Something Wicked This Way Comes

Most people interested in the Horror/Sci-fi genre have read at least one piece of Ray Bradbury. I'm ashamed to say I had not. Though I knew of his iconic stories, this was my first approximation at Bradbury's rich body of work which has claimed fame for awesome short stories and not so awesome novels.

Something Wicked This Way Comes was conceived as a script for a movie--based on the experiences of a young Bradbury--that didn't happen. It was after the movie deal fizzled that the famed author decided to revise the manuscript and turned it into a dark novel. The characters became malevolent and the iconic carnival was born.

The book tells the story of two boys, friends and neighbors, who are growing, maturing at different paces, yearning for different things, yet so happy to have one another. Then a carnival arrives in town, conspicuously too late in the year and too close to Halloween. Immediately you know somethings is not right, the carnival characters are just too dark, the maze of mirrors threatens to drown its visitors, the calliope sings without a touch, and the carrousel rides only after the last of the visitors has gone home.

From the first line the reader is stricken by Bradbury's rich vocabulary full of images and metaphors. He masterfully evokes images in our heads that range from a truly nostalgic ache for youth, to the horrific wonders this carnival from hell can offer you in exchange for your soul. The first few chapters are enthralling because of the beauty of his words and how much the prose feels like poetry; however, as chapters go by, the almost baroque narrative makes it hard to enjoy the time in front of the book.

On the other hand, the story is so compelling, it pushes the reader to never stop, to keep through to the end. The seemingly impossible odds against the boys must turn in their favor, don't they? I was so invested in the characters, I just had to know. Bradbury's characters jump out of the pages. I found the father, Mr. Halloway, particularly endearing. His nostalgia for his lost youth, his sadness for what he feels as a barrier between him and his son, his ultimate fortitude to confront the evil threatening the boys and his own fears. Mr. Halloway is truly a complex character that outshines the rest of the cast.

The other side of the dime, Mr. Dark, is a very simple man. He's evil, twisted, and cruel. He's older than sin and wants the soul of the boys, and everyone else's who gets in his way. And it's probably because of his simplicity that Mr. Dark is a very disturbing villain, too powerful for those poor boys. The dichotomy between the two older characters plays very well, making the reader tremble with fear as the boys must confront each of Mr. Dark's emissaries.

When reading Something Wicked This Way Comes, one is baring witness to one of the contemporary horror classics and there's no denying why it won such a status. Whether heavy narrative that reminds of Magic Realism is your thing or not, it is impossible not to admire a piece so beautifully written.

My advise for the reader would be to take on this book only if you have time. Pick it for a relaxing bath, or whenever you can give it a few hours to appreciate it. This is not a story to be read in one evening. You need to take the time for the complex vocabulary to sink in, to let its true meaning, its many morals and reflexions to touch your skin, trickle to your subconscious, and take residence in your heart.

Day 23: W

So, we can see the end line from here. After a month long marathon, the last few posts are on the horizon and some of them are really hard to figure out (X & Y anyone??). Let's give it a last sprint and hope for the best.

Movie.

From Within (2008)
Directed by Phedon Papamichael.

Plot: In a small Maryland town, the suicide of an outcast teenager triggers a string of violent suicides. These suicides seem to stem from a curse which spreads when any person, who witnesses the suicide, is possessed by an evil force that appears as the person's doppelganger that only they can see. A young teenager, named Lindsey, thinks there is a connection of the events to Aidan, the outcast brother of the first suicide case. But Lindsay must race against the clock when she witnesses her mother fall victim, and must try to find a way to stop the curse before it kills her too. Meanwhile the God-fearing townspeople, led by a fanatic preacher with a connection to the events also, form a vigilante group to take the law in their own hands.

Review: Another independent movie that was released without fanfare and mostly floated to oblivion. Though the movie isn't perfect, I loved the unusual and mysterious plot. I found this movie while cruising the channels looking for something worth of my time, I watched the first fifteen minutes and I was hooked. That's how effective the premiss is. The director does a great job at making fresh the old setting of religious zealots in the farthest corners of the US, and there's something on the imagery of seeing your doppelgänger about to kill you that just makes my skin crawl. From Within has suspense, a few gruesome deaths, some soul liberating laughs, and a nice final twist. The perfect engagement for a rainy day.

Book.

The woman in Black by Susan Hill.
Published by Hamish Hamilton in 1983.

Blurb: A classic ghost story: the chilling tale of a menacing specter haunting a small English town. Arthur Kipps is an up-and-coming London solicitor who is sent to Crythin Gifford—a faraway town in the windswept salt marshes beyond Nine Lives Causeway—to attend the funeral and settle the affairs of a client, Mrs. Alice Drablow of Eel Marsh House. Mrs. Drablow's house stands at the end of the causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but Kipps is unaware of the tragic secrets that lie hidden behind its sheltered windows. The routine business trip he anticipated quickly takes a horrifying turn when he finds himself haunted by a series of mysterious sounds and images—a rocking chair in a deserted nursery, the eerie sound of a pony and trap, a child's scream in the fog, and, most terrifying of all, a ghostly woman dressed all in black.

