Review: The Last Days of Jack Sparks

The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An absolutely chilling story! Hands down the scariest book I've ever read!

I've always had this idea of going investigating the paranormal as an atheist and writing about findings. I would visit known haunted houses and go on ghost hunts with paranormal investigators just to see if I can be swayed into believing. Now I've read The Last Days of Jack Sparks that idea can go fuck off.

If anyone is looking for a scary book to read this is the book I will be recommending.

Well done Jason Arnopp you have succeeded in terrifying me.

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Grimmfest 2017: Best Bits!

What a festival Grimmfest was this year! This was my sixth year attending the festival and I can easily say that this year had the best overall selection of movies out of them all! Last year I struggled to put a top 5 list of movies that I liked together due to there not being 5 movies that I liked. This year I'm struggling to whittle it down to just 5! You know it's been a good festival when you ask other people what their top 5 were and they all give you different movies. I know you can only show what has been made and that is out of the control of the festival organisers but I left the festival this year feeling positive about the future of the genre.

It has been a funny year for horror with the bullshit phrase "Post Horror" being created, the new IT movie breaking all kind of records and proving it's possible to make a decent adaptation of a Stephen King novel and then two of the largest and most popular franchise of the genre having a straight to digital release. I'm talking about the new Child's Play and Texas Chainsaw Massacre movies which was brazenly pirated before their release. Self proclaimed fans would be on Twitter having the cheek to criticise the films they have just stolen as they hadn't been released yet. Anyway this brings me to the first of my top 5 movies from Grimmfest.

Leatherface

I called Leatherface a remake of The Beginning which it isn't. It's a whole different story and a different take on the Leatherface's origin. As a Texas Chainsaw movie I don't think it works, it leaves you asking more questions than answers like the absence of certain characters from the original but as a standalone film I think it's very good. It has similarities to the origin story part of Rob Zombie's Halloween and quite a good twist towards the end.

I mentioned earlier that festivals can only show what is available... well with Grimmfest it helps when one of their organisers is a filmmaker! Next on my list is Habit.

Habit

A very bleak cannibal movie with great performances set in the streets of my wonderful city Manchester. It's full of broken characters who have no hygiene standards when it comes to meal time.

If Habit is too grimm for you then you will find a more light hearted film in Double Date

Double Date

Alex wants to help his best friend lose his virginity before he turns 30 and thinks they are on to a sure thing when they meet sisters Kitty and Lulu only these siblings are more into human sacrifices than partying. This is a very funny movie with characters that you really care about.

If you like last years Beyond The Gate then you will love Game Of Death

Game Of Death

Drunken teenagers find a board game they all agree to play only to find out once they started that rules are kill or be killed before the clock runs out. Another good horror comedy with over the top special FX.

If you are looking for something completely different then Borley Rectory is what you need.

Borley Rectory

The story of the hauntings of Borley Rectory and paranormal investigator Harry Price are brought alive in this visually compelling movie. It's not a traditional haunted house movie and you won't find it scary but you will find the techniques used mesmerizing.

Well that's my top five but there are many more movies you should keep an eye open for such as Dave Made A Maze, Replace, Freehold and Poor Agnes.

I want to thank all the organisers at Grimmfest and all the festival goers who make this such a great festival to attend year after year. Also to all the filmmakers who put all their effort in to making these movies and all they ask in return is that we don't steal from them.

Grimmfest 2017 : Borley Rectory Movie Review

Borley Rectory is unlike anything you have ever seen before!

The movie is the story of the hauntings at the Borley Rectory known as the most haunted house in Britain which inspired The Haunting Of Hill House by Shirley Jackson and The Legend Of Hell House by Richard Matheson.

If I'm honest I have never heard of the Borley Rectory or it's hauntings before watching this movie. So the way the movie combines different filmmaking techniques you are immersed in an atmospheric story that grips you from the start. With all the different techniques there is so much going on on-screen at the same time that you can't take your eyes of it and that's not even to mention the excellent cast who guide you through the story.

After watching this I was definitely educated on the Borley Rectory and awestruck by the amount of hard work that must have gone into this project! It isn't a scary movie but it is a thing of beauty with subtle humour and not to be missed!

Grimmfest 2017: Dave Made A Maze

The title explains it all! Dave has made a cheap but impressive looking maze out of cardboard boxes in his living room. When his girlfriend arrives home and finds that Dave is inside the maze and that he doesn't know his way out and claims that the maze is much bigger on the inside. She gathers some of his friends and they enter the maze to try and bring Dave out. Unfortunately there are also lots of traps and a minotaur to cause them lots of harm.

