Walking Dead: Life Among Them [volume 12]

Author: Robert Kirkman


Premise:
This volume sees the gang runs into a scout for walled off and protected community. He invites them come and get interviewed by the leader for permanent stay. The group goes but is hesitant.

My Take:
There are a couple of big dramatic moments in the volume including a big admission from Carl. But overall with heading to a new settlement, it feels like the set up for a new story arc.

Rating: So Good






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Manborg (2013)

Starring:  Matthew Kennedy, Adam Brooks, Meredith Sweeney, Conor Sweeney, Ludwig Lee, Andrea Karr, Jeremy Gillespie
Director: Steven Kostanski


Premise:
A soldier is brought back to life as a cyborg and the only way to stop the demon who has taken control of the Earth.

My Take:
It's a silly story and it's over the top nonsense and it's a fantastic way to be entertained for 90 minutes. Just turn off your brain and enjoy. Outstanding special effects, especially for the budget. The cast plays it which adds to the corniness. These Astro 6 know how do make a fun film.

Rating: So Good

 





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Grimm, Season 3 (2014)

 

Starring: David Guintoli, Silas Weir Mitchell, Russell Hornsby, Bitsie Tulloch, Bree Turner, Sash Rioz, Claire Coffee, Reggie Lee


Premise:

A cop realizes he can see creatures and is from a long line of hunters who fight them.

Season 3 has Nick gaining extra powers from his zombie curse and working relationship out with Juliette; Adalind baby is the key to a much larger picture as both the Royal Family and The Resistance try to take it from her; Monroe and Rosalee start planning for their wedding; and a new Grimm enters the mix. 
My Take:
The show is hitting it's stride after two seasons and is starting to reveal a much larger story yet to be told. While some episodes feel like a stand along, in reality they are not as most things that happen are becoming intertwined.

Rating: So Good



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Inexchange (2006)

Starring: Sean Blodgett
Director: Zack Parker


Premise:
A college student is picked on and bullied but his roommate and his friends. One day they go too far on a prank. A mysterious figure offers help to the student and soon those who wronged the kid wind up dead.

My Take:
An early work from a talented director who movies deal with cerebral horror. While the movie has some trappings of an ultra low budget film, all participants due the best they can with the situation. In the end, this is a very watchable flick especially if you enjoy slow paced and methodical story.


Rating: So Good


 

Side Note: I cant help but wonder if Zack Parker and my paths crossed during our university days in the Ball State T-Com department. We are about the same age and would have went during the same time. He looks familiar...



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Fatal Error [Repairman Jack #14]

Author: F. Paul Wilson


Premise:
Jack, a fixer of people's problems, finds himself in a battle for Earth's existence between two cosmic forces.

This novel sees The  One's followers (The Kickers, The Septimus Order, and others) plot to take down the internet. They think it will kill the Lady (the one entity which allows The Otherness not to take over Earth). In the meantime, Dawn Pickering has her baby which Rasalom snatches up quickly afterwards. Weezy tries to figure out the pieces while searching through the book. And Jack helps an Arabian American who had his wife and child kidnapped... and of course, none of this is a coincidence.

My Take:
The second to last novel in the series sets up everything for the a much anticipated showdown between Jack and The One, Rasalom. While the story is decent and has a lot of moving parts, it's really just adding to more of the overall story arc. I am hoping for a big payoff in the last novel. 

Rating: So Good






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Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (2014)

Starring: Andrew Jacobs, Jorge Diaz, Gabrielle Walsh, Renee Victor
Director: Christopher Landon


Premise:
After his 18th birthday, a young man finds out he is marked and a demon is possessing him.

My Take:
While the film falls into many of the standard "found footage" traps, it does remain interesting by adding its own story to the Paranormal Activity mythos while tying into the previous movies to reveal a much larger evil.

Rating: In the middle







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The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales (1960)

AKA: El Esqueleto de la Señora Morales

Starring:  Arturo de Cordova, Amparo Rivelles
Director: Rogelio A. Gonzalez


Premise:
After years of abuse from his wife, a taxidermist decides to murder her.

