Oktoborror Fest 14/15/16 - Sister Death & Il signor diavolo & Within

 Going to review  the three movies as I don't have much to speak of them

Sister Death (2023) it's a very interesting folk horror movie more focus on a presence/ghost that is haunting  a new nun and the covenant itself. I cannot in good question give a good rating. It's a slow pace movie with the a AH conclusion but I would say if you have watch Veronica by the same guy (Which this one is a prequel) you may not enjoy it. I've watch several of his movies, some I would gladly advise like the REC series (3) all of them pretty good. Veronica is indeed his best.  The curveball in the end was the best part.

It's a bit confusing to be fair, and it has some interesting parts. I mean if you have 1h30m you can definitely watch it. Don't be bored. 5/10

Il signor diavolo his is a Italian movie where we follow a kind of investigator (he is not really one) about some incidents in a small village. that village is important due to voting (don't know why) and so he sent to appease the townhall. The movie is all over the place with stories within stories. It's very confusing and at times you don't know which timeline you are following. After a while it become easier and I thought that the story was good - unfortunately was a bit bored, the main actor was very bland. The person moving forward was just a boy and he was to my perspective the main character. If you enjoy quite horror , slow pace and then BANG watch it.  5.5/10

Within is a horror flick with the same girl from the Boys (the tv show - the one that plays Starlight) and a bunch of other unknown people. The story is quite normal, we've got a new family going to a new home to start a new life. Unfortunately not all things work as indented as there is a creepy neighbour. Initially the father is just dumb pleaser and lets him help them out but things escalate.  But things are not what it seems as the evil on this tale is show to be another, is it a ghost OR something else? Going into spoilers. Yes it's something else. It seems someone is living on that house for over 10 years hidden within the floorboards and attic and such. He was a claustrophic boy. Two families come and went (not pleasantly) but now this family is escalating. I mean... how can he survive for over ten years if he can't leave the house? When there are families I kind understand but when there aren't? Then, have you heard of Vitamin D deficiency? The last part of the movie is slow motion and I think it really screw things up... I Will have to warn it , it doesn't end well. It was good. Strangely enough the credits are the other why around. 7/10

There is no nudity in the three movies.

Oktoborror Fest 10 - John's Carpenter - Ghosts of Mars (2025) - Movie

I've watched this movie several times, probably half a dozen times and I really enjoy it. There hasn't been one of his books I've not enjoy. I should do like a movie marathon of his movies.

This movie is set on Mars , in 2700's something and there is a breathable atmosphere - not totally but partial. The society is living there is now a Matriarch based instead of Patriarch based and woman are the dominants ones. In the beginning of the book they try to emphasize this which then it slowly grows away. Is it explained? No.

So in the beginning we are introduced to the sole survivor of a group of police officers (in mars) that are trying to get one criminal to the main city of the planet. As they arrive to the miner town something is off as no one is about. After the initial investigation they start finding people dead in some of the most weird ways PLUS some people have "transformed" and now do some weird body horror stuff to themselves - purpose? I don't know. We never learn.

So it seems an alien beings were released after an explosion and take the bodies of humans and then start killing people. That's it.

Why this beings don't possessed everyone? We don't know. 

Who put the beings on that catacombs? We don't know.

How could they be there without leaving? They are incorporeal why not go through cracks or so? We don't know.

Why sometimes you kill a person and he comes back to you while others - when per example they kill around 50 of these monsters- where were these beings off to? Are they stranded there where the body fell or they travel to a respawn place? More, if they escape , if they leave their place will why not possessed then?

What are the rules for possession? Is it random, is it like a trait? Why could she be possessed and cast it out? The only explanation would be that she is main character.

The ending of the movie was quite good. OVerall I've enjoyed it but so many questions....

There is no nudity here although if you really want to see Natasha Henstridge nude please watch either Species, Maximium Risk, Seal, widow on the hill or Badge of Honor. You're wellcome

Oktoborror Fest 04 - The Monkey (2026) - Movie

 

This movie was very enjoyable. We've got this monkey that every time it drums someone will be killed. Simple as that. We've got this two brothers who find the monkey in the cellar after their father "went" away and start playing with it. Of course their mother died. And then another person and another and so on... We jump into the future where they are now adults and estranged. One is trying to safeguard his son while the other is bent on revenge. 

