Saturday is Horror Day #214 – The Creeping Flesh

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Creeping Flesh

Emmanuel Hildern (Peter Cushing) returns from the jungles of New Guinea with a marvelous find in the form of a huge skeleton, one he believes will serve to bolster his theory that evil is a disease that can be cured. His daughter Penelope (Lorna Heilbron) is overjoyed at her father’s return, and hopes to spend time with him, but he is quickly lost to his studies once more. On his arrival, he finds a letter from his brother James (Christopher Lee) who runs a mental asylum. James regrets to inform his brother that while he was gone, his wife passed away. And he has said nothing to Penelope, of course. The truth of the matter is that Penelope believes he mother died years ago and her father is not about to let her know the truth.

But he doesn’t realize how obsessed with the idea of her mother Penelope is, especially because she has

been forbidden from entering the locked room that was once her mother’s. But where there is a will, there is a way, and Penelope gains entrance.

In the meantime, Emmanuel has made an accidental discovery that he cannot quite explain – if the skeleton becomes wet, flesh begins to grow on the bone! Interestingly, his brother James is involved in his own dark experiments. And the two experiments are about to overlap!

While this film has the look and feel of a Hammer film, including Hammer’s two biggest stars – Cushing and Lee – it is not. There are also supporting actors Duncan Lamont, Michael Ripper, make-up artist Roy Ashton, and cinematographer turned director Freddie Francis.

Cushing plays the absentminded scientist well. He means well in protecting his daughter, but she finds out anyway, unprepared for the reality of her mother’s mental instability. We see flashbacks of her descent into madness, and we are led to believe that this was inherited by her daughter. I think the daughter’s own descent was a bit rapid, but considering the film is only an hour and a half long, understandable.

Sure, one has to suspend a certain amount of disbelief, such as water growing flesh on a skeleton, and the skeleton coming to “life” and wreaking havoc. But it’s a fun watch with a twist ending I didn’t see coming. If you are fans of Cushing and Lee, as I am, I recommend giving this a watch. I’ll give this film 3.75 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: April 16, 2025

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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. If you are interested in becoming a Wednesday Briefer, please leave a comment or email me at shelley_runyon@yahoo.com.

Don’t Look Back #1(1.0) by Julie Lynn Hayes

“Stop running and face me, boy.”

The words sent chills skittering along Marshall’s spine. He was torn between the desire to obey and the need to provoke punishment. Giving in and turning was his first instinct, but the idea of being stretched out across the other man’s lap, his ass exposed, bared to receive those glorious swipes of his firm hand was too strong to ignore.

On the other hand, he sure as hell wasn’t going to make it easy on him, either.

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Saturday is Horror Day #213 – The Haunting(1999)

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Haunting(1999)

Eleanor, known as Nell (Lili Taylor) has not had it easy, taking care of her invalid mother for eleven torturous years, always at her beck and call and the incessant beating of her cane against the wall. Now that the old woman has passed, perhaps Lili can relax… except that her sister Jane (Virginia Madsen) and her husband Lou (Tom Irwin) have power of attorney and they have decided to sell the flat out from under Nell, leaving her homeless. Her sister says that Nell can come stay with them – if she wants to work for her living, including caring for their bratty child, Ritchie (Saul Priever). Just when all seems lost, Nell receives a phone call from a doctor telling her to look in the paper where she finds a study for insomnia that is paying participants $900 a week plus room and board. Nell leaps at the opportunity and is accepted for the study.

Dr. David Marrow (Liam Neeson) has placed an ad for an insomnia study. But what the participants don’t know is that his actual purpose is to conduct a study on group fear. His assistant Mary (Alix Koromzay) objects that this isn’t fair to the people involved, but the doctor insists he can’t conduct the study any other way.

Nell follows the directions and finds herself at the gates of an enormous mansion where she meets the surly caretaker Mr. Dudley (Bruce Dern). He lets her in and tells her to ask for his wife (Marian Seldes). Next to arrive is Theo (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and then Luke (Owen Wilson), followed by Dr. Marrow and Mary. From the beginning, strange things seem to be happening, including an accident which sends Mary to the hospital, never to be seen again.

Nell claims that there is something about the house and about the man who built it – allegedly as a home for his future children – something evil. But the others insist she is having a breakdown. Is the house haunted, or is Nell behind the mysterious goings on?

