Ouija, a film review. A film that is overshadowed by its sequel and filled with some seriously dumb teenagers. Have you never watched any horror films? Talk about asking for trouble.

 

Ouija, a film review.

    Why is it that in any modern film, no one seems to know about the dangers of using an Ouija board? I heard stories about them when I was a kid, and that's heading back to the late eighties/early nineties. And yet, in these films, they seem not to know that you don't mess with the dead. This is a running theme with these types of films, with some idiot always trying to mess with these things and bringing trouble to them. It does seem strange that these characters have no in-world knowledge of these things. It must be a choice on the side of the screenwriters to leave out this knowledge so the story would play out. This is an okay film, but some things weaken the narrative. The characters are a large part of that.

    The film opens up with two young girls playing with an Ouija board, laying out the rules for interacting with it. The film then moves to a young woman sitting before a fire, throwing an ouija board and the planchette into the flames. She appears haunted as if shaken by something the viewer is unaware of. We get introduced to the film's protagonist, with a phone call shaking Debbie from her reverie. Lanie wants her to join her, to get out of the house, and after a brief conversation in person, she declines to join her. Debbie returns inside to eat, and strange things start happening. Returning to her room, she finds the planchette on the floor, picks it up and looks through it. Her eye turns white, and Debbie enters a fugue-like state. She then kills herself by hanging, and we flash to Laine and her boyfriend in a diner. We're introduced to her boyfriend, Trevor. She receives a message to come home and learns of Debbie's death. Understandably devastated, she and her family attend the wake, and we see that she is asked to watch the house whilst Debbie's family is away. Looking through Debbie's room upon checking in on the house, she found the Ouija board and its planchette. Laine comes across as someone that needs to be in control, acting as a surrogate mother to her younger sister even though it isn't taken that well. It seems to come from a good place, but she can be overbearing. Though to be fair to her, her sister is kind of a selfish brat which seems typical of teenagers in these types of films. She convinces herself that Debbie is still around, that she wants her to know something, and, of course,  convinces the others to use the board with her. And so begins all the fun.

    None of them is entirely comfortable with this, most noticeably Isabelle. Things soon take a turn. I always find this stupid, using an Ouija board and thinking contacting the dead is just a game. There are enough stories about these things to make any sensible person wary. And Laine's need for it to be Debbie leaves them open to something else pretending to be her. Though it is worth mentioning that the thing never calls itself Debbie, Laine jumps to that conclusion. After Laine takes the board home, each of them experiences a visitation, the words 'hi friend' written in one form or another. Laine is convinced it is Debbie and convinces the others to use the board again. It amazes me that they don't ask who they are talking to until it is too late, that no one thinks to question this entity. And they learn that it is not Debbie they are talking to, that they had never been talking to her. After being scared off, Laine watches a video of Debbie playing alone, something you're not supposed to do. Isabelle is the first one killed off, far more directly than  Debbie was. This sends the rest into a panic, and Laine and Pete begin to search Debbie's house to learn more. They discover the house's history and those that lived there. Of course, nothing is quite what it seems, and after a visit to the older sister Laine thinks she has a way to stop this haunting. By all the gods, is she wrong! 

    After learning of being tricked, Laine, and those left, attempt to put Dorris to rest before she kills them. Not the simplest of tricks. After a showdown below Debbie's house, they succeed, though the ending suggests they might have failed. The film is overall watchable but lacks something that could push it into being good. It managed to spawn a prequel featuring the family that lived in the house before Debbie, though reinventing some of the narratives. The weaknesses of this film are obvious. The characters make stupid choices and aren't convincing in their roles. It failed to be scary overall, though a couple of jump scares might catch you off-guard.

    I'd rate this film 6 out of 10. It's an okay watch, but there are better versions of the same story. The prequel is a much better film. I'd probably watch that one if I had to choose between them. I will review that film when I get around to rewatching it.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, a review. What did I just watch and what's with all the character assassination in this film? How can all the previous films be so much better than this?

 

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, a review.

    Having just played through the remake of Resident Evil 4, I was feeling nostalgic for the Resident Evil universe. I wanted to look at this film and see what it brought to the table. Having thought the Mila Jovovich films were fun but not linked to the games remotely, I wondered if this closer adaptation would be any good. Unfortunately, it falls short. That's not to say there aren't good moments in there, but it feels like a poor copy of richer material. Now the game is over twenty years old, and there is room for a reinterpretation, but they fail to hold true to what makes some of these characters interesting and even change their backstories to fit this new narrative. Of course, this is my opinion and not something that may bother others. In all aspects, this film takes itself more seriously than the previous entries but lacks the entertainment value that at least made them fun.

    

    This is a retelling of the story from Resident Evil one and two, with the main protagonists from both games here. There are set pieces used directly from the games along with characters. Now some people had issues with the castings for some of the characters, most noticeable Leon, as he now looks nothing like the character, but I had no issue with that. My issue is more about the change in his character, how he interacts with the world, and the person he is. And Leon is just one of the several that has been changed into a poor copy of the game character. Leon is a bumbling, heavy-drinking idiot, Wesker is a dumb arse, and even Jill is changed to more of a cocky, arrogant individual. Not film ruining, but it takes something away from what I enjoyed about them originally. Wesker was intelligent, manipulative, and in on the whole thing. Here, he is nothing more than a mercenary for hire and something of an idiot. They've thrown in a poor attempt at a love triangle between Wesker, Jill, and Chris, which goes nowhere. I don't mind the changes with Claire, as she is more of a badass here, but the backstory changes for her and Chris seem a bit forced and contrived. Chris and Claire were raised in the orphanage in Raccoon City, where Dr William Birkin worked. This orphanage was sponsored by Umbrella, and we can assume that some bad things were done here. It turns out that Claire ran away whilst Chris stayed, with Dr Birkin becoming something akin to a father figure. There is tension between the siblings, with Claire not speaking to Chris in five years. And Raccoon city is no longer a city. At least that's how it looks when panned out, looking more like a desolate town than a city.