If you enjoy gore and strange deaths akin Final Destination please watch this. If you think those are stupid , you won't enjoy this.

The characters were okay, nothing major although I enjoy the development  of the brothers. 

There is no nudity.

💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

Book Review: The Titan Probe (Eismond #2) Brandon Q. Morris

This book follows the first one. It's almost impossible to talk about this book without spoilers. So I am going to provide minor spoilers - nothing major as you discover in a couple of pages (and even on the back cover).

This book follows the previous one, the morale is low after Marchenko being stranded on Enceladus after saving Martin & Francesca. OF course they think he is dead so this book follows two main plots. One with our astronauts as they travel to Titan after a strange transmission is captured on earth. The second part we follow Marchenko that it seems he didn't die and now it's trying to do everything to inform Earth & ILSE that he is dead yet. At the same time he is trying to meet up with the strange beings we discovered in the first novel.

This is a good book, nothing major. Sometimes it's dry reading and while the first focus a lot on the perspective of Martin, this one is more on Francesca. My issue is the not the story. It's the characters and the dry way the book was written. It does not mean I am not eagerly waiting to read the third novel. 73/100

Book Review: The Sound of Midnight (Oxrun Station #2) - Charles L Grant (Horror)

 

I just finished the second book on the oxrun station and interestingly I thought about getting into the third book, even if can consider I enjoyed this book but it's not perfect or very good - allow me to explain.

This book follows two main characters Dale a female owner of a toy store ( I am saying she is a female because to me Dale it's a men's name) and Vic who is a professor.

Charles L Grant writes slow pace horror. Nowadays there is a name for it, quiet horror. I've read the book in two days so I Can't consider it slow although nothing really happens for pages at end.

First is just a child being killed, Dale is in the mist of it as she tried to save the boy from drowning - without success. Then there is a car explosion of the father of the child. Dale feels something is off but she can't understand what. After selling a chess piece made by the person who died on an explosion she starts to connects the dot.

One thing I will say is that Vic, although the man he is there to help Dale on her quest, never really overshadowing her or take her protagonist. She needs to man. This is how you write a good female character without being a girl boss. She has problems and can't handle everything but she is still fighting.

The love interest of them both is so cute and it reeks of 1970's so expect conservatism behaviour and not hippies. By the end it changed and we see them getting in love which was as I've said - cute.

My first complain is the pace of the novel and some parts were a bit confusing. I mean that at times they start talking about things and I thought , what a heck? When did that happen. The first time it happen was with the explosion and then the fire and the arrows. I thought what? I had to reread.

The ending is also a bit anti-climatic as it was over so soon. You may enjoy it, btw. Me I hoped for more.

If you enjoy quite horror, folk horror with celtic background I believe you enjoy it. Don't worry is not the first oxrun station because it's not connected - although there are some cameos from characters of the first book at least - BUT believe if you didn't knew you wouldn't lose anything. 77/100 or 3.5/100

Book Review: The Ice Lion by Kathleen O'Neal Gear

The Ice Lion by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
My rating: 68 of 100 stars

Pages : 304

Year : 2021

Genre : Post Apocalpytic Fiction

Series : Rewilding Reports #1

 

First book of 2024. As I write this novel I am happy that I finished. This is clearly YA Sci-Fi on which I will be reading another one this month and you can definitely understand why is YA. It's way to simple, the page read goes up effortlessly and I ended up reading a novel in one day if you count only hours. I also read 60 pages of Neal Asher's Departure. So, branding everything sci-fi is just idiotic. There's a reason this is YA and that's hard sci-fi. Here , although alien world, was really easy to get into. You get the meaning of some stuff as you go along and you never really feel lost. On the other hand, neal asher, if you don't understand a word (and you won't ) you feel confused and hoping for a more clear water.