Review: I first came in contact with the story as a stage adaptation in Mexico city. After being mesmerized by it, I became obsessed with the piece and researched it. It turns out it has been on stage in the famous Fortune Theater in Covent Garden, London, since 1989! Various countries have their own adaptations running to huge success for five years--like Madrid--to twelve years--like Mexico--. Surprised? Well, you shouldn't be. The Woman in Black is a ghost story that relies on Hill's command over the language, whose narration is an example in containment, character development, and setting atmosphere. Her flawless style serves perfectly the post Victorian-early Edwardian time she selected for the novel. Even that serves to a greater purpose as we see MC Arthur Kipps torn between an age of rationality and the Victorian superstitions of the past, turning Arthur in more that a mere narrator just spewing a ghost story, but a flawed, unfortunate soul we deeply feel for.

A to Z Challenge. Letter U

Movie.

The Uninvited (1944)

Directed by Lewis Allen.

Plot: A brother and sister move into an old seaside house they find abandoned for many years on the English coast. Their original enchantment with the house diminishes as they hear stories of the previous owners and meet their daughter (now a young woman) who now lives as a neighbor with her grandfather. Also heard are unexplained sounds during the night. It becomes obvious that the house is haunted. The reasons for the haunting and how they relate to the daughter whom the brother is falling in love with, prove to be a complex mystery. As they are compelled to solve it, the supernatural activity at the house increases to a frightening level.

Review: The Uninvited is one of the rare Hollywood ghost stories that does not cop out with a "logical" ending. In fact, the film has more in common with British ghost tales of the period in that the characters calmly accept spectral visitations as though they were everyday occurrences. Based on the novel by Dorothy Macardle (with a few uncredited "lifts" from Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca), The Uninvited remains one of the spookiest "old dark house" films ever made.

Book.

Uncle Silas by J. Sheridan le Fanu.

Published by Dublin University Magazine in 1864.

Blurb: In "Uncle Silas", Sheridan Le Fanu's most celebrated novel, Maud Ruthyn, the young, naïve heroine, is plagued by Madame de la Rougierre from the moment the enigmatic older woman is hired as her governess. A liar, bully, and spy, when Madame leaves the house, she takes her dark secrets with her. Then Maud is orphaned and sent to live with her Uncle Silas, her father's mysterious brother and a man with a scandalous, maybe even murderous, past. Once again, she encounters Madame and her sinister role in Maud's destiny becomes all too clear. With its subversion of reality and illusion, and its exploration of fear through the use of mystery and the supernatural, "Uncle Silas" shuns the conventions of traditional horror and delivers a chilling psychological thriller.

Review: A Victorian Gothic Mystery-Thriller, this novel is one of the earliest and most notable examples of the 'Locked room mystery' sub genre. It does not delve into the supernatural but it isn't any less creepy because of that. The story, like all good gothic ones, is atmospheric and claustrophobic to its best, you feel the sense of danger and worry about Maud, the seventeen-year-old protagonist. Another great bonus of the book is that it is obviously catered to a Victorian readership and presents a very clear picture of the moral values and fears of the time. Though the scandals at the core of "Uncle Silas" won't scandalize anyone with our modern sensibilities, it is of great interest to realize what it took to rock the Victorian society to its core. Do not miss this jewel.

Horrors to the T

And the last week of the challenge shall commence with letter T. Enjoy!

Movie.

A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Directed by Jee-Won Kim.

Plot: Two sisters who, after spending time in a mental institution, return to the home of their father and cruel stepmother. Once there, in addition to dealing with their stepmother's obsessive and unbalanced ways, an interfering ghost also affects their recovery.

Review: Another old J-horror film that mostly nobody watched. A Tale of Two Sisters was latter given the Hollywood touch-up and released as The Uninvited but it failed to grab the attention of movie-goers. Why, you ask? Well, The Uninvited was a fair attempt and better done than most adaptations but A Tale of Two Sisters is based on a widely known Taiwanese folktale that has been adapted to cinema several times. Imagine a Bloody Mary movie for a Russian population who has never even heard about Bloody Mary. Half the fun is gone!

A tale of Two Sisters is the latest and more accomplished version of the tale. It is beautifully film. We see the events unfold through the eyes of the oldest daughter, who just got home from an extended stay on the hospital. This is the classic trick of an unreliable narrator used with extreme skill. The movie is confusing but it only adds to the thrill. It has been described as a psychological thriller, a ghost story, and a horror. Watch it and choose what works for you.

Book.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James.
Published byWilliam Heinemann in 1898.

Blurb: One of literature's most gripping ghost stories depicts the sinister transformation of two innocent children into flagrant liars and hypocrites. Elegantly told, it is a tale of unspoken horror and psychological terror that creates what few stories in literature have been able to do, a complete feeling of dread and uncertainty.

Review: If you like gothic literature, you have to read James' best known novel. It is a testament to his skill and a necessary book for every lover of classic literature. The open ending and paranoid feeling of the whole story is what has made it endure. There is not enough that can be said to make it honor. Just read it.

Letter O

I know most of you know what the A to Z challenge is, but for those who just have no idea what I've been talking about throughout month, here it is. Every day there's a letter of the alphabet and I did a whole  lot of research to bring you the best horror movies and books you haven't heard about. Now, the letters that correspond to a few of the following weeks are really difficult (I'm talking to you O, P, Q) so bare with me if the books or movies are not so obscure. I was desperate.