    So we get to Racoon city and see that people are showing signs of illness, often blood running from their eyes. Claire is back because of what she believes Umbrella has done to their home, and Chris is a member of Stars, a separate branch of the police force. We get the ream going to Spencer manor whilst the events at the police station unfold. If you have played the games, then you know how things will play out. There are a few minor tweaks, but it follows how the games played out, though Leon is just about useless and would die without Claire. The other team splits up in the mansion, and things quickly devolve into a fight for their lives, with several of them dying. There are some decent action sequences here, but they are all too brief. Things quickly spiral, with hordes of the infected after the Stars members and Leon and Claire. It becomes a desperate struggle to find a way free of it, and we get the Birkin family attempting to flee with a quick detour to retrieve some of the doctor's work. It turns out that Wesker is after the same thing, phials of the G-virus. This confrontation doesn't go well, leading to the deaths of the adult Birkins and Wesker. Unfortunately, William managed to inject himself with the G-virus before being shot. And he begins to mutate as the others flee. We inevitably race towards the ending, with Birkin continuing to mutate and Claire reuniting with her brother. All of this before the end boss battle. It is like the game in many ways, with Leon finally being useful and putting down the devolved Birkin.

    This film could have been so much better. If you're going to stick to the original story and characters, then stick to them. The changes to the characters were cringe-worthy, turning Leon into a complete idiot and the others nothing more than caricatures. The action was okay, but there wasn't a lot of it. It's an okay watch if you've got nothing else to do on a rainy day and want to turn your brain off. I'd give this a 4 out of 10, a below-average film that had the potential to be much better.

The Night House. A film that seems to be as much about loss and depression as it does about a strange haunting. A good film that leaves you feeling unsettled.

 

The Night House. A film by David Bruckner and starring Rebecca Hall.

    This is a strangely sad and creepy film. And when I say creepy, I'm referring to the film's atmosphere. The film centres around Beth, newly a widow after her husband's sudden suicide. Still reeling from his unexpected demise, she is attempting to hold herself together, going through the motions as she begins to unravel. Beth is lost as to why Owen killed himself, saw no warning signs and is confused and angry with the unanswered questions she is left with. During this time, she drinks a lot and is not sleeping well, which is noticeable throughout the film. In short, Beth is barely holding it together, and that is before things begin to take a creepy turn.

    It starts slowly, with a knocking on the door downstairs as she rouses from sleep. Obviously hesitant, she makes her way downstairs, and we see nothing outside. However, as she opens the back door, she looks back to the front door,  the door swinging open behind her. In the reflection, we can make out the shape of a person, with eyes flashing in the darkness before the door closes and the figure vanishes. This is the first time we get the hint that something is lurking in the background. Beth takes back to school, she is a teacher, and it is easy to see that she is not ready to be back. After an encounter with the parent of one of her students, we see that her mental state is not good, along with losing time after appearing to doze off. Beth goes through Owen's things, clearing out much of his stuff before she stumbles on one of his architect books. Here we get to see strange puzzles and notes contained within and what appears to be a copy of the house he built for them. Now things start to take a worrying turn. Woken by music, Beth gets a text from Owen and phones him, and it appears that he answers. Then she wakes up on the bathroom floor again, apparently without any memory of how she got there and checks her phone. The message is not there. Convinced to go out, Beth joins her friends for drinks. I have to say, she has crappy friends. The line of questioning is inane, and how do they expect a woman who lost her husband a week ago to be entirely rational after everything she has gone through. But, we do learn a few things from this encounter. Firstly, Owen left a note, and secondly, Beth is beginning to believe she is being haunted. And after Claire gets Beth home, she has yet another strange encounter. Before that happens, she tells Claire of the time that she died. Beth tells Claire that whilst she was dead, she saw nothing, that there was no bright light or anything to experience. The word nothing is important to note, as it refers to the note that Owen left.

    Things begin to take another turn from this point. As she begins to experience dreams or visions, Beth learns of another house that Owen had built in the forest. She finds a picture of another woman on Owen's phone that looks like her. Beth begins to obsess over this, determined to discover what Owen had been up to while believing that Owen is visiting her. It is shot in such a way that the viewer may think that this is nothing more than wishful thinking, that her grief is getting the better of her. However, Beth finds the woman in the picture and learns that Owen has been seeing her for some time. The haunting continues, with Beth learning that there may have been more than one woman. Also, her neighbour had known of this after a chance encounters in the woods, Owen coming to him claiming that it would never happen again and that he had 'urges' that he had found a way to manage. As Beth begins to spiral, the haunting becomes more intense, and she discovers that Owen had killed women that looked like her. Beth may be imagining this. Her grief and depression may be getting the better of her. Reaching a climax, the events around her grow darker, and she discovers that this being haunting her is not Owen. She discovers that this entity is what she encountered upon her death, that it has been with her ever since and corrupted Owen to get him to send her back to it. As this dark encounter plays out, we learn that Owen had tried to trick it by sending women that looked like her to it. This encounter leads Beth out on the boat, as the thing looking like Owen attempts to convince her that she has nothing to live for. Her best friend had come looking for her, and her calling out to Beth helped her to push this desire away and cling to life. 

