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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Movie Review: Appendage (2023) October Horror Fest 2023 (10/31)

 I believe I missed this book logic or allegory. Really couldn't understand... So it's a simple movie. You've got this girl that has an appendage and that appendage is growing. In times it leaves her body and starts as a small monster. She innitially try to work things out via medicine  without any success. Then she meets another people who have the same problem and they told her how to deal with it. Afterwards she meets a woman who also has an appendage and starts telling her stuff and instead of drugging her own appendage she advises her to listen to it since this appendage "cannot lie".

She has a boyfriend & friend and the appendage starts telling her stuff making her doubt both of them. But then stuff changes and she gets hypnotized by the appendage and it becomes the master. 

I am not going to tell you the ending, but that's the 1h00 or more synospis. It's okay movie, nothing really interesting..

There is no nudity.

Book Review: Dark Water by Kōji Suzuki

Dark Water by Kōji Suzuki
My rating: 4 of 10 stars

Pages : 294p

Year : 2004

Genre : Horror(ish)

Series : Solo, Compilation of Short Stories

I've finished yesterday reading this book and I had higher expectations and was disappointed. First of all if you don't know who Koji is, he is the creator of The Ring. If you enjoy horror you will know what Ring is about. I've watched all the movies in the series and I've read the novel. I had high expectations from this since I've already watch the movie twice and enjoy it. This novel, is not a novel per se. It's a compilation of short stories/novellas with a theme centered on Water. That isn't to say it hasn't good stories but the vast majority was just boring , almost horrrorless and the main story although follows the movie until the end. Basically the movie which is over an hour and a half, probably more focus more on horror elements, you never understand what is going on, supernatural stuff is happening and the ending (is very similar) but in the novel is devoid of sympathy. There was almost no struggle.

There are other stories which I found out more interesting, per example Solitary Island. Everything else was just bland. And unfortunately one story doesn't make a book. To be fair, the Hold is also good but I didn't though of it as Horror. Adrift is more horror centered, about a man stranded on a ship, although the ending was again... lacky (? is that a word) 4.5/10

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Movie Review: Terror Vision (1986) October Horror Fest 2023 (9/31)

 Sometimes you stumble into something you are not even aware it existed. What a heck was this? I didn't expect to find a hidden gem from the 80's. I thought it was going to be another boring movie and I find it quite pleasant. 

You've got this family from the 80's (almost absurdist hyper realistic) grandfather with war trauma, the grandson completely immersed with his grandpa playing war, you've got a young teen focus on MTV and the typical 80's boy focus on heavy metal , the ones you saw in the 80's. You've got a Brainiac father who invented stuff and a wife that only focus on doing glamour stuff (jogging & partying). Well, as I've said the father was a brainiac that invented a dish to receive television from all over the world and unexpectable from outside of our earth. A monster, from another world is transported to that peaceful place and all hell breaks loose. It's funny, quirky and fast. IT doesn't shy of killing characters BUT is all done very funnily. I really enjoyed.

Nudity? No. There is a presenter who has some massive boobs, bigger than her head  lol. BUT there is no nudity. I would see for it. BUT I would see it for the comedy, horror part. It's very 80's.

Movie Review: Night of the Werewolf (1981) October Horror Fest 2023 (8/31)

This is an oldie and a good and quite the typical horror that came from  UK, Italy or Spain (Franco).  It has some horror scenes, some erotic moments (sincerely this one was mildy) but the main protagonist was very ... curvy. Skip to minute 30 or so and you will thank me later. There are some sex scenes but to be honest, they don't show anything at all, which is a shame. 

The story itself, its cool, basically some people were murder in the middle ages (well , almost 1600 and now some new descedents are coming to the old castle, among them are also some graverobbers who are quite dumb. Then there is a almost a battle between a werewolves and some witches (vampires). Quite the predecessor for a movie we all know about vampires vs werewolves.

So, is it worth it? No and yes. If you enjoy this old stuff then I would say yes. IF you enjoy more modern stuff (better video and such and with fast pace story, battle scenes) then I would say no. 

Is it worth for the nudity? No, which is a shame because some of them had pretty awesome bodies.. BTW, none of the actors are well known.

Book Review: Chronicles of Hate Collected Edition of Book 1 & 2 by Adrian Smith

Chronicles of Hate Collected Edition of Book 1 & 2 by Adrian Smith

My rating: 8 of 10 ⭐

Pages : 240

Year : 2018

Genre : Grimdark

Series : Solo

If you have said that this was Adrian Smith depictions of the northern wastes in the warhammer world or somekind of daemon world I would have said - It is and it's very good.
But since I know this is a new world, that was turned into a boardgame (or the other way around) and not connected with 40K/Warhammer I would say, well slap me in a face and call me Susan.