I definitely recommend this movie. If you have read the book The House Of Leaves you will notice a lot of similarities only this movie has a lot of humour. It is a really fun movie which never takes itself seriously. It is filmed brilliantly with lots of imagination and even has a fantastic puppet scene when the actors are turned in cardboard characters of themselves.

Grimmfest 2017 : TAG movie review

After watching the trailer TAG was a movie I was looking forward to watching at Grimmfest this year. Unfortunately the trailer was very misleading.

The trailer had a voice over that implied that some kind of government or agency had a grudge against girls and was killing them off. What we actually got was the main character visiting various stages of her life while all the girls around her get massacred in random extraordinary ways including a mysterious wind that cuts everything in half to teachers gunning down their classes.

The movie blends art house and horror. The opening scene is a must see along with other set pieces and all the actresses who play the main character throughout her life all do a great job. Unfortunately the story at the end that tie the movie together is a let down and could have been much better but it is still a fucking crazy movie with some pretty cool effects.

Grimmfest 2017 : Habit Movie Review

Well Grimmfest 2017 has kicked off and what a way to start a horror festival in Manchester by showing a horror film set in Manchester which happens to be directed by one of the co directors of the Festival!

The movie tells the story of Michael who befriends Lee down at the Job Centre who introduces him to a life of cannibalism at a seedy brothel.

The movie looks great and sounds great. It is full of broken characters who are all played great by the cast with a stand out performance by Sally Carmen. The story is really grimm which is fitting for the festival it's nice to see Manchester on the big screen and quite worrying to know I have to walk these streets back home.

Grimmfest 2017: Not Long Now

As you may know already I have attended Grimmfest for the last five years and I intend to see as much as I can this year too!

If you are not familiar with Grimmfest I'll give you a quick update; it is Manchester's biggest horror festival and takes place on the first weekend in October. If you want to know the calibre of movies that have played at previous festivals then please read my past posts on the festival.

This year the festival is showing many films I am excited to see. You can find the full lineup here along with trailers but I just want to say which films I am most excited to see.

Thursday is the opening night and this year has the world premier of Habit which is set in Manchester and is directed by Simeon Halligan who also happens to be the Co-Director of the festival so no pressure Simeon! Following Habit is Ruin Me set at an extreme horror themed camping site where the events turn from fun to deadly.

Due to work I will be unable to attend the majority of screenings on Friday but I do hope to get there for Better Watch Out as everyone loves a Christmas themed horror movie. Also the trailer for Tag has my attention.

On Saturday the movies I'm most excited about is Double Date due to the humour that I love in a British horror movie, Leatherface which is a remake of Texas Chainsaw The Beginning. I know it's not a remake but if you think about it it kinda is. I'm also looking forward to Fake Blood.

Sunday showings I'm looking forward to are Dave Made A Maze, Borley Rectory which is the movie I'm looking forward to the most at this years festival and Attack Of The Adult Babies which sounds fucking crazy!

These are just a few of the movies that are playing at this years festival there are plenty more to see over the four days which I'm sure will be great. I'm really looking forward to this year, if you don't have plans over the these four days you should definitely try and pop in and catch a film or two. Hopefully see you there!

   

Review: The Three

The Three by Sarah Lotz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Three by Sarah Lotz had a great premise that I really wanted to enjoy but for some reason it just didn’t grip me the way I like books to grab me.

It might have been the format of the book that let it down for me. After the promising opening chapter the format changes to a documentary style where it’s a collection of transcripts from Skype conservations, Twitter feeds, emails, message board chats and documents that tell the story of the world going crazy after four plans crash in one day and on each plane apart from one (or all four?) a creepy child survive.

Although the story does has a few horror elements I wouldn’t classify it as horror. I was over halfway through the book before the story started getting interesting for me. The story did pick up pace and I am happy I finished it. I just wonder what the book would be like if Sarah would have wrote the book in the same format as the opening and closing chapters.

I give the book 2.5/5


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Death Note Movie Review

The latest offering from Adam Wingard has been released on Netflix and it’s safe to say he’s done it again. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen so far from Adam Wingard and just like You’re Next, The Guest and last year’s sequel to The Blair Witch Project, Death Note is a fun movie to watch.