With you, letter O.

Movie.

The Orphanage (2007)

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona.

Plot: When her old orphanage goes on the market, Laura and her family settle in and plan to re-open it as a home for special-needs children. Husband and wife initiate a series of works in the house while their seven-year-old son, Simon, starts talking about five invisible friends that Laura thinks are his way of adapting to their secluded new house. When Simon disappears without a trace, his parents contact the police but to no avail. Laura is haunted by odd noises and strange visions. She is convinced that they aren't alone in the old manor and whoever is with them holds the clue to her son's disappearance. Produced and presented by Guillermo Del Toro, The Orphanage bears a vague resemblance to the ghostly Devil's Backbone.

Review: An excellent movie. Bayona's imagery wraps us in the tragic story of this mother and the derailment of her life. The Orphanage is, at its core, not a ghost movie, but a story about how the love between a mother and her son knows no boundaries. I was surprised at the emotionally charged ending but cheer up, the movie does have its very creepy side.

Book.

Once again, I was turned between two great books and I couldn't bring myself to cut one.

1. The Other by Thomas Tryon.

    Published by Alfred A Knopf in 1971.

    Blurb: Holland and Niles Perry are identical thirteen-year-old twins. They are close, close enough to almost read each other’s thoughts, but they couldn’t be more different. Holland is bold and mischievous, a bad influence, while Niles is kind and eager to please, the sort of boy who makes his parents proud. The Perrys live in the bucolic New England town their family settled in centuries ago and now the extended family has gathered at their farm this summer to mourn the death of the twins’ father in an unfortunate accident. Mrs. Perry never quite recovered from the shock and stays sequestered in her room, leaving her sons to roam free. As the summer goes on and Holland’s pranks become increasingly sinister, Niles finds he can no longer make excuses for his brother’s actions.

The Other is a landmark of psychological horror, Thomas Tryon’s bestselling novel about a homegrown monster is an eerie examination of the darkness that dwells within everyone.

    Review: A genuinely frightening story, The Other sweeps away the reader to the tranquil life of a Connecticut country town where everything can be hiding behind the facade of normality. The subtle prose plays with our fears and maximizes the creepiness effect. The Other is one of the most influential horror novels ever written. Its impeccable recreation of small-town life and its skillful handling of personality transference led to widespread critical acclaim for the novel, which was successfully adapted to film with the author himself writing the screenplay.

2. An Occurrence at Owl Creek by Ambrose Bierce.

    Published by The San Francisco Examiner in 1890.

    Blurb: The condemned man stands on a bridge, his hands bound behind his back. A noose is tied around his neck. In a moment he will meet his fate: DEATH BY HANGING. There is no escape. Or is there?

    Review: One of the forefathers of horror in general and a master at quiet horror, An Occurrence at Owl Creek is one of the most influential stories of Ambrose Bierce. This short story told in a jumping timeline and with the original twist of an ending has been adapted as a Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents episodes and a number of movies, the most recent being 2008 The Escapist. You are missing a cornerstone if you haven't read it.

A to Z Challenge. Letter M.

And with letter M we have...

Movie.

Martyrs (2008)
Directed by Pascal Laugier

Plot: Fifteen years after a horrifying experience of abduction and prolonged torture, Lucie embarks on a bloody quest for revenge against her oppressors. Along with her childhood friend, Anna, who also suffered abuse, she quickly descends into madness and her own delusions. Anna, left on her own, begins to re-experience what Lucie did when she was only twelve years old.

Review: A warning for all interested in this canadian jewel; the movie is part of the extreme violent and bloody slasher movement. I wouldn't categorize it with the rest of the Torture Porn movies (Hostel anyone?) simply because there is a deep, profound story and a reason for the violence. The movie attempts, and succeeds in my opinion, to show the deep emotional pain and scars that torture/abuse leaves. It is a harrowing story that somehow manages to have a somewhat uplifting ending. This is not for the faint hearted but definitively interesting and thought-provoking.

Book.

Midnight by Dean Koontz.
Published by Berkley in 1989.

Blurb: Four people are the last hope of Moonlight Cove because one by one the rest of the citizens are changing into boogymen, werewolves, mythical creatures, or something entirely new. They are the New People; the willing victims of a seductive experiment in chemically induced evolution. They can transform their bodies at will and eliminate unproductive emotions, like grief and compassion. In fact, the only instinct left to the New People is self-preservation, and their only emotion is fear. And they want the rest of humanity to join them.

Review: After a very gory, crude recommendation, I have something lighter and entertaining for you. "Midnight" is set in a small town in Northern California, where an experiment is transforming humans and a small group of survivors, along with an FBI agent, band together to respond to the horror. There is a pervasive sense of eerieness throughout the story and although the book is not without violence, it is not stomach-churning. True to his style, Koontz generates suspense and terror more through implication than explicit description, so fret not my squeamish friends. Also, as usual with Koontz, the book reads more like a mystery with a supernatural twist. "Midnight" was a Bram Stoker nominee in 1990.