This novel has been on my mind for some mind. With only 300 pages I knew it would be fairly easy read and something to begin the year with. I've been reading several of Gear's novels (both her's and her husband) and although this is the first YA it has their characteristics. If you've read the people of the north America in a post apocalyptic wasteland of ice and cold, then you got it. This tale is told in around 50 chapters, alternate between Lynx and Quiller. Both are 16 and childhood's friends. The problem? Quiller loves Lynx and Lynx chooses another girl to marry but on the wedding night she ends up killed by some lions (ice lions?). Branded as a coward , but not wanting him to be dead or outcast they send him on a mystical quest . There he finds a Doctor Arike which he thinks it's one of the lost Jemen. On the other hand we follow Quiller as she tries to survive this new world without him but being a SIMP. Yeah I know it's usually a male but in this case it's her. Even knowing that he would never choose her, she goes at great lengths to protect him like a mother protects his son. Some dialogues, and actions are pretty YA that makes my black hearth cry thinking that writers a) think people behave like this or b) they are right and people do act like this. Don't know which is more depressing...

Courage isn't the province of the brave Lynx. It's the virtue of the terrified. IT's what happens when you have no option left.

One of the most inters testing aspects is the worldbuilding. There are some interesting stuff here like who are these pseudo-indians (we already know who they , after all in the end they provide some spoilers) and what happened to the world. What is Zyme? What are the Ice Giants etc. There are so much to be found and I want to do it. I will read it. But my enthusiasm dwindle a little to be honest. The market is not me. The market is a 12/16 year olds.

Oh and before I forget, although it's a frozen landscape, rarely they talk about it and how it affects them. It sure as everyone living through it like it's a winter in Portugal. It bothers a little but very bearable. Another thing that upsets me was where the action took place. My god, they travel miles or days yet they always find someone they are looking at. For a frozen landscape with a thousand survivors they sure are all in the same 10 feet.

Another thing that upset me was the length.. This could easily be a duology of two 400 pages book. it ended awkwardly and the justification like they did for another novel "people nowadays want smaller books". Who said it? Probably the publishers and writers since they will sell more. People don't want to pay thrice for a book that could be one or two. I will give this book a 7 out of 10.

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Book Review: Legion of the Damned by Sven Hassel

Legion of the Damned by Sven Hassel
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 256

Year : 1953

Genre : War

Series : Sven Hassel #1

This is not my first or second read by Sven. Don't know if you know but Sven supposedly fought in WW2 on the side of the Germans as a Danish conscript. He was a criminal and went to fight as a penal legion (27th) and went from Russia, to France, to Italy to Germany , fighting everywhere. Of course this is a lie.

The author was a liar, enamoured by the prospect to fight for Germany (and he did enlist) but then he was in prison. In this book, the first he wrote we've got several friends like Porta, Old Un (old man) a couple others. In another books he introduce us Legionnaire, Tiny, Heide among others.

And why do we know it's fake? Well, each book (apart from this one) focus on one campaign , from italy, france, greece, balkans, france again, russia and germany. How could they fight everywhere , sometimes at the same time? Bear in mind that although they are fake, it's a good vision on how cheap lives where back in WW2. People died and sometimes rather pointless deaths and not all glamourous warlike stuff. It's grim and it's dark. This one , basically introduce us to Sven. In later novels we get to know him more. He gives some hints that he will tell about other stuff that happened.

Although as I've said him fighting is not true, the vast majority is either true or based on true stories. He wrote stuff that other people told him about or that he acquired so, this people may be really true people. This is brutal stuff, Geneva convention fuck off of the eastern front. You can read this book as anti-war stuff , anti-nazi or better, as a person who probably was swayed like millions others by Hitler and then it was too late. IF you want a grimdark war story, look no further. I do believe he wrote better (I've read some) and I will read more. 7/10

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Book Review: Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano

Dead Eleven by Jimmy Juliano
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 439

Year :  2023

Genre :  Horror, Thriller

Series : solo

I've heard this novel via audiobook. First of all it looked cool. Then the story interested me. IT was a mystery island with some kind of horror element (Lovecraftian stuff). I was not disappointed, although I do feel the author could have focus more on the evil and to make us understand it, instead he focus more on the people which gave some hints and we as the readers would have to figure it out. Bear in mind that in terms of feeling, there is always an eerie sensation that something is afoot, what? Well just on the last , what 40 pages? you understand what this island is all about.