    This film is about a haunting, at least on the surface. But, it feels as though it is more a look at depression, at the emptiness that can swallow up the joy of life, and that is never far from those suffering from depression. Beth had always suffered from dark thoughts, and Owen had held them at bay. He had brought joy to her life, and upon his death, they had returned. Her grief had broken her defences, and she spirals without him. Everything else may be her imagination, or some are real but coloured by her grief and depression. The film does a great job of leaving that open to the viewer.

    I recommend this to any fan of horror, more so psychological horror, and it is an easy 8 out of 10. It is a haunting and sad film that leaves the viewer unsure how much is real and what is merely in the mind of Beth. Definitely, one I would watch again.

    

Barbarian, the movie review. A good film with a familiar premise, though a different play through than I expected. Also a different role than I had seen Justin Long in before.

 

Barbarian, a review.

    I was unsure what to make of this movie at first. It opens slowly, centring around Tess sitting in her car after pulling up to a house in the rain. She gets out and attempts to get the key out of the lockbox, only to find it is not there. The place looks empty, and she phones the company she had made the booking with, hurrying back to her car in the meantime. At this time, a light comes on in the house, and Tess rushes back to knock on the door. It is opened by a very tired-looking man with a confused expression. The two talk back and forth, and it is swiftly discovered that the booking company for the house has double-booked them. From there on, the pair work out a deal, Keith offering her the option to stay there and take the bedroom. Reluctantly, at first, Tess takes the deal. The pair soon begin talking, and the initial tension between them fades. Eventually, they retire for the night, and we get our first inkling that something isn't right at this house. Tess wakes up in the night to find her door open. She is obviously nervous, and moving across the room, finds Keith asleep on the sofa. As she moves to him quietly, we see something move behind her and a door close at the end of the corridor. This is the first sign of something suspicious going on in this building. Tess wakes Keith, and he is obviously startled. After questioning him, Tess returns to bed, and we flash forward to her waking in the morning.

    Both of them head off to their respective days. Tess head's to her interview, and we see her do well. So well that it looks as though she has the job in the bag. However, when she mentions where she is staying, her new employer seems surprised and unsettled by the information. This is another hint that something is odd about the house and the area. Tess returns to the house and begins looking around, ending up in the basement. She ends up being trapped inside after the door closes behind her. This leads to her investigating and discovering a secret door. A door that leads to another room, a room with a bed, a bucket, and a camera in it. Tess is obviously freaked out by this and returns to the basement proper, looking for a way out. Keith returns at this moment, looking for the key she was supposed to leave for him, and she manages to get his attention. Together, they open the basement window, and Tess passes the key to Keith. He comes to a panicked Tess, and after a few moments, he leaves to investigate this room. Tess waits and then calls to him, he doesn't answer, and she goes to look for him. He isn't in the room, and Tess looks about in confusion, finding yet another door. A door leads to stairs that lead down into darkness. She calls to Keith, and he shouts back, his voice distant and scared. Stumbling through the tunnels, she finds him hurt moments before a woman comes out of the dark and brutally murders him. Then the film flashes to our next protagonist. 

    Justin Long plays AJ. A Hollywood type enjoying his drive until he gets a phone call. And things are about to take a bad turn for him. And it turns out in the long run that he probably deserves everything that happens to him. I've always enjoyed Justin long, as an actor, but this character is one of the sleeziest that he has ever played. AJ is not a good person, but he believes that he is, to such a degree that he cannot see how he treats others.And it will be his downfall. After his new series drops him, and accusations are made against him, he has to liquidate his assets. It turns out that the house Tess and Keith were staying in is owned by AJ. This leads Aj to the house and what awaits him there within. He finds what Tess did before him, and like her he wanders into the dark below the house. Also like her things do not go well for him. 

    The tunnels below the house lead to roughly carved out room and worse. The woman is living in this space and treating her new guests like they are her babies. She even tries to feed them, until Aj freaks out, leaving Tess still trapped in her cage. Until she manages to free herself and the two of them attempt to flee the tunnels separately. We get a flash back to this space to another time, looking to be the 70's by the clothes and cars on display. A man leaves the house that Tess and AJ are below in the future, heading off in a car. We see him buy things for a new born and then stalk a woman, dressing up a gas man and lying to get into her house. After leaving a window unlocked he leaves and returns to the house, and then down to the basement. In the present Aj and Tess aren't doing so well but they manage to escape the house, helped by a homeless man. With Tess hurt they listen to the man's story of what happened to the area, and what led to this woman being born. Moments before she bursts into their place of safety and kills the old man. Fleeing the pair find themselves atop a water tower, where AJ throws Tess off the tower in an attempt to save himself. The woman jumps off the tower after her, managing to catch her though it looks as though she dies in the effort. Of course that isn't the case and Aj finds that out just before he meets a grizzly end. 

    This is a strange and intense film. It gets its hooks into you and doesn't let go. The performances are good, the 'creature' oddly sad and horrifying, and the overall story grim but interesting. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to any fan of horror. I rate it 8 out of ten, and would watch again. 

Arcane, a Netflix series review. Based on the league of legends world and characters, this proved to be the unexpected hit of the year. A little late but finally done.