The Haunting is a remake of the 1963 film starring Julie Harris, which is from an original story by Shirley Jackson. Despite the famous cast, the star of the show is the actual mansion, which gives off elegant/creepy vibes from the beginning with its over the top opulence and its disturbing statuary of children, as well as a rotating room with its own carousel, and a fireplace you would fit a football team in. Lili Taylor does a good job as the tortured Nell, who only wants a place to belong, and someone to belong to. Catherine Zeta-Jones is stunning, as usual, and Owen Wilson clueless, while Liam Neeson swings between villain and victim. It’s not a perfect film, but it does have a certain ambience as the people who are locked inside until morning (shades of House on Haunted Hill!0 try to negotiate what appear to be evil spirits. I think the ending will haunt you for a while. I’ll give this film 3.75 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: April 9, 2025

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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. If you are interested in becoming a Wednesday Briefer, please leave a comment or email me at shelley_runyon@yahoo.com.

Dracula #38(8.4) by J L Hayes

“Must you be so nasty?” Avram felt exasperation course through him unexpectedly. Perhaps the stress of their situation was getting to him. Or maybe Nico’s perpetual disdain of other people was too much.

For a split second, Avram thought he saw a wounded expression pass through the vampire’s eyes. But the next moment, he had returned to his usual inscrutable self.

“I am what I am,” he said simply.

“By the grace of God?” Avram easily finished the Biblical quotation.

“Hardly.” Nico sneered. “God’s so-called grace has no place in my life and you know it. If you persist in worshipping an invisible deity, that is your

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Saturday is Horror Day #212 – Amber Alert, Dracula Untold

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

 

Amber Alert


Jaq (Hayden Panettiere) has an appointment she has to keep, but when the rideshare she arranged for is stolen out from under her, she is temporarily flummoxed. Just then another driver appears, dropping off his fare. She tries to engage him, but the driver Shane (Tyler James Williams) has places to go and things to do and he is off the clock. But Jaq persists until he reluctantly agrees to take her where she is going.

 

 

As they are driving, they each receive a notice on their cell phones of an Amber Alert, along with a 


description and picture of the car in question, but no plate. Jaq looks up to see a car like the one in the alert, just ahead of them. She asks Shane if he thinks that could be the one but he tells her that there are too many of that type of car in the whole city, it’s not likely. As they approach a light, a large message lights up with the amber alert information, and the driver she had observed, suddenly pulls through the intersection, not waiting for the light. Jaq senses that this might be the guy the police are looking for and urges Shane to follow him. He does, albeit reluctantly, and they follow him to a gas station, where Shane points out that he just needed gas. The odd thing is that he leaves without ever getting gas… and the chase is on.

 

If you are a parent, this movie will hit close to home. One minute your child is there and the next they are gone. A stark reminder that there are predators in this world. Also, it’s a reminder to trust your gut instincts, because that might be all you have to go on. Two strangers follow a man they think has kidnapped a child, not knowing if they are on a fool’s errand or not. Sometimes it seems as though they might be being foolish. They have also blown off prior engagements to fight for a stranger’s child… and yet they persist. I think this was a great testament to the fact that there are good people out there who are willing to fight for others, for the weak and helpless, for the children.

I did enjoy this film, and I’ll admit Jaq made me cry at one point. I wasn’t sure how the ending would play out, but I hoped for a happy and satisfying conclusion. Definitely worth watching. You may remember Hayden Panettiere from Heroes, where she played the cheerleader who was destined to save the world.  I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Dracula Untold


The kingdom of Transylvania is threatened by the Turks, and have been off and on for many years. The prince, Vlad (Luke Evans) was once a political prisoner of the Turks, where as a young boy he learned many things, including how to fight. Now he is a grown man who has a wife, Mirena (Sarah Gadon) and children he needs to protect against the Turks, led by their sultan, Mehmed (Dominic Cooper). While out with his men, Vlad discovers a place where Turkish troops were mysteriously slaughtered – and not by any of his troops. He discovers a cave that holds the secret of their demise, and barely escapes alive, keeping the knowledge of that cave to himself.

Not wishing to endanger his kingdom, Vlad negotiates a peace with the Turks, only to have his trust 


turned against him when the Turks demand he surrender 1000 young boys to them for their army – just the way his father had sacrificed himself and the other boys. Moreover, Mehmed demands Vlad’s son, intending to raise him as his father had raised Vlad. That’s the last straw. Vlad returns to the cave and the master vampire (Charles Dance) who resides there, determined to do whatever he needs to do to save his kingdom and his family.

Dracula Untold is actually an origin story, something to explain how Count Dracula of film and novel becomes the way it is. It’s actually a romanticization that combines some actual history of Vlad Dracula, aka Vlad Tepes (the Impaler) with Bram Stoker’s vampire. The film explains away his cruelties as a necessity to combat the Turks. To some degree, this is true. Vlad Dracula was held as a political captive while a boy, and was subjected to much cruel treatment, probably some sexual in nature, and he learned a lot about their methods of torture. Lessons he put to good user later in life. The film doesn’t mention his younger brother, Radu the Handsome, who was also a captive, but was treated much nicer than Vlad. In fact, in later years, he had a relationship with the Turkish sultan. It’s fair to say this did not endear him to his brother.