Now a little extra.
For those who asked me to include Lovecraft in the list I give you At the Mountains of Madness.
Published in Outstanding Stories Magazine in 1936.

Blurb: A novella, At the Mountains of Madness is a tale of terror unilke any other. The Barren, windswept interior of the Antarctic plateau was lifeless--or so the expedition from Miskatonic University thought. Then they found the strange fossils of unheard-of creatures and the carved stones tens of millions of years old--and, finally, the mind-blasting terror of the City of the Old Ones. 

Review: This is one of my favorite Lovecraft stories, mostly because I read it in my youth and got me so stoked I read everything with his name on the cover that came my way. I couldn't stop thinking about the Necronomicon for months. I actually believed it to be a real satanic book and searched sea and earth to find a copy. Back then there was no internet to tell me my search was futile because the book existed only in the brilliant mind of the author. My heart broke when I found out. =(

A Horrific Ode to Letter L

Movie.

Lake Mungo (2008)
Directed by Joel Anderson.

Plot: Sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer drowns while swimming in the local dam. When her body is recovered and a verdict of accidental death returned, her grieving family buries her. The family then experiences a series of strange and inexplicable events centered in and around their home. Profoundly unsettled, the Palmers seek the help of psychic and parapsychologist, RAY KEMENY. Ray discovers that Alice led a secret, double life. A series of clues lead the family to Lake Mungo where Alice's secret past emerges. Lake Mungo is a mystery, a thriller and a ghost story.

Review: Nine out of ten people will say Lake Mungo is a truly scary, yet relatable film and it's not me making up this numbers, you can check IMDb for many more satisfied customers. The australian film is yet another 'mockumentary'. It is a mystery with so many twists and turns you never know what follows, then you add a touch of supernatural and you have the recipe for success.

Book.

Lair of the White Worm by Bram Stoker.
Published by William Rider and Son Ltd. in 1911.

Blurb: The story centers around Adam Salton who is contacted by his granduncle in England for the purpose of establishing as the last two members of the family. Adam travels to Richard Salton's house in Mercia and quickly finds himself in the center of some inexplicable occurrences. The new heir to the Caswall estate, Edgar Caswall appears to be making some sort of a mesmeric assault on a local girl, and a local lady, Arabella March, seems to be running a game of her own, perhaps angling to become Mrs. Caswall. There is something strange about Lady March, something inexplicable and evil.

Review: Once again I travel the less known path. I could have easily suggested Dracula but you all know that is a classic and it awesome. Instead I offer you something more from the same great mind. Lair of the White Worm is every bit as dark and gothic as its predecessor. Just remember our sensibilities are quite different from those of the Victorians, don't expect a contemporary horror.

New Sponsor! Letter I

Our second Tuesday of the challenge has arrived and with it comes more A to Z horror. Hope you like it.

Movie.

In the Mouth of Madness (1994)
Directed by John Carpenter.

Plot: With the disappearance of hack horror writer Sutter Cane, all Hell is breaking loose...literally! Author Cane, it seems, has a knack for description that really brings his evil creepy-crawlies to life. Insurance investigator John Trent is sent to investigate Cane's mysterious vanishing act and ends up in the sleepy little East Coast town of Hobb's End. The fact that this town exists as a figment of Cane's twisted imagination is only the beginning of Trent's problems....

Review: I saw this movie a long time ago and it fascinated me. It was the first time that a movie storyline reminded me so much of the bulk of Lovecraft's work. It is not based on any single story but the feeling of confusion and, to some degree, madness brought to my mind many of his great stories. It is not a horror in the sense that there are ghosts or demons; it is not a violent or gory movie; heck, it isn't even about a killer. It is simply the story of a writer and his books, and a matter of answering one key question: who created whom?

Book.

I am Legend by Richard Matheson.

Published by Gold Medal in 1954.

Blurb: Robert Neville is the last living man on Earth...but he is not alone. Every other man, woman, and child on Earth has become a vampire, and they are all hungry for Neville's blood. By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization. By night, he barricades himself in his home and prays for dawn. How long can one man survive in a world of vampires?

Review: Not so long ago I did an extensive review of this book, should you want more detail, you can click here. But let's go over the basics. Most of us remember the story from a Will Smith movie, right? I did enjoy the movie very much and that was what lead me to read Matheson's book. Then, of course, I found out that the book had nothing to do with the movie. And I mean nothing. First, it is not a zombie story. It is post-apocalyptic indeed, but Norman truly is the last man on earth and the story is more about that fact. How do you deal with loneliness, with being the odd one, how do you survive your own memories of the ones you lost. In Matheson's world, during the day Norman is king and a hunter, but by night he is the pray and an ant.

And then there was G.

First I want to wish you all a happy Easter. May the Easter Bunny bring you many eggs full of candies and new publications. =)

Here are the selections for the day.

Movie.

