Saturday, October 19, 2013

A FAREWELL TO BRAINS by Stephen Kozeniewski

So, Billy assigned me a theme for this post, and I think I know why: because if he had left me to just cut loose, you would’ve all learned who the REAL coffee-addicted writer is. So I’m not going to talk about that. I’m not going to say a single, solitary word about that. One pot a day since I was twelve. That’s all I’ll say about that.

Anyway, I’ve been invited here to talk about my love of the zombie genre. First, let me qualify what, exactly, that does and does not mean. I am a purist after a fashion, though I think my definition of a zombie, while rock solid, is flexible enough to encompass a whole lot of ground. All I insist on is that a zombie must at some juncture have been dead. I cannot equivocate on that point.

I have no problem with the shambling corpses of Night of the Living Dead, Return of the Living Dead, Cemetery Man, Zombie, Fido, The Walking Dead, World War Z, The Rising, etc., etc. They all fall wholly into the Venn diagram counter-splice area of “dead” and “re-animated.” I’ll tell you where I draw the line, though: zombie-like behavior in the still-living.

Evil Dead? Evil Dead II? Both inestimable classics of horror and gore, but nope. Sorry. Zombie-like, perhaps, but living people possessed by Kandarian demons is too far off the mark.

Planet Terror? Perhaps the virus causes zombie-like symptoms, but these still-living infected people are decidedly NOT zombies. Resident Evil IV? Perhaps the greatest Resident Evil game of all time, but, sadly, Las Plagas parasites are no replacement for actual, clinical death. 28 Days Later? Doesn’t count. The Rage virus, while it again exhibits many zombie-like symptoms, only affects living human beings. No death or re-animation. Not a zombie movie.

(Note: I have no issue with “fast” zombies provided they are indeed the resurrected dead. That is not my issue with 28 Days Later. For instance, the Dawn of the Dead 2004 remake also features fast zombies and I don’t disqualify it in any way, shape, or form. Ditto Zombieland.)

Care Bears Are Returning to DVD!

Do you remember those cuddly caring bear from the 1980's? Well, I have some good news. Mill Creek Entertainment has released the original 1980's cartoon onto DVDs this month with three titles: Care Bears: Beary Special Edition, Care Bears: Wonderland Wishes and Care Bears: Cuddles in Care-A-Lot, featuring six exciting adventures on each DVD.

Care Bears: Beary Special Buddies contains the first three 22-minute episodes of the 1985 series, which has two adorable adventures in each episode.

The episodes are:

  • Camp - A camp counselor tells the children a scary story involving a phantom.
  • The Birthday - Matt and Eddie learn they are soon to be big brothers to a baby girl and they decide to wreck their home that is until the Care Bear arrives.
  • Braces - The Care Bears try to help a young boy feel better about wearing braces
  • Split Decision - A boy wearing eyeglasses is teased by bullies and the Care Bears come to his rescue.
  • The Lucky Charm - Proud Heart Cat and the other Care Bears join forces to help a young girl who is late for school.
  • Soap Box Derby - The Care Bears help two girls build a soap box derby car.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Book Blogger Hop: Halloween Edition: Oct. 18th - 24th

31 Days of Halloween
Book Blogger Hop

Welcome to the new Book Blogger Hop!

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

Halloween Edition:

Norman Bates VS Hannibal Lecter: Which one of these famous book murderers is scarier? (Optional Question: Who is your favorite book villain?)

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.
 

My Answer: 

I would have to go with Norman Bates, the book version. In the book he is middle-age, short and overweight, so nobody would suspect of him of being a murderer. Unlike the movie sequels, Norman only has a small bit in the book version of Psycho 2 and he isn't in Psycho House. Though, I have read all the Hannibal books (and I've seen the movies & TV series), I neither liked or hated the character; therefore I didn't find the character scary; weird, but not scary. Norman Bates was scary because you didn't expect him to be the killer because he looks like the average next door neighbor (besides for wearing his mother's dress).

Linky List:

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Fear, Phobia, and Halloween



During no time of year is fear placed more at the forefront than during October, that month that culminates in a celebration of the dead or undead, that day we call Halloween. Should you find yourself afraid of sexy nurses or catholic school girls, you’re likely dreading the end of this month.