 

Arcane, a series review.

    I have never played League of Legends, and I never will, but that didn't stop me from being curious when the first trailer for Arcane dropped. The animation style is similar to that in the Dishonored games, and enough action was on display to pique my interest. I am glad I gave the show a chance, as Arcane has proven to be one of the best things Netflix has ever put out. The animation is beautiful and is used wonderfully to show the disparity between the two cities that dominate the world we dive into. The characters and how they are written make this show enjoyable to watch. On display are several themes, and though they might be predictable, they are also done incredibly well. After all that has been done in this first season, I look forward to what will come next.

    The heart of this story is one of disparity of wealth, of the power some hold while others are left to wallow in the dirt. This story is more complex than that, but that is the general gist of the overarching story. The story of Vi and her sister Jinx is one of the central points of this series. Born in the lower city of Zaun, where wealth is sparse and life hard, they are orphaned in the first minutes of the first episode. A heartbreaking opening that impacts them both going forward. Vi and Powder are taken and raised by Vander, who is responsible for the rebellion that caused the death of their parents. As the story begins, we see them a few years older and now joined by two young boys as they race across the rooftops of Upper Piltover. Vi has them on a job, eager to prove that they can pull jobs like the adults they've grown up around. A premise that will lead to where the entire story begins. Breaking into an apartment in the upper city, the gang loots much from it, but Powder accidentally shatters a magical gem causing a massive explosion. The children flee the crime scene, stumbling into a group of thugs waiting for them as they return to Zaun. Threatened with violence, a scuffle breaks out, and Powder flees with the bounty. After being chased down and cornered, Powder tosses the bag into the water, leaving them empty-handed for all their effort. Vi and the others beat the thugs, taking them out in the first action scene of the series. And what a scene it is. This fight is short and brutal but exceedingly well put together. The attention to detail and the level of storytelling in the fight scenes are a highlight of this series.

    I thought about doing a complete breakdown of each episode. You can see above I even started that way, but there is too much to cover, and I could be writing this out for days on end in an attempt to highlight the best parts of each episode. I hoped it would be easier to overview the series as a whole. It would be easier than to point out which had worked best for me. The character work here is some of the best I've seen in an animated series. The attention to each of their stories gives the overall arc a deep meaning and impact on points in the series. The story primarily follows Vi and her sister Jinx, both of whom are damaged in many ways, but other key players come to light as the story unfolds. Jinx is easily one of the best portrayed here, shaped by the pain inflicted upon her and the pain she has inflicted on others. She had never been the most emotionally sound individual, and following certain events, she became far more unstable. Being raised by Silco, the man behind the death of her adopted father, she is dangerous and yet strangely lost and vulnerable at times. Powder's sister Vi is just as lost, but angry too. Vi is determined to find her sister and make those who locked her away pay for their actions.

    Through the actions of Jayce and Victor, we are also introduced to magic. A power that changes much within the city. The Undercity is rising as the nation of Zaun under Silco's direction and political ambition. There is a lot here that leads to conflict, from the wealth provided to Piltover through new technology and its disparity with those who do not dwell in the upper city. A changing political landscape, and its influence, also play a role in Jayce's storyline. This forces him to make choices that directly impact other aspects of the narrative. Bit players in the story, such as Vander and Echo, have an impact with their contributions to unfolding events. These characters drive the story forward and help to give other insights into the events that dominate this story.  This is a big world with many things unfolding, each player's story interweaving with one another as events play out. Many things are going on, and it could confuse the viewer, but events are tied closely together and made easy to follow. Vi and Caitlyn's relationship and how it develops plays a key role in this drama. It is a relationship that feels genuine and not forced into the narrative. Jinx's growing insanity and her relationship with Silco shape how everything plays out. 

    All in all, this is a great watch, with brilliant writing enhanced by great visuals and a score that is effective and appropriate at all times. I look forward to giving this another viewing in the future once I have time, and I eagerly await the next series.

     Arcane is an easy 10 out of 10 for me. I recommend Arcane to any fan of TV in general, but especially to fans of anime and League of Legends. Arcane has interesting characters and a world that feels bigger with every episode. The ending is a cliffhanger, and it frustrates me a little that I have to wait and see what is in store next. Here's hoping that Netflix can pull off another great season.

Legion of the Damned by Rob Sanders. A re-read of a book I enjoyed years ago, looking at the Excoriators chapter and the strange Legion that serves the Emperor beyond death.

 

Legion of the Damned, by Rob Sanders. A review.

    I hadn't heard of the Excoriator's chapter before reading this book. And upon learning they were one of Dorn's chapters, I was somewhat nervous about whether I would enjoy reading about them. Like with the Ultramarines, I have found the Imperial Fists and their successor chapters boring. Thankfully, that did not prove to be the case here. This chapter carries the weight of Dorn's wrath and loss, his moment of despair after the events of the Horus Heresy, and they strive through adversity by enduring all that is thrown at them. They practice ritualistic self-flagellation, punishing themselves for their misdeeds and the failures they see in themselves. This is a Space Marine chapter that wins through attrition. They take the punishment and win by weathering the storm. More than that, they carry a curse in their genetics, a darkness that can come upon a brother and wash them away into the moment of Dorn's darkest hour. This curse plays heavily into how the events of this book play out.