It’s probably worth noting that I’m not familiar with the Japanese Magna that the film is based on but that puts me in a better position to judge the film on its own without any emotional connection to the source material.

The movie follows a high school student named Light who discovers a mysterious notebook called Death Note. He is then visited by a Death God named Ryuk who goes over the rules of the notebook and tells him that he can cause the death of anyone he writes in the pages. All he needs is the name, be able to picture their face in his mind and the way he wants them to die. Along with his girlfriend he then proceeds to rid the world of criminals under the guise of Kira. This starts a cat and mouse chase between Light and a super detective known as L who tries to track down Kira.

It’s not the best movie in the world but it serves its purpose of entertaining you. The story is good, all the effects are spot on and the cast all play good roles. Adam Wingard was a perfect choice to direct this as he is very capable of killing of his characters in imaginative ways and I look forward to more movies from him.

I would have been happy to watch this in the cinema but Netflix are cutting out the middle men and are making some really good content and delivering it right to you wherever you are and however you want to watch it.

3.5 / 5

IT: Chapter 1 Movie Review

IT has finally been unleashed upon us all and it is one of the best horror films in such a long time!

After spending years in development and having numerous writers and directors attached to the project we finally have a movie that the book deserves. I will go as far and say it is my best adaption of a Stephen King story. My other favourites are Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption and The Mist.

  

I'm going to assume you are familiar with the story of IT either from reading the book or watching the TV movie from the 90's so I'm not going to go over the details of the story. This is the first of a two part movie and focuses solely on the Loser Club members when they are children. The movie is set in the 80's as appose to the 50's when the book is set and the next movie will be set in the present day moving it from the 80's when the Losers face IT again as adults.

They really have turned the horror up on this one, from the opening scene you realise that this is going to hold no punches, if it wasn't from the comedy relieve that comes mainly from Richie and Eddie this would have been one hell of a dark movie.

The whole cast are brilliant, some characters outshine others but I can't find fault with any of the performances. Now this can be seen as a double edged sword for the next chapter as the adults that have to play the same characters have a very hard act to follow.

IT Chapter 1 is going to be very successful at the box office and deservedly so. This is a great movie and the marketing campaign has been excellent. I know it must help to be promoting a character such as Pennywise who is already a household name, up there with Freddy, Jason and Michael but there wasn't any big name actors attached. I do hope this success leads to more big budget horror movies in the future or studios putting some good marketing behind some of the great indy movies that are made year after year.

IT: Chapter 1 proves you no longer have to be terrified of remakes apart from the fact that it's scary as fuck. I admit there has been many unnecessary remakes recently but when the movie is adapted from a book I always look forward to see how someone else can bring the pages to screen especially when it's a book I love. You will always have the saying that the movie isn't as good as the book and the same can be said about this version of IT but it's a much better adaptation then the previous outing.

I give IT: Chapter 1 5/5

Stephen King Overload

The last couple of months have been crazy with Stephen King related content so I thought I would gather together what I can in case you missed any of it.

First up is the Castle Rock TV series announcement.

Being developed by Bad Robot for Hulu not much is known about the series but judging by the trailer it gathers up a collection of characters from the Stephen King universe and dumps them into Castle Rock. Really not sure how the show is going to work, I did joke at the time that the plot was that bunch of kids break into Stephen King’s house and find all his manuscripts which have been locked up and when the kids open them it unleashes all the horrors inside on Castle Rock.

I’m not entirely sold with the little information that is known or if it’s something that needs to be done. How much do people want to see Pennywise go on his holidays to Castle Rock and meet up with Danny Torrance and Annie Wilkes who are also on their holidays there? But it’s definitely got my attention and I’m pretty sure I will be watching once it is released.

Something I am completely sold with is the new IT teaser trailer and it seems I’m not the only one with a record breaking 197 million views in 24 hours. I am very excited for this movie as a kid I found the original TV movie comical but as a adult I found the novel terrifying. I feel this is one remake that everyone who has read the book can agree is necessary. I will now avoid all following trailers and look forward to the actual movie released in September.

Sony have released a poster for the upcoming Dark Tower movie but still no footage has emerged. Unfortunately the release date has been push back to August. As much as I’m looking forward to this movie I feel Sony are struggling with how to market it. They need to do something soon just to ride the waves created by the IT trailer.

Other movies and series based on Stephen’s work to look out for this year is The Mist, Mr Mercedes, 1922 and Gerald’s Game.

