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Wednesday Briefs: January 31, 2024

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Dracula #1 (1.0) by Julie Lynn Hayes

The room was richly appointed with the trappings of luxury. Oriental tapestries blanketed the narrow windows of the ancient castle and vibrant Persian Isfahan wool rugs dotted the cold stone floor in handwoven elegance. Some of these were the spoils of war, others acquisitions from Sotheby’s. While a relatively young establishment, having only been founded some thirty years previously, the auction house had already attained an international reputation as a purveyor of fine art. The sole piece of furniture in the room was an intricately carved mahogany bed set upon a raised dais. Wrought iron candelabra several feet in height on either side of the bed provided a gothic ambience, while the lit candles imparted to the tableau the aura of an altar.

The sole occupant of the bed lay in serene composure, his

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Saturday is Horror Day #150 – The Green Inferno, Willow Creek, Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Green Inferno

Justine (Lorenzo Izzo) has the best of intentions when she joins with a group of fellow do-gooders to travel to the Amazon to stop the damage being down to the ecology by a major company. But she learns to her dismay that she was recruited for a reason, and her life was put on the line. The students’ protest ends with them being put on a plane to return home.

But things go wrong when their plane crash lands in the jungle, and the young people find themselves lost

in a hostile environment. They were previously told that the natives are less than friendly. They are about to find out how true that is, and that female genital mutilation is not a myth! And neither is cannibalism!

Eli Roth’s film is notorious for the cannibalism, headhunting,  and brutality depicted, and that is true.  This film is raw and gory, make no mistake about that. But it also isn’t a particularly good film, either. I don’t think it was well done, too focused on grossing people out to worry about anything else. The opening is slow and clunky, and the acting is nothing to write home about. I had to google the ending to understand it, and I realized that that point didn’t really come across very well when I was viewing it. I found Cannibal Holocaust more shocking than The Green Inferno (although not very good either). I hear there may be a sequel, and the ending is open to that interpretation. I’ll give this film 1.5 Stars.

Willow Creek

Jim (Bryce Johnson) is a Bigfoot enthusiast, his dream being to sight the elusive cryptid. His girlfriend Kelly (Alexie Gilmore) is not quite so interested, but she likes him enough to agree to visit Willow Creek, alleged home of Bigfoot. Willow Creek is the place where the infamous film footage of an alleged sighting was taken in 1967. Jim’s dream is to find that site and locate Bigfoot himself.

Jim and Kelly visit all the Bigfoot related businesses in town and interview various town folk before

heading into the wild. They find themselves in the middle of the deep forest, where they pitch their tent and begin their search. It seems like they are destined to be unsuccessful in their endeavors, until things begin to happen, and they end up huddled together in their tent, terrified… but of what?

It’s worth noting here that this film was written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait. This isn’t a horror film in the gory, bloody sense, but I have to tell you, there is quite a bit of nail-biting suspense when Jim and Kelly are in their tent, and you can only hear but not see what is outside the tent. I really liked this film, and I would watch it again. Although the ending was unclear and I had to look up what happened, giving another layer to the film. I give this film 4 Stars.

Silent Night, Deadly Night 4: Initiation

Kim (Neith Hunter) is a would-be reporter who can’t stop thinking about the mysterious death of a woman who inexplicably threw herself off the top of a building. Her boss Eli (Reggie Bannister) doesn’t believe in her enough to give her the assignment, so she takes it upon herself to investigate and finds herself involved with a group of witches led by Fima (Maud Adams).

This fourth installment in the series really has no relation to the others, at least in terms of plot. One

might make an argument for the brief scene in which a character is watching Silent Night Deadly Night and intones “Santa Claus killer!” But that’s a weak argument  at best, despite the fact that Clint Howard plays a character named Ricky, who beings the movie as a silent sidekick but becomes suddenly quite loquacious and thoroughly creepy.