    The Excoriator's chapter has suffered under recent attacks by the Alpha Legion, their Chapter Master injured and poisoned in the attack, and many of their first company slain. They have to come to fight in a meet called the Feast of Blades to pit their champions against the champions of fellow sons of Dorn. They intend to regain some of their lost honor, but the Feast does not go well for them. Every one of their champions has fallen, and the captain is left with only one possible fighter left to take the field. A warrior he is loathed to use, one who has been lost to the Darkness. A warrior that had been given the title of the Scourge. Zakariah Kersh is lost to the Darkness, but they believe there is a way to shock him out of it, to bring this warrior out of this trance-like state. And that is what they do, rousing the former champion out of the Darkness to face the rivals amid the Feast of Blades. Kersh is a beast, highly destructive with a lack of grace but great killing prowess. He lacks the artistry of his opponents, but he seeks only to take his foes down as swiftly and brutally as possible. He cuts through his opponents so fiercely that the final bout is a three-way clash. Kersh is placed against the champion of the Black Templars chapter and the Imperial Fists chapter. What follows is not a pretty fight, all three are unwilling to lose readily, and Kersh finds himself struggling to beat the two skilled warriors. He takes the win, though barely, and falls unconscious before being declared the winner. Bringing honor to his chapter, he is rewarded with the captaincy of the 5th company. This does not please him. Kersh believes that he is being punished and that their chapter master does not want him back with the 1st due to his failure to protect their Chapter master against the Alpha Legion attack. Now, he has to lead warriors that do not want him and has to learn to be a leader after a lifetime of being a weapon. After looking upon the Dornsblade, a sacred relic, Kersh is sent on his mission.

    Sent to Cerus-Minor, Kersh is aware of a potential threat, but he is honor bound to attend to this duty. His brothers are not in agreement but are held to their oaths. Landing on the planet of St Ethalberg, they head to see those that have summoned them to uphold their sworn oath. Things proceeded with a great deal of violence at the initial meeting, at least for those that had called the Space Marines with the expectation of control over them. Kersh is not one for democracy, he is not built for it, but he knows how to turn things to his advantage. And he uses knowledge and violence to make his point. After he makes his point and strengthens his position, Kersh agrees to continue securing Cerus-Minor against the potential threat of the Keeler comet and the death that follows in its wake. Kersh believes he is still suffering the effects of the Darkness, visited by an Astartes clad in black armor and bone. This specter haunts the captain as if judging the Excoriator, often lingering in the shadows as he does his duties. Sent to Cerus-minor to deal with a  potential threat, the 5th company finds itself in a far more dire situation than anticipated. With the Cholercaust on its way, no chance of reinforcements, and a strange bloodlust affecting the world, the Excoriators are left in a dire situation. One that spirals rapidly.

    The world of Cerus-minor is assaulted by demons and cultists alike. The world besieged, the defenders fighting for their lives and the lives of their families, Kersh bearing the weight of holding this world against utter destruction. The Scourge is determined to save some of the people of this world, something that has not happened in any other world assaulted, and is willing to sell his life to achieve it. The defence inevitably is forced closer to the city centre, pushed inwards as the very populace becomes a threat, taken over by a crazed rage. The Excoriators are skilled warriors with powerful weapons, but there are only so many of them, and even they are not immune to the fell influence of the comet.Throughout it all the spectre remains close to Kersh, watching in silence. And with a desperate plan in motion the Excoriators wait for the Cholercaust to make planetfall.

This book is a great read. It is a great example of the violence of this universe and the lore that is threaded throughout it. A great deal more occurs than I have outlined here, enough that I would not want to spoil it for any potential future reader. I do hope that there are more stories told about Zakariah Kersh but I haven't seen any yet. I have always enjoyed when 40k lore is expanded, and when we are introduced one of the many chapters that exist in this war torn galaxy. I would recommend this book to any fan of Warhammer 40k and military sci-fi. It is an easy 8 out of 10 and a great read.

 

    

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson. A review of the continuing story of the Mistborn saga. Introduced now to Waxillium Ladrian long after Kelsier, Vin, and all have passed into legend. A new tale in a world that has changed beyond recognition.

 

The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson, a review.

    Having read the previous trilogy of the Mistborn saga, I came to this book with certain expectations. The new trilogy follows new characters in a familiar world that has moved on in time. A world that still bears the legacy of the Mistborn but strives for new innovations and reveres those that have come before as parts of religion and legend. The city of Elendel is the primary focus of this story, though some of it occurs in the outer regions known as the Roughs. There is a familiar sense of the frontiers town to the Roughs. The book has the essence of a Western in many ways. It gives the story a flavour very different from the previous trilogy. It makes the story better not to stick to the same themes of many typical fantasy novels.

    The story centres around Waxillium Ladrian and his partner Wayne. Wax is a Lord, a highborn of Elendel, that has spent several years out in the Roughs as a Lawman. This man has eschewed all he was to be in favour of a lifetime of hunting down criminals and maintaining the law in this lawless place. While running down a killer, Wax loses a loved one, and his life takes a drastic turn. A turn that leads him back to Elendel and a simpler life. Or rather, it is supposed to be simple. Unfortunately, Wax finds himself dragged into another case, one not of his choosing.

