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Genre - Horror/Mystery/Thriller
Year Released - 2009
Running Time - 88 minutes
Directed by Shane Van Dyke
Written by Shane Van Dyke
Cast Includes: Erin Marie Hogan, Shane Van Dyke, Fia Perera, and Norman Saleet
Rating: 3 Skulls
Plot Summary:
Not to be confused with 'Paranormal Activity', this take-off documents a family's descent into madness as they are besieged by a demonic force.
Trailer:
Review:
This review comes to you, in thanks to a regular blog commenter, who commented on my prior review 'Hold Your Breath' (which coincidentally also stars this film's lead actress Erin Marie Hogan)
Yet another 'Asylum' "mock-buster" film, Paranormal Entity is obviously a blatant rip-off of 'Paranormal Activity' (which, for the record, bored me to tears!)
However, (as pointed out to me by Jimmie, the commenter) Paranormal Entity's budget actually exceeded that of Paranormal Activity's - shocking, I know - not sure why/how exactly, perhaps the (obvious) model-home used in the film cost a bundle, or perhaps the camera equipment was more expensive... for whatever reason, you would not actually know that you are watching an Asylum film.
Showing alleged "actual footage", Paranormal Entity details the supernatural events leading up to the 2008 murder of Samantha Finley, for whom her brother Thomas was arrested. . .
Dare I say that this film was actually good?
Understand, I hated Paranormal Activity!
I feel that this film pulled off what the other failed to do - a (slightly) better story with more interesting characters.
Is this film truly worthy of 3 skulls? Perhaps not, but if you are in the mood to watch a (at-times) boring paranormal flick, I would choose Paranormal Entity over Activity!
By the way, it is currently available to watch on Netflix Instant
Jason
Genre - Horror
Year Released - 2012
Running Time - 86 minutes
Directed by Jared Cohn
Written by Geoff Meed & Kenny Zinn
Cast Includes: Katrina Bowden, Randy Wayne, Steve Hanks, and Keith Allen
Rating: 3 Skulls
Plot Summary:
A group of friends, on a weekend camping trip, find themselves being picked off one by one when one member of the group refuses to abide by the urban myth that you can breathe in evil spirits when passing cemeteries.
Trailer:
Review:
As a fan of "Asylum Pictures" - famous for their low-budget/direct-to-dvd/"mock-buster" films, such as 'MegaPiranha' & 'Two-Headed Shark Attack' (among my favorites) or 'Almighty Thor' or 'Battle of Los Angeles' (among their worst) - I was excited to hear about their 1st theatrical release: 'Hold Your Breath' starring Katrina Bowden (from 'Tucker & Dale vs Evil' - my favorite horror film of 2011)
Based (very loosely) on the urban legend that you need to hold your breath whenever passing by a cemetery, so wandering spirits can't get inside of you and possess you... (the funny thing is my kids do this - not out of fear of possession - simply for fun, as it can be quite difficult sometimes, when passing very large cemeteries!)
The film actually starts off rather well (better than I was expecting at least) beginning in 1956, in a Sanitarium for the Criminally Insane, at the on-set of an execution (did insane asylums perform executions?!?)
While the criminal is being escorted to the electric chair, a list of his (ridiculous) kills is being read, while a lightning storm is brewing outside (if ever there was a perfect moment to have Metallica score a scene, it would have been this one, with Ride the Lightning!)
The film then jumps to present day, where you now realize that you are, in-fact, watching an 'Asylum' Picture - full of bad lines, gaping plot-holes, etc, etc.
Still, it's not all that bad - nothing that needs to be seen in a theater, mind you, but worth the watch if you are a fan of Asylum Pictures - keep an eye out for it, as I'm sure that it will eventually hit SyFy...
Jason
Genre - Horror
Year Published - *2012 (*Published by Black Bed Sheet Books)
Length - 126 [digital] pages *Read on my Nook
Written by Brandon Ford
Rating: 5 Skulls
Plot Summary:
Kyra and Claire have never met, never spoken, but by the time this crisp autumn evening comes to a close, they'll have formed an unbreakable bond and an indestructible unity as they face an evil nothing in this world could have ever prepared them for.
Kidnapped at gunpoint, they are bound, beaten, and savaged by a madman whose sole purpose is to enforce pain and impose suffering. Driving them far from their peaceful suburban community, he becomes more monstrous with each mile that separates them from any and all familiarity.