Grave Encounters (2011)
Directed by The Vicious Brothers


Plot: Lance Preston and the crew of "Grave Encounters", a ghost-hunting reality television show, are shooting an episode inside the abandoned Collingwood Psychiatric Hospital, where unexplained phenomena has been reported for years. All in the name of good television, they voluntarily lock themselves inside the building for the night and begin a paranormal investigation, capturing everything on camera. They quickly realize the building is more than just haunted - it is alive - and it has no intention of ever letting them leave. They find themselves lost in a labyrinth maze of endless hallways and corridors, terrorized by the ghosts of the former patients. They soon begin to question their sanity, slipping deeper and deeper into the depths of madness, ultimately discovering the truth behind the hospital's dark past...and taping what turns out to be their final episode.

Review: HOLY COW. This movie knocked my socks off. Another found footage film, and in the best Blair Witch style, the movie is claustrophobic and atmospheric. A perfect selection for a stormy dark night. If you like shows like Ghost Hunters, My Ghost Story, of Ghost Adventures, this will make your blood run cold.

Book.

Ghost Stories by MR James.
Published by Penguin in 1931.

Blurb: M. R. James is best remembered for his ghost stories which are widely regarded as among the finest in English literature. One of James' most important achievements was to redefine the ghost story for the new century by dispensing with many of the formal gothic trappings of his predecessors, and replacing them with more realistic contemporary settings.
According to James, a story must "put the reader into the position of saying to himself: 'If I'm not careful, something of this kind may happen to me!'"


Review: MR James is not very famous in America, however he was quite a figure of his times. He was an English medieval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge (1905–1918), as well as of Eton College (1918–1936). Beyond his social stature and fame at the time, the reason why he is mostly remembered these days is his ghost stories, regarded as among the best in the genre. James redefined the ghost story by abandoning the formal Gothic clichés of the time and using more realistic settings. His endurance would surely come as a surprise to him but the fact that he can still scare you from your iPad is prove that he is one of the best.


Thanks for commenting! I'll visit you all soon.

A to Z Challenge. Letter F.

Let's not beat around the bushes. I know what you want, what you came here for, so here it is: Letter F.

Movie.

The Fall of the House of Usher (1960)
Directed by Roger Corman


Plot: After a long journey, Philip arrives at the Usher mansion seeking his loved one, Madeline. Upon arriving, however, he discovers that Madeline and her brother Roderick Usher have been afflicted with a mysterious malady: Roderick's senses have become painfully acute, while Madeline has become catatonic. That evening, Roderick tells his guest of an old Usher family curse: any time there has been more than one Usher child, all of the siblings have gone insane and died horrible deaths. As the days wear on, the effects of the curse reach their terrifying climax.

Review: I know this is really going old school but House of Usher is a very special movie to me. I watched it on my early teen years when I was innocent and impressionable. Not only it scared me good, it introduced me to one of my favorite actors of all time, the talented and quite dapper Vincent Prince. It also made me curious enough about Poe's stories that I actually took to read them. So, this is more of a sentimental choose for me. However, the movie is extraordinary. The adaptation is fantastic, as it effectively transfers the gothic ambiance of the piece, its eeriness, and its scares. The acting, of course, makes the movie because with like so many gothic books, it is all about the characters. So do watch this movie. I know, it's black and white, but consider this: it won't hurt your eyes as much if you watch it with the lights off. Oh, WAIT! I just found out you can find it in Technicolor, hurray!!

Book.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.
Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers in 2009.

Blurb: In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?


Review: Apocalyptic YA stories are all the rage these days and since there have been a lot of comments from those of you who are not fans of hard core horror, I thought Carrie Ryan's book might be a good option for you. In The Forest of Hands and Teeth (a trilogy, by the way) there's a bit for every taste. There are zombies, grim happenings, scares, gloom, love, and action. The characters are well crafted and you feel for them. The main character, a young girl, is strong and believes in herself but is bounded by love to her family and friends, and moral obligations to the people of the village. She's not all-powerful but she's not whiny and in need of a prince. If you liked the movie The Village, you'll find this an interesting book, just remember that this is a trilogy and the ending will not be too 'definitive'.


Remember to leave your suggestions for me!

A to Z Challenge. Letter E.

For letter E I decided to try a movie from a sub genre that has been very popular lately, the found-footage. This type of movies are usually less graphic and tend to be low budget with not many effects but effective scare scenes. Of course the most famous are The Blair Witch Project and Paranormal Activity. Both of them made big bucks and are fan favorites. I for one, love them, though there are a lot of detractors to the style. But no, I didn't choose one that you already know, that was the goal of the whole challenge, remember? Instead I chose a small production that barely got noted but that's pretty impacting.

Now, for the book I went with a classic you all know but, I'm willing to bet, most of you haven't read.

With you, the selections of the day.

Movie.

Exhibit A (2007)
Directed by Dom Rotheroe



Plot: Exhibit A tells the timely story of a normal family disintegrating under financial pressure, eventually driven to the unimaginable. All is not as it seems as the King family go about their day-to-day lives oblivious of the horror to come. Dad Andy (Bradley Cole) is nursing a secret that ultimately leads to terrible consequences for them all. We witness these chilling events unfold through daughter Judith's video camera, which subsequently becomes Exhibit A.

Review: Technically a thriller, this is an extraordinary, award winning, indy movie that is worth every second of the 89 minutes you'll invest in watching it. The story is conveyed in the natural form of family home videos, so the wobbly camera angles and moves are there but they won't make you sick unless you are very sensitive, in which case you are not a fan of the found footage sub genre. However, also in keeping with this style of movies, the less you know about it, the better for your enjoyment, so lets leave it at this: Watch it!

