dehpKeYkAwkxKWXFfvRavAffw4rXhdmYD3c-SRyTn9R1tZzUYZi4M0NmJKs/s0/3+-+A+Girl+Walks+Home+Alone+at+Night.jpg" /></a></div>Amazon Says...<br /></span><i>"Strange things are afoot in Bad City. The Iranian ghost town, home to prostitutes, junkies, pimps, and other sordid souls, is a place that reeks of death and hopelessness, where a lonely vampire is stalking the towns</i><i>' [sic]</i><i> most unsavory inhabitants. But when boy meets girl, an unusual love story begins to blossom...blood red."</i><br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>A) You've said too much, Amazon, B) That's an impressive run-on sentence, and C) You need to work on your apostrophe placement...<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Vampire, Thriller, Drama<br />
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2611074/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sheila Vand</a> as The Girl <i>(The Vampiest Vamp Who Ever Vamped)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4256281/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Arash Marandi</a> as Arash <i>(The Persian Fonz)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7292059/?ref_=tt_cl_t12" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Masuka The Cat</a> as The Cat <i>(Meow)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the cinematography. Shot in gorgeously noir black and white, the setting, the framing, the lighting, the angles--GAH, the EVERYTHING makes this film a luxurious feast for the eyes</li><li>The Girl. So menacingly stylish, so effortlessly compelling--I've never found an antihero as morosely, forbiddingly sexy as this gal! (WTF is not to love about a skateboarding vampire???)</li><li>Arash, her lovably goofy, yet sincere love interest. He's got his flaws (more on those in the next section) but he's still the heart and soul of this movie</li><li>the hilarious scene in which The Girl comes upon a very high Arash, who's lost and staring up at a street lamp. How she gets him moving is <i>adorbz</i>!</li><li>how it explores our connections to others: how we're drawn and repulsed, how we make and break them, how we endure and how we fail. As in life, the "whys" sometimes remain mysteries...</li><li>how the director uses the stereotypical attributes of females/female victims--silence, stillness, downcast eyes--to render the Girl utterly terrifying</li><li>how The Cat ratchets the tension up in pretty much every scene featuring him</li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l04VrfNO50WOPlIUGhR5M6fDXOO9TW0MA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the soundtrack</a> which (forgive me) really rocks my kasbah</li><li>how the movie really takes its time...</li></ul></span><div><div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>...although it does take a little <i>too</i> long here and there, and its hypnotic hold really start to work on you. Shaving off a few minutes would've alleviated the soporific effect</li><li>Arash, whom I love, is concerningly impetuous and rash. This is due to his youth, no doubt, but some of his actions do bother me</li><li>I'm left with a ton of questions! (As I noted earlier, the "whys" remain mysteries.) The biggest one arises toward the end, when Arash fails to confront The Girl about a <i>very suspicious, and serious, coincidence</i>--it's clear that he's <i>bothered</i> by it but, apart from a bit of a quiet fit, he doesn't address it directly. Say what, Arash? I know you've got the warm and fuzzies for her, but still! I would do anything for love, but I--well, you know...</li></ul></span></div><div>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
Heck yes! This is a fabulous film full of girl-powah! It's more of a drama/thriller than horror, though--no jump scares and I don't remember any gore, really. There's one disturbing scene about forced drug use but it's not, IMO, exploitive. It's more creepy than scary (that noted, if The Girl had interrogated me the way she did a street urchin in the film, I'd have definitely soiled myself).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div>
<div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night</i> has been described in various places as an Iranian vampire spaghetti-western--and it totally is. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/16/movies/ana-lily-amirpours-world-a-girl-walks-home-alone-at-night.html?auth=link-dismiss-google1tap" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">However, it was shot, not in Iran, but in California</a></li><li>the film's writer/director, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3235877/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ana Lily Amirpour</a>, has a cameo as "Skeleton Partygirl," and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/16/movies/ana-lily-amirpours-world-a-girl-walks-home-alone-at-night.html?auth=link-dismiss-google1tap" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">doubles for The Girl in some of the skateboarding shots</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/16/movies/ana-lily-amirpours-world-a-girl-walks-home-alone-at-night.html?auth=link-dismiss-google1tap" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the bones of the movie came to Amirpour</a> when she tried on a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chador" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chador</a>, like The Girl wears in the movie (<a href="http://istizada.com/muslim-veil-and-hijab-types-a-complete-guide/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">not a hijab</a>, as some reviewers have asserted)</li><li>this was a re-watch for me. I'm ding-dang-donged if I can recall when I first watched this, but it was long enough ago that I forgot all the particulars--though I never forgot how much I heart this film</li></ul></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A- as a drama/thriller, B as a horror movie</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_girl_walks_home_alone_at_night" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=96%, Audience Score=75%</div></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Walks-Alone-Night-English-Subtitled/dp/B00TTRBGIK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=A+Girl+Walks+Home+Alone+at+Night&qid=1600882713&s=instant-video&sr=1-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2326554/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Girl_Walks_Home_Alone_at_Night" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_YGmTdo3vuY" width="560"></iframe>