Well, basically in this 200 plus pages we follow our mutant as he tries to help the Earth Mother (not mother earth) but he is being chase by a monster of a man (giant or whatever you wanna call it). The all story is just that, the journey and the last epic battle. There are very few bubbles with talk. The story is presented in art form mostly which was very unique. The art, oh my. Have you ever saw the art of Warhammer 40K and Warhammer? That's it but black and white for 200 pages, although I will add that at times it was a bit confusing because of several shades between white, black and grey. I've seen this in a computer screen but I will try to purchase it since I enjoy it. I believe this kind of stuff is better at second or third time.

If you enjoy Tomb Kings (only at the end) , Blood for the Blood God. Skulls for the Skull Throne stuff Beastman faction Or Wood Elves (in the end) you will enjoy this.

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Movie Review: Idle Hands (1999) October Horror Fest 2023 (7/31)

This is an oldie from 1999 and one of the first movies Jessica Alba entered. She is not the main character, she is the damsel in distress. 

It's a great comedy with horror elements. So, what's the story about, well it's about a regular shy guy who suffers a possession of some sorts and he can' control his hand and it starts killing his family and friends. It's also a romantic , comedy since everything is done to make you laugh and squish at the same time. 

Seth Green & Eden Henson (the friends) portray their paper flawlessly, always making you laugh when they are in. The main character is truly the main character and steals the show. Even Jessica Alba sexiness pales to compare to his job.

There isn't much I can tell you about the novel, it's basically that, it's jumping from one  scene while the hand first attached and later un-attached (think of the Thing in Adams Family) try to murder the maximum of people... The question I have is, why his friends came to life? Was it the magic of the hand? But then, why the family didn't?

Book Review: The Beast Must Die by Gav Thorpe

The Beast Must Die by Gav Thorpe
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

Pages :  242

Year : 2016

Genre : Black Library 40K

Series Book 8 out of 12 

So, book 8 of the series, I will rate 6.

I enjoyed this novel but I have several problems with it.

First of all, the first chapter is probably the better one. Vulkan returns and he basically own the show. Then the remaining novel is basically going to Ullanor and fight fight fight...

Positives, I've got barely none, unless you talk about Koorland and the assassin stuff. It was disappointing seeing Vulkan. Vulkan is a demigod for all purposes, it's like he is Jesus to the GodEmperor. I hoped for more idolatry of a legend but besides telling there wasn't that much impact. Then Vulkan was aloof most of the time, like he had been brought to a time that wasn't his own. If Space marines treat humankind as mere child, then Vulkan treated Space Marines with contempt, with distaste. He basically treated Koorland (as a small child learning basic stuff, when he was the Lord Commander of all forces),

Another thing I didn't understand was the why Vulkan didn't want to deal/talk with the Salamanders. Makes no sense.

The last thing that upset me was the all battle. It was a major battle where tens of thousands of space marines died. Probably millions Astra Militarum, Titans etc but unfortunately it was too crammed. Other novels, or authors would take a couple of hundreds of pages on this. But here we are just told stuff happened. The action scenes were a bit off.

What did I enjoy? Well I enjoy as I said Koorland trying to deal with all forces of space marines with their own agenda.

Although I love black templars they are basically the most obnoxious, all action, no thinking brutes you can imagine. At least that's how Gav Thorpe write them. That chapter master was a very bad leader. No brains. by the end he was slap by Koorland and probably that's the highpoint of the novel.

So the beast is dead, vulkan well gone and let's see the next four novels.

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40/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

What a great start. In 6 days I've already finish 5. Let's go, go go. 1300 pages. I'm amazed by myself. True be told one is  Manga so there's that. I also received a five book series I've been looking for a while called Raven. It's basically Red Sonja but with pinup covers. Let's see. 

In terms of books I am waiting, well I am waiting a couple of BL (Genestealer) the second and third on the wool trilogy (which I am reading now), the final books by Louis L'Amour (I will have around 100 of them) and I am also waiting two big boxes of books. One will bring around 25 novels by John Saul and another big box with 54 novels from Conan. I will be missing a few of them and I will purchase with time. It will be a slow month (well besides the conan & John Saul). Oh I Am also waiting for the three remaining novels by Edward Lee on the Infernal series.