Book.

The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty.
Published by Corgi Books in 1971.

Blurb: (Is this really necessary? Ok, fine.) When originally published, "The Exorcist" became not only a bestselling literary phenomenon, but one of the most frightening and controversial novels ever written. (When the author adapted his book to the screen two years later, it then became one of the most terrifying movies ever made.) The deceptively simple story focuses on Regan, the 11-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. When the child is apparently possessed by an ancient demon, it's up to a small group of overwhelmed yet determined humans to somehow rescue Regan from this unspeakable fate. Purposefully raw and profane, this novel still has the extraordinary ability to literally shock us into forgetting that it is "just a story." "The Exorcist" remains a truly unforgettable reading experience. It's sequel, "Legion", was published in 1983.

Review: Why did I choose this one, you wonder? Well, because most of the time you hear all about the movie and most people have watched it and thought they didn't need to read the book. The movie was incredibly well adapted, I'll say that, but the book still retains a raw power over the reader that will make you experience a big range of emotions, not only fear. I also was pleasantly surprised by the depth of Father Karras' character. We suffer through his battle with his faith and feel his lose as the story develops. I even cried at the ending. This is a very complex book that deserves a lot more credit than living in the shadow of a superb movie. Do yourself a favor, don't skip it.

For more amazing A to Z blogs click here.

A to Z Challenge. C...

For C-Day a classic movie and another classic but fairly unknown book. I present to you:

Movie.

The Changeling (1980)
Directed by Peter Medak.

Plot: When composer John Russell (George C. Scott) loses his wife and daughter in a car wreck, he seeks solace by renting a secluded estate outside Seattle. But the mansion is haunted by the presence of a child who died there more than 80 years ago. Now, Russell must find out who that child was and why there seems to be a cover-up now.

Review: This is another quiet movie that doesn't pack the gore nor shock value we are so used to nowadays. It is atmospheric and the tension builds up relentlessly, leaving the viewer feeling pleasantly uncomfortable through out the whole movie. Those interested in more than jump-value in a ghost story will appreciate the beauty of the story driving this piece, as well as the very well done creepy scares that'll keep you holding a pillow close to your face. Truly a classic.

Book.

Conjure Wife by Frietz Leiber.
Published in 1943 by Unknown Words.

Blurb: Professor Norman Saylor considered magic nothing more than superstition. Then he learned that his wife was a practicing sorceress. But he still refuses to accept the truth: that in the secret occult warfare that governs our lives, magic is a matter of life and death; and that unbeknownst to men, every woman knows it.

Review: I'm in the process of reading this book and so far I find it very well written, interesting, and intelligent. The professor is a Psycologist in fact and the author uses this to establish the pragmatic nature of his main character. Then, of course, there's a clear change of gears when it is the wife we're talking about. I love how the language plays such a clue piece in setting the mind frame for the reader. I still have half book ahead of me, but so far I can recommend it happily. I'll be sure to be back and do a complete review once all is said and done.

Hope you are enjoying this as much as I am. Remember to hop around to get more A to Z awesomeness.

A to Z Challenge. B...

Day 2 and time for B recommendations...

Movie.

Borderland (2007)

Directed by Zev Berman.

Plot: Loosely based on a case occurred on 1989 in a northern Mexican town close to the American border where a group of drug dealers killed at least twenty people for the sole purpose of using their bodies in satanic rituals. When they kidnapped and killed Mark Kirloy, a student who disappeared in march 1989 during spring break, the story became so big, it lead to the capture of their leader and dismantlement of the group. In the movie three college students, Phil, Ed, and Henry, take a road trip into Mexico for a week of drinking and carefree fun only to have Phil find himself captive of a group of satanic Mexican drug smugglers.


Review: Though the movie does not depict the real turn of events, it follows the line our imagination goes when one reads about a group of drug smugglers and satanists killing people to offer them to the devil in exchange for power and money. The movie is very disturbing. There is no paranormal monster anywhere, no ghosts, nor any cameo from demons of any kind. The evil in the movie comes totally as courtesy of the humans committing despicable acts of violence with the possible excuse of being crazy. In that sense this film works perfectly as the viewer can perceive the frail mental state of the one calling the shots, as the desperation of the young group of friends trying to escape the unbelievable situation they put themselves into. This movie is not for everyone but let me assure you, it will scare you silly.


Book.


I just couldn't make my mind, so I will point to two amazing books that every lover or horror has to read.


1. Books of Blood by Clive Barker.
    Published in 1985 by Berkley Books.


Blurb: There are six books in total, each simply subtitled Volume 1 through to Volume 6, and were subsequently re-published in two omnibus editions containing three volumes each. Each volume contains four or five stories. With the publication of the first volume, Barker became an overnight sensation, hailed by Stephen King as "the future of horror". The book won both the British and the World Fantasy Awards. Several of the stories have been adapted into movies, "Rawhead Rex" (1986); "Candyman" (based on "The Forbidden" in 1992); "Lord of Illusions" (Based on "The Last Illusion"in); "Quicksilver Highway" (based on "The Body Politic" in 1997); "The Midnight Meat Train" (2008); "The Book of Blood" (in 2008, which combined "Book Of Blood" and "On Jerusalem Street"), and "Dread" (2009).