<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 12 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div></div></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-82735362193840949512020-10-11T00:00:00.014-04:002020-10-11T00:27:33.061-04:00Spook Out! Day 11 ~ Fright Night (2011)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc1XgFvagF7FYBth0zMNd_iNYDAOq4MrABxoOVwbk3gazuVoAMEY7QVxWQ4mVCkAQB7n-V7HbN40G63dSWPOLSJgWnDA5ufXaIvU-I90SsOMRjf-4SV_-AfIVGHJsLXQctFtMgTqut-M/s322/11+-+220px-FrightNight2011Poster.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqc1XgFvagF7FYBth0zMNd_iNYDAOq4MrABxoOVwbk3gazuVoAMEY7QVxWQ4mVCkAQB7n-V7HbN40G63dSWPOLSJgWnDA5ufXaIvU-I90SsOMRjf-4SV_-AfIVGHJsLXQctFtMgTqut-M/s320/11+-+220px-FrightNight2011Poster.jpg" /></a></div>IMDb Says...<br /></span>
<div><i>"When a nice new neighbor moves in next door, Charley discovers that he is an ancient vampire who preys on the community. Can he save his neighborhood from the creature with the help of the famous "vampire killer," Peter Vincent?"</i></div>
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I Say...<br /></span>^Correct, and also, this is a remake of <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1007910-fright_night" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the 1985 film of the same name</a> (which I love).<br />
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Horror Type...<br /></span>Vampires, Comedic Horror<br />
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Main Players...<br /></span>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0947338/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Anton Yelchin</a> (<a href="https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a27890159/anton-yelchin-documentary-trailer/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RIP</a>) as Charley Brewster <i>(He's So Cool)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0268199/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colin Farrell</a> as Jerry <i>(Brutish Vampire)</i></div><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0855039/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">David Tennant</a> as Peter Vincent <i>(Reluctant Slayer)</i></div></div><div><br /></div><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the things they opted to keep from the original movie (Jerry's chomping on apples, "You're so cool, Brewster!", the nightclub scene btw Amy & Jerry, are some)</li><li>the things that were <i>different</i> from the original (the pacing and intensity were fast and high throughout the movie, some really great LOL moments, that Charley's mom was more involved)</li><li>that it had me holding my breath more than once for all the dramatic tension</li><li>the pathos of a pivotal moment btw Charley and former bff "Evil Ed"</li><li>how at one point, Jerry circumvents traditional vampire rules to spectacular effect</li><li><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001697/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chris Sarandon's</a> cameo ~ he originated the role of Jerry Dandrige in '85 and here appears as Jay Dee <i>(geddit, geddit???)</i>, a hapless motorist (who's still hot af, <i>RAWR</i>)</li><li>the final confrontation, which is just as special as in the OG flick</li></ul></span><div><br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Jerry's weird little monologue when he pops over to "borrow" a six-pack of beer (I mean, arguably, it reveals Jerry's character and predatory nature, but the writing was just weird to me)</li><li>this Jerry can be charming but often isn't--he's more of a brutish thug than seducer, as OG Jerry was (though he was still formidable, his elegance notwithstanding)</li><li>this Amy (who seems a lot more savvy than the 1985 Amy) doesn't get to choose something important, the way OG Amy did, she's forced into it (bc, again, this Jerry's a thug)</li></ul></span></div><div>
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Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
I surely would! This is another re-watch for me and, in some ways, I almost find this a better film than the OG because it's a bit less camp, more action-packed, and allows the mom to figure more prominently and be heroic (which teen flicks don't often do). BUT I do prefer the OG Jerry to this one.</div>
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Miscellany...</span></div>
<div>Learning there'd be a remake made me feel uneasy and annoyed--I deemed it just another cash grab and prepared myself to hate it (though, for some reason, I don't take issue with song covers, the way I do with movie and TV remakes). Then I read some article about the folks who worked on the 2011 film, including Colin Farrell, who spoke of loving the OG Fright Night, having grown up with it themselves, and feeling honor-bound to do it justice. And I unclenched and thought maybe it'd be OK. And it was!</div>
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Ratings...</span></div>
<div>
<div>My Grade: A-</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fright_night_2011" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=72%, Audience Score=59%</div></div>
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Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
<div>
I Watched <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B00BQJIWM2/ref=atv_hm_hom_c_mmoHuM_brws_51_3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fright Night (2011) on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1438176/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fright_Night_(2011_film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6enhzzeK6l0" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 11 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5679351593858166308.post-65402723710585733452020-10-10T00:00:00.330-04:002020-10-10T00:00:00.914-04:00Spook Out! Day 10 ~ Fido (2006)<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk8z5Ti-LltJT5AjeLwohgLtXlF1dDfM9ED-1fDEwlUA5jQrflE8rsuwlQqixtDDQylvyMQNBtFuGVkd1JBsyHAFrrFK-tnRBBY8kerSe-T4OSktVJFaCbNtqGgBVqYT7VNd2dHxkCKk/s2048/10+-+fido-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWk8z5Ti-LltJT5AjeLwohgLtXlF1dDfM9ED-1fDEwlUA5jQrflE8rsuwlQqixtDDQylvyMQNBtFuGVkd1JBsyHAFrrFK-tnRBBY8kerSe-T4OSktVJFaCbNtqGgBVqYT7VNd2dHxkCKk/s320/10+-+fido-3.jpg" /></a></div>Amazon Says...<br /></span><i>"When Timmy's mom brings home a zombie servant, he discovers a new best friend and is determined to keep him, even if his zombie ate the next-door neighbor."<br /></i>