    Wax is struggling to be the head of his house, a house whose finances have been run into the ground by his uncle. His lifestyle change is not to his liking, and old habits are proving hard to break. He is something of an anachronism out of place amid the highborn, yet he cannot return to his old life. His old life has not left him behind entirely, his friend Wayne having followed him to the city. That link keeps him tethered to what he had been before. Wax soon learns that the Elendel is every bit as dangerous as the Roughs in its own way. When shipments begin to go missing, his interest is piqued, and then when people are taken hostage, Wax returns to doing what he does best. With Wayne at his side, they begin their investigation, beginning with the stolen shipments of Aluminum and the most recent attack. The two men have to rely on their Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities, even as another joins their investigations and helps them to track down Wax's missing bride-to-be. Marasi is Sterris' illegitimate sister and a woman with a sharp mind. This trio has to learn to work together, to navigate this city and the dangers that lurk within it.

    Sanderson continues to do a great job of writing compelling characters. I love Wayne. He is a brilliantly complex individual, unlike any of those that inhabit this world. Wax is compelling, with an air of the lawman of the wild west, though he exhibits similar detective skills to those of Sherlock Holmes. Wayne is a master of disguise, accents, and getting into places he shouldn't be. They make a great pair with their banter and rich history, Wayne's down-to-earth manner helping to level off the noble house lord.

    This is a re-introduction to this world, a great start to a new trilogy, and some of Sanderson's best characters. I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed the original novels, pieces of them coming back with every page I read. I look forward to seeing what he has planned for this world and the Cosmere.

    I'd give this book an eight out of ten. It is a fantastic read with complex characters and a compelling plot. I recommend this book to any fan of the Cosmere or the Mistborn, to any fan of fantasy. So, if you're looking for your next read, give this book a chance.

    

    

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre from Netflix. A modernisation/soft reboot of the original films. A horror film that could have done with more time to bake and some stronger writing.

 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) from Netflix, a review.

    I had heard through the grapevine that this film was pretty poor. And being a sucker for pain decided that it couldn't be that bad, considering that it is hard to make a slasher in this vein. I was to be surprised, and not in a good way. I have watched countless horror films over the years, it is one of my favourite genres, and there have been some terrible films in that number. There have been many great films in that collection, and some have been soft reboots of existing franchises. This is not counted among that number. I have no idea who came up with the idea to make this akin to the new Halloween films, but they missed the mark with the execution. This film is terrible on several levels, it could have been better if the writing had been better, and maybe they had seen other horror films where such premises have worked.

    The film opens up with a retelling of the original. The story reflects real-life events in this world, binding this story as a continuation of those earlier events. Within the store, we see memorabilia of the killings within the first film, a picture of those killed by leather-face, and many newspaper cuttings. Of course, the main protagonist asks if this is real, if the killer was ever found, and what happened to the one that got away from the killer. We discover that she became a Texas Ranger and spent her entire life trying to hunt him down, but as she never saw his face, it was an impossible task. We are introduced to the rest of the group as they leave the store. Melody and her sister Lila are travelling with Dante and Ruth. They are travelling to the town of Harlow that they now own. They are here to gentrify the area and bring new life to Harlow. This is meant to show the characters as good people with grand ideas. Unfortunately, they are not written that way. Melody comes across as judgemental and opinionated, with little insight into other people. Lila isn't too bad, but she is played as the cliche teenager with damage from a harrowing event. Dante is the guy looking to create something new and innovative but is short-tempered and selfish. And poor Ruth doesn't have much time to flesh out her character. Upon reaching the town, we quickly move to the inciting incident. An incident that could have been completely avoided if these people weren't complete morons. The start of the incident begins with Dante spotting a flag, a Confederate flag. It looks ancient, tattered, and dirty, probably hung there for fifty years. Dante is angered by the sight of it, viewing it as a threat to the likelihood of a sale from the incoming investors. Of course, they rush into the house, Dante seeking to pull the flag down while Melody wanders the house aimlessly. The house is not empty. Melody bumps into the woman that lives there, old, frail, and confused about why people are in her home. Things quickly go wrong, the local sheriff turns up, and the old woman becomes sick. Her son comes to help her, and she is taken away in an ambulance, son in tow. Ruth volunteers to go with her, and Dante concentrates on the arriving investors. Inevitably, she dies before she can receive help, and the son turns violent. We, as viewers, know that he is Leatherface, and we are aware of what is about to happen. 

    Now the killings begin, and we have a sixty-year-old man breaking bones like he's the Rock. He breaks the deputy's arm like it is a stick. Then stabs him in the neck with the protruding bone. The driver gets shot in the neck, and they crash, predictably. Things only get worse from there for those in his path. The killings are boring and depend on the characters being stupid. They also seem to be cursed to be unable to pull a damn trigger when it counts. I counted half a dozen times this film could have ended sooner if people acted like people and not walking cliches. The subplot with the last survivor of the first film doesn't go anywhere, is a waste of time, and could have been left out and made no difference to the story. The film is hurt more by the fact none of these characters is likeable. I didn't root for them when the chips were down. In fact, I rooted for more than one to get killed. Leatherface was a more sympathetic character at times, minus the mass murder, of course. Lila has some redeeming features but hardly any real screen time, and we never flesh her out enough to be believable. The ending is predictable and rather dumb, in my opinion.

    Overall, I would give this film a 3 out of 10. Avoid it if you can, but if you're curious, be aware that it will do little to entertain. There are better options out there, watching paint dry might just be one. Let me know if you have any recommendations for what to watch next. Until next time, folks.

Day of Ascension by Adrian Tchaikovsky, a review. A Genestealer cult infiltrates a world of the Adeptus Mechanicus, and we see how both cults have their hooks in the populace.

 

Day of Ascension by Adrian Tchaikovsky, a review.