Review: This is another book that's waiting for me atop my huge pile of TBR but it doesn't matter where you read about it, it has nothing but four and five stars, and with so many amazing movies being based on these stories, one can't wait to jump at the chance of holding in one's hands a piece of contemporary horror history.




2. Best Ghosts Stories by Algernon Blackwood.
    Published in 1973 by Dover Publications.


Blurb: "If a ghost is seen, what is it interests me less than than what sees it?" Thus Algernon Blackwood describes his fascination with human beings' ability to sense invisible powers and stirrings in the universe, a fascination he developed most famously in his stories about mystical, ineffable encounters with nature. This collection, selected by renowned scholar of the supernatural, E. F. Bleiler, is an excellent sample of Blackwood's work, including 12 of his best ghost stories and a crime story as well. Blackwood is acknowledged today as the author who made the ghost story into a respectable literary form.


Review: Sadly, Algernon Blackwood is a name most of us haven't heard at all. He definitively set the groundwork that made the horror genre what it is today and his stories should be a must for every self-respecting horror buff. Now, don't expect blood and gore, these stories are the complete opposite of Clive Barker's in that they are subtle, quiet, and atmospheric but nonetheless eerie. Algernon Blackwood presents a good opportunity for those who are not used to or do not enjoy extremely frightening reading, however they will stay with you for a long time.


Hope you enjoy today's selections! Keep the comments and suggestions coming, I'll do my best to accommodate them all. Have a great B-Day and remember to keep hopping!!

The A to Z Challenge's Here. A...

I can't believe how fast the years is going, already April!! And what a month it will be. My first A to Z Challenge ever. So, my plan is simple, I write mostly horror and I love the genre so I'll share with you a movie and a book based on the letter of the day. Now, I'll try to stay away from the classic movies and books that show up on every list. The idea is to help those of you interested in the genre to find a few new pieces you might haven't come across before. Please, do share your own favorites as I'm always looking for things to read and watch.


Here. We. Go. (drum roll, please)...

LETTER A

Movie.


The Abandoned (2006)
Director: Nacho Cerda
Country: Spain/UK/Bulgaria



Blurb: An American woman searching for her birth parents learns she has inherited a house in the middle of a forest in a remote area of Russia. It is the house where she was born. Abandoned and uninhabited for 40 years, it stands in total disrepair and neglect. What she finds is more than an old house. She meets a mysterious man who claims to be her brother, a twin she never knew. Together they find the house holds secrets to a past they don't remember. Soon they are haunted by ghastly apparitions as they're forced to confront a tragic family secret and a destiny they cannot escape.


Review: This movie is beautifully filmed, the photograph is amazing and eerie in such a way that I couldn't turn my head away from the TV even though I was thoroughly confused through most of the movie. The story is not linear, hence very confusing when watching it for the first time, however, mystery surrounds everything, the ghosts are so disturbing and incredibly scary, and then there's the pay off of a very intelligent ending. I promise you will be flabbergasted with the final twist. On second view, the story is clearly a lot more logic, though there are a few gaps that I couldn't really explain. But who cares, right? This is a movie completely off the traditional path, haunting, super creepy, intelligent, and well done. Definitively a must see for all horror lovers.


Book.


American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis.
Published: 1991 by Vintage Books.

Blurb: Patrick Bateman moves among the young and trendy in 1980s Manhattan. Young, handsome, and well educated, Bateman earns his fortune on Wall Street by day while spending his nights in ways we cannot begin to fathom. Expressing his true self through torture and murder, Bateman prefigures an apocalyptic horror that no society could bear to confront.


Review: Though I haven't read this book, it has been highly recommended to me by several well trusted friends and connoisseurs of the genre. This book is, by all means, a modern classic that scares us because we have actually seen this kind of violence-for-no-reason type of people really exist. They are well adapted and can very well live in that pretty blue house next to yours. You'd never know it until he's killed you or the police knocks on your door to ask for what you might have seen over the past decade. What can be scarier than that?


Well, there you go. I hope you liked this recommendations, can't wait to read your thoughts. And remember to keep hopping!

Frankenstein, My Review

I finished reading this book a few months ago but hadn't been able to post my review before, caught up in work and all.

The first thing that comes to my mind is:  What a let down! I know, I'm sorry if you are a fan of the story but for me, it was hard to finish it. We all know the story:  Brilliant scientist gets obsessed with leaving his mark on the world and what bigger mark than eliminating death from scratch, right? He then dedicates half his life to mix and match body parts with liquids and electricity until he finally manages to accomplish his goal.

So far, so good. The style is a bit heavy on the rhetoric side but, hey, it's an 1818 book, so it kind of goes with the territory. The story is interesting and the characters relatable. Given that much of this section is told using the memories of a man who longs for the past tranquility and happiness, Shelly fails to convey that foggy, magical feeling memories tend to have. Instead, she gives way too much attention to the philosophy and morals behind Victor's actions. Gothic novels rely heavily on ambiance, and though the novel has clear traces of Gothic Style, it falls short from other great examples like Dracula, or Poe's work.