I am not saying that this is a bad book, it's not. IT's very good.

But there are things that I can't really explain, why the loop? The explanation is there but feels dumb down. Spoilers ahead, it's like you eat at noon and you will get hungry around 8 PM for supper, right? But If I keep delaying the time and you never get to 8 PM then you will never get hungry. What? Makes zero sense... Although the all stuff stuck in the 90's is pretty awesome.

Spoiler end..

I also enjoyed the interaction between characters and how the story is told. From the letters in the past, to the transcriptions to the conversations. It gave distinct voices. I will probably read from him.

7/10

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Book Review: Fear Me by Tim Curran

Fear Me by Tim Curran
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 105

Year : 2011

Genre : Horror

Series : Solo

This was a very fast read. I read in one day.
This is a tale about a prison where a new inmate is arriving and although he looks that is going to be someone b*tch, the prisoners feel strange around it. He says that if someone hurts him his brother will avenge him. When the first guy tries he suffers an horrible death. From that moment all hell breaks loose.

Tim Curran is one of my favourite writers in horror as you know. He really depicts prison in a way that feel believable. He doesn't shine away from violence, rape etc.

What lacks here is the ending, the "brother" stuff. I hope for more 50 pages of the story depicting this. 7/10



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Book Review: Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie

Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 300

Year : 1972

Genre : Mystery

Series : Herculae Poirot

This is my second to last novel to finish all Poirot stories. The last one is going to be Poirot Last Case.
Everything afterwards from Poirot was not written by her (I know there is a new novel - but I won't read it).

This novel focus a lot on Ariadne Oliver aka Agatha Christie. Basically she is a mystery written who is questioned regarding her god-daughter and she becomes embroiled in a investigation from a a crime\suicide of over 10 years. She asks the help of Poirot and we get some chapters with her investigating and others with Poirot. We can see she (Agatha) really wants to focus on her but unfortunately people bought a Poirot novel not Oliver so that's that. Interesting is that finally we learn that Oliver was married (it was just a side note). Don't know if Agatha made a mistake or she really wanted to give that away.

Overall it's a interesting tale but due fairly easy to get to the solution. She was almost 70 something. Overall it was good. Let's see the last one (written in the 40's so there's that).

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Book Review: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate by Michael Moorcock

The Sailor on the Seas of Fate by Michael Moorcock
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

I've read this book in 2007 and then at 2023 and this is one reason why I am against re-reading. I didn't enjoy this novel compared with first one. I remember enjoying a lot and reading the first three in one go. This is why you shouldn't re-read. I read this book when my knowledge of fantasy was Dragonlance and forgotten realms. This was something awesome. Now, I've read 1300 novels. This is not as good novel. I would rate 2 stars nowadays. BUT since I gave 5 stars before I am dropping to 4.

It's a bit confusing, compare with the first where we follow Elric travelling throughout time and space in the future, past and present. We get to see the first glimpses of Erokese, Corum among other characters that will be important if we continue to read in the multiverse.



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Book Review: Sea Change: A Novel by James Powlik

Sea Change: A Novel by James Powlik
My rating: 7.5 of 10 stars

Pages : 478

Year : 1999

Genre : Thriller 

Series : Solo

Let's talk about this book... this book sure feels long but only has 450 pages. The problem with it is that they took to long to get anywhere and sometimes it drags in some places.

The story is set near canada\usa border near Seattle. Something is killing animals and people. Nobody knows what it is, some kind of weird water phenomenon. Enter our main protagonist and ex military and now turn environmentalist, divorcee and now roaming the waters with his crew. Meanwhile his ex-wife who knows of his knowledge contacts him and with the help of money from her now-husband they track down the culprit.