Now if that’s not enough to look forward to we also have books being released this year. I’m trying my best to catch up and read everything King has released but he is not showing any signs in slowing down in the writing department meaning my to read list just keeps getting longer and longer.

First up is a novella written with Richard Chizmar set in Castle Rock called Gwendy’s Button Box. Later in the year Sleeping Beauties will be released which he co wrote with his son Owen King. Sleeping Beauties is also being adapted into a TV show.

Now you know what I do. If I have missed anything off then please let me know as I possibly don’t know.

Renew The Exorcist Series

I have just finished watching episode 8 of the new Exorcist TV series and up to now it is my favourite horror tv series so why hasn't it been renewed yet?

Now this post will contain spoilers so if you have not watched the show and plan on doing so then please stop reading and enjoy the show as it really is good.

If you haven't yet watched the show and don't plan on watching it then please continue to read and hopefully I can convince you to start watching.

I noticed on Twitter a campaign to try and get the show renewed with the #renewtheexorist hash tag and a show this good really should be renewed and got me asking myself why isn't it getting the viewers it deserves?

I believe the reason it hasn't had as many viewers is the way it was marketed. All I knew before watching it was that they were making a series of The Exorcist. I originally thought it was going to be a remake which I know many horror fans don't even entertain the thought of watching a remake so anyone that avoids remakes regardless would have already put it on the shit pile. The original trailer didn't help as it looked like a remake with a mother trying to get help for her possessed daughter.

It was during the first episode that I realised it was set in the same world as the original movie when we see a glimpse of a news article with a picture of the famous stairs from The Exorcist. It was at the end of episode 5 when we found out, (now this is the spoiler bit...) it is a direct sequel to the frist movie! Regan is now grown up, changed her name and has daughters of her own, one of which is being possessed by the same demon Captain Howdy as Regan.

So why was it never promoted as a sequel? I'm guessing the reason is they wanted to shock the audience with the big reveal which work very well with me. I was very shocked at the end of episode 5 and couldn't wait for the next episode and made a series I was already enjoying that much better.

Now you would think the people that rubbished the show of as another shitty remake would be able to enjoy the show as the sequel it is however fans of the show can't tell them it is a sequel. The way the shock ending of episode 5 played out it would be classed as a major spoiler if fans were to give that story away and no one wants to be the person that gives spoilers away.

Which leaves us all at a kind of stand off. Fans of the show want a second season and in order to get that the show needs more viewers and the only way to create more viewers is to create a buzz about the show which means talking about the which fans can't talk about without giving spoilers of the show away. Saying it's shuch a good show isn't enough to encourage people disenfranchised by remakes to give it a go. I feel the makers of the show felt just having The Exorcist title would be enough to generate viewers which unfortunately hasn't happened. Also not including Tubular Bells as the theme tune hasn't helped.

So where do we go from here? I really want a second season, I've noticed the official Twitter account hasn't had a problem giving spoilers away as you can see from the screen shots from below. I've had to stop following them as the US is ahead of the UK on episodes.

So should us fans give away these spoilers in the hope that more newcomers will come and watch the show giving it a more likely chance of it being renewed? I think it's worth being being that person that gives spoilers away if it pays off.

Grimmfest 2016 Highlights

Grimmfest is one event I look forward to every year and before you know it it's been and gone. This was my fifth year attending the genre film festival and it makes me proud to have witnessed how it's evolved into what it's become today.

Kicking of on Thursday evening and finishing on Sunday night they screened 20 feature films and 10 shorts. Returning to Odeon Printworks, Manchester they had a new sponsor with The Horror Channel who brought along a wall for you to graffiti with your favourite quotes from horror movies. There wasn't as many stalls as the previous year but Arrow Video had their usual stall and they never have a problem with parting me from my money. 

Here are my highlights from the festival. Unfortunately I was unable to attend on the Saturday so missed a few of the screenings but there was one film everyone I spoke to gave high praise for which I must see when I next get the opportunity is Trash Fire. A few honorable mentions for the films that didn't make my highlights but are worth a watch goes to Directors Cut, Darling and Beyond The Gates.

What We Become
A neighbourhood becomes a quarantine zone when virus epidemic breaks out.
What makes What We Become different from other zombie movies is you see how the breakout slowly unfolds with characters you care about this is a must see for any zombie movie fan.

My Father Die
A brutal revenge southern gothic movie where a deaf and mute man seeks revenge on his dad for murdering his brother.
There is never a dull moment in this movie beautifully filmed with a shit load of action and you never know which way it's going to go.