The second portion of the book I read out of sheer will power. There's no horror in this novel, at least not in the way every other Frankenstein lore and movies make you think. Most of the horror comes Victor Frankenstein himself in the form of cowardice that costs many lives.

When his monster wakes, the scientist feels horrified by his creation. Now he discovers how gross it is to have made it out of corpses. He has three options, either educate and study his monster to ensure humanity will only receive good from his creation, kill him in that same spot before the horrifying spawn becomes stronger, or run like a girl and try to forget this ever happened. Yeah, you guessed it. He runs.

Really, who can expect that running from your problems will make them vanish? What was Shelly thinking?! Anyways, the monster is forced to learn of his appearance by the reaction of others, is forced to feed himself, and becomes sad and angry against his father for abandoning him, and humanity for shunning him.

Shelly is clear in this section about the good naturedness of the creature when he first awakes, it is only after months of receiving bad treatment from others that he turns. So the monster is clearly for whom you feel and, at this point, is Victor who is the real monster.

I won't go on with details and ruin the novel for you but I'll go on to say that the other thing that didn't work for me is how, on the final section of the book, Shelly tries to revive our good feeling for Victor and make out of the creature the villain. You have to be very clear on how you want your readers to feel about your characters, or you have to be extremely skillful to change our minds midway. Mary Shelly is neither. The end I received with a celebratory sigh and swore never to open this book again.

If you enjoy classic literature, I wouldn't say skip it at all. It is a must read for those hard core fans of the horror genre, but don't expect it to be a horror in the modern sense. If you get easily annoyed by characters doing stupid illogical things, this might not be your cup of tea.

The Picture of Dorian Gray, A Review

It has taken me some time to get to write this review but here it is. As I've said previously, I'm on a quest to read as many classic books as I can and being that horror is my favourite genre, Dorian Gray's story couldn't be too far down on my list.

I'll begin by saying I did enjoy the book. The story is interesting and starts very promising as a conversation between a Lord and an artist develop seemingly unrelated to the topic of the book, but very soon they sell you on the mystery of this beautiful and innocent young man. You're hooked and can't look away from what becomes the horrible downward spiral in which the central character goes.

The narrative is heavy at times and there are whole arguments that feel like mere means to express the believes of the author, a little preachy to me, but not in the 'be good' kind of preachy, but in a justification that Wild gives for the acts committed by his characters. I explain. As a writer, when you think of a story and how it evolves, you have to find logic in what your characters believe and do; when these actions are a little outrageous or anti-natura, you have to work harder to sell the action to your readers. One way of doing it is to have the characters explain themselves in often long, tedious, unnatural speeches. However, if you move forward a couple of paragraphs the action restarts and the fall continues casting its spell on the reader in the same way we can't part eyes from a car crash on the road.

The supernatural aspect of the story is the portrait, of course, which makes few appearances but has a clear effect on the way Dorian behaves. It is an extraordinary book that made it clear to me why it had stayed on the public's mind for such a long time. It has suspense, pain, horror, mystery, and a heavy dose of philosophical undertones that leave you thinking about Dorian Gray's choices, the reason why the picture became his undoing, and why, to begin with, it became haunted.

The story has been adapted to film so many times it could make your head spin, which in this case, it's not so good. For those who haven't read it, it's almost impossible to escape its mentioning here or there with spooks or spin offs (The League of Extraordinary Men, anyone?) that makes you have a series of expectations that will, invariably, not be met because the piece does not fit in our current preconceptions of horror. Make no mistake, it is a greatly woven story with dark, twisted characters and horror that creeps under your skin not because there is blood and guts everywhere but because of the very real possibility to find a flawed human being like these in your neighbourhood.

All in all, a very recommendable piece, especially for the young. If you haven't read it, don't miss it, if you have, well, any day is a good day to revisit it.

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars






View all my reviews


Last night I finished reading I Am Legend and have to say: WHAT AN ENDING!! It is an incredibly original story because of the point of view from which Matheson chooses to narrate, to then turn the tables in the ending, leaving you every bit as astounded with the revelation as the main character is.

When the movie came out a few years ago, I liked it; it was scary and I thought Will Smith had done an amazing job at supporting the movie by himself. Now, after reading the book, I will never look at it the same way. It totally misses what makes the book so incredibly original and it makes so many changes to the story that renders it almost unrecognizable. In sum, the film story doesn't hold a candle to the one of the pages.

I have to say, though, the section where the main character is going through medical knowledge to explain himself the basis of the 'infection' gave me a stomachache. If you follow me and my work, you know I'm an MD. I don't know if the medical knowledge was that much far back in 1954, or if Matheson just picked and chose whatever he needed and made it fit the story, but I tell you: It was physically painful. Chances are, you aren't as versed in Physiology and won't notice a thing, so by all means, don't let this detail keep you from reading such a wonderful story.

I enjoyed the whole experience very much and was unable to put the book down from the moment I turned the first page. In my opinion, the story is a lot better thought out than Matheson's Hell House though the aforementioned has a richer vocabulary. I recommend it thoroughly and is now, among my favourite books ever.