    

    This was my first time reading anything by Tchaikovsky. Well, Adrian Tchaikovsky. Thankfully, it proved to be a positive experience. This book is written differently than other 40k books I have read recently.  Tchaikovsky's style is entirely his own. It took a little getting used to, but shortly the story got its hooks into me, and I couldn't put it down. The story revolves around the attempted coup by a genestealer cult on the forge world of Morod. It is a failed coup that sets off an exciting series of events that takes the reader deeper into the workings of the Mechanicus and the cult that has lived in this world for generations. The story centers around Genetor Gammat Triskellian but other characters play into the overall narrative. 

    The story opens up with Triskellian awaiting the attention of Fabricator General Burzulem, the lord of Morod. As the day of Ascension is approaching, Triskellian has come to court to make a request from his overseer. A task he finds odorous, made worse by Burzulem's demeaning manner. There is an intense dislike of the other between these two characters. Burzulum views Triskellian's research as pointless, and the other thinks little of his one-time rival's abilities. Unfortunately, these events are immediately overshadowed as an assassination attempt is made against the Fabricator general. It is only foiled by Triskillian's poor placement and subsequent loss of his arm, as the initial round misses its intended target. The attempt is foiled swiftly, though there are some casualties, and we see that the attacker possesses a form twisted beyond the human norm. There are signs that this person is no longer entirely human. They are taken away to be used as entertainment amid the festivities on the incoming Ascension day. The Festivities that Triskellian is now responsible for. 

    We switch then to those that live among the workers of Morod, to the people that work short, brutal lives to provide the resources necessary for this planet to prosper. We are introduced to Davien, a runner that works to relay messages. A position that gives her access to restricted sites, something that her people use to their advantage. Davien is part of the sub-culture that has remained hidden from their overseers for many generations. She has heard the news that their allotted hero had failed, that their prophesied uprising had stumbled at the first step. Sakiri had been unable to kill Burzulem, leaving their plans in tatters. Davien's only remaining thought is to rush back to her brother, afraid Niem might be caught up in the coming conscription pool. Barely avoiding the Skitarii, we discover that Niem is mutating and that he is being helped along with a doctor that works for this cult. A cult that we learn has been here for more generations than most, a cult that believes that they are worshipping the true Emperor. Their belief is that angels will come and raise them up, remake them into something divine if they can throw off the shackles of their Mechanicus oppressors. As someone familiar with genestealer cults, this indoctrination hides the horror of what they are from those within the cult. It is one of the many tools the cults utilize to realize their objective. And that objective is to signal to the Tyranid Hive mind to summon one of their fleets that drift through the vastness of space looking for more bio-mass to consume. The story follows Davien as she attempts to get their initial plan of track, even as Triskellian seeks to utilize their unique physiology to his own ends. This plan forces them to work together but dooms both in the long run.

    What appealed to me about this book is that it looked at the inner workings of the Mechanicus as much as it did the cult. The politicking, and maneuvering, the magos' used to further their own ends highlighted that they were just as corrupted in their own fashion. This is not a story about heroes and villains, though there is some subjectivity to that view. What it does well is showing how corruption can go unnoticed, and threats can be dismissed by those that have become lazy and apathetic. What is worse is that some will risk the safety and security of others to see themselves reach their goals. This story centers on the inner workings of civilization, though it does have some action.  It has a great insight into the minds of the Magos' of this planet and how things work far from the warzones of the greater 40k universe.

    It took me longer than I wanted to get this review done. Mostly I found myself distracted by many things I have been trying to get off the ground. Thankfully, the story stayed fresh in my mind. Though I did not want to go into too much detail, it could ruin much of the unexpected ending. This book is a solid 7 out of 10. I would have given it more, but I struggled to get into it. It might have been the type of story that was not what I had expected or the writing style. However, I did get into it and found myself enjoying it. It is more for the reader looking to discover more about the Mechanicus or Genestealer cults.  Any fan of Warhammer 40k will enjoy it, alongside those of grimdark science fiction.

Classic Tales of Horror from Canterbury Classics. A short review of a great collection of tales in a high quality leather hardback form.

 

Classic Tales of Horror, from Canterbury Classics.

    This isn't my usual review. There is simply too much within this book to break down each short story or novella that makes up its entirety. I bought this book purely out of the desire to possess many of the stories within its pages that I had never gotten around to reading. It was worth the price simply for the excellent quality of the book. At over 900 pages, this is a massive selection of stories, and many of them are well known, but others are less so. Some are only a couple of pages long, while others run for several chapters, each of them possesses its own style, but each fits the overall theme. I have my favorites, such as The Pit and the Pendulum, but there were many that I read for the first time. I enjoyed The Turn of the Screw, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, and The Willows by Algernon Blackwood. Many of these stories are from the late 19th century and the early 20th century, and the language used can be a little jarring for those who have not read books from those time periods before.

    As I said earlier, this isn't the typical review. It is hard to give the contents a review, and with such a great variety of works, it becomes hard to provide an overall grading. So I'll do my best and rate this book on the quality of the product, the overall quality of the range of contents, and the selection of stories. The leather seems of good quality with a simple but well-designed cover. There were no signs of damage, and the material appears hardy and well maintained.  It is a chunky book with fifty-five stories within. That is more than I had expected, and they are well-written and great examples of the genre. There are some of my favorite stories within, which makes me a little biased, but even without those, I found this product to be a great read. I would recommend this to any horror fan, and it would be a greater recommendation to those that prefer works reflecting an earlier period in history. 