Train To Busan
A father and daughter catch a train when a zombie epidemic breaks out.
Yes this is Zombies On A Train but it's so much better than that. Easily my favourite movie of the festival. It's an emotionally charged adrenaline rush that is so well made I can't see any zombie movie fan not liking it.

Tonight She Comes
This is a great movie that starts of as a typical slasher movie then spirals into something much more.
Inspired by the slasher films of the 70s and 80s to the point where they lovingly rip of a certain kill scene this movie has a lot going for it. It will make you laugh and it will turn your stomach but it won't disappoint.

The Rezort
Think Jurassic Park but with zombies. The Rezort is a holiday island that has been set up after a zombie pandemic almost wiped out the planet for wealthy guest to go hunting zombies.
Another well made zombie film from this years Grimmfest. It good to see some new ideas being used for the zombie sub-genre when I was starting think everything has already been done.

Thank you for reading and be sure to check out these movies when they become available for you. Unfortunately I don't have release dates but when I get some information I will be sure to let you know.

Highlights From Past Grimmfest 2012 - 2015

Grimmfest, Manchester's annual horror film festival kicks off on the 6th October and this year will be the fifth time I've attended the event. For the first three years I attended the event took place at the Dancehouse Theatre before moving to it's current home at the Odeon Printworks last year. Due to this event I have seen some great movies that I know would have passed me by if I didn't attend. I also enjoy watching the shorts from some promising film makers. I have also seen some godawful shit that I wish I did miss but that's part of the risk of attending movies you don't research beforehand. Although I know I can't attend all the days and screenings I've always bought the full festival pass as I still feel I get the value for my money.

Here I want to share with you some of my highlights from the past festivals

2012

Comedown

You always remember your first! Comedown was the first movie I saw at Grimmfest so forgive me if I remember this with rose-tinted glasses but I really enjoyed this slasher set in an derelict tower block in London.

Grabbers

What can I say about Grabbers? If you haven't already seen Grabbers then you are missing out. Very funny creature feature set in Ireland with really good practical special FX.

Devoured

In 2012 Grimmfest had two screens playing different films simultaneously, they had the main screen and a smaller screen in a studio. I arrived too late on the Friday for the start of Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut in the main screen but Devoured was about to start in the studio screen so why not give something new a try. I was presently surprised with it. A slow burn haunting, psychological thriller with a fantastic lead actress who gradually descents into madness.

Stitches

What could go wrong? The final film of the festival with the star in attendance. So you probably wouldn't want a technical glitch like the sound dropping out with fifteen minutes to go to happen? So bless the organisers as that's exactly what happened. Stitches is an enjoyable killer clown movie staring Ross Noble. What makes this film even more special is that Pollyanne McIntosh came and sat next to me to watch it.

2013

I've only picked three films that stood out for me at the 2013 Grimmfest. This year marked the launch of the Grimmfest fringe which replaced the second screen at the Dancehouse. Unfortunately I completely missed all these screenings at the fringe due to work commitments. I did see a good number of the films screened at the Dancehouse but these are the only three I went out of my way to buy and watch again.

The Borderlands

Up there as one of my best found footage movies. An investigation team go into a church where a priest claims miracles have taken place. Great use of head cameras throughout to answer the question "why would you keep filming?". I do wish this gets a release on Netflix or something in order to get more people to see it as I'm sure it could have a much larger fan base.

Jug Face
(Also known as The Pit) is a very creepy movie where a backwoods community have to offer blood sacrifices to a pit. Not giving the pit who it wants will cause it to wreck havoc.

The Machine
Beautifully shot with an amazing score The Machine is a fantastic science fiction movie where the MOD steal a self-aware artificial intelligence creation.

2014

In my opinion Grimmfest came back in 2014 with a much stronger lineup than the previous year. Still housed at the Dancehouse theatre with the fringe held this year at Gorilla here are my top five favourites from this year. I must point out I missed all the fringe screenings again this year but that didn't take away from my overall experience.

Suspiria

Grimmfest always screen at least one classic movie at their festivals. This is a perfect opportunity for you to see your favourite movie on the big screen. What made Suspiria different from any other screening was that Goblin was in house to play the score live. If you ever get a chance to watch a film with the score played live then take it.