 

I thought Luke Evans did a great job as Dracula, playing him as a good husband and father and ruler.  I don’t believe the original Vlad was necessarily a good husband, but he did care for his people. He also had a cruel streak, no doubt a result of his treatment by the Turks during his formative years. That being said, I liked that they tackled the origin story of the vampire and presented it in a realistic fashion. It was interesting to watch, and the ending hinted of a sequel. However, I am pretty sure that is off the table. But I still recommend this film, especially if you are a fan of Vlad and/or Dracula as I am. I am giving this film 4 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: April 2, 2025

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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. If you are interested in becoming a Wednesday Briefer, please leave a comment or email me at shelley_runyon@yahoo.com.

Dracula #37(8.3) by J L Hayes

“Are you hungry?” Avram ventured a guess. “I can take care of that for you.” He didn’t really think that was the issue, as the vampire had only recently fed. Or at least he assumed he had. They’d never really discussed what happened that night between him and the late Doina, and he wasn’t about to ask.

“I’m fine, Avram. You worry too much.” The vampire unexpectedly flicked the tip of Avram’s nose in a playful gesture.  At least he appeared to be in a good mood, all things considered.

“It is perhaps… companionship you seek?”

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Saturday is Horror Day #211 – The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959)

Baskerville Hall has been cursed after Sir Hugo Baskerville sullied the place with his drunkenness, violence, and complete disregard for anyone but himself. But one night he finally went too far, and a curse was placed upon his descendants. Fast forward a number of years. The current master of Baskerville Hall has died under, shall we say, mysterious circumstances, and his son, now Sir Henry Baskerville (Christopher Lee) is headed home to claim his inheritance. However, he is mindful of the curse and reluctant, so he seeks advice from renowned detective, Sherlock Holmes (Peter Cushing). Holmes listens to his tale, though obviously he gives no credence to the possibility of a curse. However, when a tarantula almost kills Sir Henry in Holmes’ flat, he admits that maybe someone wishes to harm him.  He agrees that Sir Henry should not travel there alone. However, he himself cannot accompany him, but there is no reason that his associate, Dr. Watson (Andre Morell) cannot. So the two men set off.

On arrival, they discover that a prisoner by the name of Selden has escaped from the nearby Dartmoor

Prison. At the Hall, Sir Henry finds a couple who served his father, the Barrymores (John Le Mesurier and Helen Goss). Holmes left strict instructions to Watson to never allow Sir Henry to go onto the moors alone, but one night he does just that and meets a strange girl. He impulsively follows her, despite her obvious desire to lose him, and becomes instantly smitten. He learns that the girl, Cecile (Maria Landi) lives with her brother Stapleton (Ewen Solon) nearby.

Doctor Mortimer (Francis De Wolff) had attended Sir Henry’s father before his death and advises the son to be careful as he has a weak heart. Watson and Sir Henry run into a pastor (Miles Malleson) with an unusual penchant for entomology, and a telescope that seems to be fixed on the Hall. Hearing the fabled hound baying across the moor is just the icing on the cake, as Watson inadvertently puts himself into the very predicament Holmes had advised against. Is the curse of the Baskervilles a real thing?

This 1959 version of the famous story by Arthur Conan Doyle, is a Hammer film featuring two of the studio’s greatest stars – Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. It was also the first Holmes film to be shot in color. Peter Cushing makes a great Holmes, although there is no evidence of his drug habit, but that is not surprising for the times in which this was made. As is the lack of real violence. It doesn’t have to be seen to be felt, after all. Imagination plays a great part in good horror films. I like Andre Morell’s Watson, who was not made out to be the buffoon that Nigel Bruce was forced to play. In fact, he is a good foil for Cushing’s Holmes. Christopher Lee is his usual patrician self as Sir Henry Baskerville. I do have to say that the relationship between Sir Henry and Cecile was sudden and not believable. Luckily it’s but a small part of the plot. Also, in the original story the Stapletons were posing as a brother and sister when in actuality they were married, but in this film, they are father and daughter.

Even after all these years, this film holds up as a good version of the story, and I enjoyed it as much as I ever did.  I am a huge fan of Basil Rathbone’s Holmes, and also the more recent Benedict Cumbermatch series, but Peter Cushing is just as good. I’ll give this film 4 Stars.

Wednesday Briefs: March 25, 2025

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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. If you are interested in becoming a Wednesday Briefer, please leave a comment or email me at shelley_runyon@yahoo.com.

Dracula #37(8.3) by J L Hayes

“Are you hungry?” Avram ventured a guess. “I can take care of that for you.” He didn’t really think that was the issue, as the vampire had only recently fed. Or at least he assumed he had. They’d never really discussed what happened that night between him and the late Doina, and he wasn’t about to ask.

