Elsewhere Review: “Anansi Boys (Playaway Edition)”

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Denise
Read the original (okay, I wrote this in ’05) here at Green Man Review!

Ah, family. You can’t live with ’em, you can’t wish ’em into an alternate plane of existence.

The say that a long time ago a spider stole all of the stories from a tiger. Maybe it’s just that the spider told them better. Who doesn’t like a tale well told? But you can’t go around as a spider forever, sometimes you’ve gotta mix things up. Keeps things interesting. Just ask Mr. Nancy, he’d tell you. This sporty fellow from American Gods makes his way closer to the limelight here in Anansi Boys.

This time Mr. Nancy throws off what little disguise he had in American Gods and appears as Anansi, full-fledged trickster god, flashy lemon-yellow gloves and all. But as entertaining as he is, he’s not the main character of this story. As the title tells you, this Anansi tale is about his children, Charlie Nancy and his long-lost twin brother, Spider. The cause of the separation is a bit muddy in the beginning, but don’t worry; why they became separated and how they are re-introduced is the focus of this tale. Continue reading →

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Elsewhere Review: Ronald Kelly, “Midnight Grinding”

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Denise
Read the original (okay, I wrote this in ’09) HERE at Green Man Review!

Ronald Kelly? Hrm. Never heard of him, I thought. Until I took a look at the list of stories in this collection and realized not only had I heard of him, I liked his stuff. And I had a few stories of his on my bookshelf, thanks to Cold Blood, Shock Rock and Borderlands 3. So what started out as just another review turned into a sort of fact-finding mission to see what else he has going on. The result? Midnight Grinding is a fabulous collection of tales well told that may keep you up at night either checking under the bed . . . or tucked firmly under your covers too scared to even take a peek.

Continue reading →

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#31in31 2017 – “Gerald’s Game”

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Denise

“It was death you saw. And he’s coming back tonight.”

Story: A couple at their lake house try to spice up their relationship. But Viagra and a heart condition makes things fatal for husband Gerald. And with wife Jessie handcuffed to the bed in the middle of nowhere, her life may be winding down as well. At least she’s got her hallucinations to keep her company.

Scares: Psychological chills mostly, with a few icky bits of creep thrown in. Continue reading →

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#31in31 2017: Hell House LLC

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Denise

“When anybody asks me what happened at Hell House, I say watch the video. You tell me.”

Story: A friendly gang of millennials who run Halloween horror houses decide to strike out from the big cities and head to Abbadon, PA. Their horror “haunt” that year is now known as the “2009 Haunted House Tour Tragedy”. Five years after what happened, an investigative reporter and her trusty cameraman find a survivor, who gives them the security and for-the-record tapes she’d held on to.  Roll that beautiful horror footage y’all!  I’m sure nothing bad will happen.

Continue reading →

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“Happy Death Day” – a movie definitely worth celebrating

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Denise

Nutshell:  Fun, freaky and sometimes frightening, this movie blends horror and comedy expertly.  Kudos to the director, screenwriter, and the amazing Jessica Rothe as the coed who keeps getting killed.  You won’t find a better multiplex movie to celebrate Friday the 13th.  So what are you waiting for? Grade: A

“Prime vag, OUT!”

Story: Tree Gelbman is a total bitch.  Just hateful.  So when someone kills her on her birthday, it’s no real surprise.  But when she starts re-living that day – and that death – over and over again? Surprise! Continue reading →

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#31in31 2017 – ScreenPrism’s Halloween Tropes Explained: Final Girl & Death by Sex

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Denise

What better way to celebrate an October Friday the 13th than with a little digging into the slasher genre?

ScreenPrism – an amazing YouTube channel you should be watching on the regular – did a deep dive into two of the prized tropes of this subgenre, the “Final Girl” and the beloved “Death by Sex”.  They breakdown these prominent slasher tropes, and provide tons of examples.

Give it a watch, and then sit back and really watch those F13 flicks tonight.

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#31in31 2017 – The Houses October Built

Posted on October 12, 2017 by Denise

What’chu mean ‘back woods’?

Story: 5 friends on a haunted house road trip, looking for the “real, ultimate” haunt experience. They want extreme, they’ll get it…whether they want it or not.

Scares: A few, but mostly it’s a big question mark.

Splat factor: Beyond haunted house props? Zero.

Continue reading →

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Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: “The Snowman”!

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Denise

Oh man y’all.  I’ve been stoked about this film ever since I saw the trailer this summer.  So spooky!  So crime-procedural-y!  Two great tastes, right?  Exactly.  Synopsis!

When an elite crime squad’s lead detective (Fassbender) investigates the disappearance of a victim on the first snow of winter, he fears an elusive serial killer may be active again.  With the help of a brilliant recruit (Ferguson), the cop must connect decades-old cold cases to the brutal new one if he hopes to outwit this unthinkable evil before the next snowfall.

Ready to come with me to the chilly side of the street?  Let’s go!

Continue reading →

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“War for the Planet of the Apes” – scene comparison shots!

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Denise

War for the Planet of the Apes is being released on digital soon. So to celebrate that, have a look at some “during the shoot” and “on the screen” comparison shots. Really cool, right? RIGHT.

I loved this movie, and can’t wait to check out the behind-the-scenes goodness on the Blu-ray.  ‘Til then?  Watch these vids downloaded by An Englishman In San Diego! (Why not from my YouTube? Because my Chromebook hates electronic press kits, apparently.)


 

 

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#31in31 2017 – “Wes Craven Presents: They”

Posted on October 11, 2017 by Denise

“This is getting ridiculous.”

Story: A guy who had night terrors as a kid kills himself in front of his childhood bestie who’s now a psych grad student. At his funeral, she meets two other twenty-somethings who also used to have night terrors… Except “They” have come back. Oh, and bestie had ’em too way back in the day. But I’m sure she’s got nothing to worry about. Hey WHAT’S IN THE CLOSET???  (Hint: definitely not R. Kelly.)

Scares: A few incredibly effective ones at the start and finish, but it’s typical jump scares for the rest of the film.

Splat factor: Very little. Most is only suggested, and shown in extreme shadow.

Continue reading →

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