It's not that easy, you've got other characters like a medic who treated two people who died plus a bunch of others side characters that are there to help our main protagonist.
I learn a lot reading this novel, from pfiesteria to plankton to other stuff related to the sea. I think since James is a marine biologist he knows his stuff and tried to set the story within people who are not versed in marine biology but at times it enter the realm of science which was interesting since it made me search for stuff.

There are some interesting parts, this thing than can kill humans (and it seems it exists) but taken to extreme, the author at times it seems it gave it a personality/intelligence that I don't know they should have.

Either way, the vast majority of the book is the characters talking about possibilites, about plan of actions and at times we see the destructive power of this being. IT was interesting. As I said, it's slow and I can understand people don't like the novel, or why it has a minus that 4 rating. There is another novel very similar to this one called the Swarm written 3 or 4 years later. It was based on this one so you get to see similarities - the main issue for me is that it's a 900 page novel.

Either way, this is a good novel BUT be prepared for slow burn.

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Movie RevieW: 15 Cameras (2023) October Horror Fest 2023 (28/31)

15 Cameras was a good novel. We've have a couple who is coming to a new town and they are renting the additional houses to other people. The problem? Those houses were property of a horrible  man who film their tenants and even had a slave.

But the guy was chased and it seems he died. So one day the guy who lives in the house now discovers the hidden cameras and start watching other tenants and the process starts again. The most interesting part was at the same time his wife/girlfriend was seeing a documentary about the guy and thinking their house had cameras.

It was an interesting thing to watch the fall of a man to depravity and curiosity... then as he understood the shite of situation he was he tried to correct... and again.. and again leading to a great finale.

Love the ending.

One sex scene and one shower. No nudiy.

Movie Review: Fog City 2023 - October Horror Fest 2023 (22/31)

 This movie was good to watch. It was fast and interesting. We've got this town where a bunch of teens leave and are making a party since each are going their own way. One of them, is the daughter of a business owner who has a factory that nobody knows much about it. It's always topic for being a bit shady. As they arrive at the home, they start hearing sirens and watching some fog coming their way. They assume something has happened to the factory and try to leave to no avail. Alas they refuge in the house and this is how it starts to get weird. Each starts feeling different stuff (psychological) and all hell break lose. The ending is amazing with the realization everything was...  ( not going to say)

There are two sex scenes, one of them has some very beautiful boobs. The main actress although is not naked, a shame I know but at least by the end she is showing stuff that really make me wanna look more...

The acting is the down point of the movie. Sometimes the dialogue felt contrived, confused and amateurish. It seems the guy behind only want to show boobs and mayhem. Everything else was second plan. BUT I enjoy.

Book Review: The Ruins by Scott Smith October Horror Fest 2023 (21/31)

The Ruins by Scott Smith
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

First of all I would say I am rating this book 7.5 stars out of ten. The reason? Well because I understand the criticisms and it's too big.

Let's start this review with something new... Have you watch the movie? Yes? Don't bother reading the novel - although the ending is different. Bear that in mind.

First of all, the book does something that I truly hate. It's 520 pages plus without any chapters. Fucking atrocious. I truly hate books without chapters. But to be fair, it's a thriller so past pace is something expected and it shows here.

So why should I recommend or not the book/movie? Well, because the movie and book follows the same stuff in the beginning. It's a bunch of friends who met some people on Mexico and then try to help one of them discover his brother. This is the first 80/90 pages. Then we've got 300/350 pages of boring little characterization and over and over the same thing. It's like a new day arises, more drama, ends , a new day arises over and over. So it's boring. In the movie there is the same thing. Here , it's more detailed, there are some stuff only on the book that doesn't exist in the movies. To be honest is not that important.

I hoped when reading the book that we get more information on the things that made me read the novel but I got nothing.

What are these vines?

Why they exist in the mayans ruins?

Why the mayans didn't destroy the vines?

Why the vines didn't "leave"?

All of these are left unanswered.