<br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I Say...<br /></span>I mean, stuff happens, amiright?<div><br /><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Horror Type...<br /></span>Zombies, Horror Comedy, Alternative History<br />
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Main Players...<br /></span><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1579372/?ref_=tt_cl_t12" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">
K'Sun Ray</a> as Timmy Robinson <i>(Bully Fodder)</i><div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175262/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t23" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Billy Connolly</a> as Fido <i>(Boy's Best Zombie-Friend)</i></div><div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005251/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t22" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carrie-Anne Moss</a> as Helen Robinson <i>(Quintessential 50s Mom)</i></div>
<br /><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
I liked...</span><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>how wonderfully stylized this revisionist version of the '50s looks, from the gorgeous ladies' fashions, to the vividly technicolored decor of the main family's house. It puts me in mind of the carefully cultivated, suburban fantasyland Tim Burton created for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Scissorhands" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edward Scissorhands</a>, only perhaps a little sharper. The artistic backdrop and framing of certain scenes, too, were reminiscent of older creature-features (for example, when someone "turns" in front of a huge moon--just gorgeous)</li><li>Carrie-Anne Moss' portrayal of a perfectly coiffured, gracious homemaker who's also fully prepared to put down zombies when needed. Helen Robinson: have accelerant – will travel</li><li>Sir Billy Connolly's masterful work as the titular zombie, Fido. It's a testament to his comedic genius how much he's able to convey with only looks and groans</li><li>an idea they played with, of zombies' abilities to control their violently ravenous impulses after significant and prolonged positive interaction with the living (a theme <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warm_Bodies_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Warm Bodies</a> would expand upon a few years later)</li><li>that the jokes and gags just spank along, one after another, throughout the movie. Some highlights include:</li><ul><li>"Outdoor Education," in which elementary school-aged kids enjoy rifle practice while chanting, "In the brain and not the chest, headshots are the very best."</li><li>Helen to Fido--"...why aren't you eating me???"/Fido to Helen--::makes moon eyes::</li><li>Timmy's Dad to Timmy--"I know you're not supposed to have a handgun (beat) till you're twelve..."</li></ul></ul></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
The Meh...</span></span></div><div>One of Timmy's neighbors, Mr. Theopolis, "owns" a female zombie who's totally not his girlfriend--except she kind of is, and though it's not a major plotline, it's still pretty squicky when Theopolis tells her to stop her habitual chomping by saying, "Not the teeth, Tammy." 🤢</div><div>
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Would I recommend it...?<br />
</span><div>
One hundred percent! This well-paced laugh riot has earned a place on my top fave movies list. Folks wanting hardcore horror should look elsewhere, as there's a little zombie violence and a wee bit of gore but probably not enough to satisfy them.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">
Miscellany...</span></div><div>I've just realized this is the third zombie movie I've reviewed for this year's Spook Out! (and the second zom-com!). Not sure if there're any more--I try not to dig too deeply into the stuff I review before watching, so it's possible...</div>
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Ratings...</span></div>
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<div>My Grade: A-</div><div><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fido" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes Scores</a>: Tomatometer=73%, Audience Score=72%</div></div>
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Details, Schmeetails...</span></div>
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I Watched <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.98b696ed-a843-b82a-b73c-ddacb7791da7?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_pvs_piv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_pvs_piv-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fido on Amazon</a> (the Rotten Tomatoes page linked above provides links to other streaming platforms)</div>
<div><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457572/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Check it out on IMDb</a></div>
<div><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fido_(film)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about it on Wikipedia</a> (Contains Spoilers)</div><div><br /></div>
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<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IDvIcCoXpMk" width="560"></iframe><br /><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">This concludes Day 10 of<br /></span></i></b><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s636/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEBAkfD9iD9rnmRijLSLmob0FnZTSrbBaBEYjpuTeTyXmDxvmMxAPm4Yx2cEXHK2YWjIAxibqG0TUprr-P6jF-OnUg6hy9HaUc9bby363NIz7yvHDfD5BXlclzYq0_Gvu55d7oQGtiYnA/s320/Spook+Out+2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;">Thanks for reading and come back tomorrow...<br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div><b><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">IF YOU DARE</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Mina Lobohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173895884776280826noreply@blogger.com3