What We Do In The Shadows
I have watched this movie so many times since the festival and it doesn't get old. Created by the brilliant minds behind Flight Of The Concords this hilarious mockumentry follows the struggles of a group of vampires that flat share in New Zealand as they prepare for the annual masquerade ball for the undead.

Choerence
Can't really say much about Choerence without giving away the plot but it's a very clever, mind bending movie that stays in your head long after watching.

Starry Eyes
I do love a slow build movie and Starry Eyes doesn't disappoint. A dark tale about Hollywood ambition where a waitress is offered a dream role but not everything is as it seems.

Wolfcop
Grimmfest had a fair amount of horror comedies on offer in 2014 and Wolfcop is another example of how a horror comedy should be done. It never takes itself serious and offers a great amount of gore for you to enjoy.

2015

In 2015 Grimmfest returned bigger and better than all the previous years I attended. At it's new home at the Odeon Printworks the team created a fantastic festival. They had more stalls, a gamers section, a new host to conduct the Q & As, more guests and most of all a brilliant selection of movies. Here are my favourite movies from the festival...

Blood Sucking Bastards

Another very good horror comedy where the new office manager is a vampire that attempts to turn all the employees.

He Never Died
Henry Rollins plays an eternal being who just wants to be left alone and play bingo. A very enjoyable slow build.

Turbo Kid
A homage to 80's post apocalypse movies. This was one of my highlights from 2015 and I don't mean just from the festival. Great 80's style score, fantastic 80's style effects and an enjoyable story.

The Hive
It was late in the day when I watched this and was very tired so probably didn't appreciate it as much as it deserves but The Hive is a visual stunning, very well made zombie movie.

Excess Flesh
Not one to watch while eating or feeling hungry. A girl with body image issues is obsessed with her model roommate and soon the obsession becomes violent. Another example how to do a slow build movie.

Howl
A good creature feature where a night train to London breaks down in a forest home to werewolf type creatures. As if being trapped on a train isn't bad enough.

Deathgasm
If you love zombies, heavy metal and a good laugh then this is one from you. You can count on New Zealand to produce a good horror comedy.

A Christmas Horror Story
Four Christmas based horror movies blended together, one of which features Santa fighting zombie elves what more do I have to say.

I think it's safe to say I'm looking forward to this year's event unfortunately I can't make it there Saturday but I'll be there all the other days. Thanks for reading and please check back for a review of this year's festival.

Blair Witch 2016 Spoiler Free Movie Review

Set 20 years after the events of the first film, Lisa; a film maker, is making a documentary on ambiguous loss where one of her subjects is James whos older sister Heather went missing along with two of her friends while camping in the woods. James comes across some footage on YouTube that has been recently found in the woods which he believes shows his sister. Lisa and James along with two other friends go into the woods hoping to find more clues related to what happened to Heather...

The announcement of Blair Witch came as a shock to many horror fans, especially the ones who had been following the developments of Adam Wingard's new film The Woods which was revealed as Blair Witch at it's first screening at Comic Con. This is a direct sequel to the first movie and rightfully ignores The Book of Shadows.
I got to see this as a mystery movie at the cinema. I was so happy when I saw the title as you may know I loved the first film and been looking forward to seeing this since it's announcement. I have to say I wasn't disappointed with this sequel however I wasn't blown away either.

The movie has some faults and the biggest problem I had was with the acting at the beginning of the movie. It felt like the actors was acting and not giving a natural improvised performance which was done so well in the first movie. I will point out that the acting got better as the film went on but I would have liked the characters to be believable from the start.
My other problem was that there was also a large amount of unnecessary jump scares. I'm a sucker for jump scares, they get me every time and I don't mind them but this movie had many of times when it was just the main characters coming out of a bush or just standing there when a swinging camera locks on to them.

There are many positives about the film which I won't go into to keep it spoiler free but I will say where this film succeeds and will be remembered for is the final 30 minutes. You will witness one of the most intense sequences that lasts for half an hour without a break for a breather. You will be begging for the movie to end just to get your heart rate down to an acceptable rhythm again.

If you are a fan of the first movie then you should enjoy this. It goes over territory which you will be familiar with from the first film and expands on the myths. If you didn't like the first film and I appreciate The Blair Witch Project is the Marmite of horror movies then there is nothing here for you.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Blair Witch Project 1999 Revisited

It’s been 17 years since The Blair Witch Project graced our screens and with the upcoming sequel I thought now's a good time to revisit the granddaddy of found footage movies.