Despite this film having a few somewhat recognizable – Maud Adams was once a Bond Girl, Clint Howard is Ron Howard’s brother and has done some really creepy films of his own, Allyce Beasley was in Moonlighting and Reggie Bannister was my favorite character in the Phantasm series – this movie is beyond horrible. Terrible acting, writing, directing, and the story…. think Rosemary’s Baby, but with insects. I would avoid this one unless, like me, you are a glutton for punishment. I’ll give this film 0 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: January 24, 2024

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Bad Karma and the Family Plan #98 (20.7) by Julie Lynn Hayes

“To be honest, that wasn’t very hard. I mean seriously, that woman’s IQ is probably in the single digits. Much like that of her gay bosom buddy, Troy Whatshisface, future AIDS victim.”

“What about you?” Ethan countered, showing remarkable restraint, I thought, when all I wanted to do was plant my fist in that smarmy face. How dare he say that about Troy? “Weren’t you giving it to Eva June’s fiancé? And God knows how many others. Have you been tested lately?”

“I get tested on a regular basis,” Chip came back quickly. “Don’t worry, I

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Saturday is Horror Day #149 – Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out, Saw V

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out

Ricky Caldwell (Bill Moseley) lies in a coma and has for six years, after being shot in order to end his deadly rampage. Doctors don’t know when or if Ricky will ever awaken. Laura (Samantha Scully) is a blind young woman who has a talent that some might call ESP – despite her lack of sight, she sees things in her dreams/mind that she can’t explain. Dr. Newbury (Richard Beymer) is trying to help her understand and use these talents, but she is skeptical of the doctor’s studies and wishes to end her participation. During a particularly violent dream, her screams seem to have awakened Ricky. Let the blood bath begin anew….

This is the sequel to Silent Night Deadly Night 2, despite the fact that the part of Ricky was recast. After seeing this movie, I have to believe Eric Freeman read the script and said no. This film makes the second one look like a masterpiece. Where do I even start?

First off, if Ricky was shot in the chest in the second film, why is he wearing that weird protective device over his exposed brain? (Btw, I guess we just need to forget there was another Ricky, no explanation is given for his changed looks). This Ricky does not how “Revenge!” or “Garbage Day!” with great glee, in fact he says very little and shows no emotion whatsoever. But make no mistake, he is still a killer. And now his focus is on Laura. Why? Couldn’t tell you. Terrible plot, horrible script, terrible direction, sets, and cinematography, and very very bad exacting. Even Richard Beymer and Robert Culp (yep, that guy from I Spy) couldn’t save this. Also, there is Eric DaRe, whom I remember from Twin Peaks (oddly, his character was in a similar type situation as Ricky, almost Frankenstein-like). I didn’t recognize DaRe at first, thinking his character was cute.  Don’t ask me why, I requested the next one, where we have another actor playing Ricky. I’ll keep you in suspense until I watch and review it. I am giving this film .5 Stars. I only hope #4 is better, but I am not holding my breath on that.

Saw V

Mark Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) emerges as a hero in the wake of Jigsaw’s death, but Agent Strahm (Scott Patterson) is suspicious, believing that he was meant to perish with the others and unexpectedly he lived. He begins to search Hoffman’s past, as well as the previous Jigsaw murders. Meanwhile, five people awaken in a perilous situation, and a new game is afoot

One person Strahm seems to be focused on for information is John Kramer’s (Tobin Bell) ex, Jill

(Betsy  Russell). But she knows nothing, as her ex never made her privy to his plans, so she can’t help him. Meanwhile, the five people are trying to navigate this new situation they find themselves in. Jigsaw, as usual, has left them clues, but will they do what it takes to emerge alive?

I liked watching the evolution of Mark Hoffman as John’s assistant, as well as the struggle of the five people. They have the clues at their fingertips, if they’ll only pay attention. As with any Saw film, there is gore and there is peril. In the end, Strahm proves to be his own worst enemy. I also appreciate that Jigsaw is still very much a part of the film series, despite John’s death. There are clearly twists and turns yet to be uncovered, and I look forward to seeing them. I’ll give this film 4 St

Wednesday Briefs: January 17, 2024

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Broken Path, Starless Tail Chapter: Thirty-three by Cia Nordwell
 

“Wake up!”  

