As above, So below, a review. This film is set in France as a young woman pursues the legend of the Philosophers stone. Caught in the catacombs they descend into the dark and into a supernatural horror that seeks to devour them.

 

As above, So below. A review of this camera footage horror film.

    As above, So below is a film carried by the performance of Perdita Weeks. Her character is intelligent, strong, and highly capable. Unfortunately, not all are so well fleshed out or convincing in their performances. Ben Feldman delivers a good performance as Scarlet's friend and colleague, George, with his own trauma played convincingly. The others feel there just to fulfil the story, bystanders to the events that unfold around them. The story is rather simple, but some elements depend on your suspension of disbelief. There is reliance on certain principles of philosophy, of things beyond the realm of the material alone. I enjoyed the claustrophobic atmosphere of this film, with it being underground made everything much more daunting. The supernatural elements feel heightened by the existing tension.

    The film follows Scarlett as she attempts to find the Philosopher's Stone, a legendary artefact used in alchemy. Scarlett undertakes a journey into Iran, seeking something to help her locate the Stone. With help from a friend, she finds the Rose Key, a kind of Rosetta Stone, but experiences a strange vision while in the tunnels. After narrowly escaping being buried, her friend tells her that everyone that searches for Flemel's Stone is crazy. More so, that her father was crazy. We flash then to Scarlett being interviewed, introducing herself and what she is pursuing. We get information on Nicolas Flemel, the supposed alchemist that created the Philosopher's Stone, and how he would have had immeasurable wealth and immortality. That when people went to dig up his grave, they found his body was missing. There are many tales of Flemel being an alchemist, and these came about after his death, and Scarlett is convinced he will lead them to the Stone. Others believe that the Stone does not exist, that alchemy is a failed science, and that she is on a fool's pursuit. Scarlett found a way to translate the alchemical symbols into Aramaic. However, she cannot read Aramiac but knows someone who can. This is where we are introduced to George, but he is unhappy to see her. It turns out that Scarlett left George in a Turkish jail, that she chose her pursuit over him. George likes to fix things, is mid-fixing a church bell, and reluctantly agrees to do the translation. And the translation has a part that any Green Lantern fan will recognise, and well done to whichever writer snuck that in there. This leads them to Flemel's headstone, and after some dodgy science, they discover where they should be looking for the Stone. It turns out that they need to go to the catacombs. However, they soon realise they will need someone to guide them to where they need to get. This is where we get a stranger telling them they need to find Papillon and giving directions to a club. As they quickly look away and then back, the stranger is gone.

    They find Papillon in the club, and he agrees to take them. They meet his team, Souxie and Zed, as they prepare for the journey into the catacombs. Soon the group are heading for the access point to the underground, George accompanying them but adamant that he will not go underground. Things go wrong, and they have to flee underground, and George is forced to go with them. Here it is relaid that his little brother died in a cave, that George doesn't go underground because of that experience. They travel to a point in the system, and Papillon insists they take a route that Benji, the cameraman, is hesitant to take. Seeing another passage available, Scarlett wants to take that one, but Papillon is utterly against it. He insists that something is wrong with it, telling of how a friend went in there and was never seen again. At this point, the strangeness begins. They take the tunnel but wind up where they started, which should not be possible according to Papillon, and even on the map, it shows that they couldn't have come back. With no other choice, they take the other passage. Things rapidly become stranger, with phones ringing, a piano found perfectly preserved, and La Taupe emerging from the dark to lead them. La Taupe has been missing for two years and strangely needs no light to travel in this lightless place. That alone would be enough to make me hesitant to follow him. They travel deeper, somehow finding ways to travel downwards until they find the chamber where the Stone resides. And so does a trapped treasure.

    Plummed into darkness, La Taupe seemingly dead, the group finds themselves buried. Thankfully, such sites always have a secret escape route, and Scarlett soon discovers it. But once free find themselves in a copy of the chamber, and the tunnel disappears behind them. They keep moving downwards, which puts them deeper than should be possible. And the strangeness shifts into terrifying experiences, Souxie the first to be killed, followed by Benji. Soon those left find themselves before a narrow passage with an inscription above it. It reads, 'Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.' which is supposed to be above the gates of hell. Worse, they have to travel in a near crawl to enter. The quartet becomes a trio after Papillon is killed in a gruesome manner. The trio is then pursued by a towering figure in black. After George is injured, Scarlett backtracks to find the Stone and faces a series of trials on her way to and from them. George is healed, and the trio eventually find their way free of this hellscape.