Sure there were found footage movies before The Blair Witch Project but none of them kick started the sub-genre the way The Blair Witch Project did. Cannibal Holocaust incorporated found footage in the movie and was very and still is very controversial but it never opened the floodgates for the influx of found footage movies that followed The Blair Witch Project.

The main reason there are so many found footage movies now is down to the success of The Blair Witch Project. Made with a budget of only $60,000 Eduardo Sánchez and Daniel Myrick managed to make a whopping £248.6 million worldwide.

Now I can’t talk about The Blair Witch Project and not mention the brilliant and never duplicated marketing campaign. The movie was advertised as the actual found footage of three film student Heather, Joshua and Michael who went missing while filming a documentary on the Blair Witch. They created a whole folklore surrounding the Blair Witch which was turned into a TV documentary which broadcasted just before the film’s release. The TV documentary had interviews with relatives of the missing students, local residents, investigators and even historians. So I don’t mind saying I went into that movie as a 14 year old thinking it was actual found footage and that the Blair Witch had a real place in history.

What also contributed to my naivety was the book by D. A. Stern called The Blair Witch Project A Dossier. The book includes The legends, myths and facts surrounding the Blair Witch, links to Rustin Parr, interviews with the victims' friends and families and Heather's journals which was supposedly found with the footage.

Having absorbed all the background information I could find on the Blair Witch (and missing the crucial fact it was all made up) I was ready for the movie and I remeber loving it. It scared the shit out of me. It was different to anything I had ever seen and any horror that was released at the time. The way it told the story being part documentary part first person horror without any music score was a work of genius.

It was a bout a week later when I found out the whole story was made up and I was still impressed. Even though I had been had big time I was still able to part take in the whole Blair Witch experience the way the makers wanted it to be experienced and I can't see a movie giving me that overall experience again.

The question now is does it stand the test of time? With only having it on DVD I gave it a recent watch and even though I've seen the movie many times over the years I am still impressed with it. The picture quality makes it a product of its time, I haven't seen a Blu-Ray version so don't know if the picture has had an upgrade but it looks like it was made in the 90's by film students which is exactly the way it should look. They didn't have IPhones with HD cameras back then so I would be disappointed if they enhance the footage. The acting and script can't be faulted apart from the whole kicking the map in the lake situation but I did enjoy the fallout that followed. There's also little moments I have only just picked up on that impressed me like the part Heather is discussing editing suggestions on footage they shot that day.

The scares still have the same impact, who isn't going to shit themselves if while camping in the middle of nowhere you hear children playing during the middle of the night? I still love the end scene in the house with the handprints on the wall and the cameras just being knocked out of their hands and not showing the witch just adds to the mystery.

I can easily say that The Blair Witch Project is one of my best horror movies, not for the film itself but the whole experience it created at that moment in time. I look forward to when my children are old enough to watch it and I'll try and sell it to them as a true story, I'll dig out the book and watch the documentary to try and create the same experience I went through before they watch the actual movie.

Review: Marvelry's Curiosity Shop

Marvelry's Curiosity Shop by John Brhel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What a great age we live in when you can be contacted on Twitter and asked to review a book by someone on the other side of the planet, which is then sent directly to your Kindle ready for you to read.

You can argue all day regarding the pros and cons of e-readers but you can't deny that it has given aspiring writers a platform to have their work published and access to a worldwide audience.

Marvelry's Curiosity Shop by Brhel and Sullivan is a collection of 12 short stories all based on cursed items sold by Marvelry; a retired magician who now owns an antique shop.

The stories are all varied in the way the items haunt their new owners, some work out ok for the customer and others don't have such a happy ending.

The stories seem to lack any tension for them to be classed as scary and are over to quickly which is a shame as there are some great ideas in these stories and I love the central connection with Marvelry who you get to know more with each story. I also love the artwork on the cover, I know you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover but you should give credit when it's due.

I'm confident Brhel and Sullivan will only get better with their craft and I look forward to future releases.

3/5

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The Conjuring 2 Movie Review

How many times have you gone into the sequel fearing it won't be as good as the first? Well you have nothing to fear here... that's not totally true; you do have something to fear here you have a lot to fear with The Conjuring 2 which I believe is far better than the first one.

James Wan really pulls out the scares in the follow up to his 2013 The Conjuring. The story focuses on the Enfield haunting. Set in 1977 London, England; Peggy Hodgson is a single mum of five children who asks for help after she believes her youngest daughter Janet maybe possessed. Ed and Lorraine Warren are sent to investigate.