My Take:
A rather enjoyable film which is a tad dated after sixty years. It makes the viewer sympathize for the lead and loathe is overbearing, needy, manipulative wife as the first half of the movie focuses just on their daily relationship.

Rating: In the middle





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A Fantastic Fear of Everything (2012)

Starring: Simon Pegg
Director: Crispian Mills, Chris Hopewell


Premise:
A writer develops a case of paranoia while researching about Victorian era serial killers. When a executive wants to meet and buy his script, the writer must face his fears.

My Take:
A movie where I never anticipated where it was going. And I wont ruin the enjoyment for viewers by revealing it. The first half plays out like a comedy of errors for the main character. And the second half puts in a situation where many of his past fears must be dealt with in order to survive. Simon Pegg is a joy to watch handle the material. 

Rating: So Good






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Bates Motel, Season 2 (2014)

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Freddie Highmore, Max Thieriot, Nestor Carbonell, Olivia Cooke


Premise:
A teenage Norman Bates moves to a small town after his mother buys a motel.

Season two consists of Norma trying to get the city to stop the new highway which leads her to strange bedfellows, Norman gets a girlfriend whom Mother does not approve, Dylan becomes deeper entrenched in the local drug war, and the Sheriff Romero begins to think Norman may have more to do with the teacher's murder than originally suspected.

My Take:
The two main characters, Norman and Norma, are starting to get annoying to me. Most of the season they bicker and fight and become too needy and demanding to each other. It gets tiresome rather quickly. I find the more intriguing storyline to be with her other son Dylan and his drug dealing ways. However the last two episodes started to get really dark and intense by revealing how messed up Norman and his relations with Mother actually might be.

Rating: In the middle



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Abby (1974)

Starring: Carol Speed, William Marshall, Terry Carter
Director: William Girdler


Premise:
The wife of a minister is possessed by demon her father in law accidentally freed while in Africa.

My Take:
Basically the blaxplotation version of The Exorcist. While it's mildly interesting there really isn't much substance, at least for me. With that being said, far worse possession movies have been made.

Rating: Warning






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The Hunt for the BTK Killer (2005)

Starring: Robert Forester, Gregg Henry, Michael Michele
Director: Stephen Kay

Premise:
Detectives get close to catching a serial killer who has terrorized Wichita for nearly 31 years. 

My Take:
Much better movie than I anticipated. The cover art makes it seem like a low brow slasher, but instead we get more of a crime drama with how this killer put an entire community in fear for many years while the police can't figure out who is responsible. When they finally do catch the man it is a bigger shock than imaged and so is his confession. Also has an excellent cast.

Rating: In the middle



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Being Human, Season 4 [US version] (2014)

Starring: Sam Huntington, Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Kristen Hager


Premise:
A vampire, a werewolf, and ghost co-habitat in attempt to live a normal life.

Season 4 sees Sally become more than a ghost as she continues to develop powers of black magic and time jumps to alternate realities, Josh and Nora's marriage becomes rocky as they are introduced to a pack of werewolves and Josh's wolf manifests into something more dangerous, Aiden finds out his wife never died and is a vampire and a hunter who wants to kill all the vamps who feed on humans, and the gang is introduced to a new presence living in the house.

My Take:
This season throws a lot at you. But it does manage to tie it all together thoroughly, which is good since this was the final season. The last six episodes are top notch and the story concludes in an excellent fashion. I think in many ways, the American version out performed the UK version. Fans will no doubt miss this excellent program.

Rating: So Good



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Mummy's Hand (1940)

Starring: Dick Foran, Peggy Moran
Director: Christy Cabanne


Premise:
A group of treasure hunters find a tomb of an Egyptian princess. However the tomb is protected by a mummy. 

My Take:
A standard story for this type of movie from this time period. But it is made well and is a quick watch.