    The film does a great job of growing the tension and fear as the group travel further. The minor incidents grow in intensity and creepiness until they are terrifying for our dwindling group. They are all haunted by something, some experience coming back to bite them, most notably George seeing his little brother and Scarlett, her dead father. Whilst there are several good things about this film, it fails to be anything other than a little creepy, never reaching heights of terror. The characters outside George and Scarlett are rather bland, never really being fleshed out. The whole pursuit of Flemel's Stone seems somewhat ridiculous, with only a sparse explanation of why it is so important. There is no explanation of how it is supposed to affect things beyond some metaphysical rubbish. This is a weakness in the writing, which is to the detriment of the film's overall premise.

    In all, I give this a 7 out of 10. It is a solid film but lacks that spark which could make it a great watch. It is good, especially for a fan of the camera footage style. It fails to be creepy enough to scare the viewer and thus is never truly memorable. 

Evil Dead 2013, review. With Evil Dead Rise soon to be released I thought I'd give this one a re-watch. To be fair it remains a solid entry into the world of the Deadites, if not the best of them.

 

Evil Dead 2013, a review.

    I have watched the original trilogy films more times than I can count. They remain some of my favourite movies, with Evil Dead 2 being the peak of the trilogy. The added humour elevated 2 over The Evil Dead for me. I was hesitant to watch this film when it first came out, it had a lot to live up to, but in time I had to watch it. And, it wasn't as good as those that had come before, but neither was it a bad film. With a new young cast, the cabin in the woods, and a familiar book in place, this film kept close to the core elements of what had been done before. There are a few issues, but I'll get into those later on.

    The film opens up with a young woman being pursued in the woods before she is quickly taken captive. The scene switches to some interior with the young woman bound to a wooden post and her father before her. It quickly becomes clear the young woman is possessed, having killed her mother, and is set alight before being shot. We then move to the opening credits. We are introduced to our main characters and learn that David is here to support his sister, Mia, as she attempts to go cold turkey. Mia's friends Eric and Olivia are determined to ensure she kicks the habit this time. Olivia tells David that Mia overdosed and clinically died, that they might have to force her to stay and work through this against her will if it came to that. David is reluctant to agree to this as he is here to repair his relationship with her. As Mia begins to feel the effects of her withdrawal, she becomes sensitive to smells, convinced that the cabin has a foul scent within, though the others cannot detect it. It isn't long before their dog Grandpa is scratching at the carpet, pulling it back to reveal a trapdoor and blood smeared over the wood. Obviously, they are shocked, and they proceed down into the root cellar to investigate. They find dead cats strung up around the main room, with signs that something has been burnt, and a book bound in black bags wrapped in barbed wire. This is the Necronomicon.

    For anyone that has seen any of the previous films, this book is a doorway to a supernatural force that lives in dark places. A kind of entity that wants to possess and destroy the living. And it is inevitable that some idiot, in this case, Eric, has to read from the book. If I find a book wrapped up in barbed wire and depicting some horrible stuff, I might use my common sense, wrap it back up and put it out of reach to be safe. Eric doesn't do that, and we have something summoned on our unsuspecting group. And poor Mia is the one it goes after first. What follows is Mia's initial spiral as she sees something watching in the woods before she flees into the woods, crashes her car, and has an encounter that always makes me very uncomfortable. It is a scene taken out of the original Evil Dead, and it was never a scene I enjoyed, something passing from demonic Mia and slithering into the bound Mia. They find Mia but don't believe her story, convinced this is just her withdrawals and desire to use overwhelming her. What follows is a descent into chaos and bloodshed as Mia succumbs to her possession and the demonic force moves through each of our protagonists. A minor point, but the evil force coming to life after claiming five souls seemed convenient, given that there are five of them, but it works given the premise and isolated location. There are callbacks to the original trilogy throughout, with the use of the chainsaw, shotgun, and removal of a hand gone bad. They use a lot of fake blood in this film, an almost obscene amount, with the film's finale featuring blood raining down on Mia as she fights against a vile reflection of herself.