Then we've got the ending.. (a bit of spoilers)... In the movie Jeff does stuff that helps Amy escape. In the book they all died and the books end with the two Greek plus two Brazilians arriving at the same place and being surrounded by the Mayans. Why did they need the movie to have a "happier" tone?

I enjoy the ending on the book better. Since the page 100 you know, everyone is going to die. You expect that. You feel that. It's hopelessness. And the only question is how. THat's why the author gives so much information on how to store water, the all cannibalism stuff etc. On the movie it's quite fast and you get far less scare for our characters.

In the end, if you watch the movie, be happy and move along. If you didn't watch anything and have 6/8 hours then the book is probably better.

Btw, just watch something the director said about the ending- what a bunch of crap

"Our final decision was informed by what audiences found the most satisfying after watching a really punishing film. I love the ending of the book, but if the movie had ended the same way, the audience would have wanted to kill themselves."

Ahah so movie people are too broken compare with book readers?

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Movie Review: Dreamscape 1984 - October Horror Fest 2023 (16/31)

 This movie was good. Basically it was set back in 84 and deals with some experiments on dreams. Some people with psychic capability can enter other people minds to help, but of course there is always people trying to get advantage of it. So the movie is part thriller, there are several chases and gunfights and some horror. It's not totally horror but it's there, mainly on the nightmare parts. It's a good fast pace movie.

There is a scene of one of this guys who can dream travel and he enters the dream of a woman who is a bit of aroused there. So they end up doing it. When she awakes, she feels violated (because she knew what he did) and ask a interesting question... well we didn't really fuck did we? It's only in the dream... (But he was there in the dream so.. did he or not?) it's also cringe.. talk about boundaries man.

Book Review: Bird Box by Josh Malerman - October Horror Fest 2023 (12/31)

Bird Box by Josh Malerman
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 473 

Year :  2014

Genre : Horror, Post Apocalyptic

Series 1/2

I've enjoyed more than I had hoped but for once I think I enjoy the movie more than the book. Strange no? 7.5/10

So let me explain the novel & book are quite different. I am not going to great lengths to say everything different BUT let's get the cat from the bag (is that expression), the elephant in the room -first of all Sandra Bullock is a 59, 55 at the time of the movie. There are many differences, like the death of sister, the all group of survivors but I think the worst was is Tom. In the movie he basically takes care of the children with Malorie until they leave the house to search for the haven and in the travels he sacrifices himself for the group. In the book , the group is together, and Gary (the person who have seen the being but not commit suicide - although a bit crazy) lets one of the begins inside the house or harming directly killing all within the house bar Malorie and the two children (tom is killed). Then Malorie for 4 years trained the children to be fucking ninjas. She fucking teach them to wake up with their eyes closed! She teaches them to remember 20 sounds, man they can year a fucking leaf on the ground/water. They are like that blind hero (but they are not blind - my wife is blind and although she has a excellent hearing it's not that good).

So what's bad or good, well the story is good. I even enjoy how the tale is told, basically every other chapter it's the "now" (four years into the future) , and the "before" (after the gang was holed up on a house). In the movies , since it's more fast paced, this interconnections between characters are bit shallow while in the book it's more explain. We can watch changes.

My mine gripe with the novel, are the characters themselves, the Boy & Girl. They are way to perfect for children of 4. I am sorry. IF this could be done we would have armies of children in North Korea or some arabs countries because these two children are fucking ninjas with their senses. Sorry for the fuck.

Besides, at times its a bit slow and the action scenes , mainly in the end is a bit confusing. The end itself it's good and I want to read Malorie which is a sequel (nothing to do with Bird Box Barcelona).

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Book Review: Rosemary's Baby - Ira Levin - October Horror Fest 2023 (11/31)

Rosemary's Baby by Ira Levin
My rating: 7.5 of 10 stars

Pages : 229

Year : 1967

Genre : Horror

Series : 1/2 

I've read the book and I've watch the movie as well so this is going to be a 2 for 1 kind of situation.

First of all, this is not a horror novel per se. I can understand it was label back in 1960's but to today standards I would say it's more a slice of life, thriller with a hint of horror in the last 20 pages.