Already Finish

1. Fear Me - Tim Curran 99p 1/10/2023 7⭐
2. Come Closer - Sara Gran                               165p 2/10/2023       8⭐
3. Dark Water - Koji Suzuki 309p 5/10/2023     4.5 ⭐
4. Gyo - Junji Ito                                              398p   6/10/2023      7⭐
5. Bird Box - Josh Malerman                               473p 6/10/2023      7⭐

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan           164/705pp (23%)
2. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy      101/469p  (21%)
3. Wool - Hugh Howey                            221/540p  (38%)   
4. Ender Saga - Speaker of the Mind            256/382p (67%)
5. Ravencry - Ed McDonald                         112/415 (30%)
                         

October Reading Goal (my goal is 10 to 12 of them)

1. Misery - Stephen King 370p
2. Dominion - Bentley Little 413p
3. Ruins - Scott Smith 523p
4. Dark Water - Koji Suzuki 309p
5. Rosemary's Baby  Ira Levin   229p
6. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S. A. Sidor 363p
7. The Awakening - Brett McBean  440p
8. Fear Me - Tim Curran 99p
9. Bird Box - Josh Malerman - 473p
10. The Exorcist - William Peter Blatty 379p
11. Afraid - J. A. Konrath  248p
12. Whispers of the Dark - Jonathan Aycliffe 220p
13. Come Closer - Sara Gran 165p
14. Ancient Images - Ramsey Campbell 299p
15. Dark Mountain - Richard Laymon 373 
16. Devourer and the Dead - Kristopher Ruffy 249p
17. Last Days - Adam Nevill  530p
18. Empty Mile - Matthew Stokoe 395p

TBR Pile, piling up...

1. 
   Councilor - L E Modesitt Jr 735p
   
2. Ride the River - Louis L'Amour 183p
3. High Lonesome  - Louis L'Amour 145p
4. The First Fast Draw  - Louis L'Amour 182p
5. Kilrone  - Louis L'Amour 195p
6. The Warrior's Parth - Louis L'Amour  226p
   
7. Raven: Swordmistress of Chaos - Richard Kirk 174p
8. Raven: A Time of Gods  - Richard Kirk 202p
9. Raven: The Frozen God -  Richard Kirk 178p
10. Raven: Lords of the Shadows -  Richard Kirk 205p
11. Raven: A Time of Dying -  Richard Kirk 187p
12. No Guilt of Bloodshed - Joshn Baltisberger - 156p
13. Germanicus : Lord of Eagles - ADrian Cole 330p

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: False Positive (2021) October Horror Fest 2023 (6/31)

M: Did you enjoy the movie Paulo?
Y: I don't know.

M: What? How so?
Y: I can't seem to find words to convey if I enjoy or not. I did but I also did not.

M: So it's half-half?
Y: No. It's not half-half. It's like some elements that I enjoy, I also hated and vice versa.

M: So what's this tale about?
Y: It's about a couple who have been trying to get a child but they can't , so they go to a medic who tries some experimental stuff, and not  everything is at seems.

M: So, what's good? What's bad?
Y: Well, In one place it was a movie about hidden agenda of some in-vitro guy, you know what is doing. That's the main fear of in-vitro clinic.

M: So what's wrong with all of this? Was it stupid?
Y: No. The problem is the liability of the main character. If one way you would think she is a bit craze, in another you think, well, she isn't crazy. She is being used. What a fuck was that homo stuff? LOL Was it even real? I honestly don't know

M: But..
Y: Then the ending , what a fuck? Was everything in her mind, and she got somekind of post-traumatic stress after giving birth? Was it all real? I honestly don't know... What about the all new age stuff?  "Do you think your medics know more about pregnancy than you?" What? I do hope so, since they fuck it study and live it every day. A couple live it for 9 months. Then the all medic conspiracy of removing a "womans" power over pregnancy. What? 

That's so cringe that I honestly didn't understand if this book was being woke or mocking woke.

Movie Review: Murdercise (2023) October Horror Fest 2023 (5/31)

 Who thinks this is good? To be honest, who created this and thought, OK this is fine horror movie. Don't worry... 

You've got a bunch of prostitutes dancers who see no problem doing anything for fame, even sex. But there is one girl, who is doing for the "right" reasons. Imagine in the 80's a catholic girl doing dances (almost erotic) but thinking is god's work (or something like that). She even names Reagan (the president). So you know it's going to be good.

The story is almost non-existent and I got bored as fuck watching it. What was the purpose? Okay, people taken to extremes will do, extreme things? Even self-righteous ones? Yeah...

Skip it or Watch it? Well fucking skip it. Not even worthy for the pair of boobs you see in the beginning. Okay. Watch the first 5m and close the player