    This is an easy eight out of ten for me. The contents alone are worth the price and will satisfy any horror fan. Give this book a go if you are looking to add a collection of short stories to your book collection or if you are just looking to find some elusive tales that you might not have come across yet. If you can recommend any other classic collections of stories, let me know. Always looking for new books to add to my personal collection. 

Darkness in the Blood, by Guy Haley. Dante and Mephiston address the threat of the Rage and the Thirst, as Dante deals with ruling far from the safety of Terra. The Blood Angels legacy lies in the hands of their chief Librarian, if he's strong enough to weather it.

 

Darkness in the Blood, by Guy Haley. A review.

    I have always been a fan of Space Marines and the characters that make up their ranks. While the Ultramarines are the current favorites in the lore, the return of Guilliman putting them front and center, there are other Chapters that I have enjoyed more. My favorites are the Space Wolves, the Salamanders, the Raven Guard, and the Blood Angels. Compared to the Ultramarines, they all seem to have more personality to their Chapters. That is not to say that the stories around the Ultramarines have been poor in any way, just that they seem a little boring in direct comparison to the others. As a youth, I collected armies of space marines, and my first models were of the Blood Angels Chapter. They were an impressive force even then. Even back then, Mephiston was a figure of awe, of terrible power. The Chief Librarian of the Blood Angels, the one who died and was resurrected with control over the Rage. Dante has been their commander from the Blood Angels' beginnings, a figure of authority that has led the Blood Angels for close to a thousand years. Having read books surrounding Mephiston before, I was eager to see where Guy Haley would take the expanding lore around this central character. This book does a great job of highlighting that lore.

    

    Commander Dante has been appointed as Regent and Warden of Imperium Nihilus, parted from the rest of the Imperium by the Great Rift. After surviving the attack on Baal, the remaining Blood Angel chapter and their Successor Chapters have been reinforced with the Primaris Marines gifted to them by the Primarch Roboute Guilliman. Guilliman wants him to take back this region of space, push back their enemies, and rise again as the dominant force in the galaxy. The only problem is that the Blood Angels' flaw is growing. We open on Dante's ship traveling through the Warp, the Commander in his sarcophagus, as it attempts to help his wounds heal. It appears that his body is failing with age. This matter is something that is not spoken of in the lore. When do the added organs and enhancements begin to fail? And does age affect a space marine?  It is made clear that Dante is over a thousand years old, which is ancient compared to many other space marines. Space Marine commanders exist that are closer to his age, and they display none of the detriments that affect Dante. Sleeping in his sarcophagus, Dante dreams of the events that led to him becoming the Blood Angels' commander. During Dante's slumber, the ships are directed through the warp by the efforts of the Chief Librarian. It used to be that the Navigators would travel through the warp with the light of the Astronomican to guide them, but that is no longer true. Mephiston leads them through a ritual performed by himself and his acolytes, his consciousness in the warp itself. As they conduct this ritual, Rhacelus is watching over them and guarding them against being lost to the hungry things that call the Warp home. What Mephiston is attempting requires an ability and a will beyond that of most of his fellow Librarians, any exposing their souls to the Warp should bring them instant death. This display is another example of the power that he possesses. 

    As they travel through the Warp, the ships are under constant strain, buffeted by the tides of the Warp. Their crew struggles under a similar strain. The pressure of traveling the Warp pushes some to breaking point. A rebellion breaks out on one ship, the captain of another battleship deals with the weight of failure, and Dante continues to sleep fitfully. Things go from bad to worse, enough that Dante is forced from his coma to deal with a demonic incursion. After being pushed back into realspace, Dante and Mephiston work to battle this incursion so that they may take back their ships and return to Baal. The Blood Angels return to Baal after clearing the battleships of the demonic threat and head for the space station, Skyfall.

    This story revolves around Mephiston's powers growing out of control, the effect he has on his fellow Blood Angels, and the idea of his death again to be reborn as a Primaris marine. He is one of the few firstborns to cross the Rubicon, taking the same risks that Marneus Calgar did. Throughout this book, we see how Dante is dealing with this leadership that has been thrust upon him and how the Primaris marines view this ancient warrior. It is interesting to see these untested warriors pass judgment on one of the greatest warriors of the Imperium. It would be amusing if they didn't make up such a large number of Dante's warriors. Making things worse for all of them is the impact Mephiston is having on the Blood Angels around him. 

    Several sub-plots run through the book that helps to flesh out the main characters. Dante's attempts to save Admiral Danakan, retelling how he became the leader of the Blood Angels to show the man that fear can be worked through. It may be a failed effort, but Dante tries nonetheless. Mephiston's rebirth is a unique event, lost beneath the blades of his surgeons as his mind and spirit are elsewhere. To say too much would spoil it for any would-be reader, so I'll not say any more. It is worth picking up the book just for what Mephiston experiences as he passes through the Rubicon. 

    I'd give this book an easy 8 out of 10 stars. It is a great read that expands on the lore surrounding the Blood Angels and gives definite clues as to where they are headed. It provides greater insight into Dante, though it focuses as much on the Chief Librarian. Seeing into the mind of such a veteran warrior struggling amid this time of change gives a unique outlook on the return of the Primarch and the Great Rift. This is one for the fans of the Blood Angels and any fan of sci-fi in general. I'd recommend it to any fan of Warhammer 40k and readers in general.