Kyra and Claire are mere innocents, taken against their will and brutalized by a man who, as they soon realize, is not a man at all. He is ruthless. He is relentless. He is MERCILESS.
Review:
First off, let me just tell you that this book is an Anthology, with the actual story of Merciless being more of a Novella (roughly 75 pgs, including an excellent Introduction)
The book also includes 3 additional short stories:
'The Neighbor' - an "extreme horror" tale
'Last Call' - an homage to author Jack Ketchum
'All I Ever Wanted' - another "extreme horror" tale
If you have read any of my past reviews on Ford's work ('Crystal Bay' and 'Splattered Beauty') then you will recall that he is one of my all-time-favorite independent authors - who deserves to be a household name!
I have called him our "modern-day" Richard Laymon and I still stick to that!
I do not want to get into any of the details of the above stories (better that you don't know anything) other than to tell you that each one is horrifying in its own right. Ford pulls absolutely no punches in these tales, in fact, he pushes the boundaries quite far!
(let me just say that 'All I Ever Wanted' was not something that I would have ever chosen to read, yet I could not stop turning the pages!)
Ford does that to you - he sucks you in, from the get-go, with superb character development, and then takes you on a riveting (brutal & graphic) journey that leads to a climactic finale!
If you have never read Brandon Ford, then start with this one - he's at his best here!
(I guarantee that you will then be checking out his other books!)
Each story has my 5 Skull rating!
On a side-note, in my travels, I somehow missed his novel 'Pay Phone' (which I have since purchased) so stay tuned for a review of that one, in the future, as well...
Jason
Genre - Horror/"Speculative Fiction"
Year Published - 2011
Length - 228 [digital] pages *Read on my Nook
Written by Alan S. Kessler
Rating: 2 Skulls
Plot Summary:
What does the devil really want?
Nostalgic for the Inquisition and plague, Satan feels neglected by the modern world that no longer blames him for disease and death. He plans to create a new genesis, a place where people will love him.
For that, his son needs just the right soul, and there is one - unique, powerful, able to heal.
To get it, Satan has a plan that begins in Ireland in the famine year, 1848, and 180 years later he traps a young girl and her family in demonic forces pushing them to kill.
Review:
Generally, I would not normally read a book about Satan attempting to establish himself a kingdom/world where it's people love/worship him, however I completely misunderstood the author's own description, in which he stated, "A Satan Carol is a horror story, with a message for those who want to understand God's apparent absence at the intersection of free will & choice. It is a story, with religious themes written for a secular reader. It is, in the end, a tale about family values - even if they originate in hell."
I completely missed everything in that description!
I do not want to say that I was misled, I just think that upon reading that, I got excited to read a really good Christian-Fiction tale (along the lines of Frank Peretti) however that is not what I got at all. :(
Aside from the disappointment of not meeting my expectation, I've come to understand that I am just not a fan of "speculative fiction" (is this the same as "bizarro fiction"?!?)
If you are a fan, then by all means, check this book out, you may enjoy it far more than I did.
To me, the book just seemed to go all over the place - jumping back & forth in time, between realities/worlds, etc. - difficult to read, in my opinion.
This is not a knock on Kessler's writing, which is actually quite good. He created some interesting characters and storylines, it just seemed extremely disorganized, which, at times, made reading the book seem a chore (hence my rating)
I enjoy reading books that are hard to put down - this one is not one of those...
Jason
Genre - Action-Adventure/Martial-Arts/Foreign
Chinese Title: 'Long men fai jia'
Year Released - 2011
Running Time - 122 minutes
Directed by Tsui Hark
Written by Tsui Hark
Cast Includes: Jet Li, Kun Chen, Xun Zhou, and Siu-Wong Fan
Rating: 4 Skulls
Plot Summary:
As the Ming Dynasty ends, ruthless warlord Yu tightens his grip on China, and Zhao Huai'an and his men meet at the Dragon Gate Inn to plan a rebellion...
Trailer:
Review:
I know that this isn't a low-budget/independent film, however I have no idea how I missed this one (in IMAX 3D no less!) so I figured I would bring it to your attention, in case you missed it as well...
Pretty much a re-make/"re-imagining" of the original 1966 Dragon Gate Inn and its subsequent 1992 re-make 'New' Dragon Gate Inn (starring Donnie Yen) 'Flying Swords' is an above-average Wuxia/Wushu Kung-Fu flick.