    The film's pacing remains constant throughout, and its runtime is short. Once it gets going, it doesn't relent, moving from possession to the next. The character development is handled well, as we see changes in David through the film's events,  along with Mia as she is faced with this evil alone upon the death of the others. In all, the film is good, with decent characters, a tight storyline, and tension maintained throughout. I recommend this film to anyone who enjoyed the original films and the series, along with any horror fan. This is an easy 7 out of 10, a solid entry worth watching.

Resident Evil 4: Remake, a review. One of the best games in the series remade and, somehow, improved. A game I spent a silly amount of time playing first time around, and couldn't put it down once I started again.

 

Resident Evil 4: Remake, a review.

    Resident Evil 4 was a masterpiece and still is. The original garnered praise from fans and critics alike and is probably the best game in the series. After the remake of Resident Evil 2, there was hope that more of them would be remade, and four seemed like an obvious choice. They went on to remake Resident Evil 3 and, though it is a beautiful game, was a step back on what had been achieved with Resident Evil 2. There was worry that they would be unable to remake 4 in all its glory. Thankfully, that proved to be an unfounded fear. This is one of the best games they have ever made, an improvement on the original in many ways. With the recent release of mercenaries mode, the gaming experience has expanded and proven to be a great addition to the single-player experience.

    Opening up six years after the events of Raccoon City, Leon has been sent to track down the President's daughter, Ashley Graham, in Spain. It's not a spoiler to say that things don't start well for our hero and inevitably get worse for him. The game's story stays close to the original, with minor alterations, a missing boss, and changes to some level designs. The gameplay and graphics have been updated, and it now plays like any modern title. And speaking of the graphics, this game is beautifully made, and even on my near potato of a desktop, it runs brilliantly. I experienced no issues with the game, no bugs or stuttering that has become commonplace in recent releases. There have been several changes to the gameplay, with the use of the knife now a vital part of your playthrough. A well-placed parry can keep you alive, staggering your attacker and leaving them open to a melee counter. Thankfully the shooting is fluid, and the ability to actually move whilst aiming makes it easier than I remember. All the guns return from the original, though some of their specs have changed, and there are different ways to find or unlock them now. The merchant returns with his familiar catchphrase still in use and proves as handy as ever. The most obvious change comes with how Ashley now plays. No longer the pain that made the game frustrating in some sections. She feels like a real character now, with decent voice acting and better writing. Leon remains his witty self, with many of his one-liners still in place. The voice actor is the same as the Resident Evil 2 remake, and though I prefer Matt Mercer's version, he does a great job. Some characters have had redesigns and have improved on what was done in the original. In most ways, the game is a significant improvement on the game released in 2005. The bosses remain a highlight of this game, with Salazar and Sadler being chief among them. I would have preferred they kept in some of the previous dialogue between them and Leon, but that is a nitpick on my behalf. There have been complaints about the new voice actor for Ada, but I saw no issue with her performance.

    I have sunk many hours into the game, though I lack the skill to become one of the many speedrunners posting videos on youtube. I loved the game the first time, and I feel the same about this version. It is instantly replayable with a new game plus, using all you have unlocked in your first playthrough. This was one of the best things about it the first time around. And with them adding Mercenaries mode back, there is more fun to be had. And we will be getting Ada's campaign at some point which was a great highlight of the initial release. Replayable has remained a core element of this entry.

    This game is easily 10 out of 10, and I recommend it to any gamer, not just fans of the original. This is a great game that hints at the next entry in the series heading for a similar remake, which is something I look forward to. I hope that they continue the series after Village, taking lessons from the process of making these remakes. With recent successes, it appears that they have hit on a winning formula. Though 3 was a bit of a disappointment by comparison. I will continue to enjoy playing this entry, racking up more game time, and hoping that Resident Evil 5 is in development.

    

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.