Back to Our Regular Schedule...

The first review after the end-of-school-craziness is Midnight Movie Creature Feature, a b-movie inspired anthology edited by TW Brown featuring amazing monsters I thought were long dead, but are still surprisingly entertaining when its human counterparts live--or die--intelligently.

There are great stories in this anthology, but first I have a confession to make: I'm not a b-movie fan. In fact, I hate b-movies. I find them silly to the point of ridiculousness. I just don't find appealing movies that you watch in a theater full of people yelling and laughing at the screen. My kind of horror is the sort that robs you of your breath and makes you jump out of the seat at the slightest provocation.

There it is, I've said it. Now, you might be wondering what could have possessed me to read a b-movie inspired anthology. Well, for one, I've been hearing a lot about this sub-genre as many small publishers are currently taking submissions for their own anthologies. That got me curious, of course; how do you write a campy b-movie story? But, above all, I'm a consummate professional (well, maybe not so much but you can't blame me for trying). When it was required of me to review the book, I wasn't about to say no, but to tackle it with professionalism. I know what makes a good story, even if I don't like it, I can see it is well constructed, edited, and thought off. So I jumped in hoping I would learn more about this about-to-bloom horror twist.

Guess what, it won me over. I still hate b-movies, but these stories had me yelling at the characters on the pages more than once and my heart skipped a few beats (fine, lots). So I guess this should be good enough a commendation, right? Still, being a consummate professional (see?), I will go through the details of what makes Midnight Movie Creature Feature so good and, as always, I will choose the three stories that I enjoyed the most to specifically review. Hope you enjoy.

And the Dark Growls Back by Aaron Dries: This was the first story that truly grabbed me. It starts with a bang, we know something bad happened and our heroes are, firstly not so much heroes, but most importantly, their on the run. The pace of the story never slows down and the characters are appealing and well fleshed out. I won't ruin it for you but this story is quite different from the rest of the pack, which truly works for the best because it becomes like a final twist that I thought was brilliant.

From Rebirth to Reburial by M. W. Williamson: This is one of those stories that got me yelling "hell, yeah!" by the end. I was so pumped up! It might just be my eagerness to see more of the main character, but I think there's hope for a series out of Williamson's tale. And I'd be the first one in line to get the whole lot. The story is scary, twisted, and very human at its core. The pace fluctuates between ups and downs that play havoc with our hearts, and the backstory hints at a very complex character that we understand, though we are just scratching at the surface. Kudos to Williamson for crafting a simple monster story that, in the end, is much more than the sum of its parts.

North by M. J. Wesolowski: Now, as far as crafted tales go, I'd say North is the one that outshines the rest because of how quiet it is. It could very well held its own among the likes of T. W. Wright and Charles L. Grant, and if you add to the mix the fact that there is a monster at the core of the story, it is quite an accomplishment. The story develops slowly, building suspense as it goes and leaving you unable to breath until the whole thing ends and you are horrified by the final realization. The images described are beautiful, Wesolowski does an amazing job at letting us experience the isolation of the environment and uses it to its maximum potential, digging for the deep rooted need for societal secureness and fear of darkness inside us all. My absolute favorite of the whole.

All in all Midnight Movie Creature Feature is a very interesting read that won't let you feeling cheated out of your money. I did find a couple of stories that didn't resonate with me, one that I actually hated, but I'd say the anthology as a whole was well worth the hours I took out of my family time to read it. Look out for more of the authors and TW Brown, the editor of this anthology, who does an amazing job at selecting the stories and editing them. While it might sound as a given, these days finding not one typo and a good editorial job is less common that it should be. And gratefully acknowledged.

If you love the genre, get your copy and stock on the popcorn; if you don't, give it a try. You might find yourself stuffing your mouth with candy out of pure joy.

For more information on the book click here.

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. 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!!