283/365 - Her Favorite White DressAll kidding aside, there are a number of real fears that a holiday like Halloween can trigger. Because fear is a primitive emotion, it alerts us to danger and can often happen without reason. So, while we tell ourselves that thunder or darkness is without harm, we can’t believe this logic, we fail to respond to facts we know to be true. When these anxieties become more pronounced, fear becomes debilitating and more irrational.

Masklophobia

Especially problematic around Halloween given the abundance of costumes, Masklophobia is the fear of people disguising themselves in costume. It is associated with xenohabilzoophobia, which is the specific fear of people in animal costumes.

Both can include individuals sporting masks, sports mascots, and others attempting to disguise themselves. Many children suffer from this phobia but grow out of it as adults. For others, it remains a lifelong source of incredible fright.
Eye death
Thanatophobia

This phobia is one of the most common because, inevitably, it happens to us all. The fear of death scares many of us, and Halloween embodies that. Referring specifically to fear of your own death, Thanatophobia differs from necrophobia which concerns itself with a general fear of death. What must it be like to suffer this phobia around Halloween, when people are dressing as the dead, the undead, and the about-to-be-dead? Terrifying!

The Conjuring Blu-Ray Giveaway


 Get The Conjuring on Blu-ray & DVD October 22nd!

Based on a true story, the movie tells the horrifying account of how famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were summoned to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse which they recently bought. In fighting this powerful demonic being, the Warrens find themselves in the middle of the most terrifying case of their lives! 


The Conjuring 5 Things to know… INTERACTIVE GIFS!

1) The Conjuring is directed by the acclaimed James Wan, the Australian-born director of the fright-fests Insidious and the Saw series. His Twitter handle is @CreepyPuppet. Say no more.



Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales DVD Giveaway!


Disney's hit animated series "Gravity Falls" arrived on DVD with its first volume "Six Strange Tales" on October 15th, featuring the first six episodes of the series. Now you have the chance to win your very own Gravity Falls: Six Strange Tales DVD.

Watch the clip "Holy Matri-gnome-y"
Description: Mabel finds out her friend, Norman, is a bunch of gnomes who are in search of a queen. 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Curse of Chucky DVD Review



Curse of Chucky
Director: Don Mancini
Starring: Brad Dourif, Fiona Dourif, Danielle Bisutti, Maitland McConnell, Chantal Quesnelle 
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment 
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Retail: $29.98
ASIN: 0DTPRZ10
Running Time: 1hr 35mins. (Rated) 1 hr 37mins. (Unrated)
Rating: R/Unrated

Review:

It’s been twenty-five years since the living doll Chucky first freaked out audiences with the 1988's Child's Play, proving that a killer doll can be big at the box-office. Child's Play 2 & 3 followed in 1990 and 1991. Seven years later, Chucky would return in Bride of Chucky, bring the franchise into the horror-comedy genre. The franchise seemed to be over when the distasteful Seed of Chucky came out in 2004. Nine years later, the killer doll is back in the direct-to-video reboot sequel Curse of Chucky, which is written and directed by the series creator Don Mancin, marking the 25th anniversary of the series. Brad Dourif returns to voice Chucky, and with the help of makeup, lighting, and a black & white flashback, he also returns as Charles Lee Ray. Brad's own daughter, actress Fiona Dourif, stars as Nica.

Four years after the ending of Seed of Chucky, a mysterious package arrives at the house of Sarah and her paraplegic daughter, Nica. The package contained a Good Guy doll, which they both have no clue who could have sent it. An accident occurs and Sarah dies, leaving Nica alone in the big house that is until her older sister Barb arrives with her husband Ian, their daughter Alice and the nanny, Jill. With the help of Father Frank, Barb tries to convince Nica to sell the house, which she refuses to do.

Meanwhile, her young niece has become attached to the talking Good Guy doll that calls itself Chucky, while Nica plays an old home video for Barb, Ian and Jill, where Nica notices a strange man in the background of the video - a man who resembles the serial killer Charles Lee Ray.

When everyone turns in for the night, it is time for Chucky to play! The body count rises as Nica learns a long forgotten family secret - a secret that has brought Chucky into her home to finish a twenty-five-year-old vendetta.