Not only am I impressed with the scares in the film which come in the form of jump scares and slow burn tension building I am really impressed with the way James Wan recreates England in the 70's. For someone that isn't even from the country I have to give credit for the amount of research that must have gone into this project to get the feeling right.

The movie has a great cast with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprising their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren; they are joined with great performances by Frances O'Connor who plays Peggy Hodgson, Lauren Esposito who plays Margaret Hodgson and the stand out performance from Madison Wolfe as Janet Hodgson.

When it comes to real life hauntings like the story this film is based on I am somewhat of a sceptic, I don't believe in ghost so in order for me to enjoy a film that is advertised as the true story from the case files of the Warrens I have to try really hard to turn the sceptic side of my brain off and enjoy it for what it is... Which is one of the most scariest films I've seen in a long time.

5/5

Excited For The New Ghostbusters Movie

As we are only weeks away from the release of the new Ghostbusters movie I want to put it out there how excited I am for it.

Growing up in the 80s and 90s; Ghostbusters was a big part of my life. I collected all the toys (which I wish I kept in the original packaging now), watched all the cartoons and can't count how many times I've seen the movies.

I remember the second movie coming out and was so excited with the build up; all the promotional gifts that you got with kid meals at Burger King, the comic series where the second movie was told with the characters from the Real Ghostbusters and all the other promotions I tried to squeeze my mum and dad for. I remeber loving the 2nd film and although it doesn't stand the test of time I loved it as a kid and still do now.

I've been waiting and waiting for a third Ghostbuster movie and after a lot of false starts with certain actors not wanting to take part we finally got a computer game which most of the cast took part in and it now stands in for me as the third movie. The cut scenes and music really make it special and I truly enjoyed it.

When the reboot was announced I was sad that the third film was never going to happen but I managed to get over it. When I saw the trailer I can see why they had to reboot and got excited for it.

Ghostbusters is a family film and although I would have loved to see the original cast taking their original roles on the big screen that movie would be aimed at me and people aged 30 plus. I'm not sure my children (boy 8 and girl 4) would take to four men older than their grandparents being chased by ghosts. Even if the original cast only had a bit part where they introduced new recruits you still have a huge gap to explain what the ghostbusters have been doing since the last movie. Where do you go from having a giant Marshmallow Man attacking New York and then taking the Statue Of Liberty for a walk? I think if a third movie was ever going to work and be a big money success it should had been made at least 15 to 20 years ago.

I'm going to go into the reboot with an open mind and if I love it I will write a review about it. If I hate it then you won't hear another word about it from me as I like to give recommendations not shit all over someone's work.

One thing the new movie will never be able to do is change any of the memories and love I felt and still feel for the original movies. I just hope it creates the same joy for my children as the original did for me.

Review: Blood Harvest

Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome to Heptonclough! A small village in the Pennines. If you're into ghostly sightings, creepy folklore, missing children and pagan rituals then this is the place for you.

This is the third book from Sharon Bolton  (known as S J Bolton when initially released) who has gone on to release a further six books plus some short stories.

The story starts in a graveyard where a landslide due to heavy rainfall has unearthed a childs grave who must have been having a sleepover as two extra bodies where found along with the gave's supposedly only occupier.

The story then goes back a few months and follows Harry Laycock the new town vicar, the Fletcher family who has recently moved into the area, Evi Oliver a Psychiatrist who is concerned for one of her patients from Heptonclough that goes for walks along the moors looking for her daughter who died in a house fire and numerous other supporting characters that contribute to the build up for a great whodunit that will keep you guessing right till the end. I love the amount of twists that Sharon Bolton throws into this story. My wife who is better than me at calling out a killer also got this wrong.

Although I love horror stories and movies I don't believe in the supernatural so I would like to point out the genius way Sharon Bolton creates a supernatural environment and later explains what caused it.

What I loved the most about Blood Harvest is the location. Now I might be a bit biased with this opinion as it is set very close to where I use to live. Although Heptonclough is a made up place the surrounding area is very real and Sharon Bolton captured it perfectly. I loved the references to The Witch Way bus service which is a real bus service, Rawtenstall Market and other local references that I couldn't help but smile when I came about them.

Sharon Bolton is a gifted author who has created a very enjoyable book with relatable characters that covers some very dark human behaviour where you feel a real sense of danger for the children involved.

4.5 / 5


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