Valrinda’s snarl was truly impressive, and Beckett could feel the warmth in his neck increase rapidly. As much as he’d love to let him engulf the mage with a blast of flames, there was no telling if it would actually hurt him or not. While he didn’t like the mage—at all—Beckett needed his help. The star he was keeping in his pocket, and wasn’t that a trip to think about, needed to get back to Parallax as soon as possible. For that, he needed a portal, and for that, he needed this mage.  

Beckett narrowed his
 
 

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Saturday is Horror Day #148 – We Need to Talk About Kevin, Saw IV

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

We Need to Talk About Kevin

Every expectant parents dreams about the baby they are having, of their hopes and dreams for the new life they are bringing into the world. But sometimes reality is a far cry from what they envisioned.  Such is the case with Eva (Tilda Swinton) and Franklin (John C. Reilly). From the beginning, Kevin (Jasper Newell) was different. At first nonverbal, he was strong-willed and defiant. If he didn’t want to do something, he didn’t do it, and no one and nothing could make him do it. Even after he began to speak, he was rude and condescending. He refused to be toilet trained and was wearing diapers when he was six or seven years of age, deliberately soiling himself to force his mother to clean him up.

Eva tries, but he pushes her away at every turn. And when Franklin is around, he doesn’t exhibit the same

psychotic behavior. Eva is at her wit’s end. Getting pregnant again was not on her agenda, but it happened, and they welcomed a daughter, Celia (Ashley Gerasimovich). Celia is a sweet child, who adores her older brother, despite the horrible way he treats her. An unexplained accident leaves the poor girl with only one eye. Eva knows who is to blame, but nothing is done. She tries to talk to her husband but he doesn’t listen because he doesn’t want to hear or see what she does. And then the unthinkable happens…

This is a very chilling story, one which will especially resonate with parents. Love isn’t always the answer, and not all children are sweet and innocent. Some are just born bad. The story goes back and forth between the present and the past, and what leads up to the present. You can figure out something is wrong by the things you don’t see in the present. What do you do when your child is a monster? Is there a point at which unconditional love has to take a back seat to reality? Tilda Swinton is great as Kevin’s mother, and Jasper Newell shines as Kevin. It’s a hard film to watch, yet very compelling at the same time. I give this film 4 Stars.

Saw IV

John Kramer (Tobin Bell) may be dead, but the games are far from over. John’s legacy continues through his newest assistant. Who is that? That would be telling, now wouldn’t it. Now let the games continue!

The Saw franchise is far from over, and new puzzles await. Detective Rigg (Lyriq Bent) is put to the

test, as are various other law enforcement officials, such as Agent Straham (Scott Patterson) and Detective Hoffman (Costas Mandylor) and Agent Perez (Athena Karkansis, who you might remember from Manifest).  As usual, John’s games target those who deserve punishment for something, but he gives them a chance to save themselves, but at a price.

This installment is not lacking in gory games or twists and turns that will leave you wondering what the heck is going on, and who is playing a game of their own. I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Book Review: One Piece, Vol 1: Romance Dawn by Eiichiro Oda

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One Piece, Vol 1: Romance Dawn         

Author: Eiichiro Oda

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 1, 2003

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Manga/Action & Adventure/216 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Just before Gold Roger, the “King of the Pirates”, is beheaded for his crimes, he’s asked for the whereabouts of his treasure. His reply—that it’s still out there in the world somewhere, and free to the person who finds it—triggers the start of a great era of piracy!

A pirate ship has made its base in a small harbor village for the past year. A young boy in the village, Monkey D. Luffy, is determined to be a pirate and go with them on pirate adventures. When they refuse to take him seriously, he shows them he means what he says by stabbing himself beneath his eye! Although they are amazed that he’s done that, nothing changes. Pirate Captain “Red Hair” Shanks reminds him that a pirate has to be able to swim, and Luffy can’t do that—he has a tendency to sink like a stone. Luffy refuses to give up on his dreams, no matter how nicely the pirates try to let him down. He is determined that he shall learn to swim!