Tsui Hark ('Once Upon a Time in China') who also directed Jet Li in 'The Master' (and Jackie Chan in 'Twin Dragons') does not disappoint with this film. There is more than enough high-flying, acrobatic martial arts action to appease even die-hard fans of this genre!
And the best part is, it's currently available on Netflix Instant
(I know that is nowhere near the same as seeing it in IMAX 3D, but it is still sufficient)
Jason
Genre - Horror
Year Published - 2012
Length - 297 pages
Written by D. Nathan Hilliard
Rating: 5+ Skulls
Plot Summary:
Welcome to the Textro Truck Stop... where they have hot food, hot coffee, and even hotter waitresses.
It's a slow Friday night at the Textro, and business isn't expected to pick up until the football game let's out in nearby Masonfield. Deke, backed up by his friend, Harley, is here on a mission of romance. Rachel Sutherland has come to unwind from a bad day at the clinic. Thomas "Grandpa Tom" Burns and "Leaping" Larry Brown have dropped in for some diesel and coffee while, across the diner, Holly just wants to get her socially disastrous boyfriend, Gerald, home. Waitresses Stacey and Marisa are taking it easy during the lull, serving the few patrons while waiting for the game crowd to arrive.
But things are about to get busy in an unexpected and deadly way.
There is a storm coming in and the crowd that arrives with it isn't from Masonfield... at least, not anymore. These surprise guests are from the nearby Mazon County Cemetery, and they have their own idea of what should be on the menu.
Now, a dwindling collection of locals, waitresses, truckers, out-of-towners, and one astonished veterinarian find themselves in a desperate fight for survival against a foe they thought only existed in the movies. And as the night wears on they discover that if they don't escape by dawn, they may not escape... ever.
Review:
Let me start off by just telling you that this is, by far, the BEST zombie novel that I have read. (and I've read dozens!)
Hilliard's prologue (titled "Awakening") - basically the arrival of Armageddon - builds the foundation of the story - the "awareness", the "NEED" of the abominations that he has so vividly created... (and Chapter One is right up there with the classic Night of the Living Dead - and it only continues to get better!)
Hilliard brings to light, previously un-thought of (to me anyway) concepts, such as a corpse's eyes and mouth being sewn shut (rendering it blind and unable to feed) or, after a feeding frenzy, the victim's feet being left behind, due to them being tied up inside of boots, etc - things like that - brilliant!
There are also several "Hold Your Breath" moments throughout the book.
Hilliard does an outstanding job juggling multiple, interesting characters - characters that you generally care about and want to learn more of. Also, he does not hold back, at all, when it comes to the gore! (a particular nauseating autopsy scene comes to mind)
I genuinely cannot rave enough about this book!
It has a fantastic concept, is superbly written, and is extremely realistic/terrifying!
This is the 'True Romance' of zombie novels. Buy this book either for yourself, or for your loved one - it will make a great Valentine's Day gift! ;-)
Jason
Genre - Horror
Year Released - 2011
Running Time - 86 minutes
Directed by Paul Campion
Written by Paul Campion, Paul Finch, and Brett Ihaka
Cat Includes: Craig Hall, Matthew Sunderland, Karlos Drinkwater, and Gina Varela
Rating: 5 Skulls
Plot Summary:
Two commandos, sent to sabotage a Nazi fortress in the Channel Islands, discover a Nazi occult plot to unleash demonic forces to win the war.
Trailer:
Review:
If you have been following my blog, for any length of time, then you should remember me telling you to "keep an eye on Paul Campion".
If you do not recall the name, he is the director of two superb short films that I reviewed, back in 2009 - 'Night of the Hell Hamsters' and 'Eel Girl' (see my reviews - dated 01/23/09)
He has also done f/x work on several major films, including Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Sin City, X-Men, etc.
Currently available on Netflix Instant, The Devil's Rock is Campion's 1st full-feature film, and he does not disappoint!
Opening on the eve of D-Day, June 5th, 1944, we are witness to two soldiers traversing a minefield, in order to reach a Nazi fortress where they are to sabotage the German's gun emplacements, in order to distract Hitler's forces away from Normandy.
While fulfilling their mission, the two soldiers hear screams, gunfire, and laughter. When they enter the fortress to investigate, they discover bodies strewn about, with blood everywhere, splattering the walls and floor.
They are about to realize the truth behind the Nazi's dabbling in the occult...
Campion has written & directed a great film, filled with excellent acting and fantastic special effects!
Jason
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