“I’m fine, Avram. You worry too much.” The vampire unexpectedly flicked the tip of Avram’s nose in a playful gesture.  At least he appeared to be in a good mood, all things considered.

“It is perhaps… companionship you seek?”

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Saturday is Horror Day #210 – Glorious

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Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Glorious

After a painful break-up, Wes (Ryan Kwanten) hits the road as well as the bottle. Finding a remote rest area, Wes tries to get the only candy bar from an antiquated vending machine but is thwarted. A strange woman observes him and helps him retrieve the errant candy, offering him some strange advice – to clear out his back seat so he can sleep horizontally. The intoxicated Wes heeds her advice and gathers all the stuff by a fire pit, where he burns it. Satisfied, he heads into the rest area and promptly gets sick in one of two stalls.

Thinking he is alone, as there were no other cars in the lot, Wes is startled to hear a voice (J.K. Simmons)

coming from the other stall. Wes isn’t exactly in the mood for conversation, but the voice is persistent and even sympathetic.  All Wes wants to do is get his girl back, not trade life stories with a strange in a men’s room. Thinking there is something off about this strange man in the stall, Wes tries to leave but finds himself locked in.  The voice introduces himself as Ghat, and he has something important to tell Wes. He says Wes being there is no accident, and they have important business that needs to be taken care of together. In fact, the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

This film is most definitely unusual and very Lovecraftian in nature and does take place entirely inside a bathroom. And yet it manages to keep you guessing about what is really going on, who or what is Ghat, and how is Wes going to get out of this place intact? Is that even possible? And what’s going on with that glory hole? You might remember Ryan Kwanten from True Blood – he played Sookie’s crazy brother Jason Stackhouse. And everyone knows and loves J.K. Simmons.  Even though we never see him, just hearing his recognizable voice is enough to picture him.  Wes has to deal with his own demons, both literally and figuratively, and the outcome is never certain until the very end. It’s a short film but I think it’s definitely worth watching. I’ll rate this film between 3.5 and 4 Stars, mostly because of J.K.Simmons.

Book Review: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

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Parable of the Sower   

Version 1.0.0

Author: Octavia E. Butler

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition

American release date: April 30, 2019

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Dystopian Fiction/368 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Reviewer: Julie Lynn Hayes

Lauren Olamina is fifteen years old, the daughter of a Baptist preacher. She lives a sheltered life with her family inside a gated community in the Los Angeles area. But sheltered is a relative term as the world has become something virtually unrecognizable from what it once was. Drastic global climate change and a series of economic crises have proven to be too much for mankind to handle and society has disintegrated into lawless chaos. Mere survival is a struggle and the luxuries of yesterday but a dream. What is left of any government is of no help. If you want police protection, you have to pay for it, and there is no guarantee you’ll receive it. Building on fire? The fire department will charge you for the water to put it out.

Lauren lives with her father and stepmother and three brothers. Her birth mother was addicted during her pregnancy to a drug that caused Lauren to become hyperempathetic – she can feel other’s pain, and that is not a good thing. Even living in a gated community isn’t a perfect solution. There are problems within and problems without. Junkies and others break in to rob and harm people. A new drug, called Pyro, causes those who take it to enjoy setting fires, so that is what they do.

People dream of leaving the state and heading north – to Oregon, Washington, or even Canada. But there is no guarantee that safety lies up North, or that other states will allow people inside their territory.

Lauren has listened to what her father preaches all of her life, but at fifteen, she no longer believes in his religion. She has her own ideas about how things work, and she begins to write them down. She calls it Earthseed, and at the core is her belief that God is change. She keeps her writings secret, and she also prepares a pack of necessities, in case she has to leave in a hurry.  Her forethought proves to be propitious when an unexpected calamity drives her away from her home, heading who knows where. Now it’s a question of how she can survive, and who can she trust?

This is my first time reading Octavia Butler, but it won’t be my last. She is an excellent writer who draws you into her world so that you quickly become immersed.  The dystopian world she describes is eerily similar to the world we now live in, although written in 1993. But the book itself begins in 2024, which is unnerving at times, and continues up through 2027. I have to warn you that it is a bleak story in many ways, where the rich have everything and the poor are fighting for scraps, with little protection or guidance. It’s almost as if she could read the future.

I like the basic concept of Earthseed, but I would make one change in her philosophy. I would not refer to any God, for that term is really outdated and archaic, but I think Life works instead. Life is change. And that we know to be true. If this is our future, it is bleak indeed. Change needs to happen, and quickly. There is a second book in the series, which I intend to read. I’m hoping for a happy, or at least a happier ending. This book is well worth reading. And hopefully someone will come away from it with ideas on how to keep it from happening.