When a big blustery mountain bandit named Higuma comes into the tavern and tries to rile up the pirates, they refuse to fight, to Luffy’s dismay. He pegs them as cowards and yells at them. However, when he tries to storm away, he makes a startling discovery—because he stole and ate the gum-gum fruit the pirates took from an enemy ship, his body is now rubbery and stretchy! Furthermore, as the captain informs him to his chagrin, now he’ll never be able to swim!  Oh no!

Luffy has a lot to learn about what constitutes true courage!

Ten years later, his real adventures begin.

Still determined to become the king of the Pirates, Luffy sets out in a small boat, with no real sense of direction but a whole lot of determination. An encounter with a whirlpool leaves him in the company of the pirates of the dread lady pirate Iron Mace Alvida. Here he meets Koby, a timid young man who’s been enslaved by her against his will, and only wishes to join the Navy. Luffy befriends Koby and instills in him a courage and fortitude he’s sorely lacking. After they leave her, Luffy confides that he is assembling a super pirate crew in order to seek Gold Roger’s treasure, known as “One Piece”. He’s heard about a really good swordsman who’s imprisoned at the naval base, named Roronoa Zola, and he’s determined to add him to his crew. Koby is a bit skeptical.

They reach the naval base, which is under the command of Captain Morgan, and his despicable, cruel, effeminate son Helmeppo.  Zolo is a prisoner, tied to a post in the naval yard. But when Luffy approaches him for possible recruitment, he says forget it, it’s only for a month, he can tough it out. Luffy soon discovers that things are not as they appear to be.

Can Luffy rescue Zolo? And even if he does, can he convince him to join his pirate crew? What of the despotic Captain Morgan and his horrible son? Can Luffy help Koby attain his lifelong dream of being in the navy, or will their acquaintanceship put an end to Koby’s chances?

First off, I know, I’m slow at getting to this. That being said, I wasn’t sure what to expect, despite the fact that it’s a long-running series. That doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. I quickly discovered that it’s really quite funny and very entertaining, and I’m looking forward to reading more.

Monkey D. Luffy is quite the character, and a fitting hero for this series. His ability to be rubbery at will, and also to withstand bullets, is pretty cool, and not something you see in your average hero. He’s young and enthusiastic and determined—traits which will carry him a long way. Eiichiro Oda doesn’t play to stereotypes. The pirate captain Shanks isn’t what you’d necessarily expect in a pirate, and neither is his crew. I like the artwork, it matches the story well, even to the exaggeratedly big mouth that Luffy has, a common characteristic I notice in Oda’s characters.

This book is rated for teens, but I think it would be enjoyed by all ages. It’s first and foremost an adventure tale, so there will be fights, but it’s not what I’d call particularly gory. If I have any complaints with the artwork, it would be that his girls tend to look more like boys. But that’s not really a complaint so much as an observation.

I enjoyed the first volume and look forward to reading more. Yes, I know he’s up to like 100 now. Guess I’ll be reading for a while!

Wednesday Briefs: January 10, 2024

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Bad Karma and the Family Plan #97 (20.6) by Julie Lynn Hayes

“I’m not going to dignify your stupidity with an answer,” Ethan said in a voice filled with disdain. “You’re just a shit-disturber, Chip, and you know it. You think you’re someone special because you killed some poor innocent people and managed to make it into the news. You made headlines all across the country and you even got your picture on  national TV. You made people frightened of you and the idea of what you might do to them.  So they dubbed you the Florida Mangler. You think that’s something to be proud of?” Ethan snorted. “You know that there are serial killers out there a lot smarter than you are. How do I know that? Because they’re still out there and you’re here.” He waved his arms to encompass the small room in which we sat.

“Not for long, dickhead,” Chip replied, but I got the feeling his bravado sounded a little forced.