So what's the story behind you ask, well you've got a this couple who manage to get a new house in a new place, very in. They meet some people that live including an old couple who is a very nice to them both. The life of the man, as an actor is hard and he is not getting jobs as much as he expected. After meeting the couple he gets a job after the blindness of the leading author. Afterwards he promises to get his wife pregnant, he even puts the dates on the calendar. That night, she gets a bit imbriagated and drops to sleep. Strange dreams.. When she wakes up

" I didn't want to miss Baby Night," he said

"You mean you--."

"And a couple of my nails were ragged."

"While I was - Out?

He nodded and grinned." It was kind of fun," he said, "in a necrophile sort of way"

"I dreamed someone was -raping me," she said. "

Then the remaining 100 pages, is basically stuff about being pregnant, going to the doctor (Also friends of old couple) etc It's not horror. Okay there is a eerie sensation throughout the book because you know something is wrong , you can feel it in your bones.. Rosemary tries to investigate a bit and discover stuff related to the old couple.. maybe they are witches? Who knows.. maybe Rosemary is crazy (There is a lot of bad reviews for the second novel in the series since it totally screws this).

The ending is a bit different from novel\movie (not different but more complete). Either way is good. The movie has some boobs, it's only difference - notable. The movie also hints as a conspiracy between the husband (guy) and the old couple.

Good, fast pace novel, with 212 pages. IF you watch the movie or book you will be good either way.

Don't expect terror stuff. There are some horror elements, more eerie, more gothic but noting

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Book Review: Gyo by Junji Ito

Gyo by Junji Ito
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 393p 

Year : 2002

Genre : Horror

Series : Solo

I rate this a 7 out of 10.

This is a novel , not a short story collection as Junji Ito is more famous. There is also an anime movie on it (never watch it, so far).

This novel follows a couple of characters as they are having vacations on the south of Japan and something weird starts to happened there. Fish and other sea creatures are coming out the sea. They are not totally violent (although the shark ones are) and they segregated a lot of Gas. What are they? They have all like an appendage underneath the monster torso with legs attached to it. In turn they are connected with the fish through some cables on the mouth and ... well ass and other orificies. The story progress as the monsters start invading other cities, going throughout Japan and the world.

The vast majority of the novel is set on Tokyo where a guy must save his girlfriend which is dead and linked to one of those machines.

There are some questions that one may ask, some have answers, per example, how and why these monsters appear (we know it's due to the gas) but it's never really stated what are they or came to be. Well to be fair, it's hinted the gas is something sentient and created by some mad Japanese war scientists. In this tale, as the previous Remina you know earth is doomed. So what's making our main character do anything? Well first of all is the dedication to give somekind of peace to his girlfriend which he feels morally connected.

The ending is quite strange, to be honest, okay we know that he is immune and he finds some people who are also immune. I question what has happened to his uncle & apprentice. We will never know since there is no truly an end there.

Not the best of Junji.

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Movie Review: The Boogeyman (2023) October Horror Fest 2023 (2/31)

Now this was interesting take on The Boogeymen. This is tale of a couple of children dealing with the loss of their mother whilst his father trying to work things out , being swamp on work so he doesn't have to think about it. The small child is now afraid of the dark and the more mature one dealing with life and school. 

A man appears in the office of the father (which is a psychologist) and tells them what haunt him and his family and that led to his young children being killed off. Then he died/commited suicide in their home.

After this moment, the young child starts seeing stuff in the dark and nobody believe her, it was spooky and young child really got her part. Then step by step the older child starts to believe and tries to understand what happened to the previous family. 

Then it's confrontation time and I will have a minimum spoiler, so beware, but it was a bit idiotic the ending. For a monster who has lived forever preying on humankind it sure is killed easily, and it got shot before a lot of times and nothing killed it but fire? OK, but we see him putting out candles so... I don't know it felt weak.

Spoilers end.

What I enjoy was the family stuff, how they grew as a family trying to work things out. The problem is the all monster stuff I couldn't get into.. why didn't the monster kill the two children when it could?  Oh well..