Rating: In the middle



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The Following, Season 2 (2014)

Starring: Kevin Bacon, James Purefoy, Shawon Ashmore, Natalie Zea, Connie Nielsen, Jessica Stroup, Valorie Curry, Sam Underwood, Leslie Bibb, Tiffany Boone, Valerie Cruz


Premise:
Season two has Ryan Hardy, now a drunk, teaching at a university until a copy cat cult comes out and starts committing murders on the anniversary of Joe Carroll's death. Hardy thinks Carroll is still alive and some how behind the new murders. Joe is in fact alive and in hiding but wants to find out who is killing in his name. Eventually their paths lead to a wealthy woman and her family of psychopaths.

My Take:
How many different cults and serial killers can you throw at the viewer in one season? It sort of ridiculous the twists and turns in season two. And once again the FBI is always one step behind the master plan of Joe. Too many coincidences happen that bail out the killers just in time and render authorities and Ryan Hardy helpless and clueless. While I still enjoy the two main actors go at it, the rest of the story has gotten too out of control for me. When season 3 comes around, this viewer may not be following any more. There is simply too many other far superior shows out there.

Rating: In the middle (and I am being generous)



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47 Ronin (2013)

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki |
Director: Carl Rinsch


Premise:
A band of exiled samurai seek revenge on the warlord who killed their master with black magic.

My Take:
A land of history, mysticism, and bloodshed is created in this hybrid action-supernatural film. It was better than I anticipated with creatures, demons, and black magic adding to the eeriness. Gore however is at a minimum. The film also looks great. There are worse movies to burn a couple of hours.

Rating: In the middle

 




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Walking Dead: Fear the Hunters [volume 11]

Author: Robert Kirkman


Premise:
In this issue the group deals with one of the children not understanding what is actually happening with zombies and commit a terrible act onto one of their own, being stalked by a group of cannibals, and coming across a strange priest.

My Take:
I liked this issue a lot, even if it crams enough material in for a couple of issues. Honestly, I would have liked to the see the cannibal arc last a tad longer. Regardless there is some deep, dark depths the characters go into and not all make it out.

Rating: So Good


 


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Gravity (2013)

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
Director: Alfonso Cuarón


Premise:
Two astronauts try to make it back to Earth after a sudden storm destroys their space shuttle.

My Take:
A gripping movie where the viewer can feel the isolation and fear of the two astronauts as each attempt to get back home is met with a road block.

Rating: So Good






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Beast of the Yellow Night (1971)

Starring:  John Ashley
Director: Eddie Romero


Premise:
A man is saved from death by the devil and in return the man turns into a beast to recruit others.

My Take:
The story is a tad convoluted which does not help. The man sells his soul to live but turns into a murderous creature and he also suppose to bring other to Satan for their souls. And my description makes it more clear than it is during the movie.

Rating: Warning






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The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Artimage, James Nesbit, Aidan Turner, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lily, Orlando Bloom, Stephen Fry, Manu Bennett
Director: Peter Jackson


Premise:
The gang of Thorin are still on the run from the Orcs when elves finally help them out. They must travel through the dangers of the Mirkwood Forest without Gandolf. They cross to a human lake town on the edge of Lonely Mountain where they must enter to find and defeat the dragon Smaug.

My Take:
While I enjoyed this segment of the new trilogy a little more the first one, the movie still seemed a tad long. Amazing special effects as always with these movies.

Rating: In the middle






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Monsters & Mysteries in America, Season 1 (2013)

Premise:
A show that documents eye witness accounts (and recreates those accounts) about mysterious creatures and situations in the United States.

My Take:
While it's fairly standard of format for this type of show what makes it stand out is the depth of the cryptids talked about by the people interviewed. Sure there are a the big ones like Bigfoot, UFO's, and Jersey Devil but also very obscured ones like haunted sections of road - The Devil's Highway, Sheepsquatch, black eyed kids, and nightstalkers. It's enough to keep me curious.

Favorite Episode: 
"Bayou" - This episode touches on vampires in New Orleans, the shape shifting Rougarou, and bigfoot like Honey Island Swamp Monster.

Rating: In the middle

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