“You tell yourself that,

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Saturday is Horror Day #147 – Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, Unfriended: Dark Web

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum

Gonjiam Asylum is listed by CNN as one of the seven freakiest places on the planet as well as the creepiest place in Korea. Which makes it a natural attraction for thrill seekers and attention seekers. Especially what is said to be the most haunted place in the asylum – Room 402. So far, no one has gained entry to that room. And some have disappeared in the attempt…

Ha-joon (Wi Ha-joon) is the driving force behind the Horror Times, a web-based horror series. He has a

goal in mind – one million views – not just for the accomplishment but, of course, for the revenue such numbers will generate. And what better place to do this than in the notorious asylum of Gonjian? He assembles a team and makes his plans. While they sneak inside the asylum, he operates the control center and live streams it to his hungry audience.

Everything is ready for a most profitable evening. However not everything is as it seems, as Ha-joon doesn’t believe in leaving things to change. So just maybe everything is not on the up-and-up. Everything is wonderfully scripted with moments of sheer genius when the team genuinely freaks out at what they experience. But just when has everything changed?

I have to say that this is a most creepy and spectacularly horrifying film in every sense of the word. Even when you begin to doubt the reality of what you are seeing, you can sense that the line between what is fake and what is real is thinning all the time until you have no idea what might happen next, or what has actually already happened… and why. The atmosphere is off the charts, the scares are genuine, and yes, I did jump, although most of the scares are far from predictable jump scares. Be prepared for the unexpected because this movie really delivers. You may recognize Ha-joon, as he played the young detective in the Squid Game. Very well done and very genuinely terrifying. I give this film 5 Stars.

Unfriended: Dark Web

Matias (Colin Woodell) is working on an app that will make communication between himself and his deaf girlfriend Amaya (Stephanie Nougueras) better. He seems to be getting nowhere, however, and she is becoming more and more frustrated with him. It doesn’t help that his laptop is crappy, which makes both communication and working on the app difficult. So when he notices a laptop in the lost-and-found for three weeks at the cafe where he works, he seizes the opportunity as well as the laptop.

Of course, he has to figure out how to get into it, since it’s locked. But the answer is surprisingly easy.

He skypes with Amaya to show her the app and what he has done for her, but she remonstrates with him, tells him he’s making it easy for her to understand him but not him to understand her. She leaves the chat and he logs into his friend’s group for a game of Cards Against Humanity. But there’s something odd about the laptop. He asks his friend AJ (Connor Del Rio)who suggests that it’s full. And maybe there are secret files. So Matias does some digging, and what he finds will change their lives forever…

Although the sequel to Unfriended, which I reviewed previously, this is a stand-alone film and doesn’t involve any of the characters from the other movie. I confess to being a little confused at first, not understanding what was happening. It doesn’t help that I found the texting hard to read at times and a little fast. But then everything began to come together, and I found myself fascinated as I watched everything unfold. This is an edge-of-your-seat kind of film. You never know what is real, what isn’t, and what might happen next. Terrible decisions have to be made, ones I would never want to have to make. I enjoyed the acting of everyone, they were all believable, as was the script and the direction. Be aware that there are four alternate endings. I watched them all. Well done. I’ll give this film 4.5 Stars.

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Wednesday Briefs: January 3, 2024

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Here is a list of all the authors flashing this week, along with a brief snippet from their latest free work. Click the link after the snippet to be taken to the complete story on the author’s home page.

Broken Path, Starless Tail: Chapter Thirty-one by Cia Nordwell
 

“How in the hell would I have an appointment? Do I look like I have an appointment? Or know how to get an appointment?” Everyone else he’d met in this damn place had called him human or gawked at him.  

“No one sees the Mages without an appointment,” the golem intoned.  

“Make an exception. This is important. I—”  

The golem cut him off. “No exceptions.”  

There should always be exceptions. People in power were always about isolating themselves from those who had problems and actually needed help. It pissed him off, and the power he’